Page:The Emperor Marcus Antoninus - His Conversation with Himself.djvu/377

 Rh give him the Lye: This is all very feasible: For pray who can hinder you from being Just, Sincere, and Good Natur'd if you have a mind to it? To make all sure, you should resolve to live no longer then you can live Honestly; For, in earnest, you had much better be Nothing, than a Knave.

XXXIII. What is it which is most proper to be said, or done, upon the present Occasion? That Question I confess is pertinent, but let it be what it will, I'm sure 'tis in your power to come up to't; and therefore never pretend it impracticable. You'l never leave Grumbling, and Growling till you have brought your Fancy to your Philosophy, till you can practise Virtue with a Gust, and make your Duty your Pleasure: And why you should not do this I can't imagine; For the Practise of Virtue is nothing but Humane Powers naturally set on work; 'Tis only putting the Wheels in the Motion they were contriv'd for, and going just as you were Made. Now Nature's postures are always easie, and which is more, nothing but your own Will, can put you out of them. The Motion of a Cylinder may be stopt. Fire and Water may be check'd in their Tendency, and so may any part of the Elementary, Vegetative, and Rh