Page:The Emperor Marcus Antoninus - His Conversation with Himself.djvu/381

 Rh Person of never so much Probity and Prudence, do you think some Body or other won't drop some of these Sentences over his Grave. ''Well! Our Man of Order and Gravity is gone, we shall now be no more troubled with his Discipline ! I can't say he was Ill-natur'd to any of us: But for all that, I'm sensible he disliked our Management in his Heart.'' This is the best Treatment a Good Man must expect. But alass ! as for our Conduct, how many Reasons will People muster up to be rid of us ? If you consider this when you are dying, you'l quit with the less Reluctance. Say then to your self, " I am leaving an odd sort of World, where the sharers in my Fortune, and the Objects of my Care and Kindness, those People for whom I have drudg'd, and contriv'd, and wish'd so heartily, count my Life no better than a Grievance, and would fain be shut of me; Now who would be fond of staying in such Company any longer? " However, this Thought must not go so deep as to sour your Humour. You must keep your Temper, and part friendly with every Body ; but then your Good Nature must not make you hang back : For as when a Man has an easy Death, the Soul slides gently out of the Body, and takes her leave without Tugging ; so you must Rh