Page:The Emperor Marcus Antoninus - His Conversation with Himself.djvu/400

 220 as his main business. For he that Levels at this Mark, will keep an even Hand, and be always consistent with himself.

XXII. Remember the Story of the Country and City Mouse, and how pitifully the former was frightned and surpriz'd.

XXIII. Socrates us'd to say, the Common Objects of Terror, were nothing but Bugbears, fit only to scare Crows, and Children.

XXIV. The Lacedemonians at their Publick Shews, seated Strangers under a Canopy in the Shade, but made their own People Shift, and take their Convenience as they found it.

XXV. Socrates being invited to Perdicas's Court, made this Excuse, I dare not come says he for fear of being put under an incapacity of returning an Obligation; which I take to be the worst way of destroying a Man imaginable.

XXVI. 'Tis a Precept of the Epicurean Philosophers, that we should look back to the Virtue of former Ages ; And always furnish our Memory with some Eminent Example.

XXVII. The Pythagoreans would have us look up into the Sky every Morning : To put us in mind of the Order, and Constancy of the Heavenly Bodies, of the Rh