Page:The Emperor Marcus Antoninus - His Conversation with Himself.djvu/402

222 Dye and leave me. These are sower Ominous Reflections you'l say. That's your mistake: The consequences of Mortality, and the Course of Nature, are no Ominous things to think on, otherwise it would be an Ominous business to cut down a little Grass, or Corn.

XXXV. Grapes are first sower, then ripe, then Raisins, these are all no more than bare Alterations; not into Nothing, but into something which does not appear, and come up at present.

XXXVI. As Epictetus observes, No body can rob another of his Will, nor by consequence make seizure of his Virtue.

XXXVII. The same Philosopher has Taught us the Art of Managing our Assent and preventing our Reason from being impos'd on; That we should Enterprize with a reserve for Disappointment; that our Inclinations should be Generous and Benevolent, and proportion'd to the Merit and Dignity of Things: that we must keep our Desires from being Headstrong and Unruly in all Cases; And never have an Aversion for any Thing, which 'tis out of our power to hinder.

XXXVIII. Therefore as Epictetus observes, the contest is no Trifle, but whether we are to live in our Wits, or out of them.