Page:The Emperor Marcus Antoninus - His Conversation with Himself.djvu/415

Rh Body to live, or lose, any more than the Present Moment. All this you seem to have forgotten.

XXVII. Reflect frequently upon those that have formerly been mightily disturb'd with Accidents of any kind, that have carried their Animosities, and Feuds to the most flaming Excess; that have made the most Glorious Figure, or met with the greatest Misfortune; and then ask your self, where are they all now? They are vanish'd like a little Smoak; they'r shrunk within the compass of an Urn and are nothing but Ashes, and Romance, and it may be have not so much as the last imaginary Advantage neither. Recollect likewise, all that Humour, and Odness, that some People affect, to appear as Fabius Catullinus did at his Country Seat, as Lucius Lupus, and Stertinius did at Baiæ, to Act the Fancy of Vertius Rufus, or the Liberties of Tiberius at Capreæ; thus People dote upon Figure, and Singularity, tho' 'tis sometimes in Lewdness: But granting 'tis somewhat better, the Prize is Insignificant, and the Play not worth the Candle: 'Tis much more becoming a Philosopher to stand clear of Affectation; to be Honest, and Regular upon all occasions, and to follow chearfully wherever the Gods lead on: