Page:The Emperor Marcus Antoninus - His Conversation with Himself.djvu/44

, that her Profession was better than his ; there was more Force and Persuasion in't she said, for 'twas more than he could do to draw off any of her Guests : But 'twas in her Power to thin his School, and leave him little more than the Walls to talk to when she had a mind to't." Socrates replied, all that might very well be: For Philosophy was like tugging up the Hill, and went somewhat against the Grain : Whereas Lewdness, was rolling downwards, and the Motion might seem easy at present, tho' a Man broke his Bones at the Bottom. Pleasure lies upon a Descent, but the way to Virtue has a contrary Situation ; And since the Biass of Mankind leans towards Vice; 'Tis no wonder to find People revolt from Discipline, and go over to the loosest Doctrines.

But farther 'tis alledged, that a great many who stood firm to the Stoical Philosophy, and disputed strongly for their Notions ; yet lived quite counter to what they professed. They had the Name and the Habit, but nothing of the Regularity of their Distinction : Their Tongues were not all of a piece. They talk'd like People of their own Sect, but tasted like Epicureans. For this Inconsistency of Practise and Pretention, they are handsomely lash'd by Lucian and several others. Rh