himself tranquil and happy, permitted no useless fuss, nor suffered the healers of the sick to imagine they were doing anything remarkable by him. Go thou, and whether sick or well, do likewise; never forsake thy principles, be intent upon thy business, nor trifle like one unacquainted with philosophy.

When assailed by insolence, recollect that it is one of the things that go to make up the world. Let the same reflection come to thy assistance, on the occasion of any treachery or faithlessness; let it improve thy patience, for the world cannot subsist without it. Bethink thee, also, what virtues nature hath enabled thee to oppose to these views; thou hast equanimity wherewith to comfort the unreasonable, and so with the rest. Art called on to replace every wanderer on the right path; now, he who sins hath wandered. Where is thy hurt, for those who provoked thee have done thy better part, the only seat of good and ill, no injury? Where is the wonder if an illinstructed person should act like one; rather blame thyself for being surprised at misconduct, the probability of which thy reason might have suggested. It is still more absurd to blame the faithless or ungrateful; thou hast done them a service, hast fulfilled what nature intended; 'tis enough, what right hadst thou to look for more? 'Tis much as if the eyes should expect to be paid for seeing, the ears for hearing; for this is their part-this their greatest gain. Yes, man was designed to do good by man; and in this lies his perfection and surpassing reward!

BOOK X.

WHEN, O my soul, wilt thou be just, and simple, and true, undisguised, and easy of approach, as the body which surrounds thee-when manifest a sweet and loving temper; ever content, wanting nothing, longing for nothing, living or dead; neither seeking after pleasures, nor time to enjoy them—nor place, nor spot, nor good fellowship; satisfied with what thou art and what thou hast; believing that God hath done well by thee and by the world-God, the good, the just, the beautiful-Father, Comforter, Sustainer, Friend from whom all things come, and to whom every change is owing: in a word, so comport thyself in the sight of God and man, as neither to blame nor be blameworthy?

Examine what nature requires of thee, then resign thyself to her dictates, unless something oppose.. 'Tis no harm to yield to the requirements of sense, when reason suggests; but what is the test, why the good of the community 'tis needless to go farther.

Art framed to bear what happens, or thou art not. If the former, 'tis well; if the latter, take it not to heart; when thou art consumed, thy trouble will be no more. Remember only that nature hath enabled thee to put up with whatever reason says it is proper thou shouldst sustain.

If he err, set him right, but mildly; art unable to succeed, blame thyself, if even thyself, alone.

Whatever happens was designed from the beginning; thy lot is interwoven with the current of events from all eternity.

Whether chance or heaven rule, 'tis clear that I am

G

bound up with the whole, under the guidance of nature, and in alliance with my species. What is advantageous to the whole is no otherwise to a part; the universe cannot disserve itself. Nothing can force the Deity to do aught that is hurtful. Let me, then, remember that I am a portion of the universe, bound to be grateful to what befals, and so far as I hold fellowship with my kind to do nothing unsocial; nay, rather in all things to act up to the interests of my race. By thus acting, like the citizen who performs his part, I shall needs prove happy.

All that the world contains must decay, or, in other words, change. If this be a defect, the parts must be badly arranged to prove so prone to alteration. Now, nature either meant what was evil to her creation, or she was forced to incur it; neither is probable. Putting providence aside, if it be said that matters are thus constituted, and change of themselves, how absurd were complaint? The elements only are dispersed, what is of earth returns to earth, what is of the air to air. The body hath not so subsisted from the first, or as thy mother bore; its parts are but of yesterday, from the food thou hast swallowed, or the air thou hast breathed. And were it even otherwise, it would not impeach the truth of what has been said.

Hast borne the reputation of a modest, truth-telling, magnanimous man; take care, then, thou dost not abuse it; but if thou dost swerve, quickly regain thy lost ground. Be mindful that prudence demands consideration and careful inquiry; equanimity, submission to the order of providence. Greatness of mind requires indifference to the pains and pleasures of sense-to glory, death, and all reputed ills. So thou hast the reality, thoult not be ambitious of the name, but will become another man, and lead a new life. To be harrassed and polluted as thou wast, is to betray a senseless fondness for life; not unlike

those unhappy combatants in the circus, who, mangled and half devoured by savage beasts, would fain live till the morrow, although to encounter the same fate. Only prove true to thyself, then, and thoult be as one transported to the islands of the blest. But if unable fully to succeed, retire where thou mayest, perchance, prevail; or, if needful, be prepared to quit the world, not swoln with pride, indeed, but simply, freely, modestly, so that in this, at least, thou hast done well. God asks no flattery at thy hands, but only that, as a reasonable being, thou shouldst resemble him, just as the bee is known by its honey, the tree by its fruit, and man by his works.

An' thou givest not heed, these public entertainments, with wars abroad, folly and fraud at home, will blot out those sacred maxims founded on the contemplation of nature, from thy soul. Observe and act in all things, combining energy with reflection, so that thou mayest be true to thyself, nor keep thy faculties in the shade. Thoult fare all the better for thy gravity and simplicity; will better appreciate the value and utility of whatever comes before thee the likelihood of its duration, those who give, and those who take away.

The spider exults when she hath caught a fly-one man if he have entrapped a little hare-another, a wild beast, or a Sarmatian-robbers all!

Nothing is more calculated to ensure greatness of mind, than the observation of perpetual change. He who doeth this, hath, in a manner, put off the body; and, knowing how soon he must away, is just in all his dealings, as well as resigned to the conditions to which nature subjects him. Whatever any one may think, or do, or say, his only concern is to act aright, to be contented with what befals. He hath cast aside every trouble and care, and desireth but to walk according to the law of God.

Why be solicitous about the event, hast only to act

justly, and let nothing turn thee aside?

But if opposed, and otherwise uncertain, pause, be well advised, and proceed as thou art able, ever aiming at the goal. With this there can be no real failure, and thou wilt ever be cheerful, at leisure, and composed.

Ask, when thou wakest, how far another's justice or goodness can avail thee—not much. Hast forgotten who they are that take upon them to praise or blame; what they are at bed and board—what they seek and what they shun? How they steal and snatch away, not indeed with hands and feet, but with that better part, by which a man, if he will, may insure good-faith, truth, modesty, justice— in a word, the divinity within.

To God who gives, and God who takes away, the well-instructed and faithful soul will say-give what thou wilt, take away what thou wilt; but with all obedience, submission, and good-will.

Live what remains to thee, as if thou wert in a mountain solitude; what does it matter here or there, the universe is thy home. Live then, according to nature; if men cannot bear thee, let them put thee to death, for it were better to die than live as they do.

Talk no more about what constitutes a good man; be

one.

What were space and time, but as the grain of corn, or turn of a drill?

Consider all around; how shortly they will change, decay, and die?

Who and what are they when eating, sleeping, and the rest of it; then behold them, puffed up, foaming, and abusing. To how many vices were they lately slaves; and what, after a little, will they become?

Whatever providence sends, as well as when it is sent, is best.

Earth loves the refreshing shower; the lofty ether, the