Page:Marcus Aurelius (Haines 1916).djvu/225

BOOK VII

and its succession of sovranties without number. Thou canst look forward and see the future also. For it will most surely be of the same character,^[1] and it cannot but carry on the rhythm of existing things. Consequently it is all one, whether we witness human life for forty years or ten thousand. For what more shalt thou see?

50. All that is earth-born gravitates earthwards,

Dust unto dust; and all that from ether
Grows, speeds swiftly back again heavenward;^[2]

that is, either there is a breaking up of the closely-linked atoms or, what is much the same, a scattering of the impassive elements.

51. Again:

With meats and drinks and curious sorceries
Side-track the stream, so be they may not die.^[3]

 

When a storm from the Gods beats down on our bark,
At our oars then we needs must toil and complain not.^[4]

52. Better at the cross-buttock,^[5] may be, but not at shewing public spirit or modesty, or being readier for every contingency or more gracious to our neighbour if he sees awry.

53. A work that can be accomplished in obedience to that reason which we share with the Gods is attended with no fear. For no harm need be anticipated, where by an activity that follows the

1. vi. 37.
2. Eur. Chrys. Frag. 836. Constantly quoted. cp. Lucr. ii. 991; Genesis iii. 19: γῆ εἷ καὶ ἐς γῆν ἀπελεύσῃ; Ecclesiasticus xl. 11.
3. Eur. Suppl. 1110.
4. Unknown.
5. Plutarch, Apophth. 2. 206 E.

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