Page:Marcus Aurelius (Haines 1916).djvu/43

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page has been proofread, but needs to be validated.

MARCUS AURELIUS ANTONINUS

THE EMPEROR

TO HIMSELF


BOOK I


1. From my Grandfather Verus,[1] a kindly disposition and sweetness of temper.

2. From what I heard of my Father[2] and my memory of him, modesty and manliness.

3. From my Mother, the fear of God, and generosity; and abstention not only from doing ill but even from the very thought of doing it; and furthermore to live the simple life,[3] far removed from the habits of the rich.

4. From my Grandfather's Father,[4] to dispense with attendance at public schools, and to enjoy good teachers at home,[5] and to recognize that on such things money should be eagerly spent.

  1. sc. “I had an example of,” “was in the way to learn.” But the construction varies and sometimes a direct statement of characteristics is given. It is obvious that Marcus does not claim to possess all the good qualities enumerated.
  2. Died before 136. The grandfather of M. (§ 1) died aged nearly 90 in 138 (Capit. Vit. Mar. vi. 1; Vit. Pii iv. 2).
  3. cp. Aristides, ad Reg. 115 (Jebb) διαίτης εὐτέλεια (of Marcus).
  4. Catilius Severus, praef. urbi, who hoped to succeed Hadrian (Spart. Vit. Hadr. v. 10; xxiv. 6).
  5. Capit. Vit. Mar. (ii. 3–iii. 4) gives a list of these.

3