Page:The Emperor Marcus Antoninus - His Conversation with Himself.djvu/273

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Meditations, &c.
93

for the time you are to continue this Regularity; ne'er trouble your self whether 'tis long or short. For three Hours of Life thus well spent, will do your Business.

XXIV. Alexander the Great and his Groom, when dead, were both upon the same Level : And run the same Fortune of being either scattered into Atomes, or absorb'd in the Soul of the Universe. [1]

XXV. What abundance of Motions there are in the Body, what abundance of Thoughts and Sensations in the Mind at the same time? What a vast number of Operations are performed, and how much Business is Dispatch'd within us in a single Moment ? He that considers this, won't wonder so much that infinitely more productions should start out together in the Universe : Or that the Soul of the World should by once exerting Himself look over, Actuate, and govern the whole Mass of Matter.

XXVI. Suppose you were asked to spell Antoninus's Name, would you Hollow every Letter in the Company's Ears? Or would you return their Passion, if they were Angry ? I conceive you would rather go mildly to work, and give them the Letters and Syllables as they stand, without Noise. Apply this to greater Instances, and remember that all Duties in

Mo-
  1. See Book 4. §. 14.