Page:The Emperor Marcus Antoninus - His Conversation with Himself.djvu/351

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Meditations, &c.
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within ; Keep your Mind, and your Motions true to the Interest of Mankind, for then you know your Faculties are in the right posture, that Nature has set them.

XXXII The greatest part of your trouble lies in your Fancy, and therefore you may Disengage your self when you please. I'll tell you which way you may Move much more Freely, and give Ease, and Elbow-room to your Mind. Take the whole World into your Contemplation, and the little time you are to Live in't. Consider how fast the Scenes are shifted, and how near the End of all things lies to their Beginning ! But then the Extent of Duration in which we are nothing concern'd! The Ages before our Birth, and after our Death, are both Infinite and Unmeasurable.

XXXIII. Whatever makes a Figure Now, will quickly Decay, and Disppear: And those that Gaze upon the Ruins of Time, will be bury'd under them. And then the Longest, and the Shortest Liver, will be both in the same Condition.

XXXIV. If you would walk within People, and discover their Intentions, and look through their Ceremony , and Respect, you must strain for Observation ; and strip them to the Soul if you can : Such a narrow Enquiry will, among other

Things,