Page:The Emperor Marcus Antoninus - His Conversation with Himself.djvu/355

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Meditations, &c.
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bauch Her, but do you rather pray that you may have no such Inclination. Another invokes the Gods to set him Free from troublesome Superiour ; but let it be your Petition, that your Mind may never put you upon such a Wish. A Third is mighty devout to prevent the loss of his Son ? But I would have you pray rather against the Fear of Losing him. Let this be the Rule for your Devotions, and see if the Event does not Answer.

XLIII. When I was Sick says Epicurus , I did not Discourse the Company about my Diseases, or the Torment I was troubled with. No , my System of Natural Philosophy was part of my Subject. And my main Concern was , that my Mind might not give way to my Body , nor grow uneasie under Pain. I made no great business of a Recovery, nor gave any Handle to the Doctor to brag of their Profession, but held on with Fortitude , and Indifferency. Thus he. And when you are Sick, or under any other Disadvantage, can't you behave your self in this manner? 'Tis practicable to all Perswasions in Philosophy , to stand their Ground against all Accidents, and not to fall into the Weaknesses, and Folly of the Ignorant : We must always be prepared for the present, Mind the Thing before

us;