[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
.When thou shalt havecontent in thy present estate, and all things present shall add to thy content: whenthou shalt persuade thyself, that thou hast all things; all for thy good, and all by theprovidence of the Gods: and of things future also shalt be as confident, that all willdo well, as tending to the maintenance and preservation in some sort, of his perfectwelfare and happiness, who is perfection of life, of goodness, and beauty; who begetsall things, and containeth all things in himself, and in himself doth recollect allthings from all places that are dissolved, that of them he may beget others again likeunto them.Such one day shall be thy disposition, that thou shalt be able, both inregard of the Gods, and in regard of men, so to fit and order thy conversation, as nei-ther to complain of them at any time, for anything that they do; nor to do anythingthyself, for which thou mayest justly be condemned.II.As one who is altogether governed by nature, let it be thy care to observe what it isthat thy nature in general doth require.That done, if thou find not that thy nature,as thou art a living sensible creature, will be the worse for it, thou mayest proceed.Next then thou must examine, what thy nature as thou art a living sensible creature,doth require.And that, whatsoever it be, thou mayest admit of and do it, if thy na-ture as thou art a reasonable living creature, will not be the worse for it.Now what-soever is reasonable, is also sociable, Keep thyself to these rules, and trouble notthyself about idle things.III.Whatsoever doth happen unto thee, thou art naturally by thy natural constitutioneither able, or not able to bear.If thou beest able, be not offended, but bear it accord-ing to thy natural constitution, or as nature hath enabled thee.If thou beest notable, be not offended.For it will soon make an end of thee, and itself, (whatsoever itbe) at the same time end with thee.But remember, that whatsoever by the strengthof opinion, grounded upon a certain apprehension of both true profit and duty, thoucanst conceive tolerable; that thou art able to bear that by thy natural constitution.IV.Him that offends, to teach with love and meek ness, and to show him his error.But if thou canst not, then to blame thyself; or rather not thyself neither, if thy willand endeavours have not been wanting.V.Whatsoever it be that happens unto thee, it is that which from all time was ap-pointed unto thee.For by the same coherence of causes, by which thy substancefrom all eternity was appointed to be, was also whatsoever should happen unto it,destinated and appointed.Marcus Aurelius' Meditations - tr.Casaubon v.8.16, uploaded to www.philaletheians.co.uk, 14 July 2013Page 86 of 128 MEDITATIONS OF MARCUS AURELIUSTENTH BOOKVI.Either with Epicurus, we must fondly imagine the atoms to be the cause of allthings, or we must needs grant a nature.Let this then be thy first ground, that thouart part of that universe, which is governed by nature.Then secondly, that to thoseparts that are of the same kind and nature as thou art, thou hast relation of kindred.For of these, if I shall always be mindful, first as I am a part, I shall never be dis-pleased with anything, that falls to my particular share of the common chances ofthe world.For nothing that is behoveful unto the whole, can be truly hurtful to thatwhich is part of it.For this being the common privilege of all natures, that they con-tain nothing in themselves that is hurtful unto them; it cannot be that the nature ofthe universe (whose privilege beyond other particular natures, is, that she cannotagainst her will by any higher external cause be constrained), should beget anythingand cherish it in her bosom that should tend to her own hurt and prejudice.As thenI bear in mind that I am a part of such an universe, I shall not be displeased withanything that happens.And as I have relation of kindred to those parts that are ofthe same kind and nature that I am, so I shall be careful to do nothing that is preju-dicial to the community, but in all my deliberations shall they that are of my kindever be; and the common good, that, which all my intentions and resolutions shalldrive unto, as that which is contrary unto it, I shall by all means endeavour to pre-vent and avoid.These things once so fixed and concluded, as thou wouldst think hima happy citizen, whose constant study and practice were for the good and benefit ofhis fellow citizens, and the carriage of the city such towards him, that he were wellpleased with it; so must it needs be with thee, that thou shalt live a happy life.VII.All parts of the world, (all things I mean that are contained within the wholeworld, must of necessity at some time or other come to corruption.Alteration Ishould say, to speak truly and properly; but that I may be the better understood, Iam content at this time to use that more common word.Now say I, if so be that thisbe both hurtful unto them, and yet unavoidable, would not, thinkest thou, the wholeitself be in a sweet case, all the parts of it being subject to alteration, yea and bytheir making itself fitted for corruption, as consisting of things different and contra-ry? And did nature then either of herself thus project and purpose the affliction andmisery of her parts, and therefore of purpose so made them, not only that haply theymight, but of necessity that they should fall into evil; or did not she know what shedid, when she made them? For either of these two to say, is equally absurd
[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]