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Marcus Aurelius Antoninus to Himself - College of Stoic Philosophers

Marcus Aurelius Antoninus to Himself - College of Stoic Philosophers

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iv MARCUS ANTONINUS<br />

but by direct and permanent appeal<br />

<strong>to</strong> heart and<br />

conscience, without support from prescription or<br />

conventions, <strong>Marcus</strong> holds his own and lives.<br />

Translations, essays, and the records <strong>of</strong> biographies<br />

all testify how simple and learned alike fall under<br />

his spell, and find in his Thoughts material that<br />

gives support <strong>to</strong> duty, courage under disappoint-<br />

ment, consolation in sorrow, and calm amid the<br />

bustle <strong>of</strong> life. To Renan, they<br />

human <strong>of</strong> all books '<br />

;<br />

'<br />

are 'the most<br />

the gospel that will never<br />

grow old.' To Myers 'the life <strong>of</strong> <strong>Marcus</strong> 'and<br />

the Thoughts, they only, are the life<br />

'<br />

will<br />

remain for ever the normal high -water mark<br />

<strong>of</strong> the unassisted virtue <strong>of</strong> man.' To Matthew<br />

Arnold *<br />

the acquaintance <strong>of</strong> a man like <strong>Marcus</strong><br />

<strong>Aurelius</strong> is an imperishable benefit '<br />

especial<br />

;<br />

as<br />

'<br />

the<br />

friend and comforter <strong>of</strong> clear-headed and<br />

scrupulous, yet pure-hearted and upward-striving<br />

men, in those ages most especially that walk by<br />

sight not by faith, but yet have no open vision.'<br />

In dealing with a writer such as this, in<br />

whom matter and mood are the things <strong>of</strong> prime<br />

importance, a transla<strong>to</strong>r's first duty<br />

is <strong>to</strong> make his<br />

English natural, clear, and readable ; and, subject<br />

always <strong>to</strong> this demand, <strong>to</strong> reproduce, as far as

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