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Marcus Aurelius Antoninus to Himself - College of Stoic Philosophers

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98 MARCUS ANTONINUS BOOK<br />

pell-mell <strong>of</strong> life and the order wrought<br />

opposites.<br />

out <strong>of</strong><br />

49 Review the past, its changing powers and<br />

50<br />

dynasties, and you can forecast the future <strong>to</strong>o.<br />

The same forms will in every case repeat them-<br />

selves ; the march <strong>of</strong> things keeps steady time.<br />

To witness human life for forty years, or forty<br />

thousand, is all one. What more will you<br />

Growths <strong>of</strong> earth return <strong>to</strong> earth ;<br />

Seeds that spring <strong>of</strong> heavenly birth,<br />

To heavenly<br />

realms anon revert<br />

l<br />

see ?<br />

yes, by dissolution <strong>of</strong> the a<strong>to</strong>mic combinations, and<br />

consequent scattering <strong>of</strong> the impassive elements.<br />

51 By meat and drink and sorcery<br />

Divert the sluice <strong>of</strong> destiny !<br />

God sends the breeze ;<br />

2<br />

then murmur not,<br />

Undaunted face the apportioned lot.<br />

52 "More knock -me- down" *<br />

I grant,<br />

but not<br />

more social -minded, more self-respecting, more<br />

1<br />

Euripides, Chrysippus (Fr. 833).<br />

2 Euripides, Supplices, v. uio-i.<br />

3 The word belongs <strong>to</strong> the Dorian vernacular, and recalls at<br />

once the Spartan apophthegm dear <strong>to</strong> S<strong>to</strong>ic teachers. Plutarch<br />

thus gives it, Apoph. Lac. 236 E. A young Spartan was vanquished<br />

at Olympia.<br />

'<br />

So your antagonist,' said some one, '<br />

proved the<br />

better man.' ! 'Better, nay but more knock-me-down.'

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