Marcus Aurelius Antoninus to Himself - College of Stoic Philosophers

x TO HIMSELF 151
change, and in decay, either by process of disper-
sion, or by its own appointed mode of death.
Eating, sleeping, breeding, excreting only 19
look at them : look at their lasciviousness and
wantonness, their rages and their outbursts of abuse!
A while back, to how many did they bow the
little while, and
knee, and for what ends ! A
what will be their plight !
For each is best, what Nature brings : and
too at the time, when Nature brings it.
Earth is in love with rain, and holy aether loves. 1
best 20
Yes, the world-order is in love with fashioning
whatever is to be. To the world-order I profess
'
Thy love is mine.' Is there not a truth implicit
in the familiar '
as it listeth '
Either You live on where you are ;
? 2
21
to that 22
you are well used : or You move ofT, and so
doing have your wish : or You die, and your
1
Euripides.
2 The double meaning of the Greek 0i\et,
'
loves/ and '
is
wont,' has no exact counterpart in English. The adaptation is
suggested by a passage of kindred spirit.
' Who took as the type
of the true man, the wind ? the wind that blows where it likes ;
and of which no man need ask whence or whither ; he may be
sure that it is going where it is needed to keep Nature's balance
true. Were not the wind's law, law enough for us?' Hinton,
The Place of the Physician.