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Marcus Aurelius Antoninus to Himself - College of Stoic Philosophers

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1 62 MARCUS ANTONINUS BOOK<br />

like the Christians', but <strong>of</strong> a temper rational and<br />

grave, and if it is <strong>to</strong> convince others unostenta-<br />

tious.<br />

4 Have I acted unselfishly? Good, I have my<br />

reward. Be this your ever-present stay ; and<br />

weary not.<br />

5 What is your business ? <strong>to</strong> be good. How<br />

can you succeed in this but by philosophic views,<br />

first <strong>of</strong> Nature, then <strong>of</strong> man's own constitution ?<br />

6 Tragedy, the first form <strong>of</strong> drama, drew its<br />

lessons from experience, partly as true <strong>to</strong> the facts<br />

<strong>of</strong> existence, and partly <strong>to</strong> take the sting, upon<br />

the larger stage <strong>of</strong> life, from things which appeal<br />

<strong>to</strong> the emotions on the stage.<br />

For there you see<br />

the fulfilment <strong>of</strong> the just denouement ; and also<br />

that there is strength <strong>to</strong> bear even in the agony <strong>of</strong><br />

O Cith&ron, Cithczron I l And the dramatists give<br />

us words <strong>of</strong> help, such as the exquisite<br />

Though I and both my sons be spurned <strong>of</strong> God,<br />

There is be sure a reason.<br />

Or again<br />

Fret not at circumstance.<br />

1 The cry <strong>of</strong> Oedipus the King (Soph. Oed. T. 1391) after the<br />

terrible disclosure. For the quotations following, compare vii. 38,<br />

40, 41.

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