The Thoughts of Marcus Aurelius - College of Stoic Philosophers

276 L^LIUS; OR,
strongest effects are more particularly conspicuous in the
human species as ; appears, in the first place, from that
powerful endearment which subsists between parents and
children, and which cannot be eradicated or counteracted
without the most detestable impiety ; and in the next,
from those sentiments of secret approbation which arise
on the very
first interview with a man whose manners
and temper seem to harmonize with our own, and in
whom we think we discover symptoms of an honest and
virtuous mind. In reality, nothing
is so beautiful as
virtue ;
and nothing makes its way more directly to the
heart : we feel a certain degree of affection even towards
those meritorious persons whom we have never seen, and
whose characters are known to us only from history.
Where is the man that does not, even at this distance of
time, find his heart glow with benevolence towards the
memory of Fabricius or Curius, though he certainly never
beheld their persons ? On the contrary, who is there
that feels not emotions of hatred and detestation when
he reflects on the conduct of Tarquin, of Cassius, or of
Mselius ? Rome has twice contended for empire upon
Italian ground, when she sent forth her armies to oppose
the respective invasions of Pyrrhus and of Hannibal ;
and yet, with what different dispositions do we review
the campaigns of those hostile chiefs The generous
!
spirit of the former very much softens our resentment
towards him ; while the cruelty of the latter must render
his character the abhorrence of every Roman.
If the charms of virtue, then, are so captivating, as to
inspire us with some degree
of affection towards those
approved persons whom we never saw ; or, which is still
more extraordinary,
if
they force us to admire them even
in an enemy what wonder is it that in those with whom
;
we live and converse they should affect us in a still more
irresistible manner ? It must be acknowledged, however,
that this first impression is considerably strengthened and