MEDITATIONS.

BOOK I.

1. From the example of my grandfather VER

us, I acquired a virtuous disposition of mind, and an habitual command over my temper.'

2. From the character which I have heard and from what I myself remember of my own father, I have learned to behave with modesty, yet with a manly firmness, on all occasions. 3. My mother I have imitated in her piety and in her generous temper, and have been taught not only to abstain from doing any wicked action, but from indulging a thought of that kind. By her also I was habituated to a simple and abstemious way of life; very far from the luxury of a sumptuous table. 4. To my great-grandfather I am obliged, both for permitting me to attend the public recitals and declamations in the Rhetorick schools, and also for procuring me the best masters at home; and for making me sensible, that one ought not to spare any expense on these occasions. 5. From my governor (who had the care of the earlier part of my education) I learned not to engage in the disputes of the Circus or of the Amphitheatre; the chariot races, or the combats of the gladiators. He also taught me to endure hardships and fatigues; and to re

duce the conveniences of life into a narrow compass; and to wait on myself on most occasions not impertinently to interfere in other people's affairs, nor hastily to listen to calumnies and slander. 6. DIOGNETUs cautioned me against too eager a pursuit of trifles; particularly, not to busy myself in feeding quails, (for the pit or for divination.) As also not to give credit to vulgar tales of prodigies and incantations, and evil spirits cast out by magicians or pretenders to sorcery, and such kind of impostures. He taught me to bear patiently the free expostulations of my friends; to apply myself with assiduity to the study of philosophy; and introduced me, first, to hear Bacchius, and after that, Tandasides and Marcianus. And, while I was yet a boy, he put me upon writ ing dialogues as an exercise; and also taught me to relish the hard couch covered with skins; and other severities of the stoical discipline. 7. From RUSTICUS I received the first intimation, that the general disposition of my mind needed some correction and cure. He prevented me from entering with warmth into the disputes, or indulging in the vanity of the Sophists; writing upon their speculative points, or perpetually haranguing on moral subjects; or making any ostentatious display of my philosophical austerities, or courting applause by my activity and patience under toil and fatigue. To this philosopher I am obliged for my not pursuing too far the study of rhetorick and poetry, or laying too great a stress on elegance of style. From him also I took the hint, not to

assume any state, or appear in my imperial robes at home and in my own fumily, and the like. He also taught me to write letters in a plain, unornamented style; like that of his to my mother, from Sinuessa. From his admonitions, I learned ✓ to be easily reconciled to those who had injured or offended me, the moment they seemed inclined to return to their duty and also to read an author with care and attention, and not to content myself with a general superficial view of his subject, nor immediately to resign my opinion to every plausible declaimer. It was Rusticus also who made me acquainted with Epictetus's works, which he sent me from his own library.

8. APOLLONIUS taught me to maintain the free✔dom of my mind, a constancy independent of fortune; and to keep a steady eye, in the most minute instance, to the dictates of reason; to preserve an even temper, and to be like myself on the most trying occasions, under acute pains, tedious sickness, or the loss of children. And by his own living example he convinced me, that a man may be rigid in his principles, yet easy and affable in his manners, and free from any moroseness in delivering the precepts of his philosophy. In short, it was evident, he was so far from valuing himself on his experience and skill in explaining the theories of the philosophers, that he thought it the least of his accomplishments. From Apollonius also I learned the proper manner of receiving (what are esteemed) favours from our friends, without too humiliating an expression of our obligations, and

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yet without the appearance of our being insensible of their kindness. 9. In SEXTUS" I had an example of a truly benevolent disposition and of a family governed with a paternal care and affection. From his example I formed a resolution of living according to nature, of preserving an unaffected gravity in my deportment, and a careful attention to the expectations of my friends; to bear with the ignorance of the vulgar, and those that take up their opinions at random, without examination; in short, to accommodate myself to the opinions of those I conversed with, like that philosopher; whose conversation, by that means was more engaging than the most delicate flattery could have made it; yet he lost nothing, by that condescension, of that reverence which was always paid to his character. Sextus also suggested to me a compendious and regular system of maxims necessary for the conduct of life; while, in his own person, he never discovered the least symptom of anger or perturbation of mind from any violent passion; yet with all this apathy, he was susceptible of the warmest affection and attachment to his friends and relations. Finally; this good man had acquired an uncommon share of reputation without noise, and of deep learning without ostentation. 10. From ALEXANDER the grammarian, I learned not rudely to criticise any solecism or impropriety of expression or pronunciation, but dexterously to pronounce the word again in a proper manner, either by way of answer or enquiry; or as if to confirm what was said, and

not as anxious about the expression; or, in short, by some other skilful address, to set the person right. 11. FRONTO the orator informed me how much envy, intrigue and dissimulation, usually prevailed under tyrannical governments, and observed, that those whom we call nobility are too often void of natural affection and the common. feelings of humanity. 12. I am obliged to ALEXANDER the Platonist, for the hint," not of ten, nor ever, without a necessity, to complain, either in my letters or in the common intercourse with my friends, of my want of leisure; nor under a pretence of extraordinary embarrassment to decline or evade the common offices of friendship." 13. CATULLUS admonished me not to slight the complaints of a friend, even tho should prove to be without foundation, b deavour to sooth and restore hiin to a righ of my regard for him. He also taught me tify, on all occasions, the utmost reverence characters of my preceptors (as it is related mitius and Athenodorus); and likewise should always retain a sincere affection f children. 14. I imitate my kinsman RUS," in my love of my relations, my love o and of justice. He also first brought me acq ed with the characters of those great men, seas, Helvidius, Cato, Dion, and Brutus. also gave me a true idea of a commonwealth, all things were administered by equal laws a an equal regard to the general interest; a of a monarchy, where the liberty of the