the meditations-第33章
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XXXIX。 Sayest thou unto that rational part； Thou art dead； corruption hath taken hold on thee？ Doth it then also void excrements？ Doth it like either oxen； or sheep； graze or feed； that it also should be mortal； as well as the body？
XL。 Either the Gods can do nothing for us at all； or they can still and allay all the distractions and distempers of thy mind。 If they can do nothing； why doest thou pray？ If they can； why wouldst not thou rather pray； that they will grant unto thee； that thou mayst neither fear； nor lust after any of those worldly things which cause these distractions and distempers of it？ Why not rather； that thou mayst not at either their absence or presence； be grieved and discontented： than either that thou mayst obtain them； or that thou mayst avoid them？ For certainly it must needs be； that if the Gods can help us in anything； they may in this kind also。 But thou wilt say perchance； 'In those things the Gods have given me my liberty： and it is in mine own power to do what I will。' But if thou mayst use this liberty； rather to set thy mind at true liberty； than wilfully with baseness and servility of mind to affect those things； which either to compass or to avoid is not in thy power； wert not thou better？ And as for the Gods； who hath told thee； that they may not help us up even in those things that they have put in our own power？ whether it be so or no； thou shalt soon perceive； if thou wilt but try thyself and pray。 One prayeth that he may compass his desire； to lie with such or such a one； pray thou that thou mayst not lust to lie with her。 Another how he may be rid of such a one； pray thou that thou mayst so patiently bear with him； as that thou have no such need to be rid of him。 Another； that he may not lose his child。 Pray thou that thou mayst not fear to lose him。 To this end and purpose； let all thy prayer be； and see what will be the event。
XLI。 'In my sickness' （saith Epicurus of himself：） 'my discourses were not concerning the nature of my disease； neither was that； to them that came to visit me； the subject of my talk； but in the consideration and contemplation of that； which was of especial weight and moment； was all my time bestowed and spent； and among others in this very thing； how my mind； by a natural and unavoidable sympathy partaking in some sort with the present indisposition of my body； might nevertheless keep herself free from trouble； and in present possession of her own proper happiness。 Neither did I leave the ordering of my body to the physicians altogether to do with me what they would； as though I expected any great matter from them； or as though I thought it a matter of such great consequence； by their means to recover my health： for my present estate； methought； liked me very well； and gave me good content。' Whether therefore in sickness （if thou chance to sicken） or in what other kind of extremity soever； endeavour thou also to be in thy mind so affected； as he doth report of himself： not to depart from thy philosophy for anything that can befall thee； nor to give ear to the discourses of silly people； and mere naturalists。 XLII。 It is common to all trades and professions to mind and intend that only； which now they are about； and the instrument whereby they work。
XLIII。 When at any time thou art offended with any one's impudency； put presently this question to thyself： 'What？ Is it then possible； that there should not be any impudent men in the world！ Certainly it is not possible。' Desire not then that which is impossible。 For this one； （thou must think） whosoever he be； is one of those impudent ones； that the world cannot be without。 So of the subtile and crafty； so of the perfidious； so of every one that offendeth； must thou ever be ready to reason with thyself。 For whilst in general thou dost thus reason with thyself； that the kind of them must needs be in the world； thou wilt be the better able to use meekness towards every particular。 This also thou shalt find of very good use； upon every such occasion； presently to consider with thyself； what proper virtue nature hath furnished man with； against such a vice； or to encounter with a disposition vicious in this kind。 As for example； against the unthankful； it hath given goodness and meekness； as an antidote； and so against another vicious in another kind some other peculiar faculty。 And generally； is it not in thy power to instruct him better； that is in an error？ For whosoever sinneth； doth in that decline from his purposed end； and is certainly deceived； And again； what art thou the worse for his sin？ For thou shalt not find that any one of these； against whom thou art incensed； hath in very deed done anything whereby thy mind （the only true subject of thy hurt and evil） can be made worse than it was。 And what a matter of either grief or wonder is this； if he that is unlearned； do the deeds of one that is unlearned？ Should not thou rather blame thyself； who； when upon very good grounds of reason； thou mightst have thought it very probable； that such a thing would by such a one be committed； didst not only not foresee it； but moreover dost wonder at it； that such a thing should be。 But then especially； when thou dost find fault with either an unthankful； or a false man； must thou reflect upon thyself。 For without all question； thou thyself art much in fault； if either of one that were of such a disposition； thou didst expect that he should be true unto thee： or when unto any thou didst a good turn； thou didst not there bound thy thoughts； as one that had obtained his end； nor didst not think that from the action itself thou hadst received a full reward of the good that thou hadst done。 For what wouldst thou have more？ Unto him that is a man； thou hast done a good turn： doth not that suffice thee？ What thy nature required； that hast thou done。 Must thou be rewarded for it？ As if either the eye for that it seeth； or the feet that they go； should require satisfaction。 For as these being by nature appointed for such an use； can challenge no more； than that they may work according to their natural constitution： so man being born to do good unto others whensoever he doth a real good unto any by helping them out of error； or though but in middle things； as in matter of wealth； life； preferment； and the like； doth help to further their desires he doth that for which he was made； and therefore can require no more。
THE TENTH BOOK
I。 O my soul； the time I trust will be； when thou shalt be good； simple； single； more open and visible； than that body by which it is enclosed。 Thou wilt one day be sensible of their happincss； whose end is love； and their affections dead to all worldly things。 Thou shalt one day be full； and in want of no external thing： not seeking pleasure from anything； either living or insensible； that this world can afford； neither wanting time for the continuation of thy pleasure； nor place and opportunity； nor the favour either of the weather or of men。 When thou shalt have content in thy present estate； and all things present shall add to thy content： when thou shalt persuade thyself； that thou hast all things； all for thy good； and all by the providence of the Gods： and of things future also shalt be as confident； that all will do well； as tending to the maintenance and preservation in some sort； of his perfect welfare and happiness； who is perfection of life； of goodness； and beauty； who begets all things； and containeth all things in himself； and in himself doth recollect all things from all places that are dissolved； that of them he may beget others again like unto them。 Such one day shall be thy disposition； that thou shalt be able； both in regard of the Gods； and in regard of men； so to fit and order thy conversation； as neither to complain of them at any time； for anything that they do； nor to do anything thyself； for which thou mayest justly be condemned。
II。 As one who is altogether governed by nature； let it be thy care to observe what it is that thy nature in general doth require。 That done； if thou find not that thy nature； as thou art a living sensible creature； will be the worse for it； thou mayest proceed。 Next then thou must examine； what thy nature
