thee the question, how the name
Antoninus is written, wouldst thou with a straining of the voice utter
each letter? What then if they grow angry, wilt thou be angry too? Wilt
thou not go on with composure and number every letter? Just so then in
this life also remember that every duty is made up of certain parts.
These it is thy duty to observe, and without being disturbed or showing
anger towards those who are angry with thee, to go on thy way and
finish that which is set before thee.

27. How cruel it is not to allow men to strive After the things which
appear to them to be suitable to their nature and profitable! And yet in
a manner thou dost not allow them to do this, when thou art vexed
because they do wrong. For they are certainly moved towards things
because they suppose them to be suitable to their nature and profitable
to them. But it is not so. Teach them then, and show them without being
angry.

28. Death is a cessation of the impressions through the senses, and of
the pulling of the strings which move the appetites, and of the
discursive movements of the thoughts, and of the service to the flesh
(ii. 12).

29. It is a shame for the soul to be first to give way in this life,
when thy body does not give way.

30. Take care that thou art not made into a Caesar, that thou art not
dyed with this dye; for such things happen. Keep thyself then simple,
good, pure, serious, free from affectation, a friend of justice, a
worshipper of the gods, kind, affectionate, strenuous in all proper
acts. Strive to continue to be such as philosophy wished to make thee.
Reverence the gods, and help men. Short is life. There is only one fruit
of this terrene life--a pious disposition and social acts. Do everything
as a disciple of Antoninus. Remember his constancy in every act which
was conformable to reason, and his evenness in all things, and his
piety, and the serenity of his countenance, and his sweetness, and his
disregard of empty fame, and his efforts to understand things; and how
he would never let anything pass without having first most carefully
examined it and clearly understood it; and how he bore with those who
blamed him unjustly without blaming them in return; how he did nothing
in a hurry; and how he listened not to calumnies, and how exact an
examiner of manners and actions he was; and not given to reproach
people, nor timid, nor suspicious, nor a sophist; and with how little he
was satisfied, such as lodging,