Marcus Aurelius Antoninus to Himself - College of Stoic Philosophers

v MARCUS AURELIUS ANTONINUS cxxxv
ness in itself, in the realisation and fulfilment of its
cosmic part, undistracted by baits of worthless pleasure,
or lures of wealth or state, or the evanescent bubble of
fame.- Stripped of their husks and veils, 1 none of
these things can either tempt, or satisfy, or last.
But man's cosmic relationship carries other and far
more inspiring implications. If inherence in the unitary
whole circumscribes individuality, it implies at the same
time a fellowship of interest among the parts,
that to
'
nature's sincere familiar ' 2 becomes a conscious and en-
gaging bond. And this sympathetic tie of parts touches
chords in the imagination and the heart of Marcus that
had not before been sounded. There is not only a
vague and wistful sense of unity, but an almost personal
tenderness towards nature, both in organic and inorganic
phases of action, that is new to literature. The
harmonious courses of the stars, 3 the free bounties of
air and rain and sunlight, 4 the ordered industries and
happy societies of bird and beast and insect, 5 the co-
operations of feet and hands and eyelids and teeth, 6 the
ripening and the passing of vine and fig and olive, 7 the
distinctive beauties of youth and prime and age, 8 and
even the more baleful aspects of the immanent world-
life
*
the lion's scowl, and the foam that flecks the wild
boar's mouth ' 9
and stir
1 xii. 2, 8.
proclaim one origin, one life, one end,
that opens up new
'
an accent of emotion '
2 iii. 2.
4 viii. 57 ; ix. 8 ; xii. 30.
5 v. 1,6; vi. 14 ; ix. 9 ; xi. 18 (9).
7 iv. 6 ; v. 6 ; viii. 19.
9 iii. 2 ; vi. 36.
3 vii. 47 ; ix. 9 ; xi. 27.
6 ii. I ; ix. 42.
8 iii. 2, cf. iv. 20; vii. 24.