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Marcus Aurelius Antoninus to Himself - College of Stoic Philosophers

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xi TO HIMSELF 163<br />

Or<br />

Lives are reaped like ears <strong>of</strong> corn<br />

and the like. After tragedy came the old comedy,<br />

reprimanding like a schoolmaster, and in its<br />

bluff outspoken way usefully rebuking pride ;<br />

somewhat in the style <strong>of</strong> like deliverances by<br />

Diogenes. Next understand the meaning <strong>of</strong> middle<br />

comedy, and finally <strong>of</strong> the new comedy, noting <strong>to</strong><br />

what ends it was applied and how it gradually<br />

degenerated in<strong>to</strong> mere mimic diversion. That<br />

some good things occur even here, every one<br />

knows ;<br />

but what was the main object and aim <strong>of</strong><br />

that school <strong>of</strong> poetry and drama ?<br />

Palpably,<br />

no condition <strong>of</strong> life is so well suited 7<br />

for philosophy, as that in which chance puts<br />

you.<br />

A branch lopped from its neighbour branch, 8<br />

is inevitably lopped also from the main trunk.<br />

So <strong>to</strong>o a man, isolated from one <strong>of</strong> his fellow-<br />

beings, is severed from the general fellowship.<br />

Another's hand lops the branch ; but it is a<br />

man's own act when hatred or estrangement<br />

separates him from his neighbour,<br />

and he wots<br />

not that he thereby cuts himself <strong>of</strong>f from<br />

the great world society. But, thanks be <strong>to</strong>

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