A source-book of ancient history - The Search For Mecca

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The Harmony of all Things 511
which is in due time for thee. Everything is fruit to me
which thy seasons bring, Nature; from thee are all
things, in thee are all things, and to thee all things return.
Constantly regard the universe as one Hving being, having
one substance and one soul; and observe how all things
have reference to one perception, the perception of this one lb. iv. 40,
living being; and how all
things act with one movement;
and how all things are the cooperating causes of all things
which exist.
A prayer of the Athenians: "Rain, rain, dear Zeus, lb. v. 7.
down on the plowed fields of the Athenians, and on the
plains."
In truth we ought not to pray at all, or we ought
to pray in this simple and noble fashion.
How hast thou behaved hitherto to the gods, thy par- lb. v. 31.
ents, brethren, children, teachers, to those who looked after
thy infancy, to thy friends, kinsfolk, to thy slaves? Consider
if thou hast hitherto behaved to all in such a way
that this may be said of thee,
Never has wronged a man in deed or word.
Let it make no difference to thee whether thou art cold Meditations
or warm, if thou art doing thy duty; and whether thou art
drowsy or satisfied with sleep; and whether ill-spoken of
or praised; and whether dying or doing something else.
For it is one of the acts of life—this act by which we die;
it is sufficient then in this act also to do well what we have
in hand.
Death is a cessation of the impressions through the lb. vi. 28.
senses, and of the pulhng of the strings which move the
appetites . . . and of service to the flesh.
All things are implicated with one another, and the bond lb. vii. 9.
is holy; and there is hardly anything unconnected with
any other thing.
For things have been coordinated, and