Meditations V.36

Be not carried incontinently away by sense-impressions, but rally to the fight as thou canst and as is due. If there be failure⁷³ in things indifferent, think not there is any great harm done; for that is an evil habit. But as the greybeard (in the play) taking his leave reclaimed his foster-child’s top, not forgetting that it was but a top, so do thou here also.⁷⁴ Since indeed thou art found haranguing on the hustings, O Man, hast thou forgotten what this really means? Aye, but people will have it. Must thou too be a fool in consequence?

Time was that wheresoever forsaken⁷⁵ I was a man well-portioned; but that man well-portioned is he that hath given himself a good portion; and good portions are good phases of the soul, good impulses, good actions.

• 73.See v. 36.
• 74.It is not known what Marcus alludes to. The following words are unintelligible.
• 75.Or overtaken (καταληφθείς).