soul. Certain traces and blisters are left in it, and unless a man shall
completely efface them, when he is again lashed on the same places, the
lash will produce not blisters (weals) but sores. If then you wish not
to be of an angry temper, do not feed the habit: throw nothing on it
which will increase it: at first keep quiet, and count the days on which
you have not been angry. I used to be in passion every day; now every
second day; then every third, then every fourth. But if you have
intermitted thirty days, make a sacrifice to God. For the habit at first
begins to be weakened, and then is completely destroyed. "I have not
been vexed to-day, nor the day after, nor yet on any succeeding day
during two or three months; but I took care when some exciting things
happened." Be assured that you are in a good way.

How then shall this be done? Be willing at length to be approved by
yourself, be willing to appear beautiful to God, desire to be in purity
with your own pure self and with God. Then when any such appearance
visits you, Plato says, Have recourse to expiations, go a suppliant to
the temples of the averting deities. It is even sufficient if you resort
to the society of noble and just men, and compare yourself with them,
whether you find one who is living or dead.

But in the first place, be not hurried away by the rapidity of the
appearance, but say, Appearances, wait for me a little; let me see who
you are, and what you are about; let me put you to the test. And then do
not allow the appearance to lead you on and draw lively pictures of the
things which will follow; for if you do, it will carry you off wherever
it pleases. But rather bring in to oppose it some other beautiful and
noble appearance, and cast out this base appearance. And if you are
accustomed to be exercised in this way, you will see what shoulders,
what sinews, what strength you have. But now it is only trifling words,