XXV. There is, who without so much as a coat; and there is, who without
so much as a book, doth put philosophy in practice. I am half naked,
neither have I bread to eat, and yet I depart not from reason, saith one.
But I say; I want the food of good teaching, and instructions,
and yet I depart not from reason. XXVI. What art and profession soever
thou hast learned, endeavour to affect it, and comfort thyself in it;
and pass the remainder of thy life as one who from his whole heart
commits himself and whatsoever belongs unto him, unto the gods:
and as for men, carry not thyself either tyrannically or servilely
towards any. XXVII. Consider in my mind, for example's sake,
the times of Vespasian: thou shalt see but the same things:
some marrying, some bringing up children, some sick, some dying,
some fighting, some feasting, some merchan-dising, some tilling,
some flattering, some boasting, some suspecting, some undermining,
some wishing to die, some fretting and murmuring at their present estate,
some wooing, some hoarding, some seeking after magistracies, and some
after kingdoms. And is not that their age quite over, and ended?
Again, consider now the times of Trajan. There likewise thou seest
the very self-same things, and that age also is now over and ended.
In the like manner consider other periods, both of times and of
whole nations, and see how many men, after they had with all their
might and main intended and prosecuted some one worldly thing or other
did soon after drop away, and were resolved into the elements.
But especially thou must call to mind them, whom thou thyself
in thy lifetime hast known much distracted about vain things,
and in the meantime neglecting to do that, and closely and unseparably
(as fully satisfied with it) to adhere unto it, which their own proper
constitution did require. And here thou must remember, that thy
carriage in every business must be according to the worth and due
proportion of it, for so shalt thou not easily be tired out and vexed,