their power upon men's lives, as though themselves had been immortal;
how many, that I may so speak, whole cities both men and towns:
Helice, Pompeii, Herculaneum, and others innumerable are dead and gone.
Run them over also, whom thou thyself, one after another,
hast known in thy time to drop away. Such and such a one took care
of such and such a one's burial, and soon after was buried himself.
So one, so another: and all things in a short time. For herein
lieth all indeed, ever to look upon all worldly things, as things
for their continuance, that are but for a day: and for their worth,
most vile, and contemptible, as for example, What is man?
That which but the other day when he was conceived was vile snivel;
and within few days shall be either an embalmed carcass, or mere ashes.
Thus must thou according to truth and nature, throughly consider how man's
life is but for a very moment of time, and so depart meek and contented:
even as if a ripe olive falling should praise the ground that bare her,
and give thanks to the tree that begat her.

XL. Thou must be like a promontory of the sea, against which
though the waves beat continually, yet it both itself stands,
and about it are those swelling waves stilled and quieted.

XLI. Oh, wretched I, to whom this mischance is happened! nay, happy I,
to whom this thing being happened, I can continue without grief; neither
wounded by that which is present, nor in fear of that which is to come.
For as for this, it might have happened unto any man, but any man having
such a thing befallen him, could not have continued without grief.
Why then should that rather be an unhappiness, than this a happiness?
But however, canst thou, 0 man! term that unhappiness, which is no
mischance to the nature of man I Canst thou think that a mischance
to the nature of man, which is not contrary to the end and will of