selves; but not so men, for they hold it too trifling a matter. And if a man should scatter about oyster-shells, not even the children would seize them.

Offices of government are dealt out, children will look for them; money is given, children will look for it; military commands, consulships,-let children scramble for them! Let them be shut out and smitten, let them kiss the hand of the giver, of his slaves: it is figs and almonds to me.

What then? If thou miss them when he is flinging them about, let it not vex thee. If a fig fall into thy bosom, take and eat it, for so far even a fig is to be valued. But if I must stoop down for it, and throw down another man, or another throw me down, and I flatter those who enter in, then neither is a fig worth so much, nor is any other of the things that are not good, even those which the philosophers have persuaded me not to think good.

Seck not to have things happen as you

choose them, but rather choose them to happen as they do, and so shall you live prosperously.

And what is Divine Law to a man? To hold fast that which is his own, and to claim nothing that is another's; to use what is given him, and not to covet what is not given; to yield up easily and willingly what is taken away, giving thanks for the time that he has had it at his service.

Man! be mad at last, as the saying is, for peace, for freedom, for magnanimity. Lift up thy head as one delivered from slavery. Dare to look up to God and say: Deal with me henceforth as thou wilt; I am of one mind with thee; I am thine. I reject nothing that seems good to thee; lead me whithersoever thou wilt, clothe me in what dress thou wilt. Wilt thou have me govern, or live privately, or stay at home, or go into exile, or be a poor man, or a rich? For all these conditions I will be thy advocate among men.

From thy heart cast out grief, fear, covetousness, envy, malice, avarice, effeminacy, profligacy.

If toil is laid upon thee, thou wilt find the faculty of perseverance. If thou art reviled, thou wilt find patience. If thou see a beautiful person, thou wilt find a faculty for that, -namely self-mastery.

Remember, at any thing that shall befall thee, to turn to thyself and seek what faculty thou hast for making use of it; and making this thy wont, thou shalt not be carried away by appearances.

For thine it is to act well the allotted part, but to choose it is another's.

Say no more then, How shall it be with me? for however it be thou wilt settle it well, and the issue shall be fortunate.

For whatever of these things may come to pass, it lies with me to have it serve me.

Desire not to be Commander or Prince or Consul, but to be free. And to this there is

but one road,-scorn of the things which are not in our power.

But do thou cherish no scorn, but hold fast to those things that seem to thee the best, as one set by God in that place.

If anyone should set your body at the mercy of every passer-by, you would be indignant. When, therefore, you set your own mind at the mercy of every chance, to be troubled and perturbed when any one may revile you, have you no shame of this?

God hath made all men to be happy and of good estate.

That which thou wouldst not suffer thyself, seek not to lay upon others.

It is the part of a stranger and alien in God's world, who fights against God in the one way he can,-by his own opinions.

Know you not that our business here is a warfare? And one must watch, and one go out as a spy, and one must fight. All

cannot be the same thing, nor would it be better if they were. But you neglect to do the bidding of the Commander, and complain when he hath laid somewhat rougher than common upon you; and you mark not what, so far as in you lies, you are making the army to become; so that if all copy you, none will dig a trench, none will cast up a rampart, none will watch, none will run any risk, but each will appear worthless for war. fare.

Again; in a ship, if you go for a sailor, to take up one place and never budge from it, and if you are wanted to go aloft, refuse, or to run upon the prow, refuse,--what Captain will have patience with you? Will he not cast you out as some useless thing, and a bad example for the other sailors?

The life of every man is a sort of warfare, a long one and full of divers chances.

And it behoveth a man to play a soldier's part and do all at the nod of his Commander; yea, and if it be possible, to divine what He intendeth.