so do, and so project all, as one who, for aught thou knowest,
may at this very present depart out of this life.
And as for death, if there be any gods, it is no grievous thing
to leave the society of men. The gods will do thee no hurt,
thou mayest be sure. But if it be so that there be no gods,
or that they take no care of the world, why should I desire
to live in a world void of gods, and of all divine providence?
But gods there be certainly, and they take care for the world;
and as for those things which be truly evil, as vice and.
wickedness, such things they have put in a man s own power,
that he might avoid them if he would: and had there been
anything besides that had been truly bad and evil, they would
have had a care of that also, that a man might have avoided it.
But why should that be thought to hurt and prejudice a man's life
in this world, which cannot any ways make man himself the better,
or the worse in his own person? Neither must we think that
the nature of the universe did either through ignorance pass
these things, or if not as ignorant of them, yet as unable
either to prevent, or better to order and dispose them.
It cannot be that she through want either of power or skill,
should have committed such a thing, so as to suffer all things
both good and bad, equally and promiscuously, to happen unto
all both good and bad. As for life therefore, and death,
honour and dishonour, labour and pleasure, riches and poverty,
all these things happen unto men indeed, both good and bad, equally;
but as things which of themselves are neither good nor bad;
because of themselves, neither shameful nor praiseworthy.
IX. Consider how quickly all things are dissolved and resolved:
the bodies and substances themselves, into the matter and substance
of the world: and their memories into the general age and time
of the world. Consider the nature of all worldly sensible things;
of those especially, which either ensnare by pleasure, or for their
irksomeness are dreadful, or for their outward lustre and show are
in great esteem and request, how vile and contemptible, how base
and corruptible, how destitute of all true life and being they are.