322 ROBERTSON. 



" IV. By my great grandfather I was advised not to fre- 

 quent the public schools of declaimers ; but to hear the best 

 masters in private, and to spare no expense in procuring 

 such. 



" V. By my governor I was taught to take no side in those 

 factions which divide the Circus and Theatre ; to be patient 

 of labour, to be content with little, and to be able to work 

 with my own hands ; not to meddle in other men's matters, 

 and to discourage all informers. 



"VI. By Diognetus I was taught not to amuse myself with 

 empty, trifling studies, not to give credit to the marvellous 

 stories related of wizards, enchanters, and the exorcising of 

 daemons ; not to spend my time in the breeding of quails and 

 such like trifles ; to endure it patiently when men speak 

 freely of me, and to apply myself wholly to the study of philo- 

 sophy. By his advice I heard Bacchius, Tyndarides, and 

 Marcianus, and, when very young, employed myself in com- 

 posing dialogues ; used a mean bed, covered only with a 

 skin ; and in every other thing emulated the manners of the 

 Grecian philosophers. 



" VII. To Rupheus I am indebted for my resolution of re- 

 forming and watching over my own morals, and that I did 

 not fall into an imitation of the pride of the Sophists ; that I 

 did not write upon merely speculative points, or compose 

 quaint and finical exhortations to virtue ; that my exercises 

 were not calculated to strike the fancy, and to carry with 

 them an air of importance and austerity; that I applied my- 

 self neither to rhetoric nor poetry, nor studied any affected 

 elegance in my expressions ; that I did not wear the stola 

 while within doors, and shunned all extravagant pride in my 

 dress. By him I was taught to write my letters in a sim- 

 ple style, after the model of those he sent from Sinuessa ; to 

 show myself of a placable disposition towards those who have 

 injured and offended me, and ready to be reconciled to them 

 whenever they desire to return to my favour ; to read with 

 accuracy, not to be content with a superficial consideration 

 of things, and not rashly to give ear to great talkers. To 

 him, likewise, I owe my acquaintance with the Commentaries 

 of Epictetus, which he furnished me with. 



