Роздуми
Book 1
Strength,perseverance,self-controlinbothareas:themarkofasoulinreadiness—indomitable.
(Maximus’sillness.)
17.THEGODS
ThatIhadgoodgrandparents,agoodmotherandfather,agoodsister,goodteachers,goodservants,relatives,friends—almostwithoutexception.AndthatIneverlostcontrolofmyselfwithanyofthem,althoughIhaditinmetodothat,andImighthave,easily.Butthankstothegods,Iwasneverputinthatposition,andsoescapedthetest.
ThatIwasn’traisedbymygrandfather’sgirlfriendforlongerthanIwas.ThatIdidn’tlosemyvirginitytooearly,anddidn’tenteradulthooduntilitwastime—putitoff,even.
ThatIhadsomeone—asarulerandasafather—whocouldkeepmefrombeingarrogantandmakemerealizethatevenatcourtyoucanlivewithoutatroopofbodyguards,andgorgeousclothes,lamps,sculpture—thewholecharade.Thatyoucanbehavealmostlikeanordinarypersonwithoutseemingslovenlyorcarelessasarulerorwhencarryingoutofficialobligations.
ThatIhadthekindofbrotherIdid.Onewhosecharacterchallengedmetoimprovemyown.Onewhoseloveandaffectionenrichedmylife.
Thatmychildrenweren’tbornstupidorphysicallydeformed.
ThatIwasn’tmoretalentedinrhetoricorpoetry,orotherareas.IfI’dfeltthatIwasmakingbetterprogressImightneverhavegiventhemup.
