Page:The Emperor Marcus Antoninus - His Conversation with Himself.djvu/106

liv to himself, there being enough besides to justify the Application.

The appearing in great Cities in a Coach, a Horse-litter, or on Horse-back, was already Prohibited by Adrian: This Law was reviv'd by Antoninus under express Penalties: For he could not endure a Circumstance peculiar to Triumph should grow cheap by common Usage; And that the Subject should take the Liberty of an Equipage, which even the Emperours declin'd unless upon extraordinary Occasions.

He was fully perswaded that the preferring unworthy Persons to the Magistracy, was one of the greatest Misfortunes that could happen to a Prince. And thus taking all possible Precaution to prevent such a Mischief from himself, he never made any Difficulty to deny an unreasonable Request: A Person of a very ill Reputation having beg'd an Office of him, he gave him this Answer; Purge your self first of those bad Reports that go of you: To this the Man presently replied, Sir, I know several Judges as great Rakes as my self. The Emperour took no notice of his Boldness, but made it his Business not to give any Occasion to such Reproaches for the future.

When he found any Person qualified to serve the Publick, he gave them their due