Page:The Emperor Marcus Antoninus - His Conversation with Himself.djvu/115

 Rh himself in greater Difficulties than ever. The first part of this Misfortune was remedied by lifting the Gladiators, the Banditti of Dalmatia and Dardania, and the Slaves too, which was never done since the Second Punick War. And here 'tis very Remarkable to observe, that the Romans were very loath to lose their Diversions, to save their Skins : They were mighty warm to have their Fencers discharg'd: The Streets were crowded with Tumults, and they were perpetually bawling out such Sentences as this; ''What? must we be condemn'd to Sense in spight of our Teeth? Are we all to he made Philosophers ; and must never see any Prizes, and fine Sights any more? The Emperour was not in the least shock'd with this Disturbance ; he was no stranger to the Temper of the People'', he knew very well, that tho' they made a Man a Brute one Day, they'd make a God of him the next, provided he maintain'd his Ground, and stood firm to a reasonable Resolution.

The main Difficulty of raising Mony was still behind; which by a Prince of Antoninus's Goodness was not so easily master'd: For he could not endure the Thought of laying any new Taxes upon the People. The best and quickest Expedient for a Fund, which he could pitch on, was to