Page:The Emperor Marcus Antoninus - His Conversation with Himself.djvu/140

 lxxxviii nest he'l quickly pull them out of their hot Baths, and perswade them to fight without Nosegays, and Essences : The Provisions for the Troops are ready : Indeed there's no fear of scarcity under a good Commander ; For in such a Case both the Demands, and the Expence, are usually very moderate.

This Cassius notwithstanding the Strictness of his Government was born in Syria, a Country not at all remarkable for Sobriety of Manners. He was the Son of that Famous Rhetorician, Heliodorus, who by the Strength of his Elocution was made Secretary of State to Adrian, and afterwards Viceroy of Egypt.

Now tho' Fortune can't change the Circumstances of Birth, yet it often puts Men upon Projects in Genealogy. Cassius was no sooner mounted in his Station, but he began to bethink himself of drawing a Descent from that old Cassius, who was concerned in a Plot against Julius Cæsar : For in Heraldry the same Name oftentimes makes two Thirds of a Proof. Having founded his Pedigree upon this Pretence, he endeavour'd to fortify his Claim by a Conformity of Manners. Like old Cassius, he always had an Aversion to the very Name of an Emperour; and ventur'd to say, That there was nothing more intolerable to the State than this Title, which had this