Page:The Emperor Marcus Antoninus - His Conversation with Himself.djvu/141

 Rh Particular unfortunate Circumstance in it, that he who went about to suppress it in another, was forc'd to take it upon himself. Like his pretended Ancestor he valued himself upon his Inclination to restore the old Liberty : And used to hint, That if the Gods would but Countenance a good Cause, the Cassii would set up the Commonwealth as high as ever. This Aversion heighten'd by a vast Ambition ; and brought to an Expectation by some Knavish Fortunetellers, who are seldom wanting in such Cases, had like to broke out in the Reign of Antoninus Pius. Cassius, tho' then very young, had form'd a Conspiracy against him : But Heliodorus, a Person of great Prudence and Authority, stifled this Plot in the Birth, hoping time would qualify his Son's Heat, and make him Wiser. Cassius during his Father's Life, kept within Compafs, and seem'd reform'd by his Advice, but this restraint, serv'd only to provoke Desire; which at last grew too strong to be manag'd. The Emperour Verus when he went into Syria, was the first that discover'd his Design ; and being glad of an Opportunity to destroy a Man, whose Exploits and Bravery, had made him somewhat Jealous, he wrote to Antoninus as follows: