Page:The Emperor Marcus Antoninus - His Conversation with Himself.djvu/150

 xcviii of my Victory. And what Advantage is this? 'Tis to Pardon an Enemy ; 'tis to be True to a false Man, and to continue his Friend that has broken all the Laws of Friendship. This 'tis likely looks very Impracticable to you, but for all that I would not have you disbelieve it. For Goodness and Generosity have not so utterly forsaken the Earth, as not to leave us some Remains of the Antient Virtue. But if this must be counted Incredible, I have still the greater defire to it ; To convince you by Matter of Fact, of what you all thought impossible. And by this means I should gain the Satisfaction at least of showing the World that the greatest Provocations may be overlook'd, and that 'tis possible to turn even a Civil War it self to some handsom Account."

This Speech was sent in a Letter to the Senate, where Cassius was attainted of High Treason, and his Estate forfeited to the City Chamber, for the Emperour would not have it brought into his Exchequer. In the mean time Commodus came to the Army, and had the Tribunitian Authority granted him by Antoninus : And now having provided every thing ready for the marching his Troops, the Emperour went into Italy to take the Empress, and his other