Page:The Emperor Marcus Antoninus - His Conversation with Himself.djvu/152

 c he had any Mercy to spare, to let Strangers be the better for't : For indeed an Emperour can't be said to Be good Natur'd, unless he takes care of his Wife and Children, I need not tell you of the Disadvantage of your Son Commodus his Minority, nor that your Son in law Pompeianus'', is both in Years, and a Foreigner. Take care then how you manage your self with Cassius and his Adherents. Ne'er spare those Rebels, who you see don't spare you ; neither would they have any greater Tenderness for me and my Children, if they should carry their Point. I intend to follow you immediately ; Fadillas falling ill has hindred me in my Journey to Formianum, but if I can't reach you there, I hope to do it at Capua; the Air of that Town I expect will set me and my Children up again. I desire you would send me your Physician Soteridas to Formianum ; for really I have no Faith in Sofitheus ; In my Opinion, he is but a sorry Doctor to prescribe to a Child. Calphurnius has deliver'd me all your Letters with the Seales whole ; if my Journey is delay'd I'l write you an Answer, and send it by our Trusty Servant Cæcilius, who shall inform you by Word of Mouth what Cassius's Wife and Children, and Son in Law talk of you, and which I don't think convenient to commit to Paper.''