Page:The Emperor Marcus Antoninus - His Conversation with Himself.djvu/155

 Rh . Then he went on and instanc'd in those Princes who were either defeated by the Rebels in the Field, or privately murther'd by their Subjects, shewing that they miscarried either by their Cruelty, or their ill Conduct. Nero and Caligula, says he, may thank themselves for their Misfortune, Otho and Vitellius, wanted Courage to govern, and Galba perfectly lost himself by his Avarice : He added, that there was hardly one Good Prince upon Record, who was thus serv'd; That Augustus, Trajan, Adrian, and Antoninus Pius, had always the upper hand of Rebels and Traitors, the greatest part of which were executed either contrary to their Orders, or before they knew on't. 'Twere very well, if this Maxim would hold, but alass ! Since this good Emperour's time it has fail'd in a great many Cases: I shall now give the Reader his Letter to the Senate upon this Occasion.

My Lords,

You have voted my Son in Law Pompeianus Consul, as a Testimony of your Satisfaction for my Success : Indeed his Years deserv'd this Honour long since, had not Persons of extraordinary Merit appear'd against him ;'' And where the State was so much indebted, 'twas but reasonable to discharge the Obligation. As to Cassius's Revolt, I '' Rh