Page:The Emperor Marcus Antoninus - His Conversation with Himself.djvu/156

 civ ''treat and conjure you to wave the usual Severity in such Cases, and not to let me, or rather your selves, suffer in the Character of Clemency, by condemning any Person to Death. Let none of the Senate he punish'd, Let no Noble Blood be drawn : Recal the Banish'd, and let those under Forfeiture enjoy their Estates : And I heartily wish 'twas also in my Power to bring the dead to Life again, and fetch them out of their Graves ! For I don't love an Emperour should take Revenge for himself : This Method tho' never so defensible is generally interpreted as over Rigorous. For these Reasons I conclude you will be willing that Caffius's Wife, Children and Son in Law shall have their Pardon. Their Pardon ! Why should I say that, since they have done nothing to need it ! Let them live then undisturb'd, and be sensible they live under the Reign of Marcus Antoninus. Let their Estate, their Mony, and their Furniture be restor'd ; Let them be rich, and easy, and go where they please, and wherever they Move let them carry the Marks of your Clemency, and mine about them.''

My Lords, 'Tis no great Instance of Goodness to pardon the Wives and Children of those Attainted, I desire you would do something more for my sake than this comes to ; protect I beseech you those Senators and Gentlemen concern'd in the Plot, from