Page:The Emperor Marcus Antoninus - His Conversation with Himself.djvu/161

Rh should be seated round it. But they refin'd still farther upon the Old Model of Flattery, and voted Antoninus and Faustina two Silver Statues, placed them in Venus's Temple, and set up an Altar for them, upon which all the young Women, and their Bridegrooms were order'd to sacrifice on their Wedding Day.

Antoninus gave the Senate thanks for their Respect to him and the Empress, and being resolv'd to do something for her himself, he found a Society of single Women, whom he call'd Faustinians, and maintained them at his own Charge, and built a Temple for his Empress at the Village where she died: This Temple was afterwards provided with a suitable Deity, it being consecrated to Heliegabalus one of the greatest Monsters in Lewdness that was ever heard of.

After Antoninus had thus settled the East, he made his way towards Rome. In his return he staid some time at Smyrna, and as every Body almost were crowding to pay their Duty, or get a sight of him, He remembred one Evening he had not seen Aristides, and was afraid that Orator might take it for a Neglect; For 'twas one of the Emperour's Chief Maxims to pay a distinguishing Regard to Men of Probity and Character, and to treat every Body