Page:The Emperor Marcus Antoninus - His Conversation with Himself.djvu/162

 cx according to their Merit. He acquainted his Courtiers with his being uneasy about this Matter, particularly the Quintilians, who had the Government of Greece: They assur'd him, Aristides had not been there; for if he had, they would have disengaged him from the Crowd, and presented him to his Majesty: And the next Day they were as good as their Word, and brought him. As soon as Antoninus saw him, he ask'd him, How comes it to pass Aristides'' that you make your Visit so late ? Sir, says Aristides, I was busy about a Point, and you know as well as any Person living, that when a Man is warm in his Study, he can't endure to be interrupted. The Emperour being extreamly pleas'd to see Nature thus open and undisguis'd, asks him, and when may we hear a Discourse from you then? Aristides with the same Assurance, replies, If you please to give me a Subject to day, you shall hear to Morrow what I can say on't; for I am none of those Extemporary People that venture to let fly what comes first at their Tongues end, no, I love to work up my Things strong; but then Sir, says he, I beg leave that all my Friends may make part of the Audience; with all my Heart says the Emperour: But Sir, replies Aristides, I have another Condition to throw in, 'tis that my Friends may be allow'd to Clap and make''