Page:The Emperor Marcus Antoninus - His Conversation with Himself.djvu/163

 Rh ''as much a Noise in my Commendation as if your Majesty was not there. That, says the Emperour with a smile, shall be perfectly at your Management. The next Day Aristides made a Panegyrical Harangue upon Smyrna'', and came off with great Reputation ; the Oration is Extant among his Works.

From Smyrna the Emperour travel'd to Athens, where he had his Wish of being Initiated in the grand Mysteries of Ceres, the most sacred and solemn part of the Heathen Religion : Nothing could pass Muster here but great Innocence of Life, and a Reputation without the least Blemish in't. Those who were admitted were first examin'd in their Moral Qualifications; by a Priest appointed for that Purpose.

He was very kind to the Athenians, and did their Town abundance of Honour; he left them Professors in all Sciences with great Salaries to support them ; made them Noble Presents, and gave them a great deal of Privilege and Franchise. In his Voyage home he met with a terrible Storm, which had like to cast him away. Upon his arrival at Brindisi, he put off his Soldiers Habit, and made his Troops do the same, who during his whole Reign were never suffer'd to wear Buff in Italy.