Page:The Emperor Marcus Antoninus - His Conversation with Himself.djvu/164

 cxii He was received at Rome with all the Demonstrations of Joy imaginable. And here at his first coming having been eight Years absent he gave all the People eight pieces of Gold a Man, forgave them all the Mony they ow'd either to the City Chamber, or his own Exchequer, from sixty Years upward, burnt all the Bonds and Evidences of the Debt in the great Square or Forum, gave his Son Commodus his Mans Habit, dub'd him Prince of the Youth, made him his Partner in the Empire, triumph'd with him and named him Consul for the next Year, and to honour his Consulship the more, follow'd his Triumphal Chariot in the Circus on Foot. After this, he retired to his Philosophy for some time at Lavinium ; This Study he used to call his Mother, and the Court his Step-mother. And this saying of Plato was frequently mention'd by him, that the way to have a Nation happy, was either to make their Philosophers Kings, or their Kings Philosophers. Notwithstanding being well satisfied that a Conquering People in the time of Peace are apt to be fond of Publick Shews, and that in Prudence it may not be amiss to gratify them with such Amusements, both to refresh their Spirits, and keep them from racking their Brains with Seditious Projects, for these Reasons he entertain'd