Page:The Emperor Marcus Antoninus - His Conversation with Himself.djvu/166

cxiv For at the breaking out of the Parthian War, when Atidius Cornelianus, who commanded in Syria was wounded and forced to retreat, the Army being quite routed, and the Baggage lost; Smyrna receiv'd the Soldiers with all the Humanity imaginable, buried Cornelianus who died of his Wounds; and all the People striving as it were who should treat the Soldiers best, gave them Cloaths, Arms, and Mony, as Venusium had done to those who escap'd from the Battle of Cannæ. The same Assistance which the Emperour gave upon this Occasion to Smyrna, he had already bestow'd in Italy, and upon other Towns elsewhere, which fell under the same Fate, as Carthage, Ephesus, and Nicomedia.

The Emperours Expence in furnishing out Shews, the Largesses he bestow'd upon the People, the vast Sums he was out in Rebuilding Towns ruined by Fire, and Earthquakes, and the Customs and Impositions which he forgave the Subject when his Necessities were most pressing, are Arguments sufficient to confute any Objection against his Liberality. 'Tis granted, he was a good Husband, and like his Father Antoninus Pius, manag'd his Revenues with Frugality enough; But when the Ease of the People, or the Honour of the Empire required it, he open'd his Hand