Page:The Emperor Marcus Antoninus - His Conversation with Himself.djvu/168

cxvi Towards the end of this Year we understand by the Medals, that he was proclaim'd Emperour the ninth time; it being likewise the one and thirtieth Year of his Tribunician Authority.

Fabia above-mention'd, who had been Verus's Wench, tho' she was his Sister, and whose Ambition was little less than her Impudence; this Lady being willing to make the most of her tarnishing Beauty, left no Trick untried to perswade Antoninus to marry her. The Emperour understanding her better than he had done Faustina, and besides having no Inclination to marry, always put her off. 'Tis said he took a Miss or Concubine, to prevent the Inconvenience of a Mother in Law to his Children. Now tho' the Consequence from Writing, to Life, won't hold without Exception, because Mens Discourse and Practise are not always of a Piece, yet since Antoninus's Life was so exactly suitable to his Philosophy, we may very well question the Truth of this Passage; And indeed the Falshood of it appears plainly by his giving the Gods thanks in his first Book for being but a lttlelittle [sic] while, in his Childhood, under the Management of his Grandfathers Wench. Now 'tis highly improbable he should bring his own Children within the danger of such an