Page:The Emperor Marcus Antoninus - His Conversation with Himself.djvu/172

 cxx Antoninus had more Grounds for that Common Saying than he was aware of: ''How many Reasons, says he, will People muster up to be rid of us? Those who have had the greatest share in my Affection count my Life hut a Grievance, and would be glad to see an End on't. Neither did he fail in the least to practise his own Advice upon this Occasion: 'Tis this; However this Thought must not go so deep as to sower your Humour: You must keep your Temper, wish the World well, and part friendly with every Body. This Rule, I say, was exactly observ'd by the Emperour, for the same Dion Cassius Reports, that he took a great deal of care to conceal the Cause of his Death, that he recommended his Son to the Army; And when a Tribune came to him for the Word, he bid him go to the Rising Sun.''

But Commodus being very young, and having as yet given no Suspicion of any such unnatural Barbarity, makes this Relation look Improbable: Especially when we consider Herodian's Testimony, by which it appears plainly that Commodus did not fly out into Vice and Disorder till after his Father's Death. The Odium this young Prince; when he came to govern, drew upon himself by his Cruelty, was the occasion no doubt that Fame reported