Page:The Emperor Marcus Antoninus - His Conversation with Himself.djvu/173

Rh him a Parricide; (that so no sort of Wickedness might escape him;) People being generally willing to believe all the Ill of Princes which their latter Actions shew them capable of doing.

To return. The Emperour's Sickness had such ill Symptoms, that his Recovery was quickly despair'd of. In this Extremity which generally shocks the Fortitude of most Men, this Prince held up in his Spirit and Temper, and gave a noble Proof of the force of his Notions and Philosophy. But notwithstanding his Submission to Providence reconciled him to Death, yet the generous Regard he had for his People, gave him many a Melancholy Thought. This Anxiety encreas'd with his Disease, insomuch that the Day before he died, his Mind seem'd restless and uneasy. The Miscarriages of those Princes, who coming young to the Throne were too weak to govern their Fortune, and make Head against their Vices and Flatterers, were perpetually in his Thoughts. The Scandalous Reigns of Nero and Domitian, made him more Solicitous: He was afraid his Son might make a false step, and not keep his Feet where the Ground was so Slippery; that his Education might be lost upon him, the Notions contriv'd into him miscarry, and all the care of his