Page:The Emperor Marcus Antoninus - His Conversation with Himself.djvu/54

 ii , and made the Government remarkable for Justice and Clemency. At that time of Day those Princes were look'd on as extraordinary in their kind, and to have been perfect Examples of Virtue, and Vice. But God, who sends Governours according as he intends to prosper or punish a Nation, was pleas'd to make it apparent, that the good Qualities of the first Cæsars were but faint Resemblances of those in Marcus Aurelius. In earnest, we may venture to say that Providence proportion'd the Conduct of this Prince, to the Calamities of his Reign. The Times were never so Tempestuous, nor the State so Distress'd before : So that Humanly speaking, nothing less than such a Person at the Helm, could have preserv'd it. If the Reader expects a History of Court Intrigues, and Politick Maxims, he'l be disappointed : For I am now to write the Life of a Royal Philosopher ; that is of an Emperour who was made up of Truth, Honesty, and Religion, and who scorn'd to be govern'd by any other Rule than that of Reason and Justice.

The Family of Marcus Aurelius was one of the most Noble and Illustrious in all Italy. By his Father Annius Verus, he was descended from Numa, King, and Successor to Romulus. His great Grandfather Rh