Page:The Emperor Marcus Antoninus - His Conversation with Himself.djvu/63

 Rh Questor might be dispenc'd with; This was the last Favour he received of this Emperour, who died soon after Baiæ. Marcus Aurelius made him a Magnificent Funeral; And brought the Gladiators into the Amphitheaters to Fight in honour of the Deceas'd.

After Adrian's Death, Antoninus Pius broke the Contract which Marcus Aurelius in Obedience to the late Emperour, had made with the Daughter of Lucius Commodus, and offer'd him his own Daughter Faustina, precontracted to Verus ; But Verus being too young to be married, the Emperour made Choice of Marcus Aurelius, whom after his having been Questor he preferred to the Consulship, tho' the Laws were somewhat strain'd in his Favour : He likewise gave him the Title of Cæsar, made him Colonel of one of the six Companies of Knights, and was present at the Shews furnish'd out by Marcus and his Fellow-Officers. He forc'd all the Honourable Distinctions of a Prince upon him, and by an Order of the Senate had him admitted into the College of the High-Priests.

Marcus Aurelius being constrain'd in his Genius, and rather burthen'd than pleas'd with his Promotion; was oblig'd to be constantly at the Council Board, to qualify Rh