Page:The Emperor Marcus Antoninus - His Conversation with Himself.djvu/67

 Rh Farther ; He never abus'd the Interest he had with the Emperour, who prefer'd none but those of his Recommendation ; for he was always very careful never to mention any but such as were well qualified for their respective Employments. And here we may observe that his Submissions to the Emperour always kept pace with the Growth of his own Authority ; For he constantly paid his Imperial Majesty the same Regard as if himself had been no more than a private Person : Indeed his Affection to the Emperour seem'd daily to encrease upon him : For during his three and twenty Years at Court he never left him, nor so much as lay abroad above two Nights.

This close Attendance, together with all the Marks of Tenderness and Regard, made so strong an Impression upon Antoninus Pius, that he would never listen to the Suggestions of those who endeavour'd to create a Jealousy against Marcus Aurelius, and put him upon suspecting the Reality of his Affection. One day when he was walking in the Garden with one of his Courtiers, and feeing Lucilla Marcus Aurelius's Mother on her Knees in a private Place before Apollo's Statue ; the Gentleman whispers him in the Ear, what do you think, Sir says he, that Lady is so earnest Rh