Page:The Emperor Marcus Antoninus - His Conversation with Himself.djvu/69

 Rh After the Death of this Prince the Senate prevail'd with Marcus Aurelius to take the Government upon him. And here the first Act of his Imperial Authority was to grant it to an Assistant; for he made Lucius Verus his Partner, gave him the Tribunician Power, the Title of Emperour, and an equal share with himself in the Administration. This was the first time Rome was ever govern'd by two Soveraigns. A sight extraordinary enough in any place, especially in a Town where the Choice of a single Prince, had often occasion'd so much Confusion and Blood-shed.

The same day Marcus Aurelius took the Name of Antoninus, and gave it to his Colleague Verus, to whom he contracted his Daughter Lucilla. And as a mark of their Satisfastion in this Alliance and the good Correspondence between them; they setled a considerable Fund for the support of those who were lately Naturaliz'd, and at that time very numerous. The two Emperours upon their going out of the Senate-House, had the Guards drawn up before them, to whom they gave a Largess or Bounty of five hundred Crowns a Man, and proportionably to the Officers. This being done they proceeded to the Funeral Solemnity of their Father the late Emperour, whose Corps they carried to Rh