Page:The Emperor Marcus Antoninus - His Conversation with Himself.djvu/70

 xviii Adrian's Tomb, and lodg'd it there: They likewise proclaim'd a Vacation out of respect to the Mourning; and then according to Custom went on to the Deifying-Ceremony; which was perform'd in the manner following.

In the Palace Porch, there was an Ivory Bed of State, made higher than ordinary, with a Counter-pane of Gold Tissue, and upon this they laid the Effigies of the deceased Prince in Wax-work: On the left hand of this Bed, the Senators or Nobility sat all in Black. The Ladies of the first Quality were placed on the right hand; they appear'd in a plain white Habit, without any thing of Jewels, or Dressing. This part of the Ceremony lasted a Week, during which the Physicians paid their Attendance, treated the Effigies like a Patient, and always at their going away pretended the Disease gain'd Ground, and that the Symptoms grew Mortal. At last when the Emperour's Death was publish'd, a certain number of young Noblemen and Gentlemen of the best Quality, took up the Bed and carried it upon their Shoulders through a Street call'd the Via Sacra, into the Old Forum or Square, where the Magistracy used to resign their Respective Employments. Two sides of this Square were Scaffolded: Upon one of which Rh