Page:The Emperor Marcus Antoninus - His Conversation with Himself.djvu/77

 Rh Prudence of his Conduct : To give him his due, he manag'd himself in every respect as if Marcus Antoninus had been sole Emperour. For Verus treated him with the same Respect, or if you please with the same Submission which a Deputy-Governour gives to a Proconsul, or a Governour of a Province to the Emperour himself. But 'tis a difficult matter to keep Vice under any long Restraint. This force served only to heighten Desire, and therefore Verus took care not to lose the first Opportunity of throwing off the Disguise, and shewing himself in his Natural Colours.

Commodus was born at the latter end of this first Year of Antoninus's Reign. The Birth of this Prince, who proved a scandal to Human Nature, was usher'd in with all the terrible Calamities imaginable. The over-flowing of the Tyber led the way : The Inundation of this River was so violent, that it over-turn'd a great part of Rome, swept away abundance of Cattel, ruin'd the country round about, and occasion'd an extraordinary Famine, The two Emperours stept in immediately to the Relief of the People, supplied the Necessities of those who had suffer'd, and repaired the Damages with all the speed that was possible. After this Inundation Rh