Page:The Emperor Marcus Antoninus - His Conversation with Himself.djvu/84

 xxxii who receiv'd them in good Order, and fought with great Resolution. The Fight was obstinate, and held a great while, but at last the Germans were cut in pieces; and which is remarkable, they found a great many Women in Armour amongst the Dead, who fell fighting by the sides of their Husbands, and Children.

Thus a great Victory was gain'd, and the Roman Army had behav'd themselves exceedingly well; However, the Emperour was not to be prevail'd on by any unreasonable Demands; and therefore when the Soldiers petition'd him to raise their Pay, he refused them with this Answer; "That to give them Mony extraordinary for the Success of the Battel, was in effect to Tax the Corps of their Parents and Relations, and to set an Excise upon their Blood, for which he was answerable to God Almighty, the only Person to whom Princes were accountable." Indeed, let the Difficulty of the Juncture be what it would, he was always Master of so much Fortitude, and Prudence, as never to be over-ruled beyond Justice, either out of Fear, or easyness of Temper.

Upon this Success he was proclaim'd Emperour the fifth time, the Victories of Verus, having given him the same Title