Page:The Emperor Marcus Antoninus - His Conversation with Himself.djvu/88

 xxxvi they are dispos'd to't, to think more of a Retreat, than a Revenge. To this Antoninus answer'd, That there was no trusting to these Barbarians, that their pretence of Submission was only to gain time; and keep the Storm from falling upon them: That 'twas the Interest of the Empire to make Advantage of the Misunderstandings, and Disorders amongst them, and not give them leisure to agree, and rally all their Forces upon the Romans, when probably we shall be still in a worse Condition to receive them; and having thus delivered his Opinion, he immediately order'd his Troops to march.

The two Emperours pass'd the Alps, pursued the Enemy, and defeating them several times, dispers'd them entirely at last, and return'd without any Considerable Loss, Winter being now pretty forward, they resolv'd to go into Quarters at Aquileia ; but the Plague forc'd them to alter their Measures, and go off with a few of their Troops. Upon their March, Verus was seized with an Apoplectick Fit near Altinum, whither he was carried, and where he died soon after ; his Body was convey'd to Rome by Antoninus, who shew'd him the same Funeral Respect which had been paid to the Emperour his Father ; and ne're scrupled to make a God of him.