246
KEIGN OF ANTONINUS PIUS.
from the circumstance that, after the death of Hadrian, when
the senate was in a state of vehement irritation against him,
T. Antoninus nevertheless carried a decree which conferred
divine honours upon the memory of Hadrian.6
His reign was not so undisturbed as that of Hadrian ; for he
had to wage some wars on the frontiers, and to contend with
various insurrections, as, for instance, of the Britons, of the
Mauretanians of mount Atlas, who still preserved their savage
nature, and of the Jews7, as well as against the hostility of the
Parthians. These insurrections, shew that the provinces were
oppressed by the governors; but such disturbances were after
all of little importance, and the peace of Italy was not affected
by them. This reign, however, was unfortunate on account of
the fearful earthquakes which occurred in it, and destroyed
Rhodes, Smyrna8, and many other Ionian towns of Asia Minor,
of which Aristides speaks. As we have so few documents
concerning this period, we can in many instances form con-
jectures only. It may, however, be truly said, that Antoninus
Pius was a benevolent man, and of an unblemished character;
but that he was nevertheless only an ordinary man, and any-
thing but a great prince. We have good grounds also for
believing that the decay of the empire, which became visible
in the reign of his successor, was prepared by him.
The golden age of jurisprudence had commenced under
Hadrian, and advanced under Antoninus^Pius, in the latter part
of whose reign, the work of Gaius was undoubtedly written.
Greek literature was then very rich ; for Appian, the beginning
of the works of Galen, Sextus Empiricus, and Sextus of Chaero-
nea, belong to that period. Manufactures had been in an ex-
tremely flourishing condition in Egypt, and especially at
Alexandria, as early as the time of Hadrian; and they now
continued to go on improving, especially linen, cotton, and
glass manufactures. Mathematical studies, astronomy, and
mathematical geography, were likewise thriving in Egypt.
Antoninus Pius was succeeded by M. Aurelius Antonirms-
The wretched “ Historia Augusta ” has two contradictory ac-
counts respecting the adoption of M. Aurelius. According to
6 Spartian. Hadrian, 27; Aurel. Vict. De Caesar. 14; Dion Cass. lx. 1.
7 Jul. Capitolin. Antonin. Pius, 5; Pausanias, viii. 43. 3.
8 One of the orations of Aelius Aristides referred to these calamities.—N. See
Philostratus, Vit. Sophist, ii. 9. 2.
M. AURELIUS.
247
the more generally received account, Antoninus adopted him
and L. Aelius Verus Commodus, the son of Aelius Veius, at the
same time ; whereas, according to another statement, M. Aurelius
was obliged to adopt Commodus.9 The fact that Aurelius and
Commodus are called Dioi fratres, is, however, a strong argu-
ment in support of the former account. But it is strange to
find that L-Aclius Verus, in a letter addressed to M. Aurelius10,
while speaking of Antoninus Pius, uses the words avus meus,
and pater tuus. It may be that this curious adoption was made
in such a manner that the adoptive father, Antoninus Pius,
afterwards gave L. Aelius Verus as adoptive son to M. Aurelius,
for such things often occurred.11
It is more delightful to speak of M. Aurelius than of any man
in history ; for, if there is any sublime human virtue, it is his. He
was CCitainly the noblest character of his time; and I know no
other man who combined such unaffected kindness, mildness,
and humility, with such conscientiousness and severity towards
himself. We can trace his history from his childhood, even in
the biographies of the “ IIistoria Augusta,” and we possess in-
numerable busts of him, in which he is represented at the
different periods of his life, from a boy ten years old down
to his death. Any one who lives in Italy, may easily collect
a complete series of such busts made in successive years; for
every Iioman of his time was anxious to possess his portrait.
If there is anywhere an expression of virtue, it is in the heavenly
features of M. Aurelius. Formerly, he was known only in his
mature age from his own meditations, a golden book, though
there are things in it which cannot be read without deep grief,
for there we find this purest of men without happiness and joy.
No one who reads his work, especially the first book, in which
he goes through all the circumstances of his life, and thanks
every one to whom he owes any obligation, can help loving
him; the cases where he returns more than he owes, only shew
his extremely amiable nature. But we now know him from his
correspondence also with Cornelius Fronto, in the happy time
9 Jul. Capitolin. M. Anton. Phil. 5; Spartian. Aelius Verus, 4. Compare
Dion. Cass. Ixix. 21, lxxi. 35. 10 Vulcat. Gallic. Avidius Cassius, 1.
“ The names of persons were changed at that time in the most arbitrary
manner, and on the most trivial occasions. The elder Verus was properly called
Commodus, and Antoniuus was called V crus ; but they exchanged their names,
and the first-bora son of Verus received the name of Commodus,—N.