THE SAYINGS OF MARCUS
they had not seen him themselves, for they would not have failed to introduce him; and on the next day they both arrived acting as body-guard to Aristides, and the Emperor addressing him said, Why have you been so slow in letting me see you? And Aristides said, "A professional problem, O King, occupied me, and the mind, when so engaged, must not be detached from the prosecution of its enquiry." The Emperor, charmed by the man's character, his extreme naïveté and studiousness, said, When shall I hear you? And Aristides replied, "Suggest a subject to-day and hear me to-morrow; for I am not of those who 'throw up' what is in their minds but of those who speak with precision. But grant, O King, that my pupils also may be present at the hearing." Certainly, said Marcus, they may, for it is free to all. And on Aristides saying, "Permit them, O King, to cheer and applaud as loud as they can," the Emperor smiling said, That depends on yourself.
(17) Dio, 71. 32, § 1 = Fragm. Dind. v. p. 207.
On his return to Rome, when, in addressing the people, he mentioned among other things that he had been absent many years, they shouted "Eight,"[1] and signified this besides with their fingers, of course that they might get so many pieces of gold for a congiarium.[2] The Emperor smiled, and himself said, Yes, eight, and afterwards distributed 200 drachmas[3] apiece, a larger sum than they had ever received before.
(18) Dio, 71. 33, § 2.
Marcus even begged of the Senate money[4] from the public treasury, not that it was not in the ruler's
