Page:The Emperor Marcus Antoninus - His Conversation with Himself.djvu/160

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cviii
The Life of the Emperour

cianus, who being Governour of Alexandria, was kill'd there by some of his own Party, the same Day that his Father was difpatch'd in Syria. Heliodorus another of his Sons was Transported [1] and forfeited his Quality and Estate : The rest were only banish'd at large, and had their Fortune allow'd them. His Daughter Alexandra, and her Husband Druncianus, had the Liberty, either to live at Rome, or go whither they pleas'd. Antoninus took care to secure them in the Privileges of their Condition, and had such a Regard for them upon all occasions ; that once when they had a Cause of great Concern tried before the Senate, he forbad the other side to reproach them with the Misfortunes of their Family, and fined several who had given themselves too much Liberty in this Point.

In the mean time the Senate, who perceiv'd they could not make their Court to their Prince by their Rigour, endeavour'd to do it by inventing some new Honours to the Memory of Faustina. [2] It seems the building her a Temple was not enough for them. They erected her a Golden Statue, and pass'd an Order that every time the Emperour went to the Play-House, this Figure should be placed in the Empresses Box, and that the Ladies of the first Qualityshould

  1. Deportatus. Capitol. 26. Volcat. 9.
  2. Dio.