One or two aspiring families might be offended by these innovations, which
meantime gave the pleasures of enjoyment to thousands, and of hope to
millions.
But these, though very noticeable relaxations of the existing prerogative,
were, as respected the temper which dictated them, no more than everyday
manifestations of the emperor's perpetual benignity. Fortunately for
Marcus, the indestructible privilege of the _divina domus_ exalted it
so unapproachably beyond all competition, that no possible remissions of
aulic rigor could ever be misinterpreted; fear there could be none, lest
such paternal indulgences should lose their effect and acceptation as pure
condescensions. They could neither injure their author, who was otherwise
charmed and consecrated, from disrespect; nor could they suffer injury
themselves by misconstruction, or seem other than sincere, coming from a
prince whose entire life was one long series of acts expressing the same
affable spirit. Such, indeed, was the effect of this uninterrupted
benevolence in the emperor, that at length all men, according to their
several ages, hailed him as their father, son, or brother.
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