In a few cases of enormous guilt, it is recorded that he
showed himself inexorable. But, generally speaking, he was far otherwise;
and, in particular, he carried his indulgence to his wife's vices to an
excess which drew upon him the satirical notice of the stage.
The gladiators, and still more the sailors of that age, were constantly to
be seen playing naked, and Faustina was shameless enough to take her
station in places which gave her the advantages of a leisurely review; and
she actually selected favorites from both classes on the ground of a
personal inspection. With others of greater rank she is said even to have
been surprised by her husband; in particular with one called Tertullus, at
dinner. [Footnote: Upon which some _mimographus_ built an occasional
notice of the scandal then floating on the public breath in the following
terms: One of the actors having asked "_Who was the adulterous paramour?_"
receives for answer, _Tullus_. Who? he asks again; and again for three
times running he is answered, _Tullus_. But asking a fourth time, the
rejoinder is, Jam dixi _ter Tullus_.] But to all remonstrances on this
subject, Marcus is reported to have replied, "_Si uxorem dimittimus,
reddamus et dotem;_" meaning that, having received his right of succession
to the empire simply by his adoption into the family of Pius, his wife's
father, gratitude and filial duty obliged him to view any dishonors
emanating from his wife's conduct as joint legacies with the splendors
inherited from their common father; in short, that he was not at liberty
to separate the rose from its thorns.
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