Upon this the
soldiers mutinied against him, in mere indignation at his tyranny.
However, he prosecuted his purpose, and prevailed, by his bold contempt of
the danger which menaced him. From the abuses in the army, he proceeded to
attack the abuses of the civil administration. But as these were protected
by the example of the great proconsular lieutenants and provincial
governors, policy obliged him to confine himself to verbal expressions of
anger; until at length, sensible that this impotent railing did but expose
him to contempt, he resolved to arm himself with the powers of radical
reform, by open rebellion. His ultimate purpose was the restoration of the
ancient republic, or, (as he himself expresses it in an interesting
letter, which yet survives,) "_ut in antiquum statum publica forma
reddatur_;" _i.e._ that the constitution should be restored to its
original condition. And this must be effected by military violence and the
aid of the executioner--or, in his own words, _multis gladiis, multis
elogiis_, (by innumerable sabres, by innumerable records of condemnation.)
Against this man Marcus was warned by his imperial colleague Lucius Verus,
in a very remarkable letter.
Pages:
206
207
208
209
210
211
212
213
214
215
216
217
218
219
220
221
222
223
224
225
226
227
228
229
230