After expressing his suspicions of him
generally, the writer goes on to say--"I would you had him closely
watched. For he is a general disliker of us and of our doings; he is
gathering together an enormous treasure, and he makes an open jest of our
literary pursuits. You, for instance, he calls a philosophizing old woman,
and me a dissolute buffoon and scamp. Consider what you would have done.
For my part, I bear the fellow no ill will; but again, I say, take care
that he does not do a mischief to yourself, or your children."
The answer of Marcus is noble and characteristic: "I have read your
letter, and I will confess to you I think it more scrupulously timid than
becomes an emperor, and timid in a way unsuited to the spirit of our
times. Consider this--if the empire is destined to Cassius by the decrees
of Providence, in that case it will not be in our power to put him to
death, however much we may desire to do so. You know your great-
grandfather's saying,--No prince ever killed his own heir--no man, that
is, ever yet prevailed against one whom Providence had marked out as his
successor.
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