"
But Heaven did _not_ smile; nor did man. Rome heard with bitter
indignation of this old traitor's ingratitude, and his false mask of
republican civism. Excepting Marcus Aurelius himself, not one man but
thirsted for revenge. And that was soon obtained. He and all his
supporters, one after the other, rapidly fell (as Marcus had predicted)
into snares laid by the officers who continued true to their allegiance.
Except the family and household of Cassius, there remained in a short time
none for the vengeance of the senate, or for the mercy of the emperor. In
_them_ centred the last arrears of hope and fear, of chastisement or
pardon, depending upon this memorable revolt. And about the disposal of
their persons arose the final question to which the case gave birth. The
letters yet remain in which the several parties interested gave utterance
to the passions which possessed them. Faustina, the Empress, urged her
husband with feminine violence to adopt against his prisoners
comprehensive acts of vengeance. "Noli parcere hominibus," says she, "qui
tibi non pepercerunt; et nec mihi nec filiis nostris parcerent, si
vicissent.
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