h to his present age with
honour and integrity. Now then I entreat you to listen with quietness to
a few plain observations which I think will be for the public advantage.

7. "So numerous are the matters for the consideration of an emperor,
that I neither deny nor even doubt that it is a desirable thing that he
should have a colleague of equal power to deal with every contingency.
And I myself, as a man, do also fear the great accumulation of cares
which must be mine, and the various changes of events. But still we must
use every exertion to insure concord, by which even the smallest affairs
give strength. And that is easily secured if, your patience concurring
with your equity, you willingly grant me what belongs to me in this
matter. For Fortune, the ally of all good counsels, will I trust aid me,
while to the very utmost of my ability and power, I diligently search
for a wise and temperate partner. For as wise men lay it down, not only
in the case of empire where the dangers are frequent and vast, but also
in matters of private and everyday life, a man ought rather to take a
stranger into his friendship after he has had opportunities of judging
him to be wise, than to ascertain his wisdom after he has made him his
friend.

8. "This, in hopes of a happier fortune, I promise. Do you, retaining
your steadiness of conduct and loyalty, recruit the vigour of your minds
and bodies while rest in your winter quarters allows you to do so. And
you shall soon receive what is your due on my nomination as emperor."

9. Having finished this speech, to which his unexpected authority gave
weight, the emperor by it brought all over to his opinion. And even
those who a few minutes before with loud voices demanded something
different, now, following his advice, surrounded him with the eagles and
standards, and, forming a splendid and formidable escort of all classes
and ranks of the army, conducted him to the palace.

III.

Sec. 1. While the decisions of Fate were rapidly bringing these events to
pass in the East, Apronianus, the governor of Rome, an upright and
severe judge, among the grave cases by which that prefecture is
continually oppressed, was labouring with most particular solicitude to
suppress the magicians, who were now getting scarce, and who, having
been taken prisoners, had been, after being put to the question,
manifestly convicted by the evidence of their accomplices of having
injured some persons. These he put