56 OF THE ADVANCEMENT OF LEARNING. [VII.6. 



him. For Trajan erected many famous monuments and 

 buildings ; insomuch as Constantine the Great in emul 

 ation was wont to call him Parietarta, wall-flower, because 

 his name was upon so many walls : but his buildings and 

 works were more of glory and triumph than use and 

 necessity. But Adrian spent his whole reign, which was 

 peaceable, in a perambulation or survey of the Roman 

 empire; giving order and making assignation where he 

 went, for re-edifying of cities, towns, and forts decayed; 

 and for cutting of rivers and streams, and for making 

 bridges and passages, and for policing of cities and com 

 monalties with new ordinances and constitutions, and 

 granting new franchises and incorporations ; so that his 

 whole time was a very restoration of all the lapses and 

 decays of former times. 



7. Antoninus Pius, who succeeded him, was a prince 

 excellently learned, and had the patient and subtle wit 

 of a schoolman ; insomuch as in common speech 

 (which leaves no virtue untaxed) he was called Cymini 

 Sector, a carver or a divider of cummin seed, which is 

 one of the least seeds; such a patience he had and 

 settled spirit, to enter into the least and most exact 

 differences of causes ; a fruit no doubt of the exceeding 

 tranquillity and serenity of his mind; which being no 

 ways charged or incumbered, either with fears, remorses, 

 or scruples, but having been noted for a man of the 

 purest goodness, without all fiction or affectation, that 

 hath reigned or lived, made his mind continually present 

 and entire. He likewise approached a degree nearer 

 unto Christianity, and became, as Agrippa said unto 

 S. Paul, half a Christian ; holding their religion and 

 law in good opinion, and not only ceasing persecution, 

 but giving way to the advancement of Christians. 



