THE FIRST BOOK 51 



peace during his time. And for his government civil, 

 although he did not attain to that of Trajan's in glory 

 of arms or perfection of justice, yet in deserving of the 

 weal of the subject he did exceed him. For Trajan 

 erected many famous monuments and buildings ; 

 insomuch as Constantine the Great in emulation was 

 wont to call him Parietaria, 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 perumbulation 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 commonalties with new ordina,nces and con- 

 stitutions, and granting new franchises and incorpora- 

 tions ; 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, re- 

 morses, or scruples, but having been noted for a man 

 of the purest goodness, without all fiction or affecta- 

 tion, that hath reigned or lived, made his mind con- 

 tinually present and entire. He likewise approached 

 a degree nearer unto Christianity, and became, as 

 Agrippa said unto Saint Paul, ' half a Christian ' ; 

 holding their religion and law in good opinion, and not 

 only ceasing persecution, but giving way to the advance- 

 ment of Christians. 



8. There succeeded him the first Divi fratres, the 

 two adoptive brethren, Lucius Commodus Verus, son 



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