Dios Rome, Vol. 6 | Page 8

but on the contrary terrified him the more.] This
is what he said:
"Draw nearer judgment, which the gods demand of thee [Footnote:
Emended (by Fabricius and Reiske) from a corruption in the MS.] for
Severus,"
then something else, and finally--
"having in secret places a disease hard to heal."
[For letting these facts become public many suffered unseemly outrage.
But to Antoninus not one of the gods gave any response pertaining to
the healing of either his body or his mind, although he showered
attention upon all the most distinguished shrines. This showed in the
clearest light that they regarded not his offerings, nor his sacrifices, but
only his purposes and his deeds. He got no aid from Apollo Grannus
[Footnote: Grannus was really a Celtic god, merely identified with
Apollo. He was honored most in Germany and Dacia (also known in
Rhætia, Noricum), and, inasmuch as many inscriptions bearing his
name have been found near the Danube, it may probably be conjectured
that he had a temple of some importance in that vicinity. For further
details see Pauly, II, p. 46; Roscher, I, col. 1738.] nor Asclepius nor
Serapis, in spite of his many supplications and his unwearying
persistence. Even when abroad he sent to them prayers and sacrifices
and votive offerings and many runners traveled to them daily, carrying
things of the sort. He also went himself, hoping to prevail by appearing
in person, and he performed all the usual practices of devotees, but he
obtained nothing that would contribute to health.
[Sidenote:--16--] While declaring that he was the most scrupulous of all

mankind, he ran to an excess of blood-guiltiness,] killing four of the
vestal virgins, one of whom--so far as he was able--he had forcibly
outraged. For latterly all his sexual power had disappeared, as a result
of which it was reported that he satisfied his vileness in a different way;
and associated with him were others of similar inclinations, who not
only admitted that they were given to such practices but maintained
that they did so for the sake of their ruler's welfare.
A young knight carried a coin with his image into a brothel and people
informed against him.[Footnote: Conjecture, on the basis of Reiske and
Bekker.] For this he was at the time imprisoned to await execution, but
later was released, as the emperor died before he did.] This maiden of
whom I speak was named Clodia Læta. She, crying out loudly,
"Antoninus himself knows that I am a virgin, [he himself knows that I
am pure,]" was buried alive. [Three others shared her sentence. Two of
them, Aurelia Severa and Pomponia Rufina, met a similar death, but
Cannutia Crescentina threw herself from the top of the house.
And in the case of adulterers he did the same. For though he showed
himself the most adulterous of men (so far, at least, as he was
physically able) he both detested others who bore the same charge and
killed them contrary to established laws.--Though displeased at all
good men, he affected to honor some few of them after their death.--
¶Antoninus censured and rebuked them all because they asked nothing
of him. And he said, in the presence of all: "It is evident from the fact
that you ask nothing of me that you lack confidence in me. And if you
lack confidence, you are suspicious of me; and if you are suspicious of
me, you fear me; and if you fear me, you hate me." He made this an
excuse for severe measures.
¶Antoninus being about to cause Cornificia to take leave of earth bade
her (as a token of honor) choose what death she wished to die. She,
after many lamentations, inspired by the memory of her father, Marcus,
her grandfather, Antoninus, and her brother, Commodus, ended with
this speech: "Pining, unhappy soul of mine, shut in a vile body, make
forth, be free, show them that you are Marcus's daughter, whether they
will or no!" Then she laid aside all the adornment in which she was
arrayed, and having composed her limbs in seemly fashion severed her
veins and died.
[Sidenote: A.D. 214 (_a.u._ 967)] Next, Antoninus arrived in Thrace,

paying no further heed to Dacia. Having crossed the Hellespont, not
without danger, he did honor to Achilles with sacrifices and races, in
armor, about the tomb, in which he as well as the soldiers participated.
For this he gave them money, assuring them that they had won a great
success and had in very truth captured that famous Ilium of old, and he
set up a bronze statue of Achilles himself.] ¶Antoninus by arriving at
Pergamum, while there was some dispute about it, [Footnote: The sense
of these words is not clear. Boissevain conjectures that there may have
been some who