the meditations-第39节

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　saying　so　is　not　unlike　what　often　passes　for　criticism　at　the　present　day。　　He　is　not　afraid　to　reprove　what　he　thinks　amiss；　and　the　astonishment　of　Marcus　at　this　will　prove；　if　proof　were　needed；　that　he　was　not　used　to　plain　dealing。　〃How　happy　I　am；〃　he　writes；　〃that　my　friend　Marcus　Cornelius；　so　distinguished　as　an　orator　and　so　noble　as　a　man；　thinks　me　worth　praising　and　blaming。〃（1）　In　another　place　he　deems　himself　blest　because　Pronto　had　taught　him　to　speak　the　truth（2）　although　the　context　shows　him　to　be　speaking　of　expression；　it　is　still　a　point　in　favour　of　Pronto。　A　sincere　heart　is　better　than　literary　taste；　and　if　Fronto　had　not　done　his　duty　by　the　young　prince；　it　is　not　easy　to　understand　the　friendship　which　remained　between　them　up　to　the　last。

An　example　of　the　frankness　which　was　between　them　is　given　by　a　difference　they　had　over　the　case　of　Herodes　Atticus。　Herodes　was　a　Greek　rhetorician　who　had　a　school　at　Rome；　and　Marcus　Aurelius　was　among　his　pupils。　　Both　Marcus　and　the　Emperor　（1）　Ad　M。　Caes　iii。　　17　（2）　Ad　M。　Caes　iii。　12　Antoninus　had　a　high　opinion　of　Herodes；　and　all　we　know　goes　to　prove　he　was　a　man　of　high　character　and　princely　generosity。　When　quite　young　he　was　made　administrator　of　the　free　cities　in　Asia；　nor　is　it　surprising　to　find　that　he　made　bitter　enemies　there；　indeed；　a　just　ruler　was　sure　to　make　enemies。　The　end　of　it　was　that　an　Athenian　deputation；　headed　by　the　orators　Theodotus　and　Demostratus；　made　serious　accusations　against　his　honour。　There　is　no　need　to　discuss　the　merits　of　the　case　here；　suffice　it　to　say；　Herodes　succeeded　in　defending　himself　to　the　satisfaction　of　the　emperor。　　Pronto　appears　to　have　taken　the　delegates'　part；　and　to　have　accepted　a　brief　for　the　prosecution；　urged　to　some　extent　by　personal　considerations；　and　in　this　cause　Marcus　Aurelius　writes　to　Fronto　as　follows　'AURELIUS　CAESAR　to　his　friend　FRONTO；　greeting。（1）　'I　know　you　have　often　told　me　you　were　anxious　to　find　how　you　might　best　please　me。　　Now　is　the　time；　now　you　can　increase　my　love　towards　you；　if　it　can　be　increased。　A　trial　is　at　hand；　in　which　people　seem　likely　not　only　to　hear　your　speech　with　pleasure；　but　to　see　your　indignation　with　impatience。　I　see　no　one　who　dares　give　you　a　hint　in　the　matter；　for　those　who　are　less　friendly；　prefer　to　see　you　act　with　some　inconsistency；　and　those　who　are　more　frIendly；　fear　to　seem　too　friendly　to　your　opponent　if　they　should　dissuade　you　from　your　accusation；　then　again；　in　case　you　have　prepared　something　neat　for　the　occasion；　they　cannot　endure　to　rob　you　of　your　harangue　by　silencing　you。　Therefore；　whether　you　think　me　a　rash　counsellor；　or　a　bold　boy；　or　too　kind　to　your　opponent；　not　because　I　think　it　better；　I　will　offer　my　counsel　with　some　caution。　　But　why　have　I　said；　offer　my　counsel？　　No；　I　demand　it　from　you；　I　demand　it　boldly；　and　if　I　succeed；　I　promise　to　remain　under　your　obligation。　What？　you　will　say　if　I　am　attackt；　shall　I　not　pay　tit　for　tat　？　Ah；　but　you　will　get　greater　glory；　if　even　when　attackt　you　answer　nothing。　　Indeed；　if　he　begins　it；　answer　as　you　will　and　you　will　have　fair　excuse；　but　I　have　demanded　of　him　that　he　shall　not　begin；　and　I　think　I　have　succeeded。　I　love　each　of　you　according　to　your　merits　and　I　know　that　lie　was　educated　in　the　house　of　P。　Calvisius；　my　gran（l…father；　and　that　I　was　educated　by　you；　therefore　I　am　full　of　anxiety　that　this　most　disagreeable　business　shall　be　managed　as　honourably　as　possible。　I　trust　you　may　approve　my　advice；　for　my　intention　you　will　approve。　At　least　I　prefer　to　write　unwisely　rather　than　to　be　silent　unkindly。'

（1）　Ad　M。　Caes　ii。；　2。

Fronto　replied；　thanking　the　prince　for　his　advice；　and　promising　that　he　will　confine　himself　to　the　facts　of　the　case。　But　he　points　out　that　the　charges　brought　against　Herodes　were　such；　that　they　can　hardly　be　made　agreeable；　amongst　them　being　spoliation；　violence；　and　murder。　　However；　he　is　willing　even　to　let　some　of　these　drop　if　it　be　the　prince's　pleasure。　To　this　Marcus　returned　the　following　answer：…（1）　'This　one　thing；　my　dearest　Fronto；　is　enough　to　make　me　truly　grateful　to　you；　that　so　far　from　rejecting　my　counsel；　you　have　even　approved　it。　As　to　the　question　you　raise　in　your　kind　letter；　my　opinion　is　this：　all　that　concerns　the　case　which　you　are　supporting　must　be　clearly　brought　forward　；　what　concerns　your　own　feelings；　though　you　may　have　had　just　provocation；　should　be　left　unsaid。'　The　story　does　credit　to　both。　　Fronto　shows　no　loss　of　temper　at　the　interference；　nor　shrinks　from　stating　his　case　with　frankness；　and　Marcus；　with　forbearance　remarkable　in　a　prince；　does　not　command　that　his　friend　be　left　unmolested；　but　merely　stipulates　for　a　fair　trial　on　the　merits　of　the　case。

Another　example　may　he　given　from　a　letter　of　Fronto's　（2）　Here　is　something　else　quarrelsome　and　querulous。　　I　have　sometimes　found　fault　with　you　in　your　absence　somewhat　seriously　in　the　company　of　a　few　of　my　most　intimate　friends　：　at　times；　for　example；　when　you　mixt　in　society　with　a　more　solemn　look　than　was　fitting；　or　would　read　books　in　the　theatre　or　in　a　banquet　；　nor　did　I　absent　myself　from　theatre　or　banquet　when　you　did（3）。　Then　I　used　to　call　you　a　hard　man；　no　good　company；　even　disagreeable；　sometimes；　when　anger　got　the　better　of　me。　But　did　any　one　else　in　the　same　banquet　speak　against　you；　I　could　not　endure　to　hear　it　with　equanimity。　　Thus　it　was　easier　for　me　to　say　something　to　your　disadvantage　myself；　than　to　hear　others　do　it；　just　as　I　could　more　easily　bear　to　chastise　my　daughter　Gratia；　than　to　see　her　chastised　by　another。'

1。　　Ad。　　M。　Caes。；　iii。　　5。　　2。　　iv。　　12。

3　The　text　is　obscure

The　affection　between　them　is　clear　from　every　page　of　the　correspondence。　　A　few　instances　are　now　given；　which　were　written　at　different　periods　To　MY　MASTER。（1）　'This　is　how　I　have　past　the　last　few　days。　　My　sister　was　suddenly　seized　with　an　internal　pain；　so　violent　that　I　was　horrified　at　her　looks；　my　mother　in　her　trepidation　on　that　account　accidentally　bruised　her　side　on　a　corner　of　the　wall；　she　and　we　were　greatly　troubled　about　that　blow。　For　myself；　on　going　to　rest　I　found　a　scorpion　in　my　bed；　but　I　did　not　lie　down　upon　him；　I　killed　him　first。　If　you　are　getting　on　better；　that　is　a　consolation。　My　mother　is　easier　now；　thanks　be　to　God。　　Good…bye；　best　and　sweetest　master。　　My　lady　sends　you　greeting。'

（2）'What　words　can　I　find　to　fit　my　had　luck；　or　how　shall　I　upbraid　as　it　deserves　the　hard　constraint　which　is　laid　upon　me？　It　ties　me　fast　here；　troubled　my　heart　is；　and　beset　by　such　anxiety；　nor　does　it　allow　me　to　make　haste　to　my　Fronto；　my　life　and　delight；　to　be　near　him　at　such　a　moment　of　ill…health　in　particular；　to　hold　his　hands；　to　chafe　gently　that　identical　foot；　so　far　as　may　be　done　without　discomfort；　to　attend　him　in　the　bath；　to　support　his　steps　with　my　arm。'

（3）'This　morning　I　did　not　write　to　you；　because　I　heard　you　were　better；　and　because　I　was　myself　engaged　in　other　business；　and　I　cannot　ever　endure　to　write　anything　to　you　unless　with　mind　at　ease　and　untroubled　and　free。　　So　if　we　are　all　right；　let　me　know：　what　I　desire；　you　know；　and　how　properly　I　desire　it；　I　know。　Farewell；　my　master；　always　in　every　chance　first　in　my　mind；　as　you　deserve　to　be。　　My　master；　see　I　am　not　asleep；　and　I　compel　myself　to　sleep；　that　you　may　not　be　angry　with　me。　You　gather　I　am　writing　this　late　at　night。'

（1）　Ad　M。　Caes。；　v。　　8。　　（2）　i。　　2。　　（3）　iii。　　21。

（1）'What　spirit　do　you　suppose　is　in　me；　when　I　remember　how　long　it　is　since　I　have　seen　you；　and　why　I　have　not　seen　you　1　and　it　may　be　I　shall　not　see　you　for　a　few　days　yet；　while　you　are　strengthening　yourself；　as　you　must。　　So　while　you　lie　on　the　sick…bed；　my　spirit　also　will　lie　low　anti；　whenas；（2）　by　God's　mercy　you　shall　stand　upright；　my　spirit　too　will　stand　firm；　which　is　now　burning…　with　the　strongest　desire　for　you。　Farewell；　soul　of　your　prince；　your　（3）0　my　dear　Fronto；　most　distinguished　Consul！　　I　yield；　you　have　conquered：　all　who　have　ever　loved　before；　you　have　conquered　out　and　out　in　love's　contest。　　Receive　the　victor's　wreath　；　and　the　herald　shall　proclaim　your　victory　aloud　before　your　own　tribunal：　〃M。　Cornelius　Fronto；　Consul；　wins；　and　is　crowned　victor　in　the　Open　International　Love…race。〃（4）　But　beaten　though　I　may　be；　I　shall　neither　slacken　nor　relax　my　own　zeal。　Well；　you　shall　love　me　more　than　any　man　loves　any　other　man；　but　I；　who　possess　a　faculty　of　loving　less　strong；　shall　love　you　more　than　any　one　else　loves　you；　more　indeed　than　you　love　yourself。　　Gratia　and　I　will　have　to　fight　for　it；　I　doubt　I　shall　not　get　the　better　of　her。　　For；　as　Plautus　says；　her　love　is　like　rain；　whose　big　drops　not　only　penetrate　the　dress；　but　drench　to　the　very　marrow。'

Marcus　Aurelius　seems　to　have　been　about　eighteen　years　of　age　when　the　correspondence　begins；　Fronto　being　some　thirty　years　older。（5）　The　systematic　education　of　the　young　prince　seems　to　have　been　finisht；　and　Pronto　now　acts　more　as　his　adviser　than　his　tutor。　He　recommends　the　prince　to　use　simplicity　in　his　public　speeches；　and　to　avoid　affectation。（6）　Marcus