A SHORT SKETCH

OF THE LIFE OF

MARCUS

AURELIUS.

HE City of Rome, from its first foundation by Romulus, was governed by kings, for about two hundred and fifty years. After their expulfion, the Commonwealth was adminiftered by two Confuls, annually chofen, for about four hundred and fifty years; when Julius Cæfar, about fifty years before the birth of Chrift, having fubdued Pompey and what was called the Republican Party, made himself perpetual Dictator; and was the first Emperor of

Rome.

After

After a fucceffion of eleven more Emperors, a majority of whom were execrable tyrants, Nerva, Trajan, and Hadrian, came to the throne; under whom the Empire rose to its utmost splendor; although the remote provinces were with difficulty kept in fubjection, even by their wife and firm administration.

The latter of these, the Emperor Hadrian, adopted Antoninus Pius, on condition that he fhould immediately adopt our Marcus Aurelius and Lucius Verus, the son of C. Commodus, his late favourite; whom before he had intended for his fucceffor.

Marcus Aurelius was born about the year 121 of the Christian æra; soon after the Emperor Hadrian's acceffion to the throne. He was of an illuftrious family, both by the father's and mother's fide; being the fon of Annius Verus and Domitia Calvilla Lucilla; both whofe fathers were of confular dignity.

M. Aurelius was firft called Annius Verus, the name of his father and of his grandfather; but on being adopted into the Aure

lian family by Antoninus Pius, he took the name of Aurelius; to which, when he came to the empire, he added that of Antoninus. As he was early about the court, the Emperor Hadrian had called him "veriffimus;" but that seems to have been only a name of fondness and familiarity; as he was always a favourite with that Emperor from his infancy.

His father dying while he was very young, he had been bred up chiefly in the family of his grandfather Annius Verus, who gave him every advantage in his education, which even that polished age could fupply. He had masters in every fcience and genteel accomplishment; even in mufic and painting among the rest.

He was also, in his youth, very fond of all the manly and athletic exercises; hunting, wrestling, tennis, and the like: but his paffion for the ftoic philosophy foon got the ascendant of all other amusements, till he came to the imperial throne; when his time was wholly employed on more important affairs.

M.