Stoicism - College of Stoic Philosophers

204 STOICISM.succession to the throne by Antoninus, he was trainedunder his experienced eye to bear the burden of thecares of state. On the emperor's death he shared thethrone awhile with Lucius Verus, but after a few yearsbecame the sole sovereign of the Roman world, withall the onerous responsibilities of absolute power.The task that lay before him was enormous. Theefficiency of every part of the greatmachine ofgovernment depended on his watchfulness and wisdom;from him the rank and the authority of the officialclasses were derived, and to him in every case of doubtthey naturally turned for sanction and for guidance.The boundaries of the Empire stretched to the furthestlimits of the civilized world, and all the lands whichitincluded looked to the Csesar on the throne as theone central source of law and order.Marcus Aureliuswas indeed no brilliant ruler, and had no high ambitionwith far-reaching plans, but he sincerely wishedto make his subjects happy, and spent in their serviceanxious and laborious years. His gentle nature wasbest suited for the quiet days of peace when he couldfind leisure among the cares of civil government forhis philanthropic schemes, could succour the poor andneedy, provide endowments for the orphaned, andsee that every class of suitors had prompt justicedone them. But untoward destiny required him tospend the best years of his life in an inglorious warfarewith enemies unknown to fame. Some passionateimpulse seemed to pass like a fiery cross along theborders, and barbarous hordes came swarming upwith fury to tlie attack, and threatened to burst the