consul, master most sweet.
[26] Ad M. Caes., ii. 3.
[27] The Emperor Antoninus Pius is spoken of as _dominus meus_.
[28] This sentence is written in Greek.
[29] Several of these words are Greek, and the meaning is not quite
clear.
'After this you will take care not to tell so many fibs of me,
especially in the Senate. A monstrous fine speech this is! O if I could
kiss your head at every heading of it! You have looked down on all with
a vengeance. This oration once read, in vain shall we study, in vain
shall we toil, in vain strain every nerve. Farewell always, most sweet
master.'
Sometimes Fronto descends from the heights of eloquence to offer
practical advice; as when he suggests how Marcus should deal with his
suite. It is more difficult, he admits, to keep courtiers in harmony
than to tame lions with a lute; but if it is to be done, it must be by
eradicating jealousy. 'Do not let your friends,' says Fronto,'[30] 'envy
each other, or think that what you give to another is filched from them.
[30] Ad M Caes., iv. 1.
Keep away envy from your suite, and you will find your friends kindly
and harmonious.'
Here and there we meet with allusions to his daily life, which we could
wish to be more frequent. He goes to the theatre or the law-courts,[31]
or takes part in court ceremony, but his heart is always with his
books. The vintage season, with its religious rites, was always spent by
Antoninus Pius in the country. The following letters give sonic notion
of a day's occupation at that time:(3)
[31] ii. 14
[32] iv. 5,6.