CHAP. IV.
_____to the prejudices of every age, reflected some disgrace on the injured husband. He promoted several of her lovers to posts of honour and profit[1]; and during a connection of thirty years, invariably gave her proofs of the most tender confidence, and of a respect which ended not with her life. In his meditations, he thanks the gods, who had bestowed on him a wife so faithful so gentle, and of such a wonderful simplicity of manners[2]. The obsequious senate, at his earnest request declared her a goddess. She was represented in her temples with the attributes of Juno, Venus, and Ceres and it was decreed, that, on the day of their nuptials, the youth of either sex should pay their vows before the altar of their chaste patroness[3].
- ↑ Hist. August, p. 34.
- ↑ Meditat. 1. i. The world has laughed at the credulity of Marcus ; but madam Dacier assures us, (and we may credit a lady,) that the husband will always be deceived, if the wife condescends to dissemble.
- ↑ Dion Cassius, 1. Ixxi. p. 1 195. Hist. August, p. 33. Commentaire de Spanheim sur les Caesars de Julien, p. 289. The deification of Faustina is the only defect which Julian's criticism is able to discover in the all-accomplished character of Marcus.