Senate, or House of Lords, as often as his Affairs would give him leave, tho' he had nothing to move; And when he had any Business to "propose", he made no Difficulty to come up to Town, from the remoter Parts of Italy. The greatest part of the Curators [1] of Towns, were chosen by him out of the Senate; being perfectly of Augustus's Mind, that a Prince by raising the Character of the chief Magistrates; makes his own Figure shine out the better, and fortifies the Royal Authority, which neither can, nor ought to stand upon any other than a Just bottom.
His Regards for the Senate did not prevent his Favours coming down to the Inferiour Magistracy, nor indeed from reaching the Subject in general. [2] He never thought any Persons, let their Condition be never so mean, beneath his Concern; his care stoop'd even to the Gladiators, and Ropedancers; ordering the first to fight with Foins, or Buttons upon their Swords; and that the other should have Feather-beds, or Mats spread under them, to prevent the danger of a Fall; and from hence the Custom began of hanging Nets under the Rope a great while after.
[3] He made very severe Laws to secure the Privilege of burying Places, and to prevent the defacing of Tombs, and Monu-ments;
