MARCUS AURELIUS
Letter of Marcus to his Praefectus[1] (praetorio)
I have put Avidius Cassius in command of the Syrian army which is dissolved in luxury and living in the moral atmosphere of Daphne.[2] Caesonius Vectilianus described them as indulging wholesale in hot baths. And I think I have done right, for you too must have noted Cassius, a man of the old Cassian severity and discipline. Nor indeed can soldiers be ruled except by the ancient discipline. For you know that line of an excellent poet, which is in the mouths of all:
Rome on her ancient ways and men unshakably standeth..[3]
You have only to see that the troops are plentifully provided . with supplies. If I know anything of Cassius[4] I am certain they will not be wasted.
Answer of the Praefect
You have taken a wise step, my Lord, in setting Cassius over the Syrian army. There is nothing so salutary for grecianized soldiers as a man of unusual strictness. Be sure that he will "knock off" all these hot baths for the soldiers, these flowers
- ↑ Furius Viotorinus must be meant. He was praef. praet. 159–167.
- ↑ A suburb of Antioch, the resort of the idle and dissolute.
- ↑ From the Annals of Ennius.
- ↑ He was not governor of Syria before the end of 164.
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