Page:The Emperor Marcus Antoninus - His Conversation with Himself.djvu/131

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After this Victory, Antoninus put his Army into Winter-Quarters, and retired to Sirmium ^[1] himself ; that being the nearest, and most convenient Town for the Service of the War. During his stay here, he heard the Impeachment of Herodes, ^[2] prosecuted by Demostratus and Praxagoras in behalf of the Athenians; And likewise the Complaint Herodes preferred against these Commissioners. They charg'd Herod with an Insolent and Tyrannical Management in his Post, and having had an intimate Correspondence with Verus, they made broad Signs as if he had been privy to the pretended Conspiracy of that Prince to Poyson Antoninus. On the other Hand, Herodes accus'd Demostratus and Praxagoras of an Attempt to raise the Mob upon him. These Enemies of Herod were encourag'd under-hand by the Quintilians, who having the Government of Greece, had a great Interest, and were glad of any occasion, to revenge an Affront put upon them by Herod : For this Orator having formerly mention'd the great Honour, and Promotion the Emperour had bestow'd upon them, cited a Verse from the Iliads, and made a Jest upon their Country by Allusion, they being Originally of Troas, This Homer's Jupiter, says he, is not to be endur'd for loving the Trojans at this rate.This

1. Sirmich in Hungery.
2. This Herodes was the famous Retorician, who had been Preceptor to Marcus Antoninus and Verus.