The Three Advices/The Emperor Severus

4473174The Three Advices — The Emperor SeverusAnonymous

THE EMPEROR SEVERUS.

The Emperor Severus being confined with gout at York, one of his courtiers told him that the world did admire how he could govern so many nations, separated so far from one another, and he so much troubled with that disease. To which the Emperor replied, Sir, I rule the empire with my head, and not with my feet; with my temples, and not with my toes.