of Antoninus after he became emperor. Young men who are destined for high
places are not often fortunate in those who are about them, their
companions and teachers; and I do not know any example of a young prince
having had an education which can be compared with that of M. Antoninus.
Such a body of teachers distinguished by their acquirements and their
character will hardly be collected again; and as to the pupil, we have
not had one like him since.

Hadrian died in July, A.D. 138, and was succeeded by Antoninus Pius. M.
Antoninus married Faustina, his cousin, the daughter of Pius, probably
about A.D. 146, for he had a daughter born in A.D. 147. He received from
his adoptive father the title of Caesar, and was associated with him in
the administration of the state. The father and the adopted son lived
together in perfect friendship and confidence. Antoninus was a dutiful
son, and the emperor Pius loved and esteemed him.

Antoninus Pius died A.D. 161. The Senate, it is said, urged M. Antoninus
to take the sole administration of the empire, but he associated with
himself the other adopted son of Pius, L. Ceionius Commodus, who is
generally called L. Verus. Thus Rome for the first time had two emperors.
Verus was an indolent man of pleasure, and unworthy of his station.
Antoninus however bore with him, and it is said that Verus had sense
enough to pay to his colleague the respect due to his character. A
virtuous emperor and a loose partner lived together in peace, and their
alliance was strengthened by Antoninus giving to Verus for wife his
daughter Lucilla.

The reign of Antoninus was first troubled by a Parthian war, in which
Verus was sent to command; but he did nothing, and the success that was
obtained by the Romans in Armenia and on the Euphrates and Tigris was due