Book 28
1.23
When the emperor was consulted 368 ff. A.D. about this matter, he referred the business to the senate. And when they had weighed the case in the scales of justice and learned the truth and had exiled the accused to Boae,An island on the Dalmatian Coast. a place in Dalmatia, they could hardly bear the wrath of the emperor, who was greatly incensed on learning that a man whom he had intended to be condemned to death had been punished with a milder sentence.
1.24
On account of this occurrence and many others of the same kind, the fate which was seen to overtake a few persons began to be feared by all. And lest, by so many evils that were ignored, and gradually creeping on, the mass of troubles should be increased, by resolution of the nobles envoys were sent to the emperor. These were Praetextatus,Cf. xxvii. 9, 8. former prefect of the city, Venustus, a one-time deputy-prefect,Cf. xxiii. 1, 4. and Minervius, who had been a consular governor. They were to ask that punishments should be inflicted that were not too severe for the offences,The punishment should fit the crime. According to Capitolinus, 24, 1, Marcus Aurelius punished all offences with a milder penalty than the laws allowed. and that no senator should, in a fashion neither practised nor permitted, be subjected to torture.
