* Note: The turn of Gibbon's sentence is Augustin's: "Plus Hadrianum regem bominum, quam regem Deorum timuisse videatur."-- M] [Footnote 24: See the Augustan History, p.

5, Jerome's Chronicle, and all the Epitomizers.

It is somewhat surprising, that this memorable event should be omitted by Dion, or rather by Xiphilin.] The martial and ambitious of spirit Trajan formed a very singular contrast with the moderation of his successor.

The restless activity of Hadrian was not less remarkable when compared with the gentle repose of Antoninus Pius.

The life of the former was almost a perpetual journey; and as he possessed the various talents of the soldier, the statesman, and the scholar, he gratified his curiosity in the discharge of his duty.
Careless of the difference of seasons and of climates, he marched on foot, and bare-headed, over the snows of Caledonia, and the sultry plains of the Upper Egypt; nor was there a province of the empire which, in the course of his reign, was not honored with the presence of the monarch.