[Sidenote:—­5—­] These acts were charged against him as offences, and so were also his great exactness, his superfluous labors, and his divided interests.  But he healed the wounds made and recovered favor by his general care, his foresight, his grandeur and his skill.  Again, he did not stir up any war and ended those already in progress.  He deprived no one of money unjustly, and upon many peoples and private citizens and senators and knights he bestowed large sums.  He did not wait to be asked, but was certain to act each time according to each man’s needs.  The military he trained with great precision, so that its strength rendered it neither disobedient nor insolent.  Allied and subject cities he aided most munificently.  He had seen many that no other emperor had even set eyes upon, and he assisted practically all of them, giving to some water, to others harbors, or food, or public works, or money, and to still others various honors.

[Sidenote:—­6—­] As a leader of the Roman people he was distinguished for force rather than for flattery.  Once, at a gladiatorial contest, when the crowd was urging its petition strongly, he not only would not grant its wish, but further ordered this command of Domitian’s to be proclaimed:  “Be silent.”  The words were not uttered, though.  The herald raised his hand and by that very gesture quieted the people as he had been accustomed to do. (They are never silenced by proclamation).  Then, when they had become quiet, he said:  “This is what he wishes.”  Hadrian was not in the least angry with the herald; on the contrary, he honored him for not publishing the rudeness of the order.  He could endure such things and was not displeased if he was aided in any unexpected way and by chance comers.  It must be admitted that once, when a woman passed him on some road and preferred a request, he at first said to her:  “I haven’t time.”  Afterwards, when she cried out loudly, saying:  “Don’t be emperor, then”, he turned about and granted her a hearing.

[Sidenote:—­7—­] He transacted through the senate all serious and most urgent business and he held court with the assistance of prominent men now in the palace or again in the Forum, the Pantheon, and in many other places, always on a platform, so that what was done was open to public inspection.  Sometimes he would join the consuls when they were trying cases, and he showed them honor at the horse-races.  When he returned home he was accustomed to be carried in a litter, in order not to trouble any one to accompany him.  On days neither sacred nor public he remained at home, and admitted no one even long enough to greet him, unless it were some urgent matter; this was to relieve the courtiers of needless annoyance.  Both in Rome and abroad he always kept the noblest men about him; and he used to join them at banquets, which led to his being often carried in their litters as one of a party of four.  As frequently as possible he went hunting, and he