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An example of the frankness which was between them is given by a

difference they had over the case of Herodes Atticus. Herodes was

a Greek rhetorician who had a school at Rome, and Marcus Aurelius

was among his pupils. Both Marcus and the Emperor Antoninus had a

high opinion of Herodes; and all we know goes to prove he was a

man of high character and princely generosity. When quite young

he was made administrator of the free cities in Asia, nor is it

surprising to find that he made bitter enemies there; indeed, a

just ruler was sure to make enemies. The end of it was that an

Athenian deputation, headed by the orators Theodotus and

Demostratus, made serious accusations against his honour. There

is no need to discuss the merits of the case here; suffice it to

say, Herodes succeeded in defending himself to the satisfaction

of the emperor.