The Palace and Park by Phillips, Forbes, Latham, Owen, Scharf, and Shenton

[Born at Lanuvium, in Italy, A.D. 161. Died at Rome, A.D. 192. Aged 31.] Son of Marcus Aurelius and Faustina Junior. It is said that he was handsome in form and feature. If history can be believed, he was a monster in human form. He was cruel in hot and cold blood, vain, cowardly, impious. He appeared many times in the Circus as gladiator, and condescended to become a buffoon for the amusement of the lowest of his people; but he is chiefly famous for his human butcheries. He was poisoned at last by his mistress, Marcia, who was only just in time to save her own life, which had been already doomed by her sanguinary paramour. His death gave occasion to almost frantic joy in Rome. [From the marble in the Capitoline Museum at Rome.]