[206] Synods, or councils.
[207] At the present day called attachés.
[208] He probably means the refusing to join on the occasion of drinking healths when taking wine.
[209] Something to create excitement.
[210] “The heart of kings is unsearchable.”—Prov. v. 3.
[211] Commodus fought naked in public as a gladiator, and prided himself on his skill as a swordsman.
[212] Making a stop at, or dwelling too long upon.
[213] After a prosperous reign of twenty-one years, Diocletian abdicated the throne, and retired to a private station.
[214] After having reigned thirty-five years, he abdicated the thrones of Spain and Germany, and passed the last two years of his life in retirement at St. Just, a convent in Estremadura.
[215] Philost. vit. Apoll. Tyan. v. 28.