mUm 
 
THE LIBRARY 
 
 OF 
 THE UNIVERSITY 
 
 OF CALIFORNIA 
 
 Education 
 
 IN MEMORY OF 
 
 Livingstone Porter 
 1894-1955 
 

 
 EDITION. 
 
 PUBLISHED BY EVERT DUYCKJNCK, 
 
 NO. 110 PEARL-STREET. 
 
 J C. TOTTEN, PRINTER. 
 
 1810. 
 

 \ 1 
 
 IN 
 
 Livingstone Porter' 
 1894-1955 
 
 , 
 
GOLDSMITH'S 
 
 ROMAN/HISTORY. 
 
 M3RIDGED BYHIMS 
 
 v>> 
 
 USE OF SCHOOI 
 
 FIFTH .1MERICJJY EDITION. 
 
 PUBLISHED BY EVERT DUYCKJNCK, 
 
 NO. 110 PEARL-STREET. 
 J C. TOTTEN, PRINTER. 
 
 1810. 
 
(2 'CS* / 
 
 ; I 
 / 
 
 
 
 
PR E.F A C 
 
 THERE are some subjects on which a writer must 
 decline all attempts to acquire fame, satisfied 
 with being obscurely useful. After such a number 
 of Roman Histories, in all languages, ancient and mo- 
 dern, it would be but imposture to pretend new discove- 
 ries, or to expect to offer any thing in a work of this 
 kind, which has not been often anticipated by others. 
 The facts which it relates have been a hundred times 
 repeated, and every occurrence has been so variously 
 considered, that learning can scarcely find a new anec- 
 dote, or genius give novelty to the old. 
 
 I hope, therefore, for the reader's indulgence, if, in, 
 the following attempt, it shall appear that my only aim 
 was to supply a concise, plain, and unaffected narrative 
 of the rise and decline of a well known empire. I was 
 contented to make such a book as could not fail of being 
 serviceable, though of all others the most unlikely to 
 promote the reputation df the writer. Instead there- 
 fore of pressing forward among the ambitious, I only 
 claim the merit of knowing my own strength, and falling 
 back among the hindmost ranks with conscious inferi-' 
 ority. 
 
 I am not ignorant, however, that it would be no such 
 difficult task to pursue the same arts by which many 
 dull men every day acquire a reputation in history ; 
 such might easily be attained, by fixing on some obscure 
 period to write upon, where muck seeming erudition 
 might be displayed, almost unknown, because not worth 
 remembering; and many maxims in politics might be 
 advanced entirely new, because altogether false. But 
 I have pursued a contrary method, chusing the most 
 noted periods in history, and offering no remarks biff 
 as I thought strictly true, 
 
 291 
 
iv. PREFACE. 
 
 The reasons of my choice were, that we had no his- 
 tory of this splendid period in our language, but what 
 was either too voluminous for common use, or too 
 meanly written to please. Catrou and Kouille's I i 
 ry, in six volumes folio, translated into our languai; 
 Bundy, is entirely unsuited to the time and exju 
 mankind usually chuse to bestow upon this subject : 
 Rollin. and his continuator Crevicr, making above 
 ty volumes octavo, seem to labour under 
 putation ; as likewise Hooke, who has spent tl; 
 tos upon the republic alone, the rest of hU undertal 
 remaining unfinished.* There only therefore ren 
 ed the History by Echard, in five volumes octa\ 
 plan and mine seemed to coincide ; and, i cou- 
 
 pon been equal to his design, it had precluded the ; 
 sent undertaking. But the truth is, it is so poorly 
 ten, the facts so crovrtlcd, the narration so 
 the characters so indistinctly marked, that the 
 dent curiosity must cool in the perusal ; and the noblest 
 transactions that ever warmed the human hen: 
 cribed by him must cease to inte: 
 
 I have endeavoured, therefore, in the present work 
 (or rather compilation) to obviate the inconveniences 
 arising from the exuberance of the former, as well as 
 from the unpleasantness of the latter. Too much time 
 may be given even to laudable pursuits, and the 
 none more apt than this, to allure the student from 
 more necessary branches of learning, and if I ma> 
 express it, entirely to engross his indust: 
 here offered therefore may be sufficient for all but H 
 as make history the peculiar business of their li . 
 to such the most tedious narrative will seem but 
 abridgment, as they measure the merit of a work 
 rather by the quantity than the quality of its contents. 
 Others, however, who think more soberly, will aj; 
 that in. so extensive a field as that of the transactions of 
 Rome, more judgment may be shewn by selecting u 
 is important, than by adding what is obscure. 1 
 history of this empire has been extended to six volume* 
 
 * A fourth volume has been since published. 
 
PREFACE. v. 
 
 folio ; and I aver, that with very little learning, it might 
 be increased to sixteen more; but what would this be 
 but to load the subject with unimportant facts, and so to 
 weaken the narration, that like the empire it described, 
 It must necessarily sink beneath the weight of its own. 
 acquisitions ! 
 
 But while I thus have endeavoured to avoid prolixity, 
 it was found no easy matter to prevent crouding the 
 facts, and to give every narration its proper play. In 
 reality, no art can contrive to avoid opposite defects ; 
 he who indulges in minute particularities will be often^ 
 languid, and he who studies conciseness will as fre- 
 quently be dry and unentertaining. As it was my aim 
 to comprise as much as possible in tjj5 Smallest com- 
 pass, it is feared the work will often be subject to the 
 hitter imputation ; but it was impossible to furnish the 
 public with a cheap Roman history, and at the same 
 time give all that warmth to the narrative, all these 
 colourings to the description, which works of twent" 
 times the bulk have room to exhibit. I shall be fully" 
 satisfied, therefore, if it furnishes an interest sufficient 
 to allure the reader to the end ; and this is a claim 
 to which few abridgments can justly make pretensions. 
 
 To these objections there are some who may add, 
 that I have rejected many of the modern improvements 
 in Roman history, and that every character is left in 
 full possession of that fame or infamy which it obtained 
 from its contemporaries, or those who wrote immedi- 
 ately after. I acknowledge the charge, for it appears 
 now too late to rejudge the virtues or the vices of those 
 men who were but very incompletely known even to 
 their own historians. The Romans, perhaps, upon ma- 
 ny occasions, formed wrong ideas of virtue ; but they 
 were by no means so ignorant or abandoned in general 
 as not to give their brightest characters the greatest 
 share of their applause ; and I do not know whether it 
 be fair to try Pagan actions by the standard of Christian 
 morality. 
 
 But whatever may be my execution of this work, I 
 very little doubts about the success of the under- 
 taking j the subject Is the noblest that ever employed 
 
 AO 
 . * 
 
vi. PREFACE. 
 
 human attention ; and instead of requiring a wri 
 aid, will support him with its splendour. The empire 
 of the world, rising from the meanest origin, 
 growing great by a strict veneration for religion, 
 an implicit confidence in its commanders, continually 
 changing the mode, but seldom the spirit of its go% 
 ment, being a constitution in which the milita: 
 whether under the name of citizens or soldiers, almost 
 always prevailed ; adopting all the improvements of 
 .other nations with the most indefatigable industry, and 
 ~^>4)bmiuing to be taught by those whom it afterv 
 subdued ; this is a picture that must affect us hov. 
 it be dispoaxd^; these materials must have their * 
 ujnder the Iiand'Hhc meanest workman. 
 
THE 
 
 H I S T O R \ 
 
 OF THE 
 
 COMMONWEALTH OF ROME. 
 
 CHAP. I. 
 
 Of the Original of the Romans. 
 
 E Romans were particularly desirous of being 
 L thought descended from the gods, as if to hide the 
 meanness of their real ancestry. jEneas, the son of Ve- 
 nus and Anchises, having escaped from the destruction 
 of Troy, after many adventures and dangers, arrived in 
 Italy [A. M. 2294.] where he was kindly received by La- 
 linus, king of the Latins, who gave him his daughter 
 Lavinia in marriage. Turnus, king of the Rutuli, was 
 the first who opposed JEneas, he having long made pre- 
 tensions to Lavinia himself. A war ensued, in which 
 ;he Trojan hero was victorious, and Turnus slain. In 
 consequence of this, ^Eneas built a city which was called 
 Lavinium, in honour of his wife : and some time after r 
 engaging in another war against Mezentinus, one of 
 the petty kings of the country, he was vanquished in 
 Uirn, and died in battle, after a reign of four years. 
 
 Numitor, the fifteenth king in a direct line from jEne- 
 as, who took possession of the kingdom in consequence 
 of his father's will, had a brother named Amulius, to 
 whom he left the treasures which had been brought from 
 Troy. As riches but too generally prevail against right.- 
 
8 THE HISTORY OF Ti 
 
 Amulius made use of his wealth to supplant his brother, 
 and soon found means to possess himself of the kingdom. 
 Not content with the crime of usurpation, he added 
 of murder also. Numitor's sons first fell c to 
 
 his suspicions ; and to remove all apprehensions of being 
 one day disturbed in his ill got powe: -ed Rhea 
 
 Silvia, his brother's only dvtughter, to beconu 
 virgin ; which office obliging her to perpetual celil 
 made him less uneay as to the claims of poster : 
 
 His precautions, however, were all frustrated in the 
 event : for Rhea Silvia, going to fetch water from a 
 neighbouring grove, was met and ravished by a man, 
 whom, perhaps to palliate her oficnrc, she averred i 
 Mars, the^y} of war. From this congress she was 
 brought to bed of two boys, who were no sooner horn 
 than devoted by the usurper to destruction. Tl.< 
 was condemned to be buried alive, the usual pin 
 ior vestals who had violated their chastity, and 
 were ordered to be Hung into the river Tybcr. It 
 pened at the time this rigorous sentence was put im 
 ccution, that the river had more than usually overflt 
 its banks, so that the place where the children \ 
 thrown being at a distance from the main current, thi 
 ter was too shallow to drown them. In this situation, 
 therefore, they continued without harm; and, that no 
 part of their preservation might want its wonder> 
 are told that they were for some time suckled by a 
 until Faustulus, the king's herdsman, finding them thus 
 exposed, brought them home to Aca LaurentL 
 wko brought them up as his own. 
 
 Romulus and Remus, the twins, thus strangely pre- 
 served, seemed early to discover abilities and deaires 
 above the meanness of their supposedoriginal. The shep- 
 herd's life began to displease them ; and, from tei, 
 flocks, or hunting wild beasts, they soon turned their 
 strength against the robbers round the country, whom 
 they often stript of thrir plunder to share it among 
 fellow shepherd*. In one of these excursions Remus 
 was taken prisoner by Numitor's herdsman, who brought 
 him before the king, who accused him of being a p 
 derer. Romulus, however, being informed by Faustuius 
 
COMMONWEALTH OF ROME. 9 
 
 uf his real birth, was not remiss in assembling a num- 
 ber of his fellow shepherds, who beset the usurper on 
 all sides, who, during his amazement and destraction, 
 was taken and slain j while Numitor, who had been de- 
 posed forty-two years, recognized his grandsons, and 
 was once more restored to the throne. 
 
 Numitor being thus in quiet possession of the kingdom, 
 his grandsons resolved to build a chy upon those hills 
 where they had formerly lived as shepherds. Many of 
 the neighbouring shepherds also, and such as were fond 
 of change, repaired to the intended city, and prepared 
 to raise it. In order to proceed in this undertaking with 
 all possible solemnity, the two brothers were advised by 
 the king to take an omen from the flight of birds, and 
 he whose omen should be most favourable should 
 in all respects direct the other. In compliance with 
 this advice they both took their stations upon different 
 hills. To Remus appeared six vultures ; to Romulus 
 twice thut number ; so that each party thought itself 
 victorious ; the one having the first omen, the other the 
 most complete. This produced a contest, which ended 
 in a battle, wherein Remus was slain ; and it is even 
 said that he was killed by his brother, who being pro- 
 voked at his leaping contemptuously over the city wall, 
 struck him dead upon the spot. 
 
 Romulus, being now sole commander, and eighteen 
 years of age, began the foundation of a city, that was 
 one day to give laws to the world. It was called Rome, 
 after the name of the founder, and built upon the Pala- 
 tine hill, on which he had taken his successful omen [A. 
 252. ante c. 752.] The chy was at first almost 
 square, containing about a thousand houses. It was near 
 a mile in compass, and commanded a small territory 
 round it of about eight miles over. However, small as 
 it appears, it was notwithstanding worse inhabited ; and 
 the first method made use of to increase its numbers, 
 was the opening a sanctuary for all malefactors, slaves, 
 and such as were desirous of novelty ; and these came 
 in great multitudes, and contributed to increase th 
 number of our legislator's new subjects. 
 
10 THE HISTORY OF THE 
 
 CHAP. II. 
 
 : the building cf Ron:- 
 
 SCARCE was the city raised above its foyndation, 
 when its rud> \ to think of giving 
 
 sonic form to their constitution. Romulu :t of 
 
 great generosity* left them at liberty to chuse whom 
 they would for their king ; and the> con- 
 
 curred to elect their founder : h 
 
 cf of thei. 
 trate of Rome, and general of the am. 
 
 d to attend his person, it was agr :c should 
 
 eccded wherever he went med 
 
 with axes tied up in a bundle of rods, who were to c : 
 
 the law, and to impress his new sub- 
 /. ith an idea of hisauth* 
 The senate, which was to act as rounsell 
 king, was composed cf an hundred of the prii, 
 
 - of Rome, consisting of men whose a<; s or 
 
 valour, gave them a natural authority over their fellow 
 
 jets; and the king named the first senator, anil 
 pointed him to the government of the city, v. 
 
 f*C. 
 
 The Plebeians, who composed the third part of the 
 
 awmed to themselves the power of anthor- 
 
 passed by the king or the 
 
 .:e. All things relative to peace or war, to the t 
 to the chu.inga king, \ 
 confirmed by suffrages in their assemblies. 
 
 The first care of the new created king was to 
 toth ait the precise form of t 
 
 worship is unknown. The greatest part of the religion 
 of that age consisted in a firm reliance upon tin 
 their soothsayers, who pretended, from cT s on 
 
 the flight of birds, and the entrails of beasts, tori 
 present, and to dive into futurity. Romulus, 
 press law, commanded that no election should be n:.. 
 no enterprize undertaken, without first consulting tl 
 
COMMONWEALTH OF ROME. 
 
 Wives were forbid, upon any pretext whatsoever, to 
 separate from their husbands ; while, on the contrary, 
 the husband was empowered to repudiate his wife, and 
 even in some cases to put her to death. His laws be- 
 tween children and their parents were yet still more se- 
 vere ; the father had entire power over his offspring, 
 both of fortune and life ; he could sell them or im- 
 prison them, at any time of their lives, or in any stations 
 to which they were arrived. 
 
 After his endeavours by law to regulate his subjects, 
 he next gave orders to ascertain their numbers. The 
 whole amounted but to three thousand foot, and about as 
 many hundred horsemen, capable of bearing arms, 
 These therefore were divided equally into three tribes, 
 and to each he assigned a different part of the city. 
 i?ach of these tribes were subdivided into ten curix, or 
 companies, consisting of an hundred men each, with a 
 centurion to command it ; a priest, called curio, to per- 
 form the sacrifices ; and two of the principal inhabitants, 
 called duumviri, to distribute justice. 
 
 By these wise regulations, each day added strength to 
 the new city ; multitudes flocked in from all the adjacent 
 towns, and it only seemed to want women to ascertain its 
 duration. In this exigence, Romulus, by the advice of 
 the senate, sent deputies among the Sabines, his neigh- 
 bours, entreating their alliance, and upon these terms 
 ottering to cement the most strict confederacy with them. 
 The Sabines, who were then considered as tlie most war- 
 like people of Italy rejected the proposal with disdain : 
 Romulus, therefore, proclaimed a feast in honour of Nep- 
 tune, throughout all the neighbouring villages, and made 
 the most magnificent preparations for it. These feasts 
 were generally preceded by sacrifices,and ended in shews 
 of wrestlers, gladiators, and chariot courses. The Sa- 
 lines, as he had expected, were among the foremost 
 who came to be spectators, bringing their wives and 
 daughters with them, to share the pleasure of the sight. 
 In the mean time the games began, and while ike stran- 
 gers were most intent upon the spectacle, a number of 
 the Roman youth rushed in among them with tlrawn 
 ' ds, seized the youngest and most beautiful womer>; 
 
THE HISTORY OI 
 
 and carried them off by violence. In vain the pa 
 protested against this breach of hosphalit) 
 
 ins themselves at first opposed the attemp- 
 ravishers, perseverance and caressess obtained the 
 vours, which timidity at first denied ; so that the be- 
 trayers, from being objects of aversion, soon btc 
 the partners of their dearest affec 
 
 A bloody war ensued. Tin ia, Antcm- 
 
 na, and Crustumium, were the t: j re- 
 
 venge the common cai 1 too 
 
 dilatory in pursuing. But all these ! separate 
 
 inroads, became a more 
 
 !e the most merciful u-< 1 of 
 
 destroying their towns, abcrs, he 
 
 "iily placed colonies of Romans in them, 
 frontier to rep- :ons. 
 
 Tatius, king of Cu: 
 
 i > undertook to revenge 
 1 suffered. He entered the 
 
 Roman territories at the head of tv. * thousand 
 
 men, and not content wi:h a supr 
 
 ded stra 1 >Thter to 
 
 the commander ol ollne hill, happen* 
 
 into his hands as she went withov of the ci: 
 
 cr. Upon her he prevailed, by means of large 
 promises, to betray one of the gates to his army. The 
 reward she engaged fo: .'.t the soldiers Wore on 
 
 their arms, by which she rm bracelets. They, 
 
 however, either mistaking her meaning, or willing to 
 punish her perfidy, threw their bucklers upon her as 
 entered, and crushed her to death. '1 < ing 
 
 thus possessed of the Capitoline, after some time a 
 eral engagement ensue eral 
 
 days with almost equal success, and neither could think 
 of submitting: it was in the valley between the Capito- 
 line and Quirnal hills, that the last engagement was 
 fought between the Romans and Sabines. The engage- 
 ment was now become general, and the slaughter pro- 
 digious, when the attention of both sides was suddenly 
 
 cd from the scene of horror before them, to anotl 
 *ill at length the Sabinc women, who liad been carric 
 
COMMONWEALTH OF HOME. 13 
 
 by the Romans, with their hair loose, and their orna- 
 ments neglected, flew in between the combatants, regard- 
 less of their own danger, and with loud outcries implor- 
 ed their husbands and th<Mv children to desist. Upon 
 this, the combatants, as ii" by mutual impulse, let fall 
 their weapons ; an accommodation ensued, by which it 
 was agreed, that Romulus and Tatius should reign joint- 
 ly in Rome, with equal power and prerogative, that an 
 hundred S:\bines should be admitted into the senate, that 
 the city should still retain its former name, but that the 
 citizens should be called Quirites, after Cures, the prin- 
 cipal town of the Sabines, and that both nations being 
 thus united, such of the Sabines as chose it, should be 
 admitted to live in and enjoy all the privileges of citi- 
 zens in Rome. Tatius was killed about live years af- 
 ter by the Lavinians, for having protected some servants 
 of his, who had plundered them and slain their ambas- 
 sadors ; so that by this accident Romulus once more 
 
 himself sole monarch of Rome. 
 
 Successes like these produced an equal share of pride 
 in the conqueror. From being contented with those 
 limits which had been wisely assigned to his power, he 
 began to affect absolute sway, and to govern those laws 
 to which he had himself formerly professed implicit 
 obedience. The senate was particularly displeased at 
 his conduct, as they found themselves only used as in- 
 struments to ratify the rigour of his commands. We 
 are not told the precise manner which they employed 
 to get rid of the tyrant ; some say that he was torn in 
 pieces in the senate-house ; others that he disappeared 
 while reviewing his army. Certain it is, that from the 
 secrecy of the tact, and the concealment of the body, 
 they took occasion to persuade the multitude that he 
 was taken up into heaven : thus him whom they could 
 not bear as a king, they were contented to worship as a 
 god. Romulus reigned thirty-seven years, and after 
 his death, had a temple built to him under the name of 
 Quirinus. 
 
14 THE HISTORY OF Ti 
 
 : VP. III. 
 
 From the death of X smut its, to the deat! Pom- 
 
 pHiu-f) tti: 
 
 8.] 
 
 UPON the death of Romulus, the 
 ly divided in the ch- 
 
 were lor having a king chosen from ' 
 hut the Romans could not bear the though: 
 ciiu^ a stranger to the throne. In thi- 
 
 is undertook to supply the ; 
 taking the governm of them in turn, for five 
 
 .ml during that time enjoying all the \\ 
 all the pri\ ; 
 
 meat continued tor a year, but the Pie'. 
 that this method of - multi- 
 
 plying their ma 
 
 Tnment. Tl. to an 
 
 rd upon 
 . their ch 
 approbating by the people. 
 
 Nmna Pompilius, who :bout forty, 
 
 been eminent for his piety, hi 
 exemplary life. ^killed in all the K 
 
 philosophy of th and lived at hon.i 
 
 contented with a private fortune, unambitious oi 
 honours. It was not, therefore, without rcluctai 
 he accepted the dignity, whi it pro-/ 
 
 duccil such joy, that the people seemed not so much to 
 receive a king as a kingdom. 
 
 No monarch could be more proper for then 
 Nu ma, at a conjuncture \\ 
 posed of various petty stu 
 united among each other : they wanted a i 
 could, by h'. ul precepts, soften their fieri 
 
 po-iiions, and by his example induce them to a love of 
 religion, and every milder virtue. 
 
 naS whole lime, therefore, was spent in 
 his subjects whh a love of piety, and a ver. 
 the gocU. He built many new temples, instituted 
 
COMMONWEALTH OF ROME. 15 
 
 offices and feasts, and the sanctity of his life gave him 
 credit enough to persuade his people that he had a par- 
 ticular correspondence with the goddess Egeria. By 
 her advice he built the temple of Janus, which was to 
 be shut in time of peace, and open in war ; he ordain- 
 ed vestal virgins, who, being four in number, had very- 
 great privileges allowed them. 
 
 For the encouragement of agriculture, he divided 
 
 -c lands which Romulus had gained in war among 
 the poorer part of the people ; he regulated the calen- 
 der, and abolished the distinction between Romans and 
 
 lies, by dividing the people according to their sev- 
 eral trades, and compelling them to live together. Thus, 
 having arrived at the age of four score years, and having 
 reigned forty-three in profound peace, he died, ordering 
 his body to be buried in a stone coffin, contrary to the: 
 
 om of the times, and his books of ceremonies, which 
 consisted of twelve in Latin, and as many in Greek, to 
 be buried by his side in another. 
 
 CHAP. IV. 
 
 From the death of Numa, to the death cf Titllus R 
 tilius, the third king of Rome. 
 
 [u. C. 8:.] 
 
 UPON the death of Numa, the government once 
 more d volved upon the senate, and continued 
 till the people elected Tullus Iloslilius for their king, 
 which choice had also the concurrence of the other part 
 of the constitution. This monarch, who was grandson 
 to a noble Roman, who had formerly signalized himself 
 .bines, was evci ; way unlike his predeces- 
 sor, being entirely devoted to v>ur, and more fond of 
 enlerprize, than even the founder of the empire him- 
 self had been ; so that he only sought a pretext for lead- 
 ing his forces into the field. 
 
 Albans were the first people who gave him an op- 
 unity of indulging his favourite inclinations. The 
 * of those two states .met about five miles from 
 
16 IK HISTORY O; 
 
 Rome, prepared to decide the fate of their respective 
 kingdoms; for almost every b-ittlc in these times was 
 
 e. The two armies were for some time drawn 
 out in array, awaiting the signal to begin, both chiding 
 the length of that dreadful su\ .n an unexpect- 
 
 ed proposal from th( i put a stop to i 
 
 set Step; cd the 
 
 Romans a choi e com- 
 
 iiose chai: 
 
 mould submit to the conqueror. A proposal like 
 i-tuous temper oft; 
 
 hoped tint he hi 
 
 of his. thistinu in bro- 
 
 thers in each army llomans were called 
 
 Horatii, and those of the AlbansCi: i mark- 
 
 able for their courage, sir. . these 
 
 Ivccl to commr c com- 
 
 bat. A'. lciu;'h thccham; t together; 
 
 and e; > 
 
 the de .opponent. '1 
 
 rid silence, trembled at every blow, and 
 the danger, till for: 
 the field. Victory, that i. 
 
 1 to declare against the Rom.-: 
 
 of their champions lyingdcid upon tlu ;id the 
 
 three Ciiri.tlii, vounded, slowly ei. 
 
 to pursue the survivor, who s < 
 mercy. Soon, 1 they per 
 
 ly pretended, in order t- . 
 whom he v. 
 
 Mil him who fol- 
 lowed i , hind, he 
 the second brother, who came on t 
 
 fallen, only shared there re- 
 
 mained bift the last Curiatius to co 
 .-.ml (jiyte di 
 offer an easy victory. 1 !cd, almost uir 
 
 hile the concjueror excl flered hi 
 
 i to the s\: of the Romans, whom now the 
 
 :i'.ed to ol- 
 
COMMONWEALTH OF ROME. 1? 
 
 But none of the virtues of that age were without al- 
 loy ; the very hand that in the morning was exerted to 
 save his country, was before night embrued in the blood 
 of his sister. For, returning triumphant from the field, 
 it raised his indignation to behold her bathed in tears, 
 and lamenting the loss of her lover, one of the Curiatii, 
 to whom she was betrothed. This provoked him beyond 
 the power of sufferance, so that he slew her in a rage. 
 This action greatly displeased the senate, and drew on 
 the condemnation of the magistrates; but he was par- 
 doned by making his appeal to the people. 
 
 Hostilius died, after a reign of thirty-two years ; 
 some say by lightning, others, with more probability, 
 by treason. 
 
 CHAP. V. 
 
 'ii the death of Tullus Hostilhis, to the death of 
 Ancus Martins, the fourth king of Rome. 
 
 [U. C. 115.] 
 
 AFTER an interregnum, as in the former case, 
 Ancus Martius, the grandson of Numa, was elect- 
 ed king by the people, and the choice afterwards was 
 confirmed by the senate. As this monarch was a lineal 
 descendant from Numa, so he seemed to make him 
 the great object of his imitation. He instituted the sa- 
 cred ceremonies which were to precede a declaration of 
 war ; he took every occasion to advise his subjects to 
 return to the arts of agriculture, and to lay aside the 
 less useful stratagems of war. 
 
 These institutions and precepts were considered by 
 the neighbouring powers rather as marks of cowardice 
 than of wisdom. The Latins therefore began to make 
 incursions upon his territories, but their success was 
 equal to their justice. Ancus conquered the Latins, 
 destroyed their cities, removed their inhabitants to 
 Rome, and increased his territories by the addition of 
 part of theirs. He quelled also an insurrection of the 
 B 2 
 
1 >8 THE HISTORY Ol 
 
 : idenates, and the Volsci ; and over the Sa- 
 bines he obtained a second triumph. 
 
 But his victories over the enemy were by no means 
 comparable to h :nples, 
 
 building a sea-port ut the mouth of the Tybcr, 
 
 subjects : 
 that river and that of UK 
 
 . 1 bcautific '. 
 ed after a reir 
 
 < HAP. 
 
 qul. fth king of Rwc. 
 
 [l- C 138] 
 
 Liiscus, vrhose 
 . 
 
 sfromwh 
 
 coir 
 
 ccount of some troubles at home. His si 
 mo: . tbnuae, i 
 
 mil> 
 
 place, by his wife's pci> 
 
 ;e appro. 
 x)ve, took ofi 
 
 round hi- for some 
 
 koi. 
 
 v, interpreted 
 
 aid one day wear the c '/s it was 
 
 this which first fired his ambition to pursue it. 
 
 L-, Tarquin used all his y 
 arts :Je the children ol 
 
 cltcred in their ;>tea<h For this purpose, upon 
 
COMMONWEALTH OF ROME. r9 
 
 the day appointed for election, he contrived to have 
 them sent out of the city : and in a set speech to the 
 people, in which he argued his friendship for them, the 
 fortune he had spent among them, and his knowledge 
 of their government, he offered himself for their king. 
 As there was nothing in this harangue that could be 
 contested, it had the desired effect, and the people, with 
 one consent, elected him as their sovereign. 
 
 A kingdom, thus got by intrigue, was, notwithstand- 
 ing, governed with equity. In the beginning of his 
 reign, in order to recompence his friends, he added an 
 hundred members more to the senate, which made them 
 in all three hundred. 
 
 But his peaceful endeavours were soon interrupted by 
 the inroads of his restless neighbours, particularly the 
 Latins, over whom he triumphed, and whom he forced 
 to beg a peace. He then turned his arms against the 
 Subines, who had risen OHCC more, and had passed over 
 the river Tyber ; but Tarquin, attacking them with vi- 
 gour, routed their army ; so that many who escaped the 
 sword, were drowned in attempting to cross over, while 
 their bodies and armour, floating down to Rome, brought 
 news of the victory even before the messengers could 
 arrive that were sent with the tidings. These conquests 
 were followed by several advantages over the Latins, 
 from whom he took many towns, though without gain- 
 ing any decisive victory. 
 
 Tarquin having thus forced his enemies into submis- 
 sion, was resolved not to let his subjects corrupt in in- 
 dolence, but undertook and perfected several public 
 works for the convenience and embellishment of the city. 
 
 In his time also, the augurs came into a great increase 
 of reputation, and he found it his interest to prgmote the 
 superstition of the people, as this was in fact but to in- 
 crease their obedience. Tanaquil, his wife, was a great 
 pretender to this art ; but Accius Naevius was the most 
 celebrated adept of the kind that was ever known in 
 Rome. Upon a certain occasion, Tarquin being resolv- 
 ed to try the augur's skill, asked him, whether what he 
 was then pondering in his mind could be effected ? Nae- 
 having examined his auguries, boldly affirmed that 
 
THE HISTORY OF Tin:- 
 
 i\ might : " Why then," cries the king \vith an insult- 
 Ing smile, " I had thoughts of cutting this whetstone 
 
 i a razor." " Cut boldly," replied the augur; and 
 the king cut it through accordingly. Thence forward 
 nothing was undertaken in Rome without consulting the 
 augurs, and obtaining their advice and approbation. 
 
 Tarquin was not content with a kingdom without also 
 the ensigns of royalty. In imitation of the Lydian kings 
 he; crown oi ivory throne, a sceptre 
 
 with an eagle on the top, and robes of purple. It was, 
 perhaps, the splendour of these royalties that first r; 
 the envy of the late king's sons, who had now, for above 
 thirty-beven years, ibmitted t crnment. 
 
 His i! sign aiso of adopting S 
 
 tor his successor, might have contributed to inflame 
 their resentment. \Vhatc\ -vise of their 
 
 v vengeance, they resolved to destroy him ; and at 
 
 tountl means to effect t. :>se, by hiring two 
 
 ruffians, who ig to speak with the king, 
 
 tending that il -> 
 
 h the blow of an axe. The lictors, ho\ 
 er, who waited upon the person oft! : the 
 
 tnui lio were a 
 
 put to death, but the sons of Ancus, who were the in- 
 
 us, to 
 dutii 
 
 i he had reigned 
 
 v -eight. 
 
 vn 
 
 ; the death of 
 ius Tullius, the sixth /t///^ of Rome. 
 
 [U. C. 179.] 
 
 T^HK report of the murder of Tarquin, filled all his 
 
 A subjects with complaint and indignation, while the 
 
 ens ran from every quarter^ the palace toleani 
 
COMMONWEALTH OF ROME. ?1 
 
 truth of the account, or to take vengeance on the assas- 
 sins. In this tumult, Tana.quil, widow of the late king, 
 considering the danger she>must incur in case the con- 
 spirators should succeed to the crown, and desirous of 
 having her son-in-law for his successor, with great art 
 dissembled her sorrows as well as the king's death. She 
 assured the people, from one of the windows of the pa- 
 lace, that he was not killed but stunned by the blow ; 
 that he would shortly recover : and that, in the mean 
 time, he had deputed his power to Servius Tullius, his 
 son-in-law. Servius accordingly, as it had been agreed 
 upon between them, issued from the palace, adorned 
 with the ensigns of royalty, and preceded by his lictors, 
 and went to dispatch some affairs that related to the 
 public safety, still pretending that he took all his instruc- 
 tions from the king. This scene of dissimulation con- 
 tinued for some days, till he had made his party good 
 among the nobles ; when the death of Tarquin being 
 publicly ascertained, Servius came to the crown, solely 
 at the senate's appointment, and without attempting to 
 gain the suffrages of the people. 
 
 Servius was the son of a bondwoman, who had been 
 taken at the sacking of a town belonging to the Latins, 
 and was born whilst his mother was a slave. While yet 
 an infant in his cradle, a lambent flame is said to have 
 played round his head, which Tanaquil converted into 
 an omen of his future greatness. 
 
 Upon being acknowledged as king, the chief object of 
 his reign was to increase the power of the senate by de- 
 pressing that of tjie people. The populace? who were 
 unable to see into his designs, conferred upon him a full 
 power of settling the taxes as he should think proper. 
 And accordingly, as he insisted that they should pay 
 their taxes by centuries, he commanded that they should 
 give their votes in all public transactions by centuries 
 also. In former deliberations, each citizen gave his 
 suffrage singly, and the numbers of the poor always car- 
 ried it against the power of the rich ; but by the regu- 
 lations of Servius, the senate was made to consist of a 
 <p r number of centuries than all the other cla^ 
 
THE HISTORY OF THE 
 
 put together, and thus entirely outweighed them ii, 
 cry contention. ^ 
 
 In order to ascertain the ^crease or decay of his sub- 
 jects and their fortunes, he instituted ar. ula- 
 tion, which he called a lustrum. By this all th< 
 
 c to assemble in the Campu- in complete 
 
 armour, and in their respective classes, once in fire 
 1 there to give an exact account of their fami- 
 lies anil fortunes. 
 
 IIa\in- thus enjoyed a long; reign, spent in sc 
 the i policy of the st 
 
 to foreign concerns, he con hopes of 
 
 con' with trail 
 
 the ;>ublic, to retire into oi 
 
 ed ere it could be 
 put into execution. 
 
 In the be.. ia throne by 
 
 \ that the 
 their in- 
 tended husbands, : npcrs by 
 
 er : her 
 
 ilia! 
 
 ipposcd that each rcct the t the 
 
 otlu . i the mixture would be oa- 
 
 his : i he 
 
 upo i is brothc 
 
 unj; they soc 
 
 r-aint that offered to prevent their union , 
 >ok to murder their ronsor: 
 
 and were accordingly soon after married together. A 
 first crime ever produces a second : from the 
 tionofth* !s, they proceeded to cor. 
 
 the king. They b .-.im, 
 
 A title to the 
 
COMMONWEALTH OF ROME. 23 
 
 claiming il as his own, as heir to Tarquin. At length, 
 when he found the senate ripe for seconding his views, 
 he entered the senate house adorned with all the ensigns 
 of royalty, and, placing himself upon the throne, began 
 to harangue them tfpon the obscurity of the king's birth, 
 and the injustice of his title. While he was yet speaking, 
 Servius entered, attended by a few followers, and seeing 
 his throne thus rudely invaded, offered to push the usurp- 
 er from his seat ; but Tarquin being in the vigour of 
 youth, threw the old man down the steps which led to 
 the throne ; and some of his adherents, being instructed 
 for that purpose, followed the king as he was feebly at- 
 tempting to get to the palace, and dispatched him by 
 the way, throwing his body, all mangled and bleeding, as 
 a public spectacle into the street. In the mean time, 
 Tullia, burning with impatience for the event, was in- 
 formed of what her husband hud done, and resolving U> 
 mong the first who should salute him as monarch, or- 
 dered her chariot to the senate house : but as her char- 
 ioteer approached the place where the old king her' 
 father's body lay exposed and bloody, the man, all amaz- 
 ed at the inhuman spectacle, and not willing to trample 
 upon it with his horses, offered to turn another way : 
 this only served to increase the fierceness of her anger ; 
 she threw the footstool at his head, and ordered him to 
 drive over the dead body without hesitation. 
 
 This was the end of Servius Tullius, a prince of em- 
 inent justice and moderation, after an useful and pros- 
 perous reign of forty-four years. 
 
 CHAP. VIII. ,_ 
 
 'he death of Servius Tullius, to the banishment 
 of Tarquinius Superbus^ the seventh and last king 
 of Rome. 
 
 [i:. C. 220.] 
 
 LIUS Tarquiuius, afterwards called Superbus, or 
 the proud, having placed himself upon the throne, 
 in consequence of this violent attempt, was resolved to 
 
Tin: HISTORY or TIII. 
 
 support his d. n the same violent :iich 
 
 is acquired. Regardless of the senate or the peo- 
 ple's approbo- t cmed to claim the cro 
 
 iu. and refused the late king's body bu 
 under pretence of his being an usifrper. All the good 
 part of mankind, however, looked upon this accession 
 \vithdetestationandhorror; and this act of inefficient 
 cruelty only served to confirm their h ious 
 
 of this, he ordered all such as he suspected to have been 
 lied to Servius to be put to deal! the 
 
 natural consequences of hi - he increased the 
 
 :id his person. 
 
 His chief policy seems > keep the peo- 
 
 ple ) id cither r public works, by 
 
 whi lie diverted the 
 
 lul ; : coming to the crown. lied 
 
 ) refused to pay him obedience, 
 soon reduced them to s i gan 
 
 r with tli h continued for s 
 
 aftci .1 much more i 
 
 ig attempted with some loss loin 
 he w i-d to direct his efforts 
 
 ^ua I practice of the Ko. ised 
 
 is to counterfeit desertion, upon , 
 
 of I). , and to e in- 
 
 studied 1 '.y of the 
 
 people, as to be chosen tin : 
 
 rqf Successful, til! 
 
 into the garden, where he cut dov him the 
 
 dily undcrsto< 
 ing of th; ndoncby one, found means to destroy 
 
 i.- move tli en of tlu 
 
 care to confix the people. 1 
 
 i kept the giddy populace blind 
 ,o their appn, in, till they found then; 
 
 without counsellors or head, and m the end fell 
 
COMMONWEALTH OF ROME. 23 
 
 der the power of Tarquin, without even striking a blow. 
 After this he made a league with the jfcqui, and renew- 
 ed that with the Etrurians. 
 
 But while he was engaged in wars abroad, he took 
 care not to suffer the people to continue in idleness at 
 home. He undertook to build the capitol, the founda- 
 tion of which had been laid in a former reign, and an. 
 extraordinary event contributed to hasten the execution 
 of his design. A woman, in strange attire, made her 
 appearance at Rome, and came to the king offering to 
 sell nine books, which she said wete of her own com- 
 posing. Not knowing the abilities of the seller, or that 
 in fact one of the celebrated Sybils, whose pro- 
 phecies were never found to fail, Tarquin refused to buy 
 them. Upon this she departed, and burning three of 
 her books, returned again, demanding the same price 
 for the six remaining. Being once more despised as an 
 impostor, she again departed, and burning three more, 
 she returned with those remaining, still asking the same 
 price as at first. Tarquin, surprised at the inconsisten- 
 cy of her behaviour, consulted the augurs, to advise him 
 : to do. These much blamed him for not buying 
 the nine, and commanded him to buy the three remain- 
 ing, at whatsoever price they were to be had. The wo- 
 man, says the historian, after thus selling and delivering 
 the three prophetic volumes, and advising him to have a 
 special attention to what they contained, vanished from 
 before him, and was never seen after. Upon this he 
 chose proper persons to keep them, who, though but 
 two at first, were afterwards increased to fifteen, under 
 the name of quindecemviri. They were put into a stone 
 chest, and a vault in the newly designed building was 
 thought the properest place to lodge them in safety. 
 
 The people having been for four years together em- 
 ployed in building the capitol, began at last to wish for 
 something new to engage them ; wherefore Tarquin, to 
 satisfy their wishes, proclaimed war against the Rutuli, 
 upon a frivolous pretence of their having entertained 
 some malefactors v. horn he had banished, and invested 
 their chief city, Ardea, which lay about sixteen miles 
 frojji Rome. Whije the army was encamped befijre 
 
THE HISTORY Ol- Tl 
 
 this place, the king's son, Sextus, with Collatinus,a 
 hlc Roman, and some others, sat in a lent drinking 
 gether : the discoi: ning to turn \i\ 
 
 \ virtue of tin 
 
 Collatinus offered t :he dispute, by pur 
 
 an immediate the 
 
 at that 
 . the projM 
 
 ed by the whole c< ..nd takii, ith- 
 
 out delay, they pov 
 
 There they found 
 
 c wife of Collatinus, not liks i of her 
 
 the time mj; 
 
 in the midst of her maids, and cheerfully ] 
 
 nil, that they ununini. e her tin 
 
 but en- 
 
 :rom the rarr; 
 
 itiou \vhich he had met with before in- 
 
 tent; not susp 
 
 supper, and o: 
 
 in tli 
 
 osom, threati 
 
 . if she would : and 
 
 then laying hi Aild 
 
 .nd and killed them both i; 
 act of adultery. The terror of 
 
 of death could not obtain ; she consented to his de- 
 . and the next men -urned to the 
 
 In the n 
 and resolving not to pa: 
 
 ept for her husband ' 
 
COMMONWEATH OF ROME. 27 
 
 latinus, and for Spurius her father to come to her, as 
 indelible disgrace had befallen her family. These ia- 
 stantly obeyed the summons, bringing with them Vale- 
 rius, a kinsman, of her father's, and Junius Brutus, a 
 reputed icliot, whose father Tarquin had murdered, and 
 who had accidentally met the messenger by the way. 
 Their arrival only served to increase Lucretia's poign- 
 ant anguish ; they fouad her in a state of stedfast des- 
 peration, and vainly attempted to give her relief. " No,*' 
 said she, " never shall I find any thing worth living for 
 ' : in this life after having lost my honour. You see, 
 " my Collatinus, a polluted wretch before you ; one? 
 .osc person has been the spoil of another, but whose 
 is were never estranged from you. Sextus> 
 c under the pretended veil of friendship, has this night 
 " forced from me that treasure which death only can 
 
 lore ; but if you have the hearts of mei^'avenge 
 4C my cause, and let posterity know, that she^rho has 
 " lost her virtue, hath only death for her best consola- 
 " lion." So saying, sjie drew a poignard from beneath 
 her robe, and instantly plunging it into her bosom, ex- 
 pired without a groan. The whole company remained 
 for some time fixed in sorrow, pity, and indignation ; 
 Spurius and Collatinus at length gave a vent to their 
 grief in tears ; but Brutus drawing the poignard reek- 
 ing from Lucretia's wound, and lifting it up towards 
 heaven, " Be witness, ye gods," he cried, " that from 
 u this moment I proclaim myself the avenger of the 
 4i chaste Lucretia's cause : from this moment I profess 
 *' myself the enemy of Tarquin and his lustful house: 
 
 ,ri henceforth this life, while lite continues, shall be 
 .;i ployed in opposition to tyranny, and for the happi- 
 ; ness and freedom of my much loved country." A, 
 new ama/u-ment seized the hearers, to find him, whom 
 they had hitherto considered as an idiot, now appearing 
 i:i his real character, the friend of justice and of Rome- 
 lie told them that tears and lamentations were unmanly 
 ancc called so loud ; and delivering the 
 rnard to the rest, imposed the same oath upon them, 
 
 h he himself had just taken. 
 Junius Brutus was the son of Marcus Brutus, a noble 
 
28 THE HISTORY OF TH11 
 
 Koruan, who was married to the daughter of Ta? 
 niusPriscus; and for that reason, through a moth 
 jeal,t pin to death br Tarquin the Proud. This 
 
 Juiiius Brutus hac. 
 
 Cither, ai; 
 
 inflexible attachment to rinue ; ]> that 
 
 Tarquin had privately num.- eld- 
 
 v ' Mother, he counterfeited hi:. 
 escape the same d 
 name of Brutus. 
 
 an idiot in hi ;ih a 
 
 ..; sport for his chi!-. 
 Brutus, hov 1 this o, 
 
 to be brought out 
 
 exposed in the public forum, he inflamed the ardour of 
 the citiz^Js I He 
 
 obtained a decree of t! 
 
 and that 
 
 itshouldbcc, ,ortoatt 
 
 future rctuni. T: 
 ed t 
 
 ke refupc wi 
 Etn. 
 truce with the ned de- 
 
 CH 
 
 
 
 T. form of g< 
 nin.tlly repub' 
 ^cnalc, houcvc 
 i- si share of the authority to themselves, an< 
 
 poils of deposed mot 
 
COMMONWEALTH OF ROME. 
 
 archy. The centuries of the people chose from 
 the senators, instead of a king, two annual magistrate 
 whom they called consuls, with power equal to that of 
 the regal, and with the same privileges, and the same 
 ensigns of authority. 
 
 Brutus the deliverer of his country, and Collatinus, 
 the husband of Lucretia, were chosen first consuls 141 
 Rome. 
 
 But this new republic, however, which seemed so 
 grateful to the people, had like to have been destroyed 
 in its very commencement. A party was formed in 
 Rome in favour of Tarquin. Some young men of the 
 principal families in the state, who had been educated 
 about the king, and had shared in all the luxuries of the 
 court, undertook to re-establish monarchy. This party 
 secretly increased every day ; and what may create owr 
 surprise, the sons of Brutus himself, and the Aquilii, 
 the nephews of Collatinus, were among the number. 
 Tarquin, who was informed of these intrigues in his 
 favour, sent ambassadors from Etruriato Rome, under a 
 pretence of reclaiming the crown, but in reality with a 
 design to give spirit to his faction. But the whole con- 
 spiracy was discovered by a slave who had accidentally 
 hid himself in the room where the conspirators used to 
 assemble. Few situations could have been more terribly 
 affecting than that of Brutus, a father, placed as a judge 
 upon the life and death of his own children, impelled 
 by justice to condemn, and by nature to spare them. 
 The young men accused pleaded nothing for themselves, 
 but, with conscious guilt, awaited the sentence in si- 
 lence and agony. The other judges who were present, 
 felt all the pangs of nature ; Collatinus wept, and Va- 
 lerius could not repress his sentiments of pity. Brutus, 
 alone, seemed to have lost all the softness of humanity, 
 and with a stern countenance, and a tone of voice that 
 marked his gloomy resolution, demanded of his sons, if 
 they could make any defence to the cr'^es with which 
 they had been charged. This demand he made three 
 several times ; but ? receiving no answer, he at length 
 turned himself to the executioner : '* Now," cried he, 
 " it is your part to perform the rest." Thus saying, he 
 C 2 
 
THE HISTORY OF TIi 
 
 .m resumed his scat with an air of determined ma- 
 . ; nor coul.l all the sentiments of puv ,nor 
 
 all the imploring: looks of the people, nor yet the 
 
 cution, niter the .solution .ecu- 
 
 tioi <.ed, and then i* flipped 
 
 tly.; . iiius 
 
 all the time beholding 
 
 look ihe multitude 
 
 -Ii all the sensations of i< 
 
 All J 59 of an insurrection in the city in 
 
 verthrown, he was nov 
 
 to force himself upon his former tkrone by f<.. 
 sistuncc. :cd upon the \ 
 
 xanoed to- 
 
 U C 
 
 ty.f- -V foOt) 
 
 wcntou ii><raan bo: 
 
 , 
 
 father, sccirv v one 
 
 grc 
 
 Brutus, 
 the ra.r. 
 
 1 upon t: \i;ether. A bloody 
 
 on lx)th sides ; but 
 i of the field of bat- 
 tle, claimed ; -lerius re- 
 turned in triumph to Pv 
 
 In the mean time, Tarquin, no way intimidated by 
 his jnisfortuncs, prevailed upon Porscnna, one of the 
 
 .rij, to espouse his cause, and in pc 
 
 is quarrel. This prince, equally noted for 
 
 courage and conduct, marched directly to Rome, with 
 
 : seige to the < . the 
 
 h^ arms lilted all ranks of peo- 
 
COMMONWEALTH OF ROME. s* 
 
 pie with dismay. The seige was carried on with vf- 
 gour ; a furious attack was made upon the place ; the 
 two consuls opposed in vain, and were carried off wound- 
 ed from the field ; wkile the Romans, flying in great 
 consternation, were pursued by the enemy to the bridge;, 
 over which, both victors and vanquished were about to 
 enter the city in the confusion. All now appeared lost 
 and over, when Horatius Codes, who had been placed 
 there as a centincl to defend it, opposed himself to the 
 torrent of tine enemy, and assisted only by two more, 
 Sbr some rime sustained the whole fury of the assault, 
 till the bridge was broken down behind him : when he 
 found the communication thus cut off, plunging with hie 
 arms into the torrent of the Tyber, he swam back vic- 
 torious to his fellow soldiers, and was received with just 
 applause. 
 
 Still, however, Porsenna was determined upon taking 
 the city ; and though five hundred of his men were slain 
 in a sally "of the Romans, he reduced it to the greatest 
 straits ; and turning the seige into a blockade, resolved 
 to take it by famine. The distress of the besieged soon 
 ,n to be insufferable, and all things seemed to threat- 
 en a speedy surrender, when another act of fierce bra- 
 very, still superior to that which had saved the city be- 
 fore, again procured its safety and freedom. 
 
 Mutius, a youth of undaunted courage, was resolved 
 to rid his country of an enemy that so sorely continued 
 to oppress it ; and for this purpose, disguised in the . 
 habit of an Etrurian peasant, entered the camp of the 
 enemy, resolving to die or to kill the king. With this 
 resolution he made up to the place where Porsenna was 
 paying his troops, with a secretary by his side j but mis. 
 taking the latter for tfce king, he stabbed him to the 
 heart, and was immediately apprehended and brought 
 back into the royal presence. Upon Porsenna's demand- 
 ing who he was, and the cause of so henious an action, 
 Muiius, without reserve, informed him of his country 
 apd his des%n, and at the same time thrusting his right 
 hand into a fire that was bunfiii^p upon the altar before 
 him, " You see," cried he, "ho\r little I reg&d the se- 
 < vGce&t punhxbpaent yoirr cruelty can inflict upon mfiv 
 
THE HISTORY OF THE 
 
 Roman knows not only how to act, but to suffer > 
 m not the onl . ' un ' 
 
 ^cme, haveconspii 
 .ciion ; th rcpare for the i 
 
 mind not to acknowledge merit, though found in 
 :i ere fore uniober- 
 
 s of 
 .be- 
 ing neither hard no; 
 
 iieii, and 
 une- B' 
 ! the gent '<-> be 
 
 ing out tin 
 
 n horse! fs of 
 
 darti> from tl: 
 sul. 
 
 tnc tic should 
 
 in iderfourt< 
 
 that their te: mln thc 
 
 viin, by means of!; ;llus > 
 
 more stirred up thc Latins to e 
 took thc mosi tea the pWH 
 
 ians \ 
 
 liIlS \VCIC ttl 1I*' V -*^ wvmmm 
 
 payment of their used to g' 
 
 unless their debts w< so 
 
 that the ci- their authoritj 
 
 fered the people to elect a temp< 
 
 should ha -. e power, not only over all i 
 
 irstherosel 
 plebeian readily con^ Uling to giv up tl 
 
 , pol^for the-saN^fabri(- >pe- 
 
 riors. ^Consequence of th: 
 first, dictator of Rome ; : l & ce c 
 
COMMONWEALTH OF ROME. 
 
 being nominated to it by his colleague in the consulship. 
 Thus the people, who could not bear to hear the name 
 of king even mentioned, readily submitted to a magis- 
 trate possessed of much greater power : so much do 
 the names of things mislead us, and so little is any form 
 
 ;vernment irksome to people when it coincides -with 
 
 . prejudices. 
 
 CHAP. X. 
 
 if the first Dictator, to the c/ 
 of tii c Tribunes of the people. 
 [U. C. 255.] 
 
 LARGIUS being now created dictator, entered upon 
 his office, surrounded with his lictors, and all the 
 ensigns of ancient royalty, and seated upon a throne in 
 the midst of the people, ordered the levies to be made 
 in the manner of the kings of Rome. The populace 
 looked with terror upon a magistrate whom they had in- 
 vested with uncontrollable power, and peaceably went 
 each to range himself under ins respective su-.nclard. 
 Thus going forth to oppose the enemy, he returned 
 with , before his six months were expired, 
 
 laid down the d :ip, with the reputation of having 
 
 exercised it with ; lenity. 
 
 But though for thib time the people submitted to be 
 led forth, yet ' v>lvcd at last to free them* 
 
 selves from the yo^e of their severe masters ; :\ud ?!:< 
 they coul their con, plaints redrew d, yet they 
 
 determined to fly from those whom they could not iv.ove 
 to compassion. The complaints, therefore, continuing, 
 they resolved to quit a city which gave them no shelter, 
 and to form a new establishment without its limits, 
 They therefore, under the conduct of a plebeian, named 
 Sicinius Bellutus, retired to a mountain, from thence 
 called Mons Sacer, on the banks of the river Anio, with- 
 in about three miles from Rome. 
 
 Upon the news of this defection, the city was filled 
 tumult and consternation ; those who wished wcH 
 
Til 
 
 to the army made all the attempts they could 
 
 the walls in order to jwin it. The senate was not ! 
 
 i Cb, 
 
 e by forci ion 
 
 sucli em: 
 length, in 
 
 the army to return home 
 
 ..1! th 
 
 of ti. >rs, uas ; i hat 
 
 It \vi-.s the:: .^ith 
 
 huuld in- 
 tliem to ri'turn. i ' accord- 
 
 ''hc 
 
 Larpiuii 
 
 the one 
 
 e the 
 
 n of the ^ses 
 
 with all ' id of 
 
 hud been 
 
 1 to revo 
 belly ; th 
 
 in tl 
 
 and indolent!-, 
 
 The feet vo'.ved thcv v ouK! 
 
COMMONWEALTH OF ROME. 35 
 
 <* 
 
 the hands vowed they would feed it no longer ; and the 
 teeth avcrcd they would not chew a morsel of meat 
 though it were placed between them. Thus resolved, 
 they all for some time shewed their spirit, and kept their 
 word ; but soon they found, that instead of mortifying 
 the belly by these means, they only undid themselves ; 
 they languished for a while, and perceived when too 
 late, that it was owing to the belly that they had strength 
 to work, or courage to mutiny." 
 
 This fable, the application of which is obvious, had 
 an instantaneous effect upon the people. They unani- 
 mously cried out that Agrippa should lead them back to 
 ,c ; and were making preparations to follow him, 
 when Lucius Junius, before mentioned, withheld them ; 
 alledging, that though they were gratefully to acknow- 
 ledge the kind offers of the senate, yet they had no safe- 
 guard for the future against their resentment ; that 
 therefore it was necessary for the security of the people, 
 to have certain officers created annually from among 
 themselves, who should have power to give such of them 
 hould be injured redress, and plead the cause of 
 the community. 
 
 The people, who arc ever of opinion with the last 
 speaker, highly applauded this proposal ; which yet the 
 commissioners had not power to comply with ; they 
 therefore sent to Rome to take the instructions of the 
 senate, who, worried with divisions among themselves, 
 and harrassed by complaints from without, were resolv- 
 ed to have peace at whatsoever price it should be obtain- 
 ed ; accordingly, as if with one voice, they consented 
 to the creation of their new officers, who were called 
 Tribunes of the Peofile, Appius alone protesting with ve- 
 hemence against the measure. 
 
 The tribunes of the people were at first five in num- 
 ber, though afterwards their body was increased to five 
 more, they were always annually elected by the people, 
 and almost always from their body. They at first had 
 their seats placed before the door of the senate-house, 
 and being called in, they were to examine every decree, 
 annulling it by the word veto, I forbid it; or confirm- 
 ing it by signing the letter /', which gave it its validity 
 
rill-. HISTORY Oi 
 
 Ti|L 
 
 This new office being thus istitutcd, 
 Lucius Juiuu- 
 
 ga, were the iirsi tribunes chosen by t: ; the 
 
 people. The senate a; an edict c 
 
 abolition of debts ; and now all tilings bt 
 both on the Q ad tlic oilier, Uu 
 
 ned 
 jncc more in triumph to Rome. 
 
 :M, to the apj> 
 
 60.] 
 
 D! 
 
 on any but tin the \vliolc ot": 
 
 tre^- ;>ur- 
 
 out 'a^e. li 
 
 c Heel ol 
 wit! 
 
 Ion, the 
 
 lie n 
 
 Hut < 
 
 uld not 
 of t: 
 summoned him to a trial before the people. 
 
 When the app . il person^ 
 
 filled with tin 
 course from 
 
 before the pei 
 
 ited better foriuivj. Hi- graceful p 
 
COMMONWEALTH OF ROME. ,/ 
 
 eloquence, the cries of those whom he had saved 
 from the enemy, inclined the auditors to relent. But 
 be-ing unable to answer what was alledged against him 
 to the satisfaction of the people, and utterly confounded 
 with a new charge, of having embezzled the plunder of 
 Amium, the tribunes immediately took the votes, and 
 Coriolanus was condemned to perpetual exile. 
 
 This sentence against their bravest defender struck 
 the whole body of the senate with sorrow, consterna- 
 tion and regret. Coriolanus alone, in the midst of the 
 tumult, seemed an unconcerned spectator. He return- 
 ed home, followed by the lamentations of hundreds of 
 the most respectable senators and citizens of Rome, to 
 take a lasting leave of his wife, his children, and his 
 mother, Veturia. Thus recommending his little chil- 
 dren to their care, and all to the care of heaven, he left 
 city without followers or fortune, to take refuge 
 with Tullus Attius, a man of great power among the 
 Volscians, who took him under his protection, and es- 
 poused his quarrel. 
 
 The first thing to be done, was to induce the Volsci 
 10 break the league which had been made with Rome, 
 and for this purpose, Tullus sent many of his citizens 
 thither, in order to see some games at that time cele- 
 'jrating ; but in the mean time gave the senate private 
 information that the strangers had dangerous intentions 
 of burning the city. This had the desired effect; the 
 senate issued an order, that all strangers, whoever they 
 were, should depart from Rome before sunset. This 
 order Tullus represented to his countrymen as an in- 
 ion of the treaty, and procured an embassy to Rome, 
 plaining of the breach, and re-demanding all the 
 territories belonging to the Volscians, of which they 
 Seen violently dispossessed, declaring war in case 
 of a refusal : but this message was treated by the senate 
 with contempt. 
 
 War being thus declared on both sides, Coriolanus 
 and Tullus were made generals of the Volscians, and 
 accordingly, invaded the Roman territories, ravaging 
 and laying waste all such lands as belonged to the ple- 
 but letting those of the senators remain 
 
THE HISTORY Oi 
 
 In the mean time the :t on but 
 
 .lie. The 
 people, seemed but little skilled in v 
 
 .counter a %c\ 
 
 perior in the field. The ;i! 
 it in their 
 
 continued to take their 
 une followed him '. 
 umous { 
 
 . 
 r at lenpth i: 
 
 <i he 
 
 not : 
 
 '.cd them but t! 
 
 the 
 11 in 
 :ul him sc 
 
 c up the con ; u j r 
 
 I, with women nnd 
 
 ers for the prt ,;circouiv 
 
 to be seen but 
 
 .s suggested to them, that what could notbeefT< 
 
COMMONWEALTH OF ROME. 39 
 
 cd by the intercession of the senate, or the adjuration of 
 :hc priests, might be brought about by the tears of his 
 wife, or the commands of his mother. This deputation 
 seemed to be relished by all ; and even the senate itself 
 gave it the sanction of their authority. Veturia, the 
 motherof Coriolanus, at first made some hesitation to 
 undertake so pious a work, knowing the inflexible tem- 
 per of her son, and fearing only to shew his disobedience 
 in a new point of light, by rejecting the commands of a 
 parent : however, she r.t last undertook the embassy, 
 and set forward from the city, accompanied by many of 
 the principal matrons of Rome, will! Volumnia his wife, 
 and his two children. Coriolanus, who at a distance 
 discovered this mournful train of females, was resolved 
 
 ivc them a denial, imd called his (.'fficcrs around 
 him to be \vitncsses of his resolution ; but, when told 
 
 iiis mother and his wife were among the number, 
 
 istantly came down from his tribunal to meet and 
 embrace them. At first, the women's tears and embra- 
 ces took away the power of words ; and the rough sol- 
 dier himself, hard as he was, could not refrain from 
 sharing in their distress. Coriolanus now seemed much 
 agitated by contending passions ; while his mother, who 
 econded her words by the most per- 
 
 ive eloquence, her tears ; his wife and children 
 hung round him, entreating for protection and pity; 
 while her fair train, her companions) added their la- 
 mentations, and deplored their own and their country's 
 .us for a moment was silent, feeling 
 the : uflict between honour and inclination ; at 
 
 length ; as if roused from his dream ; he flew tp take 
 up his mother, who had fallen at his feet, crying out, 
 
 iiy mother, thou hast saved Rome, but lost thy son." 
 He B dera to draw oil' the army, pre- 
 
 tending to the officers that the city was too strong to be 
 
 Tullus, who had long envied his glory, was not re- 
 in aggravating the lenity of his conduct to his coun- 
 .cn. Upon their return, Coriolanus was slain in an 
 '.ion of the people, and afterwards honourably 
 -h late and ineffectual repentance. 
 
40 THI: HISTORY OF TK 
 
 i and many were the public rejoicings at Home 
 upon the retreat of tin 
 i led soon after by 
 who 
 the peoj . umber c: 
 
 ! 
 
 nlius an-.! 
 to appear bet- 
 
 pie, 
 
 . 
 
 ,>1 retirei! 
 of the senate found him holi 
 
 -it little c! 
 
 t to 
 
 the I 
 
 11 ti!' 
 
 . 
 
 
 
COMMONWEALTH OF ROME. *; 
 
 a terror to the multitude whenever they refused to en- 
 list ; and their greatest encourager whenever their sub- 
 mission deserved it, Thus, having restored that tran- 
 quility to the people which he so much loved himself, 
 he again gave up the splendours of ambition, to enjoy 
 It with a greater relish in his little farm. 
 ,j ~ Cincinnatus was not long retired from hi.s 
 ' ' office, when a fresh exigence of the state once 
 more required his assistance ; the ,/E.qui and 
 the Volsci, who, though still worsted, still were for re- 
 newing the war, made new inroads into the territories 
 of Rome. Minutius, one of the consuls who succeeded 
 Cincinnatus, was sent to oppose them ; but being natu- 
 rally timid, and rather more afraid of being conquered 
 than desirous of victory, his army was driven into a de- 
 file between two mountains, from which, except through 
 the enemy, there was no egress. This, however, the 
 
 ;i had the precaution to fortify, by which the Ro- 
 man army was so hemmed in on every side, that noth- 
 ing remained but submission to the enemy, famine, or 
 immediate death. Some knights who found means of 
 getting away privately through the enemy's camp, were 
 
 irst who brought the account of this disaster to Rome. 
 
 /ing could exceed the consternation of all ranks of 
 people when informed of it : the senate at first thought 
 of the other consul ; but not having sufficient experience 
 of his abilities, they unanimously turned their eyes upon 
 Cincinnatus, and resolved to make him dictator. Cin- 
 cinnatus, the only person on whom Rome could now 
 place her whole dependence, was found, as before, by 
 the messengers of the senate, labouring in his little field 
 with cheerful industry. He was at first astonished at 
 the ensigns of unbounded power, with which the depu- 
 ties came to invest him ; but still more at the approach 
 of the principal of t#e senate, who came out to meet him . 
 A dignity so unlooked for, however, had no effect upon 
 the simplicity or the integrity of his manners : and be- 
 ing now possessed of absolute power, and called upon to 
 nominate his master of the horse, he chose a poor man, 
 named Tarquitius, one who like himself despised riches 
 when they led to dishonour. Thus the saving a great 
 D 2 
 
the plough, anil an ;1 among the 
 
 \ ho 
 ; ore sunsc 
 
 \viiii 
 nut i 
 
 . 
 
 
 
 deli> 
 
 ;ncd Ihc 
 ;,ut he dccUncd their 
 
 Jers, chusing to 
 
 > ILlllVJ *B9 W ^ ^m 
 
 temperance a'. 
 
 But this 't invabion did 
 
 umultsc: ourb for lhe 
 
 .till contuiuccl,and still more fierce 
 Dentatus, a plebeian, advanced 
 
COMMONWEALTH OF ROME. 43 
 
 admirable person and military deportment, came 
 forward to enumerate his hardships and his merits. 
 This old soldier made no scruple of extolling the vari- 
 ous achievements of his youth : but indeed his merits 
 supported ostentation. Me had served his country in the 
 wars forty years ; he hail been an officer thirty, first a 
 
 rion, and then a tribune ; he had fought one hun- 
 dred and twenty battles ; in which by the force of his 
 single arm, he had saved a multitude of lives ; he had 
 gained fourteen civic, three mural, and eight golden 
 
 us, besides eighty-three chains, sixty bracelets, eigh- 
 teen gilt speurs, and twenty-three horse trappings, 
 whereof nine were for killing the enemy in single com- 
 bat : moreover he had received forty-five wounds, all 
 before, and none behind. These were his honours ; yet 
 notwithstanding all this, he had never received any share 
 of those lands which were won from the enemy > but con- 
 tinued to draw on a life of poverty and contempt, while 
 others were possessed of those very territories which his 
 valour had won, without any merit to deserve them, or 
 ever having contributed to the conquest. A case of so 
 much hardship had a strong effect upon the multitude : 
 they unanimously demanded that the law might be pas- 
 sed, and that such merit should not go unrewarded. It 
 was in vain that some of the senators rose up to speak 
 against it ; their voices were drowned by the cries of tne 
 people. When reason therefore could no longer be 
 heard, passion, as usual, succeeded ; and the young pa- 
 tricians running furiously into the throng, broke the 
 balloting urns, and dispersed the multitude that offered 
 VD oppose them. For this they were some time after- 
 wards fined by the tribunes, but their resolution never. 
 ? s for the present put off the Agrarian law. 
 
THE HISTORY Ol T 
 
 From the creation of the Decemviri, to : 
 oft, 1 
 
 THE commoD wealth of 
 >een fluct n the c<< 
 
 ordc 
 
 ere \villi; c from th 
 
 began to COM. 
 
 :i being k 
 vcni 
 senate and the people concurred 
 
 would put an end to the coran 
 
 the state. It was 
 
 lon should be sent to tl 
 
 and to Athcnst to bring home su 
 
 :i found most t 
 ;osc three senators. 
 I>icius, and >' 
 
 to the n ' the 
 
 ; I'oplc. AVhi'- , re upon 
 
 a dreadful plague depo; 
 home, and suppli< 
 
 than that 
 uboi. 
 :urr.i . the 
 
 ear^ Ito 
 
 terxs ards formed into ten tables, and two me 
 made that celebrated code, called the laws of tin 
 Tables, many fragments of which remain to 
 
 The ambassadors were no sooner returned, than the 
 mes required that a body of men should be chosen 
 to digest their new laws into proper form, and to 
 weight to the execution of them. After long del 
 
 :her this choice should not be partly made from the 
 people as well as the patricians, it was at last agn 
 
COMMONWEALTH OP ROME. 
 
 that ten of the principal senators should be elected, 
 whose power, continuing for a year, should be equal to 
 that of kings and consuls, and that without any appeal, 
 The persons chosen were Appius and Genutius, who had 
 been elected consuls for the ensuing year ; Posthumius, 
 Sulpicius, and Manjlus, the three ambassadors ; Sextus 
 and Romulus, former consuls ; with Julius, Velurius, 
 and Horatius, senators of the first consideration. Thus 
 
 whole constitution of the state at once took a new 
 form, and a dreadful experiment was going to be tried, 
 of governing one nation by laws formed from the man- 
 ners and customs of another. 
 
 The decemviri, being now invested with absolute pow- 
 
 greed to take the reins of government by turns, and 
 ihat each should dispense justice for a day. 
 
 These magistrates for the first year wrought with ex- 
 
 ie application ; and their work being finished, it v, us 
 expected that they would be contented to give up their 
 offices; but having known the charms of power, they 
 were now unwilling to resign it ; they therefore pre- 
 tended that some laws were yet wanting to complete 
 their design, and entreated the senate for a continuance 
 
 .t-ir offices ; to which that body assented. 
 
 it they soon threw off' the mask of moderation, and 
 
 vclless either of the approbation of the senate or the 
 people, resolved to continue themselves, against all or- 
 der, in the decemvirate. A conduct so notorious pro- 
 duced discontents, and these were as sure to produce 
 fresh acts of tyranny. The city was become almost a 
 desert with respect to all who had any thing to lose, 
 
 _he decemvirs' rapacity was then only discontinued, 
 :i led fresh objects to exercise it upon. In 
 this state of slavery, proscription, and mutual distrust, 
 not one citizen was found to stiike for his country's free- 
 dom ; these tyrants continued to rule without control, 
 istantly guarded, not with their lictors alone, 
 >ut a numerous crowd of dependents, clients, and even 
 patricians, whom their vices had confederated round 
 i hem. 
 
 In this gloomy situation of the state, the jEqui and 
 
 ci, those constant enemies of the Romans, under- 
 
 * 
 
ORY O! 
 
 tfteir incursions, resolved to profit by the 
 ions of the people. 
 
 i the dec- ;he 
 
 rnili' , of the i 
 
 the 
 
 out 
 nong 
 
 gClU- 
 
 .: the nu- 
 
 - 
 
 doit i r, he was 
 
 : jrce the 
 
 the 
 
 \there hi 
 
 .. 
 .nipinent 
 
 .M Ion 5 be. 
 
COMMONWEALTH OF ROML. 47 
 
 the vengeance of the decemviri, and who now engaged 
 to murder him, though with all those apprehensions, 
 which his reputation, as he was called the Reman Achil- 
 les, might be supposed to inspire. With these designs 
 they led him from the way into the hollow bosom of a 
 retired mountain, where they began to set upon him 
 from behind. "Dcntatus now too late perceived the 
 treachery of the Decemviri, and was resolved to sell his 
 life as dearly as he could ; he therefore put his back to 
 a rock, and defended himself against those who pressed 
 most closely. Though now grown old, he had still the 
 remains of his former valour, and killed no less than 
 fifteen of the assailants, and wounded thirty with his 
 own hand. The assassins now therefore terrified at his 
 /ing bravery, showered in their javelins upon him 
 at a distance, all which he received in his shield with un- 
 daunted resolution. The combat, though so unequal 
 in numbers, was managed for some time with doubtful 
 success, till at length his assailants bethought themselves 
 of ascending the rock against which he stood, and thus 
 poured down stones upon him from above. This suc- 
 ceeded, the old soldier fell beneath their united efforts, 
 after having shewn, by his death, that he owed it to his 
 fortitude, and not his fortune, that he had come off' so 
 many times victorious. The decemviri pretended to 
 join in the general sorrow for so brave a man, and de- 
 creed him a funeral with the first military honours ; 
 but the greatness of their apparent distress, compared 
 with their known hatred, only rendered them still more 
 detestable to the people. 
 
 But a transaction still more atrocious than the former, 
 seived to inspire the citizens with a resolution to jii'eak 
 all measures of obedience, and at last to restore freedom. 
 Appius, who still remained at Rome, sitting one day 
 on his tribunal to dispense justi* maiden of ex- 
 
 quisite beauty, and aged about fifteen, passing to one 
 of the public schools, attended by a matron, her nurse. 
 The gharms of this damsel, heightened by all the inno- 
 cence of virgin modesty, caught his attention, and fired 
 his heart. The day following as she passed, he found 
 her still more beautiful than before, and *as breast still 
 
48 THK HISTORY OF 
 
 more inflamed. He now therefore resolved i 
 
 the gratification of his 
 
 consequence, and fouix. 
 
 virgin's name and family. 
 
 she was the daughter a ccntin i 
 
 with the army in the : 
 
 Icil ius. formerly a tribune oi 
 
 to marry her at the end of the present can 
 
 pins at first resolved to break thi 
 
 her himself; but the laws of the i 
 
 bidden the patricians to inter ;ih the \>\ 
 
 and he could not infringe these, as In 
 
 of them. Nothin 
 
 enjoyment, which 
 
 police of his , lie resolved to < 
 
 tried to corrupt th 
 he had recourse to another expo/' 
 He pitched upon one Clam.' 
 minister of his pleasures, to assert ti 
 
 ' iiidius behave i 
 
 .-actions, for entering into the sch 
 
 ;nong her female 
 upon her as his p 
 
 y by force, bui 
 together by In- 
 oppositioi 
 ribunal of Appius, and ther< 
 
 ions. He asserted that she v. 
 
 ho sold her to the wife of \ 
 iuul been 
 
 dences to prove the truth of what : 
 until they ( ould come together, 
 
 should be di 1 his cus: 
 
 per master. Appius seemed to be struck with the jus- 
 tice of hi- he observed, that if the repute-. 
 ther himself were present, he might indeed be willi; 
 delay the delivery of the maiden for some lime, but 
 it was not lawful for him, in the present C4 
 her from her lawful master. He therefore adju 
 to Claudius, as his slave, to be kept by him till 
 
COMMONWEALTH OF ROME. 49 
 
 us should be able to prove his paternity. This sentence 
 was received with loud clamours and reproaches by the 
 multitude : the women in particular came round the in- 
 nocent Virginia, as if willing to protect her from the 
 judge's fury, while Icilius, her lover, boldly opposed the 
 decree, and obliged Claudius to take refuge under the 
 tribunal of the decemvir. All things now threatened 
 an open insurrection, when Appius, fearing the event, 
 thought proper to suspend his judgment till the arrival 
 of Yirginius, who was then about eleven miles from 
 Rome with the army. The day following was tixed for 
 the trial, and in the mean time Appius sent letters to the 
 generals to confine Virginius, as his arrival in town 
 might only serve to kindle sedition among the people. 
 These letters, however, were intercepted by the centu- 
 rion's friends, who sent him down a full relation of the 
 design laid against the liberty and the honour of his on- 
 ly daughter. Virginius upon this pretending the death 
 of a near relation, got permission to leave the camp, and 
 flew to Rome, inspired vrith indignation and revenge. 
 Accordingly the next day, he appeared before the tribu- 
 nal, to the astonishment of Appius, leading his weep- 
 ing daughter by the hand, both habited in the deepest 
 mourniog. Claudius, the accuser, was also there, and 
 began by making his demand. Virginius next spoke in 
 turn ; he represented that his wife had many children ; 
 that she had been seen pregnant by numbers ; that if he 
 had intentions of adopting a suppositious child, he would 
 have fixed upon a boy rather than a girl ; that it was no- 
 torious to all that his wife had herself suckled her own 
 child ; and that it was surprising such a claim should be 
 now revived after a fifteen years discontinuance. While 
 the father spoke this with a stern air, Virginia stood 
 trembling by, and with looks of persuasive innocence, 
 added weight to all his remonstrances. The people 
 seemed entirely satisfied of the hardship of his case, till 
 Appius, fearing what he said might have dangerous ef- 
 fects upon the multitude, interrupted him, under a pre- 
 tence of being sufficiently instructed in the merits of the 
 cause "Yes," say she, " my conscience obliges me to 
 " declare, that I myself am witness to the truth of the 
 
THE HISTORY OF TI 
 
 * : deposition of Claudius. Most of this assembly know, 
 ' that I was left guardian to this youth ; and I 
 4 ' ry early apprized that he had a right to this young 
 '' woman ; but the affairs of the public* and tin 
 " tions of the people, then prevented me doing him jus- 
 " tice-. However, it it is not now too late < and, by 
 " power vested in me for the public good, I adji 
 " Virginia to be the property oi Claudius, the 
 ** Go therefore lictors, disperse the multitude, and r. 
 " room for a master to repossess himself of hi 
 The lictors, in obedience to his con. on drove 
 
 oft' the throng that pressed round the tribu ; 
 they seized upon Virginia, and were up 
 
 into the hands of Claudius, when Yirgimus, w I 
 that all was over, seemed to acquiesce in the *< 
 He therefore mildly entreated Appius tob. 
 take a last farewell of one whom he had long c 
 ed as his child, and, so satisfied, he would his 
 
 duty with fresh alacrity. With this the d< 
 plied, but upon condition that thi 
 pass in his presence. Virginius, with the ; 
 anguish, took hU almost 'ins, 
 
 for a while supported her head upn 1 
 ed away the tears that rolled down her 1<. 
 and happening to be near the shops that sarroi 
 Forum, he snatched up a knife that lay on the I 
 and addressing his daughter, u My dearest lost child," 
 cried he, " this, this alone can preserve your honour 
 a your freedom." So saying, he buried t :i in 
 
 her breast, and then holding it up 
 blood, of his daughter, u Appius," he cried, * by 
 " blood of innocence, I devote thy head to llu 
 t( gods." Thus saying, with the bloody kn; 
 hand, and threatening destruction to v >uld 
 
 oppose him, he ran through the city, wiK. , ; up- 
 
 on the people to strike for freedom, and iron 
 went to the camp, in order to spread a like flame through 
 the army. 
 
 He no sooner arrived at the camp, followed by a 
 number of his friends, but he informed the arn.y of all 
 that was done, still holding the bloody knife in 
 
COMMONWEALTH OF ROME. 51 
 
 He asked their pardon, and the pardon of their gods, 
 for having committed so rash an action, but ascribed 
 it all to the dreadful necessity of the times. The army, 
 already predisposed, immediately with shouts echoed 
 their approbation ; and decamping, left their generals 
 behind to take their station once more upon mount 
 Avcntinc, whither they had retired about forty years 
 before. The other, which had been to oppose the Sa~ 
 bines, seemed to feel a like resentment, and came over 
 in large parties to join them. 
 
 Appius in the mean time did all he could to quell the 
 disturbances in the city ; but finding the tumult incapa- 
 ble of control, and perceiving that his mortal enemies, 
 Valerius and Horatius, were the most active in opposi- 
 tion, at first attempted to find safety by flight ; never- 
 theless, being encouraged by Oppius, who was one ot 
 his colleagues, he ventured to assemble the senate, and 
 urged the punishment of all deserters. The senate, how- 
 ever, were far from giving the relief he sought for ; they 
 foresaw the dangers and miseries that threatened the 
 state in case of opposing the incensed army ; they there- 
 fore dispatched messengers to them, offering to restore 
 their former mode of government. To this proposal all 
 the people joyfully assented, and the army gladly obey- 
 ed, now returning to the city, if not with the ensigns, at 
 least with the pleasure of a triumphal entry. Appius, 
 and Oppius. one of his colleagues, both died by their 
 own hands in prison. The other eight decemvirs went 
 into voluntary exile : and Claudius, the pretended mas- 
 ter of Virginia, was driven out after them. 
 
 In the rncan time, these intestine tumults produced 
 weakness within the state, and confidence in the enemy 
 abroad. The wars with the /Kqui and Volsci still con- 
 tinued ; and as each year some trifling advantages were 
 obtained over the Romans, they at last advanced so far 
 as to make their incursions to the very walls of Rome. 
 
 jj ,, But not the courage only of the Romans seem- 
 ed diminished by these conquests, but their 
 other virtues also, particularly their justice. 
 About this time the inhabitants of two neighbouring 
 cities, Ardea and Aricia, had a contest between them- 
 
52 THE HISTORY OF THK 
 
 selves about some lands that had long been claimed by 
 both. At length, being unable to agree, they referred 
 it to the senate and people of Rome. The senate had 
 yet some of the principles of primitive justice remain- 
 ing, and refused to determine the dispute. But the 
 people readily undertook the dc< 
 
 tins, an old man, declaring that tl ighfc 
 
 belonged to Rome, they immediately voted tin 
 to be the legal possessors, and sent home the former 
 litigants, thoroughly convinced of their own folly, 
 of the Roman injustice. 
 
 The tribunes now grew more turbulent ; they propos- 
 ed two laws, one to permit plebeians to im 
 patricians, and the other to permit them to be admit- 
 ted to the consulship also. The sena' 
 proposals with indignation, - 
 dcrgo the utmost extremitir 
 act them. However, finding the 
 
 crease the commotions of thi < on- 
 
 sented to pass the law concerning man ; >ing that 
 
 this concession would satisfy the people, llut they were 
 to be appeased but for a very short time ; l->r retHi 
 to their old custom, of refusing to enlist upon the 
 proach of an enemy, the consuls were forced to hold a 
 private conference with the chief of the senate, wl 
 after many debates, Claudius proposed an expedient as 
 the most probable means of satisfying the people in the 
 present conjuncture. This was to c 
 governors in the room of consuls, whereof one hai 
 least should be patricians. This project, which w: 
 fact granting what the people demanded, pleased tho 
 whole meeting ; and it was agreed, that at the next pub- 
 lic meeting of the senate, the consuls should, com 
 to their usual custom, begin by asking the opinion ot 
 youngest senator. Upon assembling the senate, one of 
 the tribunes accused them of holding secret meeti 
 and managing dangerous designs against the 
 The consuls, on the other hand, averred their innocence ; 
 and, to demonstrate their sinceiily, gave an v 
 youngest members of the house leave to propound their 
 opinions. These remaining silent, such of the olde 
 
COMMONWEALTH OF ROME. 5. 
 
 nators as were known to be popular, began by observing 
 that the people ought to be indulged in their request, 
 that none so well deserved power as those who were most 
 instrumental in gaining it, and that the city could not 
 be free, until all were reduced to perfect equality. Clau- 
 dius spoke next, and broke out into bitter invectives 
 against the people, asserting that it was his opinion that 
 the law should not pass. This produced some distur- 
 bances among the plebeians : at length, Genutius pro- 
 posed, as had been preconcerted, that six governors 
 should be annually chosen, with consular authority, three 
 from the senate, and three from the people, and that 
 when the time of their magistracy should be expired, 
 then it would be seen whether they should have the same 
 office continued, or whether the consulship should be es- 
 tablished upon its former footing. This project was ea- 
 gerly embraced by the people ; yet so fickle were the 
 multitude, that though many of the plebeians stood, the 
 Choice wholly fell upon the patricians, who offered them- 
 jj selves as candidates. These new magistrates 
 310 ' were ca ^ ec ^ Military Tribunes ; they were at 
 first but three, afterwards they were increased 
 to four, and at length to six. They had the power and 
 ensigns of consuls ; yet that power being divided among 
 a number, each singly was of less authority. The first 
 that were chosen only continued in office about three 
 months, the augurs having found something amiss in 
 the ceremonies of their election. 
 
 The military tribunes being deposed, the consuls once 
 more came into office ; in order to lighten the weight of 
 business which they were obliged to sustain, a new of- 
 fice was erected, namely, that of Censors, to be chosen 
 every fifth year. Their business was to take an estimate 
 of the number and estates of the people, and to distJ-i- 
 bute them into their proper classes ; to inspect into the 
 lives and manner of their fellow-citizens ;. to degrade 
 'tors for misconduct ; to dismount knights, and to 
 turn down plebeians from their tribes into an inferior in 
 case of misdemeanor. The two first censors were Papi- 
 and Semphronius, both patricians ; and from this 
 K 2 
 
54 THE HISTORY OF THE 
 
 order they continued to be elected for near an hundred 
 years. 
 
 This new creation served to restore peace for some 
 time among the orders ; and a triumph gained over the 
 Volscians by Gaganius the consul, added to the un; 
 sal satisfaction that rejgned among the pec. 
 
 The calm, hen- s but of a short coi. 1 
 
 ,j p for, some time after, a famim 
 ' " upon the poor, the u 
 
 ' the rich were renewed ; 
 proving ineffectual, produced new sei 
 juls were accused of neglect in not having laid in pi 
 quantities of corn ; the . . (led the mur- 
 
 murs of the populace, content with exertin . 
 in attempts to supply the pressing ncc- But 
 
 though they did all that could L- 
 
 magistrates in providing and distributing ; s to 
 
 the poor, yetSpurius 
 
 purchased up all the corn < ; outshone 
 
 them in liberality. This c. :h a 
 
 secret desire of becoming powerful by the 
 the state, distributed corn in greatc: 
 he poorer sort each day, till his hou^i 
 lum of such as wished to exchange a lift- 
 one of lazy dependence. When he had thus 
 sufficient number of partizans, he procured large quan- 
 tities of arms to be brought into his house and 
 urmed a conspiracy by which he was to ol om- 
 mand, while some of the tribunes, whom he h 
 means to corrupt, were to act under him in seizing 
 liberties of his country. Minucius soon discovered the 
 plot ; and informing the senate thereof, tin 
 ly formed a resolution of ci i <>uld 
 have the power of quelling the conspiracy withou 
 pealing to the people. Cincinnatus, who was now ei 
 years old, was chosen once more to rescue bis cov 
 from impending danger. He began by summoi 
 Uus to appear, who refused to obey. He next sent Aha- 
 ;a. the master of his horse, to force him ; who, meeting 
 him in the Forum, and pressing Maclius to follow 
 
 V dictator's tribunal, upon h^s refusal? Ah;; 
 
COMMONWEALTH OF ROME. 55 
 
 on the spot. The dictator applauded the resolution of 
 his officer, and commanded the conspirator's goods to 
 be sold, and his house to be demolished, distributing his 
 stores among the people. 
 
 The tribunes ot" the people were much enraged at the 
 death of Mselius ; and, in order to punish the senate at 
 
 ,. ,, the next election, instead of consuls, insisted 
 upon restoring their military tribunes. With 
 this the senate were obliged to comply. The 
 next year, however, the government returned to its an- 
 cient channel, and consuls were chosen. 
 
 The Veians had long been the rivals of Rome ; they 
 had ever taken the opportunity of its internal distresses 
 to ravage its territories, and had even threatened its am- 
 bassadors, sent to complain of these injuries, with out- 
 rage. It seemed now therefore determined, that the ci- 
 ty of Veil, whatever it should cost, was to fall ; and the 
 Romans accordingly sat regularly down before it, pre- 
 pared for a long and painful resistance. The strength 
 of the place may be inferred from the continuance of 
 the siege, which lasted for ten years ; during which time 
 the army continued encamped round it, lying in winter 
 under tents made of the skins of beasts, and in summer 
 driving on the operations of the attack. Various was 
 the success, and many were the commanders that direct- 
 ed the siege ; sometimes all the besigers works were de- 
 stroyed, and many of their men cut off by sallies from 
 the town ; sometimes they were annoyed by an army of 
 Veians, who attempted to bring assistance from without. 
 iA siege so bloody seemed to threaten depopulation to 
 Rome itself, by draining its forces continually away ; so 
 that a law was obliged to be made for all the bachelors 
 to marry the widows of the soldiers who were slain. In 
 order to carry it on with greater vigour, Furius Camii- 
 lus was created dictator, and to him was entrusted the 
 sole power of managing the long protracted war. Ca- 
 millus, who, without intrigue, or any solicitation, had 
 raised himself to the first eminence in the state, had been 
 made one of the censors some time before, and was con- 
 iidered as the head of that office ; he was afterwards 
 de a military tribune, and had, in His post, gained 
 
56 THE HISTORY OF THE 
 
 several advantages over the enemy. It was his g: 
 courage and abilities in the above offices that made i 
 thought most worthy to serve his country on this press- 
 ing occasion. Upon his appointment, numbers of peo- 
 ple flocked to his standard, confident of success unde" so 
 experienced a commander. Conscious, however, that 
 he was unable to take the city by storm, he secretly 
 wrought a mine into it with vast labour, which opened 
 into the midst of the citadel. Certain thi. ess, 
 
 and finding the city incapable of relief, he sent to the 
 senate, desiring that all who chose to share in the plun- 
 der of the Veil should immediately repair to the a: 
 Then giving his men directions how to the 
 
 breach, the city was instantly filled with his Ic 
 the amazement and consternation of the b< 
 but a moment before, had rested in per: 
 Thus, like a second Troy, was the city ' 
 after a ten years siege, and with died the 
 
 conquerors ; while Camillus himseli- 
 the honour of having subdued the rival ot 1; 
 city, triumphed after the manner of the k: me, 
 
 having his chariot drawn by four milk wl ; s ; a 
 
 distinction which did not fail to disgust tin v of 
 
 the spectators, as they considered those a 
 more proper for doing honour to their gods than their 
 generals. 
 
 His usual good fortune attended Camillus in another 
 expedition against the 1 ic routed tl: 
 
 besieged their capital city, ! hich thic 
 
 long and vigorous resistance. The reduction of thi 
 tie place would have been scarce worth mentioning in 
 this scanty page, were it not for an action of the Roman 
 general, that has done him more credit with posti 
 than all his other triumphs united. A schoolmaster, 
 who had the care of the children belonging to the \ 
 cipal men of the city, having found means to decoy 
 them into the Roman camp, offered to put them into 
 the hands of Camillus, as the surest means of indi 
 the citizens to a speedy surrender. The general 
 struck with the treachery of a wretch whose duty ii 
 to protect innocence and not betray it : he for some tiflgfc. 
 
COMMONWEALTH OF ROME. 57 
 
 regarded the traitor 7 with a stern air, but at last finding 
 words, * Execrable villain," cried the noble Roman, 
 " offer thy abominable proposals to creatures like thy- 
 " self, and not to me ; what though we be enemies of 
 " your city, yet there are natural ties that bind all m an- 
 * kind, which should never be broken : there are duties 
 " required of us in war as well as in peace : we fight 
 a not against an age of innocence, but against men : men 
 k ' who have used us ill indeed, but yet whose crimes are 
 a virtues when compared to thine. Against such base 
 s let it be my duly to use only Roman arts, the 
 u arts of valour and of arms." So saying, he imme- 
 diately ordered him to be stript, his hands tied behind 
 him, and in that ignominious manner to be whipped in- 
 to the town by his own scholars. This generous beha- 
 viour in Camillus effected move than his arms could do : 
 the magistrates of the town immediately submitted to 
 the senate, leaving to Camillus the conditions of their 
 surrender, who only fined them a sum of money to sat- 
 isfy the army, and received them under the protection 
 and into the alliance of Rome. 
 
 Notwithstanding the veneration which the virtues of 
 Camillus had excited abroad, they seemed but little 
 adapted to bring over the turbulent tribunes at home, 
 as they raised some fresh accusation against him every 
 day. To the charge of being an opposer of their intend- 
 ed migration from Rome to Veil, they added that of 
 his having concealed a part of the plunder of that city, 
 particularly two brazen gates, for his own use, and ap- 
 pointed him a day on which to appear before the peo- 
 ple. Camillus finding the multitude exasperated against 
 him upon many accounts, detesting their ingratitude, 
 resolved not to wait the ignominy of a trial, but, em- 
 bracing his wife and children, prepared to depart from 
 Rome. He had already passed as far as one of the 
 gates, unattended on his way, and unlamented. There 
 lie could suppress his indignation no longer, but turning 
 his face to the capital, and lifting up his hands to hea- 
 ven, entreated all the gods that his country might one 
 day be sensible of their injustice and ingratitude ; and so 
 saying, he past forward to take refuge at Ardea, a towrv 
 
58 . THE HISTORY OF THE 
 
 at a little distance from Rome* tvhere he afterwards 
 teamed that he had been fined fifteen hundred as^cs by 
 the tribunes at home. 
 
 The tribunes were not a little pleased with their tri- 
 umph over this great man ; but they soon had 
 repent their injustice, and to wish for the 
 one who alone was able to protect their country from 
 ruin. For now a more terrible and : 
 began to make its appearance than the 
 yet encountered. The Gauls, a bar 
 about two centuries before made an irruption froiv. 
 yond the Alps, and set' led in the northern 
 ly. They had been invited over by the dr 
 the wines, and the softness of the climate. V 
 they came, they di 
 they were men of superior cou: 
 ture, fierce in aspect, barbarou 
 prone to cmi.uratioii. 
 
 inal habitations, were iv city 
 
 of Etruria, under the conduct ri -ing. 
 
 The inhabitants of Clusium. fri .um- 
 
 bers, and still more at tl :tce,entrc 
 
 the assistance, or at least the mediation of the Romans. 
 The senate, who had long made it a maxim never to 
 refuse succour to the di- were will! usly 
 
 to send ambassadors to the Gauls to ii .cm from 
 
 their enterprize, and to shew the injustice of the irrup- 
 tion. Accordingly, three young senators were chosen 
 out of the family of th the commis- 
 
 sion, who seemed more fitted to the field than the cabinet. 
 Brennus received them with a degree of complaisance 
 that argued but little of the barbarian ; ai to 
 
 know the business of their embassy, I 
 cording to their instructions, that it was not castoi 
 in Italy to make war but rn just grounds of prc^ 
 lion, and that they desired to know what offence the 
 izens of Clusium had given to the king of thc-^. 
 To this Brennus sternly replied, that the 
 Jiant men lay in their swords ; that the J* 
 selves had no right to the many cities t 
 ^ed ; and that he had particular reasons r 
 
COMMONWEALTH OF ROME. 59 
 
 rnent against the people of Clusium, as they refused to 
 part with those lands which they had neither hands to 
 till nor inhabitants to occupy. The Roman ambassa-r 
 dors, who were but little used to the language of a con- 
 queror, for a while dissembled their resentment at this 
 haughty reply ; but, upon entering the besieged city, 
 instead of acting as ambassadors, and forgetful of their 
 sacred characters, headed the citizens in a sally against 
 the besiegers. In this combat, Fabius Ambustus killed 
 a Gaul with his own hand, but was discovered while 
 he was despoiling him of his armour. A conduct so 
 unjust and unbecoming excited the resentment of Bren- 
 nus, who having made his complaint by an herald to the 
 senate, and finding no redress, immediately broke up 
 the siege, and marched away with his conquering army 
 directly to Rome. 
 
 The countries through which the Gauls passed in 
 their rapid progress, gave up all hopes of safely upon 
 their approach ; being terrified at their vast numbers, 
 the fierceness of their natures, and their dreadful prepa- 
 rations for war. But ihe rage and impetuosity of this 
 wild people were directed only against Rome. They 
 went on without doing the least injury in their march, 
 still breathing vengeance only against the Romans ; and 
 a terrible engagement soon after ensued, in which the 
 Romans were defeated near the river Allia, with the 
 ?oss of near forty thousand men. 
 
 Rome thus deprived of all succour prepared for every 
 extremity. The inhabitants endeavoured to hide them- 
 es in some of the neighbouring towns, or resolved to 
 await the conqueror's fury, and end their lives with the 
 ruin of their native city. But, more particularly, the 
 ancient senators and priests, struck with religious en- 
 thusiasm on this occasion, resolved to devote their lives 
 to atone for the crimes of the people, and habited in the 
 robes of ceremony, placed themselves in the Forum on 
 their ivory chairs. The Gauls in the mean time were 
 giving a loose to their triumph in sharing and enjoying 
 the plunder of the enemy's camp. Had they immedi- 
 ately marched to Rome upon gaining the victory, the 
 capitol itself had been taken j but they continued two 
 
60 THE HISTORY OF TH1.. 
 
 days feasting themselves upon the field of battle, 
 with barbarous pleasure, exulting amidst iheir slaugh- 
 tered enemies. On the third day alter the \ictory, the ea- 
 siness of which much amazed the Gauls, Brennus ap- 
 peared with all his forces before the city. He \\ . 
 first much surprised to find the gates wide open to re- 
 ceive him, and the walls defenceless : so that he began 
 to impute the unguarded situation of the pi irat- 
 
 agem of the Romans. Afier proper \ 
 tered the city, and, marching imo the Foi 
 held the ancient senators sitting in their orcier, ob^ 
 ing a profound silence, unmoved and undaunted, 
 splendid habits, the majesti the venerable 
 
 looks of these old men, who had all, in iheir tin 
 the highest offices of the state, awed the barbarous i 
 my into reverence; they took them to be tin 
 (Jeities of the place, and began to offer b: -ion, 
 
 one, more forward than i>ut fonh his i 
 
 to stroke the beard of Pa. he noble 
 
 Roman could not endure, but lifting up 1 
 tre, struck the savage to the ground. Th 
 signal for general slaughter, 
 the rest shared his fate, without mercy or di- 
 Thus the fierce invaders pursued their slaughte 
 three days successively, sparing neither sex nor age 
 then setting fire to the city, burnt every house to the 
 ground. 
 
 wj All hopes of Rome were now placed in the 
 ' ' capitol ; every thing without that i< 
 
 but an extensive scene of lion, 
 
 and despair. Brennus first summoned it, with thn 
 to surrender, b it in vain ; he then resolve 
 in form, and hemmed it round with his army, 
 theless the Romans repelled his attem: reat 
 
 bravery ; despair had supplied them with that 
 ranee and vigour which they seemed to 
 prosperity. 
 
 In the mean while, Brennus carried on the 
 extreme ardour. He hoped, in time, to s- gar- 
 
 rison into a capitulation ; but they, sensible of I 
 although they were in actual want, caused several lo 
 
COMMONWEALTH OF ROME. bi 
 
 to be thrown into his camp, to convince him of the fu- 
 tility of such expectations. His hopes failing in this, 
 were sooa after revived, when some of his soldiers came 
 to inform him that they had discovered some footsteps 
 which led up the rock, and by which they supposed the 
 capitol might be surprised. Accordingly, a chosen bo- 
 dy of his men were ordered by night upon this danger- 
 ous service, which they with great labour and difficulty 
 almost effected ; they were now got upon the very wall -, 
 the Roman centinel was fast asleep ; their dogs within 
 gave no signal ; and all promised an easy victory, when 
 the garrison was awakened by the gabbling of some sa- 
 
 geese that had been kept in the temple of Juno. 
 
 The besieged soon perceived the imminence of thei; 
 
 ;er,andcach snatching the weapon he could instantly 
 
 find, ran to oppose the assailants. Manlius, a patrician 
 
 of acknowledged bravery, was the first who exerted all 
 
 rength, and inspired courage by his example. He 
 boldly mounted the rampart, and at one effort, threw 
 two Gauls headlong down the precipice : oti^s soon 
 came to his assistance, and the walls were cleared of the 
 ;y in a space of time shorter than that employed in 
 the recital. 
 
 FIOIY. this time forward the hopes of the barbarians 
 began to decline, and Brennus wished for an opportunity 
 of raising the siege with credit. His soldiers had of- 
 ten conferences with the besieged while upon duty, and 
 the proposals for an accommodation were wished for by 
 the common men before the chiefs thought of a con- 
 gress. At length the commanders on both sides came 
 loan agreement that the Gauls should immediately quit 
 the city and territories of Rome, upon being paid a 
 thousand pounds weight of gold. This agreement be- 
 ing confirmed by an oath on either side, the gold was 
 brought forth ; 'but, upon weighing, the Gauls fraudu- 
 lently attempted to kick the beam, of which the Ro- 
 mans complaining, Brennus insultingly cast his sword 
 and belt into the scale, crying out, that the only portion 
 of the vanquished was to suffer. By this reply the Ro- 
 mans saw that they were at the victor's mercy, and 
 
THE HISTORY OF Tl 
 
 knew it was in vain to expostulate against any condit* 
 he should be pleased to impose. But in this very j 
 lure, and while they were thus debating upon the | 
 ment, it was told them that Camillus, their old gem 
 was at the head of a large army, hastening to t 
 lief, and entering the gates of Rome. Camillus actual- 
 ly appeared soon after, and entering the place of con- 
 troversy, \\ith the air of one wh 
 suffer imposition, demanded the cause of tl 
 which being informed, he ordered the gold to be t:-. 
 and carried back to the capitol, " Tor it lias ever ben 
 cried he, u the manner of us Rom;; 
 >c country, not with gold, but with iron ; it ib I only 
 ' am to make peace, as being the d 'me, 
 
 nc shall 
 
 battle ensued, in which the G;mls were en 1 ed ; 
 
 ^ncl such a slaughter followed, that the Roman ten 
 v ies wc;\ '.tared of their foi i 
 
 Thii :ne, by the bravery of Camillus 
 
 its foes. 
 
 The city being one continued heap of ruins, < 
 :i\pitol, and the greatest number of its former ii..- 
 s having gone to take refuge in Veil, the tribunes 
 of the people urged for the removal of the 
 mains of Rome to Veil, where they might have houses 
 to shelter, and walls to defend them. On this occasion 
 nillus attempted to appease them with all the arts of 
 persuasion, observing, that it was unworthy of them, 
 "both as Romans and as men, to desert the venerable - 
 of their ancestors, where they had been encouraged by 
 repeated marks of divine approbation, to remove to and 
 inhabit a city which they had conquered, n: 
 wanted even the good fortune of defending itself. By 
 these, and such like remonstrances, he prevailed upon 
 the people to go contentedly to work ; and Rome soon 
 began to rise from its ashes. 
 
 We have already seen the bravery of Manlius 
 fending the capitol, and saving the last remains of R 
 For this the people were by no means ungrateful, 
 ing built him an house near the place where his valour 
 was so conspicuous, and having appointed him a p 
 
COMMONWEALTH OF ROME. 63 
 
 fund for hh support. But he aspired at being not only 
 equal to Camillas, but to be sovereign of Rome. With 
 this view he laboured to ingratiate himself with the 
 populace, paid their debts, and railed at the patricians, 
 whom he culled their oppressors. The senate was not 
 ignorant of his discourses or his designs, and created 
 Cornelius Cossus dictator, with a view to curb the am- 
 bition of Manlius. The dictator soon finished an expe- 
 dition against the Volscians by a victory ; and, upon his 
 return, called Manlius to an account for his conduct. 
 Manlius, however, was too much the darling of the po- 
 pulace to be affected by the power of Cossus, who was 
 obliged to lay down his office, and Manlius was carried 
 from confinement in triumph through the city. '1 
 success only served to inflame his ambition. lie now 
 began to talk of a division of the lands among the peo- 
 ple ; insinuated that there should be no distinctions in the 
 state ; and, to give weight to his discourses, always ap- 
 peared at the head of a large body of the dregs of the 
 people, whom his largesses hud made his followers. 
 The city being thus filled with sedition and clamour, the 
 senate had recourse to another expedient, and to oppose 
 the power of Camillas to that of the demagogue. Ca- 
 rnillus accordingly being made one of the military tri- 
 bunes, appointed Manlius a day to answer foi- his life. 
 The place in which he was tried was near the capitol, 
 where, when he was accused of sedition, and of aspiring 
 at sovereignty, he only turned his eyes, and, pointing 
 thither, put them in mind of what he had there done for 
 his country. The multitude, whose compassion or whose 
 justice seldom spring from rational motives, refused to 
 condemn him, while he pleaded in sight of the cupiiol : 
 but when he was brought from thence to the Petcline 
 grove, and where the capitol was no longer to be seen, 
 they condemned him to be thrown headlong from the 
 Tarpeian rock. Thus the place which had been the 
 theatre of his glory, became that of his punishment and 
 infamy. His house, in which his conspiracies had been 
 ctly carried on, was ordered to be razed to the ground, 
 his family were forbidden ever after toassurrv 
 name of Manlius. 
 
THE HISTORY OF THE 
 
 In tliis manner, therefore, the Romans went gradual- 
 ly i- ith a mixture of turbulence 
 tion within their walls, and successful enlerpri 
 out. With what an implicit obedience they submitted to 
 their pontiffs, we have already seen in many i 
 
 how far they might be impelled, even to encounter 
 death itself at their command, villevi :Vom 
 
 the behaviour of Curtius about this time, n the 
 
 opening of a gulfin the Forum, which 
 , T ^ ed would never close up till tl 
 ' ' things in Rome v, 
 
 ' man leapc-i our boldly 
 
 the midst, saying, that noth:- 
 
 in patriotism and military virtue, 'i 
 the historians, closed immediately upcn 
 AS never seen after. 
 
 . XIII. 
 
 : the tyar.5 of ih< ?, and ti\ 
 
 Pyrrhus, to ' 
 
 l the Ron. .:aly. 
 
 THE Romans having now triumphed over tin 
 bines, the Etrurians, the Latios the 
 
 .qui, and the VoUcians, begun to look for grc. 
 quests. They accordingly tut 1 /. mst 
 
 the Samnites, a people ;tbout an hundred n 
 from the city, descended from the Sabine- 
 ing a large tract of southern Italy, whi< day 
 
 makes a considerable part of the kingdom o: 
 Valerius Corvus and Cornelius were 
 
 aose care it first fell to manage this < -on- 
 
 tcntion between the rival states. 
 
 ;ius was one of the greatest commanders of his 
 time; he was surnamed Corvus from a strange circum- 
 ce of being assisted by a crow in a single combat, in 
 .<hich he fought and killed a Gaul of a gigantic stature. 
 To his colleague*s care it was consigned to lead an ar- 
 my to Samnium, the enemy's capital, while Corvus was 
 -cut to relieve Cannn, the capital of the Car 
 
COMMONWEALTH OF ROME. 65 
 
 Never was a captain more fitted for command than he. 
 To an habit naturally robust and athletic, he joined the 
 gentlest manners ; he was the fiercest, and yet the most 
 good natured man in the army ; and, while the mean- 
 est centinel was his companion, no man kept them more 
 btrictly to their duty : but what completes his character, 
 he constantly endeavoured to preserve his dignities by 
 the same arts by which he gained them. Such soldiers 
 as the Romans then were, hardened by their late adver- 
 sity, and led on by such a general, were unconquerable. 
 The Samnites were the bravest men they ever yet en- 
 countered ; and the contention between the two nations 
 was managed on both sides with the most determined 
 resolution. But the fortune of Rome prevailed ; the 
 Samnites at length fled, averring that they were not 
 able to withstand the fierce looks and the fire -darting 
 eyes of the Romans. The other consul, however, was 
 not at first so fortunate ; for having unwarily led his 
 army into a defile, he was in danger of being cut off, 
 had not Decius, a tribune of the army, possessed himself 
 of a hill which commanded the enemy ; so that the 
 Samnites being attacked on either side, were defeated 
 with great slaughter ; no less than thirty thousand of 
 them being left dead upon the field of battle. 
 
 Some time after this victory, the soldiers, who were 
 stationed at Capua, mutinying, forced Quintius, an old 
 and eminent soldier, who was then residing in the coun- 
 try, to be their leader ; and, conducted by their rage 
 more than their general, came within eight miles of the 
 So terrible an enemy, almost at their gates, not 
 a little alarmed the senate., who immediately created 
 Valerius Corvus dictator, and sent him forth with another 
 army to oppose them. The two armies were now 
 drawn up against each other, while fathers and sons be- 
 held themselves prepared to engage in opposite causes. 
 Any other general but Corvus would perhaps have 
 brought this civil war to an extremity ; but he, know- 
 ing his influence among the soldiery, instead of going 
 forward to meet the mutineers in a hostile manner, 
 vent with the most cordial friendship to embrace and 
 F 2 
 
66 THE HISTORY OF THE 
 
 expostulate with his old acquaintances. His conduct 
 had the desired effect. Quintius, as their speaker, only 
 desired to have their defection from their duty t' 
 rtnd as for himself, as he was innocent of their coi 
 racy, he had no reason to solicit pardon for his > 
 Thus this defection, which at first th: 
 to Rome, was repaired by the pi- 
 ration of a general, 
 his friends, am; le only to 
 
 A war between the R< : :is followed 
 
 ;;oon after ; but, us their ! 
 
 were the same, tht - sary 
 
 to prevent confusion in the engagement. < 
 fore were issued by Manlius, the consul, that no so: 
 should \c lever prc 
 
 that he should ce: put to de. 
 
 fer to do otherwise. \Vr.h these injunctions bo'. 
 were drawn out in J ready to be< r , : 
 
 tius, the general of the enen, 
 
 from his lines, and ch:-.i. :M the Ho: 
 
 army to single comba*. as a 
 
 general pause, no soldier offering to disobey his on 
 till Titus Manlius. the consul's own son, bun 
 shame to see the whole body of the Romar. aed, 
 
 boldly singled out against l.i 
 
 on both sides, for a w!iiie, suspended the general 
 gagemcnt, to be spectators of this 
 The two champions drove their h< 
 other with great violence : Mctius wounded hi- 
 ry's horse in the neck ; but Manlius, with bcttr i 
 killed that of Mttius. The Latin, being thus fallen to 
 the ground, for a while attempted to support himself 
 upon his shield ; but the Roman followed his bvws 
 so much force, that he laid him dead as 
 vouring to rise ; and then despoiling him of his armour, 
 returnedin triumph to the consul his father's tent, where 
 he was preparing and giving orders relative t> 
 
 >ment. Howsoever he might have been apph 
 by his feiiow soldiers, being as yet doubtful of tin 
 .;eption he should find from his father, he came 
 hesitation to lay the enemy's spoil at his f< 
 
COMMONWEALTH OF ROME. 67 
 
 ,1 modest air insinuated, that \vhat he did was entirely 
 from a spirit of hereditary virtue. But he was soon 
 Ifully made sensible of his error, when hi* father 
 turning away, ordered him to be led publicly forth be- 
 fore the army. There, being brought forward, the con- 
 sul, with a stern countenance, and yet with tears, spoke 
 as follows : " Titus Manlius, as thou hast regarded 
 u neither the dignity of the consulship, nor the com- 
 " mands of thy father, as thou hast destroyed military 
 <; discipline, and set a pattern of disobedience by thy ex- 
 ' ample, thou hast reduced me to that deplorable extre- 
 ' mity of sacrificing my son or my country : but let 
 M us not hesitate in this dreadful alternative : a thou- 
 * sand lives were well lost in such a cause : nor do I 
 ' think that thou thyself wilt refuse to die, when thy 
 ' country is to reap the advantage of thy sufferings. 
 4( Go, lictor, bind him, and let his death be our future 
 " exampie." The whole army was struck with horror 
 at this unnatural mandate ; fear for a while kept them 
 in suspense ; but when they saw their young champion's 
 head struck off, and his blood streaming upon the 
 ground, they could no longer contain their execrations 
 their groans. His dead body was carried forth 
 without the camp, and being adorned with the spoils of 
 the vanquished enemy, was buried with all the pomp of 
 military distress. 
 
 In the mean time the battle joined with mutual fury ; 
 and as the two armies had often fought under the same 
 leaders, they combated with all the animosity of a civil 
 war. The Latins chiefly depended on their bodily 
 strength ; the Romans, on their invincible courage and 
 conduct. Forces so nearly matched seemed only to rer 
 quire the protection of their deities to turn the scale of 
 victory ; and, in fact, the augurs had foretold, that 
 -;ever part of the Roman army should be distrest, 
 the commander of that part should devote himself for 
 his country, and die as a sacrifice to the immortal gods. 
 Manlius commanded the right wing, and Decius led on 
 the left. Both sides fought for some time with doubt- 
 ful success, as their courage was equal ; but after a 
 time, the left wing of tl>e Roman army beean to give 
 
68 THE HISTORY OF THE 
 
 ground, It was thrn that Uecius, who con 
 there, resolved to devote himself for his country, and 
 to offer his own life as an atonement to save L. 
 Thus determined, he called out to Manlius with a loud 
 voice, and demanded his instructions^ as he was the 
 chief pontiff, how to devote himself, and the form of 
 the words he should use. By his directions therefore, 
 being clothed in a lon robe, his head covered, aiu. 
 arms stretched foi g upon a c de- 
 
 voted himself to the celestial and infernal gods for the 
 safety of Rome. Then arming 
 jn horseback, he drove furiously in the midst 01 
 enemies, carrying terror and consternation wh 
 came, till he fell covered with 
 time the Roman army considered his devoting hii: 
 in this manner as an assurance of success ; nor 
 superstition of the Latins less powerfully influenced by 
 his resolution ; a total rout began to ensue ; the Ron 
 pressed them on every side ; and so 
 nage, that scarce a fourth part of the cneim 1 the 
 
 defeat. This was the last battle of any COT 
 the Latins had with the Romans ; they were forc. 
 beg a peace upon hard conditions ; and two yc 
 their strongest city, Paedum, being taken, they 
 brought under an entire submission to the 1 : 
 Y T p A signal disgrace which the Roman 
 ' j " tained about this time in their contests with the 
 
 Samnites, made a pause in their usual 
 fortune, and turned the scale for a while i: - 
 favour. The senate having denied the Samnites pt 
 Pontius, their general, was resolved tc 
 what he had frequently lost by force. Accordingly, ! 
 ing his army into a defile called Claudiu:. 
 possession of all its outlets, he sent ten of Li 
 bited like shepherds, with directions to throw thcmsi 
 in the way the Romans were to march. Exac 
 wishes the Roman consul met them, and taking them 
 for what they appeared, demanded the route the w 
 nite army had taken: they, with seeming indifferc 
 replied, that they were gone to Luceria, a town in 
 ulia, and were thn actually besieging it. The 
 
COMMONWEALTH OF ROME. 69 
 
 general,not suspectingthe stratagem thatwaslaidagainst 
 him, marched directly by the shortest road, which lay 
 through the defiles, to relieve the city, and was not un- 
 deceived, till he saw Ins army surrounded and blockaded 
 up on every side. Pontius, thus having the Romans 
 entirely i his power, first obliged the army to pass un- 
 der the yoke, having been previously stript of all but 
 their garments ; he then stipulated that they should 
 wholly quit the territories of the Samnites, and that they 
 ntinue to live upon terms of former conftdera- 
 The Romans were constrained to submit to this 
 .iiinious treaty, and marched into Capua disarmed, 
 halt' naked, and burning with a desire of retrieving their 
 lost honour. When the army arrived at Rome, the 
 whole city was most surprisingly afflicted at their shame- 
 ful return ; nothing but grief and resentment was to be 
 seen, ami the whole city was put into mourning. 
 
 But this wag a transitory calamity ; the state had suf- 
 fered a diminution of its glory, but not of its power. 
 The war was carried on as usual for many years : the 
 power of the Samnites declining every day, while that 
 of the Romans gathered fresh confidence from every 
 victory. Under the conduct of Papyiius. Cursor, who 
 was at different times consul and dictator, repeated tri- 
 umphs were gained. Fabius Muximus also had his 
 share in the glory of conquering them ; and Decius, the 
 f that Decius whom we saw devoting himself for 
 his country, about forty years before, followed the ex- 
 ample of his noble father, and rushing into the midst of 
 the enemy, saved the lives of his countrymen with the 
 loss of his own. 
 
 The Samnites being thus driven to the most extreme 
 distress, as they were unable to defend themselves, they 
 were obliged to call in the assistance of a foreign pow- 
 er, and have recourse to Pyrrhus, king of Epirus, to 
 save them from impending ruin. Pyrrhus, a king of 
 BJ ambition and power, had always kept 
 the example of Alexander, his great predecessor, before 
 his eyes, promised to come to their assistance ; and in 
 the mean time dispatched over a body of three thou- 
 sqfcd men, under the command ofCineus, an experienc- 
 
ro THE HISTORY OF T* 
 
 ed soldier, and a scholar of the great orator Demostlu 
 Nor did he himself remr.in long behind, but soon after 
 put to sea with three thousand horse, twenty thov. 
 foot, and twenty elephants, in which the commanders of 
 that time began to place very great confidence. How- 
 ever, only a small part of these cr: riv- 
 ed in Italy with him, for many of his ships were 
 ed, and some were totally 1 his 
 arrival at Tarentum, o reform 
 people he came to succour ; for isso- 
 lution of manners in this luxurious ci. 
 habitants were rather occi 
 bathing, feasting, and ti- 
 ring for war, he gave orders ;o have all their j 
 public amusements shut up, and that they shouK 
 restrained in all such amusi 
 unfit for battle. In the mean time the U 
 that prndencc could suggest to oppose sc : c an 
 enemy ; and the consul 
 rous army to interrupt his ; 
 his whole army w 
 
 him ; but previously sent an ambassador. o be 
 
 permitted U> mediate between the R^ the peo- 
 
 ple of Tarentum. To this Lxvinus returned for 
 swer, that he neither esteemed him as a mediator, nor 
 feared him as an enemy ; and then leading th^ 
 sador through the Roman camp, desired him to observe 
 diligently what he saw, and to report the result to his 
 master. In consequence of this both ;>proach- 
 
 ing pitched their tents in sight of each other upor. 
 opposite banks of the river L;. ri-. ]' 
 extremely careful in < [ ion of his own 
 
 camp, and in observing that of the enemy, 
 that walking along the banks of the ri\ 
 the P oman method of encamping, h 
 serve, 4t That these barbarians seemed to be no ^ 
 " barpus,and he should too soon find their actions equal to 
 " their resolution." In the mean time ordering a boc 
 men along the banks of the river he phcec! 
 diness to oppose the Romans, in case they s! -rip* 
 
 to ford it before his whole arm v was hr'ov.L- 
 
COMMONWEALTH OF ROME. 7; 
 
 Things turned out according- to his expectations ; the 
 consul, with an impetuosity that marked his inexperi- 
 ence, gave orders for passing the river where it was ford- 
 able ; and the advanced guard, having attempted to op- 
 pose him in vain, was obliged to retire to the main bo- 
 dy of the army. Phyrrus being apprized of the enemies 
 attempt, at first hoped to cut oft' their cavalry before 
 they could be reinforced by the foot that were not as yet 
 got over, and led on in person a chosen body of horse 
 against them. The Roman legions having with much 
 difficulty advanced across the river, the engagement be- 
 came general ; the Greeks fought with a consciousness 
 of their former fame, and the Romans with a desire of 
 gaining fresh glory. Mankind had never before seen 
 two such differently disciplined armies opposed to each 
 other, nor is it to this day determined whether the Greek 
 phalanx or the Roman legion were preferable. The 
 combut was long in suspense ; The Romans had seven 
 times repulsed the enemy, and were as often driven back 
 themselves, butatlength,whilethesuccessseemed doubt- 
 ful, Pyrrhus sent his elephants into the midst of the en- 
 ment, and these turned the scale of victory in his 
 ir. The Romans who had never before seen crea- 
 s of such a magnitude, were terrified not only with 
 their intrepid fierceness, but the castles that were built 
 upon their backs filled with armed men. It was then 
 that Pyrrhus saw the day was his own : and sending in 
 his Thessalian cavalry to charge the enemy in disorder, 
 rout became general. A dreadful slaughter of the 
 Romans ensued, fifteen thousand men being killed on 
 the spot, and eighteen hundred taken prisoners. Nor 
 were the conquerors in a much better state than the van- 
 ned, Pyrrhus himself being wounded, and thirteen 
 thousand of his forces slain. Night coming on, put an 
 to the slaughter on both sides, and Pyrrhus was 
 heard to cry out, " That one such victory more would 
 : ruin his whole army." The next day as he walked 
 to view the field of battle, he could not help regarding 
 -\vithadmirationthebodiesofthe Romans which were 
 .slain : upon seeing them all with their wounds before, 
 their countenances, even in death, marked with noble 
 
72 THE HISTORY OF T! 
 
 resolution, and a sternness that awed him inv 
 he was heard to cry out, in the true spirit of a 
 adventurer, "() with what ease could I conquer the 
 '< world, had I the ! tor soldiers, or had 
 
 'for their king." 
 
 Pyrrhus, after this victory, was still unwilling to drive 
 them to an extremity, and considered that it was best 
 treating with an humbled enemy ; he 'hereforc 
 
 to send his friend Cincus, the orator. t< 
 of whom he often asserted, that i. -wns 
 
 by the eloquence of Cincas, than 1 
 Cineas, with all his art, found the Ron: 
 of being seduced, either by briber) 
 persu: 
 
 Being frustrated, theref he rc- 
 
 ;urned to his ! the 
 
 I'leur of t! 
 
 rd a reverend assembly c>: 
 temple for their reception, 
 uecume sensible by an embassy from Rome c< 
 the ransom and exchange o: 
 this venerable dep:. 
 
 ator, who had long been a pattern to his countrymen, 
 of the most extreme poverty, joined to the most cheer- 
 ful content. Pyrrhus received this celebrated old man 
 with great kindness ; and willing to try 1 
 had been just in his favour offered him rich presc 
 which, however, the Roman refused. The day after, 
 he was desirous of examing the equality of his ten; 
 and ordered one of his elephants to be j 
 the tapestry ; which, upon a signal : its 
 
 trunk above the ambassador's In 
 using other arts to intimidate him. But 1 - 
 a countenance no way changing, smiled upon the k 
 observing, that he looked \\1. ,al eye on the 
 
 rors of the day as he had upon the allurements of the 
 preceding. Pyrrhus, pleased to find so much virtue in 
 one he had considered as a barbarian, was willin 
 it him the only favour which he knew could n 
 him happy : he released the Roman prisoners, em; 
 Ing them to Fabriclus alone, upon his promise, that in 
 
COMMONWEALTH OF ROME. 73 
 
 case the senate were determined to continue the war he 
 
 might reclaim them whenever he thought proper. 
 
 , - ,, By this time the Roman army was recovered 
 
 from its late defeat, and Sulpioius ai\d Decius, 
 
 the consuls for the following year, were placed 
 
 a head. The panic which had formerly seized it from 
 
 elephants now began to wear off, and both armies 
 met near the city of Asculum, both pretty nearly equal 
 in numbers, being about forty thousand strong ; and 
 here again, after a long and obstinate fight, the Grecian 
 discipline prevailed. The Romans, being pressed on 
 every side, particularly by the elephants, were obliged to 
 
 c to their camp, leaving six thousand men dead up- 
 on the field of battle. Bat the enemy had no great rea- 
 son to boast of their triumph, as they had four thousand 
 
 i ; so that Pyrrhus replied to one of his soldiers, who 
 was congratulating him upon his victory, " One such 
 triumph more, and I shall be undone." 
 
 This battle finished the campaign ; the next season 
 began with equal vigour on both sides, Pyrrhus having 
 received new succours from home. While the two ar- 
 mies were approaching, and yet but a small distance 
 from each other, a letter was brought to old Fabricius, 
 the Roman general, from the king's physician, import- 
 ing, that for a proper reward, he would take him off oy 
 poison, and thus rid the Romans of a powerful enemy, 
 and a dangerous war. Fabricius felt all the honest in- 
 dignation at this base proposal that was consistent with 
 his former character ; he communicated it to his col- 
 league, and instantly gave it as his opinion that Pyrrhus 
 should be informed of the treachery that was plotted 
 against him. Accordingly letters were dispatched for 
 that purpose, informing Pyrrhus of the affair, and al- 
 ledging the unfortunate choice of his friends and ene- 
 mies. That he had trusted and promoted murderers, 
 while he carried his resentment against the generous and 
 the brave. Pyrrhus now began to find that these bold 
 barbarians were by degrees schooled into refinement, 
 and would not suffer him to be their superior even in 
 generosity : fte received the message with us 
 G 
 
74 THE HISTORY OF Tl 
 
 amazement at their candour as indignation at 1 
 cian's treachery. " Admirable Fabricius 1" cried he. 
 " would be as easy to turn the sun from its course, as 
 " tliee from the paths of honour." Then making the 
 proper inquiry among his servants, and having discover- 
 ed the treason, he ordered his physician to be t 
 However, not to be outdone in magnanimity, he in 
 diatcly sent to Rome all his prisoners without ransom, 
 ami again desired to negociate a The Ron 
 
 on the other hand, refused him peace, but upon the s. 
 conditions they had offered before. 
 
 So that, after an interval of two y 
 ing increased his army by new K t ol 
 
 .nny to oppose the march of Lentuh. 
 
 .\:1, while he himself went to attack Curius Dt 
 tus, the other in command, before 1.: 
 
 c- up. Hisprincip - to surprise the e: 
 
 by night ; but unfortun. 
 
 at tin 
 
 ihe Roman camp, with the enemy drawn out ready to 
 receive him. The vanguard of both met, 
 
 in which the Romans had the ach 
 
 oral engagement ensuing, Pyrrhus, finding tin 
 lance of the victory turning still against him, had < 
 more recourse to his elephants. These, however, the 
 Romans were then too well acquainted with, to fee * 
 vain terrors from ; and having found that fire 
 most cftectual means to repel them, they caused a num- 
 ber of balls to be made, composed of flax and i 
 which were thrown against them as they approached the 
 The elephants, th\ ihc 
 
 Hume, and as boldly opposed by the soldiers, could no 
 longer be brought on, but ran back upon their ov; 
 my. bearing down the ranks, and filling all places with 
 terror and confusion. Thus victory at length declared 
 in favour of Rome : Pyrrhus in vain attempted to 
 the flight and slaughter of his troops ; he lost not < 
 
 !ty -three thousand of his best soldiers, but his camp 
 was also taken. This served as a new lesson to the Ro- 
 mans, who were ever open to improvement : they 
 
COMMONWEALTH OF ROME. 7p 
 
 formerly pitched their tents without order ; but by this 
 new capture they were taught to measure out their 
 ground, and fortify the whole with a trench ; so that 
 many of their succeeding victories are to be ascribed to 
 their improved method of encamping. 
 
 Pyrrhus thus finding all hopes fruitless, he resolved to 
 leave Italy, where he found only desperate enemies and 
 faithless allies : accordingly, calling together the Taren- 
 tines, he informed them that he had received assurances 
 from Greece of speedy assistance, and desiring them to 
 wait the event with tranquility, the night following em- 
 barked his tioops, and returned undisturbed into his na- 
 
 ungdom, with the remains of his shattered forces, 
 
 ing a garrison in Tarcnturn merely to save appear- 
 ances, and in this mariner ended the war with Pyrrhus, 
 after six years continuance. 
 
 As for the poor luxurious Tarentines, who were the 
 original promoters of this war, they soon began to find 
 
 irse enemy in the garrison that was left for their de- 
 fence, than in the Romans who attacked them from with- 
 out. The hatred betwen them and Milo, who command- 
 ed their citadel for Pyrrhus, was become so great, that 
 nothing but the fear of their old inveterate enemies the 
 Romans could equal it. In this distress they applied to 
 the Carthaginians, who, with a large fleet, came and 
 blocked up the port of Tarentum ; so that this unfortu- 
 nate people, once famous through Italy for their refine- 
 ments and pleasures, now saw themselves contended for 
 by three different armies, without the choice of a con- 
 queror. At length, however, the Romans found means 
 to bring over the garrison to their interest ; after which 
 they easily became masters of the city, and demolished 
 
 /alls, granting the inhabitants liberty and protection 
 
76 THE HISTORY OF TH-K 
 
 CHAP. XIV. 
 
 From the beginning of the frst Puni* 
 beginning oft: . when th<. 
 
 grow powerful b[- 
 
 [U. C. 189-3 
 
 THF, Romans having destroyed all rival pretei 
 at home, began to punt after foreign conqut 
 Carthaginians \vtre at that time r 
 
 cst part of Si like the Romans, only wanted 
 
 an opportunity of r to 
 
 become masters of the v IM The opporti. 
 
 at length offered, llicro, k vracuse, one of the 
 
 et of that island, wb unconqucrcrl, en- 
 
 treated their ;.'. es. n little people 
 
 of the same co ' tl>cy sent him supplies bot 
 
 sea and land. -.incriincs, on the other hand, to 
 
 shield off impending ru '. 
 tection of Rome. The Ho 
 mertines worthy of the nan; 
 
 sing to assist them, boldly dt tge: 
 
 alledging as a reason ti 
 lately sent to the southern parts of Italy a, 
 mans. In this manner .. Between;, 
 
 two powerful states, both grown too great to 
 patient spectators of each others incre. 
 
 Carthage, a colony of the Phoenicians, \vas built on 
 the coast of Afri the place where Tunis ; 
 
 stands, about an In lore 
 
 the foundation of Rome. As it had been long p- 
 ing into power, so it had extended its dominions all 
 along the coasts. But its chief strength lay in its I 
 and commerce : thus circumstanced, these two great 
 powers began what is called the first Puni The 
 
 Carthaginians, possessed of gold and silver, which rr. 
 be exhausted ; the Romans famous for perse 
 patriotism and poverty, which seemed to gather 
 by every defeat. 
 
COMMONWEALTH OF ROME. 
 
 But there seemed to be an insurmountable obstacle to 
 the ambitious views of Rome, as they had no fleet, or 
 at least what deserved that title ; while the Carthagin- 
 ians had the entire command at sea, and kept all the 
 Maritime towns under obedience. In such a situation 
 any people but the Romans would have rested content- 
 ed under disadvantages which natune seemed to have 
 imposed : bat nothing could conquer or intimidate them. 
 They began to apply themselves to maritime affairs ; 
 and, though without shipwrights to build, or seamen to 
 navigate a fleet, they resolved to surmount every obsta- 
 cle with inflexible perseverance. A Carthaginian vessel 
 happened to be in a storm driven ashore ; and this was 
 sufficient to serve as a model. The consul Duillius was 
 the first who ventured to sea with his new constructed 
 armanent ; and, though far inferior to the enemy in 
 the management of his fleet, yet he gained the first na- 
 val victory, the Carthaginians losing fifty of their, ships, 
 and the undisturbed sovereignty of the sea, which they 
 valued more. 
 
 But the conquest of Sicily was only to be obtained 
 by humbling the power of Cafthage at home. For this 
 reason the senaVe resolved to carry the war into Africa 
 itself, and accordingly they sent Regulus and ?*lanlius 
 with afltet of three hundred sail to make the invasion. 
 Regulus was reckoned the most consummate warrioi 
 that Rome could then produce, and a professed example 
 of frugal severity. His patriotism was still greater 
 than his temperance ; all the private passions seemed ex- 
 tinguished in him, or they were all swallowed up in one 
 great ruling affection, the love of his country. The two 
 generals set sail with their fleet, which was the greatest 
 that had ever left an Italian port, carrying an hundred 
 and forty thousand men. They were met by the Car- 
 thaginians, with a fleet as powerful, and men better used 
 to the sea. While the fight continued rather between 
 the ships than the men at a distance, the Carthaginians 
 seemed successful ; but when the Romans came to grap- . 
 pie with them, the difference between a mercenary ar- T\ ? 
 so y, ajptbne that fought for fame, was apparent. The-iNsJ^ 
 
78 THL Iri STORY Or THE 
 
 resolution of the Romans was crowned with suet 
 enemy's fleet were dispersed, and fifty-four of their 
 sels taken. The consequence of this victory was as im- 
 mediate descent upon the coast of Africa, and the 
 ture of the city Clupca, tot;<. ;i twenty thousand 
 
 men, who were made prisoners of war. 
 
 The senate bcin;; informed of these great suet 
 and applied to for fresh instructions, command- 
 lius back to Italy, in order to superintend the 
 war; and directed that Regulus should continue hi 
 rica, to prosecute his victories there. 
 
 A buttle ensued, in which Carthage was once more 
 defeated, and some of iis best troops were cut of 
 Ires-h victory contributed to throw them into the utmost 
 
 air; more t!> . of their towns subnV: 
 
 to the Roman::. In this distress the ( 
 destitute of g <1 to 
 
 Lacedcmon, oiTci. mmand - rmics to 
 
 Xantippus, a general of great experience, who ui 
 took to conduct Or. 
 
 This gem s the mai roper 
 
 instructions!; tiicirmen: heassured then 
 
 their armies were hitherto overthrown, not by the 
 strength of the enemy, but by the ignorance of their own 
 generals ; he therefore only required a re 
 to his orders, and assured them of an easy- 
 whole city seemed once more revived from despei, 
 ry, by the exhortations of a single stran soof\ 
 
 from hope grew into confidence. This was the spirit 
 *he Grecian general wished to excite in them ; SL> 
 when he saw them thus ripe for the engagement, he 
 joyfully took the field. The Lacedemoi. the 
 
 most skilful disposition of his forces; he placed his ca- 
 valry in the wings ; he disposed the elephants at proper 
 intervals behind the line of the heavy armed 
 and, bringing up the light armed troops before, he or- 
 dered theny to retire through the line of infantry 
 they had discharged their weapons. At length both ar- 
 mies engaging, after a long and obstinate .the 
 Romans were overthrown with dreadful slaugi 
 greatest part of their army being destroyed, r.' 
 
COMMONWEALTH OF ROME. *> 
 
 Ijjs himself taken prisoner. Several other distresses of 
 the Romans followed soon after this. They lost their 
 fleet in a storm ; and Agrigentum, their principal town 
 in Sicily, was taken by Karthalo, the Carthaginian gen- 
 eral. They undertook to build a new fleet, which also 
 shared the fate of the former, the mariners, as yet un- 
 acquainted with the Mediterranean shores, drove it up- 
 on quicksands ; and soon after the greatest part perish' 
 ed in a storm. 
 
 Meantime, the Carthaginians being thus successful^ 
 were desirous of a new treaty for peace, hoping to have 
 better terms than those insisted upon by ReguJus. For 
 this purpose, they supposed that he, whom they had now 
 for four years kept in a dungeon confined and chained, 
 would be a proper solicitor. It was expected that, be- 
 ing wearied with imprisonment and bondage, he would 
 gladly endeavour to persuade his countrymen to a dis- 
 continuance of a war, which only prolonged his captiv- 
 ity. He was accordingly sent with their ambassadors 
 to Rome, but with a promise, previously exacted from 
 him, to return in case of being unsuccessful. He was 
 even given to understand that his life depended upon 
 the success of his negociation. 
 
 When this old general, together with the ambassa 
 dors of Carthage, approached Rome, numbers of hi 
 friends came out to meet and congratulate his retur 
 Their acclamations resounded through the city ; b 
 Regulus refused, with settled melancholy, to enter th 
 gates. It was in vain that he was entreated on eve 
 side to visit once more His little dwelling, and share 
 that joy which ni^re turn had inspired. He persisted 
 saying, that he was now but a slave belonging to the 
 Carthaginians, and unfit to partake in the liberal honours 
 of his country.^ The senate assembling without the 
 walls, as usual, to give audience to the ambassadors, 
 Regulus opened his commission, as he had been directed i 
 by the Carthaginian council, and their ambassadors/ se.- J 
 conded his proposals. The senate were by this ym& 
 themselves weary of a war, which had been protracte<j ] 
 above eight years, and were no way disinctinablejto/a 01 
 peace It ojly remained for Regulus himself tol*iv$ 
 
30 THE HISTORY OF THE 
 
 his opinion, who, when it came to his turn to speak) to 
 the surprise of all the world, gave his voice for contin- 
 uing the war. So unexpected an advice not a little dis- 
 turbed the senate : they pitied as well as admired a man 
 who had used such eloquence against his private inter- 
 est, and could not conclude upon a measure which 
 to terminate in his ruin. But he soon relieved their 
 embarrasments, by breaking off the treaty, and by ri 
 it) order to return to his bonds and confinen 
 was in vain that the senate and all his dearc^ 
 entreated his stay ; he still repressed the! 
 Marcia, his wife, with her little children, filled the 
 with their lamentations, and vainly entreated to be per- 
 mitted to see him ; he still obstinately persisted in k- 
 ing his promise ; and, though sufficiently apprised of 
 the tortures that awaited his return, without embra. 
 his family, or taking leave of his friends, he departed 
 with the ambassadors for Carthage. 
 
 Nothing could equal the fury and the disappointment 
 of the Carthaginians, when they wen . ' heir 
 
 ambassadors that ReguUs, instead of hastening a pr 
 had given his opinion for continuing th< hey 
 
 accordingly prepared to punish his conduct with the 
 most studied tortur -. kis eyelids were cut oft. 
 
 then he was remanded to prison. II tcr some 
 
 days, again brought out, and exposed with his face op- 
 posite the burning sun. At last, when n 
 tigued with studying all the arts of torture put 
 
 into a barrel stuck full of nails, that poii. :ds -, 
 
 and in this painful condition he continued till he died. 
 
 Both sides now took up arms with more than former 
 animosity. At length the Roman perseverance 
 crowned with success ; one victory followed on the back 
 of another. Fabius Buteo, the consul, once more sh< 
 them the way to naval victory, by defeating 
 squadron of the enemy's ships ; but Lutatiu^ 
 gained a victory still more complete, in which the \ 
 er of Carthage seemed totally destroyed at sea, by the 
 Toss of an hvindred and twenty ships, according to the 
 smallest computation. This loss brought the t 
 mans to sue for peace, which Rome thought proper to 
 
COMMONWEALTH OF ROME. 81 
 
 grant ; but still inflexible ia its demands, exacted the 
 same conditions which Regulus had formerly offered at 
 the gates of Carthage. These were, that they should lay 
 (!o\vn a thousand talents of silver to defray the charge 
 of the war, and should pay two thousand two hundred 
 more in ten years time : that they should quit Sicily, 
 v/ith all such islands as they possessed near it : that they 
 should never make war against the allies of Rome, or 
 come with any vessels of war within the Roman domin- 
 ions ; and lastly, that all their prisoners and deserters 
 jj , should be delivered up without ransom. To 
 these hard conditions the Carthaginians, now 
 exhausted, readily subscribed ; and thus end' 
 ed the first Punic war, which had lasted twenty -four 
 years, and in some measure had drained both nations of 
 e-very resource to begin another. 
 
 p 
 
 CHAP. XV. 
 
 - end cf the first Punic War, to the end of 
 the second. 
 
 THE \varbcingendedbetween the Carthaginians and 
 the Romans, a profound peace ensued, and in about 
 *>ix years after, the temple of Janus was shut for the se- 
 cond time since the foundation of the city. The Romans, 
 being thus in friendship with all nations, had an oppor- 
 tunity of turning to the arts of peace : they now began 
 to have a relish for poetry, the first liberal art which 
 rises in every civilized nation, and the first also that de- 
 cays. Hitherto they had been entertained only with 
 the rude drolleries of their lowest buffoons : they had 
 sports called Fescennini, in which a few debauched ac- 
 tors made their own parts, while raillery and smut sup- 
 plied the place of humour. To these a composition of 
 a higher kind succeeded, which they called satire, which 
 was a kind of dramatic poem, in which the characters 
 of the great were particularly pointed out, and made 
 an object of derision to the vulgar. After these came 
 dy and comedy, which were borrowed from the 
 
82 THE HISTORY OF Tl 
 
 y Greek ; and, indeed, the first dramatic ] 
 ' ' of Rome, whose name was Livius Ami 
 
 cus, was by birth a Grecian. The instant 
 these fitter kinds of composition appeared, t! 
 people rejected their former impurities ..vin. 
 
 From thence forward they laboured upon the 
 model ; and though they were never able to i i 
 masters in dramatic composition, th< 
 them in many of the more soothif. 
 Elegiac, pastoral, and didactic cons; 
 assume new beauties in the H 
 not that rude kind of dialogue alrcad-. 
 nobler sort invented by Lucillh*, was all their < 
 
 While they were thus admitting the arts of peace, 
 they were not unmindful of making fresh prt 
 for war : all intervals of ease seemed rather to r. 
 vigour for new designs, than to n 
 
 pidity. The Illyi the first people upon whom 
 
 they tried their strength, after some continuance of 
 - peace. That nation, which had long plunder- 
 ed the merchants of the Mediterranean with 
 impunity, happened to make dey redations upon some of 
 the trading subjects of Rome : this being compk 
 of to Teuta, the queen of the country, si d of 
 
 granting redress, ordered the ambassador that was sent 
 to demand restitution to be murdered. A war ensued, 
 in which the Romans were victorious: most of the Il- 
 ly ric towns were surrendered to the consuls, ar 
 at last concluded, by which the greatest part of the c 
 try was ceded to Ron rly tribute was ex 
 
 for the rest, and pro' '.the Illy:, 
 
 should not sail beyond the i ..s with more t 
 
 two barks, and those unarmed. 
 
 The Gauh were the next people that incurred the 
 displeasure of the Romans. Supposing a time of peace, 
 when the armies were disbanded, a proper s< 
 new irruptions, this barbarous people invited i 
 ces from beyond the Alps, and entering Elruria, w 
 all with fire and sword, till they came within about 
 three days journey of Rome. A praetor and a cc 
 \vere sent to oppose them, who, now 
 
COMMON WEATH OF ROME. 81 
 
 improved arts of war, were enabled to surround the 
 Gauls, \vho still retained their primeval barbarity. It 
 \vas in vain that those hardy troops, who had nothing 
 but their courage to protect them, formed two fronts to 
 oppose their adversaries ; their naked bodies and undis- 
 ciplined forces were unable to withstand the shock of an 
 enemy completely armed, and skilled in military evolu- 
 tions. A miserable slaughter ensued, in which forty 
 thousand were killed, and ten thousand taken prisoners. 
 This victory was followed by another gained over them 
 by Marcellus, in which he killed Viridomarus their king, 
 with hi's own hand, and gained the third royal spoils that 
 were yet obtained at Rome. These conquests forced 
 them to beg a peace, the conditions of which served 
 greatly lo enrich the empire. Thus the Romans went 
 on with success ; they had now totally recovered their 
 former losses, and only wanted an enemy worthy of their 
 arms to begin a new war. 
 
 The Carthaginians had only made a peace because 
 they were no longer able to continue the war. They 
 therefore took the earliest opportunity of breaking the 
 treaty ; they besieged Sagumum, a city of Spain, which 
 had been in alliance with Rome ; and though desired to 
 desist, prosecuted their operations with vigour. Am- 
 bassadors were sent in consequence from Rome to Car- 
 thage, complaining of the infraction of their articles, 
 and requiring that Hannibal, the Carthaginian general, 
 who had advised this measure, should be delivered up ; 
 which being refused, both sides prepared for a second 
 Punic war. 
 
 The Carthaginians trusted the managment of it on 
 their side to Hannibal, the son of Hamilcar. This ex- 
 traordinary man had been made the sworn foe of Rome 
 almost from his infancy ; for, while yet very young, his 
 father brought him before the altar, and obliged him to 
 take an oath, that he never would be in friendship with 
 the Romans, nor desist from opposing their power, un- 
 til he or they should be no more. On his first appear- 
 ance in the fiield. he reconciled, in his own person, the 
 most just method of commanding, with the most per- 
 fect obedience to his superiors. Thus he was equally 
 
84 THE HISTORY OF T) 
 
 beloved by his generals and the troops he was app. 
 ed to lead. He was possessed of the greatest COL: 
 in opposing danger, and the greatest presence of i 
 in retiring from it. No fatigue was able to subdue his 
 body, nor any misfortune to break his spirit : equally 
 patient of heat and cold, he only took susu 
 tent nature, and not to delight his appetite. I li- 
 the best horseman, and the swiftest runner of his t; 
 This great general, who is consi' 
 :"ul of antiquity, having ove: 
 
 < army of various language 
 
 arry the war into 1 the Hon. 
 
 befpre carried it into the dominions of Cartha- 
 this purpose leaving Hanno with a sufli c to 
 
 *:uard his conquests in Spain, he crossed the 1 
 -nountains into Gaul, \vith of fifty thoi: 
 
 , and nine thousand horse. He quickly 
 that country, which was th< 
 
 ! with nations that \ 
 
 in vain the Rhone, with its 1 1 cnts, and 
 
 covered with enemies, or the Dura branched out into 
 numberless channels, opposed hr liem 
 
 all with perseverance, and in ten days aril 
 of the Alps, over which he was to expK 
 sage into Italy. It was in the midst c 
 astonishing project was undertaken, 
 new horrors to a scene that 
 
 with objects of ii; i'he prodigious height, and 
 
 tremendous steepness of the mount 
 snow, the people i 
 with long am! 
 
 pressed the beholders \\iih astoni-hmcnt ar.J. it- 
 nothing was capable uf subduing the courage of the 
 Carthaginian general ; fur, at the cud oi 
 spent in crossing the Alps, he found himself in the p! 
 of Italy with about half his army remaining, the 
 having died of the cold, or been cut cfi ' 
 
 As soon as it was known at Rome, that 1 i 
 the head of an immense army, was crossing I 
 in order to invade thclv dominions, the senate sc 
 
COMMONWEALTH 'OF ROME. 8- 
 
 to oppose him, who was obliged to retreat with conside- 
 rable loss. In the mean time, Hannibal, being thus 
 victorious, took the most prudent precautions to in- 
 crease his army, giving orders always to spare the pos- 
 sessions of the Gauls, while his depredations were per- 
 mitted upon those of Rome ; and this so pleased that 
 simple people, that they declared for him in great num- 
 bers, and flocked to his standard with alacrity. 
 
 The second battle was fought upon the banks of the 
 river Trebia. The Carthaginian general being appris- 
 ed of the Roman impetuosity, of which he always avail- 
 ed himself in almost every engagement, had sent off a 
 body of a thousand horse, each with a foot soldier be- 
 . across the river, to ravage the enemy's country, 
 ind provoke them to engage. The Romans quickly 
 routed this force, who, seeming to be defeated, took the 
 river, and were as eagerly pursued by Sempronius, the 
 consul. It was not however, till his army was got up- 
 on the opposite bank, that he perceived himself half 
 conquered already, his men being fatigued with wading 
 up to their armpits, and quite benumbed by the intense 
 coldness of the water. A total rout ensued ; twenty- 
 six thousand of the Romans were either killed by the 
 enemy, or drowned in attempting to repass the river. 
 A body of ten thousand men were all that survived ; 
 who, finding themselves inclosed on every side, broke 
 desperately through the enemy's ranks, and fought re- 
 treating, till they found shelter in the city of Placentia, 
 
 The third defeat the Romans sustained was at the 
 lake of Thrasmene ;^near to which was a chain of moun- 
 tains, and, between these and the lake, u narrow passage 
 leading to a valley that was embosomed in hills. It 
 was upon these hills that Hary n ibul disposed his best 
 troops, and it was into this, valley that Flaminius, the 
 Roman general, led ly lS men to attack him. A dispo- 
 sition every way ? -0 favorable for the Carthaginians, was 
 also assiste^ ^* y acc ident ; for a mist rising from the 
 lake, k c p t ^ e Romans from seeing their enemies ; while 
 *^.e army upon the mountains, being above its influence, 
 saw the whole disposition of their opponents. The foi- 
 tune of the day was such as might be expected from the 
 H 
 
36 THE HISTORY OK li 
 
 conduct of the two generals ; the Roman army was 
 broken and slaughtered, almost before they could per- 
 ceive the enemy that destroyed them. About fifteen 
 thousand Romans, together with Flaminius himself, 
 fell in the valley, and six thousand more were obliged 
 to yield themselves prisoners of v. 
 
 Upon the news oft! -me, after the gene- 
 
 ral consternation was allayed, the senate, upon mature 
 deliberation, resolved to elect a commander with abso- 
 lute authority, in whom they might repose their last and 
 greatest expectations. Their choice fell upc 
 M.t \ man of greui courage, but with 
 
 mixture of caution. He was apprised that the only 
 to humble th< I such a distance i: 
 
 home \vai rather ! .-. 'hem than by 
 
 his purpose L 
 
 ':>le to the ene: \\ hen- 
 
 they moved, he moved, v 
 aed their quarters, and cut off tin 
 Hv these 
 ed Hannibal among mountains, w he re it \w- impos- 
 
 and yet from which it was 
 ble to extricate his army withoir 
 
 exigence nothing but one of tl- 
 , which fall to the lot of great abilities only t" 
 vent, could save him : he ordered a number of s 
 faggots and lighted torches to be lied to the horns of 
 
 ihousand oxen that he had in his camp, and 
 they should be dri- 
 
 ing their heads, and running up the sides of the moun- 
 , seemed to fill the -viih 
 
 iirc ; while the sentinels that wt . the 
 
 approaches of the mountain, seeing such a number of 
 flames advancing towards their posts, fled in consu 
 lion, supposing the whole body of ihe t 
 arm lo overwhelm them. By 
 
 bal drew off his army, and escaped through the defiles, 
 that lead beneath the hills, though with 
 damage to his rear. 
 
 Soon after, Fabius was obliged to lay down his office, 
 ime being expired, and Tercntius Varro 
 
COMMONWEALTH OF ROME. 87 
 
 sen by the majority to succeed to the command. This 
 Terentius Varro was a man sprung from the dregs of 
 the people, with nothing but his confidence and riches 
 to recommend him. With him was joined ^Emilius 
 Paulus, of a disposition entirely opposite: experienced 
 in the field, cautious in action, and impressed with a 
 thorough contempt for the abilities of his Plebeian col- 
 league. 
 
 The Romans, finding themselves enabled to bring a 
 , Detent force into the field, being almost ninety thou- 
 sand strong, now again resolved to meet Hannibal, who 
 was at this time encamped near the village of Cannae, 
 with a wind that for acert:un season blows still one way 
 in his rear, which raising great clouds of dust from the 
 parched plains behind, he knew must greatly distress an 
 approaching enemy. In this situation he waited the 
 coming up of the Romans with an army of forty thou- 
 sand foot, and half that number of cavalry. The two 
 consuls soon appeared to his wish, dividing their forces 
 into two parts, and agreeing to take the command every 
 day by turns. On the first day of their arrival, it fall- 
 ing to the lot of jEmilius to command, he was entirely 
 averse to engaging. The next day, however, it being 
 come to Varro's turn to command, he, without asking 
 his colleague's concurrence, gave the signal for bat- 
 tic ; and passing the river Aufidus that lay between 
 both armies, put his forces in array. The battle began 
 with the light armed infantry ; the horse engaged soon 
 after ; and the Roman cavalry being unable to stand 
 against those of Nurrudia, the legions came up to rein- 
 force them. It was then that the conflict became gen- 
 eral : the Roman soldiers for a long time endeavoured, 
 but in vain, to penetrate the centre, where the Gauls 
 and Spaniards fought ; which Hannibal observing, or- 
 dered part of those troops to give way, and to permit 
 the Romans to embosom themselves within a chosen 
 body of his Africans, whom he had placed on their wing, 
 so as to surround them ; upon that a terrible slaughter 
 :ii to ensue of the Romans, fatigued with repeated 
 attacks from the Africans, who were fresh and vigorous. 
 At last the rout became general in every part of the 
 
88 THE lilSTOIlV OF TI 
 
 Koman army ; the boastings of Varro were now no 
 longer heard ; while .tnulius, who had been terribly 
 wounded by a slinger in the very beginning of the en- 
 gagement, still feebly led on his body of horse, and did 
 all that could be done to make head against the cnt 
 however, being unable to sk on horseback, he was for- 
 ced to dismount. It was in this deplorable condition of 
 things, that one Lentulas, a tribune of the army, as he 
 was Hying on horseback from the enemy, which at some 
 distance pursued him, met .Knulius sitting upon a stone, 
 covered over with blood and wounc ; for 
 
 the coming up of the pursuers. * .fcmilins," cried this 
 generous tribune, " you at least are guiltless of 
 
 y's slaughter: take my horse and ily." "I thank 
 ee, Lentulus," cried the dying consul, "all is over, 
 my part is chosen : go, I command the- 
 11 senate from me to fortify 
 li of the conqueror. Tell 
 " whilfc living, ever remcmbcri 
 
 " dying, approves it." While he was yet speaking the 
 enemy approached ; and Lentul< 
 
 view, sa\v the consul expire, feebly fighting in the midst 
 of hundreds. In this battle the 1 
 sandmen, and so many knights, that it is 
 sent three bushels of gold rings to Carthage, w 
 those of this order had worn on their fingers. 
 
 \Yhen the first consternation was abated after this 
 dreadful blow at Rome, the senate came to a general 
 resolution to create a dictator, in order to give strength 
 to their government. A short time after, Varro a: 
 ed, having left behind him the wretched remains ot 
 army ; and, as he had been the prin e of the 
 
 late calamity, it was natural to suppose that the si 
 would severely reprimand the rashness of his conduct. 
 But far otherwise 1 3rhe Romans went out in multitudes 
 to meet him ; and the senate returned him thanks that 
 he did not despair of the safety of Rome. Fabius, who 
 was considered as the shield of Rome, and Marcelh. 
 the sword, were appointed to lead the armies ; and 
 though Hannibal once more offered them peace, they 
 .refused it, but upon condition that he should quit I 1 . 
 
COMMONWEALTH OF ROME. 89 
 
 Terms similar to those they had formerly insisted upon 
 from Pyrrhus. 
 
 In the mean time, Hannibal, either finding the im- 
 possibility of marching directly to Rome, or willing to 
 give his forces rest after such a mighty victory, led 
 them to Capua, where he resolved to winter. This city 
 had long been considered as the nurse of luxury, and 
 the corrupter of all military virtue ; here, therefore, a 
 new scene of pleasure opened to his barbarian troops ; 
 and they at once gave themselves up to the intoxication* 
 till, from being hardy veterans, they became infirm 
 rioters. 
 
 Hitherto we have found this great man successful ; 
 but now we are to reverse the picture, and survey him 
 struggling with accumulated misfortunes, and at latit 
 sinking beneath them. 
 
 His first loss was at the seige of Nola, where Marcel- 
 lus the praetor made a successful sally. He some time 
 after attempted to raise the seige of Capua, and attack-/ 
 ed the Romans in their trenches, but he was repulsed 
 with considerable loss. He then made a fi* .it of goiin^ 
 to besiege Rome ; but finding a superior army ready to 
 "eceive him, he was obliged to retire. For some years 
 after, be fought with various success ; Marcel- 
 
 U. C. i U9) his opponent, sometimes gaining, and 
 544. sometimes losing the advantage, but coming 
 to no decisive engagement. 
 
 The senate of Carthage at length came to a resolu- 
 ion of sending his brother Asdrubal to his assistance, 
 with a body offerees drawn out of Spain. Asdrubal's 
 march being made known to the consuls Livius and Ne- 
 ro, they went against him with great expedition, and 
 surrounding him in a place, into which he was led by the 
 treachery of his guides, they cut his whole army to 
 pieces. Hannibal had long expected those succours with 
 impatience ; and the very night on which he had been 
 assured of his brother's arrival, Nero ordered Asdru- 
 bal's head to be cut off, and thrown into his brother's 
 camp. The Carthaginian general now therefore began 
 to perceive the approaches of the downfall of Carthage, 
 oiid could not help with a sigh, observing to those 'about 
 H 2 
 
00 THK HISTORY OF TI, 
 
 him, lhat fortune seemed fatigued with her 
 
 favours. 
 
 In the mean time, fortune seemed to favour the Ro- 
 man arms in other pa; cllus took the city of 
 Syracuse in Sicily. d by the i: 
 and the fires of Archimides ti. 
 
 The inhabitants were put to the sword, ; 
 the rest Archimides hi 
 in his study by a Roman soldier 
 cral, was not a little grieved at his death. A 
 for letters at thai ti 
 
 er ranks of people at Rome. He therefore ordered his 
 body to be honour ul a tomb to be crt 
 
 to his memory, which his o\\n wtiks ha\e IOM: 
 vivcd. 
 
 As to their fortune while they 
 
 appeared doubtful, tuo of ti and 
 
 Clav 
 
 much un unck 
 
 ian general, yet they soon recovercu 
 under the the 
 
 office of proconsul to that kingdom, at 
 cry one else was willing to was 
 
 now but twenty-four years old, had all the 
 requisite for ; 
 
 he united the greatest . Jei - 
 
 ness ; superior to Hunnibal 
 
 mos 1 .A in those of w.r. l\>. >ccn 
 
 killed in Spain, so that he seemed to have an hereditary 
 n to attack that country. He therefore appeared 
 irresUtable, obtaining r. .a victoric 'adu- 
 
 ing still more by his genei 
 lent disposition, than by the force of his arms. 
 
 It was shortly after that he returned with an army 
 from the conquest of Spain, and was made consul at the 
 < i' twenty-nine. It was at first supposed he iiv 
 , meeting Hannibal in Italy, and that he would at- 
 tempt driving him from thence ; but he had &\\ 
 I a wiser plan, which was to carry the war 
 Africa, aiid, while the Carthaginians kept an army Deal 
 )> 011.0, to makf. them tremble for their OW T 
 
COMMONWEALTH OF ROME. 91 
 
 Scipio was not long in Africa without employment ; 
 for in a short time Hanno opposed him, but he was de- 
 feated and slain. Syphax, the usurper of Numidia, 
 led up a large army against him. The Roman general 
 for a time declined fighting, till, finding an opportunity, 
 he set fire to the enemy's tents, and attacking them in 
 the midst of the confusion, killed forty thousand men, 
 and took six thousand prisoners. 
 
 The Carthaginians now, beginning to be terrified at 
 their repeated defeats, and the fame of Scipio' s success- 
 es, determined to recal Hannibal, the great champion, 
 out of Italy, in order to oppose the Romans at home. 
 Deputies were accordingly dispatched, with a positive 
 command for him to return and oppose the Roman gen- 
 eral, who at that time threatened Carthage with a seige. 
 Nothing could exceed the regret and disappointment of 
 Hannibal upon receiving this order. However, he obey- 
 ed the order of his infatuated country with the same 
 submission that the meanest soldier would have done, 
 and took leave of Italy with tears in his eyes, after 
 ter having kept possession of the most beautiful parts of 
 it for above fifteen years. 
 
 Upon his arrival at Leptis, in Africa, from whence he 
 lied to Adrumetum, he at last approached Zama, a 
 city within five days journey of Carthage. Scipio, in 
 the mean time, led his army to meet him, joined by 
 Massinissa with six thousand horse ; and, to shew his 
 rival in the field how little he feared his approach, sent 
 back the spies which were sent to explore his camp, hav- 
 ing previously shewn them the whole, with directions 
 to inform Hannibal of what they had seen. The Cartha- 
 ginian general, conscious of his inferiority, endeavoured 
 to discontinue the war by negociation, and desired a 
 meeting with Scipio to confer upon terms of peace, to 
 which the Roman general assented. But, after a long 
 conference, both sides parting dissatisfied, they returned 
 to their camps to prepare for deciding the controversy 
 by the sword. Never was a more memorable battle 
 fought, whether we regard the generals, the armies, the 
 two states that contended, or the empire that was in dis- 
 The disposition Hannibal made of his men, i 
 
93 THE HISTORY OF THE 
 
 said, by the skilful in the art of war, to be superior to 
 any of his former arrangements. The battle begun v 
 the elephants on the side of the Car' ich, 
 
 being terrified at the cries of the Ron: 
 by the slingers and archers, turned upon their drivers, 
 and caused much confusion in both wings of their ai 
 in which the cavalry was placed. Being thus deprived 
 of the assistance of the horse, in which their greatest 
 strength consisted, the >:ifantry joined on both 
 
 sides ; but the Romans being stronger of body, the 
 Carthaginians were obliges e ground In the 
 
 mean time, Massinissa, who had been i 
 their cavalry, reluming and attacking them in the rear, 
 completed their defeat. 1 rout ei t-nty 
 
 thousand men were killed in the buttle or the pui 
 and as many were taken prisoner;. 11 who 
 
 had done all that a grea sol- 
 
 dier could perform, Ik i body of horse to 
 
 Adrumctum, fortune seeming to delight in confound- 
 ing his ability, his valour, ami experience. 
 
 This victory brought on a peace. The Can: 
 ians, by Hannibal's advice, offered conditions to tho 
 Romans, which they dictated m i r,ve- 
 
 reigns. By this treaty, the ' 
 to quit Spain -.lie islands in the M 
 
 sea. They were bound to pav ten ll 
 fifty years ; to give hostages for the delivery of . 
 
 10 restore A the 
 
 territories that had been taken from him ; and not to 
 make war in Africa but by the permission of the Ro- 
 mans. Thus ended the second Pun 
 years after it had begun. 
 
 CHAP. X\ 
 
 From the etid of the second Punic /Jar, to the cndc: 
 third, which terminated in the destruction ofCartkage. 
 
 WHILE the Romans were engaged with Ha 
 they carried on also a vigorous war against Philips 
 iiag of Macedonia, not a little incited thereto by the 
 
COMMONWEALTH OF ROME. 93 
 
 prayers of the Athenians, who, from once controlling 
 the power of Persia, were now unable to defend them- 
 selves. The Rhodians, with Attalus, king of Perga- 
 mus, also entered into the confederary against Philip. 
 He was more than once defeated by Golba the consul, 
 who was sent against him. He attempted to besiege 
 Athens, but the Romans obliged him to raise the siege. 
 He attempted to take possession of the straights of 
 Thermopylae, but was driven from th'em by Quintua 
 Flaminius, with great slaughter. He attempted to take 
 refuge in Ther ,aly, where he was again defeated with 
 considerable loss, and obliged to beg a peace, upon con- 
 dition of paying a thousand talents, half down, and the 
 other half in the space of ten years. The peace with 
 Philp gave the Romans an opportunity of shewing 
 their generosity, by restoring liberty to Greece. 
 
 Antiochus, king of Syria, was next brought to sub- 
 mit to the Roman arms ; after some embassies on the 
 one side and the other, a war was declared against him 
 five years after the conclusion of the Macedonian war. 
 
 After various mistakes and misconduct, he attempted 
 to obtain a peace, by offering to quit all his places in 
 Europe, and such in Asia as professed alliance to Rome. 
 But it was now too late ; Scipio, perceiving his own su- 
 periority, was resolved to avail himself of it. Antic- 
 chus, thus driven into resistance, for some time retreat- 
 ed before the enemy, till, being pressed hard near the 
 city of Magnesia, he was forced to draw out his men, 
 to the number of seventy thousand foot, and twelve 
 thousand horse. Scipio opposed him with forces as 
 much inferior in number as they were superior in cou- 
 rage and discipline. Antiochus, therefore, was in a short 
 time entirely defeated ; his own chariots, armed with 
 iies, being driven back upon his men, contributed 
 much to his overthrow. Being thus reduced to the last 
 extremity, he was glad to procure peace of the Romans 
 upon their own terms : which were, to pay fifteen thou- 
 sand talents towards the expences of the war, to quit 
 all his possessions in Europe, and likewise all in Asia 
 on that side Mount Taurus, to give twenty hostages as 
 pledges of his fidelity, and to deliver up Hannibal, the 
 inveterate enemy of Rome. 
 
THE HISTORY OF THE 
 
 In the mean time, Hannibal, whose destructi 
 one of the articles of this ex 
 to avoid the threatened ruin. 1 his consumn 
 crul hud been long a wanderer, an, 
 ungrateful country. He had taken i\ ourt 
 
 of Antiochus, who at first gave him ^ me, 
 
 and made hi:,: of his fleet, in which stuiio. 
 
 shewed his usual skill i Hut he soon i 
 
 in the Syrian's esteem, to; >ed schc 
 
 which that monarch h~ 
 nor talents toexe' 
 
 ty or protection, he departed by Bt< 
 wamlcrii ae among pet- 
 
 er p<. 
 
 e court oi lie mean 
 
 time the it, utterly un- 
 
 worthy of them, sent A <nc of their most cele- 
 
 brated generals, u tear- 
 
 ing the resentment of i iatc 
 
 their friendship by this breach of ho^ rdered a 
 
 guard to be pi -.nibal, v: -nt to de- 
 
 liver him up. The poor old general, thus in 
 persecuted from one country to another, and finding all 
 methods of safety cut off, determined to die ; he there- 
 desired one of his followers to bring him poi 
 which he had ready for this exigence ; and drinking it, 
 he expired, as he had lived, with intrepid bravery. 
 ^- ond Macedonian soon after 
 
 proclaimed. - rseus, the son of Philip, 
 
 bliged to beg 
 peace of the Roma to secure the 
 
 ntrived to murder his brother Demet: 
 :md, upon the death of his father, 
 
 of imaginary triumphs, made war against Du- 
 
 ring the course of this war, which continued about three 
 
 s, many opportunities were offered him of cu. 
 off the Roman army ; but being perfectly ignorant 
 to take advantage of their rashness, he spent the time in 
 empty overtures for a peace. At leii 
 him a decisive overthrow near the river 1 
 attempted to procure safety by flying into Crete ; but 
 
COMMONWEALTH OF ROME. 95 
 
 .g abandoned by all, he was obliged to surrender 
 himself, and to grace th'e splendid triumph of the Ro- 
 man general. 
 
 About this time Massinissa, the Numidian, having 
 made some incursions into a territory claimed by the 
 Carthaginians, they attempted to repel the invasion. 
 This brought on a war between that monarch and them ; 
 while the Romans, who pretended to consider this con- 
 duct of theirs as an infraction of the treaty, sent to make 
 a complaint. The ambassadors who were employed 
 upon this occasion, finding the city very rich and flour- 
 ishing, from the long interval of peace which it had now 
 enjoyed for near fifty years, either from motives of av- 
 arice to possess its plunder, or from fear of its grow- 
 greatness, insisted much on the necessity of a war, 
 h was soon after proclaimed ; and the consul set 
 out with a thorough resolution utterly to demolish 
 Carthage. 
 
 The wretched Carthaginians, finding that the con- 
 querors would not desist from making demands while 
 they had any thing left to supply, attempted to soften 
 the victors by submission ; but they received orders to 
 leave their city, which was to be levelled with the 
 ground. This severe command they received with all 
 the concern and distress of despairing people : they im- 
 plored for a respite from sucb a hard sentence : they 
 v.sed tears and lamentations ; but finding the consuls 
 orable, they departed with a gloomy resolution, 
 prepared to suffer the utmost extremitit*., and to fight 
 to the last for their seat of empire. 
 
 Those vessels, therefore, of gold and silver, which 
 their luxury had taken such pride in, were converted 
 into arms. The women parted also with their orna- 
 ments, and even cut off their hair to be converted into 
 ir the bowmen. Asdrubal, who had been lately 
 !emned for opposing the Romans, was now taken 
 from prison to head their army ; and such preparations 
 were made, that, when the consuls came before the city, 
 which they expected to find an easy conquest, they met 
 with such resistance as quite dispirited their forces, and 
 !; their resolution, Several engagements were 
 
GC THE HISTORY OI 
 
 fought before the walls, with disadvantage to the assail- 
 ants ; so that the siege would have been discontinued, 
 had not Scipio jfcmilianus, the adopted son of Africanus, 
 who was now appointed to command it, used as much 
 skill to save his forces after a defeat, as to inspire them 
 with fresh hopes of victory. But all his arts would have 
 failed, had he not found means to seduce Pharneas, the 
 master of the Carthaginian horse, who came over to his 
 side. The unhappy townsmen soo; 
 make nearer approaches ; the wall which led to the ha- 
 ven was quickly demolished, soon after the Forui 
 self was taken, which offered the conquerors a dcj) 
 Me spectacle of houses nodding to the fall, heaps of men 
 lying dead, hundreds of the wounded struggling to 
 emerge from the carnage around them, and deplo 
 their own and their country's ruin. The citadel soon 
 after surrendered at discretion. All now but the \ 
 pie was subdued, and that was defended by desc: 
 from the Roman army, and those who had been most 
 forward to undertake the w:r ; ect- 
 
 ing no mercy, and finding their condition , set 
 
 fire to the building, and voluntarily perislu 
 lames. This was the end of one of the most renowned 
 cities in the world, both for arts, opulence, and CN 
 of dominion ; it had rivalled Rome for above 
 dred years, and at one time was thought to have the 
 superiority. 
 
 This conquest over Carthage was soon followed by- 
 many over ofher states. Corinth, one of the noblest 
 cities of Greece, in the same yi ame 
 
 late, being entered by Mnmmius, the coir 
 led to the ground. Scipio c to 
 
 Numanlia, the strongc 
 
 habitants, to avoid falling into the hands of the enc 
 fired the city over their own heads, and all, to a n 
 expired in the flames. Thus Spain became a province 
 belonging to Rome, and was governed thence ibrv 
 by two annual prxtors. 
 
COMMONWEALTH OF ROME. 97 
 CHAP. XVII. 
 
 '"c destruction of Carthage, to the end of the 
 sedition of the Gracchi. 
 
 [U. C. 621.] 
 
 THE Romans now being left without a rival, the tri- 
 umphs and the spoils of Asia brought in a taste for 
 
 nclicl expence ; and these produced avarice and in- 
 verted ambition. The two Gracchi were the first who 
 
 this strange corruption among the great, and resolv- 
 
 > repress it, by renewing the Licinian law, which 
 hud enacted that no person in the state should possess 
 
 re five hundred acres of land. Tiberius Gracchus, the 
 elder of the two, was a person very considerable both for 
 'he advantages of his body, and the qualities of his mine 1 . 
 Very different from Scipio, of whom he was the grand- 
 son, he seemed more ambitious of power than desirous 
 of glory : his compassion for the oppressed was equal to 
 his animosity against the oppressors ; but unhappily his 
 passions, rather than his reason, operated even in pur- 
 suits of virtue; and these always drove him beyond the 
 line of duly. This was the disposition of the elder 
 10 found the lower part of the people ready 
 to second all his proposals. This law, though at first 
 carried on with proper moderation, greatly disgusted the 
 rich, who endeavoured to persuade the people that the 
 proposer only aimed at disturbing the government, and 
 putting all things into confusion. But Gracchus, who 
 was a man of the greatest eloquence of his time, easily 
 wiped off these impressions from the minds of the peo- 
 ple, already irritated with their wrongs, and at length 
 the law was passed. 
 
 The death of Attalus, king of Pergamus, furnished 
 Tiberius Gracchus with a new opportunity of gratify- 
 ing the meaner part of the people at the expence of the 
 great. This king had, by his last will, left the Romans 
 his heirs ; and it was now proposed that the money so 
 left should be divided among the poor, in order to fur- 
 nish them with proper utensils for cultivating the lands 
 
THE HISTORY OF THE 
 
 which became theirs by the late law of partition 
 uused still greater disturbances than before ;the senate 
 assembling upon this occasion in order to consult the 
 most proper methods of securing these riches to them- 
 
 < -s, which they now >ove the safety of the 
 
 commonwealth ; They had numerous dependents, who 
 were willing; to give up liberty for plenty and ease ; 
 
 B, therefore) were commanded to be in rcadinc*- 
 intimidate the people, who expected no si. 
 and \vho were now attending to the ) 
 hus in the capitol. Here. 
 
 ! by the , one side, and by 
 
 on the other, Tiberius found his 
 !y interrupted] and begged :o be 
 
 attended to; till, at last, raising his hand to his ! 
 
 Le that his life wa- in danger, the partizans of 
 ihe E c out lhat he wan 1 em. In con- 
 
 sequence of this, an universal uproar spread itself 
 through all ranks of people ; the corrupt part of the sen- 
 
 . ere of opinion that the consul should defend the 
 ommonwealth by force of arms; but this 
 ^istrate declining such violence,^ 
 to Gracchus, immediately rose up, "and p: 
 
 :->r the contest, desired lhat all v 
 
 the dignity and the authority of the laws should follow 
 ion this, attended by a large body of senators 
 
 lients, armed with clubs, he went directly to 
 .apitol, striki:. . ntured t 
 
 is. perceiving by the tumult that 1 .ss sought 
 
 Tor endeavoured to fly ; and, throwing aside his robe 
 to expedite his escape, attempted to get through the 
 ihron* , but happening to fall over a pcr-r y on 
 
 the ground, Saturnius, one of his coll- 
 buneship, who wr\s of the opposi him 
 
 dead with a piece of a seat ; and not U hrce 
 
 hundred of his hearers shared the same fate, being killed 
 in the tumult. Nor did the vengeance of the senate 
 here, but extended to numbers of those who seemed to 
 espouse his cause ; many of them were put to death, ma- 
 ny were banished, and nothing was omitted to ins, 
 the people with an abhorrence of his pretended cri: 
 
COMMONWEALTH OF ROME. 99 
 
 Caius Gracchus, the brother of him who was slain, 
 was but twenty-one upon the death of Tiberius, and as 
 he was too young to be much dreaded by the great, so 
 he was at the first unwilling toincur their resentment by 
 aims beyond his reach ; he therefore lived in retirement, 
 unseen and almost forgotten. But, while he thus seem- 
 ed desirous of avoiding popularity, he was employing 
 his solitude in the study of eloquence, which was the 
 readiest means to obtain it : at length, when he thought 
 himself qualified to serve hiscountry, he offered himself 
 candidate for the qurcstorship to the army in Sardinia, 
 which he readily obtained. His valour, affability, and 
 temperance in his office were remarked by all. The 
 king of Numidia, sending a present of corn to the "Ro- 
 mans, ordered his ambassadors to say that it was entire- 
 ty as a tribute to the virtues of Caius Gracchus. This 
 the senate treated with scorn, and ordered the ambassa- 
 dors to be dismissed with contempt, as ignorant barba- 
 rians ; which so inflamed the resentment of young Grac- 
 chus, that he immediately came from the army to com- 
 plain of the indignity thrown upon his reputation, and 
 to offer himself for the tribuneship of the people. It 
 was then that the great found in this youth, who had 
 been hitherto neglected upon account of his age, a more 
 formidable antagonist than even his brother had been. 
 Notwithstanding the warmest opposition from the senate, 
 he was now declared tribune by a large majority, and he 
 now prepared to run the same career which his brother 
 had gone before him. 
 
 His first effort was to have Popilius, one of the most 
 inveterate of his brother's enemies, cited before the peo- 
 ple, who, rather than stand the event of a trial, chose 
 to go into voluntary banishment. He next procured an 
 edict, granting the freedom of the city to the inhabi- 
 tants of Latium, and soon after to all the people on ihat 
 side the Alps. He afterwards fixed the price of corn 
 to a moderate standard, and procured a monthly distri- 
 bution of it among the people. He then proceeded to 
 an inspection into the late corruptions of the senate ; in 
 which the whole body being convicted of bribery, extor- 
 *ion, and the sale of offices, for at that time a total dc- 
 
100 THE HISTORY OF Tl. 
 
 generacy seemed to have taken place ..s made, 
 
 transferring the power of judging corrupt magUti. 
 
 e to tl> knights, v de a greai 
 
 leradon in the constitution. 
 
 .tcchus, by these means, being grown not only very 
 popul vr but very powerful r :<s become an 
 
 object at winch the se: 
 But he soon found the \ 
 support; the} 
 
 from him .pon Dru i iduously 
 
 set up against him by the senate. 1. 
 he revived the Lkiman law in their : 
 up several of the inhabitants of the < -.owns of 
 
 Italy to his support ; the senate ordered them all to de- 
 part Rome, and even sent c: 
 Gracchus had invited to In 
 with udship. To - 
 
 shortly after addeci 
 for U r the tril. 
 
 jected, it being supposed that the officers, who. 
 was to make the return, were bribed to reject him, though 
 fairly chosen. 
 
 It was now seen t ; -at the fate of Gracchus was resolv- 
 ed on. Opimius, the consul, was not contented with 
 the protection of all the senate and tl ha 
 
 numerous retinue of si 
 
 body of Candians, thai were me: man 
 
 service, to follow and attend him. Thus 
 conscious of the superior] Ited 
 
 Gracchus win 
 
 to produce a quarrel, in which he u pre- 
 
 tence ofdi enemy i hus 
 
 avoided all lecrin, f apprize, 
 
 ukl nut even wear any kind of ai 
 .is defence. His friend l-'laccus. however, a zealous 
 tribune, \VL;S not sr rd to opp r 
 
 and for this purpose brought u; 
 ntrymento Rome, whoc ,r pretence ofde- 
 
 -iKiit. Wlicn the day for de: 
 
 I, the t\v 
 attended >itoK wh: 
 
COMMONWEALTH OF ROME. lot 
 
 sul was sacrificing, according to custom, one of the lie- 
 tors, taking up the entrails of the beast that was slain in 
 order to remove them, could not forbear crying out to 
 Fulvius and his party, " You, ye factious citizens, make 
 way for honest men." This insult so provoked the party 
 to whom it was addressed, that they instantly fell upon 
 him, and pierced him to death with the instruments 
 they used in writing, which they then happened to have 
 in their hands. This murder caused a great disturbance 
 in the assembly , but particularly Gracchus, who saw 
 the consequences that were likely to ensue, repremanded 
 his party for giving his enemies such advantage over 
 him, but now prepared to lead his followers to mount 
 Aventine. It was there he learned that proclamation 
 had been made by the consuls, that whoever should 
 bring either his head or that of Flaccus, should receive 
 its weight in gold as a reward. It was to no purpose 
 that he sent the youngest son of Flaccus, who was yet a 
 child, with proposals for an accommodation. The sen- 
 ate and the consuls, who were sensible of their superior- 
 ity, rejected all his offers, and resolved to punish his of- 
 fence with nothing less than death ; and they offered 
 pardon also to all who should leave him immediately. 
 This produced the desired effect ; the people fell from 
 him by degrees, and left him with very inferior forces. 
 In the mean time Opimius, the consul, who thirsted for 
 slaughter, leading his forces up to mount Aventine, fell 
 in among the crowd with ungovernable fury : a terrible 
 slaughter of the scarce resisting multitude ensued, and 
 not less than three thousand citizens were slain upon 
 the spot. Flaccus attempted to find shelter in a ruin- 
 ous cottage, but being discovered, was slain with his 
 eldest son. Gracchus at first retired to the temple of 
 Diana, where he was resolved to die by his own hand ; 
 but was prevented by two of his faithful friends and fol- 
 lowers, Pomponius and Lucinius, who forced him to 
 seek safety by flight. From thence he made the best of 
 his way to cross a bridge that led from the city, still at- 
 tended by his two generous friends, and a Grecian slave 
 whose name was Philocrates. But his pursuers still 
 pressed upon him from behind, and when come to tbe 
 I 2 
 
TIII: HISTORY OF THE. 
 
 foot of the bridge, he was obliged to turn and face tfie 
 enemy. His two friends were soon slain, defending him 
 nst the crowd ; and he was forced to take refuge 
 with his slave in a grove beyond the Tyber, vinicli 
 long been dedicated to the furies. Here, finding him- 
 lurronnded on everj left of escap- 
 
 ing, he prevailed i: to kill hi;i 
 
 diately after killed . .pon the body 
 
 of his bclovci! soon coming up, 
 
 cut off the head of Gracchi^ 
 
 i>hy upon a spear. Soon after, one Septimi.. 
 ving it home, there, first having seen out 
 
 the brain, he filled it \\ith lead in order to make it \\ 
 
 .iinl thus received of the consul seventeen 
 
 :;old as his recompence. 
 
 Thus dice itus about ten years after his 
 
 -her Tiberius, and il w began to be active in 
 
 ommonwcalth. I: isto- 
 
 cdition ; bull ".eeofhis 
 
 .-haractcr, the disturbance of public tranquility wat 
 to his opposers than to him, so that instead 
 ..lling the tumults at that time the sediti* 
 (iracchi, we should rather call them the sedition of the 
 ;\tinst tlu- ' since the efforts of the lat- 
 
 terwcre made in vindication of a law to which the sen- 
 ate had assented, and as the designs of the former 
 were supported by i\n cxuanneous armed power from 
 country that had never before meddled in the busi- 
 ness of the h . and whose introduction gn\ 
 most irrevocable blow to the constitution \Vhcther the 
 ! by motives of ambition or of 
 
 patriotism in the promulgation of these laws, it is im- 
 possible to determine ; but certain it is, from what ap- 
 pears, that all justice wasou their side, and all injury on 
 that of the senate. In fact, this body was now quite 
 nged from that venerable assembly, which we hare 
 B overthrowing Pyrrhus and Hannibal, as much by 
 iheir virtues as by their arms. They were now only to 
 be distinguished from the rest of the people by t 
 superior luxuries, and ruled the commonwealth by the 
 .;*u of that authority which is gahied from 
 
COMMONWEALTH OF ROME. 103 
 
 and a number of mercenary dependencies. All the ve- 
 nal and the base were attached to them from motives of 
 self-interest ; and they who still ventured to be indepen- 
 dent, were borne down, and entirely lost in the infamous 
 majority. In short, the empire at this period came un- 
 der the government of an hateful aristocracy ; the tri- 
 bunes, who were fopmerly accounted protectors of the 
 people, becoming rich themselves, and having no longer 
 opposite interests from those of the senate, concurred in 
 their oppressions ; since, as has been said, it was not 
 now the struggle between patricians and plebeians, who 
 only nominally differed, but between the rich and the 
 poor. The lower orders of the state being by these 
 means reduced to a degree of hopeless subjugation, in- 
 stead of looking after liberty, only sought for a leader ; 
 while the rich, with all the suspicion of tyrants, terrified 
 at the slightest appearance of opposition, entrusted men 
 with uncontrollable power, from whom they had not 
 strength to withdraw it when the danger was over. 
 Thus both parts of the state concurred in giving up their 
 freedom ; the fears of the senate first made the dictator, 
 and the hatred of the people kept him in his office. 
 Nothing can be more dreadful to a thinking mind than 
 the government of Rome from this period till it found 
 refuge undei the protection of Augustus. 
 
 CHAP. XVIII. 
 
 From the sedition of Gracchus to the perpetual dicta- 
 torship of Sylla, which was the first step towards 
 the ruin of the commonwealth of Rome. 
 
 WHILE the Romans were in this state of deplora- 
 ble corruption at home, they nevertheless were 
 very successful in their .transactions with regard to fo- 
 reign powers. 
 
 Jugurtha was grandson to the famous Massinissa, who 
 sided against Hannibal with Rome. He was educated 
 with the two young princes, who were left to inherit the 
 kingdom, and being superior in abilities to both, and 
 greatly in favour with the people; he murdered Hiemp 
 
i04 THE HISTORY OF TI 
 
 sal the eldest son, and attempted the same by Adher- 
 the younger, who made his escape, and fled to the 
 ; ; :cour. Whereupon Jugurtha, being sen- 
 sible how much avarice and injustice had crept into the 
 9, sent his amb.i e presents to 
 
 Rome, whoso succesbh de- 
 
 creed him half the kingdom, which he had thus 
 by murder and u 1 - >ent ten < ners 
 
 to divide it between him and Adlu The com- 
 
 missioners, of whom < 
 
 chus, was one, willing to follow the example which the 
 senate had set then i1>ed to bestow the most 
 
 rich and populous part of the kingdom upon the usurp- 
 er, who t olved lo If of the 
 whole. But willing to 
 
 he only made in th ::ig incurs col- 
 
 leagues territories, in order to provoke re; 
 he knew how to convert into 
 
 ite. Thi> d to 
 
 throw off the i 
 his capital, he at lengt! 
 
 murdered him. The people of Rome, who had 
 some generosity remaining, unanimously complained of 
 this treachery, and procured a decree, i: -tha 
 
 should be summoned in person before the, 
 accovmt of all such as had accepted bribe rtha 
 
 made no great difficulty in throwing bin. the 
 
 clemency of Rome ; but giving the people no 
 tion, he had orders to depart the city ; and, in the n 
 time, Albanus, the com nt uith an army tc 
 
 low him, who giving up the direction of the army to 
 Aulus, his brother, a person eve unqualified for 
 
 the command, the Rom compelled to haz.ird a 
 
 battle upon disadvantageous terms ; and the whole ar 
 to avoid being cut to pieces, was obliged to pass under 
 the yoke. 
 
 In this condition, Metellus, the succeeding c 
 found affairs upon his arrival in Nurnidia ; officers v 
 out confidence, an army without discipline, and an ene- 
 my ever watchful and intriguing. However, by his 
 great attention to business, and by an integrity tfcat 
 
COMMONWEALTH OF ROME. 105 
 
 shuddered at corruption, he soon began to retrieve the 
 affairs of Rome, and the credit of the army. In the 
 space of two years Jugurtha was overthrown in several 
 battles, forced out of his own dominions, and constrain- 
 ed to beg a peace. Thus all things promised Metellus 
 an easy and certain victory, but he was frustrated in his 
 expectations by the intrigues of Caius Murius, his lieu- 
 tenant, who came in to reap that harvest of glory which 
 the other's industry had sown. Caius Marius was born 
 in a village near Arpinium, of poor parents, who gain- 
 ed their living by their labour. As he had been bred 
 up in a participation of their toils, his manners were as 
 rude as his countenance was frightful. He was a man 
 of extraordinary stature, incomparable, strength, and 
 undaunted bravery- When Metellus, as had been said, 
 was obliged to solicit at Rome for a continuance of his 
 command, Marius, whose ambition knew no bounds, 
 was resolved to obtain it for himself, and thus gain all 
 the glory of putting an end to the war. To that end 
 he privately inveighed against Metellus by his emissa* 
 ries at Rome ; and having excited a spiiit of discontent 
 against him, he had leave granted him to go to Rome to 
 stand for the consulship himself, which he obtained con- 
 trary to the expectation and interest of the nobles. 
 
 Marius being thus invested with the supreme power 
 of managing the war, shewed him self every way n't for 
 the commission. His vigilance was equal to his valour, 
 and he quickly made himself master ot the cities which 
 Jugurtha had yet remaining in Niunidia. This unfor- 
 tunate prince finding himself unable to make opposition 
 singly, was obliged to have recourse for assistance to 
 Bacchus king of Mauritania, to whose daughter he was 
 married. A battle soon after ensued, in which the Nu- 
 midians surprised the Roman camp by night, and gain- 
 ed a temporary advantage. However, it was but of 
 short continuance; for Marius soon after overthrew them 
 in two signal engagements, in one of which, not less than 
 ninety thousand of the African army were slain. Boc- 
 chus now finding the Romans too powerful to be resist- 
 ed, did not think it expedient to hazard his own crown 
 to protect that of his ally ; he therefore determined to 
 
106 THE HISTORY OF THE 
 
 make peace upon whatever conditions he might obtain 
 .nd accordingly sent to Rome imploring protection 
 The senate received the ambassadors with their usual 
 haughtiness ; and, without complying with their request, 
 granted the suppliant, not their friendship but their par- 
 don. Nf Jing, after some time he was given to 
 understand, that the delivering up of J . -the Ro- 
 mans would in sonic measure concilia vourand 
 soften their resentment. At first the pride of Bocchus 
 -gled against such a proposal, but a few interviews 
 with Sylta, w. ; : , stor to Marius, reconciled him 
 to this treacherous measure. At len 
 
 jeing drawn into u 
 
 c- spcious pretences of his ally, who deluded ! 
 by d- : cncc ; and being made , he 
 
 .rius to Rome, loa< 
 
 deplorable instance of blasted am not long 
 
 survive his overthrow, heir. >jr the senate 
 
 to be starved to death in prison a short lime after he had 
 adorned the triumph of the conqueror. 
 
 Marius, by this and two succeeding victories over the 
 Gauls, having become very formidable to distant nations 
 ir, became soon after much more dangerous to his 
 fellow citizens in peace. 
 
 The strength which he had given the popular party, 
 every day grew more conspicuous ; and the Italians be- 
 ing frustrated in their aims of. gaining the freedom of 
 Rome by the : utc, they resolved up- 
 
 on obtaining by f refused them as a fa- 
 
 vour vise to the i which most 
 
 of the states of Italy entered into a confederacy against 
 Rome, in order to obtain a redress of this and all the 
 rest of their grievances. 
 
 At e of two years this war having continued 
 
 ith doubtful success, the senate began to re- 
 that, whether conquered or conquerors, the power 
 of the Romans was in danger of being totally destroy- 
 ed. In order therefore to soften their compliance by de- 
 grees, they be iving the freedom of ti 
 such of the Italian states, as had not revolted 
 then offered i -ould soonest lay down t 
 
COMMON WLALTH OF ROME. lor 
 
 arms. This unexpected bounty had the desired effect ; 
 the allies, with mutual distrust, offered each a separate 
 treaty : the senate took them one by one into favour, 
 but gave the freedom of the city in such a manner 
 that, being empowered to vote not until all the othev 
 tribes had given their suffrages, they had very little 
 weight in the constitution. In this manner they were 
 made free, all but the Samnitcs and Lucanians, who 
 seemed excluded from the general compromise, as if to 
 leave Sylla, who commanded against them, the glory 
 of putting an end to the war : this he performed with 
 i^reat conduct, storming their camps, overthrowing them 
 in several battles, and obliging them to submit to such 
 terms as the senate were pleased to impose. 
 
 This destructive war being concluded, which, as Pa- 
 ilus says, consumed above three hundred thousand 
 of the flower of Italy, the senate now began to think of 
 turning their arms against Mithridates, the most power- 
 ful monarch of the east. 
 
 For this expedition Marius had long been preparing ; 
 but Sylla, who now began to make a figure in the com 
 monwealth, had interest enough to get Marius set aside, 
 *.nd himself appointed to the expedition. Marius, how- 
 ever, tried all his arts with the people to get this ap- 
 pointment reversed, and at length procurexl a law to be 
 enacted, that the command of the army appointed to 
 oppose Mithridates, was to be transferred from Sylla to 
 ;us. 
 
 In consequence of this, Marius immediately sent down 
 officers from Rome to take command in his name. But 
 instead of obeying his orders, they fell upon and slew the 
 officers, and then entreated Sylla thut he would lead 
 them directly to take signal vengeance upon all his ene- 
 mies at Rome. 
 
 Accordingly his soldiers entered the city sword in 
 hand, as a place taken by storm. Marius and Sulpicius* 
 at the head of a tumultuary body of their parlizans, at- 
 tempted to oppose their entrance ; and the cicizens them- 
 selves, who feared the sackage of the place, threw down 
 stones and tiles from the tops of the houses upon the in- 
 truders. So unequal a conflict lasted longer than could 
 
ilSTORY OF T! 
 
 have been expected: at length Ma: 
 were obliged to seek safety by flight, after ha\ 
 ly oiTVrcd liberty to all the slaves who woi. 
 them in tl-.i ucy. 
 
 :iimself master of the city, began 
 by modelling the 1 .s to favour his outrages. 
 
 "\Y!M 
 
 it-my, at the a;^ of st 
 
 himself unati rous 
 
 pursuits of th 
 
 ;me in this deplorable cone 
 :s danger^ ucrs 
 
 making nearer advano 
 ed to conceal' him 
 
 :it up to his c 
 
 lace and : 
 
 in hopes to fi it ate 
 
 his escape ; but being ! ..c of 
 
 ,. with a li 
 
 svith mu 
 ernor of the place will s of 
 
 him ; but tin- eon 
 
 for this purpose but he stopt short, i the 
 
 e. of the i 
 
 who sternly demanded i 
 Caius M.irius? The slave unable to 
 
 governor 
 
 i lering the fear of 
 
 happy ex >ve him once more >m ; 
 
 and, com o his fortune, provided 
 
 . thrnce v 
 the best ty to the islanvl 
 
 i>est on the c< 
 
 :-c a Ron. r, who happened lobe at 
 
 place, resolved IOM 
 
 his crew, who were killed in tlu n'er 
 
 his retreat to the ship. He after 
 near Carthage, and weju in a mcluucholy mannt 
 
COMMONWEALTH OF ROME. loo 
 
 place himself amongst the ruins of that desolated place. 
 He soon, however, had orders from the praetor who 
 governed there to retire. Marius, who remembered his 
 having once served this very man when in necessity, 
 could not suppress his sorrow at finding 1 ingratitude in 
 every quarter of the world, and preparing to obey, de- 
 sired the messenger to tell his master that he had seen 
 Marius sitting among the ruins of Carthage, intimating 
 the greatness of his own fall by the desolation that was 
 round him. He then embarked once more, and not 
 knowing where to land without encountering an enemy, 
 spent the winter at sea, expecting every hour the return 
 of a messenger from his son, whom he had sent to soli- 
 cit protection from an African prince, whose name was 
 idrastal. After long expectation, instead of a mes- 
 cr, his son himself arrived, having escaped from the 
 inhospitable court of that monarch, where he had been 
 kept, not as a friend, but a prisoner, and had returned 
 just time enough to prevent his father from sharing the 
 same fate. It was in this situation that they were in- 
 formed that Cinna, one of their party, who had remain- 
 ed at Rome, had restored their affairs, and headed a 
 large army of the Italian states in their cause. 
 
 Nor was it long before they joined their forces, and 
 presented themselves at the gales of Rome. Sylla was 
 at that time absent in his command against Mithridatcs, 
 while Cinna marched into the city accompanied by his 
 guards ; but Marius stopped and refused to enter, al- 
 ledging that having been banished by a public decree, 
 it was necessary to have another to authorize his return. 
 It was thus that he desired to give his meditated cruel- 
 ties the appearance of justice ; and, while he was about 
 to destroy thousands, to pretend an implicit veneration 
 for the laws. In pursuance of his desire, an assembly 
 of the people being called, they began to reverse his 
 banishment ; but they had scarce gone through three of 
 the tribes, when incapable of containing his desire of 
 revenge, he entered the cily at the head of his guards, 
 and massacred all that had ever been obnoxious to him, 
 without remorse or pity. Several who sought to propiti- 
 ate the tyrant's rage were murdered by his command in 
 
 K 
 
1 10 THE HISTORY OF THE 
 
 his presence ; many, even of ihose who had neve, 
 fended him, were put tb death ; and at last even his own 
 officers never approached him but with terror. I lav 
 in this manner punished his enemies, he next abrogated 
 ull the laws which were made by his rival, and then 
 made himself consul with Cinna. T) his 
 
 two favourite passions, vengeance ai; 
 once saved his country, and now deluged it with blood ; 
 at lasuas if willing to crown the pile < ach 
 
 he had made with his own body, he died the month af- 
 ter, aged seventy, not without suspicion on having has- 
 tened his end. 
 
 In the mean time these accounts were brought t 
 ,vho was sent against Mithridates, and who was per- 
 aing many signal services against him ; but conclud- 
 ing a peace with that monarch, he resolved to return 
 home to take revenge of his enemies at Re: 
 
 In the mean time nothing could intimi' 
 making preparations to repel his opponent 
 cd by Carbo, who was now elected in the room of Vale- 
 rius, who had been slain, together with youn; 
 who inherited all the abilities and the ambition of in 
 ther, he determined to send over part of the forces he had 
 raised into Dalmatia to oppose Sylla before he entered 
 Italy. Some troops were accordingly embarked ; but 
 these being dispersed by a storm, the rest that had not 
 yet put to sea, absolutely refused to go. Upon 
 Cinna, quite forious at their disobedience, rushed forward 
 to persuade them to their duty. In the n one 
 
 of the most mutinous of the soK: ;ck by an 
 
 officer, returned the blow, and was a; 
 crime. This ill timed seventy produced a tumult u 
 mutiny through the whole arru; ia did 
 
 all he could to prevent or appease it, he was run through 
 the body by one of the crowd. 
 
 Scipio, the consul, who commanded against 
 soon after allured by proposals for coming to 
 but a suspension of arms being agreed upon. S\ 
 soldiers went into the opposite hose 
 
 riches, which they had acquired in their expeditions, and 
 offering to participate with their fellow-citizens in 
 
COMMONWEALTH OF ROME. Ill 
 
 they changed their party. Accordingly, the whole ar- 
 my declared unanimously for Sylla ; and Scipio scarce 
 knew that he was forsaken and deposed, till he was in- 
 formed of it by a party of the enemy, who entering his 
 tent, made him and his son their prisoners. 
 
 In this manner both factions, exasperated to thq high- 
 est degree, and expecting no mercy on either part, gave 
 vent to their fury in several engagements. The forces 
 on the side of young Marius, who now succeeded his fa- 
 ther in command, were the most numerous, but those of 
 Sylla better united and more under subordination. Car- 
 bo, who commanded an army for Marius in the field, 
 sent eight legions to Prccneste, to relieve his colleague, 
 but they were met by Pompey, afterwards surnamed the 
 Great, in a defile, who slew many of them, and dispers- 
 ed the rest. Carbo, joined by Urbanus, soon after en- 
 gaged Metellus, but was overcome with the loss often 
 thousand men slain, and six thousand taken prisoners. 
 In consequence of this defeat, Urbanus killed himself, 
 and Carbo fled to Africa, where, after wandering a long 
 time, he was at last delivered up to Pompey, \vho, to 
 please Sylla, ordered him to be beheaded. Sylla nor/ 
 became undisputed master of his country, entered Rome 
 at the head of his army. Happy had he supported in 
 peace the glory which he had acquired in war, or had he 
 ceased to live, when he ceased to conquer. 
 
 Eight thousand men who had escaped the general 
 carnage, offered themselves to the conqueror; he order- 
 ed them to be put into the Villa Publica, a large house 
 in the Campus Martius, and at the same time convok- 
 ed the senate ; there he spoke with great fluency, and 
 in a manner no way discomposed, of his own exploits ; 
 and in the mean time gave private directions, that all 
 those wretches whom he had confined should be slain. 
 The senate, amazed at the horrid outcries of the suffer- 
 ers, at first thought that the city was given up to plun- 
 der ; but Sylla, with an unembarrassed air, informed 
 them that it was only some criminals who were punish* 
 ed by his order, and that they needed not to make them* 
 , elves uneasy about their fate. The day after, he pro- 
 ;ec! forty senators and sixteen hundred knights ; and 
 
Till- HISTORY OF THE 
 
 after an intermission of two days, forty senators more, 
 
 i an infinite number of the ri '.ens of R 
 
 He next resolved to invest himself with the cii 
 ship, and thut for a perpetuity : and thu^ ,1 ci- 
 
 vil as well as military power in his own person 
 conscious he might thence give an air of 
 ry oppression. 
 
 In this manner he continued to go 
 :yrir;r,y, : 
 to t- 11 mankii.d, he loi<. 
 
 - 
 
 '.cr this he retired into the 
 
 joythcp: <ppiness , 
 
 he did net Ion 
 disease which .'.aras, a 1< 
 
 >ject, and capable . 
 y of human ambition. 
 
 <0.] 
 
 UPO X iousiesof Pompcy 
 
 and Crassus, the two most powerful 
 empire, lu-gan u excite i;\-sh dissentions. Pon 
 
 jclovcd gt 
 an in Rome. 
 
 The first opportunity that rded of disco 1 , 
 
 ing their nur. upon disc 
 
 s, with which 
 
 followed his example immedi r. The next 
 
 >-en them \va>, who should i '. in ubtai: 
 
 .of the people- 
 thousand different labk uted cor: 
 t the poor, and fed the grc 
 
COMMONWEALTH OF ROME. 113 
 
 the citizens for near three months. Pompey, on the 
 o-ther hand, laboured to abrogate the laws made against 
 the people's authority by Sylla : he restored the power 
 of judging to the knights, which had been formerly 
 granted them by Gracchus, and gave back to the tri- 
 bunes of the people all their former privileges. It was 
 thus that each gave his private aims a public nppear- 
 ance ; so that what was in reality ambition in both, took 
 with one the name of liberality, with the other that of 
 freedom. 
 
 An expedition, in which Pompey cleared the Medi- 
 terranean, which was infested by pirates, having added 
 greatly to his reputation, the tribunes of the people hoped 
 it would be easier to advance their favourite still high- 
 er ; wherefore, Manilius, one of the number, preferred 
 a law, that all the armies of the empire, with the gov- 
 ernment of all Asia, together with the management of 
 the war, which was renewed against Mithridaies, should' 
 be committed to him alone. The law passed with little 
 opposition, and the decree was confirmed by all the tribes 
 of the people. 
 
 Being thus appointed to the command of that impor- 
 t-ant war, he immediately departed for Asia, having made 
 the proper preparations towards forwarding the cam- 
 paign. Mithridatcs had been obliged by Lucullus to 
 take refuge in Lesser Armenia, and thither that general 
 was preparing to follow him, when his whole army aban- 
 doned him, so that it remained for Pompey to terminate 
 the war, which lie effected with great case and expedi- 
 tion, adding a large extent of dominion to the Koman 
 empire, and returning to Rome in triumph, at the head 
 of his conquering army. 
 
 But all the victories of Pompey rather served to heigh- 
 ten the glory than to increase the power of Rome ; they 
 only made it a more glaring object of ambition, and ex- 
 posed its liberties to greater danger. Those liberties 
 indeed seemed devoted to ruin on every side ; for, even- 
 while he was pursuing his conquests abroad, Rome was 
 at the verge of ruin from a conspiracy at home. This 
 conspiracy was projected and carried on by Sergius Cat- 
 iline f a patrician bv birth, who resolved to build his 
 K 2 - 
 
114 THE HISTORY OF THE 
 
 own power on the downful of his country. He wa* 
 singularly formed, both by art and nature, to coih 
 a conspiracy : he was possessed of courage equal to the 
 most desperate attempts, and eloquence to give a colour 
 to his ambition ; ruined in his fortune, profligate ii. 
 manners, and vigilant in pursuing his ain I in- 
 
 >le after wealth, only with a view to 1. hi- 
 
 guilty pleasure. 
 
 Catiline, having contracted many debts by the loose- 
 ness of such an ill spent lift, -jived to extricate 
 himself from them by any means however unlawful. 
 
 Accordingly he assembled about thirty of his debauch' 
 ed associates, and informed them of his aims,'his hopes, 
 and his sealed plan of operation. It 
 among them that a general insurrection should be raised 
 throughout Italy, the different parts of v. 
 
 the diiV. ers. Rome was to be fired 
 
 in several places at on 'fan 
 
 army raised in K . in the general confusion to 
 
 posv If of the city, and massacre all the 
 
 Lentulus, one of i. ate assistant, who had been 
 
 lor, or judge in the city, was to preside in tl. 
 ouncils : Ccthcgus, a man who sacrificed the pos- 
 ^:on of great present power to the hopt 
 liis revenge a . was to direct acre 
 
 ugh the city : and Cxsius was to conduct those 
 
 But the vigik-nce of Cicero being a chief ob- 
 Ic to their .line was very desirous to see 
 
 him taken off before he left Rome 
 \nights of the company undertook to kill him the next 
 morning in his be t bu- 
 
 siness. But the meeting was no sooner over than Cicero 
 had information of all that passed in it ; for by the in- 
 trigues of a woman, named Tulvia, he had gained 
 Curius, her lover, and one of the conspirators, to send 
 n a punctual account of their deliberations. Having 
 'n proper precautions to guard himself against the 
 iesigns of his morning visitors, who were punctual to 
 he "appointment, he next took care to provide for the 
 lefencc of the city; and, assembling the senate, con- 
 Nest to be done in th> time - 
 
COMMONWEALTH OF ROME. 115 
 
 The first step taken was to offer considerable rewards 
 for farther discoveries, and then lo prepare for the de- 
 fence of the state. Catiline, to shew how well he could 
 dissemble, or justify any crime, went boldly to the se- 
 nate, declaring his innocence ; but when confronted by 
 the eloquence of Cicero, he hastily withdrew ; declaring 
 aloud, that since he was denied a vindication of himself, 
 and driven headlong by his enemies, he would extin- 
 guish the flames which was raised about him in univer- 
 uin. Accordingly, after a short conference with 
 Lentulus and Cethegus, he left Rome by night, with a 
 small retinue, to make the best of his way towards Etru- 
 ria, where Manilius, one of the conspirators, was raising 
 an army to support him. 
 
 In the mean time Cicero took proper precautions to 
 secure all those of the conspiracy who remained in Rome. 
 Lentulus, Cethegus, Caesius, and several others, were 
 put in confinement ; asd soon after, by the command of 
 the senate, being delivered over to the executioner, 
 were strangled in prison. 
 
 While his associates were put to death in the city, 
 Catiline had raised an army of twelve thousand men ; 
 hich a fourth part only was completely armed ; the 
 rest being furnished with what chance afforded, darts, 
 lances, and clubs. He refused at first to enlist slaves, 
 who had flocked to him in great numbers, trusting to 
 the proper strength of the conspiracy ; but, upon the ap- 
 proach of the cqnsul, who was sent against him, and up- 
 on the arrival of the news that his confederates vere 
 put to death in Rome, the face of his affairs were en- 
 tirely altered. His first attempt, therefore, was by long- 
 marches, to make his escape over the Apennines into 
 Gaul ; but in this his hopes were disappointed, all the 
 passes being strictly guarded by an army under Metel- 
 lus, superior to his own. Being thus hemmed in on ev- 
 ery side, and seeing all things desperate, with nothing, 
 left him but either to die or conquer, he resolved to make 
 one vigorous effort against that army which pursued 
 him. Antonius,the consul, being himself sick, the com- 
 mand devolved' upon his lieutenant Petreius, who after 
 ?rce and bloody action, in which he lost a coirsidera- 
 
THE HISfORY OF THE 
 
 ble part of his best troops, put Catiline's forces to the 
 rout, and destroyed his whole army, which fought des- 
 perately to the last man. 
 
 The extinction of this conspiracy seemed only to leave 
 an open theatre for the ambition of the great men of the 
 state to display itself in. Pompey was now returned in 
 triumph from conquering the seas, as he had before 
 been victorious in Europe and Africa. 
 
 I, as we have already observed, was the richest 
 man in Rome ; and next to him, possessed of the great- 
 est authority : his party in the sc even stronger 
 than that of Pompey his ! the envy raised 
 
 ist him was less. He and Pompey had been 
 
 'tiled by an opposition of interests and c! 
 ters : however, it was from a continuance of their mi 
 jealousies that iru is in some ru- 
 
 pect its futuit 
 
 ' gone prar.or into 
 
 n, and had returned with t 
 resolved to convert their mutual jealousy t 
 
 .tge. This celebrated man was ncp! rius 
 
 by the female descended from one of 
 
 illustrious families in Romf 
 
 by the regular :isofoQkc. tor, 
 
 aedii< 
 
 scended from popular ancestors, he w: 
 ide of the people ; and shortly after the d< 
 procured those whom he h cd to be 
 
 He had all along declared for the po] 
 
 :c, and by this became their mo^ 
 trate. This consumm.r 
 
 us services to Pompey, pro 
 
 .-.g all his acts ; 
 
 opposition. Pompey, pleased at the a< 
 son of so much merit, readily granted him his c< 
 and protection. He next applied to C ho, from 
 
 former connections was disposed to become still more 
 nearly his friend : at length, finding neither of d 
 averse to an union of interests, he took an opportunity 
 of bringing them together; and remonstrating to them 
 on the advantage as well as the necessity of a recoiv 
 
COMMONWEALTH OF ROME. 117 
 
 aion, he had art enough to persuade them to forget 
 former animosities. A combination was thus formed, 
 by which they three agreed that nothing should be done 
 in the commonwealth but what received their mutual 
 concurrence and approbation. This was called the first 
 Triumvirate, by which we find the constitution weak- 
 ened by a new interest that had not hitherto taken place 
 in the government, very different from that either of the 
 senate or the people, and yet dependent on both. 
 
 CHAP. XX. 
 
 n the beginning of the first Triumvir at e> to the 
 
 [U. C. 691.] 
 
 THE first thing Cscsar did, upon being: taken into 
 the triumvirate, WLS to avail himself of the interest 
 > confederates to obtain the consulship. The senate 
 had stiil some influence left ; and, though they were 
 ;ed to concur in chusing, yet they gave him for a 
 one lUbulus, who they supposed would be a 
 check upon his power ; but the opposition was too 
 .'* for even superior abilities to resist it ; so that 
 liibulus, after a slight attempt in favour of the senate, 
 ined inactive. Caesar began his schemes for em- 
 pire, by ingratiating himself with the people ; he pro- 
 cured a law for dividing certain lands in Campania 
 among such of the poor citizens as had at least three 
 ! ren. This proposal was just enough in itself, and 
 criminal from the views of the proposer. 
 Having thus strengthened himself at home, he next 
 d with his confederates about sharing the fo- 
 i provinces of the empire between them. The par- 
 soon miide : Pompey chose Spain for his own 
 part ; for being fatigued with conquest, and satiated 
 with military fame, he was willing to take his pleasures 
 jme. Crassus chose Syria for his part of the em- 
 pire ; v;hich province, as it had hitherto *enriched the 
 generals who had subsued it, would, he hoped, gratify 
 
118 THE HISTORY OF THE 
 
 him in this most favourite pursuit. To Czsar was 
 the province of Gaul ; composed of many fierce and 
 powerful nations, most of them unsubdued, and the rest 
 only professing a nominal subjection. Wherefore, as it 
 
 rather appointing him to conquer than command, 
 this government was granted him for five years, ~ 
 'by its continuance, to compensate for its danger. 
 
 It would be impossible in this narrow compass, to 
 enumerate all the battles Caesar fought, and tl. 
 he subdued in his expeditions into Gaul and Bn 
 
 is continued eight years. The Helvetians were the 
 first Unit were brought into subj .-.h the loss of 
 
 near two hundred thousand men ; those who remained 
 after the carnage were . vsar in safety to the for- 
 
 ests from whence they i he Germans, 
 
 Ariovistus at their he.:-. it off, to . 
 
 berof eighty thousand 
 ly escaping in a little be. 
 
 were cute ;rcat slaughter -> and 
 
 deep rivers were rendered passible from the heaps of 
 slain. The Nervians, who were the most warlike of 
 those barbarous nations, made head for a short time, 
 and fell upon the Romans with such fur}-, that their ar- 
 my was in danger of being utterly routed ; but Caesar 
 himself, hastily catching up a buckler, rushed through 
 his army into the midst of the enemy, by which means 
 he so turned the fate of the day, that the barbarians ^ 
 all cut off to a man. The Celtic Gauls, who were pow- 
 erful at sea, were next brought under subjection. After, 
 them the Suevi, the Menapii, and all the nations from 
 the Mediterranean to the British sea. From thence, 
 stimulated by the desire of conquest, he crossed o\v 
 to Britain, upon pretence that the natives had furnished 
 his enemies with continual supplies. Upon approac 
 the shores he found them covered with men to oj 
 his landing, and his forces were in danger of being driv- 
 en back, till the standard bearer of the tenth legion : 
 ly leaped ashore, and, being well assisted by Caesai 
 
 ves were put to flight. The Britons, being terrifi- 
 ed at Caesar's power, sent to desire a peace which was 
 granted them, and some hostages delivered. A storm 
 
COMMONWEALTH OF ROME. 119 
 
 however, soon after, destroying great part of his fleet, 
 they resolved to take advantage of the disaster, and 
 marched against him with a powerful army. But what 
 could a naked undisciplined army do against forces that 
 had been exercised under the greatest generals, ami 
 hardened by the conquests of the greatest part of the 
 world ? Being overthrown, they were obliged once more 
 to sue for peace ; which Caesar granted them, and then 
 returned to the continent. Thus, in less than nine years, 
 he conquered, together with Britain, all that country 
 which extends from the Mediterranean to the German 
 
 sea. iif f 
 
 While Caesar wjn*flfc|fcrcasing his reputation and 
 riches abroad, Pdmpey, \^ro remained all the time in 
 c, steadily co-operated with his ambition, and ad- 
 vanced his interests, while he vainly supposed he was for- 
 warding his own. By his means Caesar was continued 
 five years longer in Gaul : nor was he roused from his 
 lethargy, till the fame of that great commander's valour, 
 riches, and humanity, began secretly to give him pain, 
 and to make him suppose they began to eclipse his own ; 
 for, as being more recent, they were more talked of. 
 He now, therefore, began to do all in his power to di- 
 minish C re sar's reputation, obliging the magistrates not 
 to publish any letters they received from him till he had 
 diminished the credit of them, by spreading disadvanta- 
 geous reports : one or two accidents also helped to 
 widen the separation : namely, the death of Julia, Pom- 
 pey's wife, who had not only a little contributed to im- 
 prove the harmony that subsisted between them ; and 
 the destruction of Crassus, who had conducted the war 
 against the Parthians with so little prudence, that he 
 suffered the enemy to get the advantage of him in al- 
 most every skirmish ; and incapable of extricating 
 himself from the difficulties in which he was involved, 
 he fell a sacrifice to his own rashness, being killed, brave- 
 ly defending himself to the last. 
 
 Caesar, who now began to be sensible of the jealousies 
 of Pompey, took occasion to solicit for the consulship, to- 
 gether with a prolongation of his government in Gaul, 
 desirous of trying whether Pompey would thwart or pro- 
 
THL HISTORY O- 
 
 mote his pretensions. In this Pornpey seemed to be <juuc 
 ;naclive ; but at the same time privately > : two 
 
 eatures, who alledged in the senate that the 
 not permit a person that was absent to ofie 
 I candidate for that high ofike. Pompey'^ 
 this was to allure Caesar, from his go . 
 to stand for the consulship i 
 perceiving his artifice, chose to rem. 
 convinced) that while he headed su- 
 devoted to his interest, he conk! 
 laws as well : ates to the state. 
 
 The senate, which were now devoted to Pompi 
 
 c he had for some time attempted to '.icm 
 
 from the encroachments of the people, ordered the two 
 
 pey. .is pretended, to o\ , 
 
 :>cc of the 
 
 orders of the - : the oili- 
 
 to him wr.h i ( . ul the so, ;un- 
 
 itc took v 
 
 piring. JBut Curio, lu 
 that Cjesur should not leave his army till 
 im the example, 'i'liis for a while pc ; 
 pey ; however, during the d 
 
 cctly towards 
 
 mediately (juiitiu^ the scnutc, v 
 forth from tin- 
 time 
 
 in s r him n march 
 defence 
 
 ready to obey : but, with an air Oi r pretended 
 lion, added, that it was only in case more 
 clients could not be employ* 
 
 uctcd in all that passed by 
 partizans at Rome, though he was still i. 
 willi .e his aims all the appearance of jusf 
 
 He agreed to lay down his emp'oymcm when Pompey 
 
COMMONWEALTH OF ROME. 12 i 
 
 Miould do the same. But the senate rejected all his pro- 
 positions, blindly confident of their own power, and re- 
 lying on the assurances of Pompey. Caesar, still unwil- 
 ling to come to an open rupture with the state, at last 
 was content to ask the government of Illyria, with two 
 legions ; but this also was refused him. Now, therefore, 
 finding all hopes of an accommodation fruitless, and con- 
 scious, if not of the goodness of his cause, at least of 
 the goodness of his troops, he began to draw them down 
 rds the confines of Italy, and, passing the Alps with 
 Ms third legion, stopped at Ravenna, a city of Cisalpine 
 Gaul, from whence he once more wrote a letter to the 
 consuls, declaring that he was ready to resign all com- 
 mand in case Pompey did so too. On the other hand, 
 the senate decreed that Caesar should lay down his 
 i rnment,and disband his force, within a limited time ; 
 and if he refused obedience, that he should be declared 
 an enemy to the commonwealth. 
 
 C^sar, however, seemed no way disturbed at these vio- 
 lent proceedings : the night before his intended expedi- 
 tion into Italy, he sat down to table cheerfully convers- 
 ing with his friends on the subjects of literature and 
 philosophy, and apparently disengaged from every am- 
 bitious concern. After some time, rising up, he desired 
 the company to make themselves cheerful in his absence, 
 and that he would be with them in a moment : in the 
 mean time, having ordered his chariot to be prepared, 
 he immediately set out, attended by a few friends, for 
 Arminium, a city upon the confines of Italy, whither he 
 had dispatched a part of his army the morning before. 
 This journey by night, which was very fatiguing, lie 
 performed with great diligence, sometimes walking, and 
 sometimes on horseback, till, at the break of day, he 
 .e up with his army, which consisted of about five 
 thousand men, near the Rubicon, a little river which 
 separates Italy from Gaul, and which terminated the 
 limits of Jus command. The Romans had ever been 
 taught to consider this river as the sacred boundary of 
 their domestic empire ; Caesar, therefore, when he ad- 
 vanced at the head of his army, to the side of the river, 
 stopt short upon the bank, as if imprest with terror at 
 L 
 
Till. HISTORY OF Tl 
 
 the greatness of his enterprise. He pom 1 . /me 
 
 time in fixed melancholy, looking; upon the river, and 
 debating with himself whether he should venture in : 
 It 1 pass this ri\ he to one of i rals 
 
 who stood by him, u \\luit miseries shall I bring upon 
 4i my country ! and, if now I stop short, ! 
 Thu and resuming all I 
 
 plunged in. trying out, that the 
 now over. I ! 
 titude, and quickly 
 
 schi - of the pi cc. 
 
 This rdenterp errors 
 
 every one in 
 
 rmy to L. in ruins. At one tinu 
 
 .en the citizens flying into the country : 
 
 Hants of the country corni: . for 
 
 me. In this univc: 
 felt all t 
 
 rememb! 
 
 wherever vere 
 
 ready to tax him 
 
 to repro.ich his ill grounder 
 
 u no jru'us, a ridiculous senator t>- 
 
 ty, the army lhat is t our comn ci us 
 
 44 see if it wi by stamping." Cato reminded 
 
 , as he was cumin v 
 
 end- 
 
 10. But being at lei; re- 
 
 colour of ad 
 ae and 
 . his followers : he told them that they should not 
 
 ,,1 be tin 
 
 ulecd, that he had all along 
 
 is, judging of them only from what they ought to 
 ends were still inspired with the 
 love of freedom, they might yet enjoy it in 
 place th; ides should happen to conduct them, 
 
 lie let them know that their afi'airs were in a very pro- 
 his two lieutenai, 
 
COMMONWEALTH OF ROME. 123 
 
 head of a very considerable army in Spain, composed of 
 veteran troops that had made the conquest of the East ; 
 besides these, there were infinite resources, both in Asia 
 and Africa, together with the succours they were sure 
 to expect from all the kingdoms that were in alliance 
 with Rome. This speech served in some measure to 
 revive the hopes of the confederacy. The greatest part 
 of the senate, his own private friends and dependents, 
 together with all those who expected to make their for- 
 tunes in his cause, agreed to follow him. Being in no 
 capacity to resist Caesar at Rome, he resolved to lead his 
 forces to Capua, where he commanded the two legions 
 ihat served under Caesar in Gaul. 
 
 Caesar, in the mean time, after having vainly attempt- 
 ed to bring Pompey to an accommodation, resolved to 
 pursue him into Capua, before he could collect his for- 
 Accordingly, he marched on to take possession of 
 the cities that lay between him and his rival, not regard- 
 ing Rome, which he knew would fall of course to the 
 conqueror. 
 
 Corsinium was the first city that attempted to stop 
 the rapidity of his march. It was defended by Domi- 
 tius, who had been appointed by the senate to succeed 
 him in Gaul, and was garrisoned by twenty cohorts, 
 which were levies in the countries adjacent ; Caesar 
 however, quickly invested it ; and, though Domitius 
 sent frequency to Pompey, exhorting him to come and 
 raise the siege, he was at last obliged to endeavour to 
 escape privately. His intentions happened to be di- 
 vulged, the garrison were resolved to consult their own 
 safety by delivering him up to the besiegers. Csesar 
 readily accepted their offers, but kept his men from im- 
 mediately entering into the town. After some time, 
 Lentulus the consul, who was one of the besieged, came 
 out to implore forgiveness for himself and the rest of 
 his confederates, putting Caesar in mind of their ancient 
 friendship, and acknowledging the many favours he had 
 received at his hands. To this Caesar, who would not 
 wait the conclusion of his speech, generously replied, 
 that he came into Italy, not to injure the liberties of 
 Rome and its citizens, but to restore them. This hu- 
 
Till- HISTOHY OF TI 
 
 mane reply being quickly carried into the city, the 
 
 tors and the knights, -with their children, and sorru 
 
 cers of the garrison, came out to claim the conrjiu 
 
 protection, who, just glancing at thti 
 
 them their liberty, with permission to go \hi 
 
 they should think piopcr. But 
 
 leaders, he, upon this, as uj 
 
 care to attach the common soldiers to hi^ 
 
 sensible that he might stand in need of an i 
 
 while he lived, his army could never of a 
 
 commander. 
 
 Pompey, who was unable to continue in r 
 ing inteil ii passed on this or 
 
 cly retreated to Brundusium, where i.< 
 stand a seige to retard the enemy until the for- < 
 empire should be united to < 
 succecdc 
 
 ne time 
 
 had lev it 
 
 thou 
 
 leave the who! mercy o: 
 
 rival, without either a tov>r. or an g 
 
 :o oppose his progr 
 
 \-sar, find:: ;ld not follow Pom 
 
 of shippii .ck to Rome to take pov 
 
 l^ublictrc lichhisopponcj. 
 
 able oversight 
 
 ever, upon hi up to the door ot 
 
 Mctellus, the tribune, who guarded it, refu 
 pass; bir 
 iiis h.'.nd upon 
 
 ef- 
 fect , Metclh: ar took out of the t\ 
 
 : of three thousand poi. 1 '. of 
 
 v of silver. 
 II .,:.' vims provided for continuing the war, he 
 
 jm Koine, resolved to subdue Pompi 
 ?enu iius and Petreius, who had been lorn 
 
COMMONWEALTH OF ROME. 125 
 
 choicest legions of the empire, who had been ever victo- 
 rious under all its commanders. Caesar, however, who 
 knew the abilities of its two present generals, jocosely 
 said, as he was preparing to go thither, that he went to 
 fight an army without a general ; and upon conquering 
 it, would return to fight a general without an army. 
 
 The first conflict which he had with Afranius and 
 Petreius was rather unfavourable. It was fought near 
 the city of Herda, and both sides claimed the honour 
 of the victory. But by various stratagems he reduced 
 them at last to such extremity of hunger and drought 
 that they were obliged to yield at discretion. . Clemency 
 was his favourite virtue ; he dismissed them all with the 
 kindest professions ? and sent them jjome to Rome laden 
 with shame and obligations, to publish his virtues, and 
 confirm the affections of his adherents. Thus, in tne 
 space of about forty days, he became master of all Spain, 
 and returned again victorious to Rome. The citizenr, 
 upon this occasion, received him with fresh demonstra- 
 tions of joy, and created him dictator and consul ; but 
 the first of these offices he laid down after he had held 
 it eleven days. 
 
 While Caesar was thus employed, Pompey was equal- 
 ly active in making preparations in Epirus and Greece 
 to oppose him. All the monarchs of the East had de- 
 clared in his favour, and sent very large supplies. He 
 was master of nine effective Italian legions, and had a 
 fleet of five hundred large ships, under the conduct of 
 Bibulus, an active and experienced commander. Added 
 to these, he was supplied with large sums of money, and 
 all the necessaries for an army, from the tributary pro- 
 vinces round him. He had attacked Anthony and Do- 
 label la, who commanded for Caesar in that part of the 
 empire, with such success, that the former was obliged 
 to fly, and the latter was taken prisoner. Crowds of the 
 distinguished citizens and nobles from Rome came every 
 day to join him. He had at one time about two hun- 
 dred senators in his camp, among whom were Cicero 
 and Cato, whose approbation of his cause was equiva* 
 lent to an army. 
 
 L 2 
 
126 HIE HISTORY OF TH , 
 
 '.withstanding these preparations, Caesar shipped off 
 sat Brundusium, and, weighing 
 
 anchor, fortui: red through the midst of his ene- 
 
 mies, timing it so well that he made his j ... one 
 
 Still, however, convinced that ti 
 
 .ing proposals for ;. g an ad- 
 
 vantage, he sent one Hi: 
 to effect an accommodation with I 
 
 fer all to the senate and people of Rome ; but Pompey 
 once i lure, holding the people of 
 
 Rome too much in C'a.sar'b interest to be relied on. 
 
 ; supplies in M 
 
 first intoi UK- >i\ the coast of 1 
 
 rus : hci. 'ore resolved immediately to march to 
 
 Dyracchium, to cover ; sar'a 
 
 attempts, as all his ammuiii were de- 
 
 posi .e in 
 
 the opp 
 
 two 
 1 for 
 
 La of the c 
 
 illing to hazard it upon this * 
 -pey could not lely upon his 
 
 Mure an engagement, till he ,1 by 
 
 the rest of hi- 
 
 ir had now waited some time with extrer 
 nee for t! uy up of t:. 
 
 urcd out alone in an OJK 
 : rival, but he 
 
 information of the landing of the troops he 
 expected at Appolloni. 
 
 xhing, under the conduct of Anthony and Calenus, 
 to join him ; he therefore decamped in order to i 
 them, and prevent Pompey, with his army, from 
 
 hem on their march, as he lay on [ha 
 the river, where the *-ucco\ jn obliged to come 
 
 on shore. 
 
COMMONWEALTH OF ROME. isr 
 
 Pompey being compelled to retreat, led his forces to 
 Asparagus, nigh Dyracchium, where he was sure of 
 being pupplied with every thing necessary for his army 
 by the numerous fleets which he employed along the 
 coasts of Epirus : there he pitched his camp upon a 
 tongue of land (as mariners expressed it) that jutted into 
 the sea, where also was a small shelter for ships, where 
 few winds could annoy them : in this place, being most 
 advantageously situated, he immediately began to en- 
 trench his camp : which Caesar perceiving, and finding 
 that he was not likely soon to quit so advantageous a 
 post, began to entrench ajso behind him. And as all 
 beyond Pompey's camp, towards the land side, was hil- 
 ly and steep, he built redoubts upon the hills, stretching 
 round from shore to shore, and then caused lines of com- 
 munication to be drawn from hill to hill, by which he 
 blocked up the camp of the enemy. He hoped by 
 this blockade to force his opponent to a battle, which 
 lie ardently desired, and which the other with equal in- 
 dustry declined. Thus both sides continued for some 
 time employed in designs and stratagems, the one to 
 annoy and the other to defend. Csesar's men daily 
 ; cd on their works to straiten the enemy ; those of 
 Pompey did the same to enlarge themselves, having the 
 advantage of numbers, and severely galled the enemy 
 by their slingers and archers. Caesar, however, was in- 
 defatigable ; he caused blinds or mantles to be made of 
 skins of beasts, to cover his men while at work ; he cut 
 off all the water that supplied the enemy's camp, and 
 forage from the horses, so that there remained no more 
 subsistence for them. But Pompey at last resqlved ta 
 break through his lines, and gain some other part of the 
 country more convenient for encampment. According- 
 ly, having informed himself of the condition of Caesar's 
 fortifications from some deserters who came over to 
 him, he ordered his light infantry and archers on board 
 his ships, with directions to attack Caesar's entrench- 
 ments by sea, where they were least defended. This 
 was done with such effect, that though Caesar and his 
 officers used their utmost endeavours to hinder Pom- 
 pey's designs, yet, by means of reiteTated attempts, he 
 
\3I THE HISTORY OF THE 
 
 at last effected his purpose of extricating his army from 
 his former camp, and of encamping in another place by 
 the sea, where he had the conveniency of forage 
 shipping also. Caesar, being thus frustrated in his views 
 of blocking up the enemy, and perceiving the los 
 had sustained, resolved at last to force Pompey to a bat- 
 tle, though upon disadvantageous terms. The engage- 
 ment began by attempting to cut off a legion w 
 posted in a wood, and this brought on a general battle. 
 The conflict was for some time carried on with great 
 ardour, and with equal fortune ; but army be- 
 
 ing entangled in the entrenchments of the old camps 
 Jately abandoned, began to fall into disorder ; upon 
 Avhich Pompey pressing his advantage, they at last fled 
 with great precipitation .umbers perished in the 
 
 *renchrs and on the banks of the river, or were pressed 
 to death by their fellows. Pompey jv. 
 cs to the very camp of Caesar ; but either surpi 
 
 uddcnness of his victory, cr fearful of an ambuscade, 
 he withdrew his troops into his own camp, and thus lost 
 an opportunity of securing his victory. 
 
 After this defeat, which was by no means de- 
 Caesar marched, with all his forces united into one bo- 
 dy, directly to Gomphi, a town in the pro\ 
 saly. But the news of his defeat at Dyrrachium had 
 reached this place before him ; the inhabitants there- 
 fore, who had before promised him obedience, now 
 changed their minds; and, with a degree of baseness 
 equal to their imprudence, shut their gates against him. 
 Caesar was not to be injured with imp 
 having represented to his soldiers the great advantage 
 of forcing a place so very rich, he ordered the i. 
 for scaling to be got ready ; and causing U to 
 
 he made, proceeded with such vigour, that, notwith- 
 standing the great height of the walls, the town was ta- 
 ken in a few hours time. Caesar left it to be plundei 
 and, without delaying his march, went forward to 
 Metropolis, another town of the same province, which 
 yielded at his approach. % By this means he soon became 
 possessed of all Thessaly, except Larissa, which was gar* 
 rlscned by Scipio with his legion who commanded for 
 
COMMONWEALTH OF ROME. 129 
 
 iPompey. During this interval, Pompey's officers con- 
 tinually soliciting their commander to come to a battle, 
 and incessantly teasing him with importunities to en- 
 e, he at length resolved to renounce his own judg- 
 ment, in compliance with those about him, and to give 
 up all schemes of prudence for those dictated by avarice 
 and passion. Wherefore, advancing into Thessaly with- 
 in a few days after the taking of Gomphi, he drew down 
 ^.ipon the plains ofPharsalia, where he was joined by 
 Scipio, his lieutenant, with the troops under his com- 
 mand. There he waited the coming up of Cxsar, re- 
 ed upon engaging, and upon deciding the fate of the 
 kingdom at a single battle. 
 
 Caesar had employed all his art for some time in 
 iding the inclinations of his men ; and finding his 
 army once more resolute and vigorous, he caused them 
 to advance towards the plains of Pluirsalia, where Pom- 
 pey was now encamped and prepared to oppose him. 
 The approach of these two great armies, composed of 
 ijestand bravest troops in the world, together with 
 1 he greatness of the prize for which they contended, fil- 
 led all minds with anxiety, though with different expcc- 
 rations. Pompey's army, being most numerous turn- 
 ed all their thoughts to the enjoyment of the victory ; 
 Caesar's, with better aims, considered only the meaus of 
 obtaining it : Pompey's army depended upon their 
 numbers and their many generals ; Caesar's upon their 
 discipline, and the conduct of their single com- 
 mander : Pompey's partizans hoped much from the jus- 
 Mce^t' their cause ; Caesars alledged the frequent pro- 
 posals which they had made for peace without effect. 
 Thus the views, hopes, and motives of both seemed dif- 
 ferent, but their hatred and ambition were the same. 
 Cxsur, who was ever foremost in offering battle, led out 
 his army in array to meet the enemy ; but Pompey, 
 <. ithcr suspecting his troops, or dreading the event, kept 
 liis advantageous situation for some time : he drew in- 
 deed sometimes out of his camp, but always kept him- 
 under his trenches, at the foot of the hill near^ 
 which he was posted. Caesar, being unwilling to attack 
 at a disadvantage, resolved to decamp the next 
 
130 ii: HISTORY OF THE 
 
 hoping to harrass out Ins antagonist, who was not 
 a match for him in sustaining the fatigues of duty. 
 Accordingly, the order for marching w: and 
 
 the tents struck, when word was brought 
 "empty's army had quitted their entrenchments, and 
 
 i.ito the pi. 
 
 hen, ,pon 
 
 b to halt, 
 
 and with a countenance of the 
 
 long 
 
 to crown i 
 
 n this he drcv ops 
 
 .n order, and advanced the place of battle. 
 
 : the 
 nty-two ' 
 
 proporiii 
 
 thec scrc- 
 
 hc had soi :>cforc pi 
 
 nimblest of his foot so! 
 to fight between i! . their aa- 
 
 d, and had actual 1 
 
 fore. 
 
 Pompey> on the other h :ons of 
 
 success ; he boasted that he could put Csesar's lev 
 to flight without strikin i^low ; p: 
 
 h he 
 plact ions, would on i 
 
 mmended tins scl 
 j)rescnt troop 
 whi 
 
 dow of those old legions that had fought in H: 
 Gaul i that all the veterans were won. 
 '.iiccdbyru- in a burn 
 
 To increase the confidence of the army still more 
 took an oath, which the r. or to 
 
 return to the camp but with victory. In i i 
 under these advantageous circumsta:, 
 'cd his troops to battle, 
 
COMMONWEALTH OF ROME. I3i 
 
 Potnpey's order of battle was good and well judged. 
 In the centre, and on the two flanks, he placed all his 
 veterans, and distributed his new raised troops between 
 the wings and the main body. The Syrian legions were 
 placed in the centre, under the command of Scipio ; the 
 Spaniards, on whom he greatly relied, were put on the 
 right under Domitius Jtnobarbus, and on the left were 
 stationed the two legions which Caesar had restored in 
 the beginning of the war, led on by Pompcy himself ; 
 because from thence he intended to make the attack 
 which was to gain the day ; and for the same reason he 
 had there assembled all his horse, slingers, and archers, 
 of which his right wing had no need, being covered by 
 the river Enipius. Cxsar likewise divided his army in- 
 to three bodies under three commanders ; Domitius 
 Calvinus being placed in the centre, and Mark Anthony 
 on the left, while he himself led on the right wing, which 
 to oppose the left commanded by Pompey. It is 
 remarkable enough that Pompey chose to put himself 
 at the head of those troops which were disciplined and 
 instructed by Cxsar, an incontestible proof how much 
 he valued them above any of the rest of his army. Cae- 
 >n the contrary, placed himself at the head of his 
 !i legion, that had owed all its merit and fame to 
 his own training. As he observed the enemy's nume- 
 rous cavalry to be all drawn to one spot, he guessed at 
 Pompey's intention ; to obviate which he made a draught 
 of bix cohorts from his rear line, and forming them into 
 parate body, concealed them behind his right wing, 
 with instructions not to throw their javelins on the ap- 
 proach of Pompey's horse, as was customary .but to keep 
 them in uieir hands, and push them directly in the faces 
 and the eyes of the horsemen, who being composed of 
 the younger part of the Roman nobility, valued them- 
 selves much upon their beauty, and dreaded a scar in the 
 face more than a wound in the body. He, lastly, placed 
 cavalry he had so as to cover the right of the tenth 
 legion, ordering his third line not to march till they had 
 received the signal from him. 
 
 As the armies approached, the two generals went 
 from rank to rank encouraging their men, warming their 
 
132 Tin; iiLvroii\ 
 
 hopes and lessening their apprehensi- 
 
 bcntcd to his men, that the glorious occasion v, 
 
 had long besought him to grant \vas now befo 
 
 ;ul indeed," cried he, ' wh 
 
 ish over an enemy that you are not now ; 
 u of? Your numbers, your vigour, a late victory, all as- 
 
 :re a speedy and an easy conquest fcf il- 
 id broken troops, composed of men v 
 
 c, and imprest with terrors of a recent dc 
 there is still a stronger bulwark for our \ 
 
 c superiority of our strength, the : 
 
 \ oi: ..re < n gaged in the d ot 
 
 " your country ; you are supported 1 i fol- 
 
 " lowed by it have the world spt 
 
 l< toVs of your conduct, and wishing you su^ the 
 
 u contrary, he whom you oppose is a robber and op; 
 " sor of his country, and almost 
 
 ' CO! 
 
 " of hib arms. Shew then, on th .: ar- 
 
 u dour and detestation of tyranny ihi late 
 
 1 do jusli 
 oide, went among liis men with 
 
 h he was so much admired in tin 
 t (1 on nothing so strongly to 
 lent and unsuccessful endeavours for peace. 
 alked with terror of the blood he was going 
 and pleaded only the necessity him to it. 
 
 He deplored the many brave men that were to fall on 
 both 
 
 should be victorior. :ed his speech 
 
 with looks of ardour and impatience ; win 
 lie gave the signal to bc^in. The wore! 
 
 the inviucible, that on ( 
 
 nusthe victorious. Tin :dy so much i] 
 
 twecnbolh ai :. :;ivc room fo: 
 
 Pompcy ordered his men to receive the fir- 
 without moving out of their places, expecting the i 
 my's ranks to be put into disorder by tht i 
 
 soldiers were now rushing on with their usual 
 impetuosity, when, perceiving the enemy motionless, 
 they all stopt short as if by general consent, and h^ 
 
COMMONWEALTH OF ROME. t3;; 
 
 ;n the midst of their career. A terrible pause ensued, 
 in which both armies continued to gaze upon each other 
 with mutual terror and dreadful serenity. At length, 
 Caesar's men having taken breath ran furiously upon the 
 enemy, first discharging their javelins, and then drawing 
 their swords. The same method was observed by Pom- 
 pey's troops, who as vigorously sustained the attack. 
 His cavalry also were ordered to charge at the very on- 
 set, which, with the multitude of archers and slingers, 
 soon obliged Caesar's men to give ground ; whereupon 
 Caesar immediately ordered the six cohorts that were 
 placed as a reinforcement to advance, with orders to 
 strike at the enemy's faces. This had its desired effect ; 
 the cavalry, that were but just now Sure of victory, re- 
 reived an immediate check ; the unusual method of fight- 
 ing pursued by the cohorts, their aiming entirely at the 
 visages of the assailants, and the horrible disfiguring 
 wounds they made, all contributed to intimidate them 
 so much, that instead of defending their persons, their 
 only endeavour was to save their faces. A total route 
 ensued of their whole body, which fled in great disorder 
 to the neighbouring mountains, while the archers and 
 slingers who were thus abandoned, were cut to pieces. 
 Caesar now commanded the cohorts to pursue their suc- 
 cess, and, advancing, charged Pompey's troops upon 
 the flank : this charge the enemy withstood for some 
 time with great bravery, till he brought up his third 
 line, which had not yet engaged. Pompey's infantry, 
 being thus doubly attacked, in front by fresh troops, 
 and in rear by the victorious cohorts, could no longer 
 resist but fled to their camp. The flight began among 
 the strangers, though Pompey's right wing still valiantly- 
 maintained their ground. Caesar, however, being con- 
 vinced that the victory was certain, with his usual cle- 
 mency cried out, to pursue the strangers, but to spare 
 the Romans : upon which they all laid down their arms 
 and received quarter. The greatest slaughter was among 
 the auxiliaries, who fled on all quarters, but principal* 
 ly went for safety to the camp. The battle had now 
 lasted from the break of day till noon, the weather be- 
 M 
 
134 THI. III.vroRY OF Tl 
 
 !y hot ; nevertheless the conquert 
 rdour, being encouraged by the example 
 of their general, who thought his victory not con:, 
 till he was master of the ci; np. Accordn 
 
 marching on foot at their head, he called upon ' 
 to follow and strike the decisive bio 
 
 ere left to defend the T some 
 
 !e a formidable resi^ 
 her of T 
 poi: ing could resist thi 
 
 fled to the mouni. 
 
 t so 
 
 
 
 ' 
 
 of the 1; 
 
 for a battle. 
 
 :hly furnished might have been able to en 
 of any troops but Caesar's ; there 
 ;g to be done, and he would 
 irsueany other object than thci; 
 
 ircd to the adjacent mo< Ion 
 
 rs to join him in the pursuit, in order to oblige 
 
 v inclosin 
 :i at the foot ct 
 
 abandoned a post which was not tenable for 
 water, and endeavoured to reach the city oi 
 
 of his army by a shorter way, an! 
 : their retreat, drawing up in order of battle be- 
 i them and the city. 1 : ihese unhapny fu- 
 
 js once more found protection from a mountain, at 
 Ihe foot of which a rivulet ran, which supplied t! 
 with water. Now night approaching, Caesar's men v 
 
COMMONWEALTH OF ROME. 135 
 
 almost spent, and ready to faint with their incessant toil 
 since morning, yet still he prevailed upon them once 
 more to renew their labours, and to cut off the rivulet 
 that supplied the defendants. The fugitives, thus de- 
 prived of all hopes of succour or subsistance, sent depu- 
 ties to the conqueror, offering to surrender at discretion. 
 During this interval of negociation, a few senators that 
 were among them took the advantage of the night to 
 escape, and the rest next morning gave up their arms, 
 and experienced the conqueror's clemency. In fact, he 
 addressed them with great gentleness, and forbade his 
 soldiers to otter them any violence, or to take any thing 
 them. Thus Caesar, by his conduct, gained the 
 most complete victory that had ever been obtained ; and 
 by his great clemency after the battle seemed to have de- 
 served it. His loss amounted to but two hundred men, 
 and that of Pompey to fifteen thousand, as well Romans 
 us auxiliaries : twenty-four thousand men surrender- 
 ed themselves prisoners of war, and the greatest part of 
 these entered into Caesar's army, and were incorporated 
 with the rest of his forces. As to the senators and Ro- 
 man knights who tell into his hands, he generously gave 
 them liberty to retire wherever they thought proper : 
 und as for the letters which Pompey had received from 
 several persons who wished to be thought neutral, he 
 burnt them all without reading them, as Pompey had 
 done upon a former occasion. Thus having performed 
 nil the duties of a general and a statesman, he sent for 
 the legions which had passed the night in the camp, to 
 relieve those which had accompanied him in the pur- 
 suit, and arrived the same day at Larissa. 
 
 As for Pompey, who had formerly shewn such instan- 
 ces of courage and conduct, when he saw his cavalry 
 routed, on which he had placed his sole dependence, he 
 absolutely lost his reason. Instead of thinking how to 
 remedy this disorder by rallying such troops as fled, or 
 by opposing fresh troops to stop the progress of the con- 
 querors, being totally amazed by his first blow, he re- 
 turned to the camp, and in his lent waited the issue of 
 an event, which it was his duty to direct, not to follow : 
 e he remained for some moments without speaking, 
 
THE HISTORY OF T1 
 
 till being told that the camp was attacked, " \V.. 
 he, " are we pursued to our very entrenchmei 
 and immediately quitting; his armour fo. nore 
 
 able to hiscircumsi 
 to Larissa ; from when 
 he slackened 
 veflcctior. 
 
 of Temp 
 
 urru . the 
 
 ;;t on board a little 
 
 burthen which svemed preparing to sail, in 
 
 ed, the 11. 
 
 honi. -> due to his former 
 
 mouth of the i : 
 
 long (Uttered licrselt' with the hop 
 
 ed by tlu 
 vrord 
 
 hasten, ii i but one > 
 
 *nd even that not his o .. h before 
 
 ')le ; slu 
 
 aud lay a considerable 
 
 At length recovering; h- now 
 
 10 lime i i ran quite through the 
 
 to the Sf ;>ey embraced her without 
 
 i clime supported her ii 
 .irms in silent d 
 
 I laving taken in Cornelia, he now continued his course 
 10 the south-cast, and stopping no Ion 
 
 visions at the ports that 
 
 nrrrd in his passage. He ;i to 
 
 ipply to Ptolemy, king to whose father Pom- 
 
 had been a considerable benefactor. PtoK ; 
 yet a minor, had not the government in his < 
 's, but he and his kingdom were under the direction 
 of Photmus, an eunuch, and Theodorus, a master of" 
 
COMMONWEALTH OF ROME. 137 
 
 art of speaking. These advised that Pompey should be 
 invited on shore and there slain ; and accordingly Achil- 
 las, the commander of the forces, and Septimius, by 
 birth a Roman, and who had formerly been a centurion 
 in Pompey's army, were appointed to carry their opin- 
 ions into execution. Being attended by three or four 
 more> they went into a little bark, and rowed off from 
 land towards Pompey's ship that lay about a mile from 
 the shore. Pompey, after having" taken leave of Cor- 
 nelia, who wept at his departure, and having repeated 
 two verses of Sophocles, signifying, that he who trusts 
 his freedom to a tyrant, from that moment becomes a 
 slave, gave his hand to Achillas, and stept into the bark, 
 with only two attendants of his own. They had now 
 rowed from the ship a good way ; and, as during that 
 time they all kept profound silence, Pompey, willing to 
 begin the discourse, accosted Septimius, whose face he 
 recollected. " Methinks, friend," cried he, "you and I 
 u were once fellow soldiers together." Septimius gave 
 only a nod with his head, without uttering a word, or 
 instancing the least civility. Pompey, therefore, took 
 out a paper, on which he had minuted a speech he in- 
 tended to make to the king, and began reading it. In 
 this manner they approached the shore ; and Cornelia, 
 whose concern had never suffered her to lose sight of her 
 husband, began to conceive hope, when she perceived 
 he people on the strand crowding down along the coasts 
 as if willing to receive him ; but her hopes were soon 
 destroyed ; for that instant, as Pompey rose, supporting 
 himself upon his freed man's arm, Septimius stabbed 
 him in the back, and was instantly seconded by Achillas. 
 Pompey perceiving his death inevitable, only disposed 
 himself to meet it with decency, and covering his face 
 with his* robe, without speaking a word, with a sigh re- 
 signed himself to his fate. At this horrid sight Corne- 
 lia shrieked so loud as to be heard to the shore ; but the 
 danger she herself was in, did not allow the mariners 
 time to look on ; they immediately set sail, and the wind 
 proving favourable, fortunately they escaped the pur- 
 cult of the Egyptian gallies. In the irean time, Pont 
 M 2 
 
TOE HISTORY OF THE 
 
 pey's murderer's having cut off his head, caused it to be 
 
 aimed, the better to preserve its features, d< 
 t for a present to Crcsar. The body \\asthrov 
 
 l ic strand, and exposed to the 
 uriosity led them that way. Ho 
 i, Philip, still kept i 
 
 crscd, he washed it in the sea ; and 1 >und 
 
 i:\terials to burn it, he percci \ 
 
 he composed a pile. While hi 
 
 led by an old II o- 
 
 !:o IKK) serve*! under Pompt uth. 
 
 hoartthou," that artroakii ;m- 
 
 Philip 
 
 ..s one of his freed men, "Alas," 
 
 < rmit me to si lour 
 
 inonp^ all the miseries of my exile it will be my 
 
 cral of my o! and touch the boi: 
 
 cr Homeprotl lioth 
 
 after this 
 
 .\itcrwards placed the lolJ 
 
 -carer find a /c 
 
 ,6] 
 
 C.i celcbra,' s fortune) 
 
 and yet his abilities seem e 
 
 He possessed many shinii ' the 
 
 mixture of any defect but th .lion. 11. 
 
 - were such as would have rendered him i ^ 
 c head of any army he commanded, and he would 
 
 .ny republic that had given him I : 
 : - cd a most complete victor 
 
EMPIRE OF ROME. 139 
 
 only seetned to increase his activity, and inspire him with 
 fresh resolution to face new dangers. He resolved there- 
 fore to pursue his last advantage, and follow Pompey to 
 whatever country he should retire ; convinced, that 
 during his life he might gain new triumphs, but could 
 never enjoy security. 
 
 Accordingly, losing no time, he set sail for Egypt) 
 and arrived at Alexandria with about four thousand 
 men ; a tery inconsiderable force to keep such a power- 
 ful kingdom under subjection. Upon his landing, the 
 first accounts he received were of Pompey's miserable 
 end ; and soon after one of the murderers came with 
 his head and ring, as a most grateful present to the con- 
 queror. But Caesar had too much humanity to be pleas- 
 ed with such an horrid spectacle : he turned away from 
 it with disgust ; and, after a short pause, gave vent to 
 his pity in a flood of tears. He shortly after ordered a 
 magnificent tomb to be built to his memory, on the spot 
 where he wa.a murdered, and a temple near the place to 
 Nemesis, who was the goddess that punished those that 
 were cruel to men in adversity. 
 
 It should seem that the Egyptians by this time had 
 some hopes of breaking off all alliance with ihe Romans, 
 which they considered, as in fact it was, but a specious 
 subjection. They first began to take offence at Caesar's 
 carrying the ensigns of Roman power before him as he 
 entered the city. Photinus, the eunuch, also treated 
 him with great disrespect, and even attempted his life 
 Caesar, however, concealed his resentment till he had a 
 force sufficient to punish his treachery ; and sending 
 privately for the legions which had been formerly en- 
 rolled for Pompey's service, as being the nearest to 
 Egypt, he in the mean time pretended to repose an en- 
 tire confidence in the king's minister, making great en- 
 tertainments, and assisting at the conferences of the 
 philosophers, who were in great numbers at Alexandria. 
 However, he soon changed his manner, when he found 
 himself in no danger from the minister's attempts ; 
 and declared, that, as being Roman consul, it was his 
 'luty to settle t)re succession of the Egyptian crown* 
 
U THE HISTORY OF THE 
 
 There was at that lime two pretenders to the crown 
 4;ypt ; Ptolemy, the acknowledged king, and the 
 celebrated Cleopatra, his sister, to whom, by the custom 
 of the country, he also was married; and who. by his 
 father's will, shared jointly in the succession. Not being 
 contented with a bare participation of power, Cleopatra 
 aimed at governing alone ; but being opposed in her 
 views by the Roman senate, who confirmed her bro- 
 ther's title to the crown, she was banished i 
 Arsinoe, her younger si opes 
 
 of aspiring to the kingdom, and sent to both her and her 
 brother to plead their cause before him. Photinus, the 
 young king's guardian disii opo- 
 
 sal, and backed his refusal by sendim 
 ty thousand men to besiege him :csar 
 
 bravely repulsed the enemy for some time ; but finding 
 the city of too great extent to be defended by so si 
 an army as he then commanded, he retired to the palace 
 which commanded the harbour, where IK ;1 to 
 
 make his stat: alas, who commanded ti 
 
 ckcd him the 
 
 aim* of the {: v be- 
 
 fore the palace. Caes >o well knew the 
 
 re of those ships in the hands of an enemy, and 
 therefore burnt them all in spite oft 
 vent him. He next possest himself of the isle c 
 which was the key to tl -idrian port ; by v 
 
 he was enabled to receive the u , : from all 
 
 ,d in this he determined to 
 
 the united force of all the E, 
 
 In the mean time, Cleopatra having heard of the pre- 
 turn in her favour, resolved to depend rather on 
 Caesar's favour for gaining the government than 
 own forces. But no arts, as she justl 
 so likely to influence Caesar as the charms of her person, 
 which, though not faultless, were yet extremely s<. 
 ing > now in the bloom of her yx>uth, an 
 
 cry featnre borrowed grace from the lively turn of her 
 temper. To the most enchanting address she joined the 
 most harmonious voice. \Vith all these accomplish- 
 ments fee possessed a great share of the learning c 
 
EMPIRE OF ROME. i4l 
 
 times, and could give audience to the ambassadors of 
 seven different nations without an interpreter. The dif- 
 ficulty was how to get at Caesar, as her enemies were in 
 possession of all the avenues that Led to the palace, tor 
 this purpose she went on board a small vessel, and in the 
 evening landed near the palace, where, being wrapt up 
 in a coverlet, she was carried by one Aspolodorus into 
 the very chamber of Caesar. Her address at first pleas- 
 'ed him ; her wit and understanding still fanned the 
 ilame ; but her caresses, which were carried beyond the 
 bounds of innocence, entirely brought him over to se- 
 
 i her claims. 
 
 While Cleopatra was thus employed in forwarding 
 licr own views, her sister Arsinoe was also strenuously en- 
 ; ;a^ed in the camp in pursuing a separate interest. She 
 had found means, by the assistance of one Ganymede, 
 her confidant, to make a large division in the Egyptian 
 army in her favour ; and soon after, by one of those 
 sudden revolutions which are common in barbarian 
 camps to this day, she caused Achillas to be murdered, 
 ;nd Ganymede to take the command in his stead, and 
 to carry on the siege with greater vigour than before. 
 Ganymede's principal effort was by letting in the sea 
 upon those canals which aupplied the palace with fresh 
 water j but this inconvenience Caesar remedied by dig- 
 ging a greatnumber of wells. His next endeavour was 
 to prevent the junction of Caesar's twenty-fourth legion, 
 which he twice attempted in vain. He soon after made 
 himself master of a bridge which joined the isle of Pha- 
 ros to the continent, from which post Csesar was resolv- 
 ed to dislodge him. In the heat of the action, some 
 mariners, partly through curiosity, and partly ambition, 
 nme and joined the combatants ; but, being seized with 
 a panic, instantly fled, and spread a general terror 
 through the army. All Caesar's endeavours to rally his 
 forces were in vain, the confusion was past remedy, and 
 numbers were drowned or put to the sword in attempt- 
 ing to escape. Now, therefore, seeing the irremediable 
 disorder of his troops, he retired to a ship in order to get 
 to the palace that was just opposite ; however he was 
 no sooner on board than great crowds entered at the 
 
THE HISTORY OF THK 
 
 e time with him ; upon which, apprehensive 01 
 chip's sinking, lie jumped into the sea, and s\ 
 hundred paces to the fleet that lay before the ] 
 the time holding his own commentaries in his left hand 
 
 c water, and his coat of mail in his te< 
 The efforts t< 
 
 pala 
 out < 
 
 in the b. 
 
 they of their cust- ion, 
 
 pro IV utmost di 
 
 the presence of ih prince u- 
 
 the 
 
 the 
 
 abilities of a boy. IHolei, 
 was set at libc Made 
 
 icmmed in for son^ 
 
 :rom 
 
 this iiuation by Mithrii' 
 
 one of his most faithful 10 came v- 
 
 . collecli; 
 
 mcrousarmy in Syria, marched into r 
 of Pelusiam, rcpu. 
 at last, joining \\i 
 
 ightcrof the 1 : PtolcM 
 
 tempting to escape on 
 
 is drowned by the s ; 
 Caesir il ie mastc: 
 
 fartlier opposition. He therefore appointed Cleo[ 
 with her j brother who was then but an ii 
 
 as joint > . according to the intent of thci 
 
 ther's will, and drove out Ar&inoc uith Ganymede into 
 banishment. 
 
 ;ng thus jiven away kingdoms, he now for a 
 while seemed to relax from the \ 
 due' ith the charm 1 - 
 
 quell the rcr. 
 ed himself to . 
 
EMPIRE OF ROME. 14S 
 
 passing whole nights in feasting, and all the excesses of 
 high wrought luxury, with the young queen. He even 
 resolved to attend her up the Nile into ^Ethiopia ; but 
 the brave veterans, who had long followed his fortune, 
 boldly reprehended his conduct, and refused to be part- 
 ners in so infamous an expedition. Thus, at length, 
 roused from his lethargy, he resolved to prefer the call 
 of ambition to that of love ; and to leave Cleopatra, (by 
 whom he had a son who was afterwards called Gesario) 
 in order to oppose Pharnaces, the king of Bosphorus, 
 v. ho had made some inroads upon the dominions oi' 
 ne. 
 
 This prince, who was the son of the great Mithri- 
 j being ambitious of recovering his father's domin- 
 ions, seized upon Armenia, and Colchis, and overcame 
 who had been sent against him. Upon Cae- 
 sar's march to oppose him, Pharnaces, who was as much 
 terrified at the name of the general as at the strength of 
 his army, laboured by all the arts of negociation, to 
 avert the impending danger. Caesar, exasperated at his 
 crimes and ingratitude, at first dissembled with the am- 
 bassadors, and using all expedition, fell upon the enemy 
 unexpectedly, and in a few hours obtained a speedy and 
 complete victory. Pharnaces, attempted to take refuge 
 in his capital, and was slain by one of his own comman- 
 ders. A just punishment for his former parricide. But 
 Caesar conquered him with so much ease, that, in wil- 
 ting to a friend at Rome, he exprest the rapidity of his 
 victory in three words : " Vtni^ rzY/z', vie?." A man so 
 accustomed to conquest thought a slight battle scarce 
 worth a longer letter. 
 
 Caesar having settled affairs in this part of the empire, 
 as well as time would permit, embarked for Italy, where 
 he arrived sooner than his enemies could expect, V-ut not 
 before his affairs there absolutely required his presence. 
 He had been during his absence, created consul for five 
 years, dictator tor one year and tribune of the people 
 for life. But Anthony, who in the mean time govern- 
 ed in Rome for him, had filled the city with riot and 
 debauchery, and many commotions ensued, which no- 
 thing but the arrival of Caesar, so opportunely could ap- 
 
tlSTORY Qi 
 
 pease. However, by his moderation and burn 
 soon restored tranquility to the city, scar 
 distinction between those of his own and the opp 
 party. Having by gentle means restored his 
 at home he prepared to march into Africa, wh 
 pey's party had found time to rally un< 
 Cato, assisted by Juba 1- 
 usual diligence landed mall pa 
 
 while the rest of his army followed him. ^ 
 to a battle soon after received a com^ ual over- 
 
 xhrow, with little or no loss on the side of t! 
 Juba and Petreus, his -ailed each oil 
 
 spair. Scipio, attempting to escape by sea ii 
 fell in among the enen. f all 
 
 the generals of that undone v the on- 
 
 ly one tli. 
 
 This cxtraon.. 
 .nor no n. 
 
 remains of that 
 
 the city < : 
 to defend. Still, b 
 
 of Roman government, he had formed the 
 zens im< c(i a res< i 
 
 ing out the town. But the enthusiasm of libci 
 (Ung amoni; his followers, \\ 
 force men to be free wl. 
 very. He now the reft 
 
 Icmcncy 
 
 at last victorious, 
 his friends, he rct'r 
 ved with unus\ial tciul 
 IVici. 
 
 himself down and took 
 mortality of the soul ; and havi.. 
 
 happening to cast his eyes to t '.he 
 
 much surprised not to find ,iich 
 
 had been taken away by his son's ordc 
 at supper. Upon this, calling one of his doraesu< 
 
EMPIRE OF ROML. 145 
 
 know what was become of his sword, and receiving no 
 answer, he resumed his studies ; but some time after 
 called for his sword again. When he had done read- 
 ing, and pe'rceiving nobody obeyed him in bringing his 
 sword, he called his domestics one after the other, and 
 with a peremptory air demanded his sword once more. 
 His son came in soon after, and with tears besought him. 
 in the most humble manner to change his resolution ; 
 but receiving a stern reprimand, he desisted from his 
 persuasions. His sword being at length brought him, he 
 seemed satisfied ; and cried out, " Now again I am mas- 
 er of myself." He then took up the book again, which 
 he read twice over, and fell into a sound sleep. Upon 
 awaking, he called to one of his freed men to know if 
 his friends were embarked, or if any thing yet remained 
 that could be done to serve them. The freed man as- 
 suring him that all was quiet, he was then ordered again 
 to leave the room ; and Cato was no sooner alone, than 
 he stabbed himself with his sword through the breast, 
 but not with that force he intended ; for the wound not 
 dispatching him, he fell upon his bed, and at the same 
 ume overturned a table on which he had been drawing 
 some geometrical figures. At the noise he made in his 
 ;all his servants gave a shriek, and his son and friends 
 immediately entered the room. They found him wel- 
 tering in his blood, and his bowels pushed out through 
 *he wound. The physician who attended his family, per- 
 eiving that his intestines v, ere yet untouched, was for 
 replacing them ; but when Cato had recovered his senses, 
 :tnd understood their intention to preserve his life, he 
 pushed the physician from him, and with a fierce reso- 
 lution tore out his bowels and expired. 
 
 Upon the death of Cato, the war in Africa being com- 
 (I, Caesar returned in triumph to Rome ; and, as if 
 he had abridged all his former triumphs only to increase 
 the splendour of this, the citizens were astonished at the 
 magnificence of the procession, and the number of coun- 
 he had subdued. It lasted four days : the first was 
 for Gaul, the second for Egypt, the third for his victo- 
 ries in Asia, and the fourth for that over Juba in Africa, 
 N 
 
THE HISTORY Oi< THE 
 
 l lib . -Idlers, all scarred \v.- -vounds, and i 
 
 hid up for life, followed their triumph.-, 
 cd with laurels, and conducted him t 
 v one of these 
 
 ircd and fifty pounds of our money, double that sum 
 ; centurions, and four times as much t' 
 < 1 his boir 
 
 one of v. : . (1 ten bu 
 
 poun 
 
 crling of ours. He after tl. the 
 
 ' 
 
 arse of spectators from i 
 people, intoxicated with the . 
 
 Jieir freedom too 
 >enc sec niccl 
 
 iicr of hi: 
 
 c devolved for life all tl 
 It must be owi,, 
 
 i^tcd to bi 
 
 immediately began his 
 cncoura; ' iucd the \ 
 
 catuve t< lators and the 
 
 :;sed rev. 
 
 many children, and took the most pr is of 
 
 rcpeopling the ci; 
 commolions. 
 
 IIa\i:i'^ thus rcs'j . 
 he attain found himself unc 
 tin, to oppose an army v 
 
 under the l\vo sons of Pom; his 
 
 former general. He proceeded 
 his - . and arri'. 
 
 vet departed I: 
 - sons, profitr.. 
 iher's example, resolved as much a5 possible to pn 
 
EMPIRE OF ROME. 147 
 
 ihe war ; so that the first operations of the two armies 
 were spent in sieges, and fruitless attempts to surprize 
 each other. At length Caesar, after taking many cities 
 from the enemy, and pursuing Pompey with unwearied 
 perseverance, at last compelled him to come to a battle 
 upon the plains of Munda. Pompey drew up his men 
 by break of day upon the declivity of an hill with great 
 exactness and order. Cxsar drew up his men likewise 
 in the plain below ; and, after, advancing a little way 
 from his trenches, he ordered his men to make an halt, 
 expecting the enemy to come down from the hill. This 
 delay made Caesar's soldiers begin to murmur, while 
 Pompey's with full vigour poured down upon them, and 
 a dreadful conflict ensued. The first shock was so dread- 
 ful, that Cxsar's men, who had hitherto been used to 
 conquer, now began to waver. Caesar was never in so 
 much danger as now : he threw himself several times 
 into the very throng of battle. " What," cried he, 
 " are you going to give up your general, who is grown 
 *' grey in fighting at your head, to a parcel of boys?'* 
 Upon this his tenth legion exerted themselves with more 
 than former bravery ; and a party of horse being de- 
 tached by Labienus from the camp in the pursuit of a 
 body of Numidian cavalry, Cxsar cried aloud that they 
 were flying. This cry instantly spread itself through 
 both armies, exciting the one as much as it depressed the 
 other. Now, therefore, the tenth legion pressed for- 
 ward, and a total route soon ensued. Thirty thousand 
 men were killed on Pompey's side, among whom was 
 Labienus, whom Csesar ordered to be buried with the 
 funeral honours of a general officer. Cneius Pompey 
 escaped with a few horsemen to the sea side, but finding 
 his passage intercepted by Caesar's lieutenant, he was 
 obliged to seek for a retreat in an obscure cavern. Ho 
 was quickly discovered by some of Caesar's troops, who 
 presently cut off his head, and brought it to the con- 
 queror. His brother Sextus, however, concealed him- 
 self so well, that he escaped all pursuit, and afterwards 
 became very noted and formidable for his piracies to the 
 people of Rome. . 
 
TH 
 
 Caesar, by his last blow, subdued all his ai 
 
 :id the rest of his 1 
 tage of the state. He adorned the city with m. 
 
 colonies to both cities ; he undertook to le\ 
 
 :i the Pontinc 
 
 Ro Lo cut through the i^- 
 
 poi id that could IK 
 
 the ; hut the 
 
 heo 
 
 . put to a 
 >ld pourc 
 
 . 
 
 oft: . 
 
 the irnu: 
 
 to return to } 
 
 usy of a few indivh an end to 
 
 Has.: 
 
 from the senate accumulated honoui v 
 moured that he intended to make himv 
 though in fact he was possessed of the p^ peo- 
 
 ple, who had an utter 
 bear his aasvu. 
 cd to assume that empt 
 main a secret ; bu 
 
 nes of his conduci 
 deuce in the innocence 
 ed by those about 1 i 
 who envied his po 
 
 .cnsion of - ume to 1 
 
 a whom he had for some tinu 
 lestconfii 
 
 -aying, " Can you t 
 
 And being 01.' 
 [ 
 
EMPIRE OF ROME. 149 
 
 easiest, he replied, that which was most sudden and 
 least foreseen. But to convince the world how little he 
 had to apprehend from his enemies, he disbanded his 
 company of Spanish guards, which facilitated the enter- 
 prize against his life. 
 
 A deep conspiracy was therefore laid against him., 
 composed of no less than sixty senators. They were 
 still the more formidable, as the generality of them 
 were of his own party, who, having been raised above 
 other citizens, felt more strongly the weight of a single 
 superior. At the head of this conspiracy were Brutus, 
 whose life Caesar had spared after the battle of Pharsalia, 
 and Cassius, who was pardoned soon after, both praetors 
 for the present year. Brutus made it his chief glory to 
 have been descended from that Brutus who first gave 
 liberty to Rome. The passion for freedom seemed to 
 have been transmitted with the blood of his ancestors 
 down to him. But though he detested tyranny, yet he 
 could not forbear loving the tyrant, from whom he had 
 received the most signal benefits. 
 
 The conspirators, to give a colour of justice to their 
 proceedings, remitted the execution of their design to 
 the ides of March, the day on which Caesar was to be 
 offered the crown. The augurs had foretold that this 
 day would be fatal to him ; and the night preceding, he 
 heard his wife Culpurnia lamenting in her sleep; and 
 being awakened, she confessed to him that she dreamt of 
 his being assassinated in her arms. These omens in some 
 measure began to change his intentions of going to the 
 senate, as he had resolved, that day ; but one of the con- 
 spirators coming in prevailed upon him to keep his re- 
 solution, telling him of the reproach that would attend 
 his staying at home till his wife had lucky dreams, and 
 )f the preparations that were made for kis appearance. 
 As he went along to the senate, a slave, who hastened to 
 him with information of the conspiracy, attempted to 
 come near him, but could not for the crowd. Artemi- 
 dorus, a Greek philosopher, who had discovered the 
 whole plot, delivered him a memorial containing the 
 heads of the information ; but Caesar gave it, with other 
 N 2. 
 
150 THE HISTORY OF Tl 
 
 papers, to one of his secretaries without reading, as was 
 usual in things of this nature. Being at length entered 
 
 te house, where the conspirators were prep 
 to receive him, he met one Spuiina, an av 
 foretold r; to- whom he said, sn . 
 
 " Spuiinu the re- 
 
 plied tht 'Ait they are not yi oon 
 
 as he had tu .. 
 him, under pretence of saluting him : 
 
 one of them, apj> 
 pretending to sue fur hi 
 
 banished by his order. All the 'ors seconded 
 
 him wit!: .iestness; sue 
 
 with still greater sub; torn 
 
 This was t he- 
 stabbed I 
 instantly tun;' 
 
 .dcd him in the a: 
 tors were nov. 
 
 received a secon< n the 
 
 breast. vshilc< winded him in the :.. 
 
 defended hir igour, n. 
 
 them, and th 
 
 who, cor 
 t-truck hi 
 
 .tr tho\!glit no more oft! hut look- 
 
 . acn covering his hi 
 before hi; 
 
 
 
 liree and twenty woum: 
 ly suppose 
 
 , T Czsar was killed in the : 
 
 ' ut fourtef : 
 
 .cjuest of the world. If> 
 
 , we shall be equally at a loss whether most toadi 
 abilities or his wenderful fortune. T- 
 .it from the beginning he planned the i 
 >untry,is doing no great credit u- 
 enetrauon ; as a thousand obstat l 
 
EMPIRE OF ROME. 151 
 
 way, which fortune, rather than conduct, was to sur- 
 mount. No man, therefore, of his sagacity, would have 
 begun a scheme in which the chances of succeeding were 
 so many against him : it is most probable, that, like all 
 very successful men, he only made the best of every oc- 
 currence ; and his ambition rising with his good fortune, 
 from at first being contented with humbler aims, he at 
 last began to think of governing the world, when he 
 found scarce any obstacle to oppose his designs. Such 
 is the disposition of man, whose cravings after power 
 are always most insatiable when he enjoys the greatest 
 share. 
 
 As soon as the conspirators had dispatched Caesar, 
 they all retired to the capital, and guarded its accesses 
 by a body of gladiators which Brutus had in pay. 
 
 The friends of the late dictator now began to find 
 lhat this was the lime for coming into greater power 
 than before, and for satisfying their ambition under the 
 veil of promoting justice. Of this number was Antho- 
 ny, whom we have already seen acting as a lieutenant 
 under Caesar, and governing Rome in his absence. He 
 was a man of moderate abilities and excessive vices, am- 
 bitious of power only, because it gave his pleasures a 
 wider range to riot in, but skilled in war, to which he 
 had been trained from his youth. He was consul for 
 this year, and resolved, with Lepidus, who was fond of 
 commotions like himself, to seize this opportunity of 
 gaining that power which Caesar had died for usurping. 
 Lepidus, therefore took possession of the Forum with a 
 band of soldiers at his devotion ; and Anthony, being- 
 consul, was permitted to command them. Their first 
 step was to possess themselves of all Caesar's papers and 
 money, and the next to convene the senate. Never had 
 this august assembly been convened upon so delicate an 
 occasion, as it was to determine whether Caesar had been 
 a legal magistrate or a tyrannical usurper ; and whether 
 those who killed him merited rewards or punishments. 
 There were many of these who had received all their 
 promotions from Caesar, and had acquired large fortunes 
 in consequence of his appointments : to vote him an 
 isurper, therefor*, would be to endanger their property ; 
 
\5l THE HISTORY OF THE 
 
 anil yet to vote him innocent might endanger the 31 
 In this dilemma they seemed willing to reconcile 
 tremes ; wherefore they approved all the acts oi Caesar, 
 -ranted a general pardon to all the conspirators. 
 This decree v .r from i;-: 
 
 faction, as it granted security to a number of men who 
 were the avowed enemies of tyranny, and w!. 
 be foremost in oppo lute 
 
 power. >re the senate had : sar's 
 
 acts without distinction, hi 
 
 of making him rule when dead us imperio 1 had 
 
 done when living. Being, : 
 
 books of accounts, he s 
 
 as to make him insert v 
 By these means great sums of moi 
 would nc \ 
 
 the people : and every man wh- 
 
 signs against the government was there sure of finding 
 jing in tl .ony 
 
 demanded of the v 
 
 should be performed, which I not dect 
 
 icy had never declared him 
 
 , the body was brought forth into the 
 the utmost solemnity ; 
 
 A-ith these last duties of friendship be; 
 upon the passions of the people by the p 
 motives of private interest. He first : 
 
 :uch he had let; 
 
 his heir, permitting him to take the name 
 three parts o: ate fortune ; and Kruti 
 
 inherit in Cvisc of his death. To the Roman people were 
 left the gardens which he had on the other side of 
 Tyber ; and t .-en in particul 
 
 three thousand sesterces ; and unfolding Caesar's bloody 
 robe iu sight of the multitude* he took care they si, 
 observe the number of stubs in it ; then displayed an im- 
 
 //hich to them appeared the body o 
 
 ith wounds. They could no longer 
 
 nation, but unanimously cried out for revenge, and 
 ran wwh ftaming brands from the pile to act fire to tfte 
 
EMPIRE OF ROME. 153 
 
 pirators' houses. In this rage of resentment meeting 
 with one Cinna, whom they mistook for another of the 
 same name, who was in the conspiracy, they tore him in 
 pieces. The conspirators themselves, however, being 
 well guarded, repulsed the multitude with no great trou- 
 
 , but perceiving the rage of the people, they thought 
 it soon after safest to retire from the city. 
 
 In the mean time, Anthony, who had excited this 
 fhmc, resolved to make the best of the occasion. But 
 an obstacle to his ambition seemed to arise from a quar- 
 ter on which he least expected it, namely, from Octavi- 
 us Cjesar, afterwards called Augustus, who was the grand 
 nephew and adopted son of Caesar. A third campetitor 
 
 for power appeared in Lepidus, a man of some au- 
 
 ity and great riches at Rome. At first the ambition 
 of these three seemed to threaten fatal consequences to 
 
 . other, but, uniting soon after in the common cause, 
 they resolved to revenge the death of Caesar, and divid- 
 
 all power among themselves, formed what is called 
 lie second Triumvirate. 
 
 The meeting of these three usurpers of their country's 
 freedom was near Mutina, upon a little island of the ri- 
 ver Panarus. Their mutual suspicions were the cause of 
 their meeting in a place where they could not fear any 
 treachery ; for, even in their union they could not divest 
 themselves of mutual difhdence. Lepidus first entered, 
 and finding all things safe, made the signal for the other 
 :wo to approach. They embraced each other upon 
 their first meeting ; and Augustus began the conference 
 by thanking Anthony for his zeal in putting Decimus 
 Brutus to death, who, being abandoned by his army, 
 
 taken as he was designing to escape into Macedo- 
 nia, and beheaded by Anthony's command. They then, 
 entered upon the business that lay before them without 
 
 retrospection of the past. Their conference lasted 
 
 irec days ; and in this period they fixed a division 
 of government, and determined upon the fate ofthou- 
 
 s. The result of which was that the supreme au- 
 thority should be lodged in their hands, under the title 
 of the Triumvirate, for the space of five years ; that An- 
 thony should have Gaul j Lepidus, Spain ; and Augus- 
 
THE HISTORY OF 
 
 :<:a, and the Mediterranean islands. As fcr 
 ml the eastern provinces, they were to remain in 
 common until the! . enemy was entirely subdu- 
 
 icles of union, it was ag: 
 cir enemies should be destroyed, of v : 
 presented a list. In these v prised nc: 
 
 enemies but the friends of the i 
 partizans of the one were often found among the 0] 
 sers of the other. Thus Lepif! 
 
 oance of! 
 milted the proscription of his uncle L 
 
 short! ihony's c 
 
 In the m 
 of the conspi; 
 quit 
 
 :uclents . 
 
 arm) 
 
 the 1 
 of tv 
 
 tos 
 
 joi" 1 L>le force 
 
 'id to 
 
 reunite the t\\ hem 
 
 there hai 
 
 cd ti. , .nd then. the 
 
 vith all the neces- 
 c! in a condition to sup- 
 7>ire of the world depei 
 onti i re . 
 
 of his country, and not his own. 
 is in this flouri x> of their affairs th 
 
 spirators had formed a resolution of g 
 o had made great preparatv- 
 their opponer ever, they were 
 
 -nirpose, by an inlyrmation thai 
 
EMPIRE OF ROME. 155 
 
 thony were now upon their march with forty legions to 
 oppose them. Brutus therefore moved to have their ar- 
 my pass over into Greece and Macedonia, and there 
 meet the enemy ; but Cassius so far prevailed as to have 
 the Rhodians and Lycians first reduced, who had re- 
 fused their usual contributions. This expedition was im- 
 mediately put in execution, and extraordinary contribu- 
 tions were raised by that means, the Rhodians having 
 scarce any thing left them but their lives. The Lyci- 
 ans suffered still more severely ; for, having shut them- 
 selves up in the city of Xanthius, they defended the place 
 against Brutus with such fury, that neither his arts nor 
 entreaties could prevail upon them to surrender. At 
 length the town being set on fire by their attempting to 
 burn the works of the Romans, Brutus, instead of laying 
 hold of this opportunity to storm the place, made every 
 effort to preserve it, entreating his soldiers to try all 
 means of extinguishing the fire ; but the desperate phren- 
 zy of the citizens was not to be mollified. Far from 
 thinking themselves obliged to their generous enemy 
 for the efforts which were made to save them, they re- 
 iolved to perish in the flumes. Wherefore instead of 
 nguishing,they didall in their power to augment the 
 fire, by throwing in wood, dry reeds, and all kinds of 
 fuel. Nothing could exceed the distress of Brutus upon 
 ng the townsmen thus resolutely bent on destroying 
 themselves ; rode about the fortifications, stretching 
 out his hands to the Xanthians, and conjuring them to 
 have pity on themselves and their city ; but, insensible 
 to his expostulations, they rushed into the flames with 
 desperate obstinacy, and the whole soon became an heap 
 of undistinguishable ruin. At this horrid spectacle Bru- 
 tus melted into tears, offering a reward to every soldier 
 who should bring him a Lycinian alive. The number 
 of those whom it was possible to save from their own 
 fury amounted to no more than one hundred and fifty. 
 
 Brutus and Cassius met once more at Sardis, where, 
 after the usual ceremonies were passed between them, 
 y resolved to have a private conference together. 
 cy shut themselves up therefore in the first conve- 
 nient house,with express orders to their servants to give 
 
FH1 THE 
 
 no admission. Brutus began, by rcprimandin 
 for having disposed of omces, winch shou! 
 
 nd for h.- d the tri 
 
 ry states. Cassius retorted the ini; 
 with the more bitterness, as he knew the 
 groundless. The MI, till fi 
 
 iking they 
 
 Stan -ie door, overheard th 
 
 menceofthci .aid began to 
 
 sequences, til! -allied hi 
 
 ; al boldnc -.new no rest: 
 
 aimed tlu 
 
 to forego 
 
 of gr ; cs, but oi 
 
 to pleasure in private company ; and, upon t! 
 of morals not cere. But tin 
 
 - 
 
 s in the :ice, 
 
 ight coming on, 
 
 icndsUK-. : t. where: 
 
 ie, took place of 
 and softened the severity u' 
 home, it was that Brutus, as Pluta; 
 
 ctre in his tent. He naturally slept : 
 ,c had increar . te of wa' 
 
 He never al 
 
 in the day tin. - romnvj: 
 
 . j much of the night to slee 
 renew the natural functions. Buter; 
 opprcst with ;us cares, he only lort 
 
 time 
 mid] 
 
 .1 of the : e whole camp 
 
 4uiet, that Brutus - 
 ing by u lamp lha: 
 
 thought he heard a noi^e, as if some; 
 looking towards the door he perceived ii open. A 
 c figure) with a frightful aspect, sloe; 
 
EMPIRE OF ROME. 157 
 
 and continued to gaze upon him with silent severity. At 
 last Brutus had courage to speak to it. " Art thou a 
 " daemon, or a mortal man? and why comest thou to 
 me ?" " Brutus," replied the phantom, " I am thy 
 *' evil genius : thou shalt meet me again at Philippi." 
 " Well then," answered Brutus, without being discom- 
 posed, " we shall meet again." Upon which the phan- 
 tom vanished, and Brutus calling to his servants, asked 
 if they had seen any thing? to which replying in the 
 negative, he again resumed his studies. But as he was 
 
 k with so strange an occurrence, he mentioned it 
 
 next day to Cassius, who> being an Epicurean, as 
 iribed it to the effect of an imagination too much exer- 
 cised by vigilance and anxiety. Brutus appeared satis- 
 led with this solution of his late terrors ; and as Aritho- 
 
 iid Augustus were now advancing into Macedonia, 
 he and his colleague passed over into Thrace, and drew 
 near to the city of Philippi, where the forces of the tri- 
 umviri were posted to receive them. 
 
 All mankind now began to regard the approaching 
 armies with terror and suspense. The empire of the 
 world depended upon the fete of a battle ; as, from vic- 
 tory on the one side, they had to expect freedom ; but 
 from the other, a sovereign with absolute command. 
 Brutus was the only man that looked upon these great 
 events before him, with calmness and tranquility. In- 
 diflferent as to success, and satisfied with having done 
 his duty, be said to one of his friends, " If I gain the 
 
 .ctory, I shall restore liberty to my country : if I 
 '' lose it, by dying, I shall be delivered from slavery 
 " myself; nny condition is fixed, and I run no hazards." 
 The republican army consisted of fourscore thousand 
 foot, and twenty thousand horse. The army of the 
 triumviri amounted to an hundred thousand foot, and 
 thirteen thousand horse. Thus complete on both sides, 
 they met and encamped near each oilier upon the plains 
 of Philippi, a city upon the confines of Thrace. This 
 city was situated upon a mountain, towards the west of 
 which a plain stretched itself, by a gentle declivity, al- 
 
 t fifteen leagues to the banks of the river Strymon. 
 O 
 
15S TliL liiSTOHV OF Til 
 
 In tliis plain, about two miles from the town, Were 
 little hills at about a mile distance fro: 'her, de- 
 
 fended on one side by mountains, on the other by a 
 ma; municatcd with the sea. It was up- 
 
 two hills that Brutus and I cd their 
 
 .;>s : Brutus on the hill towards the nor: .son 
 
 towards the south ; and in the intern 
 
 cd them they rast up 1 
 ,i one bill to th Thus they kc; 
 
 . ;i the two can 
 '.her. In this com: 
 they thought propt 
 
 :it to their advantage to eng: 
 . which furnished t! 
 
 cd them for a 
 
 ic as so< . 
 
 men fron. 
 
 ^ v ro- 
 
 :ng to the 
 .ion of postpci 
 
 ;iy had for it ; and (Jassius, who n 
 resolved toh;. 
 
 .tus began to - 
 
 >me of his officers, so that he used all 1m i 
 s to chaii 
 
 utan end to t! 
 
 r I fall or conquer 
 
 iiony's soldier; 
 
 nough the ma- 
 
 : a comm . 
 the island of 'i 
 
 resolved at length to come to a gen 
 This, however, was contrary to the advici 
 
EMPIRE OF ROME. 159 
 
 declared that he was forced, as Pompey had for- 
 merly been, to expose the liberty of Rome to the hazard 
 of a battle. The ensuing morning, the two generals 
 e the signal for engaging, and conferred together a 
 little while before the battle began. Cassius desired to 
 know how Brutus intended to act in case they were un- 
 cessful ; to which the other replied, " That he had 
 rmerlyin his writings condemned the death ofCato, 
 id maintained, that avoiding calamities by suicide was 
 * an insolent attempt against Heaven that sent them ; 
 ' but he had now altered his opinions, and, having giv- 
 ' on up his life to his country, he thought he had a right 
 '* to his own way of ending it ; wherelfere, he was re- 
 ; solved to change a miserable being here, for a better 
 *' hereafter, if fortune proved against him." " Well 
 '* said, my friend," cried Cassius, embracing him, "now 
 u we may venture to face the enemy ; for either we shall 
 u be conquerors ourselves, or we shall have no cause to 
 " fear those who are so." Augustus being sick, the for* 
 cesof the triumviri were commanded alone by Anthony, 
 who began the engagement by a vigorous attack upon 
 the lines of Cassius. Brutus, on the other side, made a 
 dreadful irruption on the army of Augustus, and drove 
 forward with so much intrepidity, that he broke them, 
 upon the very first charge. Upon this he penetrated as 
 far as the camp, and cutting in pieces those who were 
 left for its defence, his troops immediately began to plun- 
 der ; but in the mean time the lines of Cassius were 
 forced, and his cavalry put to flight. There was no ef- 
 fort that this unfortunate general did not use to make 
 his infantry stand, stopping those that fled, and seizing 
 himself the colours to rally them. But his own valour 
 alone was not sufficient to inspire his timorous army : 
 wherefore, despairing of success, he caused himself to 
 be slain by one of his freed men. Brutus was soon in- 
 formed of the defeat of Cassius, and soon after of his 
 death as he drew near the camp. He seemed scarce 
 able to restrain the excess of his grief for a man whom 
 
 '.led the last of the Romans. 
 
 But his first care, when he became the sole general, was 
 We the dispersed troops of Cussius* and animate- 
 
160 1HE HISTORY OF Tii 
 
 them with fresh hopes of victory. As they had los 
 they possessed by the plundering of their camp, he pro- 
 ed them two thous . h man to muk< 
 
 ir losses. This once more i: em with 
 
 >ur; they admired the liberality of their 
 and with loud bhouts proclaimed his form* 
 Still, however, he had not confidence sur 
 the , who offered him battle thr 
 
 want of provisions, their fit< 
 
 .irmy v. ':. cw every 
 
 their sm ,t to thci: 
 
 uhout of- 
 
 : 
 
 lost much of h 
 
 . 
 
 own the i 
 of his it: 1 'eel by 1 
 
 laughter. But the troops \vhicli 
 longed U ommunicatiag their terror t 
 
 Bunded by the , 
 
 a long ti:: ne son of' 
 
 iigh 1 .: the bror 
 
 that 1 to necc- 
 
 In the nu ihe two triunv, 
 
 icti-y . 1 by no means to si 
 
 v. hole body of the i 
 
 ione, and l' 
 
 uciliusf 1 his ft 
 i to effect his gene 1 
 i body ofThracian horse closely j 
 just upon the point of taking him. 
 boldly th: ^ i" their way, telling them that he 
 
EMPIRE OF ROME. ICi 
 
 was Brutus. The Thracians overjoyed with so great a 
 prize, immediately dispatched some of their companions 
 with the news of their success to the army . Upon .which 
 the ardour of the pursuit now abating, Anthony marched 
 out to meet his prisoner, and to hasten his death, or in- 
 sult his misfortunes. He was followed by a great num- 
 ber of officers and soldiers, some silently deploring the 
 fate of s? virtuous a man ; others reproaching that mean 
 desire <ff life for which he consented to undergo captivi- 
 ty. Anthony now seeing the Thracians approach, be- 
 gan to prepare himself for the interview ; but the faithful 
 Lucilius, advancing with a cheerful air, " It is not Bru- 
 " tus," said he, " that is taken ; fortune has not yet had 
 " the power of committing so great an outrage upon vir- 
 " tue. As for my life, it is well spent in preserving his 
 ;t honour ; take it, for I have deceived you." Anthony, 
 struck with so much fidelity, pardoned him upon the 
 spot ; and from that time forward, loaded him with ben- 
 efits, and honoured him with his friendship. 
 
 In the mean time Brutus, with a small number of 
 friends, passed over a rivulet, and night coming on, sat 
 down under a rock which concealed him from the pur- 
 suit of the enemy. After taking breath for a little time, 
 and casting his eyes up to heaven, he repeated a line. 
 from Euripides, containing a wish to the gods, " that 
 " guilt should not pass in this life without punishment." 
 To which he added another from the same poet, " O Vir- 
 " tue ! thou empty name, I have worshipped thee as a 
 " real god, but thou art only the slave of fortune." He 
 then called to mind, with great tenderness, those whom 
 he had seen perish in battle, and sent out one Statilius 
 to give him some information of those that remained ; 
 but he never returned, being killed by a party of the 
 enemy's horse. Brutus, judging very rightly of his fate, 
 now resolved to die likewise, and spoke to those who 
 1 round him to lend him their last sad assistance. 
 None of thorn, however, would render him so melan- 
 choly a service. He therefore called to one of his slaves 
 to perform what he so ardently desired : but Strato, his 
 PJ offered himself, crying out, " That it should nc~ 
 
162 THE HISTORY OF THE 
 
 l( vcr be said that Brutus, in his last extremity, stood m 
 t{ need ot fa friend." Thus saying, 
 
 ;, ted the sword's point 
 uuib, wh imsclf upon it, and imn 
 
 cd. 
 
 From the moment of Brutus's death, the triumviri be- 
 o act as sovereigns, and to divide ihe Roman do- 
 . >ns beiwe by right of conqu 
 
 However, though there was apparent! ho parti- 
 
 only two were 
 
 is was at first I, merely 
 
 to curb the nr usy of Anthony and Augustus ; 
 
 neither of interest in the a: 
 
 authority among the people. Their first care was to 
 ^li those whom they had formerly marked for \ 
 
 i Quimilius Varu 
 
 i of the first rank in the commonwealth. iled 
 
 themselves or 
 
 > cast loU for their lives, but both refused it ; 
 
 otheexe- 
 t before h 
 begged to have tin buiial after i. 
 
 i;usius n That he si 
 
 iic vultu: cvoured , the 
 
 ,>le lamented t, 
 to be thrown at the foot of Caes;-.: 
 
 e sent to 1 laughter, 
 
 - following the example of her hubbai, ::icr, 
 
 rd, that o i the death of 
 
 .r, not one died a i,. ah. 
 
 The power of the triumviri being thus established 
 
 . of the commonwealth, they now bi 
 .ink of ei. y had as* 
 
 !. Anthony went into (Greece, to receive the tV 
 vy of that refined people, and spent son 
 conversing among the philosophc. 
 
 disputes in person. From thence he pa i into 
 
 , where all the monarchs of the 1 
 
 :c Roman power, came to pay him their obe- 
 white the fairest princesses strove to 
 
x EMPIRE OF ROME. 16J 
 
 favour by the greatness of their presents, or the allure- 
 ments of their beauty. In this manner he proceeded 
 from kingdom to kingdom, attended by a crowd of 
 sovereigns, exacting contributions, distributing favours, 
 and giving away crowns with capricious insolence. He 
 presented the kingdom of Cappadocia to Sysenes, in pre- 
 judice of Ariarathes, only because he found pleasure in 
 the beauty of Glaphyra, the mother of the former. He 
 settled Herod in the kingdom of Judea and supported 
 him against every opposer. But among all the sovereigns 
 ot the East who shared his favours, none had so large a 
 part as Cleopatra, the celebrated queen of Egypt. 
 
 It happened that Serapion, her governor in the island 
 of Cyprus, had formerly furnished some succours to the 
 conspirators ; and it was thought proper that he should 
 answer for his conduct on that occasion. Accordingly, 
 having received orders from Anthony to come and clear 
 herself of this imputation of infidelity, she readily com- 
 plied, equally conscious of the goodness of her cause, 
 and the power of her beauty. She was now in her twen- 
 ty-seventh year, and consequently had improved those 
 allurements by art, which, in earlier age, are seldom 
 attended to. Her address and wit were still farther 
 heightened, and though there were some women in Rome 
 that were her equals in beauty, none could rival her in 
 the charms of seducing conversation. Anthony was now 
 in Tarsus, a city of Cilicia, when Cleopatra resolved to 
 attend his court in person. She sailed to meet him 
 down the river Cydnus, at the mouth of which the city 
 stood with the most sumptuous pageantry. Her galley 
 was covered with gold, the sails of purple, large and 
 floating in the wind. The oars, of silver kept time to 
 the sound of flutes and symbols. She herself lay re- 
 clined on a couch spangled with stars of gold, and with 
 such ornaments as poets and painters had usually ascrib- 
 ed to Venus. On each side were boys like Cupids, who 
 fanned her by turns; while the most beautiful nymphs 
 drest like Naiades and Graces, were placed at proper 
 distances around her. Upon the banks of the river were 
 kept burning the most exquisite perfumes, while an in-* 
 finite number of people gazed upon the sight with a 
 
164 THE HISTORY OF THE 
 
 mixture of delight and admiration. Anthony wa^ 
 tivated with her beauty, and leaving all his husinc* 
 satisfy his passion, shortly after followed herii, 
 There he continued in all that case and softness to \\ 
 his vicious heart was prone, and which that luxu; 
 people were able to sup 
 
 While he remained thus idle in Egypt, Augustus, who 
 took upon himself to lead back the veteran troop 
 tie them in I iuously emplc, 
 
 ing for their c. He had promi 
 
 at hsme as a recompense for their pas' they 
 
 could not receive their 
 the former inhabitants. In conscqut 
 tudcs of women with children in their arms, whose 
 der years and innocence excited uni 
 daily filled the temples and streets v ress- 
 
 ses. Numbers of husbandmen .c to 
 
 1C the conqueror's intention, < 
 iuiiion in some other part of the world, 
 number c poet, t< 
 
 more obligations than to a thou^. 
 a humble manner begged pern.'. 
 
 .rrn. Virgil obtai: ., but the 
 
 of his countrymen 
 OUt v. ; 
 
 tbei Idiers plundered at will. 'om- 
 pey being master of the sea 
 
 .lie people's re sual 
 
 of corn. ided the 
 emcnt of another 
 
 left behind him u 
 
 mic time all the and 
 resolved to try every method of 1 >ack her hus- 
 band from the arms of Cleopul: 
 
 \ugustus as the < s of 
 
 rousing him from his lethargy ; and at he 
 
 e of Lucius, her brother-i thecon- 
 
 y devoted to her interest, she -ow 
 
 the seeds of dissention. The pretext \ Anthony 
 
 3bould liave a share in the dbtiib-ution of land^ 
 
EMPIRE OF ROME. 165 
 
 as Augustus. This produced negociations between 
 them, and Augustus offered to make the veterans them- 
 selves umpires in the dispute. Lucius refused to acqui- 
 esce ; and being at the head of more than six legions, 
 mostly composed of such as were dispossessed, he resolv- 
 ed to compel Augustus to accept of whatsoever terms 
 he should offer, Thus a new war was excited between 
 Augustus and Anthony, or at least the generals of the 
 latter assumed the sanction of his name. Augustus how- 
 ever, was victorious : Lucius was hemmed in between 
 two armies, and constrained to retreat to Persia, a city 
 of Etruria, where he was closely besieged by the oppo- 
 site party. He made many desperate sallies, and Ful- 
 via did all in her power to relieve him, but without suc- 
 cess. He was at last, therefore, reduced to such extre- 
 mity by famine, that he came out in person and delivered 
 himself up to the mercy of the conqueror, Augustus 
 received him very honourably, and generously pardoned 
 him and all his followers. 
 
 Anthony having heard of his brother's overthrow, 
 and his wile's being compelled to leave Italy, was resolv- 
 ed to oppose Augustus without delay. He accordingly 
 sailed, at the head of a considerable fleet from Alexan- 
 dria to Tyre, and from thence to Cyprus and Rhodes, 
 and had an interview with Fulvia, his wife, at Athens. 
 He much blarncd her for occasioning the late disorders, 
 testified the utmost contempt for her person, and leaving 
 her upon her death bed at Sycion, hastened into Italy 
 to fight Augustus. They both met at Brundusiuni, and 
 it was now thought that the flames of a civil war were 
 going to blaze out once more. The forces of Anthony 
 were numerons, but mostly new raised ; however, he 
 was assisted by Sextus Pompeius, who, in these oppo- 
 sitions of interest, was daily coming into power. Au- 
 gustus was at the head of those veterans who had al- 
 ways been irresistable, but who seemed no way disposed 
 to fight against Anthony, their former general. A ne~ 
 gocialion was therefore proposed ; and by the activity of 
 Cocceius, a friend to both, a reconciliation was effected; 
 All offences and affronts were mutually forgiven ; and 
 to cement the union, a marriage was concluded between 
 
THE HISTORY O) 
 
 iony and Octavia, the sister of A 
 
 ion of the Roman emp: n them ; 
 
 Augustus was to have the command of t!. 
 ihony of the Last, while Lepidus was obliged to content, 
 himself with the provi 
 
 Pompci .ill the islands he 
 
 had already possessed, together v 
 was ;ed the p: 
 
 any of hib friends. It 
 the s 
 of Sicily 
 
 isfaction of the people, who expected a 
 from all their calami 
 
 j continue for sonru \ ruho- 
 
 n his 
 lieutenai 
 
 . 
 
 to secure his i rest. It 
 
 on this -at fresh i n for 
 
 renewing the i-ea- 
 
 ty to quit Pelopon 
 
 pey . ed him f< btsas wt him 
 
 from the inhabitants. This Pompey would by no means 
 comply with, but imrr. 
 
 renewed corn 
 
 and 
 
 cs of the poor were again re; the peo- 
 
 ple began to com ^tead of 
 
 four. 
 
 In this exigence, A long meditated 
 
 the best mea: -ie number, resolved to 
 
 begin by getting : 
 
 con master of two fleets; one 
 
 which he had caused to be built at Ravenna, and 
 ther which Mtnodorus, who revolted from ! 
 brought to his aid. 1 utempt v. 
 
 .n his passage by F 
 
 pey. 1 in a storm, he was obi 
 
 to <'- Designs to the ensuing year. Du 
 
EMPIRE OF ROME. 167 
 
 interval, he was reinforced by a noble fleet of one hun- 
 dred and twenty ships, given him by Anthony, with 
 which he resolved once more to invade Sicily on three 
 several quarters. But fortune seemed still determined 
 to oppose him. He was a second time disabled and 
 shattered by a storm, which so raised the vanity of Pom- 
 pey, that he began to style himself the son of Neptune. 
 However, Augustus was not to be intimidated by any 
 disgraces ; for, having shortly refitted his navy, and re- 
 cruited his forces, he gave the command of both to 
 Agrippa, his faithful friend and associate in war. Agrip- 
 pa proved himself worthy of the trust reposed in him ; 
 :ic began hi* operations by a victory over Pompey ; and 
 ^h he was shortly after worsted himself, he soon af- 
 ter gave his adversarv a complete and final overthrow. 
 Thus undone, Po...pcy resolved to fly to Anthony, from 
 whom he expected refuge, as he had formerly obliged 
 that triumvir by giving protection to his mother. How- 
 ever, a gleam of hope offering, he tried once more, at 
 the head of a small body of men, to make himself inde- 
 pendent, and even surprised Anthony's lieutenants, whc 
 had been sent to accept of his submission. Nevertheless 
 as at last abandoned by his soldiers, and delivered 
 o Titus, Anthony^s lieutenant, whe shortly after 
 aused him to be slain. 
 
 The death of this general removed one very powerful 
 icle to the ambition of Augustus, and he resolved 
 ke the earliest opportunity to get rid of the rest of 
 liis associates. 
 
 An offence soon after this was furnished by Lepidus, 
 that served as a sufficient pretext to Augustus for de- 
 priving him of his share in the triumvirate. Being at 
 the head of twenty-two legions, with a strong body of 
 .iry,he idly supposed that his present power was more 
 than an equivalent to the popularity of Augustus. He 
 therefore resolved upon adding Sicily, where he then 
 was, to his province, pretending- a right, as having first 
 invaded it. Augustus sent to expostulate upon these 
 proceedings, but Lepidus fiercely replied, " That he was 
 determined to have his share in the administration, and 
 would no longer submit to let one alone possess all the 
 
168 THE HISTORY OF THE 
 
 authority." Augustus was previously informed ot 
 disposition of Lepidus's soldiers ; for he had by his 
 
 intrigues and largesses, entirely attached them to 
 himself. Wherefore, without further delay, he, v 
 great boldness went alone to the camp of Lepidus, and 
 with no other n his private bounties, and 
 
 the authority ! by his former victc i 
 
 posed his rival. Lepic! .1 of all his former 
 
 banished to Circxum, ^ jntinued 
 
 the rest of his life, despised by his friends, and to . 
 
 holy object of blasted amti 
 There remained now but one obstacle to his anV 
 whi- horn he re and 
 
 purpose began to render his charactc. 
 
 thony's conduct did not a little contribute to promote 
 the endeavour nbhious p. 
 
 ah a prodigious a: 
 . d to return with the lo? 
 
 baggage. II ony 
 
 seeiv lea- 
 
 sure, 
 lie spent \vhol< . the com, !eo- 
 
 i, Mho st 
 
 vary his entertainment been so 
 
 wmch celebrated for the art of giving novelty to ; 
 
 filling up UK 
 
 some nc- rincmcnt. 
 
 ..(I somcti 
 bhc 
 
 of the court . r.ptuous enter 1 
 
 mcii 
 
 r company all tiic ,uld 
 
 ..s resolved to c of 
 
 belonged to the U' . 'hac- 
 
 Ci- 
 
 .\nd Judc. 
 
 bestow, but which he pretended to grant i: 
 Hercules. This complication of vice and foil 
 
EMPIRE OF ROME, 169 
 
 totally exasperated the Romans ; and Augustus, willing 
 to take the advantage of their resentment, took care to 
 exaggerate all his defects. At length, when he found the 
 people sufficiently irritated against him, he resolved to 
 send Octavia, who was then at Rome, to Anthony, as if 
 with a view of reclaiming her husband ; but, in fact, to 
 furnish a sufficient pretext of declaring war against him, 
 as he knew she would be dismissed with contempt. 
 
 Anthony was now at the city of Leucoplis, revelling 
 with his insiduous paramour, when he heard that Octa- 
 via was at Athens upon her journey to visit him. This 
 was very unwelcome news as well to him as Cleopatra, 
 who, fearing the charms of her rival, endeavoured to 
 Convince Anthony of the strength of her passion by her 
 sighs, languishing looks, and well feigned melancholy. 
 He frequently caught her in tears, which she seemed as 
 if willing to hide, and often entreated her to tell him the 
 cause, which she seemed willing to suppress. These ar- 
 tifices, together with the ceaseless flattery and importu- 
 nity of her creatures, prevailed so much upon Anthony's 
 weakness, that he commanded Octavia to return home 
 without seeing her ; and still more to exasperate the peo- 
 ple of Rome, he resolved to repudiate her, and take Cleo- 
 patra as his wife. He accordingly assembled the people 
 of Alexandria in the public theatre, where was raised 
 an alcove of silver, under which were placed two 
 thrones of gold, one for himself, and the other for Cleo- 
 patra. There he seated himself, drest like Bacchus, while 
 Cleopatra sat beside him cloathed in the ornaments and 
 attributes of Isis, the principal deity of the Egyptians. 
 On that occasion he declared her queen of all the coun- 
 tries which he had already bestowed upon her ; while 
 he associated Caesario, her son by Caesar, as her partner 
 in the government. To the two children which he had 
 by her himself, he gave the title of king of kings, with 
 very extensive dominions : and, to crown his absurdi- 
 ties, he next sent a minute account of his proceedings 
 to the two consuls at Rome. 
 
 In the mean time, Augustus had now a sufficient pre- 
 text for declaring war, and informed the senate of his 
 P 
 
THE HISTORY OF Till. 
 
 intentions. However, he deferred the execution oi 
 idle, being then employed in quelling 
 erection of the Illy nans* The following year was 
 ::y taken up in preparations : who 
 
 rmonstratcd to the -< i he 
 
 *es of complaint against his colleague, who 
 ! upon Sicily without ai 
 
 vince he hud 
 
 . icled all Italy among his own sol 
 nothing to recompense those in A 
 
 contented to n :m- 
 
 ..bsurd to complain of hi '.ion 
 
 of a ' ; districts in Italy, whc: 
 
 his soldiers 
 
 \\itli sm provoked him 
 
 my \uthout ir urope to 
 
 iiilc he and Cleopa cd to Sa- 
 
 c for carrying on 
 
 ulous enough 
 
 aad f Onone side, all the kin< 
 
 .he Euxine sea, had orders to send him 
 
 on the o* 
 
 dancers, bufloons and musicians of 
 rdered to attend him. 
 
 ex- 
 
 rablc to 
 
 ut fr. i to oppose him bad he 
 
 B into Italy ; but he soon found lime to pu; 
 condition for .ifter 
 
 found t! in readiness to lx 
 
 . contend- 
 ed for. The one -wed by ^1! t-s of the 
 it ; the other drew all the strength of the West to 
 
 >ort his pretensions. Anthony's fovce cv 
 body of an hundred thousand foot a! 
 horse, while his fleet amounted to five hundred ships of 
 'lie army of Augustus mustered but eighty thou- 
 
EMPIRE OF ROME. 171 
 
 fartd foot, but equalled his adversary in the number of 
 cavalry ; his fleet was but half as numerous as Antho- 
 ny's ; however, his ships were better built, and manned 
 with better soldiers. 
 
 The great decisive engagement, which was a naval 
 one, was fought near Actium, a city of Epirus at the 
 entrance of the gulph of Ambracia. Anthony ranged his 
 ships before the mouth of the gulph, and Augustus drew 
 up his fleet in opposition. Neither general assumed any 
 1 station to command in, but went about from ship 
 to ship, wherever his presence was necessary. In the 
 mean time, the two land armies, on opposite sides of the 
 gulph, were drawn up, only as spectators of the en- 
 ;ment, and encouraged the fleets by their shouts to 
 >ge. The battle begun on both sides with great ur 
 dour ; and after a manner not practised on former occa- 
 sions. The prows of their vessels were armed with bra- 
 zen points, and with these they drove furiously against 
 each other. They fought for some time with great fu- 
 ry ; nor was there any advantage on either side, except 
 a small appearance of disorder in the centre of Anthony's 
 fleet. But all of a sudden Cleopatra determined the 
 fortune of the day. She was seen flying from the en- 
 gagement, attended by sixty sail, struck perhaps with 
 the terrors natural to her sex : but what increased the 
 general amazement was, to behold Anthony himself fol- 
 lowing soon after, leaving his fleet at the mercy of the 
 conquerors ; and the army at land soon after followed 
 their example. 
 
 When Cleopatra fled, Anthony pursued her in a five 
 oared galley, and, coming along side of her ship, enter- 
 ed it without seeing or being seen by her. She was in 
 the stern, and he went to the prow, where he remained 
 for some time silent holding his head between his hands. 
 In this"Ynanner he continued three whole days, during 
 which, either through indignation or shame, he neither 
 nor spoke to Cleopatra. At last when they were 
 arrived at the promontory of Tenarus, the queen's fe- 
 male attendants reconciled them, and every thing went 
 on as before. Still, however, he had the consolation to 
 pose his army continued faithful to him, and accord- 
 
TIIE HISTORY OF TH-P. 
 
 ingly dispatched orders to his lieutenant, Canidiu 
 conduct it into Asia. However, he was soon under 
 
 hen he arrived in Africa, where he was informed 
 of their submission to his rival. This account so trans- 
 ported him with rage, that he was hardly i 
 from killing : -th, at the cntrea 
 
 his friends, he returned to A . 
 
 ever, seemed to \\ tortitude i unes 
 
 which had utterly abandoned her 
 
 .jlc richc tion, 
 
 and other acts of violence, t>he formed a 
 and unheard of project : il hole 
 
 fleet over the isthmus of Suez into 
 
 !fin another region, beyond the reach 
 
 cd thither.' 
 but ' 
 
 more 
 
 omitted n 
 
 II kinds ot ions 
 
 tcj ubtait. , rms 
 
 . Augusti. ,| Anlho- 
 
 T than his person ; and if she could 
 
 n upon any method of ;sdf, though 
 
 xpcnce, there is no doubt 1 < uld 
 
 embraced it with gladness. She even still 
 
 of her cl. 
 
 cd aJmostat tlic age of forty. rous 
 
 upon Augustus those arts which : so 
 
 .1 with t!i t men of Rome. 
 
 sent one her from 
 
 Anthony to Augustus in Asia, tin hci 
 
 seen particular proposals in 
 
 \mhony desired no more than that his life n> 
 be spared, and to have the liberty of passing the reni 
 
 I in obscurity. To these proposals Augus- 
 lus made no reply. Cleopatra sent him also public pro- 
 iavour of her children ; but, at the same ti 
 ;ned him her crown, with all the ensi 
 of roy. Ity, To the queen's public proposals no answer 
 
EMPIRE OF ROME. 173 
 
 was given : to her private offer he replied, by giving 
 her assurances of his favour in case she sent away An- 
 thony, or put him to death. These negociations were 
 not so private but they came to the knowledge of An- 
 thony, whose jealousy and rage every occurrence now 
 contributed to heighten. He built a small solitary house 
 upon a mole in the sea, and there shut himself up, a prey 
 to all those passions that are the tormentors of unsuc- 
 cessful tyranny. There he passed his time, shunning all 
 commerce with mankind, and professing to imitate Ti- 
 mon, the man hater. However, his furious jealousy drove 
 him even from his retreat into society ; for, hearing that 
 Cleopatrahad many secret conferences with one Thyrsus, 
 an emissary from Augustus, he seized upon him, and 
 having ordered him to be cruelly scourged, he sent him 
 back to his patron. At the same time he sent letters by 
 him, importing that he had chastised Thyrsus for insult- 
 ing a man in misfortune ; kut withal he gave Augustus 
 permissi-n to avenge himself, by scourging Hiparchus, 
 Anthony's freed man, in the same manner. The re- 
 venge in this case would have been highly pleasing to 
 Anthony, as Hiparchus had left him to join the fortunes 
 of his more successful rival. 
 
 Meanwhile the operations of the war were carried 
 vigorously forward, and Egypt sooa after became again 
 the theatre of the contending armies of Rome. Gullus, 
 the lieutenant of Augustus, took Pare tonium, which open- 
 ed the whole country to his incursions. On the other 
 side, Anthony, who had still considerable forces by sea 
 and land, wanted to take that important place from the 
 enemy. He therefore marched towaixls it, flaUe ring him- 
 self, that as soon as he should shew himself to the legions 
 "which he had once commanded, the affection for their 
 ancient general would revive. Pie approached therefore, 
 and exhorted them to remember their former vows of 
 fidelity. Gullus, however, ordered all the trumpets to 
 sound, in order to hinder Anthony from being heard, so 
 that he was obliged to retire. 
 
 Augustus himself was in the mean time advancing 
 tvith another army before Pelusium, which, by its strong 
 P 2 
 
174 Till. HISTORY OF THL 
 
 .lion, might have retarded his progress for some 
 
 -crnorof the city, e 
 
 rage to defend it, or previously instructed by < 
 to give it up, permuted him to take posiM the 
 
 j ; so that Augustus had now no obsta way 
 
 to Alexandria marched v .pedhion. 
 
 nony, upon hi sallied out to oppose him, 
 
 fighting ion, and i 
 
 > slight a 
 
 lining hopes ; and, bcr 
 he re-entered Ak n triumph 
 
 . (} as he was>, to the palace, he embraced Cleo; 
 . her a soldier who had 
 
 and ' 
 
 )y n the 
 
 mid not 
 
 c to 
 by sea ;. 
 
 coolly replied, tlr.: -> enough to die be- 
 
 by single combat. 
 
 The day uficr, he posted the few troops lu 
 paining upon 
 
 rderstohi 
 he waited to tator of ti 
 
 good or- 
 der ; but his -agCj 
 when h<: saluting those of A 
 and both fleets uni 
 
 harbour. At the very same time, hi de- 
 
 ^d him. He tried, however, to lead on 
 which were easily vanquished, and he himself corr.j 
 c town. His as now u 
 
 vernable. He could not help crying out aloud as he 
 betrayed by Cleopatra, and delivered 
 .or *Q iho-ie who for her sake alone were his enei 
 
EMPIRE OF ROME. 175 
 
 In these suspicions he was not deceived ; for it was by 
 secret orders from the queen that the fleet had past over 
 to the enemy. 
 
 Cleopatra had, for a long while, dreaded the effects 
 of Anthony's jealeusy, and had some time before pre- 
 pared a method of obviating any sudden sallies it might 
 produce. Near the temple of Isis she had erected a 
 building, which was seemingly designed for a sepulchre 
 Hither she removed all her treasures and most valuable 
 effects, covering .them over with torches, faggots, and 
 other combustible matter. This sepulchre she designed 
 to answer a double purpose, as well to sereen her from 
 the sudden resentments of Anthony, as to make Augustus 
 believe that she would burn all her treasures, in case 
 he refused her proper terms of capitulation. Here there- 
 fore she retired from Anthony's present mry, shutting 
 the gates which were fortified with bolts and bars of 
 iron ; but in the mean time gave orders that a report 
 should be spread of her death, which news soon reached 
 Anthony, and recalled all his former love and tender- 
 ness. This poor wretch was now a being, subject to the 
 gust of every passion, and each of them in extreme, 
 now lamented her death with the same violence he ||ad 
 but a few minutes before seemed to desire it. " Wretb- 
 " ed man," cried he to himself: " what is there now 
 ** worth living for, since ail that could sooth or soften my 
 " cares is departed? O Cleopatra," continued he, being 
 got to his chamber, " our separation does not so much 
 ** aiflict me, as the disgrace I suffer in permitting a wo- 
 u m;m to instruct me in the ways of dying." He called 
 one of his freed men, named Eros, whom he had en- 
 jd by oath to kill him, whenever fortune should drive 
 him to this last resource. Eros being commanded to 
 perform his promise, this faithful follower drew the sword 
 as if going to execute his orders ; but turning his face, 
 plunged h into his own bosom, and died at his master's 
 feet. Anthony for a while hung over his faithful ser- 
 vant, and commending his fidelity, took up the sword, 
 with which, stabbing himself in the belly, he fell back- 
 ward upon a little couch. Though the wound was mor- 
 tal, yet the blood stopping, he recovered his spirits, ami 
 
176 THt HISTORY OF THE 
 
 earnestly conjured those who were come into the room 
 to put an end to his life ; but they all fitd, beir 
 with fright and horror. He therefore continued in this 
 manner for some time, still crying out and writhing with 
 pain, till he was informed by one of the queen's sec 
 ries that his mistress was still alive. He then earnestly 
 desired to be carried to the place where si i hey 
 
 accordingly brought him to the gate of the sepulc! 
 but Cleo; 10 would not j to be opened 
 
 appeared at the window, and threw down ct 
 which, with some difficulty, they pulled him u; 
 gently laid him on a couch, Nvherc bhe gu her 
 
 sorrow, tearing her clothes, beating her breast, 
 sing the wound of which lu 
 
 cd her to moderate the transports of i ask- 
 
 ed for wine, and c\ .crnotto lament for his 
 
 fortunes, but \ ilatc him upo: 
 
 ty, to consider him as one who had lived the most pow- 
 erful of men, and at last died by the hand of ;-. 
 Just tts he had done speaking ht 
 
 -us, \\ho 
 
 informed of Anthony's desperate conduct. He 
 was sent to try all means of getting Clef o his 
 
 ing u double motive for hh 
 
 citude on this occasion ; one, to prevent her destroying 
 the treasures she had taken with her into the tomb : 
 
 r, to preserve her person a> to grace 
 
 his triumph. Cleopat: 'onhergv 
 
 and would not confer with Proculus except through the 
 gate, which was very well secured. In the mean time, 
 !us, one of A two 
 
 more by the u h Anthony had been d: 
 
 up; upon which Cleopatra pc; 
 drew a poignard, and attempted to stab he: 
 prevented. 
 
 Augustus was extremely pleased at finding her in his 
 power : he sent Epaphroditus to bring her to hi 
 and to watch her with the utmost circumspection. He 
 was likewise ordered to MSC her in every respect with that 
 deference and submission which were due to her rank, 
 and to do every thing in his power to render her cay 
 
EMPIRE OF ROME. 1W 
 
 ty agreeable. She was permitted to have the honour 
 of granting Anthony the rites of burial, and furnished 
 with every thing she desired that was becoming his dig- 
 nity to receive, or her love to offer. Yet still she lan- 
 guished under her new confinement : her excessive sor- 
 row, her many losses, and the blows she had given her 
 bosom, produced a fever, which she seemed willing to 
 increase. She resolved to abstain from taking any nou- 
 rishment, under the pretence of a regimen necessary for 
 her disorder ; but Augustus, being made acquainted with 
 the real motive by her physician, began to threaten her 
 with regard to her children in case she persisted. 
 
 In the mean time, Augustus made his entry into Alex- 
 andria, taking care to mitigate the fears of the inhabi- 
 tants, by conversing familiarly as he went along with 
 Areus, a philosopher, and a native of the place. The 
 citizens, however, tumbled at his approach ; and when 
 he placed himself upon the tribunal, they prostrated 
 themselves with their faces to the ground before him, 
 like criminals who waited the sentence of their execution. 
 Augustus presently ordered them to rise, telling them 
 that three motives induced him to pardon them. His 
 respect for Alexander, who was the founder of their city ; 
 his admiration of its beauty ; and his friendship for Are- 
 us, their fellow citizen. Two only of particular note 
 were put to death upon' this occasion ; Anthony's eldest 
 son Antyllus, and Caesario, the son of Julius Caesar, both 
 betrayed into his hands by their respective tutors, who 
 themselves suffered for their perfidy shortly after. As 
 for the rest of Cleopatra's children, he treated them with 
 great gentleness, leaving them to the care of those who 
 were entrusted with their education, who had orders tp 
 provide them with every thing suitable to their birth. 
 As for her, when she was recovered from her late indis- 
 position, he came to visit her in person ; she received him 
 lying on a couch in a careless manner ; and, upon his 
 entering the apartment, rose up to prostrate herself be- 
 fore him. She was drest in nothing but a loose robe. 
 Her misfortunes had given an air of severity to her fea- 
 tures, her hair was dishevelled, her voice trembling, her 
 complexion pale, and her eyes red with weeping j ret 
 
1T8 THE HISTORY OF Ti 
 
 siill her natural beauty seemed to gleam through the 
 distresses that surrounded her ; and the L her 
 
 motion, and the alluring softness of her looks, still bore 
 testimony to the former power of her charrti 
 raised her with his usual complaisance, and debiting 
 
 ;ed himself besick 
 
 been prepared for this interview, and made use 
 method she could think of to propitiate the conque 
 
 tried apologi ..ml allure ob- 
 
 tain ; 
 
 and skill fs, she turned her 
 
 defence i talked ci hu- 
 
 - those in she read some of his letters 
 
 long 
 
 i>assed between tin 
 
 --he, " are now ail his benefits to me 1 
 I not die with him! Yet he still 1; 
 cthinks I see him still before me ; he re <>u." 
 
 no stranger to this method of address ; 
 but 
 
 ich obliged her to 
 her attempts a different turn. She now addn 
 
 ith an invcnto: trca- 
 
 is gave occasion to igu- 
 
 the little decorums of breed- 
 ing were then by no means so carefully at o as 
 at present. One of her stewards h;. 
 the inventory was clet'i 
 
 n her couch, and catchi; 
 
 scvo on the f. : in- 
 
 cd her to 
 
 ed. To thii she replied, that she could not 
 being insulted in the presence of one whom she so high- 
 ly esteemed. " And supposing." cried 
 
 cd a few ti blame when they 
 
 I not for myself but for Livia and Oc: 
 iom I hope to make my intercessor 
 fli which intimated a desire of 1 9 not 
 
 ;reeable lo Augustus, who politely assured her 
 
EMPIRE OF ROME. 179 
 
 she was at liberty to keep whatever she had reserved, and 
 that in every thing she should be indulged to the height 
 of her expectations. He then took leave and departed, 
 imagining he had reconciled her to life, and to the in- 
 dignity of being shewn in the entended triumph which he 
 was preparing for his return to Rome : but in this he was 
 deceived. Cleopatra all this time had kept a correspon- 
 dence with Dolabella, a young Roman of high birth in 
 the camp of Augustus, who, perhaps from compassion, 
 or stronger motives, was interested in her misfortunes : 
 by him she was secretly informed that Augustus deter- 
 mined to send her off in three days, together with her 
 children, to Rome, to grace his triumphant entry. She 
 now, therefore, determined upon dying ; she now threw 
 herself upon Anthony's coffin, bewailed her captivity, 
 and renewed her protestations not to survive him. 
 Having bathed, and ordered a sumptuous banquet, she 
 attired herself in the most splendid manner. She then 
 feasted as usual, and soon after ordered all but her at- 
 tendant^, Charmion and Iras, to leave the room. Then, 
 having previously ordered an asp to be secretly conveyed 
 to her in a basket of fruit, she sent a letter to Augustus, 
 informing him of her fatal purpose, and desiring to be 
 buried in the same tomb with Anthony. Augustus, up- 
 on receiving the letter, instantly dispatched messengers 
 to stop her intentions, but they arrived too late. Upon 
 entering the chamber, they beheld Cleopatra lying dead 
 upon a gilded couch, arrayed in her royal robes. Near 
 her Iras, one of her faithful attendants, was stretched 
 lif' less at the feet of her mistress ; and Charmion her- 
 almost expiring, was settling the diadem upon 
 Cleopatra's head. " Alas 1" cried one of the messen- 
 gers, " was this well done, Charmion ?" " Yes," repli- 
 ed she, u it is well done ; such a death becomes a glori- 
 " ous queen, descended from a race of noble ancestors." 
 On pronouncing these words, she fell down and died 
 with her much loved mistress. 
 
ISO THE HISTORY Ot THL 
 
 CHAP. XXII. 
 
 "z the beginning of the reign cj 
 death of Do initial^ the last of the twelve Ctesars. 
 
 BK the death of Anthony, Augustus was now become 
 luster of the Roman empire. He soon after re 
 
 ccl to Rome in triumph, where, by sumptuous feasts 
 hows, he began to obliterate the im- 
 pressions of his former cruelty, and from thenceforward 
 resolved to secure, by his clemency, a throne, the foun- 
 dations of which were laid in blood. He was now at the 
 head of the most extensive empire that mankind had 
 ever concurred in obeying. The former spirit c: 
 Romans, and those chara* 
 
 lied them from others, were totally K 
 was now inhabited by a concourse from all thecou) 
 of the world, - consequently 
 
 iotic principle monarchy best 
 
 i of government that could be found to unite its mem- 
 bers. II .5 very remarkable, that during 
 these long contentions among themselves, hor- 
 rid < .. war, the state .ing 
 more formidable and powerful, and completed 
 truction of all the kings who presumed to oppose it. 
 
 to assure himself of the 
 
 Anthony ; to id he publicly reported that he 
 
 had burnt all Anthony's letu without 1 .-, 
 
 ing ; convinced, that while any thought themselves sus- 
 pected, they would be fearful of even offering ! 
 friendships. 
 
 As he had gained the kingdom by his army, so also he 
 resolved to govern it by the senate. This body, though 
 greatly fallen from their ancient splendour, he knew to 
 be the best ordered, and most capable of wisdom and 
 justice. To these, therefore, he gave the chief power in 
 the administration of his government, while he still kept 
 the people and the army stedfast to him by dona 
 and acts of favour. By these means all the odium of 
 
EMPIRE OF ROME. 181 
 
 justice fell upon the senate, and all the popularity of paiv 
 don was solely his ow/i. Thus, restoring to the senate 
 their ancient splendour, and discountenancing all cor- 
 ruption, he pretended to reserve to himself a very mo- 
 derate share of authority, which none could refuse him ; 
 namely, an absolute power to compel all ranks of the 
 state to do their duty. This in fact, was reserving ab- 
 solute dominion in his own hands : but the misguided 
 people began to look upon his moderation with astonish- 
 ment ; they considered themselves as restored to their 
 brmer freedom, except in the capacity of promoting se- 
 dition ; and the senate supposed their power re-establish- 
 ed in all things but their tendency to injustice. It was 
 even said, that the Romans, by such a government, lost 
 -iOthingof the happiness that liberty could produce, and 
 were exempt from all the misfortunes it could occasion, 
 This observation might have some truth under such a 
 monarch as Augustus now seemed to be ; but they -were 
 taught to change their sentiments under his successors, 
 when they found themselves afflicted with all the pun- 
 ishment that tyranny could inflict, or sedition make ne- 
 cessary. 
 
 After having established this admirable order, Au- 
 : us found himself agitated by different inclinations, 
 and considered a long time whether he should keep the 
 empire, or restore the people to their ancient liberty. 
 But he adopted the advice of Maecenas, who desired him 
 to continue in power, and was afterwards swayed by 
 him, not only in this instance, but on every other occa- 
 sion. By the instructions of that minister, he became 
 gentle, affable, and humane. By his advice it was, that 
 he encouraged men of learning, and gave them much of 
 his time and his friendship. They, in their turn, reliev- 
 ed his most anxious hours, and circulated his praise 
 through the empire. 
 
 Thus, having given peace and happiness to the em- 
 pire, and being convinced of the attachment of all the 
 orders of the state to his person, he resolved upon im- 
 pressing the people with an idea of his magnanimity af- 
 .-*). This was nothing less than muking a shew of re 
 Q 
 
THE HISTORY OF THE 
 
 -- tithority ; wherefore, having previously 
 
 structed his creatures in the senate how to act, he 
 dressed them in a studied speech, importing the difficul- 
 ty of governing so extensive an empire ; a task which, 
 he said; none but the immortal gods were equal to. 
 modestly urged his own inability, though impelled by 
 every motive to undertake it : and th u degree 
 
 ing generosity, free 
 
 , and the se- 
 
 had coni: repeatedly cfl 
 
 >hem to understand, that the true 
 
 rit of the Romans was not lost in him. Thi< speech ope- 
 
 upon the sei. * more or 
 
 less in the secret ; many believed the sincerity of his pro- 
 
 e fore regarded his conduct as an a i 
 i:-.tllccl heroism by any thin ap- 
 
 i Home; others, equally ignorant of his mot; 
 i hisdesi' ne there 
 
 : 
 
 - fearful r . 
 
 cd by his mi .nipt 
 
 while speaking, and re pre- 
 
 unanimously besought him 
 .ion ; but upir 
 
 ing to decline thei: rcc, in a manner ct 
 
 to comply. Hov 
 
 . , they in pay 
 
 ird to be doubled. On the t .t he 
 
 mig 1 >me concessions o;. 
 
 c the most po 
 ;ircdthe 
 
 akcn entirely under his own comn:. 
 Over these he assumed the government but 
 leaving the people still in hopes ot r< heir an- 
 
 ilom, but at the same time laying his measures 
 
 - 11, that his government was renewed e\ 
 to his death. 
 
 This shew of a resignation only served to confirm 
 him in the empire and the hearts of the peopk 
 
EMPIRE OF ROME. 18 j 
 
 honours were heaped upon him. He \?as then first cal- 
 led Augustus, a name I have hitherto used, as that by 
 which he is best known in history. A laurel was order- 
 ed to be planted at his gates. His house was called the 
 palace, to distinguish it from that of ordinary citizens. 
 He was confirmed in the title of father of his country, 
 and his person declared sacred and inviolable. In short, 
 flattery seemed on the rack to find out new modes ol 
 pleasing him ; but though he despised the arts of the 
 senate, he permitted their homage, well knowing that 
 among mankind titles produce a respect which enforces 
 -authority. 
 
 Upon entering into his tenth consulship) the senate by 
 oath approved of all his acts, and set him wholly above 
 the power of the laws. They some time after offered to 
 swear to not only all the laws he had ir.acle, but sue)) UE 
 he should make for the future. It was then customary 
 with fathers upon their death bed to command their 
 children to carry oblations to the capital, with this in- 
 scription, that at the day of their death they left Augus- 
 tus in health. It was determined that no man should 
 be put to death on such days as the emperor entered the 
 city. Upon a dearth of provisions, the people, in a bo- 
 dy, entreated him to accept of the dictatorship : but, 
 though he undertook to be procurator of the provisions, 
 he would by no means accept of the title of dictator, 
 which had been abolished by a law made when Anthony 
 was consul. 
 
 This accumulation of titles and employments did not 
 in the least diminish his assiduity in filling the duties of 
 each. Several very wholesome edicts were passed by 
 his command, tending 10 suppress corruption in the se- 
 nate, and licentiousness in the people. He ordered that 
 none should exhibit a shew of gladiators without orders 
 from the senate, and then no oftenerthan twice a year; 
 nor with more than an hundred and twenty at a time. 
 This law was extremely necessary at so corrupt a period of 
 the empire ; when whole armies of these unfortunate men 
 were brought at once upon the stage, and compelled to 
 fight, often till half of them were slain. It had been usual 
 also with the knights, and some women of the first distinc 
 
181 THE HISTORY Oi 
 
 tion, to exhibit themselves as dancers upon the theatre 
 fee ordered that not only they, but tht-ir children 
 grand children, should be restrained from such 
 
 i Ic fined many that had refused to - 
 
 children. II that virgins should not be ; 
 
 ed any pe 
 to kill an adulten 
 
 the hould be aluays held ir nee, 
 
 adding to their authority what he hut 
 power, lie : > man should 
 
 freedom oft!. ..uninalion in- 
 
 to his merit nlcs 
 
 and .mibsjon ol 
 
 self very inceofthem. 
 
 amincd their mor.tls. not allowing tht i 
 
 in t! -'Ugh 
 
 he encouraged die athletic excr 
 
 permit women to be p: -Jing it - ; 
 
 coming the modesty ol 
 
 spcr .,ed by naked men. 
 
 to prevent bribery in suing fore: :ookcensi 
 
 sums of money from the candidates by way 01" 
 pledge ; and if any indirect practices were provi 
 them, they were obliged to forfeit all 
 hitherto disallowed to conf< 
 
 masters ;. lied the ; 
 
 sold the slave to anotlu 
 
 .came free. Thc>- her 
 
 gave the 
 
 thr.t the ; softened 
 
 Indceri .nded to 
 
 ed above 
 
 !ity, he 1. rn condescension ; 
 
 rcfore he iar with all, and suffered 1 
 
 viih the most paticiit Uumi 
 
 Ic authority of his station. 
 
 . 
 
EMPIRE OF ROME. 185 
 
 thought proper, yet he gave laws their proper course, 
 and even sometimes pleaded for those he desired to pro- 
 tect. Thus Primus, the governor of Macedonia, hav- 
 ing a day assigned him for having made war upon the 
 Odrisii, a neighbouring state, as he said, by the com- 
 mand of Augustus, the latter denied the charge. Upon 
 which the advocates for Primus desired to know with 
 an insolent air, what brought Augustus into court, or 
 who had sent for him ? To this the emperor submissive- 
 ly replied, " The commonwealth ;" an answer which 
 greatly pleased the people. Upon another occasion, one 
 of his veteran soldiers entreated his protection in a cer- 
 tain cause ; but Augustus, taking little notice of his re- 
 quest, desired him to apply to an advocate. " Ah," re- 
 plied the soldier, " it was not by proxy that I served 
 " you at the battle of Aclium." This reply pleased 
 Augustus so much, that he pleaded his cause in person 
 and gained it for him. He was extremely affable, and 
 returned the salutations of the meanest persons. One 
 day a person presented him a petition, but with so much 
 awe, that Augustus was displeased with his meanness. 
 " What, friend," cried he> " you seem as if you were 
 " offering something to an elephant, and not to a man ; 
 " be bolder." One day, as he was sitting on the tribu- 
 nal in judgment, Maecenas, perceiving by his temper, 
 that he was inclined to be severe, attempted to speak to 
 him : but not being able to get up to tlie tribunal for 
 the crowd, he threw a paper into his lap, on which was 
 written, " arise executioner." Augustus read it without 
 any displeasure, and immediately rising, pardoned those 
 whom he was disposed to condemn. But what most 
 of all shewed a total alteration in his disposition, was 
 Jus treatment of Cornelius Cinna, Pcmpey's grandson. 
 This nobleman had* entered into a very dangerous con- 
 spiracy against him ; but the plot was discovered before 
 it was ripe for execution. Augustus for some time de- 
 bated with himself how to act ; but at last his clemency 
 prevailed ; he therefore sent for those who were guilty, - 
 and after reprimanding them dismissed them all. But 
 he was resolved to mortify Cinna by the greatness 
 
 Q 2 
 
Til '>KY 0; 
 
 : >r, addressing hirn '' I haf)p 
 
 ior ; I n >u the consul- 
 
 ' ship; let us therefore be : r the fuu, 
 
 i us only contend in 
 
 * or your fide!. . us." T; 
 
 which tli 1 
 effect, that i: , ceased 
 
 dm. 
 I nth. 
 
 reign of . the 
 
 people seemed to conspire wi: 
 
 ther empire 
 
 during almost tlu- 
 quelling of ii 
 
 ions rule, to c 
 
 tion 
 
 und who ions of t'. 
 
 ^ the Ko- 
 - 
 
 cess. The C had revo' 
 
 more than on ,rip- 
 
 :o their inaci ountains, there blocked them up, 
 
 and compelled tlu ;ninc,tos 
 
 tion. The Germans also gave some uneasiness by their 
 repeated incursions into the territories of Gaul, but 
 repressed by Lollius. The Uhe 
 Drusus, the brother of Tiberius. The B< 
 lae, barbarous nations, making an irruption into TJ: 
 were overthrown by Viso, governor of Pamphylia, 
 gained triumphal honours. The D> 
 ied with more than one defeat : the Armenians also N 
 brought into due subjection by Caius, his 
 The Getulians, in Africa, took up arms : but n 
 dued by the consul Caius Cossus, who thence rec< 
 the surname of Gctulicus. A dangerous wai 
 lied on against the Dalmatians and Pcnnoi 
 f ,rcn ^tli bv the co~ 
 
EMPIRE OF ROME. 181? 
 
 iong peace, gathered an army of two hundred thousand 
 foot and nine thousand horse, threatening Rome itself 
 \vith destruction. Levies were therefore made in Italy 
 with the utmost expedition ; the veteran troops were re- 
 called from all parts, and Augustus went to Arminiwm 
 for the greater convenience of giving his directions. 
 And indeed, though personal valour was by no means 
 his shining ornament, yet no man could give wiser or- 
 ders upon every emergency, or go with greater dispatch 
 into all parts of his dominions than he. This war con- 
 tinued near three years, being principally managed by 
 Tiberius .,nd Germanicus ; the latter of whom gained 
 reputation against these fierce and barbarous multitudes. 
 Upon their reduction, Bato, their leader being summon- 
 ed before the tribunal of Tiberius, and being demanded 
 how he could offer revolt against the power of Rome, 
 the bold barbarian replied, * That the Romans, and not 
 . were the aggressors ; since they had sent, instead 
 " of dogs and shepherds to secure their flocks, only 
 " wolves and bears to devour them." But the war, 
 ^j Q which was most fatal to the Roman interests, 
 7 '. ? ' during this reign, was that which was managed 
 by Quintillius Varus. This general invading 
 the territorities of the Germans, was induced to follow 
 the enemy among their forests andmarshes with his army 
 in separate bodies : there he was attacked by night, and 
 entirely cut off, with his whole army. These were the 
 best and choicest legions of the whole empire, either for 
 valour, discipline, or experience. The affliction from 
 this defeat seemed to sink very deep upon the mind of 
 Augustus. He was often heard to cry out in a tone of 
 anguish " Quintillius Varus restore me my legions ;" 
 and some historians pretend to say that he never after 
 recovered the former serenity of his temper. 
 
 But he had some uneasiness of a domestic nature in 
 i.is own family that contributed to distress him : he had 
 married Livia, the wife of Tiberius Nero, ?ty the consent 
 of her husband, at a time she was six months gone 
 with child. This was an imperious woman, and, con- 
 scious of being beloved, she controlled him ever after at 
 her pleasure. She bad two ons by her former husband^ 
 
I8S THE HISTORY OF THC 
 
 Tiberius the elder, whom she greatly loved ; and I 
 sus, who was born three months after she had been mar- 
 ried to Augustus, and who was thought to be his own 
 son. The eldest of these, Tiberius, whom he:ti 
 adopted, and \rho succeeded him in the ci 
 good general, but of a suspicious and obstinate tern] 
 so that though he was serviceable to Augustus in hi 
 rei;; e him hut lii'J- home. 
 
 He was at last obi: !c for five 
 
 the island of 1 e he chief 
 
 a retired manner, com ,:h the (i recks, and ad- 
 
 dicting himself to literature ; of which however he made 
 afterwards but a b.. Vusus, th- died 
 
 hi his return from an expeditio:. 
 
 stus inconsolable lost. Mir 
 
 .dlUction was the conduct of his daughter Julia, 
 whom hf 
 
 in he married to his general Agrippn, : his 
 
 death to 
 
 contented with enjoyin ' also 
 
 y of her prostituti 
 
 s fora Ion -uld not believe the 
 
 he < -induct) but at last could not : 
 
 observing them. He found 
 cess andproi!: 
 
 turnal appointments in the most public parts of the c 
 the very court where her father presided - 
 empt from her debaucheries. I ! 
 of puttin . but after son^< 
 
 bani forbidding her the use of 
 
 wine, and all s as could inflame her vicious 
 
 inclinations : he ordered also that no person should c 
 D permission, and sent her me : 
 Scribonia with her to 1 ompany. Afu 
 
 mpted to intercede for Julia, his 
 
 , " That fire and water should sooner unite '. 
 " he with \ifff " ^ hen some persops one day were more 
 lhan usually urgent with him in her favour, he was dri- 
 10 such an extremity of passion as to wish that they 
 might have such a daughter. However, she had 
 sons by Agrippa, named Caius and Lucivn, from whom 
 
EMPIRE OF ROME. 189 
 
 great expectations were formed ; but they died when 
 scarcely arrived at man's estate ; Lucius about five years 
 after his father, at Marseillies, and Caius two years after. 
 Augustus having now, in a great measure survived all 
 his contemporaries, at length, in the seventy-fourth year 
 of his age, began to think of retiring from the fatigues 
 of state, and in some measure of continuing Tiberius, 
 his son-in-law by Livia, his successor in his usual em- 
 pi -yments, He desired the senate to salute him no lon- 
 ger at the palace according to custom ; nor to take it 
 amiss, if, for the future, he could not converse with them 
 as formerly. From that time Tiberius was joined in the 
 jj government of the provinces with him, and in~ 
 7 '- ' vested with almost the same authority. How- 
 ever, Augustus could not entirely forsake the 
 administration of the state, which habit had mixed with 
 his satisfactions ; he still continued a watchful guardian of 
 its interests, and shewed himself to the last a lover of 
 his people. Finding it now therefore very inconvenient 
 to come to the senate by reason of his age, he desired to 
 have twenty privy counsellors assigned him for a year ; 
 and it was decreed, that whatever measures ^>ere resolv- 
 ed upon by them together with the consuls, they should 
 have entirely the force of a law. He seemed in some 
 measure apprehensive of his approaching end, for he 
 made his will, and delivered it to the vestal virgins. 
 He then solemnized the census, or numbering the peo- 
 ple, whom he found to amount to four millions, one hun- 
 dred and thirty-seven thousand ; which shews Rome to 
 be equal to four of the greatest cities of modern times. 
 While these ceremonies were performing by a mighty 
 roncourse of people in the Campus Martius, it is said that 
 an eagle flew round the emperor several times, and di- 
 recting its flight to a neighbouring temple, perched over 
 the name of Agrippa, which was by the augurs con* 
 ceived to portend the death of the emperor. Shortly 
 after, having accompanied Tiberius in his march into 
 lllyria as far as Beneventum, he was there taken ill of a 
 diarrhoea. Returning therefore from thence, he came 
 to Nola, near Capua, and there finding himself danger- 
 ously ill, he sent for Tiberius with the rest of his most 
 
THE HISTORY OF Ti 
 
 aatc friends and acquaintance. A few hours be 
 his death he ordered a looking-glass to be brought) and 
 his hair to be adjusted with more than uv 
 then addressed his friends whom he beheld surroun 
 his bed, and desired to know whether he had pro] 
 played hi hichbein cd in the 
 
 affirmative, he cried out with his last breath, " then 
 
 ' thus, in the 
 year oi .. 
 the. uge 
 
 jll. 
 
 death of the emperor when known caused inex- 
 pressible gric; >ut the whole Roman empit . 
 
 illingtoprocurethesuccesbion more speed- 
 . she took 
 
 .11 the passa- 
 ges ' ver- 
 cd, and p '.tied 
 
 '. or's 
 
 the adoption of Tiberius to 
 the. I' he emperor'- 
 
 -rice. 1 
 
 con- 
 . the 
 beginning of his ^ . unable t< 
 
 c of his sorr- ing, gave 
 
 ,otes to Drusushis son v 
 
 After this, one of the late emperor's, freed mei. 
 ri the senate house, wherein he : 
 is and Livia his heirs ; am! like- 
 
 ;>tcd into the Juli-in family, and honoured 
 the IKUIV ides his will, four other 
 
 al ; another, r 
 I exploits ; a third, coir.; 
 ccount of the provinces, forces, and 
 :c empire ; and a fourtl ule of directic. 
 
 rius for governing the empire. Among the 
 found to be nis opinion, that no man, how gi 
 favo cr he might be, should be entru 
 
EMPIRE OF ROME. 191 
 
 loo much authority, lest it should induce him to turn 
 tyrant. Another maxim was, that none should desire 
 to enlarge the empire which was already preserved with 
 difficulty. Thus he seemed studious of serving his coun- 
 try to the very last, and the sorrow of the people seem- 
 ed equal to his assiduity. It was decreed that all the 
 women should mourn for him a whole year. Temples 
 were erected to him ; divine honours were allowed him ; 
 and one Nurnerius Atticus, a senator willing to convert 
 the adulation of the times to his own benefit, received a 
 large sum of money for swearing that he saw him ascend- 
 ing into heaven ; so that no doubt remained among the 
 people concerning his divinity. 
 
 Such were the honours paid to Augustus, whose pow- 
 er began in the slaughter, and terminated in the happi- 
 ness of his subjects ; so that it was said of him, " That 
 " it had been good for mankind if he had never been 
 " born, or if he never had died." It is very probable 
 that the cruelties exercised in his triumvirate were sug- 
 gested by his colleagues ; or, perhaps, he thought, in 
 the case ol Caesar's death, that revenge was virtue. Cer- 
 tain it is, that these severities were in some measure 
 necessary to restore public tranquility ; for, until the 
 Roman spirit was entirely eradicated, no monarchy could 
 be secure. He gave the-government an air suited to the 
 disposition of the times ; he indulged his subjects in the 
 pride of seeing the appearance of a republic, while he 
 made them really happy in the effects of a most absolute 
 monarchy, guided by the most consummate prudence. 
 In this last virtue he seems to have excelled most mon- 
 archs ; and indeed, could we separate Octavius from 
 Augustus, he would be one of the most faultless princes 
 in history. 
 
 rj Tiberius was fifty-six years old when he 
 ' * took upon him the government of the Roman 
 
 A D 15 em P* re - ^6 liatl lon S live( l in a Profound 
 ' state of dissimulation under Augustus, and 
 was not yet hardy enough to shew himself in his real 
 character. In the beginning of his reign nothing ap- 
 peared but prudence, generosity, and clemency. But 
 the successess of Gcrmanicus, his nephew> over the Ger- 
 
THE HISTORY OF THL 
 
 mans, first brought his natural dispositions to lii, r ht. 
 
 v of his mind without cii 
 oon the i It on the most 
 
 means of nimbi i- . anc! 
 
 renv l'or this purpose 
 
 he i r. of a fu: 
 
 cute tho 
 His in struct i 
 
 :ich, 
 
 suspicion, he o procun 
 
 death if an opporj. \\ Id offer. T: sue- 
 
 . after ; a; 
 universally believe on. 
 
 awe- he began to pull oft'thi 
 more in 
 
 he took iiito his- c 
 
 jaiv..- nd out li cl of 
 
 c of 
 his 
 
 own arts, h e ad- 
 
 r of all the cruchic th;it ensued soon after; bu f 
 
 that from tin 
 femcd to become r ious. 
 
 Tiberius to i renote 
 
 from Rome 
 
 .,ince there could be no access to the emperor but by 
 him. The er i ithcr prevailed up per- 
 
 lons, or pursuing the natural turn o! 
 vrhich led to indo! Iftii 
 
 year of 1. nia> 
 
 under pretence of dc cmples to Jupiter and 
 
 Au; 
 
 nful 
 
 >m the contii 
 ies. Hvu-icd in this ret: 
 idoned pleasures, c]\ 
 -he miseries of his subjects- 
 
EMPIRE OF ROME. 133 
 
 In fact, it had been happy for mankind had he given 
 up his suspicions when he declined the fatigues of reign- 
 ing, and resigned the will to do harm when he divested 
 himself of the power of doing good. But from the 
 time of his retreat he became more cruel, and Sejanus 
 tys endeavoured to increase his distrusts. Secret 
 *pies and informers were placed in all pans of the city, 
 who converted the most harmless actions into subjects 
 ofoftence. 
 
 In consequence of this, Nero and Drusus, the chil- 
 dren of Germanieus, were declared enemies to the state, 
 and afterwards starved to death in prison, while Agrip- 
 j>ina, their mother, was sent into banishment. Sabinus, 
 Asinius Gallus, and Syriacus, were, upon slight preten-. 
 ces, condemned and executed. In this manner Sejanus 
 proceeded, removing all who stood between him and 
 the empire, and every day increasing in confidence with 
 Tiberius, and power with the senate. The number of 
 his statues exceeded even those of the emperor ; people 
 ; e by his fortune, in the same manner as they would 
 have done had he been actually upon the throne ; and 
 he was more dreaded than even the tyrant who actually 
 enjoyed the empire. But the rapidity of his rise seem- 
 ed only preparatory to the greatness of his downfall. 
 All we know rf his first disgrace with the emperor is, 
 that Satrius Secundus was the man who had the bold- 
 ness to accuse him of treason ; and Antonia, the mo- 
 ther of Germanicys, seconded the accusation. The se 
 Date, who had long been jealous of his power, and dread- 
 ed his cruelty* immediately took this opportunity of go- 
 ing beyond the orders of Tiberius, and instead of sen- 
 tencing him to imprisonment, they directed his execu- 
 tion. As he was conducting to his fate, the people fbad- 
 cd him with insult atfid execration. He was pursued 
 with sarcastic reproaches ; his statues were instantly 
 thrown down, and he himself, shortly after, strangled 
 by the executioner. 
 
 His death only lighted up the emperor's rage for far- 
 ther executions. Plancina, the wife of Piso, Sextus 
 1 ilius, Vcscuhiius Atticus, and Julius Marinus, were 
 B 
 
T! ;ORY OF Ti 
 
 executed by his con.mand for being attached to 
 He began to grow weary of pa; 
 
 l\ the accused should be put 
 , uithoul further t. 
 
 ith slaughter ami mourning. \Vlun one 
 uiius had killed himself to ; 
 
 When a ; 
 would not dct. the 
 
 i sudicicntly your friend to 
 its." 
 
 !, odious to all 
 
 i self: an enemy to the 1 .ers, 
 
 length, in tin 
 .11 to feel the *. 
 
 totally to 
 
 e to 
 ;hini. 
 
 was wcllacq , cover the me 
 
 - , he seemed willing to 
 
 off the inquietude 
 /ns. He left i 
 inent ; and at last fixed upo: 
 Mibcnum, in a house that fo: -. 
 
 by i! 'rth from the 
 
 .^t the applauses of 
 
 ciu he was informed that t 
 
 .nit filled : 
 court with terror and al 
 
 ig their joy, in 
 . ! preleiivicd sorrow, and left thi 
 
 citude for the fate of the old. 
 -lerstruck : he pre^^ 
 
 but death, instead of the empire at 
 ircd, Ma ro, however, who 
 
EMPIRE OF ROME. 
 
 dened in crimes, ordered that the dying emperor should 
 U C 790 ^ e dispatched, tyr smothering him with 
 AD n 9 pi^ ows ' or as others will have it, by poi- 
 son. In this manner Tiberius died, in the 
 seventy-eighth year of his age, after reigning twenty- 
 two. 
 
 It was in the eighteenth year of this monarch's reign 
 that Christ was crucified, as if the universal depravity of 
 mankind, wanted no less a sacrifice than that of God 
 himself to reclaim them. Shortly after his death Pilate 
 wrote toTiberius an account of his passion, resurrection, 
 and miracles ; upon which the emperor made a report of 
 the whole to the senate, desiring that Christ might be 
 accounted a God by the Romans. But the senate, being 
 displeased that the proposal had not come first from 
 themselves, refused to allow his apotheosis, alledging an 
 ancient law which gave them the superintendance in all 
 matters in religion. They even went so far, as by an 
 edict, to command that all Christians should leave the 
 
 , but Tiberius, by another act, threatened death to 
 all such as should accuse them ; by which means they 
 continued unmolested during the rest of his reign. 
 All the enormities of Caligula were concealed in the 
 
 nning of his reign. But it had been happy for him 
 and the empire had such a beginning been as strenuous- 
 ly maintained. In less than eight months, all appear- 
 ance of moderation and clemency vanished ; while fu- 
 rious passions, unexampled avarice, and capricious cru- 
 elty began to take their turn in his mind. Pride, im- 
 piety, lust, avarice, and all in the extreme, were every 
 moment brought forward. 
 
 His pride first began by assuming to himself the title 
 
 uler, which was usually granted only to kings. He 
 would also have taken the crown and diadem, had he 
 not been advised, that he was already superior to all the 
 monarchs of the world. Not long after he assumed di- 
 vine honours, and gave himself the name of such divini- 
 ties as he thought most agreeable to his nature. For 
 this purpose he car.sed the heads of the statues of Jupi- 
 ter, and some other gods, to be struck off, and his own 
 
 c put in their places. He frequently seated himseU 
 
THE HISTORY OF TH-L 
 
 IK! Pollux, and ordered that all 
 icto their temple to worship should pay their iu 
 b only to him. However, such was th. 
 inconstancy of ihis unaccountable idiot, that hr 
 edhiscli changed his clothes. Being 
 
 at one li: ity, at another a ftmuK 
 
 -s Jupiter or Murs, and not unfrequently Venus or 
 and dec! le to his 
 
 own 
 ilre^t in simi! 
 
 *c;. Ji 
 
 were numerous ; the srcrifices made to him were of the 
 icacies that could be \ and 
 
 the - .'.hood was sought 
 
 ever, he : his 
 
 wife and his horse K> tfm honour j and, lo give a fi: 
 ing stroke to 1. 
 His n.' 
 
 mor. it in the stile of a He often 
 
 ed it to his bed, lo taste, the ; 
 ces. He employed many inventions to imitate 
 and would fiequt: Jupiter, crying out with a 
 
 speech of Ho you conquer me, or I will con- 
 
 ''queryou." He frequently pretended to en 
 whispers with the 
 
 plies, threatening to si .-ungimo 
 
 L-CC. Soi me a bet- 
 
 ter i i-d that they two should 
 
 dwell 
 
 Of all l the most 
 
 able 
 
 The luxuries of former cmpere 
 itself wh 
 
 contrived nc-.v in^, wlien the richest 
 
 mul mos 1 . usted with the ut- 
 
 most ; nndout di- lue> 
 
 ong 
 his n mctimes had services of pure gold 
 
 ..-ntecl before li instead of me, 
 
 1 hat a man slv lomist or :\n empc: 
 
EMPIRE OF ROME. 197 
 
 The expensive manner in which he maintained his 
 horse will give some idea of hh domestic ceconomy. 
 He built it a stable of marble, and a manger of ivory. 
 Whenever this animal, M'hich he called Incitatus, was 
 to run, he placed centinels near its stable the night pre- 
 ceding to prevent its slumbers from being broken. He 
 appointed it an house, furniture and kitchen, in order 
 to treat all its visitors with proper respect. The empe- 
 ror sometimes invited Incitatus to his own table, present- 
 ed it with gilt oats and wine in a golden cup. He often 
 swore by the safety of his horse ; and it is said he would 
 have appointed it to the consulship had not his death 
 prevented. 
 
 His impiety was but subordinate to his cruelties. He 
 slew many of the senate, and afterwards cited them to 
 appear as if they had killed them themselves. He cast 
 great numbers of ld awd infirm men, and poor decrepit 
 house-keepers to wild beasts, to free the state from such 
 unsejviceable citizens. He usually fed his toild beasts 
 with the bodies of those wretches whom he condemned, 
 and every tenth day sent off numbers of them to be thus 
 devoured, which he jocosely called clearing his accounts. 
 One of those who was thus exposed, crying out that he 
 was innocent, Caligula ordered his tongue to be cut out, 
 and then thrown into the amphitheatre as before. He 
 look delight in killing men with slow tortures, that, as 
 he exprest it, they might feel themselves dying ; being 
 always present at such executions, himself directing the 
 duration of the punishment, and mitigating the tortures, 
 merely to prolong them. In fact, he valued himself for 
 no quality more than this unrelenting temper and in- 
 flexible severity, which he preserved while presiding at* 
 an execution. At one time being incensed with the 
 citizens of Rome, he wished that all the Roman people 
 had but one neck that he might dispatch them at a 
 blow. 
 
 Such insupportable and capricious cruelties produced 
 many secret conspiracies against him ; but these were 
 for a while deferred upon account of his intended expe- 
 dition against the Germans and Pritons, >vhich he tin* 
 
Tl! 
 
 k in the third year uf his reign. 
 
 auscdnij. vies lobe 
 
 ma-, 
 i so much ro.oimio. 
 
 : all befo per- 
 
 low tii.it it i: 
 
 wel: . om the * 
 
 oth- 
 re- 
 
 ; the 
 wh< 
 
 . with \\ lii 
 
 he commanded his trumpet 
 be r 
 
 :po the short 
 
 of tl 
 
 pedi logethcr as a gent 
 
 be joyful. 
 
 But that such thuuld ! :ioutamemo 
 
 rial, he 
 
 side, and ordered : . he had put t- 
 
 to be conveyed to Rome, in a jjreat measure by i 
 
 :ie praetorian 
 
 the person v. 1 the world ol 
 
 * liesiJes the motives which lie hud in common v. 
 , he ted received repeated insults from ' 
 
EMPIRE OF ROME. 199 
 
 who took all occasions of turning him to riclicule, and 
 impeaching him of cowardice, merely because he hap- 
 pened to have an ejfem:wat^|pfoice. .Whenever Cberea 
 came to demand the watch-word from the emperor, ac- 
 cording to custom, he always gave him either -Venus, 
 Adonis', or some such, implying effeminacy aud'softness. 
 He therefore secretly imparted bis designs to several 
 senators and knights whom he knew to have received 
 personal injuries from Caligula'; among whom was Va- 
 lerius Asiaticus, whose wife the emperor had debauched. 
 Anius Vinicianus also was desirous of engaging in the 
 first design that offered. Besides these, were Clemens 
 the prefect* and Calistus, whose riches made him ob- 
 noxious to the tyrant's resentment. 
 
 While these were deliberating upon the most certain 
 and speedy method of destroying the tyrant, an unex- 
 pected incident gave new strength to the conspiracy. 
 Pompedius, a senator of distinction, having been accu- 
 sed before the emperor of having spoken of him with dis- 
 respect, the informer cited one Quintilia, an actress, to 
 confirm his accusation. Quintilia, however, was pos- 
 sessed of a degree of fortitude not easily found even in 
 the other sex. She denied the fact with obstinacy ; and 
 being put to the torture at the informer's request, she 
 bore the severest torments of the rack with unshaken con- 
 stancy. But what is most remarkable of her resolution 
 is, that she was acquainted with all the particulars of the 
 conspiracy; and although Cherea was the person ap- 
 pointed to preside at her torture, she revealed nothing ; 
 on the contrary, when she was led to the rack, she trod 
 upon the toe of one of the conspirators, intimating at 
 once her knowledge of the confederacy, and her own 
 resolution not to divulge it. In this manner she suffer- 
 ed, until all her limbs were dislocated ; and in that de- 
 plorable state was presented to the emperor, who order- 
 ed her a gratuity for what she had suffered. Cherea 
 could no longer contain his indignation at being thus 
 made the instrument of a tyrant's cruelty. After seve- 
 ral deliberations with the conspirators, it was at last re- 
 solved to attack him during the continuance of the Pa- 
 latine games, which lasjed four days ; and to strike jlte 
 
200 THE HISTORY OF 
 
 blow when his guards should hfvc the least opportunity 
 to defend him. In consequence of this, the three first 
 days of the games it affording any oppor- 
 
 tunity. Cherea now therefore bt. prehend, that 
 
 deferring the time of tl. . be a nu 
 
 to divulge it ; lie c : the honour 
 
 of killing the tyrant might fall to the lot of some other 
 person more bold than I efore, he I 
 
 solved to defer the execution of his plot only to the day 
 following, when Caligula should ; -:gh a pri 
 
 y to some baths no m the p. 
 
 The last day of the games was more splendid 
 the rest, and Call ;cd more sprightl) 
 
 descending tl. lie took rcat amusement in 
 
 seeing the people scramble for the fruits and other . 
 ties, thn ! no 
 
 of the plot formed 1 
 
 In t! time the conspiracy began to ti. 
 
 and, had he had , s left, it would not 1:>; 
 
 being discovered, 
 one of his acquaintances if he 1 
 
 -the other 'hen you must 
 
 know," says he* " that this day will be represented the 
 death of a tyrant." The other immediately understood 
 him, but desired him to be more cautioL di- 
 
 vulged a secret of so much i 
 
 tors part of tin the most extreme 
 
 anxiety ; and, at one time, C enied resolved to 
 
 spend the wi. 
 
 unexpected delay entirely exasperated Che had 
 
 he not been restrained, he would have gone and perpe- 
 trated his design in the midst of all the people. Ju 
 that instant, while he was yet he-. ;at he should 
 
 do, Asprenas, one of the conspirators, persuaded Cali- 
 gula to go to the bath, and take some slight refreshment! 
 in order to enjoy the rest of the en u -it with g; 
 
 cr relish. The emperor therefore rising up, tin 
 rators used every precaution to keep eff the thr< 
 to surround him, under pretence of great 
 And these, upon his entering into a little vaulted galle- 
 
 >.at leads from tlje theatre to ihq bath, resolved *0 
 
EMPIRE OF ROME. 201 
 
 dispatch him. Cherea $st struck him to the ground 
 with his dagger, crying out, u Tyrant, think upon this." 
 Immediately after the other conspirators rushed in ; and 
 while die emperor continued to resist, crying out that 
 lie was not yet dead, they dispatched him with thirty 
 wounds. 
 
 Such was the merited death of Cains Caligula, in the 
 twenty-ninth year of his age, after a short reign of three 
 years, ten months, and eight days. It will be unneces- 
 sary to add any thing more to his character than what 
 Seneca says of him, namely, that nature seemed to have 
 brought him forth, to shew what was possible to be pro- 
 duced from the greatest vice, supported by the greatest 
 authority. 
 
 TT c As soon as the death of Caligula was made 
 public, it produced the greatest confusion in 
 A 1) 42 a ^ P arts ^ t ' ic c ^y* The conspirators, who 
 ' only aimed at destroying a tyrant without at- 
 tending to a successor, had all sought safety by retiring 
 to private places. Some soldiers happening to run about 
 the palace discovered Claudius, Caligula's uncle, lurking 
 in a secret place, where he had hid himself through fear. 
 Of this persc-^ge, who had hitherto been despised for 
 his imbecility, they resolved to make an emperor, and ac- 
 cordingly carried him upon their shoulders to the camp, 
 where they proclaimed him, at a time he expected noth- 
 ing but death, and the senate confirmed their choice. 
 
 Claudius was now fifty years old when he began to 
 reign. The complicated diseases of jhis infancy had in 
 c measure affected the faculties both of his body 
 and mind. He was continued in a state of pupilage 
 much longer thar 'vas usual at that time, and seemed in 
 every part of life incapable of conducting himself. 
 
 The commencement of his reign, as it was with all 
 the other bad emperors, gave the most promising hopes 
 of an happy continuance. He began by passing an art 
 of oblivion for all former words and actions, and dis- 
 annulled all the cruel edicts of Caligula. He shewed 
 himself more moderate than his predecessors with re- 
 ! to titles and honours. He forbade all persons upon 
 c penalties, to sacrifice to him, as they had done to 
 
THE HISTORY 
 
 Caligula. lie was assiduous in hearing and e\ 
 :'d frequently . 
 
 mildness, the severity of strict 
 i~e. 
 
 To 1, . lc for the intern: ,;es of the 
 
 I that of a watchful -.ver the 
 
 nccs. He restored Jude 
 
 from Hi the 
 
 man who had put John the 
 was 
 
 ch prim: i Iwd 
 
 been un; 
 
 privcd t:, and Hliodiai 
 
 havinp, prom< : cction, and crucified s'.me citi- 
 
 :nc. 
 
 lie people by fou 
 conquest v^ had for near an hun 
 
 I 
 
 '/INC cou:. 
 
 one ! >ersuade<! 
 
 emperor to n^ upon the r 
 
 ild attend the cor, 
 In pursuance of his advice, then 
 tor v ^ over into Gaul, and make pre- 
 
 that 
 
 .villi'ig to mak ; f .s of 
 
 ihey .ons, un- 
 
 hc conduct of their king Cynobelinu- 
 : ihrown. 
 
 These successess soon after induced C 
 us to j*o i on, upon pre^ 
 
 th;r. .ves were still seditioir- 
 
 not delivered up some Roman f\ 
 shelter amonij them. IIo^ oxpeditioi 
 
 i-ath^ show than service : the 
 
 continued in Britain, which 
 
 more taken up in receiving homacre than t 
 
EMPIRE OF ROME. 2g3 
 
 i:is conquests. Great rejoicings were made upon his 
 return to Rome. The senate decreed him asplendid tri- 
 umph ; triumphal arches were erected to his honour, and 
 anmial games instituted to commemorate his victories. 
 In the mean time war was vigorously prosecuted by Plau- 
 tius and his lieutenant Vespasian, who, according to Sue- 
 tonius, fought thirty battles with the enemy, and by that 
 means reduced a part of the island into the form of a 
 Roman province. However, this war broke out afresh 
 under the government of Ostorius. who suc- 
 A. D. 51. ceededPlautius. The Britons either despis- 
 ing him for want of experience, or hoping 
 to gain advantages over a person newly come to com- 
 mand, rose up in arms and disclaimed the Roman power. 
 The Iceni, the Cangi, and the Brigantes, made a pow- 
 erful resistance, though they were a* length overcome ; 
 but the Silurcs, or inhabitants of South Wales, under 
 their king Caractacus, were the most formidable oppo- 
 nents the Roman generals had ever yet encountered. 
 This brave barbarian not only made a gallant defence, 
 but often seemed to claim a doubtful victory. He, with 
 at conduct, removed the seat of war into the most 
 inaccessible parts of the country, and for nine years kept 
 the Romans in continual alarm. 
 
 This general, however, upon the approach of Ostori- 
 iiuling himself obliged to come to a decisive engage- 
 ment, addressed his countrymen with calm resolution, 
 .telling them that this battle would either establish their 
 liberty, or confirm their servitude : that they ought to 
 remember the bravery of their ancestors, by whose va- 
 lour they were delivered from taxes and tributes, and 
 I this was the time to shew themselves equal to their 
 progenitors. Nothing however, that undisciplined va- 
 lour could perform could avail against the conduct of 
 the Roman legions. After an obstinate fight, the Bri- 
 tons were entirely routed ; the wife and daughter of 
 actacus were taken prisoners ; and he himself, seek- 
 ing refuge from Cartismandua, queen of the Bnejantes, 
 was treacherously given up to the conquerors. When 
 he was brought to Rome nothing could exceed the curi- 
 v of the people to behold a man who had for so many 
 
204 THE HISTORY OF Ti; 
 
 years braved the power of the empire. On his pa' 
 testified no marks of base dejection ; but, as he was led 
 through the .v ;>pening to observe the splendour 
 
 object around him. . he, " he 
 
 possible that peopl' cl of such ir.ae 
 
 " at home, could think . .um- 
 
 * ble cottage in B; bc- 
 
 fore the emperor, \\hile the othc 
 
 with the most ubji .cus stood be- 
 
 fore the tribunal with an in;: <tker 
 
 willing to accept of pardon, than nit of 
 
 rii-dhc,' > speech, 
 
 " I i \imcdiately, i.nd without opposition, 
 
 .ne would have been iti . nor 
 
 v ^lory mtMnorablt be 
 
 11 fore you spaic TI. 
 
 i, the 
 highest h- ( soon be- 
 
 il tO 
 
 .11 the o> ;ljc enipi: 
 
 and now, \\hcn called 
 
 hut unde: in- 
 
 beco, .mon appellation 1 
 
 By her was Clau lius urged on to co:, 
 
 hile 
 debaucheries b< 
 
 herlewdness< 
 
 llercrijues a:idcnormi 
 
 :cd, she, together with her ; 
 suflercd th o justly d 
 
 lius took for his sec*.; 
 daughter of his brother ' 
 
 1 ambitious spirit, whose \\: 
 
 the succession for I : son by : 
 
KMPIRE OF ROME. 206 
 
 riage, treated Claudius with such haughtiness, that he 
 was heard to declare, when heated with wine, that it was 
 his fate to suffer the disorders of his wives, and to be their 
 executioner. This expression sunk deep on her mind, 
 and engaged all her faculties to prevent the blow. She, 
 therefore, resolved not to defer a criiife which she had 
 meditated a long while before, which was to poison him 
 She for some time, however, debated with herself in 
 what manner she should administer the poison, as she 
 feared too strong a dose would discover her treachery, 
 and one too weak might fail of its effect. At length she 
 determined upon a poison of singular efficacy, to destroy 
 his intellects, and yet not suddenly to terminate his life. 
 As she had been long conversant in this horrid practice, 
 she applied to a woman called Locusta, notorious for 
 assisting on such occasions. The poison was given the 
 emperor among mushrooms, a dish he was particularly- 
 fond of. Shortly after having eaten he dropped down 
 insensible ; but this caused no alarm, as it was usual for 
 him to sit eating till he had stupined ail his faculties, and 
 was obliged to be carried off to his bed from the table. 
 However, his constitution seemed to overcome the ef- 
 fects of the poison, when Agrippina resolved to make 
 sure of him ; wherefore she directed a wretched physi- 
 cian, who was her creature, to thrust a poisoned feather 
 down his throat, under pretence of making him vomit, 
 and this dispatched him. 
 
 U C 793 Nero, though but seventeen years of age, 
 \ D 55 began h * s re *g n w * tn tne g eneral approbation 
 of mankind. He appeared just, liberal, and 
 humane : when a warrant for the execution of a crimi- 
 nal was brought him to be signed, he was heard to cry 
 out, with seeming concern, u Would to heaven that I 
 had never learned to write !" 
 
 But as he increased in years, his crimes seemed to in~ 
 i in equal proportion. The execution of his own 
 mother Agrippina was the first alarming instance he gave 
 of his cruelty. Having attempted to get her drowned 
 at sea, failing in this, he ordered her to be put to death 
 in her palace j and coming in peon to gaze upon the 
 
THi; HISTORY OF Till. 
 
 trcl to say, that he never thought his 
 mother had l>een so handsome. 
 
 All ihe Ixjunds oi" virtue being thus broken down, 
 
 not 
 
 id but inhun: odd con- 
 
 ruclties, 
 
 whi< *o make the mind shudder with 
 
 u fond oi fien 
 
 and n.-finc the heart. 
 
 lit of poetry ; but chariot d; : 
 pursuit ; and all these he frtvjuti 
 in pi.: 
 
 But ppy for mankind had he confined 
 
 ties 
 
 led to one ot 
 
 . 
 
 became the husband oi 
 
 he I of the marks ct 
 
 .n hi^ time ; and BIOS! historiar,- 
 lU^ration to him. : that he stood upo 
 
 rin^ the coiitinuance of the 
 
 in a players habit, i 
 .ner, SOIIM ipon the destruction 
 
 v. As a proof of his ^ u ^ 1 upon this occasion, none 
 
 itii) the f. 
 
 :he empc 
 
 ry art to tlirow the odium of so clt lion 
 
 . and to fix it upon the Cl. A ho 
 
 at that time -'oundin Rome. 
 
 more dreadful than the perse 
 .ist ihcm upon this false accusntion. So:. 
 
EMPIRE OF ROME. 207 
 
 covered with the skins of wild beasts, and in that figure 
 devoured by dogs. Some were crucified, and others 
 burnt alive. " When the day was not sufficient for their 
 " tortures," says Tacitus," " the flames in which they 
 " perished served to illuminate the night ;" while Nero, 
 dressed in the habit of a charioteer, regaled himself with 
 their tortures from his gardens, and entertained the peo- 
 ple at one time with their sufferings, at another with 
 the games of the circus. In this persecution St. Paul 
 beheaded, and St. Peter was crucified with his head 
 uvards ; which death he chose, as being more dis- 
 honourable than that of his Divine Master. 
 
 A conspiracy formed against Nero by Piso, a man of 
 great power and integrity, which was prematurely dis- 
 covered, opened a new train of suspicion that destroyed 
 many of the principal families in Rome. The two most 
 remark-able personages who fell on this occasion were 
 Seneca the philosopher, and Lucan the poet, who was 
 his nephew. Nero, either having real testimony against 
 him, or else hating him for his virtues, sent a tribune 
 to Seneca, informing him that he was suspected as an 
 accomplice. The tribune found the philosopher at ta- 
 ble with Paulina his wife, and informing him of his bu- 
 siness, Seneca replied without any emotion, that his wel- 
 fare depended upon no man ; that he had never been 
 accustomed to indulge the errors of the emperor, and 
 would not do it now. When this answer was brought 
 to Nero, he demanded whether Seneca seemed afraid to 
 die. The tribune replying that he did not appear in the 
 least terrified ; " Then go to him again," cried the em- 
 peror, " and give him my orders to die." Accordingly 
 he sent a centurion to Seneca, signifying that it was 
 the emperor's pleasure that he should die. Seneca seem- 
 ed no way discomposed, and was not unmindful of his 
 < onstanry. lie endeavoured to console his wife for his 
 loss, and exhort her to a life of persevering virtue. But 
 she seemed resolved on not surviving him, and pressed 
 her request to die with him so earnestly, that Seneca, 
 who had long looked upon death as a benefit, at last 
 gave his consent, and the veins of both their arms were 
 opened at the same time. As Seneca, was old and much 
 
THE HISTORY BE 
 
 enfeebled by the austerities of his life, the blood fir 
 . he caused the veins of bis legs 
 be opened also. His p.-.ins were Ioin. r 
 
 o not capable of rt his forti- 
 
 tude or his eloquence. He dictated 
 secretaries, which . \\ith gn. his 
 
 death by the ; .*. which 1. 
 
 wreck of thru onics being now drawn out 
 
 ilcd of its effect, h; 
 
 already t ' incapable of exci: 
 
 lion. He wits froi, 
 onl> nd ; at le; 
 
 was he vapou; 
 
 In the mean time, his 
 
 havi ,>on with the loss of blood. 
 
 her her domestics, and by this means 
 
 ived her her con- 
 
 duct during t ! er life, she seemed alwi. 
 
 ful o! ;>lc. 
 
 .; not le.s- 
 veins of his a: iter he had lo 
 
 if blood, pcrcci ! legs already 
 
 dead, while th- : :s still c< 
 
 orous, he called to mind a description in his own poem 
 ofti 
 
 stances, and expired while he was repeatii 
 ful p. 
 
 ut vulncrc san. 
 
 t undique \ 
 
 ' Tradiilil in 
 
 " I! 
 
 Th: iiiius about this time is 
 
 V' J r ' cc - 
 
 y modem his;- 
 ork of no great n 
 .till remaining, was an ! 
 
 ious 
 
EMPIRE OF ROME. 2Q9 
 
 a court as that of Nero, he was particularly noted for 
 his refinements in luxury. He was accused of being 
 privy to Piso's conspiracy, and committed to prison. 
 Petronius could not endure the anxiety of suspence,- 
 wherefore he resolved upon putting himself to death, 
 which he performed in a manner entirely similar to that 
 in which he had lived. He opened his veins, and then 
 closed them as he thought least painful, with the utmost 
 cheerfulness and tranquility. He conversed with his 
 friends, not upon maxims of philosophy* or grave sub- 
 jects, but upon such topics as had amused his gayest re- 
 vels. He listened while they recited the lightest poems, 
 and by no action, no word nor circumstance, shewed the 
 perplexity of a dying person. Shortly after him, Numi- 
 cius Thermus was put to death, as likewise Barea, Sora- 
 nus, and Paetus Thrasea. The destroying the two last 
 Tacitus calls an attack upon virtue itself. Thrasea died 
 in the midst of his friends and philosophers, conversing 
 and reasoning on the nature of the soul. His wife, who 
 was the daughter of the celebrated Arria, was desirous 
 of following her mother's example, but he dissuaded her 
 from it. The death of the valiant Corbulo, who had 
 gained Nero so many victories over the Parthians, fol- 
 lowed next. Nor did the empressPoppea herself escape, 
 whom, in a fit of anger, he kicked when she was preg- 
 nant, by which she miscarried and died. At length hu- 
 man nature grew weary of bearing her persecutor, and 
 the whole world seemed to rouse, as if by common con- 
 sent, to rid the earth of a monster. 
 
 Scrgius Galba, who was at that time governor of Spain, 
 was remarkable for his wisdom in peace, and his courage 
 m war ; but as all talents under corrupt princes are dan- 
 gerousi he for some years hau seemed willing to court 
 obscurity, giving himself up to an inactive life, and 
 avoiding all opportunity of signalizing his valour. 
 
 But willing to rid his country of a monster, he accept- 
 ed the invitation of Vindex to march with an army to- 
 wards Rome. The reputation of that general was such, 
 that, from the moment he declared against Nero, the ty- 
 rant considered himself as undone. He received the ac- 
 count as he was at supper, and instantly struck with ter 
 S 2 
 
Hi \ OF Ti 
 
 ror, - iih his foot, 
 
 chry i'.nmensc value. He the* fell into a 
 
 swoon, from \vhi< iu \vhcn he recovered, he lure 
 
 u uti ;ic." He no-, ailed for Lo- 
 
 cusiaio furnish hi, ; and thu- 
 
 the worst, he retired to 
 
 solution of flying into i 
 
 and the revolt bcromii. 
 
 from house to hou the door * 
 
 him, ami re found to answer I 
 
 hin> d to 
 
 cd i But 
 
 :1 him, IM 
 
 and 
 Mkc 
 hU 
 
 Ln t ihon, one of i 
 
 him use, -obi 
 
 he IT. 
 cxl his ofter, and i 
 
 mounlec: 
 
 -shorn the \vrctchc' 
 thouph short, was crou 
 
 ii-om 
 
 Round him he beard 
 nothing but confused noises from the 
 of the s- Bating a thousand evils upon his 
 
 head. A passenger meeting him on tl.i 
 
 iicre go men in pur^ui; " Another asked 
 
 him if there wasany ne\vsof Nero in the city Hib horse 
 taking fright at a dead body that lay on the road, he 
 dropped his handkerchief ; and a soldier who was near 
 addressed him by .icrefore, quitted his 
 
 horse, and fo: .y, entered a t): 
 
 the back part of Pahon's housei thr 
 
EMPIRE OF ROME. 211 
 
 which he crept, making the best of his way among the 
 reeds and brambles, with which the place was over- 
 grown. During this interval the senate, finding the 
 praetorian guards had taken part with Galba, declared 
 him emperor, and condemned Nero to die, <c more ma- 
 jorum ;" that is, according to the rigour of the ancient 
 laws. When he was told of the resolution of the senate 
 against him, he asked the messenger what was meant by 
 Ucing punished according to the rigour of the ancient 
 laws ? to this he was answered, that the criminal was to 
 be stripped naked, his head was to be fixed in a pillory, 
 and in that posture he was to be scourged to death. Nero 
 was so terrified at this, that he seized two poignards 
 which he had brought with him, and examining their 
 points, returned them to their sheaths, pretending that 
 the fatal moment was not yet arrived. He then desired 
 Sporus to begin the lamentations which were used at 
 funerals : he next entreated that some of his attendants 
 would die, to give him courage by his example ; and af- 
 terwards began to reproach his own cowardice, crying 
 out, " Does this become Nero ? is this trifling well tim- 
 ed ?" " No, no, let me be courageous." In fact he had 
 no time to spare, for the soldiers who had been sent in 
 pursuit of him were just then approaching the house ; 
 wherefore, hearing the sound of the horses feet, he seta 
 er to his throat, with which, by the assistance of 
 [)hroditus, his freed man, and secretary, he gave him- 
 self a mortal wound. However, he was not yet quite 
 dead when one of the centurions entering the room and 
 pretending he came to his relief, attempted to stop the 
 blood with his cloak. But Nero regarding him with a 
 stern countenance, said " It is now too late. Is this 
 " your fidelity ?" Upon which, with his eyes fixed, and 
 frightfully staring, he expired, even in death a ghastly 
 spectacle of innoxious tyranny. 
 
 He reigned thirteen years, seven months, and twen- 
 ty-eight days, and died in the thirty-second year of his 
 age. 
 
 U C 821 Galba was seventy-two years old when he 
 
 \ D 69 was Declared emperor, and was then in Spain 
 
 with his legions, However, he soon found 
 
2*2 THE HISTORY OF THE 
 
 that his being raised to the throne was but an inlr 
 disquietudes. He seemed to have three objec ; 
 I o curb the insolence of the soldiers, to pi 
 thosi ilich had come to an enormous height in 
 
 the last reign, and to replenish the exchequer, which 
 had been quite drainc is prede- 
 
 cessors. However, permitting ' governed 
 
 by I . he at one time she 
 
 (rug. aher remiss and 
 
 ic illustrious p. 
 
 donr - though guilty. In cc 
 
 many seditions we pro- 
 
 od in difu 11 of the empire, but particu. 
 
 ncd of these commotions, was sen- 
 sible 
 
 :i heir. li cd therefore to put what lu 
 
 ;>mc per- 
 son v- 
 
 c from f] 
 
 uncK 1 on 
 
 givi i bcir of their here 
 
 aro^u I contention amor- 
 
 sion. Otho made 
 ing the great .d done the en: s be- 
 
 .d declared a.- 
 
 fully resolved to consult the ; 
 his suit ; and 
 
 nus ie charac- 
 
 of Pi he was every way wor c honour 
 
 designed 
 
 it merit to recommend him to 
 i.s youth therefore by the hand, 
 in the presence of his friends, he adopted him to suc^ 
 in the empire, giving him the most wholesome lessons 
 for guidi- onduct. Piso's conduct she 
 
 that he was highly : this distinction ; in all his 
 
 deportment there appeared such modesty, firnu 
 equality of mind, as bespoke him rather capable of dis- 
 ^ing than ambitious of obtaining his present digni- 
 
EMPIRE OF ROME. 213 
 
 ly. But the army and the senate did not seem equally 
 disinterested upon this occasion ; they had been so long 
 used to bribery and corruption, that they could now 
 bear no emperor who was not in a capacity of satisfying 
 their avarices. The adoption therefore of Piso was but 
 coldly received ; for his virtues were no recommendation 
 in a nation of universal depravity. 
 
 Oiho, who had long been a favourite of Galba, and 
 1 loping to be adopted his successor in the empire, find- 
 ing his hopes disappointed, and still further stimulated 
 by the immense load of debts which he had contracted 
 by his riotous way of living, resolved upon obtaining 
 the empire by force, since- he could not by peaceable 
 succession. Having corrupted the fidelity of the sol- 
 diers, he stole secretly from the emperor while he was 
 sacrificing; and assembling the soldiers, in a short speech, 
 urged the cruelties, and the avarice of Galba. Finding 
 theinvectives received with universal shouts by the whole 
 army, he entirely threw off the mask, and avowed his 
 intentions of dethroning him. The soldiers, being ripe 
 for sedition, immediately seconded his views : and taking 
 Otho upon their shoulders immediately declared him 
 emperor ; and, to strike the citizens with terror, carried 
 him with their swords drawn, into the camp. 
 
 Soon after, finding the emperor in some measure de~ 
 , cl by his adherents, the soldiers rushed in upon him, 
 trampling the crowds of people that then filled the forum 
 under foot. Galba, seeing them approach, seemed to 
 recollect all his former fortitude ; and bending his head 
 forward, bid the assassins strike it off if it were for the 
 i of the people. This was quickly performed ; and 
 his head being set upon the point of a lunce, was present- 
 ed to Otho, who ordered it to be contemptuously carried 
 round the camp, his body remaining unburied in the 
 streets, till it was interred by one of his slaves. 
 
 He died in the seventy-third year of his age, A. D. 69, 
 after a short reign of seven months ; as illustrious by his 
 own virtues as it was contaminated by the vices of his 
 favourites, who shared in his downfall. 
 
 Otho, who was now elected emperor began his reign 
 by a signal instance of clemency in pardoning Marius 
 
2U THE HISTORY OF THL 
 
 Celsus, who had been highly favoured by Galba ; 
 not contented with barely forgiving, hi -_d him to 
 
 ihe highest honou: 
 
 In the nieun time, the legions in Lower Germany, 
 having been purchased by the large cjift^ 
 
 of Vitellius their j^enc: 
 ccd ' -n him t 
 
 sen :. dared, t! lit to ap- 
 
 point to that high s f . '.i the cohorts ;/ 
 
 : from Ro 
 tcllius battle. Tlu 'vhich co: 
 
 n or- 
 
 restofhi icn- 
 
 pre- 
 
 i, that three consideraljlc bat 1 
 the space of three 
 
 near Cremona, and at 1 stor ; iu 
 
 all :id the Rom; 
 
 But ;c but of short lived coir 
 
 for \ 
 
 with fresli s; 
 
 ly over- 
 . him self shortly after 
 
 was imt. 
 ). 70. enr 
 
 of Accustomed to 
 
 iollo idc. 
 
 Upr: Home, 1 not a? 
 
 c came u justice, but as a t 
 
 s become conquest, 
 
 lius soon ip to all kinds of \\ 
 
 profuscQess ; but phut' 
 that he brought himself to an habit ot 
 to be able to t 
 tainments. though sclciom at his own cost, we; 
 
 itcd himself to the 
 
EMPIRE OF ROME. 215 
 
 L-S of his subjects, breakfasting with one, dining with 
 another, and supping with a third, all in the same day. 
 
 By the continuance of such vices, added to enormous 
 cruelties, he became not only a burden to himself, but 
 odious to all mankind. Thus, having become insup- 
 portable to the inhabitants of Rome, the legions of the 
 east, who had at first acquiesced in his dominions, began 
 to revolt, and shortly after unanimously resolved to make 
 Vespasian emperor. 
 
 During the preparations against him, Vitellius. though 
 buried in sloth and luxury, was resolved to make an effort 
 to defend the empire ; wherefore, his chief command- 
 ers, Valens and Cecinna, were ordered to make all pos- 
 sible preparations to resist the invaders. The first arrny 
 thutjentewed Italy, with a hostile intention, was under 
 the command of Antonius Piimus, who was met by 
 Cecinna near Cremona. A battle was expected to en- 
 sue, but a negockuion taking place, Cecinna was prevail-? 
 ed upon to change sides, and declare for Vespasian. 
 His army however quickly repented of what they ha$ 
 done, and, imprisoning their general, attacked Antonius, 
 though without a Icuder. The engagement continued 
 .Mg the whole night ; and in the morning after a 
 Vnort repast, both armies engaged a second time; when 
 the soldiers of Antonius, saluting the rising sun, accord- 
 ing to custom, the Viteiliuns supposing that they had 
 received new reinforcements betook themselves to 
 flight, with the loss of thirty thousand men. 
 
 In the mean time, Vitellius, who was wallowing in all 
 Is of luxury and excess, made offers to Vespasian of 
 resigning the empire, provided his life was spared, and 
 a sufficient revenue allowed for his support. In order 
 to enforce this request he issued from his palace in deep 
 mourning, with all his domestics weeping around him. 
 He then went to offer the swore) of justice to Cecilius the 
 -ul, which lie refusing, the abject emperor prepared 
 to lay down the ensigns of empire in the temple of Con- 
 cord ; but being interrupted by some who cried out that 
 he himself was Concord, he re olved upon so weak an 
 encouragement, still to maintain his power, and imme- 
 diately prepared for his defence. 
 
ilSTORV Ol 
 
 ;iis fluctuation of counsels; oneSabim: 
 liacl :^n, perct 
 
 1 upon th But he 
 
 premature in hi* attempt ; for the s>< ilius 
 
 him with threat tury, ; 
 nun 
 
 During this dreadful < :casl- 
 
 ini; in the palace of Ti '1 the lior- 
 
 ^liiilt wit!. 
 
 take r, and shortly 
 
 peror's command. Vouncc who 
 
 \?as aped by flight in the i 
 
 :d all the rest who the tire 
 
 put to U.i 
 
 Hut u'scomni 
 
 !>eforc the walls < , re- 
 
 I 
 u v (I a whole 
 
 i ^ed were driven into t! 
 tire :l the streets which 
 
 fron 
 
 soldi -tr. will! i. 
 
 mo'.< 
 
 
 
 en- 
 soldiers bindii 
 
 him, and thr him 
 
 if naked into the pi ;im, 
 
 as tl. cdtd, v'n 
 
 ice could - 
 
 ,ent, they 
 
 I d him v the 
 
 1 body through the 
 
 '1 emperor by 
 
 the unanimous consent both of i 
 
EMPIRE OF ROME. 2U 
 
 the army, and dignified with all those titles which now 
 followed rather the power than the merit of those who 
 were appointed to govern. 
 
 Having continued some months at Alexandria, in 
 Egypt, where it is said he cured a blind and a lame man 
 by touching them, he set out for Rome, giving his son 
 Titus the command of the army, that was to lay siege 
 to Jerusalem, while he himself went forward, and was 
 met many miles from Rome by all the senate, and near 
 half the inhabitants, who gave the sincerest testimonies 
 of their joy in having an emperor of such great and ex- 
 perienced virtues. Nor did he in the least disappoint 
 their expectations, being equally assiduous in rewarding 
 merit and pardoning his adversaries, in reforming the 
 manners of the citizens, and setting them the best exam- 
 ple in his own. 
 
 In the mean time, Titus carried on the war against 
 the Jews with vigour. This obstinate and infatuated 
 people had long resolved to resist the Roman power, 
 vainly hoping to find protection from Heaven, which 
 their impieties had utterly offended. Their own historian 
 represents them as arrived at the highest pitch of iniqui- 
 ty, while famines, earthquakes, and prodigies, all con- 
 spired to forewarn their approaching ruin. Nor was it 
 sufficient that heaven and earth seemed combined against 
 them , they had the most bitter dissentions among them- 
 selves, and were split into two parties, that robbed and 
 destroyed each other with impunity, still pillaging, and 
 at the same time boasting their zeal for the religion of 
 their ancestors. 
 
 At the head of one of these parties was an incendiary 
 whose name was John. This tanatic affected sovereign 
 power, and filled the whole city of Jerusalem, and all 
 the towns around with tumult and pillage. In a short 
 time, a new faction arose, headed by one Simon, who 
 gathering together multitudes of robbers and murderers 
 who had fled to the mountains, attacked many cities 
 and towns, and reduced all Idumea into his power, 
 Jerusalem at length became the theatre in which these 
 two demagogues began to exercise their mutual ani- 
 T 
 
218 THE HISTORY OF THE 
 
 rnosity ; John was possessed of the temple 
 Admitted into the city, both equally ci. 
 each other, while slaughter and dt 
 
 .: pretensions. Th ny, formerly celebrated 
 
 e and unity, become the scat of tumult and 
 confu- 
 
 ion that Titus beg, 
 opcr ngsoftlu 
 
 ue multitude of the people, *ho 
 omefroi; catsolenu 
 
 The approach of the Romans product 
 
 ctween the contending fattiv 
 :hey unanimoi -o oppose the 
 
 . decide theirdome 
 
 more conn 
 
 be- 
 
 into 
 
 . 
 
 lie desire of j . A tui 
 
 ] both p;. 
 
 vfcri manner, upoi 
 
 fi-on us of J(.i 
 
 ry side, except w! 
 
 tus began by b.merim; down the outward 
 or, he effected 
 
 then 
 
 the commencement oi 
 
 the second wall ; and though driven hack by the ' 
 
 he recovered his ground, and made preparation io: 
 
 terinp: the third wall, 
 
 Bat first, he sent Josephus, their countryman. 
 
 city to exhort thetn to yield ; v g all his etc- 
 
EMPIRE OF ROME. 219 
 
 Alienee to persuade them, was only reviled with scoffs 
 and reproaches. The siege was now therefore carried 
 on with greater vigour than before ; several batteries 
 for engines were raised, which were no sooner built than 
 destroyed by the enemy. At length it was resolved in 
 council to surround the whole city with a trench, and 
 thus prevent all relief and succours from abroad. This, 
 which was quickly executed, seemed no way to intimi- 
 date the Jews. Though famine, and pestilence, its ne- 
 cessary attendant, began to make the most horrid rava- 
 ges among them, yet this desperate people still resolved 
 to hold out. He now cut down all the woods within a 
 considerable distance of the city, and causing more bat- 
 teries to be raised, he at length battered down the wall, 
 and in five days entered the citadel by force. The 
 Jews, however, continued to deceive themselves with 
 absurd and false expectations, while many false prophets 
 deluded the multitude, declaring they should soon have 
 assistance from God. The heat of the battle was now 
 therefore, gathered round the inner wall of the temple, 
 while the defendants desperately combated from the top. 
 Titus was willing to save this beautiful structure ; but 
 a soldier casting a brand into some adjacent buildings, 
 ths fii'ti c-jiMtiiimicateu to the temple ; and notwithstand- 
 ing the utmost endeavours on both sides, the edifice was 
 quickly consumed. The sight of their temple in ruins, 
 effectually served to damp the ardour of the Jews. They 
 now began to perceive that heaven had forsaken them, 
 while their cries and lamentations echoed from the ad- 
 jacent mountains Even those who were almost expir- 
 ing lifted up their dying eyes to bewail the loss of their 
 temple, which they valued more than life itself. The. 
 most resolute, however, still endeavoured to defend the 
 upper and stronger part of the city, named Sion ; but 
 Titus, with his battering engines, soon made himself 
 entire master of the place. John and Simon were taken 
 from the vaults where they had concealed themselves ; 
 the former was condemned to perpetual imprisonment, 
 a^-cl the latter reserved to grace the conqueror's triumph. 
 The greatest part of the populace were put to the sword, 
 the city was, after a six month's siege, entirely razed 
 
220 THE mSTORY OF THE 
 
 lie plough i so lhat, according to our Saviour's ppo- 
 phccy, not one stone remained upon another, 
 numbers who perished in this siege, according to J 
 phus, amounted to above a million of souls, and the cap- 
 to almost a hundred thousand 
 n the taking of Jerusalem, his soldiers would have 
 Thus as a conqueror, but he modestly refused 
 thelionour, alledgin^ that he was onU ,t in 
 
 :he ! bat manik 
 
 nst the Jt Home, however, all i uths 
 
 iscs of the conqueror, who had 
 >hewn himself an excellent general, but a cou- 
 (jus combatant : his return, therefore, hi triur 
 li he did with his father, was m> h all the 
 
 nificence and joy lhat was in the power of men to 
 All things that were esteemed valuable or 
 beautiful am< - to adorn this v 
 
 : the rich spoils were exp 
 
 . 
 
 gftheH' is not the leas- : the 
 
 cnt profu- 
 
 ;.d the son triumph together. A 
 triur erected upon this occas. 
 
 were J all the ' 'cWSi 
 
 whit e to this \ 
 
 nple to Peace, whc c de- 
 
 nost of the Jewish spoils ; and having now 
 
 il commotions in e^ . he 
 
 shut up the temple ot J d been open about 
 
 
 
 i tter character from 
 numerous ac 1 
 
 ice. He 
 
 descended to some very unusual and dishonourable im- 
 post 
 son Titus remonstra'ted against the meanness of si 
 
 : a piece of money, der^ 
 the smrl! offended 
 
 ending, having reigned ten years, loved by 
 
EMPIRE OF ROME, 224 
 
 Iris subjects, and deserving their affection, he was sur- 
 prised with an indisposition at Campania, which from 
 the beginning he declared would be fatal ; and perceiv- 
 ing his end approaching, as he was just going to expire, 
 he cried out, that an emperor ought to die standing ; 
 wherefore, raising himselfupon<his feet, he expired in 
 the hands of those that? susfeined him. 
 \ D 79 Titus being joyfully received as emperor, 
 began to reign with the practice df every 
 virtue that became a sovereign and a man. During the 
 life of his father, there had been many imputations 
 against him, both for cruelty, lust and prodigality ; but 
 upon his exaltation te the throne, he seemed entirely to 
 take leave of his former vices, and became an example 
 of the greatest moderation and humanity. His first step 
 -.rds gaining the affections of his subjects, was his 
 moderating his passions, and bridling his strong inclina- 
 tions. He had long loved Bemice, sister to Agrippa, 
 king of Judea, a woman of the greatest beauty and the 
 most refined allurements. But knowing that the connec- 
 tion with her was entirely disagreeable to the people of 
 Rome, he gained a victory over his affections, and sent 
 her away, notwithstanding their mutual passion, and the 
 many arts she used to induce him to change his resolu- 
 tions. He next discarded all those who had been the 
 former ministers of his pleasures, and forbore to coun- 
 tenance the companions of his looser recreations, though 
 Pie had formerly taken great pains in the selection. 
 This moderation, added to his justice and generosity, 
 procured him the love of all good men, and the appel- 
 lation of the delight of mankind*- which all his actions 
 seemed calculated to ensure. 
 
 Titus took particular care to punish all informers, false 
 witnesses, and promoters of dissention. Those wretches, 
 who had their rise in the licentiousness and impurity of 
 former reigns, were now become so numerous that their 
 crimes called loudly for punishmem Of these therefore 
 he daily made public examples, condemning them to be 
 i ved in the public streets, next tobe dragged through 
 the theatre) and then to be banished into the uninlv. 
 T 2 
 
THE HISTORY OF THE 
 
 ed parts of the empire, or sold as slaves. His courtesy 
 and readiness to do good, have been celebrated even by 
 Christian writers, his principal rii: -.oscnd 
 
 any petitioner dissatisfied away. One night, recollect- 
 ing that he hud done nothing beneficial to mankind the 
 
 :cdout, an 
 
 . sentence too le not to be uni- 
 
 \ersally kr. 
 
 .\vonoblemenhadconspiredagainsthim 
 c them ; and the u< 
 
 next himseli 'ui tlie th< ;>ut the sv 
 
 the gl kit into thti 
 
 judgnx 
 
 -ih. 
 
 ..ount Vcsuvii. 
 
 miles distant. Upon this memorable Pliuy, 
 
 r, being impelled 
 
 eager r was suffo- 
 
 There happened also about this 
 time a fire at Home, micd thrc 
 
 ; which 
 ttu thousand me 
 
 LT, did all that lay in his power u 
 
 ages sustained by ti and with respect to the 
 
 j would take the whole loss of that 
 
 biire counterbalanced 
 t)y vhc successes iu Britain under A 
 
 .-rciuloi' 
 
 lory, aiK 
 who li : !y submitted to the Roman power 
 
 . or inhabi* ere the first 
 
 He then made a descent up 
 
 -ja. or the i Ji surrendered at dis- 
 
 :retic :< thus rendered himself master of the 
 
 whole country, he look every method to restore 
 d to introduce some s! 
 .in-iong those whom he had conquered. Ho 
 
EMPIRE OF ROME. 223 
 
 exhorted them, both by advice and example, to build 
 temples, theatres, and stately houses. He caused the 
 sons of their nobility to be instructed in the liberal arts ; 
 he had them taught the Latin language, and induced 
 them to imitate the Roman modes of dress and living. 
 Thus, by degrees this barbarous people began to assume 
 the luxurious manner of their conquerors, and in some 
 time even to outdo them in all the refinements of sensu- 
 al pleasures. Upon account of these successes in Bri- 
 tain, Titus \vas saluted emperator the fifteenth time; 
 but he did not long survive this honour, being surprised 
 by a violent fever at a little distance from Rome. He 
 expired shortly after, but not without suspicion of trea- 
 chery from his brother Domitian, who had long wished 
 to govern. His death was in the forty-first year of his 
 age, having reigned two years, two months, and twenty 
 days. 
 
 AD 81 ^^ e Beginning of Domitian's reign was 
 universally acceptable to the people, as he 
 appeared equally remarkable for his clemency, liberali- 
 ty, and justice. 
 
 But he soon began to shew the natural deformity of 
 his mind. Instead of cultivating literature, as his father 
 and brother V.ad done, he neglected all kinds of study, 
 addicting himself wholly to meaner pursuits, particu- 
 larly archery and gaming. He was so very expert an 
 archer, that he would frequently cause one of his slaves 
 to stand at a great distance, with his hands spread as a 
 mark, and would shoot his arrows with such exactness 
 as to stick them all between his fingers. He instituted 
 three sorts of contests to be observed every five years,, 
 in music, horsemanship, and wrestling ; but at the same 
 time he banished all philosophers, and mathematicians 
 from Rome. No emperor before him entertained the 
 people with such various and expensive shows. Dur- 
 ing these diversions he distributed great rewards, sitting 
 as president himself, adorned with a purple robe and 
 crown, with the priests of Jupiter and the college of 
 Flavian priests about him. The meanness of his occu- 
 pations in solitude was just a contrast to his exhibitions 
 of public ostentation. He usually spent his hours of 
 
2B4 THE HISTORY OF TJ 
 
 rctircmcni in catching flies and sucking them through 
 
 h a bodkin ; so that one of hi 
 
 if the emperor was alone? answered that he had not so 
 much as a fly to bear him comp; 
 
 :o incrca e dur- 
 
 :.)cnt of A 
 .torn of 1. 
 lencc. Domiuah 
 
 tain: iiary reputation, and therefore jealous of it 
 
 in others. 1 1 
 upon 
 of Ci 
 
 fa trium; 
 . 
 
 | 
 the 
 
 I 
 
 hich 
 
 he I; '>ducd the Caledor: 
 
 and 
 
 it a 
 fleet to si , first disc 
 
 * into a civilized 
 province of tl. ie acconi! 
 
 v ss. He 
 
 on 1. id of attempting to em- 
 
 ula't :tof his services. 
 
 He ordered him therefore < of approba- 
 
 care that triumphant ornam- ues, 
 
 >urs should be decreed himi but at the 
 
 r time he rcrr. n his command, under 
 
 ctence 6f appointing him to the government oi 
 
 15y these jla surrendered up hjs pio- 
 
 vinc. >>, but soon found tl! 
 
 disposed of. . 3 return to Rt 
 
 coolly rec> 
 
EMPIRE OF ROME. 225 
 
 ed by the emperor -, and dying sometime after in retire- 
 ment, it was supposed by some that his end was hasten- 
 ed by Domitiun's direction. Domitian soon after found 
 the want of so experienced a commander in the many 
 irruptions of the barbarous nations that surrounded the 
 empire. The Samaritans in Europe, joined with those 
 of Asia* made a formidable invasion, at once destroying 
 a whole legion and a general of the Romans. The Da- 
 cians, under the conduct of Decebalus their king, made 
 an irruption, and overthrew the Romans in several en- 
 gagements. At last, however, the barbarians were re- 
 pelled, partly by force, and partly by the assistance of 
 money ; which only served to enable them to make fu- 
 ture invasions with greater advantage But in whatever 
 manner the enemy might have been repelled, Domitian 
 was resolved not to lose the honours of a triumph. He 
 returned in great splendour to Rome; and not content- 
 ed with thus triumphing twice without a victory, he rer 
 solved to take the surname of Germanicus for his con- 
 quests over a people with whom he never contended. 
 
 In proportion as the ridicule increased against him, 
 his pride seemed every day to demand greater homage. 
 He would permit his statues to be made only of gold 
 and silver; he assumed to himself divine honours, and 
 ordered that all men should treat him with the same ap- 
 pellations which they gave to the divinity. His cruelty 
 was not behind his arrogance ; he caused numbers of 
 the most illustrious senators and others to be put to 
 death upon the most trifling pretences. One jElius 
 Lama was condemned and executed only for jesting, 
 though there was neither novelty nor poignancy in his 
 humour. Cocceanus was murdered only for celebrating 
 the nativity of Otho. Pomposianus shared the same 
 fate, because it was foretold by an astrologer that he 
 should be emperor. Salustius Lucullus^ his lieutenant 
 in Britain, was destroyed only for having given his name 
 to a new sort of lances of his own invention. Junius 
 Ruslicus died for publishing a book, in which he com- 
 mended Thrasea and Priscus, two philosophers who op 
 posed Vespasian's coming to the throne. 
 
THE HISTORY O: 
 
 Lucius Antonius, governor of Upper Germany, knou - 
 
 ing how much the emperor was detested at home, re- 
 
 -cl upon striking for the throne, and a: y as- 
 
 .ed the ensigns of im] a at 
 
 the head ccess remained a 
 
 .,: doubtful; but u sudden overflowing of the 
 
 ic c'.ividin .pon at that junc- 
 
 neral, and totally 
 
 routed. The news of this victory, we are told, 
 brought to Rome by supernatural means on the same 
 day that the bait! 'ght. Domitian's severity 
 
 was greatly increased by the short In 
 
 order to discover those the 
 
 cut- 
 
 thrusting lire Into the 
 clcd of lu ene- 
 
 !t by 
 ilhout a 
 ' 
 
 he c mptrolK ' e treated 
 
 him with the 
 
 nus ( him to h: er the da 
 
 coni : ible 
 
 andnobllit; . he 
 
 to extirpate enti; one 
 
 d the senate \\- Toops,to 
 
 the great con 
 
 ;uisc himself with their tern jffer- 
 
 ent ; a public e: 
 
 I conducted tlu 
 hvili hung round \\ 
 
 nu ' -that diffused light :it to 
 
 ' be 
 
 seen but coffins, with tlu a of the 
 
 ether with 
 
 uments of cxccutiu' ihe com- 
 
 iield all these 
 several men, having their bodies blackened, eu^ 
 
EMPIRE OF ROME. 227 
 
 drawn sword in one hand, and flaming torch in the 
 other entered the hall, and danced round them. After 
 some time, when the guests expected nothing less than 
 the most instant death, well knowing Domitian's capri- 
 cious cruelty, the doors were set open, and one of the 
 servants came to inform them that the emperor gave 
 all th* company leave to withdraw. These cruellies 
 were rendered still more odious by his lust and avarice. 
 Frequently after presiding at an execution, he would re- 
 tire with the lewdest prostitutes, and use the same baths 
 which they did. The last part of the tyrant's reign was 
 more insupportable than any of the preceding. Nero 
 exercised his cruelties without being a spectator ; but a 
 principal part of the Roman miseries, during his reign, 
 was to see and be seen ; to behold the stern air and fiery 
 visage of the tyrant, which he bad armed against 
 blushing by continued intemperance, directing the tor- 
 tures, and maliciously pleased with adding poignance to 
 every agony. 
 
 But a period was soon to be put to this monster's cru- 
 elties. Among the number of those whom he at once 
 caressed and suspected was his wife Domitia. whom he 
 had taken from jElius Lama, her former husband. It 
 was the tysant's method to put down the names of all 
 such as he intended to destroy in his tablets, which he 
 t about him with great circumspection. Domitia 
 fortunately happening to get a sight of them, was struck 
 at finding her own name in the catalogue of those fated 
 to destruction. She shewed the fatal list to Norbanus 
 and Petronius, praefects of the praetorian bands, who 
 found themselves set down ; as likewise to Stephanus, 
 the comptroller of the household, who came into the 
 conspiracy with alacrity. They fixed upon the eigh- 
 teenth day of September for the completion of their great 
 attempt. Upon preparing to go to the bath on the 
 morning of that day, Petronius, his chamberlain, came 
 to inform him that Stephanus the comptroller of the' 
 household desired to speak to him upon an affair of the 
 utmost importance. The emperor having given orders 
 that his attendants should retire, Stephanus entered with 
 
328 THE HISTORY OF Tl 
 
 7iis hand in a scarf, which he had worn thus for some 
 . the better to conceal a dagger, as none were pr- 
 mitted to approach the emperor with arms. He bt 
 by giving information of a pretended conspir 
 
 ibited a paper in which the \ re speci- 
 
 fied. \\ nitian was reading the .-. ith 
 
 an eager curiosity, Stephanus drew thr and 
 
 struck him in the groin. The wound not being m< 
 Domitian caught hold of the a> him 
 
 upon the gro .ng out foi 
 
 ius with his f: ubal- 
 
 tern officers, now all furiously upon 
 
 the emperor, and c!i 
 
 ulmost incredible what some writers relate con- 
 ..ueus, \\howus the- nus. 
 
 This person, whom sonic i. and some a 
 
 philosopher, but who n 
 thai; stor, was just, at the minute 
 
 mitian was slain, lecturing in one of the publi< 
 oft!- aort all of a sudden 
 
 s, strike the tyrant." 
 ice, ny friends, the t\ 
 " dies ti 
 ' in which I 1 e he sufi\ :mes ; he 
 
 y more prodigies were s c porteni: 
 
 i, hut the fatt produce 
 
 more pretern 
 than it i!ccrvcd. The truth seems to be. 
 
 inons and prodigies w . rnt ; 
 
 the people we 
 
 a country of \' r c properspil forai. 
 
 vest of imposture. 
 
EMPIRE OF ROME. 
 
 CHAP. XXIII. 
 
 The free good Emperors of Rome. 
 [A. D. 96.] 
 
 WHEN it was publicly known that Domitian was 
 slain, the senate began to load his memory 
 with every reproach. His statues were commanded to 
 be taken down, and a decree was made, that all his in- 
 scriptions should be erased, his name struck out of the 
 registers of Fame, and his funeral omitted. The people, 
 who now took little part in the affairs of government, 
 looked on his death with indifference ; the soldiers alonei 
 whom he had loaded with favours, and enriched by lar- 
 gesses, sincerely regretted their benefactor. 
 
 The senate, therefore resolved to provide a successor 
 before the army could have an opportunity of taking the 
 appointment upon themselves ; and Cocceius Nerva was 
 chosen to the empire the very day on which the tyrant 
 was slain. He was of an illustrious family, as most say, 
 by birth a Spaniard, and above sixty-five years old when 
 he was called to the throne. He was at that time the 
 most remarkable man in Rome, for his virtues, modera- 
 tion, and respect to the laws ; and he owed his exalta- 
 tion to the blameless conduct of his former life. 
 
 The people, being long accustomed to tyranny, re- 
 garded Nerva's gentle reign with rapture, and even gave 
 his imbecility (for his humanity was carried too far for 
 justice) the natye ^ r benevolence. Upon coming to the 
 throne, he solemnly swore that no senator of Rome 
 should be put to death by his command, during his reign, 
 though they gave ever so just a cause. This oath he so 
 religiously observed, that when two senators had con- 
 spired his death, he used no kind of severity against 
 them ; but sending for them, to let them see he was not 
 ignorant of their designs, he carried them with him to 
 the public theatre : there presenting each a dagger, he 
 them to strike, as he was determined not to ward 
 U 
 
Tin: nisTom 
 
 oflftheblow. louring his short reign he made several 
 
 \ prohibited tlu n of 
 
 children; which had ned 
 
 by his predecessor, but not wholly remo put 
 
 s to death who had, during the lu 
 inst ihcir ! 
 
 led to hi h of 
 
 .d much of the 
 niturc of the palace, an 
 
 r money, that \\hcn one < ! 
 
 fouii e to the emperor how 
 
 to < i 
 
 ii ; bvii the fm 
 
 fortune too hrgc for a private pt 
 
 ic him word that then he 
 
 . 
 
 ins Hnfvi- i op- 
 
 posed hin 
 
 ;c in thcconsulshi; also with 
 
 :im ; but 
 
 he rested satisfied w c who were c\ 
 
 blc. though the senate - 
 puni- Hut the most (' 
 
 crests was from the pra 
 
 the 
 
 late emperor's death, whose memory w;i- : to 
 
 them from his frequent liber. 
 
 ness to pood men rendered him ihe 
 
 id all in his p< 'his 
 
 rection ; trd himself i> 
 
 dicrs, and opctiinv; liis bosom, desired them 
 there rather than be guilty ol so much injustice. The 
 soldiers however paid n nnonstrai 
 
 but seizing upon Petrr>; 
 
 in the n manner. Not com 
 
 this, they even compelled the emperor to a^ 
 thei. . and to make a speech to the people 
 
 whkh he thanked the cohorts for their fidelity. 
 
EMPIRE OF ROME. 231 
 
 So disagreeable a constraint upon the emperor's incli- 
 nations was, in t'.ie end, attended with the most happy 
 effects, as it caused the adoption of Trajan to succeed 
 him. For, perceiving that, in the present turbulent dis- 
 position of the times, he stood in need of an assistant in 
 the empire, setting aside all his own relations, he fixed 
 upon Ulpius Trajan, an utter stranger to his family, who 
 was then governor in Upper Germany, as his successor. 
 And in about three months after, having put himself in- 
 to a violent passion with one Regulus, a senator, he was 
 seized with a fever, of which he died, after a short reign 
 of one year, four months, and nine days. 
 
 He was the first foreign emperor who reigned in Rome, 
 and justly reputed a prince of great generosity and mo- 
 deration. He is also celebrated for his wisdom, though 
 with less reason, the greatest instance he gave of it 
 during his reign being the choice of his successor. 
 UC 851 Trajan's family was originally from Italy, 
 AD 98 kuthe himself was born at Seville in Spain. 
 ' Upon being informed of the death of Nerva, 
 he prepared to return to Rome from Germany, where 
 he was governor : and one of the first lectures he receiv- 
 ed upon his arrival was from Plutarch, the philosopher, 
 who had the honour of being his master, and is said 
 to have written him a letter to the following purpose : - 
 " Since your merits, and not your importunities, have 
 41 advanced you to the empire, permit me to congratu- 
 *' late your virtues and my own fortune. If your future 
 " government prove answerable to your former worth I 
 " shall be happy ; but if you become worse for power, 
 " your's Wnl be the danger, and mine the ignominy of 
 " your conduct. The errors of the pupil will be charg- 
 " ed upon his instructor. Seneca is reproached for the 
 " enormities of Nero ; and Socrates and Quintillian have 
 " not escaped censure for the misconduct of their respec- 
 " tive scholars. But you have it in your power to make 
 44 me the most honoured of men, by continuing what 
 " you are. Continue the command of your passions, and 
 " make virtue the scope of all your actions. If you fok- 
 " low these instructions, then will I glory in my having 
 " presumed to give them ; if you neglect what I offer, 
 
TJ' ORY OF THE 
 
 -ices. 
 
 -s mo- 
 his 
 liberality to i! 
 
 CX|f 
 
 'he praetorian bands the 
 swoi 'o ruston re- 
 
 u I i . ifother 
 
 ter which he > gave laws was the first 
 
 the thioi. 
 
 thf provinces Ho thci 
 
 . 
 tho"* 
 
 time ; s Inkiest 
 
 cr, this monarch b, 
 battle, and no 
 routed with g: 
 
 pero !y them. ory 
 
 1 (lacknowle<lgint; him- 
 .:i empire. 
 
 i triumpl. 
 
 ^ur- 
 that the Dacians had renewed 
 
 s now thercfo- 
 o the Roman state, and 
 
EMPIRE OF ROME. 233 
 
 invaded his dominions with an army equal to 
 that with which he had before subdued him. But Dece- 
 balus, now grown more cautious by his former defeat, 
 used every art to avoid coming to an engagement. He 
 also put various stratagems in practice to distress the 
 enemy ; and at one time Trajan himself was in danger 
 of being slain or taken. He also took Longinus, one of 
 the Roman generals, prisoner, and threatened to kill him 
 in case Trajan refused granting him terms of peace. 
 But the emperor replied, that peace and war had not 
 their dependence upon the safety of one subject only ; 
 wherefore Longinus some time after destroyed himself 
 by a voluntary death. The fate of this general seemed 
 to give new vigour to Trajan's operations. In order to 
 be better enabled to invade the enemy's territories at 
 pleasure, he undertook a most stupendous work, which 
 was no less than building a bridge across the Danube. 
 This amazing structure, which was built over a deep, 
 broad, and rapid river, consisted of more than twenty- 
 two arches, an hundred and fifty feet high, and an hun- 
 dred and seventy broad : the ruins of this structure, 
 which remain to this day, shew modern architects how 
 far they were surpassed by the ancients, both in the 
 greatness and the boldness of their designs. Upon fin- 
 ishing this work, Trajan continued the war with great 
 vigour, sharing with the meanest of his soldiers the fa- 
 tigues of the campaign, and continually encouraging them 
 to their duty by his own example. By these means, not- 
 withstanding the country was spacious and uncultivated, 
 and the inhabitants brave and hardy, he subdued the 
 whole, and added the kingdom of Dacia as a province 
 to the Roman empire. Decebalus made some attempts 
 to escape : but being surrounded on every side, he at 
 last slew himself, and his head was sent immediately to 
 Rome, to certify his misfortune there. These successes 
 Deemed to advance the empire to a greater degree of 
 splendour than it had hitherto acquired. Ambassadors 
 were seen to come from the interior parts of India, to 
 congratulate Trajaa's success, and bespeak his friend- 
 .hip. At his return to Rome he entered the city in tri- 
 ll 2 
 
234 THE HISTORY OF THL 
 
 MI ; and the rejoicings (or his victories lasted for life 
 M hundred and 
 
 o the empire, he 
 
 continued his rci^n, tc\ed, honoured, and a! 
 by hi 
 
 nch men ; 
 ons of merit 
 
 list he c 
 i 
 It had : 
 
 all his : 
 
 about the ninth year of hi crsuaded 
 
 P 6 to look upon the C: 
 
 107' C1 
 
 seen 
 
 nocencc and v .ndof thci 
 
 wretched 
 
 *jom- 
 
 ; rom 
 
 thence th t to the 
 
 peo- 
 
 
 
 them to wild bi 
 ,nd studied new torments by 
 wever, these cruellies \ 
 
 of i rrnors of the u 
 
 ;)rc, iieir tumultuous . 
 
 .ion ofcr put 
 
EMPIRE OF ROME. "" 235 
 
 pests to society. As the Jews had practised their cru- 
 elties in Cyprus particularly, a law was publicly enact- 
 ed, by which it was made capital for any Jew to set foot 
 on the island. 
 
 During these bloody transactions, Trajan was prose- 
 cuting his successes in the East, where he carried the Ro- 
 man arms farther than they had ever been before : but, 
 resolving to return once more to Rome, he found himselt 
 too weak to proceed in his usual manner. He therefore 
 ordered himself to be carried on shipboard to the city of 
 A. D 117 Sateucia, where he died of the apoplexy , hav- 
 ' ing been attacked by that disorder once be- 
 fore, in the sixty-third year of his age, after a reign of 
 nineteen years, six months, and fifteen days. 
 
 Adrian, who was nephew to Trajan, was adopted to 
 succeed in the empire, and elected by all orders of the 
 stale, though absent from Rome, being then at Antiochj 
 as general of the forces in the East. 
 
 Upon his election, he began to pursue a course quite 
 opposite to that of his predecessor, taking every method 
 of declining war, and promoting the arts of peace. He 
 was quite satisfied with preserving the ancient limits of 
 the empire, and seemed no way ambitious of extensive 
 conquests. 
 
 Adrian was one of the most remarkable of the Roman 
 emperors for the variety of his endowments ; he was 
 highly skilful in all the accomplishments both of body 
 and mind ; he composed, with great beauty , both in prose 
 und verse ; he pleaded at the bar, and was one of the 
 best orators of his time : nor were his moral virtues less 
 than his accomplishments. His moderation and clem- 
 ency appeared by pardoning the injuries which he had 
 received when he was yet but a private man. One day, 
 meeting a person who had formerly been his most in- 
 veterate enemy, " ray good friend," cried he, " you 
 ^ have escaped, for I am made emperor." He was af- 
 o to his friends, and gentle to persons of meaner sta- 
 tions ; he relieved their wants, and visited them in sick- 
 ness ; it being his constant maxim, that he was an em- 
 peror, not elected for his own g-ood, but for the benefit 
 unkind. 
 
IE HISTORY OF THI. 
 
 These were his virtues, which were contrasted by 
 '.ure of vices; or, to say the truth. 
 
 crve his general rectitude ol 
 character without deviation. 
 
 iie throne when several of 
 
 the northern and 
 
 the i >ns on the empire. 
 
 The found the way to con- 
 
 quer i retiring 
 
 upon the >crior force o\> 
 
 began to be truly formidable to U 
 thoughts of contracting the f the cmpii\ 
 
 ne of the most remote and least di 
 
 erruled !._. nds, 
 
 ;:icd, thu mid 
 
 intimi'la'. iy. Hut I 
 
 ed \\ , he broke do 
 
 over the Danube. \ :;ail built 
 
 :icursions of his ! 
 
 .i short time at Rome, so as t> see that 
 all things were regulated and es 
 of the public, he prepared to visit, and t.i 
 < empire. It was one of hi 
 ought loimitate the sun, which ciifl'useti. 
 
 lurtsof tl.' 
 
 with him a splendid court, and a )le force, 
 
 entered the pi 1 all 
 
 the inhabiun 
 irotn thence t 
 
 i forming many abuses, and re 
 i the Ron >r the better security of the 
 
 southern parts of the kingdom, he b -ood 
 
 ajule.-.th, entcnding from the i: - :)er- 
 
 to the T\ nhumbcrland, to prevent th< 
 
 ions of the Pkts and other barbarous nations to the 
 north. From Britain, returning through Gaul, he 
 reeled his journey to S; received with 
 
 gre.i ~ of that country. Tin 
 
 erirrc; in the city of Tarragona, he called a meci 
 
EM?IRE OF ROME. 227 
 
 of all the deputies from the provinces, and ordained 
 many things for the benefit of the nation. Frcm Sp^in, 
 returning to Rome, he continued there for some time in 
 order to prepare for his journey into the east, which was 
 hastened by a new invasion of the Parthians. His Ap- 
 proach com|ScUtng the enemy to peace, he pursued his 
 t r:\7els without molestation. Arriving- in Asia Miner, 
 he turned out of his way to visit the famous city of 
 Athens. There making a considerable stay, he was in- 
 itiated into the Elusinian mysteries, which were account- 
 ed most sacred in the Pagan mythology, and took up- 
 on him the office of archon or chief magistrate cf the 
 place. In this place also he remitted the severity of the 
 Christian persecution at the representation 6'fGramanusj 
 the proconsul of Asia, who represented the people of 
 that persuasion as no way culpable. He was even so 
 far reconciled to them as to think of receiving Christ 
 among the number of the gods. After a winter's con- 
 tinuance at Athens he went over into Sicily, and visited 
 jtna, and the other curiosities of the place. Return- 
 ing from thence once more to Rome, after a short stay 
 he prepared ships, and crossed over into Africa. There 
 he spent much time in regulating abuses, and reforming 
 the government ; iw deciding controversies, and erect- 
 ing magnificent buildings. Among the rest, he order- 
 ed Carthage to be rebuilt, calling it after his own name, 
 Adrianople. Again returning to Rome, where he stay- 
 ed but a very little time, he travelled a second time into 
 Greece, passed over into Asia Minor ; from thence went 
 into Syria, gave laws and instructions to all the neigh- 
 bouring kings, whom he invited to come- and consult 
 with him ; he then entered Palestine, Arabia, and Egypt, 
 where he caused Pompey's tomb, that had been long 
 neglected and almost covered with sand, to be renewed 
 and beautified. He also gave orders for the rebuilding of 
 Jerusalem, which was performed with great expedi- 
 tion by the assistance of the Jews, who now began to 
 
 cive hopes of being restored to their long lost king- 
 dom. But these expectations only served to aggravate 
 their calamities, for being incensed at the privileges 
 
 '' were granted the Pagan worshippers in their new 
 
23& THE HISTORY OF THE 
 
 city, they fell upon the Romans and Christians that were 
 dispersed throughout Judea, and unmercifully put them 
 all to the sword. Adrian was at Atlu 
 
 ^urrectionbee 
 lul body of m ommand of J crus 
 
 '..ist them, this general c 
 
 bloody vie tori i. e war was con- 
 
 ciu,; years, by the d < a thou- 
 
 the destruction of near 
 hundred thousand men in buttle. 
 
 He then banished all those who remained out of J- 
 
 : by a public decree forbade any to come with- 
 
 .cw of their iu-. ^oon 
 
 uptin ot 
 
 ing 
 
 pri-1; i unprofi: 
 
 bom. they 
 
 rctr. \ilds to enjoy their 
 
 '.'.e fresh invasions. 
 
 11 \ > cars inn iirough his 
 
 d re for mi , he 
 
 and end all I 
 
 Home Nothing coul .eful to the people 
 
 dc the rest of his 
 
 h the loi 
 
 he now began to 
 not the least ( 
 
 ;>plication to the public wei 
 
 ll\^ \vith the most 
 
 reqacntly 
 t Mat he thought no kind of knowledge incori 
 
 /her in his private or public 
 
 M so fond 01 literary fame, that 
 
 vn life, and afterwards gave 
 
 ii u to publish under their names. But 
 
 might have been his weakness in aiming at 
 uni n -.in no part of his reii;n re- 
 
 miss in attending the duties of his exalted station. He 
 ordered the knights and senators never to appear in pub- 
 
EMPIRE OF ROME. 239 
 
 at in the proper hnbits of their orders. He forbade 
 masters to kill their slaves, as ha;! been before allowed, 
 but ordained that they should be trier! by the laws enact- 
 ed against capital offences. A law so just, had he done 
 nothing more, deserved to have ensured his reputation 
 with posterity, and to have made him dear to mankind. 
 fie still further extended the lenity of the laws to those 
 unhappy men who had been long thought too mean for 
 justice. If a master was found killed in his house, he 
 would not allow all his slaves to be put to the torture as 
 formerly, but only such as might have perceived or pre- 
 vented the murder. 
 
 In such employments he consumed the greatest part 
 of his time ; but at last finding the duties of his station 
 daily increasing, and his own strength proportionally 
 upon the decline, he resolved upon adopting a successor. 
 Marcus Antoninus, afterwards surnamed the Pious, was 
 the person he pitched upon ; but previously obliged him 
 to adopt two others, namely, Marcus Aurelius, and 
 Lucius Verus, all of whom afterwards succeeded to the 
 empire. 
 
 !e he was thus careful in appointing a successor, 
 his bodily infirmities became so insupportable, that he 
 vehemently desired some of his attendants would dis- 
 patch him. Antoninus, however, would by no means 
 permit any of his domestics to be guilty of so great an 
 impiety, but used all the arts in his power to reconcile 
 the emperor to sustain life. His pains increasing every 
 day, he was frequently heard to cry out, " How miser- 
 able a thing it is to seek death and not to find it !" In 
 this deplorable exigf-nce he resolved on going to Baiae, 
 where the tortures of his disease increasing, they affect- 
 ed his understanding. Continuing for some time in these 
 excruciating circumstances, he was at last resolved to 
 observe no regimen, often saying that kings died merely 
 by the multitude of their physicians. This conduct 
 served to hasten that death he seemed so ardently to de- 
 sire ; and it was probably joy upon its approach which 
 dictated the celebrated stanzas which are so well known, 
 
 in repeating which he expired, HI the sixty-second 
 
TilK HISTORY O! 
 
 year , after a prospered 
 
 :iths. 
 
 N ble- 
 
 thc highest honours of the 
 tinu 
 
 year of the most 
 
 t offices t 
 
 im- 
 
 e of the 
 client princr* 
 
 is uere so pure that he 
 1 to Nun. 
 for his tenderness to hi- 
 
 .ment to the n 
 
 .m eminent re warder of learned men, to 
 whom he eave large pe: 
 
 r Appull 
 
 i he 
 
 .a Home, the c 
 
 
 
 not the 
 '.er's upoi 
 only returned wi 
 how Appolloi 
 
 should th 
 Rome toanot! 
 
 to him \' good empe- 
 
 ror was thu^ 
 
 their cor 
 ing their foil 
 seizi -use 
 
 . he ordered his friends 
 
 un. In their presence he confirmed 
 the hout once naming 
 
 Lucius Verus, \\ho had been joined by Adrian v 
 
EMPIRE OF ROME. 241 
 
 him in the succession ; then commanding the golden 
 statue of Fortune, which was always in the chambers 
 of the emperors, to be removed to that of his successor, 
 he expired in the seventy-fifth year of his age, after a 
 prosperous reign of twenty-two years, and almost eight 
 months. 
 
 Marcus Aurelius, though left sole successor to the 
 IT C Q'4 tnrone > to k Lucius Verus as his associate 
 \ D 161 ant * ec l ua ^ m go vern i n g tne state. Aure- 
 lius was the son of Amius Verus, of an an- 
 cient and illustrious family, which claimed its original 
 from Numa. Lucius Verus was the son of Comraodus, 
 who had been adopted by Adrian, but died before he 
 succeeded to the throne. Aurelius was remarkable for 
 his virtues and accomplishments, as his partner in the 
 empire was for his ungovernable passions and debauch- 
 ed morals. The one was an example of the greatest 
 goodness and wisdom, the other of ignorance, sloth, and 
 extravagance. 
 
 The two emperors had been scarce settled on the throne 
 when the empire seemed attacked on every side from the 
 barbarous nations by which it was surrounded. The Cati 
 invaded Germany and Rhaetia, ravaging all with fire and 
 sword ; but were, after some time, repelled by Victori- 
 nus. The Britains likewise revolted, but were repressed 
 by Califurnius. But the Partliians, under their king, 
 Vologesus, made an irruption still more dreadful than 
 either of the former, destroying the Roman legions in 
 Armenia, then entering Syria, and driving out the Ro- 
 man governor, and filling the whole country with terror 
 and confusion. In order to stop the progress of this bar- 
 barous irruption, Verus himself went in person, being 
 accompanied by Aurelius part of the way. 
 
 Verus, upon entering Antioch, gave an indulgence to 
 every appetite, without attending to the fatigues of war, 
 rioting in excesses, unknown even to the voluptuous 
 Greeks, leaving all the glory of the field to his lieuten- 
 ants, who were sent to repress the enemy. These, how- 
 ever, fought with great success ; Statius Priscus took 
 Artazata ; Martius put Vologesus to flight, took Seleu- 
 
THE HISTORY OF Till 
 
 d and bi, 
 .olishcd the magnificent 
 
 In a c< , liich the 
 
 continued, t'. 
 
 .try, and entirely subdued it ; but- upon tlu 
 
 um- 
 s no 
 in.pcdi.ucnt ' 
 
 liartlly t. 
 '' 
 
 .dinj; thi 
 sumed t 
 
 ! to Rome to | 
 
 .iijgly solemnized \\ 
 ponip ar... ur. 
 
 jf this expedition, which continu- 
 
 imsclf to the 
 
 I 
 
 i he 
 
 - 
 
 upon the same subject, : 
 till night 
 
 leai: 
 
 of th 
 
 thod of reclaim io 
 
 daughter Lucilla. 
 
 rus lioch. D 
 
 effectual : Lucilla proved ( 
 
 her father, and instead of i 
 
 trav ilamc them. 
 
 Aurelius still hoped ti'at upon the return of Yerus to 
 
EMPIRE OF ROME. 243 
 
 Rome his presence would keep him in awe, and that 
 happiness would at length be restored to the state. But 
 in this al-:o he was disappointed. His return only seem- 
 ed fatal to the empire : for his army carried back the 
 plague from Parthia, and disseminated the infection into 
 all the provinces through which it passed. 
 
 Nothing could exceed the miserable state of the em- 
 pire shortly after the return of Verus. In this horrid 
 picture was represented an emperor, inoawed by exam- 
 ple, or the calamities surrounding him, giving way to 
 unheard of debaucheries. A raging pestilence spread- 
 ing terror and desolation through all parts of the west- 
 ern world ; earthquakes, famines, and inundations, such 
 as had never before happened ; the products of the earth 
 throughout all Italy devoured by locusts ; all the barba- 
 rous nations surrounding the empire, the Germans, the 
 Sarmatiuns, the Quacli, and the Marcomanni, taking ad- 
 vantage of its various calamities, and making their ir- 
 ruptions even into Italy itself. Thepi'.jsts doing all 
 they could to put a stop to the miseries of the state, by 
 attempting to appease,, the gods ; vowing and offering 
 numberless sacrifices : celebrating all the sacred rites 
 that had ever been known in Rome ; and exhibiting the 
 solemnity called Lectistcrnia, seven days together. To 
 crown the whole, these dhtnusiasts, not satisfied with the 
 impending calamities, making new, by ascribing- the dis- 
 tresses of the state to the impieties of the Christians alone : 
 so that a violent persecution was seen reigning in all 
 parts of the empire, in which Justin Martyr, St.Polycarp, 
 bishop of Sr.yrna, ancf an infinite number of others, 
 suffered martyrdom. 
 
 In this scene of universal tumult, desolation, and dis- 
 tress there was nothing left but the virtues and tlic wis- 
 dom of one man alone to restore tranquility, and bring 
 hack happiness to the empire. Aurelius began his en- 
 ours by marching against the Marcomanni and Qua- 
 di, taking Verus with him, who reluctantly left the sen- 
 sual delights of Rome for the fatigues of a camp. They 
 came up with the Marcomanni near the city of Aqui- 
 Icia, and after a furious engagement routed their whole 
 v : then pursuing them across the Alps, overcame 
 
THE HISTORY OF T: 
 
 hem in several contests, and at last, entirely 
 
 - returned int< 
 Meloss. As the v. inter-. 
 :i.ined upon going from Aqui- 
 to Rom- -v, an 
 
 d to his life, be, 
 
 yearolc!. _. cl j lls 
 
 nine. .A had hitherto 
 
 js of Kovcrni 
 
 -^an to act 
 and mo:-. han c\er. 
 
 arous 
 pco; 
 
 turned to Ro;, 
 
 to bencfr v.er reformation of the inter- 
 
 But ! r e ^on interrupts 
 
 renewal of \heforrncr.. 
 of which he is suit] to 1 
 when his 
 
 of a d becnk 
 
 ^o r ' f anu just as the \ 
 
 to fall \ipon tl. 
 
 The | 
 
 their helmet up to heaven, and receiving t 
 which came t 
 
 clov; cd for the 
 
 time terrible storm of !. 
 
 iic enemy 
 
 . this unl' . the Ro- 
 
 . recovc! i ore tuni- 
 
 : an engagement, ac- 
 
 ilifTcrcni :i!>e the \icto' 
 
 of their 
 
 cmed so sensible of miracu- 
 lous i .t he immediately relaxed the pt 
 
 - 
 
EMPIRE OF ROME. 245 
 
 This good emperor having at a time detected one 
 Avidius in a conspiracy against him, and generously 
 granting him his pardon, some who were near his per- 
 son took the liberty to blame his conduct, telling him 
 that Avidius would not have been so generous had he 
 been conqueror. To this the emperor replied in this 
 sublime manner, " I never served the gods so ill, or 
 " reigned so irregularly, as to fear Avidius could ever 
 '' be conqueror." 
 
 He usually called philosophy his mother, in opposition 
 to the court, which he considered as his stepmother. 
 He also was frequently heard to say, " that the people 
 " were happy whose philosophers were kings, or whose 
 tc kings were philosophers." He in fact was one of the 
 most considerable men then in being ; and though he had 
 been born in the meanest station, his merits as a writer, 
 as his works remain to this day, would have insured 
 immortality. 
 
 Having thus restored prosperity to his subjects, and 
 peace to mankind, news was brought him that the Scy- 
 thians and barbarous nations of the north were up in 
 arms and invading the empire. He once more, there** 
 fore resolved to expose his aged person in the defence 
 if his country, and made speedy preparations to oppose 
 them. He went to the senate, for the first time, and de- 
 sired to have money out of the public treasury. He 
 then spent three whole days in giving the people lec- 
 tures, by which they might regulate their lives ; and, 
 ig finished his lectures, departed upon his expedi- 
 tion, amidst the prayers and lamentations of all his sub- 
 jects. It was upon going to open his third campaign 
 he was seized with the plague at Vienna, which 
 stopped the progress of his success. Nothing, however, 
 could abate his desire of being beneficial to mankind ; 
 his fears for the youth and unpromising disposition of 
 Commodus, his son and successor, seemed to give him 
 great uneasiness ; wherefore, he addressed his friends 
 and the principal officers that were gathered round his 
 bed, telling them, that as his son was now going to lose a 
 father, he hoped he should find many fathers in them 
 X 2 
 
JISTORY OF THh 
 
 > thus spcaki;, n63 
 
 \vhich stc: , and which brought him to 
 
 died in i ;nth 
 
 : cigncd nineteen years and * 
 
 ; and it seenu c whole glory ;>er- 
 
 1 the Rot :e died with this grcatt 
 
 Horn ..is. 
 
 CHAP 
 
 *>firring the seat cj 
 
 
 
 ISO.] 
 
 Ts procured Comxnodr. 
 ii to the throne. He 
 ::>y fc tlien 
 ^11 the provinces. 
 
 j'tion. There 
 :itude bctv 
 
 Dor. might b apt to imagine he 
 
 going over the same re: 
 
 s and bro 
 
 lian three In. 
 
 inal jle purpc 
 
 id, with all hi- 
 
 somctmtcb ncnt alwvu fTie markets in a frolic, 
 ,1 wares . mctimcs he imita- 
 
 .. horse c rove his own 
 
 lie chiefly promo- 
 thc companions gi 
 . or the r. 
 
 If any person desired to be revenged o an enemy, by 
 bar; ith Commodus fora sum of money lu 
 
 iy him in such n manner as he thought 
 manded a person to be cast to the 
 uing the life of Caligula in Suetonius. He 
 
EMPIRE OF ROME. 24.7 
 
 accidentally overheating his bath. He would sometimes? 
 when he was in 7 good humour, cut off men's noses un- 
 der a pretence of shaving their beards ; and yet he was 
 himself so jealous of all mankind that he was obliged to 
 be his own barber. 
 
 At length, upon the feast of Janus, resolving to fence 
 naked before the people as a common gladiator, three 
 of his friends remonstrated to him upon the indecency 
 of such a behaviour. These were Laetus, his general, 
 Electus, his chamberlain, and Marcia, a concubine, of 
 whom he always appeared excessively fond. Their ad- 
 vice was attended with no other effect than that of in- 
 censing him against them, and inciting him to resolve 
 upon their destruction. It was his methodtJike that of 
 Domitian, to set down the names of all such as he in- 
 tended to put to death, in a roll which he carefully kept 
 by him. However, at this time, happening to lay the 
 roll on his bed while he was bathing in another room, 
 it was taken up by a little boy, whom he passionately 
 loved. The child, after playing with it for some time, 
 brought it to Marcia, who was instantly alarmed at the 
 contents. She immediately discovered her terrors to 
 Laetus and Electus, who, perceiving their dangerous sit- 
 uation, instantly resolved (he tyrant's death. After some 
 deliberation it was agreed upon to dispatch him by poi- 
 son ; but this not succeeding, Martia hastily introduced 
 a young man, called Narcissus, and prevailed upon him 
 to assist in strangling the tyrant. Commodus died in 
 the thirty -first year of his age, after an impious reign of 
 twelve years and nine months. 
 
 U C 945 The secrec y anc * expedition with which 
 
 \ D 192 Commodus was assassinated were such that 
 
 few were at that time acquainted with the 
 
 real circumstances of his death. His body was wrapped 
 
 s a bale of useless furniture, and carried through the 
 
 guards, most of whom were either drunk or asleep. 
 
 Previous to the assassination, the conspirators had fix- 
 ed upon a successor. Helvius Pertinax, whose virtues 
 and courage rendered him worthy of the most exalted 
 station, and who had passed through many changes of 
 ;nc, WITS fixed upon to succeed him ; when, there- 
 
248 THE HISTORY OF THE 
 
 fore, the conspirators repaired to his house to salute him 
 emperor, lie considered their an ; >mmand i 
 
 the emperor Commodus for liis death. Upon Lsetus en- 
 tering his apartment, I'crtinax, witho- 
 cried out, that for many days he had expected to en 
 life in that manner, wondering that tl. 
 tcrrcd it so 1 \vasnot a littl, 
 
 cd when informed of the r< and 
 
 opt of the 
 h their oiV 
 
 proclaimed 
 
 soon after the citizens and s< Deni- 
 
 ed ; the joy at the election of their new s< 
 
 it for the death of t 
 
 then cd Com' aemy to 
 
 the fcods, his country, and ai 
 
 t upon a dunghill. In 
 time, th :*tinax, as cmpen 
 
 v.ith numerous acclamation . the 
 
 is of obedience -res soon after folk 
 
 the i >f Rome ; so that he began 1 
 
 uniu on to the whole empire, in tl 
 
 :gC. 
 
 ced the justice and wisdom of this 
 Tnor. lie short time it continued. But the 
 
 praetorian sol< , aimers he had attempted to 
 
 reform, having bet .rrupted by the indulgence 
 
 and profusion of their n to hate 
 
 him for the parsimony i 'reduced 
 
 olved to dethrone him ; 
 in a tumultuous rnam hed 
 
 throi s of Rome, entered his j 
 
 opposition, where a Tungrian soldiei ,im dead 
 
 vith a blow of his lajice. From the number of hi^ 
 ventures, he was called the Tennis ball of Fortune ; and 
 certainly no man ever experienced such v of 
 
 .tions with so blameless a chaivr 
 but three months. 
 
 The soldiers, having committed this out- 
 ' rage, made proclamation that they 
 ' the empire to whoever would pure 
 
EMPIRE OF ROME. 249 
 
 the highest price. In consequence of this proclamation, 
 two bidders were found, namely? Sulpician and Didius. 
 The former, a consular person, prefect of the city, and 
 son-in-law to the late emperor Pertinax. The latter, a 
 consular person likewise, a great lawyer, and the wealth- 
 iest man in the city. Sulpician had rather promises 
 than treasures to bestow. The offers of Didius, who 
 produced immense sums of ready money, prevailed. 
 He was received into the camp, and the soldiers instant- 
 ly swore to obey him as emperor. 
 
 Upon being conducted to the senate house, he addres- 
 sed the few senators that were present in a very laconic 
 .hers, you want an emperor, and 1 am the 
 " fittest person you can chuse." The choice of the sol- 
 > was confirmed by the senate, and Didius was ac- 
 knowledged emperor, now in the fifty-seventh year of 
 his age. 
 
 It should seem, by this weak monarch's conduct when 
 seated on the throne, that he thought the government of 
 an empire rather a pleasure than a toil. Instead of at- 
 tempting to gain the hearts of his subjects, he gave him- 
 self up to ease and inactivity, utterly regardless of the 
 duties of his station. He was mild and gentle indeed, 
 neither injuring any nor expecting to be injured. But 
 that avarice, by which he became opulent, still followed 
 him in his exaltation ; so that the very soldiers who elect- 
 ed him soon began to detest him for those qualities so 
 very opposite to a military character. The people, also, 
 ist whose consent he was chosen, were not less his 
 enemies. Whenever he issued from his palace they 
 openly poured forth their imprecations against him, cry- 
 ing out that he was a thief, and had stolen the empire. 
 Didius, however, in the true spirit of a trader, patiently 
 bore all their reproach, sometimes beckoning; to them 
 smiles to approach him, and testifying his regard 
 Ijy every kind of submission. 
 
 Soon after, Severus, an African by birth, being pro 
 ned by his army, began by promising to revenge 
 he death of Pertinax. 
 
 Didius, upon being informed of his approach towards 
 Home, obtained the consent of the senate to, send him 
 
250 THE HISTOin [ 
 
 ambassadors, offering to makt- liim a partner in the 
 pirc. But Scvcrus rejected this offer, conscious of hi* 
 own strength, and of the weakness of the proposer The 
 ed of the Same sentime: Ber- 
 
 ing the timidity an' s of their prev 
 
 ter, abandoned im. li ^-d togetht 
 
 1 in the times of the common 
 con- 
 
 deprived of the empire, and that Scvcrus should be pro- 
 
 ]. The, us to be 
 
 irrs forth! lace, 
 
 \vh<- him 
 
 among a tc still adht rest. 
 
 tfert rs for the empire, undei the 
 
 rcii :iment, nnifinp gre 
 
 . for he ^ 
 < ulardcft 
 
 elekratcd for his \ ;ng, an*l 
 
 den ncd for perfidy and cruelty. In 
 
 short, ht .pablc r>f the greatest acts of 
 
 the most blrx 
 Upon his return t< 
 
 rew. cm such s as 
 
 his own ; ale they destroyed that 
 
 abuse of power, were 
 now -, of emperors. 
 
 , turn for irms 
 
 'iist tfce P then invading the fron- 
 
 i of flhc empire. ILivi:^, therefore, pr< 
 the r;o*e<ro merit of domestic policy to 01 
 
 i^avouritc, to \vliosc daughter he man-it- 
 
 set out for th< id prosecuted 
 
 xpcdition and suc< 
 .ibmissior. of Armenia, destroyed 
 
 in Ara 1 landed on the 
 
 coar- ud plundered the famous city of Ctesiphon, 
 
 marched back through Palestine and I d at 
 
 length t'etuafeA to Rome in triumph. 
 
EMPIRE OF ROME. 2s i 
 
 During this interval, Plautian, who was left to direct 
 the affairs of Rome, began to think of aspiring to the 
 empire himself. Upou the emperor's reiurn he employ- 
 ed a tribune of the praetorian cohorts, of which he was 
 the commander, to assassinate him, as likewise his son 
 Caracalla. The tribune informed Severus of his favour* 
 he's treachery. He at first received it as an improbable 
 slory, and as the artifice of one who envied his favourite's 
 for- une. However he was at last persuaded to permit 
 the tribune to conduct Plautian to the emperor's apart- 
 ments, to be a testimony against himself With this in- 
 tent the tribune went and amused him with a pretended 
 account of his killing the emperor and his son ; desiring 
 him, if he thought fit to see them dead, to go with him 
 .to the palace. As Plautian ardently desired their deaths 
 he readily gave credit to his relation ; and following 
 the tribune, was conducted at midnight into the inner- 
 most recesses. But what must have been his disap- 
 pointment, when, instead of finding the emperor lying 
 dead as he expected, he beheld the room lighted up with 
 torches, and Severus, surrounded by his friends, prepar- 
 ed in array to receive him. Being asked by the emperor, 
 i a stern countenance, what had brought him there at 
 that unseasonable time, he was at first utterly confound- 
 and not knowing what excuse to make- he ingenu- 
 ously confessed the whole.intreating forgiveness for what 
 tended. The emperor seemed inclined to par- 
 don : but Caracalla, his son, who, from the earliest age ? 
 .veil a disposition to cruelty, with his sword ran him 
 ij.jh the body. 
 
 After this he spent a considerable time in visiting some 
 cities in Italy, permitting none of his officers to sell pla- 
 ces of trust or dignity* and distributing justice with the 
 strictest impartiality. He then undertook an expedition 
 into Britain, where the Romans were in danger of being 
 destroyed or compelled to fly the province. Wherefore, 
 after appointing his two sons, Caracalla and Geta, joint 
 successors in the empire, and taking them with him, he 
 fowled in Britain, to the great tevor of such as hud drawn 
 down his resentment Upon his progress into the coun- 
 try, he left his son Geta in the southern part of the pro- 
 
THE HISTORY OF Ti: 
 
 vincc, which had continued in obedience, and 
 
 wit:. I'aracuila . this 
 
 expedition his army suffered prodigious hardship- 
 
 to hew 
 \vay turough intricate forest 
 
 lost 
 
 B by fatigue ai. 
 he supported all ihcse ii ting 
 
 . lied the i !n-g for ; 
 
 dcr of a consider- 
 part of their country. It was there, thai, fur its 
 better security, he built that famous 
 goes by I. 
 
 -, to the ( iii on the cast. He di<: 
 
 ccesscs here, but < 
 
 .in year 01 though < 
 
 reign of about eighteen 
 
 j' J know i . be- 
 
 . mutual hatred to i 
 
 even bei - e. But I 
 
 was of no long continuance , 
 ..lone, fui ' 
 
 - slew him in BIS. 
 
 ..peror, he went on 
 
 ^itli blo lever was dor. ( \ero 
 
 fell short of this monster's 
 at length excited the n 
 
 manderofthe forces in Mi yed 
 
 one > ijjth and a centurion of 
 
 the guards to the em- 
 
 peror was riding out one day, near a little city called 
 Carrac, he happened to \ himself ; 
 
 a natural occasion, \\iih only one pa;.;-c to hold I 
 This was the opportu: ar- 
 
 dently desired ; wherefore r s if 
 
 he had been called, he stabbed th- : in the 1> 
 
 so that he died immediately. 11 i formed this 
 
 y attempt, he then unconcernedly returned to Ins 
 
EMPIRE OF ROME. 253 
 
 troop ; but retiring by insensible degrees, he endeavour^ 
 ed to secure himself by flight. But his companions sqon 
 missing him, and the page giving information of what 
 had been done, he was pursued by the German horse anci 
 cut in pieces. 
 
 During the reign of this execrable tyrant, which con- 
 tinued six years, the empire was every day declining ; 
 the soldiers were entirely masters of every election ; and 
 as there were various armies in different parts, so there 
 were as many interests, all opposite to each other. 
 UC 970 The soldiers, without an emperor, after a 
 AD 217 SU9 P ence of two days, fixed upon Macrinus, 
 who took all possible methods to conceal his 
 being privy to Caracalla's murder. The senate confirm- 
 ed their choice shortly after, and likewise that of his 
 son, Diadumenus, whom he took as a partner in the em?- 
 pire. Macrinus was fifty-three years old when he enter*- 
 ed upon the government of the empire. He was of ob- 
 scure parentage, some say by birth a Moor ; who, by the 
 mere rotation of office, being made first praefect of the 
 praetorian bands, was now by treason and accident called 
 to fill the throne. 
 
 He was opposed by the intrigues of Mosa and her 
 grandson, Heliogabalus ; and being conquered by some 
 seditious legions of his own army, he fled to Chalcedon, 
 where those who were sent in pursuit overtook and put 
 him to death, together with his son Diadumenus, after a 
 short reign of one year and two months. 
 U C 97 ^ ^ e senal e and citizens of Rome being 
 
 AD 218 k% ec * to submit to the appointment of the 
 ' army as usual. Heliogabalus ascended the 
 throne at the age of fourteen. His short life is but a 
 tissue of effeminacy, lust and extravagance. He mar- 
 ried, in the small space of four years, six wives, and di- 
 vorced them all. He was so fond of the sex, that he car- 
 ried his mother with him to the senate house, and de- 
 manded that she should always be present when matters 
 of importance were debated. He even went so far as 
 to build a senate house for women, with suitable orders, 
 habits, and distinctions, of which his mother was made 
 Y 
 
THE HISTORY OF Ti 
 
 ident. They met several times : all their debates 
 lurnms upon the fashions of tin ! the diftV 
 
 ion,. . and ix, To 
 
 ruelty and boundless prodi- 
 s as 
 i 
 
 .. he strove to foretell v. 
 insi) 
 lie chose the most beautiful youths tl. !> to 
 
 ose. 
 n. u tiny ing, as was now 
 
 him to hi^ pursuing 
 
 .rtmcnt i- 
 
 ;ed him from 
 irough the streets 
 
 hcd him, they attempted once more 
 ;>crecl IKK!) into a privy ; but not i 
 ly eflcrlinp tl icr, >\ith 
 
 . 
 
 nth year of his age .able 
 
 reign of four years. 
 
 \isin 
 ; de- 
 conferring neu titles upon him ; but 
 he nv - oclined them ^11. 
 
 tice he added tlu the 
 
 goo r of the lewd and inl- 
 
 and 
 
 lly skilful in \ 
 i in poetry, tew of his time could c In 
 
 .t though but oars of age, he 
 
 cred as a wise old man. 
 
 .t the thirtct; of his reign, the I 
 
 Germans, and other northern nations, be^an to { 
 down immense swarms of people upon the me 
 era part* of the empire. Tl< I the Rhine and UM 
 
 Danube with such fury, that all Italy was thrown into 
 
EMPIRE OF ROME. 255 
 
 the most extreme consternation . The emperor ever rea- 
 dy to expose his person for the safety of his people, made 
 what levies he could, and went in person to stem the 
 torrent, which he speedily effected. It was in the course 
 of his successes against the enemy that he was rut off 
 by a mutiny among his own soldiers. He died in the 
 twenty -ninth year of his age, after a prosperous reign 
 of thirteen years and nine days. 
 
 I T C 988 The tumults occasioned by the death of 
 *'. , " Alexander being appeased, Maximin, who 
 ' had been the chief promoter of the sedition, 
 was chosen emperor. This extraordinary man, whose 
 character deserves particular attention, was born of very 
 obscure parentage, being the son of a poor herdsman 
 of Thrace. In the beginning-, he followed his father's 
 humble profession, and only exercised his personal cou- 
 rage agninst the robbers, who infested that part of the 
 country in which he lived. Soon after, his ambition in- 
 creasing, he left his poor employment, and enlisted in 
 the Roman army, where he soon became remarkable for 
 his great strength, discipline, and courage. This gigan- 
 tic man was no less than eight feet and an half high ; he 
 had a body and strength corresponding to his size, being 
 not less remarkable for the magnitude than the sym- 
 metry of his person His wife's bracelet usually served 
 him for a thumb ring; and his strength was so great 
 that he was able to draw a carriage which two oxen 
 could not move. He could strike out a horse's teeth 
 with a blow of his fist, aed break its thigh bone with a 
 kick. His diet was as extraordinary as the rest of his 
 endowments : he generally ate forty pounds weight of 
 flesh every day, and drank six gallons of wine, without 
 committing any debauch in either. With a frame so 
 athletic, he was possessed of a mind undaunted in dan- 
 ger, and neither fearing nor regarding any man. The 
 first time he was made known was to the emperor Seve- 
 rus, who was then celebrating games on the birth day 
 of his son Geta. He overcame sixteen in running, one 
 after the other ; he then kept up with the emperor on 
 horseback ; and, having fatigued him in the course, he 
 opposed to seven of the most active soldiers, and 
 
256 THE HISTORY OF TI 
 
 overcame them with the greatest ease. From that time 
 lie was particularly noticed, and taken into the emperor's 
 body guard, and, by UK radation of preferment, 
 came to the chief command, eq . ie for his 
 
 implicit?, discipline, and virtue ; and, upon coming to 
 :id to be one of the greatest mon- 
 ster : .it ever disgraced j id fearful 
 of nothi;: (lie seemed to sport "with the terrors 
 of all 
 
 hia cruelties did not retard his military ope- 
 
 ricd on v it becomi 
 
 bitter monarch. ! thcGcrn. 
 
 billies, wailed all their c 
 for four ;. n of 
 
 em nations as far as the cc 
 
 In these expc order to attach the soldiers r 
 
 firmly to him, he increased their pay ; and in t 
 duty of the camp he himself took as mu I n the 
 
 icst cenlinel in his army, shewing incredible cou- 
 tagc iuily- I., t nt, whe:< 
 
 the conflict was hottest, Maximin was always seen f. 
 in there in person, and destroying all before him ; for, 
 being bred a barbarian, he considered it ;. y to 
 
 combat as a c Idier, while he commanded as a 
 
 gent 
 
 In the mean time, his cruelties bad to the 
 
 Is of his subjects, that several co;. c se- 
 
 cretly rimed against him. None of t ! sue- 
 
 as own soldiers, being long 1, 
 nine and 
 
 .tc their calamities 
 
 death, i >s arm- 
 
 at first the principal motives to deter any from 
 ,iin ; but alien. j made In 
 
 . set upon him while lie 
 v both hi: -on, 
 
 a he had made his partner in the empire, without 
 'pposition. Thus died this most remarkable man, 
 
 about three years, and in 
 : year of his age. His assiduity when in hum- 
 '. en in power, e . well 
 
EMPIRE OF ROME. 257 
 
 to evince that there are some men whose virtues are 
 fitted for obscurity, as there are others who only shew 
 themselves great when placed in an exalted station. 
 U C 991 ^ ne t y rant oeul g dead, and his body 
 AD 238 tnrow11 to d S s and kirds f P re y ' Pupienus 
 ' and Balbinus continued for some time empe- 
 rors without opposition. 
 
 But differing among themselves, the praetorian sol- 
 diers, who were the enemies of both, set upon them in 
 their palace, at a time when their guards were amused 
 with seeing the Capitoline games, and dragging them 
 from the palace towards the camp, slew them both, leav- 
 ing their dead bodies in the streets as a dreadful instance 
 of their sedition. 
 
 U C 991 * n tne mi( ^ st f tn * s sedition, as the muti- 
 \ D 238 neerswere proceeding along, they by acci- 
 dent met Gordian, the grandson of him who 
 was slain in Africa, whom they declared emperor on the 
 spot. This prince was but sixteen years old when he be- 
 gan his reign ; but his virtues seemed to compensate for 
 his want of experience. His principal aims were to unite 
 the opposing members of the government, and to recon- 
 cile the soldiers and citizens to each other. 
 
 The army, however, began as usual to murmur, and 
 their complaints were artfully fomented by Philip, an 
 Arabian, who was praetorian praefect. Things then pro- 
 ceeding from bad to worse, Philip was at first mucie 
 equal in the command of the empire ; shortly after, he 
 \vas invested with the sole power ; and at length* find- 
 ing himself capable of perpetrating his long meditated 
 cruelty, Gordian was, by his or -^r, slam in the twenty- 
 second year of his age, after a successful reign of near 
 six years. 
 
 U C 996 Philip, having thus murdered his benefac- 
 
 A D 243* tor ' was so * nunate as to be immediately" 
 
 5 acknowledged emperor by the army. Upon 
 
 his exaltation, he associated his son, a boy of six years' 
 
 of age, as his partner in the empire ; and, in order to 
 
 secure his power at home, made peace with the Persians, 
 
 *>nd marched his army towards Rome. However, the 
 
 Y 2 
 
258 THE HISTORY OF THE 
 
 army revolting in favour of Dccius hi , and set- 
 
 violently upon him, one of the ceniinels, at a t '. 
 cut oil' his head, or rather c 1. 
 the ,i the upper. He died in the 1 
 
 year of his ao;e, after a rcif^n of about nvc 
 being universally declare 
 
 10Q1 The ar: isdom o: 
 
 .) 2* t Q c measure to stop the haste 
 
 me of t ha Roman empi : senate 
 
 eemd to thi- merits, that i: 
 
 him 
 
 every instance to consult their dignity ui j 
 the welfare of ull the ii ks of thepeoi 
 
 :io virtues could now prevent t! 
 :ifal of the state : t 
 
 Pagans the 
 
 .o\it, 
 
 cnfecMc." .cmcdy. He was 
 
 killed in an ar 
 
 of his age, a oi' twe years 
 
 month*. 
 
 1()0 j Callus, who had betrayed the Roma' 
 
 to pet hioisel! 
 
 cd emperor by that part of it 
 . cl the defeat ; he % vears old 
 
 s descended from an honou 
 me. lie was the first who bought a dis- 
 honourable peace from the enemies of the state, agree- 
 
 I tribute to the Goths, 
 ::y lo repress. 
 
 :d lost 
 o (V al sensuality. The Pagans 
 
 uting the Christians through all parts 
 e calamities were succeeded 
 tilcncc from Heaven, tl cd to have, in 
 
 .id over every pan of the earth, and which con: 
 
 several years, in an unheard of manner ; 
 Sy a civil war which followed shortly a 
 het :s aud his general .T.milianu vmg 
 
 cd a victory over the Goths, was prcc npe- 
 
 : ing army. Gallus heariug ' 
 
KMPIRE OF ROME. 259 
 
 roused from the intoxication of pleasure, and prepared 
 to oppose his dangerous rival ; he, with his son, were 
 slain by jEmilianus in a battle fought in Mesia. His 
 death was merited, and his vices were such as to deserve 
 the detestation of posterity. He died in the forty-se- 
 venth year of his age, after an unhappy reign of two 
 years and four months, in which the empire suffered 
 inexpressible calamities. 
 
 U C 1006 ^' ie senate refused to acknowledge the 
 AD 2s rt c ^ ms of ^-milianus ; and an army that 
 was stationed near the Alps, chose Valerian, 
 their own commander, to succeed to the throne, who set 
 about reforming the state, with a spirit that seemed to 
 mark a good mind and unabated vigour. But reforma- 
 tion was then grown almost impracticable. The Per- 
 sians, under their king Sapor, invaded Syria, and, com- 
 ing into Mesopotamia, took the unfortunate Valerian pri- 
 soner, as he was making preparations to oppose them. 
 Notliing could exceed the indignities, as well as the cru- 
 elties which were practised upon this unhappy monarch 
 thus fallen into the hands of his enemies. Sapor, we are 
 told, always used him as a footstool for mounting his 
 horse ; he added the bitterness of ridicule to his insults^ 
 and usually observed, " that an attitude like that to which 
 " Valerian was reduced was the best statue that could 
 11 be erected in honour of his victory." This horrid life 
 of insult and sufferance continued for seven years, and 
 was at length terminated by the cruel Persian's com- 
 manding his prisoner's eyes to be plucked out, and after- 
 wards causing him to be flayed alive. 
 UC 1012 Valerian being taken prisoner, as hath beew 
 \ D 259 just mentioned, Galienus his son, promising 
 to revenge the insult, was chosen emperor, 
 S then about forty-one years old. However, he soon 
 overed that he sought rather the splendours than the 
 toils of empire ; for, after having overthrown Ingenus, 
 a commander in Pannonia, who had assumed the title of 
 emperor, he sat down, as if fatigued with conquest, and 
 himself up to ease and luxury. 
 M at this time that no less than thirty pretenders 
 
260 THE HISTORY OF THE 
 
 were seen contending with each other for the dominion 
 of the state, and adding the calamities of civil war to 
 the rest of the misfortunes of thisdevotedempire. These 
 are generally known in history by the name of the Tlrir- 
 
 mts. 
 In this general calamity, Galienus, though at first 
 
 >lc, was at let. 
 ae sccun 
 
 besiege the city of Milan, which had been taken by' one 
 of the thirty usurping tyrants. It was there 
 
 by his own soldiers ; Martian, one of his generals, 
 inspired against him. 
 
 U r , r . , . 1! .> being nominated to sue- 
 
 \s I W 1 , . r 1 1 it it 
 
 ) 268 cec(i ' ne vas J >' ful1 ! b X allot 
 
 of the state, and h". .firmed by the 
 
 senate and the people. We arc not sufficiently assured 
 of this emperor's lineage and country . S< : 
 he was born it i, and descended from ;.i 
 
 family there ; otht 
 
 others still, that he was son to the emperor < 
 But might have been his <! erits 
 
 were by no means doubtful. He was a man of y 
 
 cl condur performed the most excel- 
 
 lent services against th 'tad long continued 
 
 to make their irruptions into the empire ; but on his 
 roar 
 
 near the city of Si tc was sc 
 
 with a pestilential fever, of 
 
 to the great regret oft s, and the irreparable 
 
 loss of the Roman cm; 
 
 j p . 02 :ie death of Claudius, 
 
 AD '"'O* Wfts universall X acknowledged by all the 
 npire, and assumed the com- 
 mand with a greater share of power than 
 sors had enjoyed for some time before 
 monarch was born of mean and obscure parentage in 
 U about fil old at the time of 
 
 his corning to the throne. . He bad spent the early part 
 of his life in the army, and had risen through all the 
 gradations of military duty. He was of unshaken cou- 
 
EMPIRE OF ROME. 26i 
 
 rage and amazing strength > he in one single engage- 
 ment killed forty of the enemy with his own hand, and 
 above nine hundred at several different times. In short, 
 his valour and expedition were such, that he was compa- 
 red to Julius Caesar, and in fact only wanted mildness 
 and clemency to be every way his equal. 
 
 Among the number of those who were compelled to 
 submit to his power, we may reckon the famous Zeno- 
 bia, queen of Palmyra. He subdued her country, de- 
 stroyed her citf, and took her prisoner. Longinus, the 
 celebrated critic, who was secretary to the queen* was by 
 Aurelian's order put to death. Zenobia was reserved 
 race his triumph, and afterwards allotted such lands, 
 and such an income, as served to maintain her in almost 
 her former splendour. 
 
 His severities at last were the cause of his destruction. 
 Moncsteus, his principal secretary, having been threaten- 
 ed by him for some fault which he had committed, form- 
 ed a conspiracy against him ; and as the emperor passed 
 with a small guard from Uraclea in Thrace towards By- 
 zantium, the conspirators set upon him at once, and slew 
 him with very small resistance. He was slain in the 
 sixtieth, or, as some say, the sixty-third year of his age, 
 after a very active reign of almost five years. 
 T T P 1028 After some time the senate made choice 
 AD 275 ^ Tacitus, a man of great merit, and no 
 r * way ambitious of the honours that were of- 
 fered him, being at that time seventy-five years old. 
 
 A reign begun with much moderation and justice, 
 only wanted continuance to have made the empire hap- 
 py ; but after enjoying the empire about six months, he 
 died of a fever, in his march to oppose the Persians and 
 Scythians, who had invaded the eastern parts of the 
 empire. 
 
 During this short period, the senate seemed to have a 
 large share of authority ; and the historians of the times 
 are one and all liberal of their praises to such emperors 
 as were thus willing to divide their power. 
 
 Upon the death of Tacitus, the whole army, as if by 
 rommon consent, cried out that Probus should be em- 
 
THE HISTORY OF THE 
 
 peror. He was forty-four years old when he ascended 
 the throne ; was born of noble parentage at Sinniu: 
 Paunoniu, and bred up a soldier from his youth. He 
 n early to if for his discipline and 
 
 ir, being frequently the first man that. 
 towns, scaled the walls, or that burst into the 
 camp. 1 jually remarkable for single combats, 
 
 eminent < : nor were 
 
 y and co hen elected to the empire, 
 
 rent than in his private station, 
 produced only new calamities to the empire, and 
 fresh irruptions on c^ universal 
 
 desolation : pet ha; 
 those of Probus, were capable of opposing such u; 
 
 However, in the end, his own mutinous soldiers, tak- 
 ing their opportunity, as he was marching into Greece, 
 set upon and slew him, after he had reigned six years 
 and four months with genera: 
 
 U Q | 035 nprifecttothe 
 
 ,, deceased emperor, was chosen by the army 
 
 to s .ic,tostrci, 
 
 authority, um . o sons, Carin 
 
 with him in command ; the former of 
 sullied b\ h as the younger was rem-u Ruble for 
 
 bU virtues, modesty, and courage. . >rlly 
 
 exaltation strxick r!< htning in his tent, 
 
 with many others that were round hi 
 
 n, the youngest son, who accompanied his 
 Hither in this expeditio: onsolable for his death, 
 
 and hroi; irder upon hi th weep- 
 
 : ried alon c ar- 
 
 shut up in a close litter. The peculiarity of hi 
 nation, after some time, excited the ambition of A 
 his father-in-law , who supposed that he could now, v 
 
 : danger, aim at the empire himself. He 
 therefore hired a mercenary villian to murder the em- 
 peror in his litter ; and the better to conceal the fact, 
 c out that he was still alive, but unable to endure 
 the light. The offensiveness of his smell, however, at 
 length discovered the treachery, and excited an univef- 
 
EMPIRE OF ROME. 263 
 
 sal uproar throughout the whole army. In the midst of 
 this tumult. Dioclesian, one of the most noted command- 
 ers of his time, was chosen emperor, and with his own 
 hand slew Asper ; having thus, as it is said, fulfilled a 
 prophecy, which had said that Diocksian should be em- 
 peror after he had slain a Boar. 
 
 Carinus, the remaining son, did not long survive his 
 father and brother. 
 IT C 10"7 Dioclesian was a person of mean birth, 
 
 AT) being supposed to be, according to some, 
 
 the son of a scrivener ; and of a slave, ac- 
 cording to others. He received his name from Dio- 
 clea, the town in which he was born, being forty years 
 old when he was elected to the empire. He owed his 
 exaltation entirely to his merit, having passed through 
 all the gradations of office with sagacity, courage, and 
 success. 
 
 In his time, the northern hive, as it was called, pour- 
 ed down their swarms of barbarians upon the Roman 
 empire. Ever at war with the Romans, they issued, 
 when the armies that were to suppress their invasions 
 were -called away ; and, upon their return, they as sud- 
 denly withdrew into their cold, barren, and inaccessibly 
 retreats, which only themselves could endure. In this 
 manner the Scythians, Goths, Sarmatians, Alani, Car- 
 sii, and Quadi, came down in incredible numbers, while 
 every defeat seemed but to increase their strength and 
 perseverance. After gaining many victories over these, 
 and in the midst of his triumphs, Dioclesian and Maxi- 
 mian, his partner in the empire, surprised the world by 
 resigning their dignities on the same day, and both re- 
 tiring into private stations. In this contented manner 
 Dioclesiun lived some time, and at last died, either by 
 poison or madness ; but this is uncertain. His reign, 
 wbich continued twenty years, was active and useful ; 
 and his authority, which was tinctured with severity, 
 was well adapted to the depraved state of morals at that 
 time. 
 U C 1057 Upon the resignation of the two empe- 
 
 . ' Q* rors, the two Caesars, whom they had be- 
 
 1 fore chosen, were universally acknow- 
 
36* THE HISTORY OF TI. 
 
 ledged as their successors, namely, Constamius Chlr 
 who was so called from the paleness of his com} 
 ion, being virtuous, valiant, and merciful ; and Gale- 
 rius, who was brave, but brutal, incontinent, and cruel. 
 As there was such a <i in their tempers, they 
 
 ;rced, upon coming into full power, to c!r 
 the empire, Constantius being appointed to govern the 
 
 icd in Britain, appointing Constantine 
 his son as his successor. Galerius was seizid \\ith a 
 inary disorder in his pi. i.ich baf- 
 
 fled all the skill ot , off, 
 
 after he had languished in torments for near the space 
 of a year. 
 
 . 106 . Constantine, afterwards surnamed the 
 .ad s*me competitors at first for 
 1 the throne. Among the ri >xen- 
 
 tins, who was at that time in possession ot 
 stedfast asserter of Paganism. It w. me's 
 
 mar that usurper that weare assured he was con- 
 
 verted lot nybyavery extract 
 
 ic told, the army being upon its 
 march towards Rome. \\ith 
 
 ions upon the fate of sublunary th- 
 an d the dangers of his approaching expedition: s<. 
 ble of his own incapacity to succeed without divine as- 
 aice, heemph editations upon the opii 
 
 werechii 'i-d amnnr t up 
 
 Dilations to Heaven to inspire him with wisdom to 
 chuse the path to pursue. It was then, as the sui 
 dccl. ->t there suddenly appeu 
 
 in the heavens, in the fashion of a cross, \\itl 
 scription, In (hi* o-crrcvmr. 
 
 did not fail to create astonishment both in tin 
 peror and his whole army, who considered it as their 
 
 :is led them to believe. Those 
 were attached to 1 . prompted by her 
 
 pronounced it to be a most inauspicious omen, por- 
 
 the most unfortunate events : but it mack 
 cm impression on the emperor's mind, v 
 count g- rther encouraged by visions the same 
 
EMPIRE OF ROME. 2$5 
 
 night. He therefore, the day following, caused a royal 
 standard to be made, like that which he had seen in the 
 heavens, and commanded it to be carried before him in 
 his wars, as an ensign of victory and celestial protection. 
 After this he consulted with several of the principal 
 teachers of Christianity, and made a public avowal of 
 that sac red persuasion. 
 
 Constantine having thus attached his soldiers to his 
 interest, who were most of the Christian persuasion, lost 
 no time in entering Italy with ninety thousand foot, and 
 eight thousand horse, and soon advanced almost to the 
 very gates of Rome. Maxentius advanced from the 
 city with an army of an hundred and seventy thousand 
 foot, and eighteen thousand horse. The engagement 
 was for some time fierce and bloody, till his cavalry 
 being routed, victory declared upon the side of his op- 
 ponent : and he himself was drowned in his flight, by 
 the breaking down of a bridge, as he attempted to cross 
 the Tiber. 
 
 Constantine, in consequence of this victory, entering 
 the city, disclaimed all praises which the senate and peo- 
 ple were ready to offer, ascribing his success to a supe- 
 rior power. He even caused the cross, which he was 
 said to have seen in the heavens, to be placed at the right 
 of all his statues, with this inscription, " That under the 
 " influence of that victorious cross, Constantine had de- 
 " livered the city from the yoke of tyrannical power ; 
 " and had restored the senate and people of Rome to 
 * ( their ancient authority." He afterwards ordained, 
 that no criminal should for the future suffer death by the 
 cross, which had formerly been the most usual way of 
 punishing slaves convicted of capital offences. Edicts 
 were soon after issued, declaring, that the Christians 
 should be eased from all their grievances, and received 
 into places of trust and authority. 
 
 Things continued in this state for some time, Constan- 
 tine contributing what was in his power to the interest 
 of religion, and the revival of learning, which had long 
 been upon the decline, and was almost wholly ext^ct in 
 the empire. But in the midst of these assiduities^ thfe 
 Z 
 
THE HISTORY OF THL 
 
 peace of the empire was again disturbed by the prepa- 
 ns of Maximin, who governed in the East, and who, 
 ous of a full participation of power, inarched against 
 liuswith A very numerous army. In consequence of 
 ^tep, after many conflicts, a general engagement en- 
 sued, in uhich Maximin suffered a total defeat ; many 
 of his troops were cut to pieces, and those that sun 
 submitted to the conqueror. Having, however, escaped 
 the general carnage, he once more put himself at the 
 
 otry the fortune of the 
 
 field ; but his death prevented the design. As he died 
 by a very extraordinary kind of madness, the chrisi; 
 
 horn he was the declared enemy, did not fail to as- 
 cribe his end to a judgment from heaven; but this 
 the i nts and false miracles 
 
 up the bulk of uni: ory. 
 
 ustantinc nius thus : ;ted 
 
 in the en 
 peaceable continuance, of friendshi; 
 
 >on found that the s 
 aimed i\i\ . would be content with nothing 
 
 :i writers ascribe the rupture be- 
 n these two potentates to Constantine ; while the 
 Christians, on the other hand, impute it wholly t' 
 cinius. Both sides exerted all tl op- 
 
 position, and, at the head of very formidable amc 
 
 to an engagement ; 
 
 tine, a to the battle, in the midst of hi 
 
 turn bishops, begged tl. ncc of H^ hilc 
 
 Licinius, wiiii lied upon the : icsts 
 
 to intercede with the gods j c success 
 
 was on the side of truth. Con- Her an obsti- 
 
 nate resistance, became victorious, took the encr 
 camp, and after some time compelled Licinius to sue 
 for a truce, which was agreed upon. But this was of 
 no long continuance ; for soon after, the war break 
 out afresh, and the rivals coming once more to a gene- 
 ral engagement, it proved decisive. Licinius was entire- 
 ly defeated and pursued by Constantine into Nicorm 
 where he surrendered himself up to the victoi 
 first obtained an oath that his life should be spared, and 
 
EMPIRE OF ROME. 267 
 
 that he should be permitted to pass the remainder of 
 his days in retirement. This, however, Constantine, 
 shortly after broke ; for, either fearing his designs, or 
 finding him actually engaged in fresh conspiracies, he 
 commanded him to be put to death, together with Mar- 
 tian his general, who sometime before had been created 
 Ccesar. 
 
 Constantine, being thus sole monarch of the empire, 
 resolved to establish Christianity on so sure a basis that no 
 new revolutions should shke it. He commanded that 
 in all the provinces of the empire, the orders of the bish- 
 ops should be exactly obeyed. He called also a general 
 council of these, in order to repress the heresies that had 
 already crept into the church, particularly that of Arius. 
 To this place repaired about three hundred ancheighteen 
 bishops, besides a multitude of presbyters and deacons, 
 together with the emperor himself, who all, except about 
 seventeen, concurred in condemning the tenets of Arius ; 
 and this heresiarch, with his -associates, was banished in- 
 to a remote part of the empire. 
 
 Having thus restored universal tranquility to the em- 
 pire, he was not able to ward off the calamities of a 
 more domestic nature. As the wretched histories of this 
 period are entirely at variance with each other, it is not 
 easy to tell the motives which induced him to put his 
 wife Fausta, and his son Crispus to death. The most 
 plausible account is this : Fausta, the empress, who was 
 a woman of great beauty, but of extravagant desires, 
 had long, though secretly, loved Crispus, Constantine's 
 son by a former wife. She had tried every art to inspire 
 this youth with a mutual passion ; and, finding her 
 more distant efforts ineffectual, had even the confidence 
 to make him an open confession of her desires. This 
 produced an explanation which was fatal to both. Cris- 
 pus received her addresses with detestation, and she, to 
 be revenged, accused him to the emperor. Constantine, 
 fired at once with jealousy and rage, ordered him to die 
 without an hearing : nor did his innocence appear till it 
 too late for redress. The only reparation, there- 
 fore, that remained, was putting Fausta, the wicked 
 instrument of his former cruelty, to death ; which was 
 
26B THT HISTORY OF THE 
 
 accordingly executed upon her, together with some 
 others who had been accomplices in her falsehood and 
 treachery. 
 
 But it is supposed, that all the good he did was not 
 equal to rccompence the evil the empire sustained by his 
 . -Terring the seat of it ffom Rom< ntium, or 
 
 Cor. icrwards culled. V 
 
 cen the n .ich induced him tothi 
 
 undertak. Tended at 
 
 : '''its he ; Rome, or that he sup- 
 
 pose linople more in the centre of the empire, 
 
 :at he thought the eastern parts more require.-. 
 
 'hey were all v 
 
 groundless. The empire had long before been in a 
 :^ost declining st&tc ; but this, in a great measure, . 
 precipitation to its c! After this, it never rc- 
 
 bumcd its former splendour, but, like a flower transp 
 cd into a foreign clime, languished by degrees, and at 
 leu :othing. 
 
 :o build a ci'.y 
 
 make the capital of the world i and for this purpose he 
 mad. : or; 
 
 but v M, that, in laying out the ground 
 
 :.;ht up the line, and r. 
 
 : ie of the 
 
 ..horns. Here, the 
 
 to fix the scat of empire ; und indeed -emed to 
 
 ith all the conveni :.d all the 
 
 beauties which might induce power to make it the seat 
 of residence. .'.uatcd on a plain that rose ^r 
 
 ly from the v Commanded that streight which 
 
 unites th< ith the Kuxinc sea. 
 
 iurnishcd with all which the mostindul- 
 
 'icstow. This city, therefore, he beau- 
 tified with the most magnificent edifices ; 
 \ ' he divided it into fourteen n huilt 
 
 ' acapitol.anamphit' -atre,many cluin 
 and other public works : and having thus rendert 
 equal to the magnificence of his idea, he dedicated i 
 v solemn manner to the God of martyrs ; an-' 
 
EMPIRE OF ROME. 2S0 
 
 about two years after repaired thither with his whole 
 court. 
 
 This removal produced no immediate alteration in the 
 government of the empire ; the inhabitants of Rome, 
 though with reluctance, submitted to the change ; nor 
 was there for two or three years any disturbance in the 
 state, until at length the Goths, finding that the Romans 
 had withdrawn all their garrisons along the Danube, re- 
 newed their inroads, and ravaged the country with un- 
 heard of cruelty. Constan tine, however, soon represt their 
 incursions, and so straitened them, that near an hundred 
 thousand of their number perished by cc .! and hunger. 
 
 Another great error ascribed to him is the dividing the 
 empire among his sons. Constantino, the emperor's eld- 
 est son, commanded in Gaul and the western provinces ; 
 Constantius, his second, governed Africa and Illyricum ; 
 and Constans, the youngest, ruled in Italy, This divi- 
 sion of the empire still farther contributed to its downfal ; 
 the united strength of the state being no longer 
 brought to repress invasion, the barbarians fought with 
 superior numbers, and conquered at last, though often 
 defeated. Constantine was about sixty years old, and 
 had reigned above thirty, when he found his health be- 
 <;an to decline. His disorder, which was an ague, in- 
 creasing, he went to Nicomedia, where finding himself 
 .vithout hopes of a recovery, he caused himself to be 
 baptized ; and having soon after received the sacrament 
 he expired, after a memorable and active reign of a^- 
 most thirty-two years. 
 
 CHAP XXV. 
 
 i& destruction of the ROMAN EMPIRE after th:: 
 dt.ath of Constantine, and the events -which hastened 
 its catastrophe. 
 
 FROM this dreary period the recovery of the empire 
 was become desperate ; no wisdom could obviate 
 its decadence, no courage oppose the evils that surround- 
 ed it on every side. Were we to enter into a detail con- 
 cerning the characters of the princes of those times, it 
 Z 2 
 
THE HISTORY OF THE 
 
 .Id be rather of the conquerors, not the conquered : 
 of those Gothic chiefs who led u more virtueus and more 
 courageous people to the conquest of nations corrupted 
 by vi 
 
 st unknown to the Ro- 
 
 tiious to them. But they were now become formidable, 
 and arose in such numbers that the earth seemed to 
 luce a new race o: 1 to complete the ^ 
 
 uction. their hideous 
 
 he opportunity of < 
 Jiito ;vourablc 
 
 ml ; 
 v evil off n< 
 
 and obscu 
 
 '> had to i ; >coplc 
 
 - 
 !uct to oppose, 1 
 
 . producer :icm 
 
 vcd like the n 
 
 . cd thembclvc- 
 ihc t 
 
 .chs and 
 Ms . unfit to prop the fallin 
 
 . 
 
 .^ootl and a very \nlianiprincc. \l< 
 . 
 
 . !:ine out oi their new sc 
 inents ; and his name was a terror to thci. 
 -.), which lasted hut two \eurs. Jevi.:. 
 ;i had \iruic and strcnir; the 
 
 ilin^ undc 
 
 . ,v the nei restoring the ancient plan of 
 
 .-.np'ue more tlian Valentinian , the former esipc 
 
 .ill the frontier garrisons, merely to 
 > -.ver at home j but his whole 
 
LMPIRE OF ROME. 271 
 
 employed in fortifying the banks of the Rhine, mak- 
 ing levies, raising castles, placing troops in proper sta- 
 tions, and furnishing them with subsistence for their 
 support ; but an event that no human prudence could 
 foresee, brought up a new enemy to asssist in the uni- 
 versal destruction. 
 
 That tract of land which lies between the Palus Maeo- 
 lis, the mountains of Caucasus and the Caspian sea, was 
 inhabited bv a numerous savage people that went by 
 the name of the Huns and Allanes. Their soil was fer- 
 tile, and the inhabitants fond of robbery and plunder. 
 As they imagined it impracticable to cross the Palus 
 Maeotis, they were altogether unacquainted with the Ro- 
 mans, so that they remained confined within the limits 
 then 1 ignorance had assigned them, while other nations 
 plundered with security. It hasbeen the opinion of some., 
 that the slime which was rolled down by the current of 
 the Tanais had by degrees formed a kind of incrustation 
 on the surface of the Cimmaerian Bosphorus, over which 
 those people are supposed to have passed. Others re- 
 late that two young Scythians being in full pursuit of 
 an heifer, the terrified creature swam over an arm of the 
 sea, and the youths immediately following her, found 
 themselves in a new world upon the opposite shore. Up- 
 on their return, they did not fail to relate the wonders of 
 the strange lands and countries which they had discover- 
 ed. Upon their information, an innumerable body of 
 Huns passed those streights ; and meeting first with the 
 Goths, made that people fly before them. The Goths, 
 in consternation, presented themselves on the banks of 
 the Danube ; and with a suppliant air, entreated the. 
 Romans to allow them a place of refuge. This they ea- 
 sily obtained from Valens, who assigned them several 
 portions of land in Thrace, but left them destitute of all 
 needful supplies. Stimulated therefore by hunger ami 
 resentment, they soon after rose against their protectors ; 
 and in a dreadful engagement, which was fought near 
 Adrianople, they destroyed Valens himself, aad the 
 greatest part of his army. 
 
 It was in this manner the Roman armies grew weak- 
 
 so that the emperors, finding it difficult at last to 
 
i'K HISTORY OF THE 
 
 raise levies in the provinces, were obliged to hire one 
 body of barbarians to oppose another. This expe^ 
 liad i;s use in circumstances of immediate danger ; but 
 
 r, the Romans found i 
 
 to rid themselves of their new allies as of their for- 
 mer enemies. Thus the empire was not ruined by any 
 icular invasion, but sunk gradually under tt 
 overal attacks made upon it 
 
 cd one province, those :vho suc- 
 ceeded the first spoilers proceedecSjn to an :ieir 
 at first limited to Thrao and 
 ,'inia ; but w!.- ountrica were rui: 
 destroyed Macedo e ; and : 
 
 ;m. The en.; 
 i inner continually shri: 
 
 : of its o\\ >n. 
 
 The .& in some 
 
 the time 
 I ; but, u; 
 
 -c body ot ( led in to 
 
 forces of the empire, under the com- 
 mand of 
 
 the uni\ d the most mortal stab 
 
 S sccurit) ho is represented 
 
 us brave, impetus the 
 
 , the successors of Theodosius, were able to secure 
 
 it ; being inst ill further by t s of 
 
 one Rusinus, who i. ">n the th: elf: 
 
 ;>tince, I say, putti if at the head 
 
 of h: forces, dt ^r against his em- 
 
 .aid fought the armies of tin Tor some 
 
 success. r, in proportio 
 
 Jiis troops were cut off, he received new sup 
 native forests ; and at length putting his mi 
 
 vecution, passed the Alps, and poureu 
 torrent among the fruitful vaJ lies of Italy. Th: 
 
 region had long been the seat of indolence and sen- 
 sual delight : its fields were now turned into gardei 
 pleasure, that only served to enervate the 
 
 . having once been a nursery of military strei 
 
EMPIRE OF ROME. 273 
 
 that furnished soldiers for the conquest of mankind. 
 The timid inhabitants therefore beheld with terror a 
 dreadful enemy ravaging in the midst of their country, 
 while their wretched emperor Honorius, who was then 
 in Ravenna, still only seemed resolved to keep up his 
 dignity, and to refuse any accommodation. But the 
 inhabitants of Rome felt the calamities of the times with 
 double aggravation. This great city, that hu long sat 
 as mistress of the world, now saw herself besieged by 
 an army of fierce and terrible barbarians ; and being 
 crowded with inhabitants, it was reduced by the ex- 
 tremes of pestilence and famine, to a most deplorable 
 situation. In this extremity, the senate dispatched their 
 ambassadors to Alaric, desiring him either t grant them 
 peace upon reasonable terms, or to give them leave to 
 fight it with him in the open field. To this message,- 
 however, the Gothic monarch only replied, with a burst 
 ef laughter, " that thick grass was easier cut than thin ;" 
 implying, that their troops, when cooped up within the 
 narrow compass of the city, would be more easily over- 
 come than when drawn out in order of battle. When 
 they came to debate about a peace, he demanded all their 
 riches and all their slaves. When he was asked, " what 
 i; then he would leave them ?" he sternly replied, u their 
 * lives." These were hard conditions for such a cele.- 
 brated city to accept ; but, compelled by the necessity 
 of the limes, they raised an immense treasure, both by- 
 taxation and stripping ..he heathen temples, and thus at 
 length bought off their fierce invaders. But this was 
 but a temporary removal of their calamity ; for Alaric 
 now finding that he might become master of Rome 
 whenever he thought proper, returned with his army a 
 short time after ; pressed it more closely than he had 
 
 U C 1163 done before > and at last to k ^ but whe " 
 AD 418 ther by * rce or strata S em * s not agreed 
 among historians. Thus that city, which 
 for ages had plundered the rest of the world, and enrich- 
 ed herself with the spoils of mankind, now felt in turn 
 the sad reverse of fortune, and suffered all that barbarity- 
 could inflict, or patience endure. The soldiers had free 
 liberty topillage all placesexcept the Christian churches; 
 
274 THE HISTORY OI 1 B 
 
 and, in the midst of this horrid desolation, so great was 
 the reverence of these barbarians for our holy religion, 
 that the T ian:> found safety in applying to those 
 
 of the Christian persuasion for protection. This dread- 
 ful devastation continued for thr^ ind unsp 
 able were the precious monuments, both of art and learn- 
 ing, that sunk under the fury of the conquerors. How- 
 ever, there were still numberless traces of the city's for- 
 mer greatness ; so that this capture seemed rather a cor- 
 rection t; 'throw. 
 
 But the Gothic conquerors of the West, though they 
 ufVercd Rome to survive its first captu und 
 
 hovr easy become masters of it upon any other 
 
 occasion. The extent of its walls had in fact made it 
 almost impracticable for the inhabitants to defend them ; 
 and 'cd in a \ 'night be stormed 
 
 without much difficulty, Ucsilcs this, no succours v 
 to be expected from without ; for the number of the peo- 
 
 '. as so extreme that the emperors f 
 
 obliged to retire to Ravenna, a place so l'< 
 turc that M be safe without the a^ 
 
 :ic therefore s; 'gof 
 
 the Vandals, not long after contributed to de? 
 merciless sol fourteen davs togc 
 
 with implacable fury, in the midst of t; 
 
 or public her 
 
 ere the least protection 
 against their lust o: 
 
 The capital of the empire being thus d sev- 
 
 eral times, and Italy overrun by barbarous 
 der various denon the rein- :s of 
 
 Kurope, the western emperor* for some time continued 
 to hold the title without the power of royalty. Hono- 
 rius lived till he saw himself stripped of the greatest part 
 of I, ,ions, his capital taken ioths, the 
 
 Hu: "n Pannoniii, the Allanes Sucvi, and A 
 
 dais established U nd the Burgundbns settled 
 
 in Gaul, where tl 
 After some time, UK- its of Rome also, being 
 
 ndoned by their princes, feebly attempted t< 
 aupreme power into their own hands. Armoric. 
 
EMPIRE OF ROME. ,275 
 
 Britain, seeing themselves forsaken, began to regulate 
 themselves by their own laws. Thus the power of the 
 state was entirely broken, and those who assumed the 
 title of emperors only encountered certain destruction. 
 At length, even the very name of emperor of the \\est 
 expired upon the abdication of Augustulus ; and Odoa- 
 cer, general of the Heruli, assumed the title of king of 
 all Italy. Such was the end of this great eftipire, that 
 had conquered mankind with its arms, anjj instructed the 
 world with its wisdom ; that had risen by temperance, 
 and that fell by luxury ; that had been estaMished by a 
 spirit of patriotism, and that sunk into ruin when the 
 empire was become so extensive that a Roman citizen 
 was but an empty name Its final dissolution happened 
 about five hundred and twenty -two years after the battle 
 of Pharsalia, an hundred and forty-six after the removal 
 of the imperial seat to Constantinople, and four hundred 
 :\nd seventy-six after the nativity of our Saviour. 
 
 END. 
 
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