THE WORKS O F TACITUS, WITH POLITICAL DISCOURSES UPON THAT AUTHOR, By THOMAS GORDON, Efq; The FOUR T H E D i T i o N corre&ed VOL. H. LONDON: Printed for J. and F. RIVINGTON, L. DAVIS,. L. HA WES, W. CLARK and R. COLLINS, W. J o HN s TO N, T. LONG M AN, T. CAD ELL, J. D o D s L E Y, and RICHARDSON and RI- CHARDSON. MJDCC.LXX. fil mo THE ANNALS O F TACITUS, BOOK XL The condemnation and death of Valerius Aflaticus, by the procurement cf MeiTalina. The iniquity and ve- nality of i he public Pleaders. Their fees afeertained. Civil combujiions in Parthia. Secular Plays exhibit- ed at Rome. Claudius adds three letters to the Al- phabet. A fart DiJJ'ertation concerning the origin of Letters. Italus ejiablijhe d King over the Chenifcans. Corbulo made Commander in Lower Germany, his fevere and excellent difcipline. Curtins Rufus diflin- gnijbed -with the Triumphal Ornaments. The rife andjlory of that Roman. Of the injlitution of the office of Qua/lor, and its variations. The Nobility of Caul admitted to allthe rights of Reman Citizens. the number of Patricians augmented. Meflalina the Emprefs, her -wild leivdnefs. She openly marries C. Silius: is accvfed to the Emperor ; and her adul- terers punifJjed. Her execution hn-w procured and VOL. II. B For THEANNALS Book XI. * * * * -~^ R, MefTalina, implacable towards Valerius Afiaticus, one twice Conful, whom /he believed to have been Pop- paea's adulterer, and equally panting after his fine gardens, begun by Lucullus, but by him beautified with fignal magnificence, fnborned Suilius to accufe both him and her. In the plot was joined Sofibius, Tutor to Britannicus, who, under the mafk of zeal, \vas to warn Claudius, " that mighty wealth in pri- " vate hands was ever mifchievous and threatening * v f to Princes. In the aflaflination of Caligula, Afiati- " cus had been the principal director, nor feared to " avow it in a public congregation of the people, nor even to claim the glory of the parricide : hence his popularity and renown in Rome ; in- fomuch that his purpofe of withdrawing and put- ting himfelf at the head of the armies, was al- ready a prevailing rumour through all the Pro- vinces ; for that being born at Vienne, and fup- ported there by numerous and powerful families, all his own relations, it depended upon his plea- fure .to excite an infurrection of his countrymen the Gauls." This i'ufficed Claudius, who, in or- der to feize him, inftantly difpatched away Crifpinus, Captain ot the Praetorian guards, with a body of foldier?, as if a war had been robe crufhed. He was found at Bai, and hurried to Rome in chains. Neither was it indulged him to be heard by the Senate ; he was privately tried in a chamber in the prefence of MeiTalina. Suilius charged him " with ", corrupting the foldiery, as having by money and " abominable pleafures engaged them in his inte- " reft, and prepared them for every the mofl: flagrant " iniquity ; with his adulterous amours with Pop- " paea, and with furrendering his perfon to unnatu- " ral. defilements." This laft article overcame his patience, and breaking in upon the accufation, " Ask Book XL O F T A C I T U S. 3 " Ask thy own fons, Suilius, faid he ; thy fons will " fatisfy thee that I am a man." As he proceeded in. Irs defence, he forced tears even from MefTalina, and in Claudius raifed agitations ftill more powerful. But the Ernprefs leaving the room to dry her eyes, warned Vitellius, " not to fnffer the accufed to " efcape." She herfelf haftened to accomplish the doom of Poppaea, by fuborning perfons who urged her, through the terrors of imprifonment, to a volun- tary end ; a cataftrophe cf which the Emperor was fo utterly unapprized, that a few days after, as her 'hufband Scipio was at table with him, he continued a(king why he fat down without his wife ? till Scipio anfwered, That (lie was no more. Now as Claudius was deliberating about clearing Afiaticus, the hollow Vitellius wept, and recount- ing their ancient friendmip, with the dutiful obfer- vance which they had equally paid to Antonia, the Prince's mother ; then difplaying the good fervices of Afiaticus to the Commonwealth, particularly his late exploits in Great-Britain, with other arguments which feemed proper to excite mercy ; he at laffc propofed to grant him the free choice of his own death ; a fort of clemency of which Claudius de- clared his approbation. There were fome who ex- horted him to die gently, by abftinence only ; an indulgence which he rejected, but perfifting in his wonted exercifes, he bathed, and even fupped chear- fully. He faid, he fhould with more credit have been facrificed to the dark artifices of Tiberius, or to the fury of Caligula, than thus perifh by the de- vices of a woman, and the proftitute lips cf Vitel- fius ; then opened his veins, but firft viewed his fu- neral pile, and directed its removal into another place, left the fmoke fhould fcorch the heads of the trees, and leflen "their cool {hade. ' Such was his firmnefs, even in the nnns of death. B 2 The 4 THEANNALS Book XT, The Senate was thereafter fummoned, and Suilius proceeded alfo to accufe the illuftriotis Roman Knights, firnamed Petra. The real caufe of their bane was, that for a place of aifignation, they had accommodated Valerius and Poppsa with the ufe of their houfe; but to one. of them a dream was ob- jected, as if he had beheld Claudius crowned with a chaplet of the ears of corn, their beards down- wards, and thence foretold a public famine. Others have related _. that the chaplet he beheld was of vine- branches with white leaves, which he conftrued to portend the death of the Prince at the clofe of au- tumn. Whatever he dreamt, this is undoubted, that for a dream both he and his brother were facri- ficed. To Ctifpinus was decreed the Prcetorfhip, and a reward of thirty-feven thoufand five hundred crowns, and to Sofibius five-and-twenty thoufand, at the motion of Vitellius, who recommended him as one that afiifted Britannicus with good inflruclions, and Claudius with wholefome councils. Scipio, \vho was alfo afked his opinion, faid ; " Seeing I " entertain of Poppsea's mifdeeds the fame thoughts * e \yith all others, believe me to vote as all others <( vote ;" a delicate temperament between the af- fections of a hufband, and the danger of provoking by his duTent her powerful enemies. Suilius continued thenceforward an inceffant and merci'.efs accufer ; and many laboured to emulate his abandoned occupation. For the Emperors, by nfurping all the authority of the Magiitrates, and the arbitrary difpeniation of all the Laws, had opened a field for cndlefs cruelties and depredation ; nor of all the commodities of price was aught fo faleable, as the faifhlefs fpirit of the pleaders ; in- fomuch that Samius, an illuftrions Roman Knight, having given Suilius a fee of ten thoufand crowns, and finding himfelf betrayed in the caufe, fell upon his fword in the houfs of his traitorous advocate. A Book XI. O F T A C I T U S. -5 A complaint of this grievance being therefore begun by Cains Silius Conful elect, whofe power and over- throw I (hall in its place remember, the whole Se- nate concurred, and demanded, that the Cincian Law might be reflored to force ; an old Law, which enjoined " that no man fhould, for pleading, " a caufe, accept of gift or payment." Hence they, over whom the infamy was impend- ing, railing a clamour againfl the motion ; Silius, who entertained an animofity againft Suilins, per- iilted with the more afperity, and quoted " the " examples of the ancient Orators, who had ef- " teemed prefent applaufe and the praifes of pofit- " rity, the mcft illullrious recompence of their elo- *' -quence. Ocherwife, an accomplifhment the moil " dignified of all others were debafed into fordid " proftituiion. Nor, in truth, was the faith taf " pleaders to be trufted, where the greatnefs of gam *' was their end. Belides, if no man found his " merchandize in defending fuits, there would be *' fewer fuits to defend ; whereas, upon the pre- " fent foot, enmities, acculations, mutual hate and " mutual oppreflions were promoted and inflamed " to fuch a degree, that as an inundation of difeafes- ** was the market of Phyficians, fo the contagion of *' the Bar proved the revenue of the Pleaders. They *' might remember Caius Afinius and Marcus Mef- " falla, and more lately Arruntius and Eferninus, " men who arrived to the fupreme dignities of the *' Hate by a life unblemiihed, and an eloquence " never expofed to price." This reafoning from the Conful eleci found the concurrence of the Senate, and a decree was about to pafs, to fubject them to the penalties of the Law againft extortion, when Suiiius, Codutianus, and the reft, who apprehended not a regulation only, but even their own punHh- ment (for their guilt was manifeiT:) gathered round the Prince, befeeching remiffion for what was pafled ; B 3 and 6 T H E A N N A L S Book XI. and after he had, by a motion of his head, fignified his aflent, they thus proceeded. " Who was the man of fuch unbounded vanity " as to prefume upon an eternity of fame ? The " practice of pleading was intended only for the ** prefent purpofes of fociety, a common refuge for " all men, especially that none might for want of '' pleaders be crulhed by the powerful : neither was *' eloquence itfelf acquired, or exerted without pains " and expence ; fmce they who profeifed it for- " fook theiv own domefHc cares, to apply thernfelves " to the bufmefs of others. Many followed the pro- " ftiTion of war, many that of hufbandry, and by " both profeflions a livelihood was gained ; and no- " thing was purfued by any man, but with a view " -to the advantages it produced. Eafily might Aft- " nius and Medulla, enriched by the event of the " war between Anthony and Angulhis, cafily might the Efernini and Arruntii, heirs of wealthy houles, all poflefs a fpirit above the price of pleading: but equally obvious were the examples of Publius Clodius and Cains Curio, for what immenfe re- wards they were wont to plead. For themfelves; they were mean Senators, and, as the Common- " wealth enjoyed a perfect calm, only aimed at " fubiifting by the emoluments of peace. Nay, there " were thofe of the commonalty, who ftrove to " (hine by the Gown and the Bar ; but were the " price and encouragement of Audving withdrawn, " the Studies themfelves muft perifli." Confidera- tions thefe far from honourable ; but to Claudius they appeared of no fmall force. He therefore fet- tled the utmoft meafure of fees at two hundred and fifty crowns, and fuch as exceeded were fubjected to the penalties of extortion. During the fame time Mithridates, whom I have mentioned to have reigned in Armenia, and to have been brought in boads to the tribunal, of Caefar, re- turned. Book XI. O F T A C I T U S. 7 turned by the direction of Claudius into his Kingdom, confiding in the power and affiftance of his brother Pharafmenes King of the Iberians, who had fent him advice, " that difTentions prevailed amongft " the Parthians, and that, while the fate of their " own crown was in fufpenfe, foreign conqueft?, " as things of lefs moment, muft be neglected." For the many cruelties of Gotarzes, particularly the fudden murder of his brother -Artabanus, with that of his wife and fon, and thence the dread of his tyranny to the reft of the nobility, prompted them to call Bardanes to the throne, a Prince of great activity and enterprize, fo much that in two days he travelled three thoufand furlongs, then inftantly invaded, utterly terrified and furprized, and even exterminated Gotarzes. With the fame expedition he feized the neighbouring provinces, all but Seleu- cia, which alone difowned his fway ; fo that, more tranfported with wrarh againfl: the Seleucians, as a people who had likewife revolted from his father, than confuhing his prt-fent intereft, he entangled htmfelf in the ficge of a city en^ompafTed with ftrong walls, repleniihed with (lores, and a river one of its bulwarks. For Gotarzes the while, -ftrengthened. by forces from the Dahans and Hyrcanians, renew- ed the war ; fo the Bardanes being necefiitated to- relinquifh the fiege, retired to the plains of Bactria, and there encamped. In this combulVion and difunion of the powers in the Eafl, and uncertainty how the fame would ter- minate, an occafion of pofle fling Armenia was ad- miniftered to Mithridates, affi(ted by the Roman fol- diers, who demolifhed the flrong holds, and by the Iberians, who over-ran and wailed the country. For the Armenians made no longer refiftance, after the fate of Demonax their Governor, who had ventured a battle, and was defeated ; only fome of the Nobles countenanced Cotys, King of B 4 Ar- * THE ANNALS Book XI.. Armenia the Lefs, who thence became a fhortr obftacle, but by letters from the Emperor was awed into acquiefcence. Hence the \vhoje devolved upon Mithridares, who fell however into me; more violent than befitted a Prince newly eftablifhed. AS to the Parthian competitors ; in the heat of tv r preparations for a battle, they all on a fudden ftruck a league, alarmed as they were by a confpiracy of the Parthians again A both, but fir ft uifcovered to Gotar- zes, and by him to his brother Bardanes,, In the be- ginning of their interview they were fhy and diffi- dent, at laft ventured to join hands, then fwore upon the altar of the Gods to revenge the treafon of their mutual enemies, and even to refign to each other. But, as Barbanes was held more worthy to retain the Monarchy, Gotarzes, in order to lemove with him- ielf all ground of jealoufy, retired far into Hyrcania. To, Bardanes, upon his return, Seleucia was furren- .dered in the feventh year of its fiege ; ib long had that lingle city fuAained its independency, and baffled the po.ver of Parthia, to the fjgnal difgi-ace of the Parthian Monarchy. He next took pofTeflion of the moft potent pro- vinces, and had recovered Armenia, but that Vibius Marfus, Lieutenant of Syria, retrained him, by threatening him with war. In the mean time, Go- tarzes, regretting his conccffion of the Kingdom, and again recalled by the nobility, whofe bondage is ever moft rigorous during peace, formed an army, and was met as far as the river Charinda by Bardanes, who, afrer an obftinate fight indifputing the paffages, remained conqueror, and thence, by a continued courfe of victories, fubdued all the nations lying be- tween that river and the Gyndes, which parts the Dahans from the Arians. There the torrent of his conquefts was obftruifed ; for the Parthians, how- ever victorious, refufed profecuting a war fo remote from home. Structures- being therefore raifed as monuments. Book XI. F T A C I T U S. 9 monuments of his grandeur and conquefts, and to fignify, that none of the Arfacides before him had from thefe nations exacted tribute, he returned, mighty, in truth, in glory, but thence the more im- perious and infupportable to his fubjecls, who there- fore, by guile before concerted, flew him, while, de- flitute of guards or apprehenfions, he was only intent upon the chace, in the flower of his youth, but poiTeifed of fuch high renown as few of the oldeft Kings could have claimed, had he equally flndied the love of his people, as he did to awe his enemies. The aflaffination of Bardanes begot frefh ftruggles amongft the Parthians, divided as they were about filling the throne. Many adhered to Gotarzes ; fomc propofed Meherdates, the grand-fon of Phra- hates, and by him given, in hofhige to the Romans. Gotarzes prevailed, but was no fooner eitablifhed, but by an abandoned courfe of cruelties and luxury, he forced the Parthians upon fecret recourfe to the Roman Emperor, foliciting for Meherdates to oc- cupy the dominions of his anceflors. Under the fame Confuls were celebrated the Se- cular Games, eight hundred years after the founding of Rome, fixty-fonr fmce they had been exhibited by Auguftus. The fevcral purpofes of thefe Princes in thefe games I pufs over here, as already largely recounted by me in my Hiilory of the Emperor Do- mitian; for he too prefented Secular Games, at which I affifted in perfon, and the more affiduoofly, as I was inverted with the Quindecemviral Pridl- hood, and at that time Praetor ; a circumftance which from no vain-glory 1 infert, but becaufc formerly the College of fifteen prefided in that feflival, and the Magiftrates chiefly difchargecl the offices of the folemnity.- Whiiil' Claudius was beholding the Games in the Circus, and the boys of quality reprefented on horfeback the fiege of Troy, amongfl them particularly Britannicns the Emperor's ion, B' 5 with io THEANNALS Book Xi with Lucius Domitius, who was afterwards adopted into, the Claudian family by the name of Nero, and fucceeded to the Empire ; the affections of the po- .pulace appeared more paffionate for Domitius ; .a thing which parted, then for a propitious omen, and .thence furnifhed a common tradition, " That in " his infancy two dragons, ported like guards, were " feen about him ;" a fable framed in imitation of the miraculous tales current in foreign nations. For Nero himfelf, a Prince who never abridged his own fame, was wont to declare, that in his chamber was never beheld but one fnake only. In truth, this partiality of the people accrued from the memory of Germanicus, from whom he was the only defcendent of the male kind ; and the popular cominiferation towards his mother Agrippina rofe in proportion to the cruel vengeance of MefTalina, always her inveterate enemy, and now inflamed with frefti rage ; infomuch that, if fhe did not juft then .forge crimes and fuborn accufers to deftroy that lady, it was owing only to a new amour which poflefTed her with a pafllon bordering upon fury. She was fo vehemently enchanted with the perfon of Caius Si- lius, the moft beautiful of all the Roman youth, that (he obliged him to divorce his wife Junia Silana, a lady of high quality, in order to pofTefs alone the embraces of her adulterer. Nor was Siiius unappri- 2ed of this crime, nor of the doom'whicli threatened him; but it was deftrucYion without refource, if he withllood Mertalina, and glorious rewards were to be the fruits of the compliance. There were fome hopes too of blinding Claudius j fo that he held the pleafantefl counfel the fafeft, to wait future and diftant confequences, and to indulge prefent prolpe- rity. The Emprefs, far from purfuing her amour by theft and privacy, frequented his houfe openly with a numerous train, accompanied him incefTantly , abroad, loaded him with wealth, covered him with honours j Book XI. O F T A C I T U S. n honours ; and, in {hart, as if the fortune of the Em- pire had been transferred with the Emperor's wife, at the houfe of her adulterer were already feen the flaves, freedmen, and equipage of the Prince. Claudius was aftranger to thediforders of his wife, and then exerting the authority of Cenfor. He corrected the people by fevere edicts for fome late inftances of their liccntioufnefs, as they had, at the reprefentation of a dramatic piece compofed by Publius Pomponius, reviled that Confular in the public Theatre, with feveral Ladies of illuftrious quality. He -was likewife the author of a Law to reftrain the mercilefs iniquity of the. Ufurers, in lending money to young men, to be repaid with increafe upon the death of their fathers. The fpringr that rife in the Simbi uine Hiils were by him brought to Rome; and to the Roman Alphabet he added new Letters, having learnt, that even thofc of Greece were not at once devifed and completed. The /Egyptians firft of all others reprcfented their fcntiments by the figures of animals ; and thefe hi- eroglyphics carved upon Hone, the moft ancient mo- numents of human memory, are flill tobe_feen. That nation boaft themfelves " the original inventors " of Types, and that the Phoenicians having thence " learnt them, they, who were mighty in commerce " and the dominion of the feas, carried the frane " into Greece, and afTumed the glory of an i'nvcn- " tion which they themfelves were taught."' For the general tradition is, " that Cadmus arriving " there in the Phoenician fleet, inftrucled the Greeks " in that art, a people as yet rude and uncultivated." Some hold, that " Cecrops the Athenian, or Linus " of Thebes, and Palamedes the Argive, who lived " during the times of Troy, devifed fixieen " Letters ; and that by others afterwards, efpeci- " ally by Simonides, the reft were added." As to Italy, the. Etrufcans learned them of Dainarat.;s: E 6 the.- 12 T H A N N A L- S Book XT. the Corinthian, the native Latins of Evander the Arcadian ; and the fafh'ion of the Latin Types were the fame with thofe of the ancient Greeks. But we too had few at firft, till from time to time the reft were fupplied ; and now Claudius, by the example of others, added three more, which con- tinued in ufe during his own reign, and were thence- forth abolifhed, but are to this day feen in the tables of brafs on which are published the decrees of the people, and which hang in the Temples and great fquares. He next made a reprefentaiion to the Senate con- cerning the" College of Soothfayers ; " that they " would not fuffer the moft ancient difcipline of " Italy to be loft through difufe. The Common- " wealth was ever wont, during her times of cala- " mity, to have recourfe to thole of that fcience, in " order to retrieve by their counfel the facred cere- " monies from neglect and corruption, and to cul- "' tivate them thereafter with more ftricl obfervance. " Thus the nobility of Etruria, whether from their ** own zeal, or by appointment of the Roman Se- " nate, had always preferved thbfe myfteries them- " felves, and conveyed the fame down to their pofte- " rity; a laudable ufage, but now faintly obferved, " through an univerfal indifference for all worthy " arts, and more efpecially through the prevalence " of foreign fuperftitions. It was true, indeed, that " the Republic at prefent profpered, but her pro- " fperity was purely to be referred to the benignity of " the Gods ; nor during profperity ought they to " abandon thofe folemn rites, which in feafons cf ** difficulty had been ever zealoufly cultivated." Hence the Senate decree, " That the Pontiffs " fliould enquire what parts in the myftery of footh- " faying ought to be retained and confirmed. The fame year, the Cherufcan nation had recourfe to Rome for a King. The rage of their own do- nielUc Book XI. OF TACITUS. 13 meftic wars had fvvept away their principal chiefs ; and of the Royal flock only one remained, who refided in the City, his name Italicus, fon to Flavins the brother of Arminius, and by his mother grand- fon to Catumerus Prince of the Cattians. He was himfelf a handfome perfon, and in horfemanfhip and the exercife of arms fpecially trained, as well accord- ing to the manner of his own country as that of ours. The Emperor therefore furnifhed him with expences and guards, and exhorting him, " toaflumewith mag- " .nanimity his hereditary grandeur," reminded him withal " that being born at Rome, nor held as a " hoilage there, but living in the full immunity of " a native Citizen, he was the firil: who went in " that character to rule over a ftrange people." His acceffion was indeed, at firft, matter of joy to the Germans, and fo much the more, for that hav- ing had no (hare in their civil dilFenfions, he acled with equal court efy towards them all. Hence his conduct became popular and renowned, as fome- times he ftudied only affability and moderation, ha- bits that could provoke none ; often gave a loofe to carroufals and the gratifications of wantonnefs, fuch as the Barbarians delight in. So that his name was already famous amongft the adjacent nations, and even amongft nations more remote ; when they, who had borne fway in the reign of factions, taking umbrage at his prevailing power, betook themfelvea to the feveral neighboring people, and reprefented to them, " That the ancient liberty of Germany was extirpated, and over the Germans the Roman yoke efbblifhed. Could not, indeed, their whole country furnifli one native Cherufcan worthy to fuftain the Sovereignty ; but at the head of their State they muft fet the offspring of Flavius, the offspring of a traitor, and a fpy for the Romans ? In vain was alledged his kindred to Arminius ; " fince even the fon of Arrmoius were to be dread- ed 14 THEANNALS Book XT. " ed in the fame ftation, if bred in a hoflile foil, " poifoned with foreign nurture, debafed by foreign flavery, inured to foreign manners, and every thing foreign. But, for this fon of Flavins, if he inherited the fpirit of his father, never had man waged war with fiercer enmity againft his native country and his own houfehold Gods, than the father of this Italicus." By thefe and the like ftimulations they procured and aflembled numerous forces ; nor was Italicus followed by fewer, as on his behalf his followers argued, " That he had by no invaflon feized the " throne, but held it by their own invitation ; and " fmce in blood he excelled all others, it became " them to try whether in bravery he would mew " himfelf worthy of his grandfather Catumerus. " Nor was it any ground of mame to ihe fon, that " his father had never violated that faith towards l( the Romans, which with the approbation'of the " Germans he had fworn. But mamelefly and " falily was t the found of liberty urged by thole, " who, degenerate in their own lives, and deftruc- " tive by their practices to the public weal, placed " their only hopes in rending their country by " civil difcord." The King had the zeal and ac- clamations of the people, and in a great battle be- tween thefe hofts of Barbarians he acquired the victory. Thenceforward he became tranfported with his good fortune, grew imperious, and was expelled, but again reftored by the forces of the Longobards; and in thefe {buggies he continued, as well by his fuccefles as misfortunes, to afflict the Cherufcan Irate. About the fame time the Chauc'ans, engaged now in no domeftic diiTenfions, and animated by the death of Sanquinius Governor of Lower German.)-, made incurfions into that Province, before Corbulo arrived to fucceed him. For their leader they had Gannafcus, . Book XI. OF TACITUS. *$ Gannafcus, of the county of the Caninefates, one who had long ferved the Romans amongft their auxiliaries, but deferted, and following the practice of piracy, infefted the neighbouring coafls, and above all terribly ravaged the coafts of Gaul, a nation whom he knew to be rich and un warlike. But .when Corbulo entered the province, where, in this ' his firft military command, he laid the foundation of his eminent future glory, he difpatched with great diligence the gailies down the Rhine, and the other vefTels along the lakes and canals, according to their different fizes and burden. Thus, having funk the enemy's wherries, and put Gannafcus to flight, .he took order firft for fettling effectually the ftate of the Province, and then reftored the ancient difcipline amongft the Legions, who were now utter Grangers to military toils -.md application, and had been long employed in depredations only. Under Corbulo no man durft fHr from his rank, none, without exprefs orders, durft attack the foe ; accoutred with all their arms, they were forced to keep guard and ftartd centry ; and whatever duties they performed, under all their arms they performed them. It is even re- ported, " That he punithed a foldier with death, " for digging in the trenches without his fword, " and another for being there armed only with his " dagger." Inftance?, in truth, of feverity without meafure; but whether forged or aggravated, they fliil owed their rife to the rigid fpirit of that Captain : fo that it was manifefv how inexorable in flagrant enormities he muft be, who was thought capable of fuch unrelenting afperity for offences fo fmall. This terror, however, affecled the army and the enemy different ways ; by it the Romans increafed in bravery, and the ferocity of the Barbarians was abated. Hence the Frizians, who after their re- bellion begun with the defeat of Lucius Apronius, had continued in hoilility, or in uncertain and faith- iefs f<5 T H E A N N A L S Book XL lefs allegiance, fent us new hoftages, and fettled themfelves in the territory affigned them by Corbulo. Over them he inftituted a Senate, Magistrates, and Laws; and, to enfure their fubjeftion, amongft them planted a garrifon : he likewife difpatched proper perfons to folicit the Chaucians to fubmiflion, and at the fame time by guile to allail Gannafcus. The fnare fucceeded ; neither did the practice of fnares towards a deferter, one who had broke his faith, debafe the Roman magnanimity ; yet, by his aiTaffination, the minds of the Chaucians were en- flamed, and by it Corbulo furnifhed them with mat- ter of rebellion. Thus, his proceedings, though applauded by many, gave umbrage to others. " Why, " they faid, would he be wantonly exciting a peo- " pie to arms ? Upon the Commonwealth muit " light all the difafters of the war; but, if fuccefs " attended him, then would fuch a fignal Com- " mander prove terrible to the quiet of the State, " and, to a daftardly Prince, infupportable." Hence Claudius became fo thoroughly bent againft all fur- ther irruptions into Germany, that he ordered him to lead back all the Roman forces over the Rhine. Corbulo was already encamping in the enemy's country, when thefe orders were delivered him; and though many different apprehenfions at once overwhelmed his fpirit, his dread of the Emperor, the fcorn of the Barbarians, the derifion of the Al- lies ; yet, without uttering more than that " happy ' were the Roman Captains of old," he ordered the retreat to be founded. However, to prevent the foldiers from relapfing info a habit of idlenefs, he employed them in digging a Canal three-and-twenty miles long between the Meufe a:id the Rhine; by it to open a receptacle for the high tides, and prevent innudations. The Emperor nevertheless allowed him the decorations of Triumph, though he had denied him the profecution, of the war. Shortly Book XT. O F T A C I T 17 S. 17 Shortly after, the fame honour was conferred on Curtius Rufus, who, in the territory of the Mattia- eians had opened fome filver mines, a fource of fmall advantage, nor of long continuance ; but to the Legions it created eminent labour and damage, as they -were forced to cut deep fluices, and toil under the earth at works which even in open air are hard and rigorous. The foldiers, therefore, over- come by thefe hard (hips, and perceiving that the fame drudgeiies were exacted from them in feveral Provinces, wrote fecretly to the Emperor, and in the name of the Armies befought him, '* that " whomfoever he intended for the Command of " the Legions, he would firft reward them with " the triumphal honours." Concerning the original of Curtius Rufu?, who by fome is reprefented as the fon of a Gladiator, I fhould be ferry to publidi a falfe account, and I am alfo tender of recounting that which is true. As foon as he was grown to a man, he followed a Ro- man Quasftor in Africa ; and at the City of Adru- metum, while he walked under the piazza, in the middle of the day, the vifion of a woman above human fize appeared before him, and accofted him with thefe words ; " Thou, Rufus, art one who " (hall hereafter come into this Province with Pro- " confular authority." Infpired with hopes from this prefage, he returned to Rome, where, by the largefTes of his friends, and the vigour of his own fpirit, he gained the Quseftorfhip ; and ftanding afterwards for the office of Prxtor againft the feveral candidates f the Nobility, carried it by the intereft of Tiberius, who, as a fhade to the fordidnefs of his birth, gave him this encomium ; " To me Curtius Rufus feems " to be defcended from himfelf." After this, al- ways a fervile flatterer of thofe above him, arrogant to his inferiors, and perverfe to his equals, he lived to a great age, arrived to the Confular power, the honours. 18 THE ANNALS Book XL honours of Triumph, laftly to the Government of Africa ; and, dying there, fulfilled the fatal prefage. About the fame time Cneius Novius, a Roman Knight, was difcovered armed with a dagger in the throng of thoie who were paying their court to the Prince; but, upon what motives, was no \vi!e ap- parent then, nor ever afterwards learnt ; for though, when rent by the rack, he at laft confeffed his own defign, his accomplices he never difclofed ; whether he would not, or had none, is uncertain. Under the fame Confuls it was moved by Publius Dolabella, " that a public entertainment of Gladiators fhouhl " be yearly exhibited at the charge of ftich as ob- " tained the office of Quoeftors." An office which in the days of our anceftors was only the price of virtue ; and indeed to every Roman, if he confided in his own qualifications, it was free to fue for every Magirtracy ; nor was want of years held any ob- ftruclion, but that fome, even in their early youth, might become Confuls and Dictators. As to the Quaeftormip, it was as ancient as our Kings, as is manifefr, from the Law Curiata, revived by Lucius Brutus ; and the power of chufmg Quseftors con- tinued in the Confuls, till the people would aflume the conferring of that honour alfo. So that Va- lerius Potitus and ^Emilius Mamercus, the firft po- pular C^useitors, were created twenty-three years after the expulfion of the Tarquins, and appointed to attend the armies ; upon the multiplication of bufmefs, two more were afterwards added, to offi- ciate at Rome. After a long interval, all Italy being now tributary, and large revenues growing from the Provinces, the number was doubled. Sylla next, in order to fill the Senate, upon which he h.id de- volved the authority of adjudging caufes, created twenty ; and though the Eqneflrian Order had fmce recovered the decifion of fuits, yet the Quaeftorfhip continued ftill to be, by the rule of merit, gratui- toufly Book XI. O F T A C I T U S. 19 toufly granted, till by this motion of Dolabella, it was expofed, as it were, to fale by au&ion. In the Confulihip of Aulus Vitellius and Lucius Vipfanius, counfels were on foot about fupplying the vacancies of the Senate ; and, as the Nobility of that part of Gaul entitled Comata, had long iince acquired the diftinctiou of Confederates and Citizens of Rome, they now fued for a common participa- tion of her offices and honours. Hence many and .various were the reafonings of the public upon thefe their pretenfions, and the Prince was befet with op- pofite parties and fhuggles. He was told, " that " Italy was not fallen fo low, but to her own Ca- " pital fhe could furnifh a fupply cf Senators, Of " old her natives only, they who were of the r ame " blood with the Romans, fufficed for fuch re- " cruits to the Roman State. Nor was there any " pretence to condemn or amend the inftitutions of " the ancient Republic, a Republic which infpired " her Citizens with fuch noble manners, that the " fpii it and actions of the old Romans \\ ere flill " urged as venerable patterns of virtue and glory " to us their pofrerity. .Was is not fufficient that " already the Venetians and Infubrians had invaded " the Senate, unlefs a hoft of foreigners too be " introduced, like an eftablilhment of captivity 11 and conqueft ? After this, what dignity would re- " main to the native Nobility ? What means of " preferment to any poor Senator of Latium ? By " thefe opulent Gauls all public honours would be " engroffed, men whofe fathers and fore-fathers " were at the head of hofHle nations, flaughtered " our armies, and at Alefia befieged the deified " Julius; inftances thefe of later days; but more " horrible to recount were the ravages of the ancient " Gauls, who with impious hands demolished the " great Roman Altar, and defaced the Capitol. " They might, in truth, enjoy ilill the title of Ro- 20 THEANNALS Book XT. " man Citizens , but, let not the glory of the Fathers, " let not the luftre of the Magiftrates be proftituted, " and rendered the purchafe and fpoil of nations." The Emperor was little aflefted by thefe and the like allegations, but, having prefently anfwered thofe who made them, fummoned the Senate, and fpoke thus : " The anceftors of my family, anil " the oldeft of them, Artus Claufus, who, though " a Sabine born, were at once adopted a Roman. " Citizen, and enrolled in the number of Patricians, " furnifli me with a leffon, that with parallel mea- *' fures I ought to maintain the Commonwealth, " by transferring to ourfelves all men of fignal me- " rit where-ever found. For I am not ignorant, *' that from Alba we had the Julii, from Camerium *' the Corruncani, and the Porcii from Tufculum. " But, to avoid the detail of ancient and fingle " adoptions, were not the Nobles of Etruria, the " Nobles of Lucania, nay, thofe of all Italy, called *' into the body of the Senate ? At hi\. our city and ** her privileges became bounded only by the Alps; * c infomuch that, befides the admiflion of particu- " lars, whole States and Nations became ingrafted " into the Roman name. We had then folid peace '* at home, and our arms and reputation flourifiied " abroad, when the nations on the other fiJe the " Po were prefented with the rights of Citizens ; *' and when, under the guife of planting, out of * c the Legions, Colonies all over the earth, and by " incorporating with thefe onr Colonies the moft u powerful of the Natives, we thence fnppoi ted and *' renewed our own exhaufted frate. Do we regret " that the Balbi were rranfplanted to us from Spain, " or men equally illuftrious from the Narbon Gaul ; " they whofe defcendents remain yet with us, nor " yield to us in their love of this our common " country ? What proved the bane of the Spartans * ( and Athenians, States fo potent in arms and con- " queft,, Book XI. O F T A C I T U S. 21 " quefts, but that they held for aliens whomfoever " they conquered ? Much greater was the wifdotn " of Romulus our founder, a Prince who faw fe- " veral people his enemies and his citizens, in one " and the iame day. Even over us Romans fo- " reigners have been Kings ; and, to commit Ma- " giftracies to the children of freedmen, is no in- " novation, as many erroneoufly fuppofe, but a " primitive practice of the old Roman people. " But, it feems, we have had wars with the Gauls. " What is the confequence ? Have the Volfcians, " have the Equians never borne arms againft us ? " It is true, our Capital has been taken by the *' Gauls ; but by the Tufcans we have been forced " to give hoftages, and by the Samnites to pafs " under a gibbet. However, upon a review of all our " wars, none will be found more quickly concluded ** than thofe with the Gauls ; and ever ilnce has " enfued a peace never interrupted, and ^faithfully upo;> the eart'"; by her fat her mother Lcpida, who, during hei profpeiity, had lived in no degree of unanimity with her, but, in this her de.ully d'ntrefs, was overcome by companion for her, find now perfuaded her, " to anticipate the exccu- ' tioner ; the courfe of her life was now finally run, * and flie was now confined to one only ptirfuit, of * dying with, renown." But her for.', utterly cor- rupted Book XI. OFTACITUS. 31 rupted by debauchery, retained no relitli of g!o:y. She continued bewailing herfelf with tears and vain complaints till the foldiers forced the doors. The Tribune ftood before her without opening his mouth, but the freedrnen abufed her unmeafurably, with all the brutal invectives of a (lave. She was then firft convinced of the fate that hung over her, and, laying hold on the (reel, aimed firit at her throat, then at her breaft, but while an irre- folute fpiiit and a quaking hand frufrrat$:d her aim, the Tribune ran her through. Her corps was granted to her mother. Claudius was yet pni filing his- good cheer, when tidings were carried to him, *' That Meflalina had fuffered her deftiny," but without the addition of particulars, whether by her own, or another hand ; neither did he enquiie; hi even called for a bowl of wine, and proceeded in the ufual gaieties of bancjuetting ; nor did he, in truth, during the following days, manifeft any fymp- tom of delegation or joy, of refentmept or iadneis, nor, in (hort, of any human affec-iion ; unmoved by beholding the accuftrs of his wife exulting over her death, untouched by the fight of his children bewailing the doom of their mother. The Senate helped him to forget her, by decreeing, ' That from ' all public and private places her name (hould be ' razed, and her Pictures and Statues removed." To Narciilus were decreed the decorations of the QuaefloruYip. This, however, was but a fmall monument of his grandeur, feeing he had now exerted an inftance of power fuperior to that of Pallas and Calliflus, an inftance juft in effecTy but. from whence, in time, arofe moft: pernicious confe- quences, as the deferved punifliment of Meflalina proved the fource of flagrant iniquities which efcaped unpuni(hed. C 4 THE THE ANNALS O F T A C I T U O" O K XII. The S U M M A .R Y, Ccntsfh aw.igjl the I 7 i ecdmtn about the choice of a i-jif? . far the Emperor. Agrippina, his ciun nicce^ is pre- ferred, and ihemarr'wve decreed lawful by the Senate. I,. Silanus kills h-wfilf) and ivhy. Seneca recalled from banifoment. Octavia, the daughter ofChu- clius, betrothed to Nero, bis wife* Jon. Deputies fn,>n Parthia apply to Rome for Mehcrdates to be their Kir:*. He is vanquijhed in battle by Gotarzcs. Mithridafes tries to gam the Kingdom of Pontus y -icitccut jacccfs. He is carried in chains to Ro?ne. Lcllia, a Lady of prime quality^ condemned by the artifices 0/"Agrfppina. Claudius enlarges the circuit- of Rome: Who they ivere that did jo before him. Nero is adopted by Claudiusyor his Son. A colony. fettled amongjl the Ubians. The Cattians commit grcaf ravages and, depredations^ but are routed. Vaunuis BookXII. F T A C I T U S. 33 Vannius King of the Suevians driven from bis King- dom. Pub. Qftonus his exploits in Britain: Aviflory gained over King Caradtacus there, Britannicus the Emperor's Son, by the arts of Agrippina, flighted and pojlponed to Nero. All his mojl faithful dome* Jtics removed from him. Prodigies. Dearth of grain at Rome. War between the Armenians and Iberians : The Romans and Parthians take diffe- rent parts in it. Furius Scribonianus doomed to exile. Punijhment decreed againjl Ladies mar- rying their Jlaves. Commotions in "Jud&a. Claudius caufes a naval battle to be represented upon the lake Fitcinus. With what povjer unlimited he invejlcd his Comptrollers in thepr-ovinces. An utter exemption from taxes granted to the IJle of Coos ; alfo to the- City of Byzantium, a rcmijjion of tribute for five years. Lepida, a lady of high rank , doomed to die.. Claudius poifoned by procurement of his wife Agrip- pina. Nero her Son aflumes the fovereignty. UPON the execution of MefTalina dif- tra&ions {hook the Prince's family, as amonglr, the freed men a ilrife arofe, which of them fhould chufe a wife for Claudius, one impatient of a fingle life, and always abandoned tor the domi- nion of his \vives. Nor were the Ladies animated bylefs emulation, whilir, they endeavoured preferably to recommend their own quality, wealth, nnd beauty, and each boafted her juft claim to imperial wedlock.. The chief competition, however, lay between Lol- lia Paullina, danohter to Marcus Lollius a Confular, and Julia Agrippina the daughter of Germanicus, the latter fupporteJ by the interc-ft of Pallas, the other by that of Calliftns. But J\h Petina, of the Tuberonian family, had the countenance of Narciflus. For Claudius, as he was now bent upon one, then upon another, and always led by his Jaffc advifer, he called together theft his jarring counfel- C 5. lors,. 34 T H E ANNALS Book XI L lors, and ordered them to produce their feveral pro^- poials, and defend them. Narcilfus allcdged " his former marriage with " Petina, and their common daughter" (for by her he had Antouia) " that fuch a wife would never ex- *' ercire the envious fpiritof a Hep-mother towards *' Bruannicus and Oftavia, in blood fo nearly allied *' to her own children." Calliitus argued, " that, " to recall her, after fo long a diflike and divorce, *' would be the very means to heighten her indig- 4t nation and pride. Lollia would be a much more *'- eligible match, who having no iffue of her own, *' was void' of every motive of emulation to his, " but would ufe thefe her Hep children with the *' tendernefs of a real mot-her." Pallas chitfly recom- mended Agiippina from thefe considerations, Thar, " with her (he would biing the grand fon of Germa- " iiicus, and was hedelf wortlvy of imperial for- " tune, noble in her defcent, and a proper band 4< to unite together to pofterity the Claudian family; * l that (he was of tried fruitfulnefs, and in the ** prime of her age; fo that by this match would " be prevented her carrying into another houle the '-' blood and fplendor of the Carfars." The reafonings of Pallas prevailed, enforced, as they were, by the allurements and careflfes of Agrippina, who under fhew of confanguinity was afliduous in hei' vifits to her uncle, and, though hithcrroas flie was only preferred toothers, and not yet his wife, the already cxercifed the power of one. For as foort as Hie had fecured her own marriage-, fiie was framing higher pm pofes, and concerting a match between Domitius, her fon by Cneius --^Enobarbus, and O5ravi:i, the Emperor's d.uighter, a defign which without iniqui- ty could not be accompHfhed, becaufe the Knvperor had betrothed Oclavia to Lucius Silanus-, a youth of jignal quality, whom Claudius had diflinguilhed 1 \vith the triumphal ornaments, and, by thr Book XII. O F T A C I T U S. 35 magnificence of an entertainment of gladiators in his name, recommended to the notice and favour of the people. But nothing appeared infurmountable to the undifcerning fpirit of a Prince, who had no judgment, nor choice, nor averfion, but fuch as were infufed and managed by others. Vitellius therefore, who fore fa vv into whofe hands the fovereignty was haflening, to purchafe the fa- vour of Agrippina, became engaged in her counfels, and, under the plaufible name of Cenfor covering his own ferviie fall] ties, began to devife crimes againft Silanus, whofe lifter Junia Siiana, a young lady gay and beautiful, and not long before been the daughter-in-law of Vitellius. Hence he took the fouice of the accufation and \v relied to a charge of inccft the mutual affection of brother and filler, an affection no ways inceftuous, however too free and unguarded. The Emperor liftened to the charge, as hisfonJnefs for his daughter rendered him the more prone to entert/m fufpicions againft his fon-in-law. Silanus, unapprized of any machina- tions agaii.ft him, and happening to be Praetor that year, was all on a fudden, by an edict of Vitellius, degraded from the rank of a Senator, not -with (Ian J- ing that the Senate was reviewed, and the number fixed a good while before. Claudius at the fame time withdrew his alliance, and Silanus was even compelled to renounce his magiftracy; infomuch that his Prastorfhip, which of courfe expired next day, was for that day conferred upon Epiias Mar- ceil us. During the conftilfhip of Cains Pompeius ard Qu'mtus Veranius, the contract of marriage between Claudius and Agrippina was already afcertained by the public voice, and indeed by their own crimi^ iial commerce. They durft not however celebrate the nuptials, as there was no inftance of an uncle's taking to wife his brother's daughter. Beiides, it C 6 \vas 36 T iT E A N N A L S Book XII was evidently inceftuous, and if that confidcration. were defpifed, it was apprehended that fome aveng- ing calamity might fall upon the ftate. Thefe fears and delays continued, till Vitellius undertook to accomplish, it by his own dexterity. He ailced the Emperor, " whether he would fubmit to the " exprefs picture of the people, and to the autho- " rity of the Senate;" Claudius anfwered, " that he " himfelf was one of the people, and could not '' withftand the voke and confent of them all." Vitellius then defired him to continue within the palace, and went hhnfdf to the Senate, where, after a folemn declaration, that he had fomewhat to communicate of the higheft importance to the commonwealth, he demanded leave to be heard before any other ; then alledged, " that " the cxquifite and inceflant labours of the Prince, " even thofe of governing the world, called for al- " leviation and fuppot t, fuch as, relieving him from. " domeftic cares, might leave him at full leifure " to attend the intereft of the whole. What, in " truth, was a more worthy confolation to the " fpirit of a Cenfor than that of a wife, a fharer " in his crofles and profperity, one in whom he *' could repofehismoft fecret thoughts, and thecare " of his tender infanta ? For as to the ways of ft fcnfuality and voluptuous pleafures, he had never "followed them, but from his early youth prac- " tifed Ariel obedience to the laws." After this plaufible introduction, which he found! received by the Senate with mighty fycophancy and apphmfe, he again proceeded-; " that feeing they all ** with one mouth perfuaded the Prince to marry, tl a Lady muft; be chofen flgnal in her clefcent, of " ditHnguifhed fruitfulnefs, and religiouHy virtuous ; " nor for thefe qualifications needed there be long " fearch, /ince Agrippina, in the illudrioufncfs " of her race excelled all others, had given proofs " of Book XII. O F TACIT U S. 37 ; populations, as the fnfl ftep to diflenfion, fince by it ' the adoption of Nero was fet at nought and condemned, the fanclions of the fenate, with the authority of the people, were abolifhed within the walls of his own palace ; and if the pravity of thofe who infpired into Britannicus fuch pernicious fen- timents were not repre(Fed, it would break out into war and public ruin.' Claudius, alarmed and exafperated by thefe fuggeAions of his wife, as if the fame- had been crimes really committed by the tutors of his fon, punifhed all the reft of them with exile or death, and entrufted him to the government of others chofen by his ftep- mother. Agrippina however durfl not yet proceed to the accomplishment of her great defjgn, till from the command of the Praetorian cohorts were removed Lufius Geta and Rufius Crifpinus, as men whom (he believed grateful to the memory of MefTalina, arid zealoufly devoted to her children. When fhe had therefore alledged to the Emperor, * that by the competition and cabals of two commanders, the guards were rent into factions, whereas, were they under the authority of one, they would be more eafily fubjected to the laws of difcipline and obedience;' Claudius ftibmitted to the reafoning of his wife, and the charge of thefe bands was tranf- ferred to Eurrhus Afrianus, an officer, in truth, of /ignal renown, but one however well apprized to whofe credit he owed his advancement. Agrippina likewife began to flgnalize her grandeur ftill more, and even to enter the Capitol in a chariot, a diftinc- tion which of old was allowed to none but the piiefts and things facred, and, being now aflumed by her, heightened the reverence of the people to- wards a lady who was the daughter of a Casfar, and the mother of ,one, filler to the lafl Emperor, and wife 62 THE ANNALS Book XII. wife of the prefent ; an inflance of imperial fortune and nobility till then unparallelled. But in the mean time her chief champion Vitellius, in the height of favour, and extremity of age (upon fuch treacher- ous foundations great men ftand !) was involved in an accufation, and, by Junius Lupus the Senator, charged with trenfon, and even with afpiring to the Empire. Claudius too would have liftened to the charge, had not Agrippina prevailed by menaces ra- ther than prayers, and turned his refentment upoa the accufer, who was thence interdicted from fire and water. Further punishment than this Vittllius defired not. Many were the prodigies that happened this yenr : upon the Capitol were fecn birds of evil omen, fre- quent concuffions of the earth were felt, and by them many houfes overthrown. But as the dread was ftill more extenfive than the calamity, in the throng of the flying multitude all the weak and decripit were trodden to death. For a prodigy alfo was reckoned the barrennefs of the feafon, and the effect of it, famine. Nor were the complaints of the populace confined to houfes and corners ; they even gathered in tumultuous crowds round the Prince, then engaged ia the public adminiftniticn of juflice, and with turbulent clamours drove him to the extremity of the forum ; fo that, to efcape their violence, he was forced with his guards to break through the incenfed multitude. It is certain, there was then in Rome but juft provifion for fifteen days, and by the fignal bounty of the Cods and the mildnefs of the winter, it was that the public was relieved in that its urgent diftrefs. It was, in truth, otherwife with Italy in former days, when from her fruitful fields foreign provinces too were furnifhed with fupplies ; nor, at this time, is the fterility of foil any part of our misfortune; but we now rather chufe to cultivate Africa and Egypt, and the Book XII. OF TACIT-US. 63 the lives of the Roman people are entrultod to (hips and the cafualdes of the year. The fame year, the war which arofe between the Armenians aud Hiberians, begot alfo mighty broils between the Parthians and Romans. Over the Par- thians reigned Vologefes, who, though the fon of a Greek concubine, had, by the conccffion of his brothers, obtained the diadem. The kingdom of Hiberia had been long held by Phaiafmanes, and his brother Mithridates was, by our aid and procure- ment, poflefled of Armenia. Pbaraftnanes had a fon graceful and tall, of lignal itrength of body, trained up in all the politics of his father, and in high renown with the bordering nations. His name was Rhadamiflus, a young prince who, impatient that the fmall kingdom of Hiberia mould be fo long detained from him by the great age of his father, declared this his difcontent with fo much frequency and paffion, that his ambition could not be con- cealed. Pfrarafmanes therefore, in regard of his own declining age, and fearing the fpirit of his fon, eager of himfelf to reign, and fupported befides with the affections of his fnbjecls, chofe to divert his -thoughts upon another purfuit, and tempted him \vith the profpect of Armenia; ' a kingdom which, * having expulfed the Parthians, he faid, he had * given to Mithridates ; but, in gaining it now, all ' methods of violence were to be poftponed ; and ' thofe of guile firfl to be tried, in order to opprefs * him unawares.' Thus Rhadamiftus, feigning to quarrel with his father, and to fly the perfecutions of his irep-mother, withdrew to his uncle, and, while he was by him cherifhed like a child, with tranfcen- dent complacency drew the nobility of Armenia into the confpiracy; Mithridates being fo ignorant of his conduct, that upon him he was {till multiply- ing honours. Then, G"4 THE ANNALS Rook XII. Then, under (hew of being reconcile] to his father, he returned, and informed him, ' that what * fraud could effect, was accompliflied, the reft arms * muft execute.' Hence Pharafmanes fet himfelf to devifc colours for the war, and declared, ' that * whilfl he was at war with the king of the Albani- * ans, he had applied to the Romans for aid, but his * brother oppofed its coming; and this injury he * was now about to revenge with his utter dtftruc- * tion.' At the fame time, he committed a nu- merous army to the conduct: of his fon, who, by- a fudden invaiion, utterly difmayed Mithridates, and forced him out of the field into thefortrefs of Cor- neas, a place itrong in the fituation, and defended by a garrifon of our foldiers, under the command of Cabins Pollio Governor, and Cafperius a Centurion. The Barbarians are flrangers to nothing more than the ufe of machines, and the dexterity of affaulting places, a part of military fkill which to us is through- ly familiar. Rhadamiftus therefore, having without effect, or with lofs to himfelf, attempted the forti- fications, changed his efforts into a fiege, and when a; I his attacks were defpifed, purchafed with a price the avaritious Governor, notwithstanding the ad- jurations of Cafperius, ' that he would not fell a * confederate King, riot fell Armenia, the gift of * the Roman people, and convert his own trull ' into perfidioufnefs and money.' But at lair, fince Pollio perfifted to plead the multitude of the enemy, and Rhadamiftus the orders of his father ; the Cen- turion procuring a truce departed, in order either to deter Pharafmanes from purfuing the war, or otherwife to proceed to Numidius Quadrat ns, Go- vernor of Syria, and lay before him the condition of Armenia. By the departure of the Centurion, Pollio being, as it were, difcharged from the restraint. of a keeper, ML- Book XII. OF TACITUS. 65 exhorted Mithridates to an accommodation. He alledged, ' the natural ties between brothers, the fenisrity of Pharafmanes, and their other mutual bonds of affinity ; that he was himfelf efpoufed to his brother's daughter, and to Rhadnmiftus had efpoufed his own ; that the Hiberians, however then fnperior in forces, refufed not peace ; and the perfidioufnefs of the Armenians was fufficiently known ; neither had he any other fancluary but that caftle, deftiture of liores. He therefore ought not to fcruple to prefer terms gained with- out blood to the cafualties and violence of war/ But, as Mithridates ftill procraltinated, fufpecling the counfels of the Governor, as one who had debauched a concubine of his, and was reckoned of a vile fpirit, purchafeable by money into every bafe- nefs, Cafperius the while reached Pharafmanes, and urged him ' to recall his Hiberians from the ' fiege.' That Prince returned him openly equivocal anfwers, fometimes fuch as were more gentle and plaufible, and, during thefe amufements, warned Rhadamiftus by fecret meffengers, ' to difpatch by * whatever means the taking of the place.' Hence the price of the treafon was augmented to Pollio, who alfo privately corrupted the foldiers, and prompted them to demand peace, or otherwife to threaten that they would relinquifh the garrifon. Mithridates, preffed by this extremity, agreed to the time and place of capitulation, and went forth from the caftle to meet Rhadamiftus, who infhmtly flew to embrace him, feigned all the marks of xduty and obedience, and called him his father : he even fv/ore that he intended him no violence either by poifon or the fword, and drew him at the fame time into a neighbouring grove, where a facrifice, he faid, was by his orders prepared, that by the folemn prefence of the Gods their league of peace might be confirmed. It 66 T H E A N N A L S Book XII. It is a cuftom amongft the Kings of thofe coun- tries, whenever they ih ike alliances, to tie together with a hard bandage the thumbs of their right hands till the blood, ftarting to the extremities, is by a flight cut difcharged. This they mutually fuck, and a league thus executed is efreemed moil awful, as myfk-rioufly folcmnized with the blood of the par- ties. But upon this occasion, he \vhowas applying the bandage pretending to fall, feized Mithridates by the t legs, and overthrew him, and inflantly he . was oppreflTed by many, then bound, and In led away, dragging his chain, a circumftance of con- fummate contumely amongft the Barbarians ! The people too, over whom he had exercifed rigorous tyranny, afTaulted him with bitter reproaches, and . even threatened him with blows. Yet there were , fome of a different temper, who uttered their com- miferation for fuch a mighty change of his fortune ; befides, his wife following him with her little infants, was by her doleful lamentations every where heard. They were thruft apart into covered carriages, till the commands of Pharafmanes were known. With him the paffion for a kingdom was more prevalent than his regard for a brother or daughter, and he polTeflfed naturally a fpirit prone to every cruelty He however confidered the indecency of the fpe&acle, and ordered them to be put to death, but not in his fjght. Rhadamiftus too, as if from an exaft obfer- vance of his oath, employed neither fword nor poifon againft his fitter and uncle, but caufed them to be thrown upon the ground, and fhfled with a vaft weight of coverings. The children alfo of Mithri- dates, for bewailing the murder of their parents, were butchered themfelves. Quadratus, as foon as he knew the treafon, with the doom fuffered by Mithridates, and that they who took his life held his kingdom, aflembled his council, and representing thefe events, fought their advice Book XII. OF TACITUS. 67 advice whether vengeance ought tobepurfued. Few had at heart the public honour, and moft of them reafoned from confiderations of fecurity, * that all ' the injuries and cruelties committed by foreign na- ' tions upon each other, ought to the Romans to be * matter of joy; nay, the feeds of difllnfion were * induftrioufly to be fown amongft them ; a policy * frequently pradtifed by the Roman Emperors, who ' under colour of bellowing fiem time to time that ' fame kingdom of Armenia upon Princes Barba- 4 rians, defigned thence to furnifti them with matter * of reciprocal feuds and hoftilities. Rhadumiftus ' might therefore enjoy a crown wickedly acquired, ' fince with it he enjoyed public deteftntion and ' infamy, circumftances which better ferved the 1 purpofes of Rome, than if by methods of glory he ' had obtained it.' With this advice they all con- curred ; but that they might not feem to have af- fented to a wickednefs fo flagrant, and left contrary orders mould arrive from the Emperor, they dif- patched a meffage to Pharafmanes, ' to retire from * the frontiers of Armenia, and recall his fon.' Over Cappadocia then ruled Julius Pelignns, with the title of Procurator, one equally defpicable for his daftardly fpirit and the deformity of his perfon, but in great intimacy with Claudius, who, while yet a private man, was wont tofpend his idle life in liftening to the drollery of fuch buffoons. This Pelignus drew together a body of auxiliary forces from the adjacent provinces, and declared he would reconquer Armenia ; but as he committed greater fpoil upon our allies than upon the enemy, he was by his own men abandoned, har- rafled by the inceflant incurfions of the Barba- rians, and, thus bereft of all defence, betook him- felf to Rhadamiftus, by whole liberalities he was fo intirely fubdued, that of his own. accord he exhorted him to aflume the royal diadem, and even affifted in per/on, that folemnity, as the author of the advice, and 68 THE ANNALS Book XTF. and his vaflal at arms. When this vile trnnfacYion came to be divulged, that the character or the other Roman Commanders might not be judged by that of Pelignus, Helvidius Prifcus was difpatched at the head of a legion, with general orders to apply fucli remedies to the prefent combuftions, as their cir- cumiknces would bear. He therefore, having with much celerity crofted mount Taurus, had al- ready made many pacifications, rather by mildness than force, when an order overtook him, ' for his * return into Syria, by it to avoid miniftering to the * Parthians any ground of war.' For, Vologefes believing that an occafion now offered for invading Armenia, a kingdom inherited by his anceftors, but now treafonably occupied by a foreign ufurper, drew together an army, and pre- pared to inflate his brotherTiridar.es in the throne; that none of his houfe might be defHtute of domi- nion. The march of the Parthians terrified the Siberians ; they were expelled without fighting a battle, and the Armenian cities of Artaxata and Tigranocerta, without a ftruggle, received the inva- ders. But a tempeftuous winter, or want of pro- vifions, and the peftilence arifing from both, con- flrained Vologefes to relinquish his conquers. So that the throne of Armenia being once more vacant, was again invaded by Rhadamiflus, now more outrageous and bloody than ever, as incenfed againfr. a people that had already abandoned him, and were flill ready, on the firfl occafion, to revolt. They too, though inured tofervitude, loft all patience, betook themfelves to arms, and begirt the palace; nor hnd Rhadamiftus any refource {ave in the fleetnefs of his horfes, and by them he efcaped with his wife. She was great with child, yet, from dread of the foe, and tendernefs to her huiband, bore at firfr, as well as Hie could, the fatigue of the flight; but when, by continued hurrying, her heavy womb was forely Book XII. OF TACITUS. 69 forely agitated, and all her bowels bruifed, fhe be- fought him ' to fave her by an honeft death from the * reproach and mifery of captivity.' Atn~r.fr, he em- braced her, comforted and encouraged her, now ad- miring her heroic fpirit, then flruck with fear, left, if he left her, force other might pollefs her ; at klr, in the rage of love, and well trained in acts of blood, he drew his fcymetar, and wounding her deeply, haled her to the banks of the Araxes, committing her body to the flood, that even of her corps none might ever be mafter. He himfelf purfued his flight full fpeed, till he reached Hiberia, the kingdom of his father. Zenobia the while (for that was her name) \vas de- fcried by the fhepherds, floating gently on the fur- face with manifeft appearances of life ; and as they gathered from the beautiful dignity of her afpecl: that fhe was of no mean rank, they bound up her wound, and to it adminiftered their ruftic medicines. Having then learnt her name and difailer, they car- ried her to Artaxata, from whence, at the charge and care of the city, fhe was conducted to Tiridates, by him courteou'ly received, and entertained with all the marks of Royalty. in the Confulfhip of Faufhis Sylla and Salvius Otho, Ftirius Scribonianus fufFered exile, upon a charge of having ' confulted the Chaldeans about ' the term of the Prince's life.' In his crime was in- volved his mother Junia, ' as having borne with ' impatience her own lot ;' for fhe too had been banifhed. Camillus, the father of Scribonianus, had levied war in Dalmatia ; hence Claudius vaunted his own clemency, that to a hoftile race he perfifled to grant their lives. That, however, of the pre- fent exile, remained not long ; whether he died na- turally or by poiion, was differently reported as each differently believed. For expeliing the Aflrologers from Italy, a decree of Senate was made full of ri- gour, but never executed. The Emperor there- after 7 o THE ANNALS Book XII. after uttered a difcourfe in praife of thofe- Senators, who, from the narrownefs of their fortunes, of their own accord renounced their dignity ; and fuch as, by adhering to their order, added confidence to their poverty, were degraded. During 'thefe tranfacYions, in the Senate was pro- pofed a penalty to be inflicted upon Ladies who married (laves, and ordained, * That (he who thus 4 debafed herfelf, unknown to the mailer of the Have, ' fliould be adjudged herfelf in a flate of ilavery ; ' but, where he confented, ilie fliould be held for * a Have manumitted.' To Pallas, who was by Claudius declared to be the devifer of this fcheme, the ornaments of the Praetorftiip, and three hun- dred feventy-five thoufand crowns, were adjudged by Bareas Sornus, Conful defigned. Cornelius Scipio added, ' that the public thanks ought like- wife to be paid him ;. for that, being defcended from the old Kings of Arcadia, he poftponed the regard of his moil ancient nobility to the fervice of the fbte, and deigned to be numbered among!! the roinifters of the Prince.' Claudius avowed, that Pallas was content with the honour only, and refoived to live Hill in his former poverty.' Thus a decree of Senate was published engraven in brafs, in which a franchized Have, poflefting an efh-ite of more than feven millions, was extolled for obferv- iog the parfimony of the ancients. His brother firnamed Felix, lie who for fome time had governed Judsea, acted not with the fame reftrainf, but as one who, relying upon fuch potent protection, fuppofed he might perpetrate with im- punity every kind of villainy. The Jews, in truth, by their fedition, in the time of Caligula, had mi- niftered fome appearances of an infurrecTion ; and, after they were apprized of his aflaffination, fcarce returned to obedience. Their dread remained, left fome of the fucceeding Emperors might fubject them O F T A C I T U S. 71 them to the like odious injunctions. Felix too, the while, by applying unfeafonable remedies, inflamed their offence and difaffecYion ; a conduct imitated by Ventidius Cumanus, who held under his jurifdiftiou part of the province, and emulated Felix in all his \vorft courfes ; for fiich was the divifion, that Gali- lasa was fubjecl to Cumanns, and Samaria to Felix, two nations long at variance, and now, from con- tempt of their rulers, lefs than ever reftraining their mutual hate. Hence depredations on both fides were committed, bands of robbers employed, am- bufhes formed, and fometimes battles fought, and all the fpoil and booty prefented to thefe their Go- vernors, who, at fii ft, rejoiced over it ; but when, after the mifchief grew outrageous, they interpofed their armed troops, their men were flain, and, but for the aid of Quadratus, ruler of Syria, the whole province had been in a blaze of war. Nor, as to the Jews, who had carried their violence fo far as to kill our foldiers, did any obflacle arife againft puniming them with death. The affair of Cumancs and Felix created fome delay; for Claudius, upon a hearing of the caufes of the revolt, had alfo granted a power to try and fentence the Governors ; but Q_uadratus taking Felix up to -the Tribunal, and mewing him amongft the Judges, awed the accu- fers, and flopped one part of the profecution : So that, for the guilt and evil-doings common to borh, Cumanus alone was doomed to pnnimment. Thus the repofe of the province was reftored. Shortly after this, the boors of Cilicia, they who are firnatned ClitGeans, and had before raifed many infurreclions, betook themfelves now, under the leading of Throfobor, to their fteep and inaccef- fible mountains, and there encamped. From thence in predatory bands they made excurfions as far as the more, and round the adjoining cities, boldly committing ravages upon the villagers and hufband- men. 72 THE ANNALS Book XII. men, and daily fpoiling the merchants and fcamen. T^ey even befieged the city of Anemurium, and repnifed a body of horfe fent from Syria to its re- lief, under the command of Curtius Severus ; for the rocky fitnation of the place proved a defence to an army of foot, and fcarcely admitted the attacks of the horfe. But afterwards Antiochus, King of that territory, having by many courtefies gained the multitude, and by itratagem fecured their leader, effectually disjoined the foices "of the Barbarians; and putting to death Throfobor, and a few more of the chiefs, pacified the reft by methods of cle- mency. About the dime time, a naval fight was prepared upon the lake Fucinus, and to accommodate the greater numbers with the advantage of beholding the mighty magnificence of the work, a mountain be- tween the lake and the river Liris was levelled : in imitation of Auguftus, who once exhibited the like fpectacle upon an artificial pool on this fide the Tiber, but with light (hips, and fewer men. Clau- dius armed light gallics, fome of three, feme of four banks of o a loofenefs too at the fame time feemed to relieve him, and to defeat the operation. Agrippina became terribly difmayed ; but, as her own life lay at flake,, fhe defpifed the ftain and odium which mu ft accompany her prefent proceedings, and called in the aid of Xenophon the phyfician, whom fhe had already engaged in her guilty purpofes. It is thought that he, as if he had meant to aflift Clatidins in his efforts to vcmit, thruft down his throat a feather dipt io outrageous poifon, as one who well knew, that the moft dar- ing iniquities are attempted with hazard, but ac- compli (hed with rewards. The Senate was in the mean time afTl-nYbled, and the Confuls and Pontiffs wtre offering vows for the -recovery of the Emperor, when he was already dead; though coverings and reftoratives were ftiil applied, till matters were difpofed for fecuring the Empire to Nero. And fir it, Agrippina, peifonat- ing unconquerable forrow, and one who fought on ail hands for confolation, clafped Britannicus in her arms, (tiled hirn ' the genuine imnge of his father," and, by various and feigned devices, with-held him from leaving the chamber. There (he likewife de- tained Antonia and Oclavia, his fitters, and, by porting guards, mm up all the paflages. From time to time too (lie declared that the Prince was upon recovery, thence to encourage the hopes of the foldiery till the fortunate moment, according to the calculations of the- Aftrologers, were at hand. At Boole XII. OF TACITUS. 81 At laft, on the thirteenth of O^ober, at noon, the gates of the palace were fuddenly thrown open, and Nero, accompanied by Burrhus, walked forth to the cohort, which, according to the cuftom of the army, was then upon guard : there, upon fignification made by the Praefecl, he was received with fliouts of joy, and inflantly put into a litter. It is reported, that there were fome who hefitated, diligently looking and frequently afl<5ng, where was Britannicus? but that as no one appeared to propofe him, they prefuntly embraced the choice which was offered them. Thus Nero was borne to the camp, where, a'ter a fpeech fuitable to the exigency, and the promife of a largefs equal to that of the late Emperor his father, he was faluted Em- peror. The declaration of the foldiers was followed and confirmed by the decrees of the Senate; nor was there any reluftancy in the feveral provinces. To Claudius were decreed cceleftial honours, and the folemnity of his funeral the fame as that of the- deified Auguftus, fince in it Agrippina would needs, emulate the magnificence of her great grandmother Livia. His tefhment, however, was not rehearfecl in public, left the preference there given from his, own fon to the fon of his wife, might grate aud pro-r- voke the fpirit of the populace.. T; H:E: THE ANNALS O F TACITUS. BOOK XIII. The SUMMARY. Silanns, Proconful of Afia, poifoned at the inftigaiion D f Agrippina. NarcifTus, freedman to the late Em- peror, doomed to die. The funeral of Claudius. Nero'x Panegyric upon him. NeroV reign begins well. The Senate left to atl independently. The Parthians aim at the pojjejjicn of Armenia. Cor- bulo employed againft them. Nero bis pnjjion for Acle. Agrippina provoked by it, and thence lojes tredit -with her fon. Pallas removed from the a-l- miniflraticn. JtttSttDKQspoiJbnfd. Agrippina grows obnoxious to Nero ; is accufed before him, and ac- quitted. Nero'j -wild rcvelfings during the night. Debate about recalling infolentfreedmen to their far- mer bondage. Some eminent men condemned. Na- tural deaths. Neiu broils ivith the Parthians about Armenia. Corbulo inures his men ta fever e and primitive discipline ; invades Armenia, farms fev e- raljlrcng- holds, takes the city of Art ax at a, ami turns Book XIII. OF TACITUS. 83 burnt it. Tiridates flies before him. P. Snilins condemned. Oac- ' quired the Empire, fucli a man was to be pre~ ' ferred to him, one of compofed age, fpoflefs- in- ' tegrity, noble, and (which. was then highly pri- ' zed) defcended from the Caefars :' for he tooi was the great grandfon of Auguftus.. Such was the: caufe of his doom ;. the inflruments were Publiusi Celar a Roman knight, and Helms the freedman,, both employed to manage the Emperor's domeftic: revenue in Afia ; by them the proconfal had poi^ foil given him at a banquet, fo openly, as if they,' E 6. meant 84 THE ANNALS Book XIII. meant not to difavow it. Nor was lefs hafte ufed to difpatch NarcHfus, the late Emperor's freedman, whole bold invectives againft Agrippina I have men- tioned. In a rigorous prifon, and through the mi- ferable extremity of want, he was constrained to die, fore againft the mind of Nero, who, however he hitherto fmothered his vices, bore a wonderful conformity to the temper to Narcillus, profufe and rapacious like his own. A torrent of (laughters v:as about to have followed had not Af rani us Burrhus and Annxus Seneca pre- vented Jt : thcfe were the governors of the Empe- ror's youth, and though engaged in partnership of power, yet, by a rare example, \vell united, men different in their accomplilhments, but of equal weight and authority. Burrhus his inftruclor in lef- fons of arms and the gravity of manners, Seneca in the precepts of eloquence and polite addreis. In this office they helped and fuppoi ted each other, the caller to manage between them the dangerous age of the Prince ; or if he rejected the purfuits of virtue, to reftrain him at leaft within the bounds of guiltlefs pleafures. One cpnftant ftruggle they both had agaimt the tempefhious fpirit of Agrippina, who* was tranfported with every luft of lawlefs dominion, find in her defigns upheld by Pallas, the fame /who had led Claudius into that inceftuous match, then int.) the fatal adoption, and by both, into his own dell: a r beforehand had been prepared all the appointments for his burial, which itfelf proved but moderate and Hinted. In the Field of Mars, ho\vevcr, his le- mains were repofited, during fuch tempeftuous iv.ics as the populace believed to be denunciations of the wrath of the Deities againfl the crying deed ; a deed which yet was in the judgment of many men entitled to pardon, whilft they confidered the wont- ed difTenfions eternally happening between rival brothers, and the incommunicable genius of fove- reignty. It is related by moft of the writers of thofe times, that, for fome time before the murder, Nero had defiled the youth by frequent conftupratiou ; fo that this his death, however fuddenly procured during the inviolable hofpifality of the table, and fo precipitately that to his fitter flot a moment w.-,s allowed for a lafl embrace, and under the eye of his capital enemy, yet could not appear too early incurred, nor even cruelly inflicted, though by it the laft branch of the Claudian race was extirpated, fince it was a branch vitiated by unnatural pollution before it perifhed by poifon. Nero, by an edict, juftified the hafty difpatch of the obfequies ; the fame, he faid, was the inftitution of our ancelrors, ' prefently to withdraw from the eyes of the pub- ' lie the corfes of fuch as fell Before their prime, nor Book XIII. O F T A C I T U S. 97 ' nor to {by to lengthen the folemnity by pomp and ' funeral orations. He too in Biitannicus had loft "* the fupport of a brother ; hence all his furviving * hopes refted folely in the Commonwealth, and ' hence with the greater tendernefs ought the Se- * nate and people to cherifii a Prince, who alone * furvived of n family born to fuflain fovereignty.' He then diftinguifhed Ms moft noted friends with O great donations ; nor were there wanting fuch as feverely cenfu red Tome, who, notwithftanding their avowed gravity, were yet parting amongft them- felves, like fpoils taken in war, the poiTcffions of Britannicus, his palaces in Rome, and his manors and villas throughout Italy. Others believed, that they were conftrained to accept them by the autho- rity of the Emperor, who, ftung with the guilt of his -own conference, hoped that his crimes would be overlooked, if by largefTes he could engage in his intereft the moft powerful men in the ftate. But his mother's wrath, no liberalities could a flu age-; fhe was ftill careffing Oclavia, ftill holding fecrec cabals with her confidents ; and, befides the ufual cravingc. of her inherent avarice, me was on all hands exacting and amaffing treafure, as if by it me had fome great defign to fupport. The Tri- bunes and Centurions (he received with great court and affability, and to the quality and merit of fuch of the virtuous nobility as even then remained, me paid diftinguifhed honour, as if me were thus ftudy- ing to create a party and find a leader. Thefe her meafures were known to Nero ; and therefore the guards which attended at her gate (a pre-eminence which fhe held as confort to the late Emperor, and had continued to her as mother to this) were by his order withdrawn, together with the band of Germans which, as an additional honour, had been joined to the former. Moreever, to prevent her being followed by fuch a throng of courtiers, he VOL. II, F fepa- 98 THE ANNALS Book XIII. feparated her habitation from hi?, and conveyed her into the ho life \vhich had belonged to Antonia. There, as often as he vifited her, he went always furrounded with a crowd of officers, and after the ftiort ceremony of returning her faiute, immediately departed. Of all mortal things there is nought fo unftable and tranfitory as the name of power, which ftands not upon its own native vigour and bails. Inftantly the houfe of Agrippina was deferted ; none appeared to give her confolation, none to vifit her, except fome few Ladies, and whether from affection or hate they did it, is uncertain. Amongft thefe was Junia Silana, (he who was by MefTaJina divorced from Caius Silius, as above I have recounted, a Lady fignal in her quality, beauty, and lewdncfs, and one, for a long while, very dear to Agrippina ; but between them afterwards fecret heart-burnings and refentments arofe, for that Sextius Africanus, a noble youth, purpofing to efpoufe Silana, was di- verted by Agrippina, who urged, ' that fhe was * lewd, and part her prime :' not that {he meant to referve Africanus for herfelf, but left by marrying Silana he fhould, as fhe had no children, with her poflefs all her wealth. Silana, who thought fhe faw a profpecl of vengeance, inHrncled two of her own creatures, Iturius and Calviflus, to accufe her; neither did (he attack her with Hale charges often before aliedged, fuch ' as her bewailing the fate of Britannicus, and publifhing the wrongs done to Oftavia, but with defigns to ftir up Rube- lius Plautas to make. a revolution in the ftate, a nobleman who, by his mother, was in blood as nigh as Nero to the deified Auguftus ; that by efpoufing him and inverting him with Empire, fhe meant once more to feize the Common- wealth.' All this was by Iturius and Calvifius im- parted to Atimetus, freedman to Domitia, Nero's aunt: Book Xin, O F T A C -I T U S. pp anat : Atimetus, overjoyed at the difcovery (for between Agrippina and Domitia a pafHonate com- petition was maintained) infligated Paris the player, who was alfo Domitia's freedman, to proceed with all hafte to the Emperor, * and there ia tragical ' colours to announce the crime.' It was far in night, and Nero was wafting the remainder in caroufmg, when Paris entered, who elfe was wont at fuch feafons to heighten the volup- tuous gaieties of the Prince ; but now, with a face carefully framed into fadnefs, he laid before Nero a minute and orderly detail of the confpiracy, and by it fo thoroughly affrighted him, that he not only determined the death of his mother and of Plautus, but alfo to remove Burrhus the captain of his guards, as one who owed his promotion to the favour of Agrippina, and would be ready to return her the like good office. We have it upon the authority of Fabius Rufticus, ' That to Cascina Tufctis a codi- ' cil was already difpatched, intruding him with f the command of the Praetorian bands, but that, * through the credit and mediation of Seneca, Bur- * rhus retained his dignity.' According to the ac- count of Cluvius and Pliny, no jealoufy was enter- tained concerning the fidelity of the Praefecl. But it mult be owned, that Fabius manifefh a conirant zeal to extol Seneca, by whofe friendship his own fortune flouri fried. As my own purpofe is to follow the general confent of authors, fo J ftiall infert un- der the name of each whatever they diverfly publifh. Nero, poflfefled with dread, and with a blind paiTion to flay his mother, could not be brought to defer his cruel purpofes, till Burrhus undertook for her execution, in cafe (he were convicted of the imputed crimes ; ' but to every one, whoever it were, a * liberty of defence, he faid, muft be granted, how * much more to a mother ? Nor, in truth, againft * her did any accufers appear, but only the hearfay Fa 'of ioo THEANNALS Book XIII. of one man, and by him brought from the houfc of her enemy, a hearfay too which the circum- ftances and xinfeafonable hour contributed to re- fute ; it was during the dead darknefs and folitude of the night, and during a night fpent in the fefti- vity of banquetting, when all things confpired to produce only rafh judgment and uncertainty.' The Emperor's fears being thus in fome meafure alluaged and day returned, recourfe was had to Agrippina herfelf, that, having notified to her the feveral charges againft her, me might invalidate the fame, or bear the punifhment. Thefe orders were performed by Burrhus in the prefence of Seneca ; there attended likewife fome of the Emperor's freed- men to watch his difcourfe. Burrhus, after he had to her explained her crimes, and given her the names ofthofe whoalledged them, proceeded to high words and menaces. Agrippina retained Aill the wonted fiercenefs of her fpirit ; * I wonder not, fa id Che, * that to Silana, who never bore a child, the tender ' affections of a mother are thus unknown ; for * children are not foeafily changed by their parents, * as by a harlot are her adulterers ; nor, becaufc ' Iturius and Calvifius, after having riotoufly de- * voxired their whole fortunes, profthute themfelves, * for their laft refource, to gratify the vengeance * of an old woman, by turning my accufers, does it therefore follow that I am to undergo the foul * infamy of parricide, or that any apprehenfions ' mould thence alarm the mind of Caefar. As to * Domitia, I would thank her even for all the ef- * forts of her enmity to me, if in inftances of tender- * nefs towards my child Nero fhe would flrive to ' exceed me. At prefent, by the miniflration of ' Atimetus her minion, and of Paris the player, me ' is framing a plot, like one for the ilagc ; but me * was occupied in trimming the canals of her villa < at Book XIIL OF TACITUS. iot at Baiae, at a time when by my councils and ma- nagement he was adopted into the Claudian name, inverted with the Proconfular authority, defigned to the Confulfhip, and all other meafures taken proper for acquiring him the Empire. In (hort, produce the perfon, who can charge me, either with attempting the faith of the guards at Rome, or with (baking the allegiance of the provinces, or with fuborning the Prince's (laves and freedmen to treafonagainft his perfon. Under the reign of Bri- tannicus, indeed, had he poflefled the fovereignty, I could have preferved my life; but, were Plautus or any other to gain the fupreme rule, and thence a power of pronouncing judgment upon any procefs againft me, is it likely that I (hould want accufers, when, even under Nero, there are thofe who (land up to accufe me, not of words, fome- times by me incautioufly uttered in the heat of afFefrion and pity, but of treafon fo flagrant, that only through the bowels of a fon for his mother * can I be acquitted by mine ?' Compunction feized all who attended her; they voluntarily ftrove to allay the fwellings of her heart, and (he demanded an interview with her fon. During it, (lie al- ledged not a fyllable in behalf of her innocence, like one who miftrufkd herfelf, nor of his engage- ments to gratitude, like one who could reproach him for want of it, but infifted that vengeance (hould be done upon her accufers, recompences be ccnferred on her friends, and obtained both. To Fenius Rufus was granted the fuperin tendance of provifions, to Arruntius Stella the direction of the public (hews which the Emperor was preparing to exhibit, and to Caius Balbillus the government of ./Egypt; that of Syria was adigned to Publius An- teius, but by various feints and ftratagems he was, from time to time, eluded of the pofTeffion, and at F 3 lad io? THE ANNA I/ S Book XIII. laft detained for good and all at Rome. Silana was fent info exile : Calvifius too and Iturius were banimed. Upon Atimetus capital pains were in- flicted; but Paris was of too prevailing confeqnence to the Emperor in his debauches, to be fubjecled to puniihment. Plautus was for the prefent pa fled over in filence. A charge was thereafter brought again/I Pallas :md Burrhus, ' for having engaged in a defign of ' advancing to the Empire Cornelius Sylla, in re- * gard of his fplendid defcent and alliance with Clau- 4 dius,' whofe fon-in-law he was, having efpoufed his daughter Antonia. This accufation was fup- ported by one P*etus, a fellow infamous for bufily promoting confiscations in the exchequer, and pur- chafing the effects of fuch as were condemned. Equally notorious too, upon this occafion, was the vanity and falfhood of his allegations ; yet the ap- parent innocence of Pallas proved not fo well pleaf- ing, as his arrogance proved (hocking; for upon naming to him thofe of his freedmen who were laid to have been his accomplices, he anfwered, ' That at home he never ufed any other way of Signifying his pleafure than fometimes by a nod, fometimes by a motion of his hand ; or, if his commands confided of many particulars, he then committed the fame to writing ; fo that, at all adventures, he ever avoided to mix in difcourfe with his dome- (Vies.' Burrhus, BOtwithftanding he was arraigned, fate and voted with the other judges, and upon the accufer the doom of banimment was inflicted. His duplicates too were burnt, the inftruments by which he was wont to exatfrefli payment to the cancelled claims of the exchequer. Towards the clofe of the year was removed the band of men which, as a guard, was wont to attend at the celebration of the public plays, thence to ex- hibit Book XIII. O F T A C I T U S. 103 hibit a more plaufible appearance of popular liberty, as alfo to preferve the fbldiery from tainting their difcipline by the diffolute licentioufnefs of the theatre, and moreover ' to prove, whether the populace ' would {till retain the fame modefty of behaviour ' now the guards were removed.' At the admonitions of the foothfayers, the Emperor -purified the city by luftration, for that the temples of Jupiter and Minerva had been ftrnck \vith lightning. In the Confulmip of -Quint us Volufius and Publius Scipio, while profound quiet reigned all over the Empire abroad, abominable revellings prevailed at Rome, under the leading of Nero, who, difguifcd into the habit of a (lave, \vent roaming abo-at the flreers, and fcoured the public inos and flews, fol- lowed by a fet of companions, who feized as prey whatever flood expofed 10 fale, and afTauited whom- foever they met ; and all thefe violences were com- mitted upon people fo unapprized of the author, that he himfelf was once wounded, and bore the fear in his face. When afterwards it came to be divulged, that it was tlie Emperor who rioted thus, and as frelh outrages were daily done to men and laclies of illuflrioua quality, the name of Nero being once nfed to warrant licentioufnefs, was faHly af- fumed as a cloak by others, and many with their own feparate gangs boldly praclifed the fame ex- ceflTes : fo that fuch were the nightly combuftions at Rome, as if the city had been ftormed and the in- habitants taken captive. Julius Montanus, one in the rank of Senators, but hitherto inverted with no Magiftracy, having cafually encountered the Prince in the dark, refolutely repulfed his a(Taults, and af- terwards difcovering him, implored his forgivenefs; but, as if he had reproached the Emperor, by own- ing that he knew him, he was compelled to die. Thenceforward, however, Nero became more fear- F 4 fol,. 104 THE ANNALS Book XIII, ful, and in thefc his rambles fortified himfelf with a party of foldiers and a great train of Gladiators ; thefe interpofed not in the beginning of a fray, nor while the fame continued but moderately high, as if it were only a quarrel between particulars, and they were unconcerned ; but if Inch as were in- i nlted refilled with vigour, inftantly the men of arms fell on. Nay, at the diverfions of the theatre, the feveral parties that favoured . particular players,. were by him turned into hoftile factions, encoun- tering as it were in battle, animated, indeed, by the influence of impunity and rewards. Befides, he greedily attended thofe broils, fometimes concealed, :ind often as an avowed fpeclator. Thefe tumults went on, till the people being heated and rent into diflenfions, and commotions ftill more terrible ap- prehended, no other remedy was found but that of driving the players out of Italy, and of recalling the foldiers to guard the theatre. About the fame time the Senate had under con- jideration the infolence and bafe dealings of the Freedinen towards their Lords ; and it was demand- ed with great eagernefs, ' That to patrons a pri- * vilege fhould be granted of revoking the liberty ' of fuch as ungratefully ufed it.' For this many were ready to vote ; but the Confuls were afraid to propofe the queftion, without apprizing the Prince: they, however, acquainted him by writing with the concurrence and biafs of the Senate, and con- fuhed him whether he would be declared the author of this decree, which was oppofed by fo few. They laid before him the reafonings on both fides, as fome urged with great vehemence and refentmenr, That fmce their inveftiture with liberty to fuch an excefs of infolence they had feared, that they fcarce allowed their patrons the common treat- ment of equals, but afiailed them with infults and violence, fpurned at their motions in the Se- Bate, Book xrrr. OF TACITUS. 105 ' nate, lifted up their hands againft them, threat- ' ened them with blows; and with outrageous im- ' pudence warned their patrons from profecuting ' the delinquencies of thefe their former flaves. ' And, in truth, what higher fatisfaction or amends ' was permitted to the abufed patron, than to banifli '" his criminal freedmen au hundred miles off, into * the pleafant confines of Campania ? in every other ' circumftance the privileges of the freedman were * the fame with thofe of his patron. It was there- ' fore expedient to arm the patron with fome prero- * gative not to be defpifed ; nor could it be deemed ' any grievance upon flaves manumifed, to pre- ' ferve their liberty by the fame dutiful obfervances ' by which they attained it. And for thofe al- ' ready notorioufly guilty, it was but jufl to remand ' them to the yoke of fervitude, that through their * example fear might curb fuch as benefits could. * not amend.' On the other fide it was argued, * That the * tranfgreflion of a few ought to prove pernicious ' only to themfelves, and nothing be derogated ' from the efbblifhed rights of all ; they were a. * body widely difftued ; from thence in a good mea- ' fure the tribes were fupplied, and the colleges of * fcribes often filled. From the fame fource arofe ' the feveral officers attending the Magistrates and c Pontiffs ; from thence too the city cohorts were ' enrolled, nor from any other original did a multi- * tude of Knights and many Senators derive their ' pedigree. Now if from the feveral ranks the de- ' fcendents of freedmen were feparated, there would e quickly be difcovered a manifeft fcarcity of fuch * as were originally free. Not without good ground ' had our anceftors, when they afcertained the dif- * tinclion and privileges of the three orders, award- ' ed uudiftinguiQied liberty to all men. Be/Ides, * there were two kiads of manumiiTion appointed, F- 5 < on io6 THE ANNALS Book XIII. on purpofe to referve a latitude for revoking liber- ty, where the grant was repented, or for the ex- ercife of frtfh generofity, by rendering the favour irrevocable. Thole who had not been by their patron regularly freed before the Praetor, remained ftill bound to him by a certain tye of fervitude. Every patron muft examine carefully the merit of fuch as he meant to difcharge, and grant with de- liberation an immunity, which once granted he * could never annul.' This opinion prevailed ; and Nero wrote to the Senate, that they fhould try the offences of freedmen fingly, whenever they were profecuted by their patrons, but in nothing retrench from the rights of the body. Not long after Nero bereft Domitia, his aunt, of Paris her freedman, an aft done by pretended law, to the great infamy of the Prince, fmce by his fpetial authority was ob- tained the judgment which aflerted him free born. There, however, fubfifted ftill fome refemblance of the ancient Republic : for in the conteft which arofc between Vibullius the Prsetor and Antiftius Tribune of the people, about fome turbulent parti- sans of the players, by the Praetor caft into irons, and by order of the Tribune releafed ; the Senate affirmed the judgment of Vibullius, and reprimanded the arbitrary conduct of Antiftius. The Tribunes were moreover, prohibited from entrenching upon the jurifdiftion of the Praetors and Confuls, as alfo from fummoning before them out of any quarters of Italy fuch as might be tried at tribunals of their own. It was added by Lucius Pifo, Conful eleft, ' That in their own houfes theyfhould not be allowed to exert any aft of power, nor that under four months the Quseftors of the Exchequer fhould regifter the mulfts by them laid ; that in the interval there mould be privilege to controvert their fentence, and that by one of the Confuls the conteft fhould be determined.' The jurifdiftion too of the B&otf Xttti OF TAG IT US. 107 ^Ediles was further ftraightened, and it w'*s fettled how high the Patrician ^Ediies, how high the Ple- beian, might exact fureties, and to what value im- pofe penalties. Thefe proceedings encouraged Hel- vidius Prifcus to gratify his own perfonal pique againir, Obultronius Sabinius, Quseftor of the Exche- quer, by charging him, * that by his prerogative of ' confifcating goods for taxes, he unmercifully ex- ' torted upon the poor and infolvent.' After this, the management of the Exchequer was by the Prince removed from the Quzftors, and committed to the Prefects. Various had been the regulations of this office, and its form often altered; for .Auguftus had left to the Senate the power of choofing the Praefects. Thereafter, as the fuffrages were fufpected to have been gained by caballing, out of the lift of Praetors were drawn by lot fuch as were to prelide there. Neither held this expedient long ; for that the blind lot often fbrayed, and fell upon thofe who were little qualified. Claudius therefore once more reftored the Qj-iaeftors ; and that the fear of raifing enemies might not flacken their activity and inflection, he promifed them, by fpecial difpenfation, an imme- diate defignation to the greater Magiftracies ; but as this was the firft which they fuftained, ripenefs of age was found wanting in them ; hence Nero chofc into their places fuch as had exercifed the Prastorfhip, and were of tried abilities. Under the fame Confuls was condemned Vipfa- nius Lenas, for his rapacious adminiftration in Sar- dinia. Ceftius Pioculus, charged with extortion (his accufers acquiefcing) was acquitted Clodius Q'I- rinalis, Admiral of the galleys which rode at Ra- venna, as he flood convicted, ( foe having by his pro- ' Sigate manners and acts of cruelty infeHed Italy, * and treated it as the mofl: abject of all nations,' prevented by poiion his impending condemnation. F 6 Canui- io8 THE ANNALS Book XIII. Canninius Rebilus, one of the firft rank in Rome for his abilities in the law, and his abundant treafures, chofe a quick releafe from the torments of an old age broken with infirmities, by opening his veins, a man never before efteemed of magnanimity fuf- fkient to encounter a voluntary death, infamous as he was for a life of lafciyioufnefs and effeminacy. But iliuftrious and amiable in fame departed Lucius Voluflus, after a long life of ninety- three years, and the upright acquifition of fignal opulence, with the fingular felicity of having never roufed the cruel fpirit of fo many Emperors. During the fecond Confulfhip of Nero, and that of Lucius Pifo his colleague, few events occurred worthy commemoration, unlefs any writer liked to fill pages in magnifying the vaft foundations and wooden ftructure of the new Amphitheatre, an im- menfe pile then creeled by the Emperor in the Field of Mars. But to the dignity of the Roman people it belongs, that in their Hiftory fhould be inferred iiluftrious events only, and in the City-Journals fuch defcriptions as thofe. The Colonies however of Capua and Nuceria were ftrengthened by a fupply of Veterans ; to the populace was diftributed a lar- gefs of four hundred fmall fefrerces * a man; and into the Exchequer was conveyed the fum of four hundred thoufand great fefterces f, as a fund to fupport the credit of the Roman people. Moreover, the duty of four in the hundred upon the fa!e of (laves was remitted, an aft rather fpecious in ap- pearance than of any efficacy ; for as the feller was obliged to pay it, he thence raifed the price upon the buyer. The Emperor too ifTued an edict, 4 that no Procurator, or any other Magiflrate, who * Betwixt twelve and thirteen Crowns. f Three Millions one hundred and twenty-five thou- fand pounds, ' had Book XIII. OF TACITUS. 109 ' had obtained a charge in any province, fhould * exhibit a fpectacle of Gladiators or of wild beafts, ' nor any other popular entertainment whatfoever/ For, before this, they had by fuch acts of munifi- cence no lefs afflicled thofe under their jurifJicfiion, than by plundering them of their money, whilfr, under the influence of fuch court to the multitude, they fheltered their arbitrary delinquencies and rapine. A decree of Senate alfo pa/Ted, equally tending to the avenging of crimes, and providing for domeflic fecurity, ' that if any one was killed by his flaves,. ' thofe too, whom by his la ft will he had made free, ' if they ftill continued under the fame roof, fhould * amongft his other flaves fuffer execution.' Lucius Varius, one who had been Conful, but for the crimes of rapine formerly branded with degradation, was now reftored to his primitive dignity, and Pom- ponia Gnecina, a Lady of fignal quality, arraigned of having embraced an extraneous fuperAition, was preferred to the inquifition of her hufband ; for (he was married to Plautius, the fame who upon his re- turn from Britain entered the city in the pomp of Ovation. Plautius affembled her kindred, and, in obfervance of primitive inftitution, having in their prefence taken cognizance of the behaviour and re- putation of his wife, adjudged her innocent. To a great age this Lady lived, and under inceffant for- row ; for ever after the untimely fate of Julia (the daughter of Drufus) procured by the perfidious fnares of Meffalina, fhe wore, for the fpace of forty years, no habit but that of mourning, entertained no fen- timcnts but thofe of grief, a temper which during the reign of Claudius efcaped with impunity, and redounded thereafter to her glory. The fume year produced many arraignments, and amongfl: them one againft Publius Celer, profecuted by the province of Afia, with fuch incouteflible 3 evi- no THE ANNALS Book XIII. evidence, that the Emperor, finding no pretence to difcharge him, lengthened out the procefs till he died of old age. For Celer having, as is above re- membered, difpatched by poifon the Proconful Si-- hnus, fkreened under that mighty iniquity all his other enormities. CofTutianus Capito was im pleaded' by the Cilicians, ' as a man utterly abominable and * infamous, one who claimed authority to commit ' in his province the fame bold exorbituncies which- ' 5n> Rome he had committed.' And he found him- felf fo forely befet with the vigour of the accufation, that at lad he wholly abandoned his defence, and was condemned by the law againft extortion. But for Eprius Marcellus, who was charged by thofe of Lycia with the violation of that very law, a faction fo powerful was formed, that fome of his accufers were puniflied with e*ile, ' as if they had confpired ' the ruin of an innocent man.' With Nero, now in his third Confulftnp. Vale- rius Meflala commenced colleague, he whofe great grandfather Corvinus the Orator, was by fome old men (very few) remembered to have been colleague in the fame MagiiVracy with the deified Auguitus, who, by one degree more remote, was anceftor to Nero. But, as an additional honour to that illuftri- ous family, a yearly penfion was prefented to Mef- fala of about twelve thoufand crowns, that by it he might relieve his honeft poverty, and fiill fup- port his integrity. To Aurelius Cotta alfo, and Ha- terius Antoninus, annual appointments were aligned by the Prince, though they had wafted in volnptu- oufnefs their paternal wealth. In the beginning of this year the war between the Parthians and Ro- mans for the maflery of Armenia, though it had commenced with faint efforts, and hithc; co lingered, was profecuted with vigour ; for Vologefes wonld- neither fuffer his brother Tiridates to be bereft of the monarchy by himfelf conferred upon him, nor Book XIII. OF TACITUS. 1 1 1 nor to hold the fame as a gift from any other power and Corbulo efteemed it becoming the grandeur of the Roman people to re-eflablifh the conquefl for- merly made by Lucullus and Pompey. Moreover the Armenians, a people of double and faithlefs minds, invited the arms and protection of botb, though, from the fituation of their country and fimi- litude of manners, they flood in nearer conformity to the Parthians, being befides commonly linked with them in conjugal alliances ; and, being defH- tute of all experience or fenfe of liberty, they were thence rather addicled to Parthian flavery. But to Corbulo it proved greater labour to flrug- gie with the degenerate floth of his foldiers, than againft the perfidious dealings of his enemies. For the Legions brought out of Syria, and enervated by long peace, bore with much impatience the labori- ous occupations of war. It fully appeared that in that army there were thofe who had ferved to the age of Veterans, and yet had never kept guard, never flood fentry, men who beheld entrenchments and pallifades as fights new and wonderful, and who, in fpruce apparel and purfuit of gain, without ever wearing helmet or body- armour, had amongfl the delicacies of cities fulfilled the term of their iervice. Having therefore difcharged fuch as were enfeebled by ficknefs or age, he fent to demand recruits. Hence levies were made through Cappadocia and Galatia, and to thefe was added a Legion from Ger- many, with fome wings of horfe and a detachment of infantry from the Cohorts. The whole army too was incamped ; though fuch was the rigour of the winter, and fo flubbornly had the frofl bound the earth, that without digging they could not pierce it in order to pitch their tents : many had their limbs utterly fcorched up by the raging cold, and fome, as they flood fentry, were frozen to death. More remarkable flill was the fate of one particular foldier, 112 THE A N N A L S Book XIII. fcldier, \vhofe hands, as he carried in them a bundle of wood, fliftlned and mortified fo fuddenly, that ftil! chfping their burden they dropped from his arms. The General himfelf, in a thin habit and his head bare, whether they marched or worked, was hour- ly amongft them, commending the magnanimous, heartening the weak, and exhibiting an example to all. Next, as many refufed to bear the afperity of the weather and fee vice, and began to depart, he had recourfe to feverhy for a cure ; for he proceed- ed not as in the other armies, where the firft or fe- cond offence was forgiven, but whoever deferted his colours, was inftantly put to death ; a courfe which was by experience proved to be wholefome, and preferable to that of clemency, fince from his camp there were fewer defertions than from thofe in which acls of mercy were wont to prevail. Corbulo the while, holding his Legions encamp, cd, waited the advancement of the fpring, and, having quartered the auxiliary Cohorts in convenient places, exprelly forewarned them that they mould not venture to engage firft in a battle. The fuper- intendance of tbefe garrifons he conferred upon Pac- tius Orphitus, one who had ferved as Lieutenant Colonel of a Legion. This officer, although he ac- quainted the General by letter, that the Barbarians afted negligently, and thence an opportunity pre- fented of availing them with fuccefs, was ordered to abide within his entrenchments, and wait for greater forces ; but he broke through his orders ; for upon the arrival of fome few troops of horfe, . who, affembling from the neighbouring caftles, rafhly demanded battle, he encountered the enemy, and was routed. Thofe too, who*ought to have re- inforced him, being themfelves terrified with his dif- after, betook themfelves to a cowardly and tumul- tuous flight, and returned to the feveral fortifica- tions j an event which grievoufly uffefted Corbulo. Hence, Book XIII. OF TACITUS. 113 Hence, after he had bitterly reproached Pactius him- fclFand the captains and common foldiers, he ex- pelled them all from the camp, doomed them to lie on the other fide its inclofure, without tents or de- fence ; nnd under this contumelious punifhment they were held, till at the univerfal fupplications of the whole army they were releafed. Now Tiridates, \vho over and above the forces which he drew from his own vaflals, was fupported by the might of his brother Vologefes, proceeded no longer againft Armenia by difguifed efforts, but at- tacked it with open war, and, upon all fuch as he fufpecled of attachment to us, committed depreda- tions, but, where troops were drawn out againft him, eluded the encounter, fcouring to and fro, and effecting greater matters by the fame and tenor of his incurfions, than by any exploits in fight. Cor- bulo therefore, having long laboured to come to an engagement, nnd being flill fruftrated, found him- felf obliged to follow the method of the enemy, and make a circulatory war. Hence he diftributed his forces fo that his feveral Lieutenants might at once attack diverfe quarters ; he at the fame directed King Antiochus to fall into the Armenian diftricls which lay contiguous to his own. For as to Pharafmanes, King of Hiberia, having for the imputation of trea- fon /lain his fon Rhadamiftus, he was already, in or- der to difplay his fidelity towards us, renewed with the more acrimony againft the Armenians the ex- eicife of his inveterate hate. The Infechians too, a people fince fingularly attached to the Roman in- te; eft, were then firft engaged in our alliance, and over-run the wilds of Armenia. Thus all the mea- fures of Tiridates proved abortive and contradictory, fo that he difpatched EmbaiTudors to expoftulate, in his own name and that of the Parthians, ' upon ' what fcore it was, that after he had fo lately de- * livered hoftages to the Romans, and with them re- THE ANNALS Book Xllf. ' renewed his former amity, which might reafon- * ably have proved to him a fource of new friend- * (hip, he muft yet be chafed out of Armenia, a * Kingdom fo long m the pofTeffion of his anceftors ? * Hence it was, that Vologefes had not hitherto ' taken arms in perfon, becaufe they both defiied * to commit the juilice of their caufe to the way of ' accommodation rather than to that of violence. ' But if war were ftill to be obftinately purfued^ the * Arfacides would not find themfelves forfaken of * that victorious bravery fo often tried by the Ko- ' mans, in many bloody overthrows.' Corbulo was well informed, that what engaged Vologefes was the revolt of Hyrcania : He therefore, in anfwer to Tiridates, purfuaded him to apply to the Emperor with Applications j ' hence he might enjoy his ' Kingdom in fecurity, and an efrablifhment with- ' out the expence of blood, if rejecting his remote ' and tedious hopes, he would clofe \vich founder ' meafures already concerted.' But as the bufinefs of peace was nothing ad- vanced by an inter courfe of mefTengers, it was at laft judged proper to afcertain a time and place fop an interview between the two chiefs. Tiridates de- clared, l that he would come attended only by a ' guard of a thoufand horfe, but would not reftrain * Corbulo to any number of troops of any kind, ' provided they came without armour, as a proof ' of their difpoiition to peace.' This perfidious wile of the Barbarian mull have appeared rrunifefV to every man breathing, efpecially to an old and cau- tious Captain, fmce, by limitting the number of men on one fide, and leaving liberty for a greater num- ber on the other, nothing but a* fnare could be in- tended. For againft a body of Panlmn horfemeri, conftantly trained in the ufe of the bow, any num- bers whatfoever, when naked of arm ur, would ;: v ail nothing. Corbulo, however, difguifcd all his ap- prchenfions Book XIII. OF TACITUS. 115 prebenfions of guile, and returned anfwer, * that * matters which concerned the intereft of both their ' Hates, would be more properly difcnfTed in pre- ' fence of both armies.' Hence he chofe a ftation confiding partly of hills rifing with a gentle flope, fit for embattling his infantry, partly of a large plain, affording fcope for ranging the fquadrons of horfe. On the day appointed, Corbulo advanced firir, on the wings he polled the focial troops and the auxi- liary ferces fent by the confederate Kings, in the center the fixth Legion, which he had ftrengthened with three thoufand men of the third, led by night from, another camp, all mixed together under one Eagle, to preferve ftill the appearance of a fingle Legion. Tiridates at lair, appeared, but late in the day, and afar off, from hence he could be eafier feen than heard. So that the Roman General, having obtained no conference, ordered his men to retire to their feveral camps. The King too retreated in hafte, whether it were that he apprehended a defign to furprize him, for that the Romans filed off in different routs, or, that he meant to intercept their provisions which were coming from Trebizonde and the Euxine fea. But as the provifions pafTed over the mountains, which were fecured by feveral bands of our men, he found Ho means to attack them ; and Corbulo the while, that the war might not thus linger without aftion, and in order to force the Armenian? to defend their own dwellings, fet himfelf to raze their ftrong holds. The attack of the ftrongefl of all thofe in that quar- ter, the fort named Volandum, he referved to him- felf ; and to Cornelius Flaccus his Lieutenant, and Infteius Capito, Camp Marfhal, committed thofe of fmaller note. Having therefore viewed the fortifi- cations and prepared all things requifite for dorm- ing the place, he exhorted his men ' to extermi- ' nate that bafe and vagabond foe, never prepared ' for n6 THE ANNALS Book XII?. ' for war, yet never difpofed to peace, but ftill by 4 flight con f effing faithleflhefs and cowardice ; do ' this, faid he, and at once purfue a harveft of fpoil ' and glory.' He then diflributed his forces into four divifions ; one he formed clofe under their fliields into the military {hell, in order to overthrow the pallifade and undermine the rampart ; others were ordered by ladders to mount the walls, and a party to manage the engines, and thence annoy the for- trefs with {bowers of darts and artificial fire. To the archers too and (lingers a quarter was affignui v/hence they might from afar difcharge volleys of ftones and bullets. So that every part of the for- trefs being afiailed, and the confirmation everywhere equal, no one quarter of the befieged might be at leifure to relieve another. All this was executed by the befiegers with fuch fpirit and vigour, that in a few hours the defendants were entirely driven from the walls, the gates were forced, the bulwarks fcaled, and all that were arrived to full age put to the edge of the fword, without the lofs of one of our men, and very few were wounded. The weak and rnixt multitude were fold by the public cryer, and to the conquerors remained all the reft of the fpoil. Equal fuccefs attended the Lieutenant General and Camp MarfhaJ ; in one day they took three caftles by ftorm, infomuch that all the others, fome from dread, others from the inclination of the inhabitants, furrcndered. Such a feries of good fortune infpired a refolution to attempt the fiege of Artaxata, the capital of Armenia. The Legions were not how- ever conducted thither the fhorteft road ; for that, in paffing the bridge over the Araxes, which wafhes the walls of the city, they would have been expofed to be galled by the enemy ; fetching therefore a long circuit, they forded over upon the large (hal- lows. As- Book XIII. OF TACITUS. 117 As to Tiridates, he ftruggled between (hame and fear ; if he gave way to the fi:ge, it would appear that there was no reliance upon any relief or force from him; if he attempted to prevent it, he mull: be hemmed in with his cavalry i;i clofe and intricate places. At laft, he determined to (hew hitnfelf in order of battle, and at break of day begin the onfet, or by a feigned Bight try to draw the Romans into a fnare ; with great fuddennefs therefore he befet them, but without any fur prize to our Gene- ral, who had formed his army as well for a fight as a march. On the right marched the third Legion, on the left the fixth, and in the center a chofen de- tachment from the tenth : the baggage was fecured between the ranks, and a thoufand horfe guarded the rear. Thefe laft were ordered ' to repulfe the ' foe, if they made any clofe attack, but not to * purfue them when they fled.' The foot archers and remainder of the horfe were placed on the wings, but the left was the moft extended, a:id reached to the roots of the hills, th.it if the enemy attempted an onfet there, he might be encountered at once by our front and by the heart of the army. Tiridates on his fide pickeered about, yet never approached within the throw of a dart, but now braving us with the countenance of an aflailant, then aduming an air of difmay, provoked us to loofen our ranks, that he might fall upon us when we were disjoined. When he faw no unwary relaxation in our order, and that only one captain of horfe, who had adventured too rafnly, was by a volley of arrows (lain, and by his fate had confirmed all the reft in fubmiiTion to difci- pline, he marched off at the clofe of the evening. Corbulo encamped upon the place, and, fuppofing that Tiridates had retired to Artaxata, was unrefolv- ed whether he (hould march thither the fame night with his Legions unincumbered by baggage, and immediately inveft it j but, upon tidings brought him n8 THE ANNALS Book XIII. him by his fpies that the King had undertaken a long rout, though it was uncertain whether towards the regions of Medea or Albania, he waited for the morning, and difpatched his troops lightly armed to bc-fet the city, and begin the ftoim of the place by a diftant attack. But the citizens voluntarily open- ing their gates, made an unreferved furrender to the Romans ; by this their perfons were fecured. The city was fired, and laid level with the ground, for fuch was the wide circuit of its walls, that with- out a powerful garrifon they could not be defended, nor were our forces fufficienrly large to fill the gar* rifon, and yet to profecute the war; or, had it been left untouched and deftitute of a guard, there had been no profit nor glory in having taken it. To this relation of the fall of the city is added a Phenomenon, which v;as deemed miraculous, as a fignal fent immediately from heaven, for that, while all the region round the "walls and clofe to them was glorioufly irradiat- ed by the fun, the whole fpace incompalFed by them was fo fuddenly darkened by a thick cloud, fpangled "with lightening and roaring with thunder, that it \vas believed the angry Gods, to fatiate their ven- geance, had configned that city to utter deduction. For thefe profperous exploits Nero was proclaim- ed Imperator, and, by decree of Senate, days of public devotion were appointed, with ftatues of victory to the Prince, triumphal arches, and per- petuity of the Confulfhip. It was moreover decreed, that the day when the city was won, the day when the news arrived at Rome, and the day that pro- duced this decree, fhould all be inrolled araongft the annual feftivals, with feveral other 'particulars of the fame ftamp, fo much beyond all meafure, that Caius Caffius, though he had agreed to the former, yet argued here, ' That were every infhmce of ' public profperity to be attended with public thankf- ' giving, the whole year would not afford days enough Book XIII. OF TACITUS. 119 * enough for days of devotion ; a juft distribution * ought therefore to be made between days of de- ' votion and days of bufmefs, in fuch fort that the * worflnp of the Gods might be folemnized with- ' cut interfering with the fecular bufinefs of men.' Thereafter \vas impleaded a man, who had palled through various revolutions of life, and juilly incur- red much hatred, and many enmities; yet obnoxi- ous as he was, his condemnation drew an imputa- tion and blemifh upon Seneca. It was Publius Sui- lius, he who, during the reign ,of Claudius, had borne fuch terrible fway, and exercifed fuch a venal fpirit, and though now by the change of times confiderably funk, yet not fo low as his enemies \vi(hed. Befides, he was one who chofe rather to bear the character of a criminal, than defcend to that of a fupplicant. Hence the decree of Senate made at this rime for the revival of the Cincian law, which fubjecled to penalties all thofe who had plead- ed for pay, was thought to have paffed on purpofe to ruin him. Nor did Suilius, on his part, fpare to retort complaints and recriminations, but, vehe- ment as he ever was in his temper, now too ex- tremely old, and thence indulging avowed freedom, upbraided Seneca, ' as an inveterate foe to all the ' friends of Claudius, during whofe reign he had * been jnftly doomed to exile ; as one who, being ' himfelfconverfant inftupid and infignificantftudies, ' and in teaching fcholars, was actuated by envy ' towards all fuch, who in defending the rights 4 of their fellow-citizens exercifed vigorous elo- 4 quence, free from pedantry and'corruption. For 4 himfelf ; he had been Qu.tftor to Germanicus, * but Seneca the adulterer of Germaniciis's * daughter. Now, was it to be judged a more * heinous offence to purfue the advantages of a ' worthy vocation, by accepting a reward from a * fuitor, who freely gives it, than to contaminate * the beis of Prince/Fes ? By what precepts of wif- 4 dona, 120 THE ANNALS Book XIII. * wifdom, by what principles of philofophy, had ' he, during four years of imperial favour, amaffcJ * a treafure of more than feven millions ? Through * Rome he hunted after teftaments and inheritances, * the rich and childiih were catched, as it were, in ' his net, and all Italy and the Provinces were * by his mighty and exccffive ufury exhaufted. But ' fmall is my own wealth, and with induftry ac- * quired ; and upon the whole, I am determined ' rather to undergo the heavieft profecution, the * ftvereft fentence and doom, and every degree of ' hardfliip and fuifcring, than debafe a diftinguiftied ' reputation, the acquifition of a long life, and bend * to this fudclen fon of felicity/ There were fome too, who failed not to relate to Seneca all thefe reproaches in the faaie angry flrain, or in one ftill more embittered. Acarers, moreover, were found, who arraigned him, ' for * his exceffes in Afia, when he ruled as Qnseftor * there, for plundering the inhabitants, and robbing * from the public revenue.' But as a whole year was granted them for preparing their evidence, it was deemed a quicker expedient to proceed upon his enormities at Rome, of all which there were in ftore ready witnefTes. By thefe it was urged, ' That ' by a virulent accufation he had driven Quintus *' Pomponius upon the necefllty of raifing a civil * war ; by him was procured the violent death of 4 Poppaza Sabina, and of Julia the daughter of Dru- * fus ; of his framing was the doom of Valerius * Afiaticus, of Lufius Saturninus, and of Cornelius ' Lupus. Add to thefe, whole bands of Roman ' Knights at his infligation condemned; with all ' the long train of cruelties during the reign of ' Claudius.' For upon Suilius they charged the whole. In his defence he began to alledge, ' That * of all thefe accumulated profecutions, he had of ' his own inclinatioa engaged in oone, but purely 4 in BookXIIL OF TACITUS. 121 ' in obedience to the Prince.' But Nero checked this plea, and teftified that, from the memoirs of Clau- dius, he had found, that no accufation whatfoever had ever been undertaken by compulfion from him. The accufed then pleaded the uncontroulable orders ofMeffalina; an impotent defence ! * for why had * no other advocates but only Suilius been fingled ' out to have lent their eloquence- for accomplim- ' ing the purpofes of that bloody proftitute ? In 4 truth, the minifters and promoters of fuch black * deeds muft be punimed, they who, having re- ' ceived the wages of their iniquities, would upon ' others father the iniquities themfelves.' A part of his eflate was therefore confifcated ; for to his fon and grand-daughter the other part was granted, be/Ides that from the fentence were alfo exempted the fortunes left them by the will of their mother, and that of their grand-father. He himfelf was banimed to the Hies Baleares ; but neither during the heat and peril of the profecution, nor after his condemnation, was his fpirit in the leafr. funk or difmayed. He was even faid to have pnfTed his fo- litary exile in a life of voluptuoufnefs and pleafure. In hatred to him, Nerulinus his fon was alfo arraign- ed, upon the crimes of public rapine; but Nero, interpofed, and alledged, that by the doom of the farher public vengeance was fufnciently fatiated. About the fame time Ocravius Sagitta, Tribune of the people, intoxicated with a paffion for Pontin, a married woman, gained her by vaft prefents, firft to confent to* the adultery, afterwards to quit her hufband, engaging himfelf and her in a promife of marriage after the divorce. But the woman, when flie found herfelf fingle, framed delays from time to time, pleaded the oppofition of her father, and then, having difcovered fome hopes of a wealthier husband, quite renounced her engagement. Oc- tavius failed not to combat this resolution ; one VOL. II. G moment 122 T H E ANNALS Book XIII. moment broke into complaints, the next into me- naces ; he adjured her by the reputation which for her he had mipwrecked, by the wealth which upon her he had totally confumed ; laftly, he told her, that his life and perfon was the only fortune left him, and of that too the difpofai lay wholly in her breaft. At length, perceiving her deaf to all his reafonings, he requeued the confolation of one parting night; for that thus calmed and gratified, he would thence- forth be able to govern his paflion. The night was granted and named, and Pontia appointed a maid, her confidant, tofecure the chamber. Sagitta brought with him one freedman, and a dagger concealed under his robe. The interview began, as ufual, in combinations of love and anger, with a medley of chiding and befeeching, of reproaches and fubmif- fions ; and part too of the night was devoted to joy and embraces: at laft, he became enraged with expofrulations and defpair, and fuddenly plunged his dagger into her heart (free as me was of all dread) beat down and wounded the maid, who was flying to her aflillance, and burft out of the chamber. Next day the murder was divulged ; and by what hand was apparent ; for it was proved they had lodged together. But the freedman adopted the guilt; he averred, that the afTaflination was of his own committing, to procure juft vengeance to an injured matter ; and, by the exemplary greatnefs of fuch behaviour, many were induced to believe him, till the maid, when me was healed of her wound, fully difclofed the author, and all the * particulars ; fo that the Tribune was arraigned before the Con- fuls by the father of the deceafed, and at the ex- piration of his office, condemned by the Senate to the penalties of the Cornelian Law. An inflance of lewdnefs no lefs notorious proved this year the fource of heavy calamities to the Ro- man ilate. la the city lived a daughter of Titus Ollius, Book Xlir. O F T A C I T U S. 123 OHius, but as Poppaeus Sabinus, her mother's fa- ther, had (hone in the Commonwealth, and, from the Confular dignity and glory of a triumph, ac- quired an illuitrious name, from his Hie took her own, that of Sabina Poppsea ; for Ollius, ere yet he had overtaken any public dignity, was fwallowed np by the fatal friendfhip of Sejanus. This Lady pofTelTed every ornament but that of a virtuous foul ; for from her mother, who in beauty had excelled Ml the women of her time, (he derived her loveli- nefs, as well as the glory of defcent ; the luftre of her birth was fupported by proportionable wealth ; her fpeech was foft and engaging, her wit pertinent, modefty the part (he perfonated, lewdnefs that flic prafHfed. It was rare that (he appeared abroad, then too part of her face hid under her veil, the more to Simulate the curious beholders, or, per- haps, becaufe thus fhe was ft'ill more charming. By the awe of fame fhe was never controuled; between hufband and adulterer, fhe made no diflinction ; by no man's paffion was fhe ever biafled, nor even by her own ; wherever her interefl appeared, thither flie transferred her lewd pleafures. Hence, though fhe was married to Rufius Crifpinus, a Roman Knight, and by him had brought forth a fon, fhe was carried away by the gay youth and profufenefs of Otho, efpecially for that he was efteemed to reign, beyond all others, in the affeftion of Nero, nor wis it long ere this commerce of adultery was followed by their intermarriage. It became now the ordinary language of Otho to extol to the Prince the beauty and delicate charms of his wife, either as he was prompted by the in- difcreet warmth of a lover, or deflgned to enflame Nero with the like paffion, and from their common enjoyment of the fame woman hoped to find an additional fupport to his prefent authority. It was ufual to hear him boafr, as he rofe from the Em- G 2 peror's 124 THE ANNALS Book XIII. peror's table, ' That he now retired to the fuin ' of all noblenefs and lovelinefs, her who was the ' centre of every joy and felicity, the defire of ail ' men, but happily his own peculiar lot.' After thefe .and the like incitements, Nero deferred not long his own gratification; an interview was appoint- ed, where Poppcca, at firfr, employed all her foft arts and carefTes, and by them imirely fubdued him; '{he feigned herfelf fmitten with his fine perfon, and wholly overcome by her paffion for him. But when {he had worked up the Prince's affection to a pitch of impatience, (he changed her former behaviour into haughtinefs and defpite. If me were detained above a night or two, ' (he was a married woman, me cried, nor could me relinquifh her hufband, as to him me was engaged by a way of living, which no other man could equal. Otho was mag- nificent in his peifon, generous in his fpirit ; in him me beheld every thing worthy the moft ex- alted fortune. Nero was attached to Acte, thence inured to the embraces of a Have, and could from a fellowfhip fo wretched andfervile derive nothing 'but fordidnefs and fervility.' Upon this, Otho became degraded from his ufual intimacy with the Emperor, then debarred of all intercourfe, and even accefs ; and, at lair, to prevent all his rival prac- tices in Rome, was preferred to the government of Lufitania, a government which he administered, till the beginning of the civil wars, with eminent up- rightnefs and honour, and wide of all the courfcs of his former diflblute life ; a proof of his various character, that of an unbridled voluptuary in a pri- vate flatlon, in authority obferving gravity and juft reftraints. Nero as yet endeavoured to find difguifcs for his vilenefles and crimes. He, whom of all others he apprehended moll, was Cornelius Syila, rniftaking the heavy fpirit of the man for deep artifice and dif- fimulationl Hook XIII. OF TACITUS: 12 j fimulation. Thefe apprehenfions were inflamed by Grap-tus, a freed man of his, an ancient domdlic of the court, ever lince the reign of Tiberius, and being well practifed in the dark devices of the Em-- perors, he, upon this oecafion, framed the follow- ing forgery. The Milvian Bridge was then the fa- in >us fcene of nocturnal revelling?, and thither Nero frequently reforted, that there he might more licen- tioufly riot without the city. Graptus therefore feigned, ' That a plot had been laid for him, as ' he flionld return from thence by the Flaminian ' Way, but, by the benignity of fate, he had ef- * caped it in coming home through the Gardens of * Salluft, and of this treafon Sylla was the author.' The fact was, that as fome of the Emperor's at- tendants were repairing back to the palace, certain young companions, indulging a fort of licentiouf- nefs then nniverfally practifed, had filled them with caufelefs fears. But amongft thefe companions not a Have of Sylla's was obferved, nor one of his de- pendants ; and for himfelf, his courage was fo ut- terly defpicable, and fo unequal to any enterprize, that his very nature was repugnant to every attempt of treafon ; neverthelefs, as if he had been a trai- tor fully convicted, he was banimed his country, and confined within the walls of Marfeiiles. During the fame Confuls were heard the deputies from Puzzoli, fome difpatched by their Senate, others by the populace ; the former inveighing againft the violence of the multitude, the latter againfi the op- preffion and avarice of the Magiflrates and Nobles ; and as the fedition was fo violent, that the factious had already combated with ftones, threatened the firing of houfes, and were betaking themfelves to arms and maflacre, Caius Caflius was appointed to apply a remedy ; buc they could not bear the feverity f his proceedings ; fo that, at his own re- queft, that charge was transferred to the two bro- G 3 thers 126 f H E A N N A L S Book XIII. thers Scribonii, afTifted by A Praetorian Cohort, by the terror of which and the execution of fome few incendiaries, concord was reflored amongft the inha- bitants. The decree of Senate now made, for permitting the Syracufians in their (hews of Gladiators to exceed the number formerly limited, is a matter fo common, that I lliould not infert it here, had not Paetus Thrafea oppofed it, and thence adminiftered to his revilers matter of inveclive. ' For, if he be- ' lieved that the condition of the Commonwealth * called upon the Senators to exert liberty of fpeech, * why were his cenfures and purfuits confined to ' things of fuch trivial moment ? How came it, * that he flood not forth to advife or controul mea- f fures of war and peace, the adminiftration of the * revenue, that of the laws, and whatever elfe con- ' cerned the fnpport and governance of the Roman ' flate? To every Senator, as foon as inverted with 5 the privilege of voting, full freedom was allowed of propounding whatever he would, and of claim- ' ing that what he propounded might be put to the ' vote. Now, did nothing elfe in the flate want * check or amendment, but only that the fpecta- 1 cles at -Syracufe fhould be exhibited with no en- ' largements ? Was, in truth, all the reft of the * adminiflration throughout the Empire fo excel- * lent, as if by Thrafea himfelf, and not by Nero, ' it were fwayed ? But if all thefe were pafTed over * in profound diffimulation, how much more rea- ' fonably to be forborne were things utterly void * of all ufe and fignificancy ? ' To his friends, who aflced him the meaning of his conduct, Thrafea anfwered, ' That he had, from no ignorance in * the fituation of the public, interpofed againft a ' decree of that fort, but in it confulted the honour 4 of the Senate, by making it appear, that an in- * foeflion into the greatefl affairs was not like to be difa- Book XIII. OF TACITUS. 127 * difavowed by thofe who thus applied their thoughts ' to the molt infignirkant.' In the fame year, fo importunate were the cries of the people againft the exactions of the Tax-ga- therers, that Nero was deliberating about the intire fuppreffioa of all taxes and duties, as the molt illuf- trious bounty he could beftow upon human kind. But the Senate, after many high praifes upon his greatnefs of foul, retrained his rafh refokuion, by apprizing him, ' That the difTolution of the Empire ' mufr. enfue a reduction of the revenues which fuf- ' tained it ; and were the public duties once an- * nulled, it would be a precedent for labouring the ' difcharge of all the public tributes. The com pa - ' nies for adminiftering the taxes were for the molt ' part efrablifhed by the Confuls and Tribunes, even ' then when popular liberty was in its prime at ' Rome, and the regulations which followed were * fo concerted, that the public impofitions might ' juft balance the public exigencies. But the ra- ' venous extortions of the publicans did, in truth, ' require to be flopped, that fo the rates borne by ' the people for fo many years without murmuring, * might not be embittered by new grievances.' The Emperor therefore by an edict ordained, ' That the laws of the revenue, which had till then ' been kept fecret, fhould now be committed to ' the public tables ; the publicans fhould exact no < claims for above a year backward ; in all fuits a- ' gainft them, the Prxtor at Rome and in the Pro- ' vinces, the Propraetor or Proconful for the time ' being, fliould proceed to difcretionary judgment; * but to the foldiers fhould be referved the ufual ' exemption in all inflances fave thofe of traffic ;' with other the like injunctions, which, being intire- ly equitable, were for fome fhort time obeyed, but foon grew neglected and obfolete. The fuppreflion, however, of the Q^adragefima (fortieth penny) and G 4 of '128 THE ANNALS Book XIII. of the Quinquagefima (fiftieth) continues flill in force, as alfo^that of other impofitions with the like titles, invented by the publicans to cover their law- lefs exactions. Moreover, a regulation was made about the importation of grain from the provinces beyond fea, and it was ordained that the (hips of traders fhould -not be rated with the commodities which they carried, nor any duty be paid for the fame. Two men accxifed of. malc-aJminiilration in '.Africa, where they had both ruled as Proconfuls, were acquitted "by the Emperor, Sulpicius Camer- Fiius and Pomponius Silvanus. Againfl the for- mer there appeared only a few private profecutors, who charged him rather with particular afts of rage than thofe of general rapine. But Silvanus was befet with a mighty train of impleaders, who requi- red time to procure their witnefles, as did he to be ioftantly admitted to his defence; and, by being wealthy, ancient, and childlefs, prevailed, yet out- lived and difappointed thofe who faved his life to merit his eftate. Till this time Germany had continued in a (late of tranquillity, fccured by the temper of our command- ers there, who, at a time when the honours of the triumph were fo miferably proftituted, judged that higher glory was to be reaped by preferving peace. Thefe commanders were Paulirlus Pompeius and Lucius Vetus. To keep, however, the foldiers employed, the former now perfected the dam which had been begun by Drufus threeicore and three years before, to reilrain the overflowing of the Rhine, while Vetus was digging a canal of communica- tion between the Arar and Mofelle, that the armies from Italy, having failed by fea into the Rhone, and thence into the Arar, might fall through this canal into the Mofelle, thence through the Rhine into the Ocean ; fo that, all impediments of the pafTage being -thus removed, a naval intcrcourfe might Book XIII. OF TACITUS. 129 might be opened from Weft to North between the two feas. But this great work was marred through the envy of ^Elius Gracilis, Lieutenant of Ee'gic Gaul, who warned Vetus againft bringing his Le^ gions into another man's province, and courting the affections of the Gauls, for that fuch conduct would alarm the Emperor; an apprehenfion which frequently ferves to frustrate many worthy enter-- prizes. But, from the continued inaction of both armies, a report fprecid, that their Generals were enjoined not to lead them againft the enemy,. In confidence of this the Frifians po defied the forefts and inoraites with their youth, and carrying. over the lakes all fuch as were weak through fex or age, placed them. along the banks of the Rhine, then proceeded to fettle themfelves upon thofe tracts of land which, be- ing void of inhabitants, were appropiiated to the ufes of our foldiers. In this enterprize they were counfelled and conducted by Verritus and Malorigis, , who were fovcreigns over this nation, as far as the Germans are wont to fubmit to fovereignty. They, had already founded their dwellings, fown the fields,, and were cultivating, the lands, as if the fame had been their native foil, when Dubius Avitus, \vha- fucceeded Paalintrs in the province, threatened them with the vengeance of the Roman, fword, unlefs- they retired to their ancient territories, or obtained' from the .Emperor o,> new fertleapeiu. By thefe menaces he forced Veiritus- and Malorigis to the ways of fuppliccuiou. On. this negociation therefore they proceeded to Rome, where, . while they wait- ed for accefs to Nero, \vho uns engaged in other affairs, amongft the fights which -are ufually fhewn? .to Barbarians, they were conducted into . Poinpey's Theatre, that they might there. furvey the multitude of the Roman people. Here, gazing round .'them. (no wife. interrupted by the divcrfious of-the fb2, G 5, %<:' 130 THE ANNALS Book XIII. which they underftood not) while they were intent upon the arrangement of the audience, and inform- ing themfelves about the diftribution of ranks, * which were the Roman Knights, and where Cat ' the fathers of the Senate ;' they fpied certain per- fons in a foreign habit, fitting upon the benches of the Senators, and afked who were thefc? When they had learnt that this was a distinction conferred upon the Ambafladors of fuch nations as fignalized themfelves by their merit and friendship towards the Romans; * There is not amongft men, they ' cried, that nation which, in good faith and feats * of arms, furpafles the Germans ;' and thus, leav- ing their feats, placed themfelves among the Sena- tors^ a proceeding courteoufly taken by the fpecta- tors, as a flight of ancient liberty, and the effect of an honeft emulation. Nero beftowed upon both the privileges of Roman citizens, but ordered that the Frifians Should abandon their new pofleffions ; and, as they refufed to obey, they were forced by a fudden irruption of the auxiliary horfe, who put in bonds, or to the fword, all who obfUnately re- fifted. The Anfibarians too took pofTeflion of the fame lands, a more potent people, not in their own mul- titudes only, but alfo from the fympathy of the neighbouring nations ; for that they had been exter- minated by the Chaucians, were deflitute of all fet- tlement, and, like exiles, befought only a quiet fhelter and retreat. They were likewife led by a man of fignal renown amongft thefe nations, and even of approved fidelity toxvards the Romans, his name Boiocalus, who, in behalf of himfelf and his. people, upon this occafion alledged, * That * upon the revolt of the Chernfcans he had been * thrown into bonds by order of Arminius, after- ' wards carried arms under Tiberius, then under * Germanicns, and to the merit of fifty years fervice * and Book XIII. OF TACITUS. 131 ' and adherence to the Romans, he was Hill ready ' to add that of fubmitting his people to their Em- * pire. Was not the territory HI difpute large and c wafte ? or referved for any other ufe than that of * occafional pafture for the foldiers cattle, and ' how fmall a portion fufficed for this ? yet the * Romans might (till, if they pleafed, retain wide * exclufive tradts only for their beafts to range in, ' although by feeding their beafts they even famifti- ' ed men ; provided they did not wilfully devote all ' the reft to defarts and folitude, rather than allow ' it for an habitation to a people difpofed to their * friendfhip and alliance. The pofTeffing of this * territory was no new thing ; formerly it was held ' by the Chamavians, next by the Tubantes, after- ' wards by the Ufipians. As the heavens were ap- * propriated to the Gods, fo was the earth to the * children of men, and fuch portions of it as none * poffefTed were free and common to all.' Here he lifted up his eyes to the fun, and invoking, as if they had been prefent, that and the other celeflial luminaries, he afked them, * Could they bear to- ' furvey a defolate foil ? or would they not more ' juftly let loofe the fea to fwallow up wfurpers, who * thus engrofTed the^arth?' This language warmed Avitus, who replied, * that to the orders of themoft powerful, fubmiflion * muft always be paid ; even the Gods, to whom * they now appealed, had fo appointed, that to the * Romans fhould appertain the fovereign judgment, * what tobeftow and what to take away, and other * judges than themfelves they would fuffer none/ This was his public r.nfwer to the Anfibarians j but to Boiocalus he privately promlfcd, that iu acknowledgment of his long attachment to the Ro- mans he (hould have lands for himfelf affigned him.,, an offer which he confidcred as a price propcfed' for betraying his people, and, rejecting ii with iadigna- G 6 tionv 132 THE ANNALS Book XIII. tion, added, ' A place to live in we may want, but ' a place to die in we cannot.' Thus they parted with animofity on both fides. The Anfibarians, to prepare for the impending war, invited into a confe- deracy the Bruclerians, Tenfterians, and even other nations more remote. Avitus too, after he had writ- ten to Curtilius Mancia, who commanded the up- per army, to pafs the Rhine, and to appear with his forces upon their rear, marched himielf with his Legions into the territories of the Tenclenans, and threatened them with defolation and {laughter un- lefs they departed from the league. Hence they Avere forced to acquiefce ; and, as the like terrors awed theBruclerians, the reft too relinquished a hope- lefs canfe, whence ruin to themfelves was threat- ened from their attachment to others. So that the forlorn Anfibarians retreated back to the Ufipians and Tubantes, but by them alfo were exterminated* They then withdrew for reception firft to the Cat- tians, afterwards to the Cherufcans, and in thefe long and various wanderings from nation to nation, thus vagabond, indigent, and treated as enemies and intruders, all their youth fell by the fvvord, and the promifcuous multitude were utterly difperfed according to the various lot ofcaptivity.. Between the Herrnundurians and the Cattians, daring the fame fummer, a mighty battle was fought about the propriety of a river which di- vided their territories, and which, yielding abundant {tore of fait, each people was labouring by force ts appropriate to themfelves. To this quarrel, befides their paifion for committing all difputes to the deci- fion of the fword, they were further animated by an inherent fuperftition, ' that thefe places were * doubtlels in the neighbourhood of heaven, and no ' where quicker than there did the fup plications of * men reach the ears of the Gods. Hence, through * a fpcclal ir/J'vii^cuce of the Deities, in this river t Book XIII. F T A C I T U S. 133- and in thefe groves fait was produced, not, as with other nations, from the foam of the fea cruft- ed upon the fhore, bat by pouring the water of this river upon flaming piles of wood, and thus condenfed by a combination of oppofite elements.' The ifiueof the warwas profperous to- the Hermun- durians, and to the Cattians the more bloody and deftruftive, for that prefuming upon victory they had devoted the adverfe hoft to Mars and Mercury, a vow by which men and horfes, with whatever elfe appertains to the vanquifhed, are doomed to be burnt or iTain. Thus upon their own heads re- turned their cruel menaces again ft their foes. The people Juhones, a flate in alliance with us, were at this time afflifled with a calamity altogether fudden and alarming, by the eruption of a fubterra- neous fire, which caught and confumed on every fide their towns, farms, and particular dwellings, and was advancing with fury to the late-built walls of Cologn ; neither could it be extinguifhed even by the falling of rain, nor by the throwing of water, or by any other ufual expedient, tiil certain boors, d&- f pairing of remedy, and enraged at the devouring conflagration, vented their wrath in attacking it at a diftance with vollies of ftones ; as the flames came thus to abate, they proceeded to a clofer approach, and by dint of clubs and blows, as in an encounter with fierce beafts, quite repulfed it. At length, ut- terly to fmother it, they ftripped themfelves of their cloaths, which the more foiled and worn they were, the more effectual they proved. During the fame year the tree Ruminalis, ftand- ingin the place afiignedfor the election of magi ftrates, the fame which after the birth of Romulus and Re- mus had yielded fhelter ta thefe expofed babes, eight hundred and forty years ago, began to decay \vith withered branches and a deadened trunk; a change which pafledfbran omen of evil portent, till it. revive",! r.gai.i i.'ito^cfli blj.To::is anJ'Ye:\ ! 'vc T II E THE ANNALS O F TACITUS. i BOOK XIV. The SUMMARY. Nero hates and dreads his mother, and caufes her to be murdered. He gives afalfe account of that murder to the Senate. What Jlrange applaufe he finds there, and his encouragement from thence to every cxcefs and enormity. He drives chariots, nay mounts thejlage. Quinquennial games injlititted, "with popular obfervations upon that injlitution. The brave conducl of Corbulo- In Armenia ; he takes Tigranoccrta, and eftablijbes Tigranes King there. A great maffacre of the Romans in Britain during the ab fence of Suetonius Paulinus, then em- ployed in fubduing the Jfle of Anglefey. Thence the province almojl loft, but recovered again by the vigorous efforts of the Governor, and in one great combat. The Governor of Rome Jlain at home by tine of hisjlaves; the reft puni/Jjed. The law of Majejly revived. The death of Burrhus. ^-//- tempts to ruin Seneca j tuho is aware of them, and Juts Book XIII. T H E A N N A L S, &c. 135 fues to bedifmiffed, but is refufed. Tigellinus his mifcbievous credit "with the Emperor ; cattfes Plau- tus and Sylla to be killed. Nero difmijjes his -wife Oclavia, And marries Poppaea. Hence a popular tumult, 'which baflens the murder of Oftavia. DURING the Confulfliip of Caius Vip- ftanus and Caius Fonteius, Nero deter- mined to accomplifh, without more de- lay, the parricide which he had been long de- vifing, as from the permanence of his power he was become refolute and hardened, arid his paffion for Poppcea waxed daily more flaming. She too, who could never hope to fee Octavia divorced, nor herfelf efpoufed during the life of Agrippina, teafed him with inceffant reproaches, nay, fometimes jeered him by the farcaftical name of ' pupil, one blindly fubject to the controulment of another, fo far from being fufFered to fway the Empire, that he was not allowed even private liberty : for upon what other motives could he delay to marry her ? Had he any objections to her perfon and beauty, or to her blood and anceftors, men of renown, difMn- guifhed with triumphal honours ? was he unfatif- fied about the fruitfulnefs of her body, or the fin- cere affections of her foul ? No ; the truth was, it was dreaded, that when fhe was become his wife fhe would be laying open the grievances of the Senate, the refentment of the people againft the pride and rapacioufnefs of his mother. But after all, if Agrippina would bear for a daughter- in-law no other than one who would prove to her fon a vexatious and malevolent wife, fhe de- fired to be reftored again to the conjugal embra- ces of Otho ; for fhe was ready and refolved to withdraw to any quarter of the earth, there rather to hear of the Emperor's abafement and reproach, than ftay to behold it, and expofe herfelf to a part- * nerfhip T II E A N- N A L S Book XIV. ' nerfhip of the perils which furrounded him.' Thefe and the like expoitulations, enforced with fighs and tears, and all the foft artifices of tlfe adulterefs, pierced the foul of Nero ; nor did any one check their operation, as all carneftly wished to fee the authority of Agrippina crnfhed, and as no mortal believed that ever the fon would wax fo hardened in his hate as to fpill the blood of his mother. It is recorded by Cluvius, that fuch was the flam* ing paffion of Agrippina for retaining her wonted dominion, to fuch extravagant lengths was (he tranf- ported, that often in the face of the day, at a fea- fbn when Nero was heated with wine and banquet- ing, ihe accofled him gaily attired, and while ho \vas thus drunk ftrove to- prompt him to inceft ; that their obfcene kifTes, geftures, and other fuch lignals and incitements to that abomination, being well obferved by thofe who were prefent, Seneca, for an antidote againft the inticements of one wo- man, had recourfe to another ; hence Acle was in- troduced, a franchifed damfel, one who being e qually anxious for her own danger and the infamy of Nero, warned him, that already the inceft was every where publifhed, and his mother gloried ia the publication, and that the foldiery would never bear the rule of a Prince contaminated with fuch unnatural pollution. Fabius Rufticus afcribes this ftrange appetite not to Agrippina, but to Nero, and recount?, that by the cunning of the fame Acle he \vas weaned and refcuecL But the detail given by Cluvius is the fame with that of the other wri- ters, and on this, fide too is the teftimony of po- pular fame ; whether ihe really nouri(hed in her heart an impurity fo monfbrous, or whether the con- certing of this unheard-of proftitution appeared the more credible in her, who almoft in her childhood had, from thirft of dominion, confented to be de- bauched by Lepidus, with the like fpirit of power Book XIV. F T A C I T U S. 137 abandoned herfelf to the lull of Pallas, and during her inceftuous marriage with her uncle Claudius had been practifed in a courfe of \vickednefs of every kind and decree. o Thenceforth Nero began to avoid all private en-- counters wifh his mother, and upon every occafion of her ret'r ing to any of her gardens out of Rome, or to her feats at Tufculumor Antium, ufed'to ap- plaud her for thus employing her leifure : at length, confidering her as his dread and torment where- ' ever fhe refided, he aflumed a refoiution to kill her, and was only in fufpenfe about the means, whether by poifon or the fword, or any other effectual vio- lence. That of pcifon was preferred at firft, but to adminifter the fame was difficult: if it were done at the Prince's table, its operation could never pafs for accidental death, fince in the like manner Britanni- cus had already perifhed: to apply to her own do- meftics appeared a great rifque, as fhe was a wo- man who, from her own long intimacy with frauds and blood, was wary and vigilant againfl all fnares and circumvention, and moreover always fecured herfelf by counter-poifons againft the efforts of poi- fon. How to difpatch her with the fword, and yet cover the appearances of the execution, no one pre- tended to devife ; it was feared too, that the orders would be rejected, to whomfoever they were given, for the perpetration of fuch hideous iniquity. Here Anicetus proffered his fervice and dexterity, a fran- chifed Have, tutor to Nero in his infancy, but now Commander of the fleet which rode at Mifenum, one virulently hated by Agrippina, and with equal virulence hating her; he therefore explained, 'how ' a veflel might be fo contrived, that by the fud- ' den burning of one particular quarter in the open ' fea," fhe might be overwhelmed without the leaft * warning or apprchenfion. Nothing, he faid, was ' fo fertile of difaflers as the fea, and if fhe were ' thus 138 THE ANNALS Book XIV. ' thus difpatched by (hip wreck, who could be fo in- * jurious as to afcribe the malignity of wind and ' waves to the malice and contrivance of men ? * Moreover, the Prince would of courfe beflow on ' his deceafed mother a temple and altars, and all ' other honours proper to create an oftentation of ' filial grief and piety.' Nero was pleafed with the device, which was alfo favoured by the juncture of time, the Feftival of Minerva, called Quinqiiatrus, which he was then celebrating at Baize : thither he inticed his mother; for he was frequently declaring, ' that the hafty ? humours of parents were to be borne withal, and * towards her it behoved him to fupprefs every ini- ' tation of his own fpirit;' as by fuch declarations he meant to raife a general rumour of his own reconcilement to her, a rumour which he hoped would reach Agrippina and find credit with her, from the credulous genius of women, prone to be- lieve whatever feeds their willies and promifes mat- ter of joy. When (lie approached, he met her upon; the more (for (he came by fea from Antium) pro- fented her his hand, and embraced her, then con- ducted her to Bauli, fo the "villa is called, which, lying between the Cape of Mifenum and the Gulf of Baiae, is wadied by the fea which winds round the point : here, amongft feveral other veflels, there lay one more gaudy and ornamental than the reft, as if, in this particular too, he meditated frefh ho- nour to his mother ; for (he had been always wont to be carried in a galley with three banks of oars, rowed by mariners from the fleet. Moreover, the banquet to which (lie was invited was fo timed, that under the dark (hades of night the horrid exe- cution might be covered : it was, however, appa- rent that fome body had betrayed the defign, and that Agrippina, upon hearing the perfidious machi- nation, though (he was doubtful whether fne ought to Book XIV. O F T A C I T U S. 139 to believe it, had yet chofen to be carried by land to Baise in a fedan ; but upon her arrival there the phufible behaviour of Nero afiuaged her fears; for befides placing her at table above him,' treating her with all tendernefs and care/Fes, he amufed her with great variety of converfarion, now breaking out into Tallies of youthful franknefs, then with an air compofed and grave difcourfing of weighty af- fairs, and having thus drawn out the banquet into a great length, he attended her to the fhore, there more ardently than before he kiffed her eyes, kifTed her bofom, and left it uncertain whether by fuch pafllonate behaviour he only meant to complete this fcene of dirTimulation, or whether the lafl fight of a mother juft going to perifh really checked his fphit however favage. The night proved clear, the ftars fhone in full luftre, thefea was fmooth and calm, as if all this had been concerted by the providence of the Gods for the more inconteftable detection of the murder. Agrippina, of all her numerous domeftics, was when fhe embarked attended only by two, Cre- pereius Gallus, who flood by the fteerage, and Acerronia, who, as her Lady repofed, lay at her feet, and was recounting to her with much joy the remorfe of her fon, and the favour which by it he had regained from his mother : nor had the vefTel yet made much way, when fuddenly, upon a fignal given, the deck over that quarter was loofened, and being purpofely loaded with a great quantity of lead funk violently down, and inftantly crushed Crepe- reius to death : Agrippina and Acerronia were de- fended by the pofts of the bed, which happened to be too ftrong to yield to the defcending weight ; neither did the ftrufture of the vefTel burft, for the mariners were all embarrafled, and thofe of them who were not entrufted with the fraud obftrucled the meafures of fuch as were. The next expedient coa- 140 THE. ANNALS Book XIV. concerted by the latter was to bear her down on one fide, and fo fink her; but neither amongll thefe accomplices was there an inftant concurrence in executing a project thus haftily propofcd, and there were others at the fame time ^niggling con- trariwife to preferve her : hence it proceeded that flie was not fwallowed up at once in the deep, but defcended more leifurely. Now Acerronia, while flie declared herfelf to be Agrippina, and called upon them palTionately to fuccour and fave the Prince's mother, was purfued with poles, and oars, and whatever other naval weapons came accident- ally to hand, and fo flain. Agrippina kept filence, and being therefore the lefs known, efcaped with one wound however upon her fliouider. What with fwimming, what with the affiftance of fome fifher- boats, which rowed out to fuccour her, (he reached the lake Lncrinus, and was thence conduct- ed to her own villa. ' * Here fhe revolved upon her danger, that for this very end fhe had been inveigled by the fraudulent letters of her fon, for this treated by him with fuch fignal marks of honour, that the vefTel, even under the fhelter of the fhore, without the agitation of winds, without concuffion from rocks, had yielded in its upper part, and tumbled down like a frail ftructure of earth. She confidered the fate of Acer- ronia, miftaken for herfelf and defignedly flain, and fhe beheld her own wound. From the whole how- ever (he inferred that her only refource againft thefc black machinations was to act as if (he faw them not. With this view fhe difparched Agerinus, her freedman, to notify to her fon, ' that through the ' benevolence of the Gods, and the aufpicious in- * fluence of his fortune, (he had efcaped a grievous ' cafualty, but befought him that, however terri- * fied \vith the danger which had threatened his ' mother, he fhould yet poflpone the trouble cf ' vifiting^ BookX[V. O F T A C I T U S. 141 ' vifiting her, for what fhe only needed at prefent * was reft.' In the mean while, counterfeiting per- fect fecurity and fearleflhefs, fhe had medicines ap- plied to her wound, and her body chafed and anoint- ed ; fhe called too for the laft will of Acerronia, and ordered all her effects to be regiftered and feal- ed up ; in which proceeding oaiy fhe acted without counterfeiting. As to Nero, while he was hourly expecting "cx- prefles that the parricide was executed, tidings ar- rived ' that (lie had efcaped only with a flight hurt, ' having fo far felt the danger as to remain in no * uncertainty who it was that fought her life.' At this he became mortally {truck with difmay, and fwore in paffionate terms, ' t-hat without perad- vcnture fhe would prefently be at hand, bent upon taking hafty vengeance, whether by arming the flaves, or by ftirring up again ft him the rage of the foldiery, or by flying to the Sen-ite and people with a tragical representation of the veffel wrecked, herfelf wounded, her friends murdered, and her fon the author of all : and againft this menacing event what refource, what protection, had he, unlefs fome fuch could be propofed by Burrhus and Seneca ? ' For the inftant he re- ceived the news of the difappointment, he had called for them both to confult them; neither is it certain whether before this they were unacquainted with the confpiracy. Upon this emergency they both kept long filence, as they apprehended that it was in vain to perfuade him to drop the defign,- and perhaps believed it to be already pufhed fo far, that unlefs Agrippina footi perifhed, Nero certainly muft : at length Seneca proved the more forward of the two ; yet no further than to look at Burrhus, and afk, ' whether the orders for this execution were ' not to be trufted to the foldiery ? ' Burrhus an- fwered, that ' the Praetorian guards were fo zealoufly attached T II E A N N A L S Book XIV. attached to the whole family of theCxfars, fo fond in particular of the name and memory of Germa- nicus, that againfl any defcendent of his they could never be animated to aught that were cruel and bloody ; it therefore behoved Anicetus to ac- quit himfelf of his engagement :' neither did Ani- cetus paufe one moment, but even demanded the office of completing the murder. Nero became re- vived with thefe words, and declaring himfelf to be that day prefented with the Empire, owned his fran- chifed flave for the author of the mighty prefent, and urged him to difpatch, leading with him for his afliftance fuch as were molt prompt to obey. The freedman however having heard that Argerinus was arrived from Agrippina, with the news of her dif- after and efcape, contrived a plot to turn the treafon upon her ; and therefore as the other was delivering his meflage dropped a dagger between his legs, then, as if he had caught him in the terrible fa<5r, called for irons to be inftantly caft upon him. By this fable he purpofed to fupport another, by feign- ing that the deftruclion of the Prince had been con- certed by his mother, and that being Aruck with confufion upon the difcovery of her treafon Ihe had defperately put an end to her own life. During thefe tranfactions, while the danger which threatened Agrippina at fea flew abroad (for it was underftood as the effect of chance) the people flocked impatiently to the fliore, each as foon as he heard it. Some climbed up the mounds which (hoot out into the fea, fome crowded into barks and fkifFs, others entered the floods and waded as deep as their height would permit ; nay, there were thofe who ftretched out their arms, as it were to catch and receive her ; fo that with lamentations for her misfortune, with vows for her deliverance, and with the indiftinct clamour of a multitude, many afking different quef- tions, or returning uncertain anfwers, the whole coaft re- Book XIV. OF TACITUS. 143 refounded : there ran, moreover, to the reft a great crowd with lights in their hands ; and as foon as it was confirmed that Agrippina was out of danger, they were fpeeding with all zeal to offer her their congratulations, till by the fight and menaces of an armed band they were terrified and difperfed. Ani- cetus befet the villa with a guard, and, burfting open the gates, feized and fecured all fuch of her flaves as appeared to ftop him ; he then advanced towards her chamber, where he found the door guarded by very few ; all the reft were feared away by the terror and violence of his entrance. In her chamber was a fmall light, and only one of her dam- fels ; Agrippina too herfelf was more and more toffed with anxious thoughts, that no foul had yet arrived from her fon, nor had even Agerinns returned ; fhe perceived from without ftrange viclilitudes and an unufual fcene, the dcfertion of her own people, and the fudden violence and tumult of ft rangers, with .nil the warnings of her hft fate ; infomuch that feeing her maid too about to depart, fhe faid, * thou ' likewife art going to abandon me;' and that mo- ment fpied Anicetus, accompanied with Herculeus, Captain of a galley, and Oloaritus, a Centurion of the navy ; me told him, ' If he came from the Emperor to be informed of her health, he mould acquaint him fhe was well recovered ; if upon any bloody defign, fhe would no %vife believe him commiffioned by her fon ; her fon could never give unnatural orders for parricide.' The afTa/fins having placed themfelves round her bed, the Cap- tain was the firft that wounded her, finking her upon the head with a club ; for to the Centurion, as he was drawing his fword to difpatch her, fhe prefented her belly, and with a loud voice, * Strike * thy fword into my womb,' fhe cried, and was inftantly afiiiflinated with a multitude of wounds. In 144 THE ANNALS Book XIV. In thefe particulars authors are unanimous ; but that Nero afterwards furveyed the body of his mur- dered mother, and magnified its fymmetry and love- linefs, there are thofe who have related, and thofe who deny. That very night her corps was burned with fordid obfequies, upon no other bed than fuch as fhe ufed to recline upon at meals ; neither dur- ing the reign of Nero were her relics repofited, or covered with common earth, till afterwards, from the benevolence of her domeltics, fhe received a flight and vulgar grave upon the road to Cape Mi- fenum, adjoining to a villa of Caefar's the Dictator, which from its elevated fituation overlooks the coaft and bays below. Mnefter, a freedman of hers, as foon as her funeral fire was lighted, run himfelf through with a fword, whether from affection for his lady or from dread of his own doom, is alto- gether uncertain. This violent end of Agrippina was foretold her many years before, and believed, and yet fet at nought by her ; for as the Chaldeans, whom fhe confulted concerning the fortune of Nero, anfwered, that ' he would certainly reign, and cer- * tainly kill his mother;' ' Let him kill me, faid ' fhe, fo he do but reign.' The fcene of this horrible iniquity being over, the Emperor became terribly ftruck with its crying enormity, and for the reft of the night was now dumb, motionlefs, with his eyes fixed, then ftarted up amazed and trembling, and thus waited in diffractions of mind the approach of day, a day from which he expected fome direful doom. What firft raifed his aflurance was the flattery of the Tri- bunes and Centurions, who at the mitigation of Burrhus grafped his hand, with congratulations, ' That he had thus efcaped fuch unforefeen peri), * and the mortal mares of his mother.' Next, his friends and intimates betook themfelves with thankf- giving to the feveral Temples ; and the example being Book XIV. O F T A C I T U S. 14 $ being thus begun was followed by the adjacent towns and communities of Campania, who gave public tef- timonies of their joy, by facrih'ces to the Gods, and embaffies to the Prince. For himfelf, his diffimu- lation took a different turn from theirs : Sad and dejected was his. mien, he feemed to hate a life thus faved, and bewailed with many tears, the death of his mother. However, as places cannot change their afpecl, like the fupple countenances of men, and as the tragical profpect of that deadly fea and coaft was inceflantly reproaching him (befides there were thofe who believed, that from the high cliffs round about they heard the thrill found of trumpets, and fhrieks and wailings from Agrippina's grave) he withdrew to Naples, and there fent letters to the Senate, of which thefe are the heads : ' That Agerinus, a freedman of Agrippina's, * in intimate truft with her, had been feized, ready ' armed to aflTaffinate him ; whence me had undergone * the-pains of parricide, from the fame guilty confci- ' ence that prompted her to contrive it.' To this he added a catalogue of her crimes, traced a long way backwards; how ' fhe had aimed at a co ordinare power in the Empire, with an oath from the Prae- torian bands, an oath of allegiance to a woman, nay, to the abafeuient of the Senate and people, had expected the like mark of fubjecKon from them ; and finding her ambition difappointed, flie became enraged againft the foldiery, againft the fathers, and the populace, oppofed a donative to the guards, and a largefs to the people, and devifcd deftruclion aga'mffc the illuftrious chiefs of Rome. Nay, it was with great difficulty that he defeated her defign of ufurpinga feat in the Senate, and of returning anfwers to the Ambafladors of fo- - reign -nations.' He even obliquely laihed the tranf- actions under Claudius, and call upon his mother all the acts of tyranny in that reign, afcribing her fail VOL. II. H to 146 T H E A N N A L S Book XIV. to the good fortune of the State ; for he recounted the particulars of the (hipwreclc. But u here lived there a foul fo ftupid to believe it to be the blind work of chance ; or that a forlorn woman, juft fared from a wreck, fhould employ a fingle adaflin to break through an armed fleet and the imperial guards, and flay the Emperor ? Hence it was not now upon Nero that the popular cenfure fell (for Nero's brutal bar- barity fnrpafled all cenfure) but upon Seneca, for that, by fuch a reprefemation to the Senate, he had in writing avowed the deed. Wonderful, however, was the competition of the Grandees in decreeing the following folemnities ; That at all the altars public devotions fhould be performed ; the feaft of Minerva, during which the confpiracy was detected, fhould be celebrated with anniverfary plays for ever ; in the Senate-houfe fliould be placed the fhuue of that Goddefs in gold, and clofe by her, that of the Emperor ; and, in the lift of unhallowed days, Agrippina's anniver- fary mould be inferted.' Thrafea Petus, -who was wont either to pafs over the like follies of fervility in utter filence or with a fhort word of aflent, walked now out of the Senate, and thence awakened future vengeance againft hhnfelf, and yet to the reft opened no fource of .liberty. There happened, .moreover, at the fame time frequent prodigies, from which arofe many prognoftics, but no confequences. One woman brought forth a ferpent, another, in the em- braces of her hufband was ftruck dead with a thun- der-bolt ; the fun became fuddenly darkened, and the fourteen quarters of the city felt the crTecls of lightning. All which events came to pafs fo ap- parently without any providential defign in the Dei- tjes, that for many years after this, Nero continued fafe in his fovereignty and enormities. Now, in or- der to heighten the popular hate towards his morher, and withal to magnify his own clemency, as if the {lime Book XIV. OF TACITUS. 147 fame were enlarged now (he was removed, he re- flored to their native country and inheritance, Junia and Calpurnia, Ladies of illuftrious quality, with Valeiius Capito and Lucinius Gabolus, men of Prae- torian dignity, all formerly doomed to exile by Agrippina : He likewife permitted the remains of Lollia Paullina ro be brought home, and a fepulchre for them to be built ; Iturius too and Calvifius, whom he had lately banifhed, he now pardoned and releafed ; for Silana had already yielded to the lot of mortality at Tarentum, whither, from her remote banimment, (he had returned, either becaufe the authority of Agrippina, by whofe enmity flie fell, was then declining, or her wrath by that time af- fuaged. While Nero lingered in the towns of Campania, full of anxiety how to conduct himfelf upon his re- turn to Rome, whether he ihouid find the Senate obfequious, or zeal in the people, his doubts were combated by all the profligates of the court (and no court upon earth abounded with more). They ar- gued ' that the very name of Agrippina was detcired, ' infomuch that by her death the afHc"lions of the * people were more powerfully kindled towards him: ' He mould therefore proceed confidently, and in ' perfon receive proofs of popular adoration.' As they demanded too, that, for trial, they might ar- rive fomewhat before him, they found, in all re- fpe[ rdoUite va;pu> was not mattered without blows. Tru-y even upon a faiiy, and jo ~c wall?, beaten back into their k>i tii . . 1$ our men forced a; : after tlv.ai, thu liged at latt to yi . ailams. Thefe er.cerprizes were the mi;/ <.a>mp:;th- ed, tor that the Parthi. the while in a war with the Hyrcania oplfc \\ho had already Tent an eiTib.afy to the Ronian Ln to intreat his alliance, repreleoling i: ; their friendmip to Rome, that they had thus diverted the power -of Vologefes. As thefe Ambaiiudors were returning, that they might not, by croffing th, phrates, be intercepted by the itationary guards of the enemy, Corbulo furnifhed them with a convoy of foldiers, who condr.cted them as far as the toaft of the -Perfian gulf,fromwhence, without touching tl.tbouiids of Part ha, they returned inirJety to their native h Moreover, as Tiridates h ad prided through Me- dia, and thenee invaded the extreme pans of Ar- menia, Corbulo, having feat forward Verulnnus his Lieutenant-Genefal, with the auxiliary troops, advanced himfelf at the head of the Legions lightly -equipped, and conftraining the invader to retire quite away from that Kingdom, deprived him of all hopes from purfuing the \var ; having likewife kid watte, with fire and (laughter, all thofe quar- ters which he had learnt were zealous for that King, and therefore difaffefted to us, he had already alTumed the complete pofFeflion and government of all Armenia, \vhtn Tigranes arrived, a Prince pre- ferred by Nero to t! at crown. He was a Cappa- docian, nobly clefcended, and grandion to King Archelaus ; but from the former lot of his life, hav- ing patted many years at Rome in the quality of a hoirage, his fpirit was miferably debafed, even to a degree of abjeclnefs and fervility j neither was he now Book XIV. OF TACITUS. 159 now received into the fovereignty with general una- nimity, as amongft feverai there {till remained a lafHng afKcYion for the family of the Arfacides. However, as there were many who abominated the pride of the Parthians, they preferred the accepting of a King from the hands of the Romans. Upon the new Monarch too was beftowed a body of guards, namely, a thoufand legionary foldiers, three Cohorts detached from our confederates, and two wings of horfe, to iupport him in maintaining his new realm. Several portions, befides, of Armenia, were fubjefted to the neighbouring Kings, to Pha- rafmenes, to Polemon, Ariftobulus, and Anticchus, accordiug to the contiguity of the fame to their refpective dominions, Corbtilo having completed this fettlement, withdrew into Syria, a province ailigned to him, upon the death of Venidius, the late Governor. The fame year, Laodicea, one of the capital cities of Afia, having been overthrown by an eaith- quake, rofe again, by her own ability and means, into her former luftre, unafTifted by any aid from us. But, in Italy, the ancient city of Puzzoli ob- tained from Nero the prerogative and title of a Colony. All the Veteians then difmifTed were in- grafted amongft the inhabitants of Tarentum and Antium, yet cured not the defeft and thinnefs of people there ; (or many of thefe new-comers drag- gled away to their old haunts in the provinces, where, during their term of fervlce, they had quar- tered ; being, befides, never accuftomed to engage in wedlock, or to rear children, they lived without families, and died without pofterity. For Colonies were not now eftablifhed as of old, when intire Le- gions were tnmfplanted thither, with their officers, Tribunes, and Centurions, and all the foldieis in their diftincl: clafles ; fo as they might from anci- ent acquaintance and unanimity fall naturally into the form of a commonweal ; but a medley of men, not 160 THE ANNALS Book XIV. not known to each other, now thrown together* without any ruler to manage them, without mu- tual affection to unite them, and all detached from different companies, like fo many individuals fud- denly amaffed from fo many different races of men, were rather a crowd than a Colony. The election of Praetors followed, a tranfaclioit wont to be fubject to the pleafure of the Senate j but as this proceeded with unufual vehemence and caballing, the Prince fettled the contention, by pre- ferring to the command of a Legion the three can- didates who exceeded the flated number. He alfo exalted the dignity of the Fathers, by ordaining, that, ' whoever fhould appeal from the ftated judges ' to the Senate, mould be expofed to the hazard * of forfeiting the fame fum of money as did thofe * who appealed to the Emperor.' For hitherto this was left at large and free from all penalty. At the clofe of the year Vibius Secundus, a Roman Knight, was, upon the accufation of the Moors, condemned for public extortion, and expelled Italy ; for he efcaped a feverer doom by the prevailing cre- dit and opulence of Vibius Crifpus, his brother. During the Confulfhip of Ccefonius Paetus and Petronius Turpilianus we fuffered a cruel (laughter in Britain. In truth, as Avitus the Governor had done no more there than (what I have already ob- ferved) jufl maintained our former conquefts, fo- his fucceffor Veranius, having only in fome light in- cuifions ravaged the territories of the Silures^ was intercepted by death from any further profecution of the war ; a man indeed of high reputation during his life, for fevere virtue and manners; but by the flile of his laft will, his fervile ambition and court to power became notorious ; for after manifold flatteries beftowed upon Nero, he added, ' that he * mould have completely fubjecled that province ' to his obedience, had his own life been prolonged * for two years. After him, Suetonius faulinus ob- Book XIV. O F T A C I T U S. 161 obtained the government of Britain, a competitor \vith Corbulo in the fcience of war, and in the voice of the populace, who to every man of renown are fure to create a rival. He hoped too, by fub- duing that fierce enemy, to reap equal glory to that which the other derived from the recovery of Ar- menia : He therefore prepared to fall upon the ifle of Anglefea, powerful in inhabitants, and a com- mon refuge to the revolters and fugitives. He built, for that end, boats with broad flat bottoms, the eafier to approach a more full of (hallows and un- certain landings ; upon thefe the foot were embark- ed ; the horfe followed partly by fording, partly by fwimming. On the oppofite fhore flood the enemy's army, compact with men and arms : amongfr. them were women running franticly to and fro, refembling the wild rranfports of furies ; difmally clad in fu- nereal a ppr.relj their hair disheveled, and torches in their hands. Round the ho(t alfo appeared their Priefts the Druids, with their hands lifted up to heaven, uttering bitter and direful imprecations ; and from the llrangenefs of the fpectacle, flruck the fpirit of the Roman foldiers with great difrmy ; infomuch, that, as if all their limbs had been be- numbed, they flood motionlefs, with their bodies expofed, like marks, to wounds and darts, till, by the repeated exhortations of the General, as well as by mutual incitements from one another, they were at laft roufed to fhake off the fcandalous terror infpired by a band of raving women and fanatic priefls ; and thus advancing their onligns, they dif- comfited aH that refitted, and involved them in their own tires. A garrifon was thereafter eftablifhed over the vanquifhed, and the groves cut down by them dedicated in deteftable fuperftitions ; for there they facrificed captives, and, in order to difcover the will of the Gods, confulted the entrails of men ; prac- 162 T H E A N N A L S Book XIV. practices of cruelty by them accounted holy. While Suetonius was thus employed, tidings were brought him of the fuel den revolt of the province. Prafutagns, the lute King of the Iccnians. a Prince Jong renowned for his opulence and gr.mdeur, had by will left the Emr eror joint heir with his own two daughters; as by frith a fignal inilance of loyalty, .he judged he (hou!d purcha'e a fure protection to his Kingdom and family again!! all injury and violence. A fcheme which produced an effect fo intirely con- trary, that his realm was ravaged by the Centurions, and his houfe by flaves; as if both his houfe and realm had been thejuft fpoils of war. Firi! of all "Boudicea his wife underwent the ignominious vio- lence of flripes, and his daughters that of conf!upra- tion; and, as though the entire region had been be- queathed to the plunderers, all the principal Iccni- ans were fpoiled of their ancient pofTcflions, and the Royal relations of the hue King were kept and treat- ed as flaves. Enraged by all this contumelious ty- ranny, and dreading opprefjions IKil more fevcre, fince they were thus reduced into a province, they flew unanimoufly to arms, having animated the Tri- nobantes to join in the revolt, as well as all others who were not yet broken by the yoke of fervitude, and had fecretly confpired to recover their original liberty. Their moft implacable enmity was towards the Veterans, lately tranflated to the Colony of Camalodunum ; for thefe new guefls had thruft them out of their houfes, exterminated them from their native lands, and treated them with the vile titles of captives and flaves. Thefe outrages too of the Veterans were abetted by the common fol- diers from their fimilitude of life and inclination, and in hopes of enjoying the fame licentious fituat'u n. Moreover, the Temple built and dedicated to the deified Claudius was by them regarded as the bul- wark of a domination eitabKfhed over them without end. Book XIV. T II E A N N A L S 163 end. Befides that the Priefb, culled out for minif- tering in the Temple, under the cloak of Religion, devoured their \\holeiubilance. Mather did it appear an arduous undertaking to extirpate a Colony no wifefecured by fortification?; a provifion little mind- ed by our Commanders, who had confulted accom- modation and pleasure antecedently to advantage and fccuiity. During thefe tranfac~lions, the .(htue of victory at Caoaalodunifta, without any ui'ih'e violence, tum- bled down with her f'.ice turned round ; as if by it fhe betokened her yielding to the enemy. There were women too who, transported with oracular fury, chanted defiruftion to be at hand. In the place where they affembled for the bufinefs of the'public, the accent and tumultuous murmurs of Grangers were heard ; their Theatre ecchctd with diftoal h'owl- ings, and, in -the lakes formed by the tk*es ic fill- ing the Thames, a reprefentation was fcen of a Colo- ny overthrown. The lea too appeared all dyed with blood, and at the departure of the tide, phantoms of human bodies appeared left behind upon the~fh\md. From which omens, as the Britons derived matter of hope and joy, fo did the Veterans matter of heavinefs and fear. But, becaufe Suetonius was at a great dif- tance, they fought fuccours from Catus Decianus, Procurator of the province, who yet fent them no more than two hundred men, nor thefe completely armed ; and, in the Colony itfeif, was buc a fmall handful of folJiers. The Veterans not only relied upon the fhelter and ftrength of the Temple, but were fruftrated in their meaftires by fuch as were fe- cret accomplices in the revolt ; hence they had nei- ther fecured themfelvesby a ditch or pallifade, nor re- moved their women and old men, referving only thofe of youth and vigour for their defence. So that, utterly unprepared, and as void of circumfpeclion as if full peace had reigned, they were befet and cut off by 164 THE ANNALS BookXiV. by a vaft hod: of Barbarians. In truth, every thing in the Colony yielded to iuftant violence, and was razed or burnt ; only the Temple, whither the fol- diers were retired in a body, flood a two days liege, and was then taken by ftorm. Moreover, Petilius Cerialis, Commander of the ninth Legion, as he advanced to relieve his friends, was met and encoun- tered by the viftorions Britons, his Legion rou'eout fettling his head quarters in this place, and entiling it for the feat and centre of the war-, but reflecting upon the thin number of his foldiers, and well warned by the te- merity of Petilius fo fignally f.haftized, he refolved to abandon it, and, with the lofs of one town, to fave the whole province. Nor could the tears and wailings of numbers imploring his protection divert him from ordering the fignal for departure to be fou nd- ed. Into part of his forces he aflumed all thofe who would accompany him ; whoever (laid behind, whether detained by the weaknefs of their fex, by the unwieldinefs of eld age, or by the charms of the place, fell, without exception, by the rage of the enemy. The like (laughter befell the municipal city of Verulamium. For the Barbarians, who were charmed with plunder, but cold and daftardly in other exploits of war, omitted to attack forts and garrifons ; but where-ever there was abundant booty, Book XIV. O F T A C I T U S. booty, eafy to be feizcd by the fpoiler, dangerous to be defended by the owner, thither they carried their animofity and arms. In the ieveral places which I have mentioned, it appeared that feventy thoufand fouls had perifhed, all Romans, or the confederates of Rome ; for the enemy neither made, nor fold, nor exchanged prifoners, nor obferved any other law of war ; but upon all exercifed mortal fury, by prefent killing, gibbetting, burning, and crucifying with the defperate eagernefs and precipitation of men, who were fure of undergoing a terrible doom, and refolved, by anticipated vengeance, to fpill the blood of others before their own were fpilt. Suetonius had already an army of nigh ten thou- fand men ; namely, the fourteenth Legion, with the Veterans of the twentieth, and auxiliaries from the quarters next adjoining ; fo that relinquishing all further delay, he prepared for encountering the ene- my in battle, and chofe a place which ftretchcd out before into a hollow and narrow vale, with fteep fides, and was behind girt in with wood. He was thoroughly apprized, that in the front only the whole forces of the enemy were to be expedted, and that the fpace between was a plain bottom, where no ftratagems nor ambufhes were to be dreaded : He therefore drew up the Legionary foldiers into clofe ranks, fuftained them with the foldiery lightly armed, and on each wing placed the cavalry. The Britifh army were every where exulting and bounding in g':eat feparate bands, fome of horfe, feme of foot, and exhibited in all a multitude fo vaft as hitherto was not parallelled. They were even animated by a fpirit fo confident and fierce, that with them they had alfo brought their wives, to be fpeftators of their victory, and flowed them in their waggons, which they had placed round the extremity of the camp. Boudicea was carried about in a chariot, where before her fat her two daughters. Traversing the field, 166 THE ANNALS Book XIV. field, from nation to nation, fhe to all declared, That u was, in truth, ufual to the Britons to war under the conduct of women ; yet, upon this oc- cafion, fhe aflumed not the authority ey had proved. ' E\en in an army coinpo'ed of many Legions, ' the glory of diiomfiting the. foe reira.ned always ' to a few ; huu'e ir w ;.id ic.iou'id t> their pc- * culiarg!>iy, that thcuph bu* a f'.nall band, they ' fnouid reap all the renown which coull accrue to ' a great and complete army. They were only to ' keep condeiffed in their ranks, and having firft ' diicharged their darts, clofe in, and with the na- ' vels of their fliicids and edge of their fwords * purfue the defeat and (laughter. Of the fpoil they ' muft have no thought, fince after victory, to their ' fhare of conrfe would fall fpoil, and honour, and * all things.' Every part of the General's fpeech was followed by fnch fignal ardour in his men, with fuch prompt- nefs had all the old foldiers, men long inured to all the arts and events of battle, already affumed a pro- per pofture for wielding and darting their javelins, that Suetonius, as certain of the iffue, gave the fig- nal for onfet. Firft of all, the Legion kept their ground immove- able, and ftill flickered themfelves, as with a bul- wark, within the natural ftreights of the place, till the enemy had advanced within arrow fhot, and es- haufted all their darts. Upon this advantage, they ru filed out upon them, as it were with the force and keennefs of a wedge; equal was the Impetuofity of the auxiliaries : The horfe too, advancing with a battlement of pikes, utterly broke and overthrew whatever quarters of the foe exerted any refinance and (hength ; for all the reft turned their backs, but found it difficult to efcape ; the inclofure made by their own carriages had obltruclecl their flight. Such too was the fury of the foldiers, that they fpai ed not i68 THE ANNALS Book XIV. not even the lives of women ; nay, the very hearts efcaped not, but were pierced with darts, and ferved to fwell the mighty heaps of the dead. Sig- nal was the glory that day gained, and equal to the victories of the ancient Romans ; for there are au- thors who record, that of the Britons were (lain al- moft eighty thoufand, of our men about four hun- dred, with not many more wounded. Boudicea ended her life by poifon. Poenius Poftumus too, Camp- Marfhal to the fecond Legion, upon tidings of the exploits and fuccefs of the fourteenth and twentieth, as he had defrauded his own of equal honour, and, contrary to the laws of military duty, difobeyed the orders of his General, ran himfelf through with his iword. The whole army was thereafter drawn together, and kept the field under tents, in order to finifli the remains of the war. Their forces were moreover augmented by Nero, who fent them from Germany two thoufand Legionary foldiers, eight Cohorts of auxiliaries, and a thoufand horfe. By their arrival the ninth Legion was fupplied with a Legionary re- cruit ; the auxiliary Cohorts and wings of the cavalry were pofted in new winter quarters ; and thus, which ever of the feveral nations appeared hofKle or fuf- picious, were fubjected to the devaluations of fire and fword. But famine, above all other calamities, afflicted the foe, who had neglected to cultivate the ground ; and, as thofe of every age were bent upon the war, they had defigned to appropriate our flores to their own ufe. Belides, that this people, by na- ture wonderfully ftubborn, were become more back- ward to peace, from the behaviour of Julius Claffi- cianus, who was come as fuccelfor to Catus, and, being at variance with Suetonius, obflructed the public good to gratify private pique. Thus he had every- where publifhed, ' That another Governor * was to be expected, who, free from the wrath of an Rook XIV. O F T A C I T U S. 169 ' an enemy, free from the arrogance of a conqueror, * would by merciful meafures enfure the fubmiffion ' of the province.' At the fame time he tranfmit- ed advice to Rome, ' That unlefs a fucceflbr were * fent to Suetonius, there never would be an end of ' war ;' and, while he charged all the difafters of, that General upon bafenefs of conduct, he afcribed all his conquers and fuccefs to the aufpicious for- tune of the Republic. Hence Poiycletus, one of the imperial freedtr.cn, was difpatched to infpect the condition of Britain ; a project from which Nero conceived mighty hopes, that by the authority of his domefHc, private amity between the Governor and Procurator would not only be effected, but the hoftile fpiritsof the revolt- ed Barbarians reconciled to peace. Nor was Poiy- cletus backward to the employment, thus far at leaft, that having travelled through Italy and Gaul, and oppretTed both with his enormous train, thence eroding the channel, he marched in fuch awful ftate, that even to our own foldiers he became a terror : But to the enemy he proved an object of derifion ; for as amongft them popular liberty even then reign- ed, they were hitherto utter ftrangers to the power of manumifed bondmen. They were likewife a- mazed, that a General and army, who had finiihed fo formidable a war, fliould themfelves be fubfer- vient to flaves. The whole affair, however, was re- ported to the Emperor in a favourable light; fo that Suetonius was continued in the government. But after having ftranded a few gallies, and loft the men who rowed them, as if this accident had been a proof that the war ftill fubfifted,. he was ordered to refign his army to Petronius Turplianu?, who had "iuft ended his Confulfhip ; a Commander who, as he neither offered to the foe any act of hoftility, nor from them received any infult, beflowed upon fuch fhipicl inaction the worthy appellation of Peace. VOL, II.. I ' This I7o 'T HE ANNALS Book XIV. This fame year were perpetrated at Rome two .glaring iniquities, one by a Senator, the other by the defperate hand of a flave. Don itius Balbus had fuftained the dignity of Procter, and his wealth and childlefnefs, added to his exceeding age, expofed him to the machinations of villainy : Hence a will was forged in his name by Valerius Fabi?.nus his kinfman, one nominated to public offices ; who took into the combination Vincius Rufinus and Terentius Lentinus, both Roman Knights; with them were aflociated in the fame caule Antonius Primus and Aiinius Marcellus ; Antonius a man of a prompt daring fpirit ; Marcellus fignal in his defcent, as on him devolved the luflre of his great grand-father Afmius Pollio ; nor paffed he himfelf for a defpicable perfon in his own conduct, fave that he believed poverty to be of all evils the hea- vieft and moft fevere. Fabianus therefore, in con- federacy with thofe whom I have mentioned, and others of lefs note, fealed and witncded the tefta- ment : A fraud of which they were convicted be- fore the Senate. Thus Fabianus and Antonius, with Rufinus and Terentius, were all doomed to the pe- nalties of the Cornelian law. In behalf of Mar- cellus, the illuftiious memory of his anceftors, whh the entreaties of Nero, prevailed, and procured him an exemption rather from punifnment than infamy. The fame day involved Pompeius ^lianus too in his doom, a young man once inverted with the dig- .nity of Quaeftor, but now charged with being privy to the viie practices of Fabianus; thus he was in- terdicted Italy, as alfo the place of his nativity, Spain. Upon Valerius Ponticus was inflicted the like ignominious fentence ; for that he had arraigned the delinquents at the tribunal of the Prxtor, on pur- pofe to fave them from being impteaded before the Governor of Rome, and would have eluded the pu- jjUhmeat through the falfe glo/Ies of law, nay at iaft Book XIV. O F T A C I T U S. 171 lafl had meditated their efcape by manifeft colluficn and double dealing. To the decree of penalties therefore the Senate added, ' That whoever mould * take a price for fuch vile employment, or whofo- ' ever mould procure it at a price, Ihould be in- * voived in the fame penalty with one publicly coa- ' demned for calumny.' Not long after Pcdanlus Secundus, Governor of Rome, was murdered by a (lave of his own, either upon refufmg him his liberty, for which he had bar- gained at a certain price, or that he was enraged by a jealous puffionfor a p.ithic, and could not bear his Lord for a rival. Now, iince according to the ft rift inilitutions of antiquity, the whole family of (laves, who upon fuch occafion abode under the fame roof, rauft inevitably be adjudged to the pains of death ; fuch was the uproar and conflax of the populace, zealous to fave fo many innocent lives, that it pro- ceeded even to fediticn. In the Senate itfelf "there were different opinions, feme were for the popular fide, againfl fuch exceffive rigour; while many would admit no innovation or abatement. Of thefa laft was Cains Caluus, who, leaving the queftion then under debate, reafoned in this manner: ' Many times have 1 affifted, Confcript Fathers, ' in this auguft afTembly, when new decrees of Se ' nate have been demanded, contrary to the laws and ' eftabtiftimeats of our fore-fathers, without felting ' myfeif to oppofe fuch demands ; not from any ' doubt that, in tranfaiftions of every kind, the pro- * vifioos made of old were not more judicious and * upright, and whenever they were changed, for ( the worfe they were changed. But I forbore, 3tfb ' I tliould fecin, from an immoderate fondncfs for ' primitive rules, to magnify my own zeal ; Ivfides, ' whatever weight I may have, I judged ought not ' to be forfeited, by engaging in frequent oppoft- ' tion?, but to be refervcd in full vigour ngamll at\y I 2 * emergent T/2 THE ANNALS Book XIV. '* ^emergent conjuncture, when the Commonwealth ' fiiould ftand in need of council; a cbojafidhire '* which this very day has produced. A Senator of ' Confular rank is murdered in his own houfe by ihe ' treachery of one of his own Haves ; a treachery * which was by none of the reft prevented, by none ' of them difclofed, although over their heads was ' hanging ftill in full force the decree of Senate, ' which denounced to the whole domeftic tribe the ' pains of dealh. In the name of the Gods, afcer- ' tain by a decree the defired Impunity. But then, ' what fecurity will any man derive from his dignity, ' when even the Government of Rome fecured not * him who pofTefTed it ? Who will be protected by f the number of his flaves, when a band of four ' hundred afforded no protection to Pedanius Se- * cundus? To which of us will our domeftics, ' upon any occafion, adminifler aid, when they re- * gard not our lives, even where for their negleft * capital terrors threaten theirs ? or has, in truth, ' what fome without blufhing feign, the murderer ' only taken vengeance for injuries received ? Had ' this flave any difpute about his paternal patrimony: 1 ' or had he inherited from his progenitors the bond- * man his path ? Let us even declare that his "* Lord was rightfully killed. Though itbeftrange ' we fliould hunt after arguments in an affair de- * termined by our wifer anceftors ! yet fuppofe the '* queftion were now firft to be decided ; ftill do you * believe that a vindictive flave could defperately de- ' fign to kill his Lord, yet not a menacing word fall * from him ? was nothing rafhly uttered by him ? ' Be it fo, that he effectually hid his bloody purpofe ; * be it fo, that he prepared the bloody inftrument ' in the roidft of his fellows, all ignorant of his ends ; ' but ftill could he pafs through the guard of fl/aves ' at the chamber door, open thofe doors, bring in a * light, perpetrate the alfaffination, unknown to them Book XIV. O F TACIT U S. 1-73; them all ? Many murderous dcfigns are prevented by oar (laves ; and while they make fuch difcove- ries, though we are but individuals, we can live t fafely among ft many, and owe our fecurity to. their cate ; or if at laHf we rnufl perifh by them, the ( blood of many traitors ftiall atone for ours. By t our anceftors the fpirit of their (laves was al- t ways fufpecled, even of fuch as were born in their t private territories, nay, in their, houfes, and had' ^ with their milk fucked in a tender nefs- for their t Lords. And fince we are comt: to entertain hi oar families nations of (laves inured to their nati- onal rites widely different from ours, and addidted' to ftrange Religions, or obferving none; it is imr polllble to curb fuch a promifcuous rabble, witl> out the intervention of exemplary terrors. But with the guilty fome innocents muft perilh. Yes~; *" and fo it is in an, army, which, after a fhameful ' rout are punimed with decimation,, where to be c baftinadoed to death is often the lot of the faultlefs. ' and brave. Somewhat there is grievous and un- ' juftin every great exertion of juftice, where private^ * fufFerings are compenfated by public utility.' This judgment of Caffius, which no particular Senator durft venture to combat, was yet oppofed by the di(Tenting murmurs of fuch as thus uttered their companion for thofe involved in it, for their number, for the age of fome, for the fex of others, for the undoubted innocence of moft. It was how- ever carried by the party who adjudged all to the pains of death. A, judgement which yet it was im- poffible to execute; for the populace were flocked tumultuoufly together, and threatening to fall on: with ftones and firebrands. Nero therefore repri- manded the people by an edict, and with lines of foldiers fecured all the way through which the con- demned were led to execution. Cingonius Varro had moved, that the freedmen too, who abode under the I. 3, fame. 174 THE ANNALS Book XIV. fume roof, (hould be for ever expelled Italy ; but this \var. prohibited by the Prince, who urged, 'That * fince the rigorous ufage of antiquity had not been ' mollified by mercy, it ought not to be heightened ' by crutlty.' During the fame Confnls, Tarquitius Prifcus wns, at the fuit of the Bithynians, condemned for public rapine, tothe infinite gratification of the fathers, who \vt'l! remembered that by him had been accufed Stati- lius Taurus, his own Proconfulin Africa. Moreover, a general poll was taken, and a general rate impofed throughout both the Gauls ; an employment executed by Quintus Volufms, Sestius Africanus, and It e- bellins Maximus, and, in it, much contention arofe between VoJufius and Africanus, uvo men who were competitors in nobility and rank ; forTrebeliios, while in this their ftrife he was ncg!e forfeit his illuftrious renown. For an offence much like the form er, Fabricius: Veiento was involved in a heavy profecution ; ' for * that he had compiled a long train of invecTives * againfr. Senators and Pontiffs, and inferted the fame ' in the rolls, to which he had given the title ofCo- ' dici/s, or laft will/ To this charge it- was added; by Talius Geminus his accufer, ' That he had. ' made conftant traffic of the Prince's bounty and< ' favours, and turned into purchafe and fale the ' right of occupying the great offices of the ftate j* an argument this that determined Nero to adjudge his caufe in perfon. Veiento being convicted, the' Kmperor banifhed him from Italy, .and doomed to the flames thefe his writings, which were univerfallyy fought and read, while.it was difficult to find them,, and dangerous to keep them ; afterwards, from the freedom and impunity of poiTefling than,. they funk, iuro neglect and oblivion. But while the public evils waxed every day more- poignant, the fupports of'the public became leffen- ed, and Burrhus yielded to his lafl fate ; nor is it certainly known whether by poifcn or a difeafe.. The latter was imagined from hence, that a {"welling which began in his throat increafcd inwardly by degrees, till by a total floppage of refpiration he died; fufTocated. Many ailerted, that by the order of Nero, under appearance of applying a remedy, his, palate and glands were fomented with fome veno- mous medicine, and that Burrhus having perceived' the deadly fraud> when the Prince came to vifit. him, turned his face and eyes another way, and to. all his repeated inquiries about his health, returned: no other anfwer but this, lam -well: Great and' permanent ajt Home was tire fenfe of his Icf?, as, I 5, 178 THE ANNALS Book XIV- \vell through the memory of his own virtue, as from the characters of his fucceflbrs, one innocent and heavy, the other black with all the moft flagrant iniquities and defilements. For Nero had created two captains of the Praetorian guards, FeniusRufus, in compliment to the populace, who loved him for his diiiuterefted adminiftration in the fuper-inten- dency of the public flores, as alfo Sofonius Tigel- linus, purely from partiality to the inveterate lewd- nefs and infamy of the man, for pollution and infa- my were the characterifVic of Tigellinus. Hence bis fuperior fway over the fpirit or Nero, as one affumed into power from an intimacy in all the fe- rret fallies of his luft. Rufus was diftinguidied in the city and foldiery with popular eftimation ; a cha- racter which brought him under diitafte with Nero. The death of Burrhus quite overthrew the autho- rity of Seneca, as righteous meafures had no longer the fame fuccours now the other champion of vir- tue was removed ; and the heart of Nero was at- tached to men altogether wicked and depraved. Thefe combined to aflail Seneca with criminal im- putations manifold ; as, < Thar he had already ac- ' cumulated wealth incredible, far furpailing the ' meafure of a citizen, and was ftill accumulating ' more : that from the Emperor he was labouring ' to withdraw the veneration of the Roman people; 4 nay, fuch were the charms of his gardens, fuch t the magnificence of his feats, as if in them he ' aimed even to excel the Emperor. To himfelf ' alone he arrogated the praife and perfection of * eloquence ; and, ever fince Nero became infpired 4 with a paflion for verifying, Seneca had employed * himfelf, with unufual affiduity, in the fame ftudy : ' for, to the bodily recreations of the Prince, he ' had declared an open enmity, and hence difparag- * ed his vigour and (kill in the managing horfes ; ' jueuce tuiued his voice into mockery, whenever he Book XIV. OF TACITUS. 179; he fung ; all with this view, that in the whole Republic there (hould nothing occur fignal or fub- ' lime, which was not by him introduced and de- * vifed. Surely Nero was patted the weaknefs of ' childhood", and arrived at his prime of youth : he ' ought now to depofe his pedagogue, and truft only * to the documents conveyed to him by tutors fuf- ' ficiently famous, his own mighty anceftors.' Seneca was not unapprized of the efforts of hi*; calumniators, the fame being difclofed. to him by fuch as flill retained fome concern for truth and ho- nour;, but, as the Emperor manifefted daily more fhynefs and lefs affability, he befought an hour of audience, and having obtained, it,, began thus;, ' This is the fourteenth year flnce I was firft af* ' figned to cultivate thy promifing and princely ' fpirit, Oefar, and the eighth fioce thy advance- ' ment to the Empire. During this whole feries of ' time, fo mighty and fo many are the honours and ' riches which thou haft fhowered down upon me, 4 that to my abundant felicity nought is wanting * but fome bounds and moderation. To.corrobo^ 4 rate this addrefs, I (hall quote great examples, ' and illnftrious names, fuch as are adapted, not * to my Nation and fortune, bur to thine, Augufr ' tus, from wito;n thou art the fourth in deicenr,. ' gi anted to Marcus Agrippa leave to retreat to. ' Mitylene,. and to Caius Alrscenas he. allowed, ' even in Rome,, a recefs as complete as in any re- * mote country, he, could have enjoyed ; the forni;r. ' his companion in the. war, the other long hurraiTed*. ' at Rome, v/lr'i occupations manifold, both by him ' diftinguiCied v/ith fuch remuneration as were glo-- 1 rious, in.truthj yet fjgnally due to their traufcen- * dejit worth and fervices.. For myielf, by whatr ' merit could I pretend to, incite that boundle-fs. 4 munificence of thine, othsr than mine o'A'n.. foil-.. ' tary ftwdies, formed, "if I raay fo fpeak, and nou? 1. 6. '-rifoedl ;8o THE ANNALS Book XIV. rifhed in obfcurity ? and even from them this glory Is devolved upon me, that in the feafonings of literature I am thought to have initiated thy youth ; a fublime reward alone for fuch {lender fervice ! bin thou haft encompaffed me about with an ac- cumulation of Imperial benignity and grace, be- yond all expreflion and limits, and with wealth without meafure or end : infomuch that I often reafon thus with myfelf, Am I, (one by rank no higher than a Knight, by birth no other than a foreigner) am I numbered with the Grandees of the Imperial city ? Hath my new name thus blaz- ed forth amongft the illuftriovis Lords of Rome, men who juftly boaft a long train of hereditary honours ? Where then is that Philofophic fpirir, which profeffes to be fatisfied with humble necef- faries ? Is Seneca that man ? He who thus inclofes and adorns fuch fpacious gardens ; he who thus travels in pomp from feat to feat in the neigh- bourhood of Rome? Is it he who wallows in wealth, in ample pofTeffions, in copious and ex- tenfive ufury ? One plea only there is that occurs to my thoughts, that againft thy donations it be- came not me to ftrive ; but both of us have now difcharged to the utmoft meafure this com- merce of liberality and duty ; whatever the bounty of a Prince could confer upon his friend, whatever a friend could accept from the bounty of his Prince, thou haft already conferred, I have already accepted. Any further addition can only prpve frefti fuel to the bitternefs of envy, an ene- my which, like all other earthly things, lie?, in troth, fabdned under the weight of thy mighty grandeuf, but faftens upon me with all its rage, and I ftand in imminent need of fuccour. Thus, in the fame manner, as were I weary, and faint through the toil of journeying or of warfare, I ' fliould Book XIV. O F T A C I T U S. 181 mould fupplicate for refrefhment and reft ; fo in ' this long journey of life, old as I am, and no longer ' equal to the eafieft truft, and lighteft cares, * and utterly unable to fuftain the load and envy * of my own over-grown riches, I feek affiftance ' and fupport. Order the auditors of thy revenue ' to undertake the direction of my fortune, and to. ' annes it to thy own. Nor mall I by this plunge ' myfelf into indigence and poverty, but having * only furrendered that immenfe opulence, which. ' expofes me to fo much invidious (plendor, I fhall * redeem all the time which is at prefent fequefter- * ed to the care of fo many feats and gardens, and ' apply it to the repofe and cultivation of my mind. * To thee remains abundant ftrength and fupport, . * and thy rule is, by a long courfe of reigning, ' throughly eftablifhed, thou mayft now fpare thy- * ancient friends and councellors, and vouchfafe * them a retreat to quiet and eafe. To thy glory ' this alfo will redound, that to the highefl eftate * thou hadit advanced fucli men as knew how to * bear the lowed. ' To thjs fpeech Nero replied in this manner: ' That I am able thus inftantly to combat thefe ' ftudied reafonings of thine, is a faculty which 4 from thy benignity and care I firfr, derived ; for ' thou haft taught me, not only the art of acquit-- ' ing myfelf promptly, where matters are prepared, ' but even in emergencies intirely unforefeen. It ' is true, my anceftoi Augufhis granted liberty to 1 Agrippa and Maecenas to retreat, after a life of ' many labours, to a life of eafe; but at fuch a * time of his age and eftablifhment he granted it, ' that his authority was fufficient to fuftain any ' conceffion which he could have made them, of ' what kind or importance foever : And he diverted ' neither of them of the bounties and recompences * which he had conferred upon them. Jn the perils of i32. THE ANNALS Book XIV. * of war and of civil diftraclion they had merito- * . rioufly ferved him; for in fuch were the younger * years of Auguftus employed. Neither would/I ' thou, Seneca, have failed to have affifted me With ' thy perfon and arms, if I had been engaged in * war. What my different circumftances required, * thou haft done. With wife rules, whoifome coun- ' fel, and ufeful precepts, thou hail cherimed my ' infancy, and fince, my youth. In truth, the ' gifts and acquirements which 1 hoJd from thee, ' while my lite remains, will .never forfake me: * whereas the acknowledgments which thou reap- ' eft from me, thy gardens, feats, and rents, are '- all expofed to uncertainty and difafters ; and * however copious they may appear, there are * many iuftances of favourites, in worthy accomp- ' lifhments no wife equal to thee, }et dift the fixth day, the conflagration was flayed, at the foot of mount Efquiline, by le- velling with the ground an infinite number of build- ings, and making a mighty void ; fo that the raging devaftation, hitherto uninterrupted, might find no- thing to encounter but open fields and empty air. Scarce had the~late confirmation ceafeJ, when a Dew and no trivial alarm recurred; for the fire broke out with, frcfU outrage, but in places more wide and. Book XV. O F T A C I T IT S. 227 and fpacious; hence fewer lives were deftroyed : But more Temples were here overthrown, and more fumptuous Porticos, fuch as were appropri- ated to public diverfion and feftivity. This confla- gration too was fubject to the greater meafure of infamy, fur that it rofe in the pofleffions of Tigelli- nus, in the Amylian fields ; whence it was conjee^ tured, that Nero was thus aiming at the glory of building a'new city, and calling it by his name. For of the fourteen quarters into which Rome is divided, four were flill (landing entire, three lay in utter ruins ; and in the feven others, there remained only here and there a few fhadcnvs of houfes mife- rably Shattered and half confumed. Eafy it were not to recount the number of the houfes, fquares, palaces, and temples which were loft: But foremoft in antiquity and primitive rites were the following edifices ; that dedicated by Ser- vius Tullins to the Moon; the Temple and great Altar confecrated by Evander the Arcadian to Her- cules, then a living Deity, and prefent in perfon ;. the Chapel vowed by Romulus to Jupiter the Stayer ; the Court of Numa, with the Temple of Vefta, and in it the tutelar Gods peculiar to the Romans ; all now confumed to ruins. In the fame fate were in- volved the treafures acquired and accumulated by fo many victories ; the beautiful productions of Greek artifts, ancient writings of ceMbbrated authors, and till then preferved perfectly intire, which, though- many of them were (till remembered by aged men, yet even upon the restoration of the city with fuch mighty luftre and embelliihments, could never be retrieved nor fupplied. There were thofe who ob- ferved, that on the eighteenth of July the fire be- gan, the fame day on which the Gauls, called Se- nones, having taken ?.nd fpoiled the city, burnt it- to. the ground :. Others were fo curious in their cal- L- 6 cularic-n. 228 THE ANNALS Book XV. culation, as to reckon the juft number of years, months, and days between the two conflagrations*. For the reft ; Nero appropriated to himfelf the ruins of his native country, and upon them founded a palace, one where profufion of gold and precious {tones raifed not the chief admiration, iince thefe \vere ftale and ufual ornaments, fuch as from dif- fufive luxury were become long common : But the principal furprize arofe from the fpacious glades, and large artificial lakes. In imitation of vafl wil- dernefles, here ftood thick woods and fliades ; there lay ample Uwns, avenues, and open views. The projectors and comptrollers of this plan were Se- verus and Celer, two men of fuch temerity and en- terprizing talents, as to attempt to remove by art the everlafting obftacles of nature, and to baffle, in vain experiments, all the Emperor's power: For they had undertaken to fink a navigable canal from the lake Avernus to the mouth of the Tiber, over a dry and defert (hore, or through fteep intervening mountains : Yt in all that way, they could not have encountered any fource of moifture for fupply- ing water, fave only the marfh Pomptina ; the reft was every where a fuccefilon of rocks, or a foil parched and un tractable: Or, had it ever been poffible to have broke through all obftruclion, in- tolerable had been the toil, and the end incompe- tent. Nero however, zealous for atchieving feats which were deemed incredible, exerted all his might to perforate the mountains adjoining to Avernus ; and to this day remain the traces of his romantic and abortive ambition. The remainder of the old foundations, which his own court covered not, was afiigned for houfes ; * I doubt the text here is faulty. Perhaps it ought to be read, as it is in one of the Manu'fcripts, ' Between ' the foundation of the city, and both conflagrations. * Inter ccmilitam urlem C5 5 xtraijue incendia. \ cor Book XV. O F T A. C I T U S. 229 nor were thefe placed, as after it was burnt by the Gauls, at random and itraggling; but the flreets were delineated regularly, ipacious, and ilraight ; the height of the buildings was retrained to a cer- tain ftandard ; the courts were widened ; and to all the great houfes which flood by themfelves, for fecuring their fronts, large Porticos were added : Thefe Porticos Nero engaged to rear at his own ex- pence, and then to deliver to each proprietor the fquares about them, difcharged of all rubbiih. He moreover afligned donatives proportioned to every man's rank and fubftance; and fct a day for pay- ment, on condition thatagainft that day their "fevuv.l houfes or palaces were fmimed. He appointed the imrfhes of Ollia for a receptacle of the ruins, and that with thefe the vefTels which twd conveyed grain up the Tiber, mould return laden back; that the new buildings mould be raifed to a certain height from the foundation, without rafters or boards; fhat they iho'uU be arched and partitioned with ftone from the quarries of Gabii or Alba, the fame being proof againft the violence of fire: That over the common fpiings, which were licentioufly diverted and wafted by private hands, overfeers mould be placed, to provide for their flowing in greater abun- dance into the public citterns, and for fupplying a grearer number of places: That every houfekeeper fhould furnifli his yard with fome machine proper to extinguifh fire; neither fhould there be anymore a common intermediata wall between houfe and houfe, but within its own independent walls every houfe fhould be inciofed. Thefe regulations, which importing the general benefit of the citizens, were popularly received, derived alfo much beauty and decoration upon the new city : Yet fome there were who believed the ancient form and Jftruclure more conducing to health; as from the -narrownefs of the flreets, and the height of the building, the rajs 2 3 o- THE ANNALS Book XV. rays of the fun were hardly felt or admitted ; whereas now ; fofpactous was the breadth of the ftreets, and fo utterly defHtute of all (hade, that the heat fcorch- ed with unabated rage. Thus far the provifions made were the refult of counfels purely human. The Gods are next accoft- ed with expiations, and recourfe had to the Sibyl's Books* By admonition from them, to Vukan, Ceres, and Proferpina, fupplicatory facrifices were made, and Juno atoned by the devotion of Matrons, fhil folemnized in j^e Capitol, then upon the next hore, where by water drawn from the fea the Temple and Image of the Goddefs were befprinkled, and htr fea ft and wake were celebrated by Ladies who had hufbands. But not all the relief that could come from man, not all the bounties that the Prince could beflow, nor all the atonements which culd be prefented to the Gods, availed to acquit Nero from ihe hideous charge, \vhich was flill univerfally believed, that by him the conflagration was autho- rized. Hence, to fupprefs the prevailing rumour, he transferred the guilt upon fictitious criminals, and fubjected to moft exquifite tortures, and doomed to executions fingularly cruel thofe people who, for their deferable crimes, were already in truth uuiver- filiy abhorred, and known to the vulgcr by the name, of Chriftinns. The founder of this name was Chriir, one who in the reign of Tiberius fuffered death as a criminal under Pontius Pilate, Imperial Procurator of Judaea, and, fora while, the peftilent fuperilition, was quelled, but revived again and fpread, not only over Judaea, where th !< ? evil was firft broached, but even through Rome, the great gulph into which, from every quarter of the earth, there are torrents for ever flowing of all that is hideous- and abomi- nable amongft men?, nay, in it the filthy glut of iniquity never fails to Hnd popular reverence and- diiUuclkm. Firfi therefore were feized fuch as fredy. . cnviiuJ Book XV. OF TACITUS. 231: owned their feet, then a vafl multitude by them difcovered ; and all were convicted, not fo much for the imputed crime of burning Rome, r.s for their hate and enmity to human kind. To their death and torture were added the aggravations of cruel derifion and fport; for either they were difguii-rd in the {kins of favage beafls, and txpofea to expire by the teeth of devouring dogs y or they were hoilt- ed up alive, and nailed to erodes ;- or wrapt in com- buftible vellments, and fet up as torches, that, when, the day fet, they might be kindled to illuminate the night. For prefenting this tragical fpeftacle, Nero. had lent his own gardens, and exhibited at the fame time the public diverfion of the Circus, fometimes driving a chariot in perfon, and at intervals ftand- ing as a fpecrator amongft the vulgar in the habit of a charioteer. Hence it proceeded, that towards the miferabje fufferers, however guilty and juftly de- fervingthe moft exemplary death, popular commife- r;Uion arofe, as for people who, with no view to the Utility of tne State, but only togratify the bloody fpirit of one man, were doomed to perifh. In the mean time, in order to fupply his prodiga- lity wjth money, all Italy was pillaged, the Pro- vinces were fqueezed and defolated; fo were the feveral nations our confederates, and all thofe cities which have the title of free. In this general fpoil, even the Gods were involved, their Temples in the City plundered, and from thence all the treafures of gold conveyed, which the Roman people, in every age of their ftate, either as monuments of triumphs celebrated or of vows fulfilled, had folemnly con- fecrated, both in their times of profperity, and in fcafons of public peril Through Greece and Aria, in truth, the Deities were not only defpoilcd of their gifts and oblations, but even of their Statues and Images ; for into thefe Provinces, and with this commiffion, had been feat Acratus his freed- man, 232 T II E A N N A L S Book XV. man, and Secundus Carinas, the former a prompt 5n- ftrument to execute any iniquity, however black and flagrant, the other a man praftifed in the Greek learning, which however funk no deeper than his lips, and with virtuous acquirements he had never formed his foul. Of Seneca it was reported,- ' That to avert from himfelf the odium and imputation of this facrilcge, he had befought Nero for leave to retire to a feat of his own, remote from Rome, but was refufed, and thence feigning an indifpo- fition in his nerves, confined himfelf to his cham- ber.' It is by fome authors recorded, ' That a freedman of his, named Cleonicus, had, by the command of Nero, prepared poifon for his niaf- ter, who efcaped it either from the difcovery made by the freedman, or from the caution infpired by his own inceiTant apprehenfions ; while with a diet exceeding flmple he fupported an abftemious life, fatisfying the call of hunger by wild fruit from the woods, and of third by a draught from the brook.' About the fame time a body of Gladiators, who were kept at the city of Praenefte, laboured an efcape and revolt; and though by the diligence of the folditrs who guarded them they were mattered and fupprefled, the people were already in bufy murmurs reviving the terror of Spartacus and the public miferies of old ; fond as they ever are of aei- tations and novelty, yet ever frightened by them. Nor was it long after this that a ratal difaftcr betel the fleet, from no encounter in war; for fcarce ever was known a time of fuch profound peace: But Nero had ordered the gallies to return to the coaft of Cam- pania at a limited day, without any allowance made for the changes and cafualties of the deep ; fo that the pilots, even while the fea raged, fleered from the port of Formia, and, by a violent tempeft from the South, whik they fit uggied to double the Caps Rook XV. OF TACIT US. 233 Cape of Mifenum, were driven upon the more of Cuma, where many gallies of three banks of oars, and a number of fmaller veflels, were wrecked. In the clofe of the year, the heads and mouths of the people were filled with a long rote of prodi- gies, as fo many heralds of impending calamities. At no time had thunder roared, or lightning (hot with fuch fiercenefs and frequency, belides the ap- pearance of a Comet, an omen ever expiated by Nero with the erTufion of illulirious blood. In the 11 reels and roads were found expofed feveral mon- jftrous births with double heads, feme of the human fpecies, fome of brutes ; as alfo from the bellies of victims fome fuch were taken, when for the facri- fice cuftom required beads that are pregnant : And in the territory of Piacentia, by the llde of the public way, was brought forth a calf with its head growing upon its leg, a prodigy which, according to the interpretation returned by the Soothfayers, boded, ' That for human kind another head was ' preparing, but one which would never arrive at ' ftrength, or remain concealed ; for that this which * prefaged it, had lain reprefled in the womb, and ' then iiTued into the world clofe by the public road.' Silius Nerva and Atticus Veftinus commenced Confuls, during the progrefs of a confpiracy fo vi- gorous, that to the fame moment it owed its begin- ing and advancement. In it Senators, Knights, foldiers, and even women, had engaged with a fpi- rit of eagernefs and competition; fuch was their detefhition of Nero, nnd equally flrong their zeal for Caius Pifo. This Patrician, a defcendant of the Calpurnian houfe, and by the noblenefs of his pa- ternal blood allied to many illuflrious families, was, for his own virtue, or for qualities that refembled virtues, held amongft the populace in fignal ap- plaufe: for as he was a mailer of eloquence, he employed it in the patronage arid defence of his fellow- 254 T II E A N N A L S Book XV. fellow-citizens; he was generous^to his friends and acquaintance; and even toward fuch as were un- known ro him, complaifant in his language and ad- drefs : He pofieiTed, with thefe advantages, others that were fortuitous, tallnefs of perfon and a grace- ful countenance; but frriclriefs of life and manners he never praclifed, nor obfervcd reftraints in his plcafures ; the ways of delicacy he ever indulged, as alfo thofe of magnificence, fometimes the tx- cefTes of luxury. Many too there were who ap- proved this his conduit, fuch who, in a general prevalence of debauchery, would not have the lu- pieme head confined in his morals, nor ftriftly fevere. It was from no ambition orpurfuitof his that the birth of the confpiracy fprung; and yet I could not eafily recount who he was that fitft concerted it, nor who animated a defign which was by fuch a num- ber efpoufed. That Subrius Flavius Tribune of a Praetorian Cohort, and Sulpicius Afpcr the Centu- rion, were the keeneft champions in it, the fpirit and conftancy with which they encountered di.-r.th, do abundantly. evince. Lucari the Poet, and P!;n> tius Lateranus, Conful elect, concurred from ardent animofity and hate; the former lliniulated by per- fonal provocation, for that Nero had obfhufied the fame of his Poems, and,, from a ridiculous emulation, forbid their publication. Laterals was piqued by no injury done to himfelf, butf om fin- cere affection to the Republic became an accom- plice. Rut there \vcie two men, Flavius Sccvinus and Afiar.ius Quinftianus, both Senators, who by engaging in an enterprize fo great and daring, a:ul even claiming to be foremoft m the execution,. Departed from the confb.nt character of their lives;. for Scevinus had a foul drowned in fenfunlity, and thence led a flupid life devoted to deep and floth : Q^lncliaaus was infamous for unnatural proftitu- tion j Book XV. O F T A C I T U S. tion ; and having been by Nero expofed in a viru- lent Satire, to revenge the indignity he confpired. Now as all ihefe, as well in conferences \vith one another as amongft their fiiends, were ever dilplaying, ' the inhuman cruelties of the Prince, ' the condition of the Empire, threatened with in- * ftant diflblution, and the necerTity of fubflitut- ' ing in his place fome one capable of relieving ' the afflicted, itate;' they drew into the combina- tion Tuliius Senecio, Cervarius Proculus, Vulcatus Araricus, Julius Tugurinus, Munatius, Gratus, Antonius Natalis, and Martins Fcflus, all Roman Knights. Of thcfe Senecio, who had lived in fm- gular intimacy with Nero, .and prefcrved even then the face of favour j was thence the more encom- pafTed with dread and danger. To Natalis all the fecret purpofes in the heart of Pifo were open with- out rcferve : fecret views governed the reft, and they fought their own intereft in a change. Of the men of the fword, befides Subrius and Sulpicius, the officers already mentioned, there were ailumed as accomplices, Granius Silvanus and Statins Proximus, Tribunes of the Praetorian "bands, with the Centurions Maximus Scaurus, and Venetus Paullus. But, as their main ftrength and depen- dence, they confklered Fenius Rufus, Captain of the Imperial Guards, a man for life and eftimation in fignal credit and popularity, one who expofed himfelf to daily perils from the hate and perfecution. of Tigellinus his colleague, who by the recom- mendations of a cruel fpirit, and manners altogether impure, had gained a fuperior afcendancy in the heart of the Prince, and, labouring to deftroy him by forged crimes, had often well nigh effected his destruction, by alarming Nero with the views and difcontents of Rufus, * as one who had been en- ' gaged in a criminal commerce with Agrippinr?, * and, in anguiih and refentment for her untimely 236 THE ANNALS Book XV. * end, was bent upon vengeance.' As foon there- fore as the confpirators had, from the frequent dif- courfe of the Captain, received full conviction that he too had embraced their party, they proceeded more refolntely to debate about the ti.ne and place of the aflaffinaiion. It \vasreported, 'That Subrius ' Flavins had undertaken to make the firft onfet, ' and aflaii Nero, either while he was chanting in * the Theatre, or fcouring from place to place in * his drunken revels by night, unattended by his ' guards.' In the latter project an incitement from folitude; in the former, even the great conflux of people, all witnefTes of an exploit fo glorious, had roufed his foul to a purpofe fo full of noblenefs and merit, had not a folicitude to execute it with im- punity reftrained him; a confideration which, in all grand enterprizes, is ever unfeafonable and fatal. In the mean time, while they were hefitating and protracting tjie ifTue of their. hopes and fears, a cer- tain woman, named Epicharis, applied herfelf to roufe the confpirators ; though it was a perfect my- llery by what means (he came at all apprized of the ccnfpiraoy (for till then fhe had never fhewn any regard to aught that was worthy or honourable) at laft me became impatient of their flownefs, and retiring to Campania, employed all her induftry and fkill to alienate the hearts of the chief officers in the fleet riding at Mifenum; and, to engage them in the defign, fhe began in the following manner. In that fleet Volufius Proculus had the command of a thoufand marines, one of the minifters of blood employed to difpatch the mother of Nero, and, in his own opinion, not diftinguimed with promotion equal to the mighty and meritorious murder. As this officer, whether from old acquaintance with Epi- charis, or a friendfhlp newly contracted, recounted to her ' his fignal fervices to Nero, and how fruit- ' lefs they had been beftowed,' and as he fnb- joined Book XV. O F T A C I, T U S. 237 joined ' bitter complaints with a fettled refolution * of taking vengeance whenever opportunity arofe/ fhe conceived hopes that he might be engaged him- felf in the deftgn, and to it conciliate many others. Nor of fmall moment was the aid and concurrence of the fleet, and frequent were the opportunities of exerting it, as Nero took fiogular delight in failing often about the coafts of Mifenum and Puzzoli. Epichaiis therefore, in anfvver to Proculus, urged many reafonings, with a detail of all the crying cru- elties committed by the Prince; Pne added, ' That to the Senate, nothing remained to be done to- wards accorr.plifhing his fall ; only it was already determined to what pains the tyrant mufl: be doomed for deftroying the Roman ftate. What therefore was to be expected from Proculus, but that he mould aflume the taflc with zeal, afTociate in the caufe all the braved foldiers; and then depend upon a recompence worthy of fuch fub- lime fervice.' From him, however, fhe concealed the names of the confpirators : hence it was that even when he had betrayed to Nero her whole dif- courfe, his difcovery availed nothing. For when Epichaiis was fummoned, and confronted with the informer, as his charge againft her was fupported by no witnefTes, (he found it eafy to refute and baffle him. After all, fhe was detained in prifon, be- caufe Nero vehemently fufpe^ed that thefe mat- ters were not the more falfe for not being proved to be true. Notwithftanding the filence of Epicharis, the confpirators, who were thoroughly alarmed with the dread of a difcovery, came to a refult to haften the afTafTmation, and to do it at Ba' ; 33 in a villa belong- ing to Pifo, whither the Emperor often reforted, charmed with the lovelinefs of the place, and there wont to bathe and banquet, remote from his guards and the other incumbrances of Imperial flate. But IB 238 THE ANNALS Book XV. in this, Pifo would by no means concur : he ulledged ' the general abhorrence which niuft enfue, wt:e * the inviolable rites of the table, were the Gods of * hospitality, defiled by the blood of a Prince, how- ' ever- vile he were : hence it were mere advifeable ' to difpatch him at Rome, in that fame detefted ' houfe which wiih the fpoils of the unhappy citi- ' zens he had reared ; or rather they ought, in the * face of the public, to execute a deed \vhich for '* the benefit t>f the public they had undertaken.' Thus he reafoned openly amongit the confpirators, but his heart was influenced by fecret jealoufy, as he dreaded Lucius Silanus, a mnn of tranfcendent quality, and, by the tuition of Caius Callkis, by whom he was bred, ennobled with accomplishments . proper for every the moft refplendent dignity ; left Silanus might fuze the vacant fovereignty for him- felf, as he'would be fure of inlhnt alliftance from all fuch as were clear of the conspiracy, and from all thofe who fhould prove affecled with companion for Nero, as for one traiteroully llain. There were many who believed, that ' Pifo likewife diftrufled ' the lively and turbulent fpirit of the Confu! Vef- ' tinus, whether he might not be prompted to re- ' /lore liberty and the ancient government, or e'fc, * procuring fome other than Pilb to be chofen Em- ''* peror, turn the Republic into a gift of his own * bedewing.' For in the conspiracy he had no fhare, though Nero afterwards, under" the imputation of this very crime, doomed him an innocent facrifice "to fatia^e his own inveterate rancour. At length they agreed to perpetrate their defigns upon the anniverfary facred to Ceres, and always folemnized with the Circenfian games; for that the Emperor, who ctherwife came feldom abroad, but remained (hut up in his apartments or gardens, was yet wont to frequent the diverfions of the Cir- cus, where, during the gaiety and pleafures of the fports, Book XV. O F T A C I T U S. 239 fports, accefs to him -was more readily obtained. The fchems of their plot they contrived on this wife: ' Lateranus, in the poflure of a fuppjicant, and * feigning to implore relief in his domefiic affairs, ' was to fall at the Prince's feet, and, while he r.p- ' rrehended no fuch attempt, throw him down, * and, as Lateranus WHS of a during fpirit and huge * irfftature, hold him fixt to the place. While he ' lay thus preffed and entangled, the Tribunes, Cen- turions, and all -the reft, according as they felt ' tliemfclves prompted by prefent impulfe and mag- * nanimity, were inftantly to rufh in and flay him. ' That Scevinus fhould be the foremoft to flrike, 3 was a taik by himfelf earneftly claimed ; for from the Temple of Health in Etruria, or, as others have recorded, from that of Fortune in the city of Fe- rentum, he had bi ought away a dagger, and carried it constantly about him, as a weapon confecrated o the perpetration of a deed of mighty moment. It vas moreover concluded, ' That Pifo Ihould wait * the event in the Temple of Ceres, and be thence ' brought forth by Fenius, Captain of the Guards, ' and the other confpirators, and conduced to the * camp; moreover, in order to attracl the affections * o the populace, Antonia, daughter of the late ' emperor Claudius, was to accompany him.' A particular recorded by Cains Plinius; for myfdf, I was determined to fupprefs no circumftance in what way foever delivered; however marvellov.s and inconliftent it may feeci, that either Antonia fhould contribute her name, and rifque her life, to promote a fcheme, to herfelf altogether fruitlefs and vain ; or that Pifo, a man univerfally known to have been paffionateiy fond of his wife, fhould en- gage to marry another ; were it not that, of all the paffions which aftuate the heart of man, the luft of reigning is the mo A vehement and flaming.- 3 Butj 240 T H E A N N A L S Book XV. But, wonderful" it was, in a combination fo nu- merous, fovariouOy framed, amongfr. thofe of every condition, different in rank, in quality, fex, and age, many wealthy, many poor, all things mould be buried in fuch faithful fccrecy, till from the fa- mily of Scevinus the traitorous difcovery fiifl arofe. The day before that of the designed afTaffination he had been engaged in a long conference with An- tonius Natalis, and immediately, upon returning home, fealed his will; then unfhcathing the dag- ger mentioned above, he complained that it had lain fo long neglected till it was become blunt, ordered it to be grinded into an edge, and the point to be accurately mar pened. The charge of this he com- mitted to Milichus, one of his freedmen, and next betook himfelt' to a repaft more gaudy and profufe than ordinary. His favourite Haves he prefented with their liberty, others with fums of money ; upon his countenance too there hung clouds and melan- choly; and it was apparent that his mind laboured with fome grand defign, though he counterfeited cheerfuhiefs by many {tarts of dilcourfe upon as many fubje&s. At Lift, he directed the fame Mili' chus to prepare bandages for wounds and applica- tions for flopping blood ; whether the freedman were in truth already privy to the confpiracy, and had hitherto perfevered in fidelity, or whether he were utterly in the dark, and then firft, as feveral authors have written, gathered from confluences his fudden fufpicion ; for when the freedman, fHil acted by the Safe fpirit of a flave, revolved with himfelf the recompence to be expected from prov- . ing a traitor to his mafter, and at the fame time be- held, as already his own, immenfe wealth and po- tent fway; he renounced at once every tie of faith, all tendernefs for his Lord, and all remembrance of liberty by him generoufly beftowed. In truth, befides his own mercenary motives, he had taken counfel i?ook XV. O F T A C I T U S. counfel of his wife, a woman's counfel and the worfl ; for (he was ever urging him with the dreadful peril of hiding treafon, ' That many freed men, many * flaves, had beheld, as well as he, the fame things, ' and of no availment would prove the filence of * one ; and yet only by one, whoever he were who * firft difcovered, would all the rewards be reaped/ MUichus, therefore, at the firft dawn of day, weat ftraight to the Gardens of Servilius, where Nero then abode, and, being refufed admittance, declared that he brought ' mighty and horrible dif- ' coveries,' with fuch earneftuefs, that he was con- ducted by the porters to Epaphroditus, a freed man of Nero's, and by him forthwith to Nero himfelf. To him he reprefented, * what formidable confpi- ' racies were concerted, what mortal danger was ' jnft impending,' with all the circumflances which he had heard, with whatever from his own obfer- vation he conjectured, and even mewing the dag- ger deflined to deftroy him, defired the criminal to be inftantly produced. Scevinus was by thefoldiers haled haftily thither, and proceeding to his defence, anfwered, * That for the dagger with which he was charged, it was a relique left him by his fore- fathers, ever held facred in their family, by him- felf always kept in his chamber, and from thence craiteroufly conveyed away by his freedman. New wills he had often made, and fealed them, with- out obferving any diftinclion of days. Frequently before this he had beftowed upon his flaves li- berty and largefles, lately with the, greater libera- lity, for that his fortune being reduced, and his creditors importunate, he diftrufted his power of gratifying his domeftics by legacies. A generous table he had ever kept, and ever indulged himfelf in a life of eafe and pleafure, fuch as by the rigid cenfures of manners, was but little approved. DrefTes for wounds, he had ordered none ; but, VOL. II. M as 242 THE ANNALS Book XV. ' as all the other imputations objected by his fteed- ' man were maniferily impotent and vain, he had * invented and added a charge of treafun, fuch as ' mighl enable him to be at once witr.cfb and accu- ' fer.' His words he enforced with an undaunted fpirit ; he even charged ihe accufer, as ' a fellow 'altogether ptfliknt and traitorous, and his tefli- 1 niony incompetent,' with a voice and countenance fu intiepid, that the infoimer muft have been buf- fisd, but for his wife. She advertifed him, that ' with Scevinus, Antonius Natalis had held a long ' convei fation and exceeding flcret, and that both ' were clofe confidents of Caiur Pifo.' Natalis therefore was called, and both were ex- amined, but apart, concerning ' the particulars, "* and the fubjeft of that converfation.' As their anfwers varied, caufe of fufpicion arofe, and they were thrown into irons; but the fight of the rack, and the menaces of torture, neither could bear. Natalis however was foremoft to confefs, as better acquainted with the whole order and progrefs of the confpiracy, and withal more expert in impeaching : Fir A, he dif.overed hew far Pifo was concerned, afterwards to him he added Seneca ; whetner he had indeed aclcd as an inter- agent between him and Pifo, or whether he only did it to purchafe the fa- vour of Nero, who, in ardent hate to Seneca, was daily hunting after all forts of devices to dcftroy him. >Iow Scevinus, having learnt that by Natalis a conftfiion was made, yielded to the fame imbe- cility of fpirit ; or perhaps, he believed that already the confederacy was, in every particular, difclofed, aud from his own filence no emolument to be ex- pe&ed. Hence he declared all the other accom- plices. -Of thefe Lucan and Qiiin. 3 and I&okXV. OF TACTITUS. 251 -.- "a-nd only 'for the fame and rt-fplendency of his * *' virtues preferred to the fupreme dignity;' Nay, even the words faid to have been by Flavius 1 then uttered, becimc current, ' That it would nothing * avail towards abolifhing the public contumely, to *- depofe a Minftrel, if to the vacant purple a Tra- * gedian fuccetded.' For as Nero was wont to fing to the harp, fo was Pifo to chant in the accent and. drefs of tragedy. Now neither could the (hare of "the foldiersin? the confpiracy be kept longer a inyftery ; fuch was the temptation and eager nefs of the difcoverers to betray Fen'ms Rufus, whom, they- could : not bear- both for an accomplice and inquifitor. Hence it was, that in the examination of Scevinus, while- Rufus urged him to a full- confeflion, with much- vehemence and many menaces, the other fmiled, and told him, ' that in all the particulars of the- ' plot, no man was^ more knowing than himfelf ;' he even exhorted him, ' to make fuitable returns * of gratitude to fo good a Prince.' To refute the charge, Fenius had not a fyllable to utter, nor yet would acquiefce in filence, but faultcring and per- plexed in his fpeech, expofed notoriuufly his inward difmay. At the fame time the reft, chiefly Cerva- rius Pfocxilus, a Roman Knight, combining with all their might to convict him, one Cafiius a foldier,^ who for his fignal ftrength of body was appointed tc> attend the trials, laid hold upon him by the Emperor's order, and caft him into bonds. In the detection made by the fame men, Subrius-- Fiavius the Tribune was next- fatally involved, At firft he aimed at a defence^ and pleaded ' the - * diverfity of his proftfiion and manners from thofe . * of the confpirators; for that, never for the exe- ' cution of an attempt fo great and daring, would ' he, who is a man of*-"ann$,.- have leagued with *-fuch as were refigned to .effeminacy,- aud never - M 6 T H E A N N A L S. Book XV ' bore any.' But at laft, finding himfelf pufhed with queflions and circumftances, he nfpired to the glory of confeffion ; and in anfwer to Nero, who afkeJ him from what provocations he had flighted the obligation of his oath ; ' 1 abhorred thee, (aid ' he, though, amonglt all thy foldiery, none was ' more faithful and affectionate than I, as long as ' thou didft merit affection. With thy own de- ' tellable crimes my abhorrence of thee began, after ' thou haiift become the murderer of ihy mother, * the murderer of thy wife, a Charioteer, a Come- ' dian, and the Incendiary that fet fire to Rome.' I have repeated his very words ; for they were not divulged abroad, like thofe of Seneca : nor lefs worthy to be known were the fentiments of a man of the f,vord, which, however artlefs and unpolite, are vigorous and brave. It is apparent, that this whole confpiracy had afforded nothing, which proved more bitter and pungent than this to the ears of Nero, who was abandoned to every black iniquity, but unaccuftomed and too imperious to be upbraided afterwards with his flagitious doings. The execution of Flavius was committed to the Tribune Veinus Niger, and in the next field, by his direc- tion, was digged a funeral trench, which Flavius derided, ' as too ftraight and {hallow;* and, apply- ing to the guard of foldiers, ' This, fays he, is not * fo much as according to the laws oif difcipline.' Being admoaifhed by the Tribune to extend his neck valiantly, ' I wifh, replied he, thoti mayA * ftrike with equal valour.' In truth, Niger was to- tally overcome by a violent trembling, and hardly at two blows beheaded him ; hence, to magnify his own cruelty, he boafted to Nero, that in putting him to death, he defignedly employed more ftrokes than one. The next example of con/lancy and fortitude Was admiaiftercd by Sulpkius Afper the Centurion, who, Book XV. OF TACITUS. , in anfwer to the queftion urged by Nero, why he had confpired to kill him, faid in few words, ' Other relief there was none againft thy number- ' lefs and raging enormities;' and immediately un- derwent his prefcribed doom. Nor did the other Centurions deviate in bravery and fpirit, but gal- lantly faced death, and fuffered its pains In Fenius Rufus equal magnanimity was not found ; nay, fuch and fo permanent were his unmanly lamenta- tions and anguifh, that even in his laft will he bewailed himfelf. Great was the expectation which Nero was foftering, that VefHnus the Conful would prove likewife involved in the treafon, as he ef- teemed him a man of a violent fpirit, and prompted by virulent hate and difarFcclion.. But to VefHnus theconfpirators had imparted none of their counfels, fome influenced by ftale perfonal diftafres, many becaufe they believed him a man altogether preci- pitate and untraclable. But that which begot in Nero his enmity to Vtftinus, was an intimate fel- Jowihip between them ; from thence the latter throughly knew and fcorned the vile cowardly heart of the Prince, and the Prince dreaded the haughty and vehement temper of his friend, by whom he had been frequently infulted with poignant and dif- dainful farcafms, which, whenever they are feafoned with much truth, never fail to leave behind them, a bitter and vengeful remembrance. A recent pro- vocation had likewife occurred, Veftinus had taken to wife Stati!ia MefTalina, though he was aware that amongft her other gallants, Caefar too was one. When therefore there appeared no accufer t6 charge him, no crime to be charged, Nero, finca he could not fatiate his rancour, under the title and guife of a Judge, flew to the violence of a Tyrant. Againft him he difpatched Gerelanus the Tribune, at the head of five hundred men, with orders, T H E ANNALS Book orders, ' To obvi.itc the attempts and machination* ' of the Conful, to take poflelfion of his houfe fo ' much rcfemblir.g r. citadel, and to fubdue his do- ' melHc band of chofen youths : ; for the dwelling- of Veftinus o\'crlooked the great Forum, and he always kept a number cf beautiful (laves, all cf an age. He had that day difcharged all the functions of Conful ; he was afterwards celebrating a banquet at home, ToiJ of all fear, or perhaps, by the gaiety offending, fceking to hide his fe.irs, when the fcl- diers entered. They told him, the Tribune hnd ftnt them to bring him ; nor delayed he a jot, but rofc from table, and in one and the fame moment the hady tragedy was begun and fiuifhed : he was (hut up in a chamber, the phyfician attended, his veins were cut, and, while yet full of" life, and his drength unabated, he was conveyed into a bag- nio and fmothered with hot water ; nor under all this deadly denunciation and procefs did a fyllable efcape him, importing the lead regret or felf-com- miferatiou. In the mean time, the whole company who flipped with him were enclofed with a Guard, nor releafed till the night was far fpent. Nero, af;er he had reprefented tohimfdf the condensation of men, who from the joy of a fead, were waiting for their mortal doom, and had even made himfeif fpoi t with their fears, declared at lad, ' That they ' had undergone penalty fuffkient for their" Con- ' fular fupper.' The next bloody fentence he pronounced, was- againd Lucan the Poet. He, while his blood if- fued in dreams, perceiving his feet and hands to, grow cold and fciffen, and life to retire by little and Jittle from the extremities, wh/ile his heart was dill beating with vital warmth, and his faculties no wife impaired, recollected fome lines of his own, which defcribed a wounded foldier expiring in a manner that lefembled this : The line? themfelves- he re- hearfed, Book XV. OF TACITUS. 255 hearfed, and they were the laft words he ever ut- tered. Thereafter Senecio, and Quincrianus, and Scevinus, fufieted the violence of their fate, hut with a ipirit far different from the former effeminacy and voluptuoufncfs of their lives. Anon too were executed the refidue of the coufpirators, without aught memorable done or expreffed by them. Now, when Rome was filled with deaths, and corfss, and funerals, fo was the Capitol with vic- tims. One . man had loft a fon, one .1 brother, this ti friend, that a kinfman ; all fallen by the fury ot the fword ; and every man paid his public thankf- giving to the Gods, adorned his houle with laure], fell prollrate at the Emperor's feet, embraced his knees, and worried his right hand with kifles. He, who believed all this to be a fincere manifeftation of joy, rewarded Antonius Natalis and Cervarius Proctilus with pardon for their early confeflion and' difcovery. Upon Milichiis \vas accumulated abun- dant wealth and recompence, and he affumed a< Greek name, Signifying Proteftor. Granius Sylva- nus, one of the confpiring Tribunes, though he was acquitted, fell by. his own hand. StatiusProximus, another, frustrated the Prince's pardon by vainly engaging afterwards in another offence, and dying for it. Of their commands next were bereft the following Tribune?, Pompeius, Cornelius Martia- lis, Flavius Nepos, and Statius Domhius, for no- charge as if towards the Emperor they bore any malevolence, but only that they were dreaded by him.. To Nonius Prifcus, to Glitius Callus, and Annius- PolKo* all obnoxious from their friendship to Seneca, and rather calumniated than conviifted, haniihment was adjudged. Antonia Flacilla ac- companied Prifcus her exiled hufband ; and Gallus" too was attended by his wife Egnatia Maximilla, a couple at fir/I poffefled of wealth mighty and unim- paired, afterwards difpofleffed.of all, and from both thefe t$6 THE ANNALS Book XW ihefe different fortunes their glory was augmented^ Into banishment too was driven Kutius Crifpinus, a punifhment for which the ccnfpiracy furnifhed a pretence ; but the real caufe was the antipathy of Nero, and his crime, to have been once the huf- band of Poppyea. Upon Virginius and Mufonius Rufus. their own fignal renown drew the feverity of e^pulfion : They hud both engaged the affections of the Roman yonth ; Virg'mius by lectures of Elo- quence, Mnfonius by reafonings upon theprcoprs of Philofophy. Cluvidienus Quietus, Julius Ag.ip- pa, Blttius Catulinus. Petronins Prifcus, and Ju- lius Alrinus, as if a hoft had been formed f crimi- nals convict, and their doom and numbers difplayed, \vere all at once condemned to- be tranfported into the Iflands of the ./Egean. Tea Caefonius Maximus, and Cadicia the wife of Scevinus, were exterminat- ed Italy, and, only by fufferinq the punifliment of ciimes, learnt that ever th y had been charged as criminals. The information a gain (I y\t'.lla, the imiher of Lucan, was diflembled, and, without being cleared, (he efcaped unpunifhed. Nero having accomplimed all thefe matters, af- fembled thefoldiery, enter'ained them with a fpeh, diftributed amongft them a largefs of fifty crowns a man ; and whereas hitherto they had been fupplied \vith grain at the eftablifhed rate, he allowed it them thenceforth without payment. Then, as if be had been about to recount to the Senate the feats and event of a war, he ordered the fathess to af- femble. Upon Petronius Turpilianus the Confu- lar, upon Cocceius Nerva, Prator elcft, and upon Tigellinus, Captain of the Praetoiian Guards, he conferred the ornaments and diftinclion of triumph. Nay, to fuch notable eminence did he raife Tigel- linus and Nerva, that, befides their triumphal Sta- tues creeled in the Forum, he would needs have their images placed likewife in the palace. To Nyca- Book XV. OF- TACITUS. 257 Nyinphidius he granted the Confular decorations; a nun concerning whom, fince his name now firft occurs, I ihall here recite a few particulars ; for he too jwill have his ihare in the bloody calami- ties and vicifiitudes of Rome. He was born of df manumifed Have, who having a comely perfon, had proftituted the fame to the domeilics of the Emperors, bond and free, without diftinction ; hence he boafted himfclf the fon of Caligula, feeing, like him, he happened to be tall of ftature, and of a countenance ftern and terrible. Or, perhaps, it is likely that Caligula, who was addicted to the embraces of harlots, had alfo defcended to gallan- tries with the mother of Nymphiaius. Nero having thus afiernbled the fathers, and de- livered a difcourfe concerning the late tranfaclions, addrefled an edicl to the people upon the fame fub- je jelf was by Nero dedicated in the Capitol, and in- f^ribed, To Jove tk? nvsngcr (Jupiter Vindtx) words which at that time were not minded. But, upon the revolt of Julius Vindtx, which afterwards hap- pened, from them was then drawn a Ivippy angnry and prefage of approaching vengeance. In the Journals of the Senate, I find that Cerialis Anicius, Con r ul elecl, when it came to his -vote, propofed, ' That a Temple (hould with all fpeed be raifed, * at the charge of the ftate, and confec rated to ' the deified Nero ;' a motion which he really meant in compliment, as to one who foared above the higheft lot of mortality, and was entitled to celef- tial wot (hip from men : but from whence too was inferred an omen of his battening fate, fince to Princes divine honours are never pnid till they have finally forfaken all commerce with men. T II E THE ANNALS O F A C I T U S. BOOK XVI. The S U M M A R Y. Fa/fe hopes of mighty Treasures in Africa, and thence the vanity, and wild prodigality