Chapter V: Part 5

In the year 706, Pompey being [275]defeated by Cæsar in the [276]fields of [277]Pharsalia, went to [278]Egypt, where he was slain by the [279]order of [280]Ptolemy, in the 59th year of his [281]age. Hither Cæsar [282]likewise [283]came the following year, and after a very [284]dangerous [285]rencounter, which he [286]happily [287]accomplished, [288]delivered the [289]kingdom of Egypt to Cleopatra and her brother. In the year following he vanquished Scipio and Cato, with king Juba, in Africa. Cato [290]laid violent hands upon himself at Utica. The year that [291]followed was [292]remarkable for the [293]correction of the [294]calendar and the year. The same year likewise he [295]conquered Pompey’s sons; and the year after was [296]stabbed in the [297]senate house, by a [298]conspiracy of Brutus and Cassius, and some others, in the 56th year of his age.

Besides these [299]convulsions, with which the whole [300]world was [301]shattered, there were some less [302]disturbances [303]happened a little before. [304]Clodius Pulcher being [305]made tribune of the people, [306]banished Cicero, for having [307]condemned the [308]associates of Cataline to death without a [309]trial; which [310]calamity he [311]bore too [312]meanly, and [313]by no means [314]agreeable to the [315]dignity of his past life. But he was [316]recalled the year after by the [317]interposition of Pompey, and Lentulus the consul, and [318]received with the greatest [319]honor. The same Clodius [320]declared [321]Cyprus to [322]belong to the Roman people, and Cato being [323]sent to [324]take possession of it, Ptolemy, king of the [325]island, after first [326]throwing all his [327]money into the sea, [328]prevented his [329]disgrace by a [330]voluntary death. The senate [331]bestowed the [332]prætorship upon Cato at his [333]return, by a [334]vote of the house, without any [335]election; which honor he [336]refused, being [337]desirous to [338]obtain it rather by the [339]free [340]votes of the people. But he was [341]disappointed in his [342]hopes, and Vatinius was [343]preferred to him.

[344]Bribery [345]ruling in [346]all [347]elections, and the [348]candidates making a most [349]dismal [350]confusion, after a long [351]interregnum, Pompey was made consul, without a [352]colleague, a thing [353]wholly new, and never heard of before; in which office he made a [354]severe [355]inquiry into all other [356]misdemeanors, as likewise into the death of Clodius, whom Milo [357]killed the same year, and for which he was [358]banished.

After the death of Cæsar, Antony the consul so [359]inflamed the people by [360]a seditious [361]harangue, that they [362]burnt his [363]body [364]publicly, and [365]threatened to set fire, and [366]pull down the houses of the [367]assassins. Octavius Cæsar, the son of Accia [368]Julius’s sister, was his [369]adopted son by [370]will. He being [371]slighted by M. Antony, [372]raised an army of [373]veteran soldiers, and [374]opposed his [375]tyrannical [376]proceedings. Antonius [377]extorted from the people by force the province of Gaul, but his [378]passage there was opposed by D. Brutus at Modena, where he was [379]besieged by Antony.

In the [380]consulship of [381]Hirtius and Pansa, in the year of the city 711, at the [382]instigation of Cicero Antony was [383]declared [384]enemy, and a war [385]undertaken against him; when Octavius [386]joined in [387]commission with the consuls, with the [388]power of proconsul, being then about the 20th year of his age. There was a [389]dreadful and [390]bloody [391]battle [392]fought near Modena, in which all Cæsar’s [393]life-guards were slain; but Antony was routed, and the [394]siege [395]raised, yet both the consuls were killed.

In Macedon, Brutus [396]took off C. Antonius, M. Antony’s brother, who was [397]intriguing against him, and [398]got together a [399]formidable army. Upon which the senate [400]resolved by [401]degrees to [402]take down Octavius, [403]for fear of his [404]growing too [405]powerful; which he being [406]apprehensive of, [407]he entered into an [408]association with Antony and Lepidus; and [409]consequently they were all three made [410]commissioners [411]for settling the [412]republic. They having [413]divided the whole [414]empire into three parts, [415]proscribed a great many of the Romans, and amongst the rest M. [416]Tully Cicero, who, whilst he was [417]endeavouring to [418]make his escape into Greece, was killed by Pompilius, a [419]captain, whose [420]cause he had [421]pleaded in a capital [422]action. There was a [423]dreadful [424]havoc made in this [425]proscription. The [426]Epitome of Livy speaks of no less than an hundred and thirty senators; the same year, [427]gave [428]beginning to one of the finest cities of France, [429]Lyons.

The year following, Octavius and Antony [430]fought a battle with M. Brutus and the [431]principal of the [432]conspirators, near the city of Philippi. The [433]right [434]wings were [435]victorious on both [436]sides, and on both sides the [437]camps were [438]plundered. But Cassius, who was in the wing that was [439]routed, [440]giving up all for lost, [441]slew himself. Brutus, being [442]defeated in another [443]engagement, likewise put an end to his own life, being then thirty-seven years of age, and none of Cæsar’s [444]assassins [445]lived above three years after, being all [446]taken off by a [447]violent death, as [448]Suetonius says; some too [449]killed themselves with the same [450]dagger with which they had slain Cæsar.

After the [451]victory, Antony [452]went to Asia, and Octavius to Italy; where he [453]was engaged in a war with L. Antony, the brother of the [454]triumvir, and his [455]wife Fulvia, a [456]woman of a [457]manly [458]spirit. He forced Lucius from the town; after which, being [459]declared an enemy, he [460]besieged him in Perusia, and obliged him to [461]surrender. In the mean time, the Parthians being [462]invited by Labienus, one of Pompey’s party, made an [463]irruption into Syria, whom Ventidius, after a very [464]signal [465]overthrow, in which the king was slain, [466]drove out again, and [467]recovered Syria.

S. Pompey, Cneius’s son, having a [468]fleet at his [469]command, [470]infested the seas. Cæsar made with him a peace, which was [471]soon [472]broken. [473]An engagement [474]followed, wherein Pompey was [475]worsted, and [476]forced to [477]fly. He was soon after [478]put to death by [479]order of M. Antony, under whose [480]protection he had put himself. About this time Antony made an [481]attempt upon the Parthians, by whom he was most [482]shamefully [483]beaten. At last Antony being [484]entirely [485]devoted to his Cleopatra, [486]divorced Octavia, Cæsar’s sister, and [487]declared war against him, in which he was at last defeated by sea near [488]Actium, a [489]promontory of [490]Epirus. Cæsar had upwards of 400 [491]ships, and Antony about 200, but so [492]prodigiously [493]large, that they [494]looked like [495]castles and cities [496]moving through the sea. The [497]flight of Cleopatra [498]turned the [499]fate of a [500]dubious [501]engagement into the [502]ruin of Antony; he followed her into Egypt, and being [503]besieged in Alexandria, he [504]slew himself, and Cleopatra soon [505]followed his [506]example.

FOOTNOTES

[1] _benchè_

[2] _affievolito_

[3] _vecchiája_

[4] _ambizióne_

[5] _impiegáto_

[6] _tolleráre_

[7] _affidare_

[8] _província_

[9] _perciò_

[10] _ottenére_

[11] _mezzo_

[12] _leváre_

[13] _sdegnáto_

[14] _impossessársi_

[15] _uccíso_

[16] _forzáre_

[17] _fuggíre_

[18] _assénza_

[19] _distúrbo_

[20] _scacciàto_

[21] _unito_

[22] _assaltáre_

[23] _preso_

[24] _méttere_

[25] _a fil di spada_

[26] _moríre_

[27] _tornáre_

[28] _conclúdere_

[29] _rotta_

[30] _dichiaráto_

[31] _dittatore_

[32] _si disfece di_

[33] _proscrizióne_

[34] _ritirársi_

[35] _sostenere_

[36] _coraggiosaménte_

[37] _rassegnáto_

[38] _dettatúra_

[39] _pediculare_

[40] _morbo_

[41] _età_

[42] _procuráre_

[43] _annulláre_

[44] _atto_

[45] _scacciáto_

[46] _colléga_

[47] _accostársi_

[48] _armáta_

[49] _fuggíre_

[50] _Sardégna_

[51] _ammalársi_

[52] _mandáto_

[53] _eseguíre_

[54] _proditoriaménte_

[55] _uccíso_

[56] _facilménte_

[57] _ricuperáre_

[58] _accendérsi_

[59] _entráto_

[60] _alleánza_

[61] _impadroníto_

[62] _lasciáto_

[63] _andáre_

[64] _fortunáto_

[65] _mare_

[66] _terra_

[67] _forzare_

[68] _Ponto_

[69] _Tigràne_

[70] _conquistáre_

[71] _attaccáre_

[72] _infantéria_

[73] _cavallería_

[74] _Nísibi_

[75] _preso_

[76] _abbandonáto_

[77] _obbligáto_

[78] _lasciáre_

[79] _frutto_

[80] _fatíca_

[81] _vittória_

[82] _forzáto_

[83] _arrendérsi_

[84] _contentarsi_

[85] _incalzáre_

[86] _aggiúngere_

[87] _Ibérj_

[88] _Albanési_

[89] _finalménte_

[90] _dappertútto_

[91] _battúto_

[92] _pensáre_

[93] _fuggíre_

[94] _Gállia_

[95] _scoraggíto_

[96] _rivólta_

[97] _Farnáce_

[98] _ammazzársi_

[99] _vigorosaménte_

[100] _continuáto_

[101] _accéndersi_

[102] _schiávo_

[103] _Spartáco Enománo_

[104] _Crisso_

[105] _gladiatóre_

[106] _disfatto_

[107] _scuóla_

[108] _appartenére_

[109] _radunáto_

[110] _disperáto_

[111] _sconfíggere_

[112] _vinto_

[113] _pariménte_

[114] _soggiogáre_

[115] _corsáro_

[116] _istigazióne_

[117] _infestáre_

[118] _straordinário_

[119] _commissióne_

[120] _a questo effétto_

[121] _Gabiáno_

[122] _aggrandíre_

[123] _fuóri_

[124] _capitale_

[125] _perícolo_

[126] _cospirazióne_

[127] _Catilína_

[128] _Léntulo_

[129] _Cetégo_

[130] _fare_

[131] _uccídere_

[132] _Ciceróne_

[133] _abbruciáre_

[134] _saccheggiáre_

[135] _diségno_

[136] _impedíto_

[137] _vigilánza_

[138] _scacciáto_

[139] _trasferírsi_

[140] _cómplice_

[141] _radunáto_

[142] _capo_

[143] _congiúra_

[144] _succédere_

[145] _sconfítto_

[146] _Petrejo_

[147] _António_

[148] _luogotenénte_

[149] _uccíso_

[150] _battáglia_

[151] _mondo_

[152] _soggiogáto_

[153] _arriváto_

[154] _grandézza_

[155] _appéna_

[156] _estendérsi_

[157] _estérno_

[158] _forza_

[159] _bastánte_

[160] _rovináre_

[161] _cadére_

[162] _potére_

[163] _cagionáto_

[164] _ambizióne_

[165] _principále_

[166] _contésa_

[167] _deriváre_

[168] _pretura_

[169] _spiráto_

[170] _ottenére_

[171] _eseguíre_

[172] _meritáre_

[173] _triónfo_

[174] _pospórre_

[175] _aspettativa_

[176] _consoláre_

[177] _dignità_

[178] _mentre_

[179] _possíbile_

[180] _diligenza_

[181] _unírsi_

[182] _grande_

[183] _oppórsi_

[184] _atto_

[185] _desideráre_

[186] _ratificáto_

[187] _ottenére_

[188] _consoláto_

[189] _fece ratificáre dal senato_

[190] _divídere_

[191] _terre della_

[192] _repubblica_

[193] _cittadíno_

[194] _maritáre_

[195] _préndere_

[196] _Pisóne_

[197] _in qualità di móglie_

[198] _arte_

[199] _imménso_

[200] _generosità_

[201] _guadagnáre_

[202] _favóre_

[203] _degli uomini di qualunque rango_

[204] _grado_

[205] _procuráre_

[206] _governáre_

[207] _debelláre_

[208] _compréso_

[209] _Pirenéi_

[210] _Alpi_

[211] _Reno_

[212] _forma_

[213] _impórre_

[214] _annuále_

[215] _tribúto_

[216] _attaccáre_

[217] _Tedeschi_

[218] _di là_

[219] _visitáre_

[220] _Británno_

[221] _niúno_

[222] _venúto_

[223] _intervállo_

[224] _entráre_

[225] _confederazióne_

[226] _virtù_

[227] _continuáre_

[228] _Spagna_

[229] _Parti_

[230] _in conseguénza_

[231] _andáre_

[232] _períre_

[233] _miseraménte_

[234] _parte_

[235] _incursióne_

[236] _valorosaménte_

[237] _rispinto_

[238] _tolleráre_

[239] _eguále_

[240] _superióre_

[241] _partíto_

[242] _cercáre_

[243] _leváre_

[244] _govérno_

[245] _spiráre_

[246] _canto_

[247] _trattáre_

[248] _nell’ istésso modo_

[249] _consoláto_

[250] _decreto_

[251] _licenziáre_

[252] _interpórre_

[253] _autorità_

[254] _lasciáre_

[255] _trasferírsi_

[256] _accostáre_

[257] _riempíre_

[258] _costernazióne_

[259] _abbandonáre_

[260] _senz’ altro_

[261] _poco dopo_

[262] _passáre_

[263] _Grécia_

[264] _víncere_

[265] _forzáre_

[266] _arrendérsi_

[267] _prigioniéro_

[268] _ritórno_

[269] _préndere_

[270] _Marsíglia_

[271] _uffízio_

[272] _scelto_

[273] _dato_

[274] _vita_

[275] _sconfítto_

[276] _campo_

[277] _Farságli_

[278] _Egítto_

[279] _ordine_

[280] _Toloméo_

[281] _età_

[282] _pure_

[283] _veníre_

[284] _pericolóso_

[285] _fatto d’armi_

[286] _fortunataménte_

[287] _fu vittorioso_

[288] _consegnáre_

[289] _regno_

[290] _uccidérsi_

[291] _seguíre_

[292] _segnalato_

[293] _correzióne_

[294] _calendário_

[295] _vincere_

[296] _pugnaláto_

[297] _senáto_

[298] _cospirazióne_

[299] _convulsióne_

[300] _mondo_

[301] _conturbato_

[302] _distúrbo_

[303] _succédere_

[304] _Clódio Pulcro_

[305] _fatto_

[306] _esiliáre_

[307] _condannáto_

[308] _complice_

[309] _procésso_

[310] _calamità_

[311] _soffríre_

[312] _vilménte_

[313] _in nissún conto_

[314] _come si conveniva_

[315] _dignità_

[316] _richiamáto_

[317] _interposizióne_

[318] _ricévere_

[319] _onóre_

[320] _dichiaráre_

[321] _Cipro_

[322] _appartenére_

[323] _mandáto_

[324] _impossessársi_

[325] _ísola_

[326] _gettáto_

[327] _danaro_

[328] _prevenire_

[329] _disgrázia_

[330] _volontária_

[331] _accordáre_

[332] _dignità di pretóre_

[333] _ritórno_

[334] _per votazione dell’assemblea_

[335] _elezióne_

[336] _rifiutáre_

[337] _desideróso_

[338] _ottenére_

[339] _libero_

[340] _suffragio_

[341] _frustráto_

[342] _speránza_

[343] _preferíto_

[344] _corruzióne_

[345] _domináre_

[346] _tutto_

[347] _elezióne_

[348] _candidáto_

[349] _rattristante_

[350] _confusióne_

[351] _interregno_

[352] _colléga_

[353] _affátto_

[354] _sevéro_

[355] _perquisizióne_

[356] _delítto_

[357] _uccídere_

[358] _bandíto_

[359] _accéndere_

[360] _sedizióso_

[361] _arrínga_

[362] _incendiáre_

[363] _corpo_

[364] _pubblicaménte_

[365] _minacciáre_

[366] _demolíre_

[367] _assassíno_

[368] _Giúlio_

[369] _adottáto_

[370] _testaménto_

[371] _sprezzáto_

[372] _leváre_

[373] _veteráno_

[374] _oppórre_

[375] _tiránnico_

[376] _portaménto_

[377] _strappáre_

[378] _passággio_

[379] _assediáto_

[380] _consoláto_

[381] _Írzio_

[382] _istigazióne_

[383] _dichiaráto_

[384] _nemíco_

[385] _intrapréso_

[386] _unírsi_

[387] _commissióne_

[388] _potére_

[389] _terribile_

[390] _sanguinóso_

[391] _battáglia_

[392] _dato_

[393] _soldáto della guárdia_

[394] _assedio_

[395] _leváto_

[396] _uccídere_

[397] _cabalizzare_

[398] _radunáre_

[399] _formidábile_

[400] _risólvere_

[401] _a poco a poco_

[402] _abbassáre_

[403] _per timóre che_

[404] _diventáre_

[405] _poténte_

[406] _timoróso_

[407] _entráre_

[408] _lega_

[409] _conseguenteménte_

[410] _commissionário_

[411] _regolare_

[412] _repúbblica_

[413] _divíso_

[414] _império_

[415] _proscrívere_

[416] _Túllio Ciceróne_

[417] _procuráre_

[418] _scampáre_

[419] _capitáno_

[420] _causa_

[421] _diféndere_

[422] _procésso_

[423] _orréndo_

[424] _strage_

[425] _proscrizióne_

[426] _sommário_

[427] _dare_

[428] _princípio_

[429] _Lióne_

[430] _dare_

[431] _principále_

[432] _congiuráto_

[433] _ala_

[434] _dritto_

[435] _vittorióso_

[436] _parte_

[437] _campo_

[438] _saccheggiáto_

[439] _sconfítto_

[440] _crédere_

[441] _uccidérsi_

[442] _rotto_

[443] _conflítto_

[444] _assassino_

[445] _vívere_

[446] _perire_

[447] _violénto_

[448] _Suetónio_

[449] _uccidérsi_

[450] _stilétto_

[451] _vittória_

[452] _partíre_

[453] _veníre alle armi_

[454] _triumvíro_

[455] _moglie_

[456] _donna_

[457] _virile_

[458] _spírito_

[459] _dichiaráto_

[460] _assediáre_

[461] _arrendérsi_

[462] _invitáto_

[463] _scorrería_

[464] _segnaláto_

[465] _sconfítta_

[466] _scacciáre_

[467] _ricuperáre_

[468] _flotta_

[469] _comándo_

[470] _infestáre_

[471] _présto_

[472] _rotto_

[473] _combattiménto_

[474] _seguíre_

[475] _malmenato_

[476] _forzáto_

[477] _fuggíre_

[478] _messo_

[479] _cenno_

[480] _protezióne_

[481] _intraprésa_

[482] _ignominiosamente_

[483] _battúto_

[484] _affátto_

[485] _dedicáto_

[486] _ripudiáre_

[487] _dichiaráre_

[488] _Azio_

[489] _promontório_

[490] _Epíro_

[491] _vascéllo_

[492] _prodigiosaménte_

[493] _grande_

[494] _rassomigliáre_

[495] _castéllo_

[496] _muóvere_

[497] _fuga_

[498] _cambiáre_

[499] _sorte_

[500] _dubbióso_

[501] _battáglia_

[502] _rovína_

[503] _assediáto_

[504] _ammazzársi_

[505] _seguíre_

[506] _esémpio_

CHAP. VIII.

_(Of Rome, 725--Of Christ, 11.)_

After the death of Antony and Cleopatra, [1]Egypt was [2]reduced to the [3]form of a [4]province. Cæsar, in the year 725, [5]triumphed three times, for the [6]conquest of [7]Dalmatia, the victory at Actium, and the [8]reducing of Egypt. After which he [9]advised with Agrippa and Mecænas, either [10]seriously, or [11]pretendedly, about the [12]laying down of his [13]authority; Agrippa was for it, Mecænas against it; this last [14]advice he [15]resolved to follow, but [16]brought a [17]bill [18]nevertheless into the senate [19]to divest himself of his power, and by that [20]stratagem got it [21]secured to him both by the senate and the people, in the year 726.

[22]Cornelius Gallus, a [23]Roman [24]knight, [25]governor of Egypt, being [26]banished for his [27]insolence, slew himself. Augustus [28]carried on a war against the Cantabri and Austus for some years, by his [29]lieutenants: that is to say, from the year 729 to 735, in which they were entirely [30]reduced by Agrippa; who, upon his [31]return [32]refused a [33]triumph which was [34]offered him. [35]Phraates, king of the Parthians, about this time [36]restored the Roman [37]standards that had been [38]taken from Crassus.

For two of his [39]friends, Mecænas and M. Vipsanius Agrippa, he had a [40]particular [41]esteem above all others; the [42]former was a great [43]patron of [44]learning and [45]learned men. Augustus made Agrippa his [46]son-in-law, by [47]marrying his daughter Julia to him, whom he had by Scribonia. She had children, C. and L. Cæsars, Agrippa Posthumus, Agrippina married to Germanicus, Drusus’s son, Livia’s [48]grandson, and Julia, whom Æmilius married. He took Livia, when she was [49]big with child, by her former [50]husband Tiberius Nero, by whom he had no [51]issue, though she had by Nero, Tiberius, who was emperor afterwards, and Drusus who [52]died in Germany.

Tiberius having gotten the [53]tribunitial [54]power for five years, was [55]sent to [56]settle the [57]affairs of Armenia. Soon after he [58]retired to Rhodes, where, for fear of [59]falling under the [60]displeasure of his [61]step-sons, he [62]continued seven years. But the [63]occasion of his [64]retirement was his [65]aversion for his wife Julia, who [66]spent her time in all [67]manner of [68]debauchery. Augustus, upon a [69]discovery of her [70]pranks, [71]banished her.

The [72]age of this emperor [73]produced several great [74]men: amongst the [75]Greeks [76]Dionysius Halicarnassensis and [77]Nicholas Damascenus were [78]famous for their [79]talents in writing [80]history; and amongst the [81]Latins [82]Cornelius Nepos, Atticus’s [83]son-in-law, and Sallust, who died four years before the [84]battle of Actium. In this age lived likewise those [85]celebrated [86]poets, [87]Virgil, [88]Horace, [89]Ovid, [90]Tibullus, and [91]Propertius.

Augustus died at Nola, in Campania, in the 14th year of [92]Christ, and the 76th year of his age, having [93]held the empire by himself, from the death of M. Antony, forty-three years; he was an [94]excellent [95]prince, and [96]necessary for those times.

He was [97]succeeded by Tiberius, a prince of a [98]savage [99]disposition, and [100]given up to all manner of debauchery; he was the son of Livia by Nero. He [101]dissembled his [102]vices at the [103]beginning of his reign with [104]wonderful [105]art, through fear of Germanicus, his brother’s son, whom he had [106]adopted at the [107]command of his [108]father-in-law. For, as he [109]gained a great [110]reputation by his [111]virtues and [112]exploits in war, he was [113]looked upon with a [114]jealous eye, as [115]fitter for the empire than himself. He [116]removed him from Germany where he had [117]wonderful [118]success against the enemy, into the [119]East, to [120]fight against the Parthians, in the year 769, having sent at the same time Cn. Piso into Syria, between whom and Germanicus was a [121]mortal enmity. Wherefore Germanicus died, not without the [122]suspicion of having been [123]poisoned by him, for which being [124]prosecuted at Rome by Agrippina, the wife of Germanicus, he [125]prevented his [126]sentence by a [127]voluntary death.

[128]Ælius Sejanus, a Roman [129]knight, was afterwards [130]raised by Tiberius, who after a great many [131]wicked [132]actions, [133]aiming now at no less than the empire itself, was, by a [134]letter of Tiberius to the senate, [135]thrown from the [136]top of all his [137]grandeur, and died by the [138]hand of an [139]executioner, with all his [140]family, in the 18th year of Tiberius.

About the 18th year of his [141]reign, he [142]retired to Caprea, an [143]island on the [144]coast of Campania, with a [145]design of never returning to the town, where he [146]privately [147]wallowed in all manner of [148]debauchery, and died in the 23rd year of his reign, to the great [149]joy of every one, being then in the 78th year of his age.

[150]_Jesus Christ_, the son of God, was [151]born of the [152]Virgin Mary, in the reign of Augustus, and [153]crucified in that of Tiberius, being then thirty-three years of age.

Caius Cæsar Caligula, so [154]called from a [155]shoe [156]worn by the [157]soldiery, which, when a boy, he [158]wore in the camp, [159]succeeded Tiberius, being the son of Germanicus and Agrippina, the daughter of M. Agrippa and Julia. He was [160]entered into the five and twentieth year of his age. Great was the joy of the people upon his first [161]accession to the [162]throne, and no less were their [163]hopes that he would be [164]like Germanicus his father, who is said to have been [165]possessed of all the good [166]qualities of [167]body and [168]mind. And indeed as the worst of princes frequently [169]begin well, he gave many [170]signs of his [171]moderation and [172]regard to the good of the public. But soon after, as if he had [173]put off all [174]humanity, he [175]outstripped the most savage [176]creatures in [177]cruelty; and having made sad [178]havoc among all [179]ranks and [180]degrees of men, he [181]killed likewise Macro, [182]commander of the [183]prætorian [184]bands, by whose [185]means he had been made emperor. He also [186]committed [187]crimes with his sisters. Having in a year’s time [188]exhausted [189]immense [190]treasures that had been [191]left by Tiberius, he [192]fell to [193]proscribing and [194]plundering. Among other proofs of his cruelty, he was [195]heard to say, I [196]wish the Roman people had but one [197]neck. In all his [198]buildings, or public [199]works, he [200]effected what was [201]looked upon to be impossible. He [202]ordered himself to be [203]worshipped as a god throughout the [204]world, and [205]temples to be [206]erected to him. At last, he was slain by Chærea Cassius, [207]tribune of a [208]cohort of his [209]guards, and some others, who had [210]entered into a [211]plot against him, after he had [212]reigned three years, ten months, and eight days, and [213]lived twenty-nine years.

Claudius Nero, Caligula’s uncle, and the son of Drusius [214]reigned after him, [215]naturally no bad man, but [216]senseless and foolish. He was not naturally [217]cruel, but only so when [218]instigated by others, [219]especially by his [220]freedmen and his [221]wives, into whose hands he [222]gave up himself and his [223]affairs. His first lady was Messalina, whose [224]depravity and [225]dissoluteness every body [226]knew but himself; till at last [227]venturing to [228]marry one Silius, a knight, she was by her [229]husband’s order slain, together with her [230]paramour, at the [231]instigation of [232]Narcissus, who with [233]Pallas, another of his [234]freedmen, [235]ruled him entirely.

Another [236]instance of his [237]folly is, that after Messalina was [238]put to death, by whom he had his son [239]Britannicus, and Octavia, he married Agrippina Germanicus his brother’s daughter, the mother of Nero by [240]Domitius, in the ninth year of his reign, by the [241]advice of Pallas: at whose and Agrippina’s [242]request, he [243]adopted Nero, and [244]passing by Britannicus, [245]designed him for his [246]successor. He [247]banished the [248]Jews from Rome, and the [249]mathematicians out of Italy: and [250]undertaking an [251]expedition into [252]Britain, he [253]subdued it all in sixteen days time, as Dio says, in the third year of his reign. He died in the year of Christ 54, by [254]poison [255]put in a [256]mushroom by Agrippina. He reigned thirteen years eight months and twenty days, and lived sixty-four years.

Domitius Nero, [257]mounted the throne after the death of his [258]step-father, being then seventeen years of age. He at first, [259]behaved himself in such a manner, that he might be [260]reckoned among the best of [261]princes; that is, as long as he [262]listened to the [263]precepts of his [264]master Seneca. Afterwards, being [265]corrupted with [266]luxury and [267]flattery, he [268]became more like a [269]monster than a man. He [270]stopped the progress of the Parthians, who had [271]over-run Armenia, by Corbulo, a [272]gallant [273]commander, and a person of great [274]virtue and [275]authority, who [276]recovered Armenia, in the ninth year of Nero, and [277]obliged [278]Tiridates, Volegesis king of the Parthians brother, to [279]come to Rome, and to [280]beg his [281]crown of Nero, in the thirteenth year of Nero’s reign; in which year he [282]recalled Corbulo, and put him to death. He [283]destroyed Britannicus by [284]poison in the very [285]beginning of his reign. He likewise [286]ordered his mother Agrippina to be put to death, after having first [287]disgraced and [288]banished her from the [289]court, which [290]parricide, that nothing might be [291]wanting to [292]complete the [293]unhappiness of the times, the Senate [294]approved of. Afterwards having married Poppæa, whom he [295]took from Otho, he [296]banished Octavia, and at last put her to death. Upon the [297]discovery of a [298]plot, which Piso, and some others had [299]laid against him; he put to death the [300]poet Lucan, and Seneca the philosopher, with several others, in the year of Christ 65, and the same year he [301]kicked his wife Poppæa, when [302]pregnant, [303]to death. He had the [304]impudence to [305]appear upon the [306]stage, and [307]act amongst the [308]players and [309]harpers, and [310]ride [311]chariot-races at the [312]Circensian games; and to [313]represent for his [314]diversion the [315]appearance of [316]Troy in [317]flames, he [318]set fire to the city, and [319]imputed it to the [320]Christians. He [321]became so odious and [322]contemptible by his [323]villanies, that he was [324]forsaken by all, and being [325]sought for in order to be [326]punished, he [327]performed the [328]executioner’s [329]office upon himself, in the 14th year of his [330]reign, and 68th of our Lord.

A little before Nero’s death, [331]C. Julius Vindex, who was [332]proprætor of Gaul, [333]openly [334]rebelled, and [335]persuaded Sergius Galba, [336]governor of Spain, to [337]set up for emperor, which he accordingly did, and [338]put Vindex to death presently after. He reigned about seven months, being very [339]old. He was slain together with Piso, whom he had [340]adopted, after M. Silvius Otho was [341]proclaimed emperor; he reigned only about three months.

In the mean time, Vitellius [342]trusting to the [343]legions of Germany, which he [344]commanded in [345]quality of a [346]consular [347]lieutenant-general, [348]took upon him the [349]name of emperor, and [350]defeated Otho’s army in a [351]rencounter near [352]Bebriacum, who being [353]weary of a civil war, killed himself.

Vitellius reigned eight months after Otho, and was [354]succeeded by Vespasian, who had been [355]sent by Nero to [356]quell the [357]Jews. He reigned ten years with the greatest [358]justice and [359]clemency. He was a great [360]encourager of [361]learning and [362]learned men. The only thing that was [363]blamed in him, was his [364]covetousness, which he used to [365]excuse, by [366]alleging the [367]emptiness of the [368]Exchequer.

The war in [369]Judea was [370]finished in his time, to which he was sent by Nero, as we have [371]already [372]said. It was [373]begun by some [374]seditious [375]people that were [376]headed by Eleazar, the son of Ananias, the [377]high-priest, who [378]took up arms against the Romans, under the [379]pretence of [380]religion. Cestius Gallus, [381]lieutenant of Syria, [382]laid siege to [383]Jerusalem, but was [384]beaten off with great [385]slaughter in the 12th year of Nero. The [386]victorious Jews upon their [387]return to Jerusalem, amongst other generals, [388]made choice of [389]Josephus, the son of [390]Matthias for one. In the year of Christ 67, Vespasian, [391]carrying his arms through Galilee and Judea, [392]took, besides most of their towns, Josephus their [393]commander, who [394]foretold his [395]rise. At last, he [396]fell upon Jerusalem, the [397]metropolis of the [398]nation, which was taken by his son Titus, in the second year of his reign.

This [399]proved the [400]ruin of the nation, and of the very name of the Jews. The [401]calamity was indeed so [402]violent, and the [403]miseries they [404]suffered so [405]various, that it was [406]visible they were [407]punished for the [408]horrid [409]murder of the [410]only begotten son of God; for a [411]dreadful [412]famine [413]forced the [414]besieged to [415]live on human [416]flesh; mothers to [417]eat their own children; and eleven hundred thousand [418]persons (a thing hardly ever [419]heard of before), [420]perished in that [421]siege. The city was [422]finally [423]razed to the ground. Vespasian, in the third year of his reign [424]triumphed, with his son Titus, over the Jews; upon which he [425]shut up the [426]temple of [427]Janus. He [428]died in his ninth [429]consulship whilst he was [430]giving [431]audience to some [432]ambassadors, having lived sixty-nine years, one month and seven days, and reigned eight years.

Titus, who [433]succeeded his father, is [434]deservedly [435]ranked among the best [436]emperors, although before he [437]came to the [438]empire, he was [439]thought a man of a cruel [440]temper, [441]covetous, and [442]depraved. But upon his [443]advancement, he was so much [444]altered for the better, that he [445]deserved the [446]title of the [447]delight of [448]mankind. He was [449]remarkable for great [450]mildness, and [451]easy temper, and never [452]sent any one away [453]dissatisfied; and [454]remembering once at [455]supper that he had [456]done nobody any [457]kindness that day, he told all those who were about him that he had [458]lost a day. In his reign, in the year of Christ 80, there was a [459]dreadful [460]eruption of [461]flames and [462]ashes out of [463]mount Vesuvius, which [464]flew as far as Africa, Syria, and Egypt; and the two towns of Pompeii and [465]Herculaneum[A] were [466]utterly [467]ruined by it. This good emperor died in the year of Christ 81, two years and three months after he had [468]succeeded his father, and in the one and fortieth year of his [469]age, not without the [470]suspicion of having been [471]poisoned by his [472]brother Domitian.

[A] The Manuscripts, Vases, &c. &c. which within the last few
years have been found among the ruins of these places, are in
the present day objects of great curiosity and interest.

Titus was very much [473]lamented both by the senate and people: and their [474]concern for his death was very much [475]increased by his brother and [476]successor Domitian, the worst prince of all that [477]came before, or [478]followed after him. At first he made some [479]show of [480]clemency and [481]justice, but soon [482]discovered his [483]temper, and [484]imitated Nero in [485]cruelty, [486]rapine, and [487]debauchery. He [488]ordered himself to be [489]called God, and was at last [490]destroyed by means of a [491]plot, in the year of Christ 96, after he had reigned fifteen years.

FOOTNOTES

[1] _Egítto_

[2] _ridótto_

[3] _forma_

[4] _província_

[5] _trionfáre_

[6] _conquísta_

[7] _Dalmázia_

[8] _sommíssione_

[9] _consigliársi_

[10] _seriaménte_

[11] _fintaménte_

[12] _depórsi_

[13] _autorità_

[14] _consíglio_

[15] _risólvere_

[16] _presentáre_

[17] _dimanda_

[18] _nonostánte_

[19] _per rassegnare_

[20] _stratagémma_

[21] _assicurársi_

[22] _Cornélio Gallo_

[23] _Románo_

[24] _cavaliére_

[25] _governatóre_

[26] _esiliáto_

[27] _insolenza_

[28] _fare_

[29] _luogotenénte_

[30] _sottomessi_

[31] _ritórno_

[32] _ricusáre_

[33] _triónfo_

[34] _esibíto_

[35] _Fraate_

[36] _restituíre_

[37] _stendárdo_

[38] _preso_

[39] _amíco_

[40] _particoláre_

[41] _stima_

[42] _primo_

[43] _protettóre_

[44] _sciénza_

[45] _sapiénte_

[46] _género_

[47] _dare per moglíe_

[48] _nipóte_

[49] _grávida_

[50] _maríto_

[51] _progénie_

[52] _moríre_

[53] _tribunízio_

[54] _potére_

[55] _mandáto_

[56] _regoláre_

[57] _affáre_

[58] _ritirársi_

[59] _cadere_

[60] _dispiacére_

[61] _figliástro_

[62] _continuáre_

[63] _cagióne_

[64] _ritiratézza_

[65] _avversióne_

[66] _passáre_

[67] _sorta_

[68] _dissolutézza_

[69] _scopérta_

[70] _stravagánza_

[71] _bandíre_

[72] _sécolo_

[73] _prodúrre_

[74] _uomo_

[75] _Greco_

[76] _Dionísio Alicarnasséno_

[77] _Nicóla Damascéno_

[78] _célebre_

[79] _talénto_

[80] _istória_

[81] _Latino_

[82] _Cornélio Nepóte_

[83] _género_

[84] _battáglia_

[85] _célebre_

[86] _poéta_

[87] _Virgilio_

[88] _Orázio_

[89] _Ovídio_

[90] _Tibúllo_

[91] _Propérzio_

[92] _Cristo_

[93] _tenúto_

[94] _eccellénte_

[95] _príncipe_

[96] _necessário_

[97] _succédere_

[98] _salvático_

[99] _indole_

[100] _abbandonáto_

[101] _nascóndere_

[102] _vizio_

[103] _princípio_

[104] _maraviglióso_

[105] _arte_

[106] _adottáto_

[107] _comándo_

[108] _suócero_

[109] _acquistáre_

[110] _riputazióne_

[111] _virtù_

[112] _fatto d’arme_

[113] _risguardáto_

[114] _gelóso_

[115] _próprio_

[116] _rimuóvere_

[117] _maraviglióso_

[118] _succésso_

[119] _Levánte_

[120] _battersi_

[121] _rancóre mortále_

[122] _sospétto_

[123] _avvelenáto_

[124] _proseguíto_

[125] _preveníre_

[126] _senténza_

[127] _volontário_

[128] _Elio Sejáno_

[129] _cavaliére_

[130] _innalzáto_

[131] _malvaggio_

[132] _azióne_

[133] _aspiráre_

[134] _léttera_

[135] _precipitáto_

[136] _colmo_

[137] _grandézza_

[138] _mano_

[139] _carnéfice_

[140] _famiglia_

[141] _regno_

[142] _ritirársi_

[143] _ísola_

[144] _costa_

[145] _intenzióne_

[146] _segretamente_

[147] _voltoláre_

[148] _dissolutézza_

[149] _allegrézza_

[150] _Gesù Cristo_

[151] _nato_

[152] _Vergine Mária_

[153] _crocefísso_

[154] _chiamáto_

[155] _scarpa_

[156] _portáto_

[157] _soldatésca_

[158] _portáre_

[159] _succédere_

[160] _entráto_

[161] _avveniménto_

[162] _trono_

[163] _speránza_

[164] _rassomigliáre_

[165] _dotáto_

[166] _qualità_

[167] _corpo_

[168] _mente_

[169] _principiáre_

[170] _segno_

[171] _moderazióne_

[172] _risguárdo_

[173] _spogliáto_

[174] _umanità_

[175] _superáre_

[176] _animále_

[177] _crudeltà_

[178] _strage_

[179] _rango_

[180] _grado_

[181] _uccídere_

[182] _capitáno_

[183] _pretóriano_

[184] _guardia_

[185] _mezzo_

[186] _comméttere_

[187] _delitto_

[188] _dato fondo all’_

[189] _imménso_

[190] _tesóro_

[191] _lasciáto_

[192] _cominciáre_

[193] _proscrívere_

[194] _sacchegiáre_

[195] _sentíto_

[196] _vorréi_

[197] _collo_

[198] _edifízio_

[199] _lavóro_

[200] _effettuáre_

[201] _stimáto_

[202] _farsi_

[203] _adoráre_

[204] _mondo_

[205] _témpio_

[206] _edificáre_

[207] _tribuno_

[208] _coorte_

[209] _guárdia_

[210] _fatto_

[211] _cospirazióne_

[212] _regnáto_

[213] _vissúto_

[214] _regnáre_

[215] _naturalménte_

[216] _insensáto_

[217] _crudéle_

[218] _istigáto_

[219] _sopratútto_

[220] _liberto_

[221] _moglie_

[222] _abbandonársi_

[223] _affáre_

[224] _sfrenatezza_

[225] _dissolutézza_

[226] _essere noto_

[227] _arrischiáre_

[228] _sposáre_

[229] _maríto_

[230] _drudo_

[231] _istigazióne_

[232] _Narcísso_

[233] _Pállade_

[234] _libérto_

[235] _governáre_

[236] _argoménto_

[237] _pazzía_

[238] _messo_

[239] _Británnico_

[240] _Domízio_

[241] _consíglio_

[242] _richiésta_

[243] _adottáre_

[244] _dimenticáre_

[245] _destináre_

[246] _successóre_

[247] _bandíre_

[248] _Giudéo_

[249] _matemático_

[250] _intrapréndere_

[251] _spedizióne_

[252] _Brettágna_

[253] _soggiogáre_

[254] _veléno_

[255] _messo_

[256] _fungo_

[257] _ascéndere_

[258] _patrígno_

[259] _comportársi_

[260] _annoveráto_

[261] _príncipe_

[262] _ascoltáre_

[263] _precétto_

[264] _maéstro_

[265] _corrótto_

[266] _lussúria_

[267] _adulazióne_

[268] _diventáre_

[269] _mostro_

[270] _arrestáre_

[271] _trascórrere_

[272] _valoróso_

[273] _capitáno_

[274] _virtù_

[275] _autorità_

[276] _ricuperáre_

[277] _obbligáre_

[278] _Tiridáte Vologéso_

[279] _veníre_

[280] _domandáre_

[281] _coróna_

[282] _richiamáre_

[283] _far moríre_

[284] _veléno_

[285] _princípio_

[286] _ordináre_

[287] _privatala degli onori_

[288] _bandíto_

[289] _corte_

[290] _parricídio_

[291] _mancáre_

[292] _compíre_

[293] _miséria_

[294] _approváre_

[295] _leváre_

[296] _esiliáre_

[297] _scopérta_

[298] _trama_

[299] _macchináto_

[300] _poéta Lucáno_

[301] _dare dei calci_

[302] _grávida_

[303] _in modo da farla morire_

[304] _sfacciatággine_

[305] _comparíre_

[306] _teátro_

[307] _recitáre_

[308] _commediánte_

[309] _suonatóre d’arpa_

[310] _fare_

[311] _corse di carro_

[312] _giuóchi Circénsi_

[313] _rappresentáre_

[314] _spasso_

[315] _apparénza_

[316] _Troja_

[317] _fiámma_

[318] _incendiáre_

[319] _imputáre_

[320] _Cristiáno_

[321] _diventáre_

[322] _sprezzábile_

[323] _scelleratézza_

[324] _abbandonáto_

[325] _cercáto_

[326] _castigáto_

[327] _eseguíre_

[328] _carnéfice_

[329] _uffício_

[330] _regno_

[331] _C. Giúlio Vindíce_

[332] _propretóre_

[333] _apertaménte_

[334] _ribellársi_

[335] _persuadére_

[336] _governatóre_

[337] _farsi_

[338] _méttere_

[339] _vécchio_

[340] _adottáto_

[341] _proclamáto_

[342] _confidársi_

[343] _legióne_

[344] _comandáre_

[345] _qualità_

[346] _consoláre_

[347] _luogotenénte_

[348] _préndere_

[349] _nome_

[350] _sconfíggere_

[351] _combattiménto_

[352] _Bebríaco_

[353] _stanco_

[354] _succedúto_

[355] _mandáto_

[356] _reprímere_

[357] _Giudéo_

[358] _giustízia_

[359] _cleménza_

[360] _promotóre_

[361] _sciénza_

[362] _sapiénte_

[363] _biasimáto_

[364] _cupidígia_

[365] _scusáre_

[366] _allegáre_

[367] _povertà_

[368] _erário_

[369] _Giudéa_

[370] _termináto_

[371] _già_

[372] _detto_

[373] _principiáto_

[374] _sedizióso_

[375] _gente_

[376] _comandáto_

[377] _gran sacerdóte_

[378] _prendere_

[379] _pretésto_

[380] _religióne_

[381] _luogotenénte_

[382] _assediáre_

[383] _Gierusalémme_

[384] _rispínto_

[385] _stráge_

[386] _vincitóre_

[387] _ritórno_

[388] _scégliere_

[389] _Giuséppe_

[390] _Máttia_

[391] _portáre_

[392] _pigliáre_

[393] _comandánte_

[394] _prédire_

[395] _elevazióne_

[396] _gettársi_

[397] _metrópoli_

[398] _nazióne_

[399] _cagionáre_

[400] _rovína_

[401] _calamità_

[402] _violento_

[403] _miséria_

[404] _soffríre_

[405] _differénte_

[406] _visíbile_

[407] _puníto_

[408] _orréndo_

[409] _omicídio_

[410] _unigénito_

[411] _terríbile_

[412] _fame_

[413] _forzáre_

[414] _assediáto_

[415] _vívere_

[416] _carne_

[417] _mangiáre_

[418] _persóna_

[419] _sentíto_

[420] _períre_

[421] _assédio_

[422] _finalménte_

[423] _spianáto_

[424] _trionfáre_

[425] _chiúdere_

[426] _témpio_

[427] _Giáno_

[428] _moríre_

[429] _consoláto_

[430] _dare_

[431] _udiénza_

[432] _ambasciadóre_

[433] _succédere_

[434] _meritaménte_

[435] _annoveráto_

[436] _imperatóre_

[437] _arriváre_

[438] _império_

[439] _credúto_

[440] _natúra_

[441] _aváro_

[442] _sensuále_

[443] _avanzaménto_

[444] _cambiáto_

[445] _meritáre_

[446] _títolo_

[447] _delízia_

[448] _génere umáno_

[449] _notábile_

[450] _benignità_

[451] _piacevolézza_

[452] _rimandare_

[453] _malconténto_

[454] _ricordársi_

[455] _cena_

[456] _fatto_

[457] _benefício_

[458] _perdúto_

[459] _spaventévole_

[460] _eruzione_

[461] _fiámma_

[462] _cénere_

[463] _Monte Vesúvio_

[464] _spargersi_

[465] _Ercoláno_

[466] _affátto_

[467] _distrútto_

[468] _succedúto_

[469] _età_

[470] _sospétto_

[471] _avvelenáto_

[472] _fratéllo_

[473] _compianto_

[474] _afflizióne_

[475] _accresciúto_

[476] _successóre_

[477] _precedere_

[478] _seguíre_

[479] _mostra_

[480] _cleménza_

[481] _giustízia_

[482] _scopríre_

[483] _natúra_

[484] _imitáre_

[485] _crudeltà_

[486] _rapína_

[487] _lussúria_

[488] _farsi_

[489] _chiamáre_

[490] _uccíso_

[491] _cospirazióne_

CHAP. IX.

_(Of Rome, 836--Of Christ, 96.)_

[1]Cocceius Nerva succeeded Domitian in the empire. He reigned but one year, four months, and eleven days; an [2]excellent prince, but [3]despised for his age. He [4]annulled all the [5]acts of Domitian, and [6]restored what had been [7]taken from the people by [8]violence and [9]injustice: but he [10]wanted [11]authority to [12]keep the soldiers within [13]due bounds; wherefore those who were [14]concerned in the death of Domitian, from whom he had [15]received the empire, were [16]killed by the [17]guards, [18]in spite of all he could do to [19]prevent it. He made Trajan, [20]lieutenant of Germany, his [21]adopted son, with whom he lived three months.

Trajan [22]took upon him the [23]government of the empire at [24]Cologn, being then in the 42nd year of his age; and a man [25]excellently [26]skilled in the [27]military art. He was likewise a person of great prudence, [28]moderation, and [29]meekness of [30]temper; so that he was thought by all to [31]deserve the [32]surname of [33]Optimus. He [34]added Dacia to the empire, and, [35]marching into the [36]East, [37]subdued the [38]Armenians, the [39]Iberians, the [40]Colchians, the [41]Sarmatians, the [42]Osrhoenians, the [43]Arabians, and the [44]Bosphoranians. He likewise [45]fell upon the Parthians, and [46]took the cities Seleucia, [47]Ctesiphon, and [48]Babylon, with several others. But upon his [49]taking a voyage in the [50]Red Sea, almost all those nations [51]rose in rebellion. He, however, [52]quickly [53]reduced them either in person or by his [54]lieutenants. There was in his time a great [55]earthquake, which [56]ruined the city of [57]Antioch: it [58]happened in the year of Christ 115, in the [59]consulship of Messala and Pedo, the latter of whom was [60]buried in the [61]ruins of the [62]place, and Trajan was [63]drawn through a [64]window, and had [65]much ado to [66]escape. The Jews of [67]Syrene [68]took up arms, and [69]exercised all manner of [70]cruelty upon the Romans and Greeks throughout [71]Egypt and [72]Cyprus. Trajan [73]suppressed this rebellion with infinite [74]slaughter, by his lieutenant Martius Turbo. [75]Whilst he was [76]preparing to march against the Parthians, who were up in arms, having [77]forced from amongst them the king that had been [78]given them by the Roman emperor; this excellent prince [79]fell ill, and [80]died at [81]Selinus in Cilicia. He reigned nineteen years, six months, and fifteen days.

[82]Ælius Hadrianus, Trajan’s [83]cousin and [84]countryman, [85]obtained the empire after him, by the [86]favour of Plotina, Trajan’s wife; a man very [87]fickle in his [88]temper and [89]genius, [90]equally [91]formed for virtue and [92]vice. He [93]went through all the [94]provinces of the empire, so that nobody had ever [95]travelled over so much of the [96]world as he. After the death of Trajan, he [97]abandoned Armenia, Syria, and Mesopotamia, to the Parthians, and [98]intended likewise to [99]leave Dacia, had he not been [100]apprehensive of [101]ruining the many thousands of Romans that were there.

He [102]rebuilt Jerusalem, which he [103]called Ælia Capitolina, and [104]settled a colony there; and in the same place where the [105]temple had [106]stood, [107]built another in [108]honour of [109]Jupiter; which so [110]provoked the Jews, that, [111]taking up arms, they [112]carried on the war with more [113]fury than ever, under the [114]conduct of Barchochebas; against whom, amongst other [115]skilful generals that he [116]employed, Hadrian [117]sent for Julius Severus out of [118]Britain, by whom the Jews were by [119]degrees [120]suppressed and utterly [121]destroyed; there being no less than 50,000 slain in that war, besides an [122]innumerable [123]multitude that were [124]consumed by [125]famine, [126]pestilence, and [127]fire; so that [128]Palestine became almost a [129]wilderness. After that time, the Jews were [130]forbidden, [131]under pain of death, to come to Jerusalem, unless one day in a year to [132]lament their [133]misery.

At last Hadrian [134]growing old and [135]infirm, having no [136]children of his own, [137]adopted [138]Arrius Antoninus, who was afterwards [139]surnamed [140]Pius, [141]upon condition that he should adopt Annius Verus, son of Ælius Verus, and [142]M. Aurelius Antoninus. After which he died at Baiæ, in the year of Christ 138, having lived sixty-two years, and reigned twenty-one and eleven months.

Antoninus Pius, adopted by Hadrian, [143]governed the Roman empire with so much virtue and [144]goodness, that he [145]surpassed all [146]example; for he [147]managed the [148]commonwealth rather with the [149]affection of a father, than with the authority of a prince, and [150]kept the world in [151]peace during his whole reign, for which [152]reason he was [153]compared to Numa. [154]Foreign and [155]remote princes and [156]nations [157]feared him to that degree, that they [158]referred the [159]decision of their [160]controversies to him. He [161]forbade any [162]scrutiny to be made after those, who had [163]entered into a [164]plot against his [165]life. He died in the seventieth year of his age, and twenty-fourth of his reign.

After him reigned M. Antonius Verus, [166]son-in-law of Pius; for he had married his daughter Valeria Faustina. He had from [167]his youth been [168]educated as well in the [169]knowledge of other [170]arts as the [171]studies of [172]wisdom, which he [173]made appear no less in his life and [174]conduct, than his [175]words and [176]professions. In the [177]beginning of his reign, he made L. Ælius Verus his [178]partner of the empire, to whom he married his daughter Lucilla. They reigned together eleven years, being of very [179]different [180]inclinations; for Verus was of a [181]listless, [182]luxurious, and [183]morose temper, but was [184]kept within [185]bounds through the [186]respect he had for his father-in-law; by whom he was [187]sent against the Parthians, and [188]carried on the war [189]successfully for four years, by his lieutenants; wherefore they both [190]triumphed over the Parthians. Afterwards they [191]undertook an [192]expedition against the Marcomanni, but upon their [193]march, Verus was [194]seized with an [195]apoplexy, between Concordia and [196]Altinum, and died. M. Aurelius carried on the war for three years against the Marcomanni, to whom the Quadi, [197]Vandals, [198]Sarmatians, and Suevi, [199]joined themselves. His army in [200]want [201]of water, was [202]relieved by a [203]legion of [204]Christians that was in it, who, by their [205]prayers [206]procured [207]rain from [208]heaven, according to [209]Eusebius. The [210]exchequer being quite [211]exhausted by the great [212]expense of the war, that he might not [213]burthen the people with [214]taxes, he [215]produced all the imperial [216]furniture and [217]sold it; and after the victory [218]restored the [219]price to those [220]purchasers who [221]were willing to [222]part with what they had [223]bought. Avidius Cassius, upon [224]false advice that he was [225]dead, [226]seized the [227]government, and was slain three months after. M. Aurelius died at Vienna, after a reign of nineteen years, and eleven months.

He was [228]succeeded by his [229]wicked son Aurelius Commodus Antoninus, who [230]resembled Nero for [231]cruelty, [232]lust, [233]avarice, and such practices as are [234]scandalous in an emperor. Having [235]settled his affairs with the [236]Germans, he triumphed at Rome. He put to death his sister Lucilla, who, with [237]several others, had [238]conspired against his life. He [239]used to [240]fight among the [241]gladiators in the [242]public games. He was at last, after an [243]infamous life, [244]slain by the [245]contrivance of a [246]mistress, and the captain-general of his [247]life-guards, whom he had [248]determined to [249]put to death. He reigned twelve years, nine months, and fourteen days.

After Commodus was [250]killed in the year of Christ 193, P. [251]Helvius Pertinax, was [252]declared emperor, by those who had [253]dispatched Commodus, who [254]endeavouring to [255]reduce the [256]commonwealth into better [257]order, and to [258]curb the [259]licentiousness of the [260]soldiery, was, within eighty days after his coming to the empire, [261]murdered by his own guards. The empire after this, was by the soldiers [262]exposed to [263]sale, and Didius Julianus [264]coming up to their [265]terms, was [266]accepted of, and [267]proclaimed emperor accordingly. But [268]not being able to [269]make up the [270]promised donative, he was [271]forsaken by them, and slain by [272]order of Septimius Severus, after he had reigned two months and five days.

This Severus, a [273]native of Africa, was at that time lieutenant of Pannonia, and [274]took upon him the government, under the [275]pretence of [276]revenging Pertinax’s death. He first of all [277]disbanded the guards for that [278]abominable [279]murder. Then he [280]fell upon Pescennius Niger, lieutenant of Syria, and Clodius Albinus of [281]Britain, his [282]competitor for the empire. Niger was [283]conquered, and Antioch, into which he [284]threw himself, was taken; after which, [285]flying towards the [286]river Euphrates, he was [287]taken and slain. After the [288]taking off of Niger, Severus [289]took [290]Byzantium, which had [291]declared for him, after a [292]siege of three years.

[293]Matters being [294]brought to a [295]peaceable [296]settlement in the [297]East, he [298]turned his arms [299]westward against Clodius Albinus, and [300]engaged him at [301]Lyons in [302]France; where many being slain on both [303]sides, and amongst others, Albinus, he was [304]left sole [305]possessor of the empire. The city was [306]plundered and [307]burnt, Albinus’s [308]head [309]sent to Rome, and a [310]dreadful [311]havoc made among those who had been his [312]favourers and [313]friends.

After this, he [314]marched [315]eastward again, and [316]conquered the Parthians, the [317]Adiabenians, and Arabians, whilst Plotianus, in the mean time, [318]governed all at Rome. Plotilla, this man’s daughter, was [319]contracted to Antoninus, Severus’s son, and the [320]nuptials were [321]celebrated in the tenth year of Severus’s reign. But not long after, Plotianus being [322]engaged in a [323]plot against the emperor, was slain by his [324]son-in-law, and a great many that had been in his [325]interest, killed after him.

Severus [326]undertook an [327]expedition into Britain, with his two sons, in the 15th year of his reign, where he [328]continued three years; being very [329]successful, he [330]drew a [331]wall [332]across the [333]island for its [334]security. He died at York, after he had reigned seventeen years eight months and three days.

[335]Antoninus Caracalla and Geta, the two sons of Severus, were after him [336]advanced to the empire, in the year of Christ 211. But the [337]difference of their [338]humour and [339]manners was such, that they were [340]perpetually at [341]variance. Geta was of a [342]mild and civil [343]temper, the other [344]cruel and [345]boisterous, who, in the second year of his reign, [346]slew his brother in his [347]mother’s [348]bosom. After him, a great many of his friends and [349]favourers were [350]put to death, amongst whom the [351]famous [352]lawyer [353]Papinian, because he would not [354]justify his [355]parricide. After this, he [356]marched into the [357]East. At Alexandria he made a [358]shocking [359]massacre of the [360]inhabitants, for having some time before made some [361]jests upon him. He then [362]invaded [363]Artabanus, king of the Parthians, and [364]laid waste his [365]dominions. He was [366]killed by the [367]contrivance of Opilius Macrinus after he had reigned six years and two months.

Macrinus [368]enjoyed the empire but a short time; for he and his sons were slain by the [369]soldiers within a year and two months after he obtained it: and was [370]succeeded by [371]Antoninus Heliogabalus, [372]supposed, but [373]falsely, to be the son of Caracalla. He was the [374]vilest [375]wretch that ever lived, [376]given up to all manner of [377]vice. Wherefore, after a reign of three years, and nine months, he was slain by the [378]soldiery, with his mother Julia, or Semiamira.

After this, [379]M. Aurelius Alexander [380]mounted the throne, having been [381]created Cæsar the year before; an [382]extraordinary prince, and well [383]instructed in all the [384]arts of [385]peace and war. He [386]carried a strict hand over the [387]judges, and was very [388]severe upon all those that by [389]favour or [390]bribery [391]transgressed the [392]bounds of [393]justice. He [394]banished from his [395]person all [396]flatterers, [397]buffoons, and such as are a [398]scandal to the [399]court. He [400]forbade the [401]sale of [402]offices, saying, that what was [403]bought would be [404]sold again. He [405]allowed the [406]deputies of the [407]provinces all their [408]furniture out of the [409]exchequer, that they might not be [410]burdensome to the people. He was [411]successful against the Persians, but at last slain in a [412]sedition of his army.

In the fifth year of his reign, [413]Artaxerxes, [414]the Persian, having [415]defeated the Parthians in three [416]battles, and slain their king Artabanus, [417]raised again the empire of the Persians in the East. He also made an [418]excursion into the Roman [419]territories, but was defeated by Alexander. After this, he [420]undertook an [421]expedition against the Germans, in which he was slain by Maximinus, together with his mother, after a reign of thirteen years.

Maximinus was made emperor after the [422]murder of Alexander, and [423]put a happy end to the German war. In the mean time he made a [424]dreadful [425]havoc at Rome, by his governor there, and killed a great many of the [426]nobility. During this, the two [427]Gordians, father and son, while at [428]Carthage, [429]laid claim to the empire. The Romans, being [430]headed by the senate, [431]declared against Maximinus; and [432]persons were [433]dispatched away to [434]secure the provinces for the senate. At home, twenty [435]commissioners were [436]nominated for the [437]management of public [438]affairs. The Gordians being [439]killed in Africa, after a year and a few days, by [440]Capelian, Maximinus’s general, [441]Balbinus and [442]Maximus Pupienus, two of the [443]twenty [444]commissioners, were [445]advanced to the empire by the senate in the year of Christ 237; in which Maximinus, as he was [446]besieging Aquileia, was slain by the [447]soldiers with his son, who was but a [448]boy, after a reign of two years and ten months.

Balbinus and Pupienus, with Gordian ([449]a boy, who, as will be seen [450]hereafter, [451]perished in Africa), reigned together for a year. But afterwards being [452]desirous to [453]get rid of Gordian, who was more in [454]favour than themselves, they were slain by the soldiers in the year of Christ 238; from which time Gordian [455]enjoyed the empire by himself, a [456]youth of an [457]extraordinary [458]genius, and [459]prone to all manner of virtue; which was [460]improved by the [461]prudence of Misitheus, a very [462]learned and [463]eloquent man, whose daughter he [464]married; with whom he [465]marched at the [466]head of the great army against the Persians, and [467]recovered from them [468]Carræ, [469]Nisibis, and other towns, and [470]forced them back into their own [471]country. The year [472]following, Misitheus being [473]murdered by the [474]contrivance of [475]Philip the Arabian, Gordian himself was soon after slain in a [476]tumult, which the same Philip [477]raised by the [478]help of some soldiers he had [479]corrupted, after he had reigned six years, in whose [480]place the [481]parricide [482]succeeded.

In the fourth year of Philip’s reign, the [483]Secular games were [484]celebrated at Rome, in the [485]thousandth year of the city. He was [486]at last [487]slain at Verona, by the soldiers, in the sixth year of his [488]reign.

Decius, [489]born in [490]Lower Pannonia, a man of great [491]courage and [492]experience in war, [493]succeeded him. He [494]perished in a [495]morass in a battle against the [496]Barbarians. This [497]defeat was [498]occasioned by the [499]treachery of Gallus, who [500]secretly [501]caballed with the enemy after he had reigned thirty months. This Gallus being made emperor by the [502]choice of the [503]soldiery, and having [504]taken his son as a [505]partner in the [506]government, was slain together with him by the soldiers, two years and four months after at Interamna, as he was [507]marching against Æmilian, who was [508]raising a [509]rebellion in Mœtia.

Æmilian did not reign long, being slain three months after his [510]advancement, and was [511]succeeded by Valerian, with his son Gallienus, who reigned six years together; during which time the Roman empire was [512]miserably [513]rent by the Barbarians. Thirty [514]tyrants [515]started up in several [516]places, according to [517]Trebellius Pollio. Wherefore Valerian [518]marching against the [519]Scythians, who had [520]taken [521]Chalcedon, [522]burnt Nice, and the [523]temple of the [524]Ephesian Diana, and from thence [525]advancing against Sapores, who [526]was very troublesome to the [527]Eastern [528]borders, he [529]took him [530]prisoner, and [531]treated him like a vile [532]slave; for when he [533]mounted his [534]horse, he [535]set his [536]foot upon his [537]neck, who [538]bowed down [539]for that purpose. At last he [540]ordered him to be [541]flayed and [542]salted. This [543]victory over the Romans [544]happened in the year of Christ 260. After which Odenatus, a senator of the [545]Palmyrenians, whom Zenobia had [546]married, [547]bravely [548]repulsed the Persians that still [549]harassed the [550]borders.

[551]In the mean time Gallienus, wholly [552]given up to [553]luxury and [554]debauchery, [555]suffered the empire to be [556]torn to pieces by the Barbarians, and [557]tyrants. Odenatus, after the [558]taking of Nisibis and Carræ, and the [559]recovery of Mesopotamia, [560]upon routing of the king of the Persians, having [561]sent the great [562]lords of the Persians to him in [563]chains, he was [564]not ashamed to [565]triumph, as if he had [566]conquered them himself. Odenatus was [567]murdered by his [568]cousin, together with his son Herod, whose [569]wife Zenobia, being a [570]woman of a [571]masculine spirit, [572]undertook the government. Gallienus was slain with his brother Valerian at [573]Milan, as he was marching against Aureolus the tyrant. He reigned almost seven years with his father, and eight alone.

Claudius [574]succeeded him; a [575]frugal and [576]moderate prince, and very [577]serviceable to the public, who having [578]taken off the tyrant Aureolus, was very [579]successful against the [580]Goths, of whom he [581]slew 320,000, and [582]sunk 200 of their [583]ships. The rest of the Barbarians were [584]consumed at [585]Hæmimontium by [586]famine and [587]pestilence; and soon after Claudius [588]died of the same [589]plague, after a reign of one year and nine months.

His brother Quintilius [590]usurping the empire, was slain by the soldiers ten days after, who had now [591]made choice of Aurelian, a person of [592]mean birth, but [593]reckoned amongst the most [594]glorious princes, only rather too [595]cruel. He [596]subdued the Alemanni and Marcomanni, from whom the Romans had before [597]received a [598]signal [599]overthrow. After that victory he [600]came to Rome, [601]put several of the [602]senators to death, and [603]enlarged the [604]walls of the city. Then marching [605]eastward, he conquered Zenobia, whom with the tyrant [606]Tetrichus, he [607]led in [608]triumph. [609]Aurelius Victor tells us, he was the first of the Roman emperors who [610]wore a [611]diadem on his [612]head, or [613]used [614]jewels and [615]cloth of [616]gold. He was [617]taken off by [618]Mnestheus, a [619]notary to the [620]secretaries at [621]Cænophrurium, [622]betwixt [623]Byzantium and Heraclea. After his [624]death, there was an [625]interregnum of about seven months, [626]occasioned by a [627]dispute between the senate and the army, about the [628]choice of an emperor; at length Tacitus was [629]chosen by the senate, a person of [630]excellent [631]morals, and very [632]fit for the [633]government, he was [634]descended from Tacitus the [635]historian; and he [636]died of a [637]fever six months after at Tarsus. His brother Florianus [638]succeeded him: but Probus being [639]set up by a [640]majority of the army, Florianus [641]bled himself to death, two months after his brother died, in the year of Christ 276.

This Probus was [642]born in Pannonia Sirmiensis, a very fine man, and an excellent [643]soldier, of [644]unspotted morals. [645]As soon as he was [646]made emperor, he [647]punished all those who [648]had a hand in the death of Aurelian. After that, he [649]marched to [650]Gaul, [651]recovered several towns out of the [652]hands of the [653]Barbarians, and [654]slew nearly 70,000 of them. After [655]reducing [656]Gaul, he recovered [657]Illyricum, and [658]subdued the people [659]called the [660]Getæ; then going into the [661]East, he [662]fell upon the [663]Persians; when having [664]defeated them, and [665]taken several towns, he was [666]slain on his [667]return to Italy, by the soldiers, at [668]Sirmium, who [669]hated him for his great [670]severity. This [671]happened in the seventh year of his [672]reign, and the 282nd of Christ.

Probus was [673]succeeded by M. Aurelius Carus, [674]born at [675]Narbon in France, who [676]immediately [677]made his sons Carinus, and Numerianus, [678]Cæsars; and having [679]sent Carinus to [680]take the care of Gaul, he [681]marched into the [682]East against the Persians with Numerianus; where, after he had [683]reduced Mesopotamia, and marched as far as [684]Ctesiphon, he was [685]struck dead by [686]lightning, having [687]reigned about a year. Numerianus being much [688]concerned for his father’s death, [689]contracted a [690]weakness in his [691]eyes with [692]weeping, and was [693]slain by the [694]contrivance of Aper his [695]father-in-law.