Suchprincesdeservedthehonorofrestoringtherepublic，hadtheRomansoftheirdaysbeencapableofenjoyingarationalfreedom。

　　Thelaborsofthesemonarchswereoverpaidbytheimmenserewardthatinseparablywaitedontheirsuccess；bythehonestprideofvirtue，andbytheexquisitedelightofbeholdingthegeneralhappinessofwhichtheyweretheauthors。Ajustbutmelancholyreflectionimbittered，however，thenoblestofhumanenjoyments。Theymustoftenhaverecollectedtheinstabilityofahappinesswhichdependedonthecharacterofsingleman。Thefatalmomentwasperhapsapproaching，whensomelicentiousyouth，orsomejealoustyrant，wouldabuse，tothedestruction，thatabsolutepower，whichtheyhadexertedforthebenefitoftheirpeople。Theidealrestraintsofthesenateandthelawsmightservetodisplaythevirtues，butcouldnevercorrectthevices，oftheemperor。Themilitaryforcewasablindandirresistibleinstrumentofoppression；andthecorruptionofRomanmannerswouldalwayssupplyflattererseagertoapplaud，andministerspreparedtoserve，thefearortheavarice，thelustorthecruelty，oftheirmaster。

　　ThesegloomyapprehensionshadbeenalreadyjustifiedbytheexperienceoftheRomans。Theannalsoftheemperorsexhibitastrongandvariouspictureofhumannature，whichweshouldvainlyseekamongthemixedanddoubtfulcharactersofmodernhistory。Intheconductofthosemonarchswemaytracetheutmostlinesofviceandvirtue；themostexaltedperfection，andthemeanestdegeneracyofourownspecies。ThegoldenageofTrajanandtheAntonineshadbeenprecededbyanageofiron。ItisalmostsuperfluoustoenumeratetheunworthysuccessorsofAugustus。Theirunparalleledvices，andthesplendidtheatreonwhichtheywereacted，havesavedthemfromoblivion。Thedark，unrelentingTiberius，thefuriousCaligula，thefeebleClaudius，theprofligateandcruelNero，thebeastlyVitellius，^50andthetimid，inhumanDomitian，arecondemnedtoeverlastinginfamy。

　　DuringfourscoreyearsexceptingonlytheshortanddoubtfulrespiteofVespasian\'sreign^51Romegroanedbeneathanunremittingtyranny，whichexterminatedtheancientfamiliesoftherepublic，andwasfataltoalmosteveryvirtueandeverytalentthataroseinthatunhappyperiod。

　　[Footnote50:Vitelliusconsumedinmereeatingatleastsixmillionsofourmoneyinaboutsevenmonths。Itisnoteasytoexpresshisviceswithdignity，orevendecency。Tacitusfairlycallshimahog，butitisbysubstitutingforacoarsewordaveryfineimage。\"AtVitellius，umbraculishortorumabditus，utignavaanimalia，quibussicibumsuggeras，jacenttorpentque，praeterita，instantia，futura，parioblivionedimiserat。AtqueillumnemoreAricinodesidemetmarcentum，\"&c。Tacit。Hist。

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