第17章
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  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。

  iii。36,ii。95。Sueton。inVitell。c。13。Dion。Cassius,lxv。

  p。1062。]

  [Footnote51:TheexecutionofHelvidiusPriscus,andofthevirtuousEponina,disgracedthereignofVespasian。]

  Underthereignofthesemonsters,theslaveryoftheRomanswasaccompaniedwithtwopeculiarcircumstances,theoneoccasionedbytheirformerliberty,theotherbytheirextensiveconquests,whichrenderedtheirconditionmorecompletelywretchedthanthatofthevictimsoftyrannyinanyotherageorcountry。Fromthesecauseswerederived,1。Theexquisitesensibilityofthesufferers;and,2。Theimpossibilityofescapingfromthehandoftheoppressor。

  I。WhenPersiawasgovernedbythedescendantsofSefi,araceofprinceswhosewantoncrueltyoftenstainedtheirdivan,theirtable,andtheirbed,withthebloodoftheirfavorites,thereisasayingrecordedofayoungnobleman,thatheneverdepartedfromthesultan\'spresence,withoutsatisfyinghimselfwhetherhisheadwasstillonhisshoulders。TheexperienceofeverydaymightalmostjustifythescepticismofRustan。^52Yetthefatalsword,suspendedabovehimbyasinglethread,seemsnottohavedisturbedtheslumbers,orinterruptedthetranquillity,ofthePersian。Themonarch\'sfrown,hewellknew,couldlevelhimwiththedust;butthestrokeoflightningorapoplexymightbeequallyfatal;anditwasthepartofawisemantoforgettheinevitablecalamitiesofhumanlifeintheenjoymentofthefleetinghour。Hewasdignifiedwiththeappellationoftheking\'sslave;had,perhaps,beenpurchasedfromobscureparents,inacountrywhichhehadneverknown;andwastrainedupfromhisinfancyintheseveredisciplineoftheseraglio。^53Hisname,hiswealth,hishonors,werethegiftofamaster,whomight,withoutinjustice,resumewhathehadbestowed。Rustan\'sknowledge,ifhepossessedany,couldonlyservetoconfirmhishabitsbyprejudices。Hislanguageaffordednotwordsforanyformofgovernment,exceptabsolutemonarchy。

  ThehistoryoftheEastinformedhim,thatsuchhadeverbeentheconditionofmankind。^54TheKoran,andtheinterpretersofthatdivinebook,inculcatedtohim,thatthesultanwasthedescendantoftheprophet,andthevicegerentofheaven;thatpatiencewasthefirstvirtueofaMussulman,andunlimitedobediencethegreatdutyofasubject。

  [Footnote52:VoyagedeChardinenPerse,vol。iii。p。293。]

  [Footnote53:ThepracticeofraisingslavestothegreatofficesofstateisstillmorecommonamongtheTurksthanamongthePersians。ThemiserablecountriesofGeorgiaandCircassiasupplyrulerstothegreatestpartoftheEast。]

  [Footnote54:Chardinsays,thatEuropeantravellershavediffusedamongthePersianssomeideasofthefreedomandmildnessofourgovernments。Theyhavedonethemaveryilloffice。]

  ThemindsoftheRomanswereverydifferentlypreparedforslavery。Oppressedbeneaththeweightoftheirowncorruptionandofmilitaryviolence,theyforalongwhilepreservedthesentiments,oratleasttheideas,oftheirfree—bornancestors。

  TheeducationofHelvidiusandThrasea,ofTacitusandPliny,wasthesameasthatofCatoandCicero。FromGrecianphilosophy,theyhadimbibedthejustestandmostliberalnotionsofthedignityofhumannature,andtheoriginofcivilsociety。Thehistoryoftheirowncountryhadtaughtthemtorevereafree,avirtuous,andavictoriouscommonwealth;toabhorthesuccessfulcrimesofCaesarandAugustus;andinwardlytodespisethosetyrantswhomtheyadoredwiththemostabjectflattery。Asmagistratesandsenatorstheywereadmittedintothegreatcouncil,whichhadoncedictatedlawstotheearth,whoseauthoritywassooftenprostitutedtothevilestpurposesoftyranny。Tiberius,andthoseemperorswhoadoptedhismaxims,attemptedtodisguisetheirmurdersbytheformalitiesofjustice,andperhapsenjoyedasecretpleasureinrenderingthesenatetheiraccompliceaswellastheirvictim。Bythisassembly,thelastoftheRomanswerecondemnedforimaginarycrimesandrealvirtues。Theirinfamousaccusersassumedthelanguageofindependentpatriots,whoarraignedadangerouscitizenbeforethetribunalofhiscountry;andthepublicservicewasrewardedbyrichesandhonors。^55Theservilejudgesprofessedtoassertthemajestyofthecommonwealth,violatedinthepersonofitsfirstmagistrate,^56whoseclemencytheymostapplaudedwhentheytrembledthemostathisinexorableandimpendingcruelty。^57Thetyrantbeheldtheirbasenesswithjustcontempt,andencounteredtheirsecretsentimentsofdetestationwithsincereandavowedhatredforthewholebodyofthesenate。

  [Footnote55:TheyallegedtheexampleofScipioandCato,Tacit。Annal。iii。66。MarcellusEpirusandCrispusVibiushadacquiredtwomillionsandahalfunderNero。Theirwealth,whichaggravatedtheircrimes,protectedthemunderVespasian。SeeTacit。Hist。iv。43。Dialog。deOrator。c。8。Foroneaccusation,Regulus,thejustobjectofPliny\'ssatire,receivedfromthesenatetheconsularornaments,andapresentofsixtythousandpounds。]

  [Footnote56:ThecrimeofmajestywasformerlyatreasonableoffenceagainsttheRomanpeople。Astribunesofthepeople,AugustusandTiberiusappliedtittotheirownpersons,andextendedittoaninfinitelatitude。

  Note:ItwasTiberius,notAugustus,whofirsttookinthissensethewordscrimenlaesaemajestatis。BachiiTrajanus,27。—

  W。]

  [Footnote57:AfterthevirtuousandunfortunatewidowofGermanicushadbeenputtodeath,Tiberiusreceivedthethanksofthesenateforhisclemency。shehadnotbeenpubliclystrangled;

  norwasthebodydrawnwithahooktotheGemoniae,wherethoseofcommonmalefactorswereexposed。SeeTacit。Annal。vi。25。

  Sueton。inTiberioc。53。]

  II。ThedivisionofEuropeintoanumberofindependentstates,connected,however,witheachotherbythegeneralresemblanceofreligion,language,andmanners,isproductiveofthemostbeneficialconsequencestothelibertyofmankind。A

  moderntyrant,whoshouldfindnoresistanceeitherinhisownbreast,orinhispeople,wouldsoonexperienceagentlerestrainformtheexampleofhisequals,thedreadofpresentcensure,dtheadviceofhisallies,andtheapprehensionofhisenemies。

  Theobjectofhisdispleasure,escapingfromthenarrowlimitsofhisdominions,wouldeasilyobtain,inahappierclimate,asecurerefuge,anewfortuneadequatetohismerit,thefreedomofcomplaint,andperhapsthemeansofrevenge。ButtheempireoftheRomansfilledtheworld,andwhentheempirefellintothehandsofasingleperson,hewoldbecameasafeanddrearyprisonforhisenemies。TheslaveofImperialdespotism,whetherhewascondemnedtodragshisgildedchaininromeandthesenate,ortowereoutalifeofexileonthebarrenrockofSeriphus,orthefrozenbankoftheDanube,expectedhisfateinsilentdespair。

  ^58Toresistwasfatal,anditwasimpossibletofly。Oneverysidehewasencompassedwithavastextentofseaandland,whichhecouldneverhopetotraversewithoutbeingdiscovered,seized,andrestoredtohisirritatedmaster。Beyondthefrontiers,hisanxiousviewcoulddiscovernothing,excepttheocean,inhospitabledeserts,hostiletribesofbarbarians,offiercemannersandunknownlanguage,ordependentkings,whowouldgladlypurchasetheemperor\'sprotectionbythesacrificeofanobnoxiousfugitive。^59\"Whereveryouare,\"saidCicerototheexiledMarcellus,\"rememberthatyouareequallywithinthepoweroftheconqueror。\"^60

  [Footnote58:SeriphuswasasmallrockyislandintheAegeanSea,theinhabitantsofwhichweredespisedfortheirignoranceandobscurity。TheplaceofOvid\'sexileiswellknown,byhisjust,butunmanlylamentations。Itshouldseem,thatheonlyreceivedanordertoleaveromeinsomanydays,andtotransporthimselftoTomi。Guardsandjailerswereunnecessary。]

  [Footnote59:UnderTiberius,aRomanknightattemptedtoflytotheParthians。HewasstoppedinthestraitsofSicily;butsolittledangerdidthereappearintheexample,thatthemostjealousoftyrantsdisdainedtopunishit。Tacit。Annal。vi。

  14。]

  [Footnote60:CiceroadFamiliares,iv。7。]

  ChapterIV:TheCruelty,FolliesAndMurderOfCommodus。

  PartI。

  TheCruelty,Follies,AndMurderOfCommodus—ElectionOfPertinax—HisAttemptsToReformTheState—HisAssassinationByThePraetorianGuards。

  ThemildnessofMarcus,whichtherigiddisciplineoftheStoicswasunabletoeradicate,formed,atthesametime,themostamiable,andtheonlydefectivepartofhischaracter。Hisexcellentunderstandingwasoftendeceivedbytheunsuspectinggoodnessofhisheart。Artfulmen,whostudythepassionsofprinces,andconcealtheirown,approachedhispersoninthedisguiseofphilosophicsanctity,andacquiredrichesandhonorsbyaffectingtodespisethem。^1Hisexcessiveindulgencetohisbrother,hiswife,andhisson,exceededtheboundsofprivatevirtue,andbecameapublicinjury,bytheexampleandconsequencesoftheirvices。

  [Footnote1:SeethecomplaintsofAvidiusCassius,Hist。August。

  p。45。Theseare,itistrue,thecomplaintsoffaction;butevenfactionexaggerates,ratherthaninvents。]

  [Footnote*:Hisbrotherbyadoption,andhiscolleague,L。

  Verus。MarcusAureliushadnootherbrother。—W。]

  Faustina,thedaughterofPiusandthewifeofMarcus,hasbeenasmuchcelebratedforhergallantriesasforherbeauty。

  Thegravesimplicityofthephilosopherwasillcalculatedtoengageherwantonlevity,ortofixthatunboundedpassionforvariety,whichoftendiscoveredpersonalmeritinthemeanestofmankind。^2TheCupidoftheancientswas,ingeneral,averysensualdeity;andtheamoursofanempress,astheyexactonhersidetheplainestadvances,areseldomsusceptibleofmuchsentimentaldelicacy。MarcuswastheonlymanintheempirewhoseemedignorantorinsensibleoftheirregularitiesofFaustina;

  which,accordingtotheprejudicesofeveryage,reflectedsomedisgraceontheinjuredhusband。Hepromotedseveralofherloverstopostsofhonorandprofit,^3andduringaconnectionofthirtyyears,invariablygaveherproofsofthemosttenderconfidence,andofarespectwhichendednotwithherlife。InhisMeditations,hethanksthegods,whohadbestowedonhimawifesofaithful,sogentle,andofsuchawonderfulsimplicityofmanners。^4Theobsequioussenate,athisearnestrequest,declaredheragoddess。Shewasrepresentedinhertemples,withtheattributesofJuno,Venus,andCeres;anditwasdecreed,that,onthedayoftheirnuptials,theyouthofeithersexshouldpaytheirvowsbeforethealtaroftheirchastepatroness。

  ^5

  [Footnote2:FaustinamsatisconstatapudCajetamconditionessibietnauticasetgladiatorias,elegisse。Hist。August。p。30。

  LampridiusexplainsthesortofmeritwhichFaustinachose,andtheconditionswhichsheexacted。Hist。August。p。102。]

  [Footnote3:Hist。August。p。34。]

  [Footnote4:Meditat。l。i。TheworldhaslaughedatthecredulityofMarcusbutMadamDacierassuresus,andwemaycreditalady,thatthehusbandwillalwaysbedeceived,ifthewifecondescendstodissemble。]

  [Footnote5:DionCassius,l。lxxi。[c。31,]p。1195。Hist。

  August。p。33。CommentairedeSpanheimsurlesCaesarsdeJulien,p。289。ThedeificationofFaustinaistheonlydefectwhichJulian\'scriticismisabletodiscoverintheall—accomplishedcharacterofMarcus。]

  Themonstrousvicesofthesonhavecastashadeonthepurityofthefather\'svirtues。IthasbeenobjectedtoMarcus,thathesacrificedthehappinessofmillionstoafondpartialityforaworthlessboy;andthathechoseasuccessorinhisownfamily,ratherthanintherepublic。Nothinghowever,wasneglectedbytheanxiousfather,andbythemenofvirtueandlearningwhomhesummonedtohisassistance,toexpandthenarrowmindofyoungCommodus,tocorrecthisgrowingvices,andtorenderhimworthyofthethroneforwhichhewasdesigned。Butthepowerofinstructionisseldomofmuchefficacy,exceptinthosehappydispositionswhereitisalmostsuperfluous。Thedistastefullessonofagravephilosopherwas,inamoment,obliteratedbythewhisperofaprofligatefavorite;andMarcushimselfblastedthefruitsofthislaborededucation,byadmittinghisson,attheageoffourteenorfifteen,toafullparticipationoftheImperialpower。Helivedbutfouryearsafterwards:buthelivedlongenoughtorepentarashmeasure,whichraisedtheimpetuousyouthabovetherestraintofreasonandauthority。

  Mostofthecrimeswhichdisturbtheinternalpeaceofsociety,areproducedbytherestraintswhichthenecessarybutunequallawsofpropertyhaveimposedontheappetitesofmankind,byconfiningtoafewthepossessionofthoseobjectsthatarecovetedbymany。Ofallourpassionsandappetites,theloveofpowerisofthemostimperiousandunsociablenature,sincetheprideofonemanrequiresthesubmissionofthemultitude。Inthetumultofcivildiscord,thelawsofsocietylosetheirforce,andtheirplaceisseldomsuppliedbythoseofhumanity。Theardorofcontention,theprideofvictory,thedespairofsuccess,thememoryofpastinjuries,andthefearoffuturedangers,allcontributetoinflamethemind,andtosilencethevoiceofpity。Fromsuchmotivesalmosteverypageofhistoryhasbeenstainedwithcivilblood;butthesemotiveswillnotaccountfortheunprovokedcrueltiesofCommodus,whohadnothingtowishandeverythingtoenjoy。ThebelovedsonofMarcussucceededtohisfather,amidsttheacclamationsofthesenateandarmies;^6andwhenheascendedthethrone,thehappyyouthsawroundhimneithercompetitortoremove,norenemiestopunish。Inthiscalm,elevatedstation,itwassurelynaturalthatheshouldprefertheloveofmankindtotheirdetestation,themildgloriesofhisfivepredecessorstotheignominiousfateofNeroandDomitian。

  [Footnote6:CommoduswasthefirstPorphyrogenitus,bornsincehisfather\'saccessiontothethrone。Byanewstrainofflattery,theEgyptianmedalsdatebytheyearsofhislife;asiftheyweresynonymoustothoseofhisreign。Tillemont,Hist。

  desEmpereurs,tom。ii。p。752。]

  YetCommoduswasnot,ashehasbeenrepresented,atigerbornwithaninsatiatethirstofhumanblood,andcapable,fromhisinfancy,ofthemostinhumanactions。^7Naturehadformedhimofaweakratherthanawickeddisposition。Hissimplicityandtimidityrenderedhimtheslaveofhisattendants,whograduallycorruptedhismind。Hiscruelty,whichatfirstobeyedthedictatesofothers,degeneratedintohabit,andatlengthbecametherulingpassionofhissoul。^8

  [Footnote7:Hist。August。p。46。]

  [Footnote8:DionCassius,l。lxxii。p。1203。]

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