Uponthedeathofhisfather，Commodusfoundhimselfembarrassedwiththecommandofagreatarmy，andtheconductofadifficultwaragainsttheQuadiandMarcomanni。^9TheservileandprofligateyouthswhomMarcushadbanished，soonregainedtheirstationandinfluenceaboutthenewemperor。TheyexaggeratedthehardshipsanddangersofacampaigninthewildcountriesbeyondtheDanube；andtheyassuredtheindolentprincethattheterrorofhisname，andthearmsofhislieutenants，wouldbesufficienttocompletetheconquestofthedismayedbarbarians，ortoimposesuchconditionsasweremoreadvantageousthananyconquest。Byadexterousapplicationtohissensualappetites，theycomparedthetranquillity，thesplendor，therefinedpleasuresofRome，withthetumultofaPannoniancamp，whichaffordedneitherleisurenormaterialsforluxury。^10Commoduslistenedtothepleasingadvice；butwhilsthehesitatedbetweenhisowninclinationandtheawewhichhestillretainedforhisfather\'scounsellors，thesummerinsensiblyelapsed，andhistriumphalentryintothecapitalwasdeferredtilltheautumn。Hisgracefulperson，^11popularaddress，andimaginedvirtues，attractedthepublicfavor；thehonorablepeacewhichhehadrecentlygrantedtothebarbarians，diffusedauniversaljoy；^12hisimpatiencetorevisitRomewasfondlyascribedtotheloveofhiscountry；andhisdissolutecourseofamusementswasfaintlycondemnedinaprinceofnineteenyearsofage。
[Footnote9:AccordingtoTertullian，Apolog。c。25，hediedatSirmium。ButthesituationofVindobona，orVienna，whereboththeVictorsplacehisdeath，isbetteradaptedtotheoperationsofthewaragainsttheMarcomanniandQuadi。]
[Footnote10:Herodian，l。i。p。12。]
[Footnote11:Herodian，l。i。p。16。]
[Footnote12:ThisuniversaljoyiswelldescribedfromthemedalsaswellashistoriansbyMr。Wotton，Hist。ofRome，p。
192，193。]
Duringthethreefirstyearsofhisreign，theforms，andeventhespirit，oftheoldadministration，weremaintainedbythosefaithfulcounsellors，towhomMarcushadrecommendedhisson，andforwhosewisdomandintegrityCommodusstillentertainedareluctantesteem。Theyoungprinceandhisprofligatefavoritesrevelledinallthelicenseofsovereignpower；buthishandswereyetunstainedwithblood；andhehadevendisplayedagenerosityofsentiment，whichmightperhapshaveripenedintosolidvirtue。^13Afatalincidentdecidedhisfluctuatingcharacter。
[Footnote13:Manilius，theconfidentialsecretaryofAvidiusCassius，wasdiscoveredafterhehadlainconcealedseveralyears。Theemperornoblyrelievedthepublicanxietybyrefusingtoseehim，andburninghispaperswithoutopeningthem。DionCassius，l。lxxii。p。1209。]
Oneevening，astheemperorwasreturningtothepalace，throughadarkandnarrowporticointheamphitheatre，^14anassassin，whowaitedhispassage，rusheduponhimwithadrawnsword，loudlyexclaiming，\"Thesenatesendsyouthis。\"Themenacepreventedthedeed；theassassinwasseizedbytheguards，andimmediatelyrevealedtheauthorsoftheconspiracy。Ithadbeenformed，notinthestate，butwithinthewallsofthepalace。
Lucilla，theemperor\'ssister，andwidowofLuciusVerus，impatientofthesecondrank，andjealousofthereigningempress，hadarmedthemurdereragainstherbrother\'slife。Shehadnotventuredtocommunicatetheblackdesigntohersecondhusband，ClaudiusPompeiarus，asenatorofdistinguishedmeritandunshakenloyalty；butamongthecrowdofherloversforsheimitatedthemannersofFaustinashefoundmenofdesperatefortunesandwildambition，whowerepreparedtoservehermoreviolent，aswellashertenderpassions。Theconspiratorsexperiencedtherigorofjustice，andtheabandonedprincesswaspunished，firstwithexile，andafterwardswithdeath。^15
[Footnote14:SeeMaffeidegliAmphitheatri，p。126。]
[Footnote15:Dion，l。lxxi。p。1205Herodian，l。i。p。16Hist。
Augustp。46。]
ButthewordsoftheassassinsunkdeepintothemindofCommodus，andleftanindelibleimpressionoffearandhatredagainstthewholebodyofthesenate。Thosewhomhehaddreadedasimportunateministers，henowsuspectedassecretenemies。TheDelators，araceofmendiscouraged，andalmostextinguished，undertheformerreigns，againbecameformidable，assoonastheydiscoveredthattheemperorwasdesirousoffindingdisaffectionandtreasoninthesenate。Thatassembly，whomMarcushadeverconsideredasthegreatcouncilofthenation，wascomposedofthemostdistinguishedoftheRomans；anddistinctionofeverykindsoonbecamecriminal。Thepossessionofwealthstimulatedthediligenceoftheinformers；rigidvirtueimpliedatacitcensureoftheirregularitiesofCommodus；
importantservicesimpliedadangeroussuperiorityofmerit；andthefriendshipofthefatheralwaysinsuredtheaversionoftheson。Suspicionwasequivalenttoproof；trialtocondemnation。
Theexecutionofaconsiderablesenatorwasattendedwiththedeathofallwhomightlamentorrevengehisfate；andwhenCommodushadoncetastedhumanblood，hebecameincapableofpityorremorse。
[Footnote*:Theconspiratorsweresenators，eventheassassinhimself。Herod。81。—G。]
Oftheseinnocentvictimsoftyranny，nonediedmorelamentedthanthetwobrothersoftheQuintilianfamily，MaximusandCondianus；whosefraternallovehassavedtheirnamesfromoblivion，andendearedtheirmemorytoposterity。Theirstudiesandtheiroccupations，theirpursuitsandtheirpleasures，werestillthesame。Intheenjoymentofagreatestate，theyneveradmittedtheideaofaseparateinterest:somefragmentsarenowextantofatreatisewhichtheycomposedincommon；andineveryactionoflifeitwasobservedthattheirtwobodieswereanimatedbyonesoul。TheAntonines，whovaluedtheirvirtues，anddelightedintheirunion，raisedthem，inthesameyear，totheconsulship；andMarcusafterwardsintrustedtotheirjointcaretheciviladministrationofGreece，andagreatmilitarycommand，inwhichtheyobtainedasignalvictoryovertheGermans。ThekindcrueltyofCommodusunitedthemindeath。^16
[Footnote*:Thisworkwasonagriculture，andisoftenquotedbylaterwriters。SeeP。Needham，Proleg。adGeoponic。Camb。1704。
—W。]
[Footnote16:InanoteupontheAugustanHistory，Casaubonhascollectedanumberofparticularsconcerningthesecelebratedbrothers。Seep。96ofhislearnedcommentary。]
Thetyrant\'srage，afterhavingshedthenoblestbloodofthesenate，atlengthrecoiledontheprincipalinstrumentofhiscruelty。WhilstCommoduswasimmersedinbloodandluxury，hedevolvedthedetailofthepublicbusinessonPerennis，aservileandambitiousminister，whohadobtainedhispostbythemurderofhispredecessor，butwhopossessedaconsiderableshareofvigorandability。Byactsofextortion，andtheforfeitedestatesofthenoblessacrificedtohisavarice，hehadaccumulatedanimmensetreasure。ThePraetorianguardswereunderhisimmediatecommand；andhisson，whoalreadydiscoveredamilitarygenius，wasattheheadoftheIllyrianlegions。
Perennisaspiredtotheempire；orwhat，intheeyesofCommodus，amountedtothesamecrime，hewascapableofaspiringtoit，hadhenotbeenprevented，surprised，andputtodeath。Thefallofaministerisaverytriflingincidentinthegeneralhistoryoftheempire；butitwashastenedbyanextraordinarycircumstance，whichprovedhowmuchthenervesofdisciplinewerealreadyrelaxed。ThelegionsofBritain，discontentedwiththeadministrationofPerennis，formedadeputationoffifteenhundredselectmen，withinstructionstomarchtoRome，andlaytheircomplaintsbeforetheemperor。Thesemilitarypetitioners，bytheirowndeterminedbehaviour，byinflamingthedivisionsoftheguards，byexaggeratingthestrengthoftheBritisharmy，andbyalarmingthefearsofCommodus，exactedandobtainedtheminister\'sdeath，astheonlyredressoftheirgrievances。^17
Thispresumptionofadistantarmy，andtheirdiscoveryoftheweaknessofgovernment，wasasurepresageofthemostdreadfulconvulsions。
[Footnote17:Dion，l。lxxii。p。1210。Herodian，l。i。p。22。
Hist。August。p。48。DiongivesamuchlessodiouscharacterofPerennis，thantheotherhistorians。Hismoderationisalmostapledgeofhisveracity。
Note:GibbonpraisesDionforthemoderationwithwhichhespeaksofPerennis:hefollows，nevertheless，inhisownnarrative，HerodianandLampridius。DionspeaksofPerennisnotonlywithmoderation，butwithadmiration；herepresentshimasagreatman，virtuousinhislife，andblamelessinhisdeath:
perhapshemaybesuspectedofpartiality；butitissingularthatGibbon，havingadopted，fromHerodianandLampridius，theirjudgmentonthisminister，followsDion\'simprobableaccountofhisdeath。Whatlikelihood，infact，thatfifteenhundredmenshouldhavetraversedGaulandItaly，andhavearrivedatRomewithoutanyunderstandingwiththePraetorians，orwithoutdetectionoroppositionfromPerennis，thePraetorianpraefect?
Gibbon，foreseeing，perhaps，thisdifficulty，hasadded，thatthemilitarydeputationinflamedthedivisionsoftheguards；butDionsaysexpresslythattheydidnotreachRome，butthattheemperorwentouttomeetthem:heevenreproacheshimfornothavingopposedthemwiththeguards，whoweresuperiorinnumber。
HerodianrelatesthatCommodus，havinglearned，fromasoldier，theambitiousdesignsofPerennisandhisson，causedthemtobeattackedandmassacredbynight。—G。fromW。Dion\'snarrativeisremarkablycircumstantial，andhisauthorityhigherthaneitheroftheotherwriters。HehintsthatCleander，anewfavorite，hadalreadyunderminedtheinfluenceofPerennis。—M。]
Thenegligenceofthepublicadministrationwasbetrayed，soonafterwards，byanewdisorder，whicharosefromthesmallestbeginnings。Aspiritofdesertionbegantoprevailamongthetroops:andthedeserters，insteadofseekingtheirsafetyinflightorconcealment，infestedthehighways。Maternus，aprivatesoldier，ofadaringboldnessabovehisstation，collectedthesebandsofrobbersintoalittlearmy，setopentheprisons，invitedtheslavestoasserttheirfreedom，andplunderedwithimpunitytherichanddefencelesscitiesofGaulandSpain。Thegovernorsoftheprovinces，whohadlongbeenthespectators，andperhapsthepartners，ofhisdepredations，were，atlength，rousedfromtheirsupineindolencebythethreateningcommandsoftheemperor。Maternusfoundthathewasencompassed，andforesawthathemustbeoverpowered。Agreateffortofdespairwashislastresource。Heorderedhisfollowerstodisperse，topasstheAlpsinsmallpartiesandvariousdisguises，andtoassembleatRome，duringthelicentioustumultofthefestivalofCybele。^18TomurderCommodus，andtoascendthevacantthrone，wastheambitionofnovulgarrobber。HismeasuresweresoablyconcertedthathisconcealedtroopsalreadyfilledthestreetsofRome。Theenvyofanaccomplicediscoveredandruinedthissingularenterprise，inamomentwhenitwasripeforexecution。^19
[Footnote18:DuringthesecondPunicwar，theRomansimportedfromAsiatheworshipofthemotherofthegods。Herfestival，theMegalesia，beganonthefourthofApril，andlastedsixdays。
Thestreetswerecrowdedwithmadprocessions，thetheatreswithspectators，andthepublictableswithunbiddenguests。Orderandpoliceweresuspended，andpleasurewastheonlyseriousbusinessofthecity。SeeOvid。deFastis，l。iv。189，&c。]
[Footnote19:Herodian，l。i。p。23，23。]
Suspiciousprincesoftenpromotethelastofmankind，fromavainpersuasion，thatthosewhohavenodependence，exceptontheirfavor，willhavenoattachment，excepttothepersonoftheirbenefactor。Cleander，thesuccessorofPerennis，wasaPhrygianbybirth；ofanationoverwhosestubborn，butserviletemper，blowsonlycouldprevail。^20HehadbeensentfromhisnativecountrytoRome，inthecapacityofaslave。AsaslaveheenteredtheImperialpalace，renderedhimselfusefultohismaster\'spassions，andrapidlyascendedtothemostexaltedstationwhichasubjectcouldenjoy。HisinfluenceoverthemindofCommoduswasmuchgreaterthanthatofhispredecessor；forCleanderwasdevoidofanyabilityorvirtuewhichcouldinspiretheemperorwithenvyordistrust。Avaricewasthereigningpassionofhissoul，andthegreatprincipleofhisadministration。TherankofConsul，ofPatrician，ofSenator，wasexposedtopublicsale；anditwouldhavebeenconsideredasdisaffection，ifanyonehadrefusedtopurchasetheseemptyanddisgracefulhonorswiththegreatestpartofhisfortune。^21Inthelucrativeprovincialemployments，theministersharedwiththegovernorthespoilsofthepeople。Theexecutionofthelawswaspenalandarbitrary。Awealthycriminalmightobtain，notonlythereversalofthesentencebywhichhewasjustlycondemned，butmightlikewiseinflictwhateverpunishmenthepleasedontheaccuser，thewitnesses，andthejudge。
[Footnote20:CiceroproFlacco，c。27。]
[Footnote21:Oneofthesedear—boughtpromotionsoccasionedacurrent……thatJuliusSolonwasbanishedintothesenate。]
Bythesemeans，Cleander，inthespaceofthreeyears，hadaccumulatedmorewealththanhadeveryetbeenpossessedbyanyfreedman。^22Commoduswasperfectlysatisfiedwiththemagnificentpresentswhichtheartfulcourtierlaidathisfeetinthemostseasonablemoments。Todivertthepublicenvy，Cleander，undertheemperor\'sname，erectedbaths，porticos，andplacesofexercise，fortheuseofthepeople。^23HeflatteredhimselfthattheRomans，dazzledandamusedbythisapparentliberality，wouldbelessaffectedbythebloodysceneswhichweredailyexhibited；thattheywouldforgetthedeathofByrrhus，asenatortowhosesuperiormeritthelateemperorhadgrantedoneofhisdaughters；andthattheywouldforgivetheexecutionofArriusAntoninus，thelastrepresentativeofthenameandvirtuesoftheAntonines。Theformer，withmoreintegritythanprudence，hadattemptedtodisclose，tohisbrother—in—law，thetruecharacterofCleander。Anequitablesentencepronouncedbythelatter，whenproconsulofAsia，againstaworthlesscreatureofthefavorite，provedfataltohim。^24AfterthefallofPerennis，theterrorsofCommodushad，forashorttime，assumedtheappearanceofareturntovirtue。
Herepealedthemostodiousofhisacts；loadedhismemorywiththepublicexecration，andascribedtotheperniciouscounselsofthatwickedministeralltheerrorsofhisinexperiencedyouth。
Buthisrepentancelastedonlythirtydays；and，underCleander\'styranny，theadministrationofPerenniswasoftenregretted。
[Footnote22:Dionl。lxxii。p。12，13observes，thatnofreedmanhadpossessedrichesequaltothoseofCleander。ThefortuneofPallasamounted，however，toupwardsoffiveandtwentyhundredthousandpounds；Termillies。]
[Footnote23:Dion，l。lxxii。p。12，13。Herodian，l。i。p。29。
Hist。August。p。52。ThesebathsweresituatednearthePortaCapena。SeeNardiniRomaAntica，p。79。]
[Footnote24:Hist。August。p。79。]
ChapterIV:TheCruelty，FolliesAndMurderOfCommodus。
PartII。
PestilenceandfaminecontributedtofillupthemeasureofthecalamitiesofRome。^25Thefirstcouldbeonlyimputedtothejustindignationofthegods；butamonopolyofcorn，supportedbytherichesandpoweroftheminister，wasconsideredastheimmediatecauseofthesecond。Thepopulardiscontent，afterithadlongcirculatedinwhispers，brokeoutintheassembledcircus。Thepeoplequittedtheirfavoriteamusementsforthemoredeliciouspleasureofrevenge，rushedincrowdstowardsapalaceinthesuburbs，oneoftheemperor\'sretirements，anddemanded，withangryclamors，theheadofthepublicenemy。Cleander，whocommandedthePraetorianguards，^26
orderedabodyofcavalrytosallyforth，anddispersetheseditiousmultitude。Themultitudefledwithprecipitationtowardsthecity；severalwereslain，andmanymoreweretrampledtodeath；butwhenthecavalryenteredthestreets，theirpursuitwascheckedbyashowerofstonesanddartsfromtheroofsandwindowsofthehouses。Thefootguards，^27whohadbeenlongjealousoftheprerogativesandinsolenceofthePraetoriancavalry，embracedthepartyofthepeople。Thetumultbecamearegularengagement，andthreatenedageneralmassacre。ThePraetorians，atlength，gaveway，oppressedwithnumbers；andthetideofpopularfuryreturnedwithredoubledviolenceagainstthegatesofthepalace，whereCommoduslay，dissolvedinluxury，andaloneunconsciousofthecivilwar。Itwasdeathtoapproachhispersonwiththeunwelcomenews。Hewouldhaveperishedinthissupinesecurity，hadnottwowomen，hiseldestsisterFadilla，andMarcia，themostfavoredofhisconcubines，venturedtobreakintohispresence。Bathedintears，andwithdishevelledhair，theythrewthemselvesathisfeet；andwithallthepressingeloquenceoffear，discoveredtotheaffrightedemperorthecrimesoftheminister，therageofthepeople，andtheimpendingruin，which，inafewminutes，wouldburstoverhispalaceandperson。Commodusstartedfromhisdreamofpleasure，andcommandedthattheheadofCleandershouldbethrownouttothepeople。Thedesiredspectacleinstantlyappeasedthetumult；andthesonofMarcusmightevenyethaveregainedtheaffectionandconfidenceofhissubjects。^28
[Footnote25:Herodian，l。i。p。28。Dion，l。lxxii。p。1215。
ThelattersaysthattwothousandpersonsdiedeverydayatRome，duringaconsiderablelengthoftime。]
[Footnote26:Tunequeprimumtrespraefectipraetoriofuere:
interquoslibertinus。Fromsomeremainsofmodesty，Cleanderdeclinedthetitle，whilstheassumedthepowers，ofPraetorianpraefect。Astheotherfreedmenwerestyled，fromtheirseveraldepartments，arationibus，abepistolis，Cleandercalledhimselfapugione，asintrustedwiththedefenceofhismaster\'sperson。
SalmasiusandCasaubonseemtohavetalkedveryidlyuponthispassage。
Note:M。GuizotdeniesthatLampridiusmeansCleanderaspraefectapugione。TheLibertinusseemstometomeanhim。—
M。]
[Footnote27:Herodian，l。i。p。31。ItisdoubtfulwhetherhemeansthePraetorianinfantry，orthecohortesurbanae，abodyofsixthousandmen，butwhoserankanddisciplinewerenotequaltotheirnumbers。NeitherTillemontnorWottonchoosetodecidethisquestion。]
[Footnote28:DionCassius，l。lxxii。p。1215。Herodian，l。i。