p。32。Hist。August。p。48。]
ButeverysentimentofvirtueandhumanitywasextinctinthemindofCommodus。Whilsthethusabandonedthereinsofempiretotheseunworthyfavorites，hevaluednothinginsovereignpower，excepttheunboundedlicenseofindulginghissensualappetites。Hishourswerespentinaseraglioofthreehundredbeautifulwomen，andasmanyboys，ofeveryrank，andofeveryprovince；and，wherevertheartsofseductionprovedineffectual，thebrutalloverhadrecoursetoviolence。Theancienthistorians^29haveexpatiatedontheseabandonedscenesofprostitution，whichscornedeveryrestraintofnatureormodesty；butitwouldnotbeeasytotranslatetheirtoofaithfuldescriptionsintothedecencyofmodernlanguage。Theintervalsoflustwerefilledupwiththebasestamusements。Theinfluenceofapoliteage，andthelaborofanattentiveeducation，hadneverbeenabletoinfuseintohisrudeandbrutishmindtheleasttinctureoflearning；andhewasthefirstoftheRomanemperorstotallydevoidoftasteforthepleasuresoftheunderstanding。Nerohimselfexcelled，oraffectedtoexcel，intheelegantartsofmusicandpoetry:norshouldwedespisehispursuits，hadhenotconvertedthepleasingrelaxationofaleisurehourintotheseriousbusinessandambitionofhislife。
ButCommodus，fromhisearliestinfancy，discoveredanaversiontowhateverwasrationalorliberal，andafondattachmenttotheamusementsofthepopulace；thesportsofthecircusandamphitheatre，thecombatsofgladiators，andthehuntingofwildbeasts。Themastersineverybranchoflearning，whomMarcusprovidedforhisson，wereheardwithinattentionanddisgust；
whilsttheMoorsandParthians，whotaughthimtodartthejavelinandtoshootwiththebow，foundadisciplewhodelightedinhisapplication，andsoonequalledthemostskilfulofhisinstructorsinthesteadinessoftheeyeandthedexterityofthehand。
[Footnote29:Sororibussuisconstupratis。Ipsasconcubinassuassuboculis……stuprarijubebat。Necirruentiuminsejuvenumcarebatinfamia，omnipartecorporisatqueoreinsexumutrumquepollutus。Hist。Aug。p。47。]
Theservilecrowd，whosefortunedependedontheirmaster\'svices，applaudedtheseignoblepursuits。Theperfidiousvoiceofflatteryremindedhim，thatbyexploitsofthesamenature，bythedefeatoftheNemaeanlion，andtheslaughterofthewildboarofErymanthus，theGrecianHerculeshadacquiredaplaceamongthegods，andanimmortalmemoryamongmen。Theyonlyforgottoobserve，that，inthefirstagesofsociety，whenthefierceranimalsoftendisputewithmanthepossessionofanunsettledcountry，asuccessfulwaragainstthosesavagesisoneofthemostinnocentandbeneficiallaborsofheroism。InthecivilizedstateoftheRomanempire，thewildbeastshadlongsinceretiredfromthefaceofman，andtheneighborhoodofpopulouscities。Tosurprisethemintheirsolitaryhaunts，andtotransportthemtoRome，thattheymightbeslaininpompbythehandofanemperor，wasanenterpriseequallyridiculousfortheprinceandoppressiveforthepeople。^30Ignorantofthesedistinctions，Commoduseagerlyembracedthegloriousresemblance，andstyledhimselfaswestillreadonhismedals^31theRomanHercules。Theclubandthelion\'shidewereplacedbythesideofthethrone，amongsttheensignsofsovereignty；andstatueswereerected，inwhichCommoduswasrepresentedinthecharacter，andwiththeattributes，ofthegod，whosevaloranddexterityheendeavoredtoemulateinthedailycourseofhisferociousamusements。^32
[Footnote30:TheAfricanlions，whenpressedbyhunger，infestedtheopenvillagesandcultivatedcountry；andtheyinfestedthemwithimpunity。Theroyalbeastwasreservedforthepleasuresoftheemperorandthecapital；andtheunfortunatepeasantwhokilledoneofthemthoughinhisowndefence，incurredaveryheavypenalty。Thisextraordinarygame—lawwasmitigatedbyHonorius，andfinallyrepealedbyJustinian。CodexTheodos。tom。
v。p。92，etCommentGothofred。]
[Footnote31:SpanheimdeNumismat。Dissertat。xii。tom。ii。p。
493。]
[Footnote*:CommodusplacedhisownheadonthecolossalstatueofHerculeswiththeinscription，LuciusCommodusHercules。ThewitsofRome，accordingtoanewfragmentofDion，publishedanepigram，ofwhich，likemanyotherancientjests，thepointisnotveryclear。Itseemstobeaprotestofthegodagainstbeingconfoundedwiththeemperor。MaiFragm。Vatican。ii。225。—M。]
[Footnote32:Dion，l。lxxii。p。1216。Hist。August。p。49。]
Elatedwiththesepraises，whichgraduallyextinguishedtheinnatesenseofshame，CommodusresolvedtoexhibitbeforetheeyesoftheRomanpeoplethoseexercises，whichtillthenhehaddecentlyconfinedwithinthewallsofhispalace，andtothepresenceofafewfavorites。Ontheappointedday，thevariousmotivesofflattery，fear，andcuriosity，attractedtotheamphitheatreaninnumerablemultitudeofspectators；andsomedegreeofapplausewasdeservedlybestowedontheuncommonskilloftheImperialperformer。Whetherheaimedattheheadorheartoftheanimal，thewoundwasalikecertainandmortal。Witharrowswhosepointwasshapedintotheformofcrescent，Commodusofteninterceptedtherapidcareer，andcutasunderthelong，bonyneckoftheostrich。^33Apantherwasletloose；andthearcherwaitedtillhehadleapeduponatremblingmalefactor。Inthesameinstanttheshaftflew，thebeastdroppeddead，andthemanremainedunhurt。Thedensoftheamphitheatredisgorgedatonceahundredlions:ahundreddartsfromtheunerringhandofCommoduslaidthemdeadastheyrunragingroundtheArena。
Neitherthehugebulkoftheelephant，northescalyhideoftherhinoceros，coulddefendthemfromhisstroke。AethiopiaandIndiayieldedtheirmostextraordinaryproductions；andseveralanimalswereslainintheamphitheatre，whichhadbeenseenonlyintherepresentationsofart，orperhapsoffancy。^34Inalltheseexhibitions，thesecurestprecautionswereusedtoprotectthepersonoftheRomanHerculesfromthedesperatespringofanysavage，whomightpossiblydisregardthedignityoftheemperorandthesanctityofthegod。^35
[Footnote33:Theostrich\'sneckisthreefeetlong，andcomposedofseventeenvertebrae。SeeBuffon，Hist。Naturelle。]
[Footnote34:CommoduskilledacamelopardalisorGiraffe，Dion，l。lxxii。p。1211，thetallest，themostgentle，andthemostuselessofthelargequadrupeds。Thissingularanimal，anativeonlyoftheinteriorpartsofAfrica，hasnotbeenseeninEuropesincetherevivalofletters；andthoughM。deBuffonHist。
Naturelle，tom。xiii。hasendeavoredtodescribe，hehasnotventuredtodelineate，theGiraffe。
Note:Thenaturalistsofourdayshavebeenmorefortunate。
LondonprobablynowcontainsmorespecimensofthisanimalthanhavebeenseeninEuropesincethefalloftheRomanempire，unlessinthepleasuregardensoftheemperorFredericII。，inSicily，whichpossessedseveral。Frederic\'scollectionsofwildbeastswereexhibited，forthepopularamusement，inmanypartsofItaly。Raumer，GeschichtederHohenstaufen，v。iii。p。571。
Gibbon，moreover，ismistaken；asagiraffewaspresentedtoLorenzodeMedici，eitherbythesultanofEgyptorthekingofTunis。Contemporaryauthoritiesarequotedintheoldwork，GesnerdeQuadrupedibump。162。—M。]
[Footnote35:Herodian，l。i。p。37。Hist。August。p。50。]
Butthemeanestofthepopulacewereaffectedwithshameandindignationwhentheybeheldtheirsovereignenterthelistsasagladiator，andgloryinaprofessionwhichthelawsandmannersoftheRomanshadbrandedwiththejustestnoteofinfamy。^36HechosethehabitandarmsoftheSecutor，whosecombatwiththeRetiariusformedoneofthemostlivelyscenesinthebloodysportsoftheamphitheatre。TheSecutorwasarmedwithahelmet，sword，andbuckler；hisnakedantagonisthadonlyalargenetandatrident；withtheoneheendeavoredtoentangle，withtheothertodespatchhisenemy。Ifhemissedthefirstthrow，hewasobligedtoflyfromthepursuitoftheSecutor，tillhehadpreparedhisnetforasecondcast。^37Theemperorfoughtinthischaractersevenhundredandthirty—fiveseveraltimes。
Thesegloriousachievementswerecarefullyrecordedinthepublicactsoftheempire；andthathemightomitnocircumstanceofinfamy，hereceivedfromthecommonfundofgladiatorsastipendsoexorbitantthatitbecameanewandmostignominioustaxupontheRomanpeople。^38Itmaybeeasilysupposed，thatintheseengagementsthemasteroftheworldwasalwayssuccessful；intheamphitheatre，hisvictorieswerenotoftensanguinary；butwhenheexercisedhisskillintheschoolofgladiators，orhisownpalace，hiswretchedantagonistswerefrequentlyhonoredwithamortalwoundfromthehandofCommodus，andobligedtosealtheirflatterywiththeirblood。^39HenowdisdainedtheappellationofHercules。ThenameofPaulus，acelebratedSecutor，wastheonlyonewhichdelightedhisear。Itwasinscribedonhiscolossalstatues，andrepeatedintheredoubledacclamations^40
ofthemournfulandapplaudingsenate。^41ClaudiusPompeianus，thevirtuoushusbandofLucilla，wastheonlysenatorwhoassertedthehonorofhisrank。Asafather，hepermittedhissonstoconsulttheirsafetybyattendingtheamphitheatre。AsaRoman，hedeclared，thathisownlifewasintheemperor\'shands，butthathewouldneverbeholdthesonofMarcusprostitutinghispersonanddignity。NotwithstandinghismanlyresolutionPompeianusescapedtheresentmentofthetyrant，and，withhishonor，hadthegoodfortunetopreservehislife。^42
[Footnote36:Thevirtuousandeventhewiseprincesforbadethesenatorsandknightstoembracethisscandalousprofession，underpainofinfamy，or，whatwasmoredreadedbythoseprofligatewretches，ofexile。Thetyrantsalluredthemtodishonorbythreatsandrewards。Neroonceproducedinthearenafortysenatorsandsixtyknights。SeeLipsius，Saturnalia，l。ii。c。
2。HehashappilycorrectedapassageofSuetoniusinNerone，c。
12。]
[Footnote37:Lipsius，l。ii。c。7，8。Juvenal，intheeighthsatire，givesapicturesquedescriptionofthiscombat。]
[Footnote38:Hist。August。p。50。Dion，l。lxxii。p。1220。Hereceived，foreachtime，decies，about8000l。sterling。]
[Footnote39:Victortellsus，thatCommodusonlyallowedhisantagonistsa……weapon，dreadingmostprobablytheconsequencesoftheirdespair。]
[Footnote40:Theywereobligedtorepeat，sixhundredandtwenty—sixtimes，PaolusfirstoftheSecutors，&c。]
[Footnote41:Dion，l。lxxii。p。1221。Hespeaksofhisownbasenessanddanger。]
[Footnote42:Hemixed，however，someprudencewithhiscourage，andpassedthegreatestpartofhistimeinacountryretirement；
alleginghisadvancedage，andtheweaknessofhiseyes。\"I
neversawhiminthesenate，\"saysDion，\"exceptduringtheshortreignofPertinax。\"Allhisinfirmitieshadsuddenlylefthim，andtheyreturnedassuddenlyuponthemurderofthatexcellentprince。Dion，l。lxxiii。p。1227。]
Commodushadnowattainedthesummitofviceandinfamy。
Amidsttheacclamationsofaflatteringcourt，hewasunabletodisguisefromhimself，thathehaddeservedthecontemptandhatredofeverymanofsenseandvirtueinhisempire。Hisferociousspiritwasirritatedbytheconsciousnessofthathatred，bytheenvyofeverykindofmerit，bythejustapprehensionofdanger，andbythehabitofslaughter，whichhecontractedinhisdailyamusements。Historyhaspreservedalonglistofconsularsenatorssacrificedtohiswantonsuspicion，whichsoughtout，withpeculiaranxiety，thoseunfortunatepersonsconnected，howeverremotely，withthefamilyoftheAntonines，withoutsparingeventheministersofhiscrimesorpleasures。^43Hiscrueltyprovedatlastfataltohimself。HehadshedwithimpunitythenoblestbloodofRome:heperishedassoonashewasdreadedbyhisowndomestics。Marcia，hisfavoriteconcubine，Eclectus，hischamberlain，andLaetus，hisPraetorianpraefect，alarmedbythefateoftheircompanionsandpredecessors，resolvedtopreventthedestructionwhicheveryhourhungovertheirheads，eitherfromthemadcapriceofthetyrant，orthesuddenindignationofthepeople。Marciaseizedtheoccasionofpresentingadraughtofwinetoherlover，afterhehadfatiguedhimselfwithhuntingsomewildbeasts。
Commodusretiredtosleep；butwhilsthewaslaboringwiththeeffectsofpoisonanddrunkenness，arobustyouth，byprofessionawrestler，enteredhischamber，andstrangledhimwithoutresistance。Thebodywassecretlyconveyedoutofthepalace，beforetheleastsuspicionwasentertainedinthecity，oreveninthecourt，oftheemperor\'sdeath。SuchwasthefateofthesonofMarcus，andsoeasywasittodestroyahatedtyrant，who，bytheartificialpowersofgovernment，hadoppressed，duringthirteenyears，somanymillionsofsubjects，eachofwhomwasequaltotheirmasterinpersonalstrengthandpersonalabilities。^44
[Footnote43:Theprefectswerechangedalmosthourlyordaily；
andthecapriceofCommoduswasoftenfataltohismostfavoredchamberlains。Hist。August。p。46，51。]
[Footnote*:Commodushadalreadyresolvedtomassacrethemthefollowingnighttheydeterminedoanticipatehisdesign。Herod。
i。17。—W。]
[Footnote44:Dion，l。lxxii。p。1222。Herodian，l。i。p。43。
Hist。August。p。52。]
Themeasuresofheconspiratorswereconductedwiththedeliberatecoolnessandceleritywhichthegreatnessoftheoccasionrequired。Theyresolvedinstantlytofillthevacantthronewithanemperorwhosecharacterwouldjustifyandmaintaintheactionthathadbeencommitted。TheyfixedonPertinax，praefectofthecity，anancientsenatorofconsularrank，whoseconspicuousmerithadbrokethroughtheobscurityofhisbirth，andraisedhimtothefirsthonorsofthestate。Hehadsuccessivelygovernedmostoftheprovincesoftheempire；andinallhisgreatemployments，militaryaswellascivil，hehaduniformlydistinguishedhimselfbythefirmness，theprudence，andtheintegrityofhisconduct。^45HenowremainedalmostaloneofthefriendsandministersofMarcus；andwhen，atalatehourofthenight，hewasawakenedwiththenews，thatthechamberlainandthepraefectwereathisdoor，hereceivedthemwithintrepidresignation，anddesiredtheywouldexecutetheirmaster\'sorders。Insteadofdeath，theyofferedhimthethroneoftheRomanworld。Duringsomemomentshedistrustedtheirintentionsandassurances。ConvincedatlengthofthedeathofCommodus，heacceptedthepurplewithasincerereluctance，thenaturaleffectofhisknowledgebothofthedutiesandofthedangersofthesupremerank。^46
[Footnote45:PertinaxwasanativeofAlbaPompeia，inPiedmont，andsonofatimbermerchant。TheorderofhisemploymentsitismarkedbyCapitolinuswelldeservestobesetdown，asexpressiveoftheformofgovernmentandmannersoftheage。1。
Hewasacenturion。2。PraefectofacohortinSyria，intheParthianwar，andinBritain。3。HeobtainedanAla，orsquadronofhorse，inMaesia。4。HewascommissaryofprovisionsontheAemilianway。5。HecommandedthefleetupontheRhine。6。HewasprocuratorofDacia，withasalaryofabout1600l。ayear。
7。Hecommandedtheveteransofalegion。8。Heobtainedtherankofsenator。9。Ofpraetor。10。WiththecommandofthefirstlegioninRhaetiaandNoricum。11。Hewasconsulabouttheyear175。12。HeattendedMarcusintotheEast。13。HecommandedanarmyontheDanube。14。HewasconsularlegateofMaesia。
15。OfDacia。16。OfSyria。17。OfBritain。18。HehadthecareofthepublicprovisionsatRome。19。HewasproconsulofAfrica。20。Praefectofthecity。Herodianl。i。p。48doesjusticetohisdisinterestedspirit；butCapitolinus，whocollectedeverypopularrumor，chargeshimwithagreatfortuneacquiredbybriberyandcorruption。]
[Footnote46:Julian，intheCaesars，taxeshimwithbeingaccessorytothedeathofCommodus。]
LaetusconductedwithoutdelayhisnewemperortothecampofthePraetorians，diffusingatthesametimethroughthecityaseasonablereportthatCommodusdiedsuddenlyofanapoplexy；andthatthevirtuousPertinaxhadalreadysucceededtothethrone。
Theguardswererathersurprisedthanpleasedwiththesuspiciousdeathofaprince，whoseindulgenceandliberalitytheyalonehadexperienced；buttheemergencyoftheoccasion，theauthorityoftheirpraefect，thereputationofPertinax，andtheclamorsofthepeople，obligedthemtostifletheirsecretdiscontents，toacceptthedonativepromisedbythenewemperor，toswearallegiancetohim，andwithjoyfulacclamationsandlaurelsintheirhandstoconducthimtothesenatehouse，thatthemilitaryconsentmightberatifiedbythecivilauthority。
Thisimportantnightwasnowfarspent；withthedawnofday，andthecommencementofthenewyear，thesenatorsexpectedasummonstoattendanignominiousceremony。Inspiteofallremonstrances，evenofthoseofhiscreatureswhoyetpreservedanyregardforprudenceordecency，Commodushadresolvedtopassthenightinthegladiators\'school，andfromthencetotakepossessionoftheconsulship，inthehabitandwiththeattendanceofthatinfamouscrew。Onasudden，beforethebreakofday，thesenatewascalledtogetherinthetempleofConcord，tomeettheguards，andtoratifytheelectionofanewemperor。