'-«*»«■».•?.•- Λα 
 
 I» 
 
 H^MFN 
 
 

 
 
 
 PERKINS LIBRARY 
 
 Duke University 
 Kare Doors 
 
 
 
 
 

HISTORY 
 
 DION CASSIVS 
 
 Abridge! by Xiphilin. 
 Containing 
 
 The moil confiderable PaiTages under 
 the Roman Emperors, from the time 
 of Pompey the Great, to the Reign of 
 Alexander Severus. 
 
 The Second Volume, 
 
 Done from the Greek, 
 
 By Mr. Μ ANN 1 Ν G. 
 
 Tametfi haudquaquam par gloria fequatur 
 Scriptorem, & Authorem rerum, tamen 
 in primis arduum videtur res gefias 
 fcrilere. Saluft. 
 
 London : Printed for A. and J. Churchill, 
 in Pater-nojter-Row, 1704. 
 

τ ο 
 
 Sir Richard Temple, 
 Baronet 
 
 DEdications are fometimes like 
 Promotions at Court, they 
 come unforefeen and unexpected. 
 Authors like thofe at the Helm of 
 Affairs love to diverfifie the Scene, 
 and hope by making new Interefts, 
 to obtain a freih ftock of Cre- 
 dit. 
 
 Thus, Sir, 'tis for my own fake 
 that you have this publick mark of 
 my Reipeofc. Self- Love, to ipeak 
 honeftly, is at the bottom ot moft 
 Mens Defigns. They may pre- 
 tend a publick Spirit, and the lnte- 
 reft of the Nation, but how mani- 
 A % feft 
 
 
The Epflle Dedicatory, 
 
 feft is it, that they mean nothing 
 but Honour and Advantage to 
 them (elves. 
 
 How few ave there like your felf, 
 that dare iaciifice the Joys and Com- 
 forts of a flowing Hereditary For- 
 tune and Dignity to the toils and 
 tatigues ot War, through the An- 
 gle glorious Motive of ferving their 
 Country ! 
 
 There can be no private Intereft 
 in this, you want it not. 'Tistoo 
 apparent that the Enemies to the 
 Tranquility of England are Nume- 
 rous, that there are many endea- 
 vours to unhinge the Succeffion, as 
 by Law efbblifh'd, which is its 
 only future Security, that there is 
 a Set of Men among us who would 
 compafs their deiigns, though at 
 the expence of overthrowing our 
 Conftitution out of a miftaken Re- 
 venge, and therefore it is, that you 
 
 have 
 
The Efiftle Dedicatory. 
 
 have forfaken the fofcer delights of 
 a private Life, that you might be 
 able in a more publick Sphere to 
 contribute to the confirmation of 
 the prefent Welfare and Happinefs 
 of your Country. 
 
 This is an Example worthy of 
 any of the ^oman Spirits. Happy 
 indeed were the Commonwealth, 
 and not to be fliaken by any foreign 
 Power, if Men would lo neglect 
 their particular Interefts, and ftudy 
 to maintain the general Good. 
 
 Thefe things coniider'd, how ju- 
 ftifiable is my Ambition to afpire 
 at fuch a Patronage! Nor can you, 
 Sir, juftly blame me for the liberty 
 1 have taken. Who can look up- 
 on a piece of Vandyke, without ad- 
 miring allthofe Graces that are fo 
 peculiar to him, and that natural 
 Difpofition of all the Parts that 
 {hew fo fair a refemblance of the 
 beft Life? How 
 
The Epifile Dedicatory. 
 
 How much lefs then can one for* 
 bear to be tranfported with a living 
 Pattern of all thofe Perfections which 
 the other could buthandfomly feign ! 
 Thus you muft have been lefs con- 
 fpicuous to have efcap'd a Dedica- 
 tion. If you had not been diftin- 
 guiih'd by a thoufand good Quali- 
 ties, I had loft the honour I do my 
 felf by this Epiftle. 
 
 But, Sir, my Zeal has made me 
 forget that I am writing to your 
 felf, 1 (hall therefore conclude with 
 begging your acceptance of this Se- 
 cond Volume of my Tranflation of 
 Xiphilin, and the Honour to be con- 
 tinued in your favour. 
 
 / am, 
 
 SIR, 
 
 Tour mofi Humlle Servant, 
 
 Francis Manning. 
 
 THE 
 
THE 
 
 TABLE 
 
 Ο F 
 
 The EMPERORS contain'd in 
 the Second Volume. 
 
 VJ Otho. 
 
 P. ι 
 9 
 
 Vltellms. 
 
 17 
 
 Vefpafian. 
 
 19 
 
 Tttus. 
 
 59 
 
 Domkian. 
 
 71 
 
 NerVa. 
 
 9i 
 
 Trajan. 
 
 99 
 
 Adrian. 
 
The Τ A Β L Ε 
 
 
 Adrian. 
 
 i*7 
 
 Antoninus Pius. 
 
 l 5i 
 
 Marcus Antoninus. 
 
 l 57 
 
 Contmodus. 
 
 iSf 
 
 Pertinax. 
 
 *»* 
 
 Didius Julianus. 
 
 22^ 
 
 Severus. 
 
 2 4i 
 
 Caracalh. 
 
 J09 
 
 Macrinus. 
 
 34» 
 
 Heliogalalu$. 
 
 m 
 
 Alexander Severus* 
 
 ^7^ 
 
Γ ϊ ] 
 
 THE 
 
 REIGN 
 
 Ο F Τ Η Ε 
 
 EMPEROR 
 
 GALEA. 
 VOL. 1ί. 
 
 GA LB A was proclaim'd in the 
 manner I have faid, which had 
 been foretold him heretofore 
 by TiheriuSy when he aflur'd 
 him that he ihould one day taft of Em- 
 pire. He had likewiie other very clear 
 Prefages of his future Grandeur. He 
 Β dreamt 
 
t * ] 
 
 dreamt one day that he Taw Fortune, 
 who told him, that ihe had waited long 
 at his Gate, without being able to get 
 in, and if ihe was made to attend lon- 
 ger, ihe mould be oblig'd to retire fome 
 where elfe. Some Veilels laden with 
 Arms came upon the Coafts of Spain ^ 
 without a Filot. A Mule having 
 brought forth a young one, he was 
 told 'twas a ilgn he fcould afcend 
 the Throne. Some white Hairs having 
 appear'd of a iudden on the Head of 
 a Youth, who brought Incenfe to Gall a 
 when he was juil going to Sacrifice, 
 the Soothfayers judg'd that this extra- 
 ordinary change imjijied, th^t the 
 vereign Power ihould pais frcm a young 
 Prince to GalL•, who was then grown 
 old. 
 
 He govern'd with great Moderati- 
 on, and made himfclf odious to none. 
 He thought, and declared very often, 
 that he had not feiz'd upon the Empire, 
 but that he had, receiv'd it from the 
 choiceof others. Yet he had his Faults, 
 for he was never weary of heaping 
 up Money , as if he had wanted it 
 extreamly, and at the fame time his 
 Expence was ib little, that he gave a- 
 
 way 
 
[ ί ] 
 
 way but Oholi in (lead of Drachmas. 
 But his Freedrriett committed Diibrders, 
 which were imputed to him. For if 
 it be fufficient for a private Man to 
 abftain from any Inju Price, 'tis not e- 
 nough for a Prince 5 he is likcwUc ob- 
 liged to hinder others from committing 
 any, fince that which he Puffers, is no 
 lefs detrimental to his Subjects, than 
 what he commits himfelf. Thus thd' 
 Galba did no great hurt, yet he h^d a 
 very ill Reputation, becaufe he tliifcr'd 
 others to do it, or took not the pains 
 to inform himfeif of it. Capita and 
 others had ib little refpeotfor him, that 
 the firic fitting one day to decide a 
 Caufe, the Perfon whom he had con- 
 demn'd appealed from his Sentence , 
 whereupon he went up to the higheit 
 Bench , and (aid to him, β Now try 
 ' your Appeal before the Emperor, and 
 5 condemn'd him to Death. 
 
 When Galba was come near Rome i 
 Nero's Guards went to meet him, and 
 petition'd him to continue them in the 
 rank they held. The snfwer which 
 he made them, that he would cohfider 
 of it, having difpos'd them to feme 
 fed of Mimuy, he commanded hw 
 B- fc Me*n 
 
[41 
 Men to fall upon them, fo that feven 
 thoufand were cut to pieces, and the 
 reft were decimated. Thus had Galba 
 preferv'd a firm and vigorous mind in a 
 Body, opprefs'd with Age and Sicknefs, 
 being perfwaded that 'twas a eondef- 
 ceniion unworthy of an Emperor, to 
 do any thing againft his Will. His 
 Guards one day asking him for Money, 
 he refus'd them, faying, that he had 
 been accuftom'd to choofe Soldiers, and 
 not to buy them. The People being 
 very importunate, that Tigillinus and ou- 
 tliers who had committed great Difor- 
 ders in the late Reign, might be brought 
 to Puniihment, he would not confent 
 to it, which perhaps he might have done, 
 if the People had not urg'd it in that 
 manner. Nevertheleis he commanded 
 Helios, Narciffus, Patrohim, and Lo- 
 cufla the famous Poifoner, and fome o- 
 thers who had been in great credit with 
 Nero, to be carried through the City 
 in Chains, and afterwards to be execu- 
 ted. If he was to be efteem'd and 
 commended for all theie things, he was 
 likewife ridicul'd and defpis'd for wear- 
 ing his Sword continually, when he 
 was fo fax advane'd in Age, and fub- 
 
f 5 J 
 
 je<5t to feveral Infirmities. The Soldi- 
 ers who ferv'd in the two Provinces of 
 Germany under Rufus, being extreamly 
 angry becaufethey had receiv'd no Gra- 
 tification from Galha^ fearch'd'out for 
 one, in whofe Perfon they might fatis- 
 fie the violent defire they had of ma- 
 king an Emperor, which they could 
 not perfwade Rufus to confent to. They 
 propos'd Viteliius for their purpofe, who 
 commanded at that time in the lower 
 Germany, and whom they could eileern 
 for nothing but the advantage of his 
 Birth. They did not confider that he 
 had formerly contributed to the plea- 
 fures of Tiberius, and that ever iince 
 he had led a voluptuous Life. They 
 thought perhaps on the contrary, that 
 thofe defe&s would make him the fit- 
 ter for their Defign. As for Viteliius, he 
 did not in the lead imagine that he 
 was worthy of the Empire, and when 
 he would mew the vanity of judicial 
 Aftrology, and the ignorance of thofe 
 who profefs'd it, he brought no other 
 proof than what they had faid, that 
 he mould be polTefs'd one day of the 
 Sovereign Power. Nero alfo laugh'd 
 ar this Prediction, and had foch a con- 
 B 3 temp*- 
 
[ 6 ] 
 
 tempt tor Vitellius, that he nevtr did 
 him the lead hurt. As icon as Galba 
 had received news of the Revolt of Vh 
 
 ;us, he adopted Luciu s Tifo, a young 
 Lord of illuilrious Birth, and approv'd 
 Wifdom, and declar'd him Qcefar. 
 
 Qtho did a great deai of hurt to the 
 Empire in revenge, ior not being pre- 
 ierr'd to Fifo, and adopted in his room. 
 'Tis certain that he was very much 
 eileem'd by Galba, and that day the 
 Emperor was kill'd, he was the only 
 Senator that flood near him when he 
 Sacrif.c'd, which was the occafton of 
 his . ing him. For the Augur ha- 
 
 ving declar'd to Galba, that there was 
 a Confpiracy ibrm'd again ft his Per- 
 fon, and adviiing him not to appear, 
 Otho werfc # away that inftant, under 
 what pretence I know not, and being 
 admitted into the Camp by iome Sol- 
 diers that he held intelligence with, he 
 gain'd iome others who were but ill 
 inclin'd for Galba, corrupting them with 
 Money, and receiv'd from them and 
 their Companions the Sovereign Autho- 
 rity. Galba was no fooner inlorm'd of 
 this Enterprise, but he lent fome Per- 
 ions to the Army, to perhvade them 
 
 to 
 
 $ 
 
[ 7 1 
 
 to change their Minds, and to conti- 
 nue faithful to him. In the mean time 
 a Soldier prefents himfelf to him with 
 a Sword in his Hand naked and bloody, 
 and fays to him, ' Take Courage, my 
 1 Lord, Ϊ have kili'd Otho, and you are 
 4 now in Safety. Galha believing he 
 fpoke truth, ask'd him who had comman- 
 ded him to do what he had done, and 
 went towards the Capitol with a defign 
 to offer Sacrifice. When he was in the 
 Market-place, he was met by abundance 
 of People, both on foot and on Horfe- 
 back, who kili'd him in the prefence 
 of feveral Senators, and others with- 
 out regard to his Age, or his Dignity 
 either of High-Prieit or Emperor. When 
 he was wounded and kll from his Chair, 
 he only faid, * What have I done to 
 4 deferve this ufage ? Sempronius Dru- 
 y^i died in his defence, and by this Acti- 
 on merited the place which his name 
 has found in Hiftory. Pifo and feveral 
 others were likewife kili'd, though they 
 had not attempted to defend Gall.:, 
 Pifo was kiil'd for no other reafon, 
 but becaufe he had been declared Empe- 
 ror. (?<?/&? had liv'd feventy two years, 
 and reign'd nine Months thirteen Days. 
 β 4 THE 
 
[ 9 1 
 
 THE 
 
 REIGN 
 
 O F Τ Η Ε 
 
 EMPEROR 
 
 Τ Η 0. 
 
 GALB A dying in this manner, 
 Otho receiv'd almoft on the in- 
 ftant, prefages of the puniih- 
 ment that was prepar'd for him. 
 As he was offering a Sacrifice, the en- 
 trails of the Victims appear'd Ominous, 
 and gave him occafion to fay, ' Why 
 ' ihould I undertake to play upon the 
 c great Flute, which is a Proverb that 
 ' is ufually faid of thofe who do any 
 c thing againil their Intereils ? Yet more, 
 he was fo difturb'd in the Night, that 
 
 he 
 
r >o ] 
 
 he fell out of his Bed, and aftonifh'd 
 his Guards with his faU, -fo- that gomg- 
 intohis Chamber, they found him ex- 
 tended upon the Ground. But though 
 he had fecret notices of the Misfortunes 
 that were to happen to him, yet he 
 did not renounce the Empire. On the 
 contrary, he maintain'd himfelf in it, 
 and underwent the Puniihment he de- 
 ferv'd. Neverthelefs it muit beown'd, 
 that on feveral occafions he us'd great 
 Moderation, and Equity to comply with 
 the People. He was io far from fol- 
 lowing his Inclinations in that, that he 
 did violence -to himfelf, for fear of in- 
 creafing the number of his Enemies, 
 which was already but too great, by 
 reafon of the Partifans of Vitellms. 
 
 The Senate did all that depended on 
 them to confirm Otho in the poflellion 
 of the Empire, becaufe he laid that he 
 had been fore d to accept it, that he 
 was drag'd to the Camp againil his 
 will, and while he refitted the preifmg 
 inilances of the Soldiers, he ran in dan- 
 ger of his Life. He fpoke with great 
 Civility, and affected tofeem very mo- 
 derate. Fie {aimed at a diilance thofe 
 who could not approach him, and made 
 
 noble 
 
[ ι• ] 
 
 noble Fromifes. Neverthelefs it was 
 eafic to perceive, that his Government 
 would prove more Infolent and Crueij 
 than that of Nero had been. He took 
 his Name immediately, pardonM Sena- 
 tors that had been condemn'd , and 
 granted other Favours. He was very 
 aiiiduous at the Theatre, with a defign 
 to flatter the People, and gain their 
 Affections. He gave Strangers the Pri- 
 viledge of the Reman freedom, and pro- 
 mised great Gratuities to feveral. Vet 
 he got the Affections of but very few 
 by thefe Methods, only of fuch as re- 
 fembled him ; his way of Living being 
 very much fufpeeted by every body, 
 eipecially from the ilrict familiarity he 
 held with Sporus, and other Favourites 
 of Nero. He gave fo unbounded a li- 
 berty to the Soldiers by the profufion 
 of his Gifts, and the excefs of his Flat- 
 teries, that they had one day the In- 
 folence to break into his Palace when 
 he was at Supper with feveral Sena- 
 tors, and to kill thofe who would have 
 ilop'd them at the Door of the Hall 
 where they were eating, and had cer- 
 tainly put all to the Sword, if they had 
 not made hail to rife from the Table, 
 
 and 
 
C •* ] 
 
 and hide themfelves. Otho took this 
 Action for a mark of the Affection they 
 bore him, and rewarded them for it. 
 
 A certain Perfon, whofe Name Dion 
 could never learn, pretending at this 
 time to be the Emperor Nero, was at 
 lail difcover'd, and receiv'd the puniih- 
 ment his Impofture deferv'd. Otho ha- 
 ving feveral times offer'd Vitellws in 
 vain to fhare the Empire with him, 
 refolv'd at length to decide the diffe- 
 rence by Arms, and in order to it fent 
 his Troops under the conduct of feve- 
 ral Chiefs, whofe ill Correfpondence 
 was the caufe of their Defeat. The 
 Battel was fought near Cremona, in which 
 forty thoufand Men fell on both fides. 
 *Tis faid, this lofs had been prefag'd by 
 feveral Prodigies, and among the reft, 
 by a Bird of an extraordinary bigneis, 
 that had been feen for feveral days. A 
 Horfeman of the Army of Otho, ha- 
 ving brought him the news of the De- 
 feat, and being disbeliev'd by thofe who 
 were at that time with the Emperor, 
 6 Would to the Gods, My Lord, faid 
 * he, that what I have told you were 
 1 falfe. I could die with Joy, if your 
 1 Army had won the Victory. But tho H 
 
 'it 
 
t 13 ] 
 
 it is overcome, I am content to die, 
 left I iliould be fufpe&ed to have fled 
 in order to fave my Life. As for 
 you, My Lord, the Enemies are fo 
 near, that you have but a very fmall 
 time to refolve what to do. 
 After he had fpoke in this manner, 
 he kilfd himfelf, and fo well confirm'd 
 the truth of what he had faid by the 
 boldneis of his Action, that no body 
 queftion'd it. But though his Friends 
 were very numerous, tho' they had re- 
 ceiv'd a Reinforcement of Legions late- 
 ly arriv'd from Pannoma, and through 
 their tender love for Otho, were rea- 
 dy to renew the War for his Intereft, 
 he fpent the time unprofitable 7 , till the 
 lofs of the Battel had been confirmed 
 by the teftimony of feveral Perfons ar- 
 riv'd from the Army. Then Otbo, af- 
 ter fome Contemplation, made a long 
 Harangue to his Soldiers, and among- 
 other things faid what follows. ' We 
 ' have hitherto had but too many Dif- 
 . ferences and Divifions. I abhor the 
 . thoughts of a Civil War, ev T n tho' 
 c it were to bring me Victory. I love 
 ' the Roman People, though they can- 
 • not be reconcil'd to me. Let Vitelli- 
 
 'Us 
 
[ «4 ] 
 
 us remain Victorious, fmce the Gods 
 are pleas'd to order it fo. Let his Ar- 
 my fiouriih, I confent to it very wil- 
 lingly. 'Tis but reafonable that one 
 Man fhould die to preferve a great 
 many, rather than that a great num- 
 ber fhould periih to preferve a Tingle 
 Man. I had rather be a Mutim y a 
 Decrus, a Qurtius, or a Regidus^ than a 
 Marius, a Cimia, or a Sylla. Do not 
 force me to be like any of thefe Men 
 whom Ϊ abhor, nor envy me the glo- 
 ry of imitating thofe whom I efteem. 
 Go over to him for whom Victory 
 has declar'd her felf, and endeavour 
 to obtain his favour. Forme, Ifhall 
 know how to fecure my Liberty, and 
 * to make appear by very fenfible Ef- 
 ' feib, that you have chofen an Em~ 
 ror, who will not Sacrifice you to 
 4 his Intereils, but Sacrifices him felf for 
 ί yours. This Difcourfe of Orho divi- 
 ded the Soldiers between an admiration 
 for his Vertue, and compaffion for his 
 Difgrace, infomuch that melting into 
 Tears, and making difmal Lamentati- 
 ons, they call'd him their Father, and 
 protefted they lov'd him more tender- 
 ly than their own Children and Relafi- 
 
[ »5 ] 
 
 ons. They fpent feverals days in Dif- 
 pures, during which Otho intreated them 
 to let him die, and they obilinately re- 
 fus'd to ccnfent to his defire. At length 
 having enjoyn'd them Silence, he (poke 
 to them as follows. c Why ihould Ϊ 
 
 * {hew lefs courage than the Soldier, 
 c who as you have feen kill'd himieif 
 
 * for no other reafon, but for having 
 ' brought his Prince the news of the 
 c defeat of his Army ? I am refolv'd to 
 
 * follow him, that 1 may have no more 
 e occaiions of hearing or feeing any 
 
 * thing of the like nature. I beg of 
 1 you, if you love me, to let me die, 
 'and not oblige me to live. Go to the 
 Conqueror, and make your court to 
 him. He retir'd after that into his Cham- 
 ber, took a Dagger, and kill'd himfelK. 
 The Soldiers wept for him, and buried 
 him , and lbme of them ev'n kill'd 
 themielves alter him. This was the 
 end of Otho, who liv'd thirty (even 
 years, within eleven days. He reign'd 
 but three Months and fix Days, and fi- 
 niih'd an infamous Life by a glorious 
 Death, renouncing in a very generous 
 
 * manner the Empire, of which he had pof- 
 fefs'd himfelf by very criminal Meafures. 
 
 THE 
 
[ «7 1 
 
 THE 
 
 R Ε I 
 
 OF THE 
 
 EMPEROR 
 
 VITELLIUS. 
 
 Τ Η Ε Roman People had no (bon- 
 er underftood the Death of 0- 
 tho , but they chang'd their 
 Minds, and loaded him with impreca* 
 tions, upon whom they had a little be- 
 fore lavilh'd their Praifes, and wifli'd 
 Victorious. They proclaim'd Viielliui 
 Emperor on the very iriilant, whom 
 they had infulted (o outragiouily. Thus 
 there is nothing ftable among Men. 
 They who enjoy the moil flouridiing 
 Profperityj and they who are driven to 
 
 G Φ*" 
 
[ ι8 ] 
 
 the lowed: ebb of Fortune, are both in 
 a condition equally uncertain and doubt- 
 ful, to day receiving Praifes and Ho- 
 nours, and to morrow Diigraces and 
 . Affronts, according to the various ca- 
 pricio's of Fortune. 
 
 As foon as Vitellius came to Rome, 
 he order'd Affairs as he thought fit, and 
 publifrYd an Edict, by which he banifh'd 
 all Judicial Ailrologcrs, commanding 
 them to leave Italy by a prefix'd time. 
 In revenge they pofled up Bills in the 
 Night, which gave notice of the time 
 he was to leave the World, and it fell 
 out within the time, which is an evi- 
 dence that they had an exact know- 
 ledge of futurity. 
 
 Viteliius abandond himfelf entirely 
 to all forts of Pieafures and Diiordcrs, 
 without taking any care of Affairs, or 
 fhewing any regard either for Gods or 
 Men. He was very much addicted 
 from his youth to Drinking, Gaming, 
 the Circus, and the Theatre. He had 
 fpent a world of Money in thofe places, 
 and contracted immenle Debts. But 
 as foon as he was in poiTeilion of the 
 Sovereign Power, he plung'd himfelf 
 more than ever in Luxury, and Piea- 
 fures, 
 
[ •9 ] 
 fures, parting Days and Nights in Feaft- 
 ing, and often provoking himfelfto Vo- 
 mit, in order to eafe his Stomach, and 
 to (pare it the trouble of digefting. 
 By this means he ruin'd his Health a- 
 midft his ExcefFes, which deftroy'd all 
 the other Companions of his Debauche- 
 ries. One of them call'd Vibim Qrif- 
 pus, being fain Tick, and fo hindred 
 from going to the Feaits of Vitellius, 
 faid agreeably, ' I mould have been 
 * dead, if I had not been Sick. 
 
 The Life and Reign of Pitell/uswere 
 nothing elfe but one continued excefs 
 of Eating and Drinking. Every one 
 was bufie in looking after what was 
 moil Delicious and Coftly upon Sea or 
 Land to load the Tables, and provoke 
 the Appetite ; and thefe Meats are call'd 
 to this day the food of Vitellius. It 
 is not neceilary for me to enter into the 
 particulars of thefe monftrous Extrava- 
 gancies, 'tis fuiScient to fay that all the 
 World agrees, that during his Reign, he 
 fpent in feafting two Millions two thou- 
 fand five hundred Drachma's. Thus 
 he laviih'd in a little time the princi- 
 pal Riches of the Empire. He order'd 
 to be put into one Diih, fo prodigious 
 C % a 
 
[ ίο ] 
 
 a quantity of Tongue?, Brains, and 
 Livers of Fillies and Birds, that it coft 
 him twenty five thcufand Drachma's. 
 .This Difli was of Silver, it being impof- 
 fible to make one of Earth large enough ; 
 and it was preferv'd as a VeiTel Con- 
 fecrated to the Gods till the Reign of 
 Adrian, who melted it. I cannot omit 
 faying, that the Golden Palace' of Nero 
 did not feem large or magnificent enough 
 for him, and though he prais'd his Actions 
 and his Manners, he could not forbear 
 to blame him for being no better lodg'd, 
 and f urniuYd. Galeria his Wife would 
 often laugh at the indifferent furniture 
 Hie had round in the Palace of the Em- 
 perors. They who confum'd fo much 
 Money, fcarce kept any account, be- 
 caufe they did not make the expence 
 out of their own Stock. But yet they 
 who made it, tho' they did it by turns, 
 were extreamly incommoded by it. 
 Some provided Breakfaft, others Din- 
 ner, others Supper, others Collations ; fo 
 that in a very little time, there wasfpent 
 in feafling a Million of Drachmas. The 
 change of Vitellius's fortune, was the 
 fubjeel: of every bodies Raillery. They 
 who had feen him formerly plung'd in 
 
 the 
 
[ 1« J 
 
 the moil filthy Debaucheries, and faw 
 him now, affedt a gravity in Afiem- 
 blies ; they who had feen him in a blue 
 Habit wipe offthe fwear from the Hor- 
 fes that were tir'd with the Courfe, 
 and faw him now upon a fine Horfe in 
 a purple Habit : They who remembred 
 that he durfl not appear formerly in 
 the publick place, for fear of being op- 
 Drefs'd by his Creditors, and who faw 
 him now go up to the Capitol furroun- 
 ded with Guards : In a word, they who 
 confider'd the zeal with which he was 
 courted, and who call'd to mind how 
 backward People had been to take no- 
 tice of him at another time, all thefe 
 Perfons, I fay, could not forbear laugh- 
 ing. His Creditors who had been fo 
 rigid againil him, when they faw him 
 ready to depart for Germany^ and had 
 with much difficulty been perfwaded to 
 let him go, though he had given them 
 Security, were now in a very dsiferenc 
 Humour, for inftead or Laughing with 
 the reft, they hid themielves with more 
 care, than if they had owed Money. 
 Nor was Vitellius unmindful of them, 
 for he fearch'd for them with all ροίΓι- 
 ble Rigour, and w ? hen he had found 
 C 3 them, 
 
[ 21 ] 
 
 them, he obligd them to return into 
 his Hands, the Titles they had to their 
 Debts, telling them, that he had difc 
 charg'd the Sums they had lent him, 
 by faving their Lives. He was often 
 prefent at the Sports and Shows, with 
 a defign to get the Affections of the 
 People. He iupp'd with the chief Men 
 of the Senate, and difcours'd familiar- 
 ly with them to fecure their Friend- 
 ihip. He had a great value for his old 
 Friends, inftead of forgetting them ; as 
 'tis ufually praotis'd among thofe, who 
 rifing fuddenly, and contrary to ex- 
 pectation to a high Fortune, defpisM 
 and hate thofe who knew them in their 
 former Condition. 
 
 While he behav'd himfelf in this man- 
 ner , he had Prefages of the Misfor- 
 tunes that were to happen to him. A 
 Comet was feen, and the Moon was 
 twice Eclips'd againit the ufual courfe, 
 to wit, once the fourth day, and a- 
 nother time the feventh. Befides, 
 two Suns were feen at the fame time, 
 one in the Eaft, which was clear and 
 dazling, and the other in the Weft, 
 which was pale and obicure. In the 
 Capitol likewife the traces and footfteps 
 
 of 
 
[ 2? ] 
 of the Gods were mark'd, as if they 
 were gone out : Yet more, the Soldi- 
 ers who guarded it in the Night, re- 
 ported that the Doors of the Temple 
 of Jupiter Capitolinus, open'd of their 
 own accord with io dreadful a Noite, 
 that fome of the Guards died with fear. 
 While thefe Prodigies were obferv'd at 
 Rome, Vefpafian, who made War in Ju- 
 dea, received news of the Conteit that 
 had happened between Otho and Vitel- 
 lius for the Empire, and began to con- 
 fider what was to be done at a con- 
 juncture that feem'd fo favourable to 
 him. He was efteem'd and belov'd not 
 only for the Valour he had ihewn in 
 Great Britain and Judea, but alfo for 
 his Prudence and his Equity, which 
 made abundance of People wiili and 
 hope to live one day under his Power. 
 Mucian purfu'd his Proclamation with 
 an earneilnefs and zeal that were very 
 extraordinary, in hopes that if Vefpafi- 
 an ever came to be poifefsd of the So- 
 vereign Authority, he would be fo juft 
 as to let him iliare it with him. The 
 rumour of this intrigue was no foon- 
 er come to the Ears of the Soldiers, 
 but they furrounded Vefpafians Tent, 
 C 4 and 
 
[ ^4 1 
 
 and proclaim'd him Emperor. When 
 I come to the Hiftory of his Reign, I 
 ihall not fail to relate the Signs and 
 Dreams by which his future Grandeur 
 had been foretold him, long before he 
 was in poilefiion of it. 
 
 But at this time he fent Mucian into 
 Italy, to make War again ft Vitellius, 
 and having fetled the Affairs of Syria, 
 and intruded feveral Captains with the 
 care of continuing the War aga'inilthe 
 Jews, he went into Egypt, where he 
 amafs'd the greateft quantity of Money 
 and Corn that he poiTiuly could, with 
 a defign to fend them to Rome. His 
 Legions that were in Mafia , under- 
 llanding the practices that were on foot 
 to raife Vefpafian to the Throne, (laid 
 not for the arrival of Mucian, whole 
 march they had notice of, and attempt- 
 ed to make their own Commander Em- 
 peror. He was call'd Antonius Primus^ 
 had been formerly banifh'd by Nero y 
 then recall'd by Galha, and at this time 
 commanded the Troops that were in 
 Tannonia. Thus was he inverted with 
 an abfolute Power, though he had neU 
 ther been eleded by Emperor, or Se- 
 nate, which may be an Argument of 
 
 the 
 
[ *5 ] 
 
 the great Indignation the Soldiers had 
 conceiv'd for Vitelline, and the ardent 
 defire they had to Plunder. They ear- 
 neilly wiuYd for an occafion to ra- 
 vage Italy, as they did with a Ven- 
 
 geance. 
 
 The news of this Storm that was 
 gathering againfi: Vitellius, did not ob- 
 lige him to quit Rome, nor hinder him 
 from taking his ordinary Diveriions, 
 or from giving the People a Combat 
 of Gladiators. The part that was given 
 Sporus to act in the Shows that were 
 to be reprefented , being that of a 
 young Girl that was ravilh'd, he ra- 
 ther chofe to kill himfelf, than be ex- 
 pos'd to fo much infamy. Alienus ha- 
 ving receiv'd from t^iteflia fome Troops 
 to oppofe the deilgns of his Enemies, 
 went to Cremona , and made himfelf 
 Mailer of it. But when he confider'd 
 that the Soldiers he commanded were 
 enervated with Pleafures, and by along 
 courfe of Idlenefs had forgot the ufe 
 of their Arms, whereas the Enemies 
 had continually increased their Strength 
 and their Courage by the affiduity of 
 their Exercifes, and their Exploits, he 
 began to diftruft the Succeis of his 
 
 Enter- 
 
[ *6 ] 
 
 Enterprize. Having ilnce hac 1 Cot• 
 ference with Antvnius Primus^ about the 
 means of coming to an amicable Agree* 
 ment, he fummon'd his Soldiers, re- 
 prefented to them on one fide the Cow- 
 ardice of V'ltellius, and on the other the 
 Valour of Vefpafian , and perfwaded 
 them to change Parties. They tool: 
 down on the inftant the Imag°s of Vi• 
 te/Zius, and confented to acknowledge 
 Vefpafian fortheir Sovereign. But fcarce 
 were they returnd to their Camp, but 
 they repented of what they had done, 
 and railing a violent Mutiny , pro- 
 claim'd Vitellius Emperor again, and 
 feiz'd upon Alienus, whom they charg'd 
 with betraying them, and put him in 
 Chains, without any regard to his Dig- 
 nity of Coniul. See to what Excefles 
 Civil War carries thofe whom it has 
 once inflamed. 
 
 The Confuiion and Afloniihment of 
 Vitelliuss Army, were extreamly in- 
 creas'd by an Eclipfe of the Moon, 
 which not only appear'd obfcure, which 
 alone is fufficient to difturb thofe who 
 are in any fright, but red, bloody and 
 flain'd with the moil fatal Colours. But 
 inftead of relaxing upon this account 
 
 from 
 
[ %7 ] 
 
 from that hatred with which they were 
 inflam'd, they came to Blows, and fought 
 defperately. Though they had no Ge- 
 neral, Alienus continuing at Cremona in 
 Chains, they were not afraid to fight 
 with equal Forces, and had equal Suc- 
 cefs all the Day and Night following, 
 nor could the very Night part them. 
 They were tranfported with fo violent 
 a Rage, and pailion to Overcome, that 
 they flew one another as they were 
 talking to each other on the (core of 
 Acquaintance, nor were Hunger, Wea- 
 rinefs, Cold, Darknefs, Wounds, or the 
 number of the Dead that fell on all 
 fides, capable of appeafing them. When 
 the Moon came out of her Obfcurity, 
 they were ken fometimes (landing on 
 their feet upright, fometimes leaning 
 upon their Lances, one fide proclaim- 
 ing Vefpaftan, and the other Vitellius^ 
 calling upon each other refpe&ively, 
 commending and affronting one another. 
 * What are we doing, faid one Soldier 
 4 to his Companion, why ihould we 
 c fight in this manner? Pafs over to 
 ' my fide. Come over your felf to mine, 
 replied the other. What I'm going to 
 fay, is altogether Aftonifhing. Their 
 
 Wives 
 
[ *3 ] 
 
 Wives having brought them Meat and 
 Drink, they offer'd it to their Enemies. 
 For as they were all acquainted, they 
 call'd one another by rheir Names, and 
 faid, ' Here eat, my Companion, 'tis 
 ς no Dagger that I offer you, but Bread. 
 4 Come and Drink, 'tis not my Buck- 
 
 * ler, but my Cup I hold out to you, 
 
 * that we may have the more Courage, 
 ' and that whether I kill you, or you 
 6 me, we may receive one or other lar- 
 c ger and deeper Wounds, and die with 
 
 * greater eafe. Thefe are our Funeral 
 ' Ceremonies before Death. Vefpafian 
 ' and Vitelllus fight by our Hands, to 
 ' facrifice us to the Manes of thofe who 
 ■ are already dead. They convers'd in 
 this manner, and eat together, then re- 
 newed the Combat. Thus thev pafs'd 
 all the Night in fighting, and reiting by 
 turns. 
 
 Two Soldiers of Vefpaftans Party in 
 this Battel, did a very galiant Action. 
 Being extreamly incommoded with a 
 great Machine, they took two Buck- 
 lers from among the Spoils, which they 
 had of their Enemies, and mingling 
 with them approach'd the Machine 
 without being perceiv'd, cut the Cords, 
 
 and 
 
[ 19 3 
 
 and made it, ufelefs. About Sun- rife 
 fame Soldiers, of the third Legion call'd 
 the Gallick Legion, that had their Win- 
 ter-quarters in Syria, and were then by 
 chance in the Party of Vcfpafian, invoking 
 his Name according to their Cuftom, 
 thofe of the Party of Vitellius imagin'd 
 that Mucian was arriv'd, fuffer'd them- 
 felves to be conquer'd by their own 
 fears, and the ihouts of their Enemies, 
 and betook themfelves to flight. Thus 
 a very fmall occafion fuffices fomefimes 
 to frighten valiant Men, who at other 
 times have defpis'd the moil dreadful 
 Pangers. When they were got within 
 their Walls,, they demanded Quarter, 
 which no body granting, they unbound 
 their Coniul,and fent him with his Gown 
 and Rods before him, to beg Mercy of 
 their Enemies, which he did with fuch 
 Succefs, that in confederation both of 
 his Dignity and his Difgrace, he foon 
 obtain'd of Primus the Conditions he de- 
 fir'd. When the Gates of Cremona were 
 open'd, and the Soldiers were got in, 
 they began of a fudden to break into 
 the Houles, and to put all to Fire and 
 SvVord. The ruine of this City was 
 one oi the greateit Loifes that could 
 
 have 
 
[ ?o ] 
 
 have happen 'd, as well by reaTon of 
 the greatnefs of it, and the magnifi- 
 cence of its Buildings, as for its vaft 
 Riches, and number of Inhabitants and 
 Strangers. The Soldiers of ViteUws's 
 Party being acquainted with the Streets 
 and Houfes of the richeft People, com- 
 mitted the greateft Diforders, and made 
 no difficulty of turning their Arms a- 
 gainft thofe Citizens, whofe defence they 
 had under taken before, to beat, wound 
 and kill them, as if they had been Ene- 
 mies that had wrong'd them, and had 
 been conquer'd by them. Fifty thou- 
 fand Men periih'd in the Fight, and 
 plunder of the City. 
 
 Vitell'tus was in a ilrange diforder 
 when he receiv'd the news of fo con- 
 fiderable a Lofs. He had been extream- 
 ly difiurb'd before at fome unlucky Pre- 
 fages that had happened to him. For 
 as he was making a Speech to his Sol- 
 diers, upon the occafion of a Sacrifice 
 which he had begun, a great number 
 of Vulturs tore the Victims in pieces, 
 and had like to have tumbled htm from 
 his Throne. But the News of the de- 
 feat of his Troops, troubled him yet 
 more than the Prodigies had aftoniuYd 
 
 him. 
 
t ί• ι 
 
 him. He fent his Brother in all hail 
 to ferracina, and by his means kept 
 pofleflion of that ftrong place. But 
 when the Troops of Vefpaftan advanc'd 
 towards Rome, he was feiz'd with fucli 
 a violent Confirmation , that he nei- 
 ther knew what he thought or did, all 
 his Motions being as irregular as thofe 
 of a Ship tofs'd in a Storm. Sometimes 
 he took a Refolution to maintain him- 
 (elf in the poiTelTionof the Empire, and 
 in order to it prepar'd for War. Some- 
 times he feem'd ready to give it up, 
 and to lead a private Life. Now he 
 cloathed himfelf in Purple, and flx'd 
 his Sword to his Side, and now he put 
 on a Robe of a dark colour. He made 
 Speeches in the Palace and Forum, in 
 which there was no lefs Diforders and 
 Extravagance, than in his Actions ; for 
 he encourage! his Soldiers to War, and 
 in the fame breath exhorted them to 
 Peace. He offer'd to facrifice himfelf 
 for the good of the State, and a little 
 after took his Son in his Arms , and 
 embrae'd him tenderly, to raife Pity 
 in the Spectators. He difmifs'd his 
 Guards, and recalfd them the fame In- 
 itant. He retir'd into his Brothers Houfe, 
 
 and 
 
and immediately after tettflrivd to his 
 Palace. Thus the inequality of his 
 Conduct, made feveral leave his Party. 
 For when they confider'd that he was 
 in a manner out of his Wits, they no 
 longer obey'd his Orders, but confult- 
 ed their own Safety more than his. They 
 found in his Conduct many occafions 
 for their Raillery, but chiefly when in 
 Aifemblies he ofler'd his Sword to the 
 Confuls and Senators, as a mark of 
 refigning the Sovereign Power , tho' 
 no body durft receive it, which made 
 his offers appear very ridiculous. 
 
 In the mean time as Primus was ad- 
 vancing towards the City, Cajus guirt- 
 tius Attkus , Qneus Cerilius Simplex 
 Confuls, Sahinus Brother of Vefpafian , 
 and others of the chief Men of the 
 State met together, and after fome Con- 
 futations, broke into the Palace with 
 fome Soldiers, who were of their fide, 
 with a defign to make Vitellius either 
 by confent or force refign the Empire. 
 But being repuls'd by the Germans who 
 guarded Vitellius, they retir'd with lois, 
 and fled to the Capitol, whither they 
 brought Domitian Son of Vefpafian, and 
 his Relations, and put them in Safety. 
 
 They 
 
L U 1 
 
 They were attack'd the next day by 
 fome of the Troops of Vitellius, whom 
 they repuls'd at firft with vigour e- 
 nough. But the Beficgers having fet 
 fire to the Houfes adjoyning to the Ca- 
 pitol, made a very great Mailacre of 
 the Befieged, plundering and carrying 
 ofT all that could be found, and at lait 
 fet fire to the Temple of 'Jupiter. Sa- 
 linas and Atticus were taken and fent 
 to Vitellius. Domitian and the Son of 
 Salinas found means to efcape in the 
 firft Attack, and lay perdue in private 
 Houfes. 
 
 But when the Troops of Vefpafian un- 
 der the conduct of Quint m Petilius Ce- 
 realis his Kinfman, and one of the chief 
 of the Senate, and of Antonius Primus, 
 approach'd Rome, Vitellius was feized 
 with extream fear. Thofe of Vefpafi- 
 an s Party were informed of the State 
 of the City by Meflengers, who found 
 ways to carry them the News, and by 
 Letters which their Friends convey'd to 
 them fometimes in Urns, which were 
 carried out of the City, fometimes in 
 Fruit-baskets , and fometimes in Fow- 
 ling-canes, and by that means had aa 
 opportunity of framing their Refoluti* 
 D ons 
 
[ J4 1 
 
 ons according to the advices they re• 
 ceiv'd. The fire they (aw in the Capi- 
 tol at that time, was a guide to them, 
 as Lanthorns upon the Coafts are to 
 Mariners. Cere alls advancing fir ft at 
 the Head of the Horfe, ViteUius lent 
 AmbaiTadors to him, whom he chofe 
 from among the Senators and Veilals. 
 They could find no body in the Camp 
 of Cereahs, that would give them Audi- 
 ence, and they ev'n put their Lives in 
 danger. Then going to Primus who 
 was not far off, they obtain'd Audi- 
 ence of him, but nothing elfe. On the 
 contrary, the Soldiers that were com- 
 manded againft ViteUius^ having attack'd 
 the Bridge of the Tyler vigorouily, put 
 to flight thofe who guarded it. Some 
 Horfe Kvimming through the River at- 
 tack'd Vitelliufs Men behind, who be- 
 ing at the fame time attack'd before, 
 fuftain'd a very great Lois. Inearneft 
 the Army of Vefpafian at that time com- 
 mitted all the Diforders they laid to 
 Vitellius\ charge, and on which account 
 they pretended to have taken up Arms. 
 They kill'd a world of People with Iron 
 and Lead, which they thffew from the 
 tops of Houfes, ib that computing thofe 
 
 who 
 
C *? J 
 
 who were knock'd on the Head in the 
 Streets, there fell to the number of fif- 
 ty- thoufand Men in very tew days. 
 While the City was thus expos'd to 
 Plunder, fome pnrfuing, and others fly- 
 ing, while fome of the very conquer'd 
 Party found no other way to fave them- 
 felves, but to mix with the Conquerors, 
 and ravage and Murder as they did, 
 Vitelline ieiz'd with fear, and difguis'd 
 in a mean Habit , hid himfelf in an 
 obfcure place where Dogs were kept, 
 thinking to get out in the Night, and 
 fly to his Brother at Terracina. But 
 the Soldiers looking after him, and find- 
 ing him with fo much the lefs difficul- 
 ty, as 'twas eafie enough to know an 
 Fmperor, drew him out of the place, 
 clad as he was in a tatter'd Habit co- 
 ver'd with Blood, which proceeded from 
 the Teeth of the Dogs who had bit 
 him, tore the red or his Habit, tied 
 his Hands behind him, and put a Rope 
 about his Neck. They drag'd him thus 
 out of the Palace, where he had for- 
 merly led fo voluptuous a Life, carried 
 him along the Via Sacra, which he had 
 fo often pafs'd ia a magnificent Chair, 
 and brought him to the Forttm, where 
 D χ he 
 
he had made fo many Harangues. Some 
 flruck him on the Head, others pull'd 
 him by the Beard, and all infulted him 
 with cutting Railleries , and abufive 
 words. They reproach'd him chiefly 
 with his Intemperance, and made a 
 piece of mockery of his great Belly. 
 The ihame and confufion he was in, ma- 
 king him hang down his Head , the 
 Soldiers were ίο barbarous as to prick 
 him under the Chin with the points of 
 their Daggers, to oblige him to raife it. 
 But at lait a German having compaifion 
 on him, abhorring the cruel ufage he 
 receiv'd, faid to him: ' I'll do you this 
 ' piece of Service at leaft, which is the 
 ' only one in my Power, then woun- 
 ' ded him with one blow, and kill'd 
 ' himfelf with another. Not dying of 
 the wound he had receiv'd, he was 
 drag'd to Prifon, and his Statues with 
 him, upon which all forts of Railleries 
 were made, and all manner of indecent 
 Reflections. Vitellius being piere'd with 
 Grief, could not forbear faying, ' I have 
 ' been your Emperor. At which the 
 Soldiers being inrag'd, drew him to the 
 Stairs from whence all the Filth and 
 Ordure was thrown, kill'd him, cut off 
 
 his 
 
ί 37 1 
 
 his Head, and bore it in Triumph thro* 
 the City. His Wife afterwards paid her 
 Duty to him, in performing the Cere- 
 mony of his Funeral. He liv'd fifty 
 four years, and Reign'd one within ten 
 days. His Brother was on his march 
 from Terracina^ with a defign to aillfb 
 him ; but hearing of his Death by the 
 way, and meeting with thofe who had 
 bent fent againft him, he made a com- 
 poiition with them, and obtain'd his 
 Life, which they neverthelefs took from 
 him foon after. They alfo put the Son 
 of Vitellius to Death, though he had 
 never hurt any of the Relations of 
 Otho or Vefpafian. When all thefe things 
 were done Mucian arriv'd, who with 
 Domitian lhar'd the management of Af- 
 fairs, brought him to the Camp, and 
 got him to make a Speech to the Soldi- 
 ers, though he was yet but very young. 
 He afterwards gave five and twenty 
 Drachmas to each Soldier. 
 
 D 3 THE 
 
[ 19 1 
 
 THE 
 
 EIGN 
 
 O F Τ Η Ε 
 
 EMPEROR 
 
 VESPASIAN. 
 
 VESPASiA^ was declar'd 
 Emperor by the Senate , and 
 Titus and Domitian his Sons de- 
 fign'd Ccefars. Vefpafuin and Titus were 
 alio made Confuls, though one was then 
 in Egypt, and the other in Palefihe. 
 He had had Prefages and Dreams, which 
 feem'd to promife him the Empire 
 long before he obtain'd it. At a Coun- 
 try-Seat where he us'd to pais the great- 
 eft part of the year, an Ox came one 
 D 4 day 
 
[ 4o ] 
 <J*y to him while he was at Table, and 
 bowing before him laid his Head at 
 his Feet. Another time a Dog brought 
 the Hand of a Man under his Table. 
 A great Cyprefs which had been torn 
 up by the Roots by a violent Wind, 
 rais'd it felf the next day, and had 
 greater force than ever. Vefpaftan him- 
 lelf had a Dream, by which he was pro- 
 mis'd that he fhould come to the Em- 
 pire when Nero had loft a Tooth, and 
 Nero loft one the next day. Nero had 
 alio a Dream, in which he thought he 
 faw Jupiter s Chariot enter into the 
 Houfe of Vefpaftan. But thefe Dreams 
 wanted Explanation, whereas that which 
 I am going to add, feems to contain a 
 very clear Prediction. Vefpaftan had 
 one day order'd Jofephus the Jew, whom 
 he had taken Prifoner a little before, 
 to be put in Chains, the Jew fmiling 
 CM to him, ' You bind me now, buc 
 f you (hall fet me at liberty in a year, 
 4 when you {hall hove taken poileilion 
 ' or the Sovereign Power. Thus did 
 Vefpaftan item to be deftin'd, as fome 
 others had been before him, to aicend 
 ι fie Thrpne ont day. While he was ftill in 
 .% Muct an and Pomit tan diCposd ot 
 
 all 
 
[4• 1 
 
 all Affairs at Rome with an abfolute Pow- 
 er. This Mucian often boafted of ha- 
 ving procur'd the Empire for Vefpafian^ 
 call'd him his Brother, and poflefs'd 
 a very great Authority. He did, and 
 order 'd whatfoever he thought fit with- 
 out waiting for his conient. Yet he 
 gave out orders in his Name, and feal'd 
 them with his Signet which he had in 
 his poileffion. Vefpaftan, who was not 
 ignorant that Mucian and Domitian go• 
 vem'd the Empire, wrote one day to 
 his Son in thefe terms: ' I give you 
 * thanks, my Son, that you leave me 
 ' the Title of Emperor, and that you 
 ' have not yet depriv'd me of it. 'Tis 
 not to be exprefs'd, how much Money 
 Mucian amafs'd from all parts, with 
 which he fill'd the Royal Treafury, 
 charging himielf with the hatred of 
 thefe Exactions to fpare Vefpa(ian. He 
 often us'd to fay, that Money was the 
 finewsof Government, and advis'd Vef- 
 pafian to heap it up, which he did with 
 fuch application and care at the begin- 
 ning, that he made the State and him- 
 felf very Rich. There happened in Ger- 
 many feveral Revolts, the recital of which 
 doth not appear to be at all neceifary. 
 
 y 
 
[4* J 
 
 Yet there was one thing fo very remar- 
 kable, that I think it ought not to be 
 omitted. Julius Sahinus^ who was one 
 of the moil confiderable of the People 
 of Langres , rais'd an Army that de- 
 pended only on himfelf, and took 
 the name of Qafar, pretending to be 
 defcended from Julius. After he had 
 been beat in fome Engagements, he re- 
 tir'd into an obfeure place, and hid him- 
 felf in a Tomb, to which he had fet 
 fire before. He was thought to be dead, 
 and liv'd nine years in this Tomb, du- 
 ring which time his Wife had two Chil- 
 dren by him. 
 
 Cerealis fought feveral Battels to ex- 
 tinguifh the Rebellion, and one among 
 the reft, in which fo great a number ot 
 Romans and Strangers were cut in pie- 
 ces, that the dead Bodies ilop'd the 
 courfe of a River, that us'd to run a- 
 long the field of Battel. Domitian ap- 
 prehending the effe&s of his Father's 
 Anger, which he had rais'd by the dif- 
 order of his Conduct, and the info- 
 lence of his Attempts, in which there 
 was nothing but what was extraordi- 
 nary, retir'd to Mount Alba^ where he 
 fell fo defperately in love with Domi* 
 
 tia* 
 
[ 4? 3 
 
 tia y the Daughter of Corlulo, that he 
 took her away from Lucius Lamias 
 Emilianus her Husband, and afterwards 
 Married her. 
 
 In the mean time Titus who had been 
 charg'd with the War againft the Jews, 
 took the City of Jerufalem, and burnt 
 the Temple, for which the Jews had 
 fo extream a Veneration , that they 
 thought it an Advantage, aHappinefs, 
 a Vi&ory and Glory not to furvive its 
 ruine. Abundance of Jews were taken, 
 and among the reft Barporas their Com- 
 mander, who was the only Man put to 
 death after the Triumph. The City 
 was taken upon a Saturday, which the 
 Jews obferve ilill with great Devoti- 
 on. Since that time, they who had a 
 mind to keep ftri&ly to the Laws of 
 their Country, were oblig'd to pay two 
 Drachma's every year to Jupiter Qapi- 
 tolinus. The greatnefs of this Vidory 
 .nduc'd Vefpajian and Titus to take the 
 Title of Emperor, tho' neither of them 
 would take the firname of Judaicus. 
 But they had all the Honours heap'd 
 upon them, that ίο glorious an Expe- 
 dition defer v'd, and among the reft they 
 had Triumphal Arches erected to them. 
 
 When 
 
[ 44 1 
 
 When Vefpafran entred Alexandria^ the 
 Nile rofe four fingers higher than it was 
 wont, or than it ever roie except once 
 before, as it was faid. 
 
 At the fame time he heal'd two Men, 
 whereof one had loft the ufe of his Eyes, 
 and the other that of a Hand, both 
 having had notice in a Dream, that 
 they were to expect their cure from 
 him. To produce thefe extraordinary 
 effects, which gave occafion to a belief, 
 that there was fomething of Divinity 
 about him, he trod upon the Hand of 
 one, and rub'd the Eyes of the other 
 with his own Spittle. But the Inha- 
 bitants of Alexandria efteem'd him not 
 the more for thefe Miracles. On the 
 contrary, they exprefs'd in private and 
 in publick their hatred for him , and 
 often let it break out by their Raille- 
 ries and Abufes. The occafion of their 
 Diilatisfa&ion was, that in (lead of re- 
 ceiving from him, as they expected, 
 great Rewards for being the firft who 
 had own'd and faluted him in the qua- 
 lity of Emperor, they had not only re- 
 ceiv'd none, but were likewife loaded 
 with all manner of Impofitions. In- 
 deed, there was no-fort of Tribute 
 
 which 
 
C 45 1 
 
 which he had not laid upon them, with- 
 out exempting the poorer fort, not e- 
 ven Beggars, nor without ί paring the 
 moil Sacred things, not (o much as the 
 Temples. He re-eftabliih'd fuch fmpofts 
 as had been aboliuYd, and augmented 
 fuch as were kept up, and continued 
 them throughout the whole Empire, 
 even as far as Rome. The inhabitants 
 of Alexandria incens'd at their ill Treat- 
 ments, made fevere Railleries upon him, 
 and faid among other things, that he 
 exacled fix Oholi, which put him into 
 fo furious a Pailion, though he was na- 
 turally very Mild, that he order'd them 
 to pay in earned fix Oholi /irHead, and 
 was very near treating them with more 
 Rigour. The Petitions which Titus of- 
 fend in their favour, were of no Ser- 
 vice to them. Nor did they fpare Vef- 
 pafian. For getting in crowds about Ti- 
 tus one day, they laid aloud, ' We ex- 
 ' cufe him, becaufe he knows not how 
 * to Govern. Thus did they abufe the 
 goodnefs of the Emperor , to fatis- 
 fie their ardent defire of Railing, to 
 which they were always very much ad- 
 dicted. 
 
 When 
 
[ 4* ] 
 
 When Vefpafian came near Rome, he 
 found Mucian with the chief Perfons 
 of the Senate at Brutidufium, and Domi- 
 tian at Benevento. This lad miltruft- 
 ing his own Conduct, his Confcience 
 reproaching him, had no other way to 
 avoid the punifhment he deferv'd, but 
 by feeming fometimes to have loft his 
 Senfes. He fpent the greateft part of 
 the year at Mount Alia, where heliv'd 
 after a very ridiculous and extravagant 
 manner, bufying himfelf often with kil- 
 ling Flies. I am fenfible this Α -ftion is 
 unworthy of the gravity of Hiftory, 
 but I am oblig'd to remark it in order 
 to fhew the difpofition of this young 
 Prince, efpecially fince he did not ab- 
 ilain from it after he came to the Em- 
 pire. A certain Perfon tcok occafion 
 from hence, to fay a very pleafant thing. 
 Being ask'd one day who was with the 
 Emperor, he anfwer'd, ' No body, not 
 ' fo much as a Fly. Vefpafian his Fa- 
 ther could not fuffer his Infolence , 
 and often reprov'd him feverely , 
 though he treated all others with 
 fuch Civility, that he feem'd to have 
 forgot his own Greatnefs, and only re- 
 membredhis former Condition. In the 
 
 be* 
 
[47] # 
 
 beginning of his Reign, he undertook 
 to build a Temple in the Capitol, was 
 the firil that carried Earth upon his 
 Back, to oblige Perfons of the firft Qua- 
 lity to follow his Example, and to take 
 away from the People all pretence of 
 excufing themfelves from this Work, 
 He affected an extraordinary magnifi- 
 cence in publick Works, and to have 
 wherewithal to maintain the Expence, 
 he depriv'd himfelf of every thing that 
 was Superfluous, taking only what was 
 Neceflary. He prohibited upon this oc- 
 cafion the faleof any Eatables in Ta- 
 verns, except Greens and Herbs. In 
 which he ihew'd clearly, that when he 
 laid Impofitions upon the People, he 
 had no other intention, but to provide 
 for the publick neceifities, without con- 
 futing his own Pleafures. 
 
 For what relates to his manner of 
 Living , he feldom lodg'd in his Palace, 
 and ipent the greateit part of the year 
 in the Gardens of Salufl, where he not 
 only receiv'd Senators, but Perfons of 
 all Conditions. His friends conversed 
 with him in the Morning before he was 
 up, and others faluted him when he 
 pafs'd through the Streets. The Gates 
 
 of 
 
[ 4» ] 
 
 oF his Palace were open all da) 7 , and 
 there were no Guards to hinder ad- 
 mittance. He went conftantly to the 
 Senate, imparted all Affairs to the Se- 
 nators, and often diftributed Juftice in 
 the place of Harangues. When his Age 
 hindred him from medling with buii- 
 n in Perion, or his abfence oblig'd 
 hun to declare his intentions to the Se- 
 nate in Writing, his Children read his 
 orders in the Senate, in which his de- 
 Λ w as to honour that Ailembly. He 
 'e did them the honour to en- 
 fome of them always at his Ta- 
 arid fometimes went to Sup with 
 thofe for whom he had a Friendmip. In 
 a word, he was Emperor in nothing 
 but the care he took of the Govern- 
 ment, and in every thing elfe did not 
 raife himfelf above a private Man. He 
 would be very pleafant with his Friends, 
 and funer them to be as free with him. 
 Some Anonymous Libels having been 
 publifrVd againft his Government, he 
 ihew'd no concern at it, and propos'd 
 on the contrary what he thought fit 
 with a wonderful Sedatenefs. A cer- 
 tain Perfon whofe name was Phehus, go- 
 ing one day to ask his Pardon for fome- 
 
 what 
 
[4?] 
 
 what he had fpoke againfl: him former- 
 ly in a Paflion, becaufe he had knit 
 his Brows, and ihew'd his Difpleafure 
 at fome indecent Action of Nero's at 
 the Theatre in Greece, Vefpa^an did him 
 no hurt , and contented himfelf with 
 returning the fame expreifion to him, 
 which was, Go to the Gallows. 
 
 Vologefes having written a Letter to 
 him, which begun in this manner, Ar- 
 faces King of Kings to Flavius Vefpafi- 
 an Health, inflead of charging him with 
 Incivility, anfwer'd it in the fame terms, 
 without taking the quality of Emperor, 
 Heh'tdtus Prifcus, who had been bred 
 up from his youth in . the Study of the 
 Stokk Philofophy, and imitated unfea- 
 ibnably and improperly the liberty of 
 thrafeas his Father-in-Law, having af- 
 fected at the fame time when he was 
 Pretor, not only to do nothing in ho- 
 nour of Fefpafian, but alfo to infult him 
 with abufive Wordsj and the Tribunes 
 of the People having feiz'd him for that 
 reafon, and committed him to the cu- 
 ilody of the Officers, Vefpafian was in 
 confufion upon it, and went out of the 
 Senate Weeping, and faying, ' My Son, 
 Ε 'or 
 
[ f* ] 
 
 ' or no body (hall be my Succeflbr. 
 Several Philofophers of the Se<5t of the 
 Stokks , among whom was Demetrius 
 the Cynkk, having under the colour of 
 their Profeflion, made feveral publick 
 Speeches injurious to the Government, 
 and drawn a great number of People 
 into their opinion, Muaan fpoke of them 
 to Vefpafian, lb much to their Difad- 
 vantage, and rather out of Pailion and 
 Fury, than any love for Sciences, that 
 he baniih'd them from Rome. Pefpafi- 
 an commanded them all to be gone, 
 except Mujonius. Demetrius and Ηοβ'ι- 
 lius y were baniuYd into Wands. The 
 laft receiv'd his Order, at a time when 
 he was difcouriing with his Friends 
 about publick Affairs, and declaiming 
 againil the Government; but having 
 chang'd his tone on the inilant, he 
 was fpar'd. ■ Demetrius continuing his 
 hivc&ives, Vejpafian fent him this Mef- 
 fage, ' You do all you can to oblige 
 ' me to take away your Life, but a 
 c Dog muft bark till he is very trou- 
 c bleiom , before I can do him any 
 ' hurt. 
 
 - • Cents 
 
ί $• ] 
 
 Cents Vefpaftans Miilreis, ied about 
 this time. That which makes me men- 
 tion her, is her Fidelity, and the excel- 
 lency of her Memory, of which the 
 following ilory may be fome kind of 
 proof. Antonia her Miilrefs, and Mo- 
 ther of Claudius, having one day writ- 
 ten a Letter to TtberiUs concerning Se- 
 janus, and telling Cenis who was her 
 Confident 'm this Intrigue, that it.muft 
 be blotted out again, left it ihould fall 
 into any one's Hands : c In vain do you 
 c command me, Madam, faid ilie, to do 
 ' it, 'tis impoiiible ί ihould efface it from 
 
 * my Memory, fo deep an imprelfion 
 
 * do your orders make in it. She was 
 doubtlefs very much to be valued, for 
 this rare advantage Die had receiv'd 
 from Nature. Nor was flie leis.to be 
 admir'd, for the lingular pleafure which 
 Vefpaftan took in her Converfation, and 
 he acquir'd great Power and irnmenfe 
 Riches by her means, She extracted 
 Money out of every thing. She drew 
 it out of Offices, Governments of Pro- 
 vinces, Commands of Armies, and fome- 
 times from the Anfwers of the Emperor, 
 ina flie put all this Money into the 
 
 & % Hands 
 
t Ι» ] 
 
 Hands of Vefpafian. Nevertheleis it 
 muil be own d, that he would never re- 
 ceive any to condemn an innocent Per- 
 fon, though he often did to pardon Cri- 
 minals. 'Twas judg'd by other Acti- 
 ons of Vefpafian^ that Cents receiv'd all 
 this Money by his order. I (hall men- 
 tion fome of thofe Actions, which ferv'd 
 as a foundation for this Sufpicion. Some 
 Perfons having refolv'd to lay out two 
 hundred and fifty thoufand Drachma's 
 upon a Statue for the Emperor, he ask'd 
 them for the Money , faying, * That 
 ' his Hand was the Pedeftal on which 
 ' the Statue ought to be fet. Tittu be- 
 ing vex'd one day at certain Impofts, 
 and among others, at that which was 
 levied upon Urine, he fliew'd him fome 
 pieces of Gold that were the product 
 of it, and ask'd him if he found they 
 fmelt ill. 
 
 !n the fixth Confulihip of Ve[paftan y 
 and the fourth of Titus, the Temple 
 of Peace was dedicated , and a Pillar 
 which is thought to have been a hun- 
 dred foot high, was fet up in the Via 
 Sacra. The statue of Nero, or rather 
 that of Titus in the opinion of fome , 
 was upon the top. Vefta- 
 
[ η ] 
 
 Pefpafian fometimes entertain'd the 
 People with Combats of wild Beads in 
 the Amphitheatre. He took no pleafure 
 in thofe of Gladiators. Yet Titus fought 
 once with Alienus at fome Games, which 
 were celebrated by young Men in his 
 own Country , but 'twas only with 
 Foils. 
 
 The Parthians being at War with o- 
 ther People, and demanding Succour 
 of Vefpaftan^ he refus'd them, faying, 
 that he did not concern himfelf with the 
 affairs of others. 
 
 Berenice being at that time in great 
 Confederation, ihe went to Rome with 
 Agrippa her Brother. Agrippa receiv'd 
 Honours there, equal to thofe which 
 are paid to the Prcetors, and Berenice 
 lodg'd in the Palace, and contracted fo 
 Uriel; a friendihip with Titus, that ilie 
 had hopes of Marrying him, and be- 
 hav'd her felf already in publick, as if 
 (he had been his Wife. But when Ti- 
 tus law that the Romans difapprov'd of 
 this Alliance, and fpread reports abroad 
 to his difadvantage , he fent her a- 
 way. 
 
 Ε 2 There 
 
[ 54 J 
 
 There were at this time fome trouble- 
 fom and impertinent Sr-phijls, that found 
 means to get privately into Rome. There 
 was one among the reft call'd Diogenes, 
 who prefenting himielf in the Theatre, 
 and abufing the People, was taken and 
 whipt. Another call'd Eras coming 
 up afterwards , and imagining that if 
 he ihould refine .-upon the iniolence of 
 his Companion , he ihould not meet 
 with worfe ufage, upon the ftrength of 
 this belief, utter 'd with a loud Voice , 
 feveral fcandalous and abufive Ex- 
 preffions : But he loft his Head for his 
 pains. 
 
 Sahixus the Gaid, who had taken the 
 name of Eafar, and raifmg an Army, 
 had been vanquiftYci, and had afterwards 
 hid himielf in a Tomb, as I have faid, 
 was difcoverVI, brought to Rome, and 
 put to Death with Pepomlla his Wife, 
 who had fav'd his Life. She did all 
 fhe could to move companion in Vef• 
 pafian., prefenting her Children before 
 him, and faying, ' She had brought 
 g them into the World in a Tomb, and 
 ς had taken care to breed them up, that 
 ' they might come in greater number 
 
 'to 
 
Γ 55 1 
 ' to proftrate themfelves at his Feet, 
 6 and implore his Mercy. By thefe 
 words, and the moving fight, ihe drew 
 tears from the Eyes of Vefpafian, and 
 others that were prefent, but yet ob- 
 tained no favour. Alienus and Marcel- 
 lus, whom Vefpafian took to be the mod 
 faithful of his Friends, and whom he had 
 loaded with Honours, confpir'd againil 
 him ; but they could not execute their 
 defign, becaufe it was difcover'd, and 
 Alienus was kill'd in the Palace, as he 
 was rifing from Table. Titus had giv- 
 en order for it, lead the Conipirators 
 who had already got to their Party a 
 confiderable number of Soldiers, ihould 
 undertake fomething in the Night. Mar- 
 cellus was condemned in the Senate, and 
 cut his own Throat. Thus thefe two 
 Men upon whom this Emperor had 
 fhowr'd his favours, were ίο ungrate- 
 ful as to make an attempt upon his 
 Life ; fo true is it, that there are no be- 
 nefits that can fubdue an evil Difpo- 
 fition. 
 
 'Tis certain that Vefpafian died at the 
 
 Qutilian Baths, in the Country of the 
 
 Salines, . and not of the Gout to which 
 
 Ε 4 -he 
 
,ί ϊ<* ] 
 
 he was fubjed, but of a Feaver. There 
 were iomc, and among the reft Adrian, 
 that falfely charg'd Titus with poifo- 
 ntng him at a Banquet. His Death 
 was preceded by Prodigies. A Comet 
 appear'd, and Auguflus's Tomb open'd 
 of its own accord. As the Phyfitians 
 were one day advifing him to change 
 his way of living during his Illnefs, and 
 to difcontinue his Functions, he repli- 
 ed, ' that an Emperor ought to die 
 ' {landing. As fome were talking of 
 the Comet which had appear'd, hefaid 
 to them, ' 'Tis not my Death it Pre- 
 
 * fages, but that of the King of the Par- 
 
 * thiam, for 'tis Hairy, and I am Bald. 
 When he was dying, he faid, I am 
 going to be a God. He liv'd fixty 
 nine Years, eight Months, and reign'd 
 ten years and fix Months. Thus there 
 was a year and two and twenty days 
 between the death of tfero, and the 
 reign of Vefpafian^ of which I thought 
 my felf oblig'd to take notice , that 
 People may not be deceiv'd in begin- 
 ning to reckon fiom the day of an 
 Emperor's Death , the Reign of his 
 Succeilbr. For thefe Princes have not 
 
 fucceeded 
 
[ J7 ] 
 
 fucceeded one another in fuch a manner. 
 They pretended to be Emperors as 
 foon as they were proclaim'd, though 
 their Predeceflbr was yet alive, and fo 
 the time of their Reign ought not to 
 be reckon'd from the day of the death 
 of him that preceded them. 
 
 THE 
 
L 5? ] 
 
 THE 
 
 REIGN 
 
 OF THE 
 
 Ε Μ PER Ο R 
 
 Τ ITU s. 
 
 FROM the time that Titus pof- 
 fefs'd alone the Sovereign Power 
 he committed no Murder, and 
 was not a ilave to Love. He was 
 gentle and moderate to thofe who had 
 made an attempt upon his Life and 
 chad and virtuous in the midft or the 
 moil charming Objects, ev'n in the pre- 
 fence of Berenice^ who was come back 
 to Rome after the Death of Fefpafian. 
 Perhaps he chang d his Manners , # in 
 changing his Condition, they who reign 
 
 aione^ 
 
[ 6ο ] 
 
 alone, doubtlefs governing better than 
 thofe who have Companions that par- 
 take of the Power. For thefe being 
 unmindful of the Honour of the Em- 
 pire, abufe their Power, and exercife it 
 after a manner that makes them odi- 
 ous and infupportable to their Subjects, 
 whereas thofe on whom all Affairs ab- 
 folutely depend, take great care to pre- 
 ferve their Reputation. This is what 
 Titus would have infinuated to a Man 
 for whom he had formerly a great kind- 
 nefs, when he faid to him ; c 'Tis one 
 thing to (land in need of any one, and 
 another thing to be a Judge, as 'tis one 
 thing to beg a Favour, and another to 
 receive One. He did no ill thing du- 
 ring that little time he poflefs'd the Em- 
 pire. He was Mailer of it but two 
 Years, two Months, and twenty Days, 
 and was near forty years old when he 
 took poiTeffion of it. This has given 
 occafion to fome, to make a Compan- 
 ion between his Ihort Reign, and the 
 Jong one of Augufius, and to fay, that 
 as Auguflus had not been belov'd by the 
 Romans^ if he had not liv'd fo long ; fo 
 Titus had ihar'd the fame fate, if he 
 had not been taken off in the flower of 
 
 his 
 
[ 6ι ] 
 
 his Age by a fudden Death. Auguflus 
 had been conftrain'd by the ambition of 
 his Enemies, and the oppofition of the 
 People, to commit extream cruelties in 
 order to confirm his Power. But he 
 had afterwards the leifure to give proofs 
 of his generous Difpofition. On the 
 contrary, Titus as he began his Reign 
 with a lingular fweetnefs of Temper, 
 died at a time when his Reputation was 
 higheft, and perhaps had loft it, if he 
 had not died ίο foon, and time might 
 have afforded a judgment of him, that 
 he had more good Fortune than Vertue. 
 Nor Senator, nor any other was put to 
 death in his Reign. He never receiv'd 
 any charge of Impiety committed a- 
 gainft his Perfon, nor fuffer'd others to 
 receive any. ' I cannot, faid he, re- 
 
 * ceive an Injury, becaufe I do nothing 
 4 that can be reafonably found fault 
 
 * with, and I defpife Calumnies : With 
 c regard to the Emperors who are dead, 
 
 * if they are become Gods, and have 
 6 any Power, they will revenge as they 
 ' think fit, the Injuries that (hall be done 
 ' them. 
 
 He made abundance of Edicts for the 
 quiet and fafety of his Subjects, con- 
 firming 
 
16x1 
 
 firming to them the enjoyment of 
 thofe Advantages which had been grant- 
 ed them by preceding Emperors, 
 without putting them to the trouble of 
 foliciting him for fuch a Favour. He 
 baniih'd ali private Evidences from 
 Rome. 
 
 There was at that time a fecond War 
 in Great Britain , in which Cn. Julius 
 Agrkola wafted the Lands of the Ene- 
 mies, and was the firft of the Romans 
 who difcover'd Great Britain to be an 
 liland. For certain Soldiers who had 
 mutiny'd againft their Centurions and 
 Trihunes, and had put them to Death, 
 getting into a Veflel, and failing at the 
 difpofal of the Waves and Winds to- 
 wards the weftern part of the liland, 
 landed againft: their defign upon the 
 Coaft, near which was one of the Camps 
 which the Romans had in the Coun- 
 try. Agrkola fending other Soldiers ■ 
 to make the fame Tour by Sea, difco- 
 ver'd that Great Britain was an liland. 
 After this War was ended, Titus was 
 the fifteenth time proclaimed Emperor. 
 Agrkola pafs'd the reft of his Life in 
 Contempt and Poverty, for having done 
 exploits far above other Generals, and 
 
 the/ 
 
[ <ί J 
 
 tho' Titus had granted him the Honour 
 of a Triumph, Domitian afterwards put 
 him to Death. There happen'd about 
 the fame time in Campania, very ex- 
 traordinary Events, fuch. as were capa- 
 ble of giving as much Fear as Ailoniih- 
 ment. Mount Fefuvius, which is near 
 the Sea of Maples, fell a burning in 
 Autumn, and conceiv'd, that I may ib 
 fpeak, a moil dreadful Fire. All the 
 parts of this Mountain were formerly 
 of an equal height, but the Flames ha- 
 ving confum'd the middle, and fpar'd 
 the extremities, it feems now to have 
 the figure of an Amphitheatre. There 
 is on the top of it abundance of Fruit- 
 Trees and Vines. The middle is made 
 hollow by the Fire, and it conftantly 
 vents Smoak in the Day, and Flame 
 in the Night, but not in equal quanti- 
 ty. Sometimes Allies bur it out, and 
 fometimes Stones, which are thrown up 
 in the Air by the violence of the Winds, 
 It fometimes makes a noife like how- 
 ling, which proceeds from the Air, 
 which is fhut up in its Bowels. The 
 fame etfe&s appear for the moil part e- 
 very year upon this Mountain. But they 
 feem'd fo much the more fuVprizing at 
 
 this 
 
[ <4] 
 
 this time, becaufe it was the firft. Yet 
 it muft be confefs'd, that when we com- 
 pare them with other Prodigies that 
 happen'd at the fame time, we find them 
 lefs admirable. There was feen both in 
 the Night and the Day, upon the fame 
 Mountain, and thereabouts, and even in 
 the Air, Men of a Stature like that of 
 Giants. There was afterwards a very 
 great Drought, dreadful Earthquakes, 
 that lower'd the tops of the Mountains, 
 and all the Country was as hot, as if it 
 had been all on fire. There were dread- 
 ful noifes heard, like Howling and Thun- 
 der-claps, which came out of the Earth. 
 At the fame time the Sea was in a vio- 
 lent Agitation, and Heaven and Earth 
 feem'd to anfwer its Fury, one by the 
 moil terrible Thunder and Lightning 
 that can be conceiv'd, and the other 
 by the fall and concuffion of its Moun- 
 tains. Stones flew up in the Air to a 
 prodigious height. A black fire and a 
 thick fmoak, darkned the Sun to that 
 degree, that it feem'd to be in E- 
 clipfe. The Night was turn'd into Day, 
 and the Day into Night. 'Twas the 
 general belief, that the Race of Giants 
 was return'd to the Earth, and People 
 
 fanci- 
 
[ if ] 
 
 fancied they faw Phantoms of fuch'a 
 monilrous fize through the fmoak, with 
 which the • Air was find, and they like- 
 wife thought they heard the found of 
 Trumpets. Some held for certain, that 
 the Univerfe was ready to fall again 
 into its Original Choas, or to be de- 
 ftroy'd by Fire, and in this perfwafion 
 fome left their Houfes, and ran into 
 the Streets for refuge, and others quit- 
 ted the Streets, and entred into their 
 Houfes upon the fame account. Some 
 left the Sea for the Land, and ethers 
 repair'd to the SeaforSan&uary. 
 
 In a word, every body was fo di- 
 ilurb'd by the difmal image of thefe 
 changes, that whatfoever condition they 
 might be in hereafter, they thought., 
 there could not be a more unhappy 
 State than the prefent one. This dread- 
 ful fire fcatter ci fuch a prodigious quan- 
 tity of Allies, that the Sea, Earth and 
 Air were cover'd with them, and Men, 
 Beads, Fillies and Birds were choak'd. 
 Two Cities, Herculanea, and Pompeis, 
 were in a manner buried with all the 
 Inhabitants , who by misfortune were 
 aflembled in die Theatre of the lail 
 place. Thefe Allies afcended fo high in 
 F ή 
 
[ 66 ] 
 
 the Air, that they darkned the Sun, 
 and were tranfported by the Wind into 
 Africa, Syria, Egypt and Rave. When 
 they appear 'd in this City, before they 
 had receiv'd the news of the com bulli- 
 on in Campania, the People could not 
 imagine from whence they came, nor 
 judge it to be any thing elfe but ' an 
 effed of a general deilruclion of the 
 World. Thefe Aihes at that time 
 brought only a light indifpofition upon 
 the Romans, but atterwards occafion 'd an 
 Epidemical Diftemper. 
 
 The year following, and at the t.ime 
 when Titus vifited Campania, and faw 
 the miierable remains of this dreadful 
 Fire, there happen'd another in Rome, 
 by which the Temples of Serapis, and 
 Ifis, the Septa, the Temple of Neptune, 
 the Baths of Agrippa, the Pantheon, the 
 Diribitorium , the Theatre of Balbus , 
 that of Pompey, the Gallery of Ottavia, 
 with the Books that were in the Tem- 
 ple of Jupiter Capitolinus, and other 
 Temples thereabouts were conium'd. 
 This misfortune feem'd to be rather an 
 efieel: of the anger of the Gods, tfaan 
 of the malice or negligence of Men. 
 Titus fent twp Confular Men into Cam* 
 
 pania 
 
[ 6 7 ] 
 
 pant a to eftablilh Colonics there, and 
 gave them Money on this occafion, 
 which was fain to him by right of Ef- 
 cheat. For he was fo far from taking 
 what was offer'd or promised to him by 
 private Men, Communities, and Kings, 
 that on the contrary he gave them what 
 he had. He did nothing elfe that was 
 confiderable, except only this, that he 
 dedicated the Amphitheatre, and the 
 Baths that bore his Name. He gave 
 the People Diverfions that were extra- 
 ordinary in this Amphitheatre. There 
 were Troops of Cranes that fought to- 
 gether. Four Elephants, and nine thou- 
 sand Beads of different forts were kill'd 
 there. Some were kill'd by Women of 
 mean condition. Several fought after 
 the manner of Gladiators, and others 
 in imitation of regulated Troops that 
 ferve at Sea or at Land. The Amphi- 
 theatre was of a iudden flll'd with Wa- 
 ter, and there appear'd Bulls, Horfes, 
 and other Domeftick Animals, who did 
 the fame Exercifes there as upon Land. 
 There was likewifefeen two Fleets, one 
 bore the name of Corinth, and the other 
 that of Corfou, and thefe two Fleets pre- 
 fented a Naval Combat. There were 
 F ζ alio 
 
t 6i ] 
 
 alio Combats in the Gardens of Cajus 
 and Lucius, which Auguflus had former- 
 ly order'd to be dug up for the fame 
 end. There was the firft day a Naval 
 Fight, and a great deftruction of Beads. 
 The next day there was a courfe of 
 Chariots. The third day there was a 
 Naval Combat of three thoufand Men, 
 and at laft a fight at Land. The Com- 
 batants had taken the names of Athens 
 and Syracufe. The firft, after they had 
 conquer'd the fecond, defcended into a 
 little liland, and there took a Fort , 
 which had been ereded, by Storm. 
 There was for the fpace of a hundred 
 days, feveral Shews of this nature. Ti- 
 tus threw from a high place little Bowls 
 of Wood, in which were written the 
 names either of iomething to be eat, 
 or fome Habit, or VeiTel of Gold or 
 Silver, or a Horie, or Slave, and whoe- 
 ver got the Bowl , receiv'd* what was 
 written in it, of the Officers that were 
 order'd to diflribute thofe Preients. 
 
 The laft day of thefe publick Rejoy- 
 cings, Titus wept before all the People, 
 and did nothing elfe that was Remark• 
 able. The year following in which Fla- 
 vius and Tollio were Confuls, after he 
 
 had 
 
[ h 1 
 
 had dedicated the Amphitheatre and the 
 Baths which I have mention'd, he died 
 at the fame Baths where Vefpaftan his 
 Father had deceas'd. A report ran, that 
 Domitian his Brother had poifon'd him, 
 and this rumour found the more credit, 
 becaufe 'tis certain he had laid a fnare 
 for him before. Others aiTu re, that he 
 died of a fit of Sicknefs, but that his 
 Cure being not defpair'd of, Domitian to 
 haften his Death had him put into a 
 Cheil full of Snow. 'Tis certain that 
 before Titus was dead, Domitian entred 
 into Rome, and the Camp, and took the 
 Title of Emperor, and made Prefentsto 
 the Soldiers, equal to what Titus had 
 made them. This Prince faid, as he 
 was dying, that he repented of one thing 
 without explaining what it was, which 
 gave birth to feveral Conjectures. Some 
 guefs'd that it was for having enjoy'd 
 Domitia his Brothers Wife. But o- 
 thers fuftain with more probability, that 
 'twas for not difpatching Domitian, ra- 
 ther than to wait till he had done the 
 fame to him, and for leaving the So- 
 vereign Power to fuch a Prince as we 
 ihall defcribe in the fequel of this 
 F 3 Work 
 
[ 7θ ] 
 
 Work. Titus reign'd, as I have faid, 
 two Years, two Months, and twenty 
 Days. He was call'd the Delight of 
 Mankind. 
 
 THE 
 
[ 7» ] 
 
 THE 
 
 REIGN 
 
 OF THE 
 
 EMPEROR 
 
 DO M1TIAN. 
 
 DO MIT I A Ν was bold and paf- 
 fionate, and at the fame time 
 Subtle and Treacherous. Thus 
 having both theimpetuouflty of Anger, 
 and the flownefs of Diifimulation, he 
 did mifchief fometimes openly like Light- 
 ning, and fometimes by fubtle intrigues. 
 He had a more particular Veneration 
 for Minerva, than for any other Divi- 
 nity, celebrated a Feaft in her Honour 
 with an extraordinary Magnificence, and 
 F 4 gave 
 
[ 71 ] 
 
 gave every year at his Houfe at Mount 
 Alba, Prizes for Poets, Orators, and 
 Gladiators. He never lov'd any one 
 iincerely, except perhaps a few Women. 
 Yet he would feem to have a tender 
 fcindnefs for thofe, whofe deaths he ear- 
 neftly wiih'd for. He was perfidious 
 to thofe who did him the beft Offices, 
 and likewife to thofe who alMed him 
 in the moil troublefom and difficult Af- 
 fairs, infomuch that he afFe&ed to ruine 
 both thofe who had furniih'd him with 
 very great fums of Money, and thofe 
 who had profecuted the greateft num- 
 ber of Accufations. Above all, he ne- 
 ver pardon'd Slaves who had accus'd 
 their Mailers. Though he was all his 
 Reign of this Humour, yet he furpafs'd 
 himfelf in his injurious manner of treat* 
 ing thofe who had been the friends of 
 his Father and Brother. He had three 
 motives to hate them. One was, be- 
 caufe they had not granted him all he 
 defir'd ; another was, becaufe they had 
 given him things which appear'd to him 
 to be not altogether worthy of him, 
 and the Jail was, becaufe they were 
 Men of Reputation. 'Twas by this 
 Principle, that though he lov'd an Eu- 
 nuch 
 
[ 7% ] 
 nuch call'd Earinus^ yet becaufe his Bro- 
 ther Titus had alio lov'dthem hereto- 
 fore, he expreily forbid any to be made 
 throughout the Empire, with a defign 
 to diihonour his Memory. He faid, 
 that thofe Emperors who did not pun- 
 iili abundance of Criminals were the 
 happier, but not the better. He fome- 
 times pretended to have lov'd his Bro- 
 ther extreamly, and to lament his Death, 
 and as if he had been acting a bor- 
 row'd part upon the Stage, he fpoke in 
 his Praife, and mingled tears with his 
 Difcourfe. But that did not hinder him 
 from obferving all his Reign, very dif- 
 ferent meafures from thofe his Brother 
 had taken. 
 
 He aboliuYd thofe Sports which the 
 Ramans had been accuftom'd to cele- 
 brate, upon the day of his Acceiiion to 
 the Empire. No body knew which was 
 fafeft, whether to condole with him, 
 or to congraculate him, and not offend 
 him, and not to let him perceive, that 
 the Artifice with which he endeavour'd 
 to difguife his Sentiments, was eafily 
 feen through. He defign'd to have put 
 Domitia his Wife to Death for Adulte- 
 ry, but by the advice of Urfus, he was 
 
 fatis- 
 
[ 74 ] 
 
 fatisfied with putting her away. He 
 kill'd a Comedian call d Paris in the open 
 Street upon her account, and ieveral 
 Perfons having fcatter'd Flowers and 
 Parfumes over the place where he was 
 kill'd, he order'd them all to be execu- 
 ted. He liv'd publickly with Julia his 
 Brother's Daughter, after the fame man- 
 ner as a Husband lives with his Wife. 
 He put to Death and banifli'd feveral of 
 the moft coniiderable Men of the Em- 
 pire, under various pretences. He fpar'd 
 not fo much as the Veftals, and pun- 
 ifrYd fome of them, as if they had vio- 
 lated the chaftity they profefs'd. They 
 who were fufpe&ed to be guilty of this 
 Crime , having been purfued , and 
 puniih'd with extream Rigour, Elvius 
 Agrippa , to whom thefe Inquifitions 
 feem'd altogether infupportable , was 
 ftrangled in the Senate, whither he had 
 retir'd, as to a place of Safety. 
 
 Domitian having undertaken an Expe- 
 dition into Germany^ return'd to Rome 
 without fo much as having feen the E- 
 nemy. Is there any neceifity of men- 
 tioning the Honours which were given 
 him upon this occafion, as others had 
 been given to iome of his PredeceiTors, 
 
 lead 
 
[ 7? ] 
 
 lead he fliould have imagin'd that 
 they defpis'd him , and fo have been 
 incens'd againil them ? No body 
 knew how to pleafe him, for though 
 he lov'd to be courted, he was equally 
 offended with thofe who did, and thofe 
 who did not flatter him, from a belief, 
 that the firil impos'd upon him by their 
 complaifance , and that others def- 
 pis'd him, becaufe they did not com- 
 mend him. He was blown up with 
 fuch an extravagant Vanity , that he 
 would be Conful ten years together, and 
 Cenfor all his Life, though no Empe- 
 ror, nor any other had ever continued 
 in thefe Offices in fuch a manner. There 
 always went before him four and twen- 
 ty Officers, * and he wore a Triumphal 
 Robe when ever he went to the Senate. 
 He gave his Name to the Month of 
 Otloler, becaufe he was born in that 
 Month. He initituted two new Com- 
 panies of Charioteers, and call'd one 
 the Golden Company, and the other 
 that of Silver. He often gave Prefents 
 to the Spectators in little Bowls, and 
 fometimes gave them a Feait in the ve- 
 ry places from whence they faw the 
 Sports and Combats, with a Fountain of 
 
 Wine 
 
[ 76 ] 
 
 Wine that ran all Night. Thefe Di- 
 verfions charm'd the People as much as 
 they afHided Perfons of Condition whofe 
 ruine they often caus'd. For tofurniih 
 thefe prodigious Expences, he had re- 
 courfe to Murder, accus'd innocent Peo- 
 ple to the Senate, and oftentimes in 
 their abience. He likewife difpatch'd 
 fome byPoifon. 
 
 The Romans were engag'd about this 
 time in a great War againft the Dacians, 
 commanded by Decebalus. He was a 
 Prince as proper for Counfel, as Exe- 
 cution. He equally knew how to make 
 a vigorous Attack, and an honourable 
 Retreat. He contriv'd an Ambufcade 
 with Art, and made an excellent difpo- 
 fition of an Army. When* he won a Vi- 
 ctory, he made all poiTible advantage 
 of it, and when he was overcome, he 
 found means to repair his Lolles. An 
 Enemy that hadfo advantagiousailiare 
 of thefe great Qualities, could not but 
 prove a trouble fom one to the Roman 
 People. I call Dacians, thofe whom the 
 Romans call ib, and who call themfelves 
 fo, though I know fome Greeks call them 
 Getes. I queilion whether it be with 
 reafon. For it is certain that the Getes 
 
 dwell 
 
[ 77 ] 
 
 dwell beyond the Hemus along the Da- 
 nule. 
 
 Dowitian led his Army againft the 
 People I have been fpeaking of, and 
 gave the command of it to his Gene- 
 rals, becaufe he was not himfelf expert 
 in Arms. He could not bare Fatigue, 
 and was befides of a fearful Nature, 
 addicted to Women and Boys. Heloil 
 in this Expedition a great part of his 
 Army, and yet fent to Rome a Relati- 
 on full of expreflions as haughty and in- 
 (blent, as if he had got the Vi&ory. 
 He receiv'd like wife fuch extraordinary 
 Honours, that there was hardly any 
 Province of the Empire, that did not e- 
 reet his Statues in Gold and Silver. He 
 was at a great Expence to give the Peo- 
 ple Sports, in which we have not learnt 
 that any thing remarkable pafs'd, except 
 that young Women ran at a Courfe. 
 
 After that he ipent feveral days in 
 publick Rejoycings for his imaginary 
 Victory. He alfo gave in the Circus 
 the Diverfion of feveral Combats on 
 Foot, and on Horfeback. He gave in 
 another place a Naval Fight, in which 
 almoit all the Combatants, and feveral 
 of the Spectators died, by having been 
 
 long 
 
C 78 ] 
 
 long expos'd to the violence of Winds 
 and Rains, without being permitted to 
 change their Cloaths, tho' Domitian did 
 not fail to change his own. To comfort 
 the People in Tome fort for the lofs of 
 fo great a number of Citizens, he gave 
 them a Feaft at Night. He often took 
 that time for his Combats, in which he 
 forc'd young Maids and Wives to fight 
 together. In this manner did he enter- 
 tain the People. But his way of treat- 
 ing the moft confiderable Senators and 
 Knights, was much more extraordina- 
 ry. He order'd them to be brought 
 one by one, without any of their Ser- 
 vants at Midnight, into a Houfe whofe 
 Ceilings, Walls, and Floors were all co- 
 ver'd with black. The Chairs and o- 
 ther Furniture were of the fame co- 
 lour. The flrft thing that was done 
 after they were come in, was to pre- 
 fent each of them with a Pillar, like 
 thofe which are put upon Tombs, in 
 which the name of every one was In- 
 grav'd, and in which alio there was a 
 Lamp like thole which are us'd to hang 
 up in Monuments. After that came in 
 a company of little Boys, naked and 
 black, and terrible to behold, who 
 
 danc'd 
 
[ 79 ] 
 danc'd about them a kind of Brawls, 
 which had fomewhat that was mourn- 
 ful and fatal in it, then ftop'd, and 
 flood (till. Then" they ierv'd up to 
 them in Diihes, all the Inftruments and 
 Ornaments that are us'd at Funerals, 
 which put them into agonies of fear, 
 and made them expect nothing but the 
 hour of Death. The horror of the 
 Silence and Difcourfes by turns , 
 redoubled their Fear. They were as 
 filent as if they were already in their 
 Graves, and Domitian talk'd of nothing 
 but Murders and Maffacres. Yet he 
 fent them back without further harm, 
 by Perfons unknown, fome in Chari- 
 ots, and others in Chairs, which gave 
 them ftill more apprehenfion than ever. 
 Scarce were they got home, and began 
 to breath, when word was brought them 
 that there was a Meiiage from the Em- 
 peror. There was not one of them 
 then, but gave himfelf up for loft. But 
 inftead of doing them any hurt, he fent 
 each of them a Prefent, to one a Pil- 
 lar of Silver, to another one of the 
 Veffels that was us'd at Table during 
 the Repaft, or fome other Gift. He 
 likewife prefented each of them with 
 
 one 
 
[ 8ο] 
 
 one of the Boys, whom they had feen 
 dance all in black, but he was well 
 wauYd and cloath'd. This was the 
 pomp of Domitians Triumph, or ra- 
 ther the Magnificence of the Obfequies 
 that were performed to thofe that died 
 either in the War againit the Dacians, 
 or at Rome. 
 
 This Prince put to death at the fame 
 time, fome of the chief and mod con- 
 iiderable of the Empire, and connTca- 
 ted the Eftate of a Citizen, for having 
 buried one of thofe who had been exe- 
 cuted upon his Ground. 
 
 I (hall mention in this place what 
 happen'd moil remarkable in the War 
 again ft the Dacians. Julian who had 
 been honour'd with the command of 
 the Army, acquitted himfelf of his Du- 
 ty extreamly well, and in order to di- 
 iUnguiih thofe who ihould behave them- 
 felves well, he order'd every Soldier to 
 write his own Name, and that of his 
 Centurion upon his Buckler. He gave 
 Battel near to a place call'd Tapes, and 
 cut in pieces a great number of the E- 
 nemies. Vezinas who held the firft rank 
 among them, next to Decehalus., not be- 
 ing able to fly, without running the 
 
 rifque 
 
[ 8, ] 
 
 rifque of being difcover'd 5 lay down a" 
 mong the Slain, and having hid him- 
 felf in that manner, found means af- 
 terwards to efcape. Decehalus who u?.s 
 afraid the Conquerors would plunder 
 his Palace, made ufe of a Stratagem to 
 preierve it, ordering the Trees to be 
 cut down around his Camp, and Arms 
 to be plac'd upon the Trunks, that the 
 Romans might take them for Soldiers, 
 and ib retire. Which Artifice lucceed*• 
 ed to his expectation. L. Antonius Go- 
 vernor of Germany, having revolted a- 
 gainil Domitian about this time, L. Maxi- 
 rnus gave him battel and defeated him. 
 But if he did not deferve great Com- 
 mendations for this Victory, hedeferv'd 
 much greater than I can ever give him 
 for his Generofity, in burning all the 
 Papers of the conquer'd Party, left 
 they ihould krve as a ground for falfe 
 Accufations, and fear'd not to expofe 
 his own Life, to fave innocent People. 
 But Domitian however put them to 
 Death, without Information or Proof, 
 and the number of thofe he oppreis'ci 
 in this manner, was fo great, that 'tis 
 difficult to count them. A young Man, 
 call'd Julius Calvafler, who had been a 
 G Tri- 
 
[ 8* ] 
 
 Tribune in the Army, and had hopes to 
 be a Senator one day, efcap'd againft 
 all manner of appearance. He was con- 
 victed of having had ieveral Conferen- 
 ces with Antonim, and it feem'd impof- 
 fible for him to have efcap'd , being 
 condemn'd as an Accomplice of his 
 Confpiracy , if he had not excus'd 
 himfelf by faying, that he had never 
 talk'd with him about any Affair of State, 
 and that all the Converfation he had 
 had with him, amounted to nothing but 
 Gallantry, which was ib much the more 
 eafily beiiev'd, as he appear'd very ca- 
 pable of infpiring Love. I (ball omit 
 mentioning feveral particular Events 
 that fell out at this time, and only take 
 notice of one that relates to Lmian Pro- 
 clus. He was an ancient Senator, who 
 fpent the greateftpart of the year in the 
 Country, and yet was obi ig'd to follow 
 Domitian, when he undertook the War 
 a gain ft the Dacians, left if he had not, 
 he mould have been accus'd of quitting 
 the Service at a time of the moil ur- 
 gent Neceflity, and condemn'd to Death. 
 But when he knew that the Emperor 
 had won the Vi&ory, he faid to him, 
 c My Lord, The Gods have heard my 
 
 Pray- 
 
[ 8} ] 
 
 Prayers, and you have conquer'd your 
 Enemies, therefore I intreat you to 
 permit me to return ro mv Country- 
 houfe. He obtain'd the liberty he bcg'd, 
 and though he liv'd long alter, he ne* 
 ver faw the Emperor. 
 There were People at this time who 
 us'd poifon'd Needles, to difpatch thofe 
 whom they wanted to be rid of, and 
 kill'd them in this manner without their 
 perceiving it. Several of thefe Villains 
 were difcover'd, and condemn'd not on- 
 ly at Rome, but almoft throughout the 
 World. 
 
 Ulpius Trajan , and Acilius Glahrio 
 had Prefages during their Confullliip, 
 which threatned the la£l with Death, 
 and promis'd the other the Sovereign 
 Power. There was a Woman con- 
 demn'd and executed, for having un- 
 drefs'd her felf before a Statue of Domi- 
 tian. Among the great number of thofe 
 who were taken out of the World at 
 the fame time, I muft not forget to men- 
 tion Metius Tompofian. Vefpafian had 
 always fpar'd him, tho' he had heard 
 of a wild and con f us'd report that had 
 fpread among the People, that he was 
 one day to afcend the Throne; inileacj 
 Q % of 
 
[ 84 ] 
 
 of doing him any hurt, he us'd him ve- 
 ry civilly, and (aid, ' He will remem- 
 ' ber my good OiSces, and acknow- 
 ' lecge thefri. Dow/ t ϊωι took a very 
 different method with him. For having 
 baniih'd him formerly to a Iiland, he 
 put him to Death at this time, tho' he 
 was accus'd of no other Crime, than 
 of having a Map of the Terreilrial 
 Globe in his Clofct, and having read 
 carefully the Speeches of the Kings and 
 other great Men, which Titus Livius 
 has inierted in his Hiflory. He alfo 
 condemn'd a Sophifi nam'd Maternus , 
 for having pronoune'd a Difcourie a- 
 gainit Tyrants, only to (hew his Elo- 
 quence. Domittan was often with Evi- 
 dences, and intruded them what to 
 fay. He likevvife difcours'd with thofe 
 who were accus'd, being willing to in- 
 form himlelf of their Sentiments by 
 himfelf, and not trufiing to the report 
 he might receive of them. But when 
 he talk'd with them, he always took 
 hold of their Chains, left they lhould 
 make ufe of them againft him, in re- 
 venge for his Cruelties. 
 
 It muft be confefs'd, that he did not 
 acquit himlelf ill ol the quality of Cen- 
 
 jor. 
 
[ 8j ] 
 
 for. He expel I'd Ce cilius Rufinus the 
 Senate for Dancing. Having difcover'd 
 that Claud his Pacatus was a Slave, he 
 reftor'd him to his Matter, tho' he had 
 been a Centurion. What he did as Em- 
 peror, which I am going to mention, 
 is very different. He put to Death Rw 
 fticus Arulinus, for addicting himfelf to 
 Philofophy, and for admiring the ver- 
 tue of Thrafea, whom he call'd a Di- 
 vine Man. He us'd Herennius Senecio 
 after the fame manner, only becaufe, 
 after he had exercis'd the Office of 
 Sine ft or ^ he never flood for any other, 
 tho' he had liv'd to a considerable Age, 
 and becaufe he had written the Life of 
 Elvidius Frifcus. Several others were 
 executed for their love to Philofophy, 
 and all thofe who made profeiiion of it, 
 were forc'd to leave Rome. 
 
 Junius Celfus, who had confpir'd a- 
 gainft him with fome of the chief Men 
 in Route, and had been accus'd, efcap'd 
 by a ftrange Artiike. When he was 
 upon the point of being condemn'J , 
 he defir'd to fpeak with the Empercr 
 in private, and having obtained the fa- 
 vour, he threw him felt at his Feet, call d 
 him feveral times his Lord and his God, 
 G 3 as 
 
[ 8*] 
 
 &s fome had already us'd to call him, 
 and protefted to him, that he was in- 
 nocent of the Crime whereof he was 
 accus'd, and if lie would only fufpend 
 his Execution, he would do him great 
 Services, and would difcover a great 
 number of Criminals, againfl whom he 
 would bring invincible Proofs. Thus 
 having obtain'd the fufpenfion he de- 
 fir'd, he accus'd no body, finding eve• 
 ry day new pretences to gain time, till 
 t>omitian was Aflailinated. 
 
 About this time the way was pav'd 
 that leads from Sinueffa to Vuteoli. 
 The fame year Domitian put to Death 
 feveral Perlbns, and particularly Fla- 
 vins Clemens, though he was his Re- 
 lation, and had Married Flavia Do- 
 mitilla, his Kinfwoman. The pretext 
 r;e made ufe of to condemn him was, 
 that he and Flavia his Wife were guil- 
 ty of fmpiety, which was the fame pre- 
 sence he us'd to punifh feveral Perfons, 
 who had embracM the Manners and 
 Cuiloms c[ the Jews ; fome were exe- 
 cuted, others only difpoifefs'd of their 
 iiilates. Flavia Vomitiila, was banifh'd 
 into the Ifland of Fandatera. Glahrio 
 ! [lad been Collegue of Trajan, in 
 
 the 
 
[ «7 1 
 
 the Confulihip was charg'd with the 
 fame Crime, and further, with fighting 
 wild Beads in the Amphitheatre. Do- 
 mitian who envied his Vertue, put him 
 to Death under that pretence. The oc- 
 cafion of the Emperors envy was this : 
 Having invited him to the Juvenalia that 
 were celebrated in his Houfe at Mount 
 Alba, that year he was Conful with 7>λ- 
 /*», as I have faid, he forc'd him to 
 right with a Lion of an extraordinary 
 fize, which he had prepar'd on purpofe, 
 and Glahrio without being furpriz'd kill'd 
 the Lion, and received no hurt. The 
 fame vertue made him fufpecl: feveral 
 other Perfons, infomuch thathetrufted 
 neither to his Freedmen, nor the ?ηε- 
 fetti Pr&torio, whom he made no dif- 
 ficulty of putting to Death, even in 
 the time of their Magiftracies. Epa- 
 phroditus Neros Freed man , who had 
 been formerly baniih'd by his order , 
 was at that time put to Death, though 
 he could be charg'd with no Crime, 
 except for not being able to lave his 
 Mailer from the violence of thofe who 
 had confpir'd againft him. He had a 
 mind to make this terrible example in 
 his Perfon, to frighten his own Freed- 
 G 4 men, 
 
[ 88 ] 
 
 men, and to hinder them from making 
 any attempt upon his Life. 
 
 But thefe cruel Precautions were of 
 no fervice to him, for the year follow- 
 ing, Which was the year of the Con- 
 fulihip of Caius Valem, (who had been 
 chofen into this Office at the age of 
 fourfcore and ten, and who died in the 
 exerciie of it) and of Caius Antifiius, 
 he was taken out of the World by the 
 confpiracy of ?arthenim y tho' he had 
 done him the honour to give him the 
 priviledge of wearing a Sword, of Sz- 
 gerius y Entellus keeper of the Records 
 of the Empire, and Stephanus hisFreed- 
 man. 'lis faid that Domztia his Wife, 
 Nor ban m Fncfettus Pretoria, and Petro- 
 tihis his Collegue, had knowledge of 
 their Defign. It is certain that for fome 
 time before Domitian had ihewn his 
 hatred for Domztia, and ihe wasappre- 
 heniive, that he would caufehertobe 
 put to Death. They whom I have 
 r.am'd lov'd him as little, fome becauie 
 they were accus'd of Crimes, and others, 
 becaufe they expected to be charg'd 
 icon after. I have heard that Domi- 
 iian mifirufting them all, and deiign- 
 iftg to get rid of them, had written 
 
 «■ their 
 
[ 8 9 ] 
 
 their names in a Table-Book, which 
 he had put under the Pillow of his Bed 
 where he us'd to repofe himfelf, and 
 that a young Boy having taken it from 
 thence while he was afleep, was met 
 by Dowitia, who having read the names, 
 went immediately and told the reft 
 what was contained in it. This advice 
 oblig'd them to haften their Enterprize, 
 the execution whereof neverthelefs they 
 would not begin, till they were fecure 
 of a SucceiTbr to the Empire. Upon 
 this occafion they conferr'd with feveral, 
 but no body would accept of the Dig- 
 nity they offer'd, becaufe every body 
 miftrufted the fincerity of the Offer, 
 and was afraid 'twas a fnare laid for 
 their Deitru&ion. At lail they addrefs'd 
 themielves to Nerva , a Man of illuftri- 
 ous Birth, and a wonderful fweetnefs of 
 Nature, and perfwaded him with fo 
 much the more eale, becaufe he had 
 been rendred fufpe&ed by the falfe re- 
 ports of the Judicial Aftrologers. Do- 
 mitian had caus'd the Horofcopes of all 
 the Perfons of Quality to be made, and 
 had put fome to Death, who had ne- 
 ver entertained the leaft hope of com- 
 ing to the Umpire. He had alio put 
 
 Nerva 
 
[ 90 ] 
 Merva to Death, if an Ailrologcr who 
 was his friend, had not diverted him 
 from it, by faying, that he had but 
 little time to live according to the courfe 
 of Nature. 
 
 None of thefe extraordinary Events 
 ever fall out, without being forefeen. 
 Domitian had notice in a Dream, of the 
 misfortune that threatned him. He 
 thought he faw Rufiicus preffing upon 
 him with his Sword in his Hand, that 
 the Statue of Minerva which he had in 
 his Chamber dropt her Arms, and that 
 being in a Chariot drawn with black 
 Horles, (he defcended into an Abyis 
 that was very large, and very deep. 
 But nothing is fo wonderful, as the pre- 
 diction which Largius Troculus made 
 publickly in Germany, of the day on 
 which Domitian was to die. For being 
 lent to Rome by the Governor on this 
 occafion, he confirm'd what he had 
 faid before Domitian, and wascondemn'd 
 on the inftant, but execution being de- 
 lay'd, till the day he had foretold was 
 pail. Domitian was aflamnated, and Pro- 
 cuius was fav'd and gratified by Nerva 
 with a hundred thoufand Drachma's. 
 There was another who foretold in pre- 
 
 fence 
 
[ 9' 3 
 
 fence of Domitian, the time and manner 
 of his Death, and the Emperor demand- 
 ing of him what kind of Death his own 
 was to be, the Man anfwer'd, that he 
 iliould be torn in pieces by Dogs. Upon 
 which Domitian order 'd him to be burnt 
 alive. But tho' the Pile was prepar'd for 
 him, and a&ually fet on fire, there fell 
 fo prodigious a florin of Rain on the 
 inftant, that the fire was extinguiih'd, 
 infomuch that Dogs having found him 
 bound to a Poft, pull'd him in pieces. 
 I can likewife bring another Event that 
 was very particular, but I ihall firft give 
 an account of the circumilances of Do- 
 mitian*s Death. As this Prince was ri- 
 fing from the Tribunal, and was ready 
 to go and repofe himfelf according to 
 his Cuftom, Parthenius remov'd a Dag- 
 ger from under his Pillow, left he Iliould 
 make ufe of it to defend himfelf, and 
 fent Stephanus the moft robuft of the 
 Confpirators, who gave him a wound 
 that (till left him itrength enough to 
 grapple with , and throw him down 
 that gave it. Farthenius fearing he 
 would efcape, entred, or as ibme fay, 
 fent Maximus his Freedman, with whom 
 Stephanus and feveral others, who had 
 
 had 
 
C 9* ] 
 
 had no intimation of the Plot,running in, 
 Domitian received feverai wounds. That 
 which appears to be more extraordina- 
 ry than the reft, and which I referv'd 
 to mention in this place is, that on the 
 very Day, nay, the Moment Domitian 
 was ailaifinated , as 'twas afterwards 
 known upon a very exact fearch into 
 the matter, Apollonim Thyanaus got up, 
 whether 'twas in the City of Ephejus, or 
 elfewhere, upon a very high Stone, and 
 calling the People together, cried out 
 with a loud Voice, ς Courage, Stepba- 
 ' tiiu, Courage, flrike the Murderer. 
 £ Thou hail ftruck him. Thou haft 
 ' wounded him. Thou haft kill'd him. 
 As incredible as this fadt feems to be, 
 it is no lefs true. Domitian liv'd four 
 and forty Years, ten Months, and fix 
 and twenty Days. He reign'd fifteen 
 years and five days. Thillis his Nurfe 
 was dexterous enough to ileal his Body, 
 in order to give it Burial. 
 
 THE 
 
C 93 3 
 
 THE 
 
 REIGN 
 
 OF THE 
 
 EMPEROR 
 
 Ν Ε RV A. 
 
 DO Μ IT I A Μ was no fooner 
 dead, but tferva was proclaim'd 
 Emperor in Rome. The horror 
 and execrations People had for the me- 
 mory of his PredeceiTor, made him 
 give order for the pulling down a great 
 number of Gold and Silver Statues, with 
 which he had been honour'd during his 
 Life, and which amounted to great 
 iums of Money. The Triumphal Ar- 
 ches which had been rais'd to him were 
 alfo demoliftYd tferva fet at liberty all 
 
 thofe 
 
[ 94 1 
 
 tliofe who had been charg'd with (m* 
 piety, and recall'd thofe who were in 
 Ban iihment. He condemn d to Death 
 all Slaves and Freedmen, who had laid 
 fnares for their Mailers and Patrons, 
 and forbid all thofe of that Condition, 
 to bring any Charge whatfoever againft 
 their Mailers. He would not even 
 fuffer any body to be accus'd, either for 
 having obferv'd the Ceremonies of the 
 Jewzfi> Religion, or neglected the Wor- 
 ihip of the Gods. An infinite number 
 of People had been put to Death upon 
 falfe Accufations, and among the reft, 
 a famous Philofopher call'd Seras. The 
 allowance that had been given to pri- 
 vate Informers, having extreamly di- 
 fturb'd the publick Tranquility, Fron- 
 ton the Conful faid very wifely, ' That 
 if 'twas a Misfortune to have an Em- 
 peror under whom no allowance was 
 given to any one, 'twas a much great- 
 er Misfortune to have one under 
 whom every thing was permitted to 
 every body. And 'twas this that in- 
 duc'd Nerva to iilence Informers. 
 
 iferva was grown fo weak with Age and 
 Sicknefs, that his Stomach could fcarce 
 keep any fciouriihmenr. He exprefly 
 
 forbad 
 
[ 9Ϊ 1 
 
 forbad his Subjects to iet up any Sta- 
 tue of him in Gold or Silver. He re- 
 ilor'd all the Money that he found in 
 the publick Treafury, to thofe from 
 whom D omit i an had unjuftly taken it. 
 He affign'd Lands to the value of fif- 
 teen hundred thoufand Drachmas, for 
 the fubfiftance of poor Citizens, and 
 nam'd Senators to diilribute the Reve- 
 nues of them accordingly. Finding 
 that he wanted Money, he fold abun- 
 dance of Goods, Habits, VefielsofGold 
 and Silver, as well of his own, as of 
 thofe of the Palace. He likewife fold 
 Houfes and Lands, and parted with e- 
 very thing but what was juft necefTary. 
 And he was fo far from exacting the 
 juft value of them, out of an Avarice 
 unworthy of his Rank , that he part- 
 ed with them at fo low a rate, that it 
 might be interpreted a favour to thofe 
 that bought them. He aboliih'd Sacri- 
 fices, Sports, and Shews, to avoid great 
 Expences. He took an Oath in full Se- 
 nate, that he would not put any Se- 
 nator to Death, and kept it even to 
 thofe who confpir'd againft him. He 
 never did any thing without firft con- 
 fulting that Body. He publiih'd feve- 
 
 ral 
 
[ S>6 1 
 
 ral Laws, and among others, one by 
 which he forbad the making of Eunuchs, 
 and another againil Marriages between 
 Uncles and Nieces. He was not jea- 
 lous of Ritfas Virghiius, and made no 
 difficulty ο Ϊ taking him for hisCoilegue 
 in the Confulihip, though he had been 
 feveral times cail'd Emperor. There 
 was an infcription upon the Monument 
 of this Virginias, to this eflecl, that ha- 
 ving conquer'd Vindex, he had iecur'd 
 the poiieiijon of the Sovereign Power, 
 not to himfelf, but to his Country. 
 Nerva governed with (o much Equity, 
 that he faid one day he had behav'd 
 himielf in fuch a manner, that he had 
 nothing to fear, though he ihould be 
 reduc'd to a private Condition. Calpur- 
 mus Craffus defcended from the illuilri- 
 ous Family of that name, having con- 
 Ipir'd with fome others againil him, he 
 gave directions that the Accomplices 
 mould be plac'd near him at the pub- 
 lick Shows, before they knew their Plot 
 was difcover'd , and fent them iome 
 Daggers to fee if they were well point- 
 ed, which he did to ilicw them that he 
 was not afraid of being aflailinated up- 
 on the Spot. Elian Cafperius, Captain 
 
 of 
 
[ 97 ) 
 
 of his Guards, who had been in the 
 fame poil under Domitian, made his 
 Soldiers mutiny againft him, by encou- 
 raging them to demand the Deaths of 
 certain Perfons. Nerva rejected their 
 demand with fo much Vigour, that he 
 offer'd his own Throat to them, in (lead 
 of thofe they wanted. But his refinance 
 was of no ufe to him, for Elian put all 
 thofe to death whom he thought fit. 
 When Nerva fa w that hisAge was fo much 
 defpis'd, he went up to the Capitol, and 
 faid aloud, c For the good of the Em- 
 c pire, of the Rowan People, and my 
 4 felf, ί adopt Marcus Ulpius Nerva 
 * Trajan. After that he declar'd him Cte- 
 far in the Sen ate, and as he was then at 
 his command in Germany, he wrote to 
 him with his own Hand in thefe terms : 
 
 Employ your Weapons to revenge my 
 Wrongs. 
 
 Upon this occafion it fell out, that 
 tho' Nerva had Relations of his own, 
 Trajan was declar'd Cafar, and after- 
 wards Emperor. He prefer'd the inte- 
 reft of the State, before his love to his 
 nearefl: Kinfmen, and being of opinion, 
 Η that 
 
[ 9§ 1 
 
 that one mould rather judge of Men by 
 the merit of their Vertue, than by the 
 Rank of their Birth, he chofe Trajan a 
 Spaniard by Nation, to fucceed him on 
 the Throne, which till then, none had 
 ever afcended that were not Romans or 
 Italians. He died after he had reign'd 
 a Year, four Months, and nine Days, 
 and liv'd fixty five Years, ten Months, 
 and ten Days. 
 
 THE 
 
[ 99 1 
 
 THE 
 
 REIGN 
 
 O F Τ Η Ε 
 
 EMPEROR 
 TRAJAN. 
 
 BEfore Trajan came to the Empire 
 he had a Dream, in which he 
 thought he favv an old Man with 
 a purple Robe and a Crown, that is to 
 fay, fuch a figure as the Senate was 
 wont to be painted in, that fet his Seal 
 firit to the left fide of the Neck, and 
 then to the right. As foon as he had 
 the Sovereign Power in his Hands, he 
 wrote to the Senate with his own Hand , 
 that he would never put to Death, or 
 difgrace an innocent Perfon, which h« 
 Η ι after* 
 
[ ιοο ] 
 
 afterwards confirm 'd with an Oath. A^r 
 for Elian and the Soldiers of the Guards, 
 who rais'd a Sedition in Nervas Reign, 
 he fent for them, as if he had defign'd to 
 make ufe of them, and when they were 
 come, commanded them to be execu- 
 ted. He was no fooner entred into Rente, 
 but he made excellent Laws for the re- 
 formation of Abufes, the government of 
 the State, and in favour of Men of Ver- r 
 tue and Worth, of whom he took fo | 
 particular a care, that he fetled Funds ? 
 in the Cities of Italy for the education ^ 
 of Youth. The firft time that Tlotina % 
 his Wife entred the Palace, ilie ftop'd S 1 
 upon the Stairs, and turning towards ^ 
 the People , faid, c Tis my defire that $ 
 ' 1 may go out from hence in the fame ^ 
 * difpofition with which Ϊ come in : And ν 
 ilie behav'd her felf in fuch a manner, 
 during the whole courfe of his Reign, 
 that no body ever found fault with any 
 of her Actio ns. 
 
 As for Trajan, he had not been long 
 at Retfie, when calling to mind the info- 
 Jence with which the Dacians had ta- 
 ken up Arms, and confidering on one 
 fide, that the Tribute they had impos'd 
 upon the Romans, was mfuppor table, 
 
 and 
 
[ ΙΟΙ ] 
 
 and on the other, that their pride in- 
 creased every day in proportion to their 
 Power, he refolv'd to make War upon 
 them. As foon as Decehalus learnt the 
 news of his march, he was poifeis'd 
 with fear, knowing that whereas before 
 he had conquer'd not the Romans but 
 Domit/an, he iliould now be oblig'd to 
 fight with Romans, led by fuch an Em- 
 peror as Trajan. He was indeed a Prince 
 equally admirable for the greatnefs of 
 his Courage, his zeal for Juftice, and 
 the purity of his Manners. He took 
 ροίΓείΙοη of the Sovereign Power at 
 the Age of two and forty years, which 
 was an Age wherein he enjoy 'd a great 
 vigour of Body and Mind, and in which 
 he was equally remote from the violen- 
 ces of Youth, and theflownefs of Age. 
 He never perfecuted out of Jealoufie, 
 nor ruin'd any one whatfoever. On the 
 contrary, he conilantly honour'd Men 
 of Merit, and preferr'd them as much 
 as was poflfible. As he hated no body, ίο 
 he thought no body hated him, which 
 made him live free from Jealoufie and 
 Fear. He did not liilen to Calumnies, 
 nor give himfelf up to Paifion. He was 
 as far from taking what belong'd to his 
 Η ^ Subjects, 
 
[ 102 ] 
 
 Subjects, as he was from taking away 
 their Lives. He was at great expences 
 in time of Peace, and in time of War, 
 but he made them very ufeful to the 
 publick in repairing the Ways, fortify- 
 ing Ports, and adorning the City with 
 new Buildings, but no Man's Blood e- 
 ver contributed to thefe Works. He 
 ihew'd in ail his Enterprizes a Magna- 
 nimity, and a Magnificence fo extraor- 
 dinary, that having rais'd the Circus from 
 the ruines in which it was fain, and made 
 it larger and finer than ever it had been, 
 he put an Infcription upon it to this 
 effecl:, that he had rebuilt it in this man- 
 ner, that it might be able to contain 
 all the Roman People. He defir'd rather 
 tobebelov'd, than honour'd by his Sub- 
 jects. He difcours'd familiarly with the 
 People, and treated the Senate very ci- 
 villy. In fine, he was univerfally be- 
 lov'd, and only fear'd by the Enemies 
 of the Empire. He went a Hunting 
 with the Citizens, and to their Enter- 
 tainments, ihar'd in their Diverfions, as 
 well as in their ferious Affairs, and fome- 
 times rallied with them, took three of 
 them at a time to his Table, and went 
 pretty often without Guards to the Hou- 
 
 fes 
 
Γ «0} ] 
 
 fesof private Men. He was not Learn- 
 ed, and had never iludied much ; but 
 yet he could make a very good judg- 
 ment of Things, and argue with as 
 much good Senfe, as thofe who have 
 the aiMance of Books, in a word, he 
 had excellent Qualities. I know that 
 he lov'd Wine and Boys, and that he 
 would have deferv'd blame for thefe 
 faults, if they had engaged him to do or 
 fuiFer any thing that was contrary to 
 Decency or Juftice. But he was of fuch 
 a conftitution to bear Wine, that even 
 when he drank to Excefs, he did not 
 feem to have exceeded the bounds which 
 Sobriety prefcribes. And as to the paf- 
 fion he had for Boys, it producd no ill 
 effe&s. Though he had an Inclinati- 
 on to Arms, he moderated fo well the 
 heat of his Courage , that when he 
 humbled his Enemies, he acquir'd new 
 Friends. 
 
 He led his Troops with fuch a wori- 
 derful Prudence, that they were never 
 feen to mutiny, and there is no doubt* 
 butfo many many rare advantages made 
 him appear formidable to Decebalus. As 
 he was marching again ft the Dacians, 
 and was already pretty near their Camp, 
 Η 4 a 
 
[ i04 3 
 
 a great Muihroom was brought to him, 
 in which was written in Latin, that the 
 Burrhi and other Confederates intreat- 
 ed him ro retire and make Peace. Ne- 
 vertheleis he gave Battel, and cut ift 
 pieces a great number of his Enemies, 
 but had at the fame time the difplea- 
 fure to fee many of his own wounded. 
 'Tis laid, that when their Bandages fail'd, 
 he order'd his own Linnen to be cut 
 for their uie. He rais'd an Altar to the 
 memory of thofe who died in the Bat- 
 tel, and order'd Funeral Honours to be 
 paid them every year. This done, he 
 march'd from Hill to Hill, and after 
 having efcap'd feveral Dangers, arriv'd 
 at the principal City of the Dacians, 
 who being attack'd at the fame time by 
 Lufius in another place, loft a great 
 number of their Men. This lofs ob- 
 lig'd Decebalus to depute to Trajan fome 
 of the chief Men of the Country who 
 wore Caps, and to beg Peace. Trajan 
 commanded them to deliver their Arms, 
 their Machines, and the Workmen that 
 made them ; to put into his Hands the 
 Deferters from his Army, to demoliih 
 the Forts they had built, to give up the 
 Countries they had feiz'd, and to en- 
 ter 
 
C 105 ] 
 
 ter into an oilenfive and defend ve League 
 with the Romans. Decehalus being brought 
 to Trajan , fubfcrib'd to thefe condi- 
 tions againfl: his will, and proftrated 
 himfelf at his Feet, as 'twere to adore 
 him. 
 
 Trajan being return'd to Rome, the 
 Deputies of Decehalus were introduced 
 into the Senate, where they laid down 
 their Arms, joyn'd their Hands after the 
 manner of Prifoners, pronoune'd a few 
 words to allure them of their Submifli- 
 on, ratified the Peace, and took their 
 Arms again. After that Trajan enjoy 'd 
 the honour of the Triumph he had de- 
 ferv'd, and was iirnam'd Dacicus. He 
 reftor'd to the Theatre the Gladiators 
 and Dancers, among which there was 
 one call'd Ρ Hades, for whom he had an 
 extream pailion. Though he had na- 
 turally a very ilrong inclination to War, 
 yet he did not negled other Affairs, 
 and did not fail to take cogniiance of 
 the differences of private Men, and to 
 diftribute Juftice fometimes in the pub- 
 lick place of Augufius , fometimes in 
 Livia's Galery, and fometimes in other 
 places. In the mean time he receiv'd 
 advice, that Decehalus had broke ieveral 
 
 Arti- 
 
Ε *66 ] 
 
 Articles of the Treaty of Peace , that 
 he provided himfelf with Arms, that 
 he receiv'd Deferters from the Roman 
 Army, that he fortified his Places, that 
 he folicited his Neighbours to enter in- 
 to his Alliance, that he plunder'd the 
 Territories of thofe who had refus'd to 
 engage in his Intereft, and that he had 
 feiz'd upon fome of the Lands of the 
 Jazygians^ which Trajan refus'd after- 
 wards to reftore to them, when they re- 
 claim'd them of him. 
 
 Thefe Infractions difpos'd the Senate 
 to declare him a fecond time the Ene- 
 my of the Roman People, and the Em- 
 peror to make War again ft him in Per- 
 fon, inilead of committing it to his Ge- 
 nerals. Decebalus being inferiour in 
 force to Trajan^ had recourfe to Stra- 
 tagems, and was very near deftroying 
 him by the treachery of fome Deier- 
 ters, whom he had fent into Mafia to 
 afiailinate him. This cowardly defign 
 appear'd fo much the eafier to execute, 
 as Trajan was of eafier accefs in time 
 of War, than at any other. But they 
 durft not attempt it, becaufe one of 
 their Comrades being taken up upon 
 Sufpicion, had been put to the queftion, 
 
 and 
 
[ «ο? ] 
 
 and confefs'd all he knew. Decehalas 
 likewife us'd an Artifice to draw Longi* 
 nus, one of the Commanders of the 
 Roman Army into his Camp, and prefs'd 
 him openly to difcover to him the de- 
 iigns of the Emperor. Being able to 
 get nothing from him, he put him in 
 Prifon, and wrote to Trajan, offering 
 to fet him at Liberty, and demanding 
 Peace. Trajan fent him an Anfwer con- 
 ceived in fuch terms, that if it did not 
 imply any contempt for Longinus, nei- 
 ther did it argue too great an eiteem 
 for him, and fufRciently fhew'd, that 
 though he did not wife to lofe him, 
 he was not refolv'd to buy his prefer- 
 vation at too dear a rate. While Decs- 
 halus, who did not fucceed in this de- 
 fign, was concerting others in his Head, 
 Longtnus took fome poilon, and procur'd 
 his own Death. 
 
 Trajan at the fame time built a Stone- 
 bridge over the Danube. Though he 
 had undertaken abundance of other 
 Works that were very Magnificent, none 
 of them equall'd this, or ihew'd fo much 
 the greatnefs of his Mind, and firmnefs 
 of Refolution. It was fupported with 
 twenty Piles made of Free-itone, one 
 
 hun- 
 
[ ic8 ] 
 
 hundred and fifty foot high, without 
 reckoning the Foundations, iixty foot 
 wide, one hundred and feventy foot di- 
 ftant from each other, and joyn'd to- 
 gether by Arches. Tho' there is reafon 
 to be amaz'd at the greatnefs of the ex- 
 pence, which was made to finilh fo 
 wonderful an Edifice, there is reafonto 
 admire yet more the Art and Dexteri- 
 ty of the Workmen, that could build 
 in themidftof a River fo full of Mud 
 and deep Holes, efpecially fmce they 
 could find no way of turning the courle 
 of the Water. The place where the 
 Bridge was rais'd, was the moll com- 
 modious and narrow part of the River, 
 for in other places the River is twice 
 or thrice as broad. Its courfe being as 
 it were pent up in that place, was 
 much more rapid*, which made the 
 Building of the Bridge more difficult, 
 and extreamly rais'd the greatnefs of 
 the Enterprize, and the generofity of 
 the Emperor, who had the glory ofac- 
 compliihing the Work. Yet is it of no 
 ufe, iince there is no pailage over it, 
 and its Piles feem only to be rais'd as 
 Monuments, to ihew that there is no- 
 thing which Human Induftry cannot 
 
 bring 
 
[ 109 ] 
 
 bring to Perfection. Trajan built it 
 with this defign, that when the Danube 
 ihould be frozen, the Romans might not 
 be expos'd to the violence of their E- 
 nemies, and be deftitute of Succour. 
 But Adrian fince demoliih'd the top of 
 it , left the Barbarians fhould force 
 thofe who guarded it, and make an Ir- 
 ruption into Mafia. Trajan having thus 
 finiih'd the Bridge, and pafs'd the Da- 
 nule> made War with more Prudence and 
 Safety, than Heat and Alacrity. But at 
 length he reduc'd the Dactans under his 
 power by his extraordinary Valour, 
 which was feconded by that of his Sol- 
 diers. Among thofe who ran through 
 the greateft dangers, and fignaliz'd them- 
 felves for his Service, was a Cavalier, 
 who having been wounded in the Fight, 
 was carried off to be drefs'd, and when 
 he underflood that his wound was Mor- 
 tal, he had ftrength and courage enough 
 to return againft his Enemies, and to 
 do iome gallant A&ions before he died. 
 When Decehalus faw that his Country 
 and Palace were already in the power 
 of the Conquerors, and that he ran a 
 rifque of falling alive into their Hands, 
 he kili'd himfelf, after which his Head 
 
 was 
 
[ »ιο ] 
 
 was carried to Rome. Trajan having 
 thus reduc'd Dacia to his Obedience, 
 founded Cities there. The Treafures 
 of the vanquiuYd Prince confiding in 
 Gold, Silver, Jewels, and other preci- 
 ous Furniture, were difcover'd by one 
 of his moil intimate Friends call'd Bi- 
 flis, a Prifoner of War, and found in 
 Caverns made for the purpofe along the 
 Palace, under the current of the River 
 Sargetia, whofe courfe had been turn'd 
 by Slaves for this defign. There were al- 
 io very rich Habits found under ground, 
 in Holes that were dug by the fame 
 Slaves, whom Decehalus had the cruel- 
 ty to Maflacre on the inftant, left they 
 iliould betray his Secret. 
 
 Ρ alma Governor of Syria, reduc'd at 
 the fame time under the Dominion of 
 the Romans, that part of Arabia, which 
 is call'd Petra, from its capital City. 
 As foon as Trajan was return'd to Rome, 
 he gave Audience to Embaifadorsof fe- 
 veral Nations, and among the reft, to 
 thofe of the Indians. After that he 
 gave for one hundred and three and 
 twenty days tucceffively, publick Shows, 
 in which iomedays were kill'd athou- 
 fand Beads, other days to the number 
 
 of 
 
[ ηι ] 
 
 of ten thoufand, and in which ten thou- 
 fand Gladiators fought againft one ano- 
 ther. He made at the & me time, Roads, 
 Caufways, Ports and Buildings upon 
 the Talus Ponti, and cried down all the 
 Money that wanted of its juft value. 
 He perform'd Funeral Honours to Li- 
 cinius Sura, who died about the fame 
 time, and erected a Statue to his Me- 
 mory. This Sura had acquir'd fuch 
 immenfe Riches, that he had built at 
 his own charge, a Place for the pub- 
 lick Exercifes. Tr ajan had put fo great 
 a confidence in his Friend, that tho' 
 fome envious Perfons us'd their utmoft 
 power to make him miftruft the Sin- 
 cerity of it, he went and fupp'd at 
 his Houfe without Invitation, fent a- 
 way his Guards, and defir'd Sura's Phy- 
 iitian to look upon his Eyes. Then he 
 was ihav'd by his Barber, according to 
 the ancient cuftom which private Men 
 and Emperors had to be fhav'd, Adrian 
 being the flrft who fuffer'd his Beard 
 to grow. After that he bath'd and 
 fupp'd, and the next day faid to thofe 
 who were us'd to give him ill impreflions 
 of Sura, if he had ever defign'd to af- 
 faflinate me, he had done it latt Night. 
 
 It 
 
t •«* ] 
 
 It was doubtlefs the efFect of an un^ 
 common generofity in this Emperor, to 
 be willing to prove in this manner the 
 Fidelity of a Friend accus'd of Trea- 
 chery, and to dare thus to truft him 
 with his Perfon, and to be aflur'd of his 
 Friendihip. One day as he was putting 
 a Captain of his Guards in pof lemon 
 of his Poft, and giving him the Sword 
 according to Cuftom, he faid to him 
 prefenting it naked, ' Take this Sword 
 ' and ufe it for me, if I govern with 
 ' Juftice, and againft me if otherwife. 
 He erected Statues in honour of Sofius, 
 Talma, and Qelfus, for whom he had 
 a more particular Affedionand Efteem, 
 than for any other. He profecuted fome 
 before the Senate, who had confpir'd 
 againit him, and among others Crajfus, 
 and obtain d their Condemnation. He 
 built Libraries , and erected in the 
 place that bears his Name a vail Pillar, 
 as well to ferve him as a Monument 
 for his Bones, as to be one of his Mag- 
 nificence to Pofterity. In good earneit 
 'twas a piece of work that could not 
 be finiih'd without an extraordinary Ex- 
 pence,becaufe it was neceiTary to cut thro* 
 a Mountain as high as the Pillar, and 
 
 level 
 

 C •■? 1 
 
 level the publick place. After that he 
 took up Arms againft the Armenians and 
 Parthians, under pretence that the Κ 
 of Armenia inftead of receiving the 
 Crown from his Hand, had receiv'd it 
 from the King of the Parthians. But 
 he had indeed no other Motive, than 
 that of Ambition. He was no fooner 
 in the Enemies Country , but feveral 
 Noblemen and Princes came to meet 
 him with Prefents, among which there 
 was a Horfe which had been taught to 
 Salute, by kneeling upon his Fore- feet, 
 and bowing his Head to the very feet of 
 him he faluted. 
 
 Trajan having poflefs'd himfelf of the 
 Country without fighting, advanc'd as 
 far as Satala, and Elegia, Cities of Ar* 
 metiia, paid great Honours to the King 
 of the Heniochs , reveng'd himfelf of 
 Parthamafirus King of Armenia, put in- 
 to the rank of his Friends, thofe Princes 
 who fubmitted. to him, and took others 
 Prifoners without any Battel. The Senate 
 gave him great Honours, and among 
 the reft the furname of Excellent. He al- 
 ways march'd on foot at the head of his 
 Army, leading and ordering them feveral 
 ways, He pafs'd the Rivers juft as the 
 I Sol• 
 
t •Η ] 
 
 Soldiers did, fometimes ipread falfe A- 
 larms among them, in order to accu- 
 ftom them to obey his Orders with 
 Expedition, and to fear nothing on the 
 moil unexpected occafions. When he 
 had taken feveral Cities, he was fur- 
 nam'd Parthicus, but this furname which 
 only recommended his Military Ver- 
 tue, was lefs valuable to him, than that 
 of Excellent, which denoted the fvveet- 
 nefs of his Nature, and the purity of his 
 Manners. 
 
 While he was at Antioch there hap- 
 pen'd an Earthquake, by which feveral 
 Cities were damag'd, and that more 
 than any other. Among the Soldiers, 
 and private Men that were come thi- 
 ther from all parts, whether by way of 
 Bufinefs, or Curiofity, there was not 
 one that did not fuilain fome lofs, fo 
 that the whole Roman Empire feem'd 
 to be incios'd in this City, in order to 
 feel the fatal efFecl's of this deplorable 
 Accident. It was preceded by Thunder 
 and Lightning, but no body imagin'd 
 they would be attended with luch a 
 confequence. At firft there was heard 
 a kind of a bellowing noife, then the 
 Earth heav'd up, and the Houfes that 
 
 were 
 
f '«5 1 
 
 were upon it (hook. There was a dread- 
 ful noife occafion'd by the claih of' 
 Stones, Bricks and Tiles, which were 
 rent from their places. The Air was 
 rllfd with fo thick a Duft, that Peo- 
 ple could not fee one another. Seve- 
 ral were rais'd into the Air, and tofs'd 
 out of their Houfes. Some were crip- 
 led, others kilfd. The violence of the 
 Shock was foextream, that Trees were 
 torn up by the Roots. The number of 
 thofe who were furpriz'd in their Hou- 
 fes, and cruih'd under the Ruines, is 
 not to be computed. There were fome 
 that were opprefs'd by the fall of others, 
 and fome that were in a manner buri- 
 ed in the Earth. Some were in a moil 
 deplorable condition, engag'd under a 
 confus'd heap of Ruines, where they 
 could neither live nor die. Among fo 
 great a number, there were feveral who 
 efcap'd. But there was alfo a great 
 number wounded, fome in the Thighs, 
 others in the Shoulders, and others in 
 the Head. Some vomited their Blood, 
 and among others Tedo the Conful , 
 who died of it. In a word, there was 
 no ill accident that the violence of this 
 Misfortune was not attended with. As 
 Ι ι it 
 
Γ χι6 ] 
 
 it continued feveral Days and Nights, 
 no body knew what remedy to apply 
 to it. Some were opprefs'd under the 
 Ruines, and others who got into hol- 
 low places, as under Vaults, died with 
 Famine. When the Earthquake ceas'd, 
 there was a Man who had the boldnefs 
 to get upon the top of the Ruines,where 
 he found a Woman with a Child, which 
 ihe had nourifh'd with her Milk, and 
 her felf likewife. Then they fearch'd 
 for the Dead, among which there was 
 a Child found that juft breath'd, and 
 clung to his Mother's Bread, who had 
 juft expir'd. The grief which thofe felt, 
 who drew the dead Bodies out of the 
 Ruines was fo extreme, that they loft all 
 ienfe of joy for the prefervation of their 
 own Lives. Trajan efcap'd out of a 
 Window, under the conduot of a Man 
 that was of a higher Stature than or- 
 dinary. He was feiz'd with fo great 
 an Aftoniiliment, that he continued in 
 the Circus feveral days after the Earth- 
 quake ceas'd. Mount Corafus lhook to 
 that degree, that it perfectly bow'd, and 
 feem'd juft ready to fall upon the City. 
 There were other Mountains alfo that 
 bow'd their Heads Water appear'd 
 
 in 
 
[ >•7 ] 
 
 in places where none had ever been feen, 
 and other places were dry that had al- 
 ways received Water. 
 
 In the beginning of the Spring Tra- 
 jan entred into the Enemies Country, 
 and becaufe the Country which is a- 
 bout the Tigris, produces no Wood 
 that is proper for building Veilels, he 
 convey'd fome on Carriages, which he 
 had made in the Forefts near Nifibis, 
 the Conveyance was fo much the eafier, 
 becaufe the Carriages could be taken to 
 pieces. When he was come to the River, 
 he laid a Bridge of Boats upon it over a- 
 gainft Mount Cardin, in ipite of the 
 Enemies efforts to hinder him. For he 
 had fo prodigious a number of Boats 
 and Soldiers, that at the fame time were 
 feen Veifels preparing, and others rea- 
 dy equipp'd and full of Soldiers, cover- 
 ing the furface of the River. The Bar- 
 barians aftoniih'd at ίο unexpected a 
 fight, as was that of fo many Boats and 
 Barks in a Country that bears no Wood 
 proper to build them with, turn'd their 
 Backs, and left the pailages of the Ri- 
 ver free to the Romans, who had no 
 fooner reach'd the other fide, but they 
 made themfelves Mailers of Adiahena t 
 I 3 which 
 
which makes part of Affyria, and for- 
 merly depended upon Ninus. They al- 
 io poilefs'd themfelves of G a ugame/a and 
 Arietta, where Alexander conquer 'd Da- 
 rius. Thefe are two places of the fame 
 Country, which the Inhabitants call At- 
 tiria by corruption, and by a change of 
 an S into a T. The Romans finding no 
 Enemies that were in a condition to re- 
 iift them, the Forces of the Varthians 
 being extreamly diminim'd by their Di- 
 vifions, they advanc'd as far as Baby- 
 lon, where the Emperor view'd the Lake 
 of Sulphur, which had been made ufe 
 of in the building of the Walls of that 
 {lately City. The force of this Sul- 
 phur is fo great, when it is mix'dwith 
 Bricks, or fmall Stones, that it makes 
 them harder than Marble, or Iron. This 
 Prince likewife view'd the mouth of the 
 Lake, from whence there arifes fo dan- 
 gerous a Vapour , that thole Animals 
 that fmell it, are inftantly choak'd. If 
 this vapour rofe higher, or fp~ead fur- 
 ther than it doth, it would make the 
 Country altogether uninhabitable. But 
 it always keeps within bounds. I have 
 iben one like it at Hierapolis, a City 
 of Alia, have tr) 'd it upon Birds, and 
 
 have 
 
C β*9 1 
 
 have* ftoop'd to fee how it defcends in- 
 to a Cavern, over which a Theatre is 
 built. This Vapour is mortal to all A- 
 nimals except Eunuchs. I own 'tis a 
 difference, whofe caufe I can by no 
 means penetrate into. But I am fatis- 
 fled with writing what 1 have feen and 
 heard. 
 
 Trajan had refolv'd to make the Eu- 
 phrates defcend into the Tygris by a Ca- 
 nal, in order to convey his Boats thi- 
 ther, of which he would have made a 
 Bridge. But he quitted his Refolution, 
 when he came to underftand that the 
 Euphrates was higher than the Tygris, 
 and that there was danger of its grow- 
 ing dry, by making fo great a defcent 
 of its water as would be neceiTary. Thus 
 he order'd his Boats to be carry 'd o- 
 ver the fmall fpace of Land that fepa- 
 rates thofe two Rivers, pafs'd the Ty- 
 gris, and entred into the City of Gtefi- 
 phon. By the taking of this City he 
 was again proclaim'd Emperor, and fur- 
 nam'd Parthicus. He received befides 
 feveral Honours from the Senate, and 
 among the reft, that of a Triumph at- 
 tended with Feails and publick Rejoy- 
 cings, which might continue as long as 
 fee thought fit. I 4 After 
 
[ «20 ] 
 
 After the Emperor had reduc'd the 
 City of Ctefiphon, as I have faid, he 
 undertook to pafs the Red Sea, which 
 is a Gulph of the Ocean, and was ib 
 call'd from the Name of a King, who 
 formerly commanded theCountry round 
 about. After that he reduc'd eafdy an 
 Iiland of the Tygris, call'd the Iile of 
 Mejfena, in which Atamhilus reign'd ; but 
 the rigour of the Winter, the rapidity 
 of the Tygr'is, and the reflux of the Sea, 
 made him run extream dangers in the 
 midft of his Victories. He wasreceiv'd 
 with Civility and Refpeor, by the In- 
 habitants of a place call'd the Fortrefs 
 of Spafin, which was in the Dominions 
 of Atamhilus. Afterwards he advanc'd 
 to the very Banks of the Ocean, which 
 he view'd very attentively, and feeing 
 a Ship juil ready to Sail for the Indies, 
 he faid that he would have made the 
 Voyage himfelf if he had been younger. 
 He intorm'd himfelf very exactly of the 
 Affairs of that Nation, and faid, that he 
 thought Alexander had been very 
 happy, in carrying his Arms fo fan 
 He added neverthelefs, that he had ex- 
 tended his Conqueils further, and wrote 
 fo to th^r Senate, though his Conqueils 
 
 were 
 
[ *** ] 
 
 were unprofitable, becaufe he could not 
 keep them. The Senate gave him up- 
 on this occafion great Honours, and a- 
 mong others, that of triumphing over 
 as many Nations as he pleas'd. That 
 which hundred the Senate from naming 
 them in particular was, that they had 
 no knowledge of them. 
 
 Among the Decrees they made to 
 perpetuate the memory of his Victo- 
 ries, they fet up a Triumphal Arch in 
 the publick place that bears his Name. 
 The Citizens prepar'd to meet him at 
 a great diitance , but he never faw 
 Rome again, and could not finiih his 
 Enterprizes by a Succeis anfwerable to 
 the beginning. As he was vifiting Afia 9 
 and was even out at Sea, he received 
 news of the Revolt of thofe People 
 whom he had fubdued, and of the Maf- 
 . facring of the Garriibns he had left in 
 their Country. He made this Voyage 
 only out of Curiofity, and a defire to 
 fee if the reports which ran of thofe 
 parts, had not been impos'd upon him. 
 But he found nothing that anfwer'd 
 his Expectation. There was nothing 
 but Fables and Ruines. He was 
 drawn thither by the Reputation of A- 
 
 lexandef) 
 
[ i" ] 
 
 kxander, to whom he perform'd Fu- 
 neral Honours in the very place where 
 he died. As foon as he receiv'd news 
 of this Revolt, he fent Lufius and Maxi- 
 mus againft the Rebels. The laft was 
 overcome and killd ; the other behav'd 
 himfelf like a Man of Courage, re- 
 took Mi/ibis, forc'd Edejfa, and put all 
 to Fire and Sword. Erutius Clarus, and 
 Julius Alexander his Lieutenants, took 
 Seleucia, and burnt it. Trajan refolv'd to 
 give the Parthians a King, left they 
 ihould have a fancy to revolt like the 
 reft. In order to this , as foon as 
 he arriv'd at Ctejiphon , he fummon'd 
 the Parthians and Romans upon a flat 
 Plain, mounted upon a high place, re- 
 lated his Military Expeditions, declar'd 
 Ρ arthamafpates King, and fet the Crown 
 upon his Head. After that he entred 
 into Arabia, and turn'd his Arms againft 
 the Atrenians, who had alfo ihaken off 
 the yoke of Subjection. 
 
 The City which they inhabited, was 
 not coniiderable either in Bignefs, or 
 Riches. The Country about it is al- 
 mofl a Defart, becaufe there is but lit- 
 tle Water, and that little not very g«od. 
 Befides there is great fcarcity of Wood 
 
 and 
 
[ •*; ] 
 
 and Provifions for Life, for which rea- 
 fon no Army can iubfiit there long. 
 Add to that the exceiTive Heats, which 
 are fuflicient of themfelves to put a flop 
 to the incurfions of Strangers. Thus 
 could neither f raj an take it then, nor 
 Severus fince, though they had beat 
 down part of the Wall. Trajan or- 
 der'd it to be affaulted immediately by 
 fome Troops of Horfe, who return'd 
 to the Camp with great lofs. Then he 
 went in Perfon, having put off his Im- 
 perial Robes, for fear of being difco- 
 ver'd. But he was perceiv'd notwith- 
 ilanding by the whitenefs of his Hair, 
 and the Majefty of his Countenance, 
 which made the Barbarians iliower their 
 Darts at him, with which they kill'd 
 a Horfeman juil by him. At the 
 fame time the Thunder grumbled in 
 the Clouds, and a Rainbow appear'd. 
 When the Romans were ready to give 
 the AfTault, they were ftop'd by 
 Lightnings, Whirl winds, Hail and Thun- 
 der. When they were taking their Re- 
 pails, they were extreamly incommo- 
 ded by nafty Flies that fell into their 
 Difhes and Cups. Trajan was no foon- 
 cr retir'd from before this place, bur he 
 fell fick. In 
 
Ε .1*4 3 
 
 In the mean time the Jews who in- 
 habited Cirene, having chofen a Cap- 
 tain call'd Andrew, cut the Romans and 
 Greeks in pieces, eat their very Fleih and 
 Intrails, bath'd themfelves with their 
 Blood, and wore their Skins. They 
 clove feveral in the middle, expos'd o- 
 thers to Beads, and compell'd fome 
 of them to fight as Gladiators, fo that 
 they deftroy'd in this manner to the 
 number of two hundred and twenty 
 thoufand. They revolted in the fame 
 manner in Egypt , and in Cyprus, under 
 the conduct of Artemion % where two 
 hundred and forty thoufand Men pe- 
 riih'd. This is the reafon why the Jews 
 were forbid to fet a foot in Cyprus, and 
 if one of them was driven a-ihoar there 
 by the Wind, he was immediately exe- 
 cuted. This Nation was iubdued by 
 the Generals of Trajan, and principal- 
 ly by Lufius. The Emperor was about 
 to turn his Arms a fecond time againit 
 Mefopotamia, when his Diilemper in- 
 creas'd, and oblig'd him to return to- 
 wards Italy, and to leave Elius Adrian 
 in Syria to command his Army. All 
 the toils and fatigues which the Rqmans 
 had undergone, and all the dangers they 
 
 had 
 
[ ι** ] 
 
 had run for the Conqueft of Armenia 
 and Mefopotamia were render'd ufeleis, 
 through the inconftancy and mutabili- 
 ty of the Parthians, who having con- 
 ceiv'd an averfion for Partamafpates 
 their King, refus'd to obey him, and 
 took the Government upon themfelves. 
 Trajan thought his Diilemper proceed- 
 ed from Poifon, others imputed it to 
 a fuppreffion of Blood, which he had 
 been accuftom'd to difcharge every year. 
 It is certain that he was ltruck with an 
 Apoplexy , that he had the Palfie in 
 fome part of his Body, and that he be- 
 came Dropfical. As foon as he came 
 to Selinontis^ a City of Ctlkia, which 
 we call Trajanopolis^ he died there iud- 
 denly, after he had reign'd nineteen 
 Years, fix Months and a half. 
 
 THE 
 

C «17 1 
 
 R EI G Ν 
 
 OF THE 
 
 EMPEROR 
 
 ADRIAN. 
 
 ADRIAN was never adopted by 
 Trajan, tho' he was of the fame 
 City with him, and had been his 
 Ward. He was afterwards allied to him 
 by Marrying his Niece, had been very 
 afliduous to ferve him, and had receiv'd 
 from him the command of the Troops 
 of Syria, while he himfelf made War 
 upon the Parthians. But he had never 
 obtain'd. any other Dignity that was 
 confiderable, having never been Conful. 
 
 At 
 
[ 1*8 ] 
 
 At length Trajan dying without Chil- 
 dren, Attian who was of the fame City 
 with Adrian, and had been one of his 
 Guardians, and Plotina who had a kind- 
 nefs for him, declar'd him Emperor in 
 confideration of his being near at hand, 
 and his commanding a great Army. 
 Apronianus my Father, Governor of Ci- 
 licia, who was extreamly well inform'd 
 of the Affairs of Adrian, has related to 
 me the Circumilances of his coming to 
 the Empire, and told me among other 
 things, that for fome days the Death of 
 Trajan was kept iecret, in order to ma- 
 nage the Adoption of Adrian, and that 
 the Letter which was written to the 
 Senate in the name of Trajan, was fub- 
 fcrib'd not by him but Plotina, which 
 was a new practice, of which there 
 had been no Example. Adrian was at 
 Antioch the Metropolis of Syria, where 
 he commanded the Army, when he was 
 defign'd Emperor. The day before 
 he had a Dream, in which he thought 
 he faw, at a time when the Air was 
 calm, and the Heavens ferene, a fire 
 fall upon the left fide of his Nick, and 
 extend it felf to the right fide, with• 
 out putting him in fear, or doing him 
 
 any 
 
Γ "29 ] 
 
 any hurt. He wrote to the Senate to 
 defire them to approve his Election y 
 and to aifure them, that he would re- 
 ceive no Honour without their confent. 
 The Bones of Trajan were put into the 
 Pillar we have mention'd , and to re- 
 verence his Memory, they celebrated 
 Sports for feveral years, which were 
 call'd Parthica. But they have been 
 fince aboliuYd, as well as abundance of 
 other Ceremonies. Though the Govern- 
 ment of Adrian was moderate, yet was 
 it exclaim'd againii for the Murder of 
 fome Perfons of Probity, who were fent 
 out of the World both in the beginning 
 and end of his Reign. Thefe cruel 
 Actions had like to have excluded him 
 from the number of the Gods. 
 
 In die beginning of his Reign he com- 
 manded Palma y Celfus^ Nigrzan, and 
 Lufius to be put to Death, upon a pre- 
 tence, that they had laid an Ambufh 
 for him as he was Hunting. He put 
 others to Death for other P..eafons, fuch 
 as thofe of Power or Wealth. When 
 he underftocd what complaints were 
 made for the Deaths of thefe People, 
 he endeavour'd to vindicate himfelf by 
 denying that he had given any orders for 
 Κ them. 
 
them. Thofe uho were put to Death 
 towards the end of his Reign, were 
 Severian and Fufcw. As to his Birth 
 and Family, he was the Son of Adrian 
 Ajer. He had a Genius for Letters, and 
 was well vers'd in the beil Greek and La- 
 tin Authors. He has left fome few Trtati* 
 fes in Profe, and a great number in Verfe. 
 His infatiable deiire of Glory , gave 
 him a curiofity for the moil minute 
 things. He learnt Sculpture, and Paint- 
 ing, and addicted himfelf to all Exerci- 
 ies that were fuitable to War or Peace, 
 and was ignorant of nothing that ei- 
 ther a private Man or a Sovereign ought 
 to "know. The defire he had to excel 
 in every thing, and to furpafs all others, 
 was the cauie of his deftroying Men 
 of very great Merit. 'Twas from this 
 Motive that he endeavour'd to get rid 
 of Favorinus the Gaul, and Dionyfius the 
 Milefian. 'Tis reported, that this Dio» 
 nyfius had faid to Heliodoras, Adrians 
 Secretary, that the Emperor might give 
 him Wealth and Honour, but could not 
 give him Eloquence. For Favorinus, as 
 he was ready to plead a caufe before 
 Adrian, that related to an Exemption 
 which he defir'd to obtain in his Coun- 
 try, 
 
 
[ ι?ι ] 
 
 try, and which he was apprehen- 
 five of lofing, he aporoach'd the 
 Tribunal, and on!y faid, that his Ma- 
 iler had appear'd to him in his Sleep, 
 and had order'd him toi'erve the Coun- 
 try, to which he ow'd his Birth. What 
 envy and hatred foever Adrian had con- 
 ceived again ft thefe two Men, he was 
 oblig'd to fpare them, for want of a fpe- 
 cious pretence to deifr-oy them. He 
 us'd with more rigour ApolUdorus the Ar- 
 chitect, whom Trajan had employed up- 
 on feveral occasions ; for not being fa- 
 tisfi'd with fending him into Exile, he 
 condemn'd him to Death upon a pre- 
 tence that he had committed fome 
 Crimes, but indeed, becaufe as Adrian 
 was ihewing once fome defign of Archi- 
 tecture, and talk'd ignorantly of it, he 
 took the liberty to fay to him, ' Go 
 * and paint Pumkins, for you under- 
 1 Hand nothing of this. It Teems Adri- 
 an us'd to paint fuch trifles at that time, 
 and had an opinion of his own perfor- 
 mance in that way. He remembred 
 this biting anfwer when he came to the 
 Empire, and Tent him the Plan of the 
 Temple of Venus which he had rais'd, 
 to let him fee that great Works could 
 Κ % be 
 
[ "Λ 3 
 
 be done without his AiTiftance, and de- 
 fir'd to know if he could find any fault 
 with the defignf. 4 Apoiloelorus fent him 
 
 * word, that the Temple was neither 
 4 high enough, nor large enough ; that 
 ' for want of height, it did not appear 
 4 enough trom the Via Sacra^ and for 
 4 v\ am of bignefs, it u as not eafie toxon- 
 
 * vey the Machines from thence, and 
 
 * to (hew them on the Theatre. He 
 c added, that the Statues were too large, 
 
 * and' not proportion'd to the height of 
 c the Temple, becaufe if the Gcddeiles 
 4 fliould have a π\-λλ to rife, the Roof 
 4 would hinder them-. The liberty of 
 this anfWer rais'd in Adrian s Heart (o 
 cutting a Difp'eafure, and fo implacable 
 an Anger, that he put to Death this 
 able Architect. 'Twas by an effedt of 
 the fame humour, that he had a mind 
 to fupprefs the Works or Homer^ and 
 to put thole of Antimachus in their place, 
 pf whom feveral never heard fonuch 
 as trie Name. He was blameable with- 
 out doubt for all thefe things, as well 
 as f or the excels of his Cunofity, the 
 vanity of his Occupations, and the ine- 
 quality of his Manners. Neverthelefs 
 it muit be avow'd, that his faults were 
 
 in 
 
[ •3? 3 
 
 in fome fort comperifated by excellent 
 Qualities: By his Vigilance, his Fore- 
 fight, his Magnificence, his Applicati- 
 on, and his Addreis. Add to this, that 
 he was (o great a lover ot Peace, that 
 he never rais'd any War, and comp-s'd 
 fuch as he found the Empire engag'd 
 in. Further, he never depriv'd any Man 
 of his Eftate, aad was an extraordina- 
 ry Benefactor to Communities, and pri- 
 vate Perfons, Knights and Senators. He 
 did not flay to be ask'd, he prevented 
 Neceilities and Requeus. He rhain- 
 tain'd a fevere Difcipline among the Sol- 
 diers, and furTer'd them not to abuie 
 their Strength either in difobevirg their 
 Generals, or oppreifmg the Weak. There 
 is not a City through the whole extent 
 of the Empire, or in the Domin. 
 our Allies, in which he has not 
 marks of his Magnificence. He v. ; .ted 
 a greater number of them, than a 
 other Emperor, and they were all I 
 better for him. He fupplied fome w i 
 Water, others with Ports. To this 
 gave Corn, or Money. In that he built 
 if ately Edifices, and he honour d otlKi 
 with Franchiies and Priviledges. Η 
 governed the Roman People with a Μ ι 
 
t ΜΑ 1 
 
 jeftick Seventy, without ever condef- 
 cending to flatter their PafTions. As 
 they were one day very importunate 
 with him in the midil of the publick 
 Shows, to grant them fome Requeft , 
 he not only rejected it, but comman- 
 ded the Herald to filence them with 
 thofe words which Dom'it'un had for- 
 merly us'd, Tacete ; the Herald did not 
 ufe that word to the People, but hold- 
 ing out his Hand according to Cuftom, 
 he mane them be filent, and when he 
 favv they were full, he faid to them, 
 ς This is what the Emperor would have. 
 Adrian was (o iar from taking it ill, that 
 the HeraM had forborn to uie fo harih a 
 word, though he had commanded him 
 to do it, that he was pleas'd with him 
 for it. For he willingly furier'd Per- 
 fons of the lowcfl: Condition to do him 
 fuch good Offices, by oppofing his In- 
 tentions in appearance. A Woman one 
 day prefenting her felf to him in the 
 Street, and deiiring Audience of him, 
 he anfwer'd her immediately, that he 
 had not time to hear her. The Woman 
 rais'd her Voice, and replied to him, Be 
 no longer Emperor then : Upon which 
 he turn'd back, and gave her Audience. 
 
 He 
 
[ M5 3 
 
 He did nothing of Moment, without 
 advifing with the Senate, fat often in the 
 Courts of Juftice, in the place of Ha- 
 rangues, in the fatttk&m s and other pla- 
 ces with fome of the chief of that Bo- 
 dy, fo that what they had determin'd, 
 was made publick on the inflant. He 
 likevvife heard Caufes fometimcs with 
 the Confuls, and lhevv'd them fuch ref- 
 pect at the publick Sports, that he ac- 
 companied them back to their Houfes. 
 He was went to be carried in a clofe 
 Chair, to avoid the troublefom Accla- 
 mations of the People. Upon the days 
 of publick Rejoycings he ilaid in the 
 Palace, and faw no body, not even his 
 moil intimate Friends, without any ur- 
 gent neceility. He was always attended, 
 whether within or out of Rome by the 
 principal Perfons of the Empire, who 
 fat at Table with him, where there were 
 ufually four Covers. He went a Hunt- 
 ing upon occafion, drank no Wine at 
 Dinner, fupp'd with the great Men of 
 the Empire, talking familiarly and plea- 
 fantly with them during the repaft. He 
 vi/ited his Friends when they were Sick, 
 was prefent at their Entertainments, and 
 diverted himfelf with them at their Hou- 
 K 4 fes 
 
Ε n* ] 
 
 fes of Pleafure. He fct up fome of their 
 Statues in the publick place during their 
 Lives, others after they were dead. Ne- 
 verthelefs there was not one of them 
 that duril abufe his friendfhip, in wrongs 
 ing any one whatfoevcr, or felling his Fa* 
 vours and Good-turns, as the Favourites 
 of former Emperors had done. Thus 
 have I given a sketch of the Man- 
 ners of Adrian. I ihall now relate 
 his moil confiderable Actions. As loon 
 as he entred Rome, he releas'd all that 
 was due from private Men for fix teen 
 years together, both to the private Trea• 
 fury of the Emperor, and to the pub- 
 lick one of the Roman People. He gave 
 Sports and Shows to the People gratis, 
 upon the day he was proclaimed, and 
 there was kill'd at one time for the 
 publick Diverfion , a hundred Lions, 
 and a hundred LioneiTes, He threw 
 apart to the Men and Women in the 
 Theatre and Circiu little Bowls, in which 
 were inclos'd Notes, that contained di- 
 vers Prefents. He alfo made an Order, 
 that Men and Women for the future 
 Ihou) i bath in feparate Baths. 
 
 The fame year a Phiiofopher nam'd 
 Euphrates y had recourfe to a voluntary 
 
 Death 
 
[ •?7 ] 
 
 Death with Adrians permiflion, to free 
 himfelf from the inconveniences of Dif- 
 eafes and Age. The Emperor vifited 
 feveral Provinces and Cities, altering 
 the Walls and Citadels of fome of them. 
 He took cognizance of all that related 
 to the Army, Arms, Machines, Ditch- 
 es and Ramparts. He enquired into the 
 conduit of Officers and Soldiers, their 
 Exercifes, and particular Manners. He 
 reform'd Abufes, pulfd down Buildings 
 that were ready to fall, and ere&ed o- 
 thers. He accuftonv'd the Soldiers to 
 their Exercifes, encourag'd thofe that 
 did well, reprov'd others, and ihew'd 
 them all their Duty. There was not 
 one thatdurit excufe himfelf from it, 
 when he faw the feverity of Difcipline 
 which he impos'd upon himfelf. He 
 made his Journeys either on Foot, or 
 on Horfeback. He never cover'd his 
 Head, either in regard to Heat or Cold, 
 but was bare as well under the Snows 
 of Gaul, as the Heats of Egypt. To fay 
 all in a few words, he eitabliuYd du- 
 ring the whole courfe of his Reign by 
 his Precepts and Example, fo exacl: a 
 Difcipline in the Army, that to this day 
 it is obferv'd, as a kind of a Law. In 
 • , time 
 
Ε ι?» ] 
 
 time of Peace he commonly refided a? 
 mong Strangers, whom he diverted by 
 this means, either bv his Prefence and 
 the fight of his Retinue, or by the e- 
 quity of his Ufage, or by his Prcfents, 
 from forming new Attempts. After he 
 had eftabliih'd Difcipline among the 
 Soldiers, as I have faid, and had ac- 
 cuilom'd them to their Exercifes, the 
 Horfe pafs'd the Dannie, and put the 
 Barbarians into fuch a Confirmation, 
 that aiTembling together, they made A- 
 iirian Judge of their Differences. In 
 the courfe of this Journey he erected 
 Theatres in feveral Cities, and inftitu- 
 ted Combats, but not with that Pomp 
 and Magnificence which was admir'd 
 in thofe of Rome. He went not to the 
 City where he was born, though he 
 had given it fingular Marks of his Af- 
 fection. 'Tis faid he had a great paffi- 
 on for Hunting, that he broke his Col- 
 lar-bone with a fall, and with much 
 adoe efcap'd breaking his Leg. Upon 
 this occafion he gave the name of A- 
 efrians Hunting to a City which he 
 had founded in Mafia. It muft be ovvn'd, 
 that his love for this Diver/ion made 
 him not forget the Cares of Bufuieis, 
 
 nor 
 
C Π9 ] 
 
 nor the Government of the Empire, 
 What he φ<ί for a Horfe call'd Bar ψ he- 
 xes, which he common lyus'd for Hunt- 
 ing, may let us fee how far the Excefs 
 of this Faflion carried him, fince when 
 he died, he rais'd him a Monument in 
 form of a Pillar, on which he engrav'd 
 his Epitaph. Nor are we to be fur- 
 priz'd after this, at the extraordinary 
 Honours he paid to the Memory of the 
 Emprefs Vlotina Trajans Wife, by whom 
 he had been paffionately lovd, and rais'd 
 to the Throne. He wore a Habit of a 
 dark colour for nine days, built a Tem- 
 ple to her, and composed Hymns in 
 honour of her. He was fuch a dexte? 
 rous Sportfman, that at one ihoot he 
 kill'd a uild Boor of a prodigious big- 
 nefs. Afterwards he went into Greece^ 
 and afliited at the Celebration of their 
 Myfteries, then he went through Judea^ 
 in order to pafs into Egypt, where he 
 performed Funeral Honours to Pompey, 
 to whom he applied a Verfe, the fenfe 
 of which is, that he had Temples erect- 
 ed to him, but no Monument ; and he 
 repair'd that which had been formerly 
 rais'd for him. Having likewife rebuilt 
 a City of Egypt y he call'd it by the 
 
 name 
 
[ Μ© ] 
 
 name of Antinom, who was a Native 
 of Bithinion, a place in Bithynia, and 
 by fome call'd tlodiopolis. This Anti- 
 'mm had miniftred to his Pleafures, and 
 died in Egypt, whether he fell into the 
 Nile, as Adrian has written, or was Sa- 
 crific'd rather. For Adrian, who gave 
 himfelf up to alj forts of Curiofities , 
 as I have already obferv'd, and fearch'4 
 into the fecrets of the Magick Art, ha- 
 ving occafion for a Perfon that fhould vo- 
 luntarily embrace Death, in order to the 
 rinding out thofe Mifteries, honour'd An- 
 tinous out of Gratitude, for having been 
 willing to undergoe this Law, or from 
 the fole remembrance of the fcandalous 
 Pleafures he had taken with him. One 
 of thefe twp Motives induc'd him to 
 build a City in the place where he 
 died, to call it by his Name, and to e- 
 recl: his Images, or rather his idols in 
 all parts of the World. In a word, he 
 was fo Superfluous as to affirm, that 
 he had feen Antinom in Heaven, under 
 the form of a new Star, and he was 
 tranfporred with joy, when he heard his 
 Courtiers fay, that the Soul of Antinom 
 had been chaog'd into a Star, which the 
 Aitronomers had but lately difcover'd. 
 
 The 
 
[ •4» ] 
 
 The vanity and extravagance of thefe 
 Superftitions, juftly expos'd him to the 
 Railleries of all the World. 
 
 Having built a City in the place of 
 jerufalem y which had been ruin'd, he 
 call'd it Elf a Qapitolina, and in the ve- 
 ry place where the Temple of God had 
 been , he rais'd one to Jupiter. The 
 Jews were extreamly afflicted to fee their 
 Country inhabited by Strangers, and 
 defil'd with the Impiety of the Pagan 
 Religion. Neverthelefs whilir. Adrian 
 was in Egypt t or in Palefline, they re- 
 main'd quiet, employing themfelves on- 
 ly in making Arms, and working un- 
 skilfully by defign, to the end that if 
 the Romans who had fet them at work, 
 mould find them ill made and reject 
 them , they might retain them, and 
 make ufe of them againft them. But 
 they revolted openly, as foon as he was 
 gone. Yet being afraid to expofe them- 
 felves to the hazard of a Battel, they 
 feiz'd upon the molt advantagious Pofts, 
 ere&ed Forts, fecur'd places of Retreat, 
 dug themfelves Caves, and made holes 
 to receive Air and Light , in cafe 
 they mould be oblig'd to retire into 
 them. The Romans defpis'd their En- 
 
 terprize 
 
[ »4* 1 
 
 terprize at firft. But when the Jews 
 were up in Arms in all parts of the 
 World, when by fraud and open force 
 they had done great Mifchief, when fe- 
 veral People had joyn'd them in hopes 
 of gain, and all the Earth rri a manner 
 was mov'd by the fpirit of their Re- 
 volt, then the Emperor fent excellent 
 Captains againft them. The mod con- 
 fiderable was Julius Severus, who upon 
 this occafion was recalled from Great 
 Britain, where he commanded at that 
 time. He duril not come to a general 
 Engagement with them, fearing their 
 Numbers and their Defpair. But having 
 attack'd them ieparateiy, and to Ad- 
 vantage, cutting off their Provifions, he 
 weakned them to that degree, after a 
 long while indeed, but at the fame time 
 without hazarding his Troops, that ve- 
 ry few of them elcap'd. He deftroy'd 
 fifty of their Forts, and nine hundred 
 fourfcore and five of their Towns. There 
 fell in Skirmimes and Battels, to the 
 number of five hundred and fourfcore 
 thoufand Men , and fo prodigious a 
 multitude perifrYd by Famine, Sickneis, 
 Or Fire, that 'twas impoffible to count 
 them, infomuch that Judea remain'd a- 
 
 very 
 
[ 141 3 
 
 very Defart. This deplorable Misfor- 
 tune had been in fome fort prefag'd to 
 them, by the mine of Solomons Tomb, 
 which they held in lingular Venerati- 
 on, and had fain of its own accord ; 
 and by the rage of the Wolves and Hye- 
 na's, which came into their City with 
 dreadful howlings. Nor did the Ro- 
 mans gain this Victory, without fuftain- 
 ing great Loiles on their fide, for which 
 reafon Adrian writing to the Senate, 
 omitted that form which the Emperors 
 were wont to ufe, viz. If you and your 
 Children are well, things are in a good 
 Condition. As for me and my Army, 
 we are in good Health. 
 
 He fent Severus foon after into Bithy- 
 nia y as into a Province that wanted a 
 Governor fo equitable, fo prudent, and 
 fo well efteem'd as he was. And in- 
 deed he govern'd it with fo much Wif- 
 dom, and eilabliih'd fo good an order 
 in all Affairs, as well private as publick, 
 that his Memory is ilill in Veneration 
 there. 
 
 The War of the Jews was no fooner 
 at an end, but Pharafmanes excited that 
 of the Alains, who are the fame with 
 the Majfagetes, He made great Ravages 
 
 in 
 
Ε M4 ] 
 
 in Media, fpar'd neither Armenia nor 
 Cappadocia. But the Alain s were foon 
 quiet, brib'd with the Preienrs of Volo- 
 gefes, and frightned with the preparati- 
 ons of Flavius Arianus. Adrian built a 
 Temple at the fame time in Athens to Ju- 
 piter Olympian, and fet up his own Statue 
 there , and a Dragon that had been 
 brought from the Indies. He celebra- 
 ted the Feail of Bacchus, in quality of 
 Magiftrate of the City, Magnificently 
 cloath'd after the manner of their Na- 
 tion. He fufTer'd the Greeks to build a 
 Temple to him, which was call'd Panel- 
 Union, in favour of which he inftituted 
 Sports, and aifign'd annual Revenues in 
 Corn and Money. Befides which he 
 gratified the Athenians with the Coun- 
 try of Cephalenia. He made feveral 
 Laws, and one among others by which 
 Sehators were forbid to farm the pub* 
 lick Taxes, either in their own or bor- 
 rowed Names. 
 
 After he was come back to Rome , 
 the People made great clamours upon 
 a day of Sports, to induce him to infran- 
 chife a Chariot- driver. But he rejected 
 their Petition, and made anfwer by way 
 of Writing in thefe terms : ' Tis unrea- 
 
 * fonable 
 
C «45 1 
 
 c fonable for you to ask me to infran- 
 1 chiie the Slave of another, and for 
 
 * me to oblige his Mailer to cbrifent to 
 
 * it. The inconvenience he had been 
 long fubjecT: to of bleeding at the Nofe 
 increafing, he defpair'd of a Cure, and 
 declar'd Commodus Emperor, though he 
 was likewiie troubled with the lame 
 Indifpofition. He put Severian to Death, 
 and Fufcus his Grandfon, (though the 
 firit was fourfcore and ten, and the o- 
 ther but eighteen) and had no other 
 pretence for treating them thus, but 
 becaufe they had difapprov'd of the E- 
 lecuon he had made. Ssvenan before 
 he was itrangled ask'd for Fire, and 
 throwing Incenfe upon it, made this 
 Prayer, ' Ο God, who knoweit that I 
 4 have committed no Crime, and that 
 c Adrian puts me to Death unjuftly, I 
 1 ask no other Vengeance of thee but 
 c this, that he may one day wifti for 
 1 Death, without being able to obtain 
 
 * it. This Imprecation was not vain, 
 for Adrian languiih'd with a long and 
 troublefom Sicknefs, during which he 
 often wifli'd to die, and fought means 
 to effedfc it. There is even a Letter of 
 his, which contains a Defcription of the 
 
 L deplc- 
 
t •4<* 3 
 
 deplorable State to which thofe are re- 
 duca who invoke Death, and ihe refu- 
 fes to afult them. Trajan had conciev'd 
 ib particular an Eftecm for the Merit of 
 Severian, that he had judg'd him wor- 
 thy of the Sovereign Power ; for being 
 one day at Table with his Friends, he 
 told them he fliould be glad if they 
 could name to him ten Men capable of 
 governing the Empire. Then after a 
 little pauie he faid, ' Hold, I ask but 
 
 * nine of you, for I have one of them, 
 
 * naming Severian. There liv'd at that 
 time fome great Men, whereof the chief 
 were Turbo and Similis, who rais'd them- 
 felves by their Valour to great Employ- 
 ments. Turbo knew perfectly well the 
 Art of War, had the Office of Prte- 
 
 fettus Fratorio, and in the height of 
 his Fortune, liv'd with the moderation 
 of a private Man. He was fo ailidu- 
 ous at Court, that he fpent all the day 
 there, and often went thither at Mid- 
 night, when others began to take their 
 Repofe. He never ilaid at Home, not 
 even when he was Indifpos'd, and when 
 Adrian advis'd him one day to give 
 himfelf a little reft, he replied to him, 
 
 * That a Man in his Place ought to die 
 
 ' ftand- 
 
[ M7 ] 
 
 € itandirig. Similis furpafs'd him in Age 
 and Dignity, and was not exceeded in 
 Vertue. One may meafure the great- 
 nefs of it by a imall Inftance, which 
 I am about to give. Trajan having 
 fent for him one day into his Cabinet , 
 before he fent for fome other Officers 
 who were his Superiors, he iaidrohim, 
 'Tisnotflt, My Lord, that you mould 
 4 Difcourfe with a Centurion, whilit his 
 
 * Superior Officers attend without. He 
 had afterwards againil his defire, the 
 Office of Prafettus Pratorio, which he 
 furrendred, and having with great dif- 
 ficulty got leave to retire into the Coun- 
 try, he liv'd there feven years, and 
 when he died, order'd an Infcription 
 upon his Tomb to this effed", viz. ' That 
 
 * he had been feveral years upon Earth, 
 1 but had liv'd only feven of them. 
 Adrian had loft fo great a quantity of 
 Blood, that he became a Skeleton, and 
 afterwards Dropfical. Commodus dying 
 at the fame time of a lofs of Blood, as 
 I have {aid, Adrian fummon'd the chief 
 of the Senate to his Palace, and from 
 his Bed, to which he was confln'd by 
 reafon of his Sicknefs, made them the 
 following Difcourfe. ' Nature , my 
 
 L % 'ϋάΐ 
 
 
[ ι 4 8 ] 
 
 Dear Friends, having given me no 
 Children, your Laws have allow'd me 
 to adopt them. Now there is this 
 difference betueenthofe which Nature 
 gives, and thofe one adopts. The firft 
 are fuch as the hazard of their Birth 
 has made them, whereas the fecond 
 are the refult of a deliberate Choice, 
 confequently fuch as we deiire to have 
 them. The one come often into the 
 World with notorious imperfections 
 of Body and Mind , and we make 
 choice of the others , becaufe they 
 are free from them. I had lately calt 
 my Eyes upon Commodus , and had 
 preierr'd him before all the moil emi- 
 nent Perfons in Rome, becaufe he was 
 poilcfs'd of more excellent Qualities, 
 than I could ever have hop'd to find 
 in a Son of my own. But fince the 
 Gods have taken him from us, I have 
 found another, whom I prefent to 
 you, one that is illuftrious by his Birth, 
 moderate in his Nature, prudent in 
 his Conduct, and arriv'd to an Age 
 equally remote from the violence of 
 young Men, and the heavinefs of old. 
 He has been brought up in obedience to 
 the Laws 3 and has pafs'd thro' Employ- 
 
 ' ments 
 
[ H9 1 
 
 ments in a regular courfe, according 
 to the Cuftoms of our Anceftors ; fo 
 that having learnt what a Sovereign 
 ought to know, he gives hopes that 
 he will worthily difcharge the Duties 
 of a Sovereign. I ipeak of Aurelius 
 Antoninus^ whom you fee here before 
 you, who though he has naturally an 
 averfion for the buttle of Affairs, and 
 is wholly difengag'd from the ambi- 
 tion of Commanding, will not flight 
 us, I hope, to that degree, as to refufq 
 to take upon him the Government of 
 the Empire. Thus was Antoninus in- 
 veiled with the Sovereign Power. As 
 he had no Male lifue, and had a mind 
 to appoint his SucceiTors betimes, he 
 adopted Commodus^ the Son of Commo- 
 dus^ and Marcus Antoninus Verus. This 
 laft was before call'd Catilus, and was 
 Grandfon of Anntus Verus, who had 
 been thrice Conful, and Military Tri- 
 bune. Aurelius Antoninus had been ad- 
 vis'd by Adrian to adopt them both, 
 but he had much more confederation 
 for Antoninus Verus, as well in regard 
 to the relation that was between them, 
 as to the maturity of his Age, and the 
 vigour of his Mind, for which he was 
 L 3 wont 
 
[ «5o 1 
 
 wont to call him in a pleafant way Ve- 
 riflimus. 
 
 Adrian by the fecrets of Magick, 
 drain'd away the water that fwelFd his 
 Body. But another fwelling returning 
 foon after, and his Diftemperincreafing 
 every day, he wiih'd for Death with- 
 out being able to obtain it, and ask'd 
 feveral times for Poifon, and a Dagger 
 without being obey'd. At length find- 
 ing that no body would ferve him in 
 this matter, he fent for a Jazyzian , 
 whofe name was Maflor, a ilrong, bold 
 Fellow, that he was wont to make ufe 
 of in Hunting, upon the account of thofe 
 two qualities, and oblig'd him by Pro- 
 mifes and Threats, to confent to kill 
 him. To this end he ihew'd him a place 
 below the Pap, which had been former- 
 ly difcover'd to him by Hermogenes his 
 Phyfician, where he was to make the 
 thruft, which without putting him to 
 any pain, would deliver him from Life, 
 But this Artifice having fail'd him, be- 
 caufe Maflor was feiz'd with Horror at 
 fo ftrange an Attempt, and fled from 
 him, he began to make great complaints 
 of his Sicknefs, and the Mifery he was 
 Teduc d to in not being able to die him- 
 
 felf, 
 
[ 15» 1 
 
 felf, tho' he could put others to Death 1 
 Afterwards obferving no longer any 
 Rules, eating and drinking indifferent- 
 ly of every thing he lik'd, and repeating 
 aloud an Expreilion very common, That 
 the multitude of Physicians had kill'd 
 the Emperor, he expir'd. He liv'd iixty 
 two Years, five Months, nineteen Days, 
 and reign'd twenty Years and eleven 
 Months. His Body was put into a Tomb 
 which he had built upon the Banks of 
 the Tyler near Tons Elius, becaufe Au- 
 gufluss Tomb was full. He had made 
 himfelf extreamly odious, by the Mur- 
 ders he had committed at the beginning 
 and end of his Reign. Yet it muff: be 
 ownd, that he was not cruel in his Na- 
 ture, as it appear'd by his manner of re- 
 venging himfelf one day upon fome who 
 had offended him : For in (lead of giv- 
 ing them any ill Treatment, he con- 
 tented himfelf with faying, that he would 
 fend word into their Countries that they 
 had difpleas'd him. Further, when they 
 who had committed any Crime had Chil- 
 dren, he confider'd the number of them, 
 and relax'd the rigour of the Laws ac- 
 cordingly. 
 
 L 4 THE 
 
[ «5? 3 
 
 THE 
 
 REIGN 
 
 O F Τ Η Ε 
 
 EMPEROR 
 Antoninus Pius. 
 
 ΤΗ Ε Hiftory of Antoninus Pius is 
 not to be found in the Works 
 of Dion, fo that this part of him 
 mult be loft. Thus there is fcarce any- 
 thing known of him, except that Com- 
 modus, whom Adrian had adopted, dy- 
 ing before him, Antoninus was adopted 
 in his room. We alfo know that the 
 Senate detefting the Memory of Adri- 
 an, becaufe he had put to Death fome 
 of the moil eminent Perfons of the 
 Empire, and refufing for that reafon to 
 
 pay 
 
[ *54 J 
 pay him Divine Honours, Antoninus 
 with Tears in his Eyes conjur'd them 
 not to affront him at that rate, and told 
 them among other things to make them 
 comply, that if they held Adrian for 
 their Enemy, if they condemn'd his 
 Memory, and made his Ordinances in- 
 valid , they at the fame time annull'd 
 his Adoption, and the choice he had 
 made of him to govern the Empire. 
 Thefe words made fuch an impreilion 
 upon the Senate, that out of refpe& to 
 Antoninus^ and fear of the Soldiers, A- 
 drian was put into the number of the 
 Gods. We likewife find in Dion, how 
 Antoninus came to be furnam'd Pius , 
 which was thus : Several Pertbns having 
 been condemn'd in the beginning of his 
 Reign, and fome being on the point 
 to be carried to Execution, he fav'd 
 their Lives, faying, That he would not 
 begin his Reign in Blood. The begin- 
 ning of the Reign of Marcus Verus , 
 Succeilor to Antoninus, is alfo wanting 
 in the Hiftory of Dion, as well as the 
 relation of what that Emperor did, with 
 regard to Lucius the Son of Commodus, 
 whom he had chofen for his Son-m- 
 il aw, and what Lucius did in the War 
 
 againil 
 
[ *55 3 
 againft VoUgefes^ which was given to his 
 Conduct by the Emperor his Father-in- 
 Law. Thus I am oblig'd to draw from 
 other Authors, a Ihort relation of thoie 
 Events, before Irefumethe reft of Dion. 
 All the world agrees, that Antoninus was 
 an excellent Prince, that he opprefs'd 
 none of his Subjects, that he never per- 
 fected the Chriftians, but on the con- 
 trary, had a refpecl: for them, and did 
 in fome meafure refine upon thoie tefti- 
 monies of Efteem and Honour, which 
 Adrian had given them. Eufehius Tam- 
 philus has inferted fome Letters in his 
 Hiilory, by which Adrian threatens with 
 an Oath, to puniih thofe who ihould 
 ufe the Chriftians ill, or ihould accufe 
 them before the Judges. 'Tis faid, that 
 Antoninus was too exaot and fcrupulous 
 in little matters, which often expos'd 
 him to the publick Raillery, guadra- 
 tus writes, that he died in an advanc'd 
 Age, his Death being very calm, with- 
 out any manner of Difturbance, and 
 refembling an agreeable Sleep. It is 
 faid, that in his Reign there happen'd 
 in Bitbynia and He/Iefpont, a furious 
 Earthquake, whereby feveral Cities, and 
 that of Cyzicus among the reft were 
 
 ruin'd, 
 
[ Μ* ] 
 
 ruin d. The Temple of this lad place, 
 which was one of the vafteft and no- 
 bleft in the Univerfe, being thrown down 
 from top to bottom. The Pillars that 
 fupported it were of an entire piece, 
 tho'they were four Ells Diameter, and 
 fifty Cubits high. It were eafier for 
 thofe who faw the other Ornaments of it 
 to admire them, than it would be for me 
 todefcribe them. 
 
 It is faid that the fame percuflion ha- 
 ving cleft the top of a Mountain, a vio- 
 lent flux of Water and Sea- froth pro- 
 ceeded from it, which ran far into the 
 Land. This is what I had to fay of the 
 Reign of Antoninus, which lafted four 
 and twenty years. 
 
 THE 
 
t «J7] 
 
 THE 
 
 REIGN 
 
 Ο F Τ Η Ε 
 EMPEROR 
 
 Marcus Antoninus 
 
 The Philofopher. 
 
 MARCUS AJSTTOtf/MUShzd 
 no fooner taken poifeilion of 
 the Empire, after the Death 
 of Antoninus Pius y by whom he had 
 been adopted, but he made Lucius Verus 
 the Son of Commodus, his AiTociate in 
 the Government. That which mov'd 
 him to chufe a Collegue is, becaufe he 
 was of a very tender Conftitution, and 
 much addicted to Study ; for it is faid, 
 
 that 
 
[ M« ] 
 
 that after he had the Sovereign Power 
 in his Hands, he made no difficulty of 
 going into the Schools of the Philofo- 
 phers, hearing often Sextus of Bteotia, 
 and the Difcourfes of Hermogenes the 
 Orator. He made profeiTion of the Seel: 
 of the Stoicks. On the other fide Luci- 
 us was in the flower of his Age, en- 
 joy 'd a vigorous Health, and had an 
 inclination to War. Soon after his Mar- 
 riage with LuciUa^ Daughter of the Em- 
 peror Marcus^ he went to take upon 
 him the Conduct of the War againft 
 the Vartbians, which Vologefes had be- 
 gun fo profperouily, that having as it 
 were inclos'd the Roman Army near £- 
 Iegia y a City of Armenia ^ where it was 
 incamp'd by order of Severian, he had 
 cut part of it in pieces, and had made 
 himfelf formidable to all Syria. When 
 Lucius Verus was arriv'd at Antioch, he 
 rais'd Soldiers, appointed their Officers, 
 remain'd in that City to give the ne- 
 cefTary Orders, and to provide for the 
 occafions of the Army, and kft the 
 command to Cafius. Cafius bravely 
 withftood the lhocks of Fologefes , 
 prefs'd upon him when he faw him for- 
 iaken by his Allies, purfued him as far 
 
[ »59 ] 
 
 as Seleucia and Ctefiphon, fet fire to the 
 fir ft of thofe two Cities, and deftroy'd 
 the King's Palace in the fecond. The 
 end was not anfwerable to Co fair a be- 
 ginning. For though this General was 
 happy enough to bring back his Troops 
 into Syria, vet he loft a great number 
 of them by Sicknefs or Famine. Luci- 
 us got Reputation by this Expedition, 
 and grew vain upon it. But Fortune 
 was foon weary of favouring his Enter- 
 prifes. For it is laid, that having con- 
 fpir'd foon after againft Marcus Antoni• 
 nus his Father- in-Law, he was poifon'd 
 before he could put his defigns in exe- 
 cution. 
 
 Marcus having beftow'd upon Cajfms 
 the Government of all Afia, during his 
 whole Reign almoft made War upon 
 thofe People who live along the Danube, 
 upon the Jazygians, and the Marcomans f 
 and during all that time, made ufe ot 
 Fannonia to retreat into, to cover his 
 Troops, and to make Irruptions. The 
 Germans who live about the Rhine, ad- 
 vanc'd at the fame time to the very Fron- 
 tiers of Italy, and extreamly incommo- 
 ded the Romans. Antoninus fuftamd 
 their Efforts, and chofe for his Lieute- 
 nants 
 
[ '<So ] 
 
 nants Pompeianus and Pertlnax , who 
 fignaliz'd himfelf in this War, and af- 
 terwards afcended the Throne. 
 
 Among the (lain of the Enemy, were 
 found Women arm'd at all points. The 
 Battel having been very obftinate, and 
 the Victory of the Romans very glori- 
 ous, the Soldiers demanded Rewards, 
 which the Emperor refus'd them, fay- 
 ing, that what he would give them be- 
 fides what was juilly their due, fhould 
 be the Blood of their Fathers and Re- 
 lations, and that an Emperor could have 
 no Controuler or Judge of his Actions 
 but God. He always behav'd himfelf 
 towards the Soldiers, with fo much Mo- 
 deration and Prudence, that during fo 
 many obftinate and almoit continued 
 Wars, he never granted them any thing 
 £>ut of Weaknefs or Fear. The Mar- 
 comans having won a Battel, in which 
 Vindex Prafectus Pnetorio was flain, the 
 Emperor ere&ed three Statues to his 
 Memory. He afterwards defeated thofe 
 People, and fo merited the furname of 
 Germankus ; for we call thofe Germans 
 who live in the high Country. Some 
 Shepherds and other Inhabitants ofEgypt, 
 having been excited to a Sedition by 
 
f »*• ] 
 
 a Pried of the Country, and another 
 cv\\ l a.lfidorus, they difguis'd therr r elves 
 like Women, and going under this bor- 
 rowed Habit, to meet a Centurion of 
 the Roman Army, upon pretence of ran- 
 foming their Husbands who were Pri- 
 foners, they kill'd him and one of his 
 Companions, part of whofe Intrails they 
 eat, and fwore upon it a Reciprocal Fi- 
 delity. Ifidorus was doubtleis more fa- 
 mous for his Valour, than any of his 
 Party. Thefe Rebels being led by fuch 
 a Captain, eafily overcame the Remans 
 that were in Egypt, and had taken A- 
 lexandria, if Cajfius had not been lent 
 from Syria, to oppole the progrefs of 
 their Arms. Hedurft not hazard a Bat- 
 tel with Enemies that were Γσ nume- 
 rous, and whofe defpair redoubled their 
 Courage. Therefore he had recourfe 
 to Arts and Intrigues, by which he fow'd 
 Divifions among them, which was the 
 caufe of their ruine. 
 
 To omit nothing that was memora- 
 ble in the War of Germany, a$ Antoni- 
 nus was examining a young Man of 
 that Nation, who had been made Pri- 
 foner, he iaid to him, l My Lord, the 
 c Severity of the Seafon will not iufTer 
 
 Μ ■ nre 
 
t «<** ] 
 
 me to anivver you, if you defire to 
 receive any information "from me, have 
 c the goodnefs to beftow fome Cloaths 
 ' upon me. A Soldier that was Sentinel 
 in the Night upon the Bank of the 
 Danule, hearing the cries of fome of his 
 Comrades on the other fide, who were 
 taken Prifoners, fwam over the River 
 and refcued them. The Emperor had 
 given the employment of Prafeclus Pro:- 
 torio to Rufus Bazeus, a Man of Sub» 
 fiance, but very plain by Nature, and 
 Education. Some body having found 
 him one day as he was cutting Wood 
 in a Foreii, call'd to him to come down 
 from the Tree he was in, but he not 
 obeying, the other reprov 'd him for it, 
 faying, ' Defcend, Prefect, defcend. 
 
 When the Emperor was not taken 
 up in War, he employ'd himfelf in di- 
 ilributing Juftice, and gave the Gentle- 
 men at the Bar a good meafure of Wa- 
 ter, that they might plead as long as 
 they thought fit. He fometimes fpent 
 eleven or twelve Hours upon the fame 
 Affair, that it might be throughly exa- 
 min'd. He lov'd Bufinefs, applied him- 
 felf to the moil minute Offices, never 
 faying, doing, or writing any thing neg- 
 ligently. 
 
[ ι*ι 3 
 
 ligently. He gave up whole Hours to 
 Affairs that were flight enough, from an 
 opinion, that an Emperor ought to do 
 nothing with Precipitation. If he had 
 fail'd in the lead thing, he would have 
 thought that the Reproach he ihould 
 have deferv'd for it, would have exten- 
 ded to all his other Actions. 
 
 He was of a Conftitution fo delicate, 
 that he could not bare Cold. Μ hen 
 he had fummon'd the Soldiers with an 
 intention to make a Speech to them, he 
 retir'd firfl, in order to take a little 
 Nouriihment. He made no repaid till 
 Night, taking nothing in the Day- time 
 but Treacle, not through fear, nor by 
 the way of Counter- poifon , but as a 
 remedy to itrengthen his Stomach. 
 
 About this time the Romans at length 
 obtain'd the Victory over the Jazygi- 
 ans, firfl: in the field where the Battel was 
 begun, then upon the Danube, which 
 was at that time frozen by the rigour of 
 the Celd, where it was continued after 
 the Barbarians had retreated to it. They 
 imagine! they ihouid have the advan- 
 tage upon the Ice, on which the Ro- 
 mans were not accuftom'd to march, 
 and with this hope they attack'd them 
 Μ i in 
 
r «6 4 3 
 
 in Front and Hank. The Roma«i:mtfo 
 out being lurprizM at tins new manner 
 of fighting, threw down their Buck- 
 lers, and letting one foot upon them 
 to have the furer footing , itand the 
 fhock of the Enemies, cloie in with 
 them , put them into Confufion, and 
 make Men and Horles both tumble. 
 The Romans fell upon the Ice as well 
 the Barbarians. But if they fell back- 
 wards, they drew their Enemies down 
 with them, drag'd them by the Feet, 
 and got the Advantage. If they fell 
 forwards, they fell upon the Enemy, 
 whom they feiz'd with their Teeth on 
 the inilant. Thus the Barbarians who 
 were not accuitom'd to this way of 
 fighting, and were befides but ilightly 
 Arm'd, could not bear up, lb that as 
 numerous as they were , very few of 
 them efcap'd. In this manner did the 
 Emperor Marcus Antoninus bring under 
 his Subjection the Jazygians and Marco- 
 mans, after having fought feveral Bat- 
 tels, and cxpos'd himfejf to great dan- 
 gers. 
 
 Scarce was this War at an end, but 
 another was begun againit the Quadi, 
 in which the Romans felt viiible efle&s 
 
 of 
 
Γ *6γ ] 
 
 of the Divine Protection. The Romans 
 were engag'd in a narrow Ground, where 
 without fighting, they mull inevitably 
 pe,ri Πι through Heat and Third. They 
 were fib incios'd by their Enemies, who 
 were vaftly fuperior in numbers, that 
 their water was entirely cut off They 
 were opprefs'd with all kinds of Mis- 
 fortunes, fatigu'd with Labour, woun- 
 ded, fcorch'd by the Sun, prefs'd with 
 Third, and ihut up in a place where 
 they had no ilrength to fight, nor way 
 to efcape. In this dreadful extremity, 
 they receiv'd an unexpected relief from 
 Heaven. For of a fudden the Clouds 
 gather'd,thickned,and pound down plen- 
 tifully. 'Tis did, that £ Magician of 
 Egypt cali'd Arnuphius, who was in the 
 Roman Army, invok'd Mercury ', and o- 
 ther Demons that pre fide in the Air, 
 and obtain'd of them this Rain. This 
 is what Dion advances. But certainly 
 he is miilaken, or had a mind to im- 
 pofe upon others, which I rather believe, 
 iince he could not be ignorant there 
 was a Legion, which was furnam'd Ful- 
 minans, and upon no other occafion , 
 but for haying conjur'd Heavn by the 
 fervency of his Prayers, and obtain'd in 
 Μ 3 a 
 
[ 1 66 
 
 a wonderfal manner the preformation or' 
 the Roman Army, and the ruine of that 
 of the Barbarians. Arnuphius never 
 was a Magician, and no body has writ- 
 ten that Marcus Antoninus was addicted 
 to the fuperilitions of Magick. The 
 truth of the ilory is as follows. A- 
 mong the Legions of Marcus Aurelius 
 Antoninus, there was one compos'd of 
 the People of Maltha, whofe Inhabitants 
 were all Chriilians. Now as the Em* 
 peror. was in an extream perplexity du- 
 ring this War, and greatly concern'd 
 for the event of it, one of his great 
 Officers repreiented to him, that there 
 were fome Chriilians among his Troops 
 whofe Prayers were ib powerful, that 
 they could obtain any thing from Hea- 
 ven, Antoninus comforted with the 
 news, commanded the Chriilians to of- 
 fer up Prayers to their God for the pre- 
 fervation of the Roman Army. They 
 had no fooner obey'd him, but they 
 obtain'd Thunder and Lightning, which 
 ailoniih'd and difpers'd the Enemy, and 
 a Rain which comforted and refreih'd 
 the Romans.. The Emperor iurpriz'd at 
 the force Οι their Prayers, made an 
 EdlcS: in favour of the Chriilians, and 
 
 gave 
 
f •<*7 ] 
 
 gave to the Civilian Religion the fur- 
 name of Fulmikans. 'Tis laid, there is 
 ilill a Letter of his upon that Subject. 
 The Pagans are not ignorant that this 
 Legion was furnarrfd Fulminans ; they 
 even avow it, but they conceal the oc- 
 cafion of its being fo call'd. D/onzdds, 
 that when the Romans faw the Rain, 
 they open'd their Mouths to receive it, 
 then fill'd their Bucklers, and their Hel- 
 mets with it, drank till they were la- 
 tisfied, and gave it to their Horfes. They 
 were attack'd the fame Moment, and 
 were found equally bufie in drinking 
 and defending themfelves. Some being 
 wounded, mix'd their Blood with the 
 Water they drank. They had without 
 doubt been worfted in the Engagement, 
 if it had not been ilop'd by the violence 
 of Hail and Lightning, which feJl up- 
 on their Enemies. Heaven at the fame 
 time Hied its Water which refreili'd the 
 one, andlanc'd its fire which confum'd 
 the other. The Romans received no hurt 
 by the fire, and if it fell upon them, 
 'twas extinguifrYd on the inftant. The 
 guadi were not reliev'd by the Water, 
 which feem'd to change to Oil on their 
 fide, and to kindle the fire that deitrcy'd 
 Μ 4 them. 
 
[ **8 1 
 them. The Rain with which they were 
 ί mitten not extinguishing their fire, they 
 gave tbcmfelves wounds in order to 
 extinguish it with their Blood. Some 
 went over to the Camp of the Romans, 
 through a belief that there was no other 
 place, where the water might be of any 
 afiiftance to them. The Emperor pi- 
 tied their Misfortune, and receiv'd them 
 gently. He was the feventh time pro- 
 claim'd Emperor by the Army , and 
 though he had never before accepted 
 the Title till 'twas given him by the 
 Senate, yet he receiv'd it then not fo 
 much from the Soldiers, as from Hea- 
 ven it felf. Fauflina was at the fame 
 time call'd Mother of the Army. 
 
 Pertinax having been honour'd with 
 the Dignity of Conful, as a 'Reward for 
 his Signal Services in this War, fome 
 were difpleas'd at it, by reafon of the 
 lownefsof his Birth, and applied a Verfe 
 to him, the fenfe of which was, that 
 he owed his rife to the Calamities of 
 War. They who took this liberty with 
 him, little thought that he was to be 
 their Sovereign one day. 
 
 Caffm having revolted in Syria, the 
 Emperor wasextreamly furpriz r d at it, 
 
 and 
 
 
[ %69 1 
 
 and tent againft him his Son Ccmwodas, 
 who was come to mature Age. QaJJius 
 was a Native of Syria, a Man of great 
 Vertues, and adorn'd with every quali- 
 ty that was deferable in an Emperor. 
 He wanted nothing but Birth, being the 
 Son of Heliodorus, who rofe from the 
 profeifion of Rhetorick, to be Governor 
 of Egypt* He committed a great fault 
 no doubt, when he attempted to ufurp 
 the Sovereign Power. But he was en- 
 gag'd to it by Fauftina. She was the 
 Daughter of Antoninus Pius, and Wife 
 to Marcus Aurelius Antoninus the Philo- 
 iopher. Perceiving that the Emperor 
 her Husband was infirm, and that Com' 
 modal• was young, and of little hopes, 
 lhe apprehended , left the Sovereign 
 Power might fall into the Hands of a- 
 nother, who fhould reduce her to a 
 private Condition, and perfwaded Οαβ- 
 us to be ready to marry her fecretly, 
 and to poilefs himfelf of the Empire, 
 in cafe any fatal accident happen'd to 
 Antoninus. While QaJJius was delibera- 
 ting upon this defign, Fame, according 
 to her cuilom of publiihing ill news ra- 
 ther than good, dilpers'd that of the 
 Emperors Death, and on the inftant, 
 
 Qaffm 
 
[ »?o ] 
 
 Coffins without examining the truth of 
 the Report, declar'd his intention to 
 aiTume the Sovereign Power , which 
 had already been given him by the fuf- 
 frages of the Army which ferv'd in Ton- 
 noma. When he underftood the news 
 was falfe, he found himfelf too for en- 
 gaged to change his opinion , reduc'd 
 the People who live beyond Mount 
 Taurus to fubje&ion, and prepar'd to 
 make himfelf be acknowledge! by all 
 the other Subje&s of the Empire. 
 
 When Marcus Antoninus had received 
 intelligence by Letters from Verus y Go- 
 vernor of Cappadocza, of the Revolt of 
 Caffus, he endeavoured to keep it fecret. 
 But after it was become publick, and 
 had caus'd fome confufion among the 
 Soldiers, he fummon'd them together, 
 and fpoke to them in thefe terms. ' I 
 come not hither my Companions, to 
 vent my Difpleafure or my Rcfent- 
 ment ; for to what purpofe mould I 
 accufe the Gods, fmce they difpofe of 
 all things with an abfolute Will ? Ne- 
 c verthelels they, who, like my felf, are 
 4 unfortunate, without deferving to be 
 ' fo, muft find it very difficult to re- 
 c frain from Complaints. In earneft is 
 
[ «?• ] 
 
 it not hard to be vex'd with continu- 
 al Wars, and to get rid of one only 
 to fall into another ? Is it not cruel 
 to fee a Civil War fucceed a foreign one? 
 But is it not a Misfortune yet more 
 fatal than a War, whether foreign or 
 civil, to find by experience, that there 
 is no longer any Fidelity among Men, 
 to fee my felf betray 'd by one of my 
 moil intimate Friends, and to be en- 
 engag'd in Battels, for which I have 
 given no occafion? Can there be in 
 the World after this, any Vertue that 
 is folid, any Friendihip that is con- 
 ilant ? Is it net to be avow'd, that 
 there is neither Faith nor Hope re- 
 maining ? I fhould contemn this dan- 
 ger, if it threatned me alone, for in 
 a word, I am not Immortal. But fince 
 it regards all Mankind, and tends to 
 a publick Infurrection and General 
 War, I would fummon Qajfiui before 
 you and the Senate, if 'twere ροίίι- 
 ble, and fuffer his pretentions to be 
 examin'd. There if itiliouldbejudg'd 
 for the good of the State, that I lliould 
 refign the Government in his favour, 
 I would moil willingly confent to it. 
 In earned, what reafon could I have 
 
 to 
 
Ε 17* ] 
 
 c to be willing to keep a ilation that 
 ' engages me to fuilain fo many La^ 
 
 * bours, and to run through fo many 
 4 dangers? Notwithftanding the incon- 
 c vsniences of Age and Sicknefs, 1 have 
 c pafs'd out of Italy, and continued a- 
 c broad for a long time, during which 
 ' I have had not the Jeaft interval of 
 4 Repofe. But iince 'twould be in vain 
 
 * to attempt to bring Cafflus over to 
 ' this Examination, or to place any con- 
 c fidence in me after having given me 
 
 * fo many marks of his Treachery, L 
 
 * exhort you, my Companions, to be 
 
 * of good Courage, if Troops drawn 
 
 * from Cilicia^ Syria, Judea and Egypt, 
 ' were far fuperior to you in number, 
 ' inilead of being, as they are, inferi- 
 c or, that advantage would be of little 
 4 ufe to them. Yet further, how iuf- 
 ' fkient foever Caffius is in the Art of 
 
 * War, and howfoever fortuntae he has 
 ' hitherto been, he is not the more for- 
 c midable at this juncture, finceanEa- 
 
 * gle with a train of Jays, or a Lion at 
 
 * the head of timerous Hinds are in- 
 c capable of any great execution. To 
 
 * you and not to him, belongs the gto- 
 
 * ry of haying finiili'd the War againft 
 
 the 
 
L «7* ] 
 
 8 the Arabians, and Varthidns. ft' he 
 values himielf on his Exploits in thofe 
 Wars, you have Verus among you, 
 who has fought greater Battels, and 
 gain'd greater Victories. Yet more, 
 perhaps he repents of his Undertaking, 
 ilnce he underilood the rumour of my 
 Death was fa he, and perhaps he had 
 remain 'd in quiet, if he had imagin'd 
 I had been alive. But tho' he iliould 
 frill be determin'd to revolt, he will 
 renounce his deiign out of an awful 
 refpedt to my Dignity, or an appre- 
 henfion of your Power, as foon as he 
 receives information of your March. 
 Thus I have but one thing to fear, 
 for ΠΙ conceal no part of the truth 
 from you; I fayi have nothing to fear, 
 but left to avoid the confufion of 
 appearing before you, he fhould pro- 
 cure his owq Death, or be difpatch'd 
 by others upon the report of the pre- 
 parations I am making to chaftife his 
 Infolence. This doubtlefs would de- 
 prive me of the moil Signal Advan- 
 tage Ϊ can expect from War and Victo- 
 ry, and the moil glorious one that e- 
 ver any Man gain'd on any occafion 
 whatsoever. You'l ask me what this 
 
 4 migli- 
 
[ 174 1 
 
 mighty advantage is. It is to pardon 
 an injury, to preferve friendihip for 
 one who has made a violation of it, to 
 be faithful to one that is diiloyal. 
 Perhaps what I fay feems incredible to 
 you. It is true notwithftanding. It 
 muft not be imagind that Vertue is 
 intirely baninYd from the World, and 
 that there are among us no remains of 
 the Probity of the flrft Ages. The 
 more this feems impracticable , the 
 more I wiili to perform it, and to make 
 appear that to me 'tis very eafie, tho' 
 'tis judg'd impoilible. I would always 
 draw this advantage from our Mis- 
 fortunes, to teach the World that how 
 fatal foever a Civil War is to a Nati- 
 on, 'tis poilible to make a good ufe 
 of it. 
 
 This is what Marcus Aurelius fpoke 
 to the Army. He wrote the fame in 
 fubitance to the Senate, without mixing 
 either in his Speech or his Letter, any 
 injurious Reflections upon Cafius , ex- 
 cept that he reproach'd him with In- 
 gratitude. And Cajfws on his fide 
 never let a word fall, that was con- 
 trary to the refpec-t he owed to Aure- 
 lius* 
 
 While 
 
Γ 175 ] 
 
 While this Prince was making his 
 Preparations, he receiv'd news of the De- 
 feat of fome foreign Nations, and of the 
 Death of Caffius. A Cent ur ion , whofe 
 name was Antonius, meeting with him, 
 wounded him in the Neck , but the 
 wound not being Mortal, becaufe the 
 Centurion was carried away by the fwift- 
 nefs of his Horfe, a fecond Officer gave 
 him another. They afterwards cut off 
 his Head, and brought it to the Em- 
 peror. Thus was Cafftus {lain after he 
 had for three Months and fix Days en- 
 joyed the ihadow of the Imperial Dig- 
 nity. His Son was alfo kill'd in another 
 place at the fame time. 
 
 Marcus Aurelius vifited the Nations; 
 that were concern'd in the Rebellion 
 of Caffius^ and us'd them with fuch An- 
 gular Humanity, that he put no body- 
 to Death, either great or fmall. Fau- 
 flina died at the fame time, and by her 
 Death, happily avoided the Ihame and 
 difpleafure of being tax'd with having 
 knowledge of the Confpiracy. The 
 Emperor would not examine into the 
 Circumilancesof it, and inftead of read- 
 ing Letters that gave him information 
 of it, he tore them in pieces, that he 
 
 might 
 
[ y6 ] 
 
 might not be oblig'd to hate tliofe whom 
 he ihould find concem'd. 'lis faid al- 
 io, that Verus who was fent into Syria, 
 having found the Cabinet and Memoirs 
 of Coffins^ fupprefs'd them, faying, that 
 Marcus Aurelius would thank him for 
 k, or if he Ihould refent it, he would 
 willingly be a Sacrifice to his Anger for 
 the prefervation of others. Tis cer- 
 tain this Emperor was fo far from ha- 
 ving a Difpofition to the Ihedding of 
 Blood, that the Gladiators fought be- 
 fore him with Foils. He was fenfibly 
 touch'd with the lofs of Fauflina, and 
 in his Letter to the Senate upon that 
 Subject, he told them, that the only 
 Confutation he could receive from it 
 was, that none of the Accomplices of 
 Qaffius had been puniih'd with Death. 
 The Gods forbid, fays he, ' That I 
 
 * mould condemn, or fuffer you to cori- 
 1 demn any of your Aifembly to the lail 
 
 * Punlfhment. He was fo extreamly 
 i Merciful, that he added, if you will 
 
 * not allow me this favour, my Life will 
 4 become a burden to me. He was a 
 Benefa&or to thofe who had confpir'd 
 againil him and his Son. Now bccaufe 
 taffms had attempted to ufurp the So- 
 vereign 
 
f V7 ] 
 
 vsreign Power in Syria, which was the 
 place of his Birth, he made a Law by 
 which the Natives of Provinces for the 
 future, η made incapable of the Go- 
 vernment οι them. The Senate or- 
 dered two Statues of Silver to be erod- 
 ed in the Temple of Venus, one in Ho- 
 nour of the Emperor, and the other in 
 Honour of Faufiina. They likewife or- 
 der'd an Altar to be i'et up before it, 
 on which every contracted Couple was 
 to facrifice before Marriage. In a word, 
 to honour yet more the Memory of 
 that Princefs, they further appointed, 
 that whenever the Emperor went to the 
 Theatre, the Golden Statue of Faufiina 
 was to be fet in the place where (he 
 was wont to fit when (lie was alive, and 
 that Ladies of the firft Quality ihould 
 attend it, with as much Order and Ce- 
 remony, as if ihehad been a living Em- 
 prefs. 
 
 When the Emperor Marcus Aurelius 
 entred Athens, he was initiated into the 
 Myfteries of that City, granted honou- 
 rable Priviledges to the Inhabitants, and 
 aifign'd Revenues for the promotion of 
 all kinds of Learning. After he was 
 come back to Rome , as he was one 
 
 Ν day 
 
[ \7% ] 
 
 day haranguing the People, and fpeak- 
 ing of the number of years he had fpent 
 abroad in his Expeditions, the Citizens 
 with a loud Voice cried out eight, at 
 the fame time extending their Hands to 
 receive as many pieces of Gold. The 
 Emperor fmiling repeated eight, and 
 order'd every Roman eight Pieces, which 
 was fo confiderable a Sum, that (o great 
 a one was never given before by any 
 Emperor. 
 
 After that he remitted all that had 
 keen due to the PubKck and Imperial 
 Treafuries, for the couvfe of fix and 
 forty years, without including therein 
 Adrians Reign, and order'd all the Pa- 
 pers of Claims to be burnt in the pub- 
 lick Place. He was a great Benefactor 
 to feveral Cities, and among others to 
 Smyrna^ which had been ruin'd by an 
 Earthquake, and intruded a Senator who 
 was then Pretor, with the care of re- 
 building it. All thefe things confider'd, 
 I cannot but be amaz'd at the Injuftice 
 of fome Men, who have tax'd him with 
 a want of Magnificence, and greatnefs 
 of Soul ; for 'tis certain that though he 
 was very frugal, he ipar'd nothing that 
 was neceiTary, and befides his ordinary 
 
 Expen- 
 
[ «79 ] 
 Expences was at feveral others as far 
 as Decency went, without laying a- 
 ny burden on the People to fupport 
 them. 
 
 He married his Son to Crtfpina foon- 
 er than he defir'd, upon the account of 
 new Praclifes carried on in Scythia\ 
 which requir'd his Prefence there. What 
 Valour, what Prudence, and what Ex- 
 perience foever the Quintilii had fhewn 
 in the War of that Province, they were 
 not able to put an end to it. Thus the 
 Emperors were oblig'd to go thither in 
 Perfon. Marcus Aureliu s defir'd of the 
 Senate, before he went, the Money that 
 was in the publick Treafury. Not but 
 that 'twas eafie for him to take it, in- 
 flead of asking for it, as having the 
 abfolute Power in his Hands ; but 'twas 
 becaufe he was wont to fay, that the 
 Publick Wealth belong 'd to the Senate 
 and People. As he was fpeaking one 
 day in the Houfe, among other things 
 he faid, ' I have nothing of my own, 
 4 the very Palace I live in is yours. 
 
 After that he went to the Temple of 
 
 Mars 9 and taking up a bloody Lance, 
 
 as I have heard from thofe who were 
 
 prefent, darted it towards the Enemies 
 
 Ν ζ Court- 
 
[ <8o ] 
 
 Country, and departed. He fent Pa» 
 te'rnus with a powerful Army, and gave 
 him orders to fght the Barbarians. 
 They defended themfelves a whole day, 
 and at Iail were cut in pieces, after an 
 obitinate Refinance. Marcus Aurelius 
 after this Victory, was a tenth time 
 pvocb.im'd Emperor, and I doubt not 
 but if lie had liv'd longer, he had re- 
 due'd all Scytbta under his Subjection. 
 R~ died the feventeenth day of April, 
 not of his DW nr ^.:γ, but of Poilbn 
 which his P'^ucians had ^.iven him to 
 gain the favour of Qommodus, as I am 
 well ailur'd. When he was at the point 
 of Death, he recommended Commodus 
 to the Soldiers, being unwilling it fhould 
 be thought, that he had advane'd his 
 Death, and the Tribune asking him for 
 the Word, he faid to him, c Turn to 
 * the Riling Sun, for I am near Setting. 
 Great Honours were paid to his Me- 
 mory, and among the reft, a Statue of 
 Gold was ere&ed to him in the Senate. 
 Thus died the beft Emperor that ever 
 was. He poifefs'd all the Vertues, and 
 had befides a natural Difpofition to 
 Goodneis, to which he raisa a Temple 
 m the Capitol. He refrain'd from all 
 
 manner 
 
Γ «8» 1 
 manner of Vice, and made no Ariel: 
 enquiry into thofe cf his Wife or 
 others. He took a pleafure in com- 
 mending thofe who iuccecded in any 
 Profeftion that was ufeful to the State, 
 and employ 'd them without ever attri- 
 buting to himfelf the glory of their 
 Labours. One cannot better frame an 
 Idea of the excellence of his Vertues, 
 than by refleding upon the courie of 
 his Life, and by confidering that in 
 eight and fifty Years, ten Months, and 
 twenty Days, which was the Age he 
 liv'd to, that in all the time he reign'd 
 with Antoninus ?ius i his Fathcr-in-Law, 
 and the ten years he reign'd alone, he 
 ihew'd not the lead inequality of Tem- 
 per, nor any inconftancy in the order 
 of his Conduct. He receiv'd great helps 
 from his Studies, from Rhetor ick and 
 Philofophy. He had for his Tutors in 
 Rhetorick, Fronton and Herod, and in 
 Philofophy Kuflkus and Apoflomus, who 
 profefs'd themfelves of the Sedtof "Leno. 
 This inclination which he had for Learn- 
 ing, difpos'd feveral to an appearance 
 of addicting rliemielves to it, with a 
 defign to obtain his favour. But be- 
 fides Study, he had an excellent Nature, 
 Ν ^ and 
 
[ ι8ι ] 
 
 and before he had ever convers'd with 
 Philofophers, he had of himfelf a dif- 
 pofition to Vertue. He gain'd from 
 his Infancy by his good Qualities, the 
 affection of his Relations , who were 
 the richeft, and moil confiderabte Men 
 of the Empire. He was adopted by 
 Adrian for the fame reafon, nor did 
 this honour make him lofe any of his 
 Moderation. He read perpetually the 
 Greek and Roman Orators and Philofo- 
 phers. Before he came to the Empire 
 he had a Dream, in which he thought 
 his Arms and Hands were made of 
 ivory, and put to all forts of ufes. 
 His aifiduoufnefs at his Study, had ex- 
 treamly alter'd his Conilitution, tho' he 
 had been formerly robuft enough to 
 learn all his Exercifes, and to kill wild 
 Boars on Horfeback. His Health be- 
 ing ruin'd in this manner, he was in- 
 difpos'd almoft during the whole courfe 
 of his Reign. I efteem and admire him 
 lb much the more, for having been a- 
 ble in the midft of fo many Infirmi- 
 ties, to fupport the weight of the moil 
 important Affairs, and for having pre- 
 ferv'd the Empire. That which feems 
 to be wanting to his Happinefs is, that 
 
 what- 
 
[ »8* ] 
 
 whatfoever care he had taken of the 
 Education of his Son, he prov'd unfuc- 
 cefsful in it. We (hall now proceed to 
 the Hiftory of his Reign, under which 
 one may fay, the Romans faw fo prodi- 
 gious a change, that from a Golden one, 
 they pafs'd to an Iron Age. 
 
 Ν 4 THE 
 

t '85 ] 
 
 THE 
 
 REIGN 
 
 QF THE 
 EMPEROR 
 
 COMMODUS. 
 
 CO Μ Μ DU S had no manner 
 of Craft or Malice. On the other 
 fide he had too much fimplicity 
 and a natural fearfulnefs, that held him to 
 a mean fubmiflion to thofe that were 
 about his Perfon. As he had not dif- 
 cernment enough to chufe t of himfelf 
 right Minifters, thofe who had taken 
 poiTeiTion of his Mind, difpos'd him at 
 firil to Debaucheries, and then to the 
 utmoft Cruelties. He was but nineteen 
 when his Father died, who left him for 
 ' ' his 
 
[ ι8ό ] 
 
 his Guardians , the moil confiderable 
 Men of the Senate. But he foon re- 
 nounced the wife Counfeis of thofe great 
 Perfons, to follow his inclinations, and 
 made a Peace with foreign Nations, in 
 order to plunge himfelf in Idlenefs, and 
 the pleafures of Rome. Several con- 
 fpir'd againfl: him, and he got rid of fe- 
 veral, as well Men as Women, of fome 
 publickly, and by the Ax, of others 
 privately, and by Poifon. He hardly 
 fpar'dany of thofe who had made them- 
 felves famous under the Reign of his 
 Father, and under his own. Pompeian, 
 PertinaX) and Vittorinus, were the on- 
 ly three that had the ilrange fortune 
 to efcape. I write not this, or what I 
 (hall add in the remainder of this Work 
 upon the report of others, but my own 
 Obfervation and Knowledge. When he 
 came to Rome, he made in full Senate 
 a very impertinent Speech , in which 
 among the praifes he gave himfelf, 
 he brag'd that he had once drawn his 
 Father out of a deep Slough, into which 
 he had fain by chance. Thefe and fuch 
 like were the Actions he was proud of. 
 As he was going into the Theatre, Clau- 
 dius Pompeianus made an attempt upon 
 
 his 
 
[ «87 ] 
 
 his Life, and in a narrow place prefent- 
 ed a Dagger to him, faying, c Behold 
 * what the Senate has fent you. This 
 Vompeianus had married Lucitla , the 
 Daughter of Lucitta, and Sifter of Com- 
 modus, and was faid to have as clofe a 
 familiarity with the Mother, as with 
 the Daughter. This Alliance gave him 
 admiilion into the fecrets of Commodus, 
 fo that he was a Party in all his Diver- 
 fions. Lucilla who was as irregular in 
 her Manners, as her Brother Commodus y 
 being provok'd againil Pompeian her 
 Husband, and deilgning to ruine him, 
 advis'd him to confpire againil the Em- 
 peror. But Commodus having difcover'd 
 her Treachery, puniih'd her foon after 
 her Husband. He difpatch'd Qrifpina 
 for her inconftancy and loofe courfes, 
 and had before banifh'd them both to 
 Caprea. He alfo put Martia to Death, 
 the Miftrefs of gyadratus, and Elettus y 
 Gentleman of his Chamber, guadra- 
 tus had poiiefs'd the fame Poll, and was 
 afterwards involv'd in the number of 
 thofe whom the Emperor fent out of 
 the World. This Martia was fome time 
 after given in Marriage to Elellus. 'Tis 
 faid, ihe had an affection for the Chri- 
 
 ilians, 
 
[ .88 ] 
 
 ftians, and employ 'd her Credit with 
 the Emperor, to obtain them many Fa- 
 vours. Commoiius alio put to Death Ju- 
 lian and Paternus , who might eaiily 
 have prevented it, if they would, ilnce 
 one commanded a powerful Army, with 
 whom he was in great Credit, and the 
 other was Prcefetlus Pratorio. in a 
 word, he us'd the fame violence againft 
 the JHuintilii, two Brothers, the one 
 call'd Gardian, and the other Maximus. 
 They were become very famous by 
 their Learning, their fufficiency in the 
 Art of War, the greatnefs of their Rich- 
 es, and the ftriotnefs of their Friend- 
 ihip. Though they attempted nothing 
 againft the Government, it was judg'd 
 neverthelefs by the State of their. For- 
 tune, that they were not content. They 
 were united in Death, as they had been 
 in their Lives, and executed together 
 with the Son of one of them. They 
 preferv'd an inviolable friendihip for each 
 other, nor could any Jealoufie or Emu- 
 lation, that were incident to the Em- 
 ployments they poflefs'd together, e- 
 ver change it. They enjoy 'd great Rich- 
 es, and were almoft always Collegues in 
 
 the fame Dignities. 
 
 Sex- 
 
[ »8 9 ] 
 
 Sextus, the Son of Maximus^ who 
 had all the advantages a Man could 
 receive from a happy Birth, and an ex- 
 cellent Education, judging we!! that he 
 fhould infallibly be condemn'd to die, 
 fwallow'd the blood of a Hare, got on 
 Horfeback, and then purpofely tell to 
 the Ground. This was in Syria, w here 
 he was at that time. Then he vomit- 
 ed up his foreign Blood before his Ser- 
 vants, as if it had been his own, and 
 W 7 as carried into his Houfe, as if he had 
 been at the point of Death. Scon af- 
 ter the news of his Death was fpread 
 abroad, the Ceremony of his Funeral 
 was perform'd, and initead of his Bo- 
 dy, they put a Ram upon the Bier, and 
 burnt it. He afterwards lay conceal'd, 
 removing from place to place, and con- 
 tinually changing his Habit and Equi- 
 page, But as Events of this nature can- 
 not be long kept fecret, there were fuf- 
 picions of his being alive, and fearch 
 was made for him in all the corners of 
 'the World. Several were taken up for 
 having fomething of his Air, and ma- 
 ny others were puniih'd either for ha- 
 ving conceal'd him, or feme other way 
 favour'd his Enterprife. Several who 
 
 per- 
 
Γ 190 1 
 perhaps never faw him, were depriv'd 
 of their Eftates upon his account. 'Tis 
 not certainly known whether he was 
 kill'd, or efcap'd, for feveral Heads were 
 brought to Rome, which were all faid 
 to be his. There appear'd a Man alter 
 the Death of Qommodus, who took thtf 
 name of Sextur, and pretended to take 
 polldfion of his Eilate and Employ- 
 ments. He imposed upon feveral who 
 were curious enough to examine him. 
 But Yertinax fpeaking to him in Greek, 
 which the true Sextus had learnt in his 
 youth, heanfwer'd improperly thro' his 
 ignorance of the Language. I was pre- 
 fent when this Impoiture was difcover'd 
 in the manner I have faid. 
 
 There is in Cilicia a City call'd Mal- 
 his, where Apollo delivers Oracles, and 
 explains Dreams. Sextus having con- 
 sulted him about his future Fortune, the 
 God reprefented it to him by a Pi&ure, 
 in which there was a Child that crufh- 
 ed two Serpents, and a Lion that pur- 
 fu'd a Fawn. When I went into Cili- 
 cia with my Father, who was Gover- 
 nor of that Province, I was not able to 
 explain that Riddle, nor could I ever 
 unfold the fenfe of it, till I heard that 
 
 by 
 
[ *9 l 3 
 
 by the command of Commodus, who had 
 the ridiculous vanity of pretending to 
 imitate Hercules , the two Brothers Car- 
 dian and Maxim us, had been ftrangled 
 in the fame manner as Hercules ilrang- 
 led the Serpents that were lent by J urn 
 to deilroy him in his Infancy ; and that 
 Sextus had efcap'd, and was purfu'd by 
 a powerful and formidable Enemy, ί 
 ihould never have done, if ϊ was to re- 
 prefent all the Violences that Qommodiis 
 practis'd again ft thofe whom he put to 
 Death, either upon groundlefs Accufa- 
 tions, or vain Sufpicions, or for the 
 greatneis of their Eftates, or the fplen- 
 dour of their Birth, or the eminence of 
 their Knowledge, or iome other rare 
 and excellent Quality. 
 
 He had Wars to fupport againft fo- 
 reign Nations, and among the reft, he 
 had a War with thofe People who live 
 beyond Dacia, where Albimis and Ni- 
 ger, who afterwards carried on a Civil 
 War againft the Emperor Severus, ac- 
 quir'd great Honour. But he had none 
 ib dangerous upon his Hands, as that 
 of Great Britain. For the People of 
 this Ifland having pafs'd the Wall that 
 divides them from the Romans^ attack'd 
 
 them, 
 
[ ιρι ] 
 
 them, and cut them in pieces. Com- 
 modus fearing the progrefs of their Arms, 
 tent Μ 'ocellus Ulpius againft them. He 
 Mas a Man of great Moderation and 
 Temperance, who in his daily Aotions 
 of Eating, Drinking, and the like, af* 
 j'ecled nothing above the reft of the 
 Soldiers. He had a great fublimity of 
 vSoul, was above Bribes and Prefents, 
 and yet of no eafte or agreeable Hu- 
 mour. He was more vigilant than a- 
 ny other, and oblig'd thofe who were 
 under him, to follow his Example. He 
 wrote twelve Billets every Night, and 
 lent them to the Officers of the Army 
 at feveral different hours of the Night, 
 to the end, that by this information of 
 his being awake, they might not aban- 
 don themfelves to Sleep. He was na- 
 turally difpos'd to fleep little, but he 
 had accuftom'd himfelf to it by a habit 
 of great Temperance. He always had 
 his Bread fent him from Rome, that by 
 eating it hard, he might never eat more 
 than neceflity requir'd. Marcellus be- 
 ing happily endued with fo many ex- 
 traordinary Qualities, obtain'd many no- 
 table advantages over the Britaim. He 
 was afterwards very near being made a 
 
 Sacri- 
 
f «9* ] 
 
 Sacrifice to his conipicuous Vertues P 
 which Cbmmodus could hardly bear, but 
 he fpar'd him notwithftanding. 
 
 Perennis who had fucceeded Pattr- 
 nus in the Poft of Prcefeclus Praztorio % 
 was taken out of the World upon the 
 account of a Sedition among the Soldi- 
 ers. Commodus having given himfelfup 
 to the Diver/ions of the Circus, and to 
 all Torts of Excels, and having renounc'd 
 the Obligations and Duties of an Em- 
 peror, Perennis was charged with the 
 weight of publick Affairs, and efpeci- 
 ally the care of the Army. Thus when 
 any thing fell out that difpleas'd the Sol- 
 diers, they threw the fault upon him. 
 The Army in Britain having rais'd a 
 Mutiny, which was with" great difficul- 
 ty appeas'd by the Prudence and Au* 
 thority of Pertinax^chote fifteen hundred 
 Men from among them, whom they de- 
 puted into Italy. Thefe Deputies be- 
 ing arriv'd at the very gates of Rcmc 
 without Oppoiition, Commodus went to 
 meet them, and ask'd them what was 
 the occafion of their Journey. They 
 anfwer'd, that 'twas to inform him of 
 the Confpiracy that Perennis had formed 
 againft him, with a defign to zovznc.c 
 
 Ο his 
 
[ «94 ] 
 
 his Son to the Empire. The Emperor 
 giving credit to what they faid, and 
 yielding to the preff.ng Jniiances of Cle* 
 aider, who bore an inveterate hatred to 
 Ferennis for oppofing his unjuft De- 
 figns, inftead of defpif.ng thoie Soldiers 
 who were inferior to his Guards both 
 in Number and Strength, put Ferennis 
 into their Hands, whom they Behead- 
 ed, after having icourg'd him. Τ hey 
 afterw ards kill'd his Wife, his Siikr, and 
 his two Daughters. Thus died Feren- 
 nis, who feem'd worthy of a happier 
 End, and had done nothing to be Re- 
 proach'd for, except his having contri- 
 buted to that of Fatemus his Collegue, 
 through an ambition to poifefs the Poit 
 of Friejeclus Pratorio. Yet more, he 
 neither airrfd at Riches or Glory, would 
 not be corrupted by Prefects, was ex- 
 treamly Moderate, and maintain'd with 
 an unparaleJPd Vigilance the Authority 
 of his Mailer. When he was Dead, the 
 Companies of Guards commanded by 
 Cleanlier, committed the moil horrible 
 Abufes, putting all to Fire and Sword. 
 Commodus in the mean time was plung'd 
 in Tleafures, confining his thoughts to 
 the diverfion of publick Shows, Cha- 
 riot- 
 
[•95] 
 
 riot-courfes, Combats of Gladiators and 
 wild Beads. Without mentioning here 
 the Executions that were privately made 
 in the Palace, he kill'd in publick feve- 
 ral Men and Beafis, five Sea-horfes in a 
 Day, two Elephants in two other Days, 
 with a Rhinoceros, and a Camelopard.. 
 Thefe and fuch like, were the noble Oc- 
 cupations and Exploits of this Empe- 
 ror. 
 
 Viclorhus, Governor of Rome, being 
 dead, a Statue was ereclcd to him. Com• 
 modus had a mind feverai times to pui: 
 him to Death, but as he was reilrain'cj 
 from it out of fome kind of refped: to. 
 his Vertue and Eloquence, which had 
 made him one of the moil Illuftrious 
 Men of his Age, Viftorims went him•; 
 felf one day to Terennis, and fatd to. 
 him : ' I underfland you have reiolv'd 
 ' upon my Death. Why do you delay, 
 it then, finceit depends only upon you >. 
 While he was Governor of Germany, he 
 endeavour'd to perfwade his Lieutenant 
 in private, to (land proof againft ihc 
 temptations of Prefenrs, and to remain 
 uncorrupted in his Station, but not pre- 
 vailing, upon him, he mounted upon 
 his Tribunal' and took an Oath* before 
 
 Ο % i 
 
c 196 i 
 
 a multitude of People, c That he neve* 
 1 had, nor would receive Bribes upon 
 ' any occafion. He aftewards urg'd his 
 Lieutenant to take the fame Oath, and 
 upon his refufal difcarded him. This 
 was the Character of Viftorimts. 
 
 As to Cleander, who rofe after the 
 death of Perennis, to the utmoil height 
 of favour, he had been fold in his youth 
 with other Slaves, and brought to Rome 
 with the reft of them to carry Burdens, 
 He was fuch a Minion of Fortune, that 
 from fo obfcure a beginning he came 
 to be the Favourite of an Emperor, to 
 marry one of his MiftreiTes nam'd Da» 
 moftraticiy and to be fo abfolute in Pow- 
 er as to put feveral Perfons to Death, 
 among the reft Saoter, a Native of W- 
 comedta, who was before him in the 
 fame favour with Commodus. This Sao- 
 ter had acquir'd fo great a Credit, that 
 the Inhabitants of Nicomedia had ob- 
 tain'd by his means the liberty of e- 
 ftabliihing Sports and Combats in their 
 City, and of building a Temple in ho- 
 nour of Commodus. Oleander had fo un- 
 limited a Power, that he fold or dif- 
 pos'd of all Employments, and Offices, 
 Places in the Senate, Commands in the 
 
 Army, 
 
[ *97 1 . 
 Army, Governments of Provinces^ and 
 all things in general : Which gave Ju- 
 lius Solon, a Man obfcure and unknown, 
 occafion to fay an agreeable thing, which 
 was, ' That after he had been depriv'd 
 ' of his Eftate, he was banifli'd into the 
 * Senate. The fame Oleander nam'd five 
 and twenty Confuls for one year, which 
 was never done before, or fince. Se- 
 verus, who afterwards came to the Em- 
 pire, was of the Number. It is not to 
 be admir'd, that this Oleander after he 
 had with fo much Induflry applied him- 
 felf to all occafions of getting Riches, 
 mould have heap'd together more 
 Wealth, than ever any Man did in 
 his Station. The uie he made of it, 
 was anfwerable to his manner of getting 
 it. For he laid it out in making Pre- 
 fents to Commodus, and his Miilreiles, 
 building Palaces and Baths, and raifing 
 Structures for the convenience of par- 
 ticular People, and the Publick. But the 
 more prodigious and furprizing his E- 
 ievation had been, the more precipitate 
 and terrible was his Fall. He was kilFd 
 not by a Rebellion of the Soldiers, as 
 Perennis had been, but by a Sedition of 
 the People. The thing was thus. The 
 Ο \ year 
 
f 198 1 
 
 year having prov'd unfruitful, and Pro- 
 Virions rifing dear , Dionyfius Tapir ins, 
 who by the Duty of his O v cc was ob- 
 lig'd to prevent the extravagant price 
 of Provifions, increas'd it by deiign, 
 that the People who were already but 
 too much exafperated againft Qleander 
 on the account of his fleecing the Pub- 
 lick, might rife in a fury, and pull him 
 to pieces. Nor was he deceiv'd in his 
 expefration. For as they were aifem- 
 bled at the Circus, and the Horfes were 
 ready for the ieventh Courfe, a com- 
 pany of Children conducted by a Wo- 
 man of an extraordinary Stature, and 
 of an Air terrible to behold, entred the 
 place, and made a horrid noife. The 
 People anfvvering their Clamours, for- 
 got nothing that rage could infpire them 
 with. They went afterwa dsto aHoufe 
 belonging to guintilius, where Commo- 
 aus was. at that time, made Acclamati- 
 ons in his favour, and heap'd Impre- 
 cations upon Qleander. Cleander dif- 
 patch'd fome Soldiers againft them, who 
 falling upon them, wounded fome, and 
 kill'd others. But the People inftead of 
 being appeas'd, grew more exafperated 
 than before, and trufting to their Num- 
 bers, 
 
[ '99 ] 
 bers, went diredlv to the place where 
 Commodus was. He knew nothing of 
 the Sedition, till Marcia the Miftrefs of 
 guadraius inform'd him of it , upon 
 which as he was very rimerous, he or- 
 der'd Qleander to be kill'd upon the Spot, 
 together with his Son, whom he bred 
 up at his Court. This Child was on 
 the inftant dafh'd to pieces againit the 
 Ground. The Father was dras'd and 
 torn piece-meal, with all manner of In- 
 fults. His Head was born through the 
 City on the top of a Lance. Some of 
 thofe who had the greated: fhare in 
 his Favour, had alfo a part in his Dif- 
 grace. 
 
 When Commodus was weary of his 
 Pleafures, his thoughts bent towards no- 
 thing but Murders. He Died the Blood 
 of the moft confiderable Men of the 
 Empire, as of Julian the Prafeft, tho' 
 he would embrace him fometimes be? 
 fore all the World, and call him his Fa- 
 ther ; and that of Julius Alexander , 
 who on Horfeback had kill'd a Lion. 
 This Alexander hearing that fome Sol- 
 diers were arriv'd in the Night to Mur* 
 der him , prevented them, and flew 
 them. He alfo kill'd the inhabitants of 
 Ο 4 EmefuSy 
 
[ 2CO ] 
 
 Bmefus, who though his Country-men, 
 were become his Enemies. He took 
 Horfe on the inilant, and had efcap'd 
 into a foreign Country , if a youth 
 whom he lov'd and would not forfake, 
 could have followed him. But when he 
 iaw that they who purfu'd him were 
 at hand, hefirft kill'd the Boy, and then 
 himfeif. 
 
 There was at the fame time fo ttrange 
 a Mortality, that I believe is not to be 
 paralell'd. There was not a day, in 
 which there did nor die of Sicknefs to 
 the number of two thoufand Perfons in 
 Rome. Several others were kill'd not 
 only in Rome, butjn all parts of the Em- 
 pire, by the deteilable Artifice of forne 
 Villains, who for Money mot poifon'd 
 Needles, as had been formerly practis'd 
 in Domitiaris Reign, and deilroy'd an 
 innumerable company of innocent Peo- 
 ple. But neither contagious Diftempers, 
 nor poifon'd Darts, were fo fatal to the 
 Romans as Commodus, who obliged them 
 to give him through fear all the Ho- 
 nours they paid to the late Emperor his 
 Father through Inclination. He made 
 them call the City by his Name, and 
 the Army, and the very day on which 
 
 it 
 
[ ^oι J 
 
 it was decreed. He took feveral Sur- 
 names, and chiefly that of Hercules. He 
 afTe&ed to have Rome confider'd, as a 
 Colony which he had eftabliuYd, and 
 call'd it the immortal, and thrice-hap- 
 py Colony of the World. There was 
 a Golden Statue erected to him, that 
 weigh'd two thoufand Marks, with a 
 Bull and Cow of the iame Mettal. There 
 was invented a new way of counting 
 the Months, and calling them by twelve 
 of his Surnames, which are as follows. 
 Amazonian, Invincible , Felix , Pius^ 
 Lucius, Eli*?:, AureUui, Commodus, Aw 
 gujlus, Roman , Hercules , Conqueror. Tho' 
 he often changed his Surnames, yet he 
 always retain'd thoie of Amazonian, and 
 Conqueror, as if he had in effecl: furpafd 
 all Men in all things. Such was his 
 Arrogance and Vanity. When he wrote 
 to the Senate, 'twas in thefe terms : 
 The Emperor Ccefar, Lucius, Elius, At*' 
 relius, Commodus Augufius, Pius, Felix, 
 Sarmaticus, Germanicus^ Britannicus the 
 Great, Controller of the World, Invin- 
 cible, Roman Hercules , High Prieft , 
 eighteen times Tribune, eight times Em- 
 peror, feven times Conful, Pater Patrite ; 
 To the Confuls , Pretors^ Tribunes of 
 
 the 
 
[ 200 ] 
 
 the People, and the• Commod/an happy 
 Senate, Health. 
 
 Among the Statues that were erect- 
 ed in his Honour, th^re were fome in 
 which he was reprcfented with the Ha- 
 bit and Equipage of Hercules. It was 
 ordain'd, that the time of his Reign 
 mould be call'd the Golden Age , and 
 that all the Letters Ihould make menti- 
 on of that Title. This Golden Prince, 
 fince he would be call'd fo, this Hercu- 
 les^ in a Word, this God returning about 
 Noon from fome Country-Seat to Rome, 
 faw thirty Horfes run in two Hours. So 
 vail an expence in a little time exhau* 
 (led his Treafure. For he was liberal 
 by Nature, and often gave away to the 
 People a hundred and forty Drachma's 
 per Head. But to have wherewithal to 
 furniili this Profufion, Men and Women 
 of Quality were accus'd falily , fome 
 were put to Death , others redeem'd 
 their Lives by giving up their Eftates. 
 Upon a day that was the Anniverfary of 
 his Acceilion to the Empire, he exact- 
 ed of us, our Wives, and our Children, 
 two pieces of Gold per Head, and five 
 Drachma's of the Senators of other Ci- 
 ties. He never drove Chariots in pub- 
 lick. 
 
[ *OI ] 
 
 lick, except it was in a very gloomy 
 Evening perhaps, and what Inclination 
 ibever he had for it, he forbore out 
 of fome remains of Modefly. But he 
 pra<ftis'd it frequently in his Palace, 
 cloath'd in a green Habit. He killM a 
 great number of Beafts, both in private 
 and publick. He likewife fought in pri- 
 vate as a Gladiator* and kill d fcvcral 
 Perfons. He would fometimes pretend 
 to cut the Hair of fome of his Dome- 
 flicks, and inflead of that flit their No- 
 fes, or their Ears. He never appcar'd 
 in publick without drawing his Sword, 
 nor without fpilling Blood. Before he 
 entred the Theatre, he wore a Tunick 
 of white Silk with Sleeves, and we found 
 him in this Drefs when we came to fa- 
 lute him ; but when he entred, he put 
 on a purple Veil embroider'd with Gold, 
 and over it a Gown of the fame, after 
 the manner of the Greeks, with a Crown 
 of Gold adorn'd with precious Stones 
 upon his Head. He held in his Hand 
 a Wand, like that of Mercury. There 
 was carried before him a Lions Skin, 
 and a Club, and they were lodg'd up- 
 on a Seat in the Theatre, whether he 
 was prefent or abfent. He entred fome- 
 times 
 
[ 2θ4 ] 
 times in an Equipage as Mercury is re- 
 prefented, and having pull'd off his up- 
 per Garments, being ftript to his Veft, 
 went to work. Theflrftday hefliota 
 hundred Bears. He had divided the 
 Theatre into four parts by two Partiti- 
 ons, that cut through Diametrically, 
 and by right Angles, to the end that 
 from the Galleries that were round a- 
 bout , he might with greater eafe 
 {ingle out the Beads that he aim'd at. 
 When hewastir'd, he drank fomeWine 
 that was delicious and cool out of a 
 Cup that he receiv'd from the hand of 
 a. Woman, and at the fame inilant the 
 People and Senate cried out with one 
 Voice, May the Emperor Live. 
 
 For what remains, I muft intreat thofe 
 who ihall give themfelves the trouble 
 to cail their Eyes upon this Work, not 
 to think thefe little Events blemiihes, 
 that tarhifli the beauty of it, for I ihouid 
 not have inferted them, if I had been 
 of that opinion. But becaufe they were 
 the real Actions of this Emperor, at 
 which I was prefect, and had even fome 
 concern in them, I thought my ; ielf ob- 
 iig'd in (lead ' of fupprefling them, to 
 prefcrve the Memory of them, as much 
 
 as 
 
[ 20? 1 
 
 as if they bad been the moil ferious 
 and important Affairs. I ihall relate 
 more exactly the particulars of what 
 pafs'd in my time, than what happen'd 
 before, not only becauie I have been a 
 witnefs of them, but alio becauie none 
 of thofe who might be otherwife capa- 
 ble of writing them, is fo well inform'd 
 of them as my felf. The Emperor 
 having employ 'd himfelf in mooting 
 from above, during the former part 
 of the time this Diverfion held, defen- 
 ded afterwards to the bottom of the 
 Theatre, and there ilew fome other pri- 
 vate Beails , whereof fome made to- 
 wards him, others were brought to him, 
 and others were lhut up in Dens. A- 
 mong the reft he kill'd a Tyger, a Sea- 
 Horfe, and an Elephant, When this was 
 done he retir'd; but returning after Din- 
 ner, us'd the Exercifes of a Gladiator^ 
 with a Shield in his right Hand, and 
 in his left a Sword of Wood, for he was 
 proud of being Left-handed, as if it had 
 been a great advantage to him. He 
 fought either againft the Mailer who had 
 taught him, or againft a Gladiator whom 
 he had provok'd, or whom the People 
 had chofen ; and this Gladiator held a 
 
 Ferula 
 
Γ 204 ] 
 
 Ferula in his Hand. In a word, he did 
 all the Offices of the other Gladiators, 
 and there was but this difference be- 
 tween them and him, that whereas they 
 received a fmall Reward, he touch'd e- 
 very day two hundred and fifty thou- 
 fand Drachma's of the fund affign'd for 
 this Expence. When he fought in this 
 manner, Emiltus Letus Pr&jeclus Ρηε• 
 torio> and Eleclus, another of his Offi- 
 cers attended him; and after he had got 
 the Victory, as he never fail'd to get it 
 in this Mock-fight, he kifs'd them with- 
 out taking off his Helmet. 
 
 After him fought thofe whom he 
 had chofen in the Morning at the bot- 
 tom of the Theatre , ' when he was 
 cloath'd like Mercury, with a Golden 
 Wand in his Hand, feated upon a Throne 
 of the fame Mettal, and to whom he 
 had prefcrib'd the manner of fighting, 
 which we could not regard but as fome- 
 thing very Monflrous. He return'd af- 
 terwards to his ufual Seat, and was pre - 
 fent with us at the reft of the Shows, 
 in which there was nothing very di- 
 verting, fince Murders were frequently 
 committed there. When hefawG/W/- 
 ators counterfeiting earned', and difgui- 
 
[ ίο) ] 
 
 fing their Thruils, he order'd them to 
 be tied together, and as they fought 
 link'd in this manner, they fometimes 
 kill'd Spectators, when they approach'd 
 too near them. Thefe Sports Jailed 
 fourteen days. We Senators attended 
 very alTiduouily with the Knights, tho' 
 we were in feparate places. No body 
 abfented himfelf but Pompeian , who 
 would fooner have chofen to die, than 
 to fee the Son of Marcus Aurelius fully 
 his Dignity by Co infamous a practice. 
 Neverthelefs he fent his Children. We 
 made feveral Acclamations as they were 
 prefcrib'd to us, and this oftner than a- 
 ny other : ' You are the Mailer, you 
 ' are the Firft, you are always Vi&ori- 
 4 ous; Amazonian, you are always the 
 c Conqueror. There were feveral a- 
 mong the People, that never appeared 
 at the Theatre. Some were no foon- 
 er entred, but they went out again, as 
 abhorring to be witneifes of the Abomi- 
 nations that were committed there. O- 
 thers kept away out of fear, by reafon 
 of a report that had been fprea'd, that 
 Qommodus had a defign to let fly at the 
 People, as Hercules did formerly at the 
 StimphalieJes. The rumour feem'd pro- 
 bable. 
 
[ io8 ] 
 
 bable, and the apprehenfion jufttothofe 
 who remembred, that he had formerly 
 aflembled together ail fuch as had by 
 Sicknefs or other Accidents, loft the life 
 of their Feet, order'd their Leggs to 
 be tied with Cords, made in the form 
 of Serpents, then Sponges to be given 
 them to throw at each other inftead 
 of Stones, and afterwards beat them to 
 death with a Club. There was no bo- 
 dy but was afraid of the like Treat- 
 ment, and we were no more exempted 
 from this Apprehenfion, than the mean- 
 eft of the People. He put us one day 
 into a fright, which gave us occafion 
 co believe, that we fliould be all mur- 
 der'd. He approach'd towards the place 
 where we were fitting, holding the 
 Head of a Beaft that he had juft kill'd, 
 and (hewing it to us with his Hand, and 
 brandiihinghis Sword which was all bloo- 
 dy, he ihook his Head without faying 
 one word, as if by that Action he inten- 
 ded to threaten us with ferving us in the 
 fame manner as he had ferv'd the Beaft. 
 We could not forbear laughing at the 
 Action, in ftead of being affli&ed, and 
 this Mirth had certainly coil fome of us 
 our LivesjJ if to difguife it I had not put 
 
 in 
 
[ top ] 
 
 in my Mouth Tome of the Laurel leaves 
 I pull'd from my Crown, and advis'd 
 thofe who fat near me to do the fame. 
 Soon after he gave us confidfrable com- 
 fort, for as he was juft going to fight 
 after the manner of the Gladiators, he 
 fent us orders to be prefent at the Thea- 
 tre in Knights Habits, which we never 
 wore but at the death of an Emperor. 
 Yet further, upon the laft day of the 
 Sports his Helmet was taken off, and fell 
 through the Door where the dead us'd 
 to be carried out. Thefe two incidents 
 made us judge, that he would be foon 
 taken out of the World, as he actually 
 was. For Letus and Elettus] being no 
 longer able to fuffer the indignity of 
 thefe Extravagancies, and being afraid 
 befides that he would put his threats 
 in practice againft them, to revenge the 
 liberty they often took of condemning 
 his excefles, refolv'd to difpatch him. 
 He had a defign to put to death the 
 two Confuls, Erkius Clartu, and Sijftus 
 Flaccus^ and to proceed from the quar- 
 ters of the Gladiators on the firft day 
 of the Month, in quality of Confui and 
 Secutor. He liv'd in their Neighbour- 
 hood as the firft of their Ordef> and I 
 
 Ρ am 
 
ι 2i° y 
 
 am perfwaded no body will refufe to 
 make additions ilill to what I have faid, 
 when he knows that this Emperor or- 
 dered the Head of a Colojfus to be ta- 
 ken off, and his own to be put in its 
 room, and having added to it a Club, 
 and a Lion of Brafs underneath, he di- 
 rected the following infcription to be 
 engrav'd, ' The flrft Combatant among 
 * the Gladiators call'd Secutores , who 
 1 vanquilh'd alone twelve thoufand Men 
 c with his left Hand. All thefe mon- 
 ilrous Extravagancies were fo many pow- 
 erful Motives for Letus and Ekftus, to 
 confpire againft him. Having commu- 
 nicated their deiign to Marcia , they 
 gave him Poifon by her means in fome 
 Beef, upon the laft day of the year, 
 when all the World was taken up with 
 Fealling and Rejoycing. The Poifon 
 was almoff, rendred ineffectual by the 
 Wine he had drank in Excefs, and by 
 the Bath 10 which he was accuftom'd ; 
 infomuch that having vomited, he mi- 
 ilrulled there was a dellgn againil his 
 Life, and thrcatnedtobereveng'd, which 
 oblig'd the Confpirators to fend a Wreil- 
 ler to him called Marc/Jfus, who ilrang- 
 ! ed hint while he was yet in the Bath. 
 
 This 
 
[ %•Ί ] 
 
 This was the end of Cowmodus^ who 
 reign'd twelve Years , nine Months , 
 fourteen Days, and liv'd one and thirty 
 Years, and four Months. 
 
 The Family of the Aurelii, loft the 
 Empire in his Perfon, and the end of his 
 Life was the beginning of Seditions and 
 Troubles. I ihall here relate the occa/i- 
 on that engag'd me to write the Hifto- 
 ry of them. After I had compos'd a 
 Book of Dreams, and Signs, on which 
 Severus grounded his hopes of coming 
 to the Empire, I did my felf the ho- 
 nour to fend it to him. When he had 
 read it, he fent me an anfwer in very 
 obliging terms. That Night in my 
 Sleep my Genius commanded me to write 
 Hiftory. Thus I undertook to write the 
 paiTages of our time. This Work ha- 
 ving had the good fortune to pleafe Se- 
 verus, I determin'd to make a general 
 Hiftory that Ihould comprehend all that 
 had happen'd to the Roman People from 
 their firft Eftabliihment, to the time it 
 ihould pleafe Fortune to lead me. As 
 I was afraid to charge my felf with fuch 
 a Load, the Divinity that prefides over 
 my Conduct rais'd my Spirits, by aflu- 
 ring me in my Sleep, that it Ihould be 
 Ρ χ a 
 
[ *12 ] 
 
 a Work that mould triumph over the 
 malice of Time, and whofe glory the 
 fucceifion of Ages iliould never tarnilh. 
 Thus I employ 'd ten years in collect- 
 ing Memoirs of what had pafs'd from the 
 Eftablifhment of the Roman Common- 
 wealth, to the Reign of Seve rus. I (pent 
 twelve years more in digefting them, 
 and forming them into a Body. I (hall 
 write the reft, as time (hall furniih me 
 with occafions. For what remains, I 
 think I ought to obferve the Signs that 
 preceded the Death of Qommodus. There 
 were feveral Eagles ieen to fly about the 
 Capitol, who by their cries feem'd to 
 prefage fome remarkable Event. Yet 
 further, fome Houfes taking fire, it got 
 to the Temple of Peace, confum'd the 
 Shops, and Effeds of the Egyptians and 
 Aralians, fpread as far as the Palace, 
 and redue'd to Allies almoft all the 
 Records of the Empire; which made 
 People judge, that its violence in Head 
 of being confined to Rome, would be ex- 
 tended through the World. In ear- 
 ned it could not be extinguiuYd by 
 all the diligence of Men ; whatioever 
 efforts the People, the Soldiers, and the 
 Emperor himfelf, who was return'd in 
 
 haft 
 
[ *M ] 
 
 haft from a Country-feat, made for that 
 end, they could not accompliih it. In 
 a word, it did not ceafe till it had en- 
 tirely deilroy'd every thing it had feiz'd 
 upon. 
 
 THS 
 
[ ι«ϊ ] 
 
 THE 
 
 REIGN 
 
 O F Τ Η Ε 
 
 EMPEROR 
 
 Ρ ERTINAX. 
 
 PERT Ι Μ A X was a Prince of 
 great Merit, but he reign da ve- 
 ry little time, being taken away 
 by a Faction of the Soldiers. Before 
 the Death of Commodus was made pub- 
 lick, Letus and Eleftus went to meet 
 him, and declar'd to him, that in con- 
 fideration of his Vertue, they had cho- 
 fen him to be the Succeflbr of Commo- 
 dus in the Empire. Ere he would en- 
 gage with them, he had a mind to be 
 inform'd of the Truth, and fent one of 
 Ρ 4 his 
 
— — [ ti6 ) 
 
 his Servants whom he could entirely 
 relie upon to view the Body of Commo» 
 Am. When he was ailur'd of his Death, 
 he went privately to the Camp, and a 
 little aftoniaYd the Soldiers by his Pre- 
 fence. However they did not (hew their 
 furprize, becaufe they faw Let us with 
 him, and becaufe they heard that he 
 promised them three thoufand Drachmas 
 per Head, and there is room to believe, 
 they had never been troublefom, if he 
 had not fpoke to them in theie terms : 
 
 * There are, my Companions, many 
 
 * Diforders in oar Age, but i hope we 
 
 * ihall be able with your help to put 
 
 * an end to them. Thefe words made 
 them apprehend, that he had a defign 
 to take away all that Commodus had al- 
 lovv'd them againft the ancient Cuftom. 
 Neverthelefs they diiguis'd their fear, 
 and remain'd quiet. As foon as he left 
 the Camp, he came to the Senate, tho' 
 Night was begun, and after he had fa- 
 luted us one after another, as we could 
 be feen by him in the Crowd, he faid 
 to us, * I have been declar'd Emperor 
 4 by the Army, but I have no need of 
 
 * the Empire, and I renounce it very 
 s willingly, as well for the burden and 
 
 ' fati- 
 
[ *«7 ] 
 
 * fatigue of it, as on the account of my 
 c Age and infirmities. After that we 
 gave him the praifes that we were per- 
 iwaded he deferv'd, and chofe him with 
 an unanimous Voice, and a perfect Li- 
 berty. He was indeed an excellent Per- 
 fon, and had all the advantages of Mind 
 and Body, except that he was fubjecl: 
 to be lame in his Leggs. Thus was 
 Pertinax proclaim'd Emperor, and Corn- 
 modus declar'd Enemy of the Empire. 
 It is not poflfible to repeat all the abu- 
 five terms that were utter'd againft him 
 by Senators and People. They were 
 for dragging his Body and Statues thro* 
 the Streets. But Pertinax telling them 
 that the Body was already buried, they 
 fpar'd it, and reveng'd themfelvesupon 
 his Statues, with ail the outrages they 
 could invent. He was no longer ilil'd 
 Emperor, but Plague of the State, Ty- 
 rant , Gladiator, Chariot-driver, Left- 
 handed Monfter. The People congra- 
 tulating the Senators, who had been 
 apprehenfive of a Perfecution under the 
 Reign of Qommodus^ cry'd aloud, " Cou- 
 
 * rage, you have won the Field. They 
 repeated all the Acclamations they had 
 been formerly accuftom'd to make in 
 
 favour 
 
[ ι«8 ] 
 
 favour of Cotnwodus, and turn'd them 
 into Ridicule. They were not content- 
 ed to be deliver'd from the fear of Ty- 
 ranny, and to enjoy their freedom, with- 
 out abufing it by diihonouring the Me- 
 mory of the Tyrant, and loading his 
 Name with the iharpeft Imprecations. 
 As to Pertinax, he was a Native of Al- 
 ba, a City of Liguria, of no great Birth, 
 and had (ludied in his youth, as much 
 as was neceffary tQ enable him to fub- 
 iift by his Learning. His knowledge 
 brought him acquainted with Claudius 
 Pompeianus, by whofe Recommendati- 
 on he got the Poft of a Tribune of Horfe, 
 he who fince became the Sovereign of 
 Pompeian himfelf. I have feen this ex- 
 traordinary Man under two different 
 Reigns, both the laft and firft Man of 
 the Empire. During the Reign of Corn- 
 modus, he led an obfcure Life in the 
 Country , under pretence of an Indif- 
 pofition in his Eyes, and of old Age ; 
 but during that of Pertinax, though his 
 Age was more advanc'd, and his Di- 
 ftempers augmented, he was in great 
 Consideration, and had the Honour to 
 fit on the High-feats in the Senate. 
 
 Pertinax 
 
C *»9 1 
 
 Pertirtax us'd us with great gentle- 
 nefs and familiarity, receiv'd our Peti- 
 tions with Civility, entertain'd us at 
 his Table, where there was nothing fu- 
 perfluous, or otherwife fent us Prefents, 
 which yet were neither exquifite nor 
 rare. They who liv'd in Luxury and 
 Excels, made a jeftofa Simplicity that 
 was out of faihion. But for us who 
 preferred the ancient Moderation to 
 the corrupted Manners of the prefent 
 time, and the torrent of Cuftom, we 
 could not but commend him fox it. At 
 the time of his being in Britain, where 
 he compos'd a Sedition by a piece of 
 prudence that deferv'd a general Appro- 
 bation, a Horfe of the Green Fa ft ion , 
 that was a favourite of Commodus, and 
 call'd Pertinax, won the Race : At which 
 thofe of that fide rejoyfing, cried out, 
 This is Pertinax. The contrary Party 
 being piqu'd at this Acclamation, repli- 
 ed, ' Would to Heaven, he were here, by 
 ' which they meant not the Horfe, but 
 this Great Man. Yet more, it entred 
 one day into Commodus's Head, to fend 
 for this Horfe out of the Country, where 
 he was taken care of without being ob- 
 lig'd to work , becaufe he was worn 
 
 with 
 
[ 2lO ] 
 
 with Age, and having order'd him to 
 be brought into the Circus with Golden 
 Shoes, and cover 'd with very fplendid 
 Furniture, as foon as he appear'd, the 
 People cried out of a fudden, this is 
 Pertittax; which Acclamation was a kind 
 of Prefage of the fortune of Pertinax % 
 who was proclaim'd Emperor during the 
 lad Sports of the fame year. There 
 was another Prefage taken from a Club, 
 which Commodus as he was preparing on 
 the lad day of the Sports to fight as a 
 Gladiator, put into the hands of Perti- 
 ttax. As foon as he was in pofleffion 
 of the Sovereign Power, he took very 
 honourable Surnames, and among o- 
 thers, affected that of Prince of the Se- 
 nate, accord ig to the ancient Cuftom, 
 with a deugn to win the Affections of 
 the People. He took particular care 
 to reform Abufes, and ihew'd in his Ad- 
 miniflration an incredible Goodneis , 
 Sweetnefs, Wifdom and Vigilance. A- 
 mong the A&ions perfectly worthy of 
 a great Prince, with which he honour'd 
 his K.eign, I cannot forbear obferving, 
 that he reftor'd the Memory of thoie 
 who had been unjuftly condemn'd, and 
 fwore that he would never puniili any 
 
 one 
 
[ **1 ] 
 
 one in fuch a manner. Thofe who had 
 a mind to make ufe of the benefit of 
 this Reftitution, got their Friends and 
 Relations together, and with tears of 
 Joy, drew out the Bodies or Bones of 
 their Friends from the Earth, and de- 
 pofited them in the Tombs of their An- 
 ceftors. 
 
 The Publick Treafure was fo far ex- 
 haufted at this time, that it amounted 
 to no more than two hundred and fif- 
 ty thouiand Drachma's. For which rea- 
 fon Vertinax wasoblig'd to fell the Sta- 
 tues, Arms, Horfes, and other things 
 that belong'd & Qor.mwdus, and to ap- 
 ply the Money that accrued from the 
 Sale, towards the payment of what he 
 had promis'd the Soldiers, and the Peo- 
 ple. He was very glad to expofe to 
 Sale every thing that had been us'd 
 for the Exercifes, Sports and Combats of 
 Qommodus, not only to blaft his Memo- 
 ry, or to raife Money, but likewife to 
 be able to diftinguiih thofe who ihould 
 be forward to buy thofe Inftruments of 
 Debauchery. Letus was very warm in 
 crying up the Vertues of Tertinax, and 
 loading the Memory of Commodus with 
 Imprecations. He order 'd fome Foreign- 
 ers 
 
[ "* ] 
 
 ers who were returning to their own 
 Countries to be remanded, and having 
 refum'd out of their Hands the Sums of 
 Money they had receiv'd from Commo- 
 dus a little before his Death, to conti- 
 nue the Peace with the Romans, ' Now 
 ' be gone, faid he to them, and in- 
 ' form your Countrymen , that Perti- 
 ' nax fits at prefent on the Throne. 
 Thofe People were but too well acquaint- 
 with the name of Pertznax, during the 
 War they had fuftain'd in the Reign of 
 Marcus Aurelius. Letus to diihonour 
 yet further the Memory of Commodus, 
 made a very ft riot fearch after Buffoons, 
 Dancers, and others of the fame Speci- 
 es of Men, whofe Geftures were Ridi- 
 culous, and whofe Lives were Infamous. 
 He expos'd them to the publick Scorn, 
 and confifcated their Eftates which they 
 had got by Immodefty and Depravity, 
 and by the profcription of the princi- 
 pal Men of the Empire. This Specta- 
 cle excited different Paflions and Senti- 
 ments mix'd with Joy, Grief, and An- 
 ger- 
 
 And yet this Letus did not always 
 
 keep, or rather kept not long an invio- 
 able Fidelity to Pertinax. For under a 
 
 pretence 
 
[ Ml ] 
 
 pretence that he enjoy 'd not all the Ho- 
 nours and Rewards he pretended to de- 
 ferve, he encourag'd the Army to re- 
 volt againft him, as we fhall fee anon. 
 Tertinax gave to Sulpitian his Father- 
 in-Law the Government of Rome, of 
 which the World confeis'd him to be 
 very worthy. But though we had con- 
 ferral upon his Wife the Title of An- 
 gufla, and that of Cafar upon his Son, 
 he would not differ them to take them, 
 whether 'twas, he did not judge the 
 foundations of his Power to be fuffici- 
 ently folid for him to accept of Ho- 
 nours, whofe fplendor never fails to ex- 
 cite Jealoufie, or whether he was not 
 willing to allow his Wife the name of 
 Augu/ia, left ihe ihould ftain it by her 
 Immodefty, nor his Son that of Cafar, 
 left he Ihould be tied down to an Oath 
 at fo young an Age, or left his Mind 
 fliould be corrupted by the hopes of 
 a Throne. He would not fo much as 
 iiifTer him to be educated in the Palace, 
 left he fliould grow Vain ; but he fent 
 him with his Sifter to be brought up 
 by a Grandfather, where after he had 
 divided all his Eftate betwixt them two, 
 he very feldom faw them, and when 
 
 he 
 
[ ι*4 ] 
 
 he did, not with the Majefty of an 
 Emperor, but with the tendernefs of a 
 Father. 
 
 As the Soldiers had no longer that 
 unbounded licence under his Reign, as 
 they formerly had to commit Robbe- 
 ries, nor the Freedmen of Emperors the 
 power of breaking all the Laws with 
 Impunity, they conceiv'd a very ftrong 
 hatred againil him for tying up their 
 Hands. Thefe laft however durft not 
 attempt any tliiag, becaufe they were 
 difarm'd; but the Soldiers encourag'd 
 by Letus, confpir'd againil him, elect- 
 ed for their Emperor the Conful Fakon y 
 in confideration of his Birth, and Rich- 
 es, and refolv'd to carry him to the 
 Camp to be acknowledge by the Ar- 
 my, while fertinax was employ'd at 
 Sea, in giving orders for bringing Pro- 
 vifions to Rome. Fertinax receiving in- 
 formation of this Enterprize returnd in 
 haft, and coming into the Senate fpoke 
 in thefe terms : 4 I am glad of this occafi- 
 
 * on to let you know, that though I found 
 c but five and twenty thoufand Drach- 
 ' mas in the Royal Treafury, I have 
 
 * notwithftanding given as large Dona- 
 
 * tives to the Soldiers, as Marcus Aure- 
 
 lius 
 
C «J ] 
 
 litis and Lucius gave them, who found 
 in the fame Exchequer^ to the Sum of 
 fixty feven thouiand five hundred 
 Drachma's. This diffipation of the 
 Treafure of the Empire was doubtleis 
 made to fatisfie the Avarice of the 
 Freedmen. 
 
 When Pertinax fa id he had given as 
 largely to the Soldiers, as Marcus Au- 
 relius and Lucius had done, he went 
 a little too far. For the firit gave them 
 five thouiand, and Lucius three thou- 
 fand Drachma's. This alfo rais'd the 
 indignation and Murmuring of feveral, 
 as well Soldiers as Freedmen, who were 
 in the AiTembly. As we were juil go- 
 ing to condemn Falcon, Pertinax role 
 and faid aloud, ' The Gods forbid that 
 4 any Senator mould be condemn'djtho' 
 1 juftly, in my Reign. 
 
 Letus making ufe of the occafion of 
 this Enterprizeof Falcori,' put feveral of 
 the Soldiers to Death, as by the Empe- 
 rors order, which had that erTec">, that 
 the reft for fear of being treated in the 
 lame manner, made a Mutiny; two hun- 
 dred of the boldeft of them entred the 
 Palace with Sword in Hand, and were 
 got up to the Emperors Apartment be- 
 1 Q. fore 
 
[ «rf ] 
 
 fore he knew any thing of it. But when 
 he was advis'd of it by his Wife, he did 
 an Action which fome will callRefolute, 
 and others Imprudent. For whereas he 
 might eafily haveorder'd thefe Seditious 
 Fools to be cut in pieces by the Night- 
 guards, the Horie, and other arm'd Men 
 about him, inilead of hiding himfelf, or 
 flying from them, either or which he 
 might have done for the prefent, he met 
 thofe Furies who were got into his Pa- 
 lace without any oppofition, and hop'd 
 either to reprefs their boldnefs by his Pre- 
 fence, or to perfwade them by his Dif- 
 courie. They were in effect touch'd with 
 fome icnk of Reipect and Shame when 
 they faw him, and began to bend their 
 Eyes to the Earth, and to put up their 
 Swords. There was but one more im- 
 pudent than the reft, who went up to 
 him, and holding out his Sword, faid to 
 him, ' Behold what the Army has fent 
 * thee, and then gave him a ftroke. The 
 reft in (lead of hindring him, ieconded 
 the blow, and kilfd both their Emperor 
 and Eleths, who us'd his utmoft endea* 
 Vours to defend him, and wounded fome 
 of the moil forward. I had always an 
 sfteem for the Vertue of Elettus, but 
 
 then 
 
[ π? ] 
 
 then conceiv'd an /\dmiration for his Va- 
 lour. The Soldiers pierc'd the Head of 
 Terfinax with a Lance, and triumphed in 
 this Action, as if it had been a moil He- 
 roick Exploit. Thus Yertinax died, for 
 having undertaken too quick a Refor- 
 mation of Abufes, which had been for- 
 tified by a long courfe of years, and for 
 not conildering enough with all his Ca- 
 pacity, that every fudden Change is dan- 
 gerous, efpecially in a State, and that 
 when any one deiigns to exterminate 
 Diforders, he mud take fome time to do 
 it, and have a little Patience. He liv'd 
 iixty feven Years, four Months, and 
 three Days, and reign'd but three Months 
 and three Days. 
 
 0^2 THE 
 
[ **9 1 
 
 THE 
 
 EIGN 
 
 O F Τ Η Ε 
 EMPEROR 
 
 Didius Julianus. 
 
 AS foon as the noife of the Death 
 of Vertinax was fpread abroad, 
 fome retir'd to their Houfes, o- 
 thers took refuge in thofe of the Soldi- 
 ers, and every one provided for his own 
 iafety the bed he could. Sulpitian who 
 was at that time in the Camp, having 
 been fent thither by Vertinax to acco- 
 modate Matters , endeavour'd to ma- 
 nage the Soldiers, and to gain their Suf- 
 frages for his election to the Empire. 
 Q.3 In 
 
[ ί*Ρ ] 
 
 In the mean time Didius Julianus, a Man 
 of great Wealth, that laviuYd it away 
 with a profufion equal to the ardour 
 with which he got it, and who befides 
 thought of nothing but forming new 
 Attempts, for which he had been for- 
 merly baniih'd by Commons to Milan, 
 the place of his Birth ; this Julianas, I 
 fay, had no fooner heard of the ΑΓ- 
 fault which the Soldiers had committed 
 upon Pertinax, but he went immediate- 
 ly to them, and foliated them to name 
 him for his Succeffor. Never had Rome 
 ken any thing fo infamous, or fo un- 
 worthy of her. The Sovereign Power 
 was fet to fale by thofe very Men who 
 had dip'd their Hands in the Blood of 
 their Sovereign; the competition lay 
 between Sulpitian who was in the Camp, 
 and Julianus who was in Rome , and they 
 had at length bid fo high , that each 
 Soldier was to have for his (hare five 
 thoufand Drachmas. There were Per- 
 fons that went to and fro from Sulpici- 
 an to Julianus, and from Julianus to Sul- 
 pitian, to let each of them know what 
 the other offer'd to oblige them to rife 
 upon each other. Sulpitian had carried 
 it without doubt, as well becaufe he was 
 
 perfo- 
 
[ *?< ] 
 
 perfonally in the Camp, and befides, 
 was poflefs'd of the Government of Rome, 
 as becaufe he was the firft that offer'd 
 five thoufand Drachma's per Head, if 
 Julianas had not bid apon him of afud- 
 den with a loud Voice twelve hundred 
 and fifty Drachma's more, and fhewd 
 them the Money. The Soldiers being 
 dazled with fo confiderable a price, and 
 apprehending befides, that if Sulpitian 
 were poilefs'd of. the Sovereign Power, 
 he would revenge the Death of Perti* 
 tiax, as Julianus had fuggeiled to them, 
 they proclaim'd Juliawts Emperor, con- 
 ducked him in the Evening to the Fo- 
 rum, and to the Senate with the Stan- 
 dards difplay'd, as if he had been rea- 
 dy to undertake fome very important 
 Expedition. He had Iikewife a defign 
 to frighten us by this pomp of War. 
 The Soldiers teftified a lingular efteem 
 for him, and call'd him Qommodus. 
 
 This Revolution gave uscaufe to fesr 
 the refentment of juliamis, and the d;f- 
 pleafure of the Army, efpecially th 
 among us who were particularly tied 
 to the intereil of Fertinax. Mv ielt 
 was of the number, and had been gra- 
 tified by his Generofity with the itation 
 0-4 of 
 
[φ ] 
 
 of Tretor. Yet more, I had pleaded 
 ieveral Gaufes, in which I had laid o- 
 pQi\ the manifelt injutlice which Julia- 
 mis had doae tothote whole intereft ί 
 defended. All thefe rcafous oblig'd us 
 to quit our Houies, to avoid the fufpi- 
 tions that might have been entertain'd 
 of us if we had ftaid at Home. Where- 
 fore after Supper we went out with an 
 allur'd Countenance, pafs'd through the 
 Guards, and entred the Senate, where 
 we heard 'Julianus make a Speech that 
 was worthy of him, in which among 
 other things he faid, ' I lee that you 
 are in want of an Emperor, and I 
 find my felf more capable of that 
 Dignity than any Body. 1 would make 
 you an exacl: enumeration of my good 
 qualities, if you had not difcover'd 
 them upon feveral occafions. Thus 
 ί was under no necellity of coming 
 hither attended with a great number 
 of Soldiers, to obtain of you the con- 
 firmation of the honour they have 
 done me. He feem'd to infinuate, 
 that be was not attended by the Soldi- 
 ers, when all the PalTages both within 
 and without the Senate were fill'd with 
 them, and he call d upon us to be wit- 
 
 neiies 
 
[ *n ] 
 
 neifes of his good Qualities, when we 
 did not know fo much as one in him, but 
 ferv'd to increafe our fear and hatred. 
 
 After the Senate had confirm'd his 
 Election he went to the Palace, where 
 he found the Supper that had been pre- 
 paid for Vertinax, intuited his dead Bo- 
 dy, play'd at feveral Games, and fent 
 for a celebrated Dancer cali'd Tilades. 
 The next day we went to compliment 
 him, difguifing our thoughts with Care, 
 and avoiding any (hew of Difcontent. 
 The People far from diilembling , de- 
 clar'd their Sentiments freely, and pre- 
 paid openly for the execution of their 
 Defigns. One day when Julianus was 
 come to the Senate, and was preparing 
 to offer a Sacrifice to Janus, all the Peo- 
 ple cried out with one Voice, that he had 
 uiurp'd the ' Sovereign Power, and was 
 a Parricide. Julianus pretending not 
 to be diilurb'd with thofe Clamours, 
 promis'd them Money ; but they de- 
 fpis'd his Promifes, and reje&ed his Of- 
 fers, as fcorning to be corrupted by Pre- 
 fents. Upon which being no longer 
 able to contain his Anger, he comman- 
 ded iome of them that were neareft to 
 him to be put to Death. But the Peo- 
 ple 
 
[ »34 ] 
 
 pie dill more exafperated at this com- 
 mand, (hew'd a greater concern than 
 ever for the lofs of Perthax y heap'd 
 Curfes upon the Ufurper and the Army, 
 and implor'd the aififtance of the Gods. 
 There were feveral of them, who when 
 they were wounded, and juft ready to 
 expire, did not ceafe to oppofe with all 
 their power the Proclamation of Julia- 
 nm, and to exprefs the Horror they had 
 ever to fee him upon the Throne. In 
 a word, they all took Arms, and march- 
 ing in crowds to the Circus, they fpent 
 the Night and Day following in the fame 
 place without eating or drinking, invo- 
 king the other Armies, chiefly thofe 
 who ferv'd in Syria under Fecenninus 
 Niger, and fupplicating them to revenge 
 them. But when they found themfelves 
 weakned by their Cries, their Abitinence 
 and their want of Sleep, they fepara- 
 ted without any hopes of continuing 
 their Enterprize, except what they groun- 
 ded upon the aififtance of Foreigners. 
 Julianus being thus poilefs'd of the Em- 
 pire, preferv'd it by unworthy Methods, 
 and vileFlattery,w hereby he endeavour'd 
 to gain the affection of the Senators, 
 and Perfons of Quality; promifing fome, 
 
 bribing 
 
[ *J5 1 
 
 bribing others, and carefiing all the 
 World in general. He was often pre- 
 fent at the Sports and Diverfions of the 
 Theatre, and made frequent Entertain- 
 ments. In fhort, there was nothing he 
 did not put in practifetogain us to his 
 Party. But all this did not hinder us 
 from miilrufting his CarelTes ; for when 
 a Man is very officiouily forward to 
 pay extraordinary Civilities to another, 
 Men of lenie are apt to fufped: there is 
 fome defign at the bottom. But let us 
 take a view of the changes for which 
 the Provinces were preparing , while 
 Rome was in this convulfive State, un- 
 der their new Emperor Didius Julianus. 
 Three famous Captains who comman- 
 ded in feveral Countries three Armies 
 compos'd of Romans and Foreigners, at- 
 tempted at the fame time to ufurp the 
 Sovereign Power. One was Severus r 
 the fecond Pecenninus Niger, and the 
 third was call'd Alhinus. The firft was 
 in Pannonia, Niger was in Syria, and the 
 other in Britain. Thefe were the Men 
 doubtlefs that had been fignified by three 
 Stars that appear'd about the Sun upon 
 the firii day of January, while Julianus 
 was offering a Sacrifice at the entrance 
 
 of 
 
[ 2]6 ] 
 
 of the Senate in our Prefence. The 
 Soldiers obferv'dthem, and lhevv'd them 
 one to another with this remark, that 
 they threatned this new Prince with 
 tome very terrible Misfortune. We ve- 
 ry heartily wifli'd that the Soldiers 
 might be Prophetick upon this occafio- 
 on. But we durfl not fix our Eyes up- 
 on thefe new Stars, nor obferve them 
 but en pjffant. Severus who was the 
 moil powerful, and at the fame time 
 the moil dexterous of the three, judg- 
 ing there would be a Conteft between 
 them about the pofTeiTion of the Sove- 
 reign Power, as foon as he who was in- 
 veiled with it fhould be depriv'd of it, 
 determin'd to enter into an agreement 
 with Aibinus, who was neareft to him, 
 and to that end fent a Man to him of 
 approv'd FideJity with a Letter , by 
 which he created him Ccefar. As for 
 Niger, he flighted his Alliance, becaufe 
 he knew him to be a Man of exceiTive 
 Pride, and incapable of obferving any 
 Moderation, after the People of Rome 
 had implor'd the afliilance of his Arms 
 againft the violent fleps of the Ufur- 
 per. Albinus holding himfelf fecure of 
 lharing the Empire with Severus, con- 
 tinued 
 
' I Η? ] 
 
 tinued quiet. Then Severus brought 
 under his fubje&ion all the ilrong Pla- 
 ces in Europe, except Byzantium, and 
 made his approaches to Rome, fecuring 
 himfelf Day and Night in the midit of 
 fix hundred of the choiceil Men of his 
 Army. 
 
 When Julianus had intelligence of his 
 march, he got him declar'd an Enemy 
 to the Empire by Decree of the Senate, 
 and prepar'd for Battel. Rome was 
 changed as 'twere into a Camp, where 
 nothing was to be feen but preparations 
 for War, Soldiers, Horfes and Elephants 
 training up for Service. The Inhabi- 
 tants of the City, and the Neighbour- 
 ing Peafants fear'd nothing fo much as 
 the violences of the Soldiery. The 
 Companies of Guards who had been 
 accuftom'd to a foft and lazy Life, and 
 knew nothing of their Duty, were a 
 jeft to us. The Marine Soldiers that 
 were drawn out of the Fleet, had for- 
 got their Exercifes. Yet more, the Ele- 
 phants grown wild at the fight of Hor- 
 fes, would fuffer no body to mount 
 them. But nothing made us laugh fo 
 much, as to fee the Palace ihut up, and 
 barricado'd round. For Julianus, be- 
 
[ *}8 ] 
 
 ing perfwaded that Pertinax had never 
 been kill'd by a fedition of the Soldiers, 
 if the Palace at that time had been fo 
 fortified, was in hopes that in cafe he 
 had the Misfortune to lofe the Battel, 
 he might there fave his Life. In the 
 mean time he put to death Letus and 
 Mania, and thus all thofe who had con- 
 ipir'd againil Qommodus, were taken out 
 of the World : For Narc/Jftu who itrang• 
 led him, was fince expos'd to the Beads 
 by the command of Severus, and while 
 they were tearing him to pieces, the 
 Herald cried out with a loud Voice, 
 Behold the Man that ilrangled Commo- 
 dus. Julianus put to Death a great 
 number of Children to practice the Ma- 
 gick Art upon their Bodies, from an o- 
 pinion, that if 'twere poifible by means 
 of this Art to find out the Misfortunes 
 that threatned him, it might be like- 
 wife pomble to avoid them. Befides he 
 fent feveral Perfons to attempt to ailaffi- 
 nate Severus by furprize. But after he had 
 entred into Italy, had taken Ravenna 
 without difficulty, and that they who 
 had receiv'd orders to perfvvade him to 
 return, or to hinder him from advan- 
 cing further, had declar'd for him, and 
 
 that 
 
l M9 3 
 
 that the Guards in which Julianas had 
 put his principal truft began to lofe Cou- 
 rage, we were ailembled by Julianus, and 
 exhorted to declare Severus his Collegue 
 in the Government of the Empire. In 
 the mean time the Soldiers of the Guards, 
 repofing confidence in fome Letters by 
 which Severus had promis'd they ihould 
 receive no hurt provided they would con- 
 tinue quiet, and deliver up thofe who 
 had kill'd Pertinax, feiz'd them, and gave 
 notice of it to Silius Meffala the Conful. 
 He fummon'd us immediately in the 
 Temple of Minerva, which was fo call'd 
 from thofe who perform their Exercifes 
 there, and reported to us what the Soldi- 
 ers had given him advice of. Upon which 
 we condemn'd Jalianus to Death, de- 
 clar'd Severus Emperor, and decreed that 
 Divine Honours ihould be paid to Perti- 
 nax. Julianus was kill'd in his Palace, 
 and only faid as he was dying, * What 
 ' hurt have I done, and whom have I 
 4 put to Death? He liv'd fixty Years, 
 four Months, and four Days, and 
 reign'd but two Months and ten Days. 
 
 THE 
 
C *4> ] 
 
 THE 
 
 R Ε I G 
 
 Ο F Τ Η Ε 
 EMPEROR 
 
 S Ε V Ε R U S. 
 
 SEV Ε RUS being thus come to 
 the Empire, condemn'd thofe to 
 Death who had kill'd Pertinax , 
 and before he entred Rome fent for the 
 reft of the Guards, had them encom- 
 pafs'd in a Plain ere they knew any 
 thing of his defign, reproach'd them 
 feverely with their Treachery to their 
 Emperor, took away their Arms and 
 their Horfes, and forbid them to go 
 back to Rome. They were forc'd to 
 quit their Arms and their Horfes, threw 
 
 k off 
 
[ Μ* 1 
 
 off their Sadies, and were defpers'd. One 
 of them perceiving that his Hoife fol- 
 lowed him, and would not leave him, 
 kill'd his Horfe and then himftlf. They 
 who were prefent, imagin'd they ob- 
 ferv'd in the Horfe tokens of Joy, as 
 if he were pleas'd to die in this manner. 
 Severus arriv'd at R me on Horfeback 
 in the Habit of a Cavalier. He dif- 
 mounted at the Gate, and entred the 
 City on foot with a Gown. He was 
 followed by all the Troops, as well 
 Horfe as Foot. This Entry was one of 
 the moil Magnificent Sights I ever faw. 
 All the Streets were adorn'd with Flow- 
 ers and Lawrel-branches , and Tape- 
 ilries, and a vail number of Flambeaux 
 and other Lights. The inhabitants were 
 all in White, and made the Air ring 
 with Acclamations of Joy. The Soldi- 
 ers were under their Arms, and march'd 
 in excellent order, as at a Triumph. 
 We were like wife there in Body, with 
 Ornaments fuitable to our Dignity, The 
 People prefs'd extreamly to fee him, and 
 to hear him fpeak, as if his new Power 
 had chang'd him from what he was 
 before. When he was come to the Se- 
 nate, he confirmed us in the poileifion 
 
 of 
 
[ *4? ] 
 
 of a favour which had been formerly 
 granted us by the beft Emperors, which 
 was, that he would never put to Death 
 any of our Order. He was not con- 
 tented to oblige himfelf by Oath, but 
 would have a Decree of the Senate, by 
 virtue of which thofe Emperors who 
 ihould order the Death of a Senator, 
 the Miniiters of their Fury, and the 
 Children both of one and the other, 
 were to be declar'd Enemies of the State. 
 Yet he was the firft that infring'd this' 
 Law in putting to Death feveral Sena- 
 tors, and among others Julius Solon, by 
 whofe hand it was written. He did fe- 
 veral other things that very much dif- 
 pleas'd the Senators, and the reft of the 
 Citizens. Particularly, I have known 
 fome who blam'd him for having Guards 
 of Foreigners, and filling the City with 
 Soldiers of terrible Afpects, and in- 
 tractable in their way of Living, and for 
 difmifling thofe his Predecefibrs had en- 
 tertained till then, who came either out 
 of ltaly y Spain, Macedon or Bavaria^ 
 which Countries produce Men of an a- 
 greeable Afpe&, and converfable Tern- 
 per, 
 
 R χ Seve- 
 
[ M4 1 
 
 Severus long before he came to the 
 Empire , had Prefages of his future 
 Greatnefs. When he was firil receiv'd 
 in the Senate, he dreamt that he fuck'd 
 a Wolf like Romulus. When he marri- 
 ed 'Julia, he imagin'd in his Sleep that 
 Faujiina the Wife of Marcus Autelius 
 the Emperor, prepar'd his Marriage- bed 
 in the Temple of' Venus, near the Pa- 
 lace. Another time he thought his 
 Hand was a Spring, from whence there 
 iilued a vail quantity of Water. Yet 
 more, at the time he was Pretor at Ly- 
 ons, he dreamt that the whole Roman 
 Army came to compliment him. Ano- 
 ther time he fancied he was carried to 
 a very high place, from whence he dif- 
 cover'd the vail Machine of Earth and 
 Sea, and having touch'd it, it return'd 
 a moil agreeable found like an Inilru- 
 ment of Mufick. He likewife thought 
 that he had mounted a Horie with eafe 
 in a publick place of Rome, that would 
 not furTer Perthax, but had thrown him 
 to the Ground. Befides all thefe Dreams, 
 Severus had done an Action in his 
 Youth, which might have been regard- 
 ed as a fign of his future Greatnefs, 
 which was his feating himfelf through 
 
 inad- 
 
Γ M5 ] 
 
 inadvertencv in the Emperor's Chair. 
 But to have done with thefe Matters, as 
 foon as he was plac'd in the Empire, as 
 I have related, lie order'd a Monument 
 to be erected in honour of Pertinax, 
 like one of thofe that us'd to be rais'd 
 to fuch as were admitted into the num- 
 ber of the Gods, and directed that his 
 namefhould be us'd in the pubJick Pray- 
 ers, and in Oaths. He likewife com- 
 manded his Statue of Gold to be brought 
 into the Circus, upon a Chariot drawn 
 by Elephants, and three Golden Thrones 
 to be ereoted to his honour in the other 
 Theatres. 
 
 The Ceremony of the Funeral of Per- 
 tinax, though he had been long dead, 
 was as follows. A llately Maufoleum 
 was fet up in the publick Place, with 
 Stairs of Wood above thofe of Stone, 
 and over that an Edifice without Walls, 
 fupported by Columns of Ivory in- 
 rich'd with Gold. The Bed was cover'd 
 with Purple embroider'd with Gold, and 
 about it were the Heads of all forts of 
 Land and Sea Animals. Upon the Bed 
 was a Waxen Image of Vert in ax, re- 
 prefented in a triumphal Habit. A hand- 
 ibm youth defended it from the Files 
 R 3 with 
 
[ M<5 1 
 
 v, ith a Fan of Peacocks Feathers, as it 
 
 was cuftomary when Vertinax was a- 
 Jive and afleep. Severus^ the Senators 
 and their Wives came in mourning Ha- 
 bits upon the place where this Repre- 
 fentation was, the Senators fat down 
 difcover'd, and their Wives with their 
 faces cover'd under the Galleries. Af- 
 ter we were plac'd in this manner : the 
 Pomp began in the following order. 
 Firft, the Statues of the moil Illuilrious 
 Romans of Antiquity pafs'd by, after 
 them Quires of Children and Men that 
 fung mournful Airs upon the Death of 
 the late Emperor. Then appear'd all 
 the Nations that were Subjects of the 
 Empire, reprefented by Statues of Brafs 
 in proper Habits, and then Citizens of 
 all Conditions ; after them the Heralds, 
 and other Officers of that kind. Next 
 pafs'd by the Statues of Men, who had 
 been famous in their Profeifions. Then 
 arm'd Men on foot and Horfeback, the 
 War-horfes, and the reft of the Equi- 
 pages that had been furniilrd either by 
 uiq Emperor, or the Senators, by the 
 Ladies, by the moft confiderable Knights, 
 and by the Communities of Cities. At 
 laft was carried an Altar of Gold adorn'd 
 
 with 
 
Γ X47 ] 
 
 with Ivory and Jewels brought from 
 the Indies. When all this State was 
 pafs'd in this order, Severus fpoke the 
 Funeral Oration. We interrupted him 
 feveral times by our Acclamations and 
 Sighs, but we redoubled them when he 
 had made an end of fpeaking, for we 
 could not be weary of publiihing the 
 Praifes of the deceas'd Prince, and of 
 exprelTing our grief for his lafs. When 
 they were preparing to take up the Bed, 
 we fet up a terrible mournful noife. 
 It was lifted up by the Priefts and the 
 Magiftrates , as well thofe who were 
 then in Office, as thofe that were de- 
 fign'd for the following year. They 
 gave it to the Knights who bore it a- 
 Jong. Some of our Order walk'd be- 
 fore it, and among them fome that 
 were unfeignedly touch'd with Grief,and 
 others that mix'd their Voices with the 
 found of Flutes, to form a mournful 
 Confort. The Emperor was the kit of 
 the Company. We came in this order 
 to the field of Mars, where there was 
 a Pile prepar'd in form of a Tower, 
 triangular, adorn'd with Ivory, Go! 
 and Statues. On the top was a 
 Char, that Vert inax was worn 
 
 R 4 
 
[ *48 J 
 
 After they had put every thing on the 
 Pile that was neceilary For the Funeral, 
 the Bed was placM upon it. Severus and 
 the Relations of Pertmax having kifs'd 
 the Waxon Image, Severus afcended his 
 Throne, and the Senators the Scaffolds 
 that had been prepared for them, that 
 they might fee the Ceremony without 
 danger or inconvenience. The Magi- 
 il rates and Knights were afterwards 
 piae'd, every one in his Rank. The 
 Soldiers both Foot and Horfe, made fe- 
 veral tours about the Pile, to which at 
 length the Confuls fet fire, after which 
 an Eagle that had been fix'd to it fiew 
 up to the Clouds; and thus Peri has was 
 put into the number of the Gods. 
 
 When Severus had perform'd thefe 
 Honours to the Memory of his Prede- 
 ceffor, he applied himfelf to the War he 
 had to fuftaia againft Niger his Competi- 
 tor for the Sovereign Power. He was by 
 Original an Italian, of the Body of the 
 Roman Knights, who having nothing in 
 him that was extraordinary either in 
 his Vertues or Defe&s, could not fur- 
 η till ample matter for Praife, or for 
 Blame. He had fe veral Lieutenants, a- 
 mong whom Emilian excell'd by his ex- 
 perience 
 
[ M9 ] 
 
 perience in the Art of War, by his ca- 
 pacity for Bufinefs, and the advantagi- 
 ous teilimony that feveral foreign Na- 
 tions had given of his Merit. Niger 
 went immediately to Byzantium, then 
 led his Army to Perintbus, where ha- 
 ving receiv'd fome unlucky Prefages, 
 he was ftruck with a great Con Verna- 
 tion. An Eagle, it teems, that had 
 perch'd upon a Soldier's Statue, could 
 not be driven away, but ilay'd till (he 
 was taken. Yet more, fome Bees had 
 fwarm'd upon his Standards, and upon 
 his own Statues. Thefe iigns that ap- 
 pear'd ominous to him, having oblig'd 
 him to return to Byzantium, Emilian his 
 Lieutenant came to blows with the Ge- 
 nerals of Sever us y was defeated, and 
 (lain. There was after that another ve- 
 ry fharp and doubtful Battel in the Straits 
 of Nice and Cios, in which Niger's Ar* 
 my fought without giving ground in 
 an open Plain, and that of Severus up- 
 on the Hills, till Niger's Men got into 
 fome VefTels that were in a Neighbour- 
 ing Lake, and from thence pound up- 
 on the Enemy. The Troops of Seve- 
 rus, which Candicius commanded, at 
 tirft got the advantage by favour of the 
 
 Polls 
 
[ Mo ] 
 Pofts they had gaind. But the Army 
 of Niger being animated by his Pre- 
 fence, repuls'd that of Severus, and got 
 the better in their turn. When Candi- 
 da perceiv'd that his Men began to fly, 
 he reproach'd thofe who carried the 
 Standards with Cowardice, and comman- 
 ded them to return again ft the Enemy. 
 Shame giving life to their Courage , 
 they fell briskly upon the Troops of 
 Niger ι defeated them, and had entirely 
 cut them to pieces, if they had not 
 made their efcape to a neighbouring Ci- 
 ty by favour of the Night. 
 
 There was ilill another very (harp and 
 very obftinate fight at Py/us 9 between 
 the Army of Sever us commanded by 
 Valerian and Anulin^ and that of Niger 
 commanded by himfelf. The place 
 where this Battel was fought was call'd 
 PylusmCilkia, as I have (aid, becaufe 
 on one fide it was (unrounded with ve- 
 ry rough Mountains, and on the other 
 with Precipices that extend themfelves 
 to the very Sea. Niger had difpos'd his 
 Army upon a Hill that was ftrong by 
 foliation. He had plac'd in the Van- 
 guard his heavy Troops, and behind 
 them the Archers and Slingers, to the 
 
 end, 
 
end that the one might flop the Ene- 
 my by their flrmnefs, and the others 
 draw upon them at a diftance. He was 
 fafe on one fide by Precipices, which 
 as I have (aid, extend to the Sea, and 
 on the other by a Foreft, whofe en- 
 trance was very thick, and of difficult 
 acceis. He put the Baggage behind the 
 Army to deprive Cowards of the means 
 of flight. Anulin having obferv'd this 
 order of the Enemies Army, made a 
 difpofition of that of Severus in this 
 manner. He put in the Van his heavy 
 Troops, and behind all thoie that were 
 lightly arm'd. He fent all his Horfe 
 under the conduct of Valerian to fur- 
 round the Foreft, if 'twere poflible. In 
 the beginning of the fight the Army of 
 Severus difpos'd themfelves in form of 
 the Tortoife, and made it long depend- 
 ing. A little after Niger's Army feem'd 
 to get the better by a fuperiority of 
 Forces , and the advantage of feveral 
 Pofts he had poifefs'd himfelf of, and 
 'tis not to be doubted, but he had got 
 an entire Victory, if in the midil of a 
 mighty calm the Clouds had not ga- 
 ther'd of a fudden, and caus'd a terrible 
 Storm, in which Lightning, Thunder, 
 
 Wind 
 
I J % 
 
 Wind and Ran." pp;led, and dart- 
 
 ed a- re upon the faces of Niger's 
 Men, without incommoding thofe of 
 Severus. This accident rais'd the Cou- 
 rage of the one, by pcrfwading them 
 that the Gods fought on their fide, and 
 deprefs'd that of the other, by letting 
 them fee that Heaven was againft them. 
 Thus one fide fought above their ftrength, 
 and the other loft their ftrength by 
 fear. When Niger s Troops began to 
 fly , Valerian appearing ftop'd them, 
 but Anulin falling upon them on ano- 
 ther fide at the fame time, they began 
 agen to fly, and to difperfe themfelves 
 on all fides. The Slaughter was very 
 great, and there remain'd upon the 
 place twenty thoufand Men of Niger's 
 Party. 'Tis faid, this defeat had been 
 foretold to a Prieft in a Dream. While 
 Severus was in Fannonu, a Prieft of Ju- 
 piter dreamt he faw a black Man fall 
 upon his Army, which Man was after- 
 wards cut to pieces. The City of An- 
 tioch being taken foon after, Niger found 
 means to efcape, and to retire towards 
 the Euphrates, where he hop'dheihould 
 be fafe, but being purfued and taken by 
 the Troops of Severus, he loft his Head. 
 
 The 
 
[ in ι 
 
 The Emperor order'd it to be carried 
 to Byzantium, and nVd to a Crofs, that 
 the Inhabitants of that place might be 
 excited by fuch a fpectacle to come over 
 to his Party. 
 
 When Sever us had got the V 3 ' v, 
 he condemn'd thofe who had followed 
 Niger. There was among them a Sena- 
 tor, whole name was Cajfius Ciena, who 
 at the very time he was condenn'd, 
 fpoke to him with abundance of Liber- 
 ?, c Without being tied, (aid he to 
 him, by any particular engagement 
 either to you or Niger, I happen'd to 
 be of his Party, and I obey'd the ne- 
 ceifity of the time, which engag ο me 
 rather in purfuit of Julianas, than to 
 make War upon you. I have there- 
 fore committed no fault, neither when 
 at firft I follow 'd your Party, nor af- 
 terwards when Ϊ continued faithful to 
 him whom the Gods had appointed 
 for my Mailer. You ought not then 
 to confider fo much our Perfons and 
 our Names, as the prefent ftate of 
 Affairs. You cannot condemn me, 
 without condemning at the fame time 
 your felf and your Friends. I am fen- 
 iible there are no Judges on Earth, 
 
 'to 
 
[ »J4 ] 
 
 ' to whofe Authority you are fubject $ 
 
 * but yet what independance foever you 
 
 * may afcribe to your felf, you are !i- 
 
 * able not withstanding to have your AcYi- 
 
 * oris examined by Pofterity. Futurity 
 - will not efface the Judgment which 
 
 * the publick Voice fhall pronounce a- 
 ' gainft you, but will continue to be- 
 c lieve, that you condemn us for a Crime 
 f that was nothing but a pure Misfor- 
 4 tune. Sever its admir'd the generofity 
 of his Difcourfe, and not only gave him 
 his Life, but left him in the poileiiion of 
 half his Eftate. 
 
 The People of Byzantium perform 'd 
 very great things, both before and af- 
 ter the Death of Niger. The fituation 
 of their City is made very commodi- 
 ous by the Neighbourhood of the Ter- 
 ra Firm<e, that encompafs it on both 
 fides, and of the Sea which divides 
 them, and 'tis no lefs ilrong than Com- 
 modious. It is built upon a high Ground, 
 at the foot of which the Sea of Tontus 
 runs with an impetuous Motion, and 
 winding a little to the left, makes a 
 Gulph and a Port, and difcharges it felf 
 into the Propontis. The City had for- 
 merly very ftrong Walls» They were 
 
 fop- 
 
[ 255 ] 
 Supported by Ramparts and folid Stru- 
 ctures. They had fuch a breadth, that 
 one might walk at eafe upon them, and 
 there was a cover that made the Guard 
 iecure. There were alio feveral great 
 Towers with Gates, by which there was 
 a Communication one with another. 
 They were fituated in an oblique Line 
 with refpecT: to each other, fo that they 
 inclos'd in fome meafure the fpace that 
 was between them. There was likewiie 
 oppofite to the Terra firma, a Citadel 
 of an extream height, which made the 
 defence of them on that fide very eafie. 
 On the fide of the Sea the Wails were 
 very low, becaufe they were fufficient- 
 ly defended by the Rocks upon which 
 they were built, and by the impetuous 
 Current of the Bofpborus which pafs'd 
 beneath them , befides that the two 
 Gates were fecur'd with Chains. Yet 
 further, the Port had two Promonto- 
 ries on which two Towers were built, 
 that fo entirely commanded that part 
 of the Sea, that 'twas dangerous for 
 ilrangers to appear there. But nothing 
 was of iuch advantage to the fituation 
 of this City as the Bofpborus, whofe 
 Current infallibly drives to Land all the 
 
 Ships 
 
[ *J<5 ] 
 
 Ships that come into it, which makes 
 it as dreadful to Enemies, as 'tis agree- 
 able to Friends. Bcfides thefe Fortifi- 
 cations which Art and Nature had 
 brought to Byzantium, it had ilill many 
 other admirable proviiions for its Secu- 
 rity. The Walls were furninYd with 
 all forts of Machines, ibme of which 
 were proper to be charg'd with great 
 pieces of Wood and Stones, to be us'd 
 againlt an approaching Enemy, others 
 with little Stones, Darts and Javelins for 
 thofe who were at greater diilance, fo 
 that it was not poflible to remain out 
 of the place without being exposd to 
 ν great danger. There were alfo 
 your Grapling-Irons, or Iron-hands that 
 might be thrown out of a iudden, and 
 drawn back with an equal Celerity. The 
 greateft part of thefe Machines and 
 Vcflels had been made by Prifcus my 
 Country-man, whofe Life was fav'd by 
 Severus in consideration of his Art. For 
 hearing that he was condemn d, and that 
 he was excellent in Mechanicks and For- 
 tifications, he put a flop to the Executi- 
 on, and afterwards made ufe of him in 
 feveral Military Expeditions, and prin- 
 cipally in the Siege of Atra, where his 
 
 Ma- 
 
[ *J7 ] 
 
 Machines were too hard for the Artifici- 
 al fires of theBefieged. 
 
 The People of Byzantium had about 
 five hundred Veffels, whereof the great- 
 eft part had but one Gar. Some few 
 of them had a pair of Oars. Some 
 had a double Steerage, one at the Prow, 
 and the other at the Stern, and two Pi- 
 lots to advance and retreat with more 
 celerity, and to be always ready to 
 furprize the Enemy. The Inhabitants 
 of this City made themfelves admir'c 
 for the examples they afforded both 
 for Valour in Attacks, and Conftancv 
 in their Mifcries, when they fuftainu 
 a three years Siege againll the Fleets 
 of the whole Univerfe. I ihall here 
 relate fome of their moil remarka- 
 ble Actions. They furpriz'd a great 
 numher of Veflels that lail'd into their 
 Neighbourhood, and made themfelves 
 Matters of them by a fuperior dexteri- 
 ty in attacking them. They took fome 
 Gallies in the very Ports of their Ene- 
 mies, having cut their Cables, and fa- 
 ilen'd them to their own Boats , by 
 which means they drew them along in- 
 to Harbour. Sometimes they took Mer- 
 chant-Men by Correspondence, thatpre- 
 *> tended 
 
Γ »5« ] 
 
 tended to have been taken by force, and 
 after they had given them an over- 
 great price for their Effects, they fet 
 them at Liberty. When they had fpent 
 all their Provifions, and were feverely 
 prefs'd by the Befiegers without hopes 
 of any relief, they continued to de- 
 fend themfelves with the utmoit Vigour. 
 They puil'd down their Houfes to re- 
 pair their Boats, and made ufe of their 
 AVives E-kir for Cordage. When they 
 faw the Befiegers lodg'd upon the Body 
 of the Wall , they lanc'd upon them 
 with their Machines charg'd with great 
 Stones, for which they had demoliuYd 
 their Theatre, their Statues, and other 
 Figures of curious Workmanihip. When 
 their Provifions were quite confum'd 
 they fed upon Leather, and when that 
 was gone, they put to Sea at the ftor- 
 my feafon of the year when no Enemies 
 were to be found, refolv'd either to 
 get Food, or an occafion to die. Thus 
 landing where they could , they laid 
 the Country waft, and carried off every 
 thing they could meet with. When 
 thofe who remain'd in the City felt 
 themfelves prefs'd with extfeam Hun- 
 ger, they had recourfe to the ilrangeft 
 
 piece 
 
[ »<9 ] 
 
 piece of Inhumanity that ever entred 
 into the minds of Men ; they fought 
 with one another through a defperate 
 neceffity of being reduc'd either to die^ 
 or to feed upon each others Bodies. 
 Some of them, who abhorr'd fo barba- 
 rous a thing, embark'd in their Boats 
 to try to fave themfelves, and put to 
 Sea in a dreadful Storm. But they 
 were Unfuccefsful in their Enrerprize, for 
 the Romans feeing them difpers'd by the 
 violence of the Winds and Waves, and 
 obferving that their Vefiels were fo hea- 
 vy laden, that they could fcarce bear 
 up above Water, fell in with them, and 
 deftroy'd them without righting, by the 
 violence of the Shocks they gave them. 
 How eager foever theie miferable Peo- 
 ple were to defend themfelves , they 
 were deprived of all poflible means of 
 doing it. If they attempted to make 
 their efcape, they were either founder'd 
 at Sea by the violence of the Storms, 
 or taken by the Romans. The Inhabi- 
 tants, who faw from the top of their 
 Walls this difmal Spedtacle^ MUM the 
 Air with Lamentations, and invoked the 
 aiiiftance of Heaven. But when they 
 faw that all their Ships were defiroy'd 
 S % or 
 
[ ί6ο ] 
 
 or taken, they plung'd themfetoes ία 
 Tears, and during the reft of the Day 
 and the following Night, abandon ci 
 themielves to Grief and Defpair. The 
 Sea was cover'd with Wrecks, and waft- 
 ed to the Iflands, and as far as Afia the 
 deplorable remnants or' this Shipwrack, 
 fooner than they could any other way 
 receive intelligence of it. The next 
 day reprefented the image of this fatal 
 accident more dreadful, than it had ap- 
 pear'd during^he obfeurity of the Night, 
 in difcovering 3 prodigious quantity of 
 Blood, and a confus'd heap of dead Bo- 
 dies that infeoled the Shoar. This un- 
 happy City being thus conilrain'd to 
 yield, the Soldiers and Perfons of Note 
 were put to the Sword. There was a 
 Wreitler who had done great fervice da- 
 ring the Siege, and had extreamly in- 
 commoded the Beiiegers. This Man 
 having by fome overiight been left out 
 of the number of thole who were put 
 to the Sword, was determin'd to die 
 with the refr, and for that purpofe (truck 
 * Roman Soldier, and kick'd another, to 
 the end that by fuch a Provocation they 
 might kill him, which they did. Se- 
 verus y who was then in Mefopotamia, 
 
 was 
 
[ *<*> ] 
 
 was fo tranfported with the news of 
 the Surrender of this City, that he faid 
 to his Officers, who were about him, 
 with a particular Emphafis, c At lad 
 ' we have taken Byzantium. He depriv'd 
 it of its Rights and Franchifes, impos'd 
 a Tribute upon it, conflfcated the fi- 
 xates of the Citizens, and made them 
 fubjec"r. to thofe of Terinthus, who made 
 a very infolent ule of this Advantage. 
 How juft foever this Punilliment might 
 appear that Severus inflicted upon this 
 conqucr'd People, they laid itextream- 
 ly to heart , becaufe by demolifhing 
 their Walls , they were depriv'd of 
 the fatisfa&ion and pride they were 
 wont to take, when they iliew'd them 
 to Strangers who us'd to admire their 
 Magnificence. It is to be confefs'd like- 
 wife that when Severus deftroy'd them, 
 he ruin'd the Bulwark that covered the 
 Romans from the incurfions of the Bar- 
 barians, and the Fort from whence the 
 Barbarians had feen the Romans break 
 out to make Irruptions upon them. I 
 have feen the Ruines, which appear'd 
 to me as deplorable, as if they had been 
 caus'd not by Romans^ but by the moil 
 barbarous and inhuman People on the 
 S \ Earth. 
 
[ *6ι ] 
 
 Ifarth. I had feen the Works of u\ls 
 City before they were demoliih'd, anq 
 had heard the famous Eccho there. 
 There were from the Thracian Gate to 
 the Sea feven Towers, the irft of which 
 made fuch a reverberation of a Sound, 
 that if one fpqke or made any other 
 noife within it, the Noife or Voice was 
 carried to the fecond, from thence to 
 the third, and ib to the reft in the fame 
 order. But if one fpoke or made any 
 noife in any of th^m but the flrft, they 
 would not return the Sound. 
 
 During the Siege of Byzantium Seve- 
 rn! , through the (ingle Motive of Glo- 
 ry, undertook a War againfl the Ofroe- 
 piavs, the Adiahenians^ and the Arabians . 
 When he had pafs'd the Euphrates ', he 
 found a Country lb extreamly parch/d 
 with the heats of the Sun, that he ran 
 the rifque of lofing the greatefl: part of 
 his Army there. Latitude, Heat, and 
 Dull incommoded them to that degree, 
 thai- being no longer able to march or 
 (peak' they had but juil itrength e- 
 nough leit to fay in a feeble tone, Wa- 
 ter, Water. A Spring appear'd at length, 
 and Siverus no lets atoniuYd than be- 
 fore, calld for a Cupanddrankinftght 
 w\\ • • -- f 
 
[ *<$3 3 
 
 of the whole Army, which afterwards 
 by drinking of it recover'd their Spirits. 
 Severus going to Niftlis continued there, 
 and fent Late mm, Can did us, and Le- 
 tus into the Countries of the People 1 
 have mention'd, who laid them waft; 
 and took their Cities. The happy fuc- 
 cefs of this Expedition, made the Em- 
 peror fo exceffively vain, that he took 
 it for granted he excell'd all Mankind in 
 Prudence and Valour. While he was 
 entertaining himfelf with fuch fwelling 
 Thoughts, there happened a very ft range 
 Accident to him. A famous Robber 
 call'd Claudius, who had made himfelf 
 formidable in 'judaza and Syria, and had 
 been very ftri&ly fearch'd for but in 
 vain, came and prefented himfelf to him 
 at the head of a Troop of Horfe, as if 
 he had been a Tribune, made him a 
 Compliment, and return'd without be- 
 ing difcover'd , or even taken after- 
 wards. The Scythians intending at the 
 fame time to take Arms, were diverted 
 from it by a Temped that rofc during 
 their Consultations, and which was at- 
 tended with violent Rain, Thunder and 
 Lightning, whereby three of the chief 
 Men of their Nation were kiil'd. Se- 
 S 4. v^rus 
 
[ 2<5 4 ] 
 
 verus dividing his Army a fecond time 
 into three Bodies, gave one to Letus, 
 another to Anulin, and the third to 
 Prohus, and detach'd them to three Pla- 
 ces of the Empire, which they main- 
 tained with much difficulty. He be- 
 ftow'd great Priviledges upon Nifihis, 
 and the Government of it upon a Ro- 
 man Knight. He boa (led of having 
 conquer'd a vail extent of Land, which 
 he had made a Bulwark to cover Syria. 
 But the Event has but too well made 
 known, that this Conquefl: has been, 
 more burthenfom than ufeful, fince it 
 has engag'd us in continual Wars, and 
 prodigious Expences. 
 
 Thefe foreign Wars had fo wholly ta- 
 ken up his thoughts, that he had fcarce 
 any refpite before he found himfelf en- 
 gag'd in a Civil War with Alhmtts y to 
 whom, after he had defeated tfiger, and 
 difpos'd his Affairs according to his de- 
 fire, he would not grant the Title of 
 Cafar, nor the Honours annex'd to that 
 Title, though the other gave him to 
 underftand, that he could not be fatif- 
 fied without them, and pretended to 
 {bare with him the Imperial Dignity. 
 We of the Senate liv'd in peace amidft 
 
 the 
 
C ι** ] 
 
 che buftle of Arms that mov'd the U- 
 rriverfe, and without fiding with any 
 Party, were contented to declare our 
 Sentiments to ourmoft familiar Friends, 
 and to communicate our Hopes and Fears 
 one to another. The People were not 
 fo moderate , and could not forbear 
 publiihing their difcontent. For when 
 they were ailembled in great numbers 
 to fee the Sports of the Circus upon the 
 laft day that preceded the Saturnalia, 
 I went thither in Perfon with the Con- 
 ful who was my Friend, and carefully 
 obferv'dall that pafs'd, which enables me 
 to make a very faithful relation of it. 
 The People faw feveral Chariot-cour- 
 fes, fix againft fix, as 'twas pracWd in 
 the time of Qleander, and faw them 
 without their ufual Acclamations. As 
 foon as this courfe was over, and they 
 were preparing to begin a fecond, all 
 the People who had obferv'd till then 
 a profound Silence, clap'd their Hands 
 of a fudden, and call'd aloud for fome 
 good wiihes in favour of the State. Af- 
 ter they had wifh'd Eternal Happinefs 
 to Rome, and call'd it Imperial City, 
 and Immortal, they cried out, ' How 
 * long mud we live in this miferable 
 
 1 Con» 
 
t 266 3 
 
 g Condition, and fuftain fuch cruel Wars* 
 They faid other things of the like na- 
 ture, and then applied tbemfelves to 
 the Sports again. It look'd as if they 
 had been excited by fome Geqius to 
 make thofe Exclamations , efpecially 
 fince 'tis in a manner impoflible, hu- 
 manly fpeaking, that fuch numbers of 
 People mould agree to pronounce at the 
 fame inftant the fame Words, and the 
 fame Syllables. But if we were fur- 
 priz'd at thefe popular Acclamations, 
 we were yet more amaz'd at the flames 
 that appear'd in the Night towards the 
 North, which feem'd to threaten Rome 
 and the Heavens themfelves with a ge- 
 neral Conflagration. But nothing afto- 
 nifh'd us fo much as a Ihower of Rain 
 of the colour of Silver, that fell in 
 the Street of Auguflus. Τ did not fee it 
 fall, but I examind it carefully after it 
 fell, and blanch'd fome pieces of Tin 
 with it, which preferv'd their Whiteneis. 
 but three days, and changed again to 
 their natural colour. 
 
 Ifumertan, a Schoolmafter in Rome, 
 going upon fome occaiion into Gau/ y 
 pretended to be a Senator fent by Scve- 
 rus to levy Troops, actually rai^'d iome, 
 
[ *<57 1 
 
 defeated a Party of Horfe that belong'4 
 to Alhinus, and did fome other memo- 
 rable Actions. Severus believing he 
 was indeed a Senator, wrote to him, 
 commended his Valour, and encourag'd 
 him to raife more Troops. Thereupon 
 augmenting his numbers he perform 'd 
 ilill greater Exploits, and got a Mafs of 
 Treafure that amounted to feven thou- 
 sand feven hundred and fifty Drachma's, 
 which he fent to the Emperor. Com- 
 ing afterwards to wait upon him he 
 frankly told him the truth, and in ilead 
 of defiring to be preferred to the Dig- 
 nity of a Senator, would accept of nei- 
 ther Riches nor Honours in confidera- 
 tion of his Services, and was content- 
 ed to live in the Country upon a very 
 moderate Revenue, which he receiv'd 
 from the Emperor's Generofity. 
 
 The Battel between the two Compe- 
 titors for the Empire, was fought near 
 Lyons. There were fifty thoufand Men 
 of a fide, with Severus and Alh'tmts at 
 the Head of them, for in all appear- 
 ance this Battel was to determine not 
 only their Fortunes, but their Lives. Se- 
 verus had never been prefent in an En- 
 gagement before. Yet fie furpafs'd AU 
 
 binus 
 
[ *6t ] 
 
 binus in experience of War, as he was 
 exceeded by him in Birth and Learning. 
 In the foil encounter Allinus had the 
 advantage over Lupus •, one of the Lieu* 
 tenants of Severtu, and had cut ofFgreat 
 part of his Men. The fecond had a 
 mixture of different and reciprocal Suc- 
 cess. The left Wing of Albinus's Ar- 
 my was at the firil ihock put into dif- 
 order and routed. Now while Seve* 
 riu's Men , inilead of purfuing them, 
 ilopt ihort to plunder their Baggage and 
 Equipage, the Enemy having Ditches 
 before them cover'd with Earth and 
 Leafs, advanc'd upon the very borders 
 of them, gave a Volley of Arrows, and 
 retir'd out of a feeming fear. The Sol- 
 diers of Severus's Army being provok'd 
 at this Attack, and at the fame time 
 defpifing the retreat that follow'd it, 
 advanc'd towards them with eager hail, 
 as if the Ground had been firm and fe- 
 cure, and fell directly into the Snare. 
 The next that follow'd them fell upon 
 them. They who were backward e- 
 nough to itop and retreat, broke the 
 Ranks of thofe who were behind. There 
 was a very great deflruclion of Men 
 and Horfes that fell into thefe Ditches. 
 
 They 
 
[ 26 9 ] 
 
 They who were beyond them were gall'd 
 by the Darts to which they were ex• 
 pos'd. Severus hearing of the danger 
 they were in, advanc α at the Head or' 
 his Guards to give them Succour. But 
 in (lead of bringing any Relief, he ex- 
 pos'd himfelf and his Troops to the ha- 
 zard of being all cut of£ His Horfe 
 was kill'd under him, and his Perfon 
 thus difmounted ran a very great rifque. 
 When he faw his Men routed, he rent 
 his Cloaths, and threw himfelf in the 
 midftof them Sword in Hand, to bring 
 them back to the charge by his exam- 
 ple, and the (ling of his Reproaches, or 
 at lead to be involv'd in their Misfor- 
 tune. Some of them aw'd by his Pre- 
 fence ftop'd, and facing about fell foul 
 upon one of their own Parties, whom 
 they miftook for their Foes. Then they 
 attack'd their real Enemies, purfued 
 them in their turn, and put them to 
 the rout. The Horfe commanded by 
 Letus charg'd them in Flank at the 
 fame time, and finiih'd the Defeat. This 
 Letus had been unconcern'd in the Acti- 
 on as long as the event appeared doubt- 
 ful, itf hopes that Severus and All'inus 
 .would dellroy each other, and that 
 
 thofe 
 
[ 170 ] 
 
 thofe Soldiers who fliould furvive the 
 Battel might choofe him Emperor. But 
 when he law that Severus had won the 
 Field, he puriu'd his Enemies, arid β- 
 tiifh'd the great Decifion. 
 
 This War extreamly dimimlh'd the 
 Forces of the Empire, and took off fo 
 vail a number of Men on both fides, 
 that the very Conquerors mourn'd for 
 their Victory. The Field of Battel was 
 cover'd with dead and wounded Bodies, 
 and others that without wounds lay as 
 'twere buried under a contus'd heap of 
 Arms and mangled Members. Streams 
 of Blood fwell'd the River, andchang'd 
 its colour. Alhinus fled to a Houfe near 
 the Rhone. But when he found it in- 
 veiled he flew himfelf. I relate the mat- 
 ter juil as it pafs'd, and not as Severus 
 was pleas'd to defcribe it. He look'd 
 very attentively upon Albinuis Body, 
 and Ihew'd by the motion of his Eyes, 
 and by his Expretfions, the fatisfadion 
 he took in feeing it, then commanding 
 the Trunk to be expos'd, he fent the 
 Head to Rome, and order'd it to be fix'd 
 to a Crofs. The barbarity of this Acti- 
 on demonitrated, that he had not one 
 quality of a good Prince. But his haugh- 
 
 
ί *7» i 
 
 ty way of writing to the Senate and 
 People after the Victory, made it yet 
 more manifeft. For while he was ilill 
 in Arms, he vented upon unarm'd Peo- 
 ple all the venom of Indignation and 
 Anger, that had long been gathering in 
 his Heart. Nothing frightned us ib 
 much, as the fancy he took to be calfd 
 the Son of Marcus Aurelius, and Brother 
 of CommoJus. Yet further, he beftow'd 
 Divine Honours upon the Iaft, tho' he 
 had formerly blackned his Memory. As 
 he was one day reading in the Senate a 
 Difcourfe which he had compos'd, in 
 which after he had commended the Ri- 
 gour and Cruelty of Sy//a> Marius, and 
 Auguflus, as the only means to preferve 
 an Abfolute Power , and blam'd the 
 Sweetnefs and Clemency of Pompey and 
 Cafar as dangerous qualities that had 
 caus'd their Deitru&ion, he undertook 
 the defence of Commodus^ and made a 
 fevere Invective againil the Senate that 
 had diihonour'd him. ' Several among 
 ' you, faid he to us, lead more infa- 
 mous and criminal Lives, than he did, 
 ' If it be thought ftrange that he flic uld 
 ' employ himlelf in killing Beafts with 
 ' his own Hand, has not an ancienc 
 
 'Con- 
 
[ »7» ] 
 
 6 Confu! been fcen very lately to divert 
 \ himfelf publickly at Oflia with a Wench 
 5 in difguife ? And if Commodus fome- 
 ' times fought with Gladiators, are there 
 e none among you addicted to the fame 
 1 Exercife? Wherefore then have fome 
 1 Perfons bought his Bucklers, his Hel- 
 * mets, and his other Arms ? 
 
 After he had made this Speech, he 
 pardon'd five and thirty of the princi- 
 pal Senators, who were accus'd of fa- 
 vouring Allinuss fide, and employ 'd 
 them in the fame manner, as if they 
 had been exempt from all lufpicion. 
 But he condemn'd nine and twenty o- 
 thers to Death, among whom was SuU 
 pitim Father-in-Lavv to Pertinax. 
 
 ' After that he turn'd his Arms agatnft 
 the Parthians, who while he was taken 
 up in the Civil War, had poflefs'd them- 
 felves of Mefopotamia, and laid Siege to 
 Nifibis, which they had taken but for the 
 vigorous refinance which Letus made to 
 defend it. Letus by this Aotion encreas'd 
 the Reputation which his excellent Qua- 
 lities had gained him, being lookt upon 
 as one of the firft Men in Rome, and 
 one of the moil capable of ferving the 
 Empire either in War or Peace. 
 
 When 
 
[ 27? ] 
 
 When Sever us was arriv'd at bfifi&z^ 
 he there law a wild Boar of a prodigi- 
 ous bignefs that had ilain a Man on Horle- 
 back, who trufting to his itrength had 
 undertaken to attack him. This Boar 
 was purfued and kill'd by thirty Soldiers, 
 and brought to the Emperor. The Par- 
 thians, who liv'd under the Government 
 of Vologefes, whofe Brother was with Se* 
 verus^ in (lead of waiting for the Empe- 
 ror retir'd into their own Country. He 
 faild upon the Euphrates with all Ex- 
 pedition, attended by a great number 
 of Veffels, took the Cities of Seleucia 
 and Babylon that were delerted. He al- 
 io took that of Ctefiphon, gave it up to 
 plunder, made a prodigious deitru&ion 
 in it, and yetfav'd the Lives of a hun- 
 dred thoufand Perfons whom he led in- 
 to Captivity. Neverthelefs he did not 
 preferve this laft City, but left it as if 
 he had reduc'd it only with a defign to 
 ruine it. Soon after he quitted the 
 Country, whole ikuation he was not 
 Efficiently acquainted with, and where 
 he found nothing that was neceilary for 
 him. He return'd by a different way. 
 becaufe he had confum'd all the Wood, 
 Hay and Forrago that he found in the 
 Τ wtiy 
 
[ *74 1 
 
 way he came. Part of the Foot march'd 
 back upon the Banks of the Tygris, 
 and the reft went by Water. When he 
 had pafs'd through Mefopotamia, he laid 
 Siege to Atra, but in itead of taking 
 it, had the difpleafure to fee part of his 
 Machines burnt, and a great number 
 of his Men kill'd and wounded. Du- 
 ring this War he put to Death two of 
 the moil confiderable Men of the Em- 
 pire. One was Julius Crijpus Tribune 
 of the Guards, who being tatigu'd with 
 the hardfhips of his Office had repeated 
 a Verfe in Virgil, in which a Soldier 
 complain'd that Turnus facrinc'd a great 
 number of valiant Men to his Paiiion, 
 and expos 'd them to Death only to get 
 Livinia for his Wife. A Soldier nam'd 
 Valerius, who was likewife his Accufer, 
 obtain'd his Poft. Letus was the other 
 whom Severus put to death through a 
 motive of Jealoufie upon the fcore of 
 his Vertues, and a Declaration of the 
 Soldiers that they would not ferve but 
 under his Conduct. 
 
 Severus having made great prepara- 
 tions for War, laid Siege a fecond time 
 to the City of Atra, whofe reli fiance 
 feem'd ■ iniupportable at a time when all 
 
 the 
 
the reft had fubmitted to the yoke. But 
 he was asunfuccefsful in this iecond At- 
 tempt, as he had been in the firit. He 
 was at a prodigious expence in vain, 
 loft all his Machines except thofe which 
 Prifcus had made, and the choiceft of 
 his Troops. A great number were (lain 
 as they were foraging , for then the 
 Cavalry of the Arabians fell upon them 
 with an incredible Celerity, and the In- 
 habitants of Atra pour'd their Darts 
 upon them at a diiiance at the fame 
 time. But the moil confiderable lois 
 was at the Wall when the Roman Army 
 made their Approaches, and had beat 
 down part of it. For then the Befieg- 
 edgall'd them with Naphta, which con- 
 fum'd Men and Machines in an inftant. 
 Severus had the mortification to be an 
 Eye-witnefs of this fad Accident from an 
 advanc'd ground where he was polled. 
 Part of the Wall falling down,the Soldiers 
 advanc'd to enter the Town, but Seve- 
 rus order'd a retreat to be founded, in 
 hopes that the Arabians to efcape being 
 plunder'd, would difcover to him a Trea- 
 fure that lay conceal'd in their City, 
 and contain'd the Prefents which had 
 been made to the Temple of the Sun. 
 
 Τ % But 
 
[ *;* J 
 
 But when he law that a whole day was 
 pafs'd without any offer from the Inha- 
 bitants to furrender, he gave orders for 
 another AiTault, though the Wall had 
 been repair'd in the Night. The Euro- 
 pean Soldiers refuting to go upon the 
 Attack, the Syrians were com pell 'd to 
 that Service, and were repuls'd with very 
 great lofs. Thus Providence, that had 
 a mind to fave the City, made ufe of 
 Severus upon this occafion to reilrain 
 the Soldiers who were at firft impatient 
 to take it, and afterwards of their di(o- 
 bedience to render his fecond orders in- 
 effectual. Inthefirft Encounter, which 
 is that I am now fpeaking of, this 
 Prince was io irrefolute, that one of his 
 Officers undertaking to make him Ma- 
 iler of Atra, provided he would fpare 
 him but five hundred and fifty Europe- 
 an Soldiers, he anfvver'd in the prefence 
 of feveral Perfons, that he could not 
 furn it'll him with fuch a number. Which 
 implied, that he was not fecure of the 
 Fidelity of thofe who were in his Ser- 
 vice. After he had continued twenty 
 days before the place, he broke up for 
 Talefiine, where he rendred Funeral Ho- 
 nours to Fowpey the Great. Then he 
 
 made 
 
[ »77 1 
 made a progreis to Egypt, where his 
 curiofity was Co active, that nothing 
 could elcape his Enquiries. He made 
 an exact fcarch into their moft hidden 
 Myfteries, their Laws and Religion. He 
 took away with him all the Books that 
 contain'd any conceal'd Doctrine. He 
 feal'd up Alexander's Tomb, that no 
 body might fee his Body, or read what 
 was written upon it. I ihall fay nothing 
 here of the reft of Egypt, but becaufe 
 I have taken particular care to inform 
 my felf by different methods of what 
 relates to the Nile, I cannot excufe my 
 felf from making fome report of it. 
 
 It vifibly takes its rife from Mount 
 Atlas, which is a Mountain near the O- 
 cean on the weit fide. This Mountain 
 is infinitely higher than all the reft up- 
 on the Earth, which gave the Poets oc- 
 cafion to feign that it fupported the 
 Heavens. Never did any body afcend 
 to the top of it. 'Tis cover'd with .Snow 
 at all times, and in Summer discharges 
 a prodigious quantity of Water. The 
 foot of this Hill is Marfliy, and from 
 thefe Morailes proceeds the Nile, as it 
 appears by the Crocodiles that breed 
 there, as well as in the courie of the 
 Τ 3 River, 
 
[ *7* 3 
 River. For what remains , no body 
 ought to wonder that I mould pretend 
 to difcover a fecret of Nature which 
 was unknown to the ancient Greeks , 
 for I had an eafie opportunity of in- 
 forming my ielf by converfing with 
 fome of the Macennites, who are bor- 
 derers upon the lower Mauritania^ and 
 fend Troops as far as Mount Atlas. This 
 is what I had to fay upon this Subject. 
 
 In the mean time Plautian^ who was 
 in greater credit with the Emperor than 
 any other, and was in pofleflion of the 
 charge of Pr&feftus Pr&torio, put to 
 Death feveral of the moil confiderable 
 Men in the Empire. There was not a Man 
 of Subftance, whofe Eilate he did not fleece 
 fome way or other. There was not a Na- 
 tion or City that was free from his Extor- 
 tions. He receiv'd greater and more fre- 
 quent Prcfents than Severus himfelf. He 
 fent fome Officers into the lilands of the 
 Red Sea, to fetch Horfes that were con- 
 fecrated to the Sun, and refembled Ty- 
 gers This fingle A#ion fuffices to 
 ihew the excels of his Avarice. Yet 
 I'll add another which may ferve as a 
 proof of his Power, as well as of his 
 ill Nature. He invited to his £3oufe a 
 
 hundred 
 
[ 179 J 
 hurdred Citizens of good Families, and 
 ha j them all Caft rated. He not only 
 us'd Boys in this manner, but married 
 Men, that the number of his Daughter 
 Plautillas Eunuchs might be increas'd. 
 She was afterwards Married to Antoni- 
 nus the Emperors Son. I have fecn 
 fome of thofe Men, who were at once 
 Eunuchs, Husbands, Fathers, and had 
 Beards. An a£Hon fo unheard of, was 
 not divulg'd till after the Death of Plau- 
 tian. It ihews that he had a more ab- 
 folute Power than any other Subject, 
 and perhaps than Severus himfelf. 'Tis 
 certain that at Rome and other Cities, 
 Private Men, Corporations, and the ve- 
 ry Senate ere&ed more of his Statues, 
 than of the Emperor's. The Soldiers 
 and the Senators (wore by his Fortune, 
 and made publick Wiihes for hisfafety. 
 The liberty that Severus had given him, 
 and that rofe to fuch an Excefs, that 
 you would have taken Plautian for the 
 Emperor, and Severus for the Prefetf, 
 was doubtlefs the reafon that made him 
 exceed all bounds. He was very exact- 
 ly inform'd of all the Actions and 
 Words of the Emperor, who knew no- 
 thing of his Conduct or Deiign. He 
 Τ 4 married 
 
[ ι8ο ] 
 
 married his Son to the Daughter of 
 Vlautian, whom he preferr'd before the 
 moil beautiful,and the moil accomplifh'd 
 Ladies of the Empire. He defign'd 
 Tlaut'tan for the Confulfhip, and almoft 
 winYd he might fucceed him, and wrote 
 of him one day in thefe terms : ' I love 
 ' him, and wifh he may furvive me. 
 But if fome certain things feem'd to lef 
 fen his Credit, there were others of 
 much more Importance, that increas'd 
 it. Severus going to vifit him while he 
 was fick at Tiano, his Guards would not 
 fufFer thofe of the Emperor to follow 
 him into the Houfe. One, that by the 
 Duty of his Place was oblig'd to keep a 
 Lift of the Caufes that were to be heard 
 before the Emperor, having receiv'd 
 orders one day from Severus to fummon 
 the Advocates before him at fuch an 
 Hour, this Oincer had the Infolence to 
 refufe to obey him, and told him that 
 he could not appoint a Court till he was 
 commanded by Plautian. This is an 
 unqueftionable Initance, to prove that 
 he had a more abfolute Power than the 
 Emperor. What I lhall add, will ferve 
 to confirm it ftill more. He accus'd the 
 Emprefs to his face 3 examin'd - feveral 
 
 Perfons 
 
• [ ϊ8ι ] 
 
 Perions upon Interrogatories, and put 
 them to the Rack to oblige them to de- 
 pofe againil her, and other Ladies of 
 Quality. This Princefs being thus ac- 
 cused, fought relief by reading the Phi- 
 lofophers, and converiing with the moil 
 famous Orators, while Plautian was 
 plung'd in all manner of Luxury and 
 Excels. He abandon 'd himfelf to the 
 love of Women and young Men, be- 
 came a publick fcandal in his Pleasures, 
 yet would not give his Wife the liberty 
 of feeing any Perfon whatfoever, not 
 even the Emperor or Emprefs. There 
 was at that time a Combat of Gladia- 
 tors, in which the Combatants were fo 
 numerous, that the Lifts could not con- 
 tain them, and Women appear'd with 
 Arms, and fought with an extraordina- 
 ry Vigour, affronting the Ladies of Qua- 
 lity whofaw them ; for which there was 
 an order to prohibit Women from fight- 
 ing in that manner for the time to 
 come. 
 
 Severus not approving of the prodi- 
 gious number of Statues erected in ho- 
 nour of Plautian in all parts of the Em- 
 pire, commanded fome of them to be 
 remov'd ; which giving occafion to be- 
 lieve 
 
[ 28l ] 
 
 lieve he was difgrac'd, the Inhabitants 
 of certain Cities broke others of his 
 Statues in pieces, for which they were 
 afterwards punifrYd. Ratius Conflans a 
 Man of Reputation, who was at that time 
 Governor of Sardinia, was of the num- 
 ber. That which engages me chiefly 
 to relate this Faot is this, that among 
 other things which the Advocate of the 
 other fide advanc'd againftCo»/?*»*, he 
 faid, that ' We iliould fooner fee the 
 ' Heavens fall , than fee the Emperor 
 ufe Flautian ill. This Difcourfe and fe- 
 veral others of the like nature, found 
 the more eafie credit with us, becaufe 
 Severus had aifurM us as we were fit- 
 ting with him to hear Caufes, ' That 
 'twas impoifible he iliould ever do Piatt- 
 1 tian any prejudice. The truth of which 
 wefhall know by the Sequel. Severus 
 being come to the tenth year of his 
 Reign, gave to the People and his Guards 
 as many pieces of Gold per Head, as he 
 had enjoy 'd years on the Imperial Throne. 
 He was very proud of this Donative, 
 which was indeed very extraordinary, 
 furpainng thofeofall his PredeceiTors,and 
 amounting to a thoufand Drachmas. 
 
 At 
 
[ i8j ] 
 
 At the fame time Antoninus the Son 
 of Severus, was married to VlautiUa the 
 Daughter of Plautian. The Portion 
 her Father gave her was fo immenfe, 
 that 'twould have been fufEcient for fif- 
 ty Daughters of Kings. We law part 
 of the Equipages and other things that 
 compos 'd it, pafs through the Forum 
 towards the Palace, where we were in- 
 vited to a Feaft that partook both of the 
 Magnificence of Kings, and the groiP 
 nefs of Barbarians : For there was a 
 mixture of all forts of Meat, boil'd, and 
 raw, and of Animals (till living. After 
 which there were Sports upon the oc- 
 cafion of the return otSeverus, the tenth 
 year of his Reign, and the Succefs of 
 his Arms. There were fixty Wild-boars 
 given by Plautian to fight one with a- 
 nother, abundance of other Beads were 
 kill'd at this Solemnity, particularly an 
 Elephant and an Indian call'd a Crocot, 
 which I believe wastheiirft of the kind 
 that was ever feen at Rome, 
 
 Its colour partakes of that of the Li- 
 on, and that of the Tyger, and the for- 
 mation of its parts has fomethingof the 
 Dog, and fomething of the Fox. There 
 was a kind of a Cloyfter made in the 
 
 Ampbl• 
 
[ *«4 1 
 
 Amphitheatre in form of a Ship to re- 
 ceive them. Of a fudden there iilued 
 out Bears, Lions, Oftridges, wild A lies, 
 and foreign Bulls. Seven hundred Beads 
 wild and tame fought one with another, 
 and were afterwards {hot with Darts. 
 There was a hundred kill'd each of the 
 (even days, during which the publick 
 Diverfions lafted. There appear cl at the 
 fame time a great fire upon Mount Ve- 
 fuvius, and it made fo prodigious a 
 noife, that it was heard at Capua, which 
 is the place of my retirement when I 
 am in Italy , in order to purfue the courfe 
 of this Hiftory by favour of the leifure 
 this place affords me free from the noife 
 and buille of Rome. The accident at 
 Mount Vefuvim feem'd to prefage fome 
 change, and this change related to the 
 fortune of rlautian. He was rais'd to 
 that prodigious height, that the People 
 faid to him one day in the Circus •, ' What 
 6 reafon have you to tremble and look 
 4 pale ? You are richer than ail three 
 ' together. They did not fpeak this 
 fo loud, as to be heard by him, but a^ 
 mong rhemfelves. Now the three they 
 (poke of were Severus, Antoninus and 
 Get a his two Sons. The trembling and 
 
 pale- 
 
Ε ih ] 
 
 palenefs of Piautian, proceeded frorri 
 his courfe of Life, and the diversity of 
 his hopes and fears. Severus either 
 knew nothing of his Conduct, orieem'd 
 to be unacquainted with it. But when 
 he underftood it from the Mouth of Gs~ 
 ta his Brother, he could not difguife it 
 any longer. When this Geta found his 
 end approaching, and had nothing more 
 to apprehend from the favour or malice 
 of Plautian, he thought himfelf oblig'd 
 to evacuate the hatred lie bore him, 
 and to declare to Severus his Brother 
 what he knew of his Defigns. 
 
 Severus erected in the Forum a Statue 
 of Brafs to the Honour of Geta, and be- 
 gan to regard his Favourite lefs than he 
 was wont, and to ieek occafions to lef- 
 fen his Power. Plautian itung at this 
 alteration, imputed it to the Intrigues of 
 Antoninus his Son-in-Law, between 
 whom there was already an ill under* 
 (landing, upon the account of the ill 
 treatment lie gave Plautilla his Daugh- 
 ter, and reveng'd himfelf by a very rude 
 and affronting behaviour towards him. 
 Antoninus not being able to bear either 
 the Infolence of his Wife, or the free- 
 dom which his Father-in-Law took to 
 
 exa- 
 
[ ι86 ] 
 
 examine and cenfure his Actions, re- 
 folv'd to difpatch him by any means he 
 could. He made ufe of Evodus who 
 had been his Governor, to perfwade 
 Satuminus and two other Officers to go 
 to Sever us and inform him, that Plau- 
 tian had engag'd them three, and fe- 
 ven more οϊ their Companions to kill 
 the Emperor and Antoninus his Son. 
 The Officers perform'd their CommuTi- 
 on, and read to Sever us a Letter which 
 they pretended had been written to 
 them by Plautian. They took for this 
 purpofe the time when the Sports in 
 honour of thofe who were admitted in 
 the number of the Gods were upon con- 
 clufion, when the People quitted the 
 Palace, and Supper was preparing. Tho" 
 this Circumftance was fufficient to con- 
 vici them of Calumny, becaufe there 
 was no likelihood that Plautian would 
 venture to give orders in writing to 
 ten Officers to aflaffinate the Emperor 
 at Rente, within his Palace, upon a day 
 of publick Rejoycing, in the prefence 
 of all the People ; yet their Informati- 
 on appear'd probable to Severus^ be- 
 caufe the Night before he dreamt that 
 Alhims had laid a Snare for him. He 
 
 fenc 
 
[ ι87 ] 
 fent for Plautian that infiant, as upon 
 fome important Affair. Plautian went, 
 and receiv'd by the way an intimation 
 of the Misfortune that threatned him. 
 For the Mules that drew his Chariot, 
 fell down in the Court of the Palace. 
 The Guards that kept the Gate let him 
 enter, and kept back his Guards, as 
 they had formerly ferv'd thofe of Seve- 
 rus in the City of Tiano. This ufage 
 of his Men gave him fome miftruft, but 
 he was advanc'd too far to Retreat. 
 The Emperor fpoke to him with great 
 gentlenefs, β What is your defign, fa id 
 4 he to him , and what occaiion has 
 4 been given you to make an attempt 
 c upon our Lives > Then he gave him 
 liberty to anfwer, and prepared himfelf 
 to hear his reply, when Antoninus fell 
 furioufly upon him, took away his 
 Sword, and ilruck him with his Fili 
 He would have kill'd him, but being 
 prevented by the Emperor his Father, 
 he commanded one of his Servants to 
 do him that Office, which was done. 
 At the fame time another who was pre- 
 lent pull'd fome Hairs out of Plautians 
 Beard, and carried them to Julia and 
 PlautMa, who were then together, and 
 
 knew 
 
[ ι88 ] 
 
 knew nothing of the Misfortune thai 
 had happen'd to the Favourite. c Be- 
 ' hold, laid he to them, what conditi- 
 β on your Tlautian is in, which words 
 c rais'd Joy in one, and plung'd the o- 
 
 * ther in Grief. Thus he who had the 
 greatell Power of any Man of his time, 
 who was more formidable than the ve- 
 ry Emperors themfelves, was murder'd 
 by the command of his Son-in-Law, 
 and thrown out of the Palace into the 
 Street. But Severus afterwards order'd 
 his Body to be taken away and buried. 
 Which done he fummon'd the Senate, 
 and there in Head of making Complaints 
 againil Tlautian , ' He deplor'd the 
 6 weaknefs of Humanity, which in an 
 ' elevated condition was incapable of 
 ' Moderation , and condemn'd himfelf 
 6 for having born fo great an AfTecuon 
 1 to him that was his Favourite and for 
 
 * having lifted him to a pitch of Great- 
 4 nefs, that had made him giddy. After 
 which he order'd fuch who had no ne- 
 ceflary bufinefs in the Aflembly to de- 
 part, and then directed thole who had 
 difcover'd the defigns of Tlautian to re- 
 pear them to the Senate j which made 
 us judge, that he laid no great flrefs up- 
 on 
 
[ x8 9 J 
 
 on the Accufation, iince he did noi 
 think fit to explain it himielr. 
 
 Several Perfons were in extream dan- 
 ger , and fome loft their Lives upon 
 Vlautiaris account. Qeran had boatled 
 of his Intereft with him, as 'tis com- 
 mon for Men to pretend out of Vanity, 
 to be known to thofe who are in Fa- 
 vour, '"lis true indeed, that he us'd 
 to crowd among thofe who were firft 
 introduc'd to Plautians Levee, and fol- 
 low them every where, and though he 
 had no iliare in their Converfation, he 
 had the advantage of approaching the 
 place where 'twas held, and to be envi- 
 ed by thofe who were excluded from 
 it. This honour made it fufpecled that 
 he had a (hare in the Confpiracy, and 
 the explication he had made fome days 
 before of a Dream increas'd the Sufpi- 
 cion. Plautian having dreamt that he 
 faw fome Fifties leap out of the Tyher t 
 and throw themfelves at his Feet, Qe- 
 ran prefag'd from it, that he ihould pof- 
 fefs the Empire of the Earth and Sea, 
 He was baniih'd for this into an Ifland, 
 where he continued feven years. He 
 was afterwards recal I'd, receiv'd into the 
 Senate* where no Egyptian ever fat be- 
 ll fore 
 
[ 19° ] 
 
 fore him, and rais'd to the dignity of 
 Conful, though he had never been in 
 any other publick Station, no more 
 than Pompey had when he was chofen 
 to the fame Dignity, which was in his 
 time the firft in the Commonwealth. 
 
 Cecilius Agrkola^ the moil infamous 
 flatterer of P/autian, and moil impious 
 Wretch of his time, was condemn'd to 
 Death. As foon as he knew his Sen- 
 tence, he went home, and having drank 
 to excels of an extream cool Wine, he 
 broke a Cup that coft fifty thoufand 
 Drachmas, lay down upon the remains of 
 it, and open 'd his Veins. Saturninus and 
 Evodus receiv'd rewards at this time, but 
 they were afterwards put to death by 
 Antoninus. The Senate having made a 
 Decree, in which Evodus was commen- 
 ded, Sevems forbad its publication, and 
 faid to us, ' 'T would be a Reflection 
 ' upon your Ailembly, fhould you fpeak 
 4 in luch terms of an Emperor's Freed- 
 c man. Severus did not think it fuffici- 
 ent to put a flop to the Infolence oi one, 
 he likewife reftrain'd that of all the reft 
 of the Freedmen , who were but too 
 forward to raife themfelves above their 
 condition, for which he deferv'd great 
 
 Applaufe. 
 
[ 29» ] 
 
 Applaufe. The Senate being laviih in 
 his Praifes one day, cried aloud, * The 
 4 whole Roman People are mindful of 
 * their Duty, becaufe they have an Em• 
 c peror that governs according to Ju- 
 c ilice and Reafon. PlautiHa and Plau- 
 tus the Children of Plautian, were ba- 
 nifh'd to thelfleof Lipara, where they 
 led a miferable Life, depriv'd even of 
 Neceflaries , and threatned or prefs'd 
 with yet greater hardihips. They were 
 afterwards both executed in the Reign 
 of Antoninus. There was no extrava- 
 gance that Antoninus and Get a the Sons 
 of Severus did not run into, as foon as 
 they had got rid of Plautzan, as of a 
 troublefom Governor. They diihonour'd 
 Women of Quality, raviih'd Boys, ex- 
 torted Money by all forts of ways, and 
 contracted a fcandalous Acquaintance 
 with Gladiators and Chariot-drivers. 
 Though they had the fame Inclinati- 
 ons, and were addi&ed to the fame Ex- 
 erciies, yet they affefted to favour dif- 
 ferent Parties, and as foon as one de- 
 clared for one Fa&ion, the other fup- 
 ported the contrary fide. One day there 
 was fuch an Emulation between them 
 at a courfe of Chariots drawn by little 
 U ι Hor* 
 
[ 1$I ] 
 
 Horfes, and fuch ilriving to win the 
 Race, that Antoninus was over-turn'd 
 and broke his Thigh. 
 
 In the mean time Severus put to death 
 feveral of the chief Men of the Empire, 
 and among others ^uintilius PIautian y 
 one of the moil confiderable of the Se- 
 nate, and moil illuftrious for the great- 
 nefs of his Birth. Though he was al- 
 ready advanc'd in Age, and as 'twere 
 upon his entrance into old Age, and 
 ltv'd in the Country without being con- 
 cern'd in Bufmefs , he could not ef- 
 cape an odious Accufation, nor a vio- 
 lent Death. When he was condemned 
 he defir'd to fee his Funeral Apparel, 
 which had been prepar'd and laid up by 
 his order feveral years before, and ob- 
 ferving that time had worn them, he 
 laid, ' Whv have we (laid fo long ? Af- 
 ter which he ofter'd Sacrifice, and made 
 the fame Imprecation againil Severus, 
 that Severlan hid formerly made againil 
 Adrian. This was the end of that con- 
 fiderable Man. There was afterwards 
 given to the People the Diverfion of the 
 Combats of Gladiators, at which there 
 were Tygers ihot with Darts. We few 
 about the lame time the affair of Apro- 
 
 man. 
 
[ *9? 3 
 
 »/j#, which was one of the ft ranged 
 and moil furprizing accidents that ever 
 was heard of. He was accus'd of ha- 
 ving a Nurfe who dreamt that he fhould 
 be Emperor, and of confulting theSooth- 
 fayers himfelf upon this occafion, and 
 of being addicted to the fecrets of Ma- 
 gick. Upon this ground he was con- 
 demo'd in his abfence while he was in 
 Afia in the quality of Governor. When 
 the Interrogatories were read to us, and 
 the Informations that had been given a- 
 gainft him, we faw that the Witneiles 
 had been ask'd whofe was the Dream 
 in queftion, and who was prefent when 
 the Dream was told? One of the Wit- 
 neiles made feveral Anfwers, in one of 
 which he nam'd a Senator, whom he 
 had but juft feen as 'twere en pajfant^ 
 and obferv'd to be a little bald. 
 We were very much furpriz'd to hear 
 fo loofe a Charge, in which there was 
 no name expreis'd. There was not one 
 of the Senators, not even of thofe who 
 had never been acquainted with Aoro- 
 nian^ but was in a panick fear. They 
 who were bald, or whofe hairs were 
 thin, were more apprehenfive than tlije 
 reft, and a Man muft have had a great 
 U 3 quan- 
 
[ *94 ] 
 
 quantity of Hair, to have been abfo- 
 lutely free from fear upon this occafi- 
 on. We caft our Eyes upon thofe who 
 were bald, and fufpecled fometimes one, 
 and fometimes another. For my own 
 part I was in fuch a fright, that I could 
 not forbear to put my Hand frequently 
 upon my Head to feel my Hair, and 
 others did the fame thing. While we 
 were thus divided in our Opinions, no- 
 thing more had been read befides that 
 paffage, that the Senator, who was but 
 fuperficially feen, was bald. But when 
 they came to add that he wore a pur- 
 ple Robe, we all turn d our Eyes upon 
 Belius Marcellimu^ who had been Edile y 
 and was very bald. He roie up on the 
 inftant, ?nd advancing to the middle of 
 the Ailembly faid, ' The Witnefs that 
 ' has depos'd he faw me, would be a- 
 c ble, I fuppofe, to know me again. 
 The Witnels being introduce!, ftood 
 dumb for a time, fearching for his Man» 
 At lafl; Marcellinm being pointed at by a 
 Sign that was made to him, he declar'd 
 'twas he. He was immediately carried 
 out of the Senate, deploring his Misfor- 
 tune in vain. He flopt in the Forum, 
 where he gave his four Sons his laft 
 
 Fare- 
 
[ *9J ] 
 
 Farewel in the moil Melancholy terms 
 that can be conceiv'd. ' The only con- 
 * cern, faid he to them, I have in dy- 
 c ing, is that I muil leave you in this 
 c bad World. He was beheaded before 
 Severus knew he was condemn'd. Pol- 
 /emus Sebennus was the Author of his 
 Death. But a crime of fo black a na- 
 ture did not remain unpuniih'd. For 
 having done very unjuft and violent 
 things in his Government of Horkuw y 
 he wasdeliver'd to the Inhabitants of 
 that Country, who put all the Affronts 
 upon him they could invent. We faw 
 him proftrate upon the Earth, and mean- 
 ly begging his Life, which he with fome 
 difficulty obtain'd by the favour of Af- 
 pafius his Uncle. 
 
 He was of all Men living the moil 
 Satyrical and Biting, the greateil Ralli- 
 er, the moil Scornful, the moil obli- 
 ging Friend, and the moil dangerous 
 Enemy. Many of his ingenious Say- 
 ings, and cutting Ralleries upon feveral 
 People, and upon Severus himfelf, are 
 ftill remembred. When this Emperor 
 was receiv'd into the Family of Mar- 
 cus, he made this Compliment to him, 
 β I rejoyce, Ccefar, that you have found 
 U 4 a 
 
[ ι 9 6 ] 
 
 a Father. Which he faid to upbraid 
 him with the meannefs of his Birth, 
 as if his Father had been unknown. 
 
 An Italian call'd Bulas Felix pillag'd 
 Italy about this time for the fpace of 
 two years with fix hundred Men that 
 he had got together, nor could all the 
 care of Severus, or the moil diligent 
 purfuits of the Soldiers flop his Car- 
 reer. He had that dexterity, that he 
 could impofe upon the very fight of 
 thofe who were in quell of him, and 
 efcap'd out of their Hands. He alfo 
 won the favour of feveral Perfons by 
 Gifts. He inform'd himfelf very exact- 
 ly of thofe who went out of Rome, and 
 made fail towards Brundufium, of their 
 Retinue, their Equipage, and their Mo- 
 ney. From fome he only took away 
 part of what they had, and difmifs'd 
 them with the reft. When he met with 
 good Workmen he kept them fome time, 
 during which he made them work, 
 then paid them for their Labour, and 
 fet them at Liberty. Two Thieves of 
 his Troop being taken, and upon the 
 point of being carried to the Amphithe- 
 atre to be exposed to the Beads, their 
 Captain went to the Keeper of the-Pri- 
 
 fon, 
 
[ *97 ] 
 
 fon, and pretending to be Governor of 
 a Country, he told him that he had 
 occafion tor the fervice of thofe Men, 
 and fo fav'd their Lives. He did more 
 yet. He went to the Centurion, who 
 was order'd to purfue the Thieves, and 
 acting another Perion, offer'd to put 
 their Leader into his Hands, if he would 
 go with them. Thus he led the Cen- 
 turion to the hottom of a hollow, (to- 
 ny Valley, where he eafily mafter'd him. 
 Then he put on a Magiilrates Robe, 
 and afcending a Tribunal, commanded 
 the Centurions Hair to be cut off. Which 
 done, he faid to him, * Go and teli 
 * your Mafter, that he would do well 
 ' to give his Slaves Education, to hin- 
 ' der them from turning Thieves. For 
 he had in his Troop a great number of 
 the Emperors Freedmen, to fome of 
 which he gave very little pay, and to 
 others none at all. 
 
 When Severus heard thefe particu- 
 lars he was in great choler, that he Who 
 had a Power lufficient to reduce the 
 People of Britain by his Lieutenants, 
 could not reprefs the Infolence of a Rob- 
 ber, who over-ran and plunder 'd Italy 
 at his Difcretion. He Cent a Tribune of 
 
 his 
 
[ 2 9 t ] 
 
 his Guards at the head of a good bo- 
 dy of Horfe, with ftrid: orders to feize 
 the Captain of the Thieves, and to bring 
 him alive before him. The Tribune 
 being inform'd that this Head of the 
 Robbers had an affair with a Married 
 Woman, prevail'd with the Wife by 
 her Husband's means, to betray the 
 Leader of the Thieves to him. She 
 gave directions to have him feiz'd in a 
 Grotto where he was afleep. Papini- 
 an asking him, ' Why he had made him- 
 1 felf a Leader of a parcel of Robbers, 
 * he anfwer'd, Why have you made your 
 4 felf Prafeftus Prtetorio > He was ex- 
 posed to the Beads at the proclamation 
 of the Heralds, after which all his Troop, 
 whofe principal ilrength refided in his 
 Perfon, was difpers'd. 
 
 Sever us obferving that his two Sons 
 were abandoned to their Pleafures, and 
 that the Soldiers negle&ed their Exer- 
 s, undertook an Expedition againft 
 Britain, though he was perfwaded from 
 his Horofcope, that he fhould never re- 
 turn from thence to Italy. He had it 
 drawn upon the Ceiling of a Hall in 
 his Palace, where he fat to hear Cau- 
 fes. Every thing was mark'd there ex- 
 cept 
 
[ *99 1 
 
 cept the Moment of his Birth. The 
 Augurs had foretold him the fame thing, 
 when one of his Statues that was plac'd 
 upon the Gate through which the Ar- 
 my was to pafs from the Camp, was 
 (truck with Lightning, and three Let- 
 ters of his name efTac'd. Nor did he 
 ever return from this Expedition, but 
 died three years after he firft fet out from 
 Rome. He got a prodigious Mafs of 
 Riches in Britain. The two moil con- 
 fiderable Bodies of the People of that 
 Iiland, and to which almoil all the reft 
 relate, are the Caledonians and the Meata. 
 The laft dwell on this fide the great 
 Wall that feparates the Iiland in two 
 parts. The others live beyond it. Both 
 of them inhabit upon barren, unculti- 
 vated Mountains, or in defart, marlhy 
 Plains, where they have neither Walls, 
 nor Towns, nor manur'd Lands, but 
 feed upon the Milk of their Flocks , 
 what they get by Hunting, and fome 
 wild fruits. They never eat Fiih, tho* 
 they have great plenty of them. They 
 have no other Houfes than Tents, where 
 they live itark naked. The Women are 
 common between them, and they take 
 an equal care of all the Children they 
 
 bring 
 
[ ?oo ] 
 
 bring forth. Their Government is po- 
 pular, and the exercife to which they 
 are moil addicted , is that of Rob- 
 bing. They fight upon Chariots, their 
 Horfes are low but fwift. They have 
 great agility of Body, and tread ve- 
 ry fecurely at the fame time. The 
 Arms they make ufe of are a Buckler, 
 a Poniard, a ihort Lance, at the lower 
 end of which is a piece of Tin in the 
 form of an Apple, with which their 
 cuftom is to make a noife, with a defign 
 to frighten their Enemies. They are accu- 
 flom'd to Fatigue, to bear Hunger, Cold, 
 and all manner of Hardihips. They 
 run into the Morafles up to the Neck, 
 and live feverat days there without eat- 
 ing. When they are in the Woods, 
 they feed upon Roots and Leafs. They 
 make a certain food that fo admirably 
 fupports the Spirits, that when they 
 have taken the quantity of a Bean, they 
 feel no more Hunger or Third. This 
 is the manner of living among the In- 
 habitants of Britain. It was never known 
 till now, as I have already faid, to be 
 an Ifland. 'Tis about feven thoufand 
 one hundred and thirty two Furlongs 
 \n length, its greateft breadth is abou; 
 
 two 
 
[ ?οι ] 
 
 two thoufand three hundred and ten, 
 and its lead about three hundred. We 
 are mailers of little lefe than half the 
 Ifland. Severus having undertaken. to 
 reduce the whole ifland under his Sub- 
 jection, enired into Caledonia, where he 
 had endlefs Fatigues to fuftain, Forefts 
 to cut down, Mountains to level, Mo- 
 rales to dry up, and Bridges to build. 
 He had no Battel to fight, and faw no 
 Enemies in a Body, lnilead of appear- 
 ing, they expos 'd their Flocks of Sheep 
 and Oxen with a deiign to furprize our 
 Soldiers that Ihould ftray from the Ar- 
 my for the fake of Plunder. The Wa- 
 ters too extreamly incommoded our 
 Troops, infomuch that fome of the Sol- 
 diers being able to march no further, 
 beg 'd of their Companions to kill them, 
 that they might not fall alive into their 
 Enemies Hands. In a word, Severusloft. 
 fifty thou fa η d Men there, and. yet quit- 
 ted not his Enterprize. He went to the 
 extremity of the ifland, where he ob- 
 ferv'd very exa&ly the courfe of the 
 Sun in thofe parts, and the length of 
 Days and Nights in Winter and Sum- 
 mer. He was carried all over the Ifland 
 in a clofe Chair, by reafon of his Infir- 
 mities, 
 
: [ ?°* ] 
 
 mities, and made a Treaty with the In- 
 habitants, by which he obliged them 
 to relinquiih part of their Country to 
 him. 
 
 In the mean time the debauch'd courfe 
 of Life that his Son Antoninus led, gave 
 him very iharp difquiets. He forefaw 
 that he would not fail to get rid of his 
 Brother Geta, when he had an opportu- 
 nity, and he knew that he had laid 
 (bares for him himfelf. This wicked Son 
 went out of his Tent one day, making 
 loud complaints of Caflor, the moil de- 
 ferving of any of his Fathers Officers, 
 to whom Severus intruded his moil fe- 
 cret thoughts, and the guard of his 
 Head -quarters. He had perfwaded fome 
 Soldiers to joyn with him in his Cla- 
 mours, and to make a Diiturbance. But 
 they were hufli'd at the fight of Seve- 
 rus % who appear'd on the inftant, and 
 order'd the moil Mutinous to be feiz'd 
 and punhVd. Another time as Severus 
 and Antoninus went to meet the Caledo- 
 nians in order to receive their Arms, 
 and to confer with them about the con- 
 ditions of Peace, being both on Horfe- 
 back at the Head of the Army that fol- 
 low'd them, the Army of the Enemy be- 
 ing 
 
[ ?o ? J 
 
 ing near at hand likewiie, Antoninus 
 ftop'd his Horfe, drew his Sword, and 
 was going to (tick it in the back of Se- 
 verus his Father. Thofe who were be- 
 hind cried out, and by their Shrieks 
 itop'd his Hand. Severus turn'd back 
 at the noife, faw the naked Sword, and 
 faid not a word. Having fome time af- 
 ter afcended his Tribunal, and difpatch'd 
 fome Affairs, he went to the Pratorl• 
 am, and fent for his Son, Papinian y and 
 Cafior. Then putting a Sword in the 
 midil of them, he upbraided Antoninus 
 with his infolent deiign of attempting 
 upon his Life, and of committing fo 
 horrid a Crime in prefence of the Al- 
 lies and Enemies of the Roman People. 
 It is eafie for you, added he, to kill 
 me, if you have fuch a defire. I am 
 old, and almoft without Motion. But 
 if your own Hand abhors the Action, 
 employ that of Ρ apinian^PrcefeElm Pra- 
 torio y who will not fail to execute what 
 you command him, fince you are in 
 pofleifion of the imperial Dignity. 
 Severus was fatisfled with fpeaking to 
 him after this manner, without uling 
 a greater Severity, though he would oi> 
 tcn blame Marcus Aurelim for not put- 
 ting 
 
[ *<>4 ] 
 ting Comrnodus to Death. He would fome* 
 times too threaten Antoninus hard. But 
 then he was in Anger, and his Threats 
 were vain and infignificant, fince he 
 really had a greater tendernefs for his 
 Children than for the Republick. Yet 
 one cannot excufe him for having been 
 the caufe of the death of the youngeft, 
 and for having in fome fort deliver'd him 
 over to his Brother, who was to put him 
 to Death. 
 
 The Inhabitants of Britain having ta- 
 ken up Arms contrary to the faith of 
 Treaties , Severus commanded his Sol- 
 diers to enter their Country, and to 
 put all they met to the Sword, making 
 ufe of two Greek Verfes, the fenfe of 
 which was, that they lhould not let 
 the very Children efcape that were hid 
 in their Mother's Bellies. That which 
 difpos'd him to make fo cruel a War 
 upon thefe People was, becaufe the Ca- 
 ledonians and the Meat λ had agreed to- 
 gether to joy η their Forces in order to 
 break the Treaty, and ihake off the yoke 
 of Obedience. But in the midft of his 
 Enterprize he was taken off by a Di* 
 itemper, to which it is pretended Anto- 
 ninus had very much contributed. 
 
[ 3°5 3 
 'Tis (aid that being at the point of Death: 
 he fpoke to his Sons in thefe words : ' Live 
 * peaceably together, inrich the Soldi- 
 8 ers, and make no account of the reft 
 c of your Subjects. His Body was born 
 by the Soldiers to the Funeral Pile, a- 
 bout which the Army and the two Sons 
 of the deceas'd Emperor made feveral 
 Proceftions in honour of his Memory, 
 Abundance of Prefents were call upon 
 it, and at laft the fire was put to it by 
 Antoninus and Get a. The Allies were 
 collected and receiv'd into an Urn of 
 Porphyry, carried to Rome, and depofit- 
 ed in the Tomb of the Antonins. 'Tis 
 . faid that Sever us order 'd the Urn to 
 be brought to him fome few days be- 
 fore his Death, and taking it between 
 his Hands, he faidj ς Thou (halt con- 
 4 tain a Man, that ths World has not 
 * been able to contain. He was final! 
 of Stature, but of a" ilrong Constituti- 
 on, though it had been a little broken 
 by the Gout. He had excellent Farts, 
 was a lover of Learnings and had ap- 
 plied himfelf to it in iuch a manner 
 that the progrefs he made in it had ren- 
 dred him more Able than Eloquent. He 
 was grateful to his Friends,• revengeful 
 
[ ιο6 ] 
 
 to his Enemies, unwearied in the bufi- 
 nefs of his High Office, and unmind- 
 ful of the Reports that were fpread a- 
 gainft him. He had an extream paflion 
 for heaping up Money, and put all ways 
 in pra&ice for that end. Yet it muil 
 be confefs'd, that he never put any to 
 Death for his Eftate. His own expen- 
 ces were very moderate. He rais'd fe- 
 veral Structures, and repair'd old ones 
 that were decay 'd. He built a Magnifi- 
 cent Temple in Honour of Bacchus and 
 Hercules. Thefe great expences did not 
 hinder him from leaving immenfe Sums 
 in the Treafury. He very ftrenuoufly 
 oppos'd the publick Incontinence, and 
 made feveral Laws to flop the Torrent. 
 Abundance of Citizens were fearch'd for 
 upon thisoccafion, and when I wasCon- 
 ful, I found the names of three thou- 
 fand that were accus'd in the Regiflers. 
 But there being a latitude in the Inftru- 
 dtionsof the Judges, that difpens'd them 
 from putting the rigour of the Laws in 
 execution, Severus fuffer'd this Relaxa- 
 tion, without giving himfelf much trou- 
 ble about it. This Corruption of the 
 Roman Manners, occaiion'd once an a- 
 grecable Repartee from a Caledonian Wo- 
 man, 
 
[ \°7 j 
 
 man, whole name was Argetoxa, to the 
 Emprefs 7*//^. As they were in Con-- 
 veriaricn together after the conclusion 
 of the Treay made between the two 
 Nations,] and Julia., was rallying the o- 
 ther about the Liberties the Caledonian 
 Women took publickly with Men, ihe 
 aniwer.d her in thefr words : We fatif- 
 fie, the n<ceii;ties of Nature in a more 
 commendable manner than you. For 
 whereas you leek the moil retir'd 
 Corners, and molt profound darknefs 
 to proflituteyour felves to the vileil 
 of Men, we appear in the face oi the 
 Woifld; enjoying f.he Society of the bra• 
 veil Men upon bart-h. 
 For what remains, Severus obferv'd 
 the following order in his Actions in 
 time of Peace. He far as early as the day 
 in the Courts of Juftice, atter which he 
 took the diverfionot Walking, at which 
 time he entred into a Converfation about 
 ibmewhat that concern'd the good of the 
 Empire, then went to hear Ca tries ex- 
 cept upon Feftival• days. He gave both 
 fides as much Water as they defir'd, and 
 left us the entire freedom of our Judg* 
 ments. At Noon he got on Horfeback, 
 and rode as long as poilibly he could, 
 X 2, Uth'd ? 
 
t ?°8 1 
 
 bath'd, and din'd either alone or with his 
 Children. When he rofe from Table, 
 which was very elegant, he repos'd till 
 he was wak'd. Then he walk'd again, 
 and difcoursM of Learning. In the E- 
 vening he bath'd again, then fup'd with 
 his moil intimate Friends, admitting no 
 others to his Table, except upon extra- 
 ordinary days when he made very mag- 
 nificent Entertainments. He liv'd fixty 
 five Years, nine Months, and five and 
 tsventy Days, he was born the eleventh 
 day of April. He Reign'd feventeen 
 Years, eight Months and three Days. 
 He was fo much form'd for Aclion, that 
 when he was dying, he ask'd if there 
 was any thing more to be difpatch'd. 
 
 THE 
 
f ?op 1 
 
 THE 
 
 REIGN 
 
 OF THE 
 EMPEROR 
 
 ANTONINUS, 
 
 Surnam'd Ca%ACALLA. 
 
 AFter the Death of Severus, Auto- 
 ninus made himfelf fole Mailer 
 of the Sovereign Power, tho' he 
 ihar*d it in appearance with Geta his Bro- 
 ther. He made a Peace immediately 
 with his Enemies, and gave up to them 
 their Lands and Fortreiles. He dii- 
 mifs'd fome of his Servants, of which 
 number was Tapinian^ and he put others 
 to Death, as Evodus his Governor, Ca- 
 
[ V'o ] 
 
 fior, plant iffa his Wife, and Plautus her 
 Brother. He treated in the fame taihi- 
 on a Man who was of no very exalted 
 profeilion, for he was a driver of Cha- 
 riots, but who was become very famous 
 in that Province, and had no other rea- 
 fon to ufe him fo, but becaufe he was 
 of a Party that was contrary to that 
 which he favour'd. He was put to 
 Death in a very advanc'd Age, and af- 
 ter he had won feven hundred f ourfcore 
 and two Crowns of Laurel, which is a 
 greater number than was ever gain d by 
 any other. Caracalla had had a defign 
 to kill his Brother both before and af- 
 ter the death of his Father. But he could 
 not accomplifn it during his Fathers 
 Life, becaufe he was watchrul t^preferve 
 him ; nor immediately after his Death, 
 becau'e during th^ Journey the Soldiers, 
 who Jov'd Gcta extn imlv on the ac- 
 count of hs ref^bhng Sever us , would 
 nor havt fuiferd it. But he eife&ed it 
 after their \ q Rome. 
 
 They made each oth/r reciprocal 
 Compliments, and fhew'd other out- 
 w.ird marks of AfTechon, but they went 
 counter to tht j m in the reft of their 
 Avhons, w hifh breath'd nothing but Ha- 
 tred, 
 
[ ?» ] 
 
 tred , and promis'd nothing but Tra- 
 gical Events. Before they return 'd 
 to Rome, there were fome Signs obferv'd 
 of the Misfortune that threatned them. 
 For the Senate having order'd a Sacri- 
 fice to the Gods to obtain a Reconcili- 
 ation between them, and chiefly to the 
 Goddefs Concord, the Priefts prepar'd 
 the Victim, and the Conful went to af- 
 fift at the Solemnity; but notwithftand- 
 ing thofe Priefts had fearch'd all Night 
 for the Conful, and the Conful had 
 been to feek for them upon the fame 
 account, they were not able to meet, 
 and fo there was no Sacrifice. The day 
 following two Wolves went up to the 
 Capitol, one was taken in the Market- 
 place, and the other was kilfd without 
 the Walls, which was look'd upon as a 
 Prefage of what was to happen to the 
 two Emperors. Antoninus defign'd to 
 have difpatch'd Geta during the Solem- 
 nity of the Saturnalia, but he could 
 not meet with an opportunity, becaufc 
 their variance being grown publick,they 
 flood both upon their Guard. They 
 employ'd Men that were always Arm!d, 
 who were continually upon the watch 
 to furprize each other, and fometiroes 
 X 4 came 
 
 * 
 
-atne to blows. Get a was guarded Night 
 a rid Day, within and without Doors by 
 Soldiers and Gladiators, till weary of 
 living in fuch continual diftruft and un- 
 eafinefs, he beg'd his Mother to pro- 
 cure a Meeting between him and his 
 Brother, and to make them Friends. 
 He was no fooner entred into the A- 
 partment of Julia, but fome Officers 
 lent by Caracalla got in, fell upon 
 him immediately, and murder'd him in 
 his Mother's Arms, at a time when he 
 was clafp'd in her Embraces, and as it 
 were fix'd to her Bread, crying out, 
 ' Ο Mother, fave me, they Murder me. 
 Thus was this unhappy Emprefs delu- 
 ded by the treachery of Antoninus Ca- 
 racalla, and had the grievous Misfor- 
 tune to fee her Son murder 'd in her 
 Arms, and to be cover'd with his Blood. 
 She receiv'd her felf a flight wound in 
 the Hand, which ihe did not fo much 
 as complain of. But what compleated 
 her meafure of Sorrow was, ihe durft 
 not (hew her concern for a Son whom 
 they had depriv'd her of, by fo black 
 a piece of treachery in the flower of his 
 youth, at the Age of two and twenty 
 Years, and nine Months; but ihe was 
 
 con- 
 
 *•£* 
 
ί ?«? 3 
 
 eonftrain d to rejoyce at it, as if it had 
 been a fignal piece of good fortune. 
 They obferv'd fo narrowly the geftures 
 and countenance of this Emprefs, the 
 Widow of an Emperor, and the Mo- 
 ther of two Emperors, that ihe had not 
 the liberty to ihew the lead token of 
 Sorrow for the moil cruel accident that 
 had ever happen'd to her. Tho' 'twas 
 very late in the Night when this Mur- 
 der was committed, Qaracalla went im- 
 mediately to the Camp, giving out as 
 he pafs'd, that there had been a Con- 
 fpiracy form'd againft him, and that he 
 had been in very great dangej•. When 
 he had pafs'd the Wall, he faluted the 
 Soldiers, and without relating to them 
 what had happen'd, he ilop'd their 
 Mouths with mighty Promifes, that they 
 might not ihew a refentment which Pie- 
 ty would have exacted from them up- 
 on fuch an occafion. ' My Compani- 
 ' ons, faid he to them, it depends at 
 c prefent only on my felf to diilribute 
 
 * Gifts among you. I look on my felf 
 
 * as one of you, and will only live for 
 - the future to heap benefits upon you. 
 ' Ϊ defire to live among you, or to die 
 c with you. I am not afraid of Death, 
 
 'and 
 
[ ?«4 ] 
 
 c and I (hall be glad to find it in Battel, 
 c where every brave Man would chufe 
 6 to end his Life, rather than on any o- 
 c ther occafion. 
 
 The day following he explaind him- 
 felf in the Senate in few words, and 
 when he rofe from his Seat and was 
 near the Door, c Take notice, faid he 
 4 to us, of one thing, which the whole 
 ' World will be pleas'd with. Let all 
 
 * the baniih'd People in general , for 
 
 * what Crimes foever they are condemn'd, 
 β return home from the places of their 
 
 * Exile. Thus he difpeopled the Iflands 
 of thofe wicked Wretches they were 
 fill'd with, and foon after fupply'd their 
 places with the Soldiers, Freedmen, and 
 Officers of his Brother Get a. He put 
 to Death of a fudden to the number of 
 twenty thoufand Men and Women, and 
 others that had Offices and Employ- 
 ments in the Palace. Pacinian was the 
 moil considerable of them. Antoninus 
 reprov'd him that had put him to Death, 
 for making ufe of an Ax indead of a 
 Sword. He defign'd to have ferv'd Ci- 
 lon in the fame manner, though he had 
 been his Governor, and his Friend, Pre- 
 fect of Rome in the Reign of Severus, and 
 
 had 
 
[ ?«5 ] 
 
 had often done him the honour to call 
 him his Father. The Solders, whom 
 he had commanded to put h m to Death, 
 pillag'd his Houfe, and having found 
 him in his Bath, carried him thro' the 
 Via Sacra to the Palace, cover'd with a 
 fimple Tunick, and having nothing but 
 Sandals on his feet. They tore his 
 Cloaths, and ilruck him fo rudely on 
 the face, that the Citizens and Soldiers 
 of the City were aftoniih'd at it* An- 
 toninus being in fome confuhon, occa- 
 fion'd by the prefence of thofe who 
 could not approve of fuch unworthy u- 
 fage, ran to meet Cilon, and having at 
 that time a Military Habit on, cover'd 
 him with it, and faid to thore that held 
 him, ' Don't hurt my Father , don't 
 ' ilrike my Governor. He condemn'd 
 the Tribune and Soldiers to Death, as a 
 punifhment in appearance for their ill 
 ufage of CiloM, but in truth for having 
 fail'd to execute the order he had given 
 them, which was to difpatch him. I 
 will not undertake here to give the 
 names of all the confiderable Perfons 
 he put to death, without any formality 
 of Juftice. I fhall content my felt with 
 faying, that hefent out oi the World 
 
 all 
 
[ ?•< ] 
 
 ali thofe he had a mind to be rid of, 
 without examining whether there was 
 any reafon for it or not, and by this 
 means he depriv'd Rome of the beft of 
 her Inhabitants. After fome time grow- 
 ing weary of Murders , he turn'd his 
 thoughts to the diverfions of the The- 
 atre, which yet were not exempt from 
 Blood . For to fay nothing of an Ele- 
 phant, a Rhinoceros, a Tyger, and a Hip- 
 po-Tyger i that were kili'd in a day, he 
 took great pleafure in the Combats of 
 Gladiators, and he oblig'd one, calfd 
 Baton, to fight with three fucceflively 
 the fame day, and when he was killd 
 in the laft Battel, he made a very noble 
 Funeral for him. 
 
 He had fo profound a Veneration for 
 the Name and Memory of Alexander, 
 that he for the moil part made ufe of 
 fuch Arms and Utenfils, as that King 
 had formerly us'd, filling the Camp and 
 Rome it felf with his Statues. He rais'd 
 a Phalanx confiding of fixteen thoufand 
 Men, all Macedonians originally, and 
 call'd it the Phalanx of Alexander. He 
 provided them with the fame Arms 
 which the Macedonians formerly us'd in 
 the Reign of that Conqueror, viz. A 
 
 Helmet 
 
Ε 317 3 
 
 Helmet made of the Hide of an Ox un- 
 tann'd, a Cuirafs of Linnen woven with 
 three Threads, a Shield of Copper, a 
 long Lance, a fmall Javelin, Buskins, 
 and a Sword. He was not fatisfied with 
 this, but took upon himfelf the name 
 of Alexander of the Bafl, and wrote 
 one day to the Senate, that the Soul of 
 Alexander was entred into his Body, to 
 animate it longer than it had formerly 
 done his own. He had fo ilrong an a- 
 verfion for thofe Philofophers that pro- 
 fefs'd to follow Ariflotle, that he de- 
 priv'd them of the Immunities and Pri- 
 viledges they enjoy'd in Alexandria. He 
 had even a defign to burn the Books 
 of that Philofopher, under pretence that 
 he had been the caufe of the death of 
 Alexander. He had always feveral E- 
 lephants in his Retinue to imitate Alex- 
 ander, or rather Bacchus. Having one 
 day commended a Tribune for his agili- 
 ty in mounting a Horfe, he ask'd him 
 what Country-man he was. When he 
 underitood he was a Macedonian, he en- 
 quir'd his name. The Tribune anfwer- 
 ing Antigonus, he ask'd the name of his 
 Father ,• and when he heard 'twas fhi- 
 lip, he cried out aloud, ' I have all t 
 
 * could 
 
L ?»8 ] 
 
 * could defire. He rais'd him on the 
 inilant to a more considerable Poit in 
 the Army, and foon after to the Digni- 
 ty of a Senator, and Prefeft. There 
 was another who was no Macedonian, 
 and had been guilty of feveral CrimeSj 
 whom ; he treated favourably, only be- 
 cauie his name was Alexander. As the 
 Advocate who was charg'd with his 
 Procefs was repeating, Alexander is a 
 Murderer, Alexander is an Enemy of 
 the Gods, Antoniniu interrupting him 
 faid, ! If vou periiil in declaiming a» 
 
 * gainil Alexander, your Lire ihall an- 
 
 * (wer it. This paifionate lover of A- 
 lexander us'd the Soldiers with great ci- 
 vility, but in revenge his thoughts were 
 continually employed how to opprefs 
 and ruine People of all other Conditi- 
 ons, and chiefly Senators. Beiides o- 
 ther impofitions which were almoft num- 
 berlefs, we were oblig'd whenever he 
 went out of Rome, to be at the charge 
 of preparing for his entertainment up- 
 on the Road, though he was never to 
 make ufe of it. We were likewife con- 
 ilrain'd to prepare Theatres and Hippo- 
 dromes in thofe Countries where 'twas 
 imagin'd he would pafs the Winter, and 
 
 all 
 
[ V9 3 
 
 all we had done with a prodigious ex- 
 pence to us, was demolifh'd the next 
 Moment without being put to any ufe, 
 which was a clear Demonftration that 
 his deiign was to ruine us. He gave 
 immenfe Sums to the Soldiers, and for 
 the maintenance of Horfes and Beails. 
 He was himfelf at the charge of buy- 
 ing part of thofe Beafis and Horfes, and 
 oblig'd us to provide the reft, and when 
 he had them he kill'd them. He kilFd 
 to the number of a hundred wild Boars 
 with his own Hand. He drove Chari- 
 ots cloath'd in Blue, and follow'd thofe 
 exercifes with an incredible paffion. He 
 had the fubtlety and diilimulation of 
 his Mother, and the Syrians , among 
 whom fhe was born. He ufualiy gave 
 the direction of the Sports and Com- 
 bats either to his Freedmen, or other 
 Perfons of Subftance, that they might 
 be profufe upon that occafion, fubmit- 
 ted meanly to their Authority, and ask'd 
 them for his piece of Gold, as if he 
 had been one of the Populace. He 
 compar'd his Cbar to that of the Sun, 
 and pretended to imitate its rapid courfe. 
 In ihort, all the Provinces under his 
 power were ruin'd to that defolation in 
 
 his 
 
[ 3*0 ] 
 
 his Reign, that the People cried out 
 One day at the Circus, ' VVe put to death 
 ' the Living, to have wherewithal to 
 
 * bury the Dead. He often faid, that 
 he would have all the Money of the 
 Empire to give his Soldiers. When Ju- 
 lia put him in mind one day of his 
 Profufions, and told him that all his 
 Revenues were gone, he replied to her, 
 
 * I beg you, Madam, not to be trou- 
 e bled, and to be aflur'd, that as long 
 ' as we have the Sword in our Hands, 
 
 * we fhall want nothing. He gave not 
 only great Sums of Money j but Lands 
 and Eilates to thofe who flatter'd his 
 paffions. He gave two hundred and fif- 
 ty thoufand Drachma's to Julius Pan* 
 linus, as a reward for an agreeable piece 
 of Raillery, though he did it Jefs to ob^ 
 lige him, than to fatisfie his humour. 
 He had faid to him, that he knew how 
 to counterfeit a Man in pailion Γσ well, 
 that he feem'd to be in earned. He 
 never applied his mind to Learning, or 
 Vertue. Nor did he ever learn any 
 thing, as he frankly acknowledg'd. For 
 which reaion he efteem'd us very lit- 
 tle, efpecially thofe among us whom 
 he knew to be addicted to Study. Se* 
 
 items 
 
[ ι*» 3 
 
 ver-Us however had been very careful to 
 have him taught thofe Exercifes that 
 might form the Body and Mind. And af- 
 ter he came to the Empire, he fpent feve- 
 ral hours of the day with learned Men, 
 and read Books of Philofophy with 
 them. He us'd likewife to fupple his 
 Joynts with Oil, to ride much, and to 
 bath in cold Water. By theie Exercifes 
 he had increas'd his Strength, and qua- 
 lified himfelf to endure Fatigues, but 
 he had preferv'd no Idea of Learning. 
 Not that he wanted a due concepti- 
 on of things, or words to exprefs his 
 thoughts. On the contrary he had a 
 wonderful readinefs of Speech, on e- 
 very occafion that prefented it felf to his 
 Mind. 
 
 After having thus drawn a sketch of 
 his Manners, it may not be improper 
 to reprefent his manner of making War. 
 He deceiv'd Augares King of the Ofroe- 
 nians y and put him in Irons, though he 
 came to vifit him upon the fecurity of 
 a Treaty as an Ally. When he had thus 
 depriv'd him of his Liberty, 'twas eafie 
 for him to ufurp his Kingdom. Ha- 
 ving learnt that the King of Armenia 
 was at variance with his Sons, he wrote 
 
 Υ sr 
 
[ i*_* ] 
 
 a very civil Letter to him, and offer'd 
 to be Arbitrator 'or their Differences. 
 Under this pretence he feiz'd upon him, 
 as he had ferv'd Augares before. But 
 he was not ab'e notwithilanding to 
 make hirnfelf Mailer of iiis Kingdom, 
 the People chufmg rather to take Arms 
 than to fubmit to his Power. No bo- 
 dy trufted him after fo black a piece of 
 Treachery, and he learnt by experience, 
 how dangerous it is for an Emperor to 
 deceive his Friends and Allies. Writing 
 one day to the Senate concerning the 
 difference there was between the Kings 
 of Parthia, he told them that the Mif- 
 underiianding of thofe Princes who 
 were Brothers, might contribute to the 
 ruineof their Kingdom, as if thofe Va- 
 riances that might be deilrudtive to a 
 foreign "State, had been very fervicea- 
 ble towards the preferving of the Ro- 
 man Empire. Could the profufe Dona- 
 tives he had diftributed to the Soldiers, 
 as a reward for the Murder of his Bro- 
 ther, contribute to the advancing of 
 Riches and Plenty among us ? To have 
 written to him heretofore, or to have 
 been of the number of his Guards was 
 eileem'd a Crime. To have written or 
 
 pro- 
 
[ ?ι? 1 
 
 pronounc'd his Name, though without 
 ciefign, was fufficient to be declar'd guil- 
 ty, and to be condemn'd. The Poets 
 were forbidden to give the name of 
 Geta to any of the Perfons in their Dra- 
 matick Works. They who had put 
 him in their Wills, were puniuYd with 
 the confifcation of their Goods. For 
 what remains, with all thefe faults he 
 led a very plain, frugal Life in the pref- 
 ixing nece'Tities of War, and perfonally 
 underwent all fatigues with the Soldi- 
 ers. He march'd every where with them, 
 without changing his Cloaths, or ta- 
 king any other Nourifhment, but what 
 they took themfelves. He fometimes 
 lent a defiance to the ilrongeft and bra- 
 ved of his Enemies, as if Victory had 
 depended on a fingle Combat, and not 
 on Order and Difcipline eilablifh'd thro' 
 the whole Army ; and thus while he a- 
 mus'd himielf with thefe flight Exerci- 
 fes, he neglected the principal Duties of 
 an Emperor. 
 
 He had a very {harp War with the 
 Qenni, a People that are a part of the 
 Celtkk Nation. 'Tis faid they fought 
 with fo much obflinacy , that they 
 pluck'd out with their Teeth the Darts 
 Υ * the ν 
 
[ P4 ] 
 
 they receiv'd from the Ofroemans, that 
 they might keep their hands at liberty, 
 without lofmg a Moment's time, for 
 the deftruofion of the Romans. He 
 gave them a great Sum of Money to 
 obtain the liberty of retiring into Ger- 
 many. He ask'd fome of their Wives 
 whom the Romans had taken, which 
 they would choofe, to be fold or put to 
 Death, they anfwer'd, that they pre- 
 ferr'd Death before Servitude. When 
 they were fold, they kwTd themfelves, 
 and fome of them kiil'd their Children 
 too. 
 
 Antoninus alter'd the Coin, and made 
 Tin and Copper pafs for Silver and Gold. 
 He was unhealthy and fubjecl: to Infir- 
 mities, whereof fome were vifible, and 
 others conceal'd. But his Mind was 
 much more diforder'd than his Body. 
 He was tormented with frightful ima- 
 ginations, fancying fometimes he was 
 purfued by his father and his Brother 
 with naked Swords in their Hands. He 
 invok'd the Souls of the Dead, and par- 
 ticularly thofe of his Father and Commo- 
 dus^ to deliver him from thefe Viiions. 
 But he never receiv'd any anfwer ex- 
 cept from Commodtu, whom he thought 
 
 advis'd 
 
[ ?1J ] 
 
 advis'd him once to hang himfelf imme- 
 diately, and another time that he had 
 a conceal'd Diftemper. He put to Death 
 four Veftals, one of which he had at- 
 tempted to debauch. But he could not 
 effecl: it, becaufe towards the end of his 
 Life, he wanted the Vigour that is ne- 
 cefTary for thofe Enjoyments, which 
 made him feek, as it was find, more in- 
 famous Pleafures. This Veftal, whofe 
 name was Claudia Leta, was buried a- 
 live, though fhe protcfled Ihe was In- 
 nocent, and cried out that Antoninus ve- 
 ry well knew lhe was a Virgin. He 
 very feldom fat in the Courts of Ju- 
 ftice. But he was very curious, and 
 made a Uriel: enquiry into the minuteft 
 Matters. Twas for this the Soldiers 
 were ib extreamly in his favour, who 
 ferv'd him as Spies, and he had forbid 
 that any one mould puniih them but 
 himfelf. The Licentioufnefs they en- 
 joy 'd tended to our oppreilion. But 
 nothing was Co fcandalous and infup- 
 portable to the People and Senate, as 
 the Power that was aflum'd over us by 
 an Eunuch, call'd Sempronius Unfits, a 
 Native of Spain, a Poifoner, and Magi- 
 cian by prGfeihon, who had been for- 
 Υ 5 merly 
 
merly baniih'd into an Iiland by Seve- 
 riu y and in danger of being puniili'd 
 with the other noted Evidences. An- 
 toninus often Cent us word that he would 
 hear Caufes, and apply himfelf to other 
 publick Affairs as early as the Day, and 
 thus kept us waiting till Noon , and 
 fometimes till Night, before he would 
 let us enter. He afterwards thought fit 
 to difpenie with our Attendance entire- 
 ly for the future- He amus'd himfelf 
 in the interim with fome unprofitable, 
 ridiculous Exercifes, as driving Chari- 
 ots, mooting Beads, pouring out Wine 
 into Cups, drinking hard, and lending 
 it to his Guards in our prefence. Thus 
 did he pais the Winter at Nicowedia. 
 He there made frequent reviews of the 
 Macedonian Phalanx, which he oblig'd 
 to continual Exercife. He alfo prepar'd 
 two great Machines to be made ufe of 
 in the War again it the Armenians and 
 Parthians, and tranfported them by Sea 
 into Syria. 
 
 Befides all this he committed abun- 
 dance of Murders, and gave way to o- 
 ther unjuft and violent Actions. He 
 was la villi in his Expences to the moil 
 extravagant Madnefs, in which as well 
 
 as 
 
[ ?*7 ] 
 
 as on other occafions, he was regard-? 
 lefs of the wife Counfels of his Mo- 
 ther, though he. left. to her the care of 
 his Letters, and the chief Expeditions, 
 and joyn'd the Em'preis's Name with his 
 own, and that of the Army, and fiU'd 
 his Letters to the Senate with the Prai- 
 fes of his Mother, it is not neceflary 
 to fay that the principal Men of the 
 State made their Compliments to her in 
 form, as they did to the Emperor, and 
 paid her die fame Honours. She pro- 
 fefs'd an application to the Study of 
 Philofophy. As for him, he made it 
 his glory that he wanted' nothing, and 
 couid be fatisfied with the moil mode- 
 rate way of Living, though there was 
 nothing exquiftte or rare in the Elements 
 of Air, Earth or Water, but private 
 Men and Communities were oblig'd to 
 provide for him. He was fuch a fa- 
 vourer of Impoftors and Magicians, that 
 he paid great Honours to the Memory 
 of Apotlonius of Cappadocia, who fiou^ 
 rial 'd in the Reign of Domitian, and e^ 
 reeled a Monument for him. He un- 
 dertook the War again ft the Parthians^ 
 under pretence that f^ologefes had real 
 to deliver up to him Ttndates and A& 
 Υ 4 tin ( 
 
[ 1*8 1 
 
 thelitis whom he had demanded. This 
 Antioehus was a Qilician, and had made 
 profefhon of the Philofophv of the Cy- 
 me fa. He had been very ferviceable 
 heretofore to the Soldiers by the exam- 
 ples of Courage and Patience which he 
 had iet them, by rolling himfelf in the 
 Snow before their Eyes, and encoura- 
 ging them by this means to endure the 
 extremity of Cold. After he had re- 
 ceive Rewards and Honours from Se- 
 tt and Antoninus, he grew vain, went 
 exver to Tiridates, and retire! with him 
 into Partbia. 
 
 Antoninus, before he left Jtficomedia, 
 gave a Combat of Gladiators upon the 
 Anniverfary of his acceflion to the Em- 
 pire, and even upon that day did not 
 abftain from lhedding of Blood. For a 
 Gladiator who was overcome, begging 
 his Life of the Emperor, he laid to him, 
 ' Ask it of your Adverfary, for 'tis not 
 in my power to give it. His Adverfa- 
 ry, who would have given him his Life 
 but for the Emperor's Anfwer, took it 
 away left he mould appear to have more 
 goodnefs and mercy than the Emperor. 
 While he was at Anthch, abandon 'd to 
 his pleafures, he complained fometimes 
 
 of 
 
[ V9 1 
 
 of the fatigues and dangers to whiclj 
 he found himfelf expos'd, and accus'd 
 the Senate of being refign'd to Idlencfs 
 and Negligence. * I have heard, fays 
 ' he in a Letter to us, that you prefume 
 
 * to diflike my Actions. But know that 
 J while ί am at the Head of my Troops, 
 
 * I defpife all you can fay of me. The King 
 of the Parthians being ft ruck with a 
 confirmation at the noife of his March, 
 deliverd up Tiridates and Antiochus to 
 the Roman Emperor, and fo diverted the 
 Misfortune that threatned him. Anto- 
 ninus after that fent Theocritus with 
 Troops againft the Armenians, who de- 
 feated him. This Theocritus was the 
 Son of a Slave, had formerly danc'd up- 
 on the Stage, and had ίο far infinuated 
 himfelf fince into the good opinion of 
 Antoninus, that he feem'd to be much 
 more exalted than the two Prcefetli 
 Pratorio. There was another Freedman 
 of the Emperor, nam'd Apagatus, who 
 match'd him in Power and Infolence. 
 
 This Theocritus was in a continual fer- 
 ment to find out ways of growing rich; 
 and for that end made ufe of the moil 
 unjuft, without fparing the Lives and 
 Blood of Men. Flavius Titianus was 
 
 one 
 
one of thofe on whom he pradis'd this 
 violence. He had provok'd him to that 
 degree, when he was Procurator of A- 
 lexandr'ta, that he role from his Sear, 
 and ran furiouily at him with his Sword 
 in his Hand. Titianus faid to him in a 
 rallying manner, c Behold the Action 
 4 of a Player , with which Theocritus 
 
 * being touch'd to the quick, procur'd 
 
 * him to be Murder'd. Though Anto- 
 ninus affected to lliew a fingular Efteem 
 and profound Veneration for the Memo- 
 ry of Alexander, he could fcarce pre- 
 vail with himfelf to fpare any part of 
 the City, which that renown'd Conque- 
 ror had founded heretofore. For hear- 
 ing that the inhabitants reproach 'd him 
 with feveral Crimes, and especially with 
 the Murder of his Brother, he diiguis'd 
 his Refentment, and yet departed with 
 a refolution to be reveng'd. When he 
 was arrived in the Neighbourhood of 
 Alexandria^ he receiv'd the chief Inha- 
 bitants of the City, who came to wait 
 upon him attended with the moft fa- 
 cred and venerable Emblems of their 
 Religion, with great civility, fet them 
 at his Table, and then moil inhumanly 
 murder'd them. 
 
 After 
 
[ ??• ] 
 
 After this his Troops being put in 
 order, he entred the City, fecur'd the 
 Streets, and forbad the Inhabitants to 
 quit their Houfes, and made fo general 
 a Mafiacre of them, that he forbore to 
 number the (lain in his Letter to the Sen 
 nate upon this occafion, buti.only faid 
 that 'twas needlefs to knd a Lift of 
 thole who were put to Death, fince 
 there was not a fingls Peribn in that 
 City but deierv'd the fame Chaftifemcnt. 
 Their effects were either- plundend or 
 fpoii'd. Several Strangers, and even 
 Romans that belong'd to Antoninus, who 
 were undiftinguiuYd in fuch a horrible 
 confufion, were involv'd in the Misfor- 
 tune of the inhabitants. As the City 
 was very large, and the Slaughter conti- 
 nued inceilantly Night and Day, it was 
 impoifible to make any diilinclion. As 
 fail as People were kill'd, their Bodies 
 were thrown into very deep Ditches 
 made for that purpofe, to prevent know- 
 ing their Numbers. All Strangers were 
 driven out of the City, except Mer- 
 chants, whole effects were plunder'd. 
 The Temples were us'd in the fame man- 
 ner. Antoninus was prefent at this bloo- 
 dy Execution, and diftributed his Or- 
 ders 
 
Ε 3?* 3 
 
 ders from the Temple of Serapis, -where 
 he continued almoft all the time, tho' 
 his hands were dipt in Blood. But what 
 do I fay ? He had the Infolence and Im- 
 piety to facrifice to the Gods, and to 
 confecrate in their Temples the Sword 
 that was the inftrumentof his Brother's 
 Murder. He aboliih'd the Sports and 
 Feftivals that had been inftituted here- 
 tofore for the diverfion of the People, 
 and divided the City into two parts, 
 and built Forts to prevent the commu- 
 nication of the Inhabitants. This was 
 the cruel ufage the miferable City of 
 Alexandria receivd from the fury of the 
 Beafl of Italy. He had been fo call'd 
 by an Oracle confulted on thisoccafion. 
 'Tis faid he was pleas'd with the Name, 
 and yet he put to death feveral Perfons 
 for repeating the words of the Oracle 
 that call'd him fo. 
 
 ' He afterwards led his Army againft 
 the Parthians for no other reafon, but 
 becaufe Artalan had refus'd him his 
 Daughter in Marriage. The caufe of 
 this refufal was from a perfwafion that 
 Antoninus had no other regard for the 
 Marriage, than as 'twould ferve for a 
 pretence to ufurp his Kingdom. He en- 
 
 tred 
 
[ m l 
 
 tred into Media, laid the Country waft, 
 reducd the City of Arietta, demoliih'd 
 the Tombs of the Parthian Kings, and 
 difpers'd their Bones. As this War en- 
 ded without fighting, I have no parti- 
 culars to relate but this. Two Soldiers 
 having taken a Veiled of Wine, and 
 making an equal pretention to it, re- 
 ferr'd their difference to the Emperor. 
 He determin d that they ought to ihare 
 their Wine betwixt them, and on the 
 inftant they drew their Swords, and cut 
 the VeiTel in two. Here was a proof 
 both of the profound refpeot they had 
 for their Emperor, to whom they durfl 
 propofe a conteft of this nature, and of 
 their excellent fenfe that made them 
 lofe their Wine. The Parthians retir'd 
 to the Mountains beyond the Tygr'ts to 
 prepare for their defence. Antoninus 
 endeavour'd to conceal their retreat, and 
 gave out that he had fubdued them. At 
 leaffc he wrote to us in very big terms, 
 that he had won the Victory, and that 
 a Lion defcending from the Mountains 
 had fought on his fide. He abolihYd 
 the Cuftoms of our Anceftors , and 
 chang'd the Order of Military Difci- 
 pline. He invented a Habit cut in the 
 
 form 
 
Γ m ] 
 
 form of a CaiTack, wore it corfflantly 
 htmfelf, from whence he was furnam'd 
 ■Qaracalla, and commanded his Soldiers 
 to wear the fame. When the Partis- 
 ans faw his manner of living, that tend- 
 ed to the foftning of his Soldiers Minds, 
 that they pafs'd the Winter in Houfes, 
 and confum'd the Subilance of their 
 Landlords, they march'd with a deiign 
 to attack them, in hopes the inhabitants 
 who had been (o rigorouily us'd would 
 be oF their fide. Antoninus prepaid to 
 receive them. But he did not come 
 to an Engagement with them, becaufe 
 he was {lain in the midit of his Guards, 
 in whom he had repos'd a perfect con- 
 fidence, and for whom he had alwavs a 
 fingular Efteem. 
 
 A Man skill'd in Prediction had fore- 
 told in Africa, that Macrinus Captain of 
 the Guards, and Diadumenus his Son 
 ihould come to the Empire. This Pre- 
 diction had been fo generally difpers'd, 
 that the Author of it was fent to Rome, 
 where he repeated it to Flavius Mater- 
 nianus^ who commanded the Soldiers of 
 the City, and who wrote inftantly to 
 Antoninus to give him notice of it. But 
 the Letter was carried to Antioch, where 
 
 Julia 
 
[ ??f 3 
 
 Julia his Mother had Orders to open all 
 Letters while her Son was taken up 
 with profecuting the War in an Ene- 
 mies Country. Ulpius Julianas the Cen- 
 for wrote to Macrinus at the fame time, 
 to acquaint him with the report relating 
 to him. He knew the bufinefs long 
 before the Emperor, whofe Letters had 
 been ftop'd, as I have laid, and when he 
 receiv'd the news, he began to appre- 
 hend that Antoninus would put him to 
 Death. That which increased his fear 
 was, zn Egyptian cuYa Serapion had told 
 Antoninus fome days before, that he had 
 but little time to live, and that Macri- 
 nus would fucceed him. This Serapion 
 had been expos'd for his freedom of 
 Speech to a Lion, who did him no man- 
 ner of hurt. When he law the Lion 
 had fpar'd him, he order'd him to be 
 put to death. He declar'd as he was 
 dying, that he could have avoided this 
 kind of Death, if he had been Mailer 
 of another day to invoke his Gods. Ma- 
 crinus thinking himfelf in extream dan- 
 ger, and miitrufting Antoninus becaufe 
 he had remov'd his moft intimate Friends 
 under a pretence of giving them Employ- 
 ments, judg'd there was no time to be 
 
 loft, 
 
[ Π* } 
 
 loft, and employed two Tribunes of the 
 Guards to difpatch the Emperor, by 
 whom they had been ill us'd. The 
 thing was done in this manner. Anto• 
 ninus letting out from Edejfa upon the 
 eighth day of April to go to Carrte^ and 
 lighting from his Horfe to iatisfie a ne- 
 ceffity of Nature, one of the two Tri- 
 bunes approach'd him, as if it had been 
 upon bufinefs, gave him a ftab with a 
 fhort Dagger, and fled. He might have 
 efcap'd if he had thrown away his Po- 
 niard. But not parting with it, he was 
 difcover'd, and pierc'd with a Dart by 
 a Scythian of the Guards at a diftance 
 The Tribunes coming up to Antoninus , 
 as 'twere to defend him, difpatch'd him. 
 He liv'd but nine and twenty years, and 
 reign'd fix, two Months, and thirty 
 Days. 
 
 HisDeath was preceded by feveral very 
 remarkable Circumftances, which I can- 
 not relate without Aitoniihment. The 
 laft time he fet out from Antioch, he 
 dreamt that he faw his Father with a 
 Sword in his Hand, threatning him with 
 thefe words, ' I will kill thee in the iame 
 * manner as thou haft ktll'd thy Bro- 
 c ther. The Augurs advis'd him to take 
 
 care 
 
f U7 ] 
 
 care of htmfelf upon the day he was 
 kill'd, and declare! to him that the para- 
 ges of the Victim's Liver were ihut up. 
 Yet more, as he pafs'd by a Gate a 
 favourite Lion that us'd to fit at Table 
 with him, and lie by him on his Bed, 
 laid hold of him, and tore off the low- 
 er part of his Robe, but without mind- 
 ing this Paflage he went on. He bred 
 a great number of other Lions, had al- 
 ways one of them near him, and often 
 kifs'd his darling Lion before a multi- 
 tude of People. I have heard that a 
 Fire happening of a fudden a little be- 
 fore his Death at Alexandria, it coiv 
 furn d the Sword that had kill'd his Bro- 
 ther Geta, which had been dedicated in 
 the Temple of Sempis, and fpar'd all 
 the reft. Yet further, there fell at Rome 
 a Statue of Mars, as 'twas carried in 
 State among others at the time when 
 they were going to celebrate the Sports 
 of the Circus. Antoninus feem'd to fore- 
 tell his own Death in the lail Letter 
 he wrote to the Senate, by which he 
 forbad them to w.ifii for the future that 
 his Reign might laft an Age. 'Twas a 
 wiili the Senate had been accuitom'd to 
 make from his firft AcceiTion to the 
 Ζ Empire, 
 
C «8 ] 
 
 Empire. He never found fault with it 
 but this one time, becaufe 'twas a Pray- 
 er whofe effect could not be obtain'd : 
 But that which is confiderable in it is, 
 that he fignified by thofe words, that 
 his Reign would ihortly end. At the 
 time when all thefe Circumftances were 
 publiih'd, I remember that when he gave 
 us an Entertainment in Micomedia, at 
 the Feftival of the Saturnalia, after he 
 had conversed with us upon feveral Sub- 
 jects according to his cuftom, he call'd 
 me to him, and faid, β Dion, Euripides 
 
 * has faid with as much Truth as Ele- 
 
 * gance, that Fate has feveral Afpects, 
 
 * that the Gods fend us many things a- 
 
 * gainft our expectation, that the moil 
 
 * eafie defigns prove abortive, and the 
 
 * mod difficult fuccefsful , when they 
 
 * are pleas'd to appoint them fo. I lookt 
 upon this Difcourfe as fpoke at ran- 
 dom, and tending to nothing at that 
 time. But when after his Death I call'd 
 it back to my remembrance, I was per- 
 fwaded that thofe Divine Words were a 
 Prophecy of what was to happen to 
 him. Jupiter, calfd the Beautiful, who 
 is ador'd at Apamea a City of Syria, 
 had before made two fuch Predictions 
 
 to 
 
f 119 ] 
 to Severus. Before he came to the Em- 
 pire he told him, that he had Eyes and 
 Head like Jupiter, a Body like Mars, 
 and a Stomach like that of Neptune, 
 and after he was Emperor, lie foretold 
 him that his Family would ftvim in 
 Blood. 
 
 There was found after the Death of 
 Antoninus, a great quantity of Poifons 
 which he had fent for out of the Up- 
 per Afia, and had bought for five Milli- 
 ons five hundred thoufand Drachma's^ 
 in order to get rid of all thofe whom 
 he ihould diflike. Thefe Poifons were 
 burnt, and contributed wonderfully to 
 heighten the publick hatred againil his 
 Memory , which was vilified by the 
 moil opprobrious Affronts. He was no 
 longer call'd Antoninus, but either Ca- 
 racalla, as I have already faid, or Ta* 
 rantus, which was the name of a Gla- 
 diator, that was very little , very ill 
 made, and very much a Villain. But 
 let him be call'd by what Name he 
 will, he was the Man I have defcrib'd* 
 Severus his Father feem'd to have com- 
 manded me to leave to Poiterity a faith- 
 ful Hiilory of his Reign, for at the 
 time of his Death I dreamt I faw him 
 Ζ *• upod 
 
[ ?4o ] 
 
 upon a Throne, from whence he (poke 
 to his Army that furrounded him in a 
 Plain, and as I made my approaches to 
 hear him, he call'd me and faid, ' Come 
 
 * forward Dion, that being exadly in- 
 c form'd of all that lhall be faid or done, 
 
 * you may be able to write a faithful ac- 
 1 count of it. Such was the Life and 
 
 * Death of Tarantus. 
 
 THE 
 
t 34» ] 
 
 THE 
 
 R Ε I G Ν 
 
 O F Τ Η Ε 
 
 EMPEROR 
 
 MACRINUS. 
 
 MA C R I Μ U S was of Cefarea 
 in Mauritania^ born of Parents 
 of a mean Condition, and had 
 an Ear pierc'd after the faihion of the 
 Moors. But the eminence of his Vertue 
 hid in fome fort the meannefs of his 
 Birth. He was more careful to difcharge 
 all the Duties of Juftice, than he had 
 been to inftrucl: himfelf in them. He 
 Was honour'd by Antoninus with the Of- 
 fice of Vrcefellus Praztorio, or Captain 
 of the Guards, and difcharg'd his Truit 
 Ζ ν with 
 
[ ?4* 1 
 
 with great Integrity. Four days after 
 the death of that Prince, he was de- 
 clar'd his SucceiTor by the Army, whom 
 he had promis'd among other things 
 to deliver from the fatigues of War. 
 When he had the Sovereign Power 
 in his Hands, he took very oppofite 
 meafures to thofe of Antoninus, and put 
 things into excellent order. He made 
 a Decree to forbid the erecting of any 
 Statue of Silver to him above the weight 
 of ten Marks, and of Gold above fix. 
 He was accus'd of making a very ill 
 choice of Officers, and of putting un- 
 worthy Men into Places ; which is a 
 fault of the lail Importance in the ad- 
 miniiiration of Affairs, and of pernici- 
 ous confequence to the Subject. He 
 began foon after to live with extream 
 Delicacy, and to ufe his Power with 
 the utmoft Severity, thinking by this 
 fhew of Grandeur, to hide the mean- 
 nefs of his Extraction. He was very 
 haughty to fuch as he fufpe&ed had 
 a contempt for the obfeurity . of his 
 Family, and a regret to fee him in fo 
 fublime a Station, in which they thought 
 he was fupported by no kind of Merit. 
 There were even fome whom he put 
 
 to 
 
I 34? 3 
 
 to Death upon this occafion, in ftead 
 of reflecting upon the change of his For- 
 tune, and obferving a moderation in the 
 midn of Power , and gaining by his 
 goodnefs the Affection of his Subje&s. 
 Nevertheleis the Joy People were in 
 for the death of the Tyrant poiTefs'd 
 their thoughts to that degree, that they 
 were unmindful of the low extraction 
 of Macrinus, and fubmitted to him with- 
 out any difficulty. They reflected more 
 upon him from whom they were deli- 
 ver^, than him to whom they fwore 
 new Allegiance, and were perfwaded 
 that whatfoever their new Prince might 
 prove, he would iliil be preferable to 
 the other. Macrinus baniih'd into an 
 Ifland Lucius Prifcilia», who in the pre- 
 ceding Reign had made himfelf famous 
 for the mifchiefs he had done, and for 
 his Combats with wild Beails. He 
 fought one day alone with a Bear, a 
 Panther, a Lionefs, a Lion, and kili'd 
 ieveral other Beads. But he had occa- 
 iion'd by his Calumnies the Deaths of 
 yet a greater number of Men, Knights 
 and Senators. When Julia the Mother 
 of Antoninus receiv'd the news of his 
 Death at Antioch, where ihe then was, 
 Ζ 4 ihe 
 
[ *44 ] 
 
 fhe was fo fenfibly affected with it, that 
 ilie beat her Breaft, and tore her Cloaths, 
 as if {he had been in the laft Defpair, 
 and perfectly refolv'd not to furvive 
 him. She griev'd for him, though (he 
 had always hated him. His Death per- 
 haps was not the motive of her Sorrow, 
 but ftie was now reduc'd to a private 
 condition. The Grief that transported 
 her, drew from her Mouth feveral things 
 of no fmall difadvantage to the reputa- 
 tion of Macrinus. But when (he faw 
 that he neither depriv'd her of her 
 Guards, nor of her Houihold, and that 
 he had written to her in very obliging 
 terms, ihe had not fo eager a defire to 
 die. When he came afterwards to hear 
 what ihe had faid of him, tho' her Let- 
 ters to him imported quite another thing, 
 and received advice befides of her form- 
 ing Cabals with her Guards to ufurp 
 the Sovereign Power, as Semiramu and 
 Nitocris her Country-women had for- 
 merly done, he fen t her orders to leave 
 Antioch, and to retire where fhe pleas'd. 
 Then ilie took a refolution to die by re- 
 fuiing to eat. It mud be own'd too, 
 that a Cancer ilie had in her Breaft, 
 which ilie had inflamed by her Blows, 
 contributed to her Death. Macri~ 
 
[ ?4f 1 
 
 Macrinus hearing that Arialan made^ 
 great Levies, and prepaid in earned for 
 War, endeavour'd to pacifie him by re* 
 mitting Prifoners to him, and writing 
 to him in very obliging Terms. But 
 Artaban very far from being willing to 
 agree upon reafonable Conditions, de- 
 manded the re-eftabliihment of fuch Ci- 
 ties as had been deftroy'd, the reilitu•* 
 tion of all Mefopotamza, and reparation 
 for the mine of the Royal Tombs. 
 Whereupon Macrinus without loftng time 
 in Consultations, advanc'd towards N/- 
 filis^ where the Enemies were arriv'd, 
 came to an Engagement with them up- 
 on the occafion of an Incampment , 
 which both Parties aim'd at for the 
 conveniency of Water, and was defeated. 
 He gave them Battel a fecond time, 
 which fucceeding no better than the firft, 
 he was conflrain'd to buy a Peace, and 
 to give Artahan and his Officers above 
 fifteen Millions of Drachmas. 
 
 The Romans were no (boner deliver'd 
 from this foreign War, but they were 
 unhappily engag'd in a civil Broil, exci- 
 ted by the Soldiers, who pretended that 
 the Emperor did not ufe them fo well 
 as they expected, and was not fo libe- 
 ral 
 
[ 34* ] 
 
 ial to them as Antoninus had been. 
 
 We were extreamly difturb'dat this 
 time by the fight of a Comet which 
 appear'd for feveral Nights, and exten- 
 ded its Tail from Weft to Eaft, and we 
 often repeated fome Verfes out of Ho- 
 mer, relating to the terrible Thunders 
 that roar'd in the Air ; the confequence 
 of which feem'd to be what follows. 
 
 Maifa, Sifter of the Emprefs Julia, 
 had two Daughters, Socemis, and Mam- 
 mea, who had each a Son. One had 
 been married to Varus Marcellus a Sy- 
 rian, and the other to Martian of the 
 fame Country, who were both Dead. A 
 Freedman of the Emperor call'd Eutichi- 
 an, who had infinuated himfelf into the 
 favour of his Prince by the dexterity 
 he had ihewn at the publick Sports and 
 Combats, taking notice of the hatred 
 which the Soldiers bore Macrinus, and 
 feeling animpulfe from the anfwersof 
 the Oracle of the Sun, furnam'd Heli- 
 ogabalus, who was worihip'd with a pro- 
 found Veneration, and excited by other 
 Oracles, undertook to lay afide this Em- 
 peror, and to fet up in his place Lupus 
 the Grandfon of Maifa, though he was 
 yet but very young. How difficult fo- 
 
 ever 
 
ί \Α7 ] 
 
 ever this Enterprize was, he found means 
 to accompliih it. He firfl gave out 
 that Lupus was the Natural Son of An- 
 toninus , and then putting the fame 
 Robes upon him that was formerly worn 
 by that Prince when he was a Youth, 
 he brought him to the Camp in the 
 Night, without the knowledge of his 
 Mother or Grandmother, and upon the 
 fixteenth day of May perfwaded the Sol- 
 diers, who wanted but an occafion to 
 revolt, to proclaim him Emperor, which 
 they did by the name of Antoninus. 
 
 Macrinus wrote to the Senate upon 
 the occafion of this falfe Antoninus, cal- 
 ling him Child and Fool. He com- 
 plained in the fame Letter of the bafe- 
 nefs of the Soldiers, who had fuifer'd 
 themfelves to be corrupted by Bribes to 
 revolt againfthim. He added, that in 
 his Misfortune he had the confolation 
 of furviving a Fratricide, who had us'd 
 his utmoil endeavours to defiroy the 
 Univerfe. * I doubt not, continued he, 
 1 but there are too many Perfons who 
 c wiili rather for the death of their So- 
 c vereigns, than for their Welfare. How- 
 f ever I fpeak not of my felf, as being 
 ■ perfwaded that nobody has any reafon 
 
 to 
 
t ?4δ ] 
 
 ' to wiili me any hurt. When this kit 
 paflage was read, Fuhius Diogenzan cri- 
 ed out, * We have all wiih'd for it. He 
 had been Conful, had very little under- 
 itanding, and was neither efteem'd by o- 
 thcrs, nor fatisfied with himfelf. 
 
 Macrinus took the Title of Father fe- 
 veral times in his Letter, and defignd 
 to make Diadumenus his Son his Aiibci- 
 ate in the Empire , though he was 
 younger than the falfe Antoninus , to 
 whom he objected his Childhood, in 
 which we difcover'd his Weaknefs. The 
 falfe Antoninus was fo extreamly dili- 
 gent, that the two Armies met in a place 
 about a hundred and fourfcore Furlongs 
 from Antioch. Macrinus promis'd himfelf 
 great matters from the eagernefs, warmth, 
 and agility of his Troops of Guards, 
 whom to make the lighter, he had deveil- 
 ed of their Cuirafles made in the form of 
 Shells, and of their Bucklers. But he was 
 vanquiuYd by his own fear, as the Gods 
 feem'd to have foretold him by a Pidge- 
 on that flew upon his Statue at the time 
 when the firil Letter he had ever fent 
 to us was reading in the Senate. He 
 had lefs courage than Maifa and Soce- 
 
 msy 
 
[ 349 ] 
 
 mis, the Grandmother and Mother of 
 the falfe Antoninus , who perceiving their 
 Troops begin to give way leap'd out of 
 their Chariots, and upbraided them with 
 Cowardife. The falfe Antoninus drew 
 his Sword the fame inilant, rode to- 
 wards them full fpeed, and throwing 
 himfelf before them, as 'twere by Di- 
 vine Infpiration, fell upon them with the 
 fame fury as if they had been his Ene- 
 mies, and made them return to the fight. 
 Notwithftanding this they had taken 
 flight a fecond time, if Macrinus had 
 not fled himfelf. He fent his Son to 
 Artahan, and retiring towards Antiock 
 gave out he had won the day to in- 
 duce them to receive him into their Ci- 
 ty. But the news of his defeat being 
 brought, and feveral Murders being com- 
 mitted upon the Roads and in the Ci- 
 ty, according to the intereft every bo- 
 dy took in one or the other Party ,he fled 
 on Horfeback in the Night having cut 
 his Beard and Hair, and put an obfqure 
 Habit over his Purple one, that he might 
 pais for a private Man. He arriv'd 
 with his Retinue, which was very mo- 
 derate, at Ega aCity of Ciltcia, took 
 Poft-horfes there, as if he had been an 
 
 Officer 
 
t ?5o ] 
 
 Officer of the Army fent upon fome 
 hafty Meilage, travers'd Cappadocia, Ga<- 
 lath, Bithynia, and arriv'd at Erihole i 
 which is the Port of Nicomedia. Not 
 daring to enter into the City, he fail'd 
 towards Ckalcedon, and fent to one of his 
 Procurators for Money. Being difco- 
 ver'd by this MeiTage, he was taken in 
 Chalcedon by fome Soldiers who had 
 been difpatch'd after him by the falfe 
 Antoninus^ and brought back into Cap•* 
 padocia, where having learnt that his 
 Son was in the hands of his Enemies, he 
 threw himfelf out of his Chariot, broke 
 his Shoulderbone, and was kill'd foon af- 
 ter. 
 
 Thus MacrinuSy who was arriv'd at the 
 Age of fifty four, and was confiderable 
 for his experience in Affairs, for the a- 
 bility he had Ihewn in the conduct of 
 Armies, and for the reputation he had 
 gain'd in the World, was defeated by a 
 Child whofe name had fcarce been heard 
 of. This Misfortune had been prefag'd 
 to him by an Oracle, whofe words were 
 thefe, c A young Prince fhall pull down 
 * another, whom Age iliall deprive of 
 c the ilrength he had. 
 
 This 
 
[ 35» 3 
 
 This Example ftiews clearly that the 
 beft eitablilh'd Power is never fecure, and 
 that when a Man is loaded with the fa- 
 vours ofFortune,he ought ftill to be upon 
 his Guard, as if he expected ihe would 
 leave him. He was deprived in a little 
 time, and by a ilrange turn of fortune, of 
 the Empire, which he enjoy 'd but a 
 year and two Months, wanting three 
 Days, if we reckon from the day he 
 poflefs'd himfelf of it, to that of the 
 Battel which he loft. 
 
 THE 
 
I 151 1 
 
 THE 
 
 REIGN 
 
 Ο F Τ Η Ε 
 EMPEROR 
 
 Λ V Ι Τ U Si 
 
 S U R Ν Α Μ' D 
 the Falfe Antoninus, S a r- 
 
 DAXAPAIUS, HfiLlOGAB.^ 
 LUS, <?C, 
 
 AV It U S, iurnam'd the falfe A& 
 toninus, the Ajfyrian, Sardanapa» 
 lus, and at laft fibtrihm after his 
 Body was thrown into the fyher^ did 
 a very handfon Action as foon as he 
 A a hid 
 
[ ?54 ] 
 
 had eftablifh'd his Authority, and came 
 to Rome, when he forgot the injurious 
 terms that Macrinns had us'd in his Let- 
 ters againft him , and laid afide all 
 thoughts of Revenge. For the reft, 
 during his Reign of three Years, nine 
 Months and four Days, he was plung'd 
 in Voluptuoufnefs, Unjuft, Violent, and 
 Cruel. 
 
 Eutichian who for his Buffoonries was 
 call'd the Comedian^ was made of a Hid- 
 den Captain of the Guards, though he 
 had never been in any other Poft ex- 
 cept that of a Prefett of the Camp. He 
 was afterwards Conful three years to- 
 gether, which Honour was never enjoy 'd 
 by any other, and ought to be puj: a- 
 mong the irregularities of that Age. 
 The Heads and Chief Men of the Em- 
 pire who could not approve of fuch an 
 infraction of the Laws werd put to 
 Death, iome under frivolous pretences, 
 and others without the leaft colour of 
 reafon. 
 
 Valerianus fetus was executed for ha- 
 ving contriv'd little Images of Gold, 
 which were worn as Ornaments by the 
 Ladies of Pleafure. Silius Mejfala, and 
 TompoMus BaQus were accus 'd of con- 
 demning 
 
[ W 3 
 
 demning in their Hearts the Conduct of 
 Avitus. In a Letter he wrote to the 
 Senate he call'd them the Examiners of 
 his A&ions, and the Obfervers of all 
 that pais'd in his Palace. Bafus was 
 yet guilty of another Crime, which 
 was, that he had a very handfom Wife* 
 of Noble Birth, being the Gran- daugh- 
 ter of Claudius Severus, and Marcus An- 
 toninus. Avitus Married her afterwards 
 without giving her time to mourn for 
 her Husband. I mall fpeak anon of his 
 Marriages, his Wives, his Husbands, 
 and the monftrous Debaucheries with 
 which he diihonour'd both Sexes. Is it 
 neceiTary to mention the names of alt 
 thofe whom he put to Death without 
 the lead reafon, fince he did not fpare 
 his bed Friends, whofe wife and whol- 
 fom Remonflrances he could not bear ? 
 One of the blacked of his Crimes was 
 the Worthip of Heliogahalus, which he 
 introduc'd into Rome, though 'twas a 
 foreign God, whom he rever'd more 
 religioufiy than any other, fo far as to 
 fet him above Jupiter, and to get him- 
 felf declar'd his Pried by Decree of the 
 Senate. "He was fo extravagant as to 
 be Circumcis'd, and abdain'd from eat- 
 A a % ing 
 
[ i\6 ] 
 
 ing Hogs -flcih. He appeani often in 
 publick with a Habit refembling that 
 of the Prieils of Syria, and was there- 
 upon iurnam'd the Ajfyrian. He mar- 
 ried Cornelia Paula, that he might be 
 the (boner a Father, as he faid, though 
 he was not yet a Man. At the cele- 
 bration of his Nuptials he made Pre- 
 fents not only to the Senate, and the 
 Order of Knights, but alio to the Se- 
 nators Wives. The People were treat- 
 ed at five hundred and fifty Drach- 
 ma's per Head, and the Soldiers at two 
 hundred and fifty. There were after- 
 wards Combats of Gladiators, at which 
 he was prefent in a purple Robe, as he 
 was at the publick Prayers. A great 
 number of Beafts were kill'd, among 
 the reft an Elephant, and one and fif- 
 ty Tygers, which was never known be- 
 fore. Avitiis foon after was divorc d 
 from Paula, under pretence that ihe 
 had iome blemiili upon her Body, and 
 by the moil notorious and fcandalous 
 infraction or" the 'moft facred Laws, he 
 married Aquilia Severa the Veflal. in 
 {lead of bluihing at the Sacriledge, for 
 which he deferv'd to have been icourg'd 
 in the publick place, to have been im- 
 
 priion'd, 
 
[ ?57ϊ 
 
 prifon'd, and condemned to fuffer Death,' 
 he carried his Infolence to that height, 
 as to boall that the Children which 
 ihould proceed from a Marriage con- 
 tracted between the Chief Prieii and 
 the Chief Veflal % would have fomething 
 Sacred and Divine about them. And 
 yet he did not keep her long, but took 
 another foon, and then another, and at 
 Jail refum'd Severa. About this time 
 fome extraordinary Prodigies were ob- 
 ferv'd in Rome. The moil furprihng 
 was that which happen'd to the Sta- 
 tue of Ifts, whofe Altar is fupported by 
 a Dog, for the face of the God was 
 turn'd quite round. Sardanapalus gave 
 to the People the Diverfion of feveral 
 Shows and Combats, in which Aureli- 
 us Elix Agnaliz'd himfelf beyond all 
 his Antagoniits. He made a general 
 challenge in Ρ if a to WreLlle, or right at 
 Cutis, and in Rome at the Capitolin 
 Games got the Victory in both thofe 
 Exercifes. The Judges of Eiis burning 
 with extream jealoufie, and being afraid 
 left he ihould be accounted the eighth 
 after Hercules^ call'd for no Combatant 
 m that fort of Exercife, though they 
 hadmention'd it in their publick Adver- 
 tifements. . A a ι i 
 
Γ 158 ] 
 
 I ihali pafs in filcnce the barbarous 
 Songs that Sardanapalus fung with his 
 Mother and Grandmother in Honour 
 of Heliogalalus. Nor {hall I infill up- 
 on his crueky in facrificing Children to 
 him, or the impiety of Art Magick, to 
 which he was addi&ed. Neither is it 
 neceflary to fay that he order'd a Lion, 
 an Ape, and a Serpent all living, to 
 be (hut up in his Temple, the Privy 
 Parts of a Man to be hung within it, 
 afFe&ing a thoufand extravagant things 
 of that nature. But if I omit all thefe 
 things, I cannot avoid fpeaking of his 
 whimfical fancy in giving a Wife to He- 
 liogahalus, as if the God had wanted a 
 Wife and Children. As it was not like- 
 ly that the Wife he mould provide for 
 him, would be of any mean Birth or 
 Fortune, he chofe the Urania of the 
 Carthaginians, had her brought from 
 Carthage to Rome, lodg'd her in the Pa- 
 lace, made all the Subjects of the Em- 
 pire contribute towards the celebration 
 of the Nuptials, as if it had been for 
 an Emprefs. Thefe Prefents were giv- 
 en voluntarily at this time, but they 
 were exacted afterwards. As for the 
 Portion, Sardanapalus would have none, 
 
 and 
 
[ ?59 1 
 
 and only accepted of two Golden Li- 
 ons. And yet this Emperor who was 
 fo careful to match Gods and Goddef- 
 fes according to the Laws, did not keep 
 himfelf within the bounds of lawful 
 Pleafures, but had feveral Wives. Not 
 that he took them from any occafion 
 he had for them, but through a defire 
 of imitating the abandon'd courfes of 
 his Lovers. There is no body that can 
 have the patience to make or hear the 
 recital of the abominable lewdnefs he 
 a&ed, or fuffer'd in his own Body. There 
 were other debauches to which he aban- 
 don'd himfelf fo publickly , that one 
 cannot in any manner conceal them. 
 He us'd to go into a Tavern at Night, 
 put on falfe Hair, and perform the Of- 
 fice of a Drawer. He went to Bawdy- 
 houfes, drove out the lewd Women, 
 and plung'd himfelf in the moft infa- 
 mous Pleafures. In a word, he dedi- 
 cated to Incontinence an Apartment of 
 his Palace, at the Door of which he 
 flood flark naked, after the falhion of 
 QurtezanSy behind a Curtain that hung 
 by Rings of Gold, calling thofe that 
 pafs'd by in a foft, effeminate tone. There 
 were other Perfons deilin'd to the fame 
 A a 4 Employ- 
 
Employment, whom he made ufe of to 
 feck out for People whofe immodefty 
 might give him Pleafure. He receiv'd 
 Money of the Accomplices of his De- 
 bauches, and took a pride in fo infa- 
 mous a trade. When he was with his 
 Companions in proftitution,he brag'd of 
 having a greater number of Lovers than 
 they, and of getting more Money. He 
 exacted it indifferently from all thofe 
 to whom he confented. There was 
 one among the reft of a very advanta- 
 gious form, whom he defign'd for that 
 reafon to create Cafar. He drove Cha- 
 riots in a green Habit, and us'd that 
 Exercife frequently in his Palace. He 
 had for the Judges of his Combats the 
 principal Men of the Empire, the Cap- 
 tains of the Guard, his Grandmother, 
 his Mother, the Ladies of Quality, the 
 molt confiderable Senators, and ef- 
 pecially Leon Governor of Rome. All 
 thefe Perfons faw him driving a Chari- 
 ot, then he ask'd them for Money as a 
 reward for his Skill, like an ordinarv 
 Tocky, and in a word, he condefcendfc 
 to carefs the Soldiers. He was not fa- 
 d with driving Chariots only. He 
 .ited dancing not only upon the 
 
 Stage, 
 
ί l&t 1 
 
 Stage, but as he walk'd, facrific'd, falu- 
 ted, or when he was making Speeches 
 to thoie who came to attend him. In 
 ihorr, to refume the fubjeft of his Mar- 
 riages, he married himfelr* in the quali- 
 ty of a Wife, and by his own command 
 was call'd Madam, and Emprefs. He 
 us'd to card Wool, and rub'd his Eyes 
 with Pomatum. He fhav'd his Chin, 
 and made a folemn Feaft for it, took 
 care there fliould not be one Hair ihcn 9 
 that he might the more refemble a Wo- 
 man, and receiv'd upon a Couch the 
 Senators that came to attend him. His 
 Husband was a Slave, a Native of Carta, 
 whofe name was Jerodes^ a Driver of 
 Chariots, of whom he became ena- 
 mour'd from an occafion that proceed- 
 ed from the exercife of that ProfeiTion. 
 For this jerocles falling one day from 
 his Chariot at the feet of Sardanapalus^ 
 and his Helmet flying by the violence 
 of his fall, the Emperor law that he 
 had no Beard, and that he was very 
 fair. He gave orders to have him ta- 
 ken up, and carried into his own A- 
 partment, with a defign to make him 
 his Bed- fellow, and rais'd him in a lit— 
 time to that pitrli of Greatneis, that 
 
 it 
 
t %6ι ] 
 
 it was not doubted but he had a more 
 abfolute Power than himfelf. His Mo- 
 ther who was but a Serving- woman was 
 brought to Rome attended with Guards, 
 and put in the rank of thofe Ladies, 
 whofe Husbands had been Coniuls. Se- 
 veral others obtain'd Honours or Riches 
 of him, either for exciting fome diftur- 
 bance in the State, or for doing an A- 
 cYion with him that is ihocking to Na- 
 ture. He took a pride in fo brutal a 
 proilitution, made it his boaft like the 
 moil ihamelefs Strumpet, and was glad 
 to be furpriz'd in the very A&. He 
 affeded to be ill-us'd by his Husband, 
 to receive Affronts from him, and to be 
 beaten by him with that Violence, that 
 the marks of his Blows would iometimes 
 appear in his Face. He did not love 
 him with a feeble, tranfient Warmth, 
 but with a ilrong and conftant Patfion ; 
 fo that in flead of being difpleas'd with 
 the ill ufage he receiv'd from him, he 
 lov'd him the more tenderly for it. He 
 intended to give him the mofl convin- 
 cing proof of his Affection that he could 
 ere have denYd, which was to declare 
 him Qcefar^ and he us'd Menaces upon 
 this occafion to his Grandmother, who 
 
 diffwa- 
 
[ 1<*ί 1 
 
 dhTwaded him from it, and incurr'd the 
 hatred of the Soldiers. We iliall fee 
 prefently how fatal the extravagance and 
 brutality of this pailion were to him. 
 
 Aurelius Zotkut, a Native of Smyrna, 
 furnam'd the Cook , becaufe 'twas his 
 Fathers Trade, had been paifionately be- 
 lov'd, and afterwards as much hated by 
 the falfe Antoninus, which fav'd his Life. 
 He furpafs'd the other Wreftlers in the 
 handfomnefs of his Perfon, ilrengthof 
 Body, and largenefs of that Part which 
 is us'd for Generation. Thefe Advan- 
 tages having been difcover'd by thofe 
 who were employ 'd by the Emperor to 
 make a ilridt inquiry for fuch whom 
 Nature had more liberally provided for 
 than others, he was carried off in the 
 midil of the Games, and conducted to 
 Rome with a Pomp at lead as Magni- 
 ficent, as that which was formerly pre- 
 par'd for Augares in the Reign of Seve- 
 rn* , or for Tiri dates in that of Nero. 
 He was declar'd Chamberlain before he 
 was ieen by the Emperor, and intro- 
 duc'd into the Palace through an infi- 
 nite number of Lights, with which it 
 was adornd. As foon as this infamous 
 Prince perceiv'd him, he ran to him 
 
 with 
 
ί 3<*4 3 
 
 with a Teeming Baihfulnefs, and when 
 'Zotkus call'd him Lord and Emperor 
 according to Cuftom, he anfwer'd turn- 
 ing his Head with a foft Air like a Wo- 
 man, and calling lafcivious Looks up- 
 on him, ' You muft not call me Lord, 
 4 becaufe ί am a Lady. He carried him 
 to the Bath that initant, and having 
 found him the mighty Man he had been 
 reprefented to him, he fuppd in his 
 Arms like a Miilrefs. f erodes being 
 apprehenfive that Zotkus would come 
 to have a more abfoiute Power over 
 the Emperor's Mind than himfelf, and 
 that afterwards he might do him ill 
 Offices out of Jealoufie, as 'tis cuftoma- 
 ry with Rivals, had the dexterity to 
 make him drink a Liquor that he re- 
 ceiv'd from a Cup-bearer that was his 
 Friend, which Drink fo weakned his 
 Nerves, that they had no motion all 
 Night, by whofe defeat he fell into DiG 
 grace, was depriv'd of all the Gifts he 
 had receiv'd, baniih'd the Palace, Rome 
 and Italy. This difgrace fav'd his Life 
 as [ have already obferv'd. Sardanapa- 
 lus foon after receiv'd the puniQiment 
 that his Crimes deferv'd, and wasailafii- 
 nated by the Soldiers, to whom, not- 
 
 with- 
 
ί ϊ<*5 1. 
 
 withftanding all the CareiTes he made 
 them, his infamous Courfes, and mon- 
 iirous Proftilutions had rendred him 
 quite infupportable, as well as to the 
 reft of his Subje&s. Now obferve in 
 what manner he was taken out of the 
 World. 
 
 He took Bajfianua his Coutin into the 
 Senate, and adopted him, Maifa and 
 Socemis (landing on each fide of him. 
 He began afterwards to boaft of the 
 happinefs of having a Son older than 
 himfelf, and to give out, that he had 
 no need of other Children to eltabliih 
 his Family, and that Heliogabalus had 
 commanded him to adopt him, and 
 to name him Alexander. As for mv 
 felf, I doubt not but this Adoption was 
 made by a iecret order from Heaven, 
 and that which gives me a periwaiion 
 of the truth of it, is not what the falfe 
 Antoninus declar'd upon this occafion 
 out of Vain-glory, but the Prediction 
 he had received, that Alexander of 
 me/us ihould be his Succeilbr, and be- 
 sides an extraordinary accident that hap- 
 pen'd in the upper M.tfia, and in Ί brace, 
 1 lhail relate it iirfew words. 
 
 A 
 
C %66 ] 
 
 A Spectre that took the Name, Face, 
 and Equipage of Alexander of Macedon 9 
 appear'd I know not how about the Da- 
 nube, travelling through Afia and Thrace 
 with a Retinue of four hundred Men 
 that carried branches of Trees in their 
 Hands, and did no hurt to any body. 
 The People of Thrace confented to fur- 
 niih him with Lodgings and Provifi- 
 ons, and gave orders that no Pretor, 
 Soldier, or Governor, iliould dare to 
 oppofe his PaiTage. He march'd all the 
 day without refting in a Triumphant 
 manner, went from thence to the Coun- 
 try of Chalcedony where having inftitu- 
 ted a Prieft in the Night, and put a 
 woodden Horfe in the Earth he difap- 
 pear'd. I heard all this in Afia, before 
 I knew any thing of what had hap- 
 pen *d at Rome with relation to Βαβα- 
 nus. Sardanapalus maintain 'd himfelf in 
 the Sovereign Power, as long as he pre- 
 ferv'd any Sentiments of Friendihip for 
 Alexander his Coufin. But he did not 
 retain them long, and fought means to 
 get rid of him when he began to fuf- 
 pecl: him, and faw that he gain'd the 
 love of all the World. Neverthelefs how 
 earned foever his defire was to hurt 
 
 Alexan* 
 
[ 1*7 3 
 
 Alexander, he had no opportunity of 
 doing it, becaufe his Mother, his Grand- 
 mother, and the Soldiers were continu- 
 ally watchful for his Safety. As foon 
 as the Guards had difcover'd the defign 
 of Sardanapalus, they rais'd a Sedition 
 which was not appeas'd without much 
 difficulty. Sardanapalus and Alexander 
 being both in the Camp, the ftrft made 
 profound fubmiiTions to the Soldiers, 
 who demanded to have the Compani- 
 ons of his Debauches given up to them, 
 that they might be chaftis'd as they 
 defer v'd. He beg'd them to fpare Je- 
 wries, with all the clamour and impor- 
 tunity of the deepeil Sorrow. c Let 
 ' him be what he will, iaid he to them, 
 
 * blubbering as he fpoke, I conjure you 
 4 to fave his Life, and if you are in- 
 
 * flexible, rather to kill me in his room. 
 He made them bend at laft to his in- 
 treaties, and efcap'd their anger this 
 time. His Grandmother hated him for 
 his Excefles, and the defeat of his Birth, 
 whereas ihe lov'd Alexander as being 
 indeed fprung from the Family of An< 
 toninus. Sardanapalus laid another Snare 
 for Alexander foon after, and thereby 
 gave occafion for another Mutiny in 
 
 the 
 
[ j68 ] 
 
 the Army. As thofe two Princes were 
 together in the Camp, and the two 
 Princeiles their Mothers were conteft- 
 ing with great heat, and endeavouring 
 to exafperate the Soldiers, Sardanapa- 
 lus perceiv'd they had an eye upon him, 
 and were preparing to ieize him with 
 a defign to put him to Death. He at- 
 tempted that Moment to efcape, and 
 was very near efle&ing it by hiding 
 him felt in a Cheft. But he was difco- 
 ver'd, and kill'd at the age of eighteen 
 years. His Mother who held him in 
 her Arms was kill'd with him. Their 
 Heads were cut off, and tlsteir Bodies 
 flrip'd, and drag'd through the City. 
 Then that of Sardanapalus was thrown 
 into the Tyler, and that of his Mother 
 into another place. Several others were 
 executed with them,' as Jerocles , the 
 Captains of the Guard, and Aureli us En- 
 lulus. This laft was a Native of Erne- 
 fus, kept the publick Regifters, and had 
 ruin'd a world of private Men in that 
 Office, for which he was pull'd to pie- 
 ces by the Soldiers. Fulvius Governor 
 of Rome was likewife kill'd. Euticbian 
 furnam'd the Comedian, fucceeded him 
 in the fame manner as he had before 
 
 fuc- 
 
C 1*9 1 
 
 fucceed him, who was Predeceflbr to 
 Pulvius, for he was a Man that was 
 made ufe of to fupply the Pod of Go» 
 vernor of Rome, as he was to aot iuch 
 Parts as were wanting upon the Stage. 
 Heliogabalus was at the fame time driv- 
 en out of Rome. Such was the end of 
 T'ther'tnus. All thofe who had any {hare 
 in his Favours and Exceiles, were in- 
 volv'd in his Ruine, except one alone. 
 
 Bb THE 
 
1 
 
[ ?7i ) 
 
 The Beginning of the 
 
 REIGN 
 
 O F Τ Η Ε 
 
 EMPEROR. 
 
 Alexander Sever us. 
 
 AS ibon as Tiherinus was difpatch'd 
 in the manner I have related, A~ 
 lexander took poflefiion of the 
 Empire, and left the Adminiftration of 
 it to Domitius Ulpianus Captain of the 
 Guards. For what remains, I mufl: ac- 
 quaint thofe who ihall take the pains to 
 read this Work, that I have not been 
 able to obferve the fame exaitnefs in 
 the latter partfas in the former, becaufe I 
 was almoil always abfent from Rome in 
 thefe latter years. In going from the 
 β b ζ leffer 
 
[ \7r 1 
 lefler Afia to Bitbynia, I fell into a trou- 
 blefom fit of Sicknefs. When I was re- 
 covered I made a Voyage to Egypt, the 
 Government whereof was given me. 
 Upon my return into Italy, I was fent 
 away into Dalmatia and fannonia. From 
 thence I return'd to Rome, then into 
 Campania, and at length to my own 
 Houfe. Thefe frequent changes of A- 
 bode having hindred me from inform- 
 ing my felf of the particulars of Af- 
 fairs with that exa&nefs I could wifh, 
 I ihall relate in few words what pafs'd 
 to my fecond Confulihip. Ulpianus re- 
 form'd a world of Abufes that had been 
 introducd in the former Reign. But 
 he got Flavian and Chereftes put to death 
 in order to have their Employments, 
 and was foon after kili'd himfelf in the 
 Night by a confpiracy of the Guards, 
 though he had fled to the Palace for 
 Refuge, and implor'd the protection of 
 the Emperor and his Mother. Before 
 this bloody Execution there arofe upon 
 a very flight occafion, fo furious a dif- 
 ference between the People and the 
 Guards, that they fought for three days 
 fucceilively , and feveral of each fide 
 were kili'd upon the place. The Soldi- 
 ers 
 
Γ \7\ ] 
 
 ers having the difad vantage fet fire to 
 the Houfes, and the People, fearing the 
 whole City would be confum'd, made 
 peace with them. 
 
 Epagattts who had been the caufe of 
 the death of Ulpianus, was lent to E- 
 gypt in the Quality of Governor , left 
 if he had been arraign'd for it in Rome, 
 and condemn'd to die , the execution 
 might have rais'd fome Difturbance. But 
 he was carried a little after to Crete, 
 try'd, and executed. 
 
 There were at the fame time feve- 
 ral Infurrections, fome of which were 
 dreaded for their Confequences, andfoon 
 after ceasU The diforders in Mesopo- 
 tamia were more terrible, and not only 
 afFeded Rome, but all the Provinces. 
 Artaxerxes the Perfian having defeated 
 the Parthians in three Battels, and kill'd 
 Artabanus their King, entred into Ar- 
 menia, from whence he was driven by 
 the Inhabitants of the Country, by the 
 Medes, and by the Sons of Artabanus, 
 unlefs we are willing to give credit to 
 what fome aflure, which is that he re- 
 tir'd of his own accord with a defign 
 to make new Levies, and to provide 
 Magazines. In fhort, he was grown 
 
 for 
 
[ ?74 1 
 
 formidable by the number of his Troops 
 which were difpers'd in Mesopotamia and 
 Syria, and by his threatnings to poifefs 
 himfelf of all the Country that exten- 
 ded to the Sea of Greece^ and formerly 
 belong'd to the Perfian Power. 'Twas 
 not that he was fo very confiderable, 
 nor that he appear'd invincible ; but he 
 alarm'd us the more , becauie our Sol- 
 diers were in fo bad a difpofition, that 
 feveral deferted to him, and the reft that 
 remain'd in our Camp refus'd to ferve. 
 Thofe who were in Mefopotamia were un- 
 der fo loofe a Difcipline, and liv'd infuch 
 a contempt of Punifhment, that they 
 kill'd Flavius Heracleon their Comman- 
 der. The Companies of Guards had the 
 infolence to make complaints againftme, 
 as they had done before againil Ulpia- 
 nus, and to accufe me of having efta- 
 bliih'd too ilricl: a Difcipline among the 
 Troops of Tannonia, which made them 
 apprehenfive of being oblig'd to the fame 
 feverity. Alexander was fo far from liit- 
 ning to what they faid, that he did me 
 the honour to defign me Conful a fe- 
 cond time, to choofe me for his Col- 
 legue, and to be himfelf at the charge 
 this High Office oblig'd me to. When I 
 
 faw 
 
[ 375 3 
 
 faw that his choice was unacceptable to 
 the Guards, I was afraid left they iliould 
 rife to that excefs of Infolence, as to kill 
 roe at the time I wore the marks of fo 
 eminent a Dignity, and the Emperor 
 commanded me to pafs that year in Ita- 
 ly. When it was expir'd, I return'd to 
 Rome, and went into Campania where 
 Alexander was, appear'd without any di- 
 ilruft amidft; the Soldiers, and at lait by 
 reafon of an indifpofition in my Feet, 
 obtain d leave to return into my own 
 Country for the remainder of my Life, 
 as my Guardian Spirit had foretold me 
 would happen, when he commanded me 
 to put at the end of my Hiilory thefe 
 Verfes of Homer, 
 
 Hector unfiaken in the Battel flood, 
 In vain bis Foes the fierce Attack, renevod, 
 for Jove himfelf was there his Guardian* 
 
 (Ged, 
 
 FINIS. 
 
{ 
 
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