Suchprincesdeservedthehonorofrestoringtherepublic，hadtheRomansoftheirdaysbeencapableofenjoyingarationalfreedom。
Thelaborsofthesemonarchswereoverpaidbytheimmenserewardthatinseparablywaitedontheirsuccess；bythehonestprideofvirtue，andbytheexquisitedelightofbeholdingthegeneralhappinessofwhichtheyweretheauthors。Ajustbutmelancholyreflectionimbittered，however，thenoblestofhumanenjoyments。Theymustoftenhaverecollectedtheinstabilityofahappinesswhichdependedonthecharacterofsingleman。Thefatalmomentwasperhapsapproaching，whensomelicentiousyouth，orsomejealoustyrant，wouldabuse，tothedestruction，thatabsolutepower，whichtheyhadexertedforthebenefitoftheirpeople。Theidealrestraintsofthesenateandthelawsmightservetodisplaythevirtues，butcouldnevercorrectthevices，oftheemperor。Themilitaryforcewasablindandirresistibleinstrumentofoppression；andthecorruptionofRomanmannerswouldalwayssupplyflattererseagertoapplaud，andministerspreparedtoserve，thefearortheavarice，thelustorthecruelty，oftheirmaster。
ThesegloomyapprehensionshadbeenalreadyjustifiedbytheexperienceoftheRomans。Theannalsoftheemperorsexhibitastrongandvariouspictureofhumannature，whichweshouldvainlyseekamongthemixedanddoubtfulcharactersofmodernhistory。Intheconductofthosemonarchswemaytracetheutmostlinesofviceandvirtue；themostexaltedperfection，andthemeanestdegeneracyofourownspecies。ThegoldenageofTrajanandtheAntonineshadbeenprecededbyanageofiron。ItisalmostsuperfluoustoenumeratetheunworthysuccessorsofAugustus。Theirunparalleledvices，andthesplendidtheatreonwhichtheywereacted，havesavedthemfromoblivion。Thedark，unrelentingTiberius，thefuriousCaligula，thefeebleClaudius，theprofligateandcruelNero，thebeastlyVitellius，^50andthetimid，inhumanDomitian，arecondemnedtoeverlastinginfamy。
DuringfourscoreyearsexceptingonlytheshortanddoubtfulrespiteofVespasian'sreign^51Romegroanedbeneathanunremittingtyranny，whichexterminatedtheancientfamiliesoftherepublic，andwasfataltoalmosteveryvirtueandeverytalentthataroseinthatunhappyperiod。
[Footnote50:Vitelliusconsumedinmereeatingatleastsixmillionsofourmoneyinaboutsevenmonths。Itisnoteasytoexpresshisviceswithdignity，orevendecency。Tacitusfairlycallshimahog，butitisbysubstitutingforacoarsewordaveryfineimage。"AtVitellius，umbraculishortorumabditus，utignavaanimalia，quibussicibumsuggeras，jacenttorpentque，praeterita，instantia，futura，parioblivionedimiserat。AtqueillumnemoreAricinodesidemetmarcentum，"&c。Tacit。Hist。
iii。36，ii。95。Sueton。inVitell。c。13。Dion。Cassius，lxv。
p。1062。]
[Footnote51:TheexecutionofHelvidiusPriscus，andofthevirtuousEponina，disgracedthereignofVespasian。]
Underthereignofthesemonsters，theslaveryoftheRomanswasaccompaniedwithtwopeculiarcircumstances，theoneoccasionedbytheirformerliberty，theotherbytheirextensiveconquests，whichrenderedtheirconditionmorecompletelywretchedthanthatofthevictimsoftyrannyinanyotherageorcountry。Fromthesecauseswerederived，1。Theexquisitesensibilityofthesufferers；and，2。Theimpossibilityofescapingfromthehandoftheoppressor。
I。WhenPersiawasgovernedbythedescendantsofSefi，araceofprinceswhosewantoncrueltyoftenstainedtheirdivan，theirtable，andtheirbed，withthebloodoftheirfavorites，thereisasayingrecordedofayoungnobleman，thatheneverdepartedfromthesultan'spresence，withoutsatisfyinghimselfwhetherhisheadwasstillonhisshoulders。TheexperienceofeverydaymightalmostjustifythescepticismofRustan。^52Yetthefatalsword，suspendedabovehimbyasinglethread，seemsnottohavedisturbedtheslumbers，orinterruptedthetranquillity，ofthePersian。Themonarch'sfrown，hewellknew，couldlevelhimwiththedust；butthestrokeoflightningorapoplexymightbeequallyfatal；anditwasthepartofawisemantoforgettheinevitablecalamitiesofhumanlifeintheenjoymentofthefleetinghour。Hewasdignifiedwiththeappellationoftheking'sslave；had，perhaps，beenpurchasedfromobscureparents，inacountrywhichhehadneverknown；andwastrainedupfromhisinfancyintheseveredisciplineoftheseraglio。^53Hisname，hiswealth，hishonors，werethegiftofamaster，whomight，withoutinjustice，resumewhathehadbestowed。Rustan'sknowledge，ifhepossessedany，couldonlyservetoconfirmhishabitsbyprejudices。Hislanguageaffordednotwordsforanyformofgovernment，exceptabsolutemonarchy。
ThehistoryoftheEastinformedhim，thatsuchhadeverbeentheconditionofmankind。^54TheKoran，andtheinterpretersofthatdivinebook，inculcatedtohim，thatthesultanwasthedescendantoftheprophet，andthevicegerentofheaven；thatpatiencewasthefirstvirtueofaMussulman，andunlimitedobediencethegreatdutyofasubject。
[Footnote52:VoyagedeChardinenPerse，vol。iii。p。293。]
[Footnote53:ThepracticeofraisingslavestothegreatofficesofstateisstillmorecommonamongtheTurksthanamongthePersians。ThemiserablecountriesofGeorgiaandCircassiasupplyrulerstothegreatestpartoftheEast。]
[Footnote54:Chardinsays，thatEuropeantravellershavediffusedamongthePersianssomeideasofthefreedomandmildnessofourgovernments。Theyhavedonethemaveryilloffice。]
ThemindsoftheRomanswereverydifferentlypreparedforslavery。Oppressedbeneaththeweightoftheirowncorruptionandofmilitaryviolence，theyforalongwhilepreservedthesentiments，oratleasttheideas，oftheirfree—bornancestors。
TheeducationofHelvidiusandThrasea，ofTacitusandPliny，wasthesameasthatofCatoandCicero。FromGrecianphilosophy，theyhadimbibedthejustestandmostliberalnotionsofthedignityofhumannature，andtheoriginofcivilsociety。Thehistoryoftheirowncountryhadtaughtthemtorevereafree，avirtuous，andavictoriouscommonwealth；toabhorthesuccessfulcrimesofCaesarandAugustus；andinwardlytodespisethosetyrantswhomtheyadoredwiththemostabjectflattery。Asmagistratesandsenatorstheywereadmittedintothegreatcouncil，whichhadoncedictatedlawstotheearth，whoseauthoritywassooftenprostitutedtothevilestpurposesoftyranny。Tiberius，andthoseemperorswhoadoptedhismaxims，attemptedtodisguisetheirmurdersbytheformalitiesofjustice，andperhapsenjoyedasecretpleasureinrenderingthesenatetheiraccompliceaswellastheirvictim。Bythisassembly，thelastoftheRomanswerecondemnedforimaginarycrimesandrealvirtues。Theirinfamousaccusersassumedthelanguageofindependentpatriots，whoarraignedadangerouscitizenbeforethetribunalofhiscountry；andthepublicservicewasrewardedbyrichesandhonors。^55Theservilejudgesprofessedtoassertthemajestyofthecommonwealth，violatedinthepersonofitsfirstmagistrate，^56whoseclemencytheymostapplaudedwhentheytrembledthemostathisinexorableandimpendingcruelty。^57Thetyrantbeheldtheirbasenesswithjustcontempt，andencounteredtheirsecretsentimentsofdetestationwithsincereandavowedhatredforthewholebodyofthesenate。
[Footnote55:TheyallegedtheexampleofScipioandCato，Tacit。Annal。iii。66。MarcellusEpirusandCrispusVibiushadacquiredtwomillionsandahalfunderNero。Theirwealth，whichaggravatedtheircrimes，protectedthemunderVespasian。SeeTacit。Hist。iv。43。Dialog。deOrator。c。8。Foroneaccusation，Regulus，thejustobjectofPliny'ssatire，receivedfromthesenatetheconsularornaments，andapresentofsixtythousandpounds。]
[Footnote56:ThecrimeofmajestywasformerlyatreasonableoffenceagainsttheRomanpeople。Astribunesofthepeople，AugustusandTiberiusappliedtittotheirownpersons，andextendedittoaninfinitelatitude。
Note:ItwasTiberius，notAugustus，whofirsttookinthissensethewordscrimenlaesaemajestatis。BachiiTrajanus，27。—
W。]
[Footnote57:AfterthevirtuousandunfortunatewidowofGermanicushadbeenputtodeath，Tiberiusreceivedthethanksofthesenateforhisclemency。shehadnotbeenpubliclystrangled；
norwasthebodydrawnwithahooktotheGemoniae，wherethoseofcommonmalefactorswereexposed。SeeTacit。Annal。vi。25。
Sueton。inTiberioc。53。]
II。ThedivisionofEuropeintoanumberofindependentstates，connected，however，witheachotherbythegeneralresemblanceofreligion，language，andmanners，isproductiveofthemostbeneficialconsequencestothelibertyofmankind。A
moderntyrant，whoshouldfindnoresistanceeitherinhisownbreast，orinhispeople，wouldsoonexperienceagentlerestrainformtheexampleofhisequals，thedreadofpresentcensure，dtheadviceofhisallies，andtheapprehensionofhisenemies。
Theobjectofhisdispleasure，escapingfromthenarrowlimitsofhisdominions，wouldeasilyobtain，inahappierclimate，asecurerefuge，anewfortuneadequatetohismerit，thefreedomofcomplaint，andperhapsthemeansofrevenge。ButtheempireoftheRomansfilledtheworld，andwhentheempirefellintothehandsofasingleperson，hewoldbecameasafeanddrearyprisonforhisenemies。TheslaveofImperialdespotism，whetherhewascondemnedtodragshisgildedchaininromeandthesenate，ortowereoutalifeofexileonthebarrenrockofSeriphus，orthefrozenbankoftheDanube，expectedhisfateinsilentdespair。
^58Toresistwasfatal，anditwasimpossibletofly。Oneverysidehewasencompassedwithavastextentofseaandland，whichhecouldneverhopetotraversewithoutbeingdiscovered，seized，andrestoredtohisirritatedmaster。Beyondthefrontiers，hisanxiousviewcoulddiscovernothing，excepttheocean，inhospitabledeserts，hostiletribesofbarbarians，offiercemannersandunknownlanguage，ordependentkings，whowouldgladlypurchasetheemperor'sprotectionbythesacrificeofanobnoxiousfugitive。^59"Whereveryouare，"saidCicerototheexiledMarcellus，"rememberthatyouareequallywithinthepoweroftheconqueror。"^60
[Footnote58:SeriphuswasasmallrockyislandintheAegeanSea，theinhabitantsofwhichweredespisedfortheirignoranceandobscurity。TheplaceofOvid'sexileiswellknown，byhisjust，butunmanlylamentations。Itshouldseem，thatheonlyreceivedanordertoleaveromeinsomanydays，andtotransporthimselftoTomi。Guardsandjailerswereunnecessary。]
[Footnote59:UnderTiberius，aRomanknightattemptedtoflytotheParthians。HewasstoppedinthestraitsofSicily；butsolittledangerdidthereappearintheexample，thatthemostjealousoftyrantsdisdainedtopunishit。Tacit。Annal。vi。
14。]
[Footnote60:CiceroadFamiliares，iv。7。]
ChapterIV:TheCruelty，FolliesAndMurderOfCommodus。
PartI。
TheCruelty，Follies，AndMurderOfCommodus—ElectionOfPertinax—HisAttemptsToReformTheState—HisAssassinationByThePraetorianGuards。
ThemildnessofMarcus，whichtherigiddisciplineoftheStoicswasunabletoeradicate，formed，atthesametime，themostamiable，andtheonlydefectivepartofhischaracter。Hisexcellentunderstandingwasoftendeceivedbytheunsuspectinggoodnessofhisheart。Artfulmen，whostudythepassionsofprinces，andconcealtheirown，approachedhispersoninthedisguiseofphilosophicsanctity，andacquiredrichesandhonorsbyaffectingtodespisethem。^1Hisexcessiveindulgencetohisbrother，hiswife，andhisson，exceededtheboundsofprivatevirtue，andbecameapublicinjury，bytheexampleandconsequencesoftheirvices。
[Footnote1:SeethecomplaintsofAvidiusCassius，Hist。August。
p。45。Theseare，itistrue，thecomplaintsoffaction；butevenfactionexaggerates，ratherthaninvents。]
[Footnote*:Hisbrotherbyadoption，andhiscolleague，L。
Verus。MarcusAureliushadnootherbrother。—W。]
Faustina，thedaughterofPiusandthewifeofMarcus，hasbeenasmuchcelebratedforhergallantriesasforherbeauty。
Thegravesimplicityofthephilosopherwasillcalculatedtoengageherwantonlevity，ortofixthatunboundedpassionforvariety，whichoftendiscoveredpersonalmeritinthemeanestofmankind。^2TheCupidoftheancientswas，ingeneral，averysensualdeity；andtheamoursofanempress，astheyexactonhersidetheplainestadvances，areseldomsusceptibleofmuchsentimentaldelicacy。MarcuswastheonlymanintheempirewhoseemedignorantorinsensibleoftheirregularitiesofFaustina；
which，accordingtotheprejudicesofeveryage，reflectedsomedisgraceontheinjuredhusband。Hepromotedseveralofherloverstopostsofhonorandprofit，^3andduringaconnectionofthirtyyears，invariablygaveherproofsofthemosttenderconfidence，andofarespectwhichendednotwithherlife。InhisMeditations，hethanksthegods，whohadbestowedonhimawifesofaithful，sogentle，andofsuchawonderfulsimplicityofmanners。^4Theobsequioussenate，athisearnestrequest，declaredheragoddess。Shewasrepresentedinhertemples，withtheattributesofJuno，Venus，andCeres；anditwasdecreed，that，onthedayoftheirnuptials，theyouthofeithersexshouldpaytheirvowsbeforethealtaroftheirchastepatroness。
^5
[Footnote2:FaustinamsatisconstatapudCajetamconditionessibietnauticasetgladiatorias，elegisse。Hist。August。p。30。
LampridiusexplainsthesortofmeritwhichFaustinachose，andtheconditionswhichsheexacted。Hist。August。p。102。]
[Footnote3:Hist。August。p。34。]
[Footnote4:Meditat。l。i。TheworldhaslaughedatthecredulityofMarcusbutMadamDacierassuresus，andwemaycreditalady，thatthehusbandwillalwaysbedeceived，ifthewifecondescendstodissemble。]
[Footnote5:DionCassius，l。lxxi。[c。31，]p。1195。Hist。
August。p。33。CommentairedeSpanheimsurlesCaesarsdeJulien，p。289。ThedeificationofFaustinaistheonlydefectwhichJulian'scriticismisabletodiscoverintheall—accomplishedcharacterofMarcus。]
Themonstrousvicesofthesonhavecastashadeonthepurityofthefather'svirtues。IthasbeenobjectedtoMarcus，thathesacrificedthehappinessofmillionstoafondpartialityforaworthlessboy；andthathechoseasuccessorinhisownfamily，ratherthanintherepublic。Nothinghowever，wasneglectedbytheanxiousfather，andbythemenofvirtueandlearningwhomhesummonedtohisassistance，toexpandthenarrowmindofyoungCommodus，tocorrecthisgrowingvices，andtorenderhimworthyofthethroneforwhichhewasdesigned。Butthepowerofinstructionisseldomofmuchefficacy，exceptinthosehappydispositionswhereitisalmostsuperfluous。Thedistastefullessonofagravephilosopherwas，inamoment，obliteratedbythewhisperofaprofligatefavorite；andMarcushimselfblastedthefruitsofthislaborededucation，byadmittinghisson，attheageoffourteenorfifteen，toafullparticipationoftheImperialpower。Helivedbutfouryearsafterwards:buthelivedlongenoughtorepentarashmeasure，whichraisedtheimpetuousyouthabovetherestraintofreasonandauthority。
Mostofthecrimeswhichdisturbtheinternalpeaceofsociety，areproducedbytherestraintswhichthenecessarybutunequallawsofpropertyhaveimposedontheappetitesofmankind，byconfiningtoafewthepossessionofthoseobjectsthatarecovetedbymany。Ofallourpassionsandappetites，theloveofpowerisofthemostimperiousandunsociablenature，sincetheprideofonemanrequiresthesubmissionofthemultitude。Inthetumultofcivildiscord，thelawsofsocietylosetheirforce，andtheirplaceisseldomsuppliedbythoseofhumanity。Theardorofcontention，theprideofvictory，thedespairofsuccess，thememoryofpastinjuries，andthefearoffuturedangers，allcontributetoinflamethemind，andtosilencethevoiceofpity。Fromsuchmotivesalmosteverypageofhistoryhasbeenstainedwithcivilblood；butthesemotiveswillnotaccountfortheunprovokedcrueltiesofCommodus，whohadnothingtowishandeverythingtoenjoy。ThebelovedsonofMarcussucceededtohisfather，amidsttheacclamationsofthesenateandarmies；^6andwhenheascendedthethrone，thehappyyouthsawroundhimneithercompetitortoremove，norenemiestopunish。Inthiscalm，elevatedstation，itwassurelynaturalthatheshouldprefertheloveofmankindtotheirdetestation，themildgloriesofhisfivepredecessorstotheignominiousfateofNeroandDomitian。
[Footnote6:CommoduswasthefirstPorphyrogenitus，bornsincehisfather'saccessiontothethrone。Byanewstrainofflattery，theEgyptianmedalsdatebytheyearsofhislife；asiftheyweresynonymoustothoseofhisreign。Tillemont，Hist。
desEmpereurs，tom。ii。p。752。]
YetCommoduswasnot，ashehasbeenrepresented，atigerbornwithaninsatiatethirstofhumanblood，andcapable，fromhisinfancy，ofthemostinhumanactions。^7Naturehadformedhimofaweakratherthanawickeddisposition。Hissimplicityandtimidityrenderedhimtheslaveofhisattendants，whograduallycorruptedhismind。Hiscruelty，whichatfirstobeyedthedictatesofothers，degeneratedintohabit，andatlengthbecametherulingpassionofhissoul。^8
[Footnote7:Hist。August。p。46。]
[Footnote8:DionCassius，l。lxxii。p。1203。]