^18Nocommunicationwasallowedbetweentheirapartments；thedoorsandpassageswerediligentlyfortified，andguardspostedandrelievedwiththesamestrictnessasinabesiegedplace。
Theemperorsmetonlyinpublic，inthepresenceoftheirafflictedmother；andeachsurroundedbyanumeroustrainofarmedfollowers。Evenontheseoccasionsofceremony，thedissimulationofcourtscouldilldisguisetherancoroftheirhearts。^19
[Footnote18:Mr。HumeisjustlysurprisedatapassageofHerodian，l。iv。p。139，who，onthisoccasion，representstheImperialpalaceasequalinextenttotherestofRome。ThewholeregionofthePalatineMount，onwhichitwasbuilt，occupied，atmost，acircumferenceofelevenortwelvethousandfeet，seetheNotitiaandVictor，inNardini'sRomaAntica。Butweshouldrecollectthattheopulentsenatorshadalmostsurroundedthecitywiththeirextensivegardensandsuburbpalaces，thegreatestpartofwhichhadbeengraduallyconfiscatedbytheemperors。IfGetaresidedinthegardensthatborehisnameontheJaniculum，andifCaracallainhabitedthegardensofMaecenasontheEsquiline，therivalbrotherswereseparatedfromeachotherbythedistanceofseveralmiles；andyettheintermediatespacewasfilledbytheImperialgardensofSallust，ofLucullus，ofAgrippa，ofDomitian，ofCaius，&c。，allskirtingroundthecity，andallconnectedwitheachother，andwiththepalace，bybridgesthrownovertheTiberandthestreets。ButthisexplanationofHerodianwouldrequire，thoughitilldeserves，aparticulardissertation，illustratedbyamapofancientRome。Hume，EssayonPopulousnessofAncientNations。—M。]
[Footnote19:Herodian，l。iv。p。139]
Thislatentcivilwaralreadydistractedthewholegovernment，whenaschemewassuggestedthatseemedofmutualbenefittothehostilebrothers。Itwasproposed，thatsinceitwasimpossibletoreconciletheirminds，theyshouldseparatetheirinterest，anddividetheempirebetweenthem。Theconditionsofthetreatywerealreadydrawnwithsomeaccuracy。
ItwasagreedthatCaracalla，astheelderbrothershouldremaininpossessionofEuropeandthewesternAfrica；andthatheshouldrelinquishthesovereigntyofAsiaandEgypttoGeta，whomightfixhisresidenceatAlexandriaorAntioch，citieslittleinferiortoRomeitselfinwealthandgreatness；thatnumerousarmiesshouldbeconstantlyencampedoneithersideoftheThracianBosphorus，toguardthefrontiersoftherivalmonarchies；andthatthesenatorsofEuropeanextractionshouldacknowledgethesovereignofRome，whilstthenativesofAsiafollowedtheemperoroftheEast。ThetearsoftheempressJuliainterruptedthenegotiation，thefirstideaofwhichhadfilledeveryRomanbreastwithsurpriseandindignation。Themightymassofconquestwassointimatelyunitedbythehandoftimeandpolicy，thatitrequiredthemostforcibleviolencetorenditasunder。TheRomanshadreasontodread，thatthedisjointedmemberswouldsoonbereducedbyacivilwarunderthedominionofonemaster；butiftheseparationwaspermanent，thedivisionoftheprovincesmustterminateinthedissolutionofanempirewhoseunityhadhithertoremainedinviolate。^20
[Footnote20:Herodian，l。iv。p。144。]
Hadthetreatybeencarriedintoexecution，thesovereignofEuropemightsoonhavebeentheconquerorofAsia；butCaracallaobtainedaneasier，thoughamoreguilty，victory。Heartfullylistenedtohismother'sentreaties，andconsentedtomeethisbrotherinherapartment，ontermsofpeaceandreconciliation。
Inthemidstoftheirconversation，somecenturions，whohadcontrivedtoconcealthemselves，rushedwithdrawnswordsupontheunfortunateGeta。Hisdistractedmotherstrovetoprotecthiminherarms；but，intheunavailingstruggle，shewaswoundedinthehand，andcoveredwiththebloodofheryoungerson，whileshesawtheelderanimatingandassisting^21thefuryoftheassassins。Assoonasthedeedwasperpetrated，Caracalla，withhastysteps，andhorrorinhiscountenance，rantowardsthePraetoriancamp，ashisonlyrefuge，andthrewhimselfonthegroundbeforethestatuesofthetutelardeities。^22Thesoldiersattemptedtoraiseandcomforthim。Inbrokenanddisorderedwordsheinformedthemofhisimminentdanger，andfortunateescape；insinuatingthathehadpreventedthedesignsofhisenemy，anddeclaredhisresolutiontoliveanddiewithhisfaithfultroops。Getahadbeenthefavoriteofthesoldiers；
butcomplaintwasuseless，revengewasdangerous，andtheystillreverencedthesonofSeverus。Theirdiscontentdiedawayinidlemurmurs，andCaracallasoonconvincedthemofthejusticeofhiscause，bydistributinginonelavishdonativetheaccumulatedtreasuresofhisfather'sreign。^23Therealsentimentsofthesoldiersalonewereofimportancetohispowerorsafety。Theirdeclarationinhisfavorcommandedthedutifulprofessionsofthesenate。Theobsequiousassemblywasalwayspreparedtoratifythedecisionoffortune；butasCaracallawishedtoassuagethefirstemotionsofpublicindignation，thenameofGetawasmentionedwithdecency，andhereceivedthefuneralhonorsofaRomanemperor。^24Posterity，inpitytohismisfortune，hascastaveiloverhisvices。Weconsiderthatyoungprinceastheinnocentvictimofhisbrother'sambition，withoutrecollectingthathehimselfwantedpower，ratherthaninclination，toconsummatethesameattemptsofrevengeandmurder。^!
[Footnote21:Caracallaconsecrated，inthetempleofSerapis，theswordwithwhich，asheboasted，hehadslainhisbrotherGeta。Dion，l。lxxviip。1307。]
[Footnote22:Herodian，l。iv。p。147。IneveryRomancamptherewasasmallchapelnearthehead—quarters，inwhichthestatuesofthetutelardeitieswerepreservedandadored；andwemayremarkthattheeagles，andothermilitaryensigns，wereinthefirstrankofthesedeities；anexcellentinstitution，whichconfirmeddisciplinebythesanctionofreligion。SeeLipsiusdeMilitiaRomana，iv。5，v。2。]
[Footnote23:Herodian，l。iv。p。148。Dion，l。lxxvii。p。
1289。]
[Footnote*:Theaccountofthistransaction，inanewpassageofDion，variesinsomedegreefromthisstatement。Itaddsthatthenextmorning，inthesenate，Antoninusrequestedtheirindulgence，notbecausehehadkilledhisbrother，butbecausehewashoarse，andcouldnotaddressthem。Mai。Fragm。p。228。—
M。]
[Footnote24:Getawasplacedamongthegods。Sitdivus，dumnonsitvivussaidhisbrother。Hist。August。p。91。SomemarksofGeta'sconsecrationarestillfounduponmedals。]
[Footnote!:ThefavorablejudgmentwhichhistoryhasgivenofGetaisnotfoundedsolelyonafeelingofpity；itissupportedbythetestimonyofcontemporaryhistorians:hewastoofondofthepleasuresofthetable，andshowedgreatmistrustofhisbrother；buthewashumane，wellinstructed；heoftenendeavoredtomitigatetherigorousdecreesofSeverusandCaracalla。Herodiv。3。SpartianinGeta。—W。]
Thecrimewentnotunpunished。Neitherbusiness，norpleasure，norflattery，coulddefendCaracallafromthestingsofaguiltyconscience；andheconfessed，intheanguishofatorturedmind，thathisdisorderedfancyoftenbeheldtheangryformsofhisfatherandhisbrotherrisingintolife，tothreatenandupbraidhim。^25Theconsciousnessofhiscrimeshouldhaveinducedhimtoconvincemankind，bythevirtuesofhisreign，thatthebloodydeedhadbeentheinvoluntaryeffectoffatalnecessity。ButtherepentanceofCaracallaonlypromptedhimtoremovefromtheworldwhatevercouldremindhimofhisguilt，orrecallthememoryofhismurderedbrother。Onhisreturnfromthesenatetothepalace，hefoundhismotherinthecompanyofseveralnoblematrons，weepingovertheuntimelyfateofheryoungerson。Thejealousemperorthreatenedthemwithinstantdeath；thesentencewasexecutedagainstFadilla，thelastremainingdaughteroftheemperorMarcus；andeventheafflictedJuliawasobligedtosilenceherlamentations，tosuppresshersighs，andtoreceivetheassassinwithsmilesofjoyandapprobation。Itwascomputedthat，underthevagueappellationofthefriendsofGeta，abovetwentythousandpersonsofbothsexessuffereddeath。Hisguardsandfreedmen，theministersofhisseriousbusiness，andthecompanionsofhislooserhours，thosewhobyhisinteresthadbeenpromotedtoanycommandsinthearmyorprovinces，withthelongconnectedchainoftheirdependants，wereincludedintheproscription；whichendeavoredtoreacheveryonewhohadmaintainedthesmallestcorrespondencewithGeta，wholamentedhisdeath，orwhoevenmentionedhisname。^26HelviusPertinax，sontotheprinceofthatname，losthislifebyanunseasonablewitticism。^27ItwasasufficientcrimeofThraseaPriscustobedescendedfromafamilyinwhichtheloveoflibertyseemedanhereditaryquality。
^28Theparticularcausesofcalumnyandsuspicionwereatlengthexhausted；andwhenasenatorwasaccusedofbeingasecretenemytothegovernment，theemperorwassatisfiedwiththegeneralproofthathewasamanofpropertyandvirtue。Fromthiswell—groundedprinciplehefrequentlydrewthemostbloodyinferences。^!
[Footnote25:Dion，l。lxxvii。p。1307]
[Footnote*:Themostvaluableparagraphofdion，whichtheindustryofM。Manasrecovered，relatestothisdaughterofMarcus，executedbyCaracalla。Hername，asappearsfromFronto，aswellasfromDion，wasCornificia。Whencommandedtochoosethekindofdeathshewastosuffer，sheburstintowomanishtears；butrememberingherfatherMarcus，shethusspoke:—"Omyhaplesssoul，……animula，nowimprisonedinthebody，burstforth!befree!showthem，howeverreluctanttobelieveit，thatthouartthedaughterofMarcus。"Shethenlaidasideallherornaments，andpreparingherselffordeath，orderedherveinstobeopened。Mai。Fragm。Vaticaniip。220。—M。]
[Footnote26:Dion，l。lxxvii。p。1290。Herodian，l。iv。p。150。
Dionp。2298says，thatthecomicpoetsnolongerdurstemploythenameofGetaintheirplays，andthattheestatesofthosewhomentioneditintheirtestamentswereconfiscated。]
[Footnote27:Caracallahadassumedthenamesofseveralconquerednations；Pertinaxobserved，thatthenameofGeticushehadobtainedsomeadvantageovertheGoths，orGetaewouldbeaproperadditiontoParthieus，Alemannicus，&c。Hist。
August。p。89。]
[Footnote28:Dion，l。lxxvii。p。1291。HewasprobablydescendedfromHelvidiusPriscus，andThraseaPaetus，thosepatriots，whosefirm，butuselessandunseasonable，virtuehasbeenimmortalizedbyTacitus。
Note:M。Guizotisindignantatthis"cold"observationofGibbononthenoblecharacterofThrasea；butheadmitsthathisvirtuewasuselesstothepublic，andunseasonableamidstthevicesofhisage。—M。]
[Footnote!:Caracallareproachedallthosewhodemandednofavorsofhim。"Itisclearthatifyoumakemenorequests，youdonottrustme；ifyoudonottrustme，yoususpectme；ifyoususpectme，youfearme；ifyoufearme，youhateme。"Andforthwithhecondemnedthemasconspirators，agoodspecimenofthesoritesinatyrant'slogic。SeeFragm。Vaticanp。—M。]
ChapterVI:DeathOfSeverus，TyrannyOfCaracalla，UsurpationOfMarcinus。
PartII。
Theexecutionofsomanyinnocentcitizenswasbewailedbythesecrettearsoftheirfriendsandfamilies。ThedeathofPapinian，thePraetorianPraefect，waslamentedasapubliccalamity。^!!DuringthelastsevenyearsofSeverus，hehadexercisedthemostimportantofficesofthestate，and，byhissalutaryinfluence，guidedtheemperor'sstepsinthepathsofjusticeandmoderation。Infullassuranceofhisvirtueandabilities，Severus，onhisdeath—bed，hadconjuredhimtowatchovertheprosperityandunionoftheImperialfamily。^29ThehonestlaborsofPapinianservedonlytoinflamethehatredwhichCaracallahadalreadyconceivedagainsthisfather'sminister。
AfterthemurderofGeta，thePraefectwascommandedtoexertthepowersofhisskillandeloquenceinastudiedapologyforthatatrociousdeed。ThephilosophicSenecahadcondescendedtocomposeasimilarepistletothesenate，inthenameofthesonandassassinofAgrippina。^30"Thatitwaseasiertocommitthantojustifyaparricide，"wasthegloriousreplyofPapinian；^31
whodidnothesitatebetweenthelossoflifeandthatofhonor。
Suchintrepidvirtue，whichhadescapedpureandunsulliedfromtheintriguescourts，thehabitsofbusiness，andtheartsofhisprofession，reflectsmorelustreonthememoryofPapinian，thanallhisgreatemployments，hisnumerouswritings，andthesuperiorreputationasalawyer，whichhehaspreservedthrougheveryageoftheRomanjurisprudence。^32
[Footnote!!:PapinianwasnolongerPraetorianPraefect。
CaracallahaddeprivedhimofthatofficeimmediatelyafterthedeathofSeverus。SuchisthestatementofDion；andthetestimonyofSpartian，whogivesPapinianthePraetorianpraefecturetillhisdeath，isoflittleweightopposedtothatofasenatorthenlivingatRome。—W。]
[Footnote29:ItissaidthatPapinianwashimselfarelationoftheempressJulia。]
[Footnote30:Tacit。Annal。xiv。2。]
[Footnote31:Hist。August。p。88。]
[Footnote32:WithregardtoPapinian，seeHeineccius'sHistoriaJurisRomani，l。330，&c。]
IthadhithertobeenthepeculiarfelicityoftheRomans，andintheworstoftimestheconsolation，thatthevirtueoftheemperorswasactive，andtheirviceindolent。Augustus，Trajan，Hadrian，andMarcusvisitedtheirextensivedominionsinperson，andtheirprogresswasmarkedbyactsofwisdomandbeneficence。
ThetyrannyofTiberius，Nero，andDomitian，whoresidedalmostconstantlyatRome，orintheadjacentwasconfinedtothesenatorialandequestrianorders。^33ButCaracallawasthecommonenemyofmankind。HeleftcapitalandheneverreturnedtoitaboutayearafterthemurderofGeta。Therestofhisreignwasspentintheseveralprovincesoftheempire，particularlythoseoftheEast，andprovincewasbyturnsthesceneofhisrapineandcruelty。Thesenators，compelledbyfeartoattendhiscapriciousmotions，wereobligedtoprovidedailyentertainmentsatanimmenseexpense，whichheabandonedwithcontempttohisguards；andtoerect，ineverycity，magnificentpalacesandtheatres，whichheeitherdisdainedtovisit，ororderedimmediatelythrowndown。Themostwealthyfamiliesruinedbypartialfinesandconfiscations，andthegreatbodyofhissubjectsoppressedbyingeniousandaggravatedtaxes。^34Inthemidstofpeace，andupontheslightestprovocation，heissuedhiscommands，atAlexandria，inEgyptforageneralmassacre。
FromasecurepostinthetempleofSerapis，heviewedanddirectedtheslaughterofmanythousandcitizens，aswellasstrangers，withoutdistinguishingthenumberorthecrimeofthesufferers；sinceashecoollyinformedthesenate，alltheAlexandrians，thosewhoperished，andthosewhohadescaped，werealikeguilty。^35
[Footnote33:TiberiusandDomitiannevermovedfromtheneighborhoodofRome。NeromadeashortjourneyintoGreece。
"EtlaudatorumPrincipumususexaequo，quamvisproculagentibus。
Saeviproximisingruunt。"Tacit。Hist。iv。74。]
[Footnote34:Dion，l。lxxvii。p。1294。]
[Footnote35:Dion，l。lxxvii。p。1307。Herodian，l。iv。p。158。
Theformerrepresentsitasacruelmassacre，thelatterasaperfidiousonetoo。ItseemsprobablethattheAlexandrianshasirritatedthetyrantbytheirrailleries，andperhapsbytheirtumults。
Note:Afterthesemassacres，CaracallaalsodeprivedtheAlexandriansoftheirspectaclesandpublicfeasts；hedividedthecityintotwopartsbyawallwithtowersatintervals，topreventthepeacefulcommunicationsofthecitizens。ThuswastreatedtheunhappyAlexandria，saysDion，bythesavagebeastofAusonia。This，infact，wastheepithetwhichtheoraclehadappliedtohim；itissaid，indeed，thathewasmuchpleasedwiththenameandoftenboastedofit。Dion，lxxvii。p。1307。—G。]
ThewiseinstructionsofSeverusnevermadeanylastingimpressiononthemindofhisson，who，althoughnotdestituteofimaginationandeloquence，wasequallydevoidofjudgmentandhumanity。^36Onedangerousmaxim，worthyofatyrant，wasrememberedandabusedbyCaracalla。"Tosecuretheaffectionsofthearmy，andtoesteemtherestofhissubjectsasoflittlemoment。"^37Buttheliberalityofthefatherhadbeenrestrainedbyprudence，andhisindulgencetothetroopswastemperedbyfirmnessandauthority。Thecarelessprofusionofthesonwasthepolicyofonereign，andtheinevitableruinbothofthearmyandoftheempire。Thevigorofthesoldiers，insteadofbeingconfirmedbytheseveredisciplineofcamps，meltedawayintheluxuryofcities。Theexcessiveincreaseoftheirpayanddonatives^38exhaustedthestatetoenrichthemilitaryorder，whosemodestyinpeace，andserviceinwar，isbestsecuredbyanhonorablepoverty。ThedemeanorofCaracallawashaughtyandfullofpride；butwiththetroopsheforgoteventheproperdignityofhisrank，encouragedtheirinsolentfamiliarity，and，neglectingtheessentialdutiesofageneral，affectedtoimitatethedressandmannersofacommonsoldier。