Изображения страниц
PDF
EPUB

Questions for Examination.

1. What was Nero's conduct at the commencement of his reign? 2. Did this disposition continue?

3. What was there peculiar in his disposition?

4. Were these his greatest faults?

5. Of what heinous crime is he accused?

6. On whom was the odium of this barbarous action cast?

7. What was the consequence to these unhappy men?
8. What eminent persons suffered on this occasion ?
9. Did not these cruelties give birth to conspiracies ?
10. What persons of note suffered in consequence?
11. Did this defence save his life?

12. Were his exhortations effectual?

13. Relate the circumstances of Seneca's death.

14. Were not other means resorted to?

15. Did not Paulina survive him?

16. Describe the death of Lucan.

17. What other victim of Nero's cruelty deserves mention? 18. What brought him into danger?

19. How did he meet death?

20. Were not other illustrious persons sacrificed?

21. Were these cruelties committed with impunity?

SECTION VIII.

O breath of public praise,

Short-lived and vain; oft gained without desert,
As often lost, unmerited: composed

But of extremes.

3. Va'ses, s. goblets, ornamental vessels.

7. Im'precating, part. desiring with

curses.

14. Innox'ious, a. no longer hurtful.

HAVARD,

17. Exchequer, s. a modern name for the treasury.

28. Contam'inated, part. defiled, pol-
luted.

31. Animos'ity, s. hatred.
Precipita'tion, s. unwise haste.

1. SERVIUS GALBA', at that time governor of Spain, was remarkable for his wisdom in peace, and his courage in war; but as a display of talents under corrupt princes is dangerous, he for some years had seemed to court obscurity, and an inactive life. 2. Willing, however, to rid his country of the monster that now occupied the throne, he accepted the invitation of Vindex, to march with an army towards Rome. 3. From the moment he

1 Galba (Servius Sulpi'cius) was descended from the ancient family of the Sulpi'tii. He was successively prætor, proconsul of Africa, and general of the Roman armies in Germany and Spain.

[ocr errors]

6.

declared against Nero, the tyrant considered himself as fallen. He received the account as he was at supper, and instantly struck with terror, overturned the table with his foot, breaking two crystal vases of immense value. He fell into a swoon; and on his recovery, tore his clothes and struck his head, crying out, "that he was utterly undone." 4. He now called for the assistance of Locus'ta, a woman famous in the art of poisoning, to furnish him with the means of death; but being prevented in this, and the revolt becoming general, he went in person from house to house, but the doors were shut against him. Being reduced to a state of desperation, he desired that one of his favourite gladiators might despatch him; but even in this request not one would obey. Alas," cried he, "have I neither friend nor enemy?" then running desperately forth, he seemed resolved to plunge headlong into the Tiber. 5. But his courage failed him; he made a sudden stop, as if willing to re-collect his reason; and asked for some sacred place, where he might reassume his courage, and meet death with becoming fortitude. In this distress, Pha'on, one of his freedmen, offered him his country-house, about four miles distant, where he might for some time remain concealed. Nero accepted the offer; and with his head covered, hiding his face with his handkerchief, he mounted on horseback, attended by four of his domestics, of whom the wretched Sporus 1 was one. 7. His journey, though short, was crowded with adventures. An earthquake gave him the first alarm. The lightning from heaven next flashed in his face. Round him he heard nothing but confused noises from the camp, the cries of the soldiers imprecating a thousand evils upon his head. 8. A traveller, meeting him on the way, cried, "Those men are in pursuit of Nero." Another asked him if there was any news of Nero in that city. His horse taking fright at a dead body that lay near the road, he dropped his handkerchief: when a soldier addressing him by name, he quitted his horse, and forsaking the highway, entered a thicket that led towards the back part of Pha'on's house, making the best of his way among the reeds and brambles with

1 Spo'rus was the companion and sharer of his unnatural pleasures Among other abominable follies, he publicly married this wretch, kept him in his palace, and carried him about with him in the same litter, in the attire of an empress.

which the place was overgrown. 9. During this interval, the senate, finding the Præto'rian guards had taken part with Galba, declared him emperor, and condemned Nero to die, more majorum; that is, according to the rigour of the ancient laws. 10. When he was told of the resolution of the senate, he asked what was meant by being punished according to the rigour of the ancient laws? To this it was answered, that the criminal was to be stripped naked, his head was to be fixed in a pillory, and in that posture he was to be scourged to death. 11. Nero was so terrified at this, that he seized two poniards, which he had brought with him: after examining their points, he returned them, however, to their sheaths, pretending that the fatal moment was not yet arrived. 12. He then desired Sporus to begin the lamentations which were used at funerals; he next entreated that one of his attendants would die, to give him courage by his example; and afterwards began to reproach his own cowardice, crying out, Does this become Nero? Is this trifling welltimed? No!-let me be courageous!" In fact, he had no time to spare for the soldiers, who had been sent in pursuit of him, were just then approaching the house. 13. Upon hearing, therefore, the sound of the horses' feet, he set a dagger to his throat, with which, by the assistance of Epaphroditus, his freedman and secretary, he gave himself a mortal wound1. 14. However, he was not yet dead, when one of the centurions entering the room, and pretending that he came to his relief, attempted to stop the blood with his cloak. But Nero, regarding him with a stern countenance, said, It is now too late! Is this your fidelity?" Upon which, with his eyes fixed and frightfully staring, he expired; exhibiting, even after death, a ghastly spectacle of innoxious tyranny. 15. He reigned thirteen years, seven months, and twenty-eight days, and died in the thirty-second year of his age.

66

[ocr errors]

16. Galba was seventy-two years old when he was U.C. declared emperor, and was then in Spain with his 820. legions. He soon found that his being raised to A.D. the throne was but an inlet to new disquietudes. 17. He seemed to have three objects in view: to curb the insolence of the soldiers; to punish those vices which had

69.

1 For this assistance Epaphrod'itus afterwards paid dear, being put to death by Domit'ian, for imbruing his hands in the blood of the Cæsars.

risen to an enormous height in the last reign; and to rcplenish the exchequer, which had been drained by the prodigality of his predecessors. 18. However, permitting himself to be governed by favourites, he at one time showed himself severe and frugal; at another, remiss ana prodigal; condemning some illustrious persons without any hearing; and pardoning others, though guilty. In consequence of this, seditions were kindled, and factions promoted.

19. Galba was sensible that, besides his age, his want of an heir rendered him less respected: he resolved, therefore, to adopt a person, whose virtues might deserve such advancement, and protect his declining age from danger; but his favourites wished to give him an heir of their own choosing; so that there arose a great contention among them upon this occasion. 20. Otho' made earnest application for himself, alleging the great services he had done the emperor, as being the first man of note who came to his assistance, when he had declared against Nero. 21. However Galba, being fully resolved to consult the public good alone, rejected his suit; and, on a day appointed, ordered Piso Lucia'nus to attend him. The character given by historians of Piso is, that he was every way worthy of the honour designed him. 22. Taking this youth by the hand, Galba adopted him to succeed in the empire, giving him the most wholesome lessons for guiding his future conduct. Piso showed that he was highly deserving this distinction; in all his deportment there appeared such modesty, firmness, and equality of mind, as bespoke him rather capable of discharging, than ambitious of obtaining, his present dignity. 23. But the army and the senate did not seem equally disinterested upon this occasion; they had been so long used to bribery and corruption, that they could now bear no emperor who was not in a capacity of satisfying their avarice. The adoption, therefore, of Piso was coldly received: for his virtues were no recommendation in a time of universal depravity.

1 Otho born at Rome,. A.D. 32, was descended from the ancient kings of Tuscany. Nero, whose companion he was in all his debaucheries, had elevated him to the highest offices of the state. After Nero's death, he endeavoured to attach himself to Galba, but that emperor having made up his mind to appoint Piso his heir, Otho excited an insurrection, murdered Galba and Piso, and ascended the throne, A.D. 69, but was opposed by Vitellius, who was supported by the army, which he thon commanded in Germany. (Crevier.)

24. Otho, who had long been a favourite of Galba, and hoped to be adopted a successor in the empire, finding himself disappointed, and stimulated by the immense load of debt, which he had contracted by his riotous way of living, resolved upon obtaining the empire by force, since he could not do it by peaceable succession. Having corrupted the fidelity of the army, he stole secretly from the emperor while he was sacrificing; and assembling the soldiers, he, in a short speech, urged the cruelties and the avarice of Galba. 25. Finding his invectives received with universal shouts by the army, he entirely threw off the mask, and avowed his intention of dethroning him. The soldiers, being ripe for sedition, immediately seconded his views, and taking Otho upon their shoulders, declared him emperor; and to strike the citizens with terror, carried him, with their swords drawn, into the camp.

26. Soon after, finding Galba in some measure deserted by his adherents, the soldiers rushed in upon him, trampling the crowds of people that then filled the forum under foot. 27. Galba, seeing them approach, seemed to recollect all his former fortitude; and bending his head forward, bid the assassins strike it off, if it were for the good of the people. 28. The command was quickly obeyed. The soldier who struck it off stuck it upon the point of a lance, and contemptuously carried it round the camp; his body remaining unburied in the streets till it was interred by one of his slaves. His short reign of seven months was as illustrious by his own virtues, as it was contaminated by the vices of his favourites, who shared in his downfal.

29. Otho, who was now elected emperor, began his reign by a signal instance of clemency, in pardoning Ma'rius Celsus, who had been highly favoured by Galba; and not content with barely forgiving, he advanced him to the highest honours, asserting, that "fidelity deserved every reward.'

[ocr errors]

30. In the mean time, the legions in Lower Germany having been purchased by the large gifts and specious promises of Vitellius' their general, were at length induced to proclaim him emperor; and regardless of the senate, they declared that they had an equal right to appoint to that high station, with the cohorts at Rome.

1 Au'lus Vitel'lius was descended from one of the most illustrious families of Rome, and brought up in the vicious court of Tiberius & Capræa.

« ПредыдущаяПродолжить »