5. The people, long accustomed to tyranny, regarded Nerva's gentle reign with rapture, and even gave to his imbecility (for his humanity was carried too far for justice) the name of benevolence. 6. Upon coming to the throne, he solemnly swore, that no senator of Rome should be put to death by his command during his reign, though guilty of the most heinous crimes. 7. This oath he so religiously observed, that when two senators had conspired his death, he used no kind of severity against them; but, sending for them, to let them see he was not ignorant of their designs, he carried them with him to the public theatre; there, presenting each a dagger, he desired them to strike, assuring them that he should make no resistance. 8. He had so little regard for money, that when one of his subjects found a large treasure, and wrote to the emperor for instructions how to dispose of it, he received for answer, that he might use it; the finder, however, replying, that it was a fortune too large for a private person to use, Nerva, admiring his honesty, wrote him word that then he might abuse it 1.

9. A sovereign of such generosity and mildness was not, however, without his enemies. Vigil'ius Rufus, who had opposed his accession, was not only pardoned, but made his colleague in the consulship. Calpurnius Cras'sus also, with some others, formed a conspiracy to destroy him; but Nerva was satisfied with banishing those who were culpable, though the senate were for inflicting more rigorous punishments. 10. But the most dangerous insurrection was that of the prætorian bands, who, headed by Caspa'rius Olia'nus, insisted upon revenging the late emperor's death, whose memory was still dear to them, from his frequent liberalities. 11. Nerva, whose kindness to good men rendered him more obnoxious to the vicious, did all in his power to stop the progress of this insurrection; he presented himself to the mutinous soldiers, and laying bare his bosom, desired them to strike there rather than be guilty of so much injustice. 12. The soldiers, however, paid no regard to his remonstrances; but seizing upon Petronius and Parthe'nius, slew them in the most ignominious manner. Not content with this, they even compelled the emperor to approve of their sedition, and to

1 Nerva, the most remarkable man in Rome for his virtues, recalled all the Christians who had been banished or had emigrated, under tho persecution of Domi'tian.

make a speech to the people, in which he thanked the cohorts for their fidelity.

1

13. So disagreeable a constraint upon the emperor's inclinations was in the end attended with the most happy effects, as it caused the adoption of Trajan to succeed him; for, perceiving that in the present turbulent disposition of the times, he stood in need of an assistant in the empire, setting aside all his own relations, he fixed upon Ul'pius Trajan, an utter stranger to his family, who was then governor in Upper Germany, as his successor. About three months after this, having put himself into a violent passion with one Reg'ulus, a senator, he was seized with a fever of which he died, after a reign of one year, four months, and nine days.

14.

15. He was the first foreigner that ever reigned in Rome, and justly reputed a prince of great generosity and moderation. He is also celebrated for his wisdom, though with less reason; the greatest instance given of it during his reign being the choice of his successor.

16. On hearing of the death of Nerva, Tra'jan2 U.C. prepared to come to Rome from Germany, where 851. he was governor. He received upon his arrival a A.D. letter from Plutarch 3, the philosopher, who had the 98. honour of being his master, to the following purport :Since your merits, and not your importunities, have advanced you to the empire, permit me to congratulate you on your virtues, and my own good fortune. If your future government proves answerable to your former

1 It was customary among the Romans, for a person destitute of a son to adopt one from another family, and the son thus adopted became immediately invested with the same rights and privileges as if he had been born to that station; but he had no longer any claim on the family to which he originally belonged.

2 Tra'jan was a Spaniard by birth, and of an ancient but not very illustrious family. He possessed, in an eminent degree, all those qualities which form a great and excellent prince. His skill in military affairs was equal to that of the greatest generals of antiquity; and he had rendered himself, by warlike exercises, capable of enduring all the fatigues incident to the most rigorous campaign.

3 Plutarch, a celebrated historian, was a native of Cheronea, a city of Boo'tia, in Greece, where he died, A.D. 140. The most celebrated of his works are, his Lives of Illustrious Men, and his Morals; (both these works have been translated into English; the former by Dryden and Langhorne ;) in delineating which, Plu'tarch has shown great impartiality, an abhorrence of tyranny and vice, and an accurate acquaintance with the human mind. (Vossius de Hist. Græc.)

worth, I shall be happy; but if you become worse for power, yours will be the danger, and mine thɔminy of your conduct. The errors of the pupil will be charged upon his instructor. Sen'eca1 is reproached for the enormities of Nero; and Soc'rates' and Quintilian 3 have not escaped censure for the misconduct of their respective scholars. But you have it in your power to make me the most honoured of men by continuing what you are. Retain the command of your passions; and make virtue the rule of all your actions. If you follow these instructions, then will I glory in having presumed to give them; if you neglect what I advise, then will this letter be my testimony, that you have not erred through the counsel and authority of Plu'tarch." I insert this letter, because it is a striking picture of this great philosopher's manner of addressing the best of princes.

17. This good monarch's application to business, his moderation towards his enemies, his modesty in exaltation, his liberality to the deserving, and his frugal management of the resources of the state, were the subjects of panegyric among his contemporaries, and continue to be the admiration of posterity.

18. The first war he was engaged in after his coming to the throne, was with the Da'cians, who during the reign of Domi'tian had committed numberless ravages upon the provinces of the empire. To avenge these, he raised a powerful army, and with great expedition marched into those barbarous countries, where he was vigorously opposed by Deceb'alus, the Da'cian king; who for some time withstood his boldest efforts. The Dacians were aided by the Sarmatians, whose formidable cavalry wore scale armour, as

1 Sen'eca, a famous philosopher, was born at Cor'duba, in Spain, sometimes written Cordo'va.

2 Socrates, the most celebrated philosopher of all antiquity, was a native of Athens, in Greece. He was the son of a sculptor, and followed the same profession for some years. The actions, sayings, and opinions of this great man, have been carefully and faithfully recorded by two of the most celebrated of his pupils, Xeno'phon and Pla'to.

3 Quintilian, a celebrated orator and critic, was a native of Spain, but became a public teacher at Rome. His Institutiones Oratoricæ may be justly pronounced the finest system of rhetoric ever written.

He used to say, that it was better a thousand criminals should escape than one innocent person suffer; yet he was rigorous towards himself. On presenting a sword to the captain of the guard on his appointment to that office, he made use of these memorable words :-"Employ this sword for me, but turn it against me if I deserve it."

appears from the accompanying sketch, copied from the column of Trajan, in which a skirmish between the Roman and Saran cavalry is depicted.

19. At length, however, this monarch being constrained to come to a general battle, and no longer able to protract the war, was routed with great slaughter. The Roman soldiers upon this occasion wanting linen to bind up their wounds, the emperor tore his own robes to supply them. 20. This victory compelled the enemy to sue for peace, which they obtained upon very disadvantageous terms; their king coming into the Roman camp, and acknowledging himself a vassal of the Roman empire.

21. Upon Trajan's return, after the usual triumphs and rejoicings, he was surprised with an account that the Da'cians had renewed hostilities. Deceb'alus, their king, was a second time adjudged an enemy to the Roman state, and Trajan again entered his dominions. 22. In order to be enabled to invade the enemy's territories at pleasure, he undertook a most stupendous work, which was no less than building a bridge across the Dan'ube'. 23. This amazing structure, which was built over a deep, broad,

1 The Dan'ube, usually called by the Romans Danubius, the noblest river of Europe. (Herodotus.) It was the boundary to Germany un the south. (Ptolemy.) It was called by the Greeks, Is'tros; and 7 the Germans, Do'nau,

and rapid river, consisted of more than twenty-two arches ;

the ruins which remain to this day, show modern architects how far they were surpassed by the ancients, both in the greatness and boldness of their designs. 24. Upon finishing this work, Trajan continued the war with great vigour, sharing with the meanest of his soldiers the fatigues of the campaign, and continually encouraging them to their duty by his own example. 25. By these means, notwithstanding the country was spacious and uncultivated, and the inhabitants brave and hardy, he subdued the whole, and added the kingdom of Da'cia as a province to the Roman empire. Deceb'alus made some attempts to escape; but being surrounded, he slew himself. A splendid column was raised to commemorate these triumphs, on which the whole history of Trajan's victorious career is represented in a spiral line extending over the entire shaft; it is still one of the ornaments of modern Rome, and one of the chief authorities for the military costume and habits

of the ancient Roman soldiers.

26. These successes seemed to advance the empire to a greater degree of splendour than it had hitherto acquired. Ambassadors came from the interior parts of India, to congratulate Trajan on his successes, and solicit his friendship'. On his return he entered Rome in triumph, and the rejoicings for his victories lasted a hundred and twenty days.

1 India, an extensive country of the eastern world, divided by the Ganges into two great parts; namely, India intra Gangem, and India extra Gangem. (Ptolemy.) It was anciently, and still is, a rich country. (Strabo.) Indi, the people. (Ovid.)