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Eastern empire within the bounds of the Euphrates. For this conduct various motives have been assigned. It has been ascribed to envy of the glory of his predecessor; but Gibbon justly observes, that he could scarcely place the superiority of Trajan in a more conspicuous light, than by thus confessing himself unequal even to retain what the former had subdued. Indolence, and an aversion to war, have been brought forward as his motives, but Adrian was, in fact, an excellent soldier, equally fearless of danger or of fatigue. It is certainly more natural and reasonable to ascribe to policy and prudence, a measure which eventually was conducive to the happiness and security of the state. The Parthians, he well knew, could not, from the natural strength of their country, be long kept under the yoke. Adrian foresaw in Parthia the future cradle of numerous and destructive wars, and he preferred the peace and security of the empire to this destructive prospect.

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On his return to Rome, his conduct was such as to ingratiate him with every rank of the citizens. He remitted all the debts due to the treasury for the last sixteen years, by burning the records and obligations. He bestowed liberal presents upon those amongst the ancient families who had fallen into indigence, and appointed new funds for the maintenance and education of the children of the poor. He then undertook a progress through all the provinces of the empire, repressing abuses, and studiously relieving the people wherever he found the taxes too heavy or exorbitant. rebuilt many cities which had been destroyed or had fallen into ruin Amongst the rest he rebuilt Jerusalem, which he named Elia 'Capitolina. In these progresses through his dominions, so careful was he in avoiding every thing which might distress the provinces, that he used no equipage or show, but travelled on foot and lived with the frugality of a common soldier. This exem-. plary conduct made him beloved and respected by his subjects, as much as he was formidable to the enemies of the empire from his courage and resolution. His popularity became so great, that he stood not in need of the ensigns of power and authority. The guards, and the fasces, he deemed superfluous to him who made it his study to reign, not over the persons, but over the hearts of his subjects. Although, certainly, a few instances of severity had clouded the commencement of his reign, yet these were dictated by necessity whilst his authority was insecure. No sooner was he firmly seated on the throne, than his clemency and bounty were extended to all ranks of his subjects. To the talents of an experienced captain and a skilful politician, Adrian joined an excellent taste in the liberal arts, and a strong disposition towards the advancement of science and political literature. He was an admirer of poetry, music, and painting, and was himself a proficient in those arts. He seemed endowed with a universal genius, not only being eminent for those nobler qualities which constitute the

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higher virtues of an emperor, but for those inferior, but not less attractive, graces which accompany an accomplished and cultivated mind. Envy has certainly stained the memory of this great prince with some immoralities; but, as for the truth of these there appears no foundation, it is becoming in the historian rather to bury them in oblivion, than to transmit even the suspicion of them to posterity. On the whole, the reign of Adrian was to the Roman people a period of unusual splendor, attended with what it seldom brings along with it,-uncommon public happiness.

In the twenty-second and last year of his reign, he adopted and declared for his successor Titus Aurelius Antoninus, a man of exemplary character and exalted merit. But not satisfied with this immediate instance of regard for posterity, he declared Aurelius his successor, on condition that he should, in his turn, adopt Annius Verus, a young man every way worthy of the throne, and to whom it should descend on his decease. These two were the Antonines, who for forty years governed the Roman empire with consummate wisdom, ability, and rectitude. Soon after having made this valuable bequest to his country, Adrian fell into a lingering and mortal disease. It was under the pressure of this disease, and in full conviction of his approaching dissolution, that he wrote those beautiful and well-known lines addressed to his soul, which bear so strongly the mark of a tranquil and philosophic mind convinced of its immortality, but anxious for its unknown destination.

Animula vagula, blandula,
Hospes, comesque corporis,
Quæ nunc abibis in loça;
Pallidula, frigida, nudula-
Nec ut soles dabis joca? *

We have now arrived at the age of the Antonines, the shor remaining period of the union and prosperity of the Roman Empire.

*Pope's translation of these lines is in everybody's hands.

CHAPTER II.

Age of the Antonines-Commedus-Pertinax-The Prætorian Guards sell the Empire by auction--Four Emperors proclaimed-Severus marches to Rome and disbands the Prætorian Guards-War in Britain-Severus dies at York -Caracalla-Disorders in the Empire continue till the Reign of Diocletian-Constantine-His zeal for Christianity.

THE reign of Antoninus Pius offers but few remarkable events to the pen of the historian, as, indeed, generally do such reigns as are the most happy. His character was that of the true philosopher, and the father of his people. He was likewise an excellent politician, and his attention to the cares of the state was indefatigable. Amongst others of his wise regulations may be reckoned that law which prohibited any person, once acquitted, to be tried again for the same crime. Generous to others, and himself perfectly disinterested, he bestowed his whole private fortune in repairing the losses and alleviating the calamities of the wretched. As he was secure of his authority, which was firmly seated in the affections of his people, he had no. mean jealousy of the power of his ministers and magistrates; he raised the dignity and character of the senate, by regulating his own conduct according to its directions in the administration of all public affairs. The love and esteem of his subjects were only equalled by the respect entertained for his character by foreign nations. He was made the umpire of the differences of contending states, and received the voluntary homage of princes over whom he had no other authority than what the admiration of his wisdom and eminent virtues be stowed. This excellent prince, the idol of his subjects, died in the seventy-fourth year of his age, after a happy and prosperous reign of twenty-two years. He had, in the beginning of his reign, given his daughter Faustina, together with the title of Cæsar, to his successor, who had been pointed out by Adrian, Annius Verus, a man in every respect worthy to fill his place.

Annius was of an ancient and honorable family. On his accession to the empire, he changed this name for that of Marcus Au relius Antoninus, and he bestowed that of Verus upon Lucius Commodus, his brother by adoption. The Stoical philosophy was, at this time, in Rome, the most prevalent of all the sects It gained credit with men of worth and probity from its opposition to the licentious manners of the times. Marcus Aurelius was by

nature attached to this philosophy, still more than by education. His morals were pure, his manners simple, and his virtues the result of his natural disposition. His Meditations, which are still extant, and which were composed amidst the tumult of a military life, abound with the most exalted and beautiful sentiments of piety and morality.

Antoninus had preferred M. Aurelius to Lucius Verus, with whose vicious disposition he was well acquainted. Yet the generosity of Marcus made him hasten to admit this unworthy brother to a share in the empire-an action which can admit of no justification. Rome had now, in fact, two emperors; and those who loved their country prayed as earnestly for the life of Marcus Aurelius as they did that Verus might not survive him. The Parthians, judging the death of Antoninus Pius a favorable opportunity to attack the empire, entered Armenia, and there cut to pieces the Roman army. They proceeded thence to ravage Syria, and an inroad was made at the same time by the Catti into Germany. Marcus Aurelius sent L. Verus against the Parthians, but that debauched and abandoned youth trusted to his generals the whole conduct of the expedition, whilst he himself spent his time between Antioch and Laodicea in the lowest excesses. His gener

als, however, were victorious, and he, proud of the laurels he had not won, returned at the head of his troops into Italy, where he carried with him a most dreadful pestilence which almost depopulated that country, and continued to rage for many years from province to province through the whole empire.

During this calamity many of the German nations took up arms the Vandals, Dacians, Quadi, Suevi, and Alemanni. They laid waste Pannonia, and thence penetrated into Greece, where they ravaged even the Peloponnesus. In this concurrence of misfortunes, the public finances were exhausted to afford the requisite succors; and Aurelius, instead of the usual resource of increasing the taxes, adopted the generous expedient of divesting himself of his whole fortune to supply the deficiency, and sold for the public benefit even the furniture of his palaces. It was neces sary to take immediate measures for reducing the rebellion in Germany. The emperor, who had now experienced the disposition of L. Verus, could neither venture to trust him with the com mand of the army, nor with the equally important task of governing Rome in his absence. He therefore, in concert with the senate, obtained from them a decree, that both the Augusti should march against the revolted nations. They accordingly set out together for Aquileia, but Marcus Aurelius was in a few months happily deprived of his colleague, and the empire of its fears, by the death of Verus. Of this German war historians have furnished us with no detail; Marcus Aurelius, we know, finished it in a few campaigns, and had granted the rebellious nations favorable terms of peace, when he was recalled to Italy by the revolt

of Avidius Cassius, who, upon a false report of his death, haq caused himself to be proclaimed emperor. This insurrection, however, was speedily terminated by the death of Cassius, who was murdered by one of his own officers.

Aurelius now undertook a progress into Asia, where some disorders had made his presence necessary. Here he received the homage of all the eastern nations. He appeared, says an ancient author of that time, like a benevolent deity, diffusing around him universal peace and happiness; he was absent from Rome seven years, and his return was celebrated by the sincerest joy of his people.

His last military expedition was against the Marcomanni, and others of the German nations, who had again taken up arms. He had proceeded far to the reduction of these obstinate rebels, whom he must soon have brought under subjection, when, to the unspeakable grief and loss of the empire, he died in Pannonia, in the fifty-ninth year of his age, and the nineteenth of his reign. His memory was long revered by posterity, and above a century after his death many persons preserved the image of Marcus Aurelius among their household gods. From the death of Domitian, which happened in the 96th year of the Christian era, to that of Marcus Aurelius Antoninus, which took place in the 180th, a period of eighty-four years, the Roman empire had enjoyed the greatest prosperity and happiness. It was governed by absolute power, but this power was under the direction of wisdom and virtue. "The armies," says Gibbon, "were restrained by the firm, yet gentle hand of five successive emperors, whose characters and authority commanded involuntary respect. The forms of the civil administration were carefully preserved by Trajan, Adrian, and the Antonines, who delighted in the image of liberty, and were pleased with considering themselves as the accountable ministers of the laws. Such princes deserved the honor of restoring the republic, naɑ the Romans of their days been capable of enjoying a rational freedom.

Commodus was born soon after the elevation of his father Marcus Aurelius to the throne. He inherited none of the virtues of Aurelius, out resented much his mother Faustina, a princess second only to Messalina in every species of vice. It was almost the on 7 weakness of M. Aurelius, that he was blind to the infamous character of his wife and son. He even conferred honors and titles on those whom all but himself knew to be the acknowedged gallants of Faustina; and by a blamable innovation, he had caused his son Commodus to be declared Augustus in his own lifetime. Commodus was in his twentieth year, when, by the death of his father, he succeeded to the throne. His first step was to purchase a disgraceful peace with the barbarians in Germany-impatient to get rid, without the fatigue of fighting, of the trouble of a war From his infancy he had discovered an

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