Book Description

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1850 edition. Excerpt: ...himself as governor of Syria, was envied by the emperor for his achievements, and dreaded for his power. He _..... Dion. lix. was ordered, therefore, to return from his province, Tac. Ann. vi. and would have been put to death, if he had not suet. viteii. 2. softened Caius by the most base and impious adulation. Having approached him in an humble dress, he fell at his feet, shed tears, saluted and reverenced him as a god, and vowed, that if his life was saved, he would offer him sacrifices. For this impious adoration, which he was the first of the Romans to practise, he was not only rewarded with his life, but was admitted to the favour and friendship of Caius. On another occasion, when the emperor, who pretended to have an amour with the moon, asked him if he had seen him in the company of that goddess, Vitellius, casting down his eyes, and pretending great awe, replied, " You gods cannot be lawfully seen except by one another." By such conduct, he gained the character of being the most bold and consummate of all flatterers, and disgraced the virtues of his youth by the infamy of his old age. The emperor resolved to deprive the consuls of Dion. Hx. their office, because they had forgotten to command the observance of his birth-day on the 31st of August, and because they had kept the anniversary of the battle of Actium, in compliance with the established custom. Being the descendant of Mark Antony as well as of Augustus, he was determined to ensnare them in an inextricable dilemma; for, as he intimated to his friends, they were sure to commit an offence, whether they sacrificed on account of Antony's defeat, or forbore to do so on account of his rival's victory. He, therefore, stripped them of their authority on the same day, VOL. I. R...