SECTION VI.
U.C. 794.--A.D. 42.
Old as I am, And withered as you see these war-worn limbs, Trust me, they shall support the mightiest load Injustice dares impose.--_Mason"s Caractacus_.
1. As soon as the death of Calig"ula was made public it produced the greatest confusion. The conspirators, who only aimed at destroying a tyrant, without attending to the appointment of a successor, had all sought safety by retiring to private places. 2. Some soldiers happening to wander about the palace, discovered Clau"dius, Calig"ula"s uncle, lurking in a secret place where he had hid himself.
Of this person, who had hitherto been despised for his imbecility, they resolved to make an emperor: and accordingly they carried him upon their shoulders to the camp, where they proclaimed him at a time when he expected nothing but death.
3. Clau"dius was now fifty years old. The complicated diseases of his infancy had, in some measure, affected all the faculties of his mind as well as body, and he seemed, both in public and domestic life, incapable of conducting himself with propriety.[21]
4. The commencement of his reign, however, as had been the case with all the bad emperors, gave the most promising hopes. It began by an act of oblivion for all former words and actions, and by disannulling all the cruel edicts of Calig"ula. 5. He showed himself more moderate than his predecessors with regard to t.i.tles and honours. He forbade all persons, under severe penalties, to sacrifice to him, as they had done to Calig"ula. He was a.s.siduous in hearing and examining complaints; and frequently administered justice in person with great mildness. To his solicitude for the internal advantages of the state, he added that of a watchful guardianship over the provinces. He restored Jude"a to Her"od Agrip"pa,[22] which Calig"ula had taken from Her"od Antipas, his uncle, the man who had put John the Baptist to death, and who was banished by order of the present emperor.[23]
[Ill.u.s.tration: Triumph of Claudius.]
6. He even undertook to gratify the people by foreign conquest.
The Britons, who had for nearly a hundred years been left in quiet possession of their own island, began to seek the mediation of Rome, to quell their intestine commotions. 7. The princ.i.p.al man who desired to subject his native country to the Roman dominion, was one Ber"icus, who persuaded the emperor to make a descent upon the island, magnifying the advantages that would attend the conquest of it. 8. In pursuance of his advice, therefore, Plau"tius, the praetor, was ordered to go into Gaul, and make preparations for this great expedition. At first, indeed, his soldiers seemed backward to embark, declaring that they were unwilling to make war beyond the limits of the world; for so they judged Britain to be. However, they were at last persuaded to go, and the Britons were several times overthrown.
[Sidenote: A.D. 46.]
9. These successes soon after induced Claud"ius to go into Britain in person, under pretence that the natives were still seditious, and had not delivered up some Roman fugitives, who had taken shelter among them. 10. However, this exhibition seemed rather calculated for show than service: the time he continued in Britain, which was in all but sixteen days, was more taken up in receiving homage than extending his conquests. 11. Great rejoicings were made upon his return to Rome: the senate decreed him a splendid triumph; triumphal arches were erected to his honour, and annual games inst.i.tuted to commemorate his victories. 12. In the mean time the war was vigorously prosecuted by Plau"tius, and his lieutenant Vespasian, who, according to Sueto"nius, fought thirty battles, and reduced a part of the island into the form of a Roman province.
[Sidenote: A.D. 51]
13. However, this war broke out afresh under the government of Osto"rius, who succeeded Plau"tius. The Britons, either despising him for want of experience, or hoping to gain advantages over a person newly come to command, rose up in arms, and disclaimed the Roman power. 14. The Ice"ni, who inhabited Suffolk, Norfolk, Cambridge, and Huntingdonshire; the Can"gi, in Wiltshire and Somersetshire; and the Brigan"tes, in Yorkshire, &c. made a powerful resistance, though they were at length overcome; but the Silu"res, or inhabitants of South Wales, under their king Carac"tacus, were the most formidable opponents the Roman generals had ever yet encountered. 15. This brave barbarian not only made a gallant defence, but often claimed a doubtful victory. He, with great conduct, removed the seat of war into the most inaccessible parts of the country, and for nine years kept the Romans in continued alarm.
16. Upon the approach of Osto"rius, however, Carac"tacus, finding himself obliged to come to a decisive engagement, addressed his countrymen with calm resolution, telling them that this battle would either establish their liberty, or confirm their servitude; that they ought to remember the bravery of their ancestors, by whose valour they were delivered from taxes and tribute; and that this was the time to show themselves equal to their progenitors. 17. But nothing that undisciplined valour could perform availed against the conduct of the Roman legions. After an obstinate fight, the Britons were entirely routed: the wife and daughter of Carac"tacus were taken prisoners; and he himself, seeking refuge from Cartisman"dua, queen of the Brigan"tes, was treacherously delivered up to the conquerors. 18. When he was brought to Rome, nothing could exceed the curiosity of the people to behold a man who had, for so many years, braved the power of the empire. Carac"tacus testified no marks of base dejection. When he was led through the streets, and observed the splendor of every object around him--"Alas!" cried he, "how is it possible that people possessed of such magnificence at home, could think of envying Carac"tacus a humble cottage in Britain!" 19. When he was brought before the emperor, while the other prisoners sued for pity with the most abject lamentations, Carac"tacus stood before the tribunal with an intrepid air, and though he was willing to accept of pardon, was not mean enough to sue for it. "If," said he, "I had yielded immediately, and without opposing you, neither would my fortune have been remarkable, nor your glory memorable; you could not have been victorious, and I had been forgotten. If now, therefore, you spare my life, I shall continue a perpetual example of your clemency."
Clau"dius generously pardoned him, and Osto"rius was decreed a triumph.
20. In the beginning of his reign Clau"dius gave the highest hopes of a happy continuance; but he soon began to lessen his care for the public, and to commit to his favourites all the concerns of the empire. This prince, weak from his infancy, was little able, when called to govern, to act but under the direction of others. 21. One of his chief instructors was his wife Messa"lina: whose name is become a common appellation for women of abandoned character. By her was Clau"dius urged on to commit cruelties, which he considered only as wholesome severities; while her crimes became every day more notorious, and exceeded what had ever been in Rome. For her crimes and enormities, however, she, together with her accomplice Cai"us Sil"ius, suffered that death they both had so justly deserved.
22. Clau"dius afterwards married Agrippi"na, the daughter of his brother German"icus, a woman of a cruel and ambitious spirit, whose only aim being to procure the succession of Nero, her son by a former marriage, she treated Claudius with such haughtiness, that he was heard to declare, when heated with wine, that it was his fate to smart under the disorders of his wives, and to be their executioner. 23.
This expression sunk deep in her mind, and engaged all her faculties to prevent the blow; she therefore resolved not to defer a deed which she had meditated long before, which was to poison him. She for some time debated within herself in what quant.i.ty the poison should be administered, as she feared that too strong a dose would discover the treachery, while one too weak would fail of its effect. 24. At length she determined upon a poison of singular efficacy to destroy his intellects, and yet not suddenly to terminate his life; it was given among mushrooms, a dish the emperor was particularly fond of. 25.
Shortly after he had eaten, he dropped down insensible; but this caused no alarm, as it was usual with him to eat till he had stupified his facilities, and been obliged to be carried from the table to his bed. 26. His const.i.tution, however, seemed to overcome the effects of the potion; but Agrippi"na resolving to make sure of him, directed a wretch of a physician, her creature, to introduce a poisoned feather into his throat, under pretence of making him vomit, and thus to dispatch him, which had its intended effect. Thus died Clau"dius the First, the complicated diseases of whose infancy seemed to have affected and perverted all the faculties of his mind. He was succeeded by Nero, the son of Agrippi"na by her first husband. Nero had been adopted by Clau"dius.
_Questions for Examination._
1. What happened on the death of Caligula?
2. Who was appointed his successor?
3. What was the character of Claudius?
4. How did he conduct himself?
5. By what farther acts did he distinguish his accession?
6. Did he adopt any warlike measure?
7. By whom was he persuaded to interfere?
8. Who was sent into that country, and what occurred in consequence?
9. What resolution did Claudius form?
10. Did he perform any memorable exploits?
11. Was his return celebrated?
12. Was the war in Britain now at an end?
13. Did this finish the war?
14. Who were the most formidable adversaries of the Romans?
15. How did he distinguish himself?
16. By what means did he strengthen the courage of his troops?
17. Were his efforts successful?
18. What happened on his arrival in Rome?
19. What was his behaviour before the emperor?
20. Did Claudius continue to govern well?
21. Who was the chief instigator of his cruelties?
22. Who was the second wife of Claudius, and what was her conduct towards him?
23. What was the consequence of this unguarded expression?
24. On what did she at length resolve?
25. What effect did it produce?
26. Did he recover?
[Ill.u.s.tration: Rome set on fire, by order of Nero.]
SECTION VII.
U.C. 793--A.D. 55.
That so, obstructing those that quenched the fire, He might at once destroy rebellious Rome.--_Lee_.
1. Nero, though but seventeen years old, began his reign with the general approbation of mankind. He appeared just, liberal, and humane.