30. How did he attempt his reformation?
31. Was this effectual?
32. What farther hopes did Aurelius entertain?
33. What was the state of the empire at this period?
34. What were the means made use of to avert these calamities?
35. To whom were they imputed?
SECTION IV.
And wise Aurelius, in whose well-taught mind, With boundless power unbounded virtue join"d.
His own strict judge, and patron of mankind.--_Pope._
1. In this scene of universal tumult, desolation and distress, there was nothing left but the virtues and the wisdom of one man to restore tranquillity and happiness to the empire. 2. Aure"lius began his endeavours by marching against the Marcoman"ni and Qua"di, taking Ve"rus with him, who reluctantly left the sensual delights of Rome for the fatigues of a camp. 3. They came up with the Marcoman"ni near the city of Aquile"ia, and after a furious engagement, routed their whole army; then pursuing them across the Alps, overcame them in several contests; and, at last, entirely defeating them, returned into Italy without any considerable loss.
[Sidenote: U.C. 022 A.D. 169.]
4. As the winter was far advanced, Ve"rus was determined on going to Rome, in which journey he was seized with an apoplexy that put an end to his life, at the age of thirty-nine, having reigned in conjunction with Aure"lius nine years.
5. Aure"lius, who had hitherto sustained the fatigues of governing, not only an empire, but his colleague, began to act with greater diligence, and more vigour than ever. After thus subduing the Marcoman"ni, he returned to Rome, where he resumed his attempts to benefit mankind by a farther reformation.
6. But his good endeavours were soon interrupted by a renewal of the former wars. In one of the engagements that ensued, he is said to have been miraculously relieved when his army was perishing with thirst, by the prayers of a Christian legion[10] which had been levied in his service; for we are told, that there fell such a shower of rain, as instantly refreshed the fainting army. The soldiers were seen holding their mouths and their helmets towards heaven, to catch the water which came so wonderfully to their relief. 7. The same clouds which served for their rescue, discharged so terrible a storm of hail, accompanied with thunder, against the enemy, as astonished and confused them. By this unlooked-for aid, the Romans, recovering strength and courage, renewed the engagement with fresh vigour, and cut the enemy to pieces. 8. Such are the circ.u.mstances of an event, acknowledged by Pagan as well as Christian writers; only with this difference, that the latter ascribe the miracle to their own, the former to the prayers of their emperor. However this be, Aure"lius seemed so sensible of miraculous a.s.sistance, that he immediately relaxed the persecution against the Christians, and wrote to the senate in their favour.
9. Soon after this event, Avid"ius Cas"sius, one of the generals who had fought with such success against the Parthians, a.s.sumed the imperial purple, but was shortly after killed in an engagement. When his head was brought to Aure"lius, he expressed great sorrow, turned his eyes away, and caused it to be honourably interred, complaining that he had been robbed of an opportunity of showing mercy. On being blamed for his too great lenity to the relatives and friends of Cas"sius, he sublimely replied, "We have not lived nor served the G.o.ds so ill, as to think that they would favour Cas"sius."
10. He usually called philosophy his mother, in opposition to the court, which he considered as his step-mother. He also frequently said, "the people are happy whose kings are philosophers." He was, independent of his dignity, one of the most considerable men then existing; and, though he had been born in the meanest station, his merits as a writer (for his works remain to this day) would have insured him immortality.
11. Having thus restored prosperity to his subjects, and peace to mankind, news was brought him that the Scyth"ians, and other barbarous nations of the north, were up in arms, and invading the empire. 12. He once more, therefore, resolved to expose his aged person in the defence of his country, and made speedy preparations to oppose them.--He went to the senate, and desired to have money out of the public treasury. He then spent three days in giving the people lectures on the regulation of their lives; and, having finished, departed upon his expedition, amidst the prayers and lamentations of his subjects. Upon going to open his third campaign, he was seized at Vienna with the plague, which stopped his farther progress. Nothing, however, could abate his desire of being beneficial to mankind. 14.
His fears for the youth and unpromising disposition of Com"modus, his son and successor, seemed to give him great uneasiness. He therefore addressed his friends and the princ.i.p.al officers that were gathered round his bed, expressing his hope, that as his son was now losing his father, he would find many in them. 15. While thus speaking, he was seized with a weakness which stopped his utterance, and brought on death. He died in the fifty-ninth year of his age, having reigned nineteen years. It seemed as if the glory and prosperity of the empire died with this greatest of the Roman emperors.
_Questions for Examination_.
1. To whom did the Romans look for a restoration of the tranquillity of the empire?
2. Against whom did Aurelius march, and who accompanied him?
3. Where did they come up with the Marcomanni, and what was the result of the engagement?
4. What was the fate of Verus?
5. How did Aurelius act on his return to Rome?
6. What miraculous event was ascribed to the prayers of a Christian legion?
7. How did it operate on the enemy?
8. Did not Aurelius, in consequence, interest himself in favour of the Christians?
9. What reply did Aurelius make to these who blamed him for his lenity to the friends of Ca.s.sius?
10. What sayings are recorded of him, and what was his character?
11. What news was brought to Aurelius soon after peace had been restored?
12. In what way did he occupy himself previous to his departure to oppose the enemy?
13. At what place was he seized with the plague?
14. What seemed to give him great uneasiness?
15. How old was Aurelius when he died, and how many years had he reigned?
FOOTNOTES:
[1] Domi"tian was the last of those emperors commonly called the Twelve Caesars.
[2] Nerva, the most remarkable man in Rome for his virtues, recalled all the Christians who had been banished or had emigrated under the persecution of Domi"tian.
[3] It was customary among the Romans, for a person dest.i.tute 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.
[4] Car"thage, the celebrated capital of Africa Pro"pria, was built by the Tyr"ians, under Dido. This city, the mistress of Spain, Si"cily, and Sardin"ia, was long the rival of Rome, till it was totally destroyed by Scip"io the Second, surnamed Africa"nus, B.C. 147. In its height of prosperity, it contained upwards of 700,000 inhabitants.
[5] This must be distinguished from Adrian"ople, the second city of European Turkey, which was founded about A.M. 2782, and repaired by the emperor Adrian, A.D. 122. Hence, its name.
[6] The poet here alludes to t.i.tus, whom he has before been commending; his actions are described in Chap. XXII. Sect X.
[7] These stanzas are--
Animula, vagula, blandula, Hospes, comesque corporis Quae nonc abibis in loca, Pallidula, rigida, nudula?
Nec, ut soles, dabis jocos.
Thus imitated by Prior:
Poor little pretty fluttering thing, Must we no longer live together?
And dost thou prune thy trembling wing To take thy flight thou know"st not whither?
Thy hum"rous vein, thy pleasing folly, Lie all neglected, all forgot; And pensive, wav"ring, melancholy, Thou dread"st and hop"st thou know"st not what
[8] Antoni"nus being made a model of wisdom and virtue, he was as much respected by foreigners as by his own people?
[9] This emperor was remarkably favourable to the Christians, and wrote thus to his governors in Asia:--"If any one shall, for the future, molest the Christians, and accuse them merely on account of their religion, let the person who is arraigned be discharged, though he is found to be a Christian, and the accuser be punished according to the rigour of the law."
[10] Legion, a body of soldiers in the Roman army, consisting of 300 horse and 4000 foot. Figuratively, an army, a military force, or a great number.