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mas prosecuted for treason, adultery with severat momen,
and incest with his ssister Lepida ; but escaped by a Change of the times, and died of a dropsy at Pyrgi, leaving be-hind him his son Nero, wnom he had by Agrippina,
daughter of GermaniCUS. VI. Nero was borii at Antium, ni ne monilis aster thedeath of Tiberius, upon the eighteenth of the Caleniis of January, jus h as the sun rose ; so that iis beams reachedhim, before they could weli reach the earth. Whilli many and dismal conjectures, with regard to his future fortune, were formed by different persons, frona the Circumstances of his nativity, a saying of his fallier Domitius mas regarded as an ill prelage, who tolli his friends that mere congratulating him Upon the occasion, That nothing but what was detestabie, and pernicious to the public, could e ver be produced of hi in and Agrippina. V Anoster manifest prognostic of his future uni appinesse OCCur-xed upon his lustration-day. For C. Caesar being request-ed by his sister to give the child what nanae he thought proper, looking at his uncte Claudius, who was astor-wards emperor, and adopted him, sis id he gave his ; and
With indignation, because Claudius at that time was amere laughing-stoch at court. He lost his fallier whenhe was three years old, being lest heir to a third part ostiis e state; of which he never got possession, the wholebeing seiZed by his co-heir Caius. His mollier heing so onaster banished, he lived with his auiat Lepida in a very
ster and a barber. Aster Claudius came to the empire, henot Only recovered his father's est ate, but was eiarichedwith the additional inheritance of that of his stel)-father Ci is pus Passienus. Upon his mother's reculi fruiti banista
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ment, by means of her interest with the em peror, he madesuch a figure at couri, that me assassins, it was reported, were employed by Messalina, Claudius's wife, to strangle hina, as the rival of Britannicus, whilfh he was takinga sleep abo ut mi&day. In addition to the story, it wassaid that they were frightened by a serpent, whicli crepi
casioned by finding near the bolster the Min os that species of animal, whicli, by his mother's order, he wore for sonae time υpon his right arm , in losed in a braceletos giad. This ornament, at last, si om an aversion toller memory, he la id asside, but sought for again, in vatia, in the time of his eXtremity. VII. Besore he was arrived at the age of puberty, during the celebration of the Circensi an games, he perfornmed his part in the Trojan diversion with great firmness, and the generat approbation of the spectators. In the eleventhyear of his age, he was adopted by Claudius, and placedunder the tuition of Annaeus Seneca, at that time a Senator. It is se id, that Seneca di eam i the night after, mathe was giving a lecture to Cuius Caesar. Nero in a s hortii me verisied his di eam, betraying by ali the means in his power the savage crueity of his disposition. For he attempted to persuade his fallicr that his brother Britanni-Cus Was nothing but a supposititious boy, only because thelalter had saluted hi in aster his adoption, by the nam e of
AEnobarbus as usual. VChen his avnt Lepida was brought Upon her triat, he appenred in Coui P as an eviden e against her, to gratify his mollier, who enteria ined a virulenterami y against her. Upon his solemn introduction into the Forum, hei gave a largese to the people and soldiers: for the Praetori an band , he appo in ted a solemn processionunder arnas, and marched at the head of them with a
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NERO CLAUDIUS CAESAR. 429 hield in his hand ; after which he went to return than Esto his fallier in the Senate. Besore Claudius lihewise, when Consul, he made a speech for the Bononians in Latin, and for the Rhodians and Ilienssians in Greeh. He sat forthe fit si time as a judge for the hearing of Causes, whenhe was made Praesedi of the city in the Latin holi lays :at whicli time the most celebrated pie aders employed his attention, not with eah sa ori triais, as usual in that case, but with tristis os importance, notwitiis an ling they had instructions frona Claudius himself to the contrary. Notlong after, he married Octavia, and presented the peo plemith Circensian games, and a hunting of Gild bea1is, forthe health of Claudius. VIII. He was seventeen years of age at the death of that
prince ; and as kon as that event Was made public, he went out to the soldiers iapon the guard before the palace be- twiκt the liours of siκ and seven: for an earlier time of the dav was judged improper for his enter ing upora thoimperiat dignity, ora account of the dires ut omens that appeared. Upon the stes s before the palaCe-gate, he was unanimous y saluted by the soldiers present as their emperor, and theri Carried in a Chair into the Camp ; theiace, after mal ing a stiori speech to the troops, into the Senate-hou , where he continued untii the evening : of ali theimmense honors which were heaped upon him, refulsingnone but the titie of Faller of his Count G, On account Of
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honors to the memory of his sether Domitius. He Iest the management of assairs, both public and private, to his mollier. The word which he gave the fit si day of his re igia to the Tribune u pon the guarii, was the bestos mothers, and afterwariis, he frequently appeared in the streets of Rome with her in her chair. He setiled a colony at Antium, in which he provided for the veteransoldiers belonging to the guariis; severab of the richesta mong the most honorabie Centurions heing obliged tolive in that place, where he likewise made a fine harbour
X. To give the public yet farther assurance of hisgood disposition, he declared, that he designed to go-veria according to the modet of Augustus and omitted no opportunity of smowing his generosi ty, clemency, and Complais ance. The more burdens me taXes he eitherentia ely took off, or diminissaed. The rewards appoin ed for informers by the Papian law, he reduced to afourth pari; and distributed to the peopte four hundred sesterces a man. To the nobtest of the Senators who were much reduced in their circumstances, he granted pensions, and to sonae sive hundred thous and sesterces ; and to the
Pi aetori an battalions a monthly allowance of Coria gratiS. When the warrant for the eκecution os a criminal con
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NERO CLAUDIUS CAESAR. q31 Iiosing, not only at home, but in the theatre, so much to the Joy of ali the people, that public prayers were appointestio be piat up to the Gods upon that account; and the verses which had been publicly read, were, after being mittentia gold letters, consecrateil to Jupiter Capitolinus.
XI. He presented the people with a great number os public diversions, and of various kinds ; as the Juvenaland Circensi an games, stage-plays, and a smow of gladiators. In the Juvenal, he admitted Senators and agedmatrons to per forin their paris. In the Circensi an games, he assigned the Equestrian Order sea is apari froin the restos the people, and had races performed by chariois drawneach by four cameis. In the games which he institute lfor the eternat continuance of the empire, and theres ore ordered to be called Maximi, many of the Senatorian and
E lite strian Order, of both sexes, adted their paris Adistinguished Roman knight rode down a rope UPOn an
elephant. A Roman play, lihewise, composed by Afra
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be flain, not even of the criminals employed upon that
occasion. He engaged four hundred Senators, and siκ hundred Roman knighis, amongst Whom were so me of greatestates, and amiable Characters, to en gage as gladiators. From the sanie Orders, he procured persons to enco Unter viild beasts, and for various other services in the theatre.
He presented the public with the representation os a navat figlit, Upon sea-water, Willi large fissa es Mimming init; as also with the Pyrrhic dance, performed by certain
he granted patenis for their Deedom os Rome. Duringiliis diverssion, a buli leaped Pasiphae, concealed with in awooden statue os a cow, as many of the spectators belleve l. Icarus, upon his fit st attempi, feli down close bywhere he reclined, and bes patiered hi in Q illi his bisod. Forhe very seldom presided in the games, but used to vlew them lying upon a coiich, at sit si through so me litile holes, butasterwards with the Podium' qui te opera. He was thesi st that instituted, in imitation of the Greelas, a trialos skill in the three severat exercises of music, wrestling, and horse-racing, to be performed at Rome every five years, and which he called Neronia. Upon the fit stopening of a hol-bath, and a school of exerci se, hiclitie bulli, he furni med the Senate and the Equestri an or der With oil. He appo inted as judges of the trial men os Consular ranti, chos en by tot, who sat with the Praetors.
The Podium was the part of the amphitheatre allotted tothe Senators, and the ambas adors of foretgn nations; and where also was the seat of the emperor, of the person who
exhibited the games, and of the Vestat Virgin s. Jt project
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fit this time he took his seat in the Orchestra amongst the Senators, and received the Crown intended for the bestperformer in Latin prose and verse, for whicli severat persons of the highest quality were candidates, hut linanimousty yielded to him. The crown for the bes h performer on the harp, being likewise awarded to hi in by the judges in that dispute, he adored ii, and ordered it to becari ted to Augustus's s fatile. In the gymnic exercises, which he presented in the Septa, during the preparations for sacrificing an OX, he sit aved his bearit for the fit si time; and putting it up m a bore adorned with pearis of great price, he consecrated it to Jupiter Capitolinus. He invited the Vesial Virgins to see the wres flers persorna, be-Cause, at Olympia, the pi testesses of Ceres are allowed the privilege of seeing that diversion. XIJ L Among f the spedi acies presented by him, theenti ance of Tiridates in to the city deserves to he mention ed. This person age, who was hing of Armenia, he by very large promis es invited to Rome. But being prevent-ed from 1bowing him to the peopleipon the day fixed forit by proclamation, on account of the badnesse of the wea-ther, he took the fit si opportuni ty that occurred ; postingseverat battalions under arms, abo ut the temples of the Forum ; and sitiing himself upon an iv ory seat in the Rostra, in a triumphat di esse, amidst the military standardsand banners. Upon the Ling's advancing towards him,on a stage made s beluing for ille purpose, he permitted Tiridates to throw himself at his scet, but quickly raised hi in is illi his right hand, and Lissed hi m. The em perorthen, upon the Ling's hvmble supplication, taking the
turbata froni his head, put on a Crown, whilst a person os Praetorian rank proclai med in Latin the woriis in Malchthe prince addi essed the em peror. Aster this ceremony,
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Janus, as though there now eXis ted no war throughout the Roman em Pire.
XIV. He held the Consulmip four times: the first sor
o monilis, me second and last for 61κ, and the third forfour ; the two mi ldlemost he held succesi1vely, but therest at the distance of some years stom them.
XU. In the administration of justice, hq scarcely evergave an an er to such as preferred their causes to him for triat, hefore the neXt day, and in writing. His man-ner of hearing the causes was 'not to allow the parties toplead in long harangues, but to dispalch the severat particulars in their order, in the way of debate. When hewithdre v to consuli his asses rs in any cause, he did notdebate the matter os enly vrith them; but silently and privately re ad ing over their opinions, whicli they gave
separalely in writin g, he gave sentence upon the benchaccording to his own pleas ure, as is the fame Was the opinion of the majori ty. For a long time he would not admit the sons os freedmen into the Senate; and lach ash ad been admitted hy former princes, he excluded stomati public offices in the govertament. The supernumerar Candidates, to com fori them under the dclay of thei rhopes, he piat into so me command of the lcgions. The Consul thip he common ly gave for 61κ monilis; and one of
the two Consuls dying a litile bcfore the fit si of Jauuary, he substitute i no other in his rosm ; disti hing what hadbeen sormerly done for Caninius Rebilus upon such an
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9ERO CLAUDI Us CAESAR. 43soc asion, who was Consul for one das onis. He aulowed the triumphal honors only to those of Quaestoriandignity, and to sonae of the Equestrian Order, and that
not Upon any military account. And instead of the Quaestors, whose ossice it properly was, he Commonly Ordered that the speeches, which he sent to the Senate Upon Certain Occasions, sta ould be read by the Consuls.
regulations and new orders were made in his time. Asumptuary law was enadted. Public suppers were reduced to the Sportula ; and victualling-hous es restra inedfrona selling any dressed victuais, excepi pulse and herbs, whereas before they sold ali hinds of meat. The Christians likewise were severely punished, a fori of people whomaintained a ne and mischievous superstition Hes orbid the sporis of the Quadrigarii, who had long takenthe liberty of strolling abo ut, and est ablislied for them selves a Lind of prescriptive right to cheat and commit
This charai ter of the Christian religion eYhibiis theprejudice of a Pagan author in strong colors. It is probablethat Suetonius considered ii as mischievous upon t o ZCCOUntS : one was, that it exploded the superstition of the
Gentiles; and the other, that, by declaring God to be norespeeter of persons, it tended to sacken ait the bands of civit authori ty, and subordination. But, had he taken thepains to investigate iis principies, he would have been undeceived in respeet to this apprehension,
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it anu legacy for himself. It was lihewise orda ined that
clienis mould pay their advocates a certain rea nableste, but nothing for the benches, the charge of whichwas to be allowed out of the public trealary: that causes, the cogniZance of which before belonged to the commissioners of the treasury, should be removed to the Forum, and the Eecuperatores , and that ali appeals mould be tothe Senate. XVIII. He never enteria; ned the least ambition orliope os extending and advancing the empire. On the contrary, he had thoughts of withdram ing his troops Dom Britain, and was only restrained by the sear of being thoughtto detraei froin the glory of his fallier. He only reduced the hingdom os Pontus, which had been ceded to him by Polemon, in to the forni os a province ; as also that of the Alps, hipon the death of Cottius. XIX. He twice formed a design of visi ting foreignparis, Alexandria and Achaia; but was prevented in theformer upon the very day fiXed for his departure, by somo ill omens, and the hagard of the voyage. For in going round the temples, happening to sit down in that of Vesta, When he rose up again, the lap of his coat stuck fast;