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NERO CLAUDIUS CAESAR. 477 vince the enemy, that they would acquiesce in no other term s than a total evacuation of the istand. This massa-Cre, however, Was revenged by Suetonius in a decisive engagement, where eighty thousand of the Britons are id to have been hilled ; after whicli, Boadicea, to avoid falling into the hands of the insolent ConqUerorS, PUt a
Conduin the war against a people whom he had exasperated by his severity, he was recalled, and Petronius Turpilianus appotnted in his room. The Command was asterwards given successively to Trebellius Μaximus, and Vettius Bolanus: but the plan purised by these generat swas Only to retalia, by a conciliatory administration, theparis of the is land which had atready submitted to the Ro-
During these transadtions in Britain, Nero himself was exhibiting, in Rome or sonae of the provinces, lach scenes of extra vagance as almost exceed credibili ty. In one place, entering the lisis, amon the competitors in a chariotrace; in another, contending for victory with the common musicians on the stage ; revelling in opera day in the Company of the most abando ned prostitutes and the vilest ofmen; in the night committing de predations on the peaces ulinhabitants of the capital ; polluting with detestabie lust, or drenching with human blood, the streeis, the palaCe, and the habitations os private families ; and , to Cro n his enor
in belloiding the dreadfui conflagration. In vain would history be ransacked for a parallel to this emperor, who uni ted the most istam esul vices to the most eXtravagant vanity, the most abject meannesse to the strongest hut most preposterous ambition ; and the whole of whose life was
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one continued scene of lewdnest, sensuali ty, rapine, critela ty, and folly. It is emphaticalty observed by Tacitus, that Nero, after the naui der of many illustrious personages, manifested a desii re os extirpating virtve iis ci f. Among the eXcesses of Nero 's reigra are to be mention-ed the horribie crueities exercised against the Christians, in various paris of the empire ; in Whicli inhuman transactions, the natural barbarity of the em peror was infla med by the prejudices and interest ed poticy of the Pagan pries hood. The tyrant scrupled not to charge them V th the ach of burning Rome ; and he satiated his furious dispositionto wards them by such Gutrages as are uneXampled in his ory. They were covered with the Mitis of wildbeasts, and toria by dogs; were crucifled, and set on sire, that they might serve for lighis in the night-time. Nero osse red his gardens for this spectacle, and exhibited thetam es of the Circus by this di eadfui illumination. Some- times they were covered with waX and other combustiblematerials , after whicli a s harp si ahe was put under theirchin, to make them stand Hi right, and tlaey were burnialive, to give light to the spectators. In the person os Nero, it is observed by Suetonius , therace of the Caesars beca me extinct; a race rendered illus. 1rious by the fit sh and second emperors, but whicli their successors no lesi . dis graced. The despotiis of Julius Caesar, though haughty and imperious, mas liberal and humane : that of Augustus, is we eXclude a sexu instances of vindices ive severi ty towards individua is, was mi id and conciliating ; but the reigias of Tiberius, Caligula, and Nero ibr we eXcepi Claudius from part of the censure),whil ο
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while discriminaled Dona each other by me peculiar Circumstances, exhibited the most flagrant acts of licentio unnesi and perverted authority. The most abominabie lusi , the most extravagant luXury, the most stiam ei ut rapacio umess, and the mos inhuman Cruelty, Constitute the generat characteris ics of thola Capricious and detestable tyranis. Repented eXperience now clearly refuted the opinion of Augustus, that he had introduced among f the Romans the best forna of go verninent: but viile we mahe this observatiori, it is proper to remal k, that, hadhe even restored the Republic, there is reason to belleve, that the nation would again have been seon distracted with internat divisions, and a perpetuat succesiton os civit Wars. The manners of the people were become too dis lute tobe restrained by the aut hority of elective and temporarymagistrates ; and the Romans were hastening to that fatui period when generat and great corruption, With iis at tendant debility, would render them an easy prey to any foretgn invaderS.
But the . odio us go vertament of the em perors was notthe only grievance under whicli the peo ple labored in thos dis astrous times : Patrician avarice concurred with imperiat rapaci ty to encreasse the sufferings of the nation. The Senators, even during the Commonwea th, had hec omeopenly corrupi in the dispensation os public justice ; and
under the govertament of the em perors, this pernicio usabuse was practi sed in yet greater extent. That classi he-ing now equalty mith other Roman CitiZens dependent onthe fovereigia power, their sentiments of duty and honorwere degradiu by the losse of their former digni ty : and heing likewi se deprived of the lucrative gOveruments of pro vinces, to whicli they had annua ly succee led by anel edtive rotation in the times of the E epublic, they en-2 e ravo ped
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deavored to compensate the reduction of their emoluments by an unbounded venality in the judiciat decisions of the Forum. Every s urce of nationat happinesse and prosperity was by this means destroyed. The possessionos property became precarious; industry, in ali iis branches, Was effectualty disco ut aged, and the amor patrii, whichhad formerly been the anima ting principie of the nation, was almost universalty extinguis hed. It is a circum stance corresponding to the generat si ii-gulai ity of the present reigia, that, of the se writers whofourished in it, and whose works have been transmitte lto posteri ty, two ended their days by the oriter of the em peror, and the third, frona indignation at his conduct.
These unfortunate victinis mere Seneca, Petronius Arbiter, and Lucan. Smaeca was born abo ut s1X vears besere me Christianaera, and gave early indication os uncommon talents.
His fallier, who h ad come from Corduba
larly fond of declamation, in which he in structed his son, and placed hina, for the acquisition os philosophy, under the moli Celebrated Stoics of that age. Young Seneca, imbibing the precepis of the Pythagorean doctrine, religious y ab sta ined frona cating the fclli ofanimais ; untii Tiberius having threatenuit to punish sonae Jews and Egyptians, Who abstained si Om certa in me ais, he was persuaded by his fallier to renounce the Pythagorean praelice. Seneca displayed the talents of an eloquent spea ker ; but di ea ling the jealous' of Caligula, who aspired to the sume e Xcelleiace, he thouot proper toabandon that pursuit, and apply himself to variis suingsol the honors and ossices of the state. He ac cord inglyobta ined
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NERO CLAUDIUS CAESAR. 481 obtained ille place of Quaestor ; in whicli ossico incurring the imputation os a scandalous amour with Julia Liuilla, he removed from Rome, and was bani med by the emperor Claudius into Corsica: Upon the marriage of Claudius wim Agrippina, Seneca was recalled frona his exile, in which he had rema inednear eight years, and was appo inted to superintend the education os Nero, now destineti as successor to thethrone. In the character of preceptor he appears toliave acquitted himself with abili ty and applause ; thoughhe has been charged by his enemies with haxing initiate this pupil in those detestabie vices whicli dis graced thereigia os Nero. Could he have indeed been guilty of lachim morat conduct, it is probable that he would not soeas1ly have forfelted the favor of that emperor; and it is more rea nable to suppose, that his dilapprobation ofNero's conducto was the real cause of that odium whichsoon aster proved fatal to him. By the enem ies whom. distinguis hed merit and virtve ne ver nil to eXcite at a profligate court, Seneca was accused of having maintaineda criminal correspondence with Agrippina in the lise-time of Claudius ; hut the clites author of this Calumny was Suilius, who had been banished froni Rome at the in stance of Seneca. He was likewise charged with hau ingam assed eMorbitant riches, with having bulli magnificenthous es, and formed beauti fui gardens, during sour years in which he had ad ed as preceptor to Nero. This Charge he considered as a prelude to his destruction ;which to a void, is possibie, he requested of the em perorto accepi of the riches anil possessions which he had acquired in his s1tuation at couri, and to permit hi in tomithdrais himself into a li se of studious reti rement. Nero, dissembling his secret intentions, rem sed this re-
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quest; and Seneca, that he might obviate ali cause offuspicion or ostence, hept himself at home for some time, under the preteXt of indi*osition.
Upon the breal ing out of the conspiracy of Piso, in
which so me of the principat Senators mere Concerned, Natalis, the discoverer of the plot, mentioned Seneca's name, as an accessary. There is, however, no satisfactory evideiace that Seneca had any knowledge of the plot Piso, according to the declaration of Natalis, had complained that he never saw Seneca ; and the lalter had observed, in an er, that it was not conducive to their commori interes , to see each other osten . Seneca likewisepleaded indisposition, and Did that his own life dependediapon the sasely of Piso's person. Nero, however, glad offuch an occasion os sacrificing the philosopher to his secretjealous', sent him an or ter to destroy himself. Whenthe messeriger arrived with this mandate, Seneca was sit-ting at table, th his wi se Paulina and two of his friends He heard the message not only with philosophicat firm-ness, but even With symptonas of joy, and observed, that suci, an order might long have been expected stom a man ao had assassina ted ali his frien is, and even murderedhis O n mCther. The only sequest which he made, was, that he might be permitted to disposse of his possessions as he pica sed ; but this was res sed him. Immodi-ately turning himself to his friends, who were we ingat hi. melancholy fate, he s id to them, that, since ho
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NERO CLAUDI 0S CAESAR. 48shad not learni beller to sustain the silochs of fortune, and the violence of tyranny tThe emotions of his wise he endeavored to allay withphilosophical consolation ; and when site expressed a resolution to die with him, he Did, that he was glad to findliis example imitated with so much fortitude. The vellas. of both were opened at the fame time ; but Nero's command extending only to Seneca, the lise of Paulina was preserved; anil, according to sonae authors, sine was notdispleased at heing prevented from carrying her precipitate resolution into emeet. Seneca's veins ble ing but sowly, an opportunity was offered hi in os displaying in his last moments a philosophical magnanimi ty similar to that of So- Crates ; and it appears that his conversation during this solemn period was maintained with dignified compotare. To accelerate his lingering fate, he drank a dose of poison ; but this producing no esse', he ordered his attendanis to Carry him into a warm bath, for the purpo of rendering the haemorrhage from his velias more Copi-
Ous. This expedient proving likewise ineffectual, and
the soldiers who witnessed the execution of the emperor'sorder being clamorous for iis accompli1liment, he was
removed into a stove, and suffocated by the steam. Heunderwent his late on the twelsth of April, in the si1xty- fifth year of the Christian sera, and the fifty-third year of his age. His body was burni, and his ames deposited in a Private manner, according to his will, which had been made during the period when he was in the highest de-gree of favor with Nero. Υlae writings of Seneca are numerous, and on VariOUS
subjecis. His fir st composition, addressed to Novatus, is On Anger, and continued through three books. Afier
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giving a lively description of this passion, the author dis.cusses a variety of questions Concerning it: he argues strongly against iis utilily, in contradiction to the Peripatetics, and exhoris to the restraining of it, by many justand excellent considerations. This trearise may be re-garded, in iis generat ouilines, as a philosophical amplification of the passage in Horace:
Ira furor brevis est animum rege; qui, ni pares, Imperat: hunc fraenis, hunc tu compesce caIena.
The nexi treatise is on Consolation, addresied to his mollier Helvia, and was written in his exile. He there inforins his mollier that he bears his banishment wissi fortitude, and advises her to do the same. He observes, that, in respect of himself, change of place, poVerty, ignominyand Contempt, a re not real evils ; that there may be tworeasons for her anXiety on his account; first that, by his absence, siue is deprived of his protection ; and in the nexi place, of the satisfaction arissing from his Company; onboth which heads he suggesis a variety of pertinent observations. Prefixed to this treatise, are sonae epigramswritten on the banishment of Seneca, but whether or notby himself, is uncertain. Immediately subsequent to the prece ling, is an othertreati se on Consolation, addi essed to one of Claudius'sfreedmen, named Polybius, frona his great opplication tosthidy. In this tradi, whicli is in severat paris mutilated, the author endeavors to console Polybius for the lossi os abrother who had lately died. The sentiments and admonitions are weli suggested for the pui pose; but theyare intermiκed with such fui me encomtums on the imperial domestic, as degrade the digni ty of the author, and caia be ascribed to no other motive than that of endeavoring
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NERO CLAUDIUS CAESAR. 48sing to procure a recali stom illas exile, through the interestos Polybius. A fouith treat se on Consolation is addi essed to Marcia, a respectabie and opulent lady, the daughter of Cremutius Cordus, by whose death she was deei ly ame Red. Theauthor, besides many consolatory arguments, propos es fortier imitation a number of examples, by attending towhicli me may be enabled to overco me a passion that is
is ingenious y p osecuted, not without the occasionalmiXture of sonae delicate flattery, scitable to the character of the correspondent.
These consolatory ad tres s are followed by a treati
on Providen ce, whicli evinces the author to have entemtained the in ost just and philosophical sentiments on that subjeci. He infers the necessary eXistence of a Providence frona the regulari ty and constancy observed in the gOvertament of the universe but his clites objedi isto stio , why, upon the principi e that a Providence eXisis, good men should be liable to eviis. The enquiry is con-duehed with a variety of just observations, and great forceos argument; by whicli the author vindicates the good-nesi and wis dom of the Almighty, in a stratia os sentiment Corresponding to the most approved suggestions ot natural religion. The nexi treati , whicli is ori Tranquilli ty of Minit,
appears to have been written seon after his return si omeXile. There is a confusiori in the arrangement of this
tradi ; but it contains a varie ty of just observations, arad, in poliat of utility, may be regarded as a valvabie production.
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Then sollows a discourse on the Constancy of a WiseMan. This has by some been considered as a part of tho preceding treati se ; but they are evidently dii indi . It isone of the authoi 's best productions, in regard both ossentiment and composition, and affortis a fund of moralobservations, to fortist the mind under the pressure of AC, cidental calamities. Ne nexi meet with a tradi on Clemency, in t obooks, addi essed to Nero. This appeais to have been writicia in the beginning of Nero's reigia, on whom thoauthor bestows s me high encomtums, whicli, at that time, stem not to have been destitute os foundation. The
disco urse abo unds with just observation, applicabie to allyatilis of men ; and is properly attended to by that inta tua ted emperor, might have prevented him from the perpetration of those adis of crueity, whicli, with his other eX , travagancies, have rendered his name odious to posterity. The discoui se whicli succee is is on the 8horinest of Lise, addi est ed to Paulinus, In this excellent treatise theaUthor endeavors to saow, that the complaint of thesa orinesse Os life is not founded in truth : that it is ineuwho mahe lis e stori, ei ther by passing it in indoleiace, orotherwi se improperly. He inveighs against indoleiace, JUXury, and every uia profitable avocation ; observing that
io Gallio. Seneca seems to have intended this as a vindication of himself, against those who calumniated him onaccount of his riches and manner of living. He main