按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
dread。 It was from sheer lust of slaughter and greed of gain that you；
unknown as you were； you； who had never pleaded in any man's
defence； steeped your soul in noble blood； when； though you had
snatched from the very grave of your Country the spoils of a man of
consular rank； had been fed to the full with seven million
sesterces； and shone with all sacerdotal honours； you yet
overwhelmed in one common ruin innocent boys； old men of illustrious
name； and noble ladies； when you actually blamed the tardy movements
of Nero in wearying himself and his informers with the overthrow of
single families； and declared that the whole Senate might be destroyed
by one word。 Keep； Conscript Fathers； preserve a man of such ready
counsels； that every age may be furnished with its teacher； and that
our young men may imitate Regulus； just as our old men imitate
Marcellus and Crispus。 Even unsuccessful villany finds some to emulate
it： what will happen； if it flourish and be strong？ And the man；
whom we dare not offend when he holds only quaestor's rank； are we
to see him rise to the dignities of praetor and consul？ Do you suppose
that Nero will be the last of the tyrants？ Those who survived
Tiberius； those who survived Caligula； thought the same； and yet after
each there arose another ruler yet more detestable and more cruel。
We are not afraid of Vespasian； the age and moderation of the new
Emperor reassure us。 But the influence of an example outlives the
individual character。 We have lost our vigour； Conscript Fathers； we
are no longer that Senate； which； when Nero had fallen； demanded
that the informers and ministers of the tyrant should be punished
according to ancient custom。 The first day after the downfall of a
wicked Emperor is the best of opportunities。〃
Montanus was heard with such approval on the part of the Senate；
that Helvidius conceived a hope that Marcellus also might be
overthrown。 He therefore began with a panegyric on Cluvius Rufus； who；
though not less rich nor less renowned for eloquence； had never
imperilled a single life in the days of Nero。 By this comparison； as
well as by direct accusations； he pressed Eprius hard； and stirred the
indignation of the Senators。 When Marcellus perceived this； he made as
if he would leave the House； exclaiming； 〃We go； Priscus； and leave
you your Senate； act the king； though Caesar himself be present。〃
Crispus followed。 Both were enraged； but their looks were different；
Marcellus cast furious glances about him； while Crispus smiled。 They
were drawn back； however； into the Senate by the hasty interference of
friends。 The contest grew fiercer； while the well…disposed majority on
the one side； and a powerful minority on the other； fought out their
obstinate quarrel； and thus the day was spent in altercation。
At the next meeting of the Senate Caesar began by recommending
that the wrongs； the resentments； and the terrible necessities of
former times； should be forgotten； and Mucianus spoke at great
length in favour of the informers。 At the same time he admonished in
gentle terms and in a tone of entreaty those who were reviving
indictments； which they had before commenced and afterwards dropped。
The Senators； when they found themselves opposed； relinquished the
liberty which they had begun to exercise。 That it might not be thought
that the opinion of the Senate was disregarded； or that impunity was
accorded to all acts done in the days of Nero； Mucianus sent back to
their islands two men of Senatorial rank； Octavius Sagitta and
Antistius Sosianus； who had quitted their places of banishment。
Octavius had seduced one Pontia Postumia； and； on her refusing to
marry him； in the frenzy of passion had murdered her。 Sosianus by
his depravity had brought many to ruin。 Both had been condemned and
banished by a solemn decision of the Senate； and； though others were
permitted to return； were kept under the same penalty。 But this did
not mitigate the hatred felt against Mucianus。 Sosianus and Sagitta
were utterly insignificant； even if they did return； but men dreaded
the abilities of the informers； their wealth； and the power which they
exercised in many sinister ways。
A trial； conducted in the Senate according to ancient precedents；
brought into harmony for a time the feelings of its members。 Manlius
Patruitus； a Senator； laid a complaint； that he had been beaten by a
mob in the colony of Sena； and that by order of the magistrates；
that the wrong had not stopped here； but that lamentations and
wailings； in fact a representation of funeral obsequies； had been
enacted in his presence； accompanied with contemptuous and insulting
expressions levelled against the whole Senate。 The persons accused
were summoned to appear； and after the case had been investigated；
punishment was inflicted on those who were found guilty。 A
resolution of the Senate was also passed； recommending more orderly
behaviour to the people of Sena。 About the same time Antonius Flamma
was condemned under the law against extortion； at the suit of the
people of Cyrene； and was banished for cruel practices。
Amidst all this a mutiny in the army all but broke out。 The troops
who； having been disbanded by Vitellius； had flocked to support
Vespasian； asked leave to serve again in the Praetorian Guard； and the
soldiers who had been selected from the legions with the same prospect
now clamoured for their promised pay。 Even the Vitellianists could not
be got rid of without much bloodshed。 But the money required for
retaining in the service so vast a body of men was immensely large。
Mucianus entered the camp to examine more accurately the individual
claims。 The victorious army； wearing their proper decorations and
arms； he drew up with moderate intervals of space between the
divisions； then the Vitellianists； whose capitulation at Bovillae I
have already related； and the other troops of the party； who had
been collected from the capital and its neighbourhood； were brought
forth almost naked。 Mucianus ordered these men to be drawn up apart；
making the British； the German； and any other troops that there were
belonging to other armies； take up separate positions。 The very
first view of their situation paralyzed them。 They saw opposed to them
what seemed a hostile array； threatening them with javelin and
sword。 They saw themselves hemmed in； without arms； filthy and
squalid。 And when they began to be separated； some to be marched to
one spot； and some to another； a thrill of terror ran through them
all。 Among the troops from Germany the panic was particularly great；
for they believed that this separation marked them out for
slaughter。 They embraced their fellow soldiers； clung to their
necks； begged for parting kisses； and entreated that they might not