Thus did that great emperor, that conqueror so renowned, who built bridges over the Danube and the Tigris, subdued Dacia, and reduced the Parthian empire to the very brink of destruction, die, and leave his crown to a man he neither chose nor liked, and who proved no friend to his memory, as we shall see. done Tra Adrian, however, at first affected an extraordi- Honours nary regard for his predecessor's memory, and seem- jan's meed very zealous to pay him all suitable honours, mory. He celebrated his obsequies with great pomp at Selinontum, called Trajanopolis after him. His ashes were sent to Rome in an urn of gold, and carried into the city on a triumphal car, preceded by the senate, with the army following. They were deposited under the famous pillar which he erected in the square he built; and was distinguished from all others by being buried in the city, where none had been entombed before. He was ranked among the gods, and games were instituted to his honour under the name of Parthian games, which, after being regularly kept for several years, were at last disused and forgotten. 1 reign. Trajan lived near sixty-four years, of which he Duration of reigned nineteen years, six months, and fifteen his life and days, reckoning to the eleventh of August, the day that Adrian began to reign. Trajan was free from every vice immediately His virtues detrimental to society, and possessed their opposite and his virtues in a high degree, such as moderation, clemency, love of justice, plainness and simplicity of manners, and a judicious liberality, supported by a wise and prudent economy. All mankind was happy under his government, and he still enjoys the praise and admiration that were his just due. I have spoken more than once of his love of wine, so great that, Aurelius Victor tells us, he was obliged to charge his servants not to obey his orders when ever he asked for more after any great entertainment. His debauches against nature will ever be a standing reproach and infamy to him. I will venture also to reckon among his faults his insatiable love of war, his success in which elated him too much, as the reverse he met with struck too great a damp on his last days. Such is the frailty of human nature, when not assisted from above. No virtue is perfect in this world; and even those we boast of most are often tarnished with the worst of stains. BOOK ADRIAN, the 11th of August, receives at Antioch the news of Trajan's death, and is proclaimed emperor by the legions of Syria. He writes afterwards to the senate to desire a confirmation of what had been done by the troops. They give him the titles belonging to the imperial power. He goes to Selinonte to pay his last respects to the ashes of Trajan, and returns into Syria. He makes Tatian, formerly his tutor, the pretorian prefect. Troubles in different parts of the empire. Marcus Turbo, being appointed in the room of Lusius Quietus to the government of Palestine, puts the finishing hand to the peace of that country. Adrian abandons Trajan's conquests over the Parthians, and agrees that the Euphrates should, as formerly, be the boundary of the two empires. He departs to return to Rome. IMP. ADRIANUS AUGUSTUS II. Adrian passes through Illyria, and comes to Rome. He An. R. 868, of J. C. 117. An. R. 869, of J. C. 118. An. R. 870, of J. C. 119. An. R. 871, of J. C, 120. He refuses at first the title of father of his country, which nevertheless he accepts before the end of the year. Largesses of Adrian. IMP. ADRIANUS AUGUSTUS III. Adrian returns to Illyria, obtains some advantages over the Sarmate and Roxolani, who made incursions into Mœsia, and concludes a peace with them by means of a pension he agrees to pay them. He makes Martius Turbo prefect of Pannonia and of Dacia. · A conspiracy formed against him by four consular persons, whom the senate punishes with death. One of them was Lusius Quietus. Adrian wishes to have it thought he had no hand in that severe resentment. He returns to Rome. He discharges all that was owing to the imperial or public treasury. That discharge amounted to nine hundred millions of sesterces. Adrian shows all possible marks of respect for the senate. He takes from Tatian the office of pretorian prefect, and chooses Martius Turbo for his successor. Similis, the pretorian prefect, likewise retires. Septicius Clarus put in his place. Adrian gives leave to the philosopher Euphrates to put himself to death. L. CATILIUS SEVERUS II. T. AURELIUS FULVIUS. It is believed that the second of these two consuls for this year is he who is afterwards the emperor Titus Antoninus. Adrian begins his voyages, and goes into Gaul and Germany. He He preserves military discipline with steadiness, but without severity. The cities of Nice and Nicomedia, wasted by an earthquake, are re-established by Adrian's liberality. The consul Annius Verus is grandfather by the father to Marcus Aurelius. Adrian goes over to Great Britain. He builds a wall there to stop the incursions of the barbarians from the northern part of the island. Suetonius's and Septicius Clarus's disgrace. Sedition in Egypt on account of the ox Apis. Adrian returns to Gaul, and goes to pass the winter in Spain. ....ACILIUS AVIOLA. .CORELLIUS PANSA. Adrian rebuilds the temple of Augustus at Terragona. He passes from thence into Mauritania, where he appeases some commotions, which occasioned his having the honour of a public thanksgiving decreed him. During the four following years, where we shall only mark the consuls, Adrian visited Greece, Syria, and the East, all Asia Minor, and, returning through Greece, he comes to Sicily, and from thence returned to Rome. he In all the cities and provinces of the empire where passes, he leaves behind him proofs of his magnificence, by the building or repairing of public works and edifices, and he had great attention to the establishing of order and law. With regard to the |