he was fond of poetry, and his verses shewed that BOOK he had, at least, a tincture of letters. IV. Having played the part of a public mourner, Nero made his appearance in the senate. He began with a florid compliment to the authority of the fathers, and the concurrent suffrages of the army, which raised him to the imperial dignity. He added, "that he had many bright examples to excite emu"lation, and in his councils superior wisdom to "direct his conduct. His youth had not been engaged in civil commotions, and to the rage of contending factions he was, by consequence, an "utter stranger. He brought with him no private "animosity, no sense of injuries, no motives to in'spire revenge. He explained the system of go"vernment, which he intended to pursue; the "abuses which occasioned discontent and mur. murings in the former reign, were to be reformed 'altogether; and, in particular, the decision of causes, he was determined, should no longer de "pend on the authority of the prince. The practice "of hearing in a chamber of the palace (a) the ac"cuser and the accused, and thereby subjecting "the lives and fortunes of men to the influence of a "few favourites, was to be abolished. In his palace "nothing should be venal; nothing carried by intrigue, by bribery, or secret influence. The reve 66 nues of the prince, and the public treasure, should "be distinct and separate rights. The senate might "retain the full exercise of the powers vested in that "assembly by the spirit of the constitution. Italy XIII. 54. BOOK "and the provinces might, in all cases, address XIII. A. U. C. 807. A. D. 54. themselves to the tribunal of the consuls, and, through that channel find their way to the senate. "The executive power over the army was his pe"culiar province, and he claimed no more (b).” V. The promise was fair, and for some time regularly observed. The fathers of their own authority made several regulations, and among other things ordained, that no advocate should hire out his talents in any cause whatever. The law requiring (a) a spectacle of gladiators from such as were chosen to the office of quæstor, was entirely abrogated. To these resolutions, tending, in effect, to repeal the acts of Claudius, Agrippina made a strong opposition. In order to carry her point, she caused the senate to be convened in the palace, where, at a convenient station at the door behind the arras, she might conceal her person, and overhear the debate. The fathers acted with a spirit of independence, and a decree was passed accordingly. On a subsequent occasion the ambassadors of Armenia were admitted to an audience before the prince. Agrippina advanced to the tribunal to take her seat, and preside with joint authority. All who beheld the scene were struck with terror and amazement, when Seneca, in the general confusion, had the presence of mind to bid the emperor step forward to meet his mother. Under an appearance of filial piety, the honour of the state was saved. VI. Towards the end of the year, a report prevailed that the Parthians had once more invaded XIII. A. U. C. 807. A. D. 54. Armenia, and that Rhadamistus, tired of a kingdom BOOK so often taken and retaken, declined to end the dispute by force of arms. At Rome, where public affairs were discussed with freedom, the popular opinion was, "that Nero, young in life, just out of "his seventeenth year, would not be equal to a con"juncture so arduous and important. What depend"ence could be had on the flexibility of a boy, still "under the government of his mother? He had "tutors, indeed; but would they undertake the "command of armies, the conduct of sieges, and "all the various operations of war?" It was argued on the other hand, "that the situation of affairs "was better than it could have been under a prince "like Claudius, worn out with age, and sunk in "sloth, the willing dupe of his favourite freed66 men. Burrhus and Seneca were men of experi"ence: and, with such advisers, why conclude that "Nero, bordering on the season of manly vigour, "was unequal to the task? Pompey, at the age of eighteen, and Octavianus Cæsar, having barely passed his nineteenth year, were both at the head "of armies, in times big with danger, amidst the "distractions of a civil war. It is by the wisdom of "their councils, and not by personal valour, that "princes are crowned with glory. Whether the "cabinet of Nero was filled with evil counsellors, "or with men of talents and integrity, would soon "be evident. If the emperor, without regarding 66 party connections and court intrigue, chose a ge (6 neral, not on account of his wealth and interest, "but for his military character, the question would "be then fairly decided." BOOK 807. A. D. 54. VII. While these different opinions kept the A. U. C. public mind in agitation, Nero ordered levies to be made in the eastern nations, and the legions, thus recruited, to take post on the confines of Armenia. He desired, at the same time, that Agrippa, (a) and Antiochus, two oriental kings, should hold their forces in readiness to enter the territory of the Parthians. For the convenience of his armies, bridges were thrown over the Euphrates. The lesser Armenia (6) was committed to Aristobulus, and the country called Sophenes (c) to Sohemus: both princes were allowed to assume the ensigns of royalty. In this crisis a fortunate circumstance gave a sudden turn in favour of Rome. Vardanes, the son of Vologeses, became a competitor for the crown in opposition to his father. The Parthians were, by consequence, obliged to recal their armies, and under colour of deferring, not of abandoning the war, Armenia was evacuated. VIII. The fathers extolled these transactions with their usual strain of flattery. They voted that prayers and public thanksgivings should be offered to the gods, and that during the solemnity Nero, adorned with a triumphal robe, should enter the city with all the splendour of an ovation. It was farther resolved, that in the temple of Mars the Avenger a statue should be erected to the prince, in form and dimension equal to that of the god. Amidst this servile adulation, the appointment of Domitius Corbulo to the command of the army in Armenia, gave universal satisfaction. The road to preferment, men began to hope, would, from that time, be open to talents and superior merit. By the arrangement which was settled in the east, part of the auxiliaries, with two legions, were stationed in Syria, under the command of Ummidius Quadratus, the governor of that province. An equal number of legionary soldiers and allies, besides the cohorts and light troops that wintered in Cappadocia, were assigned to Corbulo. The kings in alliance with Rome had directions to co-operate with those generals, as the events of war should happen to require. Corbulo was high in favour with the princes of the east. Aware that fame, in the beginning of all military operations, makes a deep impression, that general advanced by rapid journeys, and at Ægea (a), a city of Cilicia, met Quadratus, who chose an interview at that place, rather than wait till Corbulo shewed himself at the head of his army in the province of Syria, where he had reason to fear that the eyes of the people would be fixed on his rival in command. The fact was, Corbulo possessed many advantages: in his person manly, of a remarkable stature, and in his discourse magnificent, he united with experience and consummate wisdom those exterior accomplishments, which, though in themselves of no real value, give an air of elegance even to trifles. IX. The two commanders sent a joint message to Vologeses, warning him to prefer the sweets of peace to the calamities of war, and, by sending hostages, to mark his respect for the Roman name. The Parthian monarch, intending to wait for a more fa |