cause of which was, that he employed his studies about useless matters: and that by spending his money upon such pleasures as concerned no one's benefit but his own, he could not exert his liberality in things that were undeniably of great consequence. Otherwise he was an excellent orator; and thoroughly acquainted with the Greek tongue; as well as with his own country or Roman language. He was able readily to give answers to compositions made by others, of considerable length, and accuracy. He was also more skilful in persuading others to very great things than any one else: and this from a natural affability of temper, which had been improved by much exercise. For as he was the † grandson of the brother of Tiberius, whose successor he was; this was a strong inducement to his acquiring of learning; because Tiberius aspired after the highest pitch of that sort of reputation: and Caius aspired duced thereto by the letters of his kinsman, and his emperor. He was also among the first rank of his own citizens. But the advantages he received from his learning did not countervail the mischief he brought upon himself in the exercise of his authority. So difficult it is for those to obtain the virtue that is necessary to a wise man, who have the absolute power to do what they please, without control. At the first he got himself such friends as were in all respects the most worthy, and was greatly beloved by them: while he imitated their zealous application to the learning, and to the glorious actions, of the best men. But when he became insolent towards them, they laid aside the kindness they had for him; and began to hate him. From which hatred arose that plot, which they raised against him, and by which he perished.

natured; and one that had arrived at the utmost pitch of wickedness. A slave to his pleasures, and a lover of calumny. Greatly affected by every terrible accident; and on that account of a very cruel disposition, where he durst shew it. He enjoyed his exorbitant power to this only purpose, to injure those who least deserved it, with unreasonable insolence: and got his wealth by murder and injustice. He labored to appear above regarding either what was divine, or agreeable to the laws: but was a slave to the commendations of the populace. And whatsoever the laws determined to be shameful, and punished, that he esteemed more honorable than what was virtuous. He was unmindful of his friends, how intimate soever; and though they were persons of the highest character. And if he were once angry at any of them, he would inflict punishment upon them, on the smallest occasions: and esteemed every man that endeavored to lead a virtuous life his enemy: and in what-after the like glory for eloquence; being insoever he commanded he would not admit of any contradiction. Whence it was that he had criminal conversation with his own sister. From which occasion chiefly it was also that a bitter hatred first sprang up against him among the citizens: that sort of incest not having been known of a long time and so this provoked men to distrust him, and to hate him that was guilty of it. And for any great or royal work that he ever did, which might be for the present and for future ages, nobody can name any such; but only the haven that he made about Rhegium and Sicily, for the reception of the ships that brought corn from Egypt. This was indeed a work very great in itself, and of great advantage to the navigation yet was it not brought to perfection by him but the one half of it was left imperfect: by reason of his want of application to it. The

days; with whom agrees Clement of Alexandria, Strom. I. pag. 339. I agree with these, and suppose that Josephus agreed with them also: for although his present copies give him here two months less, yet does he elsewhere esteem his reign three years and ten months, and supposes him slain Jan. 24. chap. I. as before.

+ Spanheim here notes from Suetonius, that the name of Caius's sister, with whom he was guilty of incest, was Drusilla; and that Suetonius adds, he was guilty of the

same crime with all his other sisters. He notes farther, that Suetonius omits the mention of the haven for ships, which our author esteems the only public work, for the good of the present and future ages, which Caius teft behind him; though in an imperfect condition.

+ This Caius was the son of that excellent person, Germanicus, who was the son of Drusus, the brother of Tiberius, the emperor.

CHAP.

CHAP. III.

OF THE SEIZURE OF CLAUDIUS BY THE SOLDIERY, AND THE
AMBASSAGE SENT TO HIM BY THE SENATE.

NOW

by himself. But when Gratus; who was one of the soldiers that belonged to the palace, saw him, but did not well know by his countenance who he was, because it was dark; though he could well judge that it was a man who was privately there on some design; he TOW Claudius, as I have already said, came nearer to him: and when Claudius dewent out of that way along which Caius sired that he would retire, he discovered who was gone. And as the family were in a great he was. So he said to his followers, "This is disorder, upon the sad accident of the murder at Germanicus; come on, let us choose him of Caius, he was in great distress how to save for our emperor." But when Claudius saw himself. And was found to have hidden him- they were making preparations for taking him self in a certain narrow place: though he away by force, and was afraid they would kill had no other occasion for suspicion of danger, || him, as they had killed Caius, he besought besides the dignity of his birth. For, while he them to spare him; putting them in mind how was a † private man, he behaved himself with quietly he had demeaned himself, and that he moderation; and was contented with his pre- was unacquainted with what had been done. sent fortune: applying himself to learning, Hereupon Gratus smiled upon him, and took and especially to that of the Greeks: and him by the right hand, and said, "Leave off, keeping himself entirely clear from every thing Sir, these low thoughts of saving yourself, that might bring on any disturbance. But as while you ought to have greater thoughts, at this time the multitude were under a con- even of obtaining the empire, which the gods, sternation, and the whole palace was full of out of their concern for the habitable world, the soldiers' madness, and the very emperor's by taking Caius out of the way, commit to guard seemed under the like fear and disorder your virtuous conduct. Accept, therefore, the with private persons, the band called Pretorian, throne of your ancestors." So they took him which was the purest part of the army, was up, and carried him, because he was not able in consultation what was to be done at this to go on foot: such was his dread, and his joy juncture. Now all those that were at this con- at what was told him. sultation had little regard to the punishment Caius had suffered, because he justly deserved such fortune: but they were rather consider ing their own circumstances, how they might take the best care of themselves. Especially while the Germans were busy in punishing the murderers of Caius: which yet was rather done to gratify their own savage temper, than for the good of the public. All these things disturbed Claudius, who was afraid of his own safety and this particularly, because he saw the heads of Asprenas and his partners carried about. His station had been on a certain elevated place, whither he had retired in the dark

* This first place Claudius came to was inhabited, and called Hermeum: as Spanheim here informs us, from Suetonius, in Claud. Chap. X.

Private and public life require very different endowments of mind. Some are amiable in the shade of retirement, who, in the open walks of life, cannot conciliate or obtain esteem. It is but seldom that men are so well acquainted with themselves, or disposed to judge impartially concerning their own qualifications, as to choose.

Now there was already assembled about Gratus a great number of the guards. And when they saw Claudius carried off, they looked with a sad countenance, as supposing that he was carried to execution, for the mischiefs that had been lately done; while yet they thought him a man who never meddled with public affairs, and one that had met with no contemptible dangers under the reign of Caius. And some of them thought it reasonable that the consuls should take cognizance of these matters. And as still more and more of the soldiery got together, the crowd about him ran away, and Claudius could hardly go that station, in which they may appear to the most advantage. B.

How Claudius, another son of Drusus, which Drusus was the father of Germanicus, could be here himself called Germanicus, Suetonius informs us, when he assures us, that, by a decree of the senate, the surname of Germanicus was bestowed on Drusus and his posterity. In Claud. Chap. I.

on, his body was then so weak. And those who carried his sedan, upon an inquiry that was made about his being carried off, ran away, and saved themselves, as despairing of their lord's preservation. But when they were come into the large court of the palace, (which, according to report, was inhabited first of all the parts of the city of Rome,) and had just reached the public treasury, many more soldiers came about him, as glad to see Claudius's face; and thought it exceeding right to make him emperor, on account of their kindness to Germanicus, who was his brother, and had left behind him a vast reputation among all that were acquainted with him. They reflected also on the covetous temper of the leading men of the senate, and what great errors they had been guilty of, when they had the government formerly. They also considered the impossibility of such an undertaking; as also what dangers they should be in if the government should come to a single person, and that such an one should possess it as they had no hand in advancing; and not to Claudius, who would take it as their grant, and as gained by their good will to him, and would remember the favors they had done him, and would make them a sufficient recompense for the

།

that the emperors were capable of curbing their covetous temper, and were a refuge from them, were very glad that Claudius had been seized upon, and brought to them; and thought, that if he were made emperor, he would prevent a civil war; such as there was in the days of Pompey. But when the senate knew that Claudius was brought into the camp by the soldiers, they sent to him those of their body which had the best character for their virtues, that they might inform him, that he ought to do nothing by violence, in order to gain the government: that he, who was a single person, one either already, or hereafter to be a member of their body, ought to yield to the senate, which consisted of so great a number that he ought to let the law take place, in the disposal of all that related to the public order; and to remember how greatly the former tyrants had afflicted their city; and what dangers both he and they had escaped under Caius and that he ought not to hate the heavy burden of tyranny, when the injury is done by others; while he did himself wilfully treat his country after a mad and insolent manner. That if he would comply with them, and demonstrate his firm resolution to live quietly and virtuously, he would have the greatest honors decreed to him that a free people could bestow and by subjecting himThese were the discourses the soldiers had self to the law, would obtain this branch of one with another by themselves; and they commendation, that he acted like a communicated them to all such as came in to virtue, both as a ruler and a subject. But Now, those that inquired about this that if he would act foolishly, and learn no matter willingly embraced the invitation to wisdom by Caius's death, they would not perjoin with the rest. So they carried Claudius mit him to go on that a great part of the into the camp; crowding about him, as his army was got together for them, with plenty guard, and encompassing him about: one of weapons, and a great number of slaves, chairman still succeeding another, that their which they could make use of that good vehement endeavors might not be hindered. hope was a great matter in such cases, as But as to the populace, and the senators, they was also good fortune and that the gods disagreed in their opinions. The latter were would never assist any others but those that very desirous to recover their former dignity; undertook to act with virtue and goodness; and were zealous to get clear of the slavery who could be no other than such as were that had been brought on them by the injuri-willing to fight for the liberty of their ous treatment of the tyrants, which the present opportunity afforded them. But the people, who were envious against them, and knew

same.

them.

*The names of these two ambassadors, sent to Claudius, by the senate, are wanting both in Suetonius and

country.

Now, these ambassadors, * Veranius ‍and Brocchus, who were both of them tribunes of

Dio, though this ambassage be mentioned by them both,
Sueton. C. X. Dio, L. LX. pag. 665. These names Jo-

the

for him, he anointed his head with ointment, as if he had lately accompanied with his wife, and had dismissed her, and then came to them. He also asked of the senators, what Claudius

the people, made this speech to Claudius: and falling down upon their knees, they begged of him, that he would by no means throw the city into wars and misfortunes. But when they saw what a multitude of soldiers encom-did? who told him the present state of affairs: passed and guarded Claudius, and that the forces that were with the consuls were in comparison of them perfectly inconsiderable, they added, that if he did desire the government, he should accept of it, as given by the senate: that he would prosper better, and be happier, if he came to it, not by injustice, but by the good will of those that would bestow it upon him.

CHAP. IV.

CLAUDIUS SUCCEEDS TO THE IMPERIAL DIGNITY, AND COM-
MANDS THE MURDERERS OF CAIUS TO BE SLAIX,

LAUDIUS was sensible after what an
Cinsolent manner the senate had sent to

him; yet did he, according to their advice, behave himself for the present with modera

tion. But not so far that he could not recover himself out of his fright. So he was encouraged to claim the government, partly by the boldness of the soldiers, and partly by the persuasion of king Agrippa; who exhorted him not to let such a dominion slip out of his hands, when it came thus to him of its own accord. Now this Agrippa, with relation to Caius, did what became one that had been so much honored by him. For he embraced Caius's body after he was dead, and laid it upon a bed, and covered it as well as he could; and went out to the guards, and told

and then asked his opinion about the settlement of the public. He told them that he was ready to lose his life for the honor of the senate: but desired them to consider what was for their advantage, without any regard to what was the most agreeable to them. For that those who grasp at government will stand in need of weapons and soldiers to guard them unless they will set up without any preparation for it, and so fall into danger. And when the senate replied, that they would bring in weapons in abundance, and money; and that, as to an army, a part of it was already collected together for them; and they their liberty; Agrippa made answer, "O would raise a larger one by giving the slaves tenators. May you be able to accomplish your designs. Yet will I immediately tell you my thoughts, because they tend to your preservation. Take notice, then, that the army which will fight for Claudius has been long exercised in warlike affairs: but our army will be no better than a rude multitude of raw men: and those such as have been unexpectedly made free from slavery, and those that are skilful in war, with men who ungovernable. We must then fight against know not so much as how to draw their swords. So that my opinion is, that we should send some persons to Claudius, to persuade him to lay down the government: and I am ready to be one of your ambas

sadors."

them that Caius was still alive: but he said that they should call for his physicians, since he Upon this speech of Agrippa's the senate was very ill of his wounds. But when he had complied with him. And he was sent among learned that Claudius was carried away vio- others: and privately informed Claudius of lently by the soldiers, he rushed through the the disorder the senate was in ; and gave him crowd to him: and when he found that he was instructions to answer them in a somewhat in disorder, and ready to resign up the go- commanding strain, and as one invested with vernment to the senate, he encouraged him, dignity and authority. Accordingly Claudius and desired him to keep the government. said to the ambassadors, that he did not wonBut when he had said this to Claudius, he re-der the senate had no mind to have an empetired home. And upon the senate's sending ror over them, because they had been harassed

sephus might easily have from Agrippa, and his great friend.