was as remarkable for his virtues and accomplishments, as his partner in the empire was for his ungovernable passions and debauched morals. The one was an example of the greatest goodness and wisdom; the other of ignorance, sloth, and extravagance'.

21. The two emperors were scarcely settled on the throne, when the empire was attacked on every side, from the barbarous nations by which it was surrounded'. The Cat'ti invaded Germany and Rho'tia, ravaging all with fire and sword; but were repelled by Victori'nus. The Britons likewise revolted, but were repressed by Capur'nius. 22. But the Parthians, under their king Volog'esus, made an irruption still more dreadful than either of the former; destroying the Roman legions in Armeʼnia; then entering Syria, they drove out the Roman governor, and filled the whole country with terror and confusion. To repel this barbarous irruption, Ve'rus went in person, being accompanied by Aurelius part of the way.

23. Ve'rus, however, proceeded no further than An'tioch, and there gave an indulgence to every appetite, rioting in excesses unknown even to the voluptuous Greeks; leaving all the glory of the field to his lieutenants, who were sent to repress the enemy. 24. These, however, fought with great success; for in the four years that the war lasted, the Romans entered far into the Parthian

1 The only reproach that can be made against Aurelius is for having associated Verus in the empire, and suffered the Christians to be persecuted under his reign.

2 A little time previous to this invasion, a domestic calamity occurred of no small importance: a dreadful inundation of the Tiber overturned many private and public edifices in the city, carried away great numbers of people and cattle, and laid the neighbouring country under water to a great distance. This inundation was followed by earthquakes, conflagrations, and a general infection of the air, which produced an infinite number of insects, that destroyed what the flood had spared, and caused a grievous famine.

3 Cat'ti; these people were very extensive, and widely spread throughout Germany, occupying Hesse, the territory on the Rhine, &c. The Hercyn'ian forest began and ended in their territory. (Tacitus.)

Rhoeʼtia was situated partly in Germany, and partly in Italy. It was peopled by Rhoe'tis, B.C. 185, who left Tuscany to avoid the oppression of the Gauls, and planted a colony between the Tyrol and Helve'tia, to which he gave the name of Rhotia. (Justin, Pliny, Stephanus.)

5 Anti'och the capital of Syria: there were no less than sixteen cities of this name in Asia, which were all founded by Seleu'cus Nica'nor, the first Sy'ro-Grecian monarch, to perpetuate the name of Anti'ochus, his father.

country, and entirely subdued it; but upon their return their army was wasted to less than half its original number by pestilence and famine1. 25. This, however, was no impediment to the vanity of Ve'rus, who resolved to enjoy the honours of a triumph, so hardly earned by others. Having appointed a king over the Arme'nians, and finding the Parthians entirely subdued, he assumed the titles of Arme'nius and Parthi'cus; and on his return to Rome, he partook of a triumph with Aure'lius, which was solemnized with great pomp and splendour.

26. While Ve'rus was engaged in this expedition, Aure'lius was sedulously intent upon distributing justice and happiness to his subjects at home. He first applied himself to the regulation of public affairs, and to the correcting of such faults as he found in the laws and policy of the state. 27. In this endeavour he showed a singular respect for the senate, often permitting them to determine without appeal'; so that the commonwealth seemed in a manner once more revived under his equitable administration. 28. Besides, such was his application to business, that he often employed ten days together on the same subject, maturely considering it on all sides, and seldom departing from the senate-house till the assembly was dismissed by the consul. 29. But he was daily mortified with accounts of the enormities of his colleague; being repeatedly assured of his vanity, lewdness, and extravagance. 30. However, feigning himself ignorant of these excesses, he judged marriage to be the best method of reclaiming him; and, therefore, sent him his daughter Lucil'la, a woman of great beauty, whom Ve'rus married at Antioch. 31. But even this was found ineffectual, for Lucil'la proved of a disposition very unlike her father; and, instead of correcting her husband's extravagances, only contributed to inflame them. 32. Aureus still hoped that, upon the return of Ve'rus to Rome, his presence would keep him in awe, and that happiness would at length be restored to the state. In this also he. was disappointed. His return seemed fatal to the empire; for his army carried back the plague from Par'thia, and

1 We may be ready to consider this as a just judgment on them for their atrocious cruelties. The city of Seleucia, on the Ti'gris, opened its gates to Cas'sius, and received him in a friendly manner, yet he inhumanly ordered the whole of the inhabitants, amounting to 400,000 persons, to be slaughtered.

2 He used to say, that it was more reasonable for him to follow the advice of so many wise men, than for so many wise men to follow his.

disseminated the infection into the provinces through which it passed.

33. Nothing could exceed the miserable state of things upon the return of Ve'rus. In this horrid picture were represented an emperor, unawed by example or the calamities surrounding him, giving way to unheard-of debaucheries'; a raging pestilence spreading terror and desolation through all parts of the western world; earthquakes, famines, and inundations, almost unexampled in history; the products of the earth through all Italy devoured by locusts; the barbarous natiors around the empire taking advantage of its various calamities, and making their irruptions even into Italy itself. 34. The priests doing all they could to put a stop to the miseries of the state, by attempting to appease the gods, vowing and offering numberless sacrifices; celebrating all the sacred rites that had ever been known in Rome; and exhibiting the solemnity called lectis-ternia seven days together. 35. To crown the whole, these enthusiasts, as if the impending calamities had not been sufficient, ascribed the distresses of the state to the impieties of the Christians. A violent persecution ensued in all parts of the empire; and Justin Martyr, Polycarp'us, and a prodigious number of less note, suffered martyrdom.

Questions for Examination.

1. Did Adrian enjoy repose from this time?
2. Was this resolution agreeable to the people?
3. How did he amuse himself?

4. What new edicts did he issue?

5. Did he not ameliorate the condition of slaves?
6. Was he still equal to the fatigues of the empire?
7. Were not his sufferings great?

8. Were his wishes complied with?

9. Were these arts successful?

10. What was the consequence of this conduct? 11. Who was his successor ?

12. Did he preserve his virtue on his exaltation? 13. Was he a favourer of learning?

14. What anecdote is related of one of these?

1 Among other follies he erected a statue of gold to his horse Celer, fed him with raisins and almonds, covered him with purple, ordered him to be kept in a room in the palace, and, when he died, erected a stately monument to him in the Vatican. Religious ceremonies

2 False deities, idols.

15. What was the emperor's reply?

16. Did he experience a long and prosperous reign? 17. Whom did he appoint as his successor?

18. Was Marcus Aurelius sole emperor?

19. Who were Aurelius and Lucius Verus? 20. Were their characters similar?

21. Was their reign peaceable?

22. Was there not a more formidable invasion still? 23. Did Verus show himself worthy of the trust? 24. Were they successful?

25. Did Verus appear to feel this misfortune?

26. How was Aurelius employed in the mean time? 27. Did he do this solely by his own authority?

28. Was he hasty in his decisions?

29. Was he acquainted with the follies of his colleague? 30. How did he attempt his reformation?

31. Was this effectual?

32. What farther hopes did Aurelius entertain?

33. What was the state of the empire at this period?

34. What were the means made use of to avert these calamities? 35. To whom were they imputed?

SECTION IV,

And wise Aurelius, in whose well-taught mind,
With boundless power unbounded virtue join'd,
His own strict judge, and patron of mankind.

5. Colleague, s. a partner or associate

in the same office.

8. Pa'gan, a. heathen, idolatrous.

POPE.

Mira'culous, a. supernatural, above the powers of human nature. 9. Subli'mely, ad. nobly, greatly.

1. In this scene of universal tumult, desolation, and distress, there was nothing left but the virtues and the wisdom of one man to restore tranquillity and happiness to the empire. 2. Aurelius began his endeavours by marching against the Marcoman'ni' and Qua'di', taking Ve'rus with him, who reluctantly left the sensual delights of Rome for the fatigues of a camp. 3. They came up with the Marcoman'ni near the city of Aquile'ia 3, and after a furious en

1 Marcoman'ni, (the same as Mora'vi, Mora'vians,) a people of Germany, occupying the territory on the eastern part of the Rhine, and on the north of the Dan'ube. (Tacitus, Cæsar.) Cluverius allots to them the duchy of Wurtemburg, part of Sua'bia, the Brisgau, &c., who, on being expelled their country, took up their abode in Bohemia. (Strabo, Velleius.)

2 Qua'di, or Qua'dians, a people of Germany, who inhabited part of Mora'via, Bohemia, and Hun'gary. (Tacitus.)

3 Aquile'ia, a celebrated city in the north of Italy. It was a place of

gagement, routed their whole army; then pursuing them across the Alps, overcame them in several contests; U.C. and, at last, entirely defeating them, returned into 922. Italy without any considerable loss. 4. As the A.D. winter was far advanced, Ve'rus was determined on 169. going to Rome, in which journey he was seized with an apoplexy that put an end to his life, at the age of thirtynine, having reigned in conjunction with Aurelius nine years. 5. Aurelius, who had hitherto sustained the fatigues of governing, not only an empire, but his colleague, began to act with greater diligence and more vigour than ever. After thus subduing the Marcoman'ni, he returned to Rome, where he resumed his attempts to benefit mankind, by a farther reformation.

1

6. But his good endeavours were soon interrupted by a renewal of the former wars. In one of the engagements that ensued, he is said to have been miraculously relieved when his army was perishing with thirst, by the prayers of a Christian legion 1 which had been levied in his service; for we are told that there fell such a shower of rain, as instantly refreshed the fainting army. The soldiers were seen holding their mouths and their helmets towards heaven, to catch the water which came so wonderfully to their relief. 7. The same clouds which served for their rescue, discharged so terrible a storm of hail, accompanied with thunder, against the enemy, as astonished and confused them. By this unlooked-for aid, the Romans, recovering strength and courage, renewed the engagement with fresh vigour, and cut the enemy in pieces. 8. Such are the circumstances of an event, acknowledged by Pagan as well as Christian writers; only with this difference, that the latter ascribe the miracle to their own, the former to the prayers of their emperor 2. However this be, Aurelius seemed so sensible of miraculous assistance, that he immediately relaxed the persecution against the Christians, and wrote to the senate in their favour.

great renown in the time of Julius Cæsar. It was destroyed by At'tila. In this city St. Mark wrote his Gospel, which manuscript is said to be preserved with great care at Venice.

1 Legion, a body of soldiers in the Roman army, consisting of 300 horse, and 4000 foot. Figuratively, an army, a military force, or any great number.

2 Very cogent reasons have, by some critics, been brought to prove that this deliverance of the Roman army was no miracle, but merely the result of a natural occurrence.