against the Marcoman'ni' and Qua'di 2, 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'ia3, and after a furious engagement, routed their whole army; then pursuing them U.C. across the Alps, overcame them in several contests; 922. and, at last, entirely defeating them, returned into 169. Italy without any considerable loss. 4. As the winter was far advanced, Ve'rus was determined on going to Rome, in which journey he was seized with an apoplexy that put an end to his life, at the age of thirty-nine, having reigned in conjunction with Aurelius nine years. A.D. 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. 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* 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 hold 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 Bohe'mia, (Strabo, Velleius.) 2 Qua'di, or Qua'dians, a people of Germany, who inhabited part of Mora'via, Bohe'mia, and Hun'gary. (Tacitus.) 3 Aquile'ia, a celebrated city in the north of Italy. It was a place of 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. Legion, a body of soldiers in the Roman army, consisting of 300 horse, and 4,000 foot. Figuratively, an army, a military force, or any great number. ing 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'. 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. 9. Soon after this event, Avid'ius Cas'sius', one of the generals who had fought with such success against the Parthians, assumed the imperial purple, but was shortly after killed in an engagement. When his head was brought to Aurelius, he expressed great sorrow, turned his eyes away, and caused it to be honourably interred; complaining that he had been robbed of an opportunity of showing mercy. On being blamed for his too great lenity to the relatives and friends of Cas'sius, he sublimely replied, 1 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. 2 This Cas'sius was remarkable as a strict disciplinarian, of which the following is an instance :-As he was encamped near the Danube, some of his soldiers, understanding that the enemy lay carelessly on the banks of that river, attacked them without orders, killed 3,000 of them, and returned to the camp loaded with booty. Instead, however, of receiving from Cas'sius the praises they expected, their centurions, who had promoting this enterprise, were seized and crucified. This severity occasioned mutiny; but Cas'sius undauntedly appeared, unarmed, amidst the incensed soldiers, crying out, "Kill me; and to your neglect of duty add, if you dare, the murder of your general." This intrepidity put an end to the tumult, and firmly established his authority. "We have not lived nor served the gods so ill, as to think that they would favour Cas'sius." 10. He usually called philosophy his mother, in opposition to the court, which he considered as his step-mother. He also frequently said, "the people are happy whose kings are philosophers." He was, independent of his dignity, one of the most considerable men then existing; and though he had been born in the meanest station, his merits as a writer (for his works remain to this day,) would have insured him immortality. 11. Having thus restored prosperity to his subjects, and peace to mankind, news was brought him that the Scyth'ians', and other barbarous nations of the north, were up in arms, and invading the empire. 12. He once more, therefore, resolved to expose his aged person in the defence of his country, and made speedy preparations to oppose them. He went to the senate, and desired to have money out of the public treasury. He then spent three days in giving the people lectures on the regulation of their lives: and having finished, departed upon his expedition, amidst the prayers and lamentations of his subjects. 13. Upon going to open his third campaign, he was seized at Vienna' with the plague, which stopped his farther progress. Nothing, however, could abate his desire of being beneficial to mankind. 14. His fears for the youth and unpromising disposition of Com'modus, his son and successor, seemed to give him great uneasiness. He therefore addressed his friends and the principal officers that were gathered round his bed, expressing his hope, that as his son was now losing his father, he would find many in them. 15. While thus speaking, he was seized with a weakness which stopped 1 Scyth'ians, the inhabitants of Tartary, now Asiatic Russia, were for the greater part wanderers. 2 Vienna, (so called even in the time of Cæsar) now the metropolis of the Austrian empire. It his utterance, and brought on death. He died in the fiftyninth year of his age, having reigned nineteen years. seemed as if the glory and prosperity of the empire died with this greatest of the Roman emperors. Questions for Examination. 1. To whom did the Romans look for a restoration of the tranquillity of the empire? 2. Against whom did Aurelius march, and who accompanied him? 3. Where did they come up with the Marcomanni, and what was the result of the engagement? 4. What was the fate of Verus? 5. How did Aurelius act on his return to Rome? 6. What miraculous event was ascribed to the prayers of a Christian legion? 7. How did it operate on the enemy? 8. Did not Aurelius in consequence interest himself in favour of the Christians? 9. What reply did Aurelius make to those who blamed him for his lenity to the friends of Cassius? 10. What sayings are recorded of him, and what was his character? 11. What news was brought to Aurelius soon after peace had been restored? 12. In what way did he occupy himself previous to his departure to oppose the enemy? 13. At what place was he seized with the plague ? 14. What seemed to give him great uneasiness? 15. How old was Aurelius when he died. and how many years had he reigned ? CHAPTER XXIV. SECT I. U.C. 933.-A. D. 180. FROM COMMODUS TO THE TRANSFERRING OF THE SEAT OF O name of country, once how sacred deem'd! HORACE, B. 3. Ode 5. 2. Tis'sue, s. a continued series. Simil'itude, 8. likeness, resemblance. 3. Chap'man, s. a dealer, a trades man. |15. Pro'fusion, s. too great liberality, extravagance. Par'simony, s. frugality, sparing ness. 21. Lacon'ic, a. brief, short. 13. Par'ricide, s. one who kills either of 24. Impreca'tions, s. curses. 128. Timid'ity, s. fearfulness. his parents. 1. THE merits of Aurelius procured Com'modus an easy accession to the throne'. He was acknowledged emperor by the army, by the senate and people, and afterwards by all the provinces. 2. But his whole reign was a tissue of wantonness and folly, cruelty and injustice, rapacity and corruption. So strong a similitude was there between his conduct and that of Domi'tian, that a reader might imagine he was going over the history of the same reign. 3. He went with his associates to brothels; spent the day in feasting, and the night in the most abominable debaucheries. He would sometimes go about the markets in a frolic, with small 'Com'modus was the first emperor that was born in his father's reign, and the second that succeeded his father in the empire. |