Titus (Suetonius)

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	Titus Author: Suetonius	Translator: Alexander Thomson
1	Titus , cognomine paterno , amor ac deliciae generis humani — tantum illi ad promerendam omnium uoluntatem uel ingenii uel artis uel fortunae superfuit , et , quod difficillimum est , in imperio , quando priuatus atque etiam sub patre principe ne odio quidem , nedum uituperatione publica caruit — natus est III . Kal . Ian . insigni anno Gaiana nece , prope Septizonium sordidis aedibus , cubiculo uero perparuo et obscuro , nam manet adhuc et ostenditur ;	TITUS, who had the same cognomen with his father, was the darling and the delight of mankind; so much did the natural genius, address, or good fortune he possessed tend to conciliate the favour of all. This was, indeed, extremely difficult, after he became emperor, as before that time, and even during the reign of his father, he lay under public odium and censure. He was born upon the third of the calends of January [30th Dec.], in the year remarkable for the death of Caius, near the Septizonium, in a mean house, and a very small and dark room, which still exists, and is shown to the curious.
2	educatus in aula cum Britannico simul ac paribus disciplinis et apud eosdem magistros institutus . quo quidem tempore aiunt metoposcopum a Narcisso Claudi liberto adhibitum , ut Britannicum inspiceret , constantissime affirmasse illum quidem nullo modo , ceterum Titum , qui tunc prope astabat , utique imperaturum . erant autem adeo familiares , ut de potione , qua Britannicus hausta periit , Titus quoque iuxta cubans gustasse credatur grauique morbo adflictatus diu . quorum omnium mox memor statuam ei auream in Palatio posuit et alteram ex ebore equestrem , quae circensi pompa hodieque praefertur , dedicauit prosecutusque est .	He was educated in the palace with Britannicus, and instructed in the same branches of learning, and under the same masters. During this time, they say, that a physiognomist being introduced by Narcissus, the freedman of Claudius, to examine the features of Britannicus, positively affirmed that he would never become emperor, but that Titus, who stood by, would. They were so familiar, that Titus being next him at table, is thought to have tasted of the fatal potion which put an end to Britannicus's life, and to have contracted from it a distemper which hung about him a long time. In remembrance of all these circumstances, he afterwards erected a golden statue of him in the Palatium, and dedicated to him an equestrian statue of ivory; attending it in the Circensian procession, in which it is still carried to this day.
3	in puero statim corporis animique dotes explenduerunt , magisque ac magis deinceps per aetatis gradus : forma egregia et cui non minus auctoritatis inesset quam gratiae , praecipuum robur , quanquam neque procera statura et uentre paulo proiectiore ; memoria singularis , docilitas ad omnis fere tum belli tum pacis artes . armorum et equitandi peritissimus , Latine Graeceque uel in orando uel in fingendis poematibus promptus et facilis ad extemporalitatem usque ; sed ne musicae quidem rudis , ut qui cantaret et psalleret iucunde scienterque . e pluribus comperi , notis quoque excipere uelocissime solitum , cum amanuensibus suis per ludum iocumque certantem , imitarique chirographa quaecumque uidisset , ac saepe profiteri maximum falsarium esse potuisse .	While yet a boy, he was remarkable for his noble endowments both of body and mind; and as he advanced in years, they became still more conspicuous. He had a fine person, combining an equal mixture of majesty and grace; was very strong, though not tall, and somewhat corpulent. Gifted with an excellent memory, and a capacity for all the arts of peace and war; he was a perfect master of the use of arms and riding; very ready in the Latin and Greek tongues, both in verse and prose; and such was the facility he possessed in both, that he would harangue and versify extempore. Nor was he unacquainted with music, but could both sing and play upon the harp sweetly and scientifically. I have likewise been informed by many persons, that he was remarkably quick in writing short-hand, would in merriment and jest engage with his secretaries in the imitation of any hand-writing he saw, and often say, " that he was admirably qualified for forgery."
4	Tribunus militum et in Germania et in Britannia meruit summa industriae nec minore modestiae fama , sicut apparet statuarum et imaginum eius multitudine ac titulis per utramque prouinciam . Post stipendia foro operam dedit honestam magis quam assiduam , eodemque tempore Arrecinam Tertullam , patre eq . R . sed praefecto quondam praetorianarum cohortium , duxit uxorem et in defunctae locum Marciam Furnillam splendidi generis ; cum qua sublata filia diuortium fecit . Ex quaesturae deinde honore legioni praepositus Tarichaeas et Gamalam urbes Iudaeae ualidissimas in potestatem redegit , equo quadam acie sub feminibus amisso alteroque inscenso , cuius rector circa se dimicans occubuerat .	He filled with distinction the rank of a military tribune both in Germany and Britain, in which he conducted himself with the utmost activity, and no less modesty and reputation; as appears evident from the great number of statues, with honourable inscriptions, erected to him in various parts of both those provinces. After serving in the wars, he frequented the courts of law, but with less assiduity than applause. About the same time, he married Arricidia, the daughter of Tertullus, who was only a knight, but had formerly been prefect of the pretorian guards. After her decease, he married Marcia Furnilla, of a very noble family, but afterwards divorced her, taking from her the daughter he had by her. Upon the expiration of his quaestorship, he was raised to the rank of commander of a legion, and took the two strong cities of Tarichaea and Gamala, in Judaea; and having his horse killed under him in a battle, he mounted another, whose rider he had encountered and slain.
5	Galba mox tenente rem p . missus ad gratulandum , quaqua iret conuertit homines , quasi adoptionis gratia arcesseretur . sed ubi turbari rursus cuncta sensit , redit ex itinere , aditoque Paphiae Veneris oraculo , dum de nauigatione consulit , etiam de imperii spe confirmatus est . cuius breui compos et ad perdomandam Iudaeam relictus , nouissima Hierosolymorum oppugnatione duodecim propugnatores totidem sagittarum confecit ictibus , cepitque ea natali filiae suae tanto militum gaudio ac fauore , ut in gratulatione imperatorem eum consalutauerint et subinde decedentem prouincia detinuerint , suppliciter nec non et minaciter efflagitantes , aut remaneret aut secum omnis pariter abduceret . unde nata suspicio est , quasi desciscere a patre Orientisque sibi regnum uindicare temptasset ; quam suspicionem auxit , postquam Alexandriam petens in consecrando apud Memphim boue Apide diadema gestauit , de more quidem rituque priscae religionis ; sed non deerant qui sequius interpretarentur . quare festinans in Italiam , cum Regium , dein Puteolos oneraria naue appulisset , Romam inde contendit expeditissimus inopinantique patri , uelut arguens rumorum de se temeritatem : ' ueni ,' inquit , ' pater , ueni .'	Soon afterwards, when Galba came to be emperor, he was sent to congratulate him, and turned the eyes of all people upon himself, wherever he came: it being the general opinion amongst them, that the emperor had sent for him with a design to adopt him for his son. But finding all things again in confusion, he turned back upon the road; and going to consult the oracle of Venus at Paphos about his voyage, he received assurances of obtaining the empire for himself. These hopes were speedily strengthened, and being left to finish the reduction of Judea, in the final assault of Jerusalem, he slew seven of its defenders, with the like number of arrows, and took it upon his daughter's birth-day. So great was the joy and attachment of the soldiers, that, in their congratulations, they unanimously saluted him by the title of Emperor; and, upon his quitting the province soon afterwards, would needs have detained him, earnestly begging him, and that not without threats, "either to stay, or take them all with him." This occurrence gave rise to the suspicion of his being engaged in a design to rebel against his father, and claim for himself the government of the East; and the suspicion increased, when, on his way to Alexandria, he wore a diadem at the consecration of the ox Apis at Memphis; and, though he did it only in compliance with an ancient religious usage of the country, yet there were some who put a bad construction upon it. Making, therefore, what haste he could into Italy, he arrived first at Rhegium, and sailing thence in a merchant ship to Puteoli, went to Rome with all possible expedition. Presenting himself unexpectedly to his father, he said, by way of contradicting the strange reports raised concerning him, "I am come, father, I am come."
6	neque ex eo destitit participem atque etiam tutorem imperii agere . Triumphauit cum patre censuramque gessit una , eidem collega et in tribunicia potestate et in septem consulatibus fuit ; receptaque ad se prope omnium officiorum cura , cum patris nomine et epistulas ipse dictaret et edicta conscriberet orationesque in senatu recitaret etiam quaestoris uice , praefecturam quoque praetori suscepit numquam ad id tempus nisi ab eq . R . administratam , egitque aliquanto inciuilius et uiolentius , siquidem suspectissimum quemque sibi summissis qui per theatra et castra quasi consensu ad poenam deposcerent , haud cunctanter oppressit . in his Aulum Caecinam consularem uocatum ad cenam ac uixdum triclinio egressum confodi iussit , sane urgente discrimine , cum etiam chirographum eius praeparatae apud milites contionis deprehendisset . quibus rebus sicut in posterum securitati satis cauit , ita ad praesens plurimum contraxit inuidiae , ut non temere quis tam aduerso rumore magisque inuitis omnibus transierit ad principatum .	From that time he constantly acted as colleague with his father, and, indeed, as regent of the empire. He triumphedwith his father, bore jointly with him the office of censor; and was, besides, his colleague not only in the tribunitian authority, but in seven consulships. Taking upon himself the care and inspection of all'offices, he dictated letters, wrote proclamations in his father's name, and pronounced his speeches in the senate in place of the quaestor. He likewise assumed the command of the pretorian guards, although no one but a Roman knight had ever before been their prefect. In this he conducted himself with great haughtiness and violence, taking off without scruple or delay all those he had most reason to suspect, after he had secretly sent his emissaries into the theatres and camp, to demand, as if by general consent, that the suspected persons should be delivered up to punishment. Among these, he invited to supper A. Cacina, a man of consular rank, whom he ordered to be stabbed at his departure, immediately after he had gone out of the room. To this act, indeed, he was provoked by an imminent danger; for he had discovered a writing under the hand of Cecina, containing an account of a plot hatched among the soldiers. By these acts, though he provided for his future security, yet for the present he so much incurred the hatred of the people, that scarcely ever any one came to the empire with a more odious character, or more universally disliked.
7	Praeter saeuitiam suspecta in eo etiam luxuria erat , quod ad mediam noctem comisationes cum profusissimo quoque familiarium extenderet ; nec minus libido propter exoletorum et spadonum greges propterque insignem reginae Berenices amorem , cui etiam nuptias pollicitus ferebatur ; suspecta rapacitas , quod constabat in cognitionibus patris nundinari praemiarique solitum ; denique propalam alium Neronem et opinabantur et praedicabant . at illi ea fama pro bono cessit conuersaque est in maximas laudes neque uitio ullo reperto et contra uirtutibus summis . Conuiuia instituit iucunda magis quam profusa . amicos elegit , quibus etiam post eum principes ut et sibi et rei p . necessariis adquieuerunt praecipueque sunt usi . Berenicen statim ab urbe dimisit inuitus inuitam . quosdam e gratissimis delicatorum quanquam tam artifices saltationis , ut mox scaenam tenuerint , non modo fouere prolixius , sed spectare omnino in publico coetu supersedit . Nulli ciuium quicquam ademit ; abstinuit alieno , ut si quis umquam ; ac ne concessas quidem ac solitas conlationes recepit . et tamen nemine ante se munificentia minor , amphitheatro dedicato thermisque iuxta celeriter extructis munus edidit apparatissimum largissimumque ; dedit et nauale proelium in ueteri naumachia , ibidem et gladiatores atque uno die quinque milia omne genus ferarum .	Besides his cruelty, he lay under the suspicion of giving way to habits of luxury, as he often prolonged his revels till midnight with the most riotous of his acquaintance. Nor was he unsuspected of lewdness, and his well-known attachment to queen Berenice, who received from him, as it is reported, a promise of marriage. He was supposed, besides, to be of a rapacious disposition; for it is certain, that, in causes which came before his father, he used to offer his interest for sale, and take bribes. In short, people publicly expressed an unfavourable opinion of him, and said he would prove another Nero. This prejudice, however, turned out in the end to his advantage, and enhanced his praises to the highest pitch when he was found to possess no vicious propensities, but, on the contrary, the noblest virtues. His entertainments were agreeable rather than extravagant: and he surrounded himself with such excellent friends, that the succeeding princes adopted them as most serviceable to themselves and the state. He immediately sent away Berenice from the city, much against both their inclinations. Some of his old eunuchs, though such accomplished dancers, that they bore an uncontrollable sway upon the stage, he was so far from treating with any extraordinary kindness, that he would not so much as witness their performances in the crowded theatre. He violated no private right; and if ever man refrained from injustice, he did; nay, he would not accept of the allowable and customary offerings. Yet, in munificence, he was inferior to none of the princes before him. Having dedicated his amphitheatre, and built some warm baths close by it with great expedition, he entertained the people with most magnificent spectacles. He likewise exhibited a naval fight in the old Naumachia, besides a combat of gladiators; and in one day brought into the theatre five thousand wild beasts of all kinds.
8	Natura autem beniuolentissimus , cum ex instituto Tiberi omnes dehinc Caesares beneficia a superioribus concessa principibus aliter rata non haberent , quam si eadem isdem et ipsi dedissent , primus praeterita omnia uno confirmauit edicto nec a se peti passus est . in ceteris uero desideriis hominum obstinatissime tenuit , ne quem sine spe dimitteret ; quin et admonentibus domesticis , quasi plura polliceretur quam praestare posset , non oportere ait quemquam a sermone principis tristem discedere ; atque etiam recordatus quondam super cenam , quod nihil cuiquam toto die praestitisset , memorabilem illam meritoque laudatam uocem edidit : ' amici , diem perdidi .' Populum in primis uniuersum tanta per omnis occasiones comitate tractauit , ut proposito gladiatorio munere , non ad suum , sed ad spectantium arbitrium editurum se professus sit ; et plane ita fecit . nam neque negauit quicquam petentibus et ut quae uellent peterent ultro adhortatus est . quin et studium armaturae Thraecum prae se ferens saepe cum populo et uoce et gestu ut fautor cauillatus est , uerum maiestate salua nec minus aequitate . ne quid popularitatis praetermitteret , nonnumquam in thermis suis admissa plebe lauit . Quaedam sub eo fortuita ac tristia acciderunt , ut conflagratio Vesuuii montis in Campania , et incendium Romae per triduum totidemque noctes , item pestilentia quanta non temere alias . in iis tot aduersis ac talibus non modo principis sollicitudinem sed et parentis affectum unicum praestitit , nunc consolando per edicta , nunc opitulando quatenus suppeteret facultas . curatores restituendae Campaniae e consularium numero sorte duxit ; bona oppressorum in Vesuuio , quorum heredes non extabant , restitutioni afflictarum ciuitatium attribuit . urbis incendio nihil publice nisi perisse testatus , cuncta praetoriorum suorum ornamenta operibus ac templis destinauit praeposuitque compluris ex equestri ordine , quo quaeque maturius peragerentur . medendae ualitudini leniendisque morbis nullam diuinam humanamque opem non adhibuit inquisito omni sacrificiorum remediorumque genere . Inter aduersa temporum et delatores amendatoresque erant ex licentia ueteri . hos assidue in foro flagellis ac fustibus caesos ac nouissime traductos per amphitheatri harenam partim subici ac uenire imperauit , partim in asperrimas insularum auehi . utque etiam similia quandoque ausuros perpetuo coerceret , uetuit inter cetera de eadem re pluribus legibus agi quaeriue de cuiusquam defunctorum statu ultra certos annos .	He was by nature extremely benevolent; for whereas all the emperors after Tiberius, according to the example he had set them, would not admit the grants made by former princes to be valid, unless they received their own sanction, he confirmed them all by one general edict, without waiting for any applications respecting them. Of all who petitioned for any favour, he sent none away without hopes. And when his ministers represented to him that he promised more than he could perform, he replied, " No one ought to go away downcast from an audience with his prince." Once at supper, reflecting that he had done nothing for any that day, he broke out into that memorable and justly-admired saying, "My friends, I have lost a day." More particularly, he treated the people on all occasions with so much courtesy, that, on his presenting them with a show of gladiators, he declared, "He should manage it, not according to his own fancy, but that of the spectators," and did accordingly. He denied them nothing, and very frankly encouraged them to ask what they pleased. Espousing the cause of the Thracian party among the gladiators, he frequently joined in the popular demonstrations in their favour, but without compromising his dignity or doing injustice. To omit no opportunity of acquiring popularity, he sometimes made use himself of the baths he had erected, without excluding the common people. There happened in his reign some dreadful accidents; an enrption of mount Vesuvius, in Campania, and a fire in Rome, which continued three days and three nights; besides a plague, such as was scarcely ever known before. Amidst these many great disasters, he not only manifested the concern which might be expected from a prince, but even the affection of a father, for his people; one while comforting them by his proclamations, and another while relieving them to the utmost of his power. He chose by lot, from among the men of consular rank, commissioners for repairing the losses in Campania. The estates of those who had perished by the eruption of Vesuvius, and who had left no heirs, he applied to the repair of the ruined cities. With regard to the public buildings destroyed by fire in the City, he declared that nobody should be a loser but himself. Accordingly, he applied all the ornaments of his palaces to the decoration of the temples, and purposes of public utility, and appointed several men of the equestrian order to superintend the work. For the relief of the people during the plague, he employed, in the way of sacrifice and medicine, all means both human and divine. Amongst the calamities of the times, were informers and their agents; a tribe of miscreants who had grown up under the licence of former reigns. These he frequently ordered to be scourged or beaten with sticks in the forum, and then, after he had obliged them to pass through the amphitheatre as a public spectacle, commanded them to be sold for slaves, or else banished them to some rocky islands. And to discourage such practices for the future, amongst other things, he prohibited actions to be successively brought under different laws for the same cause, or the state of affairs of deceased persons to be inquired into after a certain number of years.
9	Pontificatum maximum ideo se professus accipere ut puras seruaret manus , fidem praestitit , nec auctor posthac cuiusquam necis nec conscius , quamuis interdum ulciscendi causa non deesset , sed periturum se potius quam perditurum adiurans . duos patricii generis conuictos in adfectatione imperii nihil amplius quam ut desisterent monuit , docens principatum fato dari , si quid praeterea desiderarent promittens se tributurum . et confestim quidem ad alterius matrem quae procul aberat , cursores suos misit , qui anxiae saluum filium nuntiarent , ceterum ipsos non solum familiari cenae adhibuit , sed et insequenti die gladiatorum spectaculo circa se ex industria conlocatis oblata sibi ferramenta pugnantium inspicienda porrexit . dicitur etiam cognita utriusque genitura imminere ambobus periculum adfirmasse , uerum quandoque et ab alio , sicut euenit . Fratrem insidiari sibi non desinentem , sed paene ex professo sollicitantem exercitus , meditantem fugam , neque occidere neque seponere ac ne in minore quidem honore habere sustinuit , sed , ut a primo imperii die , consortem successoremque testari perseuerauit , nonnumquam secreto precibus et lacrimis orans , ut tandem mutuo erga se animo uellet esse .	Having declared that he accepted the office of Pontifex Maximus for the purpose of preserving his hands undefiled, he faithfully adhered to his promise. For after that time he was neither directly nor indirectly concerned in the death of any person, though he sometimes was justly irritated. He swore "that he would perish himself rather than prove the destruction of any man." Two men of patrician rank being convicted of aspiring to the empire, he only advised them to desist, saying, "that the sovereign power was disposed of by fate," and promised them, that if there was any thing else they desired of him, he would grant it. He also immediately sent messengers to the mother of one of them, who was at a great distance, and in deep anxiety about her son, to assure her of his safety. Nay, he not only invited them to sup with him, but next day, at a show of gladiators, purposely placed them close by him; and handed to them the arms of the combatants for their inspection. It is said likewise, that having had their nativities cast, he assured them, " that a great calamity was impending on both of them, but from another hand, and not from his." Though his brother was continually plotting against him, almost openly stirring up the armies to rebellion, and contriving to get away, yet he could not endure to put him to death, or to banish him from his presence; nor did he treat him with less respect than before. But from his first accession to the empire, he constantly declared him his partner in it, and that he should be his successor; begging of him sometimes in private, with tears in his eyes, "to return the affection he had for him."
10	inter haec morte praeuentus est maiore hominum damno quam suo . Spectaculis absolutis , in quorum fine populo coram ubertim fleuerat , Sabinos petit aliquanto tristior , quod sacrificanti hostia aufugerat quodque tempestate serena tonuerat . deinde ad primam statim mansionem febrim nanctus , cum inde lectica transferretur , suspexisse dicitur dimotis pallulis caelum , multumque conquestus eripi sibi uitam immerenti ; neque enim extare ullum suum factum paenitendum excepto dum taxat uno . id quale fuerit , neque ipse tunc prodidit neque cuiquam facile succurrat . quidam opinantur consuetudinem recordatum , quam cum fratris uxore habuerit ; sed nullam habuisse persancte Domitia iurabat , haud negatura , si qua omnino fuisset , immo etiam gloriatura , quod illi promptissimum erat in omnibus probris .	Amidst all these favourable circumstances, he was cut off by an untimely death, more to the loss of mankind than himself. At the close of the public spectacles, he wept bitterly in the presence of the people, and then retired into the Sabine country, rather melancholy, because a victim had made its escape while he was sacrificing, and loud thunder had been heard while the atmosphere was serene. At the first resting-place on the road, he was seized with a fever, and being carried forward in a litter, they say that he drew back the curtains, and looked up to heaven, complaining heavily, " that his life was taken from him, though he had done nothing to deserve it; for there was no action of his that he had occasion to repent of, but one." What that was, he neither disclosed himself, nor is it easy for us to conjecture. Some imagine that he alluded to the connection which he had formerly had with his brothers wife. But Domitia solemnly denied it on oath; which she would never have done, had there been any truth in the report; nay, she would certainly have gloried in it, as she was forward enough to boast of all her scandalous intrigues.
11	Excessit in eadem qua pater uilla Id . Sept . post biennium ac menses duos diesque XX quam successerat patri , altero et quadragesimo aetatis anno . quod ut palam factum est , non secus atque in domestico luctu maerentibus publice cunctis , senatus prius quam edicto conuocaretur ad curiam concurrit , obseratisque adhuc foribus , deinde apertis , tantas mortuo gratias egit laudesque congessit , quantas ne uiuo quidem umquam atque praesenti .	He died in the same villa where his father had died before him, upon the Ides of September [the i3th of September]; two years, two months, and twenty days after he had succeeded his father; and in the one-and-fortieth year of his age. As soon as the news of his death was published, all people mourned for him, as for the loss of some near relative. The senate assembled in haste, before they could be summoned by proclamation, and locking the doors of their house at first, but afterwards opening them, they gave him such thanks, and heaped upon him such praises, now he was dead, as they never had done whilst he was alive and present amongst them.