Domitian |
Translator: Alexander Thomson
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| 21 |
condicionem principum miserrimam aiebat , quibus de coniuratione comperta non crederetur nisi occisis . Quotiens otium esset , alea se oblectabat , etiam profestis diebus matutinisque horis , ac lauabat de die prandebatque ad satietatem , ut non temere super cenam praeter Matianum malum et modicam in ampulla potiunculam sumeret . conuiuabatur frequenter ac large , sed paene raptim ; certe non ultra solis occasum nec ut postea comisaretur . nam ad horam somni nihil aliud quam solus secreto deambulabat .
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"The lot of princes," he remarked, "was very miserable, for no one-believed them when they discovered a conspiracy, until they were murdered." When he had leisure, he amused himself with dice, even on days that were not festivals, and in the morning. He went to the bath early, and made a plentiful dinner, insomuch that he seldom ate more at supper than a .Martian apple, to which he added a draught of wine, out of a small flask. He gave frequent and splendid entertainments, but they were soon over, for he never prolonged them after sunset, and indulged in no revel after. For, till bed-time, he did nothing else but walk by himself in private. |
| 22 |
Libidinis nimiae , assiduitatem concubitus uelut exercitationis genus clinopalen uocabat ; eratque fama , quasi concubinas ipse deuelleret nataretque inter uulgatissimas meretrices . fratris filiam adhuc uirginem oblatam in matrimonium sibi cum deuinctus Domitiae nuptiis pertinacissime recusasset , non multo post alii conlocatam corrupit ultro et quidem uiuo etiam tum Tito ; mox patre ac uiro orbatam ardentissime palamque dilexit , ut etiam causa mortis extiterit coactae conceptum a se abigere .
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He was insatiable in his lusts, calling frequent commerce with women, as if it was a sort of exercise, κλινοπάλην, bed-wrestling, and it was reported that he swam about in company with the lowest prostitutes. His brother's daughter was offered him in marriage when she was a virgin; but being at that time enamoured of Domitia, he obstinately refused her. Yet not long afterwards, when she was given to another, he was ready enough to debauch her, and that even while Titus was living. But after she had lost both her father and her husband, he loved her most passionately, and without disguise; insomuch that he was the occasion of her death, by obliging her to procure a miscarriage when she was with child by him. |
| 23 |
Occisum eum populus indifferenter , miles grauissime tulit statimque Diuum appellare conatus est , paratus et ulcisci , nisi duces defuissent ; quod quidem paulo post fecit expostulatis ad poenam pertinacissime caedis auctoribus . contra senatus adeo laetatus est , ut repleta certatim curia non temperaret , quin mortuum contumeliosissimo atque acerbissimo adclamationum genere laceraret , scalas etiam inferri clipeosque et imagines eius coram detrahi et ibidem solo affligi iuberet , nouissime eradendos ubique titulos abolendamque omnem memoriam decerneret . Ante paucos quam occideretur menses cornix in Capitolio elocuta est : ἔσται πάντα καλῶσ , nec defuit qui ostentum sic interpretaretur : nuper Tarpeio quae sedit culmine cornix ' est bene ' non potuit dicere , dixit : 'erit '. ipsum etiam Domitianum ferunt somniasse gibbam sibi pone ceruicem auream enatam , pro certoque habuisse beatiorem post se laetioremque portendi rei publicae statum , sicut sane breui euenit abstinentia et moderatione insequentium principum .
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The people shewed little concern at his death, but the soldiers were roused by it to great indignation, and immediately endeavoured to have him ranked among the gods. They were also ready to avenge his loss, if there had been any to take the lead. However, they soon after effected it, by resolutely demanding the punishment of all those who had been concerned in his assassination. On the other hand, the senate was so overjoyed, that they met in all haste, and in a full assembly reviled his memory in the most bitter terms; ordering ladders to be brought in, and his shields and images to be pulled down before their eyes, and dashed in pieces upon the floor of the senate-house; passing at the same time a decree to obliterate his titles every where, and abolish all memory of him. A few months before he was slain, a raven on the Capitol uttered these words: "All will be well." Some person gave the following interpretation of this prodigy: Nuper Tarpeio, quae sedit culmine cornix. "Est bene," non potuit dicere; dixit, "Erit." Late croaked a raven from-Tarpeia's height, "All is not yet, but shortly will be, right." They say likewise that Domitian dreamed that a golden hump grew out of the back of his neck, which he considered as a certain sign of happy days for the empire after him. Such an auspicious change indeed shortly afterwards took place, through the justice and moderation of the succeeding emperors. |