The Works of Cornelius Tacitus: With an Essay on His Life and Genius, Notes, Supplements, &c

Front Cover
Thomas Wardle, 1836 - 742 pages
 

Other editions - View all

Common terms and phrases

Popular passages

Page 258 - London ; з a place not dignified with the name of a colony, but the chief residence of merchants, and the great mart of trade and commerce.
Page 287 - In order, if possible, to remove the imputation, he determined to transfer the guilt to others. For this purpose he punished, with exquisite torture, a race of men detested for their evil practices, by vulgar appellation commonly called Christians. The name was derived from Christ, who in the reign of Tiberius, suffered under Pontius Pilate, the procurator of Judaea.
Page 287 - But neither these religious ceremonies, nor the liberal donations of the prince could efface from the minds of men the prevailing opinion, that Rome was set on fire by his own orders. The infamy of that horrible transaction still adhered to him. In order, if possible, to remove the imputation, he determined to transfer the guilt to others. For this purpose he punished, with exquisite torture, a race of men detested for their evil practices, by vulgar appellation commonly called Christians.
Page 168 - The first care of the young bird, as soon as fledged, and able to trust to its wings, is to perform the obsequies of his father. But this duty is not undertaken rashly. He collects a quantity of myrrh, and, to try his strength, makes frequent excursions with a load on his back. When he has...
Page 257 - Druids u were ranged in order, with hands uplifted, invoking the gods, and pouring forth horrible imprecations-. The novelty of the sight struck the Romans with awe and terror.
Page 210 - Rome aspires to universal dominion : and must mankind, by consequence, stretch their necks to the yoke .' I stood at bay for years : had I acted otherwise, where, on your part, had been the glory of conquest, and where, on mine, the honour of a brave resistance ? I am now in your power: if you are bent on vengeance, execute your purpose -, the bloody scene will soon be over, and the name of Caractacus will sink into oblivion. Preserve my life, and I shall be, to late posterity, a monument of Roman...
Page 288 - ... with inflammable matter, were lighted up when the day declined, to serve as torches during the night. For the convenience of seeing this tragic spectacle, the emperor lent his own gardens. He added the sports of the circus and assisted in person, sometimes driving a curricle and occasionally mixing with the rabble in his coachman's dress. At length the cruelty of these proceedings filled every breast with compassion. Humanity relented in favor of the Christians.
Page 64 - Under the floor, and in the cavities of the walls, a collection of human bones was found, with charms, and magic verses, and incantations. The name of Germanicus was graved on plates of lead ; fragments of human bodies, not quite consumed to ashes, were discovered in a putrid condition ; with a variety of those magic spells, which, according to the vulgar opinion, are of potency to devote the souls of the living to the infernal gods.
Page 28 - ... that the whole was the work of the three legions. Farther on were traced the ruins of a rampart and the hollow of a ditch well nigh filled up. This was supposed to be the spot where the few who escaped the general massacre, made their last effort, and perished in the attempt. The plains around were white with bones...
Page 487 - Another who had lost the use of his hand, inspired by the same god, begged that he would tread on the part affected. Vespasian smiled at a request so absurd and wild. The wretched objects persisted to implore his aid. He dreaded the ridicule of a vain attempt ; but the importunity of the men and the crowd of flatterers prevailed upon the prince not entirely to disregard their petition. ' He ordered the physicians to consider...

Bibliographic information