The Works of Cornelius Tacitus: With an Essay on His Life and Genius, Notes, Supplements, &c. by Arthur MurphyThomas Wardle, 1842 - 742 pages |
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accused afterwards Agrippina ancient Annals Antonius Armenia arms army Augustus banished Barbarians Batavians battle brother Cæcina Cæsar Caius Caligula called camp cavalry centurions character citizens civil Claudius cohorts command conduct consul consulship Corbulo crime cruelty danger death decree despatched dignity Domitian dreadful Drusus emperor empire enemy father favour force friends fury Galba Gaul gave Geographical Table Germanicus Germans glory guilt hand honour illustrious imperial Italy Julius Julius Cæsar king legions Livia Lucius Lucius Vitellius manner Messalina military mind Mucianus murder Nero Nero's officer Otho Parthians party passions Piso Pliny prætor prætorian present prince province rank reign Rhine Roman knights Rome ruin Sabinus scene seized Sejanus senate Seneca sent sesterces Silanus slaves soldiers spirit Suetonius sword Tacfarinas Tacitus temple thought Tiberius tion Tiridates Titus Vinius tribunes Valens valour Vespasian victory vigour virtue Vitellians Vitellius Vologeses whole wife
Popular passages
Page 516 - A voice from the east, a voice from the west, a voice from the four winds, a voice against Jerusalem and the holy house, a voice against the bridegrooms and the brides, and a voice against this whole people!
Page 288 - They were put to death with exquisite cruelty, and to their sufferings Nero added mockery and derision. Some were covered with the skins of wild beasts, and left to be devoured by dogs ; others were nailed to the cross ; numbers were burnt alive ; and many, covered over with inflammable matter, were lighted up, when the day declined, to serve as torches during the night.
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 Ronif 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 288 - By that event the sect of which he was the founder received a blow which for a time checked the growth of a dangerous superstition ; but it revived soon after, and spread with recruited...
Page 288 - This letter is esteemed as almost the only genuine monument of ecclesiastical antiquity relating to the times immediately succeeding the Apostles, it being written at most not above forty years after the death of St. Paul. It was preserved by the Christians themselves as a clear and unsuspicious evidence of the purity of their doctrines, and is frequently appealed to by the early writers of the Church against the calumnies of their adversaries.
Page 259 - What will be their case when the assault begins ? Look round, and view your numbers. Behold the proud display of warlike spirits, and consider the motives for which we draw the avenging sword. On this spot we must either conquer, or die with glory. There is no alternative. Though a woman, my resolution is fixed; the men, if they please, may survive with infamy, and live in bondage.
Page 358 - A deep and sullen silence prevailed. The very rabble was hushed. Amazement sat on every face. Their eyes watched every motion, and their ears caught every sound. The interval was big with terror ; it was neither a tumult, nor a settled calm, but rather the stillness of fear, or smothered rage, such as often precedes some dreadful calamity.
Page 161 - ... the minds of tyrants were laid open to our view, we should see them gashed and mangled with the whips and stings of horror and remorse. By blows and stripes the flesh is made to quiver, and, in like manner, cruelty and inordinate passions, malice and evil deeds, become internal executioners, and with unceasing torture, goad and lacerate the heart. Of this truth Tiberius is a melancholy instance.
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 170 - Egypt, another phoenix directed its flight towards Heliopolis, attended by a group of various birds, all attracted by the novelty, and gazing with wonder at so beautiful an appearance. For the truth of this account we do not presume to answer. The facts lie too remote ; and covered, as they are, with the mists of antiquity, all further argument is suspended. " From the reign of Ptolemy to Tiberius, the intermediate space is not quite two hundred and fifty years. From that circumstance it has been...