Serena Grey Addicted To You Epub
Francisca Revelo
Besides the interposition of the soldiers upon this occasion, it appearsthat the populace of Rome were extremely clamorous for the government of asingle person, and for that of Claudius in particular. This partiality fora monarchical government proceeded from two causes. The commonalty, fromtheir obscure situation, were always the least exposed to oppression,under a tyrannical prince. They had likewise ever been remarkably fond ofstage-plays and public shows, with which, as well as with scrambles, anddonations of bread and other victuals, the preceding emperor hadfrequently gratified them. They had therefore less to fear, and more tohope, from the government of a single person than any other class of Romancitizens. With regard to the partiality for Claudius, it may be accountedfor partly from the low habits of life to which he had been addicted, inconsequence of which many of them were familiarly acquainted with him; andthis circumstance likewise increased their hope of deriving some advantagefrom his accession. Exclusive of all these considerations, it is highlyprobable that the populace were instigated in favour of Claudius by theartifices of his freedmen, persons of mean extraction, by whom he wasafterwards entirely governed, and who, upon such an occasion, would exerttheir utmost efforts to procure his appointment to the throne. From thedebate in the senate having continued during (333) two days, it wasevident that there was still a strong party for restoring the ancient formof government. That they were in the end overawed by the clamour of themultitude, is not surprising, when we consider that the senate was totallyunprovided with resources of every kind for asserting the independence ofthe nation by arms; and the commonalty, who interrupted theirdeliberations, were the only people by whose assistance they ever couldeffect the restitution of public freedom. To this may be added, that thesenate, by the total reduction of their political importance, ever sincethe overthrow of the republic, had lost both the influence and authoritywhich they formerly enjoyed. The extreme cruelty, likewise, which had beenexercised during the last two reigns, afforded a further motive forrelinquishing all attempts in favour of liberty, as they might be severelyrevenged upon themselves by the subsequent emperor: and it was a degree ofmoderation in Claudius, which palliates the injustice of his cause, thathe began his government with an act of amnesty respecting the publictransactions which ensued upon the death of Caligula.