14.  What were his chief virtues?

15.  What remarkable event occurred in this reign, and what eminent personage became its victim?

16.  By what successes was this disaster counterbalanced?

17.  What were his first enterprizes?

18.  What methods did he take to civilize the conquered countries?

19.  Were his measures successful?

20.  Did Titus long enjoy the glory of this conquest?

21.  How did Domitian commence his reign?

22.  Did he persevere in his meritorious conduct?

23.  In what exercise did he excel?

24.  Did he encourage the arts and sciences?

25.  Was he magnificent in his exhibitions?

26.  How did he employ himself in private?

27.  Did time render him less vicious?

28.  By what means did he attempt to acquire military fame?

SECTION XI.

                 What wretch would groan
  Beneath the galling load of power, or walk
  Upon the slippery pavements of the great!—­Somerville.

1.  The success of Agric’ola in Britain affected Domit’ian, with an extreme degree of envy.  This excellent general pursued the advantages which he had already obtained; he subdued the Caledo’nians, and overcame Gal’gacus, the British chief, who commanded an army of thirty thousand men; afterwards sending out a fleet to scour the coast, he discovered Great Britain to be an island.  He likewise discovered and subdued the Orkneys; and thus reduced the whole into a civilized province of the Roman empire. 2.  When the account of these successes was brought to Domitian, he received it with a seeming pleasure, but real uneasiness.  He thought Agric’ola’s rising reputation a tacit reproach upon his own inactivity; and instead of attempting to emulate, he resolved to suppress the merits of his services. 3.  He ordered him, therefore, external marks of approbation, and took care that triumphal ornaments, statues, and other honours should be decreed him; but at the same time he removed him from his command, under a pretence of appointing him to the government of Syria. 4.  By these means Agric’ola surrendered up his province to Sallus’tius Lucul’lus, but soon found that Syria was otherwise disposed of.  Upon his return to Rome, which was privately and by night, he was coolly received by the emperor; and dying some time after in retirement, it was generally supposed that his end was hastened by Domi’tian’s direction.

5.  Domi’tian soon found the want of so experienced a commander, in the many irruptions of the barbarous nations that surrounded the empire.  The Sarma’tians in Europe, joined with those of Asia, made a formidable invasion, at once destroying a whole legion, and a general of the Romans.  The Da’cians, under the conduct of Dece’balus, their king, made an irruption, and overthrew the Romans