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time he lavished on his friends tribuneships and prefectures； and
then； when he had filled the vain heart of the man with hope and
ambition； he destroyed his power by sending into winter quarters the
7th legion； whose affection for Antonius was particularly vehement。
The 3rd legion； old troops of Varus Arrius； were sent back to Syria。
Part of the army was on its way to Germany。 Thus all elements of
disturbance being removed； the usual appearance of the capital； the
laws； and the jurisdiction of the magistrates； were once more
restored。
Domitian； on the day of his taking his seat in the Senate； made a
brief and measured speech in reference to the absence of his father
and brother； and to his own youth。 He was graceful in his bearing；
and； his real character being yet unknown； the frequent blush on his
countenance passed for modesty。 On his proposing the restoration of
the Imperial honours of Galba； Curtius Montanus moved that respect
should also be paid to the memory of Piso。 The Senate passed both
motions； but that which referred to Piso was not carried out。
Certain commissioners were then appointed by lot； who were to see to
the restitution of property plundered during the war； to examine and
restore to their place the brazen tables of the laws； which had fallen
down through age； to free the Calendar from the additions with which
the adulatory spirit of the time had disfigured it； and to put a check
on the public expenditure。 The office of praetor was restored to
Tettius Julianus； as soon as it was known that he had fled for
refuge to Vespasian。 Griphus still retained his rank。 It was then
determined that the cause of Musonius Rufus against Publius Celer
should be again brought on。 Publius was condemned； and thus
expiation was made to the shade of Soranus。 The day thus marked by
an example of public justice was not barren of distinction to
individuals。 Musonius was thought to have fulfilled the righteous duty
of an accuser； but men spoke very differently of Demetrius； a disciple
of the Cynical school of philosophy； who pleaded the cause of a
notorious criminal by appeals to corrupt influences rather than by
fair argument。 Publius himself； in his peril； had neither spirit nor
power of speech left。 The signal for vengeance on the informers having
been thus given； Junius Mauricus asked Caesar to give the Senate
access to the Imperial registers； from which they might learn what
impeachments the several informers had proposed。 Caesar answered； that
in a matter of such importance the Emperor must be consulted。
The Senate； led by its principal members； then framed a form of
oath； which was eagerly taken by all the magistrates and by the
other Senators in the order in which they voted。 They called the
Gods to witness； that nothing had been done by their instrumentality
to prejudice the safety of any person； and that they had gained no
distinction or advantage by the ruin of Roman citizens。 Great was
the alarm； and various the devices for altering the words of the oath；
among those who felt the consciousness of guilt。 The Senate
appreciated the scruple； but denounced the perjury。 This public
censure； as it might be called； fell with especial severity on three
men； Sariolenus Vocula； Nonnius Attianus； and Cestius Severus； all
of them infamous for having practised the trade of the informer in the
days of Nero。 Sariolenus indeed laboured under an imputation of recent
date。 It was said that he had attempted the same practices during
the reign of Vitellius。 The Senators did not desist from threatening
gestures； till he quitted the chamber； then passing to Paccius
Africanus； they assailed him in the same way。 It was he； they said；
who had singled out as victims for Nero the brothers Scribonius；
renowned for their mutual affection and for their wealth。 Africanus
dared not confess his guilt； and could not deny it； but he himself
turned on Vibius Crispus； who was pressing him with questions； and
complicating a charge which he could not rebut； shifted the blame from
himself by associating another with his guilt。
Great was the reputation for brotherly affection； as well as for
eloquence； which Vipstanus Messalla earned for himself on that day； by
venturing； though not yet of Senatorial age； to plead for his
brother Aquilius Regulus。 The fall of the families of the Crassi and
Orfitus had brought Regulus into the utmost odium。 Of his own free
will； as it seemed； and while still a mere youth； he had undertaken
the prosecution； not to ward off any peril from himself； but in the
hope of gaining power。 The wife of Crassus； Sulpicia Praetextata；
and her four children were ready； should the Senate take cognizance of
the cause； to demand vengeance。 Accordingly； Messalla； without
attempting to defend the case or the person accused； had simply thrown
himself in the way of the perils that threatened his brother； and
had thus wrought upon the feelings of several Senators。 On this
Curtius Montanus met him with a fierce speech； in which he went to the
length of asserting； that after the death of Galba； money had been
given by Regulus to the murderer of Piso； and that he had even
fastened his teeth in the murdered man's head。 〃Certainly；〃 he said；
〃Nero did not compel this act； you did not secure by this piece of
barbarity either your rank or your life。 We may bear with the
defence put forward by men who thought it better to destroy others
than to come into peril themselves。 As for you； the exile of your
father； and the division of his property among his creditors； had left
you perfectly safe； besides that your youth incapacitated you for
office； there was nothing in you which Nero could either covet or
dread。 It was from sheer lust of slaughter and greed of gain that you；
unknown as you were； you； who had never pleaded in any man's
defence； steeped your soul in noble blood； when； though you had
snatched from the very grave of your Country the spoils of a man of
consular rank； had been fed to the full with seven million
sesterces； and shone with all sacerdotal honours； you yet
overwhelmed in one common ruin innocent boys； old men of illustrious
name； and noble ladies； when you actually blamed the tardy movements
of Nero in wearying himself and his informers with the overthrow of
single families； and declared that the whole Senate might be destroyed
by one word。 Keep； Conscript Fathers； preserve a man of such ready
counsels； that every age may be furnished with its teacher； and that
our young men may imitate Regulus； just as our old men imitate
Marcellus and Crispus。 Even unsuccessful villany finds some to emulate
it： what will happen； if it flourish and be strong？ And the man；
whom we dare not offend when he holds only quaestor's rank； are we
to see him rise to the dignities of praetor and consul？ Do you suppose
that Nero will be the last of the tyrants？ Those who survived
Tiberius； those who survived Caligula； thought the same； and yet after
each there arose another ruler yet more detestable and more cruel。
We are not afraid of Vespasian； the age and moderation of the new
Emperor reassure us。 But the influence of an example outlives the
individual character。 We have lost our vigour； Conscript Fathers； we
are no longer that Senate； which； when Nero had fallen； demanded
that the informers and ministers of the tyrant should be punished
according to ancient custom。 The first day after the downfall of a
wicked Emperor is the best of opportunities。〃
Montanus was heard with such approval on the part of the Senate；
that Helvidius conceived a hope that Marcellus also might be
overthrown。 He therefore began with a panegyric on Cluvius Rufus； who；
though not less rich nor less renowned for eloquence； had never
imperilled a single life in the days of Nero。 By this comparison； as
well as by direct accusations； he pressed Eprius hard； and stirred the
indignation of the Senators。 When Marcellus perceived this； he made as
if he would leave the House； exclaiming； 〃We go； Priscus； and leave
you your Senate； act the king； though Caesar himself be present。〃
Crispus followed。 Both were enraged； but their looks were different；
Marcellus cast furious glances about him； while Crispus smiled。 They
were drawn back； however； into the Senate by the hasty interference of
friends。 The contest grew fiercer； while the well…disposed majority on
the one side； and a powerful minority on the other； fought out their
obstinate quarrel； and thus the day was spent in altercation。
At the next meeting of the Senate Caesar began by recommending
that the wrongs； the resentments； and the terrible necessities of
former times； should be forgotten； and Mucianus spoke a