1.  Quintus Sosius Falco, C. Erucius Clarus.

2.  Flavius Sulpicianus, Fabius Cilo Septiminus (from the Calends of March).

3.  Silius Messala (from the Calends of May).  (A.D. 193 = a.u. 946).

[Sidenote:  A.D. 193 (a.u. 946)] [Sidenote:—­1—­] Pertinax was one of those men to whom no exception can be taken, but he ruled only for an exceedingly brief space of time and was then put out of the way by the soldiers.  While the fate of Commodus was still a secret the party of Eclectus and Laetus came to him and acknowledged [Footnote:  Reading [Greek:  emaenusan] (Dindorf, after H. Stephanus).] what had been done.  On account of his excellence and reputation they were glad to select him.  He, after seeing them and hearing their story, sent his most trustworthy comrade to view the body of Commodus.  When the man confirmed the report of the act, he was then conveyed secretly into the camp and caused the soldiers consternation; but through the presence of the adherents of Laetus and by means of promises [Footnote:  Reading [Greek:  epaeggeilato] (Dindorf, after Bekker).] to give them three thousand denarii per man, he won them over.  They would certainly have remained content, had he not phrased the conclusion of his speech somewhat as follows:  “There are many unpleasant features, fellow-soldiers, in the present situation, but the rest with your help shall be set right again.”  On hearing this they took occasion to suspect that all the irregular privileges granted them by Commodus would be abolished.  Though irritated, they nevertheless remained quiet, concealing their anger.

On leaving the fortifications he came to the senate-house while it was still night, and after greeting us (so far as a man might approach him in the midst of such a jostling throng) he said in an impromptu way:  “I have been named emperor by the soldiers; however, I don’t desire the office and am going to resign it this very day because of my age and health and the unpleasant condition of affairs.”  This was no sooner said than we gave the selection our genuine approbation and chose him in very truth; for he was noble in spirit and strong in body, except that he walked a little lame.

[Sidenote:—­2—­] In this way was Pertinax declared emperor and Commodus an enemy, while both senate and people denounced the latter long and savagely.  They desired to hale away his body and tear it limb from limb, as they did his images; but, when Pertinax told them that the corpse had already been interred, they spared his remains but glutted their rage on his representations, calling him all sorts of names.  But “Commodus” or “emperor” were two that no one applied to him.  In stead, they termed him “wretch” and “tyrant,” adding in jest titles like “the gladiator,” “the charioteer,” “the left-handed,” “the ruptured man.”  To the senators, who had been excited most by fear of Commodus, the crowd called out:  “Huzza, huzza, you are saved, you have conquered!”