[Sidenote:—­4—­] While he was still in Britain, after that great revolt which he quelled, and was being accorded praise on all sides, a horse named Pertinax won a race at Rome.  It belonged to the Greens and was picked as a winner by Commodus.  So, when its partisans raised a great shout, proclaiming “It is Pertinax,” the others, their opponents, in disgust at Commodus likewise prayed (speaking with reference to the man, not the horse):  “Would that it might be so!” Later, when this same horse by reason of age had given up racing and was in the country, it was sent for by Commodus, who brought it into the hippodrome, gilded its hoofs, and adorned its back with a gilded skin.  And people suddenly seeing it cried out again:  “It is Pertinax!” The very expression was itself ominous, since it occurred at the last horse-race that year, and immediately after it the sovereignty passed to Pertinax.  A similar import was attached to the club, for Commodus when about to fight on the final day had given it to Pertinax.

[Sidenote:—­5—­] It was in this way that Pertinax came into power.  He obtained all the proper titles and a new one for wishing to be democratic.  That is, he was named Princeps Senatus, according to ancient custom.  He at once reduced to order everything that was previously irregular and lacking in discipline.  He showed in his capacity of emperor kindliness and uprightness, unimpeachable management, and a most careful consideration for the public welfare.  Pertinax did everything, in fact, that a good emperor should do, and he removed the stigma of disgrace from the memories of those who had been unjustly put to death; moreover, he took oath that he would never sanction such a penalty.  Immediately some recalled their relatives and some their friends with tears and joy at once; formerly not even these exhibitions of emotion were allowed.  After this they exhumed the bodies, some of which were found entire and some in fragments, according as decay and time had caused each of them to fare, and they gave them decent treatment and deposited them in their ancestral tombs.

At this time the treasury was suffering from such lack of funds that only twenty-five myriad denarii could be found.  Pertinax therefore had difficulty in raising money from the images and the arms, the horses and the trappings, and the favorites of Commodus, but gave to the Pretorians all that he had promised and to the people one hundred denarii apiece.  All the articles that Commodus had gathered by way of luxury and for armed combats and for chariot driving were exposed in the auction-room, the principal object sought being their sale, though there was a further intention to show what were the late emperor’s deeds and practices and to ascertain who would purchase such articles.

[Sidenote:—­6—­] Laetus consistently spoke well of Pertinax and abused Commodus [relating all the latter’s evil deeds].