[22] Cleopatra was forty years old at the time of her death, and had wed twelve years with Antony.

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CHAPTER XXII.

SECTION I.

  Happy Augustus! who so well inspired,
  Couldst throw thy pomp and royalties aside. 
  Attentive to the wise, the great of soul. 
  And dignify thy mind.  Thrice glorious days. 
  Auspicious to the muses!—­Dyer.

1.  By the death of Antony, Augus’tus having become master of the Roman empire, returned to Rome in triumph; where, by feasts and magnificent shows, he began to obliterate the impressions of his former cruelty; and thenceforward resolved to secure, by his clemency, a throne, the foundations of which were laid in blood. 2.  He was now at the head of the most extensive empire that mankind had ever beheld.  The former spirit of the Romans, and those characteristic marks that distinguished them from others, were now totally lost.  The city was inhabited by a concourse from all the countries of the world; and being consequently divested of all just patriotic principles, perhaps a monarchy is the best form of government that could be found to unite its members. 3.  However, it was very remarkable, that during these long contentions among themselves, and these horrid devastations by civil war, the state was daily growing more formidable and powerful, and completed the destruction of all the kings who presumed to oppose it.

4.  The first care of Augus’tus was to assure himself of the friends of Antony; to which end he publickly reported that he had burnt all Antony’s letters and papers without reading them, convinced that, while any thought themselves suspected, they would be fearful of even offering him their friendship.

5.  He had gained the kingdom by his army, but he resolved to govern it by the senate.  This body, though greatly fallen from its ancient splendor, he knew to be the best constituted, and most remarkable for wisdom and justice.  To the senate, therefore, he gave the chief power in the administration of his government, while he himself secured the fidelity of the people and the army by donatives, and acts of favour. 6.  By these means the odium of severity fell upon the senate, and the popularity of pardon was solely his own.  Thus restoring splendor to the senate and discountenancing corruption, he pretended to reserve to himself a very moderate share of authority, to which none could object:  namely, power to compel all ranks of the state to do their duty. 7.  This was, in fact, reserving absolute dominion in his own hands; but the misguided people began to look upon his moderation with astonishment:  they considered themselves as restored to their former freedom, except the capacity of promoting sedition; and the senate supposed their power re-established in all things but their tendency to injustice.  It was even said