9.  A sovereign of such generosity and mildness was not, however, without his enemies.  Vigil’ius Ru’fus, who had opposed his accession, was not only pardoned, but made his colleague in the consulship.  Calpur’nius Cras’sus also, with some others, formed a conspiracy to destroy him; but Nerva was satisfied with banishing those who were culpable, though the senate were for inflicting more rigorous punishments. 10.  But the most dangerous insurrection was that of the praetorian bands, who, headed by Caspa’rius Olia’nus, insisted upon revenging the late emperor’s death, whose memory was still dear to them, from his frequent liberalities. 11.  Nerva, whose kindness to good men rendered him more obnoxious to the vicious, did all in his power to stop the progress of this insurrection; he presented himself to the mutinous soldiers, and laying bare his bosom, desired them to strike there rather than be guilty of so much injustice. 12.  The soldiers, however, paid no regard to his remonstrances; but seizing upon Petro’nius and Parthe’nius, slew them in the most ignominious manner.  Not content with this, they even compelled the emperor to approve of their sedition, and to make a speech to the people, in which he thanked the cohorts for their fidelity.

13.  So disagreeable a constraint upon the emperor’s inclinations was in the end attended with the most happy effects, as it caused the adoption of Trajan[3] to succeed him; for, perceiving that in the present turbulent disposition of the times, he stood in need of an assistant in the empire, setting aside all his own relations, he fixed upon Ul’pius Tra’jan, an utter stranger to his family, who was then governor in Upper Germany, as his successor. 14.  About three months after this, having put himself into a violent passion with one Reg’ulus, a senator, he was seized with a fever of which he died, after a reign of one year, four months, and nine days.

15.  He was the first foreigner that ever reigned in Rome, and justly reputed a prince of great generosity and moderation.  He is also celebrated for his wisdom, though with less reason; the greatest instance given of it during his reign, being the choice of his successor.

[Sidenote:  U.C. 851.  A.D. 98.]

16.  On hearing of the death of Nerva, Trajan prepared to come to Rome from Germany, where he was governor.  He received upon his arrival a letter from Plu’tarch, the philosopher, who had the honour of being his master, to the following purport:—­“Since your merits and not your importunities, have advanced you to the empire, permit me to congratulate you on your virtues, and my own good fortune.  If your future government proves answerable to your former worth, I shall be happy; but if you become worse for power, yours will be the danger, and mine the ignominy of your conduct.  The errors of the pupil will be charged upon his instructor.  Sen’eca is reproached for the enormities of Nero; and Soc’rates and Quintil’ian have not escaped censure for