27.  Having given peace and prosperity to the empire, he was loved, honoured, and almost adored.  He adorned the city with public buildings; he freed it from such men as lived by their vices; he entertained persons of merit with familiarity; and so little did he fear his enemies, that he could scarcely be induced to suppose he had any.

Questions for Examination.

1.  How was the account of Domitian’s death received?

2.  Was he regretted by any description of his subjects?

3.  What consequences ensued from this regret?

4.  Who was Cocceius Nerva?

5.  Was his government acceptable to the people?

6.  What afforded a presage of his future mild administration?

7.  Did he keep this oath inviolate?

8.  Was Nerva avaricious?

9.  Was his reign free from disturbances?

10.  Were all conspiracies repressed from this time?

11.  Did Nerva exert himself to quell it?

12.  Were his endeavours successful?

13.  What important consequences ensued from these commotions?

14.  What occasioned his death?

15.  What was his character?

16.  How did Trajan act on his accession, and what advice did he receive?

17.  What sentiments did his subjects entertain of their new emperor?

18.  With whom did he commence hostilities?

19.  What was the event of the campaign?

20.  What was the consequence of this victory?

21.  Did peace continue long?

22.  What great undertaking did he accomplish in this expedition?

23.  Was it a difficult work?

24.  What followed the building of the bridge?

25.  What was the event of this second campaign?

26.  What advantages arose from this conquest?

27.  Did Trajan suffer prosperity to make him neglectful of his duties?

SECTION II.

  With fatal heat impetuous courage glows.—­Johnson.

[Sidenote:  U.C. 860.  A.D. 107.]

1.  It had been happy for Trajan’s memory, had he shown equal clemency to all his subjects; but about the ninth year of his reign, he was persuaded to look upon the Christians with a suspicious eye, and great numbers of them were put to death by popular tumults and judicial proceedings. 2.  However, the persecution ceased after some time; for the emperor, finding that the Christians were an innocent and inoffensive people, suspended their punishments.

3.  During this emperor’s reign there was a dreadful insurrection of the Jews in all parts of the empire.  This wretched people, still infatuated, and ever expecting some signal deliverance, took the advantage of Tra’jan’s expedition to the east, to massacre all the Greeks and Romans whom they could get into their power. 4.  This rebellion first began in Cyre’ne, a Roman province in Africa;