i86 ESSAT upon the PRINCIPLES 



" minum dixerant. Unde angufta et lubrica oratio fub prin- 

 " cipe, qui libertatem metuebat, adulationem oderat *." 



IN unfolding the character of SEJANUS, who was long the 

 favourite, and even the director of TIBERIUS, no lefs art is 

 difplayed than in unfolding that of the emperor himfelf. Along 

 with many bad qualities, this SEJANUS had poflefTed the moft 

 wonderful addrefs. While the other fubjects of TIBERIUS 

 dreaded the violence and the caprice of his hximours, he had 

 art enough to render both the inftruments of his elevation. 

 He could make even the tyrant conceal his lufts, through a fear, 

 or an attachment, of which he was the object. " Obtectis libidi- 

 " nibus, dum SEJANUM dilexit, timuitve f." By an unfortu- 

 nate chafm in the writings of TACITUS, the hiftory of the fall, 

 and the full expofition of the character of SEJANUS are now 

 loft. His daring ambition, and almoft unfathomable fubtilty, 

 prefent a fubject that fuits the hand of an able artift ; and fome 

 of the great outlines ftill remaining fhew clearly the value of 

 the picture when complete. 



BUT, although TACITUS draws his characters in ftrong co- 

 lours, yet there is nothing in them bordering tipon extravagance. 

 The fingularity of their conduct juftifies that of the view held 

 forth. Though many foul paffions deformed the character of 

 TIBERIUS; yet our author is candid enough to point out in it 

 the fmalleft fymptom of virtue. He repeatedly frees him from 

 the imputation of avarice. He even feems happy in extolling 

 the merit of his reply to ADGANDESTRIUS, who offered to de- 

 ftroy ARMINIUS, if the fenate would fend him poifon for the 

 purpofe. " Refponfum efle, non fraude neque occultis, fed pa- 

 " lam et armatum populum Romanum hoftes fuos ulcifci. 

 " QH a gloria sequabat fe TIBERIUS prifcis imperatoribus, qui 

 " venenum in PYRRHUM regem vetuerant, prodiderantque J." 



As the character of TIBERIUS is not held forth as complete- 

 ly abandoned, fo neither is that of GERMANICUS held forth as 



completely 



* Ann. lib. 2. cap. 87. -) Ibid. lib. 6. cap. 51. J Ibid. lib. 2. cap. 38. 



