102 On the UTlLIlT of defining 



" Petreius atque Afranius quum ftipendum ab legionibus 

 " pcene feditione facta fiagitarentur, cujus illi diem nondum 

 *' veniffe dicerent, Caesar ut cognofceret poflulatum ejl*." The 

 requeft made by the foldiers, in order to obtain their pay be- 

 fore it was due, was very different from that made to Cjesar 

 in order to have the matter fettled. 



There is a paflage in Tacitus, in which the three laft of 

 the five verbs confidered are fo placed, that the meaning of each 

 is very elegantly and decisively brought forth. The hiftorian 

 is defcribing the fentiments both of Otho and of the army at 

 Bedriacum, which he had left juft before the engagement that 

 was to decide the conteft between him and Vitellius. " Ibi 

 " de prcelio d ^bitatum ; Othone per literas fiagitante ut ma- 

 " turarent ; militibus ut imperator pugnse adeffet pofcentibus ; 

 " plerique copias trans Padum agentes acciri pojlulabant \" 

 By forming this anticlimax ; Tacitus gives information to the 

 grammarian which is worthy of his attention. The terms of 

 the Emperor's mefTage, in which flagitare is ufed, are expref- 

 five of his authority, and intimate the danger of not comply- 

 ing with his requelt. Thofe which announce the fentiments of 

 the foldiers, by means of pofcere, are expreflive of no unbe- 

 coming menace towards their commander, but make the ful- 

 filment of their right to be led on to battle by him, the condi- 

 tion of their obedience. Many, again, whofe requeft is an- 

 nounced by pojlulare, fuggeft a reafonable claim, in which 

 there is not even the fhadow of contumacy. They are willing 

 to obey the orders of their commander with all prudent dif- 

 patch, and even in his abfence, and they require a reinforce- 

 ment, not as aright, but as the means of doing juftice to their 

 own courage, and to the caufe which they had efpoufed. The 

 delicacy exhibited by the hiftorian in this defcription, will pleafe 

 the more the longer it is contemplated. He not only delights 



his 



* Caf. Bell. Civ. i. 87. + Tac. Hift. 2. 39. 



