same equanimity; suffering himself patiently to be contradicted, and
even with circumstances of studied incivility. In the public elections,
he gave his vote like any private citizen; and, when he happened to be
a candidate himself, he canvassed the electors with the same earnestness
of personal application, as any other candidate with the least possible
title to public favor from present power or past services. But, perhaps
by no expressions of his civic spirit did Augustus so much conciliate
men's minds, as by the readiness with which he participated in their
social pleasures, and by the uniform severity with which he refused
to apply his influence in any way which could disturb the pure
administration of justice. The Roman juries (_judices_ they were
called), were very corrupt; and easily swayed to an unconscientious
verdict, by the appearance in court of any great man on behalf of one of
the parties interested: nor was such an interference with the course
of private justice any ways injurious to the great man's character. The
wrong which he promoted did but the more forcibly proclaim the warmth
and fidelity of his friendships. So much the more generally was the
uprightness of the emperor appreciated, who would neither tamper with
justice himself, nor countenance any motion in that direction, though it
were to serve his very dearest friend, either by his personal presence,
or by the use of his name. And, as if it had been a trifle merely to
forbear, and to show his regard to justice in this negative way, he even
allowed himself to be summoned as a witness on trials, and showed no
anger when his own evidence was overborne by stronger on the other side.
This disinterested love of justice, and an integrity, so rare in the
great men of Rome, could not but command the reverence of the people.
But their affection, doubtless, was more conciliated by the freedom with
which the emperor accepted invitations from all quarters, and shared
continually in the festal pleasures of his subjects. This practice,
however, he discontinued, or narrowed, as he advanced in years.
Suetonius, who, as a true anecdote-monger, would solve every thing,
and account for every change by some definite incident, charges this
alteration in the emperor's condescensions upon one particular party at
a wedding feast, where the crowd incommoded him much by their pressure
and heat. But, doubtless, it happened to Augustus as to other men; his
spirits failed, and his powers of supporting fatigue or bustle, as years
stole upon him. Changes, coming by insensible steps, and not willingly
acknowledged, for some time escape notice; until some sudden shock
reminds a man forcibly to do that which he has long meditated in an
irresolute way. The marriage banquet may have been the particular
occasion from which Augustus stepped into the habits of old age, but
certainly not the cause of so entire a revolution in his mode of living.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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