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out having any apprehensions either for his own safety orthat of his country, and without even the necessity ofhumbling himself to make insipid harangues, had to deal,not with Mysians or Getae, or with a man who was onlymaster of an island or some small territory; but withone whom both sea and land obeyed; against him Apol-lonius took up arms for the good of his subjects, afterhaving displayed the same courage he had done againstNero .

CHAP. IV.

WHOEVER pleases, I know, may consider all Apolloniusdid against Nero , as matter of mere ostentation, inasmuchas he did not march "but in battle against him; but atthe same time it is well known he considerably weakenedhis power, by the encouragement he gave to Vindex inhis revolt, and the reproaches he poured out against Ti-gellinus. # I know also, that his attacking Nero , let whatwill be said of it, required no great courage, as hewas one who only led the life of a player on the lyre orharp. But supposing is was so, what will they say ofDomitian,f a man of a most robust constitution, anenemy to all the pleasures arising from vocal or instru-mental harmony, which tends to soften man’s ruggednature, J a monster, whose luxury of delight was derivedfrom the misfortunes of his fellow-creatures, and whatevergave them pain ; who said, that the distrust of the people

* See b. v. c. 10. B. iv. c. 40.

t Domitian was of tall stature, of ruddy countenance, and of personcomely and graceful. Suetonius .

t Under Domitian , it was our wretched lot to behold the tyrant, andto be seen by him; while he kept a register of our sighs and groans:“ cum suspiria nostra subscriberentur.” Tacitus .

G b G