140

CHAP.

IV.

His ava-rice anticruelty.

THE DECLINE AND FALL

decessor; for Oleander was devoid of any abi-lity or virtue which could inspire the emperorwith envy or distrust. Avarice was the reign- ting passion of his soul, and the great principleof his administration. The rank of consul, ofpatrician, of senator, was exposed to publicsale; and it would have been considered asdisaffection, if any one had refused to purchasethese empty and disgraceful honours with thegreatest part of his fortune/ In the lucrativeprovincial employments, the minister sharedwith the governor the spoils of the people. Theexecution of the laws was venal and arbitrary.

A wealthy criminal might obtain, not only thereversal of the sentence by which he was justlycondemned, but might likewise inflict whateverpunishment he pleased on the accuser, the wit-nesses, and the judge.

By these means, Cleander, in the space of >three years, had accumulated more wealth thanhad ever yet been possessed by any freedman /Commodus was perfectly satisfied with the mag-nificent presents which the artful courtier laidat his feet in the most seasonable moments. Todivert the public envy, Cleander, under the em-peror’s name, erected baths, porticos, and placesof exercise, for the use of the people/ He

* One of these dear-bought promotions occasioned a current bon mot,that Julius Solon was banished into the senate.

y Dion (1. Ixxii, p. 12, 13) observes, that no freedman had possessedriches equal to those of Cleander. The fortune of Pallas amounted,however, to upwards of five and twenty hundred thousand pounds;ter millies.

x Dion, 1. Ixxii, p. 12, 13 ; Herodian , I. i, p, 29 ; Hist. August, p. 52.

These baths were situated near the Porta Capena . See Nardini RomaAntica, p. 79.