The Shasta courier., 1871-11-04
THE BURNING OF ROME.
TACITUs' ACCOUNT OF THE GREAT CON.
FLAGRATION.

As everything connected with great
fires has peculiar interest at the present
tiGie, we reproduce the narrative OF the
historian Tac tUs concerning the coufagra
ton which occurred at Rome A b. GA
There followed dreadful disaster
whether fortuitous or by the wicked con.
trivance OF the prince (Nero). is not derer
mined, for both are asserted by historians
but of all the calamities which ever
beiel this city from the rage of fire, this
vas the M erfible I'd severe. 1t brok {
out in that part of the Circus which is
contiguous to Mount Paatine and Coelius;
where by reason Of shops iu which were
kept such goods as minister alnent to fire
the moment it commenced 1t acquired
strength, aud being accelerated by the
wind, it spread at once through the whole
extent of the Circus; for neither were
the hou es secured by enclosures nor the
temples environed with walls; nor was
there any other obstacle to intercept its
progress but the flames spreading every
way impetuously invaded first the l,wer
regions of the city, thea mounted the
higher; then again ravaging the lower, it
bafied every effort to extiuguish it. by the
rapidity of its destructive course, and from
the liability OF the city to cunhagration in
consequence of the narrow and intricate
alleys, and the irregularity of the streets
in ancient Rome. Add to this The wall
ings Of terrified women, the in6ra condi-
ton of the aged, and the belplessness of
childhood such as strove to provide for
themselves, and those who labored to assist
Others; these dragging the feeble, those
waiting for them; some hnrrying, others
lingering; altogether created scene of
universal confusion and embarrassment; !;
and while they looked back upon the dan
ger in the rear, they often found them
selves beset before and on their SIDES or
if they had escape into the quarters ad-
joining, these, too. were already seized by
the devouring flames; even the parts
which they believed remote and exempt
were found to be in the same distress
At last, not knowing what to shun or
where TO seek sanctuary, they crowded the
streets and lay along the open fields.
Some from the loss Of their whole sub
stance, even the mean, of their daily sns-
tenance, others from affllction for their
relations, whom they had not been able to
snatch from the flames, suff, red themsel-
YES to perish in them, though they had
opportunity for escape. Neither dared
any mau attempt to check the fire, so
repeated We're the menaces of many whu
forbade to extinguish it aud because
others openly threw fire brands, with loud
declarations that they had one who au-
thorIzed them" whether they did it that
they might plumber with III less straiut
or in consequence Of orders given
Nero. who was at the junction sojourn-
ing at Antium, did net return to the city
till the fire approached that quarter of his
house which connected the palace with
gardens of Maconas: nor could it, how
ever, be prevented from devouring the
house and pa ace, and everything around
But for the relief of the people thus
destitute and driven from their dwellings,,
he opened the field Of Mars and the mon
umental cdifces erected 10y Agrippa, and
even his own gardens. He likewise rear
ed temporary houses for the reception of
the forlorn multitude, aud from O,tia and
the neighboring cities were brought up
the river household necessaries, and the
price of grain was reduced to three sester
ces the measure. All Of which proceed
ing. though of a popular character, were
thrown away, because rumor had be-
come universally current thai at the ry
time when the city was in flames Nero, 90
ing on the stage of his private theatre,
sang the .'Destruc'ion of Troy" assimila-
ing the present disaster 10 that catastrophe
of ancient times.
At length, Oh the sixth day the confa
grafton was stayed at the foot of Esqul'e,
by pulling down an immense quantity of
buildings. so that an open space, as it
were. void air. might cheek the raging
element by breaking the continuity. But
fire broke out afIesh, with no little violence
but in regions more spicious, and there
fore with less destruction of human life,
but more extensive havoc was made Of the
temples and porticos dedicated to amuse-
ment Nero seemed to aim at the
glory of building new city, and calling
it by his own name: for of the fourteen
sections. into which Rome is divided, four
were still standing entire, three were
levcled with the ground and in the seven
others there remained only here and there
few remnants of houses, shattered and
half consumed
1t were no very easy task to rece unit tie
number Of tenelnents and temples which
were lost. but the following most venerable
for antiquity and sanctity, were consumed
that dedicated by Servius Tullius to the
neon the temple and great altar coose
Grated by Evauder, the Arcadian. tc
Hercules while present; the chapel vowed
by Ronuus to Jupiter Stat r; the palace
of Numa, with the temple OF Vesta, and
in it the tutelar gods If Rome. moreover
the treasures accumulated by so many
victories. the beautiful productions oI
Greek artists. ancient writings OF authors
celebrated for genius and till then presers.
! ed entire. were consumed; and though
great was the beauty OF the CITY in it.
renovated hrm, the older inhabi6ant.