The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-09-09

exterior influences Affect II, by experience
OF life, and by contact with good society
for those who have access to II. N. Bois-
sier deems II indisputable that Tacftus lived
at Rome In what is called society. He was
no stranger to II by birth, and the brillianoe
OF his initial efforts must have made him
In request. II 10, OF course, dificult to re-
produce in imagination Roman society In
the Flavian epoch. In IN effort to do 1t
M. Boissier recalls the curious passage of
the annals in which Tacitus himself tells
something Of the life Of contemporary aris-
tocratic society. He begins at the outset
by recalling that it was at about the time
OF the Inauguration OF the principate by
Augustus (about a century before) that
luxury was carried TO it's height at Rome.
The great families, finding themselves
stripped OF part Of their political privileges,
thought to distinguish themselves from
the rest OF the citizens and still maintain
their rank by leading a life Of magniicence.
To them the pSinoeps had left the right OF
seeking their own ruin, and they abused 1t.
Table expenditure, the splendor Of villas,
the multitude,o d slaves, the quest OF mas
terpieces Of art and furniture OF great
price, prodigality toward friends, clients
1hN AACCAAAACug AhhDdAIOh Nlc a ACrt liz
The seventies Of the Imperial authority
against all who bore great names and had
great possessions did the rest. Thus il
came-to pass that during the period ex-
tending from Augustus to vespasian the
ancient Roman R~riStocracy almost entirely
disappeared. In its place had been formed
another, proceeding rom the Italian NUM-
ciPalities or from the provinces. 1t is rare
in Pliny's letters to hear mentioned a name
belonging 10 one Of the old families of pa
trician or eminent plebelan. descent. or
representatives OF the ancient republican
oligarchy the cruelty of the Caesars had
spared but few. 1t was significant that
Vitelius put to death a Dolabella for no
other crime than that OF coming of the
family OF the Cornelii. Many Of those who
survived died OF hunger. We learn from
the annals Of Tacitus that q Gracious prac-
tised the meAnest trades, and that Asinius
was a forger Of spurious wills. Most OF
the survivors lived on the charity Of the
prince. like the Versailles nobility on the
liberality OF Louis XIV. It comes, there
fore, as a surprise, after 10 many Pisones
had been slain, 70 find one still alive in
Trajan's reign, reading. as the younger
Pliny depicts him, minor poetry before an
indulgent audience.
This is an exception, however; nearly all
Pliny's correspondents bear new names,
and the majority are natives Of the Gauls,
Africa or Spain. Our author points out
thai a q rule, they have made their way
by honorable paths. The fathers rave held
municipal magistracies at home. The sons,
having passed through the army or served
In, financial posts, have come TO Sc tile at
Rome, there TO found Senatorial families.
All profess great affection for letters; IL is
one way Of justifying and ennobling their
fortunes. Not only have they studied
eloquence in their youth, to speak well being
an Indispensable accomplishment for a
Roman magistrate, but they take an interest
in philosophy, Or.eyen compose elegies and
epics." On the whole, NJ. Boissier Is con-
vinced that at no other period has literature
been so greatly loved. 1T was. in short, q
very agreeable society THAT OF Rome in
the Flavian epoch A. D. 7o-esl, which indeed
no longer had the distinction and high bear
ing Of the early days OF the prinoipate,
but in which we're still TO be found, with a
less spacious life and simpler manners,
much elegance and wit
Such was the environment in which Taci-
tus Is TO be figured during the peaceful and
prosperous years Of Vespasian and Titus in
the hour Of his first oratorical triumphs, at
the happy age which as Aristotle puts IL, has
not vet been Inundated by life and in which
the present is illumined with the hope OF the
future. That Tacitus must lave worthily
maintained his position amid such surround
ings NJ. Boissier considers evident in view
OF the fact that sven in his writings his
incisive wit pierces the veil OF a self imposed
cold gravity. IL discloses itself in strokes
Of sarcasm, fine irony, piquant subtlety OF
expression. Some anecdotes and pertinent
passages cited in the book before US Justify
the assumption that 'Tacitus must have
been welcome in any society where he was
under no need OF. conStraint- and could let
his vein of -mocAery AowSfreely.-
1t is well known that women were not
excluded from social functions during the
Flavian period any more than they had
been in the Neronian, or we're to be in the
Antonine epoch. We find it rather hard
To picture Tacjtus in their company, since
in his books he is a grave, almost solemn
figure. Our French essayist slyly sug-
gests that as a matter OF fact he may nave
been more at his ease with women than we
imagine. On occasion, 10 doubt, he uses
them i'll. For instance, speaking Of the
wife Of a freedman who encouraged her
husband to betray his master he says that
she gave him evil counsel, a woman's
counsel" Elsewhere, having to mention
a person who seems to him very frivol Dus,
the historian decides that he had the
w~herewithal to please the women" Seneca,
too, had said not a few hard things about
them, which did not prevent his being the
prot&ge and favorite Of more than one
great Roman lady. NJ. Boissier points
out that the sighting pnyipgs Of JNcitus
are only whimsical asides; ne is speaking
more seriously when he asserts with per-
feet Justice that "a woman deserves so
much the more gratitude for her good
conduct in proportion to tbs severity Of
the Judgment passed on her III doings."
The fact is recalled that under Tiberius
the question was raised in the Senate. with
reference to certain troubles which had
occurred in the provinces, whether it would
not be advif able for legates and rrocon-
suls to be prevented from taking their wivcs
with them when they went cut as admins
traitors. AZ IL his custom, Tacitus frames
a contradictory debate: one orator charges
the wives with being the cause Of all kinds
Of disorders when they aocC mpany their