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The Burning of Rome, Or; A Story of the Days of Nero
The Burning of Rome Or A Story of the Days of Nero Author:Alfred John Church General Books publication date: 2009 Original publication date: 1915 Original Publisher: Macmillan Subjects: Rome History / General History / Ancient / General History / Ancient / Rome Notes: This is a black and white OCR reprint of the original. It has no illustrations and there may be typos or missing text. When you buy the Gener... more »al Books edition of this book you get free trial access to Million-Books.com where you can select from more than a million books for free. Excerpt: CHAPTER III. IN THE CIRCUS. Two days after the conversation related in my last chapter Subrius and Lateranus were deep in consultation in the library of the latter's mansion on the Esquiline Hill. The subject that occupied them was, of course, the same that had been started on that occasion. " Licinius tells me," said the Praetorian, " that he has spoken to Piso, and that he caught eagerly at the notion. I must confess that at first I was averse to the man. It seemed a pity to throw away so magnificent an opportunity. What good might not an honest, capable man do, if he were put in this place ? It is no flattery, but simple truth, that the Emperor is a Jupiter on earth. But it seems hopeless to look for the ideal man. That certainly Piso is not. But he is resolute, and he means well, and he will be popular. He is not the absolute best, the four-square and faultless man that the philosophers talk about; very far from it. But then the faultless man would not please the Romans, if I know them; and to do the Romans, or, for the matter of that, any men, good, you must please them first." "And how does the recruiting go on?" asked Lateranus. " Excellently well," said Subrius, " within the limits that are set, that every man should choose one associate. Asper and Sulpicius have both chosen comrades, and can answer for their loyalty as for themselves. Lucan has taken Scaevinus. I should hardly have thought that the lazy creature had so much energy in him ; but these sleepy looking fellows...« less