Commodus used to make many unusual expenditures, and for this reason neither his other revenues nor the funds provided by Cleander, though incalculable in amount, sufficed him, and he was compelled to bring charges against even women — charges not calling for capital punishment, yet full of vague terror and threats. In consequence he sold them their lives for a large price and got something from them by force under the guise of a voluntary offering."

For when he was intending to fight once more as a gladiator, he bade us enter the amphitheatre in the equestrian garb and in our woollen cloaks, a thing that we never do when going to the amphitheatre except when one of the emperors has passed away; and on the last day his helmet was carried out by the gates through which the dead are taken out. These events caused absolutely every one of us to believe that we were surely about to be rid of him

And Commodus was so terrified (he was ever the greatest coward) that he at once ordered Cleander to be slain

Cleander, accordingly, was obtaining money from every source, and he amassed more wealth than any who had ever been named cubicularii. A great deal it he gave to Commodus and his concubines, and he spent a great deal on houses, baths, and other works of benefit either to individuals or to cities.

A statue was set up to Victorinus,8 who had been prefect of the city. He had not died as the victim of any plot; in fact, at one time, when a persistent rumour and many reports, one may almost say, were being circulated about his death, he became emboldened, and approaching Perennis, said: "I hear that you men wish to kill me. Why, then, do you delay? Why do you put it off, when you might do it this very day?" 2 Yet not even after that was he molested by any outside person, but he took his own life; and yet he had been honoured among the foremost men by Marcus, both in point of moral  p95 excellence and forensic eloquence stood second to none of his contemporaries. Indeed, two incidents that I shall now relate will reveal his whole character. 3 When he was governor of Germany at one time, he at first attempted by private persuasion at home to induce his lieutenant not to accept bribes; but when the latter would not listen to him, he mounted the tribunal, and after bidding the herald proclaim silence, took oath that he had never accepted bribes and never would. 4 Then he bade the lieutenant take the same oath, and when the other refused to perjure himself, he ordered him to resign his office. And later, when he was governor of Africa and had an associate of similar character to the man just mentioned, though he did not adopt the same method, he nevertheless put him on board a ship and sent him back to Rome. Such, then, was the character of Victorinus.

Thus, though nature had made him like Condianus in appearance and practice had made him similar in other respects, yet he did not share in his learning.

ram's body was placed in a coffin in his stead and burned.

Commodus was guilty of many unseemly deeds, and killed a great many people

and after making a truce with the barbarians he rushed to Rome; for he hated all exertion and craved the comfortable life of the city.

The soldiers in Britain chose Priscus, a lieutenant, emperor; but he declined, saying: I am no more an emperor than you are soldiers

For nature in the first place had made him able to resist sleep, and he had developed this faculty by the discipline of fasting. 5 For in general he would never eat to satiety, and in order that he might not take his fill even of bread, he used to send to Rome for it

until I learned that the brothers had been strangled, so to speak, by Commodus (who later emulated Hercules)

a boy strangling two serpents and a lion pursuing a fawn

Commodus also put Crispina to death, having become angry with her for some act of adultery. But before their execution both women were banished to the island of Capreae

For privately he never strove in the least for either fame or wealth, but lived a most incorruptible and temperate life

Commodus also killed Salvius Julianus and Tarrutenius Paternus, who was enrolled among the ex-consuls, and others with them, including even a woman of the nobility

in this way he had become friendly with Commodus

On coming to Rome he addressed the senate, uttering a lot of trivialities; and among the various stories that he told in his own praise was one to this effect, 3 that once while out riding he had saved the life of his father, who had fallen into a deep quagmire

1 This man [Commodus] was not naturally wicked, but, on the contrary, as guileless as any man that ever lived. His great simplicity, however, together with his cowardice, made him the slave of his companions, and it was through them that he at first, out of ignorance, missed the better life and then was led on into lustful and cruel habits, which soon became second nature

poison, secretly

Commodus was wholly devoted to pleasure and gave himself up to chariot-racing, caring nothing for anything of that nature;7 and, indeed, if he had been deeply concerned, he would not have been able to administer them by reason of his indolence and his inexperience.

Commodus, taking a respite from his amusements and sports, turned to murder and was killing off the prominent men

moreover uttered screams that boded nothing peaceful

Vast numbers of statues were erected representing him in the garb of Hercules

but in public he refrained from using steel and shedding human blood

16 Now this "Golden One," this "Hercules," (this "god" (for he was even given this name, too) suddenly drove into Rome one afternoon from his suburb and conducted thirty horse-races in the space of two hours. These proceedings had much to do with his running short of funds. 2 He was also fond, it is true, of bestowing gifts, and frequently gave largesses to the populace at the rate of one hundred and forty denarii per man; but most of his expenditures were for the objects I have mentioned. Hence he brought accusations against both men and women, slaying some and to others selling their lives for their property.13 3 And finally he ordered us, our wives, and our children each to contribute two gold pieces14 every year on his birthday as a kind of first-fruits, and commanded the senators in all the other cities to give five denarii apiece. Of this, too, he saved nothing, but spent it all disgracefully on his wild beasts and his gladiators.

ordered that Rome itself should be called Commodiana, the legions Commodian,

5 Now the death of these victims passed unheeded for Commodus was a greater curse to the Romans than any pestilence or any crime

conspicuous wealth, distinguished family, unusual learning, or some other point of excellence

when he heard that sentence of death had been pronounced against him, too, drank the blood of a hare

Pompeianus, Pertinax and Victorinus

Commodus was guilty of many unseemly deeds, and killed a great many people