gradual growth
of the power of the pretorian guard, who now, and on so many future
occasions, ruled the destinies of the empire.]

[Footnote 479: See AUGUSTUS, cc. xliii., xlv.]

[Footnote 480: Ib. c. ci.]

[Footnote 481: Germanicus.]

[Footnote 482: Naples and other cities on that coast were Greek
colonies.]

[Footnote 483: This arch was erected in memory of the standards (the
eagles) lost by Varus, in Germany, having been recovered by Germanicus
under the auspices of Tiberius. See his Life, c. xlvii.; and Tacit.
Annal. ii. 41. It seems to have stood at the foot of the Capitol, on the
side of the Forum, near the temple of Concord; but there are no remains of
it.]

[Footnote 484: Tacitus informs us that the same application had been made
by Tiberius. Annal. iii. The prefect of the pretorian guards, high and
important as his office had now become, was not allowed to enter the
senate-house, unless he belonged to the equestrian order.]

[Footnote 485: The procurators had the administration of some of the less
important provinces, with rank and authority inferior to that of the
pro-consuls and prefects. Frequent mention of these officers is made by
Josephus; and Pontius Pilate, who sentenced our Lord to crucifixion, held
that office in Judaea, under Tiberius.]

[Footnote 486: Pollio and Messala were distinguished orators, who
flourished under the Caesars Julius and Augustus.]

[Footnote 487: A.U.C. 795, 796.]

[Footnote 488: A.U.C. 800, 804.]

[Footnote 489: "Ad bestias" had become a new and frequent sentence for
malefactors. It will be recollected, that it was the most usual form of
martyrdom for the primitive Christians. Polycarp was brought all the way
from Smyrna to be exposed to it in the amphitheatre at Rome.]

[Footnote 490: This reminds us of the decision of Solomon in the case of
the two mothers, who each claimed a child as their own, 1 Kings iii.
22-27.]

[Footnote 491: A most absurd judicial conclusion, the business of the
judge or court being to decide, on weighing the evidence, on which side
the truth preponderated.]

[Footnote 492: See the note in CALIGULA, c. xix., as to Suetonius's
sources of information from persons cotemporary with the occurrences he
relates.]

[Footnote 493: The insult was conveyed in Greek, which seems, from
Suetonius, to have been in very common use at Rome: kai su geron ei, kai
moros.]

[Footnote 494: A.U.C. 798, or 800.]

[Footnote 495: