ions, which Roman historians and
magistrates did not trouble themselves to distinguish. How little even
the well-informed Suetonius knew of the real facts, we shall find in the
only direct notice of the Christians contained in his works (CLAUDIUS c.
xxv., NERO, c. xvi.); but that little confirms our conjecture. All the
commentators, however, give the passage the turn retained in the text.
Josephus informs us of the particular occurrence which led to the
expulsion of the Jews from Rome by Tiberius.--Ant. xviii. 5.

[336] Varro tells us that the Roman people "were more actively employed
(manus movere) in the theatre and circus, than in the corn-fields and
vineyards."--De Re Rustic. ii. And Juvenal, in his satires, frequently
alludes to their passion for public spectacles, particularly in the well-
known lines--

--------Atque duas tantum res serrius optat,
Panem et Circenses. Sat. x. 80.

[337] The Cottian Alps derived their name from this king. They include
that part of the chain which divides Dauphiny from Piedmont, and are
crossed by the pass of the Mont Cenis.

[338] Antium, mentioned before, (AUG. c. lviii.) once a flourishing city
of the Volscians, standing on the sea-coast, about thirty-eight miles
from Rome, was a favourite resort of the emperors and persons of wealth.
The Apollo Belvidere was found among the ruins of its temples and other
edifices.

[339] A.U.C. 779.

[340] Terracina, standing at the southern extremity of the Pontine
Marshes, on the shore of the Mediterranean. It is surrounded by high
calcareous cliffs, in which there are caverns, affording, as Strabo
informs us, cool retreats, attached to the Roman villas built round.

[341] Augustus died at Nola, a city in Campania. See c. lviii. of his
life.

[342] Fidenae stood in a bend of the Tiber, near its junction with the
Anio. There are few traces of it remaining.

[343] That any man could drink an amphora of wine at a draught, is
beyond all credibility; for the amphora was nearly equal to nine gallons,
English measure. The probability is, that the man had emptied a large
vessel, which was shaped like an amphora.

[344] Capri, the luxurious retreat and scene of the debaucheries of the
Roman emperors, is an island off the southern point of the bay of Naples,
about twelve miles in circumference.

[345] Pan, the god of the shepherds, and inventor of the flute, was said
to be the son of Mercury and