I was overcome, and arguing with myself that if I were murdered
by them some one else would willingly accept the dignity of emperor, I
consented, hoping thus to pacify their armed violence.

11. "This is the plain account of what has been done; and I entreat you
to listen to it with mildness. Do not believe that anything else is the
truth; and do not listen to malignant men who deal in mischievous
whispers, always eager to seek their own gain by causing ill will
between princes. Banish flattery, which is the nurse of vice, and listen
to the voice of that most excellent of all virtues, justice. And receive
with good faith the equitable condition which I propose, considering in
your mind that such things are for the interest of the Roman state, and
of us also who are united by affection of blood, and by an equality of
superior fortune.

12. "And pardon me. These reasonable requests of mine I am not so
anxious to see carried out, as to see them approved by you as expedient
and proper; and I shall with eagerness follow all your instructions.

13. "What requires to be done I will briefly explain. I will provide you
some Spanish draught horses, and some youths to mingle with the Gentiles
and Scutarii of the Letian tribe, a race of barbarians on the side of
the Rhine; or else of those people which have come over to our side. And
I promise till the end of my life to do all I can to assist you, not
only with gratitude, but with eagerness.

14. "Your clemency will appoint us prefects for our praetorium of known
equity and virtue: the appointment of the ordinary judges, and the
promotion of the military officers it is fair should be left to me; as
also the selection of my guard. For it would be unreasonable, when it is
possible to be guarded against, that those persons should be placed
about an emperor of whose manners and inclinations he is ignorant.

15. "These things I can further assure you of positively. The Gauls will
neither of their own accord, nor by any amount of compulsion, be brought
to send recruits to foreign and distant countries, since they have been
long harassed by protracted annoyances and heavy disasters, lest the
youth of the nation should be destroyed, and the whole people, while
recollecting their past sufferings, should abandon themselves to despair
for the future.

16. "Nor is it fit to seek from hence assistance against the Parthians,
when even now the attempts of the barbarians against this land are