Against the name of Corbulo no rage, nothing of the hatred of an enemy, was felt by the barbarians, and they therefore thought his advice trustworthy.Consequently Vologeses was not implacable to the uttermost, and he even asked a truce for some divisions of his kingdom.Tiridates demanded a place and a day for an interview.The time was to be soon, the place that in which Paetus and his legions had been lately besieged, for this was chosen by the barbarians in remembrance for their more prosperous fortune.Corbulo did not refuse, resolved that a widely different issue should enhance his renown.
Nor did the disgrace of Paetus trouble him, as was clearly proved by the fact that he commanded Paetus' son, who was a tribune, to take some companies with him and cover up the relics of that ill-starred battle-field.On the day appointed, Tiberius Alexander, a distinguished Roman knight, sent to assist in the campaign, and Vinianus Annius, Corbulo's son-in-law, who, though not yet of a senator's age, had the command of the fifth legion as "legatus,"entered the camp of Tiridates, by way of compliment to him, and to reassure him against treachery by so valuable a pledge.Each then took with him twenty horsemen.The king, seeing Corbulo, was the first to dismount, and Corbulo hesitated not a moment, but both on foot joined their right hands.
Then the Roman commended the young prince for abandoning rash courses, and adopting a safe and expedient policy.Tiridates first dwelt much on the nobility of his race, but went on to speak in a tone of moderation.He would go to Rome, and bring the emperor a new glory, a suppliant Arsacid, while Parthia was prosperous.It was then agreed that Tiridates should lay down his royal crown before Caesar's image, and resume it only from the hand of Nero.The interview then ended with a kiss.After an interval of a few days there was a grand display on both sides; on the one, cavalry ranged in squadrons with their national ensigns; on the other, stood the columns of our legions with glittering eagles and standards and images of deities, after the appearance of a temple.In the midst, on a tribunal, was a chair of state, and on the chair a statue of Nero.
To this Tiridates advanced, and having slain the customary victims, he removed the crown from his head, and set it at the foot of the statue;whereupon all felt a deep thrill of emotion, rendered the more intense by the sight which yet lingered before their eyes, of the slaughter or siege of Roman armies."But now," they thought, "the calamity is reversed; Tiridates is about to go, a spectacle to the world, little better than a prisoner."To military glory Corbulo added courtesy and hospitality.When the king continually asked the reason of whatever he noticed which was new to him, the announcements, for example, by a centurion of the beginnings of each watch, the dismissal of the guests by the sound of a trumpet, and the lighting by a torch from beneath of an altar in front of the headquarters, Corbulo, by exaggerating everything, filled him with admiration of our ancient system.Next day Tiridates begged for time which, as he was about to enter on so long a journey, might suffice for a previous visit to his brothers and his mother.Meanwhile he gave up his daughter as a hostage, and prepared a suppliant letter to Nero.
He then departed, and found Pacorus in Media, and Vologeses at Ecbatana, who was by no means unconcerned for his brother.In fact, Vologeses had entreated Corbulo by special messengers, that Tiridates might not have to endure any badge of slavery, or have to deliver up his sword, or be debarred the honour of embracing the governors of the provinces, or have to present himself at their doors, and that he might be treated at Rome with as much respect as the consuls.Accustomed, forsooth, to foreign arrogance, he had no knowledge of us, who value the reality of empire and disregard its empty show.
That same year the emperor put into possession of the Latin franchise the tribes of the maritime Alps.To the Roman knights he assigned places in the circus in front of the seats of the people, for up to that time they used to enter in a promiscuous throng, as the Roscian law extended only to fourteen rows in the theatre.The same year witnessed shows of gladiators as magnificent as those of the past.Many ladies of distinction, however, and senators, disgraced themselves by appearing in the amphitheatre.
In the year of the consulship of Caius Laecanius and Marcus Licinius a yet keener impulse urged Nero to show himself frequently on the public stage.Hitherto he had sung in private houses or gardens, during the juvenile games, but these he now despised, as being but little frequented, and on too small a scale for so fine a voice.As, however, he did not venture to make a beginning at Rome, he chose Neapolis, because it was a Greek city.From this as his starting-point he might cross into Achaia, and there, winning the well-known and sacred garlands of antiquity, evoke, with increased fame, the enthusiasm of the citizens.Accordingly, a rabble of the townsfolk was brought together, with those whom the excitement of such an event had attracted from the neighbouring towns and colonies, and such as followed in the emperor's train to pay him honour or for various objects.All these, with some companies of soldiers, filled the theatre at Neapolis.
