After a painting by L. Boulanger.
]
It was in Bajae where Marcellus, the son-in-law of Emperor Augustus, was
poisoned by intriguing Livia; and here Agrippina, the mother of Nero,
was clubbed to death after an attempt by her son to shipwreck and drown
her during a cruise in a magnificent gondola had failed.
In time adultery, poisoning and murder prevailed among the Roman society
to such an extent, that men became afraid to enter matrimony, and
addicted themselves to illicit intercourse.
This period of moral degeneration was, however, distinguished by a most
wonderful rise of literature, science and art. At no time before so many
beautiful temples, basilicas, theatres, arenas, public buildings,
palaces and country-seats were erected. And all these buildings were
adorned with an abundance of mosaics, mural paintings and works of
sculpture. There were also numbers of brilliant writers, poets,
dramatists, orators, law-makers and men who made themselves famous as
naturalists or philosophers.
Of the philosophers the so-called Stoics, among them Seneca, Lucan,
Epictetus and Musonius Rufus formed a school, which exerted a wide and
active influence upon the world at the busiest and most important time
in ancient history. This school was remarkable for its anticipation of
modern ethical conceptions, for the lofty morality of its exhortations
to forgive injuries and overcome evil with good. It also preached the
obligation to universal benevolence on the principle that all men are
brethren. Regarding virtue as the sole end, to be gained mainly by habit
and training, the Stoics furthermore succeeded in reforming matrimonial
life as well as the conceptions about women. In these efforts they were
aided later on by an ethical movement of still greater power, namely
Christianity.
[Illustration]
[Illustration:
VALKYRIES, THE FAIR MAIDENS OF THE BATTLEFIELDS.
]