Produced by Tapio Riikonen and David Widger
By
C. Suetonius Tranquillus;
To which are added,
The Translation of
Alexander Thomson, M.D.
revised and corrected by
T.Forester, Esq., A.M.
(465)
I. Titus, who had the same cognomen with his father, was the darling anddelight of mankind; so much did the natural genius, address, or goodfortune he possessed tend to conciliate the favour of all. This was,indeed, extremely difficult, after he became emperor, as before thattime, and even during the reign of his father, he lay under public odiumand censure. He was born upon the third of the calends of January, [30thDec.] in the year remarkable for the death of Caius [776], near theSeptizonium [777], in a mean house, and a very small and dark room, whichstill exists, and is shown to the curious.
II. He was educated in the palace with Britannicus, and instructed inthe same branches of learning, and under the same masters. During thistime, they say, that a physiognomist being introduced by Narcissus, thefreedman of Claudius, to examine the features of Britannicus [778],positively affirmed that he would never become emperor, but that Titus,who stood by, would. They were so familiar, that Titus being next him attable, is thought to have tasted of the fatal potion which put an end toBritannicus's life, and to have contracted from it a distemper which hungabout him a long time. In remembrance of all these circumstances, heafterwards erected a golden statue of him in the Palatium, and dedicatedto him an equestrian statue of ivory; attending it in the Circensianprocession, in which it is still carried to this day.
(466) III. While yet a boy, he was remarkable for his noble endowmentsboth of body and mind; and as he advanced in years, they became stillmore conspicuous. He had a fine person, combining an equal mixture ofmajesty and grace; was very strong, though not tall, and somewhatcorpulent. Gifted with an excellent memory, and a capacity for all thearts of peace and war; he was a perfect master of the use of arms andriding; very ready in the Latin and Greek tongues, both in verse andprose; and such was the facility he possessed in both, that he wouldharangue and versify extempore. Nor was he unacquainted with music, butcould both sing and play upon the harp sweetly and scientifically. Ihave likewise been informed by many persons, that he was remarkably quickin writing short-hand, would in merriment and jest engage with hissecretaries in the imitation of any hand-writing he saw, and often say,"that he was admirably qualified for forgery."
IV. He filled with distinction the rank of a military tribune both inGermany and Britain, in which he conducted himself with the utmostactivity, and no less modesty and reputation; as appears evident from thegreat number of statues, with honourable inscriptions, erected to him invarious parts of both those provinces. After serving in the wars, hefrequented the courts of law, but with less assiduity than applause.About the same time, he married Arricidia, the daughter of Tertullus, whowas only a knight, but had formerly