the
title of Marcus Aurelius Antoninus.

The Moors made an invasion into Spain; the barbarians broke into
Gaul; the army in Britain attempted to set up another Emperor; and the
Parthians in the East were in an uneasy state. The Eastern war, however,
ended favorably, and the Parthian king purchased peace by ceding
Mesopotamia to Rome. But the returning army brought with it a
pestilence, which spread devastation throughout the West. The Christians
were charged with being the cause of the plague, and were cruelly
persecuted. Among the victims were Justin Martyr at Rome, and Polycarp
at Smyrna.

The death of Lucius Verus in 168 released Aurelius from a colleague who
attracted attention only by his unfitness for his position. The Emperor
was thus relieved of embarrassments which might well have become his
greatest danger. The remainder of his reign, however, was scarcely less
unhappy.

The dangers from the troublesome barbarians grew greater and greater.
Rome had now passed the age of conquest, and began to show inability
even to defend what she had acquired. For fourteen years Aurelius was
engaged on the frontiers fighting these barbarians, and endeavoring
to check their advance. He died at Vienna while thus occupied, in the
fifty-ninth year of his life (180).

Peace was shortly afterwards made with the barbarians, a peace bought
with money; an example often followed in later times, when Rome lacked
the strength and courage to enforce her wishes by force of arms.

Marcus Aurelius was the PHILOSOPHER of the Empire. His tastes were
quiet; he was unassuming, and intent on the good of the people. His
faults were amiable weaknesses; his virtues, those of a hero. His
_Meditations_ have made him known as an author of fine tastes and
thoughts. With him ended the line of the GOOD EMPERORS. After his death,
Rome's prosperity and power began rapidly to wane.

THE CHRISTIANS.

The CHRISTIANS, who were gradually increasing in numbers, were
persecuted at different times throughout the Empire. One ground for
these persecutions was that it was a crime against the state to refuse
to worship the gods of the Romans under whom the Empire had flourished.
It was also the custom to burn incense in front of the Emperor's statue,
as an act of adoration. The Christians not only refused homage to
the Roman gods, but denounced the burning of incense as sacrilegious.
AURELIUS gave his sanction to the most general persecution this sect
had y