A history of all nations from the earliest times; being a universal historical library . In many of these attempts to accustom the pampered masses of thecapital to discipline and internal order, Augustus was hindered by thepolicy that looked toward the steady strengthening of his position. Aj)artfrom the fact that he could not always limit the free corn to the ])oorestcircles, and that repeatedly along with extensions of his power he craftilysatisfied the Avholc populace with magnificent gifts of money, he could notavoid taking comprehensive measures at his own expense for the continualamuseme
A history of all nations from the earliest times; being a universal historical library . In many of these attempts to accustom the pampered masses of thecapital to discipline and internal order, Augustus was hindered by thepolicy that looked toward the steady strengthening of his position. Aj)artfrom the fact that he could not always limit the free corn to the ])oorestcircles, and that repeatedly along with extensions of his power he craftilysatisfied the Avholc populace with magnificent gifts of money, he could notavoid taking comprehensive measures at his own expense for the continualamusement of the people. The imperial capital long formed its judgmentof the worth of the emperors by the way in which they provided for thefavorite amusements of the people — and that not simply of the vulgarpart. The Roman people of this age compressed its highest A\ishes intothe words panem et circenses. Bread and games were gradually regardedas the right of the people, and the best wearers of the purple vied with theworst in the splendor and magnificence of their games. Augustus him-. FiG. 2. — Augustus. Portrait ona gold coin. (Berlin.) 32 THE rRINCIPATE OF AUGUSTUS. self rn many ways surpassed bis predecessors in the frequency, variety,newness, and splendor of his exhibitions,— contests of gladiators andathletes, races in the circus with all their accompaniment of wild beasthunts, and mimic naval battles,— giving them partly in his own nameand that of his grandson and partly for other magistrates, who were notin a financial condition to meet their obligations. It was only naturalthat under such circumstances during the empire this very vicious anddemoralizing tendency of Roman civilization steadily strengthened andbecame one of the most important elements in the formation of the moralcondition of the Romans, and also of the most important cities throughoutthe empire. The games of the circus, which were little by little associatedwith the new division into parties accordi
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