The Burning of Rome Author:Alfred John Church Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: CHAPTER III. IN THE CIRCUS. Two days after the conversation related in my last chapter Subrius and Lateranus were deep in consultation in the library of th... more »e latter's mansion on the Esquiline Hill. The subject that occupied them was, of course, the same that had been started on that occasion. " Licinius tells me," said the Praetorian, " that he has spoken to Piso, and that he caught eagerly at the notion. I must confess that at first I was averse to the man. It seemed a pity to throw away so magnificent an opportunity. What good might not an honest, capable man do, if he were put in this place ? It is no flattery, but simple truth, that the Emperor is a Jupiter on earth. But it seems hopeless to look for the ideal man. That certainly Piso is not. But he is resolute, and he means well, and he will be popular. He is not the absolute best, the four-square and faultless man that the philosophers talk about; very far from it. But then the faukless man would not please the Romans, if I know fhem ; and to do the Romans, or, for the matter of that, any men, good, you must please them first." "And how does the recruiting go on?" asked Lateranus. " Excellently well," said Subrius, " within the limits that are set, that every man should choose one associate. Asper and Sulpicius have both chosen comrades, and can answer for their loyalty as for themselves. Lucan has taken Scaevinus. I should hardly have thought that the lazy creature had so much energy in him ; but these sleepy looking fellows sometimes wake up with amazing energy. Proculus has chosen Senecio, who is one of the Emperor's inner circle of friends." "Ah!" interrupted Lateranus, "that sounds dangerous." " There is no cause for fear; Senecio, I happen to know, has very good reasons for being with us, and, of co...« less