[8] [Footnote 7: Hist.August.p.

46.] [Footnote 8: Dion Cassius, l.lxxii.p.

1203.] Upon the death of his father, Commodus found himself embarrassed with the command of a great army, and the conduct of a difficult war against the Quadi and Marcomanni.

[9] The servile and profligate youths whom Marcus had banished, soon regained their station and influence about the new emperor.

They exaggerated the hardships and dangers of a campaign in the wild countries beyond the Danube; and they assured the indolent prince that the terror of his name, and the arms of his lieutenants, would be sufficient to complete the conquest of the dismayed barbarians, or to impose such conditions as were more advantageous than any conquest.