Furious in their adversity, tyrannical in their successes, a commander had more trouble to concert his defence before the people, than to plan the operations of the campaign.

It was not uncommon for a general, under the horrid _despotism_ of the Roman emperors, to be ill received in proportion to the greatness of his services.

Agricola is a strong instance of this.

No man had done greater things, nor with more honest ambition.

Yet, on his return to court, he was obliged to enter Rome with all the secrecy of a criminal.