or HADRIAN, Publius Aelius, the Roman emperor. He was born at Rome on the 24th of January, in the 76th year of Christ, a. u. c. 829. His father left him an orphan, at ten years of age, under the guardianship of Trajan, and Coelius Tatianus, a Roman knight. He began to serve very early in the armies, having been tribune of a legion before the death of Domitian. He was the person chosen by the army of Lower Mæsia to carry the news of Nerva's death to Trajan, successor to the empire. Trajan, however, conceived some prejudices against him; and Adrian, perceiving that he was no favourite with the emperor, endeavoured to ingratiate himself with the empress Plotina, by which means he succeeded in obtaining for his wife Sabina, the emperor's grand-niece and next heiress. This was probably the first step to his future advancement, and facilitated his ascent to the throne. As questor he accompanied Trajan in most of his expeditions, and particularly distinguished himself in the second war against the Dacians. Afterwards he was successively tribune of the people, pretor, governor of Pannonia, and consul. After the siege of Atra in Arabia was raised, Trajan, who had already given him the government of Syria, left him the command of the army; and at length, when he found death approaching, it is said he adopted him. Adrian, who was then in Antiochia, as soon as he received the news thereof, and of Trajan's death, declared himself emperor, on the 11th August, A. d. 117.

No sooner had he arrived at the imperial dignity than he made peace with the Persians, to whom he yielded up great part of the conquests of his predecessors; and from generosity or policy he remitted the debts of the Roman people, which, according to the calculation of those who have reduced them to modern money, amounted to 22,500,000 golden crowns; and he burnt all the bonds and obligations relating to those debts, that the people might be under no apprehension of being called to an account for them afterwards. There are medals in commemoration of this fact, in which he is represented holding a flambeau in his hand, to set fire to all those bonds which he had made void. He went to visit all the provinces, and did not return to Rome till the year 118, when the senate decreed him a triumph, and honoured him with the title of Father of his Country; but he refused both, and desired that Trajan's image might triumph. No prince travelled more than Adrian, there being hardly one province in the empire which he did not visit. In 120 he went into Gaul; from thence he went over to Britain, in order to subdue the Caledonians, who were making continual incursions into the provinces. Upon his arrival they retired towards the north. He advanced, however, as far as York, where he was diverted from his intended conquest by the description there given him of the country by some old soldiers who had served under Agricola.

In hopes, therefore, of keeping them quiet by enlarging their bounds, he delivered up to the Caledonians all the lands lying between the two friths and the Tyne; and at the same time, to secure the Roman province from their future incursions, built the famous wall which still bears his name.1 Having thus settled matters in Britain, he returned to Rome, where he was honoured with the title of Restorer of Britain, as appears by some medals. He soon after went into Spain, to Mauritania, and at length into the East, where he quieted the commotions raised by the Parthians. After having visited all the provinces of Asia, he returned to Athens in 125, where he passed the winter, and was initiated in the mysteries of Eleusinian Ceres. He went from thence to Sicily, chiefly to view Mount Etna, contemplate its phenomena, and enjoy the beautiful and extensive prospect afforded from its top. He returned to Rome in the beginning of the year 129; and, according to some, he went again the same year to Africa; and, after his return from thence, to the East. He was in Egypt in the year 132, revisited Syria the year following, returned to Athens in 134, and to Rome in 135. The persecution against the Christians was very violent under his reign; but it was at length suspended, in consequence of the remonstrances of Quadratus, bishop of Athens, and Aristides, two Christian philosophers, who presented the emperor with some books in favour of the Christian religion. He conquered the Jews, and by way of insult erected a temple to Jupiter on Calvary, and placed a statue of Adonis in the manger of Bethlehem: he caused also the images of swine to be engraven on the gates of Jerusalem. At last he was seized with a dropsy, which vexed him to such a degree that he became almost raving mad. A great number of physicians were sent for, and to the multitude of them he ascribed his death. He died at Baiae in the 63d year of his age, having reigned 21 years. The Latin verses he addressed to his soul, which he composed a short time before his death, in a strain of tender levity, have been much criticised, and have been the subject of numerous translations and imitations.

Animula vagula, blandula, Hospes, comessus corporis, Que nunc abilis in loco Pallidula, rigida, nudula, Nec, ut soles, dubia jubeo?

Ah! fleeting spirit! wand'ring fire, That long hast warm'd my tender breast, Must thou no more this frame inspire? No more a pleasing cheerful guest? Whither, oh whither art thou flying? To what dark midnight's drear'd shore? Thou seem'st all trembling, shivering, dying, And wit and humour are no more!

POPE.

Some fragments of his Latin poetry are still extant, and there are Greek verses of his in the Anthology. He also wrote the history of his own life; to which, however, he did not choose to put his name; but that of Phlegon, one of his freedmen, a very learned person, was prefixed to it.2 He had great wit and a retentive memory, and he distinguished himself in the various branches of literature and science. In his natural disposition he was suspicious, envious, cruel, and lascivious. In his character there was a strange composition of virtues and vices. He was affable, courteous, and liberal; but he was capricious and unsteady in his attachments, and violent in his resentment. Thus he was distrusted by his friends, and dreaded by his enemies. Antoninus his successor obtained his apotheosis, and prevented the rescission of his acts, which the senate once intended.