CHAPTER VII.
The Reigns of Nerva and Trajan (96-117 A.D.).
Pliny the younger—His oratory—His correspondence—Letter to Trajan —Velius Longus—Hyginus—Balbus—Flaccus—Juvenal—His life—A finished declaimer—His character—His political views—Style—Tacitus—Dialogue on eloquence—Agricola—Germania—Histories—Annals_ —Intended work on Augustus's reign—Style.
CHAPTER VIII.
The Reigns of Hadrian and the Antonines (117-180 A.D.).
Era of African Latinity—Differs from the Silver Age—Hadrian's poetry —Suetonius—His life—List of writings—Lives of the Caesars—His account of Nero's death—Florus—Salvius Julianus and Sextus Pomponius—Fronto— His relations with Aurelius—List of his works—Gellius—Gaius—Poems of the period—Pervigilium Veneris—Apuleius—De Magia—Metamorphoses or Golden Ass—Cupid and Psyche—His philosophical works.
CHAPTER IX.
State of Philosophical and Religious Thought during the Period of the Antonines—Conclusion.
Greek eloquence revives in the Sophists—Itinerant rhetors—Cynic preachers of virtue—The better class of popular philosophers—Dio Chrysostom—Union of philosophy and rhetoric—Greek now the language of general literature—Reconciliation of philosophy with religion—The Platonist school—Apuleius—Doctrine of daemons—Decline of thought— General review of the main features of Roman literatureConclusion.