[251] Cp. ii. [53].

[252] Soranus, like Thrasea, was a Stoic who opposed the government mainly on moral grounds. The story of their end is told in the Annals, Book XVI. Sentius was presumably another member of their party.

[253] He refers to Augustus' regularization of the principate.

[254] Fifty-nine.

[255] The administration of this office was changed several times in the first century of the empire. Here we have a reversion to Augustus' second plan. Trajan restored Augustus' original plan—also adopted by Nero—of appointing special Treasury officials from the ex-praetors.

[256] His offence lay in assigning to the emperor a merely secondary position.

[257] His ill-timed advocacy of Stoicism is mentioned iii. [81].

[258] Described in the Annals, xvi. 32.

[259] The description of this is postponed to chap. [40]. Celer was convicted.

[260] C. Piso had conspired against Nero, a.d. 65.