Quitting Rome, but
pursued into every region by the bloody image of his brother, the emperor
henceforward led a wandering life at the head of his legions; but never
was there a better illustration of the poet's maxim, that
'Remorse is as the mind in which it grows:
If _that_ be gentle,' &c.
For the remorse of Caracalla put on no shape of repentance. On the
contrary, he carried anger and oppression wherever he moved; and protected
himself from plots only by living in the very centre of a nomadic camp.
Six years had passed away in this manner, when a mere accident led to his
assassination. For the sake of security, the office of praetorian prefect
had been divided between two commissioners, one for military affairs, the
other for civil. The latter of these two officers was Opilius Macrinus.
This man has, by some historians, been supposed to have harbored no bad
intentions; but, unfortunately, an astrologer had foretold that he was
destined to the throne. The prophet was laid in irons at Rome, and letters
were dispatched to Caracalla, apprizing him of the case. These letters, as
yet unopened, were transferred by the emperor, then occupied in witnessing
a race, to Macrinus, who thus became acquainted with the whole grounds of
suspicion against himself,--grounds which, to the jealousy of the emperor,
he well knew would appear substantial proofs.
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