Introduction

Very little is known concerning the life of Tacitus, the historian, except that which he tells us in his own writings and those incidents which are related of him by his contemporary, Pliny.

Very little is known about the life of the historian Tacitus. What we know comes from his own writings and accounts by his contemporary, Pliny.

His full name was Caius Cornelius Tacitus. The date of his birth can only be arrived at by conjecture, and then only approximately. The younger Pliny speaks of him as prope modum aequales, about the same age. Pliny was born in 61. Tacitus, however, occupied the office of quaestor under Vespasian in 78 A.D., at which time he must, therefore, have been at least twenty-five years of age. This would fix the date of his birth not later than 53 A.D. It is probable, therefore, that Tacitus was Pliny's senior by several years.

His full name was Caius Cornelius Tacitus. His birth date can only be estimated, and even then only roughly. The younger Pliny describes himself and Tacitus as prope modum aequales, about the same age. Pliny was born in 61. Tacitus, however, served as quaestor under Vespasian in 78 A.D. He must therefore have been at least twenty-five at the time. This would place his birth no later than 53 A.D. Tacitus was therefore probably several years older than Pliny.

His parentage is also a matter of pure conjecture. The name Cornelius was a common one among the Romans, so that from it we can draw no inference. The fact that at an early age he occupied a prominent public office indicates that he was born of good family, and it is not impossible that his father was a certain Cornelius Tacitus, a Roman knight, who was procurator in Belgic Gaul, and whom the elder Pliny speaks of in his "Natural History."

His parentage is also entirely a matter of guesswork. Cornelius was a common name among the Romans, so the name tells us nothing about his family. His appointment to an important public office at a young age indicates that he came from a prominent family. It is possible that his father was a certain Cornelius Tacitus, a Roman knight who served as procurator in Belgic Gaul. The elder Pliny mentions this Cornelius Tacitus in his "Natural History."

Of the early life of Tacitus and the training which he underwent preparatory to those literary efforts which afterwards rendered him a conspicuous figure among Roman literateurs we know absolutely nothing.

We know absolutely nothing about Tacitus’s early life or the training that prepared him for his later writing. His writing made him a prominent figure among Roman authors.

Of the events of his life which transpired after he attained man's estate we know but little beyond that which he himself has recorded in his writings. He occupied a position of some eminence as a pleader at the Roman bar, and in 77 A.D. married the daughter of Julius Agricola, a humane and honorable citizen, who was at that time consul and was subsequently appointed governor of Britain. It is quite possible that this very advantageous alliance hastened his promotion to the office of quaestor under Vespasian.

We know little about his adult life beyond what he recorded in his own writings. He had some standing as a lawyer in the Roman courts. In 77 A.D., he married the daughter of Julius Agricola, a humane and honorable citizen. Agricola was then consul and was later appointed governor of Britain. This highly advantageous marriage may well have helped him gain promotion to the office of quaestor sooner under Vespasian.

Under Domitian, in 88, Tacitus was appointed one of fifteen commissioners to preside at the celebration of the secular games. In the same year he held the office of praetor, and was a member of one of the most select of the old priestly colleges, in which a pre-requisite of membership was that a man should be born of a good family.

Under Domitian, in 88, Tacitus was appointed one of fifteen commissioners overseeing the celebration of the secular games. In the same year, he served as praetor and belonged to one of the most exclusive ancient priestly colleges. Membership in this college required a man to come from a good family.

The following year he appears to have left Rome, and it is possible that he visited Germany and there obtained his knowledge and information respecting the manners and customs of its people which he makes the subject of his work known as the "Germany."

He appears to have left Rome the following year. He may have visited Germany and learned there about the manners and customs of its people. These are the subject of his work known as the "Germany."

He did not return to Rome until 93, after an absence of four years, during which time his father-in-law died.

He did not return to Rome until 93, after four years away. His father-in-law died during his absence.

Some time between the years 93 and 97 he was elected to the senate, and during this time witnessed the judicial murders of many of Rome's best citizens which were perpetrated under the reign of Nero. Being himself a senator, he felt that he was not entirely guiltless of the crimes which were committed, and in his "Agricola" we find him giving expression to this feeling in the following words: "Our own hands dragged Helvidius to prison; ourselves were tortured with the spectacle of Mauricus and Rusticus, and sprinkled with the innocent blood of Senecio."

Sometime between 93 and 97, he was elected to the senate. During those years, he witnessed the judicial murders of many of Rome's best citizens under Nero's rule. As a senator himself, he felt he shared some guilt for these crimes. In his "Agricola" he expressed this feeling in these words: "Our own hands dragged Helvidius to prison. We ourselves were tormented by the sight of Mauricus and Rusticus, and splashed with Senecio's innocent blood."

In 97 he was elected to the consulship as successor to Virginius Rufus, who died during his term of office and at whose funeral Tacitus delivered an oration in such a manner to cause Pliny to say, "The good fortune of Virginius was crowned by having the most eloquent of panegyrists."

In 97 he was elected consul to succeed Virginius Rufus, who died during his term in office. Tacitus spoke at Virginius Rufus's funeral so eloquently that Pliny said, "Virginius's good fortune was crowned by having the most eloquent speaker to praise him."

In 99 Tacitus was appointed by the senate, together with Pliny, to conduct the prosecution against a great political offender, Marius Priscus, who, as proconsul of Africa, had corruptly mismanaged the affairs of his province. We have his associate's testimony that Tacitus made a most eloquent and dignified reply to the arguments which were urged on the part of the defence. The prosecution was successful, and both Pliny and Tacitus were awarded a vote of thanks by the senate for their eminent and effectual efforts in the management of the case.

In 99, the senate appointed Tacitus and Pliny to prosecute Marius Priscus, a major political offender. As proconsul of Africa, Priscus had corruptly mismanaged his province’s affairs. Pliny tells us that Tacitus answered the defence’s arguments with great eloquence and dignity. The prosecution succeeded. The senate voted to thank both Pliny and Tacitus for their outstanding and effective handling of the case.

The exact date of Tacitus's death is not known, but in his "Annals" he seems to hint at the successful extension of the Emperor Trajan's eastern campaigns during the years 115 to 117, so that it is probable that he lived until the year 117.

The exact date of Tacitus's death is unknown. But in his "Annals" he seems to hint at Emperor Trajan's successful expansion of his eastern campaigns from 115 to 117. So Tacitus probably lived until 117.

Tacitus had a widespread reputation during his lifetime. On one occasion it is related of him that as he sat in the circus at the celebration of some games, a Roman knight asked him whether he was from Italy or the provinces. Tacitus answered, "You know me from your reading," to which the knight quickly replied, "Are you then Tacitus or Pliny?"

Tacitus was widely known during his lifetime. According to one story, he was once sitting in the circus during some games. A Roman knight asked him whether he came from Italy or the provinces. Tacitus answered, "You know me from your reading." The knight quickly replied, "Are you then Tacitus or Pliny?"

It is also worthy of notice that the Emperor Marcus Claudius Tacitus, who reigned during the third century, claimed to be descended from the historian, and directed that ten copies of his works should be published every year and placed in the public libraries.

It is also worth noting that Emperor Marcus Claudius Tacitus ruled during the third century. He claimed to be descended from the historian. He ordered ten copies of the historian’s works to be published each year and placed in public libraries.

The list of the extant works of Tacitus is as follows: the "Germany;" the "Life of Agricola;" the "Dialogue on Orators;" the "Histories," and the "Annals."

Tacitus’s surviving works are: the "Germany," the "Life of Agricola," the "Dialogue on Orators," the "Histories," and the "Annals."

The following pages contain translations of the first two of these works. The "Germany," the full title of which is "Concerning the situation, manners and inhabitants of Germany," contains little of value from a historical standpoint. It describes with vividness the fierce and independent spirit of the German nations, with many suggestions as to the dangers in which the empire stood of these people. The "Agricola" is a biographical sketch of the writer's father-in-law, who, as has been said, was a distinguished man and governor of Britain. It is one of the author's earliest works and was probably written shortly after the death of Domitian, in 96. This work, short as it is, has always been considered an admirable specimen of biography on account of its grace and dignity of expression. Whatever else it may be, it is a graceful and affectionate tribute to an upright and excellent man.

The following pages contain translations of the first two of these works. The full title of "Germany" is "Concerning the situation, manners and inhabitants of Germany." The work contains little of historical value. It vividly describes the fierce, independent spirit of the German nations. It also often suggests the dangers these peoples posed to the empire. The "Agricola" is a short biography of the writer's father-in-law. As already noted, Agricola was a distinguished man and governor of Britain. The biography is one of the author's earliest works, probably written shortly after Domitian's death in 96. Though brief, the work has always been considered an admirable example of biography because of its graceful and dignified language. Whatever else the biography may be, it is a graceful and affectionate tribute to an honest and admirable man.

The "Dialogue on Orators" treats of the decay of eloquence under the empire. It is in the form of a dialogue, and represents two eminent members of the Roman bar discussing the change for the worse that had taken place in the early education of the Roman youth.

The "Dialogue on Orators" examines the decline of eloquence under the empire. Written as a dialogue, the work presents two leading Roman lawyers discussing a change for the worse. Their subject is the early education of Roman youth.

The "Histories" relate the events which transpired in Rome, beginning with the ascession of Galba, in 68, and ending with the reign of Domitian, in 97. Only four books and a fragment of a fifth have been preserved to us. These books contain an account of the brief reigns of Galba, Otho and Vitellius. The portion of the fifth book which has been preserved contains an interesting, though rather biased, account of the character, customs and religion of the Jewish nation viewed from the standpoint of a cultivated citizen of Rome.

The "Histories" describe events in Rome from Galba's rise to power in 68 to Domitian's reign in 97. Only four books and part of a fifth have survived. These books cover the brief reigns of Galba, Otho and Vitellius. The surviving part of the fifth book gives an interesting, though rather biased, account of the Jewish nation's character, customs and religion. The account reflects the perspective of a cultured Roman citizen.

The "Annals" contain the history of the empire from the death of Augustus, in 14, to the death of Nero, in 68, and originally consisted of sixteen books. Of these, only nine have come down to us in a state of entire preservation, and of the other seven we have but fragments of three. Out of a period of fifty-four years we have the history of about forty.

The "Annals" cover the empire’s history from the death of Augustus in 14 to the death of Nero in 68. The work originally consisted of sixteen books. Only nine survive in full, and we have only fragments of three of the other seven. Of the fifty-four years covered, we have the history of about forty.

The style of Tacitus is, perhaps, noted principally for its conciseness. Tacitean brevity is proverbial, and many of his sentences are so brief, and leave so much for the student to read between the lines, that in order to be understood and appreciated the author must be read over and over again, lest the reader miss the point of some of his most excellent thoughts. Such an author presents grave, if not insuperable, difficulties to the translator, but notwithstanding this fact, the following pages cannot but impress the reader with the genius of Tacitus.

Tacitus’s style is perhaps best known for its conciseness. His brevity is legendary. Many of his sentences are so short and leave so much for the reader to infer between the lines. To understand and appreciate his writing, readers must return to it again and again. Otherwise, they risk missing the point of some of his finest thoughts. Such an author poses serious, perhaps insurmountable, difficulties for a translator. Despite these difficulties, the following pages are sure to impress readers with the genius of Tacitus.