The title of king had armed the Romans against his life.

Augustus was sensible that mankind is governed by names; nor was he deceived in his expectation, that the senate and people would submit to slavery, provided they were respectfully assured that they still enjoyed their ancient freedom.

A feeble senate and enervated people cheerfully acquiesced in the pleasing illusion, as long as it was supported by the virtue, or even by the prudence, of the successors of Augustus.

It was a motive of self-preservation, not a principle of liberty, that animated the conspirators against Caligula, Nero, and Domitian.

They attacked the person of the tyrant, without aiming their blow at the authority of the emperor.
[Footnote 27: Two centuries after the establishment of monarchy, the emperor Marcus Antoninus recommends the character of Brutus as a perfect model of Roman virtue.