Uponthedeathofhisfather，Commodusfoundhimselfembarrassedwiththecommandofagreatarmy，andtheconductofadifficultwaragainsttheQuadiandMarcomanni。^9TheservileandprofligateyouthswhomMarcushadbanished，soonregainedtheirstationandinfluenceaboutthenewemperor。TheyexaggeratedthehardshipsanddangersofacampaigninthewildcountriesbeyondtheDanube；andtheyassuredtheindolentprincethattheterrorofhisname，andthearmsofhislieutenants，wouldbesufficienttocompletetheconquestofthedismayedbarbarians，ortoimposesuchconditionsasweremoreadvantageousthananyconquest。Byadexterousapplicationtohissensualappetites，theycomparedthetranquillity，thesplendor，therefinedpleasuresofRome，withthetumultofaPannoniancamp，whichaffordedneitherleisurenormaterialsforluxury。^10Commoduslistenedtothepleasingadvice；butwhilsthehesitatedbetweenhisowninclinationandtheawewhichhestillretainedforhisfather\'scounsellors，thesummerinsensiblyelapsed，andhistriumphalentryintothecapitalwasdeferredtilltheautumn。Hisgracefulperson，^11popularaddress，andimaginedvirtues，attractedthepublicfavor；thehonorablepeacewhichhehadrecentlygrantedtothebarbarians，diffusedauniversaljoy；^12hisimpatiencetorevisitRomewasfondlyascribedtotheloveofhiscountry；andhisdissolutecourseofamusementswasfaintlycondemnedinaprinceofnineteenyearsofage。
[Footnote9:AccordingtoTertullian，Apolog。c。25，hediedatSirmium。ButthesituationofVindobona，orVienna，whereboththeVictorsplacehisdeath，isbetteradaptedtotheoperationsofthewaragainsttheMarcomanniandQuadi。]
[Footnote10:Herodian，l。i。p。12。]
[Footnote11:Herodian，l。i。p。16。]
[Footnote12:ThisuniversaljoyiswelldescribedfromthemedalsaswellashistoriansbyMr。Wotton，Hist。ofRome，p。