Forafewminutestheysatinsilentsuspense，doubtfuloftheirunexpecteddeliverance，andsuspiciousofthecruelartificesofCommodus:butwhenatlengththeywereassuredthatthetyrantwasnomore，theyresignedthemselvestoallthetransportsofjoyandindignation。Pertinax，whomodestlyrepresentedthemeannessofhisextraction，andpointedoutseveralnoblesenatorsmoredeservingthanhimselfoftheempire，wasconstrainedbytheirdutifulviolencetoascendthethrone，andreceivedallthetitlesofImperialpower，confirmedbythemostsincerevowsoffidelity。ThememoryofCommoduswasbrandedwitheternalinfamy。Thenamesoftyrant，ofgladiator，ofpublicenemyresoundedineverycornerofthehouse。Theydecreedintumultuousvotes，thathishonorsshouldbereversed，histitleserasedfromthepublicmonuments，hisstatuesthrowndown，hisbodydraggedwithahookintothestrippingroomofthegladiators，tosatiatethepublicfury；andtheyexpressedsomeindignationagainstthoseofficiousservantswhohadalreadypresumedtoscreenhisremainsfromthejusticeofthesenate。ButPertinaxcouldnotrefusethoselastritestothememoryofMarcus，andthetearsofhisfirstprotectorClaudiusPompeianus，wholamentedthecruelfateofhisbrother—in—law，andlamentedstillmorethathehaddeservedit。
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[Footnote*:Thesenatealwaysassembledatthebeginningoftheyear，onthenightofthe1stJanuary，seeSavarononSid。
Apoll。viii。6，andthishappenedthepresentyear，asusual，withoutanyparticularorder。—GfromW。]
[Footnote*:WhatGibbonimproperlycalls，bothhereandinthenote，tumultuousdecrees，werenomorethantheapplausesandacclamationswhichrecursoofteninthehistoryoftheemperors。