Roman Emperors Quotes

“Nero was so good at being evil, and so evil at being good, he made the words lose their meaning. He could tell you the floor was the ceiling with such conviction you might start believing it, especially since any diagreement would unleash the Beast.

I marveled how such a man could rise to be emperor of Rome. Then I marveled how such a man could ever lose control of Rome. It was easy to see how he'd gotten the mobs on his side.”
― Rick Riordan, The Tower of Nero

“For no matter what they made of him, Caesar Augustus always knew that he was nothing but mere mortal.”
― Emmanuel Onimisi, The Faces of Christmas

“Villicus Vadum: Soldier Of Fortune by Stewart Stafford

I am the ghost of lupine Romulus,
Founder of Rome, hear my tale,
Of Villicus Vadum - young, driven,
Steward to Senator Lucius Flavius.

Villicus wanted Flavia, the senator’s daughter,
But she was betrothed to Marcus Brutus;
A consul of noble and virtuous stock,
Villicus conspired to take Flavia's hand.

Treachery and deception were his tools,
Knavish peacock of Rome's epic stage,
Sought to take Flavia from Marcus Brutus,
To snatch and cage his treasured gem.

Bribed a false soothsayer to trap her,
Believing her beloved began with V,
Flavia agreed to elope with him to Gaul,
With Brutus vowing deadly vengeance.

Fleeing to the bosom of Rome's enemy -
Vercingetorix, at war with Julius Caesar,
Villicus offered to spy on the Senate,
While plotting to seize Gaul's throne.

Queen Verica also caught his eye,
Villicus was captured by Mark Antony,
Taken to Caesar's camp as a traitor;
Brutus challenged him to a duel.

Brutus slashed him but spared his life,
They dragged Villicus to Rome in chains,
To try him for his now infamous crimes;
Cicero in defence, Cato as prosecutor.

Cicero argued Villicus acted out of love,
And that his ambition merited mercy,
Cato wanted death for his wicked threat,
Julius Caesar pondered a final verdict.

Villicus - pardoned but banished from Rome,
Immediate death if he returned to Flavia,
Villicus kissed the emperor's foot for naught,
Flavia refused to join him in fallen exile.

Now learn from this outcast's example, friends,
That I, Romulus, warn you to avoid at your peril,
Villicus Vadum, the wrath of the gods upon him,
Until time ceases, sole spectre of night's edge.

© Stewart Stafford, 2023. All rights reserved.”
― Stewart Stafford

“The Diverted Imperium by Stewart Stafford

Welcome to my lush vineyard,
As we crush poison grapes,
Forcing that last vinegar sip,
Of this “first citizen’s” foul wine.

In spite of meeting in night's shade,
It is not the taint of shame's veil,
But a new dawning concealed,
Our hand to reveal in due course.

Fellow senators, my brethren!
Men of honour, and, you, Brutus;
The noblest of all at our gathering,
But your eyes are on yonder hill.

Our dreamer’s conference tonight:
Seeks sacrifice, not bloodlust;
A fly caught in Necessity’s web,
And, is no more, for that is Nature.

Stakes of the bear pit arranged,
A swift consumption of power,
Nipping retaliation in the bud,
Smoothing our ascendancy.

A patriot in a traitor's pall?
Liberty's stars in alignment
Or noose of the ill-omened?
History’s verdict in absentia.

The hand beneath the cloak
Shakes the dagger mightily,
Mercy’s coup de grâce stills,
Bloody tip to inked treaties.

Once the bloodshed has passed,
Martial backing shall follow,
And our regime commences,
The Imperium by right diverted.

© Stewart Stafford, 2023. All rights reserved.”
― Stewart Stafford