c。35。]
Beforeanassemblythusmodelledandprepared，Augustuspronouncedastudiedoration，whichdisplayedhispatriotism，anddisguisedhisambition。\"Helamented，yetexcused，hispastconduct。Filialpietyhadrequiredathishandstherevengeofhisfather\'smurder；thehumanityofhisownnaturehadsometimesgivenwaytothesternlawsofnecessity，andtoaforcedconnectionwithtwounworthycolleagues:aslongasAntonylived，therepublicforbadehimtoabandonhertoadegenerateRoman，andabarbarianqueen。Hewasnowatlibertytosatisfyhisdutyandhisinclination。Hesolemnlyrestoredthesenateandpeopletoalltheirancientrights；andwishedonlytominglewiththecrowdofhisfellow—citizens，andtosharetheblessingswhichhehadobtainedforhiscountry。\"^4
[Footnote4:Dionl。liii。p。698givesusaprolixandbombastspeechonthisgreatoccasion。IhaveborrowedfromSuetoniusandTacitusthegenerallanguageofAugustus。]
ItwouldrequirethepenofTacitusifTacitushadassistedatthisassemblytodescribethevariousemotionsofthesenate，thosethatweresuppressed，andthosethatwereaffected。ItwasdangeroustotrustthesincerityofAugustus；toseemtodistrustitwasstillmoredangerous。Therespectiveadvantagesofmonarchyandarepublichaveoftendividedspeculativeinquirers；
thepresentgreatnessoftheRomanstate，thecorruptionofmanners，andthelicenseofthesoldiers，suppliednewargumentstotheadvocatesofmonarchy；andthesegeneralviewsofgovernmentwereagainwarpedbythehopesandfearsofeachindividual。Amidstthisconfusionofsentiments，theanswerofthesenatewasunanimousanddecisive。TheyrefusedtoaccepttheresignationofAugustus；theyconjuredhimnottodeserttherepublic，whichhehadsaved。Afteradecentresistance，thecraftytyrantsubmittedtotheordersofthesenate；andconsentedtoreceivethegovernmentoftheprovinces，andthegeneralcommandoftheRomanarmies，underthewell—knownnamesofProconsulandImperator。^5Buthewouldreceivethemonlyfortenyears。Evenbeforetheexpirationofthatperiod，hehopethatthewoundsofcivildiscordwouldbecompletelyhealed，andthattherepublic，restoredtoitspristinehealthandvigor，wouldnolongerrequirethedangerousinterpositionofsoextraordinaryamagistrate。Thememoryofthiscomedy，repeatedseveraltimesduringthelifeofAugustus，waspreservedtothelastagesoftheempire，bythepeculiarpompwithwhichtheperpetualmonarchsofRomealwayssolemnizedthetenthyearsoftheirreign。^6
[Footnote5:ImperatorfromwhichwehavederivedEmperor
signifiedunderherrepublicnomorethangeneral，andwasemphaticallybestowedbythesoldiers，whenonthefieldofbattletheyproclaimedtheirvictoriousleaderworthyofthattitle。WhentheRomanemperorsassumeditinthatsense，theyplaceditaftertheirname，andmarkedhowoftentheyhadtakenit。]
[Footnote6:Dion。l。liii。p。703，&c。]
Withoutanyviolationoftheprinciplesoftheconstitution，thegeneraloftheRomanarmiesmightreceiveandexerciseanauthorityalmostdespoticoverthesoldiers，theenemies，andthesubjectsoftherepublic。Withregardtothesoldiers，thejealousyoffreedomhad，evenfromtheearliestagesofRome，givenwaytothehopesofconquest，andajustsenseofmilitarydiscipline。Thedictator，orconsul，hadarighttocommandtheserviceoftheRomanyouth；andtopunishanobstinateorcowardlydisobediencebythemostsevereandignominiouspenalties，bystrikingtheoffenderoutofthelistofcitizens，byconfiscatinghisproperty，andbysellinghispersonintoslavery。^7Themostsacredrightsoffreedom，confirmedbythePorcianandSempronianlaws，weresuspendedbythemilitaryengagement。Inhiscampthegeneralexerciseanabsolutepoweroflifeanddeath；hisjurisdictionwasnotconfinedbyanyformsoftrial，orrulesofproceeding，andtheexecutionofthesentencewasimmediateandwithoutappeal。^8ThechoiceoftheenemiesofRomewasregularlydecidedbythelegislativeauthority。Themostimportantresolutionsofpeaceandwarwereseriouslydebatedinthesenate，andsolemnlyratifiedbythepeople。ButwhenthearmsofthelegionswerecarriedtoagreatdistancefromItaly，thegeneralassumedthelibertyofdirectingthemagainstwhateverpeople，andinwhatevermanner，theyjudgedmostadvantageousforthepublicservice。Itwasfromthesuccess，notfromthejustice，oftheirenterprises，thattheyexpectedthehonorsofatriumph。Intheuseofvictory，especiallyaftertheywerenolongercontrolledbythecommissionersofthesenate，theyexercisedthemostunboundeddespotism。WhenPompeycommandedintheEast，herewardedhissoldiersandallies，dethronedprinces，dividedkingdoms，foundedcolonies，anddistributedthetreasuresofMithridates。OnhisreturntoRome，heobtained，byasingleactofthesenateandpeople，theuniversalratificationofallhisproceedings。^9
Suchwasthepoweroverthesoldiers，andovertheenemiesofRome，whichwaseithergrantedto，orassumedby，thegeneralsoftherepublic。Theywere，atthesametime，thegovernors，orrathermonarchs，oftheconqueredprovinces，unitedthecivilwiththemilitarycharacter，administeredjusticeaswellasthefinances，andexercisedboththeexecutiveandlegislativepowerofthestate。
[Footnote7:LivyEpitom。l。xiv。[c。27。]Valer。Maxim。vi。3。]
[Footnote8:See，intheviiithbookofLivy，theconductofManliusTorquatusandPapiriusCursor。Theyviolatedthelawsofnatureandhumanity，buttheyassertedthoseofmilitarydiscipline；andthepeople，whoabhorredtheaction，wasobligedtorespecttheprinciple。]
[Footnote9:Bythelavishbutunconstrainedsuffragesofthepeople，PompeyhadobtainedamilitarycommandscarcelyinferiortothatofAugustus。Amongtheextraordinaryactsofpowerexecutedbytheformerwemayremarkthefoundationoftwenty—ninecities，andthedistributionofthreeorfourmillionssterlingtohistroops。TheratificationofhisactsmetwithsomeoppositionanddelaysinthesenateSeePlutarch，Appian，DionCassius，andthefirstbookoftheepistlestoAtticus。]
Fromwhathasalreadybeenobservedinthefirstchapterofthiswork，somenotionmaybeformedofthearmiesandprovincesthusintrustedtotherulinghandofAugustus。Butasitwasimpossiblethathecouldpersonallycommandtheregionsofsomanydistantfrontiers，hewasindulgedbythesenate，asPompeyhadalreadybeen，inthepermissionofdevolvingtheexecutionofhisgreatofficeonasufficientnumberoflieutenants。Inrankandauthoritytheseofficersseemednotinferiortotheancientproconsuls；buttheirstationwasdependentandprecarious。Theyreceivedandheldtheircommissionsatthewillofasuperior，towhoseauspiciousinfluencethemeritoftheiractionwaslegallyattributed。^10Theyweretherepresentativesoftheemperor。
Theemperoralonewasthegeneraloftherepublic，andhisjurisdiction，civilaswellasmilitary，extendedoveralltheconquestsofRome。Itwassomesatisfaction，however，tothesenate，thathealwaysdelegatedhispowertothemembersoftheirbody。Theimperiallieutenantswereofconsularorpraetoriandignity；thelegionswerecommandedbysenators，andthepraefectureofEgyptwastheonlyimportanttrustcommittedtoaRomanknight。
[Footnote10:Underthecommonwealth，atriumphcouldonlybeclaimedbythegeneral，whowasauthorizedtotaketheAuspicesinthenameofthepeople。Byanexactconsequence，drawnfromthisprincipleofpolicyandreligion，thetriumphwasreservedtotheemperor；andhismostsuccessfullieutenantsweresatisfiedwithsomemarksofdistinction，which，underthenameoftriumphalhonors，wereinventedintheirfavor。]
WithinsixdaysafterAugustushadbeencompelledtoacceptsoveryliberalagrant，heresolvedtogratifytheprideofthesenatebyaneasysacrifice。Herepresentedtothem，thattheyhadenlargedhispowers，evenbeyondthatdegreewhichmightberequiredbythemelancholyconditionofthetimes。Theyhadnotpermittedhimtorefusethelaboriouscommandofthearmiesandthefrontiers；buthemustinsistonbeingallowedtorestorethemorepeacefulandsecureprovincestothemildadministrationofthecivilmagistrate。Inthedivisionoftheprovinces，Augustusprovidedforhisownpowerandforthedignityoftherepublic。
Theproconsulsofthesenate，particularlythoseofAsia，Greece，andAfrica，enjoyedamorehonorablecharacterthanthelieutenantsoftheemperor，whocommandedinGaulorSyria。Theformerwereattendedbylictors，thelatterbysoldiers。Alawwaspassed，thatwherevertheemperorwaspresent，hisextraordinarycommissionshouldsupersedetheordinaryjurisdictionofthegovernor；acustomwasintroduced，thatthenewconquestsbelongedtotheimperialportion；anditwassoondiscoveredthattheauthorityofthePrtnce，thefavoriteepithetofAugustus，wasthesameineverypartoftheempire。
[Footnote*:Thisdistinctioniswithoutfoundation。Thelieutenantsoftheemperor，whowerecalledPropraetors，whethertheyhadbeenpraetorsorconsuls，wereattendedbysixlictors；
thosewhohadtherightofthesword，oflifeanddeathoverthesoldiers。—M。borethemilitaryhabitpaludamentumandthesword。Theprovincialgovernorscommissionedbythesenate，who，whethertheyhadbeenconsulsornot，werecalledPronconsuls，hadtwelvelictorswhentheyhadbeenconsuls，andsixonlywhentheyhadbutbeenpraetors。TheprovincesofAfricaandAsiawereonlygiventoex—consuls。See，ontheOrganizationoftheProvinces，Dion，liii。12，16Strabo，xvii840。—W]
Inreturnforthisimaginaryconcession，Augustusobtainedanimportantprivilege，whichrenderedhimmasterofRomeandItaly。Byadangerousexceptiontotheancientmaxims，hewasauthorizedtopreservehismilitarycommand，supportedbyanumerousbodyofguards，evenintimeofpeace，andintheheartofthecapital。Hiscommand，indeed，wasconfinedtothosecitizenswhowereengagedintheservicebythemilitaryoath；
butsuchwasthepropensityoftheRomanstoservitude，thattheoathwasvoluntarilytakenbythemagistrates，thesenators，andtheequestrianorder，tillthehomageofflatterywasinsensiblyconvertedintoanannualandsolemnprotestationoffidelity。
AlthoughAugustusconsideredamilitaryforceasthefirmestfoundation，hewiselyrejectedit，asaveryodiousinstrumentofgovernment。Itwasmoreagreeabletohistemper，aswellastohispolicy，toreignunderthevenerablenamesofancientmagistracy，andartfullytocollect，inhisownperson，allthescatteredraysofciviljurisdiction。Withthisview，hepermittedthesenatetoconferuponhim，forhislife，thepowersoftheconsular^11andtribunitianoffices，^12whichwere，inthesamemanner，continuedtoallhissuccessors。TheconsulshadsucceededtothekingsofRome，andrepresentedthedignityofthestate。Theysuperintendedtheceremoniesofreligion，leviedandcommandedthelegions，gaveaudiencetoforeignambassadors，andpresidedintheassembliesbothofthesenateandpeople。Thegeneralcontrolofthefinanceswasintrustedtotheircare；andthoughtheyseldomhadleisuretoadministerjusticeinperson，theywereconsideredasthesupremeguardiansoflaw，equity，andthepublicpeace。Suchwastheirordinaryjurisdiction；butwheneverthesenateempoweredthefirstmagistratetoconsultthesafetyofthecommonwealth，hewasraisedbythatdecreeabovethelaws，andexercised，inthedefenceofliberty，atemporarydespotism。^13Thecharacterofthetribuneswas，ineveryrespect，differentfromthatoftheconsuls。Theappearanceoftheformerwasmodestandhumble；buttheirpersonsweresacredandinviolable。Theirforcewassuitedratherforoppositionthanforaction。Theywereinstitutedtodefendtheoppressed，topardonoffences，toarraigntheenemiesofthepeople，and，whentheyjudgeditnecessary，tostop，byasingleword，thewholemachineofgovernment。Aslongastherepublicsubsisted，thedangerousinfluence，whicheithertheconsulorthetribunemightderivefromtheirrespectivejurisdiction，wasdiminishedbyseveralimportantrestrictions。
Theirauthorityexpiredwiththeyearinwhichtheywereelected；
theformerofficewasdividedbetweentwo，thelatteramongtenpersons；and，asbothintheirprivateandpublicinteresttheywereaversetoeachother，theirmutualconflictscontributed，forthemostpart，tostrengthenratherthantodestroythebalanceoftheconstitution。Butwhentheconsularandtribunitianpowerswereunited，whentheywerevestedforlifeinasingleperson，whenthegeneralofthearmywas，atthesametime，theministerofthesenateandtherepresentativeoftheRomanpeople，itwasimpossibletoresisttheexercise，norwasiteasytodefinethelimits，ofhisimperialprerogative。
[Footnote11:CicerodeLegibus，iii。3givestheconsularofficethenameofegiapotestas；andPolybiusl。vi。c。3
observesthreepowersintheRomanconstitution。Themonarchicalwasrepresentedandexercisedbytheconsuls。]
[Footnote12:AsthetribunitianpowerdistinctfromtheannualofficewasfirstinventedbythedictatorCaesar，Dion，l。
xliv。p。384，wemayeasilyconceive，thatitwasgivenasarewardforhavingsonoblyasserted，byarms，thesacredrightsofthetribunesandpeople。SeehisownCommentaries，deBell。
Civil。l。i。]
[Footnote13:Augustusexercisednineannualconsulshipswithoutinterruption。Hethenmostartfullyrefusedthemagistracy，aswellasthedictatorship，absentedhimselffromRome，andwaitedtillthefataleffectsoftumultandfactionforcedthesenatetoinvesthimwithaperpetualconsulship。Augustus，aswellashissuccessors，affected，however，toconcealsoinvidiousatitle。]
[Footnote*:ThenoteofM。GuizotonthetribunitianpowerappliestotheFrenchtranslationratherthantotheoriginal。
Theformerhas，maintenirlabalancetoujoursegale，whichimpliesmuchmorethanGibbon\'sgeneralexpression。ThenotebelongsrathertothehistoryoftheRepublicthanthatoftheEmpire。—M]
Totheseaccumulatedhonors，thepolicyofAugustussoonaddedthesplendidaswellasimportantdignitiesofsupremepontiff，andofcensor。Bytheformerheacquiredthemanagementofthereligion，andbythelatteralegalinspectionoverthemannersandfortunes，oftheRomanpeople。Ifsomanydistinctandindependentpowersdidnotexactlyunitewitheachother，thecomplaisanceofthesenatewaspreparedtosupplyeverydeficiencybythemostampleandextraordinaryconcessions。Theemperors，asthefirstministersoftherepublic，wereexemptedfromtheobligationandpenaltyofmanyinconvenientlaws:theywereauthorizedtoconvokethesenate，tomakeseveralmotionsinthesameday，torecommendcandidatesforthehonorsofthestate，toenlargetheboundsofthecity，toemploytherevenueattheirdiscretion，todeclarepeaceandwar，toratifytreaties；andbyamostcomprehensiveclause，theywereempoweredtoexecutewhatsoevertheyshouldjudgeadvantageoustotheempire，andagreeabletothemajestyofthingsprivateorpublic，humanofdivine。^14
[Footnote14:SeeafragmentofaDecreeoftheSenate，conferringontheemperorVespasianallthepowersgrantedtohispredecessors，Augustus，Tiberius，andClaudius。ThiscuriousandimportantmonumentispublishedinGruter\'sInscriptions，No。
ccxlii。
Note:ItisalsointheeditionsofTacitusbyRyck，Annal。
p。420，421，andErnesti，Excurs。adlib。iv。6；butthisfragmentcontainssomanyinconsistencies，bothinmatterandform，thatitsauthenticitymaybedoubted—W。]
WhenallthevariouspowersofexecutivegovernmentwerecommittedtotheImperialmagistrate，theordinarymagistratesofthecommonwealthlanguishedinobscurity，withoutvigor，andalmostwithoutbusiness。ThenamesandformsoftheancientadministrationwerepreservedbyAugustuswiththemostanxiouscare。Theusualnumberofconsuls，praetors，andtribunes，^15
wereannuallyinvestedwiththeirrespectiveensignsofoffice，andcontinuedtodischargesomeoftheirleastimportantfunctions。ThosehonorsstillattractedthevainambitionoftheRomans；andtheemperorsthemselves，thoughinvestedforlifewiththepowersoftheconsulship，frequentlyaspiredtothetitleofthatannualdignity，whichtheycondescendedtosharewiththemostillustriousoftheirfellow—citizens。^16Intheelectionofthesemagistrates，thepeople，duringthereignofAugustus，werepermittedtoexposealltheinconveniencesofawilddemocracy。Thatartfulprince，insteadofdiscoveringtheleastsymptomofimpatience，humblysolicitedtheirsuffragesforhimselforhisfriends，andscrupulouslypractisedallthedutiesofanordinarycandidate。^17Butwemayventuretoascribetohiscouncilsthefirstmeasureofthesucceedingreign，bywhichtheelectionsweretransferredtothesenate。^18Theassembliesofthepeoplewereforeverabolished，andtheemperorsweredeliveredfromadangerousmultitude，who，withoutrestoringliberty，mighthavedisturbed，andperhapsendangered，theestablishedgovernment。
[Footnote15:TwoconsulswerecreatedontheCalendsofJanuary；
butinthecourseoftheyearothersweresubstitutedintheirplaces，tilltheannualnumberseemstohaveamountedtonolessthantwelve。Thepraetorswereusuallysixteenoreighteen，LipsiusinExcurs。D。adTacit。Annal。l。i。IhavenotmentionedtheAedilesorQuaestorsOfficersofthepoliceorrevenueeasilyadaptthemselvestoanyformofgovernment。InthetimeofNero，thetribuneslegallypossessedtherightofintercession，thoughitmightbedangeroustoexerciseitTacit。
Annal。xvi。26。InthetimeofTrajan，itwasdoubtfulwhetherthetribuneshipwasanofficeoraname，Plin。Epist。i。23。]
[Footnote16:Thetyrantsthemselveswereambitiousoftheconsulship。Thevirtuousprincesweremoderateinthepursuit，andexactinthedischargeofit。Trajanrevivedtheancientoath，andsworebeforetheconsul\'stribunalthathewouldobservethelaws，Plin。Panegyricc。64。]
[Footnote17:QuotiesMagistratuumComitiisinteresset。Tribuscumcandidatissuiscircunbat:supplicabatquemoresolemni。