第22章
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  [Footnote27:SuchisthereflectionofHerodian,l。ii。p。74。

  WillthemodernAustriansallowtheinfluence?]

  ThePannonianarmywasatthistimecommandedbySeptimiusSeverus,anativeofAfrica,who,inthegradualascentofprivatehonors,hadconcealedhisdaringambition,whichwasneverdivertedfromitssteadycoursebytheallurementsofpleasure,theapprehensionofdanger,orthefeelingsofhumanity。^28OnthefirstnewsofthemurderofPertinax,heassembledhistroops,paintedinthemostlivelycolorsthecrime,theinsolence,andtheweaknessofthePraetorianguards,andanimatedthelegionstoarmsandtorevenge。Heconcludedandtheperorationwasthoughtextremelyeloquentwithpromisingeverysoldieraboutfourhundredpounds;anhonorabledonative,doubleinvaluetotheinfamousbribewithwhichJulianhadpurchasedtheempire。^29TheacclamationsofthearmyimmediatelysalutedSeveruswiththenamesofAugustus,Pertinax,andEmperor;andhethusattainedtheloftystationtowhichhewasinvited,byconsciousmeritandalongtrainofdreamsandomens,thefruitfuloffspringseitherofhissuperstitionorpolicy。^30

  [Footnote28:InthelettertoAlbinus,alreadymentioned,CommodusaccusesSeverus,asoneoftheambitiousgeneralswhocensuredhisconduct,andwishedtooccupyhisplace。Hist。

  August。p。80。]

  [Footnote29:Pannoniawastoopoortosupplysuchasum。Itwasprobablypromisedinthecamp,andpaidatRome,afterthevictory。Infixingthesum,IhaveadoptedtheconjectureofCasaubon。SeeHist。August。p。66。Comment。p。115。]

  [Footnote30:Herodian,l。ii。p。78。SeveruswasdeclaredemperoronthebanksoftheDanube,eitheratCarnuntum,accordingtoSpartianus,Hist。August。p。65,orelseatSabaria,accordingtoVictor。Mr。Hume,insupposingthatthebirthanddignityofSeverusweretoomuchinferiortotheImperialcrown,andthathemarchedintoItalyasgeneralonly,hasnotconsideredthistransactionwithhisusualaccuracy,Essayontheoriginalcontract。

  Note:Carnuntum,oppositetothemouthoftheMorava:itspositionisdoubtful,eitherPetronelorHaimburg。AlittleintermediatevillageseemstoindicatebyitsnameAltenburg

  thesiteofanoldtown。D\'AnvilleGeogr。Anc。Sabaria,nowSarvar。—G。Comparenote37。—M。]

  Thenewcandidateforempiresawandimprovedthepeculiaradvantageofhissituation。HisprovinceextendedtotheJulianAlps,whichgaveaneasyaccessintoItaly;andherememberedthesayingofAugustus,ThataPannonianarmymightintendaysappearinsightofRome。^31Byacelerityproportionedtothegreatnessoftheoccasion,hemightreasonablyhopetorevengePertinax,punishJulian,andreceivethehomageofthesenateandpeople,astheirlawfulemperor,beforehiscompetitors,separatedfromItalybyanimmensetractofseaandland,wereapprisedofhissuccess,orevenofhiselection。Duringthewholeexpedition,hescarcelyallowedhimselfanymomentsforsleeporfood;marchingonfoot,andincompletearmor,attheheadofhiscolumns,heinsinuatedhimselfintotheconfidenceandaffectionofhistroops,pressedtheirdiligence,revivedtheirspirits,animatedtheirhopes,andwaswellsatisfiedtosharethehardshipsofthemeanestsoldier,whilsthekeptinviewtheinfinitesuperiorityofhisreward。

  [Footnote31:VelleiusPaterculus,l。ii。c。3。WemustreckonthemarchfromthenearestvergeofPannonia,andextendthesightofthecityasfarastwohundredmiles。]

  ThewretchedJulianhadexpected,andthoughthimselfprepared,todisputetheempirewiththegovernorofSyria;butintheinvincibleandrapidapproachofthePannonianlegions,hesawhisinevitableruin。Thehastyarrivalofeverymessengerincreasedhisjustapprehensions。Hewassuccessivelyinformed,thatSeverushadpassedtheAlps;thattheItaliancities,unwillingorunabletoopposehisprogress,hadreceivedhimwiththewarmestprofessionsofjoyandduty;thattheimportantplaceofRavennahadsurrenderedwithoutresistance,andthattheHadriaticfleetwasinthehandsoftheconqueror。TheenemywasnowwithintwohundredandfiftymilesofRome;andeverymomentdiminishedthenarrowspanoflifeandempireallottedtoJulian。

  Heattempted,however,toprevent,oratleasttoprotract,hisruin。HeimploredthevenalfaithofthePraetorians,filledthecitywithunavailingpreparationsforwar,drewlinesroundthesuburbs,andevenstrengthenedthefortificationsofthepalace;asifthoselastintrenchmentscouldbedefended,withouthopeofrelief,againstavictoriousinvader。Fearandshamepreventedtheguardsfromdesertinghisstandard;buttheytrembledatthenameofthePannonianlegions,commandedbyanexperiencedgeneral,andaccustomedtovanquishthebarbariansonthefrozenDanube。^32Theyquitted,withasigh,thepleasuresofthebathsandtheatres,toputonarms,whoseusetheyhadalmostforgotten,andbeneaththeweightofwhichtheywereoppressed。Theunpractisedelephants,whoseuncouthappearance,itwashoped,wouldstriketerrorintothearmyofthenorth,threwtheirunskilfulriders;andtheawkwardevolutionsofthemarines,drawnfromthefleetofMisenum,wereanobjectofridiculetothepopulace;whilstthesenateenjoyed,withsecretpleasure,thedistressandweaknessoftheusurper。^33

  [Footnote32:Thisisnotapuerilefigureofrhetoric,butanallusiontoarealfactrecordedbyDion,l。lxxi。p。1181。Itprobablyhappenedmorethanonce。]

  [Footnote33:Dion,l。lxxiii。p。1233。Herodian,l。ii。p。81。

  ThereisnosurerproofofthemilitaryskilloftheRomans,thantheirfirstsurmountingtheidleterror,andafterwardsdisdainingthedangeroususe,ofelephantsinwar。

  Note:Theseelephantswerekeptforprocessions,perhapsforthegames。SeHerod。inloc。—M。]

  EverymotionofJulianbetrayedhistremblingperplexity。

  HeinsistedthatSeverusshouldbedeclaredapublicenemybythesenate。HeentreatedthatthePannoniangeneralmightbeassociatedtotheempire。Hesentpublicambassadorsofconsularranktonegotiatewithhisrival;hedespatchedprivateassassinstotakeawayhislife。HedesignedthattheVestalvirgins,andallthecollegesofpriests,intheirsacerdotalhabits,andbearingbeforethemthesacredpledgesoftheRomanreligion,shouldadvanceinsolemnprocessiontomeetthePannonianlegions;and,atthesametime,hevainlytriedtointerrogate,ortoappease,thefates,bymagicceremoniesandunlawfulsacrifices。^34

  [Footnote34:Hist。August。p。62,63。

  Note:Quaeadspeculumdicuntfieriinquopueripraeligatisoculis,incantate……,respiceredicuntur。***TuncquepuervidissedicituretadventunSeverietJulianidecessionem。ThisseemstohavebeenapracticesomewhatsimilartothatofwhichourrecentEgyptiantravellersrelatesuchextraordinarycircumstances。SeealsoApulius,Orat。deMagia。—M。]

  ChapterV:SaleOfTheEmpireToDidiusJulianus。

  PartII。

  Severus,whodreadedneitherhisarmsnorhisenchantments,guardedhimselffromtheonlydangerofsecretconspiracy,bythefaithfulattendanceofsixhundredchosenmen,whoneverquittedhispersonortheircuirasses,eitherbynightorbyday,duringthewholemarch。Advancingwithasteadyandrapidcourse,hepassed,withoutdifficulty,thedefilesoftheApennine,receivedintohispartythetroopsandambassadorssenttoretardhisprogress,andmadeashorthaltatInteramnia,aboutseventymilesfromRome。Hisvictorywasalreadysecure,butthedespairofthePraetoriansmighthaverendereditbloody;andSeverushadthelaudableambitionofascendingthethronewithoutdrawingthesword。^35Hisemissaries,dispersedinthecapital,assuredtheguards,thatprovidedtheywouldabandontheirworthlessprince,andtheperpetratorsofthemurderofPertinax,tothejusticeoftheconqueror,hewouldnolongerconsiderthatmelancholyeventastheactofthewholebody。ThefaithlessPraetorians,whoseresistancewassupportedonlybysullenobstinacy,gladlycompliedwiththeeasyconditions,seizedthegreatestpartoftheassassins,andsignifiedtothesenate,thattheynolongerdefendedthecauseofJulian。Thatassembly,convokedbytheconsul,unanimouslyacknowledgedSeverusaslawfulemperor,decreeddivinehonorstoPertinax,andpronouncedasentenceofdepositionanddeathagainsthisunfortunatesuccessor。Julianwasconductedintoaprivateapartmentofthebathsofthepalace,andbeheadedasacommoncriminal,afterhavingpurchased,withanimmensetreasure,ananxiousandprecariousreignofonlysixty—sixdays。^36ThealmostincredibleexpeditionofSeverus,who,insoshortaspaceoftime,conductedanumerousarmyfromthebanksoftheDanubetothoseoftheTyber,provesatoncetheplentyofprovisionsproducedbyagricultureandcommerce,thegoodnessoftheroads,thedisciplineofthelegions,andtheindolent,subduedtemperoftheprovinces。^37

  [Footnote35:VictorandEutropius,viii。17,mentionacombatneartheMilvianbridge,thePonteMolle,unknowntothebetterandmoreancientwriters。]

  [Footnote36:Dion,l。lxxiii。p。1240。Herodian,l。ii。p。83。

  Hist。August。p。63。]

  [Footnote37:Fromthesesixty—sixdays,wemustfirstdeductsixteen,asPertinaxwasmurderedonthe28thofMarch,andSeverusmostprobablyelectedonthe13thofApril,seeHist。

  August。p。65,andTillemont,Hist。desEmpereurs,tom。iii。p。

  393,note7。Wecannotallowlessthantendaysafterhiselection,toputanumerousarmyinmotion。Fortydaysremainforthisrapidmarch;andaswemaycomputeabouteighthundredmilesfromRometotheneighborhoodofVienna,thearmyofSeverusmarchedtwentymileseveryday,withouthaltorintermission。]

  ThefirstcaresofSeveruswerebestowedontwomeasurestheonedictatedbypolicy,theotherbydecency;therevenge,andthehonors,duetothememoryofPertinax。BeforethenewemperorenteredRome,heissuedhiscommandstothePraetorianguards,directingthemtowaithisarrivalonalargeplainnearthecity,withoutarms,butinthehabitsofceremony,inwhichtheywereaccustomedtoattendtheirsovereign。Hewasobeyedbythosehaughtytroops,whosecontritionwastheeffectoftheirjustterrors。AchosenpartoftheIllyrianarmyencompassedthemwithlevelledspears。Incapableofflightorresistance,theyexpectedtheirfateinsilentconsternation。Severusmountedthetribunal,sternlyreproachedthemwithperfidyandcowardice,dismissedthemwithignominyfromthetrustwhichtheyhadbetrayed,despoiledthemoftheirsplendidornaments,andbanishedthem,onpainofdeath,tothedistanceofahundredmilesfromthecapital。Duringthetransaction,anotherdetachmenthadbeensenttoseizetheirarms,occupytheircamp,andpreventthehastyconsequencesoftheirdespair。^38

  [Footnote38:Dion,l。lxxiv。p。1241。Herodian,l。ii。p。84。]

  ThefuneralandconsecrationofPertinaxwasnextsolemnizedwitheverycircumstanceofsadmagnificence。^39Thesenate,withamelancholypleasure,performedthelastritestothatexcellentprince,whomtheyhadloved,andstillregretted。Theconcernofhissuccessorwasprobablylesssincere;heesteemedthevirtuesofPertinax,butthosevirtueswouldforeverhaveconfinedhisambitiontoaprivatestation。Severuspronouncedhisfuneralorationwithstudiedeloquence,inwardsatisfaction,andwell—actedsorrow;andbythispiousregardtohismemory,convincedthecredulousmultitude,thathealonewasworthytosupplyhisplace。Sensible,however,thatarms,notceremonies,mustasserthisclaimtotheempire,heleftRomeattheendofthirtydays,andwithoutsufferinghimselftobeelatedbythiseasyvictory,preparedtoencounterhismoreformidablerivals。

  [Footnote39:Dion,l。lxxiv。p。1244,whoassistedattheceremonyasasenator,givesamostpompousdescriptionofit。]

  TheuncommonabilitiesandfortuneofSeverushaveinducedaneleganthistoriantocomparehimwiththefirstandgreatestoftheCaesars。^40Theparallelis,atleast,imperfect。Whereshallwefind,inthecharacterofSeverus,thecommandingsuperiorityofsoul,thegenerousclemency,andthevariousgenius,whichcouldreconcileandunitetheloveofpleasure,thethirstofknowledge,andthefireofambition?^41Inoneinstanceonly,theymaybecompared,withsomedegreeofpropriety,inthecelerityoftheirmotions,andtheircivilvictories。Inlessthanfouryears,^42SeverussubduedtherichesoftheEast,andthevaloroftheWest。Hevanquishedtwocompetitorsofreputationandability,anddefeatednumerousarmies,providedwithweaponsanddisciplineequaltohisown。

  Inthatage,theartoffortification,andtheprinciplesoftactics,werewellunderstoodbyalltheRomangenerals;andtheconstantsuperiorityofSeveruswasthatofanartist,whousesthesameinstrumentswithmoreskillandindustrythanhisrivals。Ishallnot,however,enterintoaminutenarrativeofthesemilitaryoperations;butasthetwocivilwarsagainstNigerandagainstAlbinuswerealmostthesameintheirconduct,event,andconsequences,Ishallcollectintoonepointofviewthemoststrikingcircumstances,tendingtodevelopthecharacteroftheconquerorandthestateoftheempire。

  [Footnote40:Herodian,l。iii。p。112]

  [Footnote41:Thoughitisnot,mostassuredly,theintentionofLucantoexaltthecharacterofCaesar,yettheideahegivesofthathero,inthetenthbookofthePharsalia,wherehedescribeshim,atthesametime,makinglovetoCleopatra,sustainingasiegeagainstthepowerofEgypt,andconversingwiththesagesofthecountry,is,inreality,thenoblestpanegyric。

  Note:LordByronwrote,nodoubt,fromareminiscenceofthatpassage—\"Itispossibletobeaverygreatman,andtobestillveryinferiortoJuliusCaesar,themostcompletecharacter,soLordBaconthought,ofallantiquity。Natureseemsincapableofsuchextraordinarycombinationsascomposedhisversatilecapacity,whichwasthewonderevenoftheRomansthemselves。Thefirstgeneral;theonlytriumphantpolitician;

  inferiortononeinpointofeloquence;comparabletoanyintheattainmentsofwisdom,inanagemadeupofthegreatestcommanders,statesmen,orators,andphilosophers,thateverappearedintheworld;anauthorwhocomposedaperfectspecimenofmilitaryannalsinhistravellingcarriage;atonetimeinacontroversywithCato,atanotherwritingatreatiseonpunuing,andcollectingasetofgoodsayings;fightingandmakingloveatthesamemoment,andwillingtoabandonbothhisempireandhismistressforasightofthefountainsoftheNile。SuchdidJuliusCaesarappeartohiscontemporaries,andtothoseofthesubsequentageswhowerethemostinclinedtodeploreandexecratehisfatalgenius。\"Note47toCantoiv。ofChildeHarold。—M。]

  [Footnote42:Reckoningfromhiselection,April13,193,tothedeathofAlbinus,February19,197。SeeTillemont\'sChronology。]

  Falsehoodandinsincerity,unsuitableastheyseemtothedignityofpublictransactions,offenduswithalessdegradingideaofmeanness,thanwhentheyarefoundintheintercourseofprivatelife。Inthelatter,theydiscoverawantofcourage;intheother,onlyadefectofpower:and,asitisimpossibleforthemostablestatesmentosubduemillionsoffollowersandenemiesbytheirownpersonalstrength,theworld,underthenameofpolicy,seemstohavegrantedthemaveryliberalindulgenceofcraftanddissimulation。YettheartsofSeveruscannotbejustifiedbythemostampleprivilegesofstatereason。Hepromisedonlytobetray,heflatteredonlytoruin;andhoweverhemightoccasionallybindhimselfbyoathsandtreaties,hisconscience,obsequioustohisinterest,alwaysreleasedhimfromtheinconvenientobligation。^43

  [Footnote43:Herodian,l。ii。p。85。]

  Ifhistwocompetitors,reconciledbytheircommondanger,hadadvanceduponhimwithoutdelay,perhapsSeveruswouldhavesunkundertheirunitedeffort。Hadtheyevenattackedhim,atthesametime,withseparateviewsandseparatearmies,thecontestmighthavebeenlonganddoubtful。Buttheyfell,singlyandsuccessively,aneasypreytotheartsaswellasarmsoftheirsubtleenemy,lulledintosecuritybythemoderationofhisprofessions,andoverwhelmedbytherapidityofhisaction。HefirstmarchedagainstNiger,whosereputationandpowerhethemostdreaded:buthedeclinedanyhostiledeclarations,suppressedthenameofhisantagonist,andonlysignifiedtothesenateandpeoplehisintentionofregulatingtheeasternprovinces。Inprivate,hespokeofNiger,hisoldfriendandintendedsuccessor,^44withthemostaffectionateregard,andhighlyapplaudedhisgenerousdesignofrevengingthemurderofPertinax。Topunishthevileusurperofthethrone,wasthedutyofeveryRomangeneral。Topersevereinarms,andtoresistalawfulemperor,acknowledgedbythesenate,wouldalonerenderhimcriminal。^45ThesonsofNigerhadfallenintohishandsamongthechildrenoftheprovincialgovernors,detainedatRomeaspledgesfortheloyaltyoftheirparents。^46AslongasthepowerofNigerinspiredterror,orevenrespect,theywereeducatedwiththemosttendercare,withthechildrenofSeverushimself;buttheyweresooninvolvedintheirfather\'sruin,andremovedfirstbyexile,andafterwardsbydeath,fromtheeyeofpubliccompassion。^47

  [Footnote44:WhilstSeveruswasverydangerouslyill,itwasindustriouslygivenout,thatheintendedtoappointNigerandAlbinushissuccessors。Ashecouldnotbesincerewithrespecttoboth,hemightnotbesowithregardtoeither。YetSeveruscarriedhishypocrisysofar,astoprofessthatintentioninthememoirsofhisownlife。]

  [Footnote45:Hist。August。p。65。]

  [Footnote46:Thispractice,inventedbyCommodus,provedveryusefultoSeverus。HefoundatRomethechildrenofmanyoftheprincipaladherentsofhisrivals;andheemployedthemmorethanoncetointimidate,orseduce,theparents。]

  [Footnote47:Herodian,l。iii。p。95。Hist。August。p。67,68。]

  WhilstSeveruswasengagedinhiseasternwar,hehadreasontoapprehendthatthegovernorofBritainmightpasstheseaandtheAlps,occupythevacantseatofempire,andopposehisreturnwiththeauthorityofthesenateandtheforcesoftheWest。TheambiguousconductofAlbinus,innotassumingtheImperialtitle,leftroomfornegotiation。Forgetting,atonce,hisprofessionsofpatriotism,andthejealousyofsovereignpower,heacceptedtheprecariousrankofCaesar,asarewardforhisfatalneutrality。Tillthefirstcontestwasdecided,Severustreatedtheman,whomhehaddoomedtodestruction,witheverymarkofesteemandregard。Evenintheletter,inwhichheannouncedhisvictoryoverNiger,hestylesAlbinusthebrotherofhissoulandempire,sendshimtheaffectionatesalutationsofhiswifeJulia,andhisyoungfamily,andentreatshimtopreservethearmiesandtherepublicfaithfultotheircommoninterest。ThemessengerschargedwiththisletterwereinstructedtoaccosttheCaesarwithrespect,todesireaprivateaudience,andtoplungetheirdaggersintohisheart。^48Theconspiracywasdiscovered,andthetoocredulousAlbinus,atlength,passedovertothecontinent,andpreparedforanunequalcontestwithhisrival,whorusheduponhimattheheadofaveteranandvictoriousarmy。

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