andhecouldrecommendmatrimonyonlyasthesacrificeofprivatepleasuretopublicduty。AulusGellius，i。6。][Footnote65:
Tacit。Annal。xiii。5。][Footnote66:Hist。August。p。102，107。][Footnote67:Dion，l。lxxx。p。1369。Herodian，l。vi。p。
206。Hist。August。p。131。Herodianrepresentsthepatricianasinnocent。TheAugustianHistory，ontheauthorityofDexippus，condemnshim，asguiltyofaconspiracyagainstthelifeofAlexander。Itisimpossibletopronouncebetweenthem；butDionisanirreproachablewitnessofthejealousyandcrueltyofMamaeatowardstheyoungempress，whosehardfateAlexanderlamented，butdurstnotoppose。]Notwithstandingthisactofjealouscruelty，aswellassomeinstancesofavarice，withwhichMamaeaischarged，thegeneraltenorofheradministrationwasequallyforthebenefitofhersonandoftheempire。Withtheapprobationofthesenate，shechosesixteenofthewisestandmostvirtuoussenatorsasaperpetualcouncilofstate，beforewhomeverypublicbusinessofmomentwasdebatedanddetermined。
ThecelebratedUlpian，equallydistinguishedbyhisknowledgeof，andhisrespectfor，thelawsofRome，wasattheirhead；andtheprudentfirmnessofthisaristocracyrestoredorderandauthoritytothegovernment。Assoonastheyhadpurgedthecityfromforeignsuperstitionandluxury，theremainsofthecapricioustyrannyofElagabalus，theyappliedthemselvestoremovehisworthlesscreaturesfromeverydepartmentofthepublicadministration，andtosupplytheirplaceswithmenofvirtueandability。Learning，andtheloveofjustice，becametheonlyrecommendationsforciviloffices；valor，andtheloveofdiscipline，theonlyqualificationsformilitaryemployments。^68
[Footnote68:Herodian，l。vi。p。203。Hist。August。p。119。Thelatterinsinuates，thatwhenanylawwastobepassed，thecouncilwasassistedbyanumberofablelawyersandexperiencedsenators，whoseopinionswereseparatelygiven，andtakendowninwriting。]ButthemostimportantcareofMamaeaandherwisecounsellors，wastoformthecharacteroftheyoungemperor，onwhosepersonalqualitiesthehappinessormiseryoftheRomanworldmustultimatelydepend。Thefortunatesoilassisted，andevenprevented，thehandofcultivation。AnexcellentunderstandingsoonconvincedAlexanderoftheadvantagesofvirtue，thepleasureofknowledge，andthenecessityoflabor。A
naturalmildnessandmoderationoftemperpreservedhimfromtheassaultsofpassion，andtheallurementsofvice。Hisunalterableregardforhismother，andhisesteemforthewiseUlpian，guardedhisunexperiencedyouthfromthepoisonofflattery。
[Footnote*:Alexanderreceivedintohischapelallthereligionswhichprevailedintheempire；headmittedJesusChrist，Abraham，Orpheus，ApolloniusofTyana，&c。ItwasalmostcertainthathismotherMamaeahadinstructedhiminthemoralityofChristianity。
HistoriansingeneralagreeincallingheraChristian；thereisreasontobelievethatshehadbeguntohaveatastefortheprinciplesofChristianity。SeeTillemont，AlexanderSeverus
Gibbonhasnotnoticedthiscircumstance；heappearstohavewishedtolowerthecharacterofthisempress；hehasthroughoutfollowedthenarrativeofHerodian，who，bytheacknowledgmentofCapitolinushimself，detestedAlexander。WithoutbelievingtheexaggeratedpraisesofLampridius，heoughtnottohavefollowedtheunjustseverityofHerodian，and，aboveall，nottohaveforgottentosaythatthevirtuousAlexanderSeverushadinsuredtotheJewsthepreservationoftheirprivileges，andpermittedtheexerciseofChristianity。Hist。Aug。p。121。TheChristianshadestablishedtheirworshipinapublicplace，ofwhichthevictuallerscauponariiclaimed，nottheproperty，butpossessionbycustom。Alexanderanswered，thatitwasbetterthattheplaceshouldbeusedfortheserviceofGod，inanyform，thanforvictuallers。—G。Ihavescrupledtoomitthisnote，asitcontainssomepointsworthyofnotice；butitisveryunjusttoGibbon，whomentionsalmostallthecircumstances，whichheisaccusedofomitting，inanother，and，accordingtohisplan，abetterplace，and，perhaps，instrongertermsthanM。Guizot。SeeChap。xvi。—M。]Thesimplejournalofhisordinaryoccupationsexhibitsapleasingpictureofanaccomplishedemperor，^69and，withsomeallowanceforthedifferenceofmanners，mightwelldeservetheimitationofmodernprinces。Alexanderroseearly:
thefirstmomentsofthedaywereconsecratedtoprivatedevotion，andhisdomesticchapelwasfilledwiththeimagesofthoseheroes，who，byimprovingorreforminghumanlife，haddeservedthegratefulreverenceofposterity。Butashedeemedtheserviceofmankindthemostacceptableworshipofthegods，thegreatestpartofhismorninghourswasemployedinhiscouncil，wherehediscussedpublicaffairs，anddeterminedprivatecauses，withapatienceanddiscretionabovehisyears。
Thedrynessofbusinesswasrelievedbythecharmsofliterature；
andaportionoftimewasalwayssetapartforhisfavoritestudiesofpoetry，history，andphilosophy。TheworksofVirgilandHorace，therepublicsofPlatoandCicero，formedhistaste，enlargedhisunderstanding，andgavehimthenoblestideasofmanandgovernment。Theexercisesofthebodysucceededtothoseofthemind；andAlexander，whowastall，active，androbust，surpassedmostofhisequalsinthegymnasticarts。Refreshedbytheuseofthebathandaslightdinner，heresumed，withnewvigor，thebusinessoftheday；and，tillthehourofsupper，theprincipalmealoftheRomans，hewasattendedbyhissecretaries，withwhomhereadandansweredthemultitudeofletters，memorials，andpetitions，thatmusthavebeenaddressedtothemasterofthegreatestpartoftheworld。Histablewasservedwiththemostfrugalsimplicity，andwheneverhewasatlibertytoconsulthisowninclination，thecompanyconsistedofafewselectfriends，menoflearningandvirtue，amongstwhomUlpianwasconstantlyinvited。Theirconversationwasfamiliarandinstructive；andthepauseswereoccasionallyenlivenedbytherecitalofsomepleasingcomposition，whichsuppliedtheplaceofthedancers，comedians，andevengladiators，sofrequentlysummonedtothetablesoftherichandluxuriousRomans。^70ThedressofAlexanderwasplainandmodest，hisdemeanorcourteousandaffable:attheproperhourshispalacewasopentoallhissubjects，butthevoiceofacrierwasheard，asintheEleusinianmysteries，pronouncingthesamesalutaryadmonition:
\"Letnoneentertheseholywalls，unlessheisconsciousofapureandinnocentmind。\"^71[Footnote69:SeehislifeintheAugustanHistory。Theundistinguishingcompilerhasburiedtheseinterestinganecdotesunderaloadoftrivialunmeaningcircumstances。][Footnote70:Seethe13thSatireofJuvenal。]
[Footnote71:Hist。August。p。119。]Suchauniformtenoroflife，whichleftnotamomentforviceorfolly，isabetterproofofthewisdomandjusticeofAlexander\'sgovernment，thanallthetriflingdetailspreservedinthecompilationofLampridius。SincetheaccessionofCommodus，theRomanworldhadexperienced，duringthetermoffortyyears，thesuccessiveandvariousvicesoffourtyrants。FromthedeathofElagabalus，itenjoyedanauspiciouscalmofthirteenyears。Theprovinces，relievedfromtheoppressivetaxesinventedbyCaracallaandhispretendedson，flourishedinpeaceandprosperity，undertheadministrationofmagistrates，whowereconvincedbyexperiencethattodeservetheloveofthesubjects，wastheirbestandonlymethodofobtainingthefavoroftheirsovereign。WhilesomegentlerestraintswereimposedontheinnocentluxuryoftheRomanpeople，thepriceofprovisionsandtheinterestofmoney，werereducedbythepaternalcareofAlexander，whoseprudentliberality，withoutdistressingtheindustrious，suppliedthewantsandamusementsofthepopulace。Thedignity，thefreedom，theauthorityofthesenatewasrestored；andeveryvirtuoussenatormightapproachthepersonoftheemperorwithoutafearandwithoutablush。[Footnote*:WenckobservesthatGibbon，enchantedwiththevirtueofAlexanderhasheightened，particularlyinthissentence，itseffectonthestateoftheworld。Hisownaccount，whichfollows，oftheinsurrectionsandforeignwars，isnotinharmonywiththisbeautifulpicture。—
M。]ThenameofAntoninus，ennobledbythevirtuesofPiusandMarcus，hadbeencommunicatedbyadoptiontothedissoluteVerus，andbydescenttothecruelCommodus。ItbecamethehonorableappellationofthesonsofSeverus，wasbestowedonyoungDiadumenianus，andatlengthprostitutedtotheinfamyofthehighpriestofEmesa。Alexander，thoughpressedbythestudied，and，perhaps，sincereimportunityofthesenate，noblyrefusedtheborrowedlustreofaname；whilstinhiswholeconducthelaboredtorestorethegloriesandfelicityoftheageofthegenuineAntonines。^72[Footnote72:See，intheHist。August。
p。116，117，thewholecontestbetweenAlexanderandthesenate，extractedfromthejournalsofthatassembly。IthappenedonthesixthofMarch，probablyoftheyear223，whentheRomanshadenjoyed，almostatwelvemonth，theblessingsofhisreign。BeforetheappellationofAntoninuswasofferedhimasatitleofhonor，thesenatewaitedtoseewhetherAlexanderwouldnotassumeitasafamilyname。]IntheciviladministrationofAlexander，wisdomwasenforcedbypower，andthepeople，sensibleofthepublicfelicity，repaidtheirbenefactorwiththeirloveandgratitude。Therestillremainedagreater，amorenecessary，butamoredifficultenterprise；thereformationofthemilitaryorder，whoseinterestandtemper，confirmedbylongimpunity，renderedthemimpatientoftherestraintsofdiscipline，andcarelessoftheblessingsofpublictranquillity。Intheexecutionofhisdesign，theemperoraffectedtodisplayhislove，andtoconcealhisfearofthearmy。Themostrigideconomyineveryotherbranchoftheadministrationsuppliedafundofgoldandsilverfortheordinarypayandtheextraordinaryrewardsofthetroops。Intheirmarchesherelaxedthesevereobligationofcarryingseventeendays\'provisionontheirshoulders。Amplemagazineswereformedalongthepublicroads，andassoonastheyenteredtheenemy\'scountry，anumeroustrainofmulesandcamelswaitedontheirhaughtylaziness。AsAlexanderdespairedofcorrectingtheluxuryofhissoldiers，heattempted，atleast，todirectittoobjectsofmartialpompandornament，finehorses，splendidarmor，andshieldsenrichedwithsilverandgold。Hesharedwhateverfatigueshewasobligedtoimpose，visited，inperson，thesickandwounded，preservedanexactregisteroftheirservicesandhisowngratitude，andexpressedoneveryoccasion，thewarmestregardforabodyofmen，whosewelfare，asheaffectedtodeclare，wassocloselyconnectedwiththatofthestate。^73Bythemostgentleartshelaboredtoinspirethefiercemultitudewithasenseofduty，andtorestoreatleastafaintimageofthatdisciplinetowhichtheRomansowedtheirempireoversomanyothernations，aswarlikeandmorepowerfulthanthemselves。Buthisprudencewasvain，hiscouragefatal，andtheattempttowardsareformationservedonlytoinflametheillsitwasmeanttocure。[Footnote73:Itwasafavoritesayingoftheemperor\'sSemilitesmagisservare，quamseipsum，quodsaluspublicainhisesset。Hist。Aug。p。130。]
ThePraetorianguardswereattachedtotheyouthofAlexander。
Theylovedhimasatenderpupil，whomtheyhadsavedfromatyrant\'sfury，andplacedontheImperialthrone。Thatamiableprincewassensibleoftheobligation；butashisgratitudewasrestrainedwithinthelimitsofreasonandjustice，theysoonweremoredissatisfiedwiththevirtuesofAlexander，thantheyhadeverbeenwiththevicesofElagabalus。Theirpraefect，thewiseUlpian，wasthefriendofthelawsandofthepeople；hewasconsideredastheenemyofthesoldiers，andtohisperniciouscounselseveryschemeofreformationwasimputed。Sometriflingaccidentblewuptheirdiscontentintoafuriousmutiny；andthecivilwarraged，duringthreedays，inRome，whilstthelifeofthatexcellentministerwasdefendedbythegratefulpeople。
Terrified，atlength，bythesightofsomehousesinflames，andbythethreatsofageneralconflagration，thepeopleyieldedwithasigh，andleftthevirtuousbutunfortunateUlpiantohisfate。HewaspursuedintotheImperialpalace，andmassacredatthefeetofhismaster，whovainlystrovetocoverhimwiththepurple，andtoobtainhispardonfromtheinexorablesoldiers。
Suchwasthedeplorableweaknessofgovernment，thattheemperorwasunabletorevengehismurderedfriendandhisinsulteddignity，withoutstoopingtotheartsofpatienceanddissimulation。Epagathus，theprincipalleaderofthemutiny，wasremovedfromRome，bythehonorableemploymentofpraefectofEgypt:fromthathighrankhewasgentlydegradedtothegovernmentofCrete；andwhenatlength，hispopularityamongtheguardswaseffacedbytimeandabsence，Alexanderventuredtoinflictthetardybutdeservedpunishmentofhiscrimes。^74
Underthereignofajustandvirtuousprince，thetyrannyofthearmythreatenedwithinstantdeathhismostfaithfulministers，whoweresuspectedofanintentiontocorrecttheirintolerabledisorders。ThehistorianDionCassiushadcommandedthePannonianlegionswiththespiritofancientdiscipline。TheirbrethrenofRome，embracingthecommoncauseofmilitarylicense，demandedtheheadofthereformer。Alexander，however，insteadofyieldingtotheirseditiousclamors，showedajustsenseofhismeritandservices，byappointinghimhiscolleagueintheconsulship，anddefrayingfromhisowntreasurytheexpenseofthatvaindignity:
butaswasjustlyapprehended，thatifthesoldiersbeheldhimwiththeensignsofhisoffice，theywouldrevengetheinsultinhisblood，thenominalfirstmagistrateofthestateretired，bytheemperor\'sadvice，fromthecity，andspentthegreatestpartofhisconsulshipathisvillasinCampania。^75[Footnote*:
Gibbonhasconfoundedtwoeventsaltogetherdifferent—thequarrelofthepeoplewiththePraetorians，whichlastedthreedays，andtheassassinationofUlpianbythelatter。DionrelatesfirstthedeathofUlpian，afterwards，revertingbackaccordingtoamannerwhichisusualwithhim，hesaysthatduringthelifeofUlpian，therehadbeenawarofthreedaysbetweenthePraetoriansandthepeople。ButUlpianwasnotthecause。Dionsays，onthecontrary，thatitwasoccasionedbysomeunimportantcircumstance；whilstheassignsaweightyreasonforthemurderofUlpian，thejudgmentbywhichthatPraetorianpraefecthadcondemnedhispredecessors，ChrestusandFlavian，todeath，whomthesoldierswishedtorevenge。Zosimusl。1，c。xi。attributesthissentencetoMamaera；but，eventhen，thetroopsmighthaveimputedittoUlpian，whohadreapedalltheadvantageandwasotherwiseodioustothem。—W。][Footnote74:ThoughtheauthorofthelifeofAlexanderHist。August。p。182mentionstheseditionraisedagainstUlpianbythesoldiers，heconcealsthecatastrophe，asitmightdiscoveraweaknessintheadministrationofhishero。Fromthisdesignedomission，wemayjudgeoftheweightandcandorofthatauthor。][Footnote75:
ForanaccountofUlpian\'sfateandhisowndanger，seethemutilatedconclusionofDion\'sHistory，l。lxxx。p。1371。]
[Footnote*:DionpossessednoestatesinCampania，andwasnotrich。Heonlysaysthattheemperoradvisedhimtoreside，duringhisconsulate，insomeplaceoutofRome；thathereturnedtoRomeaftertheendofhisconsulate，andhadaninterviewwiththeemperorinCampania。Heaskedandobtainedleavetopasstherestofhislifeinhisnativecity，Nice，inBithynia:itwastherethathefinishedhishistory，whichcloseswithhissecondconsulship。—W。]]
ChapterVI:DeathOfSeverus，TyrannyOfCaracalla，UsurpationOfMarcinus。
PartIV。
Thelenityoftheemperorconfirmedtheinsolenceofthetroops；thelegionsimitatedtheexampleoftheguards，anddefendedtheirprerogativeoflicentiousnesswiththesamefuriousobstinacy。TheadministrationofAlexanderwasanunavailingstruggleagainstthecorruptionofhisage。Inllyricum，inMauritania，inArmenia，inMesopotamia，inGermany，freshmutiniesperpetuallybrokeout；hisofficersweremurdered，hisauthoritywasinsulted，andhislifeatlastsacrificedtothefiercediscontentsofthearmy。^76Oneparticularfactwelldeservestoberecorded，asitillustratesthemannersofthetroops，andexhibitsasingularinstanceoftheirreturntoasenseofdutyandobedience。WhilsttheemperorlayatAntioch，inhisPersianexpedition，theparticularsofwhichweshallhereafterrelate，thepunishmentofsomesoldiers，whohadbeendiscoveredinthebathsofwomen，excitedaseditioninthelegiontowhichtheybelonged。Alexanderascendedhistribunal，andwithamodestfirmnessrepresentedtothearmedmultitudetheabsolutenecessity，aswellashisinflexibleresolution，ofcorrectingthevicesintroducedbyhisimpurepredecessor，andofmaintainingthediscipline，whichcouldnotberelaxedwithouttheruinoftheRomannameandempire。Theirclamorsinterruptedhismildexpostulation。\"Reserveyourshout，\"saidtheundauntedemperor，\"tillyoutakethefieldagainstthePersians，theGermans，andtheSarmatians。Besilentinthepresenceofyoursovereignandbenefactor，whobestowsuponyouthecorn，theclothing，andthemoneyoftheprovinces。Besilent，orIshallnolongerstyleyousolders，butcitizens，^77ifthoseindeedwhodisclaimthelawsofRomedeservetoberankedamongthemeanestofthepeople。\"Hismenacesinflamedthefuryofthelegion，andtheirbrandishedarmsalreadythreatenedhisperson。
\"Yourcourage，\"resumedtheintrepidAlexander，\"wouldbemorenoblydisplayedinthefieldofbattle；meyoumaydestroy，youcannotintimidate；andtheseverejusticeoftherepublicwouldpunishyourcrimeandrevengemydeath。\"Thelegionstillpersistedinclamoroussedition，whentheemperorpronounced，withacudvoice，thedecisivesentence，\"Citizens!laydownyourarms，anddepartinpeacetoyourrespectivehabitations。\"
Thetempestwasinstantlyappeased:thesoldiers，filledwithgriefandshame，silentlyconfessedthejusticeoftheirpunishment，andthepowerofdiscipline，yieldeduptheirarmsandmilitaryensigns，andretiredinconfusion，nottotheircamp，buttotheseveralinnsofthecity。Alexanderenjoyed，duringthirtydays，theedifyingspectacleoftheirrepentance；
nordidherestorethemtotheirformerrankinthearmy，tillhehadpunishedwithdeaththosetribuneswhoseconnivancehadoccasionedthemutiny。Thegratefullegionservedtheemperorwhilstliving，andrevengedhimwhendead。^78
[Footnote76:Annot。Reimar。adDionCassius，l。lxxx。p。1369。]
[Footnote77:JuliusCaesarhadappeasedaseditionwiththesameword，Quirites；which，thusopposedtosoldiers，wasusedinasenseofcontempt，andreducedtheoffenderstothelesshonorableconditionofmerecitizens。Tacit。Annal。i。43。]
[Footnote78:Hist。August。p。132。]