Thehuntingorexhibitionofwildbeastswasconductedwithamagnificencesuitabletoapeoplewhostyledthemselvesthemastersoftheworld；norwastheedificeappropriatedtothatentertainmentlessexpressiveofRomangreatness。Posterityadmires，andwilllongadmire，theawfulremainsoftheamphitheatreofTitus，whichsowelldeservedtheepithetofColossal。^91Itwasabuildingofanellipticfigure，fivehundredandsixty—fourfeetinlength，andfourhundredandsixty—seveninbreadth，foundedonfourscorearches，andrising，withfoursuccessiveordersofarchitecture，totheheightofonehundredandfortyfeet。^92Theoutsideoftheedificewasencrustedwithmarble，anddecoratedwithstatues。Theslopesofthevastconcave，whichformedtheinside，werefilledandsurroundedwithsixtyoreightyrowsofseatsofmarblelikewise，coveredwithcushions，andcapableofreceivingwitheaseaboutfourscorethousandspectators。^93Sixty—fourvomitoriesforbythatnamethedoorswereveryaptlydistinguishedpouredforththeimmensemultitude；andtheentrances，passages，andstaircaseswerecontrivedwithsuchexquisiteskill，thateachperson，whetherofthesenatorial，theequestrian，ortheplebeianorder，arrivedathisdestinedplacewithouttroubleorconfusion。^94Nothingwasomitted，which，inanyrespect，couldbesubservienttotheconvenienceandpleasureofthespectators。
Theywereprotectedfromthesunandrainbyanamplecanopy，occasionallydrawnovertheirheads。Theairwascontinallyrefreshedbytheplayingoffountains，andprofuselyimpregnatedbythegratefulscentofaromatics。Inthecentreoftheedifice，thearena，orstage，wasstrewedwiththefinestsand，andsuccessivelyassumedthemostdifferentforms。Atonemomentitseemedtoriseoutoftheearth，likethegardenoftheHesperides，andwasafterwardsbrokenintotherocksandcavernsofThrace。Thesubterraneouspipesconveyedaninexhaustiblesupplyofwater；andwhathadjustbeforeappearedalevelplain，mightbesuddenlyconvertedintoawidelake，coveredwitharmedvessels，andreplenishedwiththemonstersofthedeep。^95Inthedecorationofthesescenes，theRomanemperorsdisplayedtheirwealthandliberality；andwereadonvariousoccasionsthatthewholefurnitureoftheamphitheatreconsistedeitherofsilver，orofgold，orofamber。^96ThepoetwhodescribesthegamesofCarinus，inthecharacterofashepherd，attractedtothecapitalbythefameoftheirmagnificence，affirmsthatthenetsdesignedasadefenceagainstthewildbeasts，wereofgoldwire；thattheporticosweregilded；andthatthebeltorcirclewhichdividedtheseveralranksofspectatorsfromeachotherwasstuddedwithapreciousmosaicofbeautifulstones。^97
[Footnote91:SeeMaffei，VeronaIllustrata，p。iv。l。i。c。2。]
[Footnote92:Maffei，l。ii。c。2。Theheightwasverymuchexaggeratedbytheancients。Itreachedalmosttotheheavens，accordingtoCalphurnius，Eclog。vii。23，andsurpassedthekenofhumansight，accordingtoAmmianusMarcellinusxvi。10。YethowtriflingtothegreatpyramidofEgypt，whichrises500feetperpendicular]
[Footnote93:AccordingtodifferentcopiesofVictor，weread77，000，or87，000spectators；butMaffeil。ii。c。12findsroomontheopenseatsfornomorethan34，000。Theremainderwerecontainedintheuppercoveredgalleries。]
[Footnote94:SeeMaffei，l。ii。c。5—12。Hetreatstheverydifficultsubjectwithallpossibleclearness，andlikeanarchitect，aswellasanantiquarian。]
[Footnote95:Calphurn。Eclogvii。64，73。Theselinesarecurious，andthewholeecloguehasbeenofinfiniteusetoMaffei。Calphurnius，aswellasMartial，seehisfirstbook，
wasapoet；butwhentheydescribedtheamphitheatre，theybothwrotefromtheirownsenses，andtothoseoftheRomans。]
[Footnote96:ConsultPlin。Hist。Natur。xxxiii。16，xxxvii。11。]
[Footnote97:Balteusengemmis，eninlitaporticusauroCertatimradiant，&c。Calphurn。vii。]
Inthemidstofthisglitteringpageantry，theemperorCarinus，secureofhisfortune，enjoyedtheacclamationsofthepeople，theflatteryofhiscourtiers，andthesongsofthepoets，who，forwantofamoreessentialmerit，werereducedtocelebratethedivinegracesofhisperson。^98Inthesamehour，butatthedistanceofninehundredmilesfromRome，hisbrotherexpired；andasuddenrevolutiontransferredintothehandsofastrangerthesceptreofthehouseofCarus。^99
[Footnote98:EtMartisvultusetApollinisesseputavi，saysCalphurnius；butJohnMalala，whohadperhapsseenpicturesofCarinus，describeshimasthick，short，andwhite，tom。i。p。
403。]
[Footnote99:WithregardtothetimewhentheseRomangameswerecelebrated，Scaliger，Salmasius，andCuperhavegiventhemselvesagreatdealoftroubletoperplexaveryclearsubject。]
ThesonsofCarusneversaweachotheraftertheirfather\'sdeath。ThearrangementswhichtheirnewsituationrequiredwereprobablydeferredtillthereturnoftheyoungerbrothertoRome，whereatriumphwasdecreedtotheyoungemperorsfortheglorioussuccessofthePersianwar。^100Itisuncertainwhethertheyintendedtodividebetweenthemtheadministration，ortheprovinces，oftheempire；butitisveryunlikelythattheirunionwouldhaveprovedofanylongduration。Thejealousyofpowermusthavebeeninflamedbytheoppositionofcharacters。
Inthemostcorruptoftimes，Carinuswasunworthytolive:
Numeriandeservedtoreigninahappierperiod。Hisaffablemannersandgentlevirtuessecuredhim，assoonastheybecameknown，theregardandaffectionsofthepublic。Hepossessedtheelegantaccomplishmentsofapoetandorator，whichdignifyaswellasadornthehumblestandthemostexaltedstation。Hiseloquence，howeveritwasapplaudedbythesenate，wasformednotsomuchonthemodelofCicero，asonthatofthemoderndeclaimers；butinanageveryfarfrombeingdestituteofpoeticalmerit，hecontendedfortheprizewiththemostcelebratedofhiscontemporaries，andstillremainedthefriendofhisrivals；acircumstancewhichevinceseitherthegoodnessofhisheart，orthesuperiorityofhisgenius。^101ButthetalentsofNumerianwereratherofthecontemplativethanoftheactivekind。Whenhisfather\'selevationreluctantlyforcedhimfromtheshadeofretirement，neitherhistempernorhispursuitshadqualifiedhimforthecommandofarmies。HisconstitutionwasdestroyedbythehardshipsofthePersianwar；andhehadcontracted，fromtheheatoftheclimate，^102suchaweaknessinhiseyes，asobligedhim，inthecourseofalongretreat，toconfinehimselftothesolitudeanddarknessofatentorlitter。
Theadministrationofallaffairs，civilaswellasmilitary，wasdevolvedonArriusAper，thePraetorianpraefect，whotothepowerofhisimportantofficeaddedthehonorofbeingfather—in—lawtoNumerian。TheImperialpavilionwasstrictlyguardedbyhismosttrustyadherents；andduringmanydays，Aperdeliveredtothearmythesupposedmandatesoftheirinvisiblesovereign。^103
[Footnote100:NemesianusintheCynegeticonseemstoanticipateinhisfancythatauspiciousday。]
[Footnote101:HewonallthecrownsfromNemesianus，withwhomheviedindidacticpoetry。ThesenateerectedastatuetothesonofCarus，withaveryambiguousinscription，\"Tothemostpowerfuloforators。\"SeeVopiscusinHist。August。p。251。]
[Footnote102:Amorenaturalcause，atleast，thanthatassignedbyVopiscus，Hist。August。p。251，incessantlyweepingforhisfather\'sdeath。]
[Footnote103:InthePersianwar，AperwassuspectedofadesigntobetrayCarus。Hist。August。p。250。]
ItwasnottilleightmonthsafterthedeathofCarus，thattheRomanarmy，returningbyslowmarchesfromthebanksoftheTigris，arrivedonthoseoftheThracianBosphorus。ThelegionshaltedatChalcedoninAsia，whilethecourtpassedovertoHeraclea，ontheEuropeansideofthePropontis。^104Butareportsooncirculatedthroughthecamp，atfirstinsecretwhispers，andatlengthinloudclamors，oftheemperor\'sdeath，andofthepresumptionofhisambitiousminister，whostillexercisedthesovereignpowerinthenameofaprincewhowasnomore。Theimpatienceofthesoldierscouldnotlongsupportastateofsuspense。WithrudecuriositytheybrokeintotheImperialtent，anddiscoveredonlythecorpseofNumerian。^105
Thegradualdeclineofhishealthmighthaveinducedthemtobelievethathisdeathwasnatural；buttheconcealmentwasinterpretedasanevidenceofguilt，andthemeasureswhichAperhadtakentosecurehiselectionbecametheimmediateoccasionofhisruinYet，eveninthetransportoftheirrageandgrief，thetroopsobservedaregularproceeding，whichproveshowfirmlydisciplinehadbeenreestablishedbythemartialsuccessorsofGallienus。AgeneralassemblyofthearmywasappointedtobeheldatChalcedon，whitherAperwastransportedinchains，asaprisonerandacriminal。Avacanttribunalwaserectedinthemidstofthecamp，andthegeneralsandtribunesformedagreatmilitarycouncil。TheysoonannouncedtothemultitudethattheirchoicehadfallenonDiocletian，commanderofthedomesticsorbody—guards，asthepersonthemostcapableofrevengingandsucceedingtheirbelovedemperor。Thefuturefortunesofthecandidatedependedonthechanceorconductofthepresenthour。
Consciousthatthestationwhichhehadfilledexposedhimtosomesuspicions，Diocletianascendedthetribunal，andraisinghiseyestowardstheSun，madeasolemnprofessionofhisowninnocence，inthepresenceofthatall—seeingDeity。^106Then，assumingthetoneofasovereignandajudge，hecommandedthatApershouldbebroughtinchainstothefootofthetribunal。
\"Thisman，\"saidhe，\"isthemurdererofNumerian；\"andwithoutgivinghimtimetoenteronadangerousjustification，drewhissword，andburieditinthebreastoftheunfortunatepraefect。
Achargesupportedbysuchdecisiveproofwasadmittedwithoutcontradiction，andthelegions，withrepeatedacclamations，acknowledgedthejusticeandauthorityoftheemperorDiocletian。
^107[Footnote104:WeareobligedtotheAlexandrianChronicle，p。274，fortheknowledgeofthetimeandplacewhereDiocletianwaselectedemperor。]
[Footnote105:Hist。August。p。251。Eutrop。ix。88。Hieronym。
inChron。Accordingtothesejudiciouswriters，thedeathofNumerianwasdiscoveredbythestenchofhisdeadbody。CouldnoaromaticsbefoundintheImperialhousehold?]
[Footnote106:Aurel。Victor。Eutropius，ix。20。Hieronym。inChron。]
[Footnote107:VopiscusinHist。August。p。252。ThereasonwhyDiocletiankilledAper，awildboar，wasfoundedonaprophecyandapun，asfoolishastheyarewellknown。]
Beforeweenteruponthememorablereignofthatprince，itwillbepropertopunishanddismisstheunworthybrotherofNumerian。Carinuspossessedarmsandtreasuressufficienttosupporthislegaltitletotheempire。Buthispersonalvicesoverbalancedeveryadvantageofbirthandsituation。Themostfaithfulservantsofthefatherdespisedtheincapacity，anddreadedthecruelarrogance，oftheson。Theheartsofthepeoplewereengagedinfavorofhisrival，andeventhesenatewasinclinedtopreferausurpertoatyrant。TheartsofDiocletianinflamedthegeneraldiscontent；andthewinterwasemployedinsecretintrigues，andopenpreparationsforacivilwar。Inthespring，theforcesoftheEastandoftheWestencounteredeachotherintheplainsofMargus，asmallcityofMaesia，intheneighborhoodoftheDanube。^108Thetroops，solatelyreturnedfromthePersianwar，hadacquiredtheirgloryattheexpenseofhealthandnumbers；norweretheyinaconditiontocontendwiththeunexhaustedstrengthofthelegionsofEurope。Theirrankswerebroken，and，foramoment，Diocletiandespairedofthepurpleandoflife。ButtheadvantagewhichCarinushadobtainedbythevalorofhissoldiers，hequicklylostbytheinfidelityofhisofficers。Atribune，whosewifehehadseduced，seizedtheopportunityofrevenge，and，byasingleblow，extinguishedcivildiscordinthebloodoftheadulterer。
^109
[Footnote108:Eutropiusmarksitssituationveryaccurately；itwasbetweentheMonsAureusandViminiacum。M。d\'AnvilleGeographicAncienne，tom。i。p。304placesMargusatKastolatzinServia，alittlebelowBelgradeandSemendria。
Not:Kullieza—EtonAtlas—M。]
[Footnote109:Hist。August。p。254。Eutropius，ix。20。
AureliusVictoretEpitome]
ChapterXIII:ReignOfDiocletianAndThisThreeAssociates。
PartI。
TheReignOfDiocletianAndHisThreeAssociates，Maximian，Galerius，AndConstantius。—GeneralReestablishmentOfOrderAndTranquillity。—ThePersianWar，Victory，AndTriumph。—TheNewFormOfAdministration。—AbdicationAndRetirementOfDiocletianAndMaximian。
AsthereignofDiocletianwasmoreillustriousthanthatofanyofhispredecessors，sowashisbirthmoreabjectandobscure。Thestrongclaimsofmeritandofviolencehadfrequentlysupersededtheidealprerogativesofnobility；butadistinctlineofseparationwashithertopreservedbetweenthefreeandtheservilepartofmankind。TheparentsofDiocletianhadbeenslavesinthehouseofAnulinus，aRomansenator；norwashehimselfdistinguishedbyanyothernamethanthatwhichhederivedfromasmalltowninDalmatia，fromwhencehismotherdeducedherorigin。^1Itis，however，probablethathisfatherobtainedthefreedomofthefamily，andthathesoonacquiredanofficeofscribe，whichwascommonlyexercisedbypersonsofhiscondition。^2Favorableoracles，orrathertheconsciousnessofsuperiormerit，promptedhisaspiringsontopursuetheprofessionofarmsandthehopesoffortune；anditwouldbeextremelycurioustoobservethegradationofartsandaccidentswhichenabledhimintheendtofulfilthoseoracles，andtodisplaythatmerittotheworld。DiocletianwassuccessivelypromotedtothegovernmentofMaesia，thehonorsoftheconsulship，andtheimportantcommandoftheguardsofthepalace。HedistinguishedhisabilitiesinthePersianwar；andafterthedeathofNumerian，theslave，bytheconfessionandjudgmentofhisrivals，wasdeclaredthemostworthyoftheImperialthrone。Themaliceofreligiouszeal，whilstitarraignsthesavagefiercenessofhiscolleagueMaximian，hasaffectedtocastsuspicionsonthepersonalcourageoftheemperorDiocletian。^3Itwouldnotbeeasytopersuadeusofthecowardiceofasoldieroffortune，whoacquiredandpreservedtheesteemofthelegionsaswellasthefavorofsomanywarlikeprinces。Yetevencalumnyissagaciousenoughtodiscoverandtoattackthemostvulnerablepart。ThevalorofDiocletianwasneverfoundinadequatetohisduty，ortotheoccasion；butheappearsnottohavepossessedthedaringandgenerousspiritofahero，whocourtsdangerandfame，disdainsartifice，andboldlychallengestheallegianceofhisequals。Hisabilitieswereusefulratherthansplendid；avigorousmind，improvedbytheexperienceandstudyofmankind；dexterityandapplicationinbusiness；ajudiciousmixtureofliberalityandeconomy，ofmildnessandrigor；profounddissimulation，underthedisguiseofmilitaryfrankness；steadinesstopursuehisends；flexibilitytovaryhismeans；and，aboveall，thegreatartofsubmittinghisownpassions，aswellasthoseofothers，totheinterestofhisambition，andofcoloringhisambitionwiththemostspeciouspretencesofjusticeandpublicutility。LikeAugustus，Diocletianmaybeconsideredasthefounderofanewempire。
LiketheadoptedsonofCaesar，hewasdistinguishedasastatesmanratherthanasawarrior；nordideitherofthoseprincesemployforce，whenevertheirpurposecouldbeeffectedbypolicy。
[Footnote1:Eutrop。ix。19。VictorinEpitome。ThetownseemstohavebeenproperlycalledDoclia，fromasmalltribeofIllyrians，seeCellarius，Geograph。Antiqua，tom。i。p。393；
andtheoriginalnameofthefortunateslavewasprobablyDocles；
hefirstlengthenedittotheGrecianharmonyofDiocles，andatlengthtotheRomanmajestyofDiocletianus。HelikewiseassumedthePatriciannameofValeriusanditisusuallygivenhimbyAureliusVictor。]
[Footnote2:SeeDacieronthesixthsatireofthesecondbookofHoraceCornel。Nepos，\'nVit。Eumen。c。l。]
[Footnote3:LactantiusorwhoeverwastheauthorofthelittletreatiseDeMortibusPersecutorumaccusesDiocletianoftimidityintwoplaces，c。7。8。Inchap。9hesaysofhim，\"eratinomnitumultumeticulosuetanimidisjectus。\"]
ThevictoryofDiocletianwasremarkableforitssingularmildness。Apeopleaccustomedtoapplaudtheclemencyoftheconqueror，iftheusualpunishmentsofdeath，exile，andconfiscation，wereinflictedwithanydegreeoftemperandequity，beheld，withthemostpleasingastonishment，acivilwar，theflamesofwhichwereextinguishedinthefieldofbattle。
DiocletianreceivedintohisconfidenceAristobulus，theprincipalministerofthehouseofCarus，respectedthelives，thefortunes，andthedignity，ofhisadversaries，andevencontinuedintheirrespectivestationsthegreaternumberoftheservantsofCarinus。^4ItisnotimprobablethatmotivesofprudencemightassistthehumanityoftheartfulDalmatian；oftheseservants，manyhadpurchasedhisfavorbysecrettreachery；
inothers，heesteemedtheirgratefulfidelitytoanunfortunatemaster。ThediscerningjudgmentofAurelian，ofProbus，andofCarus，hadfilledtheseveraldepartmentsofthestateandarmywithofficersofapprovedmerit，whoseremovalwouldhaveinjuredthepublicservice，withoutpromotingtheinterestofhissuccessor。Suchaconduct，however，displayedtotheRomanworldthefairestprospectofthenewreign，andtheemperoraffectedtoconfirmthisfavorableprepossession，bydeclaring，that，amongallthevirtuesofhispredecessors，hewasthemostambitiousofimitatingthehumanephilosophyofMarcusAntoninus。