ThesystemofDiocletianwasaccompaniedwithanotherverymaterialdisadvantage，whichcannotevenatpresentbetotallyoverlooked；amoreexpensiveestablishment，andconsequentlyanincreaseoftaxes，andtheoppressionofthepeople。Insteadofamodestfamilyofslavesandfreedmen，suchashadcontentedthesimplegreatnessofAugustusandTrajan，threeorfourmagnificentcourtswereestablishedinthevariouspartsoftheempire，andasmanyRomankingscontendedwitheachotherandwiththePersianmonarchforthevainsuperiorityofpompandluxury。Thenumberofministers，ofmagistrates，ofofficers，andofservants，whofilledthedifferentdepartmentsofthestate，wasmultipliedbeyondtheexampleofformertimes；andifwemayborrowthewarmexpressionofacontemporary\"whentheproportionofthosewhoreceived，exceededtheproportionofthosewhocontributed，theprovinceswereoppressedbytheweightoftributes。\"^104Fromthisperiodtotheextinctionoftheempire，itwouldbeeasytodeduceanuninterruptedseriesofclamorsandcomplaints。Accordingtohisreligionandsituation，eachwriterchooseseitherDiocletian，orConstantine，orValens，orTheodosius，fortheobjectofhisinvectives；buttheyunanimouslyagreeinrepresentingtheburdenofthepublicimpositions，andparticularlythelandtaxandcapitation，astheintolerableandincreasinggrievanceoftheirowntimes。Fromsuchaconcurrence，animpartialhistorian，whoisobligedtoextracttruthfromsatire，aswellasfrompanegyric，willbeinclinedtodividetheblameamongtheprinceswhomtheyaccuse，andtoascribetheirexactionsmuchlesstotheirpersonalvices，thantotheuniformsystemoftheiradministration。TheemperorDiocletianwasindeedtheauthorofthatsystem；butduringhisreign，thegrowingevilwasconfinedwithintheboundsofmodestyanddiscretion，andhedeservesthereproachofestablishingperniciousprecedents，ratherthanofexercisingactualoppression。^105Itmaybeadded，thathisrevenuesweremanagedwithprudenteconomy；andthatafterallthecurrentexpensesweredischarged，therestillremainedintheImperialtreasuryanampleprovisioneitherforjudiciousliberalityorforanyemergencyofthestate。
[Footnote104:Lactant。deM。P。c。7。]
[Footnote*:ThemostcuriousdocumentwhichhascometolightsincethepublicationofGibbon\'sHistory，istheedictofDiocletian，publishedfromaninscriptionfoundatEskihissar，Stratoniccia，byCol。Leake。ThisinscriptionwasfirstcopiedbySherard，afterwardsmuchmorecompletelybyMr。Bankes。Itisconfirmedandillustratedbyamoreimperfectcopyofthesameedict，foundintheLevantbyagentlemanofAix，andbroughttothiscountrybyM。Vescovali。ThisedictwasissuedinthenameofthefourCaesars，Diocletian，Maximian，Constantius，andGalerius。Itfixedamaximumofpricesthroughouttheempire，forallthenecessariesandcommoditiesoflife。Thepreambleinsists，withgreatvehemenceontheextortionandinhumanityofthevendersandmerchants。Quisenimadeoobtunisiobtusi
pectoresisetasensuinhumanitatisextorrisestquiignorarepotestimmononsenseritinvenalibusrebusquaevelinmercimoniisagunturveldiurnaurbiumconversationetractantur，intantumselicenliamdefusisse，uteffraenatalibidorapien—
rumcopianecannorumubertatibusmitigaretur。Theedict，asCol。
Leakeclearlyshows，wasissuedA。C。303。Amongthearticlesofwhichthemaximumvalueisassessed，areoil，salt，honey，butchers\'meat，poultry，game，fish，vegetables，fruitthewagesoflaborersandartisans，schoolmastersandskins，bootsandshoes，harness，timber，corn，wine，andbeer，zythus。Thedepreciationinthevalueofmoney，ortheriseinthepriceofcommodities，hadbeensogreatduringthepastcentury，thatbutchers\'meat，which，inthesecondcenturyoftheempire，wasinRomeabouttwodenarilthepound，wasnowfixedatamaximumofeight。Col。Leakesupposestheaveragepricecouldnotbelessthanfour:atthesametimethemaximumofthewagesoftheagriculturallaborerswastwenty—five。Thewholeedictis，perhaps，themostgiganticeffortofablindthoughwell—intentioneddespotism，tocontrolthatwhichis，andoughttobe，beyondtheregulationofthegovernment。SeeanEdictofDiocletian，byCol。Leake，London，1826。
Col。LeakehasnotobservedthatthisEdictisexpresslynamedinthetreatisedeMort。Persecut。ch。vii。Idemcumvariisiniquitatibusimmensamfaceretcaritatem，legempretiisrerumvenaliumstatuereconatus。—M]
[Footnote105:Indictalexnovaquaesaneillorumtemporummodestiatolerabilis，inperniciemprocessit。Aurel。Victor。，whohastreatedthecharacterofDiocletianwithgoodsense，thoughinbadLatin。]
ItwasinthetwentyfirstyearofhisreignthatDiocletianexecutedhismemorableresolutionofabdicatingtheempire；anactionmorenaturallytohavebeenexpectedfromtheelderortheyoungerAntoninus，thanfromaprincewhohadneverpractisedthelessonsofphilosophyeitherintheattainmentorintheuseofsupremepower。Diocletianacquiredthegloryofgivingtotheworldthefirstexampleofaresignation，^106whichhasnotbeenveryfrequentlyimitatedbysucceedingmonarchs。TheparallelofCharlestheFifth，however，willnaturallyofferitselftoourmind，notonlysincetheeloquenceofamodernhistorianhasrenderedthatnamesofamiliartoanEnglishreader，butfromtheverystrikingresemblancebetweenthecharactersofthetwoemperors，whosepoliticalabilitiesweresuperiortotheirmilitarygenius，andwhosespeciousvirtuesweremuchlesstheeffectofnaturethanofart。TheabdicationofCharlesappearstohavebeenhastenedbythevicissitudeoffortune；andthedisappointmentofhisfavoriteschemesurgedhimtorelinquishapowerwhichhefoundinadequatetohisambition。ButthereignofDiocletianhadflowedwithatideofuninterruptedsuccess；
norwasittillafterhehadvanquishedallhisenemies，andaccomplishedallhisdesigns，thatheseemstohaveentertainedanyseriousthoughtsofresigningtheempire。NeitherCharlesnorDiocletianwerearrivedataveryadvancedperiodoflife；
sincetheonewasonlyfifty—five，andtheotherwasnomorethanfifty—nineyearsofage；buttheactivelifeofthoseprinces，theirwarsandjourneys，thecaresofroyalty，andtheirapplicationtobusiness，hadalreadyimpairedtheirconstitution，andbroughtontheinfirmitiesofaprematureoldage。^107
[Footnote106:SolusomniumpostconditumRomanumImperium，quiextantofastigiosponteadprivataevitaestatumcivilitatemqueremearet，Eutrop。ix。28。]
[Footnote107:TheparticularsofthejourneyandillnessaretakenfromLaclantius，c。17，whomaysometimesbeadmittedasanevidenceofpublicfacts，thoughveryseldomofprivateanecdotes。]
Notwithstandingtheseverityofaverycoldandrainywinter，DiocletianleftItalysoonaftertheceremonyofhistriumph，andbeganhisprogresstowardstheEastroundthecircuitoftheIllyrianprovinces。Fromtheinclemencyoftheweather，andthefatigueofthejourney，hesooncontractedaslowillness；andthoughhemadeeasymarches，andwasgenerallycarriedinacloselitter，hisdisorder，beforehearrivedatNicomedia，abouttheendofthesummer，wasbecomeveryseriousandalarming。Duringthewholewinterhewasconfinedtohispalace:hisdangerinspiredageneralandunaffectedconcern；butthepeoplecouldonlyjudgeofthevariousalterationsofhishealth，fromthejoyorconsternationwhichtheydiscoveredinthecountenancesandbehaviorofhisattendants。Therumorofhisdeathwasforsometimeuniversallybelieved，anditwassupposedtobeconcealedwithaviewtopreventthetroublesthatmighthavehappenedduringtheabsenceoftheCaesarGalerius。
Atlength，however，onthefirstofMarch，Diocletianoncemoreappearedinpublic，butsopaleandemaciated，thathecouldscarcelyhavebeenrecognizedbythosetowhomhispersonwasthemostfamiliar。Itwastimetoputanendtothepainfulstruggle，whichhehadsustainedduringmorethanayear，betweenthecareofhishealthandthatofhisdignity。Theformerrequiredindulgenceandrelaxation，thelattercompelledhimtodirect，fromthebedofsickness，theadministrationofagreatempire。Heresolvedtopasstheremainderofhisdaysinhonorablerepose，toplacehisglorybeyondthereachoffortune，andtorelinquishthetheatreoftheworldtohisyoungerandmoreactiveassociates。^108
[Footnote108:AureliusVictorascribestheabdication，whichhadbeensovariouslyaccountedfor，totwocauses:1st，Diocletian\'scontemptofambition；and2dly，Hisapprehensionofimpendingtroubles。Oneofthepanegyristsvi。9mentionstheageandinfirmitiesofDiocletianasaverynaturalreasonforhisretirement。
Note:ConstantineOrat。adSanct。c。401morethaninsinuatedthatderangementofmind，connectedwiththeconflagrationofthepalaceatNicomediabylightning，wasthecauseofhisabdication。ButHeinichen。inaverysensiblenoteonthispassageinEusebius，whileheadmitsthathislongillnessmightproduceatemporarydepressionofspirits，triumphantlyappealstothephilosophicalconductofDiocletianinhisretreat，andtheinfluencewhichhestillretainedonpublicaffairs。—M。]
Theceremonyofhisabdicationwasperformedinaspaciousplain，aboutthreemilesfromNicomedia。Theemperorascendedaloftythrone，andinaspeech，fullofreasonanddignity，declaredhisintention，bothtothepeopleandtothesoldierswhowereassembledonthisextraordinaryoccasion。Assoonashehaddivestedhimselfofhispurple，hewithdrewfromthegazingmultitude；andtraversingthecityinacoveredchariot，proceeded，withoutdelay，tothefavoriteretirementwhichhehadchoseninhisnativecountryofDalmatia。Onthesameday，whichwasthefirstofMay，^109Maximian，asithadbeenpreviouslyconcerted，madehisresignationoftheImperialdignityatMilan。
EveninthesplendoroftheRomantriumph，Diocletianhadmeditatedhisdesignofabdicatingthegovernment。AshewishedtosecuretheobedienceofMaximian，heexactedfromhimeitherageneralassurancethathewouldsubmithisactionstotheauthorityofhisbenefactor，oraparticularpromisethathewoulddescendfromthethrone，wheneverheshouldreceivetheadviceandtheexample。Thisengagement，thoughitwasconfirmedbythesolemnityofanoathbeforethealtaroftheCapitolineJupiter，^110wouldhaveprovedafeeblerestraintonthefiercetemperofMaximian，whosepassionwastheloveofpower，andwhoneitherdesiredpresenttranquilitynorfuturereputation。Butheyielded，howeverreluctantly，totheascendantwhichhiswisercolleaguehadacquiredoverhim，andretired，immediatelyafterhisabdication，toavillainLucania，whereitwasalmostimpossiblethatsuchanimpatientspiritcouldfindanylastingtranquility。
[Footnote109:ThedifficultiesaswellasmistakesattendingthedatesbothoftheyearandofthedayofDiocletian\'sabdicationareperfectlyclearedupbyTillemont，Hist。desEmpereurs，tom。
iv。p525，note19，andbyPagiadannum。]
[Footnote110:SeePanegyr。Veter。vi。9。TheorationwaspronouncedafterMaximianhadresumedthepurple。]
Diocletian，who，fromaservileorigin，hadraisedhimselftothethrone，passedtheninelastyearsofhislifeinaprivatecondition。Reasonhaddictated，andcontentseemstohaveaccompanied，hisretreat，inwhichheenjoyed，foralongtime，therespectofthoseprincestowhomhehadresignedthepossessionoftheworld。^111Itisseldomthatmindslongexercisedinbusinesshaveformedthehabitsofconversingwiththemselves，andinthelossofpowertheyprincipallyregretthewantofoccupation。Theamusementsoflettersandofdevotion，whichaffordsomanyresourcesinsolitude，wereincapableoffixingtheattentionofDiocletian；buthehadpreserved，oratleasthesoonrecovered，atasteforthemostinnocentaswellasnaturalpleasures，andhisleisurehoursweresufficientlyemployedinbuilding，planting，andgardening。HisanswertoMaximianisdeservedlycelebrated。Hewassolicitedbythatrestlessoldmantoreassumethereinsofgovernment，andtheImperialpurple。Herejectedthetemptationwithasmileofpity，calmlyobserving，thatifhecouldshowMaximianthecabbageswhichhehadplantedwithhisownhandsatSalona，heshouldnolongerbeurgedtorelinquishtheenjoymentofhappinessforthepursuitofpower。^112Inhisconversationswithhisfriends，hefrequentlyacknowledged，thatofallarts，themostdifficultwastheartofreigning；andheexpressedhimselfonthatfavoritetopicwithadegreeofwarmthwhichcouldbetheresultonlyofexperience。\"Howoften，\"washeaccustomedtosay，\"isittheinterestoffourorfiveministerstocombinetogethertodeceivetheirsovereign!Secludedfrommankindbyhisexalteddignity，thetruthisconcealedfromhisknowledge；hecanseeonlywiththeireyes，hehearsnothingbuttheirmisrepresentations。Heconfersthemostimportantofficesuponviceandweakness，anddisgracesthemostvirtuousanddeservingamonghissubjects。Bysuchinfamousarts，\"addedDiocletian，\"thebestandwisestprincesaresoldtothevenalcorruptionoftheircourtiers。\"^113Ajustestimateofgreatness，andtheassuranceofimmortalfame，improveourrelishforthepleasuresofretirement；buttheRomanemperorhadfilledtooimportantacharacterintheworld，toenjoywithoutalloythecomfortsandsecurityofaprivatecondition。Itwasimpossiblethathecouldremainignorantofthetroubleswhichafflictedtheempireafterhisabdication。Itwasimpossiblethathecouldbeindifferenttotheirconsequences。Fear，sorrow，anddiscontent，sometimespursuedhimintothesolitudeofSalona。Histenderness，oratleasthispride，wasdeeplywoundedbythemisfortunesofhiswifeanddaughter；andthelastmomentsofDiocletianwereimbitteredbysomeaffronts，whichLiciniusandConstantinemighthavesparedthefatherofsomanyemperors，andthefirstauthoroftheirownfortune。Areport，thoughofaverydoubtfulnature，hasreachedourtimes，thatheprudentlywithdrewhimselffromtheirpowerbyavoluntarydeath。
^114
[Footnote111:Eumeniuspayshimaveryfinecompliment:\"Atenimdivinumillumvirum，quiprimusimperiumetparticipavitetposuit，consiliietfactisuinonpoenitet；necamisisseseputatquodspontetranscripsit。Felixbeatusqueverequemvestra，tantorumprincipum，coluntprivatum。\"Panegyr。Vet。vii。15。]
[Footnote112:WeareobligedtotheyoungerVictorforthiscelebrateditem。Eutropiusmentionsthethinginamoregeneralmanner。]
[Footnote113:Hist。August。p。223，224。Vopiscushadlearnedthisconversationfromhisfather。]
[Footnote114:TheyoungerVictorslightlymentionsthereport。
ButasDiocletianhaddisobligedapowerfulandsuccessfulparty，hismemoryhasbeenloadedwitheverycrimeandmisfortune。Ithasbeenaffirmedthathediedravingmad，thathewascondemnedasacriminalbytheRomansenate，&c。]
BeforewedismisstheconsiderationofthelifeandcharacterofDiocletian，wemay，foramoment，directourviewtotheplaceofhisretirement。Salona，aprincipalcityofhisnativeprovinceofDalmatia，wasneartwohundredRomanmilesaccordingtothemeasurementofthepublichighwaysfromAquileiaandtheconfinesofItaly，andabouttwohundredandseventyfromSirmium，theusualresidenceoftheemperorswhenevertheyvisitedtheIllyrianfrontier。^115AmiserablevillagestillpreservesthenameofSalona；butsolateasthesixteenthcentury，theremainsofatheatre，andaconfusedprospectofbrokenarchesandmarblecolumns，continuedtoattestitsancientsplendor。^116Aboutsixorsevenmilesfromthecity，Diocletianconstructedamagnificentpalace，andwemayinfer，fromthegreatnessofthework，howlonghehadmeditatedhisdesignofabdicatingtheempire。Thechoiceofaspotwhichunitedallthatcouldcontributeeithertohealthortoluxury，didnotrequirethepartialityofanative。\"Thesoilwasdryandfertile，theairispureandwholesome，andthoughextremelyhotduringthesummermonths，thiscountryseldomfeelsthosesultryandnoxiouswinds，towhichthecoastsofIstriaandsomepartsofItalyareexposed。Theviewsfromthepalacearenolessbeautifulthanthesoilandclimatewereinviting。TowardsthewestliesthefertileshorethatstretchesalongtheAdriatic，inwhichanumberofsmallislandsarescatteredinsuchamanner，astogivethispartoftheseatheappearanceofagreatlake。
Onthenorthsideliesthebay，whichledtotheancientcityofSalona；andthecountrybeyondit，appearinginsight，formsapropercontrasttothatmoreextensiveprospectofwater，whichtheAdriaticpresentsbothtothesouthandtotheeast。Towardsthenorth，theviewisterminatedbyhighandirregularmountains，situatedataproperdistance，andinmanyplacescoveredwithvillages，woods，andvineyards。\"^117
[Footnote115:SeetheItiner。p。269，272，edit。Wessel。]
[Footnote116:TheAbateFortis，inhisViaggioinDalmazia，p。
43，printedatVeniceintheyear1774，intwosmallvolumesinquarto，quotesaMsaccountoftheantiquitiesofSalona，composedbyGiambattistaGiustinianiaboutthemiddleofthexvithcentury。]
[Footnote117:Adam\'sAntiquitiesofDiocletian\'sPalaceatSpalatro，p。6。WemayaddacircumstanceortwofromtheAbateFortis:thelittlestreamoftheHyader，mentionedbyLucan，producesmostexquisitetrout，whichasagaciouswriter，perhapsamonk，supposestohavebeenoneoftheprincipalreasonsthatdeterminedDiocletianinthechoiceofhisretirement。Fortis，p。45。Thesameauthorp。38observes，thatatasteforagricultureisrevivingatSpalatro；andthatanexperimentalfarmhaslatelybeenestablishednearthecity，byasocietyofgentlemen。]
ThoughConstantine，fromaveryobviousprejudice，affectstomentionthepalaceofDiocletianwithcontempt，^118yetoneoftheirsuccessors，whocouldonlyseeitinaneglectedandmutilatedstate，celebratesitsmagnificenceintermsofthehighestadmiration。^119ItcoveredanextentofgroundconsistingofbetweennineandtenEnglishacres。Theformwasquadrangular，flankedwithsixteentowers。Twoofthesideswerenearsixhundred，andtheothertwonearsevenhundredfeetinlength。Thewholewasconstructedofabeautifulfreestone，extractedfromtheneighboringquarriesofTrau，orTragutium，andverylittleinferiortomarbleitself。Fourstreets，intersectingeachotheratrightangles，dividedtheseveralpartsofthisgreatedifice，andtheapproachtotheprincipalapartmentwasfromaverystatelyentrance，whichisstilldenominatedtheGoldenGate。Theapproachwasterminatedbyaperistyliumofgranitecolumns，ononesideofwhichwediscoverthesquaretempleofAesculapius，ontheothertheoctagontempleofJupiter。ThelatterofthosedeitiesDiocletianreveredasthepatronofhisfortunes，theformerastheprotectorofhishealth。BycomparingthepresentremainswiththepreceptsofVitruvius，theseveralpartsofthebuilding，thebaths，bed—chamber，theatrium，thebasilica，andtheCyzicene，Corinthian，andEgyptianhallshavebeendescribedwithsomedegreeofprecision，oratleastofprobability。Theirformswerevarious，theirproportionsjust；buttheyallwereattendedwithtwoimperfections，veryrepugnanttoourmodernnotionsoftasteandconveniency。Thesestatelyroomshadneitherwindowsnorchimneys。Theywerelightedfromthetop，forthebuildingseemstohaveconsistedofnomorethanonestory，andtheyreceivedtheirheatbythehelpofpipesthatwereconveyedalongthewalls。Therangeofprincipalapartmentswasprotectedtowardsthesouth—westbyaporticofivehundredandseventeenfeetlong，whichmusthaveformedaverynobleanddelightfulwalk，whenthebeautiesofpaintingandsculpturewereaddedtothoseoftheprospect。