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checked the ardour, and corrupted the fidelity egg P_0f the Illyrian legionsz'and When Galerius at length gave the signal of the retreat, it was with some difficulty that-he could prevail on his veterans not to desert a banner which had so often conducted them to victory and honour. A contemporary writer asiigns two other causes for the failure of the expedition, but they are both of such a nature, that a cautious historian will scarcely venture to adopt them. We are told \ that Galerius, who had formed a very imperfect notion of the greatness os'Rome by the Cities of the East, with which he was acquainted, found his forces inadequate to the siege of that immense capital. But the extent of a city serves only to render it more accesiible to the enemy 5 Rome had long since been accustomed to submit on the approach of a conqueror; nor could the temporary enthusiasin of the people have long contended against the discipline and valour of the ' legions. We are likewise informed, that the legions themselves were struck with horror and remorse, and that those pious sons of the* republic refused to violate the sanctity .of their venerable parent '6. But when we recollect with how much ease, in the more ancient civil wars, the zeal of party, and the habits of military obedience, had converted the native citizens of Rome into her most implacable enemies, we shall be inclined to

16 Lactantius de M. P. e. 28. The former of these reasons is probably taken from Virgil's Shepherd; " Illam ego huic nosirae

4- similem Melibee putavi, &c." Lactantius delights in these poe. tieal allusions. *

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37 Cash'a super Tusci si ponere Tybridis undas; (jnbcarj
Hesperios audax veniam metator in agros.
Tu quoscunque voles in planum effundere muros,
His aries actus disperget saxa lacertis;

Illa licet penitus tolli quam jusseris urbem ' _
Roma sit. ' Lucan. Pharsal. In 33"

veterans13 Lactantius de M.'P.c. 27. Zosim. l. ii. p. 81.. The latter insmnares, that Constantine, in his interview with Maximian, had promised to declare war against Galerius.

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was employed in the Italian war, he intrusted his friend with the defence of the Danube z and immediately after his return from that unfortunate expedition, he invested Licinius with the vacant purple of Sessveru's, resigning to his immediate command the provinces of Illyricum '9. The news of his promotion was no sooner carried into the East, than Maximin, who governed, or rather oppressed, the countries of Egypt and Syria, 'betrayed his envy and ldiscontent, disdained the inferior name of Caesar, and, notwithstanding the prayers' as well as arguments of Galerius, exactcd, almost by violence, the equal title of Augustusp. For the first, and indeed for the last time, the Roman world was administered by six emperors. In the West, Constantine andMaxentius affected

to reverence their father Maximian. In the East,

Licinius and Maximin honoured with more real consideration their benefactor Galerius. The opposition of interest, and the memory of a recent war, divided the empire into two great hostile powers z but their mutual fears produced an 'apparent tranquillity, and even a feigned recon

29 M. de Tillemont (Hist. des Empereurs, tom. ivI part i. p. 559.) has proved, that Licinius, without passing through the intermediate rank of Caesar, was declared Augustus, the uth of November, A. D. 307, after the return of Galerius from ltaly.

30 Lactantius de M. P. c. 32. When Galerius declared Licinius Augustus with himself, he tried to satisfy his younger associates, by inventing, for Constantine and Maximin (not Maxeutim, se' Baluze, p. 81.) the new title of sons of the Augusti. But when Maximin acquainted him that he had been saluted Augustus by the army, Galerius was obliged to acknowledge him, as well as Constantine, as equal associates in the Imperial dignity.

ciliation.

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