ciliation, till the death of the elder princes, of Maximian, and more particularly of Galerius, gave a new direction to the'ctviews and passions of their survivi-ng associates. si When Maximian had reluctantly abdicated the empire, the venal orators of the timesapplauded his philosophic moderation. When his ambition excited, or at least encouraged, a civil war, they returned thanks to his generous patriotism, and gently censured that love of ease and retirement which had withdrawn him from the public servicez'. But it was impossible, that minds like those of Maximian and his son, could long possess in harmony ansi undivided power. Maxentius considered himself as the legal sovereign of Italy, ' elected by the Roman senate and people; nor would he endure the controul of his father, 'who arrogantly declared, that by his name and abilities the rash youth had been established on the throne. The cause was solemnly pleaded before the Praeiorian guards, and those troops, who dreaded the severity of the old emperor, efpoused the party of Maxentius 3'. The life and freedom of Maximian were however respected, and he retired from Italy into 'Illyricum, affecting to lament his past conduct, and secretly contriving -c new mischiefs. But Galerius, who was well ac. quainted with his character, soon obliged him to Arles. Maximian either craftily invented, or hastily credited, a vain report of the death of' 33 Ab urbe' pulsum,-ab Italia fugatum, ab Illyrico repudiatum, .tuis provinciis, tuis cppiis, tuo palatio recepisti. Bumen. in Pane. gyr. Vet. vii. 14. 34- Lactantius de M. P. c. 29. Yet after the resignation of the purple, Constantine still continued to Maximian the pomp and honours of the Imperial dignity; and on all public occasions gave the right-hand place to his father-inlaw, Yanegyr,'Vet. vii. r 5. 4 , Constanq his accustomed profufion among the soldiers, endeavou'red to awake in their minds the memory of his ancient dignity and exploits. Before he could establish his authority, or finish the negotiation which he appears to have entered into with his son Maxentius, the celerity of Constantine defeated all his hopes. On the first news of his perfidy and ingratitude, that prince returned by rapid marches from the Rhine to the Saone, embarked on the last mentioned river at Chalons, and at Lyons trusting himself to the rapidity of the Rhone, arrived at the gates of Arles, with a military force which it was impossible for Maximian to resist, and which scarcely permitted him to take refuge in the neighbouring city of Mar seilles. The narrow neck of land which joined . of their fault or of their danger, had not purP a ct chased 36 Aurelius Victor, c. 40. But that lake was situated on the Upper Pannonia, hear the borders ofNoricum; and the province of Valeria (a name which the wife of Galerius gave to the drained country) undoubtedly lay between the Drave and the Danube (Sextus Rnfus, c. 9.). I should therefore suspect that Victor has con. fonnded the lake Pelso with the Volocean marches, or, as they are now called, the lake Sabaton. It is placed in the heart of Valeria, and its present extent is not less than '15. Hung'atian miles (about 70 English) in length, and two in breadth. See Severini Pannonia, 'l- i. c. 9. 27' Lactantius (de M. P. c. 33.) and Eusebius (1. viii. c. 16.) describe the symptoms and progress of his disorder with singular accuracy and apparent pleasure. 48 If any (like 'the late Dr. Jortin, Remarks on Ecclesiastica'l History, vol. ii. p. 307-3 56.) (till delight' in recording the wone '* ' P 3 derful |