He had no sooner expired in his palace of Nicamedia, than the two emperors who were indebted for their purple to his favour, began to collect their forces, with the intention either of disputing, or of dividing, the dominions which he had lest without a master. They were persuaded however to defist from the former design, and to agree in the latter. The provinces of Asia fell to the share of Maximin, and those of Europe augmented the portion of Licinius. The Hellespont and the Thracian Bosphorus formed their mutual boundary, and the banks of those narrow seas, which flowed in the midst os the Roman world, were covered with soldiers, with arms, and with fortifications. The deaths of Maximian and of Galerius reduced the number of emperors to four. The sense of their true interest soon connected Licinius and Constantine; a secret alliance was concluded between Maximin and Maxentius, and their unhappy subjects expected with terrory the bloody consequences of their inevitable dissensions, which were no longer re. vstrained by the fear or the respect which they had entertained for Galerius 39.

Among so many crimes and misfortunes occa. sioned by the paffions of the Roman princes, there is some pleasure in discovering a single

-the city of Autun, and generoufly remitted the
arrears of tribute, reducing at the same time the
proportion of their assessment, from twenty-five
to eighteen thousand heads, subject to the real
and personal capitation "". Yet even this indul-
gence affords the most unquestionable proof of
the public misery. This tax was so extremely
oppreffive, either in itself or in the mode of col'-
lecting it, that whilst the revenue was increased
by extortion, it' was diminished by despair: a
considerable part of the territory of Autunywas
left uncultivated; and great mimbers of the pro-
vincials rather chose to live as exiles and outlaws,
than to support the weight of civil society. It
is but too probable, that the bountiful emperor
relieVed, by a partial act of liberality, one among
the many evils which he had caused by his gene-
ral maxims of administration. But even those
maxims Were less the effect of choice than of .ne-
cesiity. And if we except. the death of Maxi-
mian, the reign of Constantine in Gaul seems to
have been the most innocent and even virtuous
period of his life. The provinces Were protected
by his presence from the inroads of the barba-
rians, who either dreaded or experienced his ac-
tive valbur.
Franks and Alemanni, several of their princes

After a signal victory over the

were exposed by his order to the wild beasts in the amphitheatre of Treves, and the peoPle' seem to have enjoyed the spectacle, without discovering, in such a treatnEent of royal captives, any thing that was repugnant to the laws of nations or of humanity *'.

The virtues of- Constantine were rendered more illustrious by the vices of Maxentius. Whilst the Gallic provinces enjoyed as much happiness as the condition of the times was capable of receiving, Italy and Africa groaned Under the dominion of a tyrant as contempt-ible as he was odious. The zeal of flattery and faction has indeed too fquuentlY sacrificed the reputation of the vanquished to the glory of their successful rivals; but even those writers who have revealed, with the most freedom and pleasure, the faults of Constantine, unanimoufly confess, that Maxentius was cruel, rapacious, and profligate ". He had the good fortune to suppress a flight rebellion in Africa. The governor and a few adherents had been guilty; the province suffered for their crime. The flourishing Cities of Cirtha and Carthage, and the whole 'extent of that fertile country, were wasted by fire and sword. The 'abuse of victory Was followed by the abuse of law hnd justice. A formidable army of fycophants

and and delators invaded Africa; the rich and the C HQPnoble were easily convicted of a connection with Mr;

whenever persuafion proved ineffectual, he had recourse to violence; and there remains one memorable example of a noble matron, who preserved her chastity by a voluntary death. The soldiers were the only order of men whom he appeared to respect, or studied to please. He filled Rome and Italy with armed troops, connived at their tumults, suffered them with impunity to plundectr, and even to massacre, the defenceless people 46z and indulging them in the same licentiousness which their emperor enjoyed, Maxentius often bestowed on his military favourites the splendid villa, or the beautiful wife, of a senator. A prince of such a character, alike incapable, of governing either in peace or in war, might purchase the support, but he could never' obtain the esteem, of the army. Yet his pride was equal to his other' vices. Whilst he passed his indolent life, either within the walls of his Palace, or in the neighbouring gardens of Sal-' lust, he was repeatedly heard to declare, that be alone was emperor, and thatss the other princes Were no more than his lieutenants, on whom he