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had devolved the defence of the frOntier provinces, that he might enjoy without interruption the elegant luxury of the capital. Rome, which had so long regretted the absence, lamented, during the six years of his reign, the presence of her sovereign ".

Though Constantine might view the conduct of Maxentius with abhorrence, and the situation of the Romans with compassion, we have no reason to presume that he would have taken up arms to punish the one, or to relieve the other. But the tyrant of Italy rashly ventured to pro'voke a formidable enemy, whose ambition had been hitherto restrained by considerations of prudence, rather than by principles of justice 43. After the death of Maximian, his titles, according to the established custom, had been erased, and his statues thrown down with ignominy. His son, who had persecuted and deserted him when alive, affected to display the most pious regard for his memory, and gave orders that a similar treatment should be immediately inflicted on all the statues that had been erected in Italy and Africa to the honour of Constantine. That wise prince, who sincerely wished to decline a. war, with the difficulty and importance of which

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enervated by indulgence and luxury. Habituated to the baths and theatres of Rome, they took the field with reluctance, and were chiefly com

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of new levies, who had never vauired, the use of arms and the practice of war. The hardy legions of Gaul had long defended the frontiers of the empire against thebarbarians of the North; and in the performance of that laborious service, their valour was exercised, vand their discipline confirmed. There appeared the same difference between the leaders as between the armies. Caprice or flattery had tempted Maxentius with the hopes of conquest; but these aspiring hopes soon gave way to the habits of pleasure and the consciousness of his inexperience. The intrepid mind of Constantine had been trained from his earliest youth to war, to action, and to military command.

When Hannibal marched vfrom Gaul intoltaly, he was obliged, first, to discover, and then to open, a way over mountains and through savage C Pnations, that had never yielded a passage to a regular army '3. The Alps were then guarded by nature, they are now fortisied by art. Citadels constructed with no less skill than labour and expence, command every avenue into the plain, and on that side render Italy almost inaccesiible to the enemies of the king of Sardinia". But in the course of the intermediate period, the' generals, who have attempted the passage, have seldom experienced any difficulty or resistance. In the age of Constantine, the peasants of the mountains were sscivilized and obedient subjects; the country was plentifully stocked with provisions, and the stupendous high- * ways which the Romans had carried over the

5'- Panegyr. Vet. ix. 3. It is not surprising that the oratorshould diminish the numbers with which his sovereign atchieved the conquest of Italy; but it appears somewhat singular that he should

*- esteem the tyrant's army at no more than reo,oo<> men.

open, 5! The three principal passages of the Alps between Gaul and i

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Alps, opened several communications between

Gaul and Italy 55. Constantine preferred the

road of the Cottian Alps, or, as it is now called,

of Mount Cenis, and led his troops With such

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lltaly, are those of Mount St. Bernard, Mount Cenis, and Mount Genevre. Tradition, and a resemblance of names (Alpu Pennine )

had assigned the first of these for the marches Hannibal (see Simler

de Alpibus). The Chevalier de Folard (Polybe, tom. iv.) and M. . d'Anville have led him over Mount Genevre. But notwithstanding

the authority of an experienced officer and a learned geographer,

the pretensions of Mount Cenis are supported in aspecious, not to

say a convincing, manner by M. Grolley. Observations sur l'Italie,

tom. i. p. 40, &e.

' 54- La. Brunette near Suse, Demont, Exiles, Fenestrelles, Coni,

&e.
55 See Ammian. Marcellin. xv. ro. His description of the road'
-9ver the Alps, is clear, lively, and accurate.

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