active diligence that he descended into the plain of Piedmont before the court of Maxentius had received any certain intelligence of his departure from the banks ofthe Rhinesi. The city of Susa, however, which is situated at the foot of Mount Cenis, was furrounded with walls, and provided with a garrison sufficiently numerous to, check the progress of an invader; but the

'and cut in pieces the greatest part of the gar

Battle of
Turin.

U

i in a species of heavy cavalry, which the Romans,

*to the motions of their bodies.

'rals had drawn them up in a compact column or

fianks, they flattered themselves that they should easily break and trample down the army of Constantine. They might perhaps have succeeded their defign, had not their experienced adversary embraced the same method of defence, which in similar circumstances had been practised by Aurelian. The skilful evolutions of Constantine divided and baffled this massy column of cavalry. The troops of Maxentius fled in confusion towards Turin; and as the gates of the city were shut against them, very few escaped the sword of the Victorious pursuers. By this important service, Turin deserved to experience the clemency and even favour of the conqueror, _He made his entry into the Imperial' palace of Milan, and almost all the cities of Italy between the Alps and the Po not only acknowledged the power, but embraced with zeal the party, of Constantine 56.

From Milan to Rome, the ZEmilian and Flaminian highways offered an easy march of about four hundred miles; but though Constantine was impatient to encounth the tyrant, he prudently directed his operations against another army of Italians, 'who, by their strength and position, might either oppose his progress, or, in case of a misfortune, might intercept his retreat. Ruricius Pompcianus, a general distinguished by his valour and ability, had under his

C H AP. command the city of Verona, and all the troops ," xw' , that were stationed in the province of Venetia.

fona, anxious not for his own but for the pub- C H AP. lic safety. With indefatigable diligence he soon . le' ,

collected an army sufficient either to meet Constantine in the field, or to attack him if he ob-* stinately remained within his lines. The emperor, attentive to the motions, and informed of the approach, of so formidable an enemy, left a part of his legions to continue the operations of the siege, whilst, at the head of those troops on whose valour and fidelity he more particularly depended, he advanced in person to engage' the general of Maxentius. The army of Gaul was drawn up in two lines, according to the usual practice of War; but their experienced leader, perceiving that the numbers of the Italians far exceeded his own, suddenly changed his disposition, and reducing the seCOnd, extended the front of his first_line, to a just proportion with that 'of the enemy. Such evolutions, which only veteran troops can execute without confusion in a moment of danger, commonly prove decisive: but as this engagement began towards the close of the day, and was contested with great obstinacy during the whole night, there Was less r00m for the conduct of the generals than for the courage of the soldiers. The return -of light displayed the victory of Constantine, and a field of carnage covered with many thousands of the van'quished Italians. Their general Pompeianus was found among the slain ; Verona immediately surrendered at discretion, and the garrison was

(La - _ made

CHAR XIV. w