VII,

him, it appears that the former as well as the C H A P. latter were defigned for ufe rather than for oftentation". The Roman people acknowledged in the features of the younger Gordian the resem blance of Scipio Africanus, recollected with pleasure that his mother was the grand-daughter of Antoninus Pius, and refted the public hope on thofe latent virtues which had hitherto, as they fondly imagined, lain concealed in the luxurious indolence of a private life.

firmation

As foon as the Gordians had appeafed the They folifirft tumult of a popular election, they removed cit the contheir court to Carthage. They were received of their auwith the acclamations of the Africans, who thority. honoured their virtues, and who, fince the visit of Hadrian, had never beheld the majefty of a Roman Emperor. But thefe vain acclamations neither ftrengthened nor confirmed the title of the Gordians. They were induced by principle, as well as intereft, to folicit the approbation of the fenate; and a deputation of the nobleft provincials was fent, without delay, to Rome, to relate and juftify the conduct of their countrymen, who, having long fuffered with patience, were at length refolved to act with vigour. The letters of the new princes were modeft and refpectful, excufing the neceffity which had obliged them to accept the Imperial title; but fubmitting their election

19 By each of his concubines, the younger Gordian left three or four children. His literary productions, though less numerous, were by no means contemptible.

and

CHA P. and their fate to the fupreme judgment of the VII. fenate 20.

The fenate 'ratifies the election of the Gor

dians;

The inclinations of the fenate were neither doubtful nor divided. The birth and noble alliances of the Gordians had intimately connected them with the moft illuftrious houfes of Rome. Their fortune had created many dependants in that affembly, their merit had acquired many friends. Their mild adminiftration opened the flattering profpect of the restoration, not only of the civil but even of the republican government. The terror of military violence, which had first obliged the fenate to forget the murder of Alexander, and to ratify the election of a barbarian peasant", now produced a contrary effect, and provoked them to affert the injured rights of freedom and humanity. The hatred of Maximin towards the fenate was declared and implacable; the tameft fubmiffion had not appeafed his fury, the most cautious innocence would not remove his fufpicions; and even the care of their own. fafety urged them to share the fortune of an enterprife, of which (if unfuccessful) they were fure to be the first victims. These confiderations, and perhaps others of a more private nature, were debated in a previous conference of the confuls and the magiftrates. As foon as their refolution was decided, they convoked in the temple of Castor the whole body of the fenate,

20 Herodian, 1. vii. p. 243. Hift. Auguft. p. 144.

21

Quod tamen patres dum periculofum exiftimant; inermes armato refiftere approbaverunt. Aurelius Victor.

22

VII.

according to an ancient form of fecrecy ", cal- CHAP. culated to awaken their attention, and to conceal their decrees. "Confcript fathers," faid the conful Syllanus, "the two Gordians, both of "confular dignity, the one your proconful, the "other your lieutenant, have been declared Em

perors by the general confent of Africa. Let "us return thanks," he boldly continued, "to "the youth of Thyfdrus; let us return thanks "to the faithful people of Carthage, our gene❝rous deliverers from an horrid monster-Why "do you hear me thus coolly, thus timidly? Why do you caft thofe anxious looks on each "other? why hefitate? Maximin is a public "enemy! may his enmity foon expire with him, "and may we long enjoy the prudence and felicity of Gordian the father, the valour and conftancy of Gordian the fon 23 !" The noble ardour of the conful revived the languid fpirit of the fenate. By an unanimous decree the elec- and detion of the Gordians was ratified, Maximin, his clares fon, and his adherents were pronounced enemies a public of their country, and liberal rewards were offered enemy. to whofoever had the courage and good fortune to destroy them.

ઃઃ

Maximin

During the Emperor's abfence, a detachment Afsumes of the Prætorian guards remained at Rome, to

22 Even the fervants of the houfe; the fcribes, &c. were excluded, and their office was filled by the fenators themfelves. We are obliged to the Auguftan History, p. 159. for preserving this curious example of the old discipline of the commonwealth.

23 This fpirited speech, tranflated from the Auguftan hiftorian, p. 156. feems transcribed by him from the original registers of the fenate.

the com

mand of

Rome and

Italy;

protect,

VII.

CHAP. protect, or rather to command the capital. The præfect Vitalianus had fignalized his fidelity to Maximin, by the alacrity with which he had obeyed, and even prevented, the cruel mandates of the tyrant. His death alone could rescue the authority of the fenate and the lives of the fenators, from a ftate of danger and fufpence. Before their refolves had tranfpired, a quæftor

and fome tribunes were commiffioned to take his devoted life. They executed the order with equal boldnefs and fuccefs; and, with their bloody daggers in their hands, ran through the ftreets, proclaiming to the people and the foldiers, the news of the happy revolution. The enthusiasm of liberty was feconded by the promife of a large donative, in lands and money; the ftatues of Maximin were thrown down; the capital of the empire acknowledged, with tranfport, the authority of the two Gordians and the fenate; and the example of Rome was followed by the reft of Italy.

A new spirit had arifen in that affembly, whofe long patience had been infulted by wanton def potifm and military licence. The fenate affumed the reins of government, and, with a calm intrepidity, prepared to vindicate by arms the caufe of freedom. Among the confular fenators recommended by their merit and fervices to the favour of the Emperor Alexander, it was eafy to felect twenty, not unequal to the command of an army, and the conduct of a war. To these

* Herodian, 1. vii. p. 244.

was

VII.

was the defence of Italy intrufted. Each was CHA P. appointed to act in his refpective department, authorized to enrol and difcipline the Italian youth; and instructed to fortify the ports and highways, against the impending invafion of Maximin. A number of deputies, chofen from the most illuftrious of the fenatorian and equeftrian orders, were dispatched at the same time to the governors of the feveral provinces, earnestly conjuring them to fly to the affiftance of their country, and to remind the nations of their ancient ties of friendship with the Roman fenate and people. The general refpect with which thefe deputies were received, and the zeal of Italy and the provinces in favour of the senate, fufficiently prove that the fubjects of Maximin were reduced to that uncommon diftrefs, in which the body of the people has more to fear from oppreffion than from refiftance. The confciousness of that melancholy truth, infpires a degree of perfevering fury, feldom to be found in those civil wars which are artificially supported for the benefit of a few factious and defigning leaders 25.

death of

the two Gordians.

For while the caufe of the Gordians was em- Defeat and braced with fuch diffufive ardour, the Gordians themselves were no more. The feeble court of Carthage was alarmed with the rapid approach of Capelianus, governor of Mauritania, who, with a fmall band of veterans, and a fierce hoft of bar

25 Herodian, 1. vii. p. 247. l. viii. p. 277. Hift. Auguft. p. 156. -158.

VOL, I.

U

barians,

A.D. 237.

3d July.