Page:1909historyofdec04gibbuoft.djvu/51

 chap, xxxvi] OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE 27 ficed his friend to the interest of his ambition ; but he resolved, Ricimer in a second choice, to avoid the imprudent preference of under the . . ., i • name of superior virtue and merit. At his command the obsequious sevems. tit. . ..,, ...„ a.d. 461-467 senate of Rome bestowed the Imperial title on ljibius beverus, who ascended the throne of the West without emerging from [Pro- the obscurity of a private condition. History has scarcely Ravenna, deigned to notice his birth, his elevation, his character, or his A .D.'46ii death. Severus expired, as soon as his life became inconvenient [Aug. is, to his patron; 66 and it would be useless to discriminate his AD- nominal reign in the vacant interval of six years, between the death of Majorian and the elevation of Anthemius. During that period, the government was in the hands of Eicimer alone ; and, although the modest Barbarian disclaimed the name of king, he accumulated treasures, formed a separate army, negotiated private alliances, and ruled Italy with the same independent and despotic authority which was afterwards exercised by Odoacer and Theodoric. But his Revolt of dominions were bounded by the Alps ; and two Roman nus in .. .. ... ,, . Dalmatia generals, Marcellmus and ZEgidius, maintained their allegiance to the republic, by rejecting, with disdain, the phantom which he styled an emperor. Marcellinus still adhered to the old religion ; and the devout Pagans, who secretly disobeyed the laws of the church and state, applauded his profound skill in the science of divination. But he possessed the more valuable qualifications of learning, virtue, and courage ; 6T the study of the Latin literature had improved his taste ; and his military talents had recommended him to the esteem and confidence of the great Aetius, in whose ruin he was involved. By a timely flight, Marcellinus escaped the rage of Valentinian, and boldly asserted his liberty amidst the convulsions of the Western empire. His voluntary, or reluctant, submission to the au- thority of Majorian was rewarded by the government of Sicily and the command of an army, stationed in that island to 60 Sidonius (Paneg. Anth. 317) dismisses him to heaven. Auxerat Augustus nature lege Severus Divorum numerum And an old list of the emperors, composed about the time of Justinian, praises his piety, and fixes his residence at Rome (Sirmond, Not. ad Sidon. p. Ill, 112). [He was a native of Lucania.] 67 Tillemont, who is always scandalized by the virtues of Infidels, attributes this advantageous portrait of Marcellinus (which Suidas has preserved) to the partial zeal of some Pagan historian (Hist, des Empereurs, torn. vi. p. 330).