Page:Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire (1827) Vol 1.djvu/169

Rh duct. Severus considered the Roman empire as his property ; and had no sooner secured the possession, than he bestowed his care on the cultivation and improvement of so valuable an acquisition. Salutary laws, executed with inflexible firmness, soon corrected most of the abuses with which, since the death of Marcus, every part of the government had been infected. In the administration of justice, the judgements of the emperor were characterized by attention, discernment, and impartiality ; and whenever he deviated from the strict line of equity, it was generally in favour of the poor and oppressed ; not so much indeed from any sense of humanity, as from the natural propensity of a despot, to humble the pride of greatness, and to sink all his subjects to the same common level of absolute dependence. His expensive taste for building, magnificent shows, and above all a constant and liberal distribution of corn and provisions, were the surest means of captivating the affection of the Roman people. The misfortunes of civil discord were obliterated. The calm of peace and prosperity was once more experienced in the provinces ; and many cities, restored by the munificence of Severus, assumed the title of his colonies, and attested by public monuments their gratitude and felicity. The fame of the Roman arms was revived by that warlike and successful emperor ; and he boasted, with a just pride, that having received the empire oppressed with foreign