Page:Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire (1827) Vol 1.djvu/323

 OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE. 299 successor '. The tranquillity which the empire enjoyed CHAP, during the first year of his administration'', served ra- ^' ther to inflame than to appease the public discontent ; and, as soon as the apprehensions of war were removed, the infamy of the peace was more deeply and more sen- sibly felt. But the Romans were irritated to a still higher de- Victory and gree, when they discovered that they had not even se- ^mujanus. cured their repose, though at the expense of their A. D. 253. honour. The dangerous secret of the wealth and weakness of the empire, had been revealed to the world. New swarms of barbarians, encouraged by the success, and not conceiving themselves bound by the obligation of their brethren, spread devastation through the Illyrian provinces, and terror as far as the gates of Rome. The defence of the monarchy, which seemed abandoned by the pusillanimous emperor, was assumed by ^milianus, governor of Pannonia and Maesia ; who rallied the scattered forces, and revived the fainting spirits of the troops. The barbarians were unexpect- edly attacked, routed, chased, and pursued beyond the Danube. The victorious leader distributed as a dona- tive the money collected for the tribute ; and the accla- mations of the soldiers proclaimed him emperor on the field of battled Gallus, who, careless of the general welfare, indulged himself in the pleasures of Italy, was almost in the same instant informed of the success, of the revolt, and of the rapid approach, of his aspiring lieutenant. He advanced to meet him as far as the plains of Spoleto. When the armies came in sight of each other, the soldiers of Gallus compared the igno- minious conduct of their sovereign with the glory of his rival. They admired the valour of ^Emilianus ; they were attracted by his liberality, for he offered a consi- abandoned derable increase of pay to all deserters™. The murder ^"^^^053 of Gallus, and of his son Volusianus, put an end to the May. ^ Jornandes, c. 19. The Gothic writer at least observed the peace which his victorious countrymen had sworn to Gallus. • Zosimus, 1. i. p. 25, 26. ■" Victor in Caesaribus.
 * These improbable accusations are alleged by Zosimus, 1. i. p. 23, 24.