Page:Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire (1827) Vol 1.djvu/379

 OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE. 355 sary to fortify the seat of empire against the inroads of CHAP, the barbarians ^. _.^ The victory of Claudius over the Goths, and the Aurelian success of Aurehan against the Alemanni, had already the^two^^^ restored to the arms of Rome their ancient superiority usurpers. over the barbarous nations of the north. To chastise domestic tyrants, and to reunite the dismembered parts of the empire, was a task reserved for the second of those warlike emperors. Though he was acknow- ledged by the senate and people, the frontiers of Italy, Africa, Illyricum, and Thrace, confined the limits of his reign. Gaul, Spain, and Britain, Egypt, Syria, and Asia Minor, were still possessed by two rebels, who alone, out of so numerous a list, had hitherto escaped the dangers of their situation ; and, to com- plete the ignominy of Rome, these rival thrones had been usurped by women. A rapid succession of monarchs had arisen aild fallen Succession in the provinces of Gaul. The rigid virtues of Post- -^^ CaX^^ humus served only to hasten his destruction. After suppressing a competitor, who had assumed the purple at Mentz, he refused to gratify his troops with the plunder of the rebellious city ; and, in the seventh year of his reign, became the victim of their disappointed avarice^. The death of Victorinus, his friend and associate, was occasioned by a less worthy cause. The shining accomplishments* of that prince were stained by a licentious passion, which he indulged in acts of violence, with too little regard to the laws of society, y For Aurelian's walls, see Vopiscus in Hist, August, p. 216. 222 ; Zosimus, 1. i. p. 43 ; Eutropius, ix. 15 ; Aurel. Victor in Aurelian.; Victor junior in Aurelian. ; Euseb. Hieronym. ; et Idacius in Chronic. ^ His competitor was LoUianus, or iEIianus, if indeed these names mean the same person. See Tillemont, torn. iii. p. 1177. 187.) is worth transcribing, as it seems fair and impartial. Victorino, qui post Junium Posthumium Gallias rexit, neminem existirao praeferendum ; non in virtute Trajanum ; non Antoninum in dementia ; non in gravitate Nervam ; non in gubernando oerario Vespasianum; non in censura totius vitse ac severitate militari Pertinacem vel Severum. Sed omnia haec libido et cupiditas voluptatis mulierariae sic perdidit, ut nemo audeat virtutes ejus in literas mittere quem constat omnium judicio meruisse puniri. Aa2
 * The character of this prince by Julius Aterianus (ap. Hist. August, p.