Page:Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire (1827) Vol 1.djvu/411

 OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE. 387 session of his fame, of the love of the army, and of a c H A P. mature vigour of mind and body. His acknowledged merit, and the success of his arms His respect- against Florianus, left him without an enemy or a com- ["^ *^*'j^'Jf* petitor. Yet, if we may credit his own professions, senate. very far from being desirous of the empire, he had ac- cepted it with the most sincere reluctance. ** But it is no longer in my power," says Probus, in a private let- ter, " to lay down a title so full of envy and of danger. I must continue to personate the character which the soldiers have imposed upon me""." His dutiful address to the senate displayed the sentiments, or at least the language, of a Roman patriot: " When you elected one of your order, conscript fathers, to succeed the emperor Aurelian, you acted in a manner suitable to your justice and wisdom. For you are the legal sove- reigns of the world ; and the power which you derive from your ancestors, will descend to your posterity. Happy would it have been, if Florianus, instead of usurping the purple of his brother, like a private inhe- ritance, had expected what your majesty might deter- mine, either in his favour, or in that of any other per- son. The prudent soldiers have punished his rashness. To me they have offered the title of Augustus. But I submit to your clemency my pretensions and my merits*^." When this respectful epistle was read by a. D. 276. the consul, the senators were unable to disguise their ^"g"^* '^• satisfaction, that Probus should condescend thus hum- bly to sohcit a sceptre which he already possessed. They celebrated with the warmest gratitude his virtues, his exploits, and above all his moderation. A decree immediately passed, without a dissenting voice, to ratify the election of the eastern armies, and to confer on their chief all the several branches of the imperial dig- nity ; the names of Caesar and Augustus, the title of of his good behaviour) he promised to continue in his great office. See Hist. August, p. 237. c Vopiscus in Hist. August, p. 237. I'he date of the letter is assuredly faulty. Instead of Non. Februar. we may read Noii. August. cc2
 * » The letter was addressed to the pretorian prefect, whom (on condition