Page:Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire (1827) Vol 1.djvu/96

72 Before an assembly thus modelled and prepared", Augustus pronounced a studied oration, which displayed his patriotism, and disguised his ambition. " He  lamented, yet excused, his past conduct. Filial piety had required at his hands the revenge of his father's murder; the humanity of his own nature had sometimes given way to the stern laws of necessity, and to a forced connection with two unworthy colleagues : as long as Antony lived, the republic forbade him to abandon her to a degenerate Roman, and a barbarian queen. He was now at liberty to satisfy his duty and his inclination. He solemnly restored the senate and people to all their ancient rights ; and wished only to mingle with the crowd of his fellow-citizens, and to share the blessings which he had obtained for his country ."

It would require the pen of Tacitus (if Tacitus had assisted at this assembly) to describe the various emotions of the senate; those that were suppressed, and those that were affected. It was dangerous to trust the sincerity of Augustus ; to seem to distrust it, was still more dangerous. The respective advantages of monarchy and a republic have often divided speculative enquirers; the present greatness of the Roman state, the corruption of manners, and the licence of the soldiers, supplied new arguments to the advocates of monarchy ; and these general views of government were again warped by the hopes and fears of each individual. Amidst this confusion of sentiments, the answer of the senate was unanimous and decisive. They refused to accept the resignation of Augustus; they conjured him not to desert the republic, which he had saved. After a decent resistance, the crafty tyrant submitted to the orders of the senate ; and consented to receive the government of the provinces, and the general command of the Roman armies, imder the well- known names of Proconsul and Imperator. But he