Page:Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire (1827) Vol 2.djvu/270

 252 THE DECLINE AND FALL CHAP, sonages, who were obeyed or reverenced by the two ' subordinate classes. It was communicated only, L To consuls and patricians; IL To the pretorian prefects, with the prefects of Rome and Constantinople; III. To the masters general of the cavalry and the infantry ; and, IV. To the seven ministers of the palace, who exercised their sacred functions about the person of the emperor'. Among those illustrious magistrates who were esteemed coordinate with each other, the seniority of appointment gave place to the union of dignities'". By the expedient of honorary codicils, the emperors, who were fond of multiplying their favours, might sometimes gratify the vanity, though not the am- bition, of impatient courtiers'. The con- J. As lonff as the Roman consuls were the first ma- gistrates of a free state, they derived their right to power from the choice of the people. As long as the emperors condescended to disguise the servitude which they imposed, the consuls were still elected by the real or apparent suffrage of the senate. From the reign of Diocletian, even these vestiges of liberty were abolished, and the successful candidates who were invested with the annual honours of the consulship, affected to de- plore the humiliating condition of their predecessoi's. The Scipios and the Catos had been reduced to solicit the votes of plebeians, to pass through the tedious and expensive forms of a popular election, and to expose their dignity to the shame of a public refusal; while their own happier fate had reserved them for an age and government in which the rev.'ards of virtue were assigned by the unerring wisdom of a gracious sove- reign"". In the epistles which the emperor addressed ' Pancirol. p. 12 — 17. 1 have not taken any notice of the two inferior ranks, perfectissimus, and egregius, which were given to many persons who were not raised to tiie senatorial dignity. ^ Cod. Theodos. 1. vi. tit. vi. The rules of precedency are ascertained with the most minute accuracy by the emperors, and illustrated with equal prolixity by their learned interpreter. ' Cod. Theod. 1. vi. tit. xxii. "' Ausonius (in Gratiarum Actione) basely expatiates on this unworthy topic, which is managed by INIamertinus (Panegyr. Vet. xi. 16. 19.) with somewhat more freedom and ingenuity.