Page:Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire (1827) Vol 2.djvu/31

 OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE. 13 But he found on his arrival the gates of the city shut CHAP, against him, the walls filled with men and arms, an ex- ^^^ ' perienced general at the head of the rebels, and his own troops without spirit or affection. A large body of Moors deserted to the enemy, allured by the pro- mise of a large donative ; and, if it be true that they had been levied by Maximian in his African war, pre- ferring the natural feelings of gratitude to the artificial ties of allegiance. AnuHnus the pretorian prefect de- clared himself in favour of Maxentius, and drew after him the most considerable part of the troops accus- tomed to obey his commands. Rome, according to the expression of an orator, recalled her armies ; and the unfortunate Severus, destitute of force and of counsel, retired, or rather fled, with precipitation to Ravenna. Here he might for some time have been safe. The fortifications of Ravenna were able to resist the attempts, and the morasses that surrounded the town were sufficient to prevent the approach, of the Itahan army. The sea, which Severus commanded with a powerful fleet, secured him an inexhaustible supply of provisions, and gave a free entrance to the legions, which, on the return of spring, would advance to his assistance from Illyricum and the east. Max- imian, who conducted the siege in person, was soon convinced that he might waste his time and his army in the fruitless enterprise, and that he had nothing to hope either from force or famine. With an art more suitable to the character of Diocletian than to his own, he directed his attack, not so much against the walls of Ravenna, as against the mind of Severus. The trea- chery which he had experienced, disposed that un- happy prince to distrust the most sincere of his friends and adherents. The emissaries of Maximian easily persuaded his credulity, that a conspiracy was formed to betray the town, and prevailed upon his fears not to expose himself to the discretion of an irritated con- queror, but to accept the faith of an honourable capi- tulation. He was at first received with humanity, and