Page:Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire (1827) Vol 2.djvu/359

 OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE. 341 diiiary scene, confessed the irresistible power of reason C H A V. and eloquence, by saluting the emperor Constantius as '_ their lawful sovereign. The contagion of loyalty and repentance was communicated from rank to rank ; till the plain of Sardica resounded with the universal ac- clamation of " Away with these upstart usurpers ! Long life and victory to the son of Constantine ! Under his banners alone we will fight and conquer." The shout of thousands, their menacing gestures, the fierce clashing of their arms, astonished and subdued the courage of Vetranio, who stood, amidst the defec- tion of his followers, in anxious and silent suspense. Instead of embracing the last refuge of generous de- spair, he tamely submitted to his fate ; and taking the diadem from his head, in the view of both armies, fell prostrate at the feet of his conqueror. Constantius used his victory with prudence and moderation ; and raising from the ground the aged suppliant, whom he affected to style by the endearing name of father, he gave him his hand to descend from the throne. The city of Prusa was assigned for the exile or retirement of the abdicated monarch, who lived six years in the enjoyment of ease and affluence. He often expressed his grateful sense of the goodness of Constantius; and, with a very amiable simplicity, advised his benefactor to resign the sceptre of the world, and to seek for content (where alone it could be found) in the peaceful ob- scurity of a private condition'. The behaviour of Constantius on this memorable oc- Makes war casion was celebrated with some appearance of justice; jfagnen- and his courtiei's compared the studied orations which tius. a Pericles or a Demosthenes addressed to the populace of Athens, with the victorious eloquence which had persuaded an armed multitude to desert and depose the object of their partial choice''. The approaching ' The younger Victor assigns to his exile the emphatical appellation of " voluptaiiuni otium." Socrates (1. ii. c. 28.) is the voucher for the cor- respondence with the emperor, which would seem to prove, that 'etranio ■ was, indeed, prope ad stultitiam simplicissimus. ^ Eum Constantius facundiae vi dejectum imperio in privatum