Page:Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire (1827) Vol 2.djvu/365

 OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE. 347. became master of the sea coast of Dulmatia, a band of C H A P. noble exiles, who had ventured to e(][uip a fleet in some _i '_ harbour of the Adriatic, sought protection and revenge in his victorious camp. By their secret intelligence with their countrymen, Rome and the Italian cities were persuaded to display the banners of Constantius on their walls. The grateful veterans, enriched by the liberality of the father, signalized their gratitude and loyalty to the son. The cavalry, the legions, and the auxiliaries of Italy, renewed their oath of allegiance to Constantius ; and the usurper, alarmed by the gene- ral desertion, was compelled, with the remains of his fiiithful troops, to retire beyond the Alps into the pro- vinces of Gaul. The detachments, however, which were ordered either to press or to intercept the flight of Magnentius, conducted themselves with the usual imprudence of success; and allowed him, in the plains of Pavia, an opportunity of turning on his pursuers, and of gratifying his despair by the carnage of a use- less victory ^. The pride of INIagnentius was reduced, by repeated Last defeat . P, , -I ,. . p jy and death nnstortunes, to sue, and to sue m vam, tor peace, lie ofjMagnen- first despatched a senator, in whose abilities he con- tms. fided, and afterwards several bishops, whose holy cha- August i6. racter might obtain a more favourable audience, with the offer of resigning the purple, and the promise of devoting the remainder of his life to the service of the emperor. But Constantius, though he granted fair terms of pardon and reconciliation to all who aban- doned the standard of rebellion ^, avowed his inflexible resolution to inflict a just punishment on the crimes of an assassin, whom he prepared to overwhelm on every side by the effort of his victorious arms. An imperial fleet acquired the easy possession of Africa and Spain, confirmed the wavering faith of the Moorish nations, and landed a considerable force, which passed the Py- y Zosim. 1. ii. p. 133 ; Victor in Epitome. The panegyrists of Con- stantius, with their usual candour, forget to mention this accidental defeat. ^ Zonaras, torn. ii. 1. xiii. p. 17. .fulian, in several places of the two orations, expatiates on the clemency of Constantius to the rebels.