Page:Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire vol 3 (1897).djvu/362

 342 THE DECLINE AND FALL his singular practice) alni'^st upon the neck, fiercely rolled his large animated eyes rouiid the field, C'onstantius then struck terror into his foes, and inspired his soldiers with the assurance of victory. He had received from the court of Ravenna the important commission of (Extirpating rebdiion in the provinces of the W^est ; and the pretended emperor Constantine, after enjoying a short and anxious respite, was again besieged in his capital by the arms of ;i more formidable enemy. Yet this interval allowed time for a successful negotiation with the Franks and Alemanni ; find his ambassador, Edobic, soon re- turned, at the head of an army, to disturb the operations of the siege of Aries. The Roman general, instead of expecting the attack in his lines, boldly, and perhaps wisely, i-esolved to pass the Rhone, and to meet the Barbarians, His measures were conducted with so mucli skill and secrecy that, while they en- gaged the infantry '^f Constantius in the fi'ont, they were suddenly attacked, surrounded, and destroyed by the cavahy of his lieutenant Ulphilias, who had silently gained an advantageous post in their rear. The remains of the army of Edobic were preserved by flight, or submission, and their leader escaped from the field of battle^ to the house of a faithless fi'iend ; who too clearly understod that the head of his obnoxious guest would be an acceptable and lucrative present for the Imperial general. On this occasion', Constantius behaved with the magnanimity of a genuine Romain. Subduing or suppressing every sentiment of jealousy, he publicly acknowledged the merit and services of Ulphilas ; but hie turned with horror from the assassin of Edobic ; and sternly intiiinated his commands that the camp should no longer be pollufted by the presence of an ungrateful wretch, who had violatecJ^ the laws of fi-iendship and hospitality. The usurper, who behd^d from the walls of Aries the ruin of his last hopes, was temptecJ^l to place some confidence in so generous a conqueror. He re*quired a solemn promise for his security : and after receiving, by tf/'e imposition of hands, the sacred character of a Christian Presbyti?!', he ventured to open the gates of the city. But he soon exjy.erienced that the principles of honour and integrity, which mf^'rht regulate the ordinary conduct of Constantius, 'were superseded l^H' the loose doctrines of political Death of the morality. The Roman ffenehal, indeed, refused to sully his usurper ' *^ '. « iii-.i* ooMtantine. laurcls with the blood of Constan tme ; but the abdicated emperor November M and his SOU Juliau were sent under a is trong guard into Italy ; and before they reached the palace of Rayenl^ia they met the ministers of death- [Wg. Sept. 18]