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pleasure, the bate of your new In one instance only they may be compared,

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their motions, and their civil victories. In less Trend 293ns br 21swollo to aror tim. subdus than four years + Severus subdued the riches of 193-197. 6 943 19 Blow en onsite sorg wo the east, and the valour of the west. He van1.79 ment betareve 03 201992 dog to quished two competitors of reputation and ability, 62 to 8tA 3 nonslim brs is to d Sirt and defeated numerous armies, provided with 2001 903 90 Jonns 2019 9 10 3316 901 weapons and discipline equal to his own. In that age, the art of fortification, and the principles of tactics, were well understood by all the wounds Roman generals; and the constant superiority of Severus was that of an artist, who uses the same instruments with more skill and industry than abrows his rivals shall not, however, enter into a sogik minute, narrative of these military operations;

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but as the two civil wars against Niger and a gainst Albinus, were almost the same in their conduct, event, and circumstances, I shall collect into one point of view, the most striking cir cumstances, tending to develope the character of the conqueror, and the state of the empire.viz

Conduct of Falsehood and insincerity,unsuitable as they the two ci- seem to the dignity of public transactions, offend bed text Hoitos aid to ytibigst od us ad rewoq bac noitstuger sad si tenicgd It Though it is not, most assuredly, the intention of Lucah, to exalt the character of Casar, yet the idea he gives of that

heros in the tenth book of the Pharsalia, where he
him, at the same time, making love to Cleopatra, sustaining
a siege against power of Egypt, and conversing with the
sages of the country, is, in reality, the noblest panegyric.

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+ Reckoning from his election, April 13, 193. to the death of Albinus, February 19, 197. See Tillemont's Chronology.

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as it is impossible for the most able statesman to 2291 m subdue millions of followers and enemies by their 10 290317 91 bsubdue 2019796 21850 100 TSAE own personal strength, the world, under the name 329W 91 10 Toisy 30 bis 29 901 of policy, seems to have them a very liVedras pas nonJUST p benep beral indulgence of craft and dissimulation. Yet Arts of Senw baby291015 room testab bas verus the arts of Severus cannot be justified by the most

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If His two competitors, reconciled by their com towards mon danger, had advanced upon him without Niger; delays perhaps Severus would have sunk under their united effort. 20Had they even attacked him, at the same time with separate views and separate armies, the contest might have been long and doubtful, But they fell singly and succesşively, an easy prey to the arts as well as arms of their subtle enemy, lulled into security by the to toubno moderation of his professions, and overwhelmed i ow by the rapidity of his action. He first marched against Niger, whose reputation and power he the most dreaded but he declined any hostile ted to 29vig ad sebi edi 1915280 TO 1910sed ads size of declarations, suppressed the name of his antago mist, and only signified to the senate and people 913 w gard to two 3 3 932

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intention of regulating the eastern provinces.
In private he spoke of Niger, his old friend and
intended successor, with the most affectionate
regard, and highly applauded his generous design
of revenging the murder of Pertinax. To punish
the vile usurper of the throne, was the duty of
every Roman general. To persevere in arms,
and to resist a lawful emperor, acknowledged by
the senate, would alone render him criminal
The sons of Niger had fallen into his hands
among the children of the provincial governors,
detained at Rome as pledges for the loyalty of
their parents + As long as the power of Niger
inspired terror or even respect, they were edu
cated with the most tender care, with the chil-
dren of Severus himself; but they were soon in-
volved in their father's ruin, and removed, first
by exile, and afterwards by death, from the e
of public compassion f."

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Gra Whilst Severus was engaged in his eastern war, he had reason to apprehend that the governor of Britain might pass the sea and the Alps, occupy. the vacant seat of empire, and oppose his return

with

*Whilst Severus was very dangerously ill, it was industriously given out, that bed not be sincere with respect to both, he intended to appoint Niger and Albinus his

successor. As
might not be so with regard to either. Yet Severus carried his
hypocrisy so far, as to profess that intention in the memoirs of
his own life. D

h Hist. August. p. 65.

This practice, invented by Commodus proved very useful to Severus. He found, at Rome, the children of many of the principal adherents of his rivals; and he employed them more than once to intimidate, or seduce, the parents.

Herodianphin. p. 96. Hist. August. p. 67, 68.

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with the authority of the senate and the forcesİ O HAAPP? of the west.The ambiguous conduct of Albinus) in not assuming the Imperial title, left room for negotiation. Forgetting, at once, his professions of patriotism, and the jealousy of sovereign power, he accepted the precious rank of Cæsar, as a reward for his fatal neutrality. Till the first contest bwas decided, Severus treated the man, whom he had doomed to destruction, with every mark of esteem and regard. Even in the letter, in which he announced his victory over Niger, he styles Albinus the brother of his soul and empire, sends him the affectionate salutations of bi wife Julia, and his young family, and him to armies and, and

te

intreats

prese preserve the armies and the republic faithful to their common interest. The messengers charged with this letter, were intrusted to accost the Cæsar with respect, to desire a private audience, and to plunge their daggers into his heart* The conspiracy was discovered, and the too credulous Albinus at length passed over to the continent, and prepared for an unequal contest with his rival, who rushed upon him at the head of a veteran and victorious army.

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The military labours of Severus seem inade- Event of quate to the importance of his conquests. Two the civil engagements, the one near the Hellespont, the other in the narrow defiles of Cilicia, decided the fate of his Syrian competitor; and the troops of Europe asserted their usual ascendant over the efto feminate

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* Hist. August, p. 84, Spartianus has inserted this curious letter at full length.

192

CHA P. femínate natives of Asia. The battle of Lyons, where one hundred and fifty thousand+ Romans were engaged, was equally fatal to Albinus. The valour of the British army maintained indeed, a sharp and doubtful contest, with the hardy discipline of the Illyrian legions. The fame and person of Severus appeared during a few moments, irrecoverably lost, till that warlike prince rallied his fainting troops, and led them on to a decisive victory ‡. The war was finished by that memorable day.

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The civil wars of modern Europe have been distinguished, not only by the fierce animosity, but likewise by the obstinate perseverance, of the contending factions. They have generally been justified by some principle, or, at least coloured by some pretext, of religion, freedom, or loyalty. The leaders were nobles of independent property and hereditary influence. The troops fought like men interested in the decision of the quarrel; and as military spirit and party zeal were strongly diffused throughout the whole community, a vanquished chief was immedi ately supplied with new adherents, eager to shed their blood in the same cause. But the Romans, after the fall of the republic, combated only for the choice

* Consult third book of Herodian, and the seventy-fourth book of Dion Cassius.

+ Dion, 1. Ixxv. p. 1260.

+ Dion, 1. lxxv. p. 1261. Herodian, 1. iii. p. 110. Hist. August. p. 68. The battle was fought in the plain of Trevoux, three or four leagues from Lyons. See Tillemont, tom. iii. p. 406. Note 18.

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