several generations, in the possession of Gordian's CHAP. family * It was distinguished by ancient trophies of naval victories, and decorated with the works of modern painting. His villa on the road to Præneste, was celebrated for baths of singular beauty and extent, for three stately rooms of an hundred feet in length, and for a magnificent portico, supported by two hundred columns of the four most curious and costly sorts of marble t. The public shows exhibited at his expence, and in which the people were entertained with many hundreds of wild beasts and gladiators, seem to surpass the fortune of a subject; and whilst the liberality of other magistrates was confined to a few solemn festivals in Rome, the magnificence of Gordian was repeated, when he was ædile, every month in the year, and extended, during his consulship, to the principal cities

* Hist. Aug. p. 152. The celebrated house of Pompey in carinis was usurped by Marc Antony, and consequently became, after the Triumvir's death, a part of the Imperial.domain. The emperor Trajan allowed and even encouraged the rich senators to purchase those magnificent and useless places (Plin. Panegyric. c. 50.) and it may seem probable, that, on this occasion, Pompey's house came into the possession of Gordian's great grandfather.

The Claudian, the Numidian, the Carystian, and the Synnadian. The colours of Rome marbles have been faintly described and imperfectly distinguished. It appears, however, that the Carystian was a sea-green, and that the marble of Synnada was white mixed with oval spots of purple. See Salmasius ad Hist. August. p. 164.

Hist. August. p. 151, 152. He sometimes gave five hundred pair of Gladiators, never less than one hundred and fifty. He. once gave for the use of the Circus one hundred Sicilian, and as many Cappadocian horses. The animals designed for hunting were chiefly bears, boars, bulls, stags, elks, wild asses, &c. Elephants and lions seem to have been appropriated to Imperial magnificence.

CHAP. cities of Italy. He was twice elevated to the last VII. mentioned dignity, by Caracalla and by AlexCander; for he possessed the uncommon talent of with

acquiring the esteem of virtuous princesa.
out alarming the jealousy of tyrants. His long
life was innocently spent in the study of letters
and the peaceful honours of Rome; and, till he
was named proconsul of Africa by the voice of
the senate and the approbation of Alexander *
he appears prudently to have declined the com-
mand of armies and the government of provinces.
As long as that emperor lived, Africa was happy
under the administration of his worthy repre-
sentative; after the barbarous Maximin had
usurped the throne, Gordianus alleviated the
miseries which he was unable to prevent. When
he reluctantly accepted the purple, he was above
fourscore years old; a last and valuable remains
of the happy age of the Antonines whose virtues
he revived in his own conduct, and celebrated in
an elegant poem of thirty books. With the ve-
nerable proconsul, his son, who had accompanied
him into Africa as his lieutenant, was likewise
declared emperor. His manners were less pure,
but his character was equally amiable with that
of his father. Twenty-two acknowledged con-
cubines, and a library of sixty-two thousand vo
lumes, attested the variety of his inclinations;
and from the productions which he left behind
him,

* See the original letter, in the Augustan History, p. 152, which at once shews Alexander's respect for the authority of the senate, and his esteem for the proconsul appointed by that assembly.

VII

him, it appears that the former as well as the GH AP latter were designed for use rather than for ostentation, The Roman people acknowledged in the features of the younger Gordian the resemblance of Scipio Africanus, recollected with pleasure that his mother was the grand-daughter of Antoninus Pius, and rested the public hope on those latent virtues which had hitherto as they fondly imagined, lain concealed in the luxurious indolence of a private life.

"

cit the con

As soon as the Gordians had appeased the first They solitumult of a popular election, they removed their firmation" court to Carthage. They were removed with the of their authority. acclamations of the Africans, who honoured their virtues, and who, since the visit of Hadrian, had never beheld the majesty of a Roman emperor. But these vain acclamations neither strengthened nor confirmed the title of the Gordians. They were induced by principle, as well as interest, to solicit the approbation of the senate; and a deputation of the noblest provin cials was sent, without delay, to Rome, to relate and justify the conduct of their countrymen, who, having long suffered with patience, were at length resolved to act with vigour. The letters of the new princes were modest and respectful, excusing the necessity which had obliged them to accept the Imperial title; but submitting their election and

* By each of his concubines, the younger Gordian left three or four children. His literary productions, though less numerous, were by no means contemptible.

CHAP, and their fate to the supreme judgment of the

VII.

senate*.

y bowing The inclinations of the senate were neither ratifies their doubtful nor divided. The birth and noble allielection of ances of the Gordians had intimately connected

The senate

the Gor

dians;

them with the most illustrious houses of Rome.. Their fortune had created many dependants in that assembly, their merit had acquired many, friends. Their mild administration opened the flattering prospect of the restoration, not only of the civil but even of the republican government. The terror of military violence, which had first obliged the senate to forget the murder of Alexander, and to ratify the election of a barbarian peasant †, now produced a contrary effect, and provoked them to assert the injured rights of freedom and humanity. The hatred of Maximin towards the senate was declared and implacable; the tamest submission had not appeased his fury, the most cautious innocence would not remove his suspicions; and even the care of their own safety urged them to share the fortune of an enterprise, of which (if unsuccessful) they were sure to be the first victims. These considerations, and perhaps others of a more private nature, were debated in a previous conference of the consuls and the magistrates. As soon as their resolution was decided, they convoked in the temple of Castor the whole body of the senate, according

* Herodian, l. vii. p. 243. Hist. August. p. 144.

+ Quod tamen patres dum periculosum existimant inermes armato resistere approbaverunt. Aurelius Victor.

VII/

according to an ancient form of secrecy *, cal- CHAP culated to awaken their attention, and to conceal their decrees. Conscript fathers," said the consul Syllanus, "the two Gordians, both of consular dignity, the one your proconsul, the "other your lieutenant, have been declared em1. perors by the general consent of Africa. Let "us return thanks," he boldly continued, "to "the youth of Thysdrus; let us return thanks

to the faithful people of Carthage, our generous deliverers from an horrid monster-Why "do you hear me thus coolly, thus timidly? Why do you cast those anxious looks on each other? why hesitate? Maximin is a public "enemy! may his enmity soon expire with him,

66

clares

and may we long enjoy the prudence and feli"city of Gordian the father, the valour and constancy of Gordian the son +!" The noble ardour of the consul revived the languid spirit of the senate. By an unanimous decree the elec- and detion of the Gordians was ratified, Maximin, his Maximin son, and his adherents were pronounced enemies a public of their country, and liberal rewards were offered to whosoever had the courage and good fortune to destroy them.

enemy.

the com

During the emperor's absence, a detachment Assumes of the Prætorian guards remained at Rome, to mand of

Rome and

protect, Italy.

*Even the servants of the house, the scribes, &c. were exeluded, and their office was filled by the senators themselves. We are obliged to the Augustan History, p. 159, for preserving this curious example of the old discipline of the commonwealth. + This spirited speech, translated from the Augustan histo rian, p. 156, seems transcribed by him from the original registers of the senate.