THE DECLINE AND FALL ,

char of fortune/ On the death of that emperor, his

_testament was publicly read in the senate. He

bequeathed, as a valuable legacy to his succes-sors, the advice of confining the empire withinthose limits, which nature seemed to have placedas its permanent bulwarks and boundaries ; onthe west the Atlantic ocean ; the Rhine andDanube on the north; the Euphrates on theeast; and towards the south, the sandy desertsof Arabia and Africa/

imitated Happily for the repose of mankind, the mode-b y ins sue- ra t e system recommended by the wisdom ofAugustus was adopted by the fears and vices ofhis immediate successors. Engaged in the pur-suit of pleasure, or in the exercise of tyranny,the first Caesars seldom shewed themselves to thearmies, or to the provinces ; nor were they dis-posed to suffer, that those triumphs which theirindolence neglected, should be usurped by theconduct and valour of their lieutenants. Themilitary fame of a subject was considered as aninsolent invasion of the imperial prerogative; andit became the duty, as well as interest, of everyRoman general, to guard the frontiers entrustedto his care, without aspiring to conquests which

c By the slaughter of Varus and his three legions. See the first bookof the Annals of Tacitus . Sueton. in August, c. 23, and Velleius Pa­ terculus , 1. ii. c. 117, &c. Augustus did not receive the melancholynews with all the temper and firmness that might have been expectedfrom his character.

d Tacit Annal. 1. ii. Dion Cassius , 1. Ivi, p. 833, and the speech ofAugustus himself, in Julian’s Catsars. It receives great light from thelearned notes of his French translator, M. Spanlieim.