THE DECLINE AND FALL
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chai>. own determined behaviour, by inflaming the
__ divisions of the guards, by exaggerating the
strength of the British army, and by alarmingthe fears of Commodus , exacted and obtainedthe minister’s death, as the only redress of theirgrievances. 1 This presumption of a distantarmy, and their discovery of the weakness ofgovernment, was a sure presage of the mostdreadful convulsions.
Revolt of The negligence of the public administrationwas betrayed soon afterwards, by a new dis-order, which arose from the smallestbeginnings.A spirit of desertion began to prevail among thetroops; and the deserters, instead of seekingtheir safety in flight or concealment, infestedthe highways. Maternus, a private soldier, ofa daring boldness above his station, collectedthese bands of robbers into a little army, setopen the prisons, invited the slaves to asserttheir freedom, and plundered with impunity therich and defenceless cities of Gaul and Spain .The governors of the provinces, who had longbeen the spectators, and perhaps the partners,of his depredations, were at length roused fromtheir supine indolence by the threatening com-mands of the emperor. Maternus found thathe was encompassed, and foresaw that he mustbe overpowered. A great effort of despair washis last resource. He ordered his followers to