OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE.

191

with the authority of the senate and the forces chap.

of the west. The ambiguous conduct of Albi- „.

nus, in not assuming the imperial title, left roomfor negociation. Forgetting, at once, his pro-fessions of patriotism, and the jealousy of sove-reign power, he accepted the precarious rankof Caesar, as a reward for his fatal neutrality.

Till the first contest was decided, Severustreated the man, whom he had doomed to de-struction, with every mark of esteem and re-gard. Even in the letter, in which he announ-ced his victory over Niger , he styles Albinusthe brother of his soul and empire, sends himthe affectionate salutations of his wife Julia, andhis young family, and entreats him to preservethe armies and the republic faithful to theircommon interest. The messengers chargedwith this letter, were instructed to accost theCaesar with respect, to desire a private audi-ence, and to plunge their daggers into his heart. bThe conspiracy was discovered, and the toocredulous Albinus at length passed over to thecontinent, and prepared for an unequal contestwith his rival, who rushed upon him at thehead of a veteran and victorious army.

The military labours of Severus seem made- Event ofquate to the importance of his conquests. Two wars,engagements, the one near the Hellespont , theother in the narrow defiles of Cilicia , decidedthe fate of his Syrian competitor; and the troopsof Europe asserted their usual ascendant over

® Hist. August, p. 84. Spartianus has inserted this curious letter atfull length.