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THE DECLINE AND FALL
CHAP. VI.
The death of Severus.—Tyranny of Caracalta .—Usurpation of Macrinus.—Follies of Elagaba-lus.—Virtues of Alexander Severus . — Licenti-ousness of the army.—General state of theRoman finances.
chap. The ascent to greatness, however steep anddangerous, may entertain an active spirit withGreatness the consciousness and exercise of its own pow-content of ers i but the possession of a throne could neverSeverus . y e (; afford a lasting satisfaction to an ambi-tious mind. This melancholy truth was feltand acknowledged by Severus . Fortune andmerit had, from an humble station, elevated himto the first place among mankind. “ He had“ been all things,” as he said himself, “ and all“ was of little value .” 1 Distracted with the care,not of acquiring, but of preserving an empire,oppressed with age and infirmities, careless offame, b and satiated with power, all his pros-pects of life were closed. The desire of perpe-tuating the greatness of his family, was the onlyremaining wish of his ambition and paternaltenderness.
His wife Like most of the Africans, Severus was pas-press"juiia sionately addicted to the vain studies of magicand divination, deeply versed in the interpreta-
* Hist. August, p. TI. “ Omuia fui et nihil txpedit.'*