OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE.

211

the sixty-fifth year of his life, and in the eigh- chap.

teenth of a glorious and successful reign. In his.^

last moments he recommended concord to hissons, and his sons to the army. The salutaryadvice never reached the heart, or even the un-derstanding, of the impetuous youths ; but themore obedient troops, mindful of their oath ofallegiance, and of the authority of their deceasedmaster, resisted the solicitations of Caracalla ,and proclaimed both brothers emperors ofRome.

The new princes soon left the Caledonians inpeace, returned to the capital, celebrated theirfather's funeral with divine honours, and werecheerfully acknowledged as lawful sovereigns,by the senate, the people, and the provinces.

Some pre-eminence of rank seems to have beenallowed to the elder brother; but they both ad-ministered the empire with equal and independ-ent power/

Such a divided form of government would jealousyhave proved a source of discord between themost affectionate brothers. It was impossible emperors,that it could long subsist between two impla-cable enemies, who neither desired nor couldtrust a reconciliation. It was visible that oneonly could reign, and that the other must fall;and each of them judging of his rival’s designsby his own, guarded his life with the most jea-lous vigilance from the repeated attacks of poi-son or the sword. Their rapid journey through

' Dion, 1. Ixxvi, p. 1284. Herodian, 1. iii, p. 135.

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