228
THE DECLINE AND FALL
CHAP.
VI.
steps of the emperor, which they considered asthe presage of his future intentions. The re-cruits, with sullen reluctance, entered on aservice, whose labours were increased, whileits rewards were diminished by a covetous andunwarlike sovereign. The murmurs of thearmy swelled with impunity into seditious cla-mours ; and the partial mutinies betrayed aspirit of discontent and disaffection, that waitedonly for the slightest occasion to break out onevery side, into a general rebellion. To mindsthus disposed, the occasion soon presented it-self.
The empress Julia had experienced all the vi-cissitudes of fortune. From an humble stationshe had been raised to greatness, only to tastethe superior bitterness of an exalted rank. Shewas doomed to weep over the death of one ofher sons, and over the life of the other. Thecruel fate of Caracalla , though her good sensemust have long taught her to expect it, awa-kened the feelings of a mother and of an em-press. Notwithstanding the respectful civilityexpressed by the usurper towards the widow ofSeverus, she descended with a painful struggleinto the condition of a subject, and soon with-drew herself, by a voluntary death, from theanxious and humiliating dependence/ JuliaMaesa, her sister , was ordered to leave thecourt and Antioch. She retired to Emesa withan immense fortune, the fruit of twenty yearsfavour, accompanied by her two daughters,
y Dion, 1. Jxxviif, p. 1330. The abridgment of Xiphilin, though less’particular, is in tills place dearer than the original.