22f

OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE.

Soaemias and Mamsea, each of whom was a chap .

widow, and each had an only son. Bassianus,-

for that was the name of the son of Soaemias ,was consecrated to the honourable ministry ofhigh priest of the sun; and this holy vocation,embraced either from prudence or superstition,contributed to raise the Syrian youth to the em-pire of Rome . A numerous body of troops wasstationed at Emesa ; and, as the severe disci-pline ofMacrinus had constrained them to passthe winter encamped, they were eager to re-venge the cruelty of such unaccustomed hard-ships. The soldiers, who resorted in crowds tothe temple of the sun, beheld with venerationand delight the elegant dress and figure of theyoung pontiff; they recognized, or they thoughtthat they recognised, the features of Caracalla ,whose memory they now adored. The artfulMaesa saw and cherished their rising partiality,and readily sacrificing her daughter's reputationto the fortune of her grandson, she insinuatedthat Bassianus was the natural son of theirmurdered sovereign. The sums distributed byher emissaries with a lavish hand, silenced everyobjection, and the profusion sufficiently provedthe affinity, or at least the resemblance, of Bas- *• ”; 2l8 -sianus with the great original. The young An-toninus (for he had assumed and polluted thatrespectable name) was declared emperor by the* troops of Emesa , asserted his hereditary right,

and called aloud on the armies to follow thestandard of a young and liberal prince, who

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