232

THE DECLINF AND FALL

CHAP.

VI.

Elagaba-lns writesto the se-nate.

The letters of Macriiius had condescended to. inform the senate of the slight disturbance occa-sioned by an impostor in Syria , and a decree im-mediately passed, declaring the rebel and his fa-mily public enemies; with a promise of pardon,however, to such of his deluded adherents asshould merit it by an immediate return to theirduty. During the twenty days that elapsed fromthe declaration to the victory of Antoninus (forin so short an interval was the fate of the Romanworld decided), the capital and the provinces,more especially those of the East, were distract-ed with hopes and fears, agitated with tumult,and stained with a useless effusion of civil blood,since whosoever of the rivals prevailed in Syria ,must reign over the empire. The specious letters in which the young conqueror announcedhis victory to the obedient senate, were filledwith professions of virtue and moderation; theshining examples of Marcus and Augustus , heshould ever consider as the great rule of his ad-ministration ; and he affected to dwell with prideon the striking resemblance of his own age andfortunes with those of Augustus , who in the ear-liest youth had revenged, by a successful war, themurder of his father. By adopting the style ofMarcus Aurelius Antoninus, son of Antoninus ,and grandson of Severus, he tacitly asserted hishereditary claim to the empire; but, by assum-ing the tribunitian and proconsular powers be-fore they had been conferred on him by a decreeof the senate, he offended the delicacy of Romanprejudice. This new and injudicious violation