236

THE DECLINE AND FALL

CHAP.

VI.

name), corrupted by his youth, his country,and his fortune, abandoned himself to the gros-sest pleasures with ungoverned fury, and soonfound disgust and satiety in the midst of his en-joyments. The inflammatory powers of artwere summoned to his aid: the confused mul-titude of women, of wines, and of dishes, andthe studied variety of attitudes and sauces, ser-ved to revive his languid appetites. New termsand new inventions in these sciences, the onlyones cultivated and patronised by the monarch, 1signalized his reign, and transmitted his infamyto succeeding times. A capricious prodigalitysupplied the want of taste and elegance; andwhilst Elagabalus lavished away the treasuresof his people in the wildest extravagance, hisown voice and that of his flatterers applaudeda spirit and magnificence unknown to the tame-ness of his predecessors. To confound the or-der of seasons and climates, k to sport with thepassions and prejudices of his subjects, and tosubvert every law of nature and decency, werein the number of his most delicious amusements.A long train of concubines, and a rapid succes-sion of wives, among whom was a vestal virgin,

‘ The invention of a new sauce was liberally rewarded; but if itwas not relished, the inventor was confined to eat of nothing else, tillhe had discovered another, more agreeable to the imperial palate.Hist. August, p. 111.

k He never would eat sea-fish, except at a great distance from thesea; he then would distribute vast quantities of the rarest sorts, broughtat an immense expence, to the peasants of the inland country. Hist.August, p. 109,