238

THE DECLINE AND FALL

CHAP.

VI.

Discon-tents of thearmy.

Alexander

Severn*

declared

Caesar,

A. D. 221.

of Rome gratified every vice that could be col-lected from the mighty conflux of nations andmanners. Secure of impunity, careless of cen-sure, they lived without restraint in the patientand humble society of their slaves and para-sites. The emperor, in his turn, viewing everyrank of his subjects with the same contemptu-ous indifference, asserted without controul hissovereign privilege of lust and luxury.

The most worthless of mankind are not afraidto condemn in others the same disorders whichthey allow in themselves ; and can readily dis-cover some nice difference of age, character, orstation, to justify the partial distinction. Thelicentious soldiers, who had raised to the thronethe dissolute son of Caracalla , blushed at theirignominious choice, and turned with disgust fromthat monster, to contemplate with pleasure theopening virtues of his cousin Alexander the sonof Mamaea. The crafty Maesa, sensible that hergrandson Elagabalus must inevitably destroyhimself by his own vices, had provided anotherand surer support of her family. Embracing afavourable moment of fondness and devotion,she had persuaded the young emperor to adoptAlexander, and to invest him with the title ofCaBsar,that his own divine occupations might beno longer interrupted by the care of the earth.In the second rank that amiable prince soon ac-quired the affections of the public, and excitedthe tyrant’s jealousy, who resolved to terminatethe dangerous competition, either by corruptingthe manners, or by taking away the life, of his