246
THE DECLINE AND FALL
chap, ed by the recital of some pleasing composition,._which supplied the place of the dancers, comedi-ans, and even gladiators, so frequently summonedto the tables of the rich and luxurious Romans/The dress of Alexander was plain and modest,his demeanour courteous and affable: at theproper hours his palace was opened to all hissubjects, but the voice of a crier was heard, asin the Eleusinian mysteries, pronouncing thesame salutary admonition; “ Let none enter“ these holy walls, unless he is conscious of a“ pure and innocent mind.” aGeneral Such an uniform tenour of life, which left not
happiness .
of the Ro- a moment for vice or folly, is a better proof of”*£.'222- the wisdom and justice of Alexander’s govern-2S5 ‘ ment, than all the trifling details preserved inthe compilation of Lampridius. Since the ac-cession of Commodus , the Roman world had ex-perienced, during a term of forty years, thesuccessive and various vices of four tyrants.From the death of Elagabalus , it enjoyed anauspicious calm of thirteen years. The pro-vinces, relieved from the oppressive taxes in-vented by Caracalla and his pretended son, flou-rished in peace and prosperity, under the admi-nistration of magistrates, who were convinced byexperience, that to deserve the love of the sub-jects, was their best and only method of obtain-ing the favour of their sovereign. While somegentle restraints were imposed on the insolentluxury of the Roman people, the price of pro-visions, and the interest of money, were reduced