THE DECLINE AND FALL

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chap, interrupted his mild expostulation. “ Reserve

__“ your shouts,” said the undaunted emperor,

“ till you take the field against the Persians ,“ the Germans , and the Sarmatians. ■ Be silent“ in the presence of your sovereign and bene-“ factor, who bestows upon you the corn, the“ clothing, and the money of the provinces. Be" silent, or I shall no longer style you soldiers,“ but citizens , s if those, indeed, who disclaim“ the laws of Rome, deserve to be ranked a-“ mong the meanest of the people.” His mena-ces inflamed the fury of the legion, and theirbrandished arms already threatened his person.“ Your courage,” resumed the intrepid Alex-ander, “ would be more nobly displayed in the“ field of battle; me you may destroy, you“ cannot intimidate; and the severe justice of“ the republic would punish your crime, and“ revenge my death.” The legion still persistedin clamorous sedition, when the emperor pro-nounced, with a loud voice, the decisive sentence,“ Citizens ! lay down your arms, and depart in“ peace to your respective habitations.” Thetempest was instantly appeased; the soldiers fil-led with grief and shame, silently confessed thejustice of their punishment, and the power of dis-cipline, yielded up their arms and military en-signs, and retired in confusion, not to their camp,but to the several inns of the city. Alexanderenjoyed, during thirty days, the edifying spec-

E Julius Caesar had appeased a sedition with the same word quirites,which, thus opposed to soldiers, was used in a sense of contempt, andreduced the offenders to the less honourable condition of mere citizens.Tacit. Auual. i, 43.