280 THE DECLINE AND FALL

chap, of noble birth, elegant accomplishments, orknowledge of civil business, was suffered nearhis person; and the court of a Roman emperorrevived the idea of those ancient chiefs of slavesand gladiators, \Vhose savage power had left adeep impression of terror and detestation . 1Oppressi- As long as the cruelty of Maximin was con-provinces, fined to the illustrious senators, or even to thebold adventurers, who in the court or army ex-pose themselves to the caprice of fortune, thebody of the people viewed their sufferings withindifference, or perhaps with pleasure. But thetyrant’s avarice, stimulated by the insatiate de-sires of the soldiers, at length attacked the pub-lic property. Every city of the empire was pos-sessed of an independent revenue, destined topurchase corn for the multitude, and to supplythe expences of the games and entertainments.By a single act of authority, the whole mass ofwealth was at once confiscated for the use of theimperial treasury. The temples were strippedof their most valuable offerings of gold and sil-ver, and the statues of gods, heroes, and em-perors, were melted down and coined intomoney. These impious orders could not beexecuted without tumults and massacres, as inmany places the people chose rather to die inthe defence of their altars, than to behold inthe midst of peace their cities exposed to therapine and cruelty of war. The soldiers them-selves, among whom this sacrilegious plunder

1 He was compared to Spartacus and Athenio. Hist. August*p. I4X