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OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE.

him, it appears that the former as well as the C y^ p *latter were designed for use rather than for os- -tentation. 1 The Roman people acknowledgedin the features of the younger Gordian the re-semblance ofScipio Africanus, recollected withpleasure that his mother was the grand-daughterof Antoninus Pius , and rested the public hopeon those latent virtues which had hitherto, asthey fondly imagined, lain concealed in the lux-urious indolence of a private life.

AssoonastheGordians had appeased the first They soii-tumult of a popular election, they removed their fimiationcourt to Carthage . They were received with the authority,acclamations of the Africans, who honoured theirvirtues, and who, since the visit of Hadrian ,had never beheld the majesty of a Roman em-peror. But these vain acclamations neitherstrengthened nor confirmed the title of the Gor-dians. They were induced by principle, as wellas interest, to solicit the approbation of thesenate; and a deputation of the noblest provin-cials was sent, without delay, to Rome , to relateandjustifythe conduct of their countrymen, who,havinglongsuffered with patience, were at lengthresolved to act with vigour. The letters of thenew princes were modest and respectful, excu-sing the necessity which had obliged them toaccept the imperial title; but submitting their

c By each of his concubines, the younger Gordian left three or fourchildren. His literary productions, though less numerous, were by nomeans contemptible.