286
THE DECLINE AND FALL
C vn P " e ^ ect * 0n anf l their fate to the supreme judgment.of the senate. u
The senate The inclinations of the senate were neitherelectio^of doubtful nor divided. The birth and noble alli-di'an ? 01 ances of the Gordians had intimately connectedthem with the most illustrious houses of Rome .Their fortune had created many dependents inthat assembly, their merit had acquired manyfriends. Their mild administration opened theflattering prospect of the restoration, not only ofthe civil but even of the republican government.The terror of military violence, which had firstobliged the senate to forget the murder of Alex-ander, and to ratify the election of a barbarianpeasant , 11 now produced a contrary effect, andprovoked them to assert the injured rights offreedom and humanity. The hatred of Maximintowards the senate was declared and implacable;the tamest submission had not appeased his fury;the most cautious innocence would not removehis suspicions ; and even the care of their ownsafety urged them to share the fortune of anenterprise, of which (if unsuccessful) they weresure to be the firstvictims. These considerations,and perhaps others of a more private nature,were debated in a previous conference of theconsuls and the magistrates. As soon as theirresolution was decided, they convoked in thetemple of Castor the whole body of the senate,