OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE

287

according to an ancient form of secrecy/ cal- chap.

culated to awaken their attention, and to conceal____

their decrees. “ Conscript fathers,” said theconsul Syllanus, “ the two Gordians, both of“ consular dignity, the one your proconsul, the“ other your lieutenant, have been declared em-“ perors by the general consent of Africa . Let“ us return thanks,” he boldly continued, “ to“ the youth of Thysdrus ; let us return thanks“ to the faithful people of Carthage , our gene-“ rous deliverers from an horrid monster.—Why“ do you hear me thus coolly, thus timidly ?

“ Why do you cast those anxious looks on each“ other? why hesitate? Maximin is a public“ enemy! may his enmity soon expire with him,

“ and may we long enjoy the prudence and feli-“ city of Gordian the father, the valour and“ constancy of Gordian the son!” 2 The nobleardour of the consul revived the languid spiritof the senate. By an unanimous decree the elec- and de-tion of the Gordians was ratified; Maximin, his Maximinson, and his adherents were pronounced enemies a f ,lblic

' L enemy.

of their country, and liberal rewards were of-fered to whosoever had the courage and goodfortune to destroy them.

During the emperor’s absence, a detachment Assumesof the praetorian guards remained at Rome , to mand°ofprotect, or rather to command the capital. The and

1 Even the servants of the house, the scribes, &c. were excluded, andtheir office was filled by the senators themselves. We are obliged tothe Augustine History, p. 159, for preserving this curious example ofthe old discipline of the commonwealth.

1 This spirited speech, translated from the Augustine historian,p. 156, seems transcribed by him from the original registers of thesenate.