288

THE DECLINE AND FALL

CHAP.

VII.

and pre-pares for acivil war.

prefect Yitalianus had signalized his fidelity to. Maximin, by the alacrity with which he hadobeyed, and even prevented, the cruel mandatesof the tyrant. His death alone could rescue theauthority of the senate and the lives of thesenators, from a state of danger and suspense.Before their resolves had transpired, a quaestorand some tribunes were commissioned to takehis devoted life. They executed the order withequal boldness and success; and, with theirbloody daggers in their hands, ran through thestreets, proclaiming to the people and the sol-diers, the news of the happy revolution. Theenthusiasm of liberty was seconded by the pro-mise of a large donative, in lands and money;the statues of Maximin were thrown down ;the capital of the empire acknowledged, withtransport, the authority of the two Gordiansand the senate; 2 and the example of Rome wasfollowed by the rest of Italy .

A new spirit had arisen in that assembly,whose long patience had been insulted by wantondespotism and military licence. The senate as-sumed the reins of government, and, with a calmintrepidity, prepared to vindicate by arms thecause of freedom. Among the consular senatorsrecommended by their merit and services to thefavour of the emperor Alexander, it was easy toselect twenty, not unequal to the command ofan army, and the conduct of a war. To these

* Herodian, 1 vii, p. 244.