OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE
293
leagues had both been consuls (Balbinus hadtwice enjoyed that honourable office), both hadbeen named among the twenty lieutenants of thesenate; and since the one was sixty, and theother seventy-four years old/ they had both at-tained the full maturity of age and experience.
After the senate had conferred on Maximusand Balbinus an equal portion of the consularand tribunitian power, the title of fathers oftheir country, and the joint office of supremepontiff, they ascended to the capitol, to returnthanks to the gods, protectors of Rome. * Thesolemn rites of sacrifice were disturbed by a se-dition of the people. The licentious multitudeneither loved the rigid Maximus, nor did theysufficiently fear the mild and humane Balbinus .Their increasing numbers surrounded the tem-ple of Jupiter; with obstinate clamours they as-serted their inherent right of consenting to theelection of their sovereign ; and demanded, withan apparent moderation, that, besides the twoemperors chosen by the senate, a third shouldbe added of the family of the Gordians, as ajust return of gratitude to those princes whohad sacrificed their lives for the republic. Atthe head of the city-guards, and the youth of the
f Zonaras , 1. xii, p. 622. But little dependence is to be had on theauthority of a modern Greek, so grossly ignorant ol the history of thethird century, that he creates several imaginary emperors, and con-founds those who really existed.
s Herodian, h vii, p. 25G, supposes that the senate was at first con-voked in the capitol, and is very eloquent on the occasion. The Au-gustan history, p. 116, seems much more authentic.
CHAP.
VII.