298

THE DECLINE AND FALL

chap, machines destroyed by showers of artificial fire,

___and the generous enthusiasm of the Aquileians

was exalted into a confidence of success, by theopinion, that Belenus, their tutelar deity, com-bated in person in the defence of his distressedworshipers.”

Conduct of The emperor Maximus, who had advanced as

Maximus. 1 .

far as Ravenna, to secure that important place,and to hasten the military preparations, beheldthe event of the war in the more faithful mirrorof reason and policy. He was too sensible, thata single town could not resist the perseveringefforts of a great army; and he dreaded, lest theenemy, tired with the obstinate resistance ofAquileia , should on a sudden relinquish thefruitless siege, and march directly towards RomeThe fate of the empire, and the cause of freedom,must thenbe committed to the chance of a battle;and what arms could he oppose to the veteranlegions of the Rhine and Danube ? Sometroops newly levied among the generous, butenervated, youth of Italy , and a body of Germanauxiliaries, on whose firmness, in the hour oftrial, it was dangerous to depend. In the midst. of these just alarms, the stroke of domestic con-spiracy punished the crimes of Maximin, anddelivered Rome and the senate from the calami-ties that would surely have attended the victoryof an enraged barbarian.

m Herodian, 1. viii, p. 272. The Celtic deity was supposed to beApollo, and received, under that name, the thanks of the senate. Atemple was likewise built to Venus the Bald , in honour of the womenof Aquileia who had given up their hair to make ropes for the militaryengines.