OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE.

311

“ the latter demanded, that he might remain chap.

“ sole emperor: he was unable to obtain it. He__

“ requested, that the power might be equally“ divided between them; the army would not“ listen to his speech. He consented to be de-“ graded to the rank of Caesar; the favour was“ refused him. He desired, at least, he might“ be appointed praetorian prefect; his prayer“ was rejected. Finally, he pleaded for his life.

“ The army, in these several judgments, exer-“ cised the supreme magistracy.” According tothe historian, whose doubtful narrative the pre-sident I)e Montesquieu has adopted, Philip, who,during the whole transaction, had preserved asullen silence, was inclined to spare the innocentlife of his benefactor; till, recollecting that hisinnocence might excite a dangerous compassionin the Roman world, he commanded, withoutregard to his suppliant cries, that he should beseized, stript, and led away to instant death.

After a moment’s pause, the inhuman sentencewas executed . 11

On his return from the East to Rome , Philip, .desirousof obliterating thememoryof his crimes, Philip,and of captivating the affections of the people.

h The Augustan history (p. 103, 164), cannot in this instance,be reconciled with itself or with probability. How could Philipcondemn his predecessor, and yet consecrate his memory ? Howcould he order his public execution, and yet, in his letters to thesenate, exculpate himself from the guilt of his death? Philip, thoughan ambitious usurper, was by no means a mad tyrant. Some chrono-logical difficulties have likewise been discovered by the nice eyes ofTillemont and Muratori, in this supposed association of Philip to theempire.