408
THE DECLINE AND FALL
CHAP
X.
Victoryand revoltof /Emili*anus.
A. d. 253.
But the Romans were irritated to a still higher.degree, when they discovered that they hadnot even secured their repose, though at theexpence of their honour. The dangerous se-cret of the wealth and weakness of the empirehad been revealed to the world. New swarmsof barbarians, encouraged by the success, andnot conceiving themselves bound by the obli-gation, of their brethren, spread devastationthrough the Illyrian provinces, and terror asfar as the gates of Rome . The defence of themonarchy, which seemed abandoned by thepusillanimous emperor, was assumed by iEmi-lianus, governor of Pannonia and Mmsia; whorallied the scattered forces, and revived thefainting spirits of the troops. The barbarianswere unexpectedly attacked, routed, chased,and pursued beyond the Danube . The vic-torious leader distributed as a donative themoney collected for the tribute, and the ac-clamations of the soldiers proclaimed him em-peror on the field of battle . 1 Gallus, who, care-less of the general welfare, indulged himselfin the pleasures of Italy , was almost in the sameinstant informed of the success, of the revolt, andof the rapid approach of his aspiring lieutenant.He advanced to meet him as far as the plains ofSpoleto. When the armies came in sight of eachother, the soldiers of Gallus compared the ig-nominious conduct of their sovereign with theglory of his rival. They admired the valour ofiEmilianus; they were attracted by his liberality,