THE DECLINE AND FALL
5 a
chap. “ to our loss, shall ever reisrn over us.”* The
XII
.Roman senators heard, without surprise, that
another emperor had been assassinated in hiscamp; they secretly rejoiced in the fall of Au-relian; but the modest and dutiful address ofthe legions, when it was communicated in fullassembly by the consul, diffused the mostpleasing astonishment. Such honours as fearand perhaps esteem could extort, they liberallypoured forth on the memory of their deceasedsovereign. Such acknowledgements as grati-tude could inspire, they returned to the faithfularmies of the republic, who entertained so justa sense of the legal authority of the senate inthe choice of an emperor. Yet, notwithstandingthis flattering appeal, the most prudent of theassembly declined exposing their safety anddignity to the caprice of an armed multitude.The strength of the legions was, indeed, a pledgeof their sincerity, since those who may com-mand are seldom reduced to the necessity ofdissembling; but could it naturally be expected,that a hasty repentance would correct the in-veterate habits of fourscore years? Should thesoldiers relapse into their accustomed seditions,their insolence might disgrace the majesty ofthe senate, and prove fatal to the object of itschoice. Motives like these dictated a decree,by which the election of a new emperor was re-ferred to the suffrage of the military order.