OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE.
147
The fate of Constans himself was delayedabout ten years longer, and the revenge of hisbrother’s death was reserved for the more igno-ble hand of a domestic traitor. The pernicioustendency of the system introduced by Constan-tine was displayed in the feeble administrationof his sons; who, by their vices and weakness,soon lost the esteem and affections of their peo-ple. The pride assumed by Constans , from theunmerited success of his arms, was renderedmore contemptible by his want of abilities andapplication. His fond partiality towards someGerman captives, distinguished only by thecharms of youth, was an object of scandal to thepeople; 1 and Magnentius, an ambitious soldier ,who was himself of barbarian extraction, was en-couraged by the public discontent to assert thehonour of the Roman name. b The chosen bandsof Jovians and Herculians, who acknowledgedMagnentius as their leader, maintained the mostrespectable and important station in the impe-rial camp. The friendship of Marcellinus,
the younger Victor. The monody (ad calcem Eutrop. edit. Haver-camp.) pronounced on the death of Constantine , might have been veryinstructive; but prudence and false taste engaged the orator to iuvolvehimself in vague declamation.
a Quanim {gentium) obsides pretio quiesitos pucros venustiores, quodcultius habuerat, libidine hujusmodi .arsisse pro certo habrfur. Had notthe depraved taste of Constans been publicly avowed, the elder Vic-tor, who held a considerable office in It is brother’s reign, would nothave asserted it in such positive terms.
b Julian. Orat. i and ii. Zosim. 1. ii, p. 134. Victor in Epitome.There is reason to believe that Magnentius was born iu one of thosebarbarian colonies which Constantins Chlorus had established in Gaul ,(see this history, vol. ii, p. 132). His behaviour may remind us of thepatriot earl of Leicester, the famous Simon de Montfort , who couldpersuade the good people of England, that he, a Frenchman by birth»had taken arms to deliver them from foreign favourites.
CHAP.
XVIII.