OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE.

149

entertained some hopes of surprising the per- chap.

son of Constans , who was pursu'rg in the adja-___

cent forest his favourite amuse ent of hunting,or perhaps some pleasures of a more privateand criminal nature. The rapid progress offame allowed him, however, an instant for flight,though the desertion of his soldiers and sub-jects deprived him of the power of resistance.

Before he could reach a sea-port in Spain ,where he intended to embark, he was overtakennear Helena,' at the foot of the Pyrenees , by aparty of light cavalry, whose chief, regardlessof the sanctity of a temple, executed his com-mission by the murder of the son of Constan-tine .' 1

As soon as the death of Constans had decided Magnen-this easy but important revolution, the example Vetranioof the court of Autun was imitated by the pro- th *vinces of the West. The authority of Magnen-tius was acknowledged through the whole ex-tent of the two great prefectures of Gaul andItaly ; and the usurper prepared, by every actof oppression, to collect a treasure, which mightdischarge the obligation of an immense dona-tive, and supply the expences of a civil war.

The martial countries of Illvricum, from the

* This ancient city had once flourished under the name of Illiberii(Pomponius Mela, ii, 5). The munificence of Constantine gave it newsplendour, and his mother’s name. Helena (it is still called Elne) be-came the seat of a bishop, who long afterw ards transferred his resi-dence to Perpignan, the capital of modern Rousillon. See d’AnvilleNotice de l’Ancienne Gaule, p. 380. Longuerue Description de laFrance, p. 223, and the Marca Hispanica, 1. i, c. 2.

<* Zosimus, 1. ii, p. 119, 120. Zonaras , tom. ii, 1. xiii, p. 13, and theAbbreviators