158

THE DECLINE AND FALL

CHAP

XVIII.

provinces of Illyricum ; and cut in pieces a nu-merous detachment, which he had allured intothe narrow passes of Adarne. During thegreater part of the summer, the tyrant of Gaul shewed himself master of the field. The troopsof Constantius were harassed and dispirited;his reputation declined in the eye of the world;and his pride condescended to solicit a treatyof peace, which would have resigned to the as-sassin of Constans the sovereignty of the pro-vinces beyond the Alps. These offers were en-forced by the eloquence of Philip, the imperialambassador; and the council as well as the ar-my of Magnentius were disposed to accept them.But the haughty usurper, careless of the remon-strances of his friends, gave orders that Philipshould be detained as a captive, or at least asa hostage, while he dispatched an officer to re-proach Constantius with the weakness of hisreign, and to insult him by the promise of apardon, if he would instantly abdicate the pur-ple. “ That he should confide in the justice of“ his cause, and the protection of an avenging“ Deity,” was the only answer which honourpermitted the emperor to return. But he wasso sensible of the difficulties of his situation,that he no longer dared to retaliate the indigni-ty which had been offered to his representative.The negociation of Philip was not, however, in-effectual, since he determined Sylvanus theFrank, a general of merit and reputation, todesert with a considerable body of cavalry, afew days before the battle of Mursa.