178

THE DECLINE AND FALL

CHAP.

XIX.

Danger-ous situation ofCallus.

battle that he could assert his innocence withany hope of success. But the mind of thatprince was formed of an equal mixture of vio-lence and weakness. Instead of assuming thetitle of Augustus , instead of employing in hisdefence the troops and treasures of the East,he suffered himself to be deceived by the affect-ed tranquillity of Constantius , who, leaving himthe vain pageantry of a court, imperceptibly re-called the veteran legions from the provinces ofAsia . But as it still appeared dangerous toarrest Gallus in his capital, the slow and saferarts of dissimulation were practised with suc-cess. The frequent and pressing epistles ofConstantius were filled with professions of con-fidence and friendship; exhorting the Caesar todischarge the duties of his high station, to re-lieve his colleague from a part of the publiccares, and to assist the West by his presence,his counsels, and his arms. After so many re-ciprocal injuries, Gallus had reason to fear andto distrust. But he had neglected the oppor-tunities of flight and of resistance; he w as se-duced by the flattering assurances of the tribuneScudilo, who, under the semblance of a roughsoldier, disguised the most artful insinuation;and he depended on the credit of his w ife Con-stantina, till the unseasonable death of thatprincess complete! the ruin in which he hadbeen involved by her impetuous passions.*After a long delay, the reluctant Caesar setforwards on his journey to the imperial court.

11 She had preceded her husband ; but died of a fever on the road,at a little place in Bithynia , called Cotuurn Gallicanum.