person for the safety of his people, made what levies he could, and went in person to stem the torrent; which he speedily effected. It was in the course of his successes against the enemy that he was cut off by a mutiny among his own soldiers. He died in the twenty-ninth year of his age, after a prosperous reign of thirteen years and nine days 1.

5. The tumults occasioned by the death of Alexander being appeased, Max'imin, who had been the chief U.C. promoter of the sedition, was chosen emperor. 6. 988. This extraordinary man, whose character deserves a A.D. particular attention, was born of very obscure parent- 235. age, being the son of a poor herdsman of Thrace 2. He followed his father's humble profession, and had exercised his personal courage against the robbers who infested that part of the country in which he lived. Soon after, his ambition increasing, he left his poor employment, and enlisted in the Roman army, where he soon became remarkable for his great strength, discipline, and courage. 7. This gigantic man, we are told, was eight feet and a half high: he had strength corresponding to his size, being not more remarkable for the magnitude than the symmetry of his person. His wife's bracelet usually served him for a thumb ring; and his strength was so great, that he was able to draw a carriage which two oxen could not move. He could strike out the teeth of a horse with a blow of his fist, and break its thigh with a kick. 8. His diet was as extraordinary as his endowments: he generally ate forty pounds' weight of flesh every day, and drank six gallons of wine, without committing any debauch in either. With a frame so athletic, he was possessed of a mind undaunted in danger, and neither fearing nor regarding any nian. 10. The first time he was made known to the emperor Severus, was while he was celebrating games on the

9.

1 One instance of the noble-mindedness of Alexander ought not to be omitted. Hearing that Ovin'ius Camil'lus was making interest to raise himself to the empire, he sent for him, thanked him for offering to take upon him so great a burden, styled him his colleague, offered him the command of the army, and took him with him on an expedition. They both set out together on foot, but Camil'lus soon growing fatigued, was allowed a horse, and afterwards a chariot: ashamed of conspiring against a prince of such magnanimity, he resigned all pretensions to sovereignty, and returned to his former private station.

2 Thrace, an extensive province of ancient Greece, now ealled Romania, in Turkey.

birth-day of his son Ge'ta. He overcame sixteen in running, one after the other; he then kept up with the emperor on horseback; and having fatigued him in the course, he was opposed to seven of the most active soldiers, and overcame them with the greatest ease. 11. These extraordinary exploits caused him to be particularly noticed; he had been taken into the emperor's body guard, and by the usual gradation of preferment came to be the chief commander. In this situation he had been equally remarkable for his simplicity, discipline, and virtue; but upon coming to the empire, was found to be one of the greatest monsters of cruelty that ever disgraced power; fearful of nothing himself, he seemed to sport with the terrors of all mankind'.

12. However, his cruelties did not retard his military operations, which were carried on with a spirit becoming a better monarch. He overthrew the Germans in several battles, wasted all their country with fire and sword for four hundred miles together, and formed a resolution of subduing all the northern nations, as far as the ocean. 13. In these expeditions, in order to attach the soldiers more firmly to him, he increased their pay: and in every duty of the camp, he himself took as much pains as the meanest sentinel in his army, showing incredible courage and assiduity. In every engagement, where the conflict was hottest Max'imin was seen fighting in person and destroying all before him; for, being bred a barbarian, he considered it his duty to combat as a common soldier, while he commanded as a general.

14. In the mean time, his cruelties had so alienated the minds of his subjects, that several conspiracies were secretly aimed against him2. None of them, however, succeeded, till at last his own soldiers, long harassed by famine and fatigue, and hearing of revolts on every side, resolved to terminate their calamities by the tyrant's death. 15. His great strength, and his being always armed, at first deterred them from assassinating him: but at length the soldiers,

1 So ashamed was he of the meanness of his origin, that he is said to have privately put to death all those who knew his parents, or any of his family; a sure way to reveal it more effectually to the world.

2 Of these, the most formidable was that of the two Gordians, father and son; who after wearing the imperial diadem for little more than a month, with the entire approbation of the senate and people, were slain in battle by the troops of Maximin (who were commanded by Capel'lian, governor of Maurita ́nia), near Carthage, in Africa.

having made his guards accomplices in their designs, set upon him, while he slept at noon in his tent, and without opposition slew both him and his son, whom he had made his partner in the empire. 16. Thus died this most remarkable man, after an usurpation of about three years, in the sixty-fifth year of his age. His assiduity when in a humble station, and his cruelty when in power, serve to evince, that there are some men whose virtues are fitted for obscurity; as there are others who only show themselves great when placed in an exalted station.

17. The tyrant being dead, and his body thrown to dogs and birds of prey, Pupie'nus' and Balbie'nus, U.C. who had usurped the imperial purple, continued 991. for some time emperors, without opposition. 18. A.D. But, differing between themselves, the prætorian 238. soldiers, who were the enemies of both, set upon them in their palace, at a time when their guards were amused with seeing the Capit'oline games, and dragging them from the palace towards the camp, slew them both, leaving their dead bodies in the street, as a dreadful instance of unsuccessful ambition.

19. In the midst of this sedition, as the mutineers were proceeding along, they by accident met Gor'dian, U.C. the grandson of him who was slain in Africa: him 991. they declared emperor on the spot. 20. This prince A.D. was but sixteen years old when he began to reign, 238. but his virtues seemed to compensate for his want of experience. His principal aims were to unite the opposing members of government, and to reconcile the soldiers and citizens to each other. 21. The army, however, began as usual to murmur; and their complaints were artfully fomented by Philip, an Arabian, who was prætorian prefect, and aspired to the sovereignty. Things thus proceeded from bad to worse. 22. Philip was at first made equal to Gor'dian in the command of the empire; shortly after he was invested with the sole power,

1 Pupie'nus was of low birth, the son of a blacksmith, but of extraordinary merit; Balbienus, of an illustrious family: the former was celebrated for his military, the latter for his political talents. They were chosen to the empire by the senate, but were soon afterwards killed, as mentioned in the text.

2 Capit'oline games were those which were celebrated in honour of Jupiter Capitoli'nus, who was so named from Capito'lium, a superb temple at Rome, situated on the Tarpeian Rock, which was dedicated to Jupiter.

and at length, finding himself capable of perpetrating his long meditated cruelty, Gordian was by his order slain, in the twenty-second year of his age, after a successful reign of nearly six years 1.

Questions for Examination.

1. Who succeeded Heliogabalus ?

2. What was his character?

3. Was his reign peaceable?

4. How did Alexander act on the occasion?

5. Who succeeded Alexander?

6. Who was Maximin?

7. Describe his person.

8. What farther distinguished him?

9. Was his mind proportioned to his body?

10. How did he attract the notice of Severus?

11. By what means did he attain rank in the army?

12. Was he equally a terror to his foreign enemies?

13. By what means did he gain the confidence of his soldiers?

14. What effect had his cruelties on the minds of his subjects?

15. How did they accomplish their purpose?

16. How long did he reign, and what inference may be drawn from his conduct?

17. Who next mounted the imperial throne?

18. What was their end?

19. Who succeeded Pupienus and Balbienus?

20. What were the character and views of this prince? 21. Was his administration approved of by all?

22. Did Philip accomplish his ambitious designs?

Two years preceding this event, the frontiers of the Roman empire were invaded by Sapor, king of Persia, when Gordian advanced against him, and after having, in his way through Illyr'ia, reduced the Goths and Sarma'tians, he gained a great victory over Sapor, and retook several cities. It was on his return from this successful campaign against the Persians, in 214, that his army revolted, and he was slain.

1. PHILIP having thus murdered his benefactor, was so fortunate as to be immediately acknowledged emperor by the army. Upon his exaltation he associated his son, a boy of six years of age, as his partner in the empire; and, in order to secure his power at home, made peace with the Persians, and marched his army towards Rome. 2. However, the army revolting in favour of De'cius, his general, and setting violently upon him, one of his sentinels at a blow cut off his head, or rather cleft it asunder, separating the under jaw from the upper. He died in the forty-fifth year of his age, after a reign of about five years'1.

3. De'cius was universally acknowledged as his successor. His activity and wisdom seemed, in some mea- U.C. sure, to stop the hastening decline of the Roman 1001. empire. The senate seemed to think so highly A.D. of his merits, that they voted him not inferior to 248. Trajan; and indeed he appeared in every instance to consult their dignity, and the welfare of all the inferior ranks of people. 4. But no virtues could now prevent the approaching downfal of the state; the obstinate disputes between the Pagans and the Christians within the empire, and the unceasing irruptions of barbarous nations from without, enfeebled it beyond the power of remedy. 5. He was killed in an ambuscade of the enemy, in the fiftieth year of his age, after a short reign of two years and six months 2.

1 Philip the Arabian was the son of a chief of banditti. He commanded in Mesopotamia: and, with a view of expediting his journey to Rome, he gave it up to the Persians. He celebrated the secular games with a magnificence exceeding all that had been seen before. De'cius revolted in Panno'nia, where Philip was defeated, and killed by his own soldiers.

2 Though De'cius was in other respects, as here described, a good