458 THE DECLINE AND FALL CHAP, uninterrupted success; nor was it till after he had van- ^^^^' quished all his enemies, and accomplished all his de- signs, that he seems to have entertained any serious thoughts of resigning the empire. Neither Charles nor Diocletian were arrived at a very advanced period of life ; since the one was only fifty-five, and the other was no more than fifty-nine years of age ; but the active life of those princes, their wars and journeys, the cares of royalty, and their application to business, had already impaired their constitution, and brought on the infir- mities of a premature old age p. A.D. 304. Notwithstanding the severity of a very cold and rainy o?Dlocle-^^ winter, Diocletian left Italy soon after the ceremony of tian. his triumph, and began his progress towards the east round the circuit of the Illyrian provinces. From the inclemency of the weather, and the fatigue of the journey, he soon contracted a slow illness ; and though he made easy marches, and was generally carried in a close litter, his disorder, before he arrived at Nico- media, about the end of the summer, was become very serious and alarming. During the whole winter he was confined to his palace ; his danger inspired a gen- eral and unaffected concern; but the people could only judge of the various alterations of his health, from the joy or consternation which they discovered in the countenances and behaviour of his attendants. The rumour of his death was for some time universally be- lieved; and it was supposed to be concealed, with a view to prevent the troubles that might have happened during the absence of the Caesar Galerius. At length, however, on the first of March, Diocletian once more appeared in pubhc, but so pale and emaciated, that he could scarcely have been recognised by those to whom His pru- his person was the most familiar. It was time to put °®"^^* an end to the painful struggle, which he had sustained during more than a year, between the care of liis health P The particulars of the journey and illness are taken from Lactantius, (c. 17.) who may sometimes be admitted as an evidence of public facts, though very seldom of private anecdotes.
