14 THE DECLINE AND FALL CHAP, treated with respect. Maximian conducted the cap- ^^^'- tive emperor to Rome, and gave him the most .solemn assurances that he had secured his hfe by the resigna- tion of the purple. But Severus could obtain only an A.D. 307. easy death and an imperial funeral. When the sen- Febiuary. jgncg was signified to him, the manner of executing it was left to his own choice : he preferred the favourite mode of the ancients, that of opening his veins ; and as soon as he expired, his body was carried to the sepulchre which had been constructed for the family of Gallienus^ Maximian Though the characters of Constantine and Maxen- gives his j-^^g j^^d very little affinity with each other, their situa- daughter "^ , , -, -i Fausta. and tion and mterest were the same ; and prudence seemed Auo-ustus' *o require that they should unite their forces against to Constan- the common enemy. Notwithstanding the superiority a!d. 307. of his age and dignity, the indefatigable Maximian March 31. passed the Alps, and courting a personal interview with the sovereign of Gaul, carried with him his daughter Fausta as the pledge of the new alliance. The marriage was celebrated at Aries with every cir- cumstance of magnificence ; and the ancient colleague of Diocletian, who again asserted his claim to the west- ern empire, conferred on his son-in-law and ally the title of Augustus. By consenting to receive that hon- our from Maximian, Constantine seemed to embrace the cause of Rome and of the senate ; but his profes- sions were ambiguous, and his assistance slow and in- effectual. He considered with attention the approach- ing contest between the masters of Italy and the em- peror of the east, and was prepared to consult his own safety or ambition in the event of the war ". Galerius in. The importance of the occasion called for the pre- vades Italy. The circumstances of this war, and the death of Severus, are very doubtfully and variously told in our ancient fragments. See Tillemont, Hist, des Empereurs, torn. iv. part i. p. 555. I have endeavoured to ex- tract from them a consistent and probable narration.
- The sixth panegyric was pronounced to celebrate the elevation of Con-
stantine ; but the prudent orator avoids the mention either of Galerius or of Maxentius. He introduces only one slight allusion to the actual troubles, and to the majesty of Rome.
