330 THE DECLINE AND FALL CHAP. Let every one die who has dropt an expression, who ' has entertained a thought against me, against me, the son of Valerian, the father and brother of so many princes*. Remember that Ingenuus was made em- peror : tear, kill, hew in pieces. I write to you with my own hand, and would inspire you with my own feelings V Whilst the public forces of the state were dissipated in private quarrels, the defenceless provinces lay exposed to every invader. The bravest usurpers were compelled, by the perplexity of their situation, to conclude ignominious treaties with the common enemy, to purchase with oppressive tributes the neu- trality or services of the barbarians, and to introduce hostile and independent nations into the heart of the Roman monarchy^. Such were the barbarians, and such the tyrants, who, under the reigns of Valerian and Gallienus, dis- membered the provinces, and reduced the empire to the lowest pitch of disgrace and ruin, from whence it seemed impossible that it should ever emerge. As far as the barrenness of materials would permit, we have attempted to trace, with order and perspicuity, the ge- neral events of that calamitous period. There still remain some particular facts : I. The disorders of Si- cily; n. The tumults of Alexandria; and, IIL The rebellion of the Isaurians, which may serve to reflect a strong light on the horrid picture. Disorders L Whenever numerous troops of banditti, multi-
- ^^*^' plied by success and impunity, publicly defy, instead
of eluding the justice of their country, we may safely infer, that the excessive weakness of the government is felt and abused by the lowest ranks of the commu- « Gallienus had given the titles of Cassar and Augustus to his son Saloni- nus, slain at Cologne by the usurper Posthumus. A second son of Gal- lienus succeeded to the name and rank of his elder brother. Valerian, the brother of Gallienus, was also associated to the empire : several other brothers, sisters, nephews, and nieces of the emperor, formed a very numer- ous royal family. See Tillernont, tom. iii. and M. de Brequigny, in the M6moires de I'Acad^mie, tom. xxxii. p. 262. ^ Hist. August, p. 188. S Regillianus had some bands of Roxolani in his service ; Posthumus, a body of Franks. It was, perhaps, in the character of auxiliaries that the latter introduced themselves into Spain.
