Page:Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire (1827) Vol 1.djvu/392

368 THE DECLINE AND FALL CHAP, captives who reluctantly attended his triumph, Goths, ^^' Vandals, Sarmatians, Alemanni, Franks, Gauls, Syrians, and Egyptians. Each people was distinguished by its peculiar inscription ; and the title of Amazons was be- stowed on ten martial heroines of the Gothic nation who had been taken in arms*. But every eye, disre- garding the crowd of captives, was fixed on the em- peror Tetricus, and the queen of the east. The for- mer, as well as his son, whom he had created Augustus, was dressed in Gallic trowsers ^, a saffron tunic, and a robe of purple. The beauteous figure of Zenobia was confined by fetters of gold ; a slave supported the gold chain which encircled her neck, and she almost fainted under the intolerable weight of jewels. She preceded on foot the magnificent chariot, in which she once hoped to enter the gates of Rome. It was followed by two other chariots, still more sumptuous, of Ode- nathus and of the Persian monarch. The triumphal car of Aurelian (it had formerly been used by a Gothic king) was drawn, on this memorable occasion, either by four stags or by four elephants ^ The most illus- trious of the senate, the people, and the army, closed the solemn procession. Unfeigned joy, wonder, and gratitude, swelled the acclamations of the multitude ; but the satisfaction of the senate was clouded by the appearance of Tetricus ; nor could they suppress a rising murmur, that the haughty emperor should thus expose to public ignominy the person of a Roman and a magistrate "". • Among barbarous nations, women have often combated by the side of their husbands. But it is almost impossible, that a society of Amazons should ever have existed either in the old or new world. ^ The use of hraccce., breeches, or trowsers, was still considered in Italy as a Gallic and barbarian fashion. The Romans, however, had made great advances towards it. To encircle the legs and thighs with /ascia;, or bands, was understood in the time of Pompey and Horace, to be a proof of ill health or effeminacy. In the age of Trajan, the custom was confined to the rich and luxurious. It gradually was adopted by the meanest of the people. See a very curious note of Casaubon, ad Sueton. in August, c. 82. ^ Most probably the former ; the latter, seen on the medals of Aurelian, only denote (according to the learned cardinal Norris) an oriental victory. '" The expression of Calphurnius, (Eclog. i. 50.) NuUos ducet captiva triumphos, as applied to Rome, contains a very manifest allusion and censure.