This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1890 Excerpt: ...insensible of the calamities and danger of a civil war which raged in the heart of his dominions. Pleasure was still the only business of Maxentius. Concealing, or at least attempting to conceal, from the public knowledge the misfortunes of his arms, ' he indulged himself in a vain confidence, which deferred the remedies of the approaching evil, without deferring the evil itself.3 The rapid progress of Constantine' was scarcely sufficient to awaken him from this fatal security; he flattered himself, that his well-known liberality, and the majesty of the Roman name, which had already delivered him from two invasions, would dissipate with the same facility the rebellious army of Gaul. The officers of experience and ability 1 They wanted chains for so great a multitude of captives; and the whole council was at a loss; but the sagacious conqueror imagined the happy expedient of converting into fetters the swords of the vanquished. Panegyr. Vet. ix. n. 9 Literas calamiuitum suarum indices supprimebat. Panegyr. Vet. ix. 15. 3 Remedia malorum potius quam mala diflcrebat, is the fine censure which Tacitus passes on the supine indolence of Vitellius. 4 The Marquis Maffei has made it extremely probable that Constantine was still at Verona, the ist Sept., A.d. 12, and that the. memorable ara of the indictions was dated from his co- quest of the CisalpuE GauL who had served under the banners of Maximian, were at length compelled to inform his effeminate son of the imminent danger to which he was reduced; and, with a freedom that at once surprised and convinced him, to urge the necessity of preventing his ruin, by a vigorous exertion of his remaining power. The resources of Maxentius, both of men and money, were still considerable. The Praetorian guards felt how str...