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pretence_n of_o right_n he_o be_v universal_o hate_v a_o commotion_n be_v raise_v in_o africa_n where_o the_o procurator_n be_v kill_v and_o gordian_a proconsul_n of_o africa_n be_v choose_v emperor_n and_o have_v use_v mean_n to_o dispatch_v vitalian_a captain_n of_o the_o praetorian_a band_n in_o rome_n his_o election_n be_v ratify_v by_o the_o senate_n soon_o after_o cappellian_n march_v against_o he_o and_o quell_v the_o commotion_n and_o he_o be_v slay_v in_o africa_n together_o with_o his_o son_n maximine_n leave_v pannonia_n and_o take_v his_o march_n towards_o rome_n with_o his_o whole_a army_n maximus_n and_o balbinus_n be_v elect_v emperor_n and_o gordian_n nephew_n create_v caesar_n a_o civil_a war_n break_v out_o in_o rome_n between_o the_o populace_n and_o the_o praetorian_a soldier_n of_o which_o gallicanus_n be_v the_o author_n the_o seven_o book_n the_o account_n of_o alexander_n life_n and_o death_n after_o
he_o have_v reign_v fourteen_o year_n be_v declare_v in_o the_o former_a book_n maximine_n succeed_v he_o whereupon_o great_a change_n ensue_v he_o exercise_v great_a severity_n towards_o his_o subject_n endeavour_v by_o this_o mean_n to_o render_v himself_o formidable_a so_o the_o government_n begin_v to_o be_v influence_v by_o new_a principle_n and_o from_o mild_a and_o gentle_a become_v cruel_a and_o tyrannical_a he_o know_v he_o be_v general_o distasteful_a to_o the_o people_n in_o regard_n he_o be_v the_o first_o that_o from_o the_o obscure_a condition_n have_v ascend_v to_o the_o high_a of_o dignity_n he_o be_v barbarous_a as_o well_o in_o manner_n as_o extraction_n his_o nature_n be_v cruel_a agree_v with_o the_o thracian_a genius_n so_o he_o pursue_v violent_a measure_n think_v thereby_o most_o effectual_o to_o establish_v his_o empire_n he_o be_v afraid_a that_o the_o senate_n and_o people_n of_o rome_n will_v despise_v he_o that_o they_o will_v look_v back_o upon_o the_o 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all_o other_o from_o any_o share_n in_o their_o affection_n and_o esteem_n affect_v immoderate_o to_o be_v sole_a monarch_n in_o order_n hereto_o he_o load_v his_o brother_n with_o calumny_n and_o reproach_n but_o the_o long_a indisposition_n of_o his_o father_n and_o the_o slow_a approach_n of_o death_n afflict_v the_o spirit_n of_o the_o young_a man_n insomuch_o that_o at_o length_n he_o grow_v impatient_a and_o fall_v to_o practice_n with_o his_o servant_n and_o physician_n to_o shorten_v his_o life_n till_o at_o last_o severus_n die_v rather_o through_o anguish_n of_o mind_n than_o indisposition_n of_o body_n after_o he_o have_v run_v a_o glorious_a course_n far_o transcend_v all_o his_o predecessor_n in_o the_o glory_n of_o military_a achievement_n none_o of_o which_o be_v victorious_a in_o so_o many_o and_o so_o great_a engagement_n both_o in_o civil_a and_o foreign_a war_n he_o reign_v eighteen_o year_n and_o be_v succeed_v by_o his_o own_o son_n he_o leave_v behind_o a_o 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the_o prerogative_n shall_v be_v lower_v and_o the_o privilege_n of_o the_o subject_a advance_v and_o arbitrary_a power_n shall_v sink_v into_o a_o aristocracy_n that_o there_o be_v no_o reason_n why_o they_o shall_v esteem_v he_o unworthy_a of_o the_o empire_n or_o judge_v it_o the_o error_n of_o a_o blind_a chance_n by_o which_o he_o be_v exalt_v from_o a_o private_a gentleman_n of_o rome_n to_o this_o high_a station_n that_o there_o be_v no_o advantage_n in_o high_a birth_n unless_o it_o be_v accompany_v with_o moderation_n and_o clemency_n that_o the_o gift_n of_o fortune_n be_v often_o cast_v on_o those_o that_o do_v not_o deserve_v they_o but_o the_o virtue_n of_o the_o mind_n stamp_v a_o real_a value_n and_o dignity_n on_o all_o that_o possess_v they_o that_o estate_n luster_n of_o family_n etc._n etc._n may_v make_v a_o man_n happy_a but_o be_v not_o good_a topic_n of_o commendation_n because_o they_o be_v derive_v from_o other_o but_o gentleness_n and_o humanity_n be_v not_o only_o admire_v by_o all_o man_n but_o redound_v to_o the_o real_a praise_n of_o those_o who_o they_o adorn_v that_o the_o public_a have_v receive_v no_o benefit_n from_o the_o noble_a parentage_n of_o commodus_n nor_o from_o antonine_n succeed_v his_o father_n that_o these_o prince_n take_v the_o empire_n as_o it_o be_v by_o right_o of_o inheritance_n and_o abuse_v it_o as_o their_o own_o patrimony_n but_o those_o that_o receive_v it_o from_o the_o free_a gift_n of_o the_o people_n will_v always_o remain_v sensible_a of_o the_o infinite_a obligation_n and_o will_v still_o be_v meditate_v return_v proportionable_a to_o so_o great_a a_o merit_n beside_o this_o nobility_n dispose_v they_o to_o arrogance_n and_o a_o contempt_n of_o their_o subject_n as_o their_o inferior_n whereas_o those_o that_o advance_v through_o inferior_a employment_n to_o this_o high_a dignity_n will_v endeavour_v to_o defend_v it_o as_o the_o reward_n of_o their_o industry_n and_o will_v pay_v the_o same_o 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but_o they_o be_v more_o overjoy_v that_o antonine_n be_v dead_a than_o that_o macrinus_n succeed_v he_o which_o be_v express_v by_o public_a rejoice_n make_v on_o that_o occasion_n all_o common_a informer_n and_o servant_n that_o have_v accuse_v their_o master_n be_v public_o gibbete_v and_o what_o by_o proscription_n what_o by_o capital_a punishment_n inflict_v on_o profligate_v villain_n the_o city_n and_o indeed_o the_o whole_a empire_n be_v pretty_a well_o purge_v those_o that_o lay_v conceal_v be_v quiet_a for_o fear_v of_o the_o justice_n of_o the_o government_n so_o the_o people_n live_v in_o security_n and_o enjoy_v at_o least_o a_o appearance_n and_o as_o it_o be_v a_o first_o dawn_n of_o liberty_n during_o that_o one_o year_n in_o which_o macrinus_n reign_v macrinus_n commitred_a a_o great_a soloecism_n in_o not_o disband_v and_o disperse_v the_o soldier_n and_o in_o that_o he_o do_v not_o hasten_v to_o rome_n where_o his_o presence_n be_v great_o desire_v and_o whither_o he_o be_v invite_v by_o the_o daily_o repeat_v clamour_n of_o the_o people_n but_o he_o stay_v in_o antioch_n where_o he_o begin_v to_o affect_v a_o long_a beard_n and_o slow_a gate_n he_o will_v scarce_o vouchsafe_v to_o speak_v to_o those_o that_o come_v to_o he_o and_o when_o he_o do_v he_o often_o speak_v so_o low_a it_o be_v a_o hard_a matter_n to_o tell_v what_o he_o say_v in_o these_o particular_n he_o copy_v after_o marcus_n and_o they_o be_v the_o only_a action_n of_o that_o prince_n which_o he_o imitate_v for_o he_o abandon_v himself_o to_o dissolute_a course_n become_v a_o great_a frequent_a of_o play_n and_o musick-meeting_n neglect_v public_a affair_n and_o appear_v always_o in_o public_a with_o button_n and_o a_o belt_n curious_o embroider_v with_o gold_n and_o precious_a stone_n this_o luxury_n be_v by_o no_o mean_n please_v to_o the_o army_n that_o look_v upon_o it_o as_o a_o unmanly_a softness_n better_a become_v a_o woman_n or_o the_o barbarous_a nation_n than_o the_o emperor_n of_o rome_n these_o thing_n i_o say_v give_v great_a disgust_n to_o the_o soldier_n they_o dislike_v his_o course_n of_o life_n as_o too_o effeminate_a and_o call_v to_o mind_n antonine_n way_n of_o live_v which_o be_v such_o as_o become_v a_o soldier_n and_o a_o man_n of_o business_n they_o condemn_v macrinus_n luxury_n beside_o they_o murmur_v extreme_o that_o they_o be_v not_o permit_v to_o return_v home_o but_o be_v constrain_v to_o live_v in_o a_o camp_n in_o a_o foreign_a country_n where_o sometime_o they_o want_v necessary_a provision_n and_o that_o too_o after_o a_o peace_n be_v conclude_v they_o observe_v too_o at_o the_o same_o time_n how_o soft_o and_o delicate_o the_o emperor_n live_v so_o in_o short_a thing_n tend_v to_o a_o rebellion_n they_o begin_v to_o speak_v disrespectful_o of_o he_o and_o only_o seek_v for_o some_o sort_n of_o pretence_n to_o remove_v this_o author_n of_o their_o grievance_n thus_o it_o please_v the_o fate_n that_o macrinus_n have_v revel_v it_o in_o imperial_a dignity_n for_o the_o space_n of_o one_o year_n shall_v lose_v his_o life_n and_o empire_n together_o fortune_n soon_o afford_v a_o slight_a occasion_n to_o the_o soldier_n for_o the_o effect_n what_o they_o desire_v there_o be_v a_o certain_a lady_n call_v maesa_n bear_v in_o phoenicia_n in_o the_o city_n emesa_n she_o be_v sister_n to_o julia_n severus_n wife_n and_o mother_n to_o antonine_n and_o have_v live_v many_o year_n in_o the_o emperor_n court_n in_o her_o sister_n time_n both_o in_o the_o reign_n of_o severus_n and_o antonine_n but_o after_o her_o sister_n death_n and_o the_o murder_n of_o antonine_n be_v command_v by_o macrinus_n to_o depart_v into_o she_o own_o country_n with_o her_o effect_n which_o be_v very_o considerable_a by_o reason_n of_o her_o live_n at_o court_n so_o many_o year_n maesa_n obey_v the_o order_n and_o return_v into_o phoenicia_n this_o old_a lady_n have_v two_o daughter_n the_o elder_a soaemis_n and_o mammaea_n the_o young_a each_o of_o these_o have_v a_o son_n soaemis_n call_v she_o bassian_n mammaea_n be_v name_v alexian_n both_o the_o youth_n be_v breed_v up_o under_o the_o care_n of_o their_o mother_n and_o grandmother_n bassian_n be_v about_o fourteen_o year_n old_a alexian_n have_v just_o enter_v his_o ten_o year_n they_o be_v both_o priest_n of_o the_o sun_n which_o be_v the_o god_n of_o the_o phoenician_n and_o in_o their_o language_n be_v call_v heliogabulus_n they_o have_v a_o magnificent_a temple_n build_v for_o he_o adorn_v with_o gold_n and_o silver_n and_o precious_a stone_n nor_o do_v the_o native_n only_o worship_v this_o god_n but_o all_o the_o neighbour_a prince_n and_o potentate_n send_v rich_a present_n to_o he_o every_o year_n they_o have_v no_o statue_n make_v with_o hand_n in_o the_o likeness_n of_o the_o god_n as_o be_v usual_a among_o the_o greek_n and_o roman_n but_o only_o a_o huge_a stone_n that_o be_v round_o at_o the_o bottom_n and_o grow_v sharp_a by_o degree_n towards_o the_o top_n the_o colour_n of_o it_o be_v black_a and_o the_o figure_n conical_a the_o tradition_n be_v that_o it_o fall_v from_o heaven_n it_o have_v some_o little_a rudeness_n and_o mark_n upon_o it_o they_o say_v it_o be_v the_o image_n of_o the_o sun_n not_o make_v by_o any_o mortal_a artificer_n and_o esteem_v it_o as_o such_o bassian_n be_v ordain_v his_o priest_n and_o perform_v the_o function_n of_o the_o priest_n office_n as_o be_v the_o elder_a appear_v public_o in_o his_o barbarous_a formality_n which_o be_v a_o gown_n of_o purple_a silk_n flower_v with_o gold_n that_o come_v down_o to_o his_o foot_n and_o hand_n all_o his_o leg_n be_v cover_v with_o under-vestment_n of_o the_o same_o silk_n upon_o his_o head_n he_o wear_v a_o crown_n rich_o adorn_v with_o precious_a stone_n of_o several_a colour_n beside_o he_o be_v then_o in_o the_o flower_n of_o his_o age_n and_o the_o
be_v censure_v for_o any_o immorality_n in_o his_o conversation_n for_o fear_v they_o shall_v debauch_v his_o native_a innocence_n and_o spur_n on_o nature_n now_o he_o be_v vegete_a and_o young_a to_o dishonest_a passion_n and_o appetite_n she_o advise_v he_o to_o attend_v principal_o the_o administration_n of_o justice_n and_o to_o set_v apart_o the_o best_a portion_n of_o his_o time_n for_o the_o discharge_v of_o that_o trust_n that_o be_v employ_v about_o great_a affair_n and_o more_o important_a to_o the_o public_a welfare_n he_o may_v not_o have_v leisure_n to_o pursue_v vain_a and_o sinful_a amusement_n alexander_n have_v a_o mild_a and_o benign_a nature_n dispose_v he_o always_o to_o humanity_n and_o compassion_n which_o be_v manifest_v in_o the_o ensue_a course_n of_o his_o life_n his_o government_n be_v so_o gentle_a that_o in_o fourteen_o year_n not_o one_o man_n be_v put_v to_o death_n though_o many_o be_v convict_v of_o crime_n of_o the_o high_a nature_n he_o will_v never_o proceed_v to_o capital_a punishment_n a_o clemency_n so_o exemplary_a that_o never_o any_o prince_n since_o marcus_n come_v up_o to_o it_o and_o i_o be_o confident_a no_o man_n can_v affirm_v that_o in_o the_o whole_a course_n of_o his_o reign_n though_o it_o continue_v many_o year_n any_o man_n suffer_v death_n without_o a_o fair_a and_o legal_a trial._n he_o censure_v his_o mother_n extreme_o and_o be_v high_o offend_v at_o her_o unmeasurable_a covetousness_n and_o indecent_a zeal_n in_o heap_v up_o money_n for_o she_o pretend_v to_o act_v in_o this_o matter_n with_o a_o different_a view_n from_o what_o she_o do_v viz._n that_o the_o emperor_n may_v never_o find_v his_o exchequer_n unfurnish_a whenever_o he_o have_v a_o occasion_n to_o distribute_v munificence_n among_o the_o soldier_n whereas_o she_o be_v lay_v in_o a_o private_a fund_z for_o herself_o at_o home_n this_o cast_v a_o great_a blemish_n upon_o his_o government_n that_o a_o woman_n shall_v presume_v to_o pillage_v the_o subject_a and_o make_v invasion_n on_o their_o property_n notwithstanding_o the_o emperor_n disapprove_v and_o in_o his_o own_o judgement_n oppose_v it_o about_o this_o time_n mammaea_n marry_v her_o son_n to_o a_o roman_a lady_n of_o high_a birth_n who_o she_o afterward_o by_o insupportable_a usage_n constrain_v to_o leave_v the_o court_n though_o she_o be_v passionate_o belove_v by_o the_o emperor_n she_o affect_v the_o title_n of_o sole_a empress_n and_o envy_v she_o a_o share_n in_o that_o honour_n and_o proceed_v at_o length_n to_o those_o outrage_n that_o the_o father_n of_o the_o young_a empress_n who_o be_v then_o in_o great_a esteem_n and_o credit_n with_o the_o emperor_n impatient_a of_o the_o injury_n with_o which_o she_o load_v both_o himself_o and_o his_o daughter_n retire_v from_o the_o court_n to_o the_o camp_n where_o he_o make_v public_a acknowledgement_n of_o the_o great_a respect_n which_o have_v be_v always_o pay_v he_o by_o the_o emperor_n but_o complain_v of_o the_o insolent_a deportment_n of_o mammaea_n which_o exasperate_v she_o to_o that_o degree_n that_o she_o instant_o give_v out_o order_n to_o put_v he_o to_o death_n command_v his_o daughter_n to_o depart_v the_o court_n and_o banish_v she_o into_o africa_n alexander_n act_v in_o this_o affair_n by_o compulsion_n contrary_a to_o his_o own_o judgement_n and_o inclination_n for_o so_o arbitrary_a be_v mammaea_n and_o so_o absolute_a and_o ascendant_n have_v she_o over_o he_o that_o he_o render_v a_o universal_a obedience_n to_o all_o her_o command_n this_o easiness_n and_o obsequiousness_n to_o his_o mother_n even_o to_o a_o crime_n in_o thing_n which_o he_o manifest_o dislike_v be_v the_o only_a thing_n for_o which_o this_o prince_n can_v just_o be_v blame_v have_v thus_o for_o thirteen_o year_n as_o to_o what_o respect_v himself_o administer_v the_o empire_n so_o as_o not_o to_o afford_v subject_a of_o complaint_n in_o the_o fourteen_o year_n of_o his_o reign_n there_o come_v letter_n from_o the_o praefect_n of_o syria_n and_o mesopotamia_n with_o the_o follow_a advice_n viz._n that_o artaxerxes_n king_n of_o persia_n have_v conquer_v parthia_n and_o subdue_v the_o kingdom_n of_o the_o east_n and_o kill_v the_o great_a king_n artabanus_n who_o be_v the_o first_o that_o have_v bear_v that_o title_n and_o wear_v a_o double_a diadem_n have_v reduce_v under_o his_o dominion_n all_o the_o barbarous_a nation_n on_o that_o side_n and_o make_v they_o tributary_n and_o not_o be_v content_a with_o his_o acquisition_n on_o the_o other_o side_n the_o tigris_n have_v pass_v the_o river_n make_v a_o impression_n upon_o the_o roman_a frontier_n overrun_v mesopotamia_n threaten_v syria_n and_o all_o the_o continent_n that_o lie_v opposite_a to_o europe_n which_o be_v call_v asia_n and_o be_v bound_v by_o the_o propontis_n and_o the_o aegean_a pretend_v that_o these_o vast_a tract_n be_v the_o possession_n of_o his_o ancestor_n and_o as_o such_o he_o will_v reunite_v they_o to_o the_o persian_a empire_n and_o far_o set_v forth_o that_o from_o the_o reign_n of_o cyrus_n who_o first_o translate_v the_o empire_n from_o the_o mede_n to_o the_o persian_n to_o the_o time_n of_o darius_n who_o be_v vanquish_v and_o depose_v by_o the_o macedonian_a arm_n all_o those_o country_n as_o far_o as_o jonia_n and_o caria_n be_v govern_v by_o persian_a vice-roys_n and_o that_o he_o esteem_v himself_o in_o honour_n bind_v to_o cause_n restitution_n to_o be_v make_v of_o all_o the_o ancient_a dependence_n of_o the_o persian_a empire_n this_o unexpected_a news_n extreme_o alarm_v alexander_n who_o have_v be_v breed_v up_o in_o the_o softness_n and_o luxury_n of_o rome_n and_o have_v enjoy_v hitherto_o a_o uninterrupted_a calm_a however_o his_o council_n be_v convene_v and_o he_o communicate_v to_o they_o his_o intelligence_n whereupon_o it_o be_v resolve_v that_o ambassador_n shall_v be_v dispatch_v with_o letter_n which_o it_o be_v believe_v will_v check_v the_o 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