Chap. XVIII.

Within a few days Galerius Cæsar arrived, not to congratulate his father-in-law on the re-establishment of his health, but to force him to resign the empire. Already he had urged Maximian Herculius to the like purpose, and by the alarm of civil wars terrified the old man into compliance; and he now assailed Diocletian. At first, in gentle and friendly terms, he said that age and growing infirmities disabled Diocletian for the charge of the commonweal, and that he had need to give himself some repose after his labours. Galerius, in confirmation of his argument, produced the example of Nerva, who laid the weight of empire on Trajan.  

But Diocletian made answer, that it was unfit for one who had held a rank, eminent above all others and conspicuous, to sink into the obscurity of a low station; neither indeed was it safe, because in the course of so long a reign he must unavoidably have made many enemies. That the case of Nerva was very different: he, after having reigned a single year, felt himself, either from age or from inexperience in business, unequal to affairs so momentous, and therefore threw aside the helm of government, and returned to that private life in which he had already grown old. But Diocletian added, that if Galerius wished for the title of emperor, there was nothing to hinder its being conferred on him and Constantius, as well as on Maximian Herculius.  

Galerius, whose imagination already grasped at the whole empire, saw that little but an unsubstantial name would accrue to him from this proposal, and therefore replied that the settlement made by Diocletian himself ought to be inviolable; a settlement which provided that there should be two of higher rank vested with supreme power, and two others of inferior, to assist them. Easily might concord be preserved between two equals, never amongst four;23    [See p. 303, supra.]   that he, if Diocletian would not resign, must consult his own interests, so as to remain no longer in an inferior rank, and the last of that rank; that for fifteen years past he had been confined, as an exile, to Illyricum and the banks of the Danube, perpetually struggling against barbarous nations, while others, at their ease, governed dominions more extensive than his, and better civilized.  

Diocletian already knew, by letters from Maximian Herculius, all that Galerius had spoken at their conference, and also that he was augmenting his army; and now, on hearing his discourse, the spiritless old man burst into tears, and said, “Be it as you will.”  

It remained to choose Cæsars by common consent. “But,” said Galerius, “why ask the advice of Maximian and Constantius, since they must needs acquiesce in whatever we do?”—“Certainly they will,” replied Diocletian, “for we must elect their sons.”  

Now Maximian Herculius had a son, Maxentius, married to the daughter of Galerius, a man of bad and mischievous dispositions, and so proud and stubborn withal, that he would never pay the wonted obeisance either to his father or father-in-law, and on that account he was hated by them both. Constantius also had a son, Constantine, a young man of very great worth, and well meriting the high station of Cæsar. The distinguished comeliness of his figure, his strict attention to all military duties, his virtuous demeanour and singular affability, had endeared him to the troops, and made him the choice of every individual. He was then at court, having long before been created by Diocletian a tribune of the first order.  

“What is to be done?” said Galerius, “for that Maxentius deserves not the office. He who, while yet a private man, has treated me with contumely, how will he act when once he obtains power?”—“But Constantine is amiable, and will so rule as hereafter, in the opinion of mankind, to surpass the mild virtues of his father.”—“Be it so, if my inclinations and judgment are to be disregarded. Men ought to be appointed who are at my disposal, who will dread me, and never do anything unless by my orders.”—“Whom then shall we appoint?”—“Severus.”—“How! that dancer, that habitual drunkard, who turns night into day, and day into night?”—“He deserves the office, for he has approved himself a faithful paymaster and purveyor of the army; and, indeed, I have already despatched him to receive the purple from the hands of Maximian.”—“Well, I consent; but whom else do you suggest?”—“Him,” said Galerius, pointing out Daia, a young man, half-barbarian. Now Galerius had lately bestowed part of his own name on that youth, and called him Maximin, in like manner as Diocletian formerly bestowed on Galerius the name of Maximian, for the omen’s sake, because Maximian Herculius had served him with unshaken fidelity.—“Who is that you present?”—“A kinsman of mine.”—“Alas!” said Diocletian, heaving a deep sigh, “you do not propose men fit for the charge of public affairs!”—“I have tried them.”—“Then do you look to it, who are about to assume the administration of the empire: as for me, while I continued emperor, long and diligent have been my labours in providing for the security of the commonweal; and now, should anything disastrous ensue, the blame will not be mine.”  

XVIII. Nec multis post diebus Caesar advenit, non ut patri gratularetur, sed ut eum cogeret imperio cedere. Jam conflixerat nuper (cum) Maximiano sene, eumque terruerat injecto armorum civilium metu. Aggressus est ergo Diocletianum, primum molliter et amice, jam senem esse dicens, jam minus validum, 0221A et administrandae reipublicae inhabilem, debere illum requiescere post labores. Simul et exemplum Nervae proferebat, qui imperium Trajano tradidisset. Ille vero aiebat, et indecens esse, si post tantam sublimis fastigii claritatem in humilis vitae tenebras decidisset, et minus tutum, quod in tam longo imperio multorum sibi odia quaesisset. Nervam vero uno anno imperantem, cum pondus et curam tantarum rerum vel aetate, vel insolentia, ferre non quiret, abjecisse gubernaculum reipublicae, atque ad privatam vitam rediisse, in qua consenuerat. Verum si nomen Imperatoris cuperet adipisci, impedimento nihil esse, quominus omnes Augusti nuncuparentur. At ille, qui orbem totum jam spe invaserat, cum sibi aut nihil praeter nomen, aut non multum videbat 0221B accedere, respondit debere ipsius dispositionem in perpetuum conservari, ut duo sint in republica majores, qui summam rerum teneant; item duo minores, 0222A qui sint adjumento: inter duos facile posse concordiam servari, inter quatuor pares nullo modo. Si ipse cedere noluisset, se sibi consulturum, ne amplius minor et extremus esset. Jam fluxisse annos quindecim, in Illyricum, id est, ad ripam Danubii relegatus, cum gentibus barbaris luctaretur, cum alii intra laxiores et quietiores terras delicate imperarent.

His auditis, senex languidus, qui jam et Maximiani senis litteras acceperat, scribentis quaecumque locutus fuisset, et didicerat augeri ab eo exercitum, lacrymabundus:

DIOCLET. Fiat, inquit, si hoc placet. Supererat ut, communi consilio omnium Caesares legerentur.

GALERIUS. Quid opus est consilio, cum sit necesse 0222B illis duobus placere quidquid nos fecerimus?

D. Ita plane. Nam illorum filios nuncupari necesse 0223A est. Erat autem Maximiano (filius) Maxentius, hujus ipsius Maximiani gener, homo perniciosae ac malae mentis, adeo superbus et contumax, ut neque patrem, neque socerum solitus sit adorare. Et idcirco utrique invisus fuit. Constantio quoque filius erat Constantinus, sanctissimus adolescens, et illo fastigio dignissimus, qui insigni et decoro habitu corporis, et industria militari, et probis moribus, et comitate singulari, a militibus amaretur, a privatis et optaretur. Eratque tunc praesens, jam pridem a Diocletiano factus tribunus ordinis primi.

D. Quid ergo fiet?

G. Ille, inquit, dignus non est. Qui enim me privatus contempsit; quid faciet, cum imperium acceperit?

D. Hic, vero et amabilis est, et ita imperaturus, 0223B ut patre suo melior et clementior judicetur.

0224A G. Ita fiet, ut ego non possim facere quae velim. Eos igitur oportet nuncupari, qui sint in mea potestate, qui timeant, qui nihil faciant, nisi meo jussu.

D. Quos ergo faciemus?

G. Severum, inquit.

D. Illumne saltatorem, temulentum, ebriosum, cui nox pro die, et dies pro nocte?

G. Dignus, inquit, quoniam militibus fideliter praebuit, et eum misi ad Maximianum, ut ab eo induatur.

D. Esto. Alterum quem dabis?

G. Hunc, inquit, ostendens Daiam adolescentem quemdam semibarbarum, quem recens jusserat Maximianum vocari de suo nomine. Jam et ipsi, 0224B Diocletianus nomen ex parte mutaverat ominis causa 0225A quia Maximianus fidem summa religione praestabat.

D. Quis est hic, quem mihi offers?

G. Meus, inquit, affinis.

D. At ille gemebundus: Non idoneos homines mihi das, quibus tutela Reipublicae committi possit.

G. Probavi eos, inquit.

D. Tu videris, qui regimen imperii suscepturus es. Ego satis laboravi, et providi quemadmodum, me imperante, Respublica staret incolumis. Si quid accesserit adversi, mea culpa non erit.