Chap. XXXVIII.

But that which distinguished his character, and in which he transcended all former emperors, was his desire of debauching women. What else can I call it but a blind and headstrong passion? Yet such epithets feebly express my indignation in reciting his enormities. The magnitude of the guilt overpowers my tongue, and makes it unequal to its office. Eunuchs and panders made search everywhere, and no sooner was any comely face discovered, than husbands and parents were obliged to withdraw. Matrons of quality and virgins were stripped of their robes, and all their limbs were inspected, lest any part should be unworthy of the bed of the emperor. Whenever a woman resisted, death by drowning was inflicted on her; as if, under the reign of this adulterer, chastity had been treason. Some men there were, who, beholding the violation of wives whom for virtue and fidelity they affectionately loved, could not endure their anguish of mind, and so killed themselves. While this monster ruled, it was singular deformity alone which could shield the honour of any female from his savage desires. At length he introduced a custom prohibiting marriage unless with the imperial permission; and he made this an instrument to serve the purposes of his lewdness. After having debauched freeborn maidens, he gave them for wives to his slaves. His conflicts also imitated the example of the emperor, and violated with impunity the beds of their dependants. For who was there to punish such offences? As for the daughters of men of middle rank, any who were inclined took them by force. Ladies of quality, who could not be taken by force, were petitioned for, and obtained from the emperor by way of free gift. Nor could a father oppose this; for the imperial warrant having been once signed, he had no alternative but to die, or to receive some barbarian as his son-in-law. For hardly was there any person in the lifeguard except of those people, who, having been driven from their habitations by the Goths in the twentieth year of Diocletian, yielded themselves to Galerius and entered into his service. It was ill for humankind, that men who had fled from the bondage of barbarians should thus come to lord it over the Romans. Environed by such guards, Daia oppressed and insulted the Eastern empire.  

XXXVIII. Illud vero capitale, et supra omnes, qui fuerunt, corrumpendi cupiditas, quid dicam nescio, nisi caeca et effraenata, et tamen his verbis exprimi pro indignatione sua non potest. Vincit officium linguae sceleris 0254B magnitudo. Eunuchi, lenones scrutabantur omnia. Ubicumque liberalior facies erat, secedendum patribus ac maritis fuit. Detrahebantur nobilibus foeminis 0255A vestes, itemque virginibus, et per singulos artus inspiciebantur, ne qua pars corporis regio cubili esset indigna. Si qua detrectaverat, in aqua necabatur; tamquam majestatis crimen esset sub illo adultero pudicitia. Aliqui, constupratis uxoribus, quas ob castitatem ac fidem carissimas habebant, quum dolorem ferre non possent, se ipsos etiam necaverunt. Sub hoc monstro, pudicitiae integritas nulla, nisi ubi barbaram libidinem deformitas insignis arcebat. Postremo hunc jam induxerat morem, ut nemo uxorem sine permissu ejus duceret, ut ipse in omnibus nuptiis praegustator esset. Ingenuas virgines imminutas servis suis donabat uxores. Sed et Comites ejus sub tali Principe imitabantur [hoc exemplum, et civium] suorum cubilia impune violabant. Quis enim 0255B vindicaret? Mediocrium filias, ut cuique libuerat, rapiebat. Primariae, quae rapi non poterant, in beneficiis petebantur; nec recusari licebat, subscribente Imperatore, quin aut pereundum esset, aut habendus gener aliquis barbarus. Nam fere nullus stipator in latere ei, nisi ex gente horum, qui a Gothis tempore vicennalium terris suis pulsi, 0256A Maximiano se tradiderunt, malo generis humani, ut illi barbaram servitutem fugientes, in Romanos dominarentur. His satellitibus et protectoribus cinctus, Orientem ludibrio habuit.