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86
THE DECLINE AND FALL
CHAP. III.
_____pricious and inconstant. Augustus summoned to his aid whatever remained in those fierce minds, of Roman prejudices ; enforced the rigour of discipUne by the sanction of law; and interposing the majesty of the senate between the emperor and the army, boldly claimed their allegiance, as the first magistrate of the
republic[1].
- ↑ Augustus restored the ancient severity of discipline. After the civil wars, he dropped the endearing name of fellow-soldiers, and called them only soldiers. Sueton. in August, c. 25. See the use Tiberius made of the senate in the mutiny of the Pannonian legions. Tacit. Annal. i.
- ↑ These words seem to have been the constitutional language. See Tacit. Annal. xiii. 4.
- ↑ The first was Caraillus Scribonianus, who took up arms ia Dalmatia against Claudius, and was deserted by his own troops in five days. The second, L. Antonius, in Germany, who rebelled against Domitian ; and the third, Avidius Cassius, in the reign of M. Antoninus. The two last reigned but a few months, and were cut off by their own adherents. We may observe, that both Camillus and Cassius coloured their ambition with the design of restoring the republic ; a task, said Cassius, peculiarly reserved for his name and family.