A source-book of ancient history - The Search For Mecca

530 The Absolute Monarchy
I. e. Maximian.
looked into; by recompensing merit on the one hand., and
by forbidding every shameful deed on the other, the Emperors
were arousing an enthusiasm for right-conduct.
They observed the ancient faith reverently and piously.
Furthermore, Rome, with its seven hills, and other cities,
noticeably Carthage, Milan, and Nicomedia, were marvelously
adorned with beautiful buildings. Yet these
Emperors, despite their good deeds, were not without
faults.
Herculius, for instance, behaved in so licentious a
manner that he did not curb his passions even in the case
of hostages.
Valerius showed but little faith in his friends,
doubtless through fear of discord, while he thought that
the peace of the rulers
might be disturbed through false
reports. Also the strength of Rome, so to speak, was
maimed by diminishing the number of the pretorian cohorts
and of the people in arms; wherefore indeed many historians
say that he abdicated the Empire.
For when he
was investigating the future, he learned from fate of the
internal calamities and of a crash as it were threatening
the Roman state; whereupon although still powerful, he
gave up the care of the state after he had reigned twenty
years; and with very great difficulty he compelled Herculius
to do likewise. . . . And although the truth is
obscured because of the variety of opinions in regard to
the abdication, nevertheless we think that he assumed a
humble life because of his fine nature—a nature that
spurned ostentation.
Introduction.
From an inscription,
quoted by
Duruy, History
uj Ro7ne,
vii. 401.
II.
Diocletian's Edict of Prices
All men know that articles of traffic and objects of daily
use have attained exorbitant prices, four or eight times
their true value, or even more than that; so that, through
the avarice of monopolists, the provisioning of our armies