ray him
for a bribe, he saw no safety anywhere in the present emergency, and so
was driven to extreme counsels. And by degrees, having secretly
conferred with the chiefs of the principal legions, and having excited
them by the magnitude of promised rewards, he tore for use on this
occasion the purple silk from the insignia of the dragons[43] and
standards, and so assumed the title of emperor.

17. And while these events are passing in Gaul, one day, a little before
sunset, an unexpected messenger arrived at Milan, relating fully that
Silvanus, being ambitious to rise above his place as commander of the
infantry, had tampered with the army, and assumed the imperial dignity.

18. Constantius, at this amazing and unexpected event, seemed as if
struck by a thunderbolt of fate, and having at once summoned a council
to meet at the second watch, all the nobles hastened to the palace. No
one had either mind to conceive or tongue to recommend what was best to
be done; but in suppressed tones they mentioned the name of Ursicinus as
a man eminent for skill in affairs of war, and one who had been
undeservedly exposed to most injurious treatment. He was immediately
sent for by the principal chamberlain, which is the most honourable kind
of summons, and as soon as he entered the council-chamber was offered
the purple to salute much more graciously than at any former time.
Diocletian was the first who introduced the custom of offering reverence
to the emperor after this foreign manner and royal pretension; whereas
all former princes, as we read, had been saluted like judges.

19. And so the man who a little while before, through the malevolent
persecution of certain of the courtiers, had been termed the whirlpool
of the East, and who had been accused of a design to aim at the supreme
power for his sons, was now recommended as one who was a most skilful
general, who had been the comrade of the great Constantine, and as the
only man capable of extinguishing the threatened conflagration. And
though the reasons for which he was sent for were honest, they were not
wholly free from underhand motives. For while great anxiety was felt
that Silvanus should be destroyed as a most formidable rebel, yet, if
that object miscarried, it was thought that Ursicinus, being damaged by
the failure, would himself easily be ruined; so that no scruple, which
else was to be feared, would interpose to save him from destruction.

20. While arrangements were