Here, in fact, we meet with an instance of that dilemma which is so
constantly occurring in the history of the Caesars. If a prince is by
temperament disposed to severity of manners, and naturally seeks to
impress his own spirit upon the composition and discipline of the army, we
are sure to find that he was cut off in his attempts by private
assassination or by public rebellion. On the other hand, if he wallows in
sensuality, and is careless about all discipline, civil or military, we
then find as commonly that he loses the esteem and affections of the army
to some rival of severer habits. And in the midst of such oscillations,
and with examples of such contradictory interpretation, we cannot wonder
that the Roman princes did not oftener take warning by the misfortunes of
their predecessors. In the present instance, Alexander, the cousin of
Heliogabalus, without intrigues of his own, and simply (as it appears) by
the purity and sobriety of his conduct, had alienated the affections of
the army from the reigning prince. Either jealousy or prudence had led
Heliogabalus to make an attempt upon his rival's life; and this attempt
had nearly cost him his own through the mutiny which it caused.
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