The hydra-headed Goths were again
in the field on the Illyrian quarter: Italy itself was invaded by the
Alemanni; and Tetricus, the rebel, still survived as a monument of the
weakness of Gallienus. All these enemies were speedily repressed, or
vanquished, by Aurelian. But it marks the real declension of the empire, a
declension which no personal vigor in the emperor was now sufficient to
disguise, that, even in the midst of victory, Aurelian found it necessary
to make a formal surrender, by treaty, of that Dacia which Trajan had
united with so much ostentation to the empire. Europe was now again in
repose; and Aurelian found himself at liberty to apply his powers as a
reorganizer and restorer to the East. In that quarter of the world a
marvellous revolution had occurred. The little oasis of Palmyra, from a
Roman colony, had grown into the leading province of a great empire. This
island of the desert, together with Syria and Egypt, formed an independent
monarchy under the sceptre of Zenobia. [Footnote: Zenobia is complimented
by all historians for her magnanimity; but with no foundation in truth.
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