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486Chapter XIV.—How Constantius his Father, being reproached with Poverty by Diocletian, filled his Treasury, and afterwards restored the Money to those by whom it had been contributed.
In consequence of the many reports in circulation respecting this prince, describing his kindness and gentleness of character, and the extraordinary elevation of his piety, alleging too, that by reason of his extreme indulgence to his subjects, he had not even a supply of money laid up in his treasury; the emperor who at that time occupied the place of supreme power sent to reprehend his neglect of the public weal, at the same time reproaching him with poverty, and alleging in proof of the charge the empty state of his treasury. On this he desired the messengers of the emperor to remain with him awhile, and, calling together the wealthiest of his subjects of all nations under his dominion, he informed them that he was in want of money, and that this was the time for them all to give a voluntary proof of their affection for their prince.
As soon as they heard this (as
though they had long been desirous of an opportunity for showing the
sincerity of their good will), with zealous alacrity they filled the
treasury with gold and silver and other wealth; each eager to surpass
the rest in the amount of his contribution: and this they did with
cheerful and joyous countenances. And now Constantius desired the
messengers of the great emperor30823082 Or the senior Augustus. “Diocletian is thus entitled in the
ancient panegyrists and in
inscriptions.”—Heinichen.
It was “towards
the end of the second century of the Christian era” that there
began to be a plurality of Augusti, but “from this time we
find two or even a greater number of Augusti; and though in that
and in all similar cases the persons honored with the title were
regarded as participators of the imperial power, still the one who
received the title first was looked upon as the head of the
empire.”—Smith, Dict. Gr. and Rom. Ant.
personally to inspect his treasures, and directed them to give a
faithful report of what they had seen; adding, that on the present
occasion he had taken this money into his own hands, but that it had
long been kept for his use in the custody of the owners, as securely as
if under the charge of faithful treasurers. The ambassadors were
overwhelmed with astonishment at what they had witnessed: and on their
departure it is said that the truly generous prince sent for the owners
of the property, and, after commending them severally for their
obedience and true loyalty, restored it all, and bade them return to
their homes.
This one circumstance, then, conveys a proof of the generosity of him whose character we are attempting to illustrate: another will contain the clearest testimony to his piety.
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