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ate, through fear, elected him emperor and killed Julian.
After this there remained for Severus, who wished to make
himself master of the whole empire, two difficulties; one
in Asia, where Niger, head of the Asiatic army, had caused
himself to be proclaimed emperor; the other in the west
where Albinus was, who also aspired to the throne. And
as he considered it dangerous to declare himself hostile to
both, he decided to attack Niger and to deceive Albinus. To
the latter he wrote that, being elected emperor by the Sen-
ate, he was willing to share that dignity with him and sent
him the title of Caesar; and, moreover, that the Senate had
made Albinus his colleague; which things were accepted by
Albinus as true. But after Severus had conquered and killed
Niger, and settled oriental affairs, he returned to Rome and
complained to the Senate that Albinus, little recognizing
the benefits that he had received from him, had by treach-
ery sought to murder him, and for this ingratitude he was
compelled to punish him. Afterwards he sought him out in
France, and took from him his government and life. He who
will, therefore, carefully examine the actions of this man
will find him a most valiant lion and a most cunning fox;
he will find him feared and respected by every one, and not
hated by the army; and it need not be wondered at that he,
a new man, was able to hold the empire so well, because
his supreme renown always protected him from that hatred
which the people might have conceived against him for his
violence.
But his son Antoninus was a most eminent man, and
had very excellent qualities, which made him admirable in

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