The journal of an exile [by T.A. Boswell] - Softcover

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1825 edition. Excerpt: ...faithful friends and allies. But amidst that mighty struggle for the world, between Caesar and Pompey, the Greek city sunk beneath the brighter star of the Dictator, and became his tributary. Time passed on;--Emperor after Emperor delighted or disturbed the world, till at length Constan-tine, at the commencement of the fourth century, became the first Christian Prince and Pontiff of Rome, and Marseilles ceased from her Pagan superstitions. Upon the death of Con-stantine, and the partition of the empire among his sons, Marseilles was allotted, among the other cities of Transalpine Gaul, to Constantine the younger; and became, during his reign, the scene of a remarkable tragedy. The young prince had married Fausta, the daughter of Maximian Herculius; who, compelled by the failure of his projects and plots against his own son Maxentius, in favour of whom he had hastily abdicated the crown of Italy, was living a fugitive at the Gallic court. Maximian, however, though foiled in his previous attempts to regain sovereign power, was not contented to live in security and tranquillity. He formed a dark conspiracy against his son-in-law and benefactor; but his machinations were discovered, and he was obliged to fly. He hurried to Marseilles, with the hope, perhaps, of saving himself by sea; but Constantine, having rapidly pursued the traitor, with a party of troops, was admitted secretly by a postern gate into the city, and Maximian fell into his hands. He, however, piously refused to punish, as he might justly have done, the father of his wife; and life was spared, and liberty restored to the fugitive. But the abdicated sovereign could not continue an obedient subject; and he again contrived an ungrateful plan of rebellion and murder; darker and more...