[ i 2 s 3 
He therefore begins his narrative with obferving, 
that the Gauls , after they had been conquered by 
Julius CaeJ'ar , continued pretty* quiet under the Ro- 
man government, till the time of Gallienus ; whofe 
reign was fo weak and fcandalous, as to render him 
the common objed: both of hatred and contempt. 
Valeria n, his father, had been created Auguftus fome 
years before his expedition againft the Pcrjians ; by 
whom he was defeated, made a prifoner, and treated 
with the utmoft indignity (i). This event, which 
happened in the year 260 of the vulgar aera (2), 
aftonifhed the whole empire. And feveral nations, 
who were not concerned on either tide, then offered 
their affidance to the Romans. Likewife divers princes 
in alliance WwhSapor or Sapor es, the Perfian king, ad- 
vifed him to make a good ufe of his fuccefs, and fecure 
to himfelf a folid and lading peace, by releafing his 
illuftrious captive ; but the haughty monarch would 
not hearken to any of thofe falutary counfels. 
Gallienus had the title of Augu(lus before that un- 
happy expedhion, and being now at liberty to in- 
dulge his exceffes without redraint, he fhewed no con- 
cern for the misfor:une of his father. Infomuch, that 
upon the drd news of it, affedling the air of a phil-o- 
fopher, he faid, Sciebam patrem meum effe mortakm. 
And while a general greif fpread itlelf among perfons 
of all ranks, he alone, as the hiflorian expreffes it, 
Specie decoris , quod pater ejus virtutis Jludto decepti/s 
vide re tur. 
( x \ Trebell. Pollio , in Valc-riario. Eusrcpius , Lib. ix, c. 6. An- 
rel. Pi ft or, in Epitome, cap. 32. 
(2) V. Rom. 1013. 
