Theperpetualrevolutionsofthethronehadsoperfectlyerasedeverynotionofhereditarytitle，thatthefamilyofanunfortunateemperorwasincapableofexcitingthejealousyofhissuccessors。ThechildrenofTacitusandFlorianuswerepermittedtodescendintoaprivatestation，andtominglewiththegeneralmassofthepeople。Theirpovertyindeedbecameanadditionalsafeguardtotheirinnocence。WhenTacituswaselectedbythesenate，heresignedhisamplepatrimonytothepublicservice；
^21anactofgenerosityspeciousinappearance，butwhichevidentlydisclosedhisintentionoftransmittingtheempiretohisdescendants。Theonlyconsolationoftheirfallenstatewastheremembranceoftransientgreatness，andadistanthope，thechildofaflatteringprophecy，thatattheendofathousandyears，amonarchoftheraceofTacitusshouldarise，theprotectorofthesenate，therestorerofRome，andtheconquerorofthewholeearth。^22
[Footnote21:Hist。August。p。229]
[Footnote22:HewastosendjudgestotheParthians，Persians，andSarmatians，apresidenttoTaprobani，andaproconsultotheRomanisland，supposedbyCasaubonandSalmasiustomeanBritain。SuchahistoryasminesaysVopiscuswithpropermodestywillnotsubsistathousandyears，toexposeorjustifytheprediction。]
ThepeasantsofIllyricum，whohadalreadygivenClaudiusandAureliantothesinkingempire，hadanequalrighttogloryintheelevationofProbus。^23Abovetwentyyearsbefore，theemperorValerian，withhisusualpenetration，haddiscoveredtherisingmeritoftheyoungsoldier，onwhomheconferredtherankoftribune，longbeforetheageprescribedbythemilitaryregulations。Thetribunesoonjustifiedhischoice，byavictoryoveragreatbodyofSarmatians，inwhichhesavedthelifeofanearrelationofValerian；anddeservedtoreceivefromtheemperor\'shandthecollars，bracelets，spears，andbanners，themuralandtheciviccrown，andallthehonorablerewardsreservedbyancientRomeforsuccessfulvalor。Thethird，andafterwardsthetenth，legionwereintrustedtothecommandofProbus，who，ineverystepofhispromotion，showedhimselfsuperiortothestationwhichhefilled。AfricaandPontus，theRhine，theDanube，theEuphrates，andtheNile，byturnsaffordedhimthemostsplendidoccasionsofdisplayinghispersonalprowessandhisconductinwar。Aurelianwasindebtedforthehonestcouragewithwhichheoftencheckedthecrueltyofhismaster。Tacitus，whodesiredbytheabilitiesofhisgeneralstosupplyhisowndeficiencyofmilitarytalents，namedhimcommander—in—chiefofalltheeasternprovinces，withfivetimestheusualsalary，thepromiseoftheconsulship，andthehopeofatriumph。WhenProbusascendedtheImperialthrone，hewasaboutforty—fouryearsofage；^24inthefullpossessionofhisfame，oftheloveofthearmy，andofamaturevigorofmindandbody。