^5
[Footnote4:Inthisencomium，AureliusVictorseemstoconveyajust，thoughindirect，censureofthecrueltyofConstantius。ItappearsfromtheFasti，thatAristobulusremainedpraefectofthecity，andthatheendedwithDiocletiantheconsulshipwhichhehadcommencedwithCarinus。]
[Footnote5:AureliusVictorstylesDiocletian，\"ParentumpotiusquamDominum。\"SeeHist。August。p。30。]
Thefirstconsiderableactionofhisreignseemedtoevincehissincerityaswellashismoderation。AftertheexampleofMarcus，hegavehimselfacolleagueinthepersonofMaximian，onwhomhebestowedatfirstthetitleofCaesar，andafterwardsthatofAugustus。^6Butthemotivesofhisconduct，aswellastheobjectofhischoice，wereofaverydifferentnaturefromthoseofhisadmiredpredecessor。Byinvestingaluxuriousyouthwiththehonorsofthepurple，Marcushaddischargedadebtofprivategratitude，attheexpense，indeed，ofthehappinessofthestate。Byassociatingafriendandafellow—soldiertothelaborsofgovernment，Diocletian，inatimeofpublicdanger，providedforthedefencebothoftheEastandoftheWest。
Maximianwasbornapeasant，and，likeAurelian，intheterritoryofSirmium。Ignorantofletters，^7carelessoflaws，therusticityofhisappearanceandmannersstillbetrayedinthemostelevatedfortunethemeannessofhisextraction。Warwastheonlyartwhichheprofessed。Inalongcourseofservice，hehaddistinguishedhimselfoneveryfrontieroftheempire；andthoughhismilitarytalentswereformedtoobeyratherthantocommand，though，perhaps，heneverattainedtheskillofaconsummategeneral，hewascapable，byhisvalor，constancy，andexperience，ofexecutingthemostarduousundertakings。NorwerethevicesofMaximianlessusefultohisbenefactor。Insensibletopity，andfearlessofconsequences，hewasthereadyinstrumentofeveryactofcrueltywhichthepolicyofthatartfulprincemightatoncesuggestanddisclaim。Assoonasabloodysacrificehadbeenofferedtoprudenceortorevenge，Diocletian，byhisseasonableintercession，savedtheremainingfewwhomhehadneverdesignedtopunish，gentlycensuredtheseverityofhissterncolleague，andenjoyedthecomparisonofagoldenandanironage，whichwasuniversallyappliedtotheiroppositemaximsofgovernment。Notwithstandingthedifferenceoftheircharacters，thetwoemperorsmaintained，onthethrone，thatfriendshipwhichtheyhadcontractedinaprivatestation。