circus，atheatre，amint，apalace，baths，whichborethenameoftheirfounderMaximian；porticosadornedwithstatues，andadoublecircumferenceofwalls，contributedtothebeautyofthenewcapital；nordiditseemoppressedevenbytheproximityofRome。^90TorivalthemajestyofRomewastheambitionlikewiseofDiocletian，whoemployedhisleisure，andthewealthoftheEast，intheembellishmentofNicomedia，acityplacedonthevergeofEuropeandAsia，almostatanequaldistancebetweentheDanubeandtheEuphrates。Bythetasteofthemonarch，andattheexpenseofthepeople，Nicomediaacquired，inthespaceofafewyears，adegreeofmagnificencewhichmightappeartohaverequiredthelaborofages，andbecameinferioronlytoRome，Alexandria，andAntioch，inextentofpopulousness。^91ThelifeofDiocletianandMaximianwasalifeofaction，andaconsiderableportionofitwasspentincamps，orinthelongandfrequentmarches；butwheneverthepublicbusinessallowedthemanyrelaxation，theyseemedtohaveretiredwithpleasuretotheirfavoriteresidencesofNicomediaandMilan。TillDiocletian，inthetwentiethyearofhisreign，celebratedhisRomantriumph，itisextremelydoubtfulwhetherheevervisitedtheancientcapitaloftheempire。Evenonthatmemorableoccasionhisstaydidnotexceedtwomonths。Disgustedwiththelicentiousfamiliarityofthepeople，hequittedRomewithprecipitationthirteendaysbeforeitwasexpectedthatheshouldhaveappearedinthesenate，investedwiththeensignsoftheconsulardignity。^92
[Footnote88:LivygivesusaspeechofCamillusonthatsubject，v。51—55，fullofeloquenceandsensibility，inoppositiontoadesignofremovingtheseatofgovernmentfromRometotheneighboringcityofVeii。]
[Footnote89:JuliusCaesarwasreproachedwiththeintentionofremovingtheempiretoIliumorAlexandria。SeeSueton。inCaesar。c。79。AccordingtotheingeniousconjectureofLeFevreandDacier，theodeofthethirdbookofHoracewasintendedtodivertfromtheexecutionofasimilardesign。]
[Footnote90:SeeAureliusVictor，wholikewisementionsthebuildingserectedbyMaximianatCarthage，probablyduringtheMoorishwar。WeshallinsertsomeversesofAusoniusdeClar。
Urb。v。