PartIV。
TheplainofMardiainThracewasthetheatreofasecondbattlenolessobstinateandbloodythantheformer。Thetroopsonbothsidesdisplayedthesamevaloranddiscipline；andthevictorywasoncemoredecidedbythesuperiorabilitiesofConstantine，whodirectedabodyoffivethousandmentogainanadvantageousheight，fromwhence，duringtheheatoftheaction，theyattackedtherearoftheenemy，andmadeaveryconsiderableslaughter。ThetroopsofLicinius，however，presentingadoublefront，stillmaintainedtheirground，tilltheapproachofnightputanendtothecombat，andsecuredtheirretreattowardsthemountainsofMacedonia。^90Thelossoftwobattles，andofhisbravestveterans，reducedthefiercespiritofLiciniustosueforpeace。HisambassadorMistrianuswasadmittedtotheaudienceofConstantine:heexpatiatedonthecommontopicsofmoderationandhumanity，whicharesofamiliartotheeloquenceofthevanquished；representedinthemostinsinuatinglanguage，thattheeventofthewarwasstilldoubtful，whilstitsinevitablecalamitieswerealikepernicioustoboththecontendingparties；anddeclaredthathewasauthorizedtoproposealastingandhonorablepeaceinthenameofthetwoemperorshismasters。ConstantinereceivedthementionofValenswithindignationandcontempt。\"Itwasnotforsuchapurpose，\"
hesternlyreplied，\"thatwehaveadvancedfromtheshoresofthewesternoceaninanuninterruptedcourseofcombatsandvictories，that，afterrejectinganungratefulkinsman，weshouldacceptforourcolleagueacontemptibleslave。TheabdicationofValensisthefirstarticleofthetreaty。\"^91Itwasnecessarytoacceptthishumiliatingcondition；andtheunhappyValens，afterareignofafewdays，wasdeprivedofthepurpleandofhislife。Assoonasthisobstaclewasremoved，thetranquillityoftheRomanworldwaseasilyrestored。ThesuccessivedefeatsofLiciniushadruinedhisforces，buttheyhaddisplayedhiscourageandabilities。Hissituationwasalmostdesperate，buttheeffortsofdespairaresometimesformidable，andthegoodsenseofConstantinepreferredagreatandcertainadvantagetoathirdtrialofthechanceofarms。Heconsentedtoleavehisrival，or，asheagainstyledLicinius，hisfriendandbrother，inthepossessionofThrace，AsiaMinor，Syria，andEgypt；buttheprovincesofPannonia，Dalmatia，Dacia，Macedonia，andGreece，wereyieldedtotheWesternempire，andthedominionsofConstantinenowextendedfromtheconfinesofCaledoniatotheextremityofPeloponnesus。Itwasstipulatedbythesametreaty，thatthreeroyalyouths，thesonsofemperors，shouldbecalledtothehopesofthesuccession。CrispusandtheyoungConstantineweresoonafterwardsdeclaredCaesarsintheWest，whiletheyoungerLiciniuswasinvestedwiththesamedignityintheEast。Inthisdoubleproportionofhonors，theconquerorassertedthesuperiorityofhisarmsandpower。^92
[Footnote90:Zosimus，l。ii。p。92，93。Anonym。Valesian。p。
713。TheEpitomesfurnishsomecircumstances；buttheyfrequentlyconfoundthetwowarsbetweenLiciniusandConstantine。]