us, formerly deputy prefect
of Rome, was born in a very obscure rank of life at Sopianae, a town of
Valeria; his father being only a clerk in the president's office,
descended from the posterity of those Carpi whom Diocletian removed from
their ancient homes and transferred to Pannonia.

6. After a slight study of the liberal sciences, and some small practice
at the bar, he was promoted to be governor of Corsica, then of Sardinia,
and at last of Tuscany. From hence, as his successor loitered a long
while on his road, he proceeded to superintend the supplying of the
eternal city with provisions, still retaining the government of the
province; and three different considerations rendered him cautious on
his first entrance into office, namely:--

7. In the first place, because he bore in mind the prediction of his
father, a man pre-eminently skilful in interpreting what was portended
by birds from whom auguries were taken, or by the note of such birds as
spoke. And he had warned him that though he would rise to supreme
authority, he would perish by the axe of the executioner; secondly,
because he had fallen in with a Sardinian (whom he himself subsequently
put to death by treachery, as report generally affirmed) who was a man
skilled in raising up evil spirits, and in gathering presages from
ghosts; and as long as that Sardinian lived, he, fearing to be betrayed,
was more tractable and mild; lastly, because while he was slowly making
his way through inferior appointments, like a serpent that glides
underground, he was not yet of power sufficient to perpetrate any
extensive destruction or executions.

8. But the origin of his arriving at more extensive power lay in the
following transaction: Chilo, who had been deputy, and his wife, named
Maxima, complained to Olybrius, at that time prefect of the city,
asserting that their lives had been attacked by poison, and with such
earnestness that the men whom they suspected were at once arrested and
thrown into prison. These were Sericus, a musician, Asbolius, a
wrestling master, and Campensis, a soothsayer.

9. But as the affair began to cool on account of the long-continued
violence of some illness with which Olybrius was attacked, the persons
who had laid the complaint, becoming impatient of delay, presented a
petition in which they asked to have the investigation of their charge
referred to the superintendent of the corn-market; and, from a desire
for a speedy decision, this