The Palace and Park by Phillips, Forbes, Latham, Owen, Scharf, and Shenton

128. DECIMUS CŒLIUS BALBINUS. _Roman Statesman and Emperor_, A.D. 238.

[Date, and place of birth unknown.] A man of Consular dignity, who had governed in nearly all the peaceful provinces of the Empire, and was esteemed and beloved by all ranks; when, upon the death of the Gordiani in Africa, he was selected as one of the Emperors to oppose the ferocious Maximinus--Pupienus being the other. Soon after the death of Maximinus, both Balbinus and Pupienus were murdered by the Prætorians, who remembered to their disadvantage the prodigal liberality of their lately-slain tyrant. They reigned only four months. Balbinus was celebrated for his oratory and poetry. [From the marble in the Capitoline Museum, at Rome.] THE ITALIAN PORTRAITS.