Butthehopesofplunderhadbanishedeveryideaofdanger，andanaturalfearlessnessoftempersuppliedintheirmindsthemorerationalconfidence，whichisthejustresultofknowledgeandexperience。Warriorsofsuchadaringspiritmusthaveoftenmurmuredagainstthecowardiceoftheirguides，whorequiredthestrongestassurancesofasettledcalmbeforetheywouldventuretoembark；andwouldscarcelyeverbetemptedtolosesightoftheland。Such，atleast，isthepracticeofthemodernTurks；
^104andtheyareprobablynotinferior，intheartofnavigation，totheancientinhabitantsofBosphorus。
[Footnote95:Itisabouthalfaleagueinbreadth。GenealogicalHistoryoftheTartars，p598。]
[Footnote96:M。dePeyssonel，whohadbeenFrenchConsulatCaffa，inhisObservationssurlesPeuplesBarbares，queonthabitelesbordsduDanube]
[Footnote97:EeripidesinIphigeniainTaurid。]
[Footnote98:Strabo，l。vii。p。309。ThefirstkingsofBosphoruswerethealliesofAthens。]
[Footnote99:AppianinMithridat。]
[Footnote100:ItwasreducedbythearmsofAgrippa。Orosius，vi。21。Eutropius，vii。9。TheRomansonceadvancedwithinthreedays\'marchoftheTanais。Tacit。Annal。xii。17。]
[Footnote101:SeetheToxarisofLucian，ifwecreditthesincerityandthevirtuesoftheScythian，whorelatesagreatwarofhisnationagainstthekingsofBosphorus。]
[Footnote102:Zosimus，l。i。p。28。]
[Footnote103:Strabo，l。xi。Tacit。Hist。iii。47。TheywerecalledCamaroe。]
[Footnote104:SeeaverynaturalpictureoftheEuxinenavigation，inthexvithletterofTournefort。]
ThefleetoftheGoths，leavingthecoastofCircassiaonthelefthand，firstappearedbeforePityus，^105theutmostlimitsoftheRomanprovinces；acityprovidedwithaconvenientport，andfortifiedwithastrongwall。Heretheymetwitharesistancemoreobstinatethantheyhadreasontoexpectfromthefeeblegarrisonofadistantfortress。Theywererepulsed；andtheirdisappointmentseemedtodiminishtheterroroftheGothicname。AslongasSuccessianus，anofficerofsuperiorrankandmerit，defendedthatfrontier，alltheireffortswereineffectual；butassoonashewasremovedbyValeriantoamorehonorablebutlessimportantstation，theyresumedtheattackofPityus；andbythedestructionofthatcity，obliteratedthememoryoftheirformerdisgrace。^106
[Footnote105:ArrianplacesthefrontiergarrisonatDioscurias，orSebastopolis，forty—fourmilestotheeastofPityus。ThegarrisonofPhasisconsistedinhistimeofonlyfourhundredfoot。SeethePeriplusoftheEuxine。
Note:PityusisPitchinda，accordingtoD\'Anville，ii。115。
—G。RatherBoukoun。—M。DioscuriasisIskuriah。—G。]
[Footnote106:Zosimus，l。i。p。30。]
CirclingroundtheeasternextremityoftheEuxineSea，thenavigationfromPityustoTrebizondisaboutthreehundredmiles。
^107ThecourseoftheGothscarriedtheminsightofthecountryofColchis，sofamousbytheexpeditionoftheArgonauts；andtheyevenattempted，thoughwithoutsuccess，topillagearichtempleatthemouthoftheRiverPhasis。Trebizond，celebratedintheretreatofthetenthousandasanancientcolonyofGreeks，^108deriveditswealthandsplendorfromthemagnificenceoftheemperorHadrian，whohadconstructedanartificialportonacoastleftdestitutebynatureofsecureharbors。^109Thecitywaslargeandpopulous；adoubleenclosureofwallsseemedtodefythefuryoftheGoths，andtheusualgarrisonhadbeenstrengthenedbyareenforcementoftenthousandmen。Buttherearenotanyadvantagescapableofsupplyingtheabsenceofdisciplineandvigilance。ThenumerousgarrisonofTrebizond，dissolvedinriotandluxury，disdainedtoguardtheirimpregnablefortifications。TheGothssoondiscoveredthesupinenegligenceofthebesieged，erectedaloftypileoffascines，ascendedthewallsinthesilenceofthenight，andenteredthedefencelesscityswordinhand。Ageneralmassacreofthepeopleensued，whilsttheaffrightedsoldiersescapedthroughtheoppositegatesofthetown。Themostholytemples，andthemostsplendidedifices，wereinvolvedinacommondestruction。ThebootythatfellintothehandsoftheGothswasimmense:thewealthoftheadjacentcountrieshadbeendepositedinTrebizond，asinasecureplaceofrefuge。Thenumberofcaptiveswasincredible，asthevictoriousbarbariansrangedwithoutoppositionthroughtheextensiveprovinceofPontus。^110TherichspoilsofTrebizondfilledagreatfleetofshipsthathadbeenfoundintheport。Therobustyouthofthesea—coastwerechainedtotheoar；andtheGoths，satisfiedwiththesuccessoftheirfirstnavalexpedition，returnedintriumphtotheirnewestablishmentinthekingdomofBosphorus。^111
[Footnote107:ArrianinPeriploMarisEuxine，p。130callsthedistance2610stadia。]
[Footnote108:Xenophon，Anabasis，l。iv。p。348，edit。
Hutchinson。
Note:FallmerayerGeschichtedesKaiserthumsvonTrapezunt，p。6，&cassignsaveryancientdatetothefirstPelasgic
foundationofTrapezunTrebizond—M。]
[Footnote109:Arrian，p。129。ThegeneralobservationisTournefort\'s。]
[Footnote110:SeeanepistleofGregoryThaumaturgus，bishopofNeo—Caeoarea，quotedbyMascou，v。37。]
[Footnote111:Zosimus，l。i。p。32，33。]
ThesecondexpeditionoftheGothswasundertakenwithgreaterpowersofmenandships；buttheysteeredadifferentcourse，and，disdainingtheexhaustedprovincesofPontus，followedthewesterncoastoftheEuxine，passedbeforethewidemouthsoftheBorysthenes，theNiester，andtheDanube，andincreasingtheirfleetbythecaptureofagreatnumberoffishingbarks，theyapproachedthenarrowoutletthroughwhichtheEuxineSeapoursitswatersintotheMediterranean，anddividesthecontinentsofEuropeandAsia。ThegarrisonofChalcedonwasencampednearthetempleofJupiterUrius，onapromontorythatcommandedtheentranceoftheStrait；andsoinconsiderablewerethedreadedinvasionsofthebarbariansthatthisbodyoftroopssurpassedinnumbertheGothicarmy。Butitwasinnumbersalonethattheysurpassedit。Theydesertedwithprecipitationtheiradvantageouspost，andabandonedthetownofChalcedon，mostplentifullystoredwitharmsandmoney，tothediscretionoftheconquerors。WhilsttheyhesitatedwhethertheyshouldprefertheseaorlandEuropeorAsia，forthesceneoftheirhostilities，aperfidiousfugitivepointedoutNicomedia，oncethecapitalofthekingsofBithynia，asarichandeasyconquest。HeguidedthemarchwhichwasonlysixtymilesfromthecampofChalcedon，^112directedtheresistlessattack，andpartookofthebooty；fortheGothshadlearnedsufficientpolicytorewardthetraitorwhomtheydetested。Nice，Prusa，Apamaea，Cius，^!citiesthathadsometimesrivalled，orimitated，thesplendorofNicomedia，wereinvolvedinthesamecalamity，which，inafewweeks，ragedwithoutcontrolthroughthewholeprovinceofBithynia。Threehundredyearsofpeace，enjoyedbythesoftinhabitantsofAsia，hadabolishedtheexerciseofarms，andremovedtheapprehensionofdanger。Theancientwallsweresufferedtomoulderaway，andalltherevenueofthemostopulentcitieswasreservedfortheconstructionofbaths，temples，andtheatres。^113
[Footnote*:Ithaspreserveditsname，joinedtotheprepositionofplaceinthatofNikmid。D\'Anv。Geog。Anc。ii。28。—G。]
[Footnote112:Itiner。Hierosolym。p。572。Wesseling。]
[Footnote!:NowIsnik，Bursa，MondaniaGhioorKemlikD\'Anv。ii。
23。—G。]
[Footnote113:Zosimus，l……p。32，33。]
WhenthecityofCyzicuswithstoodtheutmosteffortofMithridates，^114itwasdistinguishedbywiselaws，anavapoweroftwohundredgalleys，andthreearsenals，ofarms，ofmilitaryengines，andofcorn。^115Itwasstilltheseatofwealthandluxury；butofitsancientstrength，nothingremainedexceptthesituation，inalittleislandofthePropontis，connectedwiththecontinentofAsiaonlybytwobridges。FromtherecentsackofPrusa，theGothsadvancedwithineighteenmiles。^116ofthecity，whichtheyhaddevotedtodestruction；buttheruinofCyzicuswasdelayedbyafortunateaccident。Theseasonwasrainy，andtheLakeApolloniates，thereservoirofallthespringsofMountOlympus，rosetoanuncommonheight。ThelittleriverofRhyndacus，whichissuesfromthelake，swelledintoabroadandrapidstream，andstoppedtheprogressoftheGoths。
TheirretreattothemaritimecityofHeraclea，wherethefleethadprobablybeenstationed，wasattendedbyalongtrainofwagons，ladenwiththespoilsofBithynia，andwasmarkedbytheflamesofNicoandNicomedia，whichtheywantonlyburnt。^117
Someobscurehintsarementionedofadoubtfulcombatthatsecuredtheirretreat。^118Butevenacompletevictorywouldhavebeenoflittlemoment，astheapproachoftheautumnalequinoxsummonedthemtohastentheirreturn。TonavigatetheEuxinebeforethemonthofMay，orafterthatofSeptember，isesteemedbythemodernTurksthemostunquestionableinstanceofrashnessandfolly。^119
[Footnote114:Hebesiegedtheplacewith400galleys，150，000
foot，andanumerouscavalry。SeePlutarchinLucul。AppianinMithridatCiceroproLegeManilia，c。8。]
[Footnote115:Strabo，l。xii。p。573。]
[Footnote116:Pocock\'sDescriptionoftheEast，l。ii。c。23，24。]
[Footnote117:Zosimus，l。i。p。33。]
[Footnote118:SyncellustellsanunintelligiblestoryofPrinceOdenathus，whodefeatedtheGoths，andwhowaskilledbyPrinceOdenathus。]
[Footnote119:VoyagesdeChardin，tom。i。p。45。HesailedwiththeTurksfromConstantinopletoCaffa。]
Whenweareinformedthatthethirdfleet，equippedbytheGothsintheportsofBosphorus，consistedoffivehundredsailsofships，^120ourreadyimaginationinstantlycomputesandmultipliestheformidablearmament；but，asweareassuredbythejudiciousStrabo，^121thatthepiraticalvesselsusedbythebarbariansofPontusandtheLesserScythia，werenotcapableofcontainingmorethantwenty—fiveorthirtymenwemaysafelyaffirm，thatfifteenthousandwarriors，atthemost，embarkedinthisgreatexpedition。ImpatientofthelimitsoftheEuxine，theysteeredtheirdestructivecoursefromtheCimmeriantotheThracianBosphorus。WhentheyhadalmostgainedthemiddleoftheStraits，theyweresuddenlydrivenbacktotheentranceofthem；tillafavorablewind，springingupthenextday，carriedtheminafewhoursintotheplacidsea，orratherlake，ofthePropontis。TheirlandingonthelittleislandofCyzicuswasattendedwiththeruinofthatancientandnoblecity。FromthenceissuingagainthroughthenarrowpassageoftheHellespont，theypursuedtheirwindingnavigationamidstthenumerousislandsscatteredovertheArchipelago，ortheAegeanSea。Theassistanceofcaptivesanddesertersmusthavebeenverynecessarytopilottheirvessels，andtodirecttheirvariousincursions，aswellonthecoastofGreeceasonthatofAsia。AtlengththeGothicfleetanchoredintheportofPiraeus，fivemilesdistantfromAthens，^122whichhadattemptedtomakesomepreparationsforavigorousdefence。Cleodamus，oneoftheengineersemployedbytheemperor\'sorderstofortifythemaritimecitiesagainsttheGoths，hadalreadybeguntorepairtheancientwalls，fallentodecaysincethetimeofScylla。Theeffortsofhisskillwereineffectual，andthebarbariansbecamemastersofthenativeseatofthemusesandthearts。Butwhiletheconquerorsabandonedthemselvestothelicenseofplunderandintemperance，theirfleet，thatlaywithaslenderguardintheharborofPiraeus，wasunexpectedlyattackedbythebraveDexippus，who，flyingwiththeengineerCleodamusfromthesackofAthens，collectedahastybandofvolunteers，peasantsaswellassoldiers，andinsomemeasureavengedthecalamitiesofhiscountry。^123
[Footnote120:Syncellusp。382speaksofthisexpedition，asundertakenbytheHeruli。]
[Footnote121:Strabo，l。xi。p。495。]
[Footnote122:Plin。Hist。Natur。iii。7。]
[Footnote123:Hist。August。p。181。Victor，c。33。Orosius，vii。42。Zosimus，l。i。p。35。Zonaras，l。xii。635。Syncellus，p。382。Itisnotwithoutsomeattention，thatwecanexplainandconciliatetheirimperfecthints。WecanstilldiscoversometracesofthepartialityofDexippus，intherelationofhisownandhiscountrymen\'sexploits。
Note:AccordingtoanewfragmentofDexippus，publishedbyMai，he2000men。Hetookupastrongpositioninamountainousandwoodsdistrict，andkeptupaharassingwarfare。HeexpressesahopeofbeingspeedilyjoinedbytheImperialfleet。
Dexippusinrov。ByzantinorumCollectaNiebuhr，p。26，8—M。]
Butthisexploit，whateverlustreitmightshedonthedecliningageofAthens，servedrathertoirritatethantosubduetheundauntedspiritofthenortherninvaders。AgeneralconflagrationblazedoutatthesametimeineverydistrictofGreece。ThebesandArgos，CorinthandSparta，whichhadformerlywagedsuchmemorablewarsagainsteachother，werenowunabletobringanarmyintothefield，oreventodefendtheirruinedfortifications。Therageofwar，bothbylandandbysea，spreadfromtheeasternpointofSuniumtothewesterncoastofEpirus。
TheGothshadalreadyadvancedwithinsightofItaly，whentheapproachofsuchimminentdangerawakenedtheindolentGallienusfromhisdreamofpleasure。Theemperorappearedinarms；andhispresenceseemstohavecheckedtheardor，andtohavedividedthestrength，oftheenemy。Naulobatus，achiefoftheHeruli，acceptedanhonorablecapitulation，enteredwithalargebodyofhiscountrymenintotheserviceofRome，andwasinvestedwiththeornamentsoftheconsulardignity，whichhadneverbeforebeenprofanedbythehandsofabarbarian。^124GreatnumbersoftheGoths，disgustedwiththeperilsandhardshipsofatediousvoyage，brokeintoMaesia，withadesignofforcingtheirwayovertheDanubetotheirsettlementsintheUkraine。Thewildattemptwouldhaveprovedinevitabledestruction，ifthediscordoftheRomangeneralshadnotopenedtothebarbariansthemeansofanescape。^125Thesmallremainderofthisdestroyinghostreturnedonboardtheirvessels；andmeasuringbacktheirwaythroughtheHellespontandtheBosphorus，ravagedintheirpassagetheshoresofTroy，whosefame，immortalizedbyHomer，willprobablysurvivethememoryoftheGothicconquests。AssoonastheyfoundthemselvesinsafetywithinthebasinoftheEuxine，theylandedatAnchialusinThrace，nearthefootofMountHaemus；and，afteralltheirtoils，indulgedthemselvesintheuseofthosepleasantandsalutaryhotbaths。Whatremainedofthevoyagewasashortandeasynavigation。^126Suchwasthevariousfateofthisthirdandgreatestoftheirnavalenterprises。Itmayseemdifficulttoconceivehowtheoriginalbodyoffifteenthousandwarriorscouldsustainthelossesanddivisionsofsoboldanadventure。Butastheirnumbersweregraduallywastedbythesword，byshipwrecks，andbytheinfluenceofawarmclimate，theywereperpetuallyrenewedbytroopsofbandittianddeserters，whoflockedtothestandardofplunder，andbyacrowdoffugitiveslaves，oftenofGermanorSarmatianextraction，whoeagerlyseizedthegloriousopportunityoffreedomandrevenge。Intheseexpeditions，theGothicnationclaimedasuperiorshareofhonoranddanger；butthetribesthatfoughtundertheGothicbannersaresometimesdistinguishedandsometimesconfoundedintheimperfecthistoriesofthatage；andasthebarbarianfleetsseemedtoissuefromthemouthoftheTanais，thevaguebutfamiliarappellationofScythianswasfrequentlybestowedonthemixedmultitude。^127
[Footnote124:Syncellus，p。382。ThisbodyofHeruliwasforalongtimefaithfulandfamous。]
[Footnote125:Claudius，whocommandedontheDanube，thoughtwithproprietyandactedwithspirit。HiscolleaguewasjealousofhisfameHist。August。p。181。]
[Footnote126:Jornandes，c。20。]
[Footnote127:ZosimusandtheGreeksastheauthorofthePhilopatrisgivethenameofScythianstothosewhomJornandes，andtheLatinwriters，constantlyrepresentasGoths。]
ChapterX:EmperorsDecius，Gallus，Aemilianus，ValerianAndGallienus。
PartIV。
Inthegeneralcalamitiesofmankind，thedeathofanindividual，howeverexalted，theruinofanedifice，howeverfamous，arepassedoverwithcarelessinattention。YetwecannotforgetthatthetempleofDianaatEphesus，afterhavingrisenwithincreasingsplendorfromsevenrepeatedmisfortunes，^128
wasfinallyburntbytheGothsintheirthirdnavalinvasion。
TheartsofGreece，andthewealthofAsia，hadconspiredtoerectthatsacredandmagnificentstructure。Itwassupportedbyahundredandtwenty—sevenmarblecolumnsoftheIonicorder。
Theywerethegiftsofdevoutmonarchs，andeachwassixtyfeethigh。ThealtarwasadornedwiththemasterlysculpturesofPraxiteles，whohad，perhaps，selectedfromthefavoritelegendsoftheplacethebirthofthedivinechildrenofLatona，theconcealmentofApolloaftertheslaughteroftheCyclops，andtheclemencyofBacchustothevanquishedAmazons。^129YetthelengthofthetempleofEphesuswasonlyfourhundredandtwenty—fivefeet，abouttwothirdsofthemeasureofthechurchofSt。Peter\'satRome。^130Intheotherdimensions，itwasstillmoreinferiortothatsublimeproductionofmodernarchitecture。ThespreadingarmsofaChristiancrossrequireamuchgreaterbreadththantheoblongtemplesofthePagans；andtheboldestartistsofantiquitywouldhavebeenstartledattheproposalofraisingintheairadomeofthesizeandproportionsofthePantheon。ThetempleofDianawas，however，admiredasoneofthewondersoftheworld。Successiveempires，thePersian，theMacedonian，andtheRoman，hadrevereditssanctityandenricheditssplendor。^131ButtherudesavagesoftheBalticweredestituteofatastefortheelegantarts，andtheydespisedtheidealterrorsofaforeignsuperstition。^132
[Footnote128:Hist。Aug。p。178。Jornandes，c。20。]
[Footnote129:Strabo，l。xiv。p。640。Vitruvius，l。i。c。i。
praefatlvii。TacitAnnal。iii。61。Plin。Hist。Nat。xxxvi。
14。]
[Footnote130:ThelengthofSt。Peter\'sis840Romanpalms；eachpalmisverylittleshortofnineEnglishinches。SeeGreaves\'sMiscellaniesvol。i。p。233；ontheRomanFoot。