InthemeanwhileValentinianwasalarmedandperplexedbythedoubtfulintelligenceoftherevoltoftheEast。ThedifficultiesofaGermanwasforcedhimtoconfinehisimmediatecaretothesafetyofhisowndominions；and，aseverychannelofcommunicationwasstoppedorcorrupted，helistened，withdoubtfulanxiety，totherumorswhichwereindustriouslyspread，thatthedefeatanddeathofValenshadleftProcopiussolemasteroftheEasternprovinces。Valenswasnotdead:butonthenewsoftherebellion，whichhereceivedatCaesarea，hebaselydespairedofhislifeandfortune；proposedtonegotiatewiththeusurper，anddiscoveredhissecretinclinationtoabdicatetheImperialpurple。Thetimidmonarchwassavedfromdisgraceandruinbythefirmnessofhisministers，andtheirabilitiessoondecidedinhisfavortheeventofthecivilwar。Inaseasonoftranquillity，Sallusthadresignedwithoutamurmur；butassoonasthepublicsafetywasattacked，heambitiouslysolicitedthepreeminenceoftoilanddanger；andtherestorationofthatvirtuousministertothepraefectureoftheEast，wasthefirststepwhichindicatedtherepentanceofValens，andsatisfiedthemindsofthepeople。ThereignofProcopiuswasapparentlysupportedbypowerfularmiesandobedientprovinces。Butmanyoftheprincipalofficers，militaryaswellascivil，hadbeenurged，eitherbymotivesofdutyorinterest，towithdrawthemselvesfromtheguiltyscene；ortowatchthemomentofbetraying，anddeserting，thecauseoftheusurper。Lupicinusadvancedbyhastymarches，tobringthelegionsofSyriatotheaidofValens。Arintheus，who，instrength，beauty，andvalor，excelledalltheheroesoftheage，attackedwithasmalltroopasuperiorbodyoftherebels。Whenhebeheldthefacesofthesoldierswhohadservedunderhisbanner，hecommandedthem，withaloudvoice，toseizeanddeliveruptheirpretendedleader；andsuchwastheascendantofhisgenius，thatthisextraordinaryorderwasinstantlyobeyed。^40Arbetio，arespectableveteranofthegreatConstantine，whohadbeendistinguishedbythehonorsoftheconsulship，waspersuadedtoleavehisretirement，andoncemoretoconductanarmyintothefield。Intheheatofaction，calmlytakingoffhishelmet，heshowedhisgrayhairsandvenerablecountenance:salutedthesoldiersofProcopiusbytheendearingnamesofchildrenandcompanions，andexhortedthemnolongertosupportthedesperatecauseofacontemptibletyrant；buttofollowtheiroldcommander，whohadsooftenledthemtohonorandvictory。InthetwoengagementsofThyatira^41andNacolia，theunfortunateProcopiuswasdesertedbyhistroops，whowereseducedbytheinstructionsandexampleoftheirperfidiousofficers。AfterwanderingsometimeamongthewoodsandmountainsofPhyrgia，hewasbetrayedbyhisdespondingfollowers，conductedtotheImperialcamp，andimmediatelybeheaded。Hesufferedtheordinaryfateofanunsuccessfulusurper；buttheactsofcrueltywhichwereexercisedbytheconqueror，undertheformsoflegaljustice，excitedthepityandindignationofmankind。^42
[Footnote*:Symmachusdescribeshisembarrassment。\"TheGermansarethecommonenemiesofthestate，ProcopiustheprivatefoeoftheEmperor；hisfirstcaremustbevictory，hissecondrevenge。\"
Symm。Orat。p。11。—M。]
[Footnote40:Etdedignatushominemsuperarecertaminedespicabilem，auctoritatisetcelsifiduciacorporisipsishostibusjussit，suumvincirerectorem:atqueitaturmarum，antesignanusumbratiliscomprensussuorummanibus。ThestrengthandbeautyofArintheus，thenewHercules，arecelebratedbySt。
Basil，whosupposedthatGodhadcreatedhimasaninimitablemodelofthehumanspecies。Thepaintersandsculptorscouldnotexpresshisfigure:thehistoriansappearedfabulouswhentheyrelatedhisexploits，Ammian。xxvi。andVales。adloc。]
[Footnote41:ThesamefieldofbattleisplacedbyAmmianusinLycia，andbyZosimusatThyatira，whichareatthedistanceof150milesfromeachother。ButThyatiraalluiturLyco，Plin。
Hist。Natur。v。31，Cellarius，Geograph。Antiq。tom。ii。p。79；
andthetranscribersmighteasilyconvertanobscureriverintoawell—knownprovince。
Note:AmmianusandZosimusplacethelastbattleatNacoliainPhrygia；AmmianusaltogetheromitstheformerbattlenearThyatira。ProcopiuswasonhismarchitertendebattowardsLycia。SeeWagner\'snote，inc。—M。]
[Footnote42:Theadventures，usurpation，andfallofProcopius，arerelated，inaregularseries，byAmmianus，xxvi。6，7，8，9，10，andZosimus，l。iv。p。203—210。Theyoftenillustrate，andseldomcontradict，eachother。ThemistiusOrat。vii。p。91，92
addssomebasepanegyric；andEunapiusp。83，84somemalicioussatire。]
[Footnote!:SymmachusjoinswithThemistiusinpraisingtheclemencyofValensdicvictoriaemoderatusest，quasicontrasenemopugnavit。Symm。Orat。p。12。—M。]
Suchindeedarethecommonandnaturalfruitsofdespotismandrebellion。Buttheinquisitionintothecrimeofmagic，^!!
which，underthereignofthetwobrothers，wassorigorouslyprosecutedbothatRomeandAntioch，wasinterpretedasthefatalsymptom，eitherofthedispleasureofHeaven，orofthedepravityofmankind。^43Letusnothesitatetoindulgealiberalpride，that，inthepresentage，theenlightenedpartofEuropehasabolished^44acruelandodiousprejudice，whichreignedineveryclimateoftheglobe，andadheredtoeverysystemofreligiousopinions。^45Thenations，andthesects，oftheRomanworld，admittedwithequalcredulity，andsimilarabhorrence，therealityofthatinfernalart，^46whichwasabletocontroltheeternalorderoftheplanets，andthevoluntaryoperationsofthehumanmind。Theydreadedthemysteriouspowerofspellsandincantations，ofpotentherbs，andexecrablerites；whichcouldextinguishorrecalllife，inflamethepassionsofthesoul，blasttheworksofcreation，andextortfromthereluctantdaemonsthesecretsoffuturity。Theybelieved，withthewildestinconsistency，thatthispreternaturaldominionoftheair，ofearth，andofhell，wasexercised，fromthevilestmotivesofmaliceorgain，bysomewrinkledhagsanditinerantsorcerers，whopassedtheirobscurelivesinpenuryandcontempt。^47Theartsofmagicwereequallycondemnedbythepublicopinion，andbythelawsofRome；butastheytendedtogratifythemostimperiouspassionsoftheheartofman，theywerecontinuallyproscribed，andcontinuallypractised。^48Animaginarycauseascapableofproducingthemostseriousandmischievouseffects。
Thedarkpredictionsofthedeathofanemperor，orthesuccessofaconspiracy，werecalculatedonlytostimulatethehopesofambition，andtodissolvethetiesoffidelity；andtheintentionalguiltofmagicwasaggravatedbytheactualcrimesoftreasonandsacrilege。^49Suchvainterrorsdisturbedthepeaceofsociety，andthehappinessofindividuals；andtheharmlessflamewhichinsensiblymeltedawaxenimage，mightderiveapowerfulandperniciousenergyfromtheaffrightedfancyofthepersonwhomitwasmaliciouslydesignedtorepresent。^50Fromtheinfusionofthoseherbs，whichweresupposedtopossessasupernaturalinfluence，itwasaneasysteptotheuseofmoresubstantialpoison；andthefollyofmankindsometimesbecametheinstrument，andthemask，ofthemostatrociouscrimes。AssoonasthezealofinformerswasencouragedbytheministersofValensandValentinian，theycouldnotrefusetolistentoanothercharge，toofrequentlymingledinthescenesofdomesticguilt；achargeofasofterandlessmalignantnature，forwhichthepious，thoughexcessive，rigorofConstantinehadrecentlydecreedthepunishmentofdeath。^51Thisdeadlyandincoherentmixtureoftreasonandmagic，ofpoisonandadultery，affordedinfinitegradationsofguiltandinnocence，ofexcuseandaggravation，whichintheseproceedingsappeartohavebeenconfoundedbytheangryorcorruptpassionsofthejudges。Theyeasilydiscoveredthatthedegreeoftheirindustryanddiscernmentwasestimated，bytheImperialcourt，accordingtothenumberofexecutionsthatwerefurnishedfromtherespectivetribunals。Itwasnotwithoutextremereluctancethattheypronouncedasentenceofacquittal；buttheyeagerlyadmittedsuchevidenceaswasstainedwithperjury，orprocuredbytorture，toprovethemostimprobablechargesagainstthemostrespectablecharacters。Theprogressoftheinquirycontinuallyopenednewsubjectsofcriminalprosecution；theaudaciousinformer，whosefalsehoodwasdetected，retiredwithimpunity；
butthewretchedvictim，whodiscoveredhisrealorpretendedaccomplices，wereseldompermittedtoreceivethepriceofhisinfamy。FromtheextremityofItalyandAsia，theyoung，andtheaged，weredraggedinchainstothetribunalsofRomeandAntioch。Senators，matrons，andphilosophers，expiredinignominiousandcrueltortures。Thesoldiers，whowereappointedtoguardtheprisons，declared，withamurmurofpityandindignation，thattheirnumberswereinsufficienttoopposetheflight，orresistance，ofthemultitudeofcaptives。Thewealthiestfamilieswereruinedbyfinesandconfiscations；themostinnocentcitizenstrembledfortheirsafety；andwemayformsomenotionofthemagnitudeoftheevil，fromtheextravagantassertionofanancientwriter，that，intheobnoxiousprovinces，theprisoners，theexiles，andthefugitives，formedthegreatestpartoftheinhabitants。^52
[Footnote!!:Thisinfamousinquisitionintosorceryandwitchcrafthasbeenofgreaterinfluenceonhumanaffairsthaniscommonlysupposed。Thepersecutionsagainstphilosophersandtheirlibrarieswascarriedonwithsomuchfury，thatfromthistimeA。D。374thenamesoftheGentilephilosophersbecamealmostextinct；andtheChristianphilosophyandreligion，particularlyintheEast，establishedtheirascendency。IamsurprisedthatGibbonhasnotmadethisobservation。Heyne，NoteonZosimus，l。iv。14，p。637。BesidesvastheapsofmanuscriptspubliclydestroyedthroughouttheEast，menoflettersburnedtheirwholelibraries，lestsomefatalvolumeshouldexposethemtothemaliceoftheinformersandtheextremepenaltyofthelaw。Amm。Marc。xxix。11。—M。]
[Footnote43:Libaniusdeulciscend。Julian。nece，c。ix。p。158，159。Thesophistdeploresthepublicfrenzy，buthedoesnotaftertheirdeathsimpeachthejusticeoftheemperors。]
[Footnote44:TheFrenchandEnglishlawyers，ofthepresentage，allowthetheory，anddenythepractice，ofwitchcraft，Denisart，RecueildeDecisionsdeJurisprudence，aumotSorciers，tom。iv。p。553。Blackstone\'sCommentaries，vol。iv。
p。60。Asprivatereasonalwaysprevents，oroutstrips，publicwisdom，thepresidentMontesquieuEspritdesLoix，l。xii。c。5，6rejectstheexistenceofmagic。]
[Footnote45:SeeOeuvresdeBayle，tom。iii。p。567—589。ThescepticofRotterdamexhibits，accordingtohiscustom，astrangemedleyoflooseknowledgeandlivelywit。]
[Footnote46:ThePagansdistinguishedbetweengoodandbadmagic，theTheurgicandtheGoetic，Hist。del\'Academie，&c。，tom。vii。p。25。ButtheycouldnothavedefendedthisobscuredistinctionagainsttheacutelogicofBayle。IntheJewishandChristiansystem，alldaemonsareinfernalspirits；andallcommercewiththemisidolatry，apostasy&c。，whichdeservesdeathanddamnation。]
[Footnote47:TheCanidiaofHoraceCarm。l。v。Od。5，withDacier\'sandSanadon\'sillustrationsisavulgarwitch。TheEricthoofLucanPharsal。vi。430—830istedious，disgusting，butsometimessublime。ShechidesthedelayoftheFuries，andthreatens，withtremendousobscurity，topronouncetheirrealnames；torevealthetrueinfernalcountenanceofHecate；toinvokethesecretpowersthatliebelowhell，&c。]
[Footnote48:Genushominumpotentibusinfidum，sperantibusfallax，quodincivitatenostraetvetabitursemperetretinebitur。Tacit。Hist。i。22。SeeAugustin。deCivitateDei，l。viii。c。19，andtheTheodosianCodel。ix。tit。xvi。，withGodefroy\'sCommentary。]
[Footnote49:ThepersecutionofAntiochwasoccasionedbyacriminalconsultation。Thetwenty—fourlettersofthealphabetwerearrangedroundamagictripod:andadancingring，whichhadbeenplacedinthecentre，pointedtothefourfirstlettersinthenameofthefutureemperor，O。E。OTriangle。Theodorusperhapswithmanyothers，whoownedthefatalsyllableswasexecuted。Theodosiussucceeded。LardnerHeathenTestimonies，vol。iv。p。353—372hascopiouslyandfairlyexaminedthisdarktransactionofthereignofValens。]
[Footnote50:Limusuthicdurescit，ethaecutceraliquescitUnoeodemqueigni—Virgil。Bucolic。viii。80。
Devovetabsentes，simulacraquecereafigit。
Ovid。inEpist。Hypsil。adJason91。
Suchvainincantationscouldaffectthemind，andincreasethediseaseofGermanicus。Tacit。Annal。ii。69。]
[Footnote51:SeeHeineccius，Antiquitat。JurisRoman。tom。ii。
p。353，&c。Cod。Theodosian。l。ix。tit。7，withGodefroy\'sCommentary。]
[Footnote52:ThecruelpersecutionofRomeandAntiochisdescribed，andmostprobablyexaggerated，byAmmianusxxvii。1。
xxix。1，2andZosimus，l。iv。p。216—218。ThephilosopherMaximus，withsomejustice，wasinvolvedinthechargeofmagic，EunapiusinVit。Sophist。p。88，89；andyoungChrysostom，whohadaccidentallyfoundoneoftheproscribedbooks，gavehimselfupforlost，Tillemont，Hist。desEmpereurs，tom。v。p。340。]
WhenTacitusdescribesthedeathsoftheinnocentandillustriousRomans，whoweresacrificedtothecrueltyofthefirstCaesars，theartofthehistorian，orthemeritofthesufferers，excitesinourbreastthemostlivelysensationsofterror，ofadmiration，andofpity。ThecoarseandundistinguishingpencilofAmmianushasdelineatedhisbloodyfigureswithtediousanddisgustingaccuracy。Butasourattentionisnolongerengagedbythecontrastoffreedomandservitude，ofrecentgreatnessandofactualmisery，weshouldturnwithhorrorfromthefrequentexecutions，whichdisgraced，bothatRomeandAntioch，thereignofthetwobrothers。^53
Valenswasofatimid，^54andValentinianofacholeric，disposition。^55AnanxiousregardtohispersonalsafetywastherulingprincipleoftheadministrationofValens。Intheconditionofasubject，hehadkissed，withtremblingawe，thehandoftheoppressor；andwhenheascendedthethrone，hereasonablyexpected，thatthesamefears，whichhadsubduedhisownmind，wouldsecurethepatientsubmissionofhispeople。ThefavoritesofValensobtained，bytheprivilegeofrapineandconfiscation，thewealthwhichhiseconomywouldhaverefused。
^56Theyurged，withpersuasiveeloquence，that，inallcasesoftreason，suspicionisequivalenttoproof；thatthepowersupposestheintention，ofmischief；thattheintentionisnotlesscriminalthantheact；andthatasubjectnolongerdeservestolive，ifhislifemaythreatenthesafety，ordisturbtherepose，ofhissovereign。ThejudgmentofValentinianwassometimesdeceived，andhisconfidenceabused；buthewouldhavesilencedtheinformerswithacontemptuoussmile，hadtheypresumedtoalarmhisfortitudebythesoundofdanger。Theypraisedhisinflexibleloveofjustice；and，inthepursuitofjustice，theemperorwaseasilytemptedtoconsiderclemencyasaweakness，andpassionasavirtue。Aslongashewrestledwithhisequals，intheboldcompetitionofanactiveandambitiouslife，Valentinianwasseldominjured，andneverinsulted，withimpunity:ifhisprudencewasarraigned，hisspiritwasapplauded；andtheproudestandmostpowerfulgeneralswereapprehensiveofprovokingtheresentmentofafearlesssoldier。
Afterhebecamemasteroftheworld，heunfortunatelyforgot，thatwherenoresistancecanbemade，nocouragecanbeexerted；
andinsteadofconsultingthedictatesofreasonandmagnanimity，heindulgedthefuriousemotionsofhistemper，atatimewhentheyweredisgracefultohimself，andfataltothedefencelessobjectsofhisdispleasure。Inthegovernmentofhishousehold，orofhisempire，slight，orevenimaginary，offences—ahastyword，acasualomission，aninvoluntarydelay—werechastisedbyasentenceofimmediatedeath。TheexpressionswhichissuedthemostreadilyfromthemouthoftheemperoroftheWestwere，\"Strikeoffhishead；\"\"Burnhimalive；\"\"Lethimbebeatenwithclubstillheexpires；\"^57andhismostfavoredministerssoonunderstood，that，byarashattempttodispute，orsuspend，theexecutionofhissanguinarycommands，theymightinvolvethemselvesintheguiltandpunishmentofdisobedience。TherepeatedgratificationofthissavagejusticehardenedthemindofValentinianagainstpityandremorse；andthesalliesofpassionwereconfirmedbythehabitsofcruelty。^58Hecouldbeholdwithcalmsatisfactiontheconvulsiveagoniesoftortureanddeath；hereservedhisfriendshipforthosefaithfulservantswhosetemperwasthemostcongenialtohisown。ThemeritofMaximin，whohadslaughteredthenoblestfamiliesofRome，wasrewardedwiththeroyalapprobation，andthepraefectureofGaul。
Twofierceandenormousbears，distinguishedbytheappellationsofInnocence，andMicaAurea，couldalonedeservetosharethefavorofMaximin。Thecagesofthosetrustyguardswerealwaysplacednearthebed—chamberofValentinian，whofrequentlyamusedhiseyeswiththegratefulspectacleofseeingthemtearanddevourthebleedinglimbsofthemalefactorswhowereabandonedtotheirrage。TheirdietandexerciseswerecarefullyinspectedbytheRomanemperor；andwhenInnocencehadearnedherdischarge，byalongcourseofmeritoriousservice，thefaithfulanimalwasagainrestoredtothefreedomofhernativewoods。^59
[Footnote53:ConsultthesixlastbooksofAmmianus，andmoreparticularlytheportraitsofthetworoyalbrothers，xxx。8，9，xxxi。14。Tillemonthascollectedtom。v。p。12—18，p。127—133
fromallantiquitytheirvirtuesandvices。]
[Footnote54:TheyoungerVictorasserts，thathewasvaldetimidus:yethebehaved，asalmosteverymanwoulddo，withdecentresolutionattheheadofanarmy。Thesamehistorianattemptstoprovethathisangerwasharmless。Ammianusobserves，withmorecandorandjudgment，incidentiacriminaadcontemptamvellaesamprincipisamplitudinemtrahens，insanguinemsaeviebat。]
[Footnote55:Cumessetadacerbitatemnaturaecalorepropensior……poenasperignesaugebatetgladios。Ammian。xxx。8。Seexxvii。7]