cannotagreetothenewversion,which,inmyopinion,isdirectlycontrarybothtothemeaningofthewords,andthegeneralsenseofthepassage。ButIwouldsuggest,didJerom,asaboy,accompanythesesavagesinanyoftheirhuntingexpeditions?Ifhedidnot,howcouldhebeaneye—witnessofthispractice?TheAttacottiinGaulmusthavebeenintheserviceofRome。Weretheypermittedtoindulgethesecannibalpropensitiesattheexpense,notoftheflocks,butoftheshepherdsoftheprovinces?Thesesanguinarytrophiesofplunderwouldscarce\'yhavebeenpubliclyexhibitedinaRomancityoraRomancamp。ImustleavethehereditaryprideofournorthernneighborsatissuewiththeveracityofSt。Jerom。]
EverymessengerwhoescapedacrosstheBritishChannel,conveyedthemostmelancholyandalarmingtidingstotheearsofValentinian;andtheemperorwassooninformedthatthetwomilitarycommandersoftheprovincehadbeensurprisedandcutoffbytheBarbarians。Severus,countofthedomestics,washastilydespatched,andassuddenlyrecalled,bythecourtofTreves。TherepresentationsofJovinusservedonlytoindicatethegreatnessoftheevil;and,afteralongandseriousconsultation,thedefence,orrathertherecovery,ofBritainwasintrustedtotheabilitiesofthebraveTheodosius。Theexploitsofthatgeneral,thefatherofalineofemperors,havebeencelebrated,withpeculiarcomplacency,bythewritersoftheage:
buthisrealmeritdeservedtheirapplause;andhisnominationwasreceived,bythearmyandprovince,asasurepresageofapproachingvictory。Heseizedthefavorablemomentofnavigation,andsecurelylandedthenumerousandveteranbandsoftheHeruliandBatavians,theJoviansandtheVictors。InhismarchfromSandwichtoLondon,TheodosiusdefeatedseveralpartiesoftheBarbarians,releasedamultitudeofcaptives,and,afterdistributingtohissoldiersasmallportionofthespoil,establishedthefameofdisinterestedjustice,bytherestitutionoftheremaindertotherightfulproprietors。ThecitizensofLondon,whohadalmostdespairedoftheirsafety,threwopentheirgates;andassoonasTheodosiushadobtainedfromthecourtofTrevestheimportantaidofamilitarylieutenant,andacivilgovernor,heexecuted,withwisdomandvigor,thelaborioustaskofthedeliveranceofBritain。Thevagrantsoldierswererecalledtotheirstandard;anedictofamnestydispelledthepublicapprehensions;andhischeerfulexamplealleviatedtherigorofmartialdiscipline。ThescatteredanddesultorywarfareoftheBarbarians,whoinfestedthelandandsea,deprivedhimofthegloryofasignalvictory;buttheprudentspirit,andconsummateart,oftheRomangeneral,weredisplayedintheoperationsoftwocampaigns,whichsuccessivelyrescuedeverypartoftheprovincefromthehandsofacruelandrapaciousenemy。Thesplendorofthecities,andthesecurityofthefortifications,werediligentlyrestored,bythepaternalcareofTheodosius;whowithastronghandconfinedthetremblingCaledonianstothenorthernangleoftheisland;andperpetuated,bythenameandsettlementofthenewprovinceofValentia,thegloriesofthereignofValentinian。^118Thevoiceofpoetryandpanegyricmayadd,perhapswithsomedegreeoftruth,thattheunknownregionsofThulewerestainedwiththebloodofthePicts;thattheoarsofTheodosiusdashedthewavesoftheHyperboreanocean;andthatthedistantOrkneyswerethesceneofhisnavalvictoryovertheSaxonpirates。^119Helefttheprovincewithafair,aswellassplendid,reputation;andwasimmediatelypromotedtotherankofmaster—generalofthecavalry,byaprincewhocouldapplaud,withoutenvy,themeritofhisservants。IntheimportantstationoftheUpperDanube,theconquerorofBritaincheckedanddefeatedthearmiesoftheAlemanni,beforehewaschosentosuppresstherevoltofAfrica。
[Footnote118:Ammianushasconciselyrepresentedxx。l。xxvi。
4,xxvii。8xxviii。3thewholeseriesoftheBritishwar。]
[Footnote119:Horrescit……ratibus……imperviaThule。Ille……necfalsonominePictosEdomuit。Scotumquevagomucronesecutus,FregitHyperboreasremisaudacibusundas。
Claudian,iniii。Cons。Honorii,ver。53,&c—MaduruntSaxonefusoOrcades:incaluitPictorumsanguineThule,ScotorumcumulosflevitglacialisIerne。
Iniv。Cons。Hon。ver。31,&c。
SeelikewisePacatus,inPanegyr。Vet。xii。5。Butitisnoteasytoappreciatetheintrinsicvalueofflatteryandmetaphor。
ComparetheBritishvictoriesofBolanusStatius,Silv。v。2
withhisrealcharacter,Tacit。inVit。Agricol。c。16。]
III。Theprincewhorefusestobethejudge,instructsthepeopletoconsiderhimastheaccomplice,ofhisministers。ThemilitarycommandofAfricahadbeenlongexercisedbyCountRomanus,andhisabilitieswerenotinadequatetohisstation;
but,assordidinterestwasthesolemotiveofhisconduct,heacted,onmostoccasions,asifhehadbeentheenemyoftheprovince,andthefriendoftheBarbariansofthedesert。ThethreeflourishingcitiesofOea,Leptis,andSobrata,which,underthenameofTripoli,hadlongconstitutedafederalunion,^120wereobliged,forthefirsttime,toshuttheirgatesagainstahostileinvasion;severaloftheirmosthonorablecitizensweresurprisedandmassacred;thevillages,andeventhesuburbs,werepillaged;andthevinesandfruittreesofthatrichterritorywereextirpatedbythemalicioussavagesofGetulia。TheunhappyprovincialsimploredtheprotectionofRomanus;buttheysoonfoundthattheirmilitarygovernorwasnotlesscruelandrapaciousthantheBarbarians。Astheywereincapableoffurnishingthefourthousandcamels,andtheexorbitantpresent,whichherequired,beforehewouldmarchtotheassistanceofTripoli;hisdemandwasequivalenttoarefusal,andhemightjustlybeaccusedastheauthorofthepubliccalamity。Intheannualassemblyofthethreecities,theynominatedtwodeputies,tolayatthefeetofValentinianthecustomaryofferingofagoldvictory;andtoaccompanythistributeofduty,ratherthanofgratitude,withtheirhumblecomplaint,thattheywereruinedbytheenemy,andbetrayedbytheirgovernor。IftheseverityofValentinianhadbeenrightlydirected,itwouldhavefallenontheguiltyheadofRomanus。
Butthecount,longexercisedintheartsofcorruption,haddespatchedaswiftandtrustymessengertosecurethevenalfriendshipofRemigius,masteroftheoffices。ThewisdomoftheImperialcouncilwasdeceivedbyartifice;andtheirhonestindignationwascooledbydelay。Atlength,whentherepetitionofcomplainthadbeenjustifiedbytherepetitionofpublicmisfortunes,thenotaryPalladiuswassentfromthecourtofTreves,toexaminethestateofAfrica,andtheconductofRomanus。TherigidimpartialityofPalladiuswaseasilydisarmed:hewastemptedtoreserveforhimselfapartofthepublictreasure,whichhebroughtwithhimforthepaymentofthetroops;andfromthemomentthathewasconsciousofhisownguilt,hecouldnolongerrefusetoattesttheinnocenceandmeritofthecount。ThechargeoftheTripolitanswasdeclaredtobefalseandfrivolous;andPalladiushimselfwassentbackfromTrevestoAfrica,withaspecialcommissiontodiscoverandprosecutetheauthorsofthisimpiousconspiracyagainsttherepresentativesofthesovereign。Hisinquiriesweremanagedwithsomuchdexterityandsuccess,thathecompelledthecitizensofLeptis,whohadsustainedarecentsiegeofeightdays,tocontradictthetruthoftheirowndecrees,andtocensurethebehavioroftheirowndeputies。Abloodysentencewaspronounced,withouthesitation,bytherashandheadstrongcrueltyofValentinian。ThepresidentofTripoli,whohadpresumedtopitythedistressoftheprovince,waspubliclyexecutedatUtica;fourdistinguishedcitizenswereputtodeath,astheaccomplicesoftheimaginaryfraud;andthetonguesoftwootherswerecutout,bytheexpressorderoftheemperor。
Romanus,elatedbyimpunity,andirritatedbyresistance,wasstillcontinuedinthemilitarycommand;tilltheAfricanswereprovoked,byhisavarice,tojointherebelliousstandardofFirmus,theMoor。^121。
[Footnote120:Ammianusfrequentlymentionstheirconciliumannuum,legitimum,&c。LeptisandSabrataarelongsinceruined;
butthecityofOea,thenativecountryofApuleius,stillflourishesundertheprovincialdenominationofTripoli。SeeCellariusGeograph。Antiqua,tom。ii。partii。p。81,
D\'Anville,GeographieAncienne,tom。iii。p。71,72,andMarmol,Arrique,tom。ii。p。562。]
[Footnote121:Ammian。xviii。6。TillemontHist。desEmpereurs,tom。v。p25,676hasdiscussedthechronologicaldifficultiesofthehistoryofCountRomanus。]
HisfatherNabalwasoneoftherichestandmostpowerfuloftheMoorishprinces,whoacknowledgedthesupremacyofRome。Butasheleft,eitherbyhiswivesorconcubines,averynumerousposterity,thewealthyinheritancewaseagerlydisputed;andZamma,oneofhissons,wasslaininadomesticquarrelbyhisbrotherFirmus。Theimplacablezeal,withwhichRomanusprosecutedthelegalrevengeofthismurder,couldbeascribedonlytoamotiveofavarice,orpersonalhatred;but,onthisoccasion,hisclaimswerejust;hisinfluencewasweighty;andFirmusclearlyunderstood,thathemusteitherpresenthisnecktotheexecutioner,orappealfromthesentenceoftheImperialconsistory,tohissword,andtothepeople。^122Hewasreceivedasthedelivererofhiscountry;and,assoonasitappearedthatRomanuswasformidableonlytoasubmissiveprovince,thetyrantofAfricabecametheobjectofuniversalcontempt。TheruinofCaesarea,whichwasplunderedandburntbythelicentiousBarbarians,convincedtherefractorycitiesofthedangerofresistance;thepowerofFirmuswasestablished,atleastintheprovincesofMauritaniaandNumidia;anditseemedtobehisonlydoubtwhetherheshouldassumethediademofaMoorishking,orthepurpleofaRomanemperor。ButtheimprudentandunhappyAfricanssoondiscovered,that,inthisrashinsurrection,theyhadnotsufficientlyconsultedtheirownstrength,ortheabilitiesoftheirleader。Beforehecouldprocureanycertainintelligence,thattheemperoroftheWesthadfixedthechoiceofageneral,orthatafleetoftransportswascollectedatthemouthoftheRhone,hewassuddenlyinformedthatthegreatTheodosius,withasmallbandofveterans,hadlandednearIgilgilis,orGigeri,ontheAfricancoast;andthetimidusurpersunkundertheascendantofvirtueandmilitarygenius。ThoughFirmuspossessedarmsandtreasures,hisdespairofvictoryimmediatelyreducedhimtotheuseofthosearts,which,inthesamecountry,andinasimilarsituation,hadformerlybeenpractisedbythecraftyJugurtha。Heattemptedtodeceive,byanapparentsubmission,thevigilanceoftheRomangeneral;toseducethefidelityofhistroops;andtoprotractthedurationofthewar,bysuccessivelyengagingtheindependenttribesofAfricatoespousehisquarrel,ortoprotecthisflight。
Theodosiusimitatedtheexample,andobtainedthesuccess,ofhispredecessorMetellus。WhenFirmus,inthecharacterofasuppliant,accusedhisownrashness,andhumblysolicitedtheclemencyoftheemperor,thelieutenantofValentinianreceivedanddismissedhimwithafriendlyembrace:buthediligentlyrequiredtheusefulandsubstantialpledgesofasincererepentance;norcouldhebepersuaded,bytheassurancesofpeace,tosuspend,foraninstant,theoperationsofanactivewar。AdarkconspiracywasdetectedbythepenetrationofTheodosius;andhesatisfied,withoutmuchreluctance,thepublicindignation,whichhehadsecretlyexcited。SeveraloftheguiltyaccomplicesofFirmuswereabandoned,accordingtoancientcustom,tothetumultofamilitaryexecution;manymore,bytheamputationofboththeirhands,continuedtoexhibitaninstructivespectacleofhorror;thehatredoftherebelswasaccompaniedwithfear;andthefearoftheRomansoldierswasmingledwithrespectfuladmiration。AmidsttheboundlessplainsofGetulia,andtheinnumerablevalleysofMountAtlas,itwasimpossibletopreventtheescapeofFirmus;andiftheusurpercouldhavetiredthepatienceofhisantagonist,hewouldhavesecuredhispersoninthedepthofsomeremotesolitude,andexpectedthehopesofafuturerevolution。HewassubduedbytheperseveranceofTheodosius;whohadformedaninflexibledetermination,thatthewarshouldendonlybythedeathofthetyrant;andthateverynationofAfrica,whichpresumedtosupporthiscause,shouldbeinvolvedinhisruin。Attheheadofasmallbodyoftroops,whichseldomexceededthreethousandfivehundredmen,theRomangeneraladvanced,withasteadyprudence,devoidofrashnessoroffear,intotheheartofacountry,wherehewassometimesattackedbyarmiesoftwentythousandMoors。TheboldnessofhischargedismayedtheirregularBarbarians;theyweredisconcertedbyhisseasonableandorderlyretreats;theywerecontinuallybaffledbytheunknownresourcesofthemilitaryart;andtheyfeltandconfessedthejustsuperioritywhichwasassumedbytheleaderofacivilizednation。WhenTheodosiusenteredtheextensivedominionsofIgmazen,kingoftheIsaflenses,thehaughtysavagerequired,inwordsofdefiance,hisname,andtheobjectofhisexpedition。
\"Iam,\"repliedthesternanddisdainfulcount,\"IamthegeneralofValentinian,thelordoftheworld;whohassentmehithertopursueandpunishadesperaterobber。Deliverhiminstantlyintomyhands;andbeassured,thatifthoudostnotobeythecommandsofmyinvinciblesovereign,thou,andthepeopleoverwhomthoureignest,shallbeutterlyextirpated。\"AssoonasIgmazenwassatisfied,thathisenemyhadstrengthandresolutiontoexecutethefatalmenace,heconsentedtopurchaseanecessarypeacebythesacrificeofaguiltyfugitive。TheguardsthatwereplacedtosecurethepersonofFirmusdeprivedhimofthehopesofescape;andtheMoorishtyrant,afterwinehadextinguishedthesenseofdanger,disappointedtheinsultingtriumphoftheRomans,bystranglinghimselfinthenight。Hisdeadbody,theonlypresentwhichIgmazencouldoffertotheconqueror,wascarelesslythrownuponacamel;andTheodosius,leadingbackhisvictorioustroopstoSitifi,wassalutedbythewarmestacclamationsofjoyandloyalty。^123
[Footnote122:TheChronologyofAmmianusislooseandobscure;
andOrosiusi。vii。c。33,p。551,edit。HavercampseemstoplacetherevoltofFirmusafterthedeathsofValentinianandValens。TillemontHist。des。Emp。tom。v。p。691endeavorstopickhisway。Thepatientandsure—footmuleoftheAlpsmaybetrustedinthemostslipperypaths。]
[Footnote*:Thewarwaslongerprotractedthanthissentencewouldleadustosuppose:itwasnottilldefeatedmorethanoncethatIgmazenyieldedAmm。xxix。5。—M]
[Footnote123:Ammianxxix。5。Thetextofthislongchapterfifteenquartopagesisbrokenandcorrupted;andthenarrativeisperplexedbythewantofchronologicalandgeographicallandmarks。]
AfricahadbeenlostbythevicesofRomanus;itwasrestoredbythevirtuesofTheodosius;andourcuriositymaybeusefullydirectedtotheinquiryoftherespectivetreatmentwhichthetwogeneralsreceivedfromtheImperialcourt。TheauthorityofCountRomanushadbeensuspendedbythemaster—generalofthecavalry;andhewascommittedtosafeandhonorablecustodytilltheendofthewar。Hiscrimeswereprovedbythemostauthenticevidence;andthepublicexpected,withsomeimpatience,thedecreeofseverejustice。ButthepartialandpowerfulfavorofMellobaudesencouragedhimtochallengehislegaljudges,toobtainrepeateddelaysforthepurposeofprocuringacrowdoffriendlywitnesses,and,finally,tocoverhisguiltyconduct,bytheadditionalguiltoffraudandforgery。Aboutthesametime,therestorerofBritainandAfrica,onavaguesuspicionthathisnameandservicesweresuperiortotherankofasubject,wasignominiouslybeheadedatCarthage。Valentiniannolongerreigned;andthedeathofTheodosius,aswellastheimpunityofRomanus,mayjustlybeimputedtotheartsoftheministers,whoabusedtheconfidence,anddeceivedtheinexperiencedyouth,ofhissons。^124
[Footnote124:Ammianxxviii。4。Orosius,l。vii。c。33,p。551,552。Jerom。inChron。p。187。]
IfthegeographicalaccuracyofAmmianushadbeenfortunatelybestowedontheBritishexploitsofTheodosius,weshouldhavetraced,witheagercuriosity,thedistinctanddomesticfootstepsofhismarch。ButthetediousenumerationoftheunknownanduninterestingtribesofAfricamaybereducedtothegeneralremark,thattheywerealloftheswarthyraceoftheMoors;thattheyinhabitedthebacksettlementsoftheMauritanianandNumidianprovince,thecountry,astheyhavesincebeentermedbytheArabs,ofdatesandoflocusts;^125andthat,astheRomanpowerdeclinedinAfrica,theboundaryofcivilizedmannersandcultivatedlandwasinsensiblycontracted。
BeyondtheutmostlimitsoftheMoors,thevastandinhospitabledesertoftheSouthextendsaboveathousandmilestothebanksoftheNiger。Theancients,whohadaveryfaintandimperfectknowledgeofthegreatpeninsulaofAfrica,weresometimestemptedtobelieve,thatthetorridzonemusteverremaindestituteofinhabitants;^126andtheysometimesamusedtheirfancybyfillingthevacantspacewithheadlessmen,orrathermonsters;^127withhornedandcloven—footedsatyrs;^128withfabulouscentaurs;^129andwithhumanpygmies,whowagedaboldanddoubtfulwarfareagainstthecranes。^130Carthagewouldhavetrembledatthestrangeintelligencethatthecountriesoneithersideoftheequatorwerefilledwithinnumerablenations,whodifferedonlyintheircolorfromtheordinaryappearanceofthehumanspecies:andthesubjectsoftheRomanempiremighthaveanxiouslyexpected,thattheswarmsofBarbarians,whichissuedfromtheNorth,wouldsoonbeencounteredfromtheSouthbynewswarmsofBarbarians,equallyfierceandequallyformidable。
ThesegloomyterrorswouldindeedhavebeendispelledbyamoreintimateacquaintancewiththecharacteroftheirAfricanenemies。Theinactionofthenegroesdoesnotseemtobetheeffecteitheroftheirvirtueoroftheirpusillanimity。Theyindulge,liketherestofmankind,theirpassionsandappetites;
andtheadjacenttribesareengagedinfrequentactsofhostility。^131Buttheirrudeignorancehasneverinventedanyeffectualweaponsofdefence,orofdestruction;theyappearincapableofforminganyextensiveplansofgovernment,orconquest;andtheobviousinferiorityoftheirmentalfacultieshasbeendiscoveredandabusedbythenationsofthetemperatezone。SixtythousandblacksareannuallyembarkedfromthecoastofGuinea,nevertoreturntotheirnativecountry;buttheyareembarkedinchains;^132andthisconstantemigration,which,inthespaceoftwocenturies,mighthavefurnishedarmiestooverruntheglobe,accusestheguiltofEurope,andtheweaknessofAfrica。
[Footnote125:LeoAfricanusintheViaggidiRamusio,tom。i。
fol。78—83hastracedacuriouspictureofthepeopleandthecountry;whicharemoreminutelydescribedintheAfriquedeMarmol,tom。iii。p。1—54。]
[Footnote126:Thisuninhabitablezonewasgraduallyreducedbytheimprovementsofancientgeography,fromforty—fivetotwenty—four,orevensixteendegreesoflatitude。SeealearnedandjudiciousnoteofDr。Robertson,Hist。ofAmerica,vol。i。p。
426。]