\"WithtearsandgroansamIsent，\"repliedIphicles，\"byareluctantpeople。\"Theemperorpaused:buttheimpunityofhisministersestablishedtheperniciousmaxim，thattheymightoppresshissubjects，withoutinjuringhisservice。Astrictinquiryintotheirconductwouldhaverelievedthepublicdiscontent。TheseverecondemnationofthemurderofGabinius，wastheonlymeasurewhichcouldrestoretheconfidenceoftheGermans，andvindicatethehonoroftheRomanname。Butthehaughtymonarchwasincapableofthemagnanimitywhichdarestoacknowledgeafault。Heforgottheprovocation，rememberedonlytheinjury，andadvancedintothecountryoftheQuadiwithaninsatiatethirstofbloodandrevenge。Theextremedevastation，andpromiscuousmassacre，ofasavagewar，werejustified，intheeyesoftheemperor，andperhapsinthoseoftheworld，bythecruelequityofretaliation:^153andsuchwasthedisciplineoftheRomans，andtheconsternationoftheenemy，thatValentinianrepassedtheDanubewithoutthelossofasingleman。AshehadresolvedtocompletethedestructionoftheQuadibyasecondcampaign，hefixedhiswinterquartersatBregetio，ontheDanube，neartheHungariancityofPresburg。Whiletheoperationsofwarweresuspendedbytheseverityoftheweather，theQuadimadeanhumbleattempttodeprecatethewrathoftheirconqueror；and，attheearnestpersuasionofEquitius，theirambassadorswereintroducedintotheImperialcouncil。Theyapproachedthethronewithbendedbodiesanddejectedcountenances；andwithoutdaringtocomplainofthemurderoftheirking，theyaffirmed，withsolemnoaths，thatthelateinvasionwasthecrimeofsomeirregularrobbers，whichthepubliccouncilofthenationcondemnedandabhorred。Theansweroftheemperorleftthembutlittletohopefromhisclemencyorcompassion。Hereviled，inthemostintemperatelanguage，theirbaseness，theiringratitude，theirinsolence。Hiseyes，hisvoice，hiscolor，hisgestures，expressedtheviolenceofhisungovernedfury；andwhilehiswholeframewasagitatedwithconvulsivepassion，alargebloodvesselsuddenlyburstinhisbody；andValentinianfellspeechlessintothearmsofhisattendants。Theirpiouscareimmediatelyconcealedhissituationfromthecrowd；but，inafewminutes，theemperoroftheWestexpiredinanagonyofpain，retaininghissensestillthelast；

　　andstruggling，withoutsuccess，todeclarehisintentionstothegeneralsandministers，whosurroundedtheroyalcouch。

　　Valentinianwasaboutfifty—fouryearsofage；andhewantedonlyonehundreddaystoaccomplishthetwelveyearsofhisreign。

　　^154

　　[Footnote151:Ammianus，xxx。5，whoacknowledgesthemerit，hascensured，withbecomingasperity，theoppressiveadministrationofPetroniusProbus。WhenJeromtranslatedandcontinuedtheChronicleofEusebius，A。D。380；seeTillemont，Mem。Eccles。tom。xii。p。53，626，heexpressedthetruth，oratleastthepublicopinionofhiscountry，inthefollowingwords:

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