and，asareportwasindustriouslycirculated，thattheyweresummonedtoreceivealiberalgiftoflandsandmoney，thepleasinghopeallayedthefuryoftheirresentment，and，perhaps，suspendedthemotionsoftheconspiracy。Ontheappointedday，theunarmedcrowdoftheGothicyouthwascarefullycollectedinthesquareorForum；thestreetsandavenueswereoccupiedbytheRomantroops，andtheroofsofthehouseswerecoveredwitharchersandslingers。Atthesamehour，inallthecitiesoftheEast，thesignalwasgivenofindiscriminateslaughter；andtheprovincesofAsiaweredeliveredbythecruelprudenceofJulius，fromadomesticenemy，who，inafewmonths，mighthavecarriedfireandswordfromtheHellesponttotheEuphrates。^103Theurgentconsiderationofthepublicsafetymayundoubtedlyauthorizetheviolationofeverypositivelaw。Howfarthat，oranyother，considerationmayoperatetodissolvethenaturalobligationsofhumanityandjustice，isadoctrineofwhichI
stilldesiretoremainignorant。
[Footnote102:EunapiusinExcerpt。Legat。p。20foolishlysupposesapraeternaturalgrowthoftheyoungGoths，thathemayintroduceCadmus\'sarmedmen，whosprangfromthedragon\'steeth，&c。SuchwastheGreekeloquenceofthetimes。]
[Footnote103:Ammianusevidentlyapprovesthisexecution，efficaciaveloxetsalutaris，whichconcludeshiswork，xxxi。
16。Zosimus，whoiscuriousandcopious，l。iv。p。233—236，
mistakesthedate，andlaborstofindthereason，whyJuliusdidnotconsulttheemperorTheodosiuswhohadnotyetascendedthethroneoftheEast。]
TheemperorGratianwasfaradvancedonhismarchtowardstheplainsofHadrianople，whenhewasinformed，atfirstbytheconfusedvoiceoffame，andafterwardsbythemoreaccuratereportsofVictorandRichomer，thathisimpatientcolleaguehadbeenslaininbattle，andthattwothirdsoftheRomanarmywereexterminatedbytheswordofthevictoriousGoths。Whateverresentmenttherashandjealousvanityofhisunclemightdeserve，theresentmentofagenerousmindiseasilysubduedbythesofteremotionsofgriefandcompassion；andeventhesenseofpitywassoonlostintheseriousandalarmingconsiderationofthestateoftherepublic。Gratianwastoolatetoassist，hewastooweaktorevenge，hisunfortunatecolleague；andthevaliantandmodestyouthfelthimselfunequaltothesupportofasinkingworld。AformidabletempestoftheBarbariansofGermanyseemedreadytoburstovertheprovincesofGaul；andthemindofGratianwasoppressedanddistractedbytheadministrationoftheWesternempire。Inthisimportantcrisis，thegovernmentoftheEast，andtheconductoftheGothicwar，requiredtheundividedattentionofaheroandastatesman。Asubjectinvestedwithsuchamplecommandwouldnotlonghavepreservedhisfidelitytoadistantbenefactor；andtheImperialcouncilembracedthewiseandmanlyresolutionofconferringanobligation，ratherthanofyieldingtoaninsult。ItwasthewishofGratiantobestowthepurpleastherewardofvirtue；but，attheageofnineteen，itisnoteasyforaprince，educatedinthesupremerank，tounderstandthetruecharactersofhisministersandgenerals。Heattemptedtoweigh，withanimpartialhand，theirvariousmeritsanddefects；and，whilsthecheckedtherashconfidenceofambition，hedistrustedthecautiouswisdomwhichdespairedoftherepublic。AseachmomentofdelaydiminishedsomethingofthepowerandresourcesofthefuturesovereignoftheEast，thesituationofthetimeswouldnotallowatediousdebate。ThechoiceofGratianwassoondeclaredinfavorofanexile，whosefather，onlythreeyearsbefore，hadsuffered，underthesanctionofhisauthority，anunjustandignominiousdeath。ThegreatTheodosius，anamecelebratedinhistory，anddeartotheCatholicchurch，^104wassummonedtotheImperialcourt，whichhadgraduallyretreatedfromtheconfinesofThracetothemoresecurestationofSirmium。FivemonthsafterthedeathofValens，theemperorGratianproducedbeforetheassembledtroopshiscolleagueandtheirmaster；who，afteramodest，perhapsasincere，resistance，wascompelledtoaccept，amidstthegeneralacclamations，thediadem，thepurple，andtheequaltitleofAugustus。^105TheprovincesofThrace，Asia，andEgypt，overwhichValenshadreigned，wereresignedtotheadministrationofthenewemperor；but，ashewasspeciallyintrustedwiththeconductoftheGothicwar，theIllyrianpraefecturewasdismembered；andthetwogreatdiocesesofDaciaandMacedoniawereaddedtothedominionsoftheEasternempire。^106
[Footnote104:AlifeofTheodosiustheGreatwascomposedinthelastcentury，Paris，1679，in4to—1680，12mo。，toinflamethemindoftheyoungDauphinwithCatholiczeal。Theauthor，Flechier，afterwardsbishopofNismes，wasacelebratedpreacher；
andhishistoryisadorned，ortainted，withpulpiteloquence；
buthetakeshislearningfromBaronius，andhisprinciplesfromSt。AmbroseandStAugustin。]
[Footnote105:Thebirth，character，andelevationofTheodosiusaremarkedinPacatus，inPanegyr。Vet。xii。10，11，12，
Themistius，Orat。xiv。p。182，Zosimus，l。iv。p。231，
Augustin。deCivitat。Dei。v。25，Orosius，l。vii。c。34，
Sozomen，l。vii。c。2，Socrates，l。v。c。2，Theodoret，l。
v。c。5，Philostorgius，l。ix。c。17，withGodefroy，p。393，
theEpitomeofVictor，andtheChroniclesofProsper，Idatius，andMarcellinus，intheThesaurusTemporumofScaliger。
Note:AddahostilefragmentofEunapius。Mai，p。273，inNiebuhr，p178—M。]
[Footnote106:Tillemont，Hist。desEmpereurs，tom。v。p。716，&c。]
Thesameprovince，andperhapsthesamecity，^107whichhadgiventothethronethevirtuesofTrajan，andthetalentsofHadrian，wastheorignalseatofanotherfamilyofSpaniards，who，inalessfortunateage，possessed，nearfourscoreyears，thedecliningempireofRome。^108TheyemergedfromtheobscurityofmunicipalhonorsbytheactivespiritoftheelderTheodosius，ageneralwhoseexploitsinBritainandAfricahaveformedoneofthemostsplendidpartsoftheannalsofValentinian。Thesonofthatgeneral，wholikewiseborethenameofTheodosius，waseducated，byskilfulpreceptors，intheliberalstudiesofyouth；buthewasinstructedintheartofwarbythetendercareandseveredisciplineofhisfather。^109
Underthestandardofsuchaleader，youngTheodosiussoughtgloryandknowledge，inthemostdistantscenesofmilitaryaction；inuredhisconstitutiontothedifferenceofseasonsandclimates；distinguishedhisvalorbyseaandland；andobservedthevariouswarfareoftheScots，theSaxons，andtheMoors。Hisownmerit，andtherecommendationoftheconquerorofAfrica，soonraisedhimtoaseparatecommand；and，inthestationofDukeofMisaea，hevanquishedanarmyofSarmatians；savedtheprovince；deservedtheloveofthesoldiers；andprovokedtheenvyofthecourt。^110Hisrisingfortunesweresoonblastedbythedisgraceandexecutionofhisillustriousfather；andTheodosiusobtained，asafavor，thepermissionofretiringtoaprivatelifeinhisnativeprovinceofSpain。Hedisplayedafirmandtemperatecharacterintheeasewithwhichheadaptedhimselftothisnewsituation。Histimewasalmostequallydividedbetweenthetownandcountry；thespirit，whichhadanimatedhispublicconduct，wasshownintheactiveandaffectionateperformanceofeverysocialduty；andthediligenceofthesoldierwasprofitablyconvertedtotheimprovementofhisamplepatrimony，^111whichlaybetweenValladolidandSegovia，inthemidstofafruitfuldistrict，stillfamousforamostexquisitebreedofsheep。^112Fromtheinnocent，buthumblelaborsofhisfarm，Theodosiuswastransported，inlessthanfourmonths，tothethroneoftheEasternempire；andthewholeperiodofthehistoryoftheworldwillnotperhapsaffordasimilarexample，ofanelevationatthesametimesopureandsohonorable。Theprinceswhopeaceablyinheritthesceptreoftheirfathers，claimandenjoyalegalright，themoresecureasitisabsolutelydistinctfromthemeritsoftheirpersonalcharacters。Thesubjects，who，inamonarchy，orapopularstate，acquirethepossessionofsupremepower，mayhaveraisedthemselves，bythesuperiorityeitherofgeniusorvirtue，abovetheheadsoftheirequals；buttheirvirtueisseldomexemptfromambition；andthecauseofthesuccessfulcandidateisfrequentlystainedbytheguiltofconspiracy，orcivilwar。Eveninthosegovernmentswhichallowthereigningmonarchtodeclareacolleagueorasuccessor，hispartialchoice，whichmaybeinfluencedbytheblindestpassions，isoftendirectedtoanunworthyobjectButthemostsuspiciousmalignitycannotascribetoTheodosius，inhisobscuresolitudeofCaucha，thearts，thedesires，oreventhehopes，ofanambitiousstatesman；andthenameoftheExilewouldlongsincehavebeenforgotten，ifhisgenuineanddistinguishedvirtueshadnotleftadeepimpressionintheImperialcourt。Duringtheseasonofprosperity，hehadbeenneglected；but，inthepublicdistress，hissuperiormeritwasuniversallyfeltandacknowledged。Whatconfidencemusthavebeenreposedinhisintegrity，sinceGratiancouldtrust，thatapioussonwouldforgive，forthesakeoftherepublic，themurderofhisfather!Whatexpectationsmusthavebeenformedofhisabilitiestoencouragethehope，thatasinglemancouldsave，andrestore，theempireoftheEast!Theodosiuswasinvestedwiththepurpleinthethirty—thirdyearofhisage。Thevulgargazedwithadmirationonthemanlybeautyofhisface，andthegracefulmajestyofhisperson，whichtheywerepleasedtocomparewiththepicturesandmedalsoftheemperorTrajan；whilstintelligentobserversdiscovered，inthequalitiesofhisheartandunderstanding，amoreimportantresemblancetothebestandgreatestoftheRomanprinces。
[Footnote107:Italica，foundedbyScipioAfricanusforhiswoundedveteransofItaly。Theruinsstillappear，aboutaleagueaboveSeville，butontheoppositebankoftheriver。SeetheHispaniaIllustrataofNonius，ashortthoughvaluabletreatise，c。xvii。p。64—67。]
[Footnote108:IagreewithTillemontHist。desEmpereurs，tom。
v。p。726insuspectingtheroyalpedigree，whichremainedasecrettillthepromotionofTheodosius。Evenafterthatevent，thesilenceofPacatusoutweighsthevenalevidenceofThemistius，Victor，andClaudian，whoconnectthefamilyofTheodosiuswiththebloodofTrajanandHadrian。]
[Footnote109:Pacatascompares，andconsequentlyprefers，theyouthofTheodosiustothemilitaryeducationofAlexander，Hannibal，andthesecondAfricanus；who，likehim，hadservedundertheirfathers，xii。8。]
[Footnote110:Ammianusxxix。6mentionsthisvictoryofTheodosiusJuniorDuxMaesiae，primaetiamtumlanuginejuvenis，princepsposteaperspectissimus。ThesamefactisattestedbyThemistiusandZosimusbutTheodoret，l。v。c。5，whoaddssomecuriouscircumstances，strangelyappliesittothetimeoftheinterregnum。]
[Footnote111:PacatusinPanegyr。Vet。xii。9preferstherusticlifeofTheodosiustothatofCincinnatus；theonewastheeffectofchoice，theotherofpoverty。]
[Footnote112:M。D\'AnvilleGeographieAncienne，tom。i。p。25
hasfixedthesituationofCaucha，orCoca，intheoldprovinceofGallicia，whereZosimusandIdatiushaveplacedthebirth，orpatrimony，ofTheodosius。]
Itisnotwithoutthemostsincereregret，thatImustnowtakeleaveofanaccurateandfaithfulguide，whohascomposedthehistoryofhisowntimes，withoutindulgingtheprejudicesandpassions，whichusuallyaffectthemindofacontemporary。
AmmianusMarcellinus，whoterminateshisusefulworkwiththedefeatanddeathofValens，recommendsthemoreglorioussubjectoftheensuingreigntotheyouthfulvigorandeloquenceoftherisinggeneration。^113Therisinggenerationwasnotdisposedtoaccepthisadviceortoimitatehisexample；^114and，inthestudyofthereignofTheodosius，wearereducedtoillustratethepartialnarrativeofZosimus，bytheobscurehintsoffragmentsandchronicles，bythefigurativestyleofpoetryorpanegyric，andbytheprecariousassistanceoftheecclesiasticalwriters，who，intheheatofreligiousfaction，areapttodespisetheprofanevirtuesofsincerityandmoderation。
Consciousofthesedisadvantages，whichwillcontinuetoinvolveaconsiderableportionofthedeclineandfalloftheRomanempire，Ishallproceedwithdoubtfulandtimoroussteps。YetI
mayboldlypronounce，thatthebattleofHadrianoplewasneverrevengedbyanysignalordecisivevictoryofTheodosiusovertheBarbarians:andtheexpressivesilenceofhisvenaloratorsmaybeconfirmedbytheobservationoftheconditionandcircumstancesofthetimes。Thefabricofamightystate，whichhasbeenrearedbythelaborsofsuccessiveages，couldnotbeoverturnedbythemisfortuneofasingleday，ifthefatalpoweroftheimaginationdidnotexaggeratetherealmeasureofthecalamity。ThelossoffortythousandRomans，whofellintheplainsofHadrianople，mighthavebeensoonrecruitedinthepopulousprovincesoftheEast，whichcontainedsomanymillionsofinhabitants。Thecourageofasoldierisfoundtobethecheapest，andmostcommon，qualityofhumannature；andsufficientskilltoencounteranundisciplinedfoemighthavebeenspeedilytaughtbythecareofthesurvivingcenturions。IftheBarbariansweremountedonthehorses，andequippedwiththearmor，oftheirvanquishedenemies，thenumerousstudsofCappadociaandSpainwouldhavesuppliednewsquadronsofcavalry；thethirty—fourarsenalsoftheempirewereplentifullystoredwithmagazinesofoffensiveanddefensivearms:andthewealthofAsiamightstillhaveyieldedanamplefundfortheexpensesofthewar。ButtheeffectswhichwereproducedbythebattleofHadrianopleonthemindsoftheBarbariansandoftheRomans，extendedthevictoryoftheformer，andthedefeatofthelatter，farbeyondthelimitsofasingleday。AGothicchiefwasheardtodeclare，withinsolentmoderation，that，forhisownpart，hewasfatiguedwithslaughter:butthathewasastonishedhowapeople，whofledbeforehimlikeaflockofsheep，couldstillpresumetodisputethepossessionoftheirtreasuresandprovinces。^115ThesameterrorswhichthenameoftheHunshadspreadamongtheGothictribes，wereinspired，bytheformidablenameoftheGoths，amongthesubjectsandsoldiersoftheRomanempire。^116IfTheodosius，hastilycollectinghisscatteredforces，hadledthemintothefieldtoencounteravictoriousenemy，hisarmywouldhavebeenvanquishedbytheirownfears；
andhisrashnesscouldnothavebeenexcusedbythechanceofsuccess。ButthegreatTheodosius，anepithetwhichhehonorablydeservedonthismomentousoccasion，conductedhimselfasthefirmandfaithfulguardianoftherepublic。Hefixedhishead—quartersatThessalonica，thecapitaloftheMacedoniandiocese；^117fromwhencehecouldwatchtheirregularmotionsoftheBarbarians，anddirecttheoperationsofhislieutenants，fromthegatesofConstantinopletotheshoresoftheHadriatic。
Thefortificationsandgarrisonsofthecitieswerestrengthened；
andthetroops，amongwhomasenseoforderanddisciplinewasrevived，wereinsensiblyemboldenedbytheconfidenceoftheirownsafety。Fromthesesecurestations，theywereencouragedtomakefrequentsalliesontheBarbarians，whoinfestedtheadjacentcountry；and，astheywereseldomallowedtoengage，withoutsomedecisivesuperiority，eitherofgroundorofnumbers，theirenterpriseswere，forthemostpart，successful；
andtheyweresoonconvinced，bytheirownexperience，ofthepossibilityofvanquishingtheirinvincibleenemies。Thedetachmentsoftheseseparategarrisonsweregenerallyunitedintosmallarmies；thesamecautiousmeasureswerepursued，accordingtoanextensiveandwell—concertedplanofoperations；
theeventsofeachdayaddedstrengthandspirittotheRomanarms；andtheartfuldiligenceoftheemperor，whocirculatedthemostfavorablereportsofthesuccessofthewar，contributedtosubduetheprideoftheBarbarians，andtoanimatethehopesandcourageofhissubjects。If，insteadofthisfaintandimperfectoutline，wecouldaccuratelyrepresentthecounselsandactionsofTheodosius，infoursuccessivecampaigns，thereisreasontobelieve，thathisconsummateskillwoulddeservetheapplauseofeverymilitaryreader。TherepublichadformerlybeensavedbythedelaysofFabius；and，whilethesplendidtrophiesofScipio，inthefieldofZama，attracttheeyesofposterity，thecampsandmarchesofthedictatoramongthehillsoftheCampania，mayclaimajusterproportionofthesolidandindependentfame，whichthegeneralisnotcompelledtoshare，eitherwithfortuneorwithhistroops。SuchwaslikewisethemeritofTheodosius；
andtheinfirmitiesofhisbody，whichmostunseasonablylanguishedunderalonganddangerousdisease，couldnotoppressthevigorofhismind，ordiverthisattentionfromthepublicservice。^118
[Footnote113:LetushearAmmianushimself。Haec，utmilesquondametGraecus，aprincipatuCassarisNervaeexorsus，adusqueValentisinter，proviriumexplicavimensura:opusveritatemprofessumnunquam，utarbitror，sciens，silentioaususcorrumperevelmendacio。Scribantreliquapotioresaetate，doctrinisqueflorentes。Quosid，silibuerit，aggressuros，procuderelinguasadmajoresmoneostilos。Ammian。xxxi。16。Thefirstthirteenbooks，asuperficialepitomeoftwohundredandfifty—sevenyears，arenowlost:thelasteighteen，whichcontainnomorethantwenty—fiveyears，stillpreservethecopiousandauthentichistoryofhisowntimes。]
[Footnote114:AmmianuswasthelastsubjectofRomewhocomposedaprofanehistoryintheLatinlanguage。TheEast，inthenextcentury，producedsomerhetoricalhistorians，Zosimus，Olympiedorus，Malchus，Candidus&c。SeeVossiusdeHistoricisGraecis，l。ii。c。18，deHistoricisLatinisl。ii。c。10，&c。]
[Footnote115:Chrysostom，tom。i。p。344，edit。Montfaucon。I
haveverifiedandexaminedthispassage:butIshouldnever，withouttheaidofTillemont，Hist。desEmp。tom。v。p。152，
havedetectedanhistoricalanecdote，inastrangemedleyofmoralandmysticexhortations，addressed，bythepreacherofAntioch，toayoungwidow。]
[Footnote116:Eunapius，inExcerpt。Legation。p。21。]
[Footnote117:SeeGodefroy\'sChronologyoftheLaws。CodexTheodostom。l。Prolegomen。p。xcix。—civ。]
[Footnote118:Mostwritersinsistontheillness，andlongrepose，ofTheodosius，atThessalonica:Zosimus，todiminishhisglory；Jornandes，tofavortheGoths；andtheecclesiasticalwriters，tointroducehisbaptism。]
ThedeliveranceandpeaceoftheRomanprovinces^119wastheworkofprudence，ratherthanofvalor:theprudenceofTheodosiuswassecondedbyfortune:andtheemperorneverfailedtoseize，andtoimprove，everyfavorablecircumstance。AslongasthesuperiorgeniusofFritigernpreservedtheunion，anddirectedthemotionsoftheBarbarians，theirpowerwasnotinadequatetotheconquestofagreatempire。Thedeathofthathero，thepredecessorandmasteroftherenownedAlaric，relievedanimpatientmultitudefromtheintolerableyokeofdisciplineanddiscretion。TheBarbarians，whohadbeenrestrainedbyhisauthority，abandonedthemselvestothedictatesoftheirpassions；andtheirpassionswereseldomuniformorconsistent。