[Footnote68:Invenimusmiraemagnitudinisvirosduos，utpriscaaetasferebat，tom。ii。Epist。xxii。p。875。Thesizeoftheseskeletonswasfortunately，orskillfully，suitedtothepopularprejudiceofthegradualdecreaseofthehumanstature，whichhasprevailedineveryagesincethetimeofHomer。
Grandiaqueeffossismirabiturossasepulchris。]
[Footnote69:Ambros。tom。ii。Epist。xxii。p。875。Augustin。
Confes，l。ix。c。7，deCivitat。Dei，l。xxii。c。8。Paulin。inVitaSt。Ambros。c。14，inAppend。Benedict。p。4。Theblindman\'snamewasSeverus；hetouchedtheholygarment，recoveredhissight，anddevotedtherestofhislifeatleasttwenty—fiveyearstotheserviceofthechurch。Ishouldrecommendthismiracletoourdivines，ifitdidnotprovetheworshipofrelics，aswellastheNicenecreed。]
[Footnote70:Paulin，inTit。St。Ambros。c。5，inAppend。
Benedict。p。5。]
[Footnote71:Tillemont，Mem。Eccles。tom。x。p。190，750。HepartiallyallowthemediationofTheodosius，andcapriciouslyrejectsthatofMaximus，thoughitisattestedbyProsper，Sozomen，andTheodoret。]
ThereignofMaximusmighthaveendedinpeaceandprosperity，couldhehavecontentedhimselfwiththepossessionofthreeamplecountries，whichnowconstitutethethreemostflourishingkingdomsofmodernEurope。Buttheaspiringusurper，whosesordidambitionwasnotdignifiedbytheloveofgloryandofarms，consideredhisactualforcesastheinstrumentsonlyofhisfuturegreatness，andhissuccesswastheimmediatecauseofhisdestruction。Thewealthwhichheextorted^72fromtheoppressedprovincesofGaul，Spain，andBritain，wasemployedinlevyingandmaintainingaformidablearmyofBarbarians，collected，forthemostpart，fromthefiercestnationsofGermany。TheconquestofItalywastheobjectofhishopesandpreparations:andhesecretlymeditatedtheruinofaninnocentyouth，whosegovernmentwasabhorredanddespisedbyhisCatholicsubjects。ButasMaximuswishedtooccupy，withoutresistance，thepassesoftheAlps，hereceived，withperfidioussmiles，DomninusofSyria，theambassadorofValentinian，andpressedhimtoaccepttheaidofaconsiderablebodyoftroops，fortheserviceofaPannonianwar。ThepenetrationofAmbrosehaddiscoveredthesnaresofanenemyundertheprofessionsoffriendship；^73buttheSyrianDomninuswascorrupted，ordeceived，bytheliberalfavorofthecourtofTreves；andthecouncilofMilanobstinatelyrejectedthesuspicionofdanger，withablindconfidence，whichwastheeffect，notofcourage，butoffear。Themarchoftheauxiliarieswasguidedbytheambassador；andtheywereadmitted，withoutdistrust，intothefortressesoftheAlps。Butthecraftytyrantfollowed，withhastyandsilentfootsteps，intherear；and，ashediligentlyinterceptedallintelligenceofhismotions，thegleamofarmor，andthedustexcitedbythetroopsofcavalry，firstannouncedthehostileapproachofastrangertothegatesofMilan。Inthisextremity，Justinaandhersonmightaccusetheirownimprudence，andtheperfidiousartsofMaximus；buttheywantedtime，andforce，andresolution，tostandagainsttheGaulsandGermans，eitherinthefield，orwithinthewallsofalargeanddisaffectedcity。Flightwastheironlyhope，Aquileiatheironlyrefuge；andasMaximusnowdisplayedhisgenuinecharacter，thebrotherofGratianmightexpectthesamefatefromthehandsofthesameassassin。MaximusenteredMilanintriumph；andifthewisearchbishoprefusedadangerousandcriminalconnectionwiththeusurper，hemightindirectlycontributetothesuccessofhisarms，byinculcating，fromthepulpit，thedutyofresignation，ratherthanthatofresistance。^74TheunfortunateJustinareachedAquileiainsafety；butshedistrustedthestrengthofthefortifications:shedreadedtheeventofasiege；
andsheresolvedtoimploretheprotectionofthegreatTheodosius，whosepowerandvirtuewerecelebratedinallthecountriesoftheWest。AvesselwassecretlyprovidedtotransporttheImperialfamily；theyembarkedwithprecipitationinoneoftheobscureharborsofVenetia，orIstria；traversedthewholeextentoftheAdriaticandIonianSeas；turnedtheextremepromontoryofPeloponnesus；and，afteralong，butsuccessfulnavigation，reposedthemselvesintheportofThessalonica。AllthesubjectsofValentiniandesertedthecauseofaprince，who，byhisabdication，hadabsolvedthemfromthedutyofallegiance；andifthelittlecityofAemona，onthevergeofItaly，hadnotpresumedtostopthecareerofhisingloriousvictory，Maximuswouldhaveobtained，withoutastruggle，thesolepossessionoftheWesternempire。
[Footnote72:ThemodestcensureofSulpiciusDialog。iii。15
inflictsamuchdeeperwoundthanthedeclamationofPacatus，xii。25，26。]
[Footnote73:Estotutioradversushominem，pacisinvolurcotegentem，wasthewisecautionofAmbrosetom。ii。p。891afterhisreturnfromhissecondembassy。]
[Footnote74:BaroniusA。D。387，No。63appliestothisseasonofpublicdistresssomeofthepenitentialsermonsofthearchbishop。]
InsteadofinvitinghisroyalgueststotakethepalaceofConstantinople，TheodosiushadsomeunknownreasonstofixtheirresidenceatThessalonica；butthesereasonsdidnotproceedfromcontemptorindifference，ashespeedilymadeavisittothatcity，accompaniedbythegreatestpartofhiscourtandsenate。
Afterthefirsttenderexpressionsoffriendshipandsympathy，thepiousemperoroftheEastgentlyadmonishedJustina，thattheguiltofheresywassometimespunishedinthisworld，aswellasinthenext；andthatthepublicprofessionoftheNicenefaithwouldbethemostefficacioussteptopromotetherestorationofherson，bythesatisfactionwhichitmustoccasionbothonearthandinheaven。Themomentousquestionofpeaceorwarwasreferred，byTheodosius，tothedeliberationofhiscouncil；andtheargumentswhichmightbeallegedonthesideofhonorandjustice，hadacquired，sincethedeathofGratian，aconsiderabledegreeofadditionalweight。ThepersecutionoftheImperialfamily，towhichTheodosiushimselfhadbeenindebtedforhisfortune，wasnowaggravatedbyrecentandrepeatedinjuries。
NeitheroathsnortreatiescouldrestraintheboundlessambitionofMaximus；andthedelayofvigorousanddecisivemeasures，insteadofprolongingtheblessingsofpeace，wouldexposetheEasternempiretothedangerofahostileinvasion。TheBarbarians，whohadpassedtheDanube，hadlatelyassumedthecharacterofsoldiersandsubjects，buttheirnativefiercenesswasyetuntamed:andtheoperationsofawar，whichwouldexercisetheirvalor，anddiminishtheirnumbers，mighttendtorelievetheprovincesfromanintolerableoppression。
Notwithstandingthesespeciousandsolidreasons，whichwereapprovedbyamajorityofthecouncil，Theodosiusstillhesitatedwhetherheshoulddrawtheswordinacontestwhichcouldnolongeradmitanytermsofreconciliation；andhismagnanimouscharacterwasnotdisgracedbytheapprehensionswhichhefeltforthesafetyofhisinfantsons，andthewelfareofhisexhaustedpeople。Inthismomentofanxiousdoubt，whilethefateoftheRomanworlddependedontheresolutionofasingleman，thecharmsoftheprincessGallamostpowerfullypleadedthecauseofherbrotherValentinian。^75TheheartofTheodosiuswasoftenedbythetearsofbeauty；hisaffectionswereinsensiblyengagedbythegracesofyouthandinnocence:theartofJustinamanagedanddirectedtheimpulseofpassion；andthecelebrationoftheroyalnuptialswastheassuranceandsignalofthecivilwar。Theunfeelingcritics，whoconsidereveryamorousweaknessasanindeliblestainonthememoryofagreatandorthodoxemperor，areinclined，onthisoccasion，todisputethesuspiciousevidenceofthehistorianZosimus。Formyownpart，I
shallfranklyconfess，thatIamwillingtofind，oreventoseek，intherevolutionsoftheworld，sometracesofthemildandtendersentimentsofdomesticlife；andamidstthecrowdoffierceandambitiousconquerors，Icandistinguish，withpeculiarcomplacency，agentlehero，whomaybesupposedtoreceivehisarmorfromthehandsoflove。TheallianceofthePersiankingwassecuredbythefaithoftreaties；themartialBarbarianswerepersuadedtofollowthestandard，ortorespectthefrontiers，ofanactiveandliberalmonarch；andthedominionsofTheodosius，fromtheEuphratestotheAdriatic，resoundedwiththepreparationsofwarbothbylandandsea。TheskilfuldispositionoftheforcesoftheEastseemedtomultiplytheirnumbers，anddistractedtheattentionofMaximus。Hehadreasontofear，thatachosenbodyoftroops，underthecommandoftheintrepidArbogastes，woulddirecttheirmarchalongthebanksoftheDanube，andboldlypenetratethroughtheRhaetianprovincesintothecentreofGaul。ApowerfulfleetwasequippedintheharborsofGreeceandEpirus，withanapparentdesign，that，assoonasthepassagehadbeenopenedbyanavalvictory，ValentinianandhismothershouldlandinItaly，proceed，withoutdelay，toRome，andoccupythemajesticseatofreligionandempire。Inthemeanwhile，Theodosiushimselfadvancedattheheadofabraveanddisciplinedarmy，toencounterhisunworthyrival，who，afterthesiegeofAemona，hadfixedhiscampintheneighborhoodofSiscia，acityofPannonia，stronglyfortifiedbythebroadandrapidstreamoftheSave。
[Footnote75:TheflightofValentinian，andtheloveofTheodosiusforhissister，arerelatedbyZosimus，l。iv。p。
263，264。TillemontproducessomeweakandambiguousevidencetoantedatethesecondmarriageofTheodosius，Hist。desEmpereurs，to。v。p。740，andconsequentlytorefutecescontesdeZosime，quiseroienttropcontrairesalapietedeTheodose。]
[Footnote*:Aemonah，Laybach。SisciaSciszek。—M。]
ChapterXXVII:CivilWars，ReignOfTheodosius。
PartIV。
Theveterans，whostillrememberedthelongresistance，andsuccessiveresources，ofthetyrantMagnentius，mightpreparethemselvesforthelaborsofthreebloodycampaigns。Butthecontestwithhissuccessor，who，likehim，hadusurpedthethroneoftheWest，waseasilydecidedinthetermoftwomonths，^76
andwithinthespaceoftwohundredmiles。ThesuperiorgeniusoftheemperoroftheEastmightprevailoverthefeebleMaximus，who，inthisimportantcrisis，showedhimselfdestituteofmilitaryskill，orpersonalcourage；buttheabilitiesofTheodosiusweresecondedbytheadvantagewhichhepossessedofanumerousandactivecavalry。TheHuns，theAlani，and，aftertheirexample，theGothsthemselves，wereformedintosquadronsofarchers；whofoughtonhorseback，andconfoundedthesteadyvaloroftheGaulsandGermans，bytherapidmotionsofaTartarwar。Afterthefatigueofalongmarch，intheheatofsummer，theyspurredtheirfoaminghorsesintothewatersoftheSave，swamtheriverinthepresenceoftheenemy，andinstantlychargedandroutedthetroopswhoguardedthehighgroundontheoppositeside。Marcellinus，thetyrant\'sbrother，advancedtosupportthemwiththeselectcohorts，whichwereconsideredasthehopeandstrengthofthearmy。Theaction，whichhadbeeninterruptedbytheapproachofnight，wasrenewedinthemorning；
and，afterasharpconflict，thesurvivingremnantofthebravestsoldiersofMaximusthrewdowntheirarmsatthefeetoftheconqueror。Withoutsuspendinghismarch，toreceivetheloyalacclamationsofthecitizensofAemona，Theodosiuspressedforwardstoterminatethewarbythedeathorcaptivityofhisrival，whofledbeforehimwiththediligenceoffear。FromthesummitoftheJulianAlps，hedescendedwithsuchincrediblespeedintotheplainofItaly，thathereachedAquileiaontheeveningofthefirstday；andMaximus，whofoundhimselfencompassedonallsides，hadscarcelytimetoshutthegatesofthecity。Butthegatescouldnotlongresisttheeffortofavictoriousenemy；andthedespair，thedisaffection，theindifferenceofthesoldiersandpeople，hastenedthedownfallofthewretchedMaximus。Hewasdraggedfromhisthrone，rudelystrippedoftheImperialornaments，therobe，thediadem，andthepurpleslippers；andconducted，likeamalefactor，tothecampandpresenceofTheodosius，ataplaceaboutthreemilesfromAquileia。Thebehavioroftheemperorwasnotintendedtoinsult，andheshoweddispositiontopityandforgive，thetyrantoftheWest，whohadneverbeenhispersonalenemy，andwasnowbecometheobjectofhiscontempt。Oursympathyisthemostforciblyexcitedbythemisfortunestowhichweareexposed；andthespectacleofaproudcompetitor，nowprostrateathisfeet，couldnotfailofproducingveryseriousandsolemnthoughtsinthemindofthevictoriousemperor。Butthefeebleemotionofinvoluntarypitywascheckedbyhisregardforpublicjustice，andthememoryofGratian；andheabandonedthevictimtothepiouszealofthesoldiers，whodrewhimoutoftheImperialpresence，andinstantlyseparatedhisheadfromhisbody。Theintelligenceofhisdefeatanddeathwasreceivedwithsincereorwell—dissembledjoy:hissonVictor，onwhomhehadconferredthetitleofAugustus，diedbytheorder，perhapsbythehand，oftheboldArbogastes；andallthemilitaryplansofTheodosiusweresuccessfullyexecuted。Whenhehadthusterminatedthecivilwar，withlessdifficultyandbloodshedthanhemightnaturallyexpect，heemployedthewintermonthsofhisresidenceatMilan，torestorethestateoftheafflictedprovinces；andearlyinthespringhemade，aftertheexampleofConstantineandConstantius，histriumphalentryintotheancientcapitaloftheRomanempire。
^77
[Footnote76:SeeGodefroy\'sChronologyoftheLaws，Cod。
Theodos，toml。p。cxix。]
[Footnote77:Besidesthehintswhichmaybegatheredfromchroniclesandecclesiasticalhistory，Zosimusl。iv。p。259—
267，Orosius，l。vii。c。35，andPacatus，inPanegyr。Vet。
xii。30—47，supplythelooseandscantymaterialsofthiscivilwar。Ambrosetom。ii。Epist。xl。p。952，953darklyalludestothewell—knowneventsofamagazinesurprised，anactionatPetovio，aSicilian，perhapsanaval，victory，&c。，Ausoniusp。256，edit。Toll。applaudsthepeculiarmeritandgoodfortuneofAquileia。]
Theorator，whomaybesilentwithoutdanger，maypraisewithoutdifficulty，andwithoutreluctance；^78andposteritywillconfess，thatthecharacterofTheodosius^79mightfurnishthesubjectofasincereandamplepanegyric。Thewisdomofhislaws，andthesuccessofhisarms，renderedhisadministrationrespectableintheeyesbothofhissubjectsandofhisenemies。
Helovedandpractisedthevirtuesofdomesticlife，whichseldomholdtheirresidenceinthepalacesofkings。Theodosiuswaschasteandtemperate；heenjoyed，withoutexcess，thesensualandsocialpleasuresofthetable；andthewarmthofhisamorouspassionswasneverdivertedfromtheirlawfulobjects。TheproudtitlesofImperialgreatnesswereadornedbythetendernamesofafaithfulhusband，anindulgentfather；hisunclewasraised，byhisaffectionateesteem，totherankofasecondparent:
Theodosiusembraced，ashisown，thechildrenofhisbrotherandsister；andtheexpressionsofhisregardwereextendedtothemostdistantandobscurebranchesofhisnumerouskindred。Hisfamiliarfriendswerejudiciouslyselectedfromamongthosepersons，who，intheequalintercourseofprivatelife，hadappearedbeforehiseyeswithoutamask；theconsciousnessofpersonalandsuperiormeritenabledhimtodespisetheaccidentaldistinctionofthepurple；andheprovedbyhisconduct，thathehadforgottenalltheinjuries，whilehemostgratefullyrememberedallthefavorsandservices，whichhehadreceivedbeforeheascendedthethroneoftheRomanempire。Theseriousorlivelytoneofhisconversationwasadaptedtotheage，therank，orthecharacterofhissubjects，whomheadmittedintohissociety；andtheaffabilityofhismannersdisplayedtheimageofhismind。Theodosiusrespectedthesimplicityofthegoodandvirtuous:everyart，everytalent，ofauseful，orevenofaninnocentnature，wasrewardedbyhisjudiciousliberality；and，excepttheheretics，whomhepersecutedwithimplacablehatred，thediffusivecircleofhisbenevolencewascircumscribedonlybythelimitsofthehumanrace。Thegovernmentofamightyempiremayassuredlysufficetooccupythetime，andtheabilities，ofamortal:yetthediligentprince，withoutaspiringtotheunsuitablereputationofprofoundlearning，alwaysreservedsomemomentsofhisleisurefortheinstructiveamusementofreading。
History，whichenlargedhisexperience，washisfavoritestudy。
TheannalsofRome，inthelongperiodofelevenhundredyears，presentedhimwithavariousandsplendidpictureofhumanlife:
andithasbeenparticularlyobserved，thatwheneverheperusedthecruelactsofCinna，ofMarius，orofSylla，hewarmlyexpressedhisgenerousdetestationofthoseenemiesofhumanityandfreedom。Hisdisinterestedopinionofpasteventswasusefullyappliedastheruleofhisownactions；andTheodosiushasdeservedthesingularcommendation，thathisvirtuesalwaysseemedtoexpandwithhisfortune:theseasonofhisprosperitywasthatofhismoderation；andhisclemencyappearedthemostconspicuousafterthedangerandsuccessofacivilwar。TheMoorishguardsofthetyranthadbeenmassacredinthefirstheatofthevictory，andasmallnumberofthemostobnoxiouscriminalssufferedthepunishmentofthelaw。Buttheemperorshowedhimselfmuchmoreattentivetorelievetheinnocentthantochastisetheguilty。TheoppressedsubjectsoftheWest，whowouldhavedeemedthemselveshappyintherestorationoftheirlands，wereastonishedtoreceiveasumofmoneyequivalenttotheirlosses；andtheliberalityoftheconquerorsupportedtheagedmother，andeducatedtheorphandaughters，ofMaximus。^80A
characterthusaccomplishedmightalmostexcusetheextravagantsuppositionoftheoratorPacatus；that，iftheelderBrutuscouldbepermittedtorevisittheearth，thesternrepublicanwouldabjure，atthefeetofTheodosius，hishatredofkings；andingenuouslyconfess，thatsuchamonarchwasthemostfaithfulguardianofthehappinessanddignityoftheRomanpeople。^81
[Footnote78:Quampromptumlaudareprincipem，tamtutumsiluissedeprincipe，Pacat。inPanegyr。Vet。xii。2。LatinusPacatusDrepanius，anativeofGaul，pronouncedthisorationatRome，A。D。388。HewasafterwardsproconsulofAfrica；andhisfriendAusoniuspraiseshimasapoetsecondonlytoVirgil。SeeTillemont，Hist。desEmpereurs，tom。v。p。303。]
[Footnote79:SeethefairportraitofTheodosius，bytheyoungerVictor；thestrokesaredistinct，andthecolorsaremixed。ThepraiseofPacatusistoovague；andClaudianalwaysseemsafraidofexaltingthefatherabovetheson。]
[Footnote80:Ambros。tom。ii。Epist。xl。p。55。Pacatus，fromthewantofskillorofcourage，omitsthisgloriouscircumstance。]
[Footnote81:Pacat。inPanegyr。Vet。xii。20。]