[Footnote*:GibbonhasembodiedthepicturesqueversesofClaudian:—
NectantisdissonalinguisTurba，necarmorumcultudiversionunquam]
[Footnote115:Zosimus，l。iv。p。280。Socrates，l。vii。10。
AlarichimselfdeBell。Getico，524dwellswithmorecomplacencyonhisearlyexploitsagainsttheRomans……TotAugustosHebroquitestefugavi。
Yethisvanitycouldscarcelyhaveprovedthispluralityofflyingemperors。]
TheemperoroftheWest，or，tospeakmoreproperly，hisgeneralArbogastes，wasinstructedbythemisconductandmisfortuneofMaximus，howdangerousitmightprovetoextendthelineofdefenceagainstaskilfulantagonist，whowasfreetopress，ortosuspend，tocontract，ortomultiply，hisvariousmethodsofattack。^116ArbogastesfixedhisstationontheconfinesofItaly；thetroopsofTheodosiuswerepermittedtooccupy，withoutresistance，theprovincesofPannonia，asfarasthefootoftheJulianAlps；andeventhepassesofthemountainswerenegligently，orperhapsartfully，abandonedtotheboldinvader。Hedescendedfromthehills，andbeheld，withsomeastonishment，theformidablecampoftheGaulsandGermans，thatcoveredwitharmsandtentstheopencountrywhichextendstothewallsofAquileia，andthebanksoftheFrigidus，^117orColdRiver。^118Thisnarrowtheatreofthewar，circumscribedbytheAlpsandtheAdriatic，didnotallowmuchroomfortheoperationsofmilitaryskill；thespiritofArbogasteswouldhavedisdainedapardon；hisguiltextinguishedthehopeofanegotiation；andTheodosiuswasimpatienttosatisfyhisgloryandrevenge，bythechastisementoftheassassinsofValentinian。Withoutweighingthenaturalandartificialobstaclesthatopposedhisefforts，theemperoroftheEastimmediatelyattackedthefortificationsofhisrivals，assignedthepostofhonorabledangertotheGoths，andcherishedasecretwish，thatthebloodyconflictmightdiminishtheprideandnumbersoftheconquerors。Tenthousandofthoseauxiliaries，andBacurius，generaloftheIberians，diedbravelyonthefieldofbattle。Butthevictorywasnotpurchasedbytheirblood；theGaulsmaintainedtheiradvantage；andtheapproachofnightprotectedthedisorderlyflight，orretreat，ofthetroopsofTheodosius。Theemperorretiredtotheadjacenthills；wherehepassedadisconsolatenight，withoutsleep，withoutprovisions，andwithouthopes；^119
exceptthatstrongassurance，which，underthemostdesperatecircumstances，theindependentmindmayderivefromthecontemptoffortuneandoflife。ThetriumphofEugeniuswascelebratedbytheinsolentanddissolutejoyofhiscamp；whilsttheactiveandvigilantArbogastessecretlydetachedaconsiderablebodyoftroopstooccupythepassesofthemountains，andtoencompasstherearoftheEasternarmy。ThedawnofdaydiscoveredtotheeyesofTheodosiustheextentandtheextremityofhisdanger；
buthisapprehensionsweresoondispelled，byafriendlymessagefromtheleadersofthosetroopswhoexpressedtheirinclinationtodesertthestandardofthetyrant。Thehonorableandlucrativerewards，whichtheystipulatedasthepriceoftheirperfidy，weregrantedwithouthesitation；andasinkandpapercouldnoteasilybeprocured，theemperorsubscribed，onhisowntablets，theratificationofthetreaty。Thespiritofhissoldierswasrevivedbythisseasonablereenforcement；andtheyagainmarched，withconfidence，tosurprisethecampofatyrant，whoseprincipalofficersappearedtodistrust，eitherthejusticeorthesuccessofhisarms。Intheheatofthebattle，aviolenttempest，^120suchasisoftenfeltamongtheAlps，suddenlyarosefromtheEast。ThearmyofTheodosiuswasshelteredbytheirpositionfromtheimpetuosityofthewind，whichblewacloudofdustinthefacesoftheenemy，disorderedtheirranks，wrestedtheirweaponsfromtheirhands，anddiverted，orrepelled，theirineffectualjavelins。Thisaccidentaladvantagewasskilfullyimproved，theviolenceofthestormwasmagnifiedbythesuperstitiousterrorsoftheGauls；andtheyyieldedwithoutshametotheinvisiblepowersofheaven，whoseemedtomilitateonthesideofthepiousemperor。Hisvictorywasdecisive；andthedeathsofhistworivalsweredistinguishedonlybythedifferenceoftheircharacters。TherhetoricianEugenius，whohadalmostacquiredthedominionoftheworld，wasreducedtoimplorethemercyoftheconqueror；andtheunrelentingsoldiersseparatedhisheadfromhisbodyashelayprostrateatthefeetofTheodosius。Arbogastes，afterthelossofabattle，inwhichhehaddischargedthedutiesofasoldierandageneral，wanderedseveraldaysamongthemountains。Butwhenhewasconvincedthathiscausewasdesperate，andhisescapeimpracticable，theintrepidBarbarianimitatedtheexampleoftheancientRomans，andturnedhisswordagainsthisownbreast。ThefateoftheempirewasdeterminedinanarrowcornerofItaly；andthelegitimatesuccessorofthehouseofValentinianembracedthearchbishopofMilan，andgraciouslyreceivedthesubmissionoftheprovincesoftheWest。Thoseprovinceswereinvolvedintheguiltofrebellion；whiletheinflexiblecourageofAmbrosealonehadresistedtheclaimsofsuccessfulusurpation。Withamanlyfreedom，whichmighthavebeenfataltoanyothersubject，thearchbishoprejectedthegiftsofEugenius，declinedhiscorrespondence，andwithdrewhimselffromMilan，toavoidtheodiouspresenceofatyrant，whosedownfallhepredictedindiscreetandambiguouslanguage。
ThemeritofAmbrosewasapplaudedbytheconqueror，whosecuredtheattachmentofthepeoplebyhisalliancewiththechurch；andtheclemencyofTheodosiusisascribedtothehumaneintercessionofthearchbishopofMilan。^121
[Footnote116:Claudianiniv。Cons。Honor。77，&c。contraststhemilitaryplansofthetwousurpers:—……NovitasaudereprioremSuadebat；cautumquedabantexemplasequentem。
Hicnovamoliripraeceps:hicquaereretutaProvidus。Hicfusis；colectisviribusille。
Hicvagusexcurrens；hicintraclaustrareductusDissimiles，sedmortepares……]
[Footnote117:TheFrigidus，asmall，thoughmemorable，streaminthecountryofGoretz，nowcalledtheVipao，fallsintotheSontius，orLisonzo，aboveAquileia，somemilesfromtheAdriatic。SeeD\'Anville\'sancientandmodernmaps，andtheItaliaAntiquaofCluverius，tom。i。c。188。]
[Footnote118:Claudian\'switisintolerable:thesnowwasdyedred；thecoldversmoked；andthechannelmusthavebeenchokedwithcarcassesthecurrenthadnotbeenswelledwithblood。
Confluxitpopulus:totampaterundiquesecumMoveratAurorem；mixtishicColchusIberis，HicmitravelatusArabs，hiccrinedecoroArmenius，hicpictaSaces，fucataqueMedus，HicgemmatatigertentoriafixeratIndus。—DeLaud。Stil。
l。145。—M。]
[Footnote119:Theodoretaffirms，thatSt。John，andSt。Philip，appearedtothewaking，orsleeping，emperor，onhorseback，&c。
Thisisthefirstinstanceofapostolicchivalry，whichafterwardsbecamesopopularinSpain，andintheCrusades。]
[Footnote120:Tepropter，gelidisAquilodemonteprocellisObruitadversasacies；revolutaquetelaVertitinauctores，etturbinereppulithastasOnimiumdilecteDeo，cuifunditabantrisAeolusarmatashyemes；cuimilitatAether，Etconjurativeniuntadclassicaventi。
ThesefamouslinesofClaudianiniii。Cons。Honor。93，&c。
A。D。396areallegedbyhiscontemporaries，AugustinandOrosius；whosuppressthePagandeityofAeolus，andaddsomecircumstancesfromtheinformationofeye—witnesses。Withinfourmonthsafterthevictory，itwascomparedbyAmbrosetothemiraculousvictoriesofMosesandJoshua。]
[Footnote*:ArbogastesandhisemperorhadopenlyespousedthePaganparty，accordingtoAmbroseandAugustin。SeeLeBeau，v。
40。BeugnotHistoiredelaDestructionduPaganismeismorefull，andperhapssomewhatfanciful，onthisremarkablereactioninfavorofPaganism，butcomparep116。—M。]
[Footnote121:TheeventsofthiscivilwararegatheredfromAmbrose，tom。ii。Epist。lxii。p。1022，Paulinus，inVit。
Ambros。c。26—34，Augustin，deCivitat。Dei，v。26，Orosius，l。vii。c。35，Sozomen，l。vii。c。24，Theodoret，l。v。c。
24，Zosimus，l。iv。p。281，282，Claudian，iniii。Cons。Hon。
63—105，iniv。Cons。Hon。70—117，andtheChroniclespublishedbyScaliger。]
AfterthedefeatofEugenius，themerit，aswellastheauthority，ofTheodosiuswascheerfullyacknowledgedbyalltheinhabitantsoftheRomanworld。Theexperienceofhispastconductencouragedthemostpleasingexpectationsofhisfuturereign；andtheageoftheemperor，whichdidnotexceedfiftyyears，seemedtoextendtheprospectofthepublicfelicity。Hisdeath，onlyfourmonthsafterhisvictory，wasconsideredbythepeopleasanunforeseenandfatalevent，whichdestroyed，inamoment，thehopesoftherisinggeneration。Buttheindulgenceofeaseandluxuryhadsecretlynourishedtheprinciplesofdisease。^122ThestrengthofTheodosiuswasunabletosupportthesuddenandviolenttransitionfromthepalacetothecamp；
andtheincreasingsymptomsofadropsyannouncedthespeedydissolutionoftheemperor。Theopinion，andperhapstheinterest，ofthepublichadconfirmedthedivisionoftheEasternandWesternempires；andthetworoyalyouths，ArcadiusandHonorius，whohadalreadyobtained，fromthetendernessoftheirfather，thetitleofAugustus，weredestinedtofillthethronesofConstantinopleandofRome。Thoseprinceswerenotpermittedtosharethedangerandgloryofthecivilwar；^123butassoonasTheodosiushadtriumphedoverhisunworthyrivals，hecalledhisyoungerson，Honorius，toenjoythefruitsofthevictory，andtoreceivethesceptreoftheWestfromthehandsofhisdyingfather。ThearrivalofHonoriusatMilanwaswelcomedbyasplendidexhibitionofthegamesoftheCircus；andtheemperor，thoughhewasoppressedbytheweightofhisdisorder，contributedbyhispresencetothepublicjoy。Buttheremainsofhisstrengthwereexhaustedbythepainfuleffortwhichhemadetoassistatthespectaclesofthemorning。Honoriussupplied，duringtherestoftheday，theplaceofhisfather；
andthegreatTheodosiusexpiredintheensuingnight。
Notwithstandingtherecentanimositiesofacivilwar，hisdeathwasuniversallylamented。TheBarbarians，whomhehadvanquishedandthechurchmen，bywhomhehadbeensubdued，celebrated，withloudandsincereapplause，thequalitiesofthedeceasedemperor，whichappearedthemostvaluableintheireyes。TheRomanswereterrifiedbytheimpendingdangersofafeebleanddividedadministration，andeverydisgracefulmomentoftheunfortunatereignsofArcadiusandHonoriusrevivedthememoryoftheirirreparableloss。
[Footnote122:Thisdisease，ascribedbySocratesl。v。c。26
tothefatiguesofwar，isrepresentedbyPhilostorgiusl。xi。
c。2astheeffectofslothandintemperance；forwhichPhotiuscallshimanimpudentliar，Godefroy，Dissert。p。438。]
[Footnote123:Zosimussupposes，thattheboyHonoriusaccompaniedhisfather，l。iv。p。280。Yetthequantoflagrabrantpectoravotoisallthatflatterywouldallowtoacontemporarypoet；whoclearlydescribestheemperor\'srefusal，andthejourneyofHonorius，afterthevictoryClaudianiniii。
Cons。78—125。]
InthefaithfulpictureofthevirtuesofTheodosius，hisimperfectionshavenotbeendissembled；theactofcruelty，andthehabitsofindolence，whichtarnishedthegloryofoneofthegreatestoftheRomanprinces。Anhistorian，perpetuallyadversetothefameofTheodosius，hasexaggeratedhisvices，andtheirperniciouseffects；heboldlyasserts，thateveryrankofsubjectsimitatedtheeffeminatemannersoftheirsovereign；andthateveryspeciesofcorruptionpollutedthecourseofpublicandprivatelife；andthatthefeeblerestraintsoforderanddecencywereinsufficienttoresisttheprogressofthatdegeneratespirit，whichsacrifices，withoutablush，theconsiderationofdutyandinteresttothebaseindulgenceofslothandappetite。^124Thecomplaintsofcontemporarywriters，whodeploretheincreaseofluxury，anddepravationofmanners，arecommonlyexpressiveoftheirpeculiartemperandsituation。
Therearefewobservers，whopossessaclearandcomprehensiveviewoftherevolutionsofsociety；andwhoarecapableofdiscoveringtheniceandsecretspringsofaction，whichimpel，inthesameuniformdirection，theblindandcapriciouspassionsofamultitudeofindividuals。Ifitcanbeaffirmed，withanydegreeoftruth，thattheluxuryoftheRomanswasmoreshamelessanddissoluteinthereignofTheodosiusthanintheageofConstantine，perhaps，orofAugustus，thealterationcannotbeascribedtoanybeneficialimprovements，whichhadgraduallyincreasedthestockofnationalriches。Alongperiodofcalamityordecaymusthavecheckedtheindustry，anddiminishedthewealth，ofthepeople；andtheirprofuseluxurymusthavebeentheresultofthatindolentdespair，whichenjoysthepresenthour，anddeclinesthethoughtsoffuturity。TheuncertainconditionoftheirpropertydiscouragedthesubjectsofTheodosiusfromengaginginthoseusefulandlaboriousundertakingswhichrequireanimmediateexpense，andpromiseaslowanddistantadvantage。Thefrequentexamplesofruinanddesolationtemptedthemnottosparetheremainsofapatrimony，whichmight，everyhour，becomethepreyoftherapaciousGoth。
Andthemadprodigalitywhichprevailsintheconfusionofashipwreck，orasiege，mayservetoexplaintheprogressofluxuryamidstthemisfortunesandterrorsofasinkingnation。
[Footnote124:Zosimus，l。iv。p。244。]
Theeffeminateluxury，whichinfectedthemannersofcourtsandcities，hadinstilledasecretanddestructivepoisonintothecampsofthelegions；andtheirdegeneracyhasbeenmarkedbythepenofamilitarywriter，whohadaccuratelystudiedthegenuineandancientprinciplesofRomandiscipline。ItisthejustandimportantobservationofVegetius，thattheinfantrywasinvariablycoveredwithdefensivearmor，fromthefoundationofthecity，tothereignoftheemperorGratian。Therelaxationofdiscipline，andthedisuseofexercise，renderedthesoldierslessable，andlesswilling，tosupportthefatiguesoftheservice；theycomplainedoftheweightofthearmor，whichtheyseldomwore；andtheysuccessivelyobtainedthepermissionoflayingasideboththeircuirassesandtheirhelmets。Theheavyweaponsoftheirancestors，theshortsword，andtheformidablepilum，whichhadsubduedtheworld，insensiblydroppedfromtheirfeeblehands。Astheuseoftheshieldisincompatiblewiththatofthebow，theyreluctantlymarchedintothefield；condemnedtosuffereitherthepainofwounds，ortheignominyofflight，andalwaysdisposedtopreferthemoreshamefulalternative。ThecavalryoftheGoths，theHuns，andtheAlani，hadfeltthebenefits，andadoptedtheuse，ofdefensivearmor；and，astheyexcelledinthemanagementofmissileweapons，theyeasilyoverwhelmedthenakedandtremblinglegions，whoseheadsandbreastswereexposed，withoutdefence，tothearrowsoftheBarbarians。Thelossofarmies，thedestructionofcities，andthedishonoroftheRomanname，ineffectuallysolicitedthesuccessorsofGratiantorestorethehelmetsandthecuirassesoftheinfantry。Theenervatedsoldiersabandonedtheirownandthepublicdefence；andtheirpusillanimousindolencemaybeconsideredastheimmediatecauseofthedownfalloftheempire。
^125
[Footnote125:Vegetius，deReMilitari，l。i。c。10。Theseriesofcalamitieswhichhemarks，compelustobelieve，thattheHero，towhomhededicateshisbook，isthelastandmostingloriousoftheValentinians。]
ChapterXXVIII:DestructionOfPaganism。
PartI。
FinalDestructionOfPaganism。—IntroductionOfTheWorshipOfSaints，AndRelics，AmongTheChristians。
TheruinofPaganism，intheageofTheodosius，isperhapstheonlyexampleofthetotalextirpationofanyancientandpopularsuperstition；andmaythereforedeservetobeconsideredasasingulareventinthehistoryofthehumanmind。TheChristians，moreespeciallytheclergy，hadimpatientlysupportedtheprudentdelaysofConstantine，andtheequaltolerationoftheelderValentinian；norcouldtheydeemtheirconquestperfectorsecure，aslongastheiradversarieswerepermittedtoexist。
TheinfluencewhichAmbroseandhisbrethrenhadacquiredovertheyouthofGratian，andthepietyofTheodosius，wasemployedtoinfusethemaximsofpersecutionintothebreastsoftheirImperialproselytes。Twospeciousprinciplesofreligiousjurisprudencewereestablished，fromwhencetheydeducedadirectandrigorousconclusion，againstthesubjectsoftheempirewhostilladheredtotheceremoniesoftheirancestors:thatthemagistrateis，insomemeasure，guiltyofthecrimeswhichheneglectstoprohibit，ortopunish；and，thattheidolatrousworshipoffabulousdeities，andrealdaemons，isthemostabominablecrimeagainstthesuprememajestyoftheCreator。ThelawsofMoses，andtheexamplesofJewishhistory，^1werehastily，perhapserroneously，applied，bytheclergy，tothemildanduniversalreignofChristianity。^2Thezealoftheemperorswasexcitedtovindicatetheirownhonor，andthatoftheDeity:
andthetemplesoftheRomanworldweresubverted，aboutsixtyyearsaftertheconversionofConstantine。
[Footnote1:St。Ambrosetom。ii。deObit。Theodos。p。1208
expresslypraisesandrecommendsthezealofJosiahinthedestructionofidolatryThelanguageofJuliusFirmicusMaternusonthesamesubjectdeErroreProfan。Relig。p。467，edit。
Gronov。ispiouslyinhuman。NecfiliojubettheMosaicLaw
parci，necfratri，etperamatamconjugeragladiumvindicemducit，&c。]
[Footnote2:Bayletom。ii。p。406，inhisCommentairePhilosophiquejustifies，andlimits，theseintolerantlawsbythetemporalreignofJehovahovertheJews。Theattemptislaudable。]
FromtheageofNumatothereignofGratian，theRomanspreservedtheregularsuccessionoftheseveralcollegesofthesacerdotalorder。^3FifteenPontiffsexercisedtheirsupremejurisdictionoverallthings，andpersons，thatwereconsecratedtotheserviceofthegods；andthevariousquestionswhichperpetuallyaroseinalooseandtraditionarysystem，weresubmittedtothejudgmentoftheirholytribunalFifteengraveandlearnedAugursobservedthefaceoftheheavens，andprescribedtheactionsofheroes，accordingtotheflightofbirds。FifteenkeepersoftheSibyllinebookstheirnameofQuindecemvirswasderivedfromtheirnumberoccasionallyconsultedthehistoryoffuture，and，asitshouldseem，ofcontingent，events。SixVestalsdevotedtheirvirginitytotheguardofthesacredfire，andoftheunknownpledgesofthedurationofRome；whichnomortalhadbeensufferedtobeholdwithimpunity。^4SevenEpulospreparedthetableofthegods，conductedthesolemnprocession，andregulatedtheceremoniesoftheannualfestival。ThethreeFlamensofJupiter，ofMars，andofQuirinus，wereconsideredasthepeculiarministersofthethreemostpowerfuldeities，whowatchedoverthefateofRomeandoftheuniverse。