PartII。
Thefilialpietyoftheemperorsthemselvesengagedthemtoproceed，withsomecautionandtenderness，inthereformationoftheeternalcity。Thoseabsolutemonarchsactedwithlessregardtotheprejudicesoftheprovincials。ThepiouslaborwhichhadbeensuspendedneartwentyyearssincethedeathofConstantius，^24wasvigorouslyresumed，andfinallyaccomplished，bythezealofTheodosius。WhilstthatwarlikeprinceyetstruggledwiththeGoths，notfortheglory，butforthesafety，oftherepublic，heventuredtooffendaconsiderablepartyofhissubjects，bysomeactswhichmightperhapssecuretheprotectionofHeaven，butwhichmustseemrashandunseasonableintheeyeofhumanprudence。ThesuccessofhisfirstexperimentsagainstthePagansencouragedthepiousemperortoreiterateandenforcehisedictsofproscription:thesamelawswhichhadbeenoriginallypublishedintheprovincesoftheEast，wereapplied，afterthedefeatofMaximus，tothewholeextentoftheWesternempire；andeveryvictoryoftheorthodoxTheodosiuscontributedtothetriumphoftheChristianandCatholicfaith。^25Heattackedsuperstitioninhermostvitalpart，byprohibitingtheuseofsacrifices，whichhedeclaredtobecriminalaswellasinfamous；
andifthetermsofhisedictsmorestrictlycondemnedtheimpiouscuriositywhichexaminedtheentrailsofthevictim，^26
everysubsequentexplanationtendedtoinvolveinthesameguiltthegeneralpracticeofimmolation，whichessentiallyconstitutedthereligionofthePagans。Asthetempleshadbeenerectedforthepurposeofsacrifice，itwasthedutyofabenevolentprincetoremovefromhissubjectsthedangeroustemptationofoffendingagainstthelawswhichhehadenacted。AspecialcommissionwasgrantedtoCynegius，thePraetorianpraefectoftheEast，andafterwardstothecountsJoviusandGaudentius，twoofficersofdistinguishedrankintheWest；bywhichtheyweredirectedtoshutthetemples，toseizeordestroytheinstrumentsofidolatry，toabolishtheprivilegesofthepriests，andtoconfiscatetheconsecratedpropertyforthebenefitoftheemperor，ofthechurch，orofthearmy。^27Herethedesolationmighthavestopped:andthenakededifices，whichwerenolongeremployedintheserviceofidolatry，mighthavebeenprotectedfromthedestructiverageoffanaticism。ManyofthosetempleswerethemostsplendidandbeautifulmonumentsofGrecianarchitecture；andtheemperorhimselfwasinterestednottodefacethesplendorofhisowncities，ortodiminishthevalueofhisownpossessions。Thosestatelyedificesmightbesufferedtoremain，assomanylastingtrophiesofthevictoryofChrist。
Inthedeclineoftheartstheymightbeusefullyconvertedintomagazines，manufactures，orplacesofpublicassembly:andperhaps，whenthewallsofthetemplehadbeensufficientlypurifiedbyholyrites，theworshipofthetrueDeitymightbeallowedtoexpiatetheancientguiltofidolatry。Butaslongastheysubsisted，thePagansfondlycherishedthesecrethope，thatanauspiciousrevolution，asecondJulian，mightagainrestorethealtarsofthegods:andtheearnestnesswithwhichtheyaddressedtheirunavailingprayerstothethrone，^28increasedthezealoftheChristianreformerstoextirpate，withoutmercy，therootofsuperstition。Thelawsoftheemperorsexhibitsomesymptomsofamilderdisposition:^29buttheircoldandlanguideffortswereinsufficienttostemthetorrentofenthusiasmandrapine，whichwasconducted，orratherimpelled，bythespiritualrulersofthechurch。InGaul，theholyMartin，bishopofTours，^30marchedattheheadofhisfaithfulmonkstodestroytheidols，thetemples，andtheconsecratedtreesofhisextensivediocese；and，intheexecutionofthisarduoustask，theprudentreaderwilljudgewhetherMartinwassupportedbytheaidofmiraculouspowers，orofcarnalweapons。InSyria，thedivineandexcellentMarcellus，^31asheisstyledbyTheodoret，abishopanimatedwithapostolicfervor，resolvedtolevelwiththegroundthestatelytempleswithinthedioceseofApamea。HisattackwasresistedbytheskillandsoliditywithwhichthetempleofJupiterhadbeenconstructed。Thebuildingwasseatedonaneminence:oneachofthefoursides，theloftyroofwassupportedbyfifteenmassycolumns，sixteenfeetincircumference；andthelargestone，ofwhichtheywerecomposed，werefirmlycementedwithleadandiron。Theforceofthestrongestandsharpesttoolshadbeentriedwithouteffect。Itwasfoundnecessarytounderminethefoundationsofthecolumns，whichfelldownassoonasthetemporarywoodenpropshadbeenconsumedwithfire；andthedifficultiesoftheenterprisearedescribedundertheallegoryofablackdaemon，whoretarded，thoughhecouldnotdefeat，theoperationsoftheChristianengineers。Elatedwithvictory，Marcellustookthefieldinpersonagainstthepowersofdarkness；anumeroustroopofsoldiersandgladiatorsmarchedundertheepiscopalbanner，andhesuccessivelyattackedthevillagesandcountrytemplesofthedioceseofApamea。Wheneveranyresistanceordangerwasapprehended，thechampionofthefaith，whoselamenesswouldnotallowhimeithertofightorfly，placedhimselfataconvenientdistance，beyondthereachofdarts。Butthisprudencewastheoccasionofhisdeath:hewassurprisedandslainbyabodyofexasperatedrustics；andthesynodoftheprovincepronounced，withouthesitation，thattheholyMarcellushadsacrificedhislifeinthecauseofGod。Inthesupportofthiscause，themonks，whorushedwithtumultuousfuryfromthedesert，distinguishedthemselvesbytheirzealanddiligence。TheydeservedtheenmityofthePagans；andsomeofthemmightdeservethereproachesofavariceandintemperance；ofavarice，whichtheygratifiedwithholyplunder，andofintemperance，whichtheyindulgedattheexpenseofthepeople，whofoolishlyadmiredtheirtatteredgarments，loudpsalmody，andartificialpaleness。
^32Asmallnumberoftempleswasprotectedbythefears，thevenality，thetaste，ortheprudence，ofthecivilandecclesiasticalgovernors。ThetempleoftheCelestialVenusatCarthage，whosesacredprecinctsformedacircumferenceoftwomiles，wasjudiciouslyconvertedintoaChristianchurch；^33andasimilarconsecrationhaspreservedinviolatethemajesticdomeofthePantheonatRome。^34ButinalmosteveryprovinceoftheRomanworld，anarmyoffanatics，withoutauthority，andwithoutdiscipline，invadedthepeacefulinhabitants；andtheruinofthefaireststructuresofantiquitystilldisplaystheravagesofthoseBarbarians，whoalonehadtimeandinclinationtoexecutesuchlaboriousdestruction。
[Footnote24:LibaniusOrat。proTemplis，p。10，Genev。1634，publishedbyJamesGodefroy，andnowextremelyscarceaccusesValentinianandValensofprohibitingsacrifices。SomepartialordermayhavebeenissuedbytheEasternemperor；buttheideaofanygenerallawiscontradictedbythesilenceoftheCode，andtheevidenceofecclesiasticalhistory。
Note:SeeinReiske\'seditionofLibanius，tom。ii。p。155。
SacrificwasprohibitedbyValens，butnottheofferingofincense。—M。]
[Footnote25:SeehislawsintheTheodosianCode，l。xvi。tit。
x。leg。7—11。]
[Footnote26:Homer\'ssacrificesarenotaccompaniedwithanyinquisitionofentrails，seeFeithius，Antiquitat。Homer。l。i。
c。10，16。TheTuscans，whoproducedthefirstHaruspices，subduedboththeGreeksandtheRomans，CicerodeDivinatione，ii。23。]
[Footnote27:Zosimus，l。iv。p。245，249。Theodoret。l。v。c。
21。IdatiusinChron。Prosper。Aquitan。l。iii。c。38，apudBaronium，Annal。Eccles。A。D。389，No。52。LibaniusproTemplis，p。10laborstoprovethatthecommandsofTheodosiuswerenotdirectandpositive。
Note:LibaniusappearstobethebestauthorityfortheEast，where，underTheodosius，theworkofdevastationwascarriedonwithverydifferentdegreesofviolence，accordingtothetemperofthelocalauthoritiesandoftheclergy；andmoreespeciallytheneighborhoodofthemorefanaticanmonks。Neanderwellobserves，thattheprohibitionofsacrificewouldbeeasilymisinterpretedintoanauthorityforthedestructionofthebuildingsinwhichsacrificeswereperformed。GeschichtederChristlichenreligionii。p。156。AnabuseofthiskindledtothisremarkableorationofLibanius。Neander，however，justlydoubtswhetherthisboldvindicationoratleastexculpation，ofPaganismwaseverdeliveredbefore，orevenplacedinthehandsoftheChristianemperor。—M。]
[Footnote28:Cod。Theodos，l。xvi。tit。x。leg。8，18。Thereisroomtobelieve，thatthistempleofEdessa，whichTheodosiuswishedtosaveforciviluses，wassoonafterwardsaheapofruins，LibaniusproTemplis，p。26，27，andGodefroy\'snotes，p。
59。]
[Footnote29:SeethiscuriousorationofLibaniusproTemplis，pronounced，orrathercomposed，abouttheyear390。Ihaveconsulted，withadvantage，Dr。Lardner\'sversionandremarks，HeathenTestimonies，vol。iv。p。135—163。]
[Footnote30:SeetheLifeofMartinbySulpiciusSeverus，c。9—
14。ThesaintoncemistookasDonQuixotemighthavedoneaharmlessfuneralforanidolatrousprocession，andimprudentlycommittedamiracle。]
[Footnote31:CompareSozomen，l。vii。c。15withTheodoret，l。v。c。21。Betweenthem，theyrelatethecrusadeanddeathofMarcellus。]
[Footnote32:Libanius，proTemplis，p。10—13。Herailsattheseblack—garbedmen，theChristianmonks，whoeatmorethanelephants。Poorelephants!theyaretemperateanimals。]
[Footnote33:Prosper。Aquitan。l。iii。c。38，apudBaronium；
Annal。Eccles。A。D。389，No。58，&c。Thetemplehadbeenshutsometime，andtheaccesstoitwasovergrownwithbrambles。]
[Footnote34:Donatus，RomaAntiquaetNova，l。iv。c。4，p。468。
ThisconsecrationwasperformedbyPopeBonifaceIV。IamignorantofthefavorablecircumstanceswhichhadpreservedthePantheonabovetwohundredyearsafterthereignofTheodosius。]
Inthiswideandvariousprospectofdevastation，thespectatormaydistinguishtheruinsofthetempleofSerapis，atAlexandria。^35Serapisdoesnotappeartohavebeenoneofthenativegods，ormonsters，whosprungfromthefruitfulsoilofsuperstitiousEgypt。^36ThefirstofthePtolemieshadbeencommanded，byadream，toimportthemysteriousstrangerfromthecoastofPontus，wherehehadbeenlongadoredbytheinhabitantsofSinope；buthisattributesandhisreignweresoimperfectlyunderstood，thatitbecameasubjectofdispute，whetherherepresentedthebrightorbofday，orthegloomymonarchofthesubterraneousregions。^37TheEgyptians，whowereobstinatelydevotedtothereligionoftheirfathers，refusedtoadmitthisforeigndeitywithinthewallsoftheircities。^38Buttheobsequiouspriests，whowereseducedbytheliberalityofthePtolemies，submitted，withoutresistance，tothepowerofthegodofPontus:anhonorableanddomesticgenealogywasprovided；andthisfortunateusurperwasintroducedintothethroneandbedofOsiris，^39thehusbandofIsis，andthecelestialmonarchofEgypt。Alexandria，whichclaimedhispeculiarprotection，gloriedinthenameofthecityofSerapis。Histemple，^40
whichrivalledtheprideandmagnificenceoftheCapitol，waserectedonthespacioussummitofanartificialmount，raisedonehundredstepsabovetheleveloftheadjacentpartsofthecity；
andtheinteriorcavitywasstronglysupportedbyarches，anddistributedintovaultsandsubterraneousapartments。Theconsecratedbuildingsweresurroundedbyaquadrangularportico；
thestatelyhalls，andexquisitestatues，displayedthetriumphofthearts；andthetreasuresofancientlearningwerepreservedinthefamousAlexandrianlibrary，whichhadarisenwithnewsplendorfromitsashes。^41AftertheedictsofTheodosiushadseverelyprohibitedthesacrificesofthePagans，theywerestilltoleratedinthecityandtempleofSerapis；andthissingularindulgencewasimprudentlyascribedtothesuperstitiousterrorsoftheChristiansthemselves；asiftheyhadfearedtoabolishthoseancientrites，whichcouldalonesecuretheinundationsoftheNile，theharvestsofEgypt，andthesubsistenceofConstantinople。^42
[Footnote35:Sophroniuscomposedarecentandseparatehistory，Jerom，inScript。Eccles。tom。i。p。303，whichhasfurnishedmaterialstoSocrates，l。v。c。16。Theodoret，l。v。c。22，
andRufinus，l。ii。c。22。Yetthelast，whohadbeenatAlexandriabeforeandaftertheevent，maydeservethecreditofanoriginalwitness。]
[Footnote36:GerardVossiusOpera，tom。v。p。80，anddeIdoloaltria，l。i。c。29strivestosupportthestrangenotionoftheFathers；thatthepatriarchJosephwasadoredinEgypt，asthebullApis，andthegodSerapis。
Note:ConsultduDieuSerapisetsonOrigine，parJD。
Guigniaut，thetranslatorofCreuzer\'sSymbolique，Paris，1828；
andinthefifthvolumeofBournouf\'stranslationofTacitus。—
M。]
[Footnote37:Origodeinondumnostriscelebrata。Aegyptiorumantistitessicmemorant，&c。，Tacit。Hist。iv。83。TheGreeks，whohadtravelledintoEgypt，werealikeignorantofthisnewdeity。]
[Footnote38:Macrobius，Saturnal，l。i。c。7。Suchalivingfactdecisivelyproveshisforeignextraction。]
[Footnote39:AtRome，IsisandSerapiswereunitedinthesametemple。Theprecedencywhichthequeenassumed，mayseemtobetrayherunequalalliancewiththestrangerofPontus。ButthesuperiorityofthefemalesexwasestablishedinEgyptasacivilandreligiousinstitution，Diodor。Sicul。tom。i。l。i。p。31，edit。Wesseling，andthesameorderisobservedinPlutarch\'sTreatiseofIsisandOsiris；whomheidentifieswithSerapis。]
[Footnote40:Ammianus，xxii。16。TheExpositiototiusMundi，p。8，inHudson\'sGeograph。Minor。tom。iii。，andRufinus，l。
ii。c。22，celebratetheSerapeum，asoneofthewondersoftheworld。]
[Footnote41:SeeMemoiresdel\'Acad。desInscriptions，tom。ix。
p。397—416。TheoldlibraryofthePtolemieswastotallyconsumedinCaesar\'sAlexandrianwar。MarcAntonygavethewholecollectionofPergamus200，000volumestoCleopatra，asthefoundationofthenewlibraryofAlexandria。]
[Footnote42:LibaniusproTemplis，p。21indiscreetlyprovokeshisChristianmastersbythisinsultingremark。]
Atthattime^43thearchiepiscopalthroneofAlexandriawasfilledbyTheophilus，^44theperpetualenemyofpeaceandvirtue；abold，badman，whosehandswerealternatelypollutedwithgoldandwithblood。HispiousindignationwasexcitedbythehonorsofSerapis；andtheinsultswhichheofferedtoanancienttempleofBacchus，convincedthePagansthathemeditatedamoreimportantanddangerousenterprise。InthetumultuouscapitalofEgypt，theslightestprovocationwassufficienttoinflameacivilwar。ThevotariesofSerapis，whosestrengthandnumbersweremuchinferiortothoseoftheirantagonists，roseinarmsattheinstigationofthephilosopherOlympius，^45whoexhortedthemtodieinthedefenceofthealtarsofthegods。ThesePaganfanaticsfortifiedthemselvesinthetemple，orratherfortress，ofSerapis；repelledthebesiegersbydaringsallies，andaresolutedefence；and，bytheinhumancrueltieswhichtheyexercisedontheirChristianprisoners，obtainedthelastconsolationofdespair。Theeffortsoftheprudentmagistratewereusefullyexertedfortheestablishmentofatruce，tilltheanswerofTheodosiusshoulddeterminethefateofSerapis。Thetwopartiesassembled，withoutarms，intheprincipalsquare；andtheImperialrescriptwaspubliclyread。ButwhenasentenceofdestructionagainsttheidolsofAlexandriawaspronounced，theChristianssetupashoutofjoyandexultation，whilsttheunfortunatePagans，whosefuryhadgivenwaytoconsternation，retiredwithhastyandsilentsteps，andeluded，bytheirflightorobscurity，theresentmentoftheirenemies。TheophilusproceededtodemolishthetempleofSerapis，withoutanyotherdifficulties，thanthosewhichhefoundintheweightandsolidityofthematerials:buttheseobstaclesprovedsoinsuperable，thathewasobligedtoleavethefoundations；andtocontenthimselfwithreducingtheedificeitselftoaheapofrubbish，apartofwhichwassoonafterwardsclearedaway，tomakeroomforachurch，erectedinhonoroftheChristianmartyrs。ThevaluablelibraryofAlexandriawaspillagedordestroyed；andneartwentyyearsafterwards，theappearanceoftheemptyshelvesexcitedtheregretandindignationofeveryspectator，whosemindwasnottotallydarkenedbyreligiousprejudice。^46Thecompositionsofancientgenius，somanyofwhichhaveirretrievablyperished，mightsurelyhavebeenexceptedfromthewreckofidolatry，fortheamusementandinstructionofsucceedingages；andeitherthezealortheavariceofthearchbishop，^47mighthavebeensatiatedwiththerichspoils，whichweretherewardofhisvictory。Whiletheimagesandvasesofgoldandsilverwerecarefullymelted，andthoseofalessvaluablemetalwerecontemptuouslybroken，andcastintothestreets，Theophiluslaboredtoexposethefraudsandvicesoftheministersoftheidols；theirdexterityinthemanagementoftheloadstone；theirsecretmethodsofintroducingahumanactorintoahollowstatue；
andtheirscandalousabuseoftheconfidenceofdevouthusbandsandunsuspectingfemales。^48Chargeslikethesemayseemtodeservesomedegreeofcredit，astheyarenotrepugnanttothecraftyandinterestedspiritofsuperstition。Butthesamespiritisequallypronetothebasepracticeofinsultingandcalumniatingafallenenemy；andourbeliefisnaturallycheckedbythereflection，thatitismuchlessdifficulttoinventafictitiousstory，thantosupportapracticalfraud。