PartII。
TheimpartialitywhichStilichoaffected，asthecommonguardianoftheroyalbrothers，engagedhimtoregulatetheequaldivisionofthearms，thejewels，andthemagnificentwardrobeandfurnitureofthedeceasedemperor。^28Butthemostimportantobjectoftheinheritanceconsistedofthenumerouslegions，cohorts，andsquadrons，ofRomans，orBarbarians，whomtheeventofthecivilwarhadunitedunderthestandardofTheodosius。
ThevariousmultitudesofEuropeandAsia，exasperatedbyrecentanimosities，wereoverawedbytheauthorityofasingleman；andtherigiddisciplineofStilichoprotectedthelandsofthecitizensfromtherapineofthelicentioussoldier。^29Anxious，however，andimpatient，torelieveItalyfromthepresenceofthisformidablehost，whichcouldbeusefulonlyonthefrontiersoftheempire，helistenedtothejustrequisitionoftheministerofArcadius，declaredhisintentionofreconductinginpersonthetroopsoftheEast，anddexterouslyemployedtherumorofaGothictumulttoconcealhisprivatedesignsofambitionandrevenge。^30TheguiltysoulofRufinuswasalarmedbytheapproachofawarriorandarival，whoseenmityhedeserved；hecomputed，withincreasingterror，thenarrowspaceofhislifeandgreatness；and，asthelasthopeofsafety，heinterposedtheauthorityoftheemperorArcadius。Stilicho，whoappearstohavedirectedhismarchalongthesea—coastoftheAdriatic，wasnotfardistantfromthecityofThessalonica，whenhereceivedaperemptorymessage，torecallthetroopsoftheEast，andtodeclare，thathisnearerapproachwouldbeconsidered，bytheByzantinecourt，asanactofhostility。ThepromptandunexpectedobedienceofthegeneraloftheWest，convincedthevulgarofhisloyaltyandmoderation；and，ashehadalreadyengagedtheaffectionoftheEasterntroops，herecommendedtotheirzealtheexecutionofhisbloodydesign，whichmightbeaccomplishedinhisabsence，withlessdanger，perhaps，andwithlessreproach。StilicholeftthecommandofthetroopsoftheEasttoGainas，theGoth，onwhosefidelityhefirmlyrelied，withanassurance，atleast，thatthehardyBarbarianswouldneverbedivertedfromhispurposebyanyconsiderationoffearorremorse。ThesoldierswereeasilypersuadedtopunishtheenemyofStilichoandofRome；andsuchwasthegeneralhatredwhichRufinushadexcited，thatthefatalsecret，communicatedtothousands，wasfaithfullypreservedduringthelongmarchfromThessalonicatothegatesofConstantinople。Assoonastheyhadresolvedhisdeath，theycondescendedtoflatterhispride；theambitiouspraefectwasseducedtobelieve，thatthosepowerfulauxiliariesmightbetemptedtoplacethediademonhishead；andthetreasureswhichhedistributed，withatardyandreluctanthand，wereacceptedbytheindignantmultitudeasaninsult，ratherthanasagift。Atthedistanceofamilefromthecapital，inthefieldofMars，beforethepalaceofHebdomon，thetroopshalted:andtheemperor，aswellashisminister，advanced，accordingtoancientcustom，respectfullytosalutethepowerwhichsupportedtheirthrone。AsRufinuspassedalongtheranks，anddisguised，withstudiedcourtesy，hisinnatehaughtiness，thewingsinsensiblywheeledfromtherightandleft，andenclosedthedevotedvictimwithinthecircleoftheirarms。Beforehecouldreflectonthedangerofhissituation，Gainasgavethesignalofdeath；adaringandforwardsoldierplungedhisswordintothebreastoftheguiltypraefect，andRufinusfell，groaned，andexpired，atthefeetoftheaffrightedemperor。Iftheagoniesofamomentcouldexpiatethecrimesofawholelife，oriftheoutragesinflictedonabreathlesscorpsecouldbetheobjectofpity，ourhumanitymightperhapsbeaffectedbythehorridcircumstanceswhichaccompaniedthemurderofRufinus。Hismangledbodywasabandonedtothebrutalfuryofthepopulaceofeithersex，whohastenedincrowds，fromeveryquarterofthecity，totrampleontheremainsofthehaughtyminister，atwhosefrowntheyhadsolatelytrembled。Hisrighthandwascutoff，andcarriedthroughthestreetsofConstantinople，incruelmockery，toextortcontributionsfortheavaricioustyrant，whoseheadwaspubliclyexposed，bornealoftonthepointofalonglance。^31AccordingtothesavagemaximsoftheGreekrepublics，hisinnocentfamilywouldhavesharedthepunishmentofhiscrimes。ThewifeanddaughterofRufinuswereindebtedfortheirsafetytotheinfluenceofreligion。Hersanctuaryprotectedthemfromtheragingmadnessofthepeople；
andtheywerepermittedtospendtheremainderoftheirlivesintheexerciseofChristiandevotions，inthepeacefulretirementofJerusalem。^32
[Footnote28:I。Cons。Stilich。ii。88—94。Notonlytherobesanddiademsofthedeceasedemperor，buteventhehelmets，sword—hilts，belts，rasses，&c。，wereenrichedwithpearls，emeralds，anddiamonds。]
[Footnote29:—TantoqueremotoPrincipe，mutatasorbisnonsensithabenas。Thishighcommendationi。Cons。Stil。i。149maybejustifiedbythefearsofthedyingemperor，deBell。Gildon。292—301；andthepeaceandgoodorderwhichwereenjoyedafterhisdeath，i。
Cons。Stili。150—168。]
[Footnote30:Stilicho\'smarch，andthedeathofRufinus，aredescribedbyClaudian，inRufin。l。ii。101—453，Zosimus，l。
v。p。296，297，Sozomenl。viii。c。1，Socrates，l。vi。c。
1，Philostorgius，l。xic。3，withGodefory，p。441，andtheChronicleofMarcellinus。]
[Footnote31:ThedissectionofRufinus，whichClaudianperformswiththesavagecoolnessofananatomist，inRufin。ii。405—
415，islikewisespecifiedbyZosimusandJerom，tom。i。p。
26。]
[Footnote32:ThePaganZosimusmentionstheirsanctuaryandpilgrimage。ThesisterofRufinus，Sylvania，whopassedherlifeatJerusalem，isfamousinmonastichistory。1。Thestudiousvirginhaddiligently，andevenrepeatedly，perusedthecommentatorsontheBible，Origen，Gregory，Basil，&c。，totheamountoffivemillionsoflines。2。Attheageofthreescore，shecouldboast，thatshehadneverwashedherhands，face，oranypartofherwholebody，exceptthetipsofherfingerstoreceivethecommunion。SeetheVitaePatrum，p。779，977。]
TheservilepoetofStilichoapplauds，withferociousjoy，thishorriddeed，which，intheexecution，perhaps，ofjustice，violatedeverylawofnatureandsociety，profanedthemajestyoftheprince，andrenewedthedangerousexamplesofmilitarylicense。ThecontemplationoftheuniversalorderandharmonyhadsatisfiedClaudianoftheexistenceoftheDeity；buttheprosperousimpunityofviceappearedtocontradicthismoralattributes；andthefateofRufinuswastheonlyeventwhichcoulddispelthereligiousdoubtsofthepoet。^33SuchanactmightvindicatethehonorofProvidence，butitdidnotmuchcontributetothehappinessofthepeople。Inlessthanthreemonthstheywereinformedofthemaximsofthenewadministration，byasingularedict，whichestablishedtheexclusiverightofthetreasuryoverthespoilsofRufinus；andsilenced，underheavypenalties，thepresumptuousclaimsofthesubjectsoftheEasternempire，whohadbeeninjuredbyhisrapacioustyranny。^34EvenStilichodidnotderivefromthemurderofhisrivalthefruitwhichhehadproposed；andthoughhegratifiedhisrevenge，hisambitionwasdisappointed。Underthenameofafavorite，theweaknessofArcadiusrequiredamaster，buthenaturallypreferredtheobsequiousartsoftheeunuchEutropius，whohadobtainedhisdomesticconfidence:andtheemperorcontemplated，withterrorandaversion，thesterngeniusofaforeignwarrior。Tilltheyweredividedbythejealousyofpower，theswordofGainas，andthecharmsofEudoxia，supportedthefavorofthegreatchamberlainofthepalace:theperfidiousGoth，whowasappointedmaster—generaloftheEast，betrayed，withoutscruple，theinterestofhisbenefactor；andthesametroops，whohadsolatelymassacredtheenemyofStilicho，wereengagedtosupport，againsthim，theindependenceofthethroneofConstantinople。ThefavoritesofArcadiusfomentedasecretandirreconcilablewaragainstaformidablehero，whoaspiredtogovern，andtodefend，thetwoempiresofRome，andthetwosonsofTheodosius。Theyincessantlylabored，bydarkandtreacherousmachinations，todeprivehimoftheesteemoftheprince，therespectofthepeople，andthefriendshipoftheBarbarians。ThelifeofStilichowasrepeatedlyattemptedbythedaggerofhiredassassins；andadecreewasobtainedfromthesenateofConstantinople，todeclarehimanenemyoftherepublic，andtoconfiscatehisamplepossessionsintheprovincesoftheEast。
AtatimewhentheonlyhopeofdelayingtheruinoftheRomannamedependedonthefirmunion，andreciprocalaid，ofallthenationstowhomithadbeengraduallycommunicated，thesubjectsofArcadiusandHonoriuswereinstructed，bytheirrespectivemasters，tovieweachotherinaforeign，andevenhostile，light；torejoiceintheirmutualcalamities，andtoembrace，astheirfaithfulallies，theBarbarians，whomtheyexcitedtoinvadetheterritoriesoftheircountrymen。^35ThenativesofItalyaffectedtodespisetheservileandeffeminateGreeksofByzantium，whopresumedtoimitatethedress，andtousurpthedignity，ofRomansenators；^36andtheGreekshadnotyetforgotthesentimentsofhatredandcontempt，whichtheirpolishedancestorshadsolongentertainedfortherudeinhabitantsoftheWest。Thedistinctionoftwogovernments，whichsoonproducedtheseparationoftwonations，willjustifymydesignofsuspendingtheseriesoftheByzantinehistory，toprosecute，withoutinterruption，thedisgraceful，butmemorable，reignofHonorius。
[Footnote33:SeethebeautifulexordiumofhisinvectiveagainstRufinus，whichiscuriouslydiscussedbythescepticBayle，DictionnaireCritique，Rufin。Not。E。]
[Footnote34:SeetheTheodosianCode，l。ix。tit。xlii。leg。14，15。Thenewministersattempted，withinconsistentavarice，toseizethespoilsoftheirpredecessor，andtoprovidefortheirownfuturesecurity。]
[Footnote35:SeeClaudian，i。Cons。Stilich，l。i。275，292，296，l。ii。83，andZosimus，l。v。p。302。]
[Footnote36:ClaudianturnstheconsulshipoftheeunuchEutropiusintoanationalreflection，l。ii。134:—
—Plaudentemcernesenatum，EtByzantinosproceresGraiosqueQuirites:
Opatribusplebes，Odigniconsulepatres。
ItiscurioustoobservethefirstsymptomsofjealousyandschismbetweenoldandnewRome，betweentheGreeksandLatins。]
TheprudentStilicho，insteadofpersistingtoforcetheinclinationsofaprince，andpeople，whorejectedhisgovernment，wiselyabandonedArcadiustohisunworthyfavorites；
andhisreluctancetoinvolvethetwoempiresinacivilwardisplayedthemoderationofaminister，whohadsooftensignalizedhismilitaryspiritandabilities。ButifStilichohadanylongerenduredtherevoltofAfrica，hewouldhavebetrayedthesecurityofthecapital，andthemajestyoftheWesternemperor，tothecapriciousinsolenceofaMoorishrebel。
Gildo，^37thebrotherofthetyrantFirmus，hadpreservedandobtained，astherewardofhisapparentfidelity，theimmensepatrimonywhichwasforfeitedbytreason:longandmeritoriousservice，inthearmiesofRome，raisedhimtothedignityofamilitarycount；thenarrowpolicyofthecourtofTheodosiushadadoptedthemischievousexpedientofsupportingalegalgovernmentbytheinterestofapowerfulfamily；andthebrotherofFirmuswasinvestedwiththecommandofAfrica。Hisambitionsoonusurpedtheadministrationofjustice，andofthefinances，withoutaccount，andwithoutcontrol；andhemaintained，duringareignoftwelveyears，thepossessionofanoffice，fromwhichitwasimpossibletoremovehim，withoutthedangerofacivilwar。
Duringthosetwelveyears，theprovincesofAfricagroanedunderthedominionofatyrant，whoseemedtounitetheunfeelingtemperofastrangerwiththepartialresentmentsofdomesticfaction。Theformsoflawwereoftensupersededbytheuseofpoison；andifthetremblingguests，whowereinvitedtothetableofGildo，presumedtoexpressfears，theinsolentsuspicionservedonlytoexcitehisfury，andheloudlysummonedtheministersofdeath。Gildoalternatelyindulgedthepassionsofavariceandlust；^38andifhisdayswereterribletotherich，hisnightswerenotlessdreadfultohusbandsandparents。Thefairestoftheirwivesanddaughterswereprostitutedtotheembracesofthetyrant；andafterwardsabandonedtoaferocioustroopofBarbariansandassassins，theblack，orswarthy，nativesofthedesert；whomGildoconsideredastheonlyofhisthrone。
InthecivilwarbetweenTheodosiusandEugenius，thecount，orratherthesovereign，ofAfrica，maintainedahaughtyandsuspiciousneutrality；refusedtoassisteitherofthecontendingpartieswithtroopsorvessels，expectedthedeclarationoffortune，andreservedfortheconquerorthevainprofessionsofhisallegiance。SuchprofessionswouldnothavesatisfiedthemasteroftheRomanworld；butthedeathofTheodosius，andtheweaknessanddiscordofhissons，confirmedthepoweroftheMoor；whocondescended，asaproofofhismoderation，toabstainfromtheuseofthediadem，andtosupplyRomewiththecustomarytribute，orrathersubsidy，ofcorn。Ineverydivisionoftheempire，thefiveprovincesofAfricawereinvariablyassignedtotheWest；andGildohadtogovernthatextensivecountryinthenameofHonorius，buthisknowledgeofthecharacteranddesignsofStilichosoonengagedhimtoaddresshishomagetoamoredistantandfeeblesovereign。TheministersofArcadiusembracedthecauseofaperfidiousrebel；andthedelusivehopeofaddingthenumerouscitiesofAfricatotheempireoftheEast，temptedthemtoassertaclaim，whichtheywereincapableofsupporting，eitherbyreasonorbyarms。^39
[Footnote37:ClaudianmayhaveexaggeratedthevicesofGildo；
buthisMoorishextraction，hisnotoriousactions，andthecomplaintsofSt。Augustin，mayjustifythepoet\'sinvectives。
BaroniusAnnal。Eccles。A。D。398，No。35—56hastreatedtheAfricanrebellionwithskillandlearning。]
[Footnote38:Instatterribilisvivis，morientibushaeres，Virginibusraptor，thalamisobscoenusadulter。
Nullaquies:oriturpraedacessantelibido，Divitibusquedies，etnoxmetuendamaritis。
—MaurisclarissimaquaequeFastiditadatur。
DeBelloGildonico，165，189。
Baroniuscondemns，stillmoreseverely，thelicentiousnessofGildo；ashiswife，hisdaughter，andhissister，wereexamplesofperfectchastity。TheadulteriesoftheAfricansoldiersarecheckedbyoneoftheImperiallaws。]
[Footnote39:Inquetuamsortemnumerosastranstuliturbes。
ClaudiandeBell。Gildonico，230—324hastouched，withpoliticaldelicacy，theintriguesoftheByzantinecourt，whicharelikewisementionedbyZosimus，l。v。p。302。]
WhenStilichohadgivenafirmanddecisiveanswertothepretensionsoftheByzantinecourt，hesolemnlyaccusedthetyrantofAfricabeforethetribunal，whichhadformerlyjudgedthekingsandnationsoftheearth；andtheimageoftherepublicwasrevived，afteralonginterval，underthereignofHonorius。
Theemperortransmittedanaccurateandampledetailofthecomplaintsoftheprovincials，andthecrimesofGildo，totheRomansenate；andthemembersofthatvenerableassemblywererequiredtopronouncethecondemnationoftherebel。Theirunanimoussuffragedeclaredhimtheenemyoftherepublic；andthedecreeofthesenateaddedasacredandlegitimatesanctiontotheRomanarms。^40Apeople，whostillrememberedthattheirancestorshadbeenthemastersoftheworld，wouldhaveapplauded，withconsciouspride，therepresentationofancientfreedom；iftheyhadnotsincebeenaccustomedtopreferthesolidassuranceofbreadtotheunsubstantialvisionsoflibertyandgreatness。ThesubsistenceofRomedependedontheharvestsofAfrica；anditwasevident，thatadeclarationofwarwouldbethesignaloffamine。ThepraefectSymmachus，whopresidedinthedeliberationsofthesenate，admonishedtheministerofhisjustapprehension，thatassoonastherevengefulMoorshouldprohibittheexportationofcorn，theandperhapsthesafety，ofthecapitalwouldbethreatenedbythehungryrageofaturbulentmultitude。^41TheprudenceofStilichoconceivedandexecuted，withoutdelay，themosteffectualmeasureforthereliefoftheRomanpeople。Alargeandseasonablesupplyofcorn，collectedintheinlandprovincesofGaul，wasembarkedontherapidstreamoftheRhone，andtransported，byaneasynavigation，fromtheRhonetotheTyber。DuringthewholetermoftheAfricanwar，thegranariesofRomewerecontinuallyfilled，herdignitywasvindicatedfromthehumiliatingdependence，andthemindsofanimmensepeoplewerequietedbythecalmconfidenceofpeaceandplenty。^42
[Footnote40:Symmachusl。iv。epist。4expressesthejudicialformsofthesenate；andClaudiani。Cons。Stilich。l。i。325，&c。seemstofeelthespiritofaRoman。]
[Footnote41:ClaudianfinelydisplaysthesecomplaintsofSymmachus，inaspeechofthegoddessofRome，beforethethroneofJupiter，deBellGildon。28—128。]
[Footnote42:SeeClaudianinEutrop。l。i401，&c。i。Cons。
Stil。l。i。306，&c。i。Cons。Stilich。91，&c。]
ThecauseofRome，andtheconductoftheAfricanwar，wereintrustedbyStilichotoageneral，activeandardenttoavengehisprivateinjuriesontheheadofthetyrant。ThespiritofdiscordwhichprevailedinthehouseofNabal，hadexcitedadeadlyquarrelbetweentwoofhissons，GildoandMascezel。^43