^4whichyieldedonlytotheroyaldignityoftheAmali:hehadsolicitedthecommandoftheRomanarmies；andtheImperialcourtprovokedhimtodemonstratethefollyoftheirrefusal，andtheimportanceoftheirloss。WhateverhopesmightbeentertainedoftheconquestofConstantinople，thejudiciousgeneralsoonabandonedanimpracticableenterprise。Inthemidstofadividedcourtandadiscontentedpeople，theemperorArcadiuswasterrifiedbytheaspectoftheGothicarms；butthewantofwisdomandvalorwassuppliedbythestrengthofthecity；andthefortifications，bothoftheseaandland，mightsecurelybravetheimpotentandrandomdartsoftheBarbarians。AlaricdisdainedtotrampleanylongerontheprostrateandruinedcountriesofThraceandDacia，andheresolvedtoseekaplentifulharvestoffameandrichesinaprovincewhichhadhithertoescapedtheravagesofwar。^5
[Footnote1:TherevoltoftheGoths，andtheblockadeofConstantinople，aredistinctlymentionedbyClaudian，inRufin。
l。ii。7—100，Zosimus，l。v。292，andJornandes，deRebusGeticis，c。29。]
[Footnote2:—AliipertogaferocisDanubiisolidataruunt；expertaqueremisFranguntstagnarotis。
ClaudianandOvidoftenamusetheirfancybyinterchangingthemetaphorsandpropertiesofliquidwater，andsolidice。Muchfalsewithasbeenexpendedinthiseasyexercise。]
[Footnote3:Jerom，tom。i。p。26。HeendeavorstocomforthisfriendHeliodorus，bishopofAltinum，forthelossofhisnephew，Nepotian，byacuriousrecapitulationofallthepublicandprivatemisfortunesofthetimes。SeeTillemont，Mem。Eccles。
tom。xii。p。200，&c。]
[Footnote4:Balthaorbold:origomirifica，saysJornandes，c。
29。ThisillustriousracelongcontinuedtoflourishinFrance，intheGothicprovinceofSeptimania，orLanguedoc；underthecorruptedappellationofBoax；andabranchofthatfamilyafterwardssettledinthekingdomofNaplesGrotiusinProlegom。
adHist。Gothic。p。53。ThelordsofBaux，nearArles，andofseventy—ninesubordinateplaces，wereindependentofthecountsofProvence，Longuerue，DescriptiondelaFrance，tom。i。p。
357。]
[Footnote5:Zosimusl。v。p。293—295isourbestguidefortheconquestofGreece:butthehintsandallusionofClaudianaresomanyraysofhistoriclight。]
Thecharacterofthecivilandmilitaryofficers，onwhomRufinushaddevolvedthegovernmentofGreece，confirmedthepublicsuspicion，thathehadbetrayedtheancientseatoffreedomandlearningtotheGothicinvader。TheproconsulAntiochuswastheunworthysonofarespectablefather；andGerontius，whocommandedtheprovincialtroops，wasmuchbetterqualifiedtoexecutetheoppressiveordersofatyrant，thantodefend，withcourageandability，acountrymostremarkablyfortifiedbythehandofnature。Alarichadtraversed，withoutresistance，theplainsofMacedoniaandThessaly，asfarasthefootofMountOeta，asteepandwoodyrangeofhills，almostimpervioustohiscavalry。Theystretchedfromeasttowest，totheedgeofthesea—shore；andleft，betweentheprecipiceandtheMalianGulf，anintervalofthreehundredfeet，which，insomeplaces，wascontractedtoaroadcapableofadmittingonlyasinglecarriage。^6InthisnarrowpassofThermopylae，whereLeonidasandthethreehundredSpartanshadgloriouslydevotedtheirlives，theGothsmighthavebeenstopped，ordestroyed，byaskilfulgeneral；andperhapstheviewofthatsacredspotmighthavekindledsomesparksofmilitaryardorinthebreastsofthedegenerateGreeks。ThetroopswhichhadbeenpostedtodefendtheStraitsofThermopylae，retired，astheyweredirected，withoutattemptingtodisturbthesecureandrapidpassageofAlaric；^7andthefertilefieldsofPhocisandBoeotiawereinstantlycoveredbyadelugeofBarbarianswhomassacredthemalesofanagetobeararms，anddroveawaythebeautifulfemales，withthespoilandcattleoftheflamingvillages。Thetravellers，whovisitedGreeceseveralyearsafterwards，couldeasilydiscoverthedeepandbloodytracesofthemarchoftheGoths；andThebeswaslessindebtedforherpreservationtothestrengthofhersevengates，thantotheeagerhasteofAlaric，whoadvancedtooccupythecityofAthens，andtheimportantharborofthePiraeus。Thesameimpatienceurgedhimtopreventthedelayanddangerofasiege，bytheofferofacapitulation；
andassoonastheAtheniansheardthevoiceoftheGothicherald，theywereeasilypersuadedtodeliverthegreatestpartoftheirwealth，astheransomofthecityofMinervaanditsinhabitants。Thetreatywasratifiedbysolemnoaths，andobservedwithmutualfidelity。TheGothicprince，withasmallandselecttrain，wasadmittedwithinthewalls；heindulgedhimselfintherefreshmentofthebath，acceptedasplendidbanquet，whichwasprovidedbythemagistrate，andaffectedtoshowthathewasnotignorantofthemannersofcivilizednations。^8ButthewholeterritoryofAttica，fromthepromontoryofSuniumtothetownofMegara，wasblastedbyhisbalefulpresence；and，ifwemayusethecomparisonofacontemporaryphilosopher，Athensitselfresembledthebleedingandemptyskinofaslaughteredvictim。ThedistancebetweenMegaraandCorinthcouldnotmuchexceedthirtymiles；butthebadroad，anexpressivename，whichitstillbearsamongtheGreeks，was，ormighteasilyhavebeenmade，impassableforthemarchofanenemy。ThethickandgloomywoodsofMountCithaeroncoveredtheinlandcountry；theScironianrocksapproachedthewater\'sedge，andhungoverthenarrowandwindingpath，whichwasconfinedabovesixmilesalongthesea—shore。^9Thepassageofthoserocks，soinfamousineveryage，wasterminatedbytheIsthmusofCorinth；andasmallabodyoffirmandintrepidsoldiersmighthavesuccessfullydefendedatemporaryintrenchmentoffiveorsixmilesfromtheIoniantotheAegeanSea。TheconfidenceofthecitiesofPeloponnesusintheirnaturalrampart，hadtemptedthemtoneglectthecareoftheirantiquewalls；andtheavariceoftheRomangovernorshadexhaustedandbetrayedtheunhappyprovince。^10Corinth，Argos，Sparta，yieldedwithoutresistancetothearmsoftheGoths；andthemostfortunateoftheinhabitantsweresaved，bydeath，frombeholdingtheslaveryoftheirfamiliesandtheconflagrationoftheircities。^11ThevasesandstatuesweredistributedamongtheBarbarians，withmoreregardtothevalueofthematerials，thantotheeleganceoftheworkmanship；thefemalecaptivessubmittedtothelawsofwar；theenjoymentofbeautywastherewardofvalor；andtheGreekscouldnotreasonablycomplainofanabusewhichwasjustifiedbytheexampleoftheheroictimes。
^12Thedescendantsofthatextraordinarypeople，whohadconsideredvaloranddisciplineasthewallsofSparta，nolongerrememberedthegenerousreplyoftheirancestorstoaninvadermoreformidablethanAlaric。\"Ifthouartagod，thouwiltnothurtthosewhohaveneverinjuredthee；ifthouartaman，advance:—andthouwiltfindmenequaltothyself。\"^13FromThermopylaetoSparta，theleaderoftheGothspursuedhisvictoriousmarchwithoutencounteringanymortalantagonists:butoneoftheadvocatesofexpiringPaganismhasconfidentlyasserted，thatthewallsofAthenswereguardedbythegoddessMinerva，withherformidableAegis，andbytheangryphantomofAchilles；^14andthattheconquerorwasdismayedbythepresenceofthehostiledeitiesofGreece。Inanageofmiracles，itwouldperhapsbeunjusttodisputetheclaimofthehistorianZosimustothecommonbenefit:yetitcannotbedissembled，thatthemindofAlaricwasillpreparedtoreceive，eitherinsleepingorwakingvisions，theimpressionsofGreeksuperstition。ThesongsofHomer，andthefameofAchilles，hadprobablyneverreachedtheearoftheilliterateBarbarian；andtheChristianfaith，whichhehaddevoutlyembraced，taughthimtodespisetheimaginarydeitiesofRomeandAthens。TheinvasionoftheGoths，insteadofvindicatingthehonor，contributed，atleastaccidentally，toextirpatethelastremainsofPaganism:andthemysteriesofCeres，whichhadsubsistedeighteenhundredyears，didnotsurvivethedestructionofEleusis，andthecalamitiesofGreece。^15
[Footnote6:CompareHerodotusl。vii。c。176andLivy，xxxvi。
15。ThenarrowentranceofGreecewasprobablyenlargedbyeachsuccessiveravisher。]
[Footnote7:Hepassed，saysEunapius，inVit。Philosoph。p。93，edit。Commelin，1596，throughthestraits，ofThermopylae。]
[Footnote8:InobediencetoJeromandClaudian，inRufin。l。
ii。191，IhavemixedsomedarkercolorsinthemildrepresentationofZosimus，whowishedtosoftenthecalamitiesofAthens。
NecferaCecropiastraxissentvinculamatres。
SynesiusEpist。clvi。p。272，edit。Petav。observes，thatAthens，whosesufferingsheimputestotheproconsul\'savarice，wasatthattimelessfamousforherschoolsofphilosophythanforhertradeofhoney。]
[Footnote9:—VallatamariScironiarupes，EtduocontinuoconnectensaequoramuroIsthmos。
ClaudiandeBel。Getico，188。
TheScironianrocksaredescribedbyPausanias，l。i。c。
44，p。107，edit。Kuhn，andourmoderntravellers，Wheelerp。
436andChandler，p。298。Hadrianmadetheroadpassablefortwocarriages。]
[Footnote10:ClaudianinRufin。l。ii。186，anddeBelloGetico，611，&c。vaguely，thoughforcibly，delineatesthesceneofrapineanddestruction。]
[Footnote11:ThesegenerouslinesofHomerOdyss。l。v。306
weretranscribedbyoneofthecaptiveyouthsofCorinth:andthetearsofMummiusmayprovethattherudeconqueror，thoughhewasignorantofthevalueofanoriginalpicture，possessedthepurestsourceofgoodtaste，abenevolentheart，Plutarch，Symposiac。l。ix。tom。ii。p。737，edit。Wechel。]
[Footnote12:Homerperpetuallydescribestheexemplarypatienceofthosefemalecaptives，whogavetheircharms，andeventheirhearts，tothemurderersoftheirfathers，brothers，&c。SuchapassionofEriphileforAchillesistouchedwithadmirabledelicacybyRacine。]
[Footnote13:PlutarchinPyrrho，tom。ii。p。474，edit。Brian
givesthegenuineanswerintheLaconicdialect。PyrrhusattackedSpartawith25，000foot，2000horse，and24elephants，andthedefenceofthatopentownisafinecommentonthelawsofLycurgus，eveninthelaststageofdecay。]
[Footnote14:Such，perhaps，asHomerIliad，xx。164hadsonoblypaintedhim。]
[Footnote15:EunapiusinVit。Philosoph。p。90—93intimatesthatatroopofmonksbetrayedGreece，andfollowedtheGothiccamp。
Note:Theexpressioniscurious:Vit。Max。t。i。p。53，edit。Boissonade。—M。]
Thelasthopeofapeoplewhocouldnolongerdependontheirarms，theirgods，ortheirsovereign，wasplacedinthepowerfulassistanceofthegeneraloftheWest；andStilicho，whohadnotbeenpermittedtorepulse，advancedtochastise，theinvadersofGreece。^16AnumerousfleetwasequippedintheportsofItaly；andthetroops，afterashortandprosperousnavigationovertheIonianSea，weresafelydisembarkedontheisthmus，neartheruinsofCorinth。ThewoodyandmountainouscountryofArcadia，thefabulousresidenceofPanandtheDryads，becamethesceneofalonganddoubtfulconflictbetweenthetwogeneralsnotunworthyofeachother。TheskillandperseveranceoftheRomanatlengthprevailed；andtheGoths，aftersustainingaconsiderablelossfromdiseaseanddesertion，graduallyretreatedtotheloftymountainofPholoe，nearthesourcesofthePeneus，andonthefrontiersofElis；asacredcountry，whichhadformerlybeenexemptedfromthecalamitiesofwar。^17ThecampoftheBarbarianswasimmediatelybesieged；thewatersoftheriver^18weredivertedintoanotherchannel；andwhiletheylaboredundertheintolerablepressureofthirstandhunger，astronglineofcircumvallationwasformedtopreventtheirescape。Aftertheseprecautions，Stilicho，tooconfidentofvictory，retiredtoenjoyhistriumph，inthetheatricalgames，andlasciviousdances，oftheGreeks；hissoldiers，desertingtheirstandards，spreadthemselvesoverthecountryoftheirallies，whichtheystrippedofallthathadbeensavedfromtherapacioushandsoftheenemy。Alaricappearstohaveseizedthefavorablemomenttoexecuteoneofthosehardyenterprises，inwhichtheabilitiesofageneralaredisplayedwithmoregenuinelustre，thaninthetumultofadayofbattle。ToextricatehimselffromtheprisonofPeloponnesus，itwasnecessarythatheshouldpiercetheintrenchmentswhichsurroundedhiscamp；thatheshouldperformadifficultanddangerousmarchofthirtymiles，asfarastheGulfofCorinth；andthatheshouldtransporthistroops，hiscaptives，andhisspoil，overanarmofthesea，which，inthenarrowintervalbetweenRhiumandtheoppositeshore，isatleasthalfamileinbreadth。^19TheoperationsofAlaricmusthavebeensecret，prudent，andrapid；
sincetheRomangeneralwasconfoundedbytheintelligence，thattheGoths，whohadeludedhisefforts，wereinfullpossessionoftheimportantprovinceofEpirus。ThisunfortunatedelayallowedAlaricsufficienttimetoconcludethetreaty，whichhesecretlynegotiated，withtheministersofConstantinople。TheapprehensionofacivilwarcompelledStilichotoretire，atthehaughtymandateofhisrivals，fromthedominionsofArcadius；
andherespected，intheenemyofRome，thehonorablecharacteroftheallyandservantoftheemperoroftheEast。
[Footnote16:ForStilicho\'sGreekwar，comparethehonestnarrativeofZosimusl。v。p。295，296withthecuriouscircumstantialflatteryofClaudian，i。Cons。Stilich。l。i。172
—186，iv。Cons。Hon。459—487。Astheeventwasnotglorious，itisartfullythrownintotheshade。]
[Footnote17:ThetroopswhomarchedthroughElisdelivereduptheirarms。ThissecurityenrichedtheEleans，whowereloversofarurallife。Richesbegatpride:theydisdainedtheirprivilege，andtheysuffered。Polybiusadvisesthemtoretireoncemorewithintheirmagiccircle。SeealearnedandjudiciousdiscourseontheOlympicgames，whichMr。WesthasprefixedtohistranslationofPindar。]
[Footnote18:Claudianiniv。Cons。Hon。480alludestothefactwithoutnamingtheriver；perhapstheAlpheus，i。Cons。
Stil。l。i。185。
—EtAlpheusGeticisangustusacervisTardioradSiculosetiamnumpergitamores。
YetIshouldpreferthePeneus，ashallowstreaminawideanddeepbed，whichrunsthroughElis，andfallsintotheseabelowCyllene。IthadbeenjoinedwiththeAlpheustocleansetheAugeanstable。Cellarius，tom。i。p。760。Chandler\'sTravels，p。286。]
[Footnote19:Strabo，l。viii。p。517。Plin。Hist。Natur。iv。3。
Wheeler，p。308。Chandler，p。275。Theymeasuredfromdifferentpointsthedistancebetweenthetwolands。]
AGrecianphilosopher，^20whovisitedConstantinoplesoonafterthedeathofTheodosius，publishedhisliberalopinionsconcerningthedutiesofkings，andthestateoftheRomanrepublic。Synesiusobserves，anddeplores，thefatalabuse，whichtheimprudentbountyofthelateemperorhadintroducedintothemilitaryservice。Thecitizensandsubjectshadpurchasedanexemptionfromtheindispensabledutyofdefendingtheircountry；whichwassupportedbythearmsofBarbarianmercenaries。ThefugitivesofScythiawerepermittedtodisgracetheillustriousdignitiesoftheempire；theirferociousyouth，whodisdainedthesalutaryrestraintoflaws，weremoreanxioustoacquiretheriches，thantoimitatethearts，ofapeople，theobjectoftheircontemptandhatred；andthepoweroftheGothswasthestoneofTantalus，perpetuallysuspendedoverthepeaceandsafetyofthedevotedstate。ThemeasureswhichSynesiusrecommends，arethedictatesofaboldandgenerouspatriot。Heexhortstheemperortorevivethecourageofhissubjects，bytheexampleofmanlyvirtue；tobanishluxuryfromthecourtandfromthecamp；tosubstitute，intheplaceoftheBarbarianmercenaries，anarmyofmen，interestedinthedefenceoftheirlawsandoftheirproperty；toforce，insuchamomentofpublicdanger，themechanicfromhisshop，andthephilosopherfromhisschool；torousetheindolentcitizenfromhisdreamofpleasure，andtoarm，fortheprotectionofagriculture，thehandsofthelaborioushusbandman。Attheheadofsuchtroops，whomightdeservethename，andwoulddisplaythespirit，ofRomans，heanimatesthesonofTheodosiustoencounteraraceofBarbarians，whoweredestituteofanyrealcourage；andnevertolaydownhisarms，tillhehadchasedthemfarawayintothesolitudesofScythia；orhadreducedthemtothestateofignominiousservitude，whichtheLacedaemoniansformerlyimposedonthecaptiveHelots。^21ThecourtofArcadiusindulgedthezeal，applaudedtheeloquence，andneglectedtheadvice，ofSynesius。
PerhapsthephilosopherwhoaddressestheemperoroftheEastinthelanguageofreasonandvirtue，whichhemighthaveusedtoaSpartanking，hadnotcondescendedtoformapracticablescheme，consistentwiththetemper，andcircumstances，ofadegenerateage。Perhapstheprideoftheministers，whosebusinesswasseldominterruptedbyreflection，mightreject，aswildandvisionary，everyproposal，whichexceededthemeasureoftheircapacity，anddeviatedfromtheformsandprecedentsofoffice。
WhiletheorationofSynesius，andthedownfalloftheBarbarians，werethetopicsofpopularconversation，anedictwaspublishedatConstantinople，whichdeclaredthepromotionofAlarictotherankofmaster—generaloftheEasternIllyricum。
TheRomanprovincials，andtheallies，whohadrespectedthefaithoftreaties，werejustlyindignant，thattheruinofGreeceandEpirusshouldbesoliberallyrewarded。TheGothicconquerorwasreceivedasalawfulmagistrate，inthecitieswhichhehadsolatelybesieged。Thefathers，whosesonshehadmassacred，thehusbands，whosewiveshehadviolated，weresubjecttohisauthority；andthesuccessofhisrebellionencouragedtheambitionofeveryleaderoftheforeignmercenaries。TheusetowhichAlaricappliedhisnewcommand，distinguishesthefirmandjudiciouscharacterofhispolicy。Heissuedhisorderstothefourmagazinesandmanufacturesofoffensiveanddefensivearms，Margus，Ratiaria，Naissus，andThessalonica，toprovidehistroopswithanextraordinarysupplyofshields，helmets，swords，andspears；theunhappyprovincialswerecompelledtoforgetheinstrumentsoftheirowndestruction；andtheBarbariansremovedtheonlydefectwhichhadsometimesdisappointedtheeffortsoftheircourage。^22ThebirthofAlaric，thegloryofhispastexploits，andtheconfidenceinhisfuturedesigns，insensiblyunitedthebodyofthenationunderhisvictoriousstandard；and，withtheunanimousconsentoftheBarbarianchieftains，themaster—generalofIllyricumwaselevated，accordingtoancientcustom，onashield，andsolemnlyproclaimedkingoftheVisigoths。^23Armedwiththisdoublepower，seatedonthevergeofthetwoempires，healternatelysoldhisdeceitfulpromisestothecourtsofArcadiusandHonorius；^24tillhedeclaredandexecutedhisresolutionofinvadingthedominionsoftheWest。