[Footnote111:Augustinhimselfissatisfiedwiththeeffectuallaws，whichStilichohadenactedagainsthereticsandidolaters；
andwhicharestillextantintheCode。HeonlyappliestoOlympiusfortheirconfirmation，Baronius，Annal。Eccles。A。D。
408，No。19。]
[Footnote112:Zosimus，l。v。p。351。Wemayobservethebadtasteoftheage，indressingtheirstatueswithsuchawkwardfinery。]
[Footnote113:SeeRutiliusNumatianus，Itinerar。l。ii。41—
60，towhomreligiousenthusiasmhasdictatedsomeelegantandforciblelines。StilicholikewisestrippedthegoldplatesfromthedoorsoftheCapitol，andreadapropheticsentencewhichwasengravenunderthem，Zosimus，l。v。p。352。Thesearefoolishstories:yetthechargeofimpietyaddsweightandcredittothepraisewhichZosimusreluctantlybestowsonhisvirtues。
Note:OneparticularintheextortedpraiseofZosimus，deservedthenoticeofthehistorian，asstronglyopposedtotheformerimputationsofZosimushimself，andindicativeofhecorruptpracticesofadecliningage。\"Hehadneverbarteredpromotioninthearmyforbribes，norpeculatedinthesuppliesofprovisionsforthearmy。\"l。v。c。xxxiv。—M。]
[Footnote*:Hence，perhaps，theaccusationoftreacheryiscountenancedbyHatilius:—
QuomagisestfacinusdiriStilichonisiniquumProditorarcaniquodfuitimperii。
Romanogeneridumnitituressesuperstes，Crudelissummismiscuitimafuror。
Dumquetimet，quicquidsefeceratipsotimeri，ImmisitLatiaebarbaratelaneci。Rutil。Itin。II。41。—
M。]
Amongthetrainofdependantswhosewealthanddignityattractedthenoticeoftheirowntimes，ourcuriosityisexcitedbythecelebratednameofthepoetClaudian，whoenjoyedthefavorofStilicho，andwasoverwhelmedintheruinofhispatron。
ThetitularofficesoftribuneandnotaryfixedhisrankintheImperialcourt:hewasindebtedtothepowerfulintercessionofSerenaforhismarriagewithaveryrichheiressoftheprovinceofAfrica；^114andthestatuteofClaudian，erectedintheforumofTrajan，wasamonumentofthetasteandliberalityoftheRomansenate。^115AfterthepraisesofStilichobecameoffensiveandcriminal，Claudianwasexposedtotheenmityofapowerfulandunforgivingcourtier，whomhehadprovokedbytheinsolenceofwit。Hehadcompared，inalivelyepigram，theoppositecharactersoftwoPraetorianpraefectsofItaly；hecontraststheinnocentreposeofaphilosopher，whosometimesresignedthehoursofbusinesstoslumber，perhapstostudy，withtheinterestingdiligenceofarapaciousminister，indefatigableinthepursuitofunjustorsacrilegious，gain。\"Howhappy，\"
continuesClaudian，\"howhappymightitbeforthepeopleofItaly，ifMalliuscouldbeconstantlyawake，andifHadrianwouldalwayssleep!\"^116ThereposeofMalliuswasnotdisturbedbythisfriendlyandgentleadmonition；butthecruelvigilanceofHadrianwatchedtheopportunityofrevenge，andeasilyobtained，fromtheenemiesofStilicho，thetriflingsacrificeofanobnoxiouspoet。Thepoetconcealedhimself，however，duringthetumultoftherevolution；and，consultingthedictatesofprudenceratherthanofhonor，headdressed，intheformofanepistle，asuppliantandhumblerecantationtotheoffendedpraefect。Hedeplores，inmournfulstrains，thefatalindiscretionintowhichhehadbeenhurriedbypassionandfolly；
submitstotheimitationofhisadversarythegenerousexamplesoftheclemencyofgods，ofheroes，andoflions；andexpresseshishopethatthemagnanimityofHadrianwillnottrampleonadefencelessandcontemptiblefoe，alreadyhumbledbydisgraceandpoverty，anddeeplywoundedbytheexile，thetortures，andthedeathofhisdearestfriends。^117Whatevermightbethesuccessofhisprayer，ortheaccidentsofhisfuturelife，theperiodofafewyearslevelledinthegravetheministerandthepoet:butthenameofHadrianisalmostsunkinoblivion，whileClaudianisreadwithpleasureineverycountrywhichhasretained，oracquired，theknowledgeoftheLatinlanguage。Ifwefairlybalancehismeritsandhisdefects，weshallacknowledgethatClaudiandoesnoteithersatisfy，orsilence，ourreason。Itwouldnotbeeasytoproduceapassagethatdeservestheepithetofsublimeorpathetic；toselectaversethatmeltstheheartorenlargestheimagination。Weshouldvainlyseek，inthepoemsofClaudian，thehappyinvention，andartificialconduct，ofaninterestingfable；orthejustandlivelyrepresentationofthecharactersandsituationsofreallife。Fortheserviceofhispatron，hepublishedoccasionalpanegyricsandinvectives:andthedesignoftheseslavishcompositionsencouragedhispropensitytoexceedthelimitsoftruthandnature。Theseimperfections，however，arecompensatedinsomedegreebythepoeticalvirtuesofClaudian。Hewasendowedwiththerareandprecioustalentofraisingthemeanest，ofadorningthemostbarren，andofdiversifyingthemostsimilar，topics:hiscoloring，moreespeciallyindescriptivepoetry，issoftandsplendid；andheseldomfailstodisplay，andeventoabuse，theadvantagesofacultivatedunderstanding，acopiousfancy，aneasy，andsometimesforcible，expression；andaperpetualflowofharmoniousversification。Tothesecommendations，independentofanyaccidentsoftimeandplace，wemustaddthepeculiarmeritwhichClaudianderivedfromtheunfavorablecircumstancesofhisbirth。Inthedeclineofarts，andofempire，anativeofEgypt，^118whohadreceivedtheeducationofaGreek，assumed，inamatureage，thefamiliaruse，andabsolutecommand，oftheLatinlanguage；^119soaredabovetheheadsofhisfeeblecontemporaries；andplacedhimself，afteranintervalofthreehundredyears，amongthepoetsofancientRome。^120
[Footnote114:AtthenuptialsofOrpheusamodestcomparison!
allthepartsofanimatednaturecontributedtheirvariousgifts；
andthegodsthemselvesenrichedtheirfavorite。Claudianhadneitherflocks，norherds，norvines，norolives。Hiswealthybridewasheiresstothemall。ButhecarriedtoAfricaarecommendatoryletterfromSerena，hisJuno，andwasmadehappy，Epist。ii。adSerenam。]
[Footnote115:Claudianfeelsthehonorlikeamanwhodeservedit，inpraefatBell。Get。Theoriginalinscription，onmarble，wasfoundatRome，inthefifteenthcentury，inthehouseofPomponiusLaetus。Thestatueofapoet，farsuperiortoClaudian，shouldhavebeenerected，duringhislifetime，bythemenofletters，hiscountrymenandcontemporaries。Itwasanobledesign。]
[Footnote116:SeeEpigramxxx。
Malliusindulgetsomnonoctesquediesque:
InsomnisPhariussacra，profana，rapit。
Omnibus，hoc，Italaegentes，exposcitevotis；
Malliusutvigilet，dormiatutPharius。
HadrianwasaPharian，ofAlexandrian。SeehispubliclifeinGodefroy，Cod。Theodos。tom。vi。p。364。Malliusdidnotalwayssleep。HecomposedsomeelegantdialoguesontheGreeksystemsofnaturalphilosophy，Claud，inMall。Theodor。Cons。61—
112。]
[Footnote117:SeeClaudian\'sfirstEpistle。Yet，insomeplaces，anairofironyandindignationbetrayshissecretreluctance。
Note:M。BeugnothaspointedoutoneremarkablecharacteristicofClaudian\'spoetry，andofthetimes—hisextraordinaryreligiousindifference。Hereisapoetwritingattheactualcrisisofthecompletetriumphofthenewreligion，thevisibleextinctionoftheold:ifwemaysospeak，astrictlyhistoricalpoet，whoseworks，exceptinghisMythologicalpoemontherapeofProserpine，areconfinedtotemporarysubjects，andtothepoliticsofhisowneventfulday；yet，exceptinginoneortwosmallandindifferentpieces，manifestlywrittenbyaChristian，andinterpolatedamonghispoems，thereisnoallusionwhatevertothegreatreligiousstrife。NoonewouldknowtheexistenceofChristianityatthatperiodoftheworld，byreadingtheworksofClaudian。Hispanegyricandhissatirepreservethesamereligiousimpartiality；awardtheirmostlavishpraiseortheirbitterestinvectiveonChristianorPagan；heinsultsthefallofEugenius，andgloriesinthevictoriesofTheodosius。
Underthechild，—andHonoriusneverbecamemorethanachild，—
ChristianitycontinuedtoinflictwoundsmoreandmoredeadlyonexpiringPaganism。ArethegodsofOlympusagitatedwithapprehensionatthebirthofthisnewenemy?Theyareintroducedasrejoicingathisappearance，andpromisinglongyearsofglory。ThewholepropheticchoirofPaganism，alltheoraclesthroughouttheworld，aresummonedtopredictthefelicityofhisreign。HisbirthiscomparedtothatofApollo，butthenarrowlimitsofanislandmustnotconfinethenewdeity—……NonlittoranostroSufficerentangustaDeo。
Auguryanddivination，theshrinesofAmmon，andofDelphi，thePersianMagi，andtheEtruscanseers，theChaldeanastrologers，theSibylherself，aredescribedasstilldischargingtheirpropheticfunctions，andcelebratingthenataldayofthisChristianprince。Theyarenoblelines，aswellascuriousillustrationsofthetimes:……Quaetuncdocumentafuturi?
Quaevocesavium?quantiperinanevolatus?
Quisvatumdiscursuserat?TibicornigerAmmon，EtdudumtacitiruperesilentiaDelphi。
TePersaececinereMagi，tesensitEtruscusAugur，etinspectisBabyloniushorruitastris；
Chaldaeistupueresenes，CumanaquerursusItonuitrupes，rabidaedelubraSibyllae。
Claud。iv。Cons。Hon。141。
FromtheQuarterlyReviewofBeugnot。Hist。delaPaganismeenOccident，Q。R。v。lvii。p。61。—M。]
[Footnote118:NationalvanityhasmadehimaFlorentine，oraSpaniard。ButthefirstEpistleofClaudianproveshimanativeofAlexandria，Fabricius，Bibliot。Latin。tom。iii。p。191—
202，edit。Ernest。]
[Footnote119:HisfirstLatinverseswerecomposedduringtheconsulshipofProbinus，A。D。395。
Romanosbibimusprimum，teconsule，fontes，EtLatiaecessitGraiaThaliatogae。
BesidessomeGreekepigrams，whicharestillextant，theLatinpoethadcomposed，inGreek，theAntiquitiesofTarsus，Anazarbus，Berytus，Nice，&c。Itismoreeasytosupplythelossofgoodpoetry，thanofauthentichistory。]
[Footnote120:StradaProlusionv。vi。allowshimtocontendwiththefiveheroicpoets，Lucretius，Virgil，Ovid，Lucan，andStatius。HispatronistheaccomplishedcourtierBalthazarCastiglione。Hisadmirersarenumerousandpassionate。Yettherigidcriticsreproachtheexoticweeds，orflowers，whichspringtooluxuriantlyinhisLatiansoil]
ChapterXXXI:InvasionOfItaly，OccupationOfTerritoriesByBarbarians。
PartI。
InvasionOfItalyByAlaric。—MannersOfTheRomanSenateAndPeople。—RomeIsThriceBesieged，AndAtLengthPillaged，ByTheGoths。—DeathOfAlaric。—TheGothsEvacuateItaly。—FallOfConstantine。—GaulAndSpainAreOccupiedByTheBarbarians。
—IndependenceOfBritain。
Theincapacityofaweakanddistractedgovernmentmayoftenassumetheappearance，andproducetheeffects，ofatreasonablecorrespondencewiththepublicenemy。IfAlarichimselfhadbeenintroducedintothecouncilofRavenna，hewouldprobablyhaveadvisedthesamemeasureswhichwereactuallypursuedbytheministersofHonorius。^1ThekingoftheGothswouldhaveconspired，perhapswithsomereluctance，todestroytheformidableadversary，bywhosearms，inItaly，aswellasinGreece，hehadbeentwiceoverthrown。TheiractiveandinterestedhatredlaboriouslyaccomplishedthedisgraceandruinofthegreatStilicho。ThevalorofSarus，hisfameinarms，andhispersonal，orhereditary，influenceovertheconfederateBarbarians，couldrecommendhimonlytothefriendsoftheircountry，whodespised，ordetested，theworthlesscharactersofTurpilio，Varanes，andVigilantius。Bythepressinginstancesofthenewfavorites，thesegenerals，unworthyastheyhadshownthemselvesofthenamesofsoldiers，^2werepromotedtothecommandofthecavalry，oftheinfantry，andofthedomestictroops。TheGothicprincewouldhavesubscribedwithpleasuretheedictwhichthefanaticismofOlympiusdictatedtothesimpleanddevoutemperor。Honoriusexcludedallpersons，whowereadversetotheCatholicchurch，fromholdinganyofficeinthestate；obstinatelyrejectedtheserviceofallthosewhodissentedfromhisreligion；andrashlydisqualifiedmanyofhisbravestandmostskilfulofficers，whoadheredtothePaganworship，orwhohadimbibedtheopinionsofArianism。^3Thesemeasures，soadvantageoustoanenemy，Alaricwouldhaveapproved，andmightperhapshavesuggested；butitmayseemdoubtful，whethertheBarbarianwouldhavepromotedhisinterestattheexpenseoftheinhumanandabsurdcrueltywhichwasperpetratedbythedirection，oratleastwiththeconnivanceoftheImperialministers。Theforeignauxiliaries，whohadbeenattachedtothepersonofStilicho，lamentedhisdeath；butthedesireofrevengewascheckedbyanaturalapprehensionforthesafetyoftheirwivesandchildren；whoweredetainedashostagesinthestrongcitiesofItaly，wheretheyhadlikewisedepositedtheirmostvaluableeffects。Atthesamehour，andasifbyacommonsignal，thecitiesofItalywerepollutedbythesamehorridscenesofuniversalmassacreandpillage，whichinvolved，inpromiscuousdestruction，thefamiliesandfortunesoftheBarbarians。Exasperatedbysuchaninjury，whichmighthaveawakenedthetamestandmostservilespirit，theycastalookofindignationandhopetowardsthecampofAlaric，andunanimouslysworetopursue，withjustandimplacablewar，theperfidiousnationwhohadsobaselyviolatedthelawsofhospitality。BytheimprudentconductoftheministersofHonorius，therepubliclosttheassistance，anddeservedtheenmity，ofthirtythousandofherbravestsoldiers；andtheweightofthatformidablearmy，whichalonemighthavedeterminedtheeventofthewar，wastransferredfromthescaleoftheRomansintothatoftheGoths。
[Footnote1:Theseriesofevents，fromthedeathofStilichotothearrivalofAlaricbeforeRome，canonlybefoundinZosimus，l。v。p。347—350。]
[Footnote2:TheexpressionofZosimusisstrongandlively，sufficienttoexcitethecontemptoftheenemy。]
[Footnote3:Eosquicatholicaesectaesuntinimici，intrapalatiummilitareprohibemus。Nullusnobissitaliquarationeconjunctus，quianobisfidestreligionediscordat。Cod。
Theodos。l。xvi。tit。v。leg。42，andGodefroy\'sCommentary，tom。
vi。p。164。Thislawwasappliedintheutmostlatitude，andrigorouslyexecuted。Zosimus，l。v。p。364。]
Intheartsofnegotiation，aswellasinthoseofwar，theGothickingmaintainedhissuperiorascendantoveranenemy，whoseseemingchangesproceededfromthetotalwantofcounselanddesign。Fromhiscamp，ontheconfinesofItaly，Alaricattentivelyobservedtherevolutionsofthepalace，watchedtheprogressoffactionanddiscontent，disguisedthehostileaspectofaBarbarianinvader，andassumedthemorepopularappearanceofthefriendandallyofthegreatStilicho:towhosevirtues，whentheywerenolongerformidable，hecouldpayajusttributeofsincerepraiseandregret。Thepressinginvitationofthemalecontents，whourgedthekingoftheGothstoinvadeItaly，wasenforcedbyalivelysenseofhispersonalinjuries；andhemightespeciallycomplain，thattheImperialministersstilldelayedandeludedthepaymentofthefourthousandpoundsofgoldwhichhadbeengrantedbytheRomansenate，eithertorewardhisservices，ortoappeasehisfury。Hisdecentfirmnesswassupportedbyanartfulmoderation，whichcontributedtothesuccessofhisdesigns。Herequiredafairandreasonablesatisfaction；buthegavethestrongestassurances，that，assoonashehadobtainedit，hewouldimmediatelyretire。HerefusedtotrustthefaithoftheRomans，unlessAetiusandJason，thesonsoftwogreatofficersofstate，weresentashostagestohiscamp；butheofferedtodeliver，inexchange，severalofthenoblestyouthsoftheGothicnation。ThemodestyofAlaricwasinterpreted，bytheministersofRavenna，asasureevidenceofhisweaknessandfear。Theydisdainedeithertonegotiateatreaty，ortoassembleanarmy；andwitharashconfidence，derivedonlyfromtheirignoranceoftheextremedanger，irretrievablywastedthedecisivemomentsofpeaceandwar。Whiletheyexpected，insullensilence，thattheBarbarianswouldevacuatetheconfinesofItaly，Alaric，withboldandrapidmarches，passedtheAlpsandthePo；hastilypillagedthecitiesofAquileia，Altinum，Concordia，andCremona，whichyieldedtohisarms；increasedhisforcesbytheaccessionofthirtythousandauxiliaries；and，withoutmeetingasingleenemyinthefield，advancedasfarastheedgeofthemorasswhichprotectedtheimpregnableresidenceoftheemperoroftheWest。InsteadofattemptingthehopelesssiegeofRavenna，theprudentleaderoftheGothsproceededtoRimini，stretchedhisravagesalongthesea—coastoftheHadriatic，andmeditatedtheconquestoftheancientmistressoftheworld。AnItalianhermit，whosezealandsanctitywererespectedbytheBarbariansthemselves，encounteredthevictoriousmonarch，andboldlydenouncedtheindignationofHeavenagainsttheoppressorsoftheearth；butthesainthimselfwasconfoundedbythesolemnasseverationofAlaric，thathefeltasecretandpraeternaturalimpulse，whichdirected，andevencompelled，hismarchtothegatesofRome。Hefelt，thathisgeniusandhisfortunewereequaltothemostarduousenterprises；andtheenthusiasmwhichhecommunicatedtotheGoths，insensiblyremovedthepopular，andalmostsuperstitious，reverenceofthenationsforthemajestyoftheRomanname。Histroops，animatedbythehopesofspoil，followedthecourseoftheFlaminianway，occupiedtheunguardedpassesoftheApennine，^4descendedintotherichplainsofUmbria；and，astheylayencampedonthebanksoftheClitumnus，mightwantonlyslaughteranddevourthemilk—whiteoxen，whichhadbeensolongreservedfortheuseofRomantriumphs。^5Aloftysituation，andaseasonabletempestofthunderandlightning，preservedthelittlecityofNarni；butthekingoftheGoths，despisingtheignobleprey，stilladvancedwithunabatedvigor；andafterhehadpassedthroughthestatelyarches，adornedwiththespoilsofBarbaricvictories，hepitchedhiscampunderthewallsofRome。^6