TheprofessionsofAdolphuswereprobablysincere，andhisattachmenttothecauseoftherepublicwassecuredbytheascendantwhichaRomanprincesshadacquiredovertheheartandunderstandingoftheBarbarianking。Placidia，^133thedaughterofthegreatTheodosius，andofGalla，hissecondwife，hadreceivedaroyaleducationinthepalaceofConstantinople；buttheeventfulstoryofherlifeisconnectedwiththerevolutionswhichagitatedtheWesternempireunderthereignofherbrotherHonorius。WhenRomewasfirstinvestedbythearmsofAlaric，Placidia，whowasthenabouttwentyyearsofage，residedinthecity；andherreadyconsenttothedeathofhercousinSerenahasacruelandungratefulappearance，which，accordingtothecircumstancesoftheaction，maybeaggravated，orexcused，bytheconsiderationofhertenderage。^134ThevictoriousBarbariansdetained，eitherasahostageoracaptive，^135thesisterofHonorius；but，whileshewasexposedtothedisgraceoffollowingroundItalythemotionsofaGothiccamp，sheexperienced，however，adecentandrespectfultreatment。TheauthorityofJornandes，whopraisesthebeautyofPlacidia，mayperhapsbecounterbalancedbythesilence，theexpressivesilence，ofherflatterers:yetthesplendorofherbirth，thebloomofyouth，theeleganceofmanners，andthedexterousinsinuationwhichshecondescendedtoemploy，madeadeepimpressiononthemindofAdolphus；andtheGothickingaspiredtocallhimselfthebrotheroftheemperor。TheministersofHonoriusrejectedwithdisdaintheproposalofanalliancesoinjurioustoeverysentimentofRomanpride；andrepeatedlyurgedtherestitutionofPlacidia，asanindispensableconditionofthetreatyofpeace。ButthedaughterofTheodosiussubmitted，withoutreluctance，tothedesiresoftheconqueror，ayoungandvaliantprince，whoyieldedtoAlaricinloftinessofstature，butwhoexcelledinthemoreattractivequalitiesofgraceandbeauty。ThemarriageofAdolphusandPlacidia^136wasconsummatedbeforetheGothsretiredfromItaly；andthesolemn，perhapstheanniversarydayoftheirnuptialswasafterwardscelebratedinthehouseofIngenuus，oneofthemostillustriouscitizensofNarbonneinGaul。Thebride，attiredandadornedlikeaRomanempress，wasplacedonathroneofstate；andthekingoftheGoths，whoassumed，onthisoccasion，theRomanhabit，contentedhimselfwithalesshonorableseatbyherside。
Thenuptialgift，which，accordingtothecustomofhisnation，^137wasofferedtoPlacidia，consistedoftherareandmagnificentspoilsofhercountry。Fiftybeautifulyouths，insilkenrobes，carriedabasinineachhand；andoneofthesebasinswasfilledwithpiecesofgold，theotherwithpreciousstonesofaninestimablevalue。Attalus，solongthesportoffortune，andoftheGoths，wasappointedtoleadthechorusoftheHymenealsong；andthedegradedemperormightaspiretothepraiseofaskilfulmusician。TheBarbariansenjoyedtheinsolenceoftheirtriumph；andtheprovincialsrejoicedinthisalliance，whichtempered，bythemildinfluenceofloveandreason，thefiercespiritoftheirGothiclord。^138
[Footnote133:SeeanaccountofPlacidiainDucangeFam。Byzant。
p。72；andTillemont，Hist。desEmpereurs，tom。v。p。260，386，&c。tom。vi。p。240。]
[Footnote134:Zosim。l。v。p。350。]
[Footnote135:Zosim。l。vi。p。383。Orosius，l。vii。c。40，p。
576，andtheChroniclesofMarcellinusandIdatius，seemtosuppose，thattheGothsdidnotcarryawayPlacidiatillafterthelastsiegeofRome。]
[Footnote136:SeethepicturesofAdolphusandPlacidia，andtheaccountoftheirmarriage，inJornandes，deReb。Geticis，c。31，p。654，655。Withregardtotheplacewherethenuptialswerestipulated，orconsummated，orcelebrated，theMss。ofJornandesvarybetweentwoneighboringcities，ForliandImola，ForumLiviiandForumCornelii。ItisfairandeasytoreconciletheGothichistorianwithOlympiodorus，seeMascou，l。viii。c。46:
butTillemontgrowspeevish，andswearsthatitisnotworthwhiletotrytoconciliateJornandeswithanygoodauthors。]
[Footnote137:TheVisigothsthesubjectsofAdolphus
restrainedbysubsequentlaws，theprodigalityofconjugallove。
Itwasillegalforahusbandtomakeanygiftorsettlementforthebenefitofhiswifeduringthefirstyearoftheirmarriage；
andhisliberalitycouldnotatanytimeexceedthetenthpartofhisproperty。TheLombardsweresomewhatmoreindulgent:theyallowedthemorgingcapimmediatelyaftertheweddingnight；andthisfamousgift，therewardofvirginitymightequalthefourthpartofthehusband\'ssubstance。Somecautiousmaidens，indeed，werewiseenoughtostipulatebeforehandapresent，whichtheyweretoosureofnotdeserving。SeeMontesquieu，EspritdesLoix，l。xix。c。25。Muratori，delleAntichitaItaliane，tom。i。
Dissertazion，xx。p。243。]
[Footnote138:WeowethecuriousdetailofthisnuptialfeasttothehistorianOlympiodorus，ap。Photium，p。185，188。]
Thehundredbasinsofgoldandgems，presentedtoPlacidiaathernuptialfeast，formedaninconsiderableportionoftheGothictreasures；ofwhichsomeextraordinaryspecimensmaybeselectedfromthehistoryofthesuccessorsofAdolphus。Manycuriousandcostlyornamentsofpuregold，enrichedwithjewels，werefoundintheirpalaceofNarbonne，whenitwaspillaged，inthesixthcentury，bytheFranks:sixtycups，caps，orchalices；
fifteenpatens，orplates，fortheuseofthecommunion；twentyboxes，orcases，toholdthebooksoftheGospels:thisconsecratedwealth^139wasdistributedbythesonofClovisamongthechurchesofhisdominions，andhispiousliberalityseemstoupbraidsomeformersacrilegeoftheGoths。Theypossessed，withmoresecurityofconscience，thefamousmissorium，orgreatdishfortheserviceofthetable，ofmassygold，oftheweightoffivehundredpounds，andoffarsuperiorvalue，fromthepreciousstones，theexquisiteworkmanship，andthetradition，thatithadbeenpresentedbyAetius，thepatrician，toTorismond，kingoftheGoths。OneofthesuccessorsofTorismondpurchasedtheaidoftheFrenchmonarchbythepromiseofthismagnificentgift。WhenhewasseatedonthethroneofSpain，hedelivereditwithreluctancetotheambassadorsofDagobert；despoiledthemontheroad；stipulated，afteralongnegotiation，theinadequateransomoftwohundredthousandpiecesofgold；andpreservedthemissorium，astheprideoftheGothictreasury。^140Whenthattreasury，aftertheconquestofSpain，wasplunderedbytheArabs，theyadmired，andtheyhavecelebrated，anotherobjectstillmoreremarkable；atableofconsiderablesize，ofonesinglepieceofsolidemerald，^141encircledwiththreerowsoffinepearls，supportedbythreehundredandsixty—fivefeetofgemsandmassygold，andestimatedatthepriceoffivehundredthousandpiecesofgold。^142SomeportionoftheGothictreasuresmightbethegiftoffriendship，orthetributeofobedience；butthefargreaterparthadbeenthefruitsofwarandrapine，thespoilsoftheempire，andperhapsofRome。
[Footnote139:SeeinthegreatcollectionoftheHistoriansofFrancebyDomBouquet，tom。ii。Greg。Turonens。l。iii。c。10，p。191。GestaRegumFrancorum，c。23，p。557。Theanonymouswriter，withanignoranceworthyofhistimes，supposesthattheseinstrumentsofChristianworshiphadbelongedtothetempleofSolomon。Ifhehasanymeaningitmustbe，thattheywerefoundinthesackofRome。]
[Footnote140:ConsultthefollowingoriginaltestimoniesintheHistoriansofFrance，tom。ii。FredegariiScholasticiChron。c。
73，p。441。Fredegar。Fragment。iii。p。463。GestaRegisDagobert，c。29，p。587。TheaccessionofSisenandtothethroneofSpainhappenedA。D。631。The200，000piecesofgoldwereappropriatedbyDagoberttothefoundationofthechurchofSt。
Denys。]
[Footnote141:ThepresidentGoguetOriginedesLoix，&c。，tom。
ii。p。239isofopinion，thatthestupendouspiecesofemerald，thestatuesandcolumnswhichantiquityhasplacedinEgypt，atGades，atConstantinople，wereinrealityartificialcompositionsofcoloredglass。Thefamousemeralddish，whichisshownatGenoa，issupposedtocountenancethesuspicion。]
[Footnote142:Elmacin。Hist。Saracenica，l。i。p。85。Roderic。
Tolet。Hist。Arab。c。9。Cardonne，Hist。del\'Afriqueetdel\'EspagnesouslesArabestom。i。p。83。ItwascalledtheTableofSolomon，accordingtothecustomoftheOrientals，whoascribetothatprinceeveryancientworkofknowledgeormagnificence。]
AfterthedeliveranceofItalyfromtheoppressionoftheGoths，somesecretcounsellorwaspermitted，amidstthefactionsofthepalace，tohealthewoundsofthatafflictedcountry。^143
Byawiseandhumaneregulation，theeightprovinceswhichhadbeenthemostdeeplyinjured，Campania，Tuscany，Picenum，Samnium，Apulia，Calabria，Bruttium，andLucania，obtainedanindulgenceoffiveyears:theordinarytributewasreducedtoonefifth，andeventhatfifthwasdestinedtorestoreandsupporttheusefulinstitutionofthepublicposts。Byanotherlaw，thelandswhichhadbeenleftwithoutinhabitantsorcultivation，weregranted，withsomediminutionoftaxes，totheneighborswhoshouldoccupy，orthestrangerswhoshouldsolicitthem；andthenewpossessorsweresecuredagainstthefutureclaimsofthefugitiveproprietors。AboutthesametimeageneralamnestywaspublishedinthenameofHonorius，toabolishtheguiltandmemoryofalltheinvoluntaryoffenceswhichhadbeencommittedbyhisunhappysubjects，duringthetermofthepublicdisorderandcalamityAdecentandrespectfulattentionwaspaidtotherestorationofthecapital；thecitizenswereencouragedtorebuildtheedificeswhichhadbeendestroyedordamagedbyhostilefire；andextraordinarysuppliesofcornwereimportedfromthecoastofAfrica。ThecrowdsthatsolatelyfledbeforetheswordoftheBarbarians，weresoonrecalledbythehopesofplentyandpleasure；andAlbinus，praefectofRome，informedthecourt，withsomeanxietyandsurprise，that，inasingleday，hehadtakenanaccountofthearrivaloffourteenthousandstrangers。^144Inlessthansevenyears，thevestigesoftheGothicinvasionwerealmostobliterated；andthecityappearedtoresumeitsformersplendorandtranquillity。Thevenerablematronreplacedhercrownoflaurel，whichhadbeenruffledbythestormsofwar；andwasstillamused，inthelastmomentofherdecay，withthepropheciesofrevenge，ofvictory，andofeternaldominion。^145
[Footnote143:HisthreelawsareinsertedintheTheodosianCode，l。xi。tit。xxviii。leg。7。L。xiii。tit。xi。leg。12。L。
xv。tit。xiv。leg。14Theexpressionsofthelastareveryremarkable；sincetheycontainnotonlyapardon，butanapology。]
[Footnote144:Olympiodorusap。Phot。p。188。Philostorgiusl。
xii。c。5observes，thatwhenHonoriusmadehistriumphalentry，heencouragedtheRomans，withhishandandvoice，torebuildtheircity；andtheChronicleofProspercommendsHeraclian，quiinRomanaeurbisreparationemstrenuumexhibueratministerium。]
[Footnote145:ThedateofthevoyageofClaudiusRutiliusNumatianusiscloggedwithsomedifficulties；butScaligerhasdeducedfromastronomicalcharacters，thatheleftRomethe24thofSeptemberandembarkedatPortothe9thofOctober，A。D。416。
SeeTillemont，Hist。desEmpereurs，tom，v。p。820。InthispoeticalItinerary，Rutiliusl。i。115，&c。addressesRomeinahighstrainofcongratulation:—
Erigecrinaleslauros，seniumquesacratiVerticisinvirides，Roma，recingecomas，&c。]
ThisapparenttranquillitywassoondisturbedbytheapproachofahostilearmamentfromthecountrywhichaffordedthedailysubsistenceoftheRomanpeople。Heraclian，countofAfrica，who，underthemostdifficultanddistressfulcircumstances，hadsupported，withactiveloyalty，thecauseofHonorius，wastempted，intheyearofhisconsulship，toassumethecharacterofarebel，andthetitleofemperor。TheportsofAfricawereimmediatelyfilledwiththenavalforces，attheheadofwhichhepreparedtoinvadeItaly:andhisfleet，whenitcastanchoratthemouthoftheTyber，indeedsurpassedthefleetsofXerxesandAlexander，ifallthevessels，includingtheroyalgalley，andthesmallestboat，didactuallyamounttotheincrediblenumberofthreethousandtwohundred。^146Yetwithsuchanarmament，whichmighthavesubverted，orrestored，thegreatestempiresoftheearth，theAfricanusurpermadeaveryfaintandfeebleimpressionontheprovincesofhisrival。Ashemarchedfromtheport，alongtheroadwhichleadstothegatesofRome，hewasencountered，terrified，androuted，byoneoftheImperialcaptains；andthelordofthismightyhost，desertinghisfortuneandhisfriends，ignominiouslyfledwithasingleship。^147WhenHeraclianlandedintheharborofCarthage，hefoundthatthewholeprovince，disdainingsuchanunworthyruler，hadreturnedtotheirallegiance。TherebelwasbeheadedintheancienttempleofMemoryhisconsulshipwasabolished:^148andtheremainsofhisprivatefortune，notexceedingthemoderatesumoffourthousandpoundsofgold，weregrantedtothebraveConstantius，whohadalreadydefendedthethrone，whichheafterwardssharedwithhisfeeblesovereign。Honoriusviewed，withsupineindifference，thecalamitiesofRomeandItaly；^149
buttherebelliousattemptsofAttalusandHeraclian，againsthispersonalsafety，awakened，foramoment，thetorpidinstinctofhisnature。Hewasprobablyignorantofthecausesandeventswhichpreservedhimfromtheseimpendingdangers；andasItalywasnolongerinvadedbyanyforeignordomesticenemies，hepeaceablyexistedinthepalaceofRavenna，whilethetyrantsbeyondtheAlpswererepeatedlyvanquishedinthename，andbythelieutenants，ofthesonofTheodosius。^150InthecourseofabusyandinterestingnarrativeImightpossiblyforgettomentionthedeathofsuchaprince:andIshallthereforetaketheprecautionofobserving，inthisplace，thathesurvivedthelastsiegeofRomeaboutthirteenyears。
[Footnote146:OrosiuscomposedhishistoryinAfrica，onlytwoyearsaftertheevent；yethisauthorityseemstobeoverbalancedbytheimprobabilityofthefact。TheChronicleofMarcellinusgivesHeraclian700shipsand3000men:thelatterofthesenumbersisridiculouslycorrupt；buttheformerwouldpleasemeverymuch。]
[Footnote147:TheChronicleofIdatiusaffirms，withouttheleastappearanceoftruth，thatheadvancedasfarasOtriculum，inUmbria，wherehewasoverthrowninagreatbattle，withthelossof50，000men。]
[Footnote148:SeeCod。Theod。l。xv。tit。xiv。leg。13。Thelegalactsperformedinhisname，eventhemanumissionofslaves，weredeclaredinvalid，tilltheyhadbeenformallyrepeated。]
[Footnote149:Ihavedisdainedtomentionaveryfoolish，andprobablyafalse，report，Procop。deBell。Vandal。l。i。c。2，
thatHonoriuswasalarmedbythelossofRome，tillheunderstoodthatitwasnotafavoritechickenofthatname，butonlythecapitaloftheworld，whichhadbeenlost。Yeteventhisstoryissomeevidenceofthepublicopinion。]
[Footnote150:Thematerialsforthelivesofallthesetyrantsaretakenfromsixcontemporaryhistorians，twoLatinsandfourGreeks:Orosius，l。vii。c。42，p。581，582，583；RenatusProfuturusFrigeridus，apudGregorTuron。l。ii。c。9，intheHistoriansofFrance，tom。ii。p。165，166；Zosimus，l。v。p。
370，371；Olympiodorus，apudPhot。p。180，181，184，185；
Sozomen，l。ix。c。12，13，14，15；andPhilostorgius，l。xii。c。
5，6，withGodefroy\'sDissertation，p。477—481；besidesthefourChroniclesofProsperTyro，ProsperofAquitain，Idatius，andMarcellinus。]
TheusurpationofConstantine，whoreceivedthepurplefromthelegionsofBritain，hadbeensuccessful，andseemedtobesecure。Histitlewasacknowledged，fromthewallofAntoninustothecolumnsofHercules；and，inthemidstofthepublicdisorderhesharedthedominion，andtheplunder，ofGaulandSpain，withthetribesofBarbarians，whosedestructiveprogresswasnolongercheckedbytheRhineorPyrenees。StainedwiththebloodofthekinsmenofHonorius，heextorted，fromthecourtofRavenna，withwhichhesecretlycorresponded，theratificationofhisrebelliousclaimsConstantineengagedhimself，byasolemnpromise，todeliverItalyfromtheGoths；advancedasfarasthebanksofthePo；andafteralarming，ratherthanassisting，hispusillanimousally，hastilyreturnedtothepalaceofArles，tocelebrate，withintemperateluxury，hisvainandostentatioustriumph。ButthistransientprosperitywassooninterruptedanddestroyedbytherevoltofCountGerontius，thebravestofhisgenerals；who，duringtheabsenceofhissonConstants，aprincealreadyinvestedwiththeImperialpurple，hadbeenlefttocommandintheprovincesofSpain。Fromsomereason，ofwhichweareignorant，Gerontius，insteadofassumingthediadem，placeditontheheadofhisfriendMaximus，whofixedhisresidenceatTarragona，whiletheactivecountpressedforwards，throughthePyrenees，tosurprisethetwoemperors，ConstantineandConstans，beforetheycouldpreparefortheirdefence。ThesonwasmadeprisoneratVienna，andimmediatelyputtodeath:andtheunfortunateyouthhadscarcelyleisuretodeploretheelevationofhisfamily；whichhadtempted，orcompelledhim，sacrilegiouslytodesertthepeacefulobscurityofthemonasticlife。ThefathermaintainedasiegewithinthewallsofArles；
butthosewallsmusthaveyieldedtotheassailants，hadnotthecitybeenunexpectedlyrelievedbytheapproachofanItalianarmy。ThenameofHonorius，theproclamationofalawfulemperor，astonishedthecontendingpartiesoftherebels。
Gerontius，abandonedbyhisowntroops，escapedtotheconfinesofSpain；andrescuedhisnamefromoblivion，bytheRomancouragewhichappearedtoanimatethelastmomentsofhislife。
Inthemiddleofthenight，agreatbodyofhisperfidioussoldierssurroundedandattackedhishouse，whichhehadstronglybarricaded。Hiswife，avaliantfriendofthenationoftheAlani，andsomefaithfulslaves，werestillattachedtohisperson；andheused，withsomuchskillandresolution，alargemagazineofdartsandarrows，thatabovethreehundredoftheassailantslosttheirlivesintheattempt。Hisslaveswhenallthemissileweaponswerespent，fledatthedawnofday；andGerontius，ifhehadnotbeenrestrainedbyconjugaltenderness，mighthaveimitatedtheirexample；tillthesoldiers，provokedbysuchobstinateresistance，appliedfireonallsidestothehouse。Inthisfatalextremity，hecompliedwiththerequestofhisBarbarianfriend，andcutoffhishead。ThewifeofGerontius，whoconjuredhimnottoabandonhertoalifeofmiseryanddisgrace，eagerlypresentedhernecktohissword；andthetragicscenewasterminatedbythedeathofthecounthimself，who，afterthreeineffectualstrokes，drewashortdagger，andsheatheditinhisheart。^151TheunprotectedMaximus，whomhehadinvestedwiththepurple，wasindebtedforhislifetothecontemptthatwasentertainedofhispowerandabilities。ThecapriceoftheBarbarians，whoravagedSpain，oncemoreseatedthisImperialphantomonthethrone:buttheysoonresignedhimtothejusticeofHonorius；andthetyrantMaximus，afterhehadbeenshowntothepeopleofRavennaandRome，waspubliclyexecuted。