[Footnote151:ThepraiseswhichSozomenhasbestowedonthisactofdespair，appearstrangeandscandalousinthemouthofanecclesiasticalhistorian。Heobservesp。379thatthewifeofGerontiuswasaChristian；andthatherdeathwasworthyofherreligion，andofimmortalfame。]
Thegeneral，Constantiuswashisname，whoraisedbyhisapproachthesiegeofArles，anddissipatedthetroopsofGerontius，wasbornaRoman；andthisremarkabledistinctionisstronglyexpressiveofthedecayofmilitaryspiritamongthesubjectsoftheempire。Thestrengthandmajestywhichwereconspicuousinthepersonofthatgeneral，^152markedhim，inthepopularopinion，asacandidateworthyofthethrone，whichheafterwardsascended。Inthefamiliarintercourseofprivatelife，hismannerswerecheerfulandengaging；norwouldhesometimesdisdain，inthelicenseofconvivialmirth，toviewiththepantomimesthemselves，intheexercisesoftheirridiculousprofession。Butwhenthetrumpetsummonedhimtoarms；whenhemountedhishorse，and，bendingdownforsuchwashissingularpracticealmostupontheneck，fiercelyrolledhislargeanimatedeyesroundthefield，Constantiusthenstruckterrorintohisfoes，andinspiredhissoldierswiththeassuranceofvictory。HehadreceivedfromthecourtofRavennatheimportantcommissionofextirpatingrebellionintheprovincesoftheWest；
andthepretendedemperorConstantine，afterenjoyingashortandanxiousrespite，wasagainbesiegedinhiscapitalbythearmsofamoreformidableenemy。YetthisintervalallowedtimeforasuccessfulnegotiationwiththeFranksandAlemanniandhisambassador，Edobic，soonreturnedattheheadofanarmy，todisturbtheoperationsofthesiegeofArles。TheRomangeneral，insteadofexpectingtheattackinhislines，boldlyandperhapswisely，resolvedtopasstheRhone，andtomeettheBarbarians。
Hismeasureswereconductedwithsomuchskillandsecrecy，that，whiletheyengagedtheinfantryofConstantiusinthefront，theyweresuddenlyattacked，surrounded，anddestroyed，bythecavalryofhislieutenantUlphilas，whohadsilentlygainedanadvantageouspostintheirrear。TheremainsofthearmyofEdobicwerepreservedbyflightorsubmission，andtheirleaderescapedfromthefieldofbattletothehouseofafaithlessfriend；whotooclearlyunderstood，thattheheadofhisobnoxiousguestwouldbeanacceptableandlucrativepresentfortheImperialgeneral。Onthisoccasion，ConstantiusbehavedwiththemagnanimityofagenuineRoman。Subduing，orsuppressing，everysentimentofjealousy，hepubliclyacknowledgedthemeritandservicesofUlphilas；butheturnedwithhorrorfromtheassassinofEdobic；andsternlyintimatedhiscommands，thatthecampshouldnolongerbepollutedbythepresenceofanungratefulwretch，whohadviolatedthelawsoffriendshipandhospitality。Theusurper，whobeheld，fromthewallsofArles，theruinofhislasthopes，wastemptedtoplacesomeconfidenceinsogenerousaconqueror。Herequiredasolemnpromiseforhissecurity；andafterreceiving，bytheimpositionofhands，thesacredcharacterofaChristianPresbyter，heventuredtoopenthegatesofthecity。Buthesoonexperiencedthattheprinciplesofhonorandintegrity，whichmightregulatetheordinaryconductofConstantius，weresupersededbytheloosedoctrinesofpoliticalmorality。TheRomangeneral，indeed，refusedtosullyhislaurelswiththebloodofConstantine；buttheabdicatedemperor，andhissonJulian，weresentunderastrongguardintoItaly；andbeforetheyreachedthepalaceofRavenna，theymettheministersofdeath。
[Footnote152:ItistheexpressionofOlympiodorus，whichheseemstohaveborrowedfromAeolus，atragedyofEuripides，ofwhichsomefragmentsonlyarenowextant，Euripid。Barnes，tom。
ii。p。443，ver38。Thisallusionmayprove，thattheancienttragicpoetswerestillfamiliartotheGreeksofthefifthcentury。]
Atatimewhenitwasuniversallyconfessed，thatalmosteverymanintheempirewassuperiorinpersonalmerittotheprinceswhomtheaccidentoftheirbirthhadseatedonthethrone，arapidsuccessionofusurpers，regardlessofthefateoftheirpredecessors，stillcontinuedtoarise。ThismischiefwaspeculiarlyfeltintheprovincesofSpainandGaul，wheretheprinciplesoforderandobediencehadbeenextinguishedbywarandrebellion。BeforeConstantineresignedthepurple，andinthefourthmonthofthesiegeofArles，intelligencewasreceivedintheImperialcamp，thatJovinushasassumedthediadematMentz，intheUpperGermany，attheinstigationofGoar，kingoftheAlani，andofGuntiarius，kingoftheBurgundians；andthatthecandidate，onwhomtheyhadbestowedtheempire，advancedwithaformidablehostofBarbarians，fromthebanksoftheRhinetothoseoftheRhone。EverycircumstanceisdarkandextraordinaryintheshorthistoryofthereignofJovinus。Itwasnaturaltoexpect，thatabraveandskilfulgeneral，attheheadofavictoriousarmy，wouldhaveasserted，inafieldofbattle，thejusticeofthecauseofHonorius。ThehastyretreatofConstantiusmightbejustifiedbyweightyreasons；butheresigned，withoutastruggle，thepossessionofGaul；andDardanus，thePraetorianpraefect，isrecordedastheonlymagistratewhorefusedtoyieldobediencetotheusurper。^153
WhentheGoths，twoyearsafterthesiegeofRome，establishedtheirquartersinGaul，itwasnaturaltosupposethattheirinclinationscouldbedividedonlybetweentheemperorHonorius，withwhomtheyhadformedarecentalliance，andthedegradedAttalus，whomtheyreservedintheircampfortheoccasionalpurposeofactingthepartofamusicianoramonarch。Yetinamomentofdisgust，forwhichitisnoteasytoassignacause，oradate，AdolphusconnectedhimselfwiththeusurperofGaul；
andimposedonAttalustheignominioustaskofnegotiatingthetreaty，whichratifiedhisowndisgrace。Weareagainsurprisedtoread，that，insteadofconsideringtheGothicallianceasthefirmestsupportofhisthrone，Jovinusupbraided，indarkandambiguouslanguage，theofficiousimportunityofAttalus；that，scorningtheadviceofhisgreatally，heinvestedwiththepurplehisbrotherSebastian；andthathemostimprudentlyacceptedtheserviceofSarus，whenthatgallantchief，thesoldierofHonorius，wasprovokedtodesertthecourtofaprince，whoknewnothowtorewardorpunish。Adolphus，educatedamongaraceofwarriors，whoesteemedthedutyofrevengeasthemostpreciousandsacredportionoftheirinheritance，advancedwithabodyoftenthousandGothstoencounterthehereditaryenemyofthehouseofBalti。HeattackedSarusatanunguardedmoment，whenhewasaccompaniedonlybyeighteenortwentyofhisvaliantfollowers。Unitedbyfriendship，animatedbydespair，butatlengthoppressedbymultitudes，thisbandofheroesdeservedtheesteem，withoutexcitingthecompassion，oftheirenemies；andthelionwasnosoonertakeninthetoils，^154thanhewasinstantlydespatched。ThedeathofSarusdissolvedtheloosealliancewhichAdolphusstillmaintainedwiththeusurpersofGaul。Heagainlistenedtothedictatesofloveandprudence；
andsoonsatisfiedthebrotherofPlacidia，bytheassurancethathewouldimmediatelytransmittothepalaceofRavennatheheadsofthetwotyrants，JovinusandSebastian。ThekingoftheGothsexecutedhispromisewithoutdifficultyordelay；thehelplessbrothers，unsupportedbyanypersonalmerit，wereabandonedbytheirBarbarianauxiliaries；andtheshortoppositionofValentiawasexpiatedbytheruinofoneofthenoblestcitiesofGaul。
Theemperor，chosenbytheRomansenate，whohadbeenpromoted，degraded，insulted，restored，againdegraded，andagaininsulted，wasfinallyabandonedtohisfate；butwhentheGothickingwithdrewhisprotection，hewasrestrained，bypityorcontempt，fromofferinganyviolencetothepersonofAttalus。TheunfortunateAttalus，whowasleftwithoutsubjectsorallies，embarkedinoneoftheportsofSpain，insearchofsomesecureandsolitaryretreat:buthewasinterceptedatsea，conductedtothepresenceofHonorius，ledintriumphthroughthestreetsofRomeorRavenna，andpubliclyexposedtothegazingmultitude，onthesecondstepofthethroneofhisinvincibleconqueror。Thesamemeasureofpunishment，withwhich，inthedaysofhisprosperity，hewasaccusedofmenacinghisrival，wasinflictedonAttalushimself；hewascondemned，aftertheamputationoftwofingers，toaperpetualexileintheIsleofLipari，wherehewassuppliedwiththedecentnecessariesoflife。TheremainderofthereignofHonoriuswasundisturbedbyrebellion；anditmaybeobserved，that，inthespaceoffiveyears，sevenusurpershadyieldedtothefortuneofaprince，whowashimselfincapableeitherofcounselorofaction。
[Footnote153:SidoniusApollinaris，l。v。epist。9，p。139，andNot。Sirmond。p。58，afterstigmatizingtheinconstancyofConstantine，thefacilityofJovinus，theperfidyofGerontius，continuestoobserve，thatallthevicesofthesetyrantswereunitedinthepersonofDardanus。Yetthepraefectsupportedarespectablecharacterintheworld，andeveninthechurch；heldadevoutcorrespondencewithSt。AugustinandSt。Jerom；andwascomplimentedbythelattertom。iii。p。66withtheepithetsofChristianorumNobilissime，andNobiliumChristianissime。]
[Footnote154:Theexpressionmaybeunderstoodalmostliterally:
Olympiodorussaysasack，oraloosegarment；andthismethodofentanglingandcatchinganenemy，laciniiscontortis，wasmuchpractisedbytheHuns，Ammian。xxxi。2。Ilfutprisvifavecdesfilets，isthetranslationofTillemont，Hist。desEmpereurs，tom。v。p。608。
Note:BekkerinhisPhotiusreadssomething，butintheneweditionoftheBysantines，heretainstheoldversion，whichistranslatedScutis，asiftheyprotectedhimwiththeirshields，inordertotakehimalive。Photius，Bekker，p。58。—M]
ChapterXXXI:InvasionOfItaly，OccupationOfTerritoriesByBarbarians。
PartVI。
ThesituationofSpain，separated，onallsides，fromtheenemiesofRome，bythesea，bythemountains，andbyintermediateprovinces，hadsecuredthelongtranquillityofthatremoteandsequesteredcountry；andwemayobserve，asasuresymptomofdomestichappiness，that，inaperiodoffourhundredyears，SpainfurnishedveryfewmaterialstothehistoryoftheRomanempire。ThefootstepsoftheBarbarians，who，inthereignofGallienus，hadpenetratedbeyondthePyrenees，weresoonobliteratedbythereturnofpeace；andinthefourthcenturyoftheChristianaera，thecitiesofEmerita，orMerida，ofCorduba，Seville，Bracara，andTarragona，werenumberedwiththemostillustriousoftheRomanworld。Thevariousplentyoftheanimal，thevegetable，andthemineralkingdoms，wasimprovedandmanufacturedbytheskillofanindustriouspeople；andthepeculiaradvantagesofnavalstorescontributedtosupportanextensiveandprofitabletrade。^155Theartsandsciencesflourishedundertheprotectionoftheemperors；andifthecharacteroftheSpaniardswasenfeebledbypeaceandservitude，thehostileapproachoftheGermans，whohadspreadterroranddesolationfromtheRhinetothePyrenees，seemedtorekindlesomesparksofmilitaryardor。Aslongasthedefenceofthemountainswasintrustedtothehardyandfaithfulmilitiaofthecountry，theysuccessfullyrepelledthefrequentattemptsoftheBarbarians。ButnosoonerhadthenationaltroopsbeencompelledtoresigntheirposttotheHonorianbands，intheserviceofConstantine，thanthegatesofSpainweretreacherouslybetrayedtothepublicenemy，abouttenmonthsbeforethesackofRomebytheGoths。^156Theconsciousnessofguilt，andthethirstofrapine，promptedthemercenaryguardsofthePyreneestodeserttheirstation；toinvitethearmsoftheSuevi，theVandals，andtheAlani；andtoswellthetorrentwhichwaspouredwithirresistibleviolencefromthefrontiersofGaultotheseaofAfrica。ThemisfortunesofSpainmaybedescribedinthelanguageofitsmosteloquenthistorian，whohasconciselyexpressedthepassionate，andperhapsexaggerated，declamationsofcontemporarywriters。^157\"Theirruptionofthesenationswasfollowedbythemostdreadfulcalamities；astheBarbariansexercisedtheirindiscriminatecrueltyonthefortunesoftheRomansandtheSpaniards，andravagedwithequalfurythecitiesandtheopencountry。Theprogressoffaminereducedthemiserableinhabitantstofeedonthefleshoftheirfellow—creatures；andeventhewildbeasts，whomultiplied，withoutcontrol，inthedesert，wereexasperated，bythetasteofblood，andtheimpatienceofhunger，boldlytoattackanddevourtheirhumanprey。Pestilencesoonappeared，theinseparablecompanionoffamine；alargeproportionofthepeoplewassweptaway；andthegroansofthedyingexcitedonlytheenvyoftheirsurvivingfriends。AtlengththeBarbarians，satiatedwithcarnageandrapine，andafflictedbythecontagiousevilswhichtheythemselveshadintroduced，fixedtheirpermanentseatsinthedepopulatedcountry。TheancientGallicia，whoselimitsincludedthekingdomofOldCastille，wasdividedbetweentheSueviandtheVandals；theAlaniwerescatteredovertheprovincesofCarthagenaandLusitania，fromtheMediterraneantotheAtlanticOcean；andthefruitfulterritoryofBoeticawasallottedtotheSilingi，anotherbranchoftheVandalicnation。
Afterregulatingthispartition，theconquerorscontractedwiththeirnewsubjectssomereciprocalengagementsofprotectionandobedience:thelandswereagaincultivated；andthetownsandvillageswereagainoccupiedbyacaptivepeople。ThegreatestpartoftheSpaniardswasevendisposedtopreferthisnewconditionofpovertyandbarbarism，tothesevereoppressionsoftheRomangovernment；yetthereweremanywhostillassertedtheirnativefreedom；andwhorefused，moreespeciallyinthemountainsofGallicia，tosubmittotheBarbarianyoke。\"^158
[Footnote155:Withoutrecurringtothemoreancientwriters，I
shallquotethreerespectabletestimonieswhichbelongtothefourthandseventhcenturies；theExpositiototiusMundi，p。16，inthethirdvolumeofHudson\'sMinorGeographers，Ausonius，deClarisUrbibus，p。242，edit。Toll。，andIsidoreofSeville，Praefat。ad。Chron。ap。Grotium，Hist。Goth。707。ManyparticularsrelativetothefertilityandtradeofSpainmaybefoundinNonnius，HispaniaIllustrata；andinHuet，Hist。duCommercedesAnciens，c。40。p。228—234。]
[Footnote156:ThedateisaccuratelyfixedintheFasti，andtheChronicleofIdatius。Orosiusl。vii。c。40，p。578imputesthelossofSpaintothetreacheryoftheHonorians；whileSozomenl。ix。c。12accusesonlytheirnegligence。]
[Footnote157:IdatiuswishestoapplythepropheciesofDanieltothesenationalcalamities；andisthereforeobligedtoaccommodatethecircumstancesoftheeventtothetermsoftheprediction。]
[Footnote158:MarianadeRebusHispanicis，l。v。c。1，tom。i。
p。148。Comit。1733。Hehadread，inOrosius，l。vii。c。41，p。
579，thattheBarbarianshadturnedtheirswordsintoploughshares；andthatmanyoftheProvincialshadpreferredinterBarbarospauperemlibertatem，quaminterRomanostributariamsolicitudinem，sustinere。]
TheimportantpresentoftheheadsofJovinusandSebastianhadapprovedthefriendshipofAdolphus，andrestoredGaultotheobedienceofhisbrotherHonorius。PeacewasincompatiblewiththesituationandtemperofthekingoftheGoths。HereadilyacceptedtheproposalofturninghisvictoriousarmsagainsttheBarbariansofSpain；thetroopsofConstantiusinterceptedhiscommunicationwiththeseaportsofGaul，andgentlypressedhismarchtowardsthePyrenees:^159hepassedthemountains，andsurprised，inthenameoftheemperor，thecityofBarcelona。
ThefondnessofAdolphusforhisRomanbride，wasnotabatedbytimeorpossession:andthebirthofason，surnamed，fromhisillustriousgrandsire，Theodosius，appearedtofixhimforeverintheinterestoftherepublic。Thelossofthatinfant，whoseremainsweredepositedinasilvercoffininoneofthechurchesnearBarcelona，afflictedhisparents；butthegriefoftheGothickingwassuspendedbythelaborsofthefield；andthecourseofhisvictorieswassooninterruptedbydomestictreason。
HehadimprudentlyreceivedintohisserviceoneofthefollowersofSarus；aBarbarianofadaringspirit，butofadiminutivestature；whosesecretdesireofrevengingthedeathofhisbelovedpatronwascontinuallyirritatedbythesarcasmsofhisinsolentmaster。AdolphuswasassassinatedinthepalaceofBarcelona；thelawsofthesuccessionwereviolatedbyatumultuousfaction；^160andastrangertotheroyalrace，Singeric，thebrotherofSarushimself，wasseatedontheGothicthrone。ThefirstactofhisreignwastheinhumanmurderofthesixchildrenofAdolphus，theissueofaformermarriage，whomhetore，withoutpity，fromthefeeblearmsofavenerablebishop。
^161TheunfortunatePlacidia，insteadoftherespectfulcompassion，whichshemighthaveexcitedinthemostsavagebreasts，wastreatedwithcruelandwantoninsult。ThedaughteroftheemperorTheodosius，confoundedamongacrowdofvulgarcaptives，wascompelledtomarchonfootabovetwelvemiles，beforethehorseofaBarbarian，theassassinofahusbandwhomPlacidialovedandlamented。^162[Footnote159:ThismixtureofforceandpersuasionmaybefairlyinferredfromcomparingOrosiusandJornandes，theRomanandtheGothichistorian。]
[Footnote160:AccordingtothesystemofJornandes，c。33，p。
659，thetruehereditaryrighttotheGothicsceptrewasvestedintheAmali；butthoseprinces，whowerethevassalsoftheHuns，commandedthetribesoftheOstrogothsinsomedistantpartsofGermanyorScythia。]
[Footnote161:ThemurderisrelatedbyOlympiodorus:butthenumberofthechildrenistakenfromanepitaphofsuspectedauthority。]
[Footnote162:ThedeathofAdolphuswascelebratedatConstantinoplewithilluminationsandCircensiangames。SeeChron。Alexandrin。ItmayseemdoubtfulwhethertheGreekswereactuated，onthisoccasion，betheirhatredoftheBarbarians，oroftheLatins。]
ButPlacidiasoonobtainedthepleasureofrevenge，andtheviewofherignominioussufferingsmightrouseanindignantpeopleagainstthetyrant，whowasassassinatedontheseventhdayofhisusurpation。AfterthedeathofSingeric，thefreechoiceofthenationbestowedtheGothicsceptreonWallia；whosewarlikeandambitioustemperappeared，inthebeginningofhisreign，extremelyhostiletotherepublic。HemarchedinarmsfromBarcelonatotheshoresoftheAtlanticOcean，whichtheancientsreveredanddreadedastheboundaryoftheworld。ButwhenhereachedthesouthernpromontoryofSpain，^163and，fromtherocknowcoveredbythefortressofGibraltar，contemplatedtheneighboringandfertilecoastofAfrica，Walliaresumedthedesignsofconquest，whichhadbeeninterruptedbythedeathofAlaric。ThewindsandwavesagaindisappointedtheenterpriseoftheGoths；andthemindsofasuperstitiouspeopleweredeeplyaffectedbytherepeateddisastersofstormsandshipwrecks。InthisdispositionthesuccessorofAdolphusnolongerrefusedtolistentoaRomanambassador，whoseproposalswereenforcedbythereal，orsupposed，approachofanumerousarmy，undertheconductofthebraveConstantius。Asolemntreatywasstipulatedandobserved；Placidiawashonorablyrestoredtoherbrother；sixhundredthousandmeasuresofwheatweredeliveredtothehungryGoths；^164andWalliaengagedtodrawhisswordintheserviceoftheempire。AbloodywarwasinstantlyexcitedamongtheBarbariansofSpain；andthecontendingprincesaresaidtohaveaddressedtheirletters，theirambassadors，andtheirhostages，tothethroneoftheWesternemperor，exhortinghimtoremainatranquilspectatoroftheircontest；theeventsofwhichmustbefavorabletotheRomans，bythemutualslaughteroftheircommonenemies。^165TheSpanishwarwasobstinatelysupported，duringthreecampaigns，withdesperatevalor，andvarioussuccess；andthemartialachievementsofWalliadiffusedthroughtheempirethesuperiorrenownoftheGothichero。HeexterminatedtheSilingi，whohadirretrievablyruinedtheelegantplentyoftheprovinceofBoetica。Heslew，inbattle，thekingoftheAlani；