TheprivatelifeofthesenatorPetroniusMaximus^1wasoftenallegedasarareexampleofhumanfelicity。Hisbirthwasnobleandillustrious，sincehedescendedfromtheAnicianfamily；hisdignitywassupportedbyanadequatepatrimonyinlandandmoney；andtheseadvantagesoffortunewereaccompaniedwithliberalartsanddecentmanners，whichadornorimitatetheinestimablegiftsofgeniusandvirtue。Theluxuryofhispalaceandtablewashospitableandelegant。WheneverMaximusappearedinpublic，hewassurroundedbyatrainofgratefulandobsequiousclients；^2anditispossiblethatamongtheseclients，hemightdeserveandpossesssomerealfriends。Hismeritwasrewardedbythefavoroftheprinceandsenate:hethriceexercisedtheofficeofPraetorianpraefectofItaly；hewastwiceinvestedwiththeconsulship，andheobtainedtherankofpatrician。Thesecivilhonorswerenotincompatiblewiththeenjoymentofleisureandtranquillity；hishours，accordingtothedemandsofpleasureorreason，wereaccuratelydistributedbyawater—clock；andthisavariceoftimemaybeallowedtoprovethesensewhichMaximusentertainedofhisownhappiness。TheinjurywhichhereceivedfromtheemperorValentinianappearstoexcusethemostbloodyrevenge。Yetaphilosophermighthavereflected，that，iftheresistanceofhiswifehadbeensincere，herchastitywasstillinviolate，andthatitcouldneverberestoredifshehadconsentedtothewilloftheadulterer。A
patriotwouldhavehesitatedbeforeheplungedhimselfandhiscountryintothoseinevitablecalamitieswhichmustfollowtheextinctionoftheroyalhouseofTheodosius。TheimprudentMaximusdisregardedthesesalutaryconsiderations；hegratifiedhisresentmentandambition；hesawthebleedingcorpseofValentinianathisfeet；andheheardhimselfsalutedEmperorbytheunanimousvoiceofthesenateandpeople。Butthedayofhisinaugurationwasthelastdayofhishappiness。HewasimprisonedsuchisthelivelyexpressionofSidoniusinthepalace；andafterpassingasleeplessnight，hesighedthathehadattainedthesummitofhiswishes，andaspiredonlytodescendfromthedangerouselevation。Oppressedbytheweightofthediadem，hecommunicatedhisanxiousthoughtstohisfriendandquaestorFulgentius；andwhenhelookedbackwithunavailingregretonthesecurepleasuresofhisformerlife，theemperorexclaimed，\"OfortunateDamocles，^3thyreignbeganandendedwiththesamedinner；\"awell—knownallusion，whichFulgentiusafterwardsrepeatedasaninstructivelessonforprincesandsubjects。
[Footnote1:SidoniusApollinariscomposedthethirteenthepistleofthesecondbook，torefutetheparadoxofhisfriendSerranus，whoentertainedasingular，thoughgenerous，enthusiasmforthedeceasedemperor。Thisepistle，withsomeindulgence，mayclaimthepraiseofanelegantcomposition；anditthrowsmuchlightonthecharacterofMaximus。]
[Footnote2:Clientum，praevia，pedisequa，circumfusa，populositas，isthetrainwhichSidoniushimselfl。i。epist。9
assignstoanothersenatorofrank]
[Footnote3:DistrictusensiscuisuperimpiaCervicependet，nonSiculoedapesDulcemelaborabuntsaporem:
NonaviumcitharaequecantusSomnumreducent。
Horat。Carm。iii。1。
SidoniusconcludeshisletterwiththestoryofDamocles，whichCiceroTusculan。v。20，21hadsoinimitablytold。]
ThereignofMaximuscontinuedaboutthreemonths。Hishours，ofwhichhehadlostthecommand，weredisturbedbyremorse，orguilt，orterror，andhisthronewasshakenbytheseditionsofthesoldiers，thepeople，andtheconfederateBarbarians。ThemarriageofhissonPaladiuswiththeeldestdaughterofthelateemperor，mighttendtoestablishthehereditarysuccessionofhisfamily；buttheviolencewhichheofferedtotheempressEudoxia，couldproceedonlyfromtheblindimpulseoflustorrevenge。Hisownwife，thecauseofthesetragicevents，hadbeenseasonablyremovedbydeath；andthewidowofValentinianwascompelledtoviolateherdecentmourning，perhapsherrealgrief，andtosubmittotheembracesofapresumptuoususurper，whomshesuspectedastheassassinofherdeceasedhusband。ThesesuspicionsweresoonjustifiedbytheindiscreetconfessionofMaximushimself；andhewantonlyprovokedthehatredofhisreluctantbride，whowasstillconsciousthatshewasdescendedfromalineofemperors。FromtheEast，however，Eudoxiacouldnothopetoobtainanyeffectualassistance；herfatherandherauntPulcheriaweredead；hermotherlanguishedatJerusalemindisgraceandexile；andthesceptreofConstantinoplewasinthehandsofastranger。ShedirectedhereyestowardsCarthage；secretlyimploredtheaidofthekingoftheVandals；andpersuadedGenserictoimprovethefairopportunityofdisguisinghisrapaciousdesignsbythespeciousnamesofhonor，justice，andcompassion。^4WhateverabilitiesMaximusmighthaveshowninasubordinatestation，hewasfoundincapableofadministeringanempire；andthoughhemighteasilyhavebeeninformedofthenavalpreparationswhichweremadeontheoppositeshoresofAfrica，heexpectedwithsupineindifferencetheapproachoftheenemy，withoutadoptinganymeasuresofdefence，ofnegotiation，orofatimelyretreat。
WhentheVandalsdisembarkedatthemouthoftheTyber，theemperorwassuddenlyrousedfromhislethargybytheclamorsofatremblingandexasperatedmultitude。Theonlyhopewhichpresenteditselftohisastonishedmindwasthatofaprecipitateflight，andheexhortedthesenatorstoimitatetheexampleoftheirprince。ButnosoonerdidMaximusappearinthestreets，thanhewasassaultedbyashowerofstones；aRoman，oraBurgundiansoldier，claimedthehonorofthefirstwound；hismangledbodywasignominiouslycastintotheTyber；theRomanpeoplerejoicedinthepunishmentwhichtheyhadinflictedontheauthorofthepubliccalamities；andthedomesticsofEudoxiasignalizedtheirzealintheserviceoftheirmistress。^5
[Footnote4:NotwithstandingtheevidenceofProcopius，Evagrius，IdatiusMarcellinus，&c。，thelearnedMuratoriAnnalid\'Italia，tom。iv。p。249doubtstherealityofthisinvitation，andobserves，withgreattruth，\"Nonsipuodirquantosiafacileilpopoloasognareespacciarvocifalse。\"Buthisargument，fromtheintervaloftimeandplace，isextremelyfeeble。ThefigswhichgrewnearCarthagewereproducedtothesenateofRomeonthethirdday。]
[Footnote5:—InfidoquetibiBurgundioductuExtorquettrepidasmactandiprincipisiras。
Sidon。inPanegyr。Avit。442。
Aremarkableline，whichinsinuatesthatRomeandMaximuswerebetrayedbytheirBurgundianmercenaries。]
Onthethirddayafterthetumult，GensericboldlyadvancedfromtheportofOstiatothegatesofthedefencelesscity。
InsteadofasallyoftheRomanyouth，thereissuedfromthegatesanunarmedandvenerableprocessionofthebishopattheheadofhisclergy。^6ThefearlessspiritofLeo，hisauthorityandeloquence，againmitigatedthefiercenessofaBarbarianconqueror；thekingoftheVandalspromisedtosparetheunresistingmultitude，toprotectthebuildingsfromfire，andtoexemptthecaptivesfromtorture；andalthoughsuchorderswereneitherseriouslygiven，norstrictlyobeyed，themediationofLeowasglorioustohimself，andinsomedegreebeneficialtohiscountry。ButRomeanditsinhabitantsweredeliveredtothelicentiousnessoftheVandalsandMoors，whoseblindpassionsrevengedtheinjuriesofCarthage。Thepillagelastedfourteendaysandnights；andallthatyetremainedofpublicorprivatewealth，ofsacredorprofanetreasure，wasdiligentlytransportedtothevesselsofGenseric。Amongthespoils，thesplendidrelicsoftwotemples，orratheroftworeligions，exhibitedamemorableexampleofthevicissitudesofhumananddivinethings。
SincetheabolitionofPaganism，theCapitolhadbeenviolatedandabandoned；yetthestatuesofthegodsandheroeswerestillrespected，andthecuriousroofofgiltbronzewasreservedfortherapacioushandsofGenseric。^7TheholyinstrumentsoftheJewishworship，^8thegoldtable，andthegoldcandlestickwithsevenbranches，originallyframedaccordingtotheparticularinstructionsofGodhimself，andwhichwereplacedinthesanctuaryofhistemple，hadbeenostentatiouslydisplayedtotheRomanpeopleinthetriumphofTitus。TheywereafterwardsdepositedinthetempleofPeace；andattheendoffourhundredyears，thespoilsofJerusalemweretransferredfromRometoCarthage，byaBarbarianwhoderivedhisoriginfromtheshoresoftheBaltic。Theseancientmonumentsmightattractthenoticeofcuriosity，aswellasofavarice。ButtheChristianchurches，enrichedandadornedbytheprevailingsuperstitionofthetimes，affordedmoreplentifulmaterialsforsacrilege；andthepiousliberalityofPopeLeo，whomeltedsixsilvervases，thegiftofConstantine，eachofahundredpoundsweight，isanevidenceofthedamagewhichheattemptedtorepair。Intheforty—fiveyearsthathadelapsedsincetheGothicinvasion，thepompandluxuryofRomewereinsomemeasurerestored；anditwasdifficulteithertoescape，ortosatisfy，theavariceofaconqueror，whopossessedleisuretocollect，andshipstotransport，thewealthofthecapital。TheImperialornamentsofthepalace，themagnificentfurnitureandwardrobe，thesideboardsofmassyplate，wereaccumulatedwithdisorderlyrapine；thegoldandsilveramountedtoseveralthousandtalents；yeteventhebrassandcopperwerelaboriouslyremoved。Eudoxiaherself，whoadvancedtomeetherfriendanddeliverer，soonbewailedtheimprudenceofherownconduct。Shewasrudelystrippedofherjewels；andtheunfortunateempress，withhertwodaughters，theonlysurvivingremainsofthegreatTheodosius，wascompelled，asacaptive，tofollowthehaughtyVandal；whoimmediatelyhoistedsail，andreturnedwithaprosperousnavigationtotheportofCarthage。^9ManythousandRomansofbothsexes，chosenforsomeusefuloragreeablequalifications，reluctantlyembarkedonboardthefleetofGenseric；andtheirdistresswasaggravatedbytheunfeelingBarbarians，who，inthedivisionofthebooty，separatedthewivesfromtheirhusbands，andthechildrenfromtheirparents。ThecharityofDeogratias，bishopofCarthage，^10wastheironlyconsolationandsupport。Hegenerouslysoldthegoldandsilverplateofthechurchtopurchasethefreedomofsome，toalleviatetheslaveryofothers，andtoassistthewantsandinfirmitiesofacaptivemultitude，whosehealthwasimpairedbythehardshipswhichtheyhadsufferedintheirpassagefromItalytoAfrica。Byhisorder，twospaciouschurcheswereconvertedintohospitals；thesickweredistributedintoconvenientbeds，andliberallysuppliedwithfoodandmedicines；andtheagedprelaterepeatedhisvisitsbothinthedayandnight，withanassiduitythatsurpassedhisstrength，andatendersympathywhichenhancedthevalueofhisservices。
ComparethisscenewiththefieldofCannae；andjudgebetweenHannibalandthesuccessorofSt。Cyprian。^11
[Footnote6:TheapparantsuccessofPopeLeomaybejustifiedbyProsper，andtheHistoriaMiscellan。；buttheimprobablenotionofBaroniusA。D。455，No。13thatGensericsparedthethreeapostolicalchurches，isnotcountenancedevenbythedoubtfultestimonyoftheLiberPontificalis。]
[Footnote7:TheprofusionofCatulus，thefirstwhogilttheroofoftheCapitol，wasnotuniversallyapproved，Plin。Hist。
Natur。xxxiii。18；butitwasfarexceededbytheemperor\'s，andtheexternalgildingofthetemplecostDomitian12，000talents，2，400，000l。TheexpressionsofClaudianandRutiliuslucemetallioemula……fastigiaastris，andconfunduntquevagosdelubramicantiavisusmanifestlyprove，thatthissplendidcoveringwasnotremovedeitherbytheChristiansortheGoths，seeDonatus，RomaAntiqua，l。ii。c。6，p。125。ItshouldseemthattheroofoftheCapitolwasdecoratedwithgiltstatues，andchariotsdrawnbyfourhorses。]
[Footnote8:ThecuriousreadermayconsultthelearnedandaccuratetreatiseofHadrianReland，deSpoliisTempliHierosolymitaniinArcuTitianoRomaeconspicuis，in12mo。
TrajectiadRhenum，1716。]
[Footnote9:ThevesselwhichtransportedtherelicsoftheCapitolwastheonlyoneofthewholefleetthatsufferedshipwreck。Ifabigotedsophist，aPaganbigot，hadmentionedtheaccident，hemighthaverejoicedthatthiscargoofsacrilegewaslostinthesea。]
[Footnote10:SeeVictorVitensis，dePersecut。Vandal。l。i。c。
8，p。11，12，edit。Ruinart。DeogratiusgovernedthechurchofCarthageonlythreeyears。Ifhehadnotbeenprivatelyburied，hiscorpsewouldhavebeentornpiecemealbythemaddevotionofthepeople。]
[Footnote11:ThegeneralevidenceforthedeathofMaximus，andthesackofRomebytheVandals，iscomprisedinSidonius，Panegyr。Avit。441—450，Procopius，deBell。Vandal。l。i。c。
4，5，p。188，189，andl。ii。c。9，p。255，Evagrius，l。ii。c。
7，Jornandes，deReb。Geticis，c。45，p。677，andtheChroniclesofIdatius，Prosper，Marcellinus，andTheophanes，undertheproperyear。]
ThedeathsofAetiusandValentinianhadrelaxedthetieswhichheldtheBarbariansofGaulinpeaceandsubordination。
Thesea—coastwasinfestedbytheSaxons；theAlemanniandtheFranksadvancedfromtheRhinetotheSeine；andtheambitionoftheGothsseemedtomeditatemoreextensiveandpermanentconquests。TheemperorMaximusrelievedhimself，byajudiciouschoice，fromtheweightofthesedistantcares；hesilencedthesolicitationsofhisfriends，listenedtothevoiceoffame，andpromotedastrangertothegeneralcommandoftheforcesofGaul。
Avitus，^12thestranger，whosemeritwassonoblyrewarded，descendedfromawealthyandhonorablefamilyinthedioceseofAuvergne。Theconvulsionsofthetimesurgedhimtoembrace，withthesameardor，thecivilandmilitaryprofessions:andtheindefatigableyouthblendedthestudiesofliteratureandjurisprudencewiththeexerciseofarmsandhunting。Thirtyyearsofhislifewerelaudablyspentinthepublicservice；healternatelydisplayedhistalentsinwarandnegotiation；andthesoldierofAetius，afterexecutingthemostimportantembassies，wasraisedtothestationofPraetorianpraefectofGaul。EitherthemeritofAvitusexcitedenvy，orhismoderationwasdesirousofrepose，sincehecalmlyretiredtoanestate，whichhepossessedintheneighborhoodofClermont。Acopiousstream，issuingfromthemountain，andfallingheadlonginmanyaloudandfoamingcascade，dischargeditswatersintoalakeabouttwomilesinlength，andthevillawaspleasantlyseatedonthemarginofthelake。Thebaths，theporticos，thesummerandwinterapartments，wereadaptedtothepurposesofluxuryanduse；andtheadjacentcountryaffordedthevariousprospectsofwoods，pastures，andmeodows。^13Inthisretreat，whereAvitusamusedhisleisurewithbooks，ruralsports，thepracticeofhusbandry，andthesocietyofhisfriends，^14hereceivedtheImperialdiploma，whichconstitutedhimmaster—generalofthecavalryandinfantryofGaul。Heassumedthemilitarycommand；
theBarbarianssuspendedtheirfury；andwhatevermeanshemightemploy，whateverconcessionshemightbeforcedtomake，thepeopleenjoyedthebenefitsofactualtranquillity。ButthefateofGauldependedontheVisigoths；andtheRomangeneral，lessattentivetohisdignitythantothepublicinterest，didnotdisdaintovisitThoulouseinthecharacterofanambassador。HewasreceivedwithcourteoushospitalitybyTheodoric，thekingoftheGoths；butwhileAvituslaidthefoundationsofasolidalliancewiththatpowerfulnation，hewasastonishedbytheintelligence，thattheemperorMaximuswasslain，andthatRomehadbeenpillagedbytheVandals。Avacantthrone，whichhemightascendwithoutguiltordanger，temptedhisambition；^15
andtheVisigothswereeasilypersuadedtosupporthisclaimbytheirirresistiblesuffrage。TheylovedthepersonofAvitus；
theyrespectedhisvirtues；andtheywerenotinsensibleoftheadvantage，aswellashonor，ofgivinganemperortotheWest。
Theseasonwasnowapproaching，inwhichtheannualassemblyofthesevenprovinceswasheldatArles；theirdeliberationsmightperhapsbeinfluencedbythepresenceofTheodoricandhismartialbrothers；buttheirchoicewouldnaturallyinclinetothemostillustriousoftheircountrymen。Avitus，afteradecentresistance，acceptedtheImperialdiademfromtherepresentativesofGaul；andhiselectionwasratifiedbytheacclamationsoftheBarbariansandprovincials。TheformalconsentofMarcian，emperoroftheEast，wassolicitedandobtained；butthesenate，Rome，andItaly，thoughhumbledbytheirrecentcalamities，submittedwithasecretmurmurtothepresumptionoftheGallicusurper。
[Footnote12:TheprivatelifeandelevationofAvitusmustbededuced，withbecomingsuspicion，fromthepanegyricpronouncedbySidoniusApollinaris，hissubject，andhisson—in—law。]
[Footnote13:AftertheexampleoftheyoungerPliny，Sidoniusl。ii。c。2haslaboredtheflorid，prolix，andobscuredescriptionofhisvilla，whichborethename，Avitacum，andhadbeenthepropertyofAvitus。Theprecisesituationisnotascertained。Consult，however，thenotesofSavaronandSirmond。]
[Footnote14:Sidoniusl。ii。epist。9hasdescribedthecountrylifeoftheGallicnobles，inavisitwhichhemadetohisfriends，whoseestateswereintheneighborhoodofNismes。
Themorninghourswerespentinthesphoeristerium，ortennis—court；orinthelibrary，whichwasfurnishedwithLatinauthors，profaneandreligious；theformerforthemen，thelatterfortheladies。Thetablewastwiceserved，atdinnerandsupper，withhotmeatboiledandroastandwine。Duringtheintermediatetime，thecompanyslept，tooktheaironhorseback，andneedthewarmbath。]
[Footnote15:Seventylinesofpanegyric505—575whichdescribetheimportunityofTheodoricandofGaul，strugglingtoovercomethemodestreluctanceofAvitus，areblownawaybythreewordsofanhonesthistorian。RomanumambissetImperium，Greg。
Turon。l。ii。c。1l，intom。ii。p。168。]
Theodoric，towhomAvituswasindebtedforthepurple，hadacquiredtheGothicsceptrebythemurderofhiselderbrotherTorismond；andhejustifiedthisatrociousdeedbythedesignwhichhispredecessorhadformedofviolatinghisalliancewiththeempire。^16SuchacrimemightnotbeincompatiblewiththevirtuesofaBarbarian；butthemannersofTheodoricweregentleandhumane；andposteritymaycontemplatewithoutterrortheoriginalpictureofaGothicking，whomSidoniushadintimatelyobserved，inthehoursofpeaceandofsocialintercourse。Inanepistle，datedfromthecourtofThoulouse，theoratorsatisfiesthecuriosityofoneofhisfriends，inthefollowingdescription:^17\"Bythemajestyofhisappearance，Theodoricwouldcommandtherespectofthosewhoareignorantofhismerit；
andalthoughheisbornaprince，hismeritwoulddignifyaprivatestation。Heisofamiddlestature，hisbodyappearsratherplumpthanfat，andinhiswell—proportionedlimbsagilityisunitedwithmuscularstrength。^18Ifyouexaminehiscountenance，youwilldistinguishahighforehead，largeshaggyeyebrows，anaquilinenose，thinlips，aregularsetofwhiteteeth，andafaircomplexion，thatblushesmorefrequentlyfrommodestythanfromanger。Theordinarydistributionofhistime，asfarasitisexposedtothepublicview，maybeconciselyrepresented。Beforedaybreak，herepairs，withasmalltrain，tohisdomesticchapel，wheretheserviceisperformedbytheArianclergy；butthosewhopresumetointerprethissecretsentiments，considerthisassiduousdevotionastheeffectofhabitandpolicy。Therestofthemorningisemployedintheadministrationofhiskingdom。Hischairissurroundedbysomemilitaryofficersofdecentaspectandbehavior:thenoisycrowdofhisBarbarianguardsoccupiesthehallofaudience；buttheyarenotpermittedtostandwithintheveilsorcurtainsthatconcealthecouncil—chamberfromvulgareyes。Theambassadorsofthenationsaresuccessivelyintroduced:Theodoriclistenswithattention，answersthemwithdiscreetbrevity，andeitherannouncesordelays，accordingtothenatureoftheirbusiness，hisfinalresolution。Abouteightthesecondhourherisesfromhisthrone，andvisitseitherhistreasuryorhisstables。