[Footnote36:Imperatoremmefactum，P。C。electionisvestraearbitrio，etfortissimiexercitusordinationeagnoscite，Novell。
Majorian。tit。iii。p。34，adCalcem。Cod。Theodos。Sidoniusproclaimstheunanimousvoiceoftheempire:—
—PostquamordinevobisOrdoomnisregnumdederat；plebs，curia，nules，Etcollegasimul。386。
Thislanguageisancientandconstitutional；andwemayobserve，thattheclergywerenotyetconsideredasadistinctorderofthestate。]
[Footnote37:Eitherdilationes，ordelationeswouldaffordatolerablereading，butthereismuchmoresenseandspiritinthelatter，towhichIhavethereforegiventhepreference。]
[Footnote38:Abexternohosteetadomesticacladeliberavimus:
bythelatter，MajorianmustunderstandthetyrannyofAvitus；
whosedeathheconsequentlyavowedasameritoriousact。Onthisoccasion，Sidoniusisfearfulandobscure；hedescribesthetwelveCaesars，thenationsofAfrica，&c。，thathemayescapethedangerousnameofAvitus805—369。]
[Footnote39:SeethewholeedictorepistleofMajoriantothesenate，Novell。tit。iv。p。34。Yettheexpression，regnumnostrum，bearssometaintoftheage，anddoesnotmixkindlywiththewordrespublica，whichhefrequentlyrepeats。]
TheprivateandpublicactionsofMajorianareveryimperfectlyknown:buthislaws，remarkableforanoriginalcastofthoughtandexpression，faithfullyrepresentthecharacterofasovereignwholovedhispeople，whosympathizedintheirdistress，whohadstudiedthecausesofthedeclineoftheempire，andwhowascapableofapplyingasfarassuchreformationwaspracticablejudiciousandeffectualremediestothepublicdisorders。^40Hisregulationsconcerningthefinancesmanifestlytendedtoremove，oratleasttomitigate，themostintolerablegrievances。I。Fromthefirsthourofhisreign，hewassolicitousItranslatehisownwordstorelievethewearyfortunesoftheprovincials，oppressedbytheaccumulatedweightofindictionsandsuperindictions。^41Withthisviewhegrantedauniversalamnesty，afinalandabsolutedischargeofallarrearsoftribute，ofalldebts，which，underanypretence，thefiscalofficersmightdemandfromthepeople。Thiswisederelictionofobsolete，vexatious，andunprofitableclaims，improvedandpurifiedthesourcesofthepublicrevenue；andthesubjectwhocouldnowlookbackwithoutdespair，mightlaborwithhopeandgratitudeforhimselfandforhiscountry。II。Intheassessmentandcollectionoftaxes，Majorianrestoredtheordinaryjurisdictionoftheprovincialmagistrates；andsuppressedtheextraordinarycommissionswhichhadbeenintroduced，inthenameoftheemperorhimself，orofthePraetorianpraefects。Thefavoriteservants，whoobtainedsuchirregularpowers，wereinsolentintheirbehavior，andarbitraryintheirdemands:theyaffectedtodespisethesubordinatetribunals，andtheywerediscontented，iftheirfeesandprofitsdidnottwiceexceedthesumwhichtheycondescendedtopayintothetreasury。Oneinstanceoftheirextortionwouldappearincredible，wereitnotauthenticatedbythelegislatorhimself。
Theyexactedthewholepaymentingold:buttheyrefusedthecurrentcoinoftheempire，andwouldacceptonlysuchancientpiecesaswerestampedwiththenamesofFaustinaortheAntonines。Thesubject，whowasunprovidedwiththesecuriousmedals，hadrecoursetotheexpedientofcompoundingwiththeirrapaciousdemands；orifhesucceededintheresearch，hisimpositionwasdoubled，accordingtotheweightandvalueofthemoneyofformertimes。^42III。\"Themunicipalcorporations，saystheemperor，thelessersenates，soantiquityhasjustlystyledthem，deservetobeconsideredastheheartofthecities，andthesinewsoftherepublic。Andyetsolowaretheynowreduced，bytheinjusticeofmagistratesandthevenalityofcollectors，thatmanyoftheirmembers，renouncingtheirdignityandtheircountry，havetakenrefugeindistantandobscureexile。\"Heurges，andevencompels，theirreturntotheirrespectivecities；butheremovesthegrievancewhichhadforcedthemtodeserttheexerciseoftheirmunicipalfunctions。Theyaredirected，undertheauthorityoftheprovincialmagistrates，toresumetheirofficeoflevyingthetribute；but，insteadofbeingmaderesponsibleforthewholesumassessedontheirdistrict，theyareonlyrequiredtoproducearegularaccountofthepaymentswhichtheyhaveactuallyreceived，andofthedefaulterswhoarestillindebtedtothepublic。IV。ButMajorianwasnotignorantthatthesecorporatebodiesweretoomuchinclinedtoretaliatetheinjusticeandoppressionwhichtheyhadsuffered；andhethereforerevivestheusefulofficeofthedefendersofcities。Heexhortsthepeopletoelect，inafullandfreeassembly，somemanofdiscretionandintegrity，whowoulddaretoasserttheirprivileges，torepresenttheirgrievances，toprotectthepoorfromthetyrannyoftherich，andtoinformtheemperoroftheabusesthatwerecommittedunderthesanctionofhisnameandauthority。
[Footnote40:SeethelawsofMajoriantheyareonlynineinnumber，butverylong，andvariousattheendoftheTheodosianCode，Novell。l。iv。p。32—37。Godefroyhasnotgivenanycommentaryontheseadditionalpieces。]
[Footnote41:Fessasprovincialiumvariaatquemultiplicitributorumexactionefortunas，etextraordinariisfiscaliumsolutionumoneribusattritas，&c。Novell。Majorian。tit。iv。p。
34。]
[Footnote42:ThelearnedGreavesvol。i。p。329，330，331hasfound，byadiligentinquiry，thataureioftheAntoninesweighedonehundredandeighteen，andthoseofthefifthcenturyonlysixty—eight，Englishgrains。Majoriangivescurrencytoallgoldcoin，exceptingonlytheGallicsolidus，fromitsdeficiency，notintheweight，butinthestandard。]
ThespectatorwhocastsamournfulviewovertheruinsofancientRome，istemptedtoaccusethememoryoftheGothsandVandals，forthemischiefwhichtheyhadneitherleisure，norpower，norperhapsinclination，toperpetrate。Thetempestofwarmightstrikesomeloftyturretstotheground；butthedestructionwhichunderminedthefoundationsofthosemassyfabricswasprosecuted，slowlyandsilently，duringaperiodoftencenturies；andthemotivesofinterest，thatafterwardsoperatedwithoutshameorcontrol，wereseverelycheckedbythetasteandspiritoftheemperorMajorian。Thedecayofthecityhadgraduallyimpairedthevalueofthepublicworks。Thecircusandtheatresmightstillexcite，buttheyseldomgratified，thedesiresofthepeople:thetemples，whichhadescapedthezealoftheChristians，werenolongerinhabited，eitherbygodsormen；
thediminishedcrowdsoftheRomanswerelostintheimmensespaceoftheirbathsandporticos；andthestatelylibrariesandhallsofjusticebecameuselesstoanindolentgeneration，whosereposewasseldomdisturbed，eitherbystudyorbusiness。Themonumentsofconsular，orImperial，greatnesswerenolongerrevered，astheimmortalgloryofthecapital:theywereonlyesteemedasaninexhaustiblemineofmaterials，cheaper，andmoreconvenientthanthedistantquarry。SpeciouspetitionswerecontinuallyaddressedtotheeasymagistratesofRome，whichstatedthewantofstonesorbricks，forsomenecessaryservice:
thefairestformsofarchitecturewererudelydefaced，forthesakeofsomepaltry，orpretended，repairs；andthedegenerateRomans，whoconvertedthespoiltotheirownemolument，demolished，withsacrilegioushands，thelaborsoftheirancestors。Majorian，whohadoftensighedoverthedesolationofthecity，appliedasevereremedytothegrowingevil。^43Hereservedtotheprinceandsenatethesolecognizanceoftheextremecaseswhichmightjustifythedestructionofanancientedifice；imposedafineoffiftypoundsofgoldtwothousandpoundssterlingoneverymagistratewhoshouldpresumetograntsuchillegalandscandalouslicense，andthreatenedtochastisethecriminalobedienceoftheirsubordinateofficers，byaseverewhipping，andtheamputationofboththeirhands。Inthelastinstance，thelegislatormightseemtoforgettheproportionofguiltandpunishment；buthiszealarosefromagenerousprinciple，andMajorianwasanxioustoprotectthemonumentsofthoseages，inwhichhewouldhavedesiredanddeservedtolive。
Theemperorconceived，thatitwashisinteresttoincreasethenumberofhissubjects；andthatitwashisdutytoguardthepurityofthemarriage—bed:butthemeanswhichheemployedtoaccomplishthesesalutarypurposesareofanambiguous，andperhapsexceptionable，kind。Thepiousmaids，whoconsecratedtheirvirginitytoChrist，wererestrainedfromtakingtheveiltilltheyhadreachedtheirfortiethyear。Widowsunderthatagewerecompelledtoformasecondalliancewithinthetermoffiveyears，bytheforfeitureofhalftheirwealthtotheirnearestrelations，ortothestate。Unequalmarriageswerecondemnedorannulled。Thepunishmentofconfiscationandexilewasdeemedsoinadequatetotheguiltofadultery，that，ifthecriminalreturnedtoItaly，hemight，bytheexpressdeclarationofMajorian，beslainwithimpunity。^44
[Footnote43:ThewholeedictNovell。Majorian。tit。vi。p。35
iscurious。\"Antiquarumaediumdissipaturspeciosaconstructio；
etutaliquidreparetur，magnadiruuntur。Hincjamoccasionascitur，utetiamunusquisqueprivatumaedificiumconstruens，pergratiamjudicum……praesumeredepublicislocisnecessaria，ettransferrenondubitet\"&c。Withequalzeal，butwithlesspower，Petrarch，inthefourteenthcentury，repeatedthesamecomplaints。ViedePetrarque，tom。i。p。326，327。IfIprosecutethishistory，IshallnotbeunmindfulofthedeclineandfallofthecityofRome；aninterestingobjecttowhichanyplanwasoriginallyconfined。]
[Footnote44:TheemperorchidesthelenityofRogatian，consularofTuscanyinastyleofacrimoniousreproof，whichsoundsalmostlikepersonalresentment，Novell。tit。ix。p。47。ThelawofMajorian，whichpunishedobstinatewidows，wassoonafterwardsrepealedbyhissuccessorSeverus，Novell。Sever。tit。i。p。
37。]
WhiletheemperorMajorianassiduouslylaboredtorestorethehappinessandvirtueoftheRomans，heencounteredthearmsofGenseric，fromhischaracterandsituationtheirmostformidableenemy。AfleetofVandalsandMoorslandedatthemouthoftheLiris，orGarigliano；buttheImperialtroopssurprisedandattackedthedisorderlyBarbarians，whowereencumberedwiththespoilsofCampania；theywerechasedwithslaughtertotheirships，andtheirleader，theking\'sbrother—in—law，wasfoundinthenumberoftheslain。^45Suchvigilancemightannouncethecharacterofthenewreign；butthestrictestvigilance，andthemostnumerousforces，wereinsufficienttoprotectthelong—extendedcoastofItalyfromthedepredationsofanavalwar。ThepublicopinionhadimposedanoblerandmorearduoustaskonthegeniusofMajorian。RomeexpectedfromhimalonetherestitutionofAfrica；andthedesign，whichheformed，ofattackingtheVandalsintheirnewsettlements，wastheresultofboldandjudiciouspolicy。IftheintrepidemperorcouldhaveinfusedhisownspiritintotheyouthofItaly；ifhecouldhaverevivedinthefieldofMars，themanlyexercisesinwhichhehadalwayssurpassedhisequals；hemighthavemarchedagainstGensericattheheadofaRomanarmy。
Suchareformationofnationalmannersmightbeembracedbytherisinggeneration；butitisthemisfortuneofthoseprinceswholaboriouslysustainadecliningmonarchy，that，toobtainsomeimmediateadvantage，ortoavertsomeimpendingdanger，theyareforcedtocountenance，andeventomultiply，themostperniciousabuses。Majorian，liketheweakestofhispredecessors，wasreducedtothedisgracefulexpedientofsubstitutingBarbarianauxiliariesintheplaceofhisunwarlikesubjects:andhissuperiorabilitiescouldonlybedisplayedinthevigoranddexteritywithwhichhewieldedadangerousinstrument，soapttorecoilonthehandthatusedit。Besidestheconfederates，whowerealreadyengagedintheserviceoftheempire，thefameofhisliberalityandvalorattractedthenationsoftheDanube，theBorysthenes，andperhapsoftheTanais。ManythousandsofthebravestsubjectsofAttila，theGepidae，theOstrogoths，theRugians，theBurgundians，theSuevi，theAlani，assembledintheplainsofLiguria；andtheirformidablestrengthwasbalancedbytheirmutualanimosities。^46TheypassedtheAlpsinaseverewinter。Theemperorledtheway，onfoot，andincompletearmor；
sounding，withhislongstaff，thedepthoftheice，orsnow，andencouragingtheScythians，whocomplainedoftheextremecold，bythecheerfulassurance，thattheyshouldbesatisfiedwiththeheatofAfrica。ThecitizensofLyonshadpresumedtoshuttheirgates；theysoonimplored，andexperienced，theclemencyofMajorian。HevanquishedTheodoricinthefield；andadmittedtohisfriendshipandallianceakingwhomhehadfoundnotunworthyofhisarms。Thebeneficial，thoughprecarious，reunionofthegreaterpartofGaulandSpain，wastheeffectofpersuasion，aswellasofforce；^47andtheindependentBagaudae，whohadescaped，orresisted，theoppression，offormerreigns，weredisposedtoconfideinthevirtuesofMajorian。HiscampwasfilledwithBarbarianallies；histhronewassupportedbythezealofanaffectionatepeople；buttheemperorhadforeseen，thatitwasimpossible，withoutamaritimepower，toachievetheconquestofAfrica。InthefirstPunicwar，therepublichadexertedsuchincrediblediligence，that，withinsixtydaysafterthefirststrokeoftheaxehadbeengivenintheforest，afleetofonehundredandsixtygalleysproudlyrodeatanchorinthesea。^48Undercircumstancesmuchlessfavorable，MajorianequalledthespiritandperseveranceoftheancientRomans。ThewoodsoftheApenninewerefelled；thearsenalsandmanufacturesofRavennaandMisenumwererestored；ItalyandGaulviedwitheachotherinliberalcontributionstothepublicservice；andtheImperialnavyofthreehundredlargegalleys，withanadequateproportionoftransportsandsmallervessels，wascollectedinthesecureandcapaciousharborofCarthagenainSpain。^49TheintrepidcountenanceofMajoriananimatedhistroopswithaconfidenceofvictory；and，ifwemightcreditthehistorianProcopius，hiscouragesometimeshurriedhimbeyondtheboundsofprudence。Anxioustoexplore，withhisowneyes，thestateoftheVandals，heventured，afterdisguisingthecolorofhishair，tovisitCarthage，inthecharacterofhisownambassador:andGensericwasafterwardsmortifiedbythediscovery，thathehadentertainedanddismissedtheemperoroftheRomans。Suchananecdotemayberejectedasanimprobablefiction；butitisafictionwhichwouldnothavebeenimagined，unlessinthelifeofahero。^50
[Footnote45:Sidon。Panegyr。Majorian，385—440。]
[Footnote46:Thereviewofthearmy，andpassageoftheAlps，containthemosttolerablepassagesofthePanegyric，470—
552。M。deBuatHist。desPeuples，&c。，tom。viii。p。49—55
isamoresatisfactorycommentator，thaneitherSavaronorSirmond。]
[Footnote47:ItisthejustandforcibledistinctionofPriscus，Excerpt。Legat。p。42，inashortfragment，whichthrowsmuchlightonthehistoryofMajorian。JornandeshassuppressedthedefeatandallianceoftheVisigoths，whichweresolemnlyproclaimedinGallicia；andaremarkedintheChronicleofIdatius。]
[Footnote48:Florus，l。ii。c。2。Heamuseshimselfwiththepoeticalfancy，thatthetreeshadbeentransformedintoships；
andindeedthewholetransaction，asitisrelatedinthefirstbookofPolybius，deviatestoomuchfromtheprobablecourseofhumanevents。]
[Footnote49:ItereaduplicitexisdumlittoreclassemInfernosuperoquemari，caditomnisinaequorSylvatibi，&c。
Sidon。Panegyr。Majorian，441—461。
Thenumberofships，whichPriscusfixedat300，ismagnified，byanindefinitecomparisonwiththefleetsofAgamemnon，Xerxes，andAugustus。]
[Footnote50:ProcopiusdeBell。Vandal。l。i。c。8，p。194。
WhenGensericconductedhisunknownguestintothearsenalofCarthage，thearmsclashedoftheirownaccord。Majorianhadtingedhisyellowlockswithablackcolor。]
ChapterXXXVI:TotalExtinctionOfTheWesternEmpire。
PartII。
ThepressingsolicitationsofthesenateandpeoplepersuadedtheemperorAvitustofixhisresidenceatRome，andtoaccepttheconsulshipfortheensuingyear。OnthefirstdayofJanuary，hisson—in—law，SidoniusApollinaris，celebratedhispraisesinapanegyricofsixhundredverses；butthiscomposition，thoughitwasrewardedwithabrassstatue，^24
seemstocontainaverymoderateproportion，eitherofgeniusoroftruth。Thepoet，ifwemaydegradethatsacredname，exaggeratesthemeritofasovereignandafather；andhisprophecyofalongandgloriousreignwassooncontradictedbytheevent。Avitus，atatimewhentheImperialdignitywasreducedtoapreeminenceoftoilanddanger，indulgedhimselfinthepleasuresofItalianluxury:agehadnotextinguishedhisamorousinclinations；andheisaccusedofinsulting，withindiscreetandungenerousraillery，thehusbandswhosewiveshehadseducedorviolated。^25ButtheRomanswerenotinclinedeithertoexcusehisfaultsortoacknowledgehisvirtues。Theseveralpartsoftheempirebecameeverydaymorealienatedfromeachother；andthestrangerofGaulwastheobjectofpopularhatredandcontempt。Thesenateassertedtheirlegitimateclaimintheelectionofanemperor；andtheirauthority，whichhadbeenoriginallyderivedfromtheoldconstitution，wasagainfortifiedbytheactualweaknessofadecliningmonarchy。Yetevensuchamonarchymighthaveresistedthevotesofanunarmedsenate，iftheirdiscontenthadnotbeensupported，orperhapsinflamed，bytheCountRicimer，oneoftheprincipalcommandersoftheBarbariantroops，whoformedthemilitarydefenceofItaly。ThedaughterofWallia，kingoftheVisigoths，wasthemotherofRicimer；buthewasdescended，onthefather\'sside，fromthenationoftheSuevi；^26hisprideorpatriotismmightbeexasperatedbythemisfortunesofhiscountrymen；andheobeyed，withreluctance，anemperorinwhoseelevationhehadnotbeenconsulted。Hisfaithfulandimportantservicesagainstthecommonenemyrenderedhimstillmoreformidable；^27and，afterdestroyingonthecoastofCorsicaafleetofVandals，whichconsistedofsixtygalleys，RicimerreturnedintriumphwiththeappellationoftheDelivererofItaly。HechosethatmomenttosignifytoAvitus，thathisreignwasatanend；andthefeebleemperor，atadistancefromhisGothicallies，wascompelled，afterashortandunavailingstruggletoabdicatethepurple。Bytheclemency，however，orthecontempt，ofRicimer，^28hewaspermittedtodescendfromthethronetothemoredesirablestationofbishopofPlacentia:buttheresentmentofthesenatewasstillunsatisfied；andtheirinflexibleseveritypronouncedthesentenceofhisdeathHefledtowardstheAlps，withthehumblehope，notofarmingtheVisigothsinhiscause，butofsecuringhispersonandtreasuresinthesanctuaryofJulian，oneofthetutelarsaintsofAuvergne。^29Disease，orthehandoftheexecutioner，arrestedhimontheroad；yethisremainsweredecentlytransportedtoBrivas，orBrioude，inhisnativeprovince，andhereposedatthefeetofhisholypatron。^30