Avitusleftonlyonedaughter，thewifeofSidoniusApollinaris，whoinheritedthepatrimonyofhisfather—in—law；lamenting，atthesametime，thedisappointmentofhispublicandprivateexpectations。Hisresentmentpromptedhimtojoin，oratleasttocountenance，themeasuresofarebelliousfactioninGaul；andthepoethadcontractedsomeguilt，whichitwasincumbentonhimtoexpiate，byanewtributeofflatterytothesucceedingemperor。^31
[Footnote24:InoneoftheporticosorgalleriesbelongingtoTrajan\'slibrary，amongthestatuesoffamouswritersandorators。Sidon。Apoll。l。ix。epist，16，p。284。Carm。viii。p。
350。]
[Footnote25:Luxurioseagerevolensasenatoribusprojectusest，istheconciseexpressionofGregoryofTours，l。ii。c。xi。intom。ii。p。168。AnoldChronicleintom。ii。p。649mentionsanindecentjestofAvitus，whichseemsmoreapplicabletoRomethantoTreves。]
[Footnote26:SidoniusPanegyr。Anthem。302，&c。praisestheroyalbirthofRicimer，thelawfulheir，ashechoosestoinsinuate，bothoftheGothicandSuevickingdoms。]
[Footnote27:SeetheChronicleofIdatius。Jornandesc。xliv。
p。676styleshim，withsometruth，virumegregium，etpenetuneinItaliaadexercitumsingularem。]
[Footnote28:ParcensinnocentiaeAviti，isthecompassionate，butcontemptuous，languageofVictorTunnunensis，inChron。apudScaligerEuseb。Inanotherplace，hecallshim，virtotiussimplicitatis。Thiscommendationismorehumble，butitismoresolidandsincere，thanthepraisesofSidonius]
[Footnote29:Hesuffered，asitissupposed，inthepersecutionofDiocletian，Tillemont，Mem。Eccles。tom。v。p。279，696。
GregoryofTours，hispeculiarvotary，hasdedicatedtothegloryofJuliantheMartyranentirebook，deGloriaMartyrum，l。ii。
inMax。Bibliot。Patrum，tom。xi。p。861—871，inwhichherelatesaboutfiftyfoolishmiraclesperformedbyhisrelics。]
[Footnote30:GregoryofToursl。ii。c。xi。p。168isconcise，butcorrect，inthereignofhiscountryman。ThewordsofIdatius，\"cadetimperio，caretetvita，\"seemtoimply，thatthedeathofAvituswasviolent；butitmusthavebeensecret，sinceEvagriusl。ii。c。7couldsuppose，thathediedoftheplaque。]
[Footnote31:Afteramodestappealtotheexamplesofhisbrethren，VirgilandHorace，Sidoniushonestlyconfessesthedebt，andpromisespayment。SicmihidiversonupersubMartecadentiJussistiplacidoVictorutessemanimo。
Serviatergotibiservatilinguapoetae，Atquemeaevitaelaustuasitpretium。
Sidon。Apoll。Carm。iv。p。308
SeeDubos，Hist。Critique，tom。i。p。448，&c。]
ThesuccessorofAvituspresentsthewelcomediscoveryofagreatandheroiccharacter，suchassometimesarise，inadegenerateage，tovindicatethehonorofthehumanspecies。TheemperorMajorianhasdeservedthepraisesofhiscontemporaries，andofposterity；andthesepraisesmaybestronglyexpressedinthewordsofajudiciousanddisinterestedhistorian:\"Thathewasgentletohissubjects；thathewasterribletohisenemies；
andthatheexcelled，ineveryvirtue，allhispredecessorswhohadreignedovertheRomans。\"^32SuchatestimonymayjustifyatleastthepanegyricofSdonius；andwemayacquiesceintheassurance，that，althoughtheobsequiousoratorwouldhaveflattered，withequalzeal，themostworthlessofprinces，theextraordinarymeritofhisobjectconfinedhim，onthisoccasion，withintheboundsoftruth。^33Majorianderivedhisnamefromhismaternalgrandfather，who，inthereignofthegreatTheodosius，hadcommandedthetroopsoftheIllyrianfrontier。HegavehisdaughterinmarriagetothefatherofMajorian，arespectableofficer，whoadministeredtherevenuesofGaulwithskillandintegrity；andgenerouslypreferredthefriendshipofAetiustothetemptingofferofaninsidiouscourt。Hisson，thefutureemperor，whowaseducatedintheprofessionofarms，displayed，fromhisearlyyouth，intrepidcourage，prematurewisdom，andunboundedliberalityinascantyfortune。HefollowedthestandardofAetius，contributedtohissuccess，shared，andsometimeseclipsed，hisglory，andatlastexcitedthejealousyofthepatrician，orratherofhiswife，whoforcedhimtoretirefromtheservice。^34Majorian，afterthedeathofAetius，wasrecalledandpromoted；andhisintimateconnectionwithCountRicimerwastheimmediatestepbywhichheascendedthethroneoftheWesternempire。DuringthevacancythatsucceededtheabdicationofAvitus，theambitiousBarbarian，whosebirthexcludedhimfromtheImperialdignity，governedItalywiththetitleofPatrician；resignedtohisfriendtheconspicuousstationofmaster—generalofthecavalryandinfantry；and，afteranintervalofsomemonths，consentedtotheunanimouswishoftheRomans，whosefavorMajorianhadsolicitedbyarecentvictoryovertheAlemanni。^35HewasinvestedwiththepurpleatRavenna:andtheepistlewhichheaddressedtothesenate，willbestdescribehissituationandhissentiments。
\"Yourelection，ConscriptFathers!andtheordinanceofthemostvaliantarmy，havemademeyouremperor。^36MaythepropitiousDeitydirectandprosperthecounselsandeventsofmyadministration，toyouradvantageandtothepublicwelfare!Formyownpart，Ididnotaspire，Ihavesubmittedtoreign；norshouldIhavedischargedtheobligationsofacitizenifIhadrefused，withbaseandselfishingratitude，tosupporttheweightofthoselabors，whichwereimposedbytherepublic。Assist，therefore，theprincewhomyouhavemade；partakethedutieswhichyouhaveenjoined；andmayourcommonendeavorspromotethehappinessofanempire，whichIhaveacceptedfromyourhands。
Beassured，that，inourtimes，justiceshallresumeherancientvigor，andthatvirtueshallbecome，notonlyinnocent，butmeritorious。Letnone，excepttheauthorsthemselves，beapprehensiveofdelations，^37which，asasubject，Ihavealwayscondemned，and，asaprince，willseverelypunish。Ourownvigilance，andthatofourfather，thepatricianRicimer，shallregulateallmilitaryaffairs，andprovideforthesafetyoftheRomanworld，whichwehavesavedfromforeignanddomesticenemies。^38Younowunderstandthemaximsofmygovernment；youmayconfideinthefaithfulloveandsincereassurancesofaprincewhohasformerlybeenthecompanionofyourlifeanddangers；whostillgloriesinthenameofsenator，andwhoisanxiousthatyoushouldneverrepentthejudgmentwhichyouhavepronouncedinhisfavor。\"Theemperor，who，amidsttheruinsoftheRomanworld，revivedtheancientlanguageoflawandliberty，whichTrajanwouldnothavedisclaimed，musthavederivedthosegeneroussentimentsfromhisownheart；sincetheywerenotsuggestedtohisimitationbythecustomsofhisage，ortheexampleofhispredecessors。^39
[Footnote32:ThewordsofProcopiusdeservetobetranscribeddeBell。Vandal。l。i。c。7，p。194；aconcisebutcomprehensivedefinitionofroyalvirtue。]
[Footnote33:ThePanegyricwaspronouncedatLyonsbeforetheendoftheyear458，whiletheemperorwasstillconsul。Ithasmoreartthangenius，andmorelaborthanart。Theornamentsarefalseandtrivial；theexpressionisfeebleandprolix；andSidoniuswantstheskilltoexhibittheprincipalfigureinastronganddistinctlight。TheprivatelifeofMajorianoccupiesabouttwohundredlines，107—305。]
[Footnote34:Shepressedhisimmediatedeath，andwasscarcelysatisfiedwithhisdisgrace。ItshouldseemthatAetius，likeBelisariusandMarlborough，wasgovernedbyhiswife；whoseferventpiety，thoughitmightworkmiracles，Gregor。Turon。l。
ii。c。7，p。162，wasnotincompatiblewithbaseandsanguinarycounsels。]
[Footnote35:TheAlemannihadpassedtheRhaetianAlps，andweredefeatedintheCampiCanini，orValleyofBellinzone，throughwhichtheTesinflows，initsdescentfromMountAdulatotheLagoMaggiore，CluverItaliaAntiq。tom。i。p。100，101。ThisboastedvictoryoverninehundredBarbariansPanegyr。Majorian。
373，&c。betraystheextremeweaknessofItaly。]
[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。