[Footnote83:Itaquenosquibustotiusmundiregimencommisitsupernaprovisio……PiusettriumphatorsemperAugustusfiliusnosterAnthemius，licetDivinaMajestasetnostracreatiopietatiejusplenamImperiicommiseritpotestatem，&c……SuchisthedignifiedstyleofLeo，whomAnthemiusrespectfullynames，DominusetPatermeusPrincepssacratissimusLeo。SeeNovell。
Anthem。tit。ii。iii。p。38，adcalcemCod。Theod。]
[Footnote84:TheexpeditionofHeracliusiscloudedwithdifficulties，Tillemont，Hist。desEmpereurs，tom。vi。p。640，
anditrequiressomedexteritytousethecircumstancesaffordedbyTheophanes，withoutinjurytothemorerespectableevidenceofProcopius。]
[Footnote85:ThemarchofCatofromBerenice，intheprovinceofCyrene，wasmuchlongerthanthatofHeracliusfromTripoli。Hepassedthedeepsandydesertinthirtydays，anditwasfoundnecessarytoprovide，besidestheordinarysupplies，agreatnumberofskinsfilledwithwater，andseveralPsylli，whoweresupposedtopossesstheartofsuckingthewoundswhichhadbeenmadebytheserpentsoftheirnativecountry。SeePlutarchinCaton。Uticens。tom。iv。p。275。StrabenGeograph。l。xxii。p。
1193。]
[Footnote86:TheprincipalsumisclearlyexpressedbyProcopius，deBell。Vandal。l。i。c。6，p。191；thesmallerconstituentparts，whichTillemont，Hist。desEmpereurs，tom。
vi。p。396haslaboriouslycollectedfromtheByzantinewriters，arelesscertain，andlessimportant。ThehistorianMalchuslamentsthepublicmisery，Excerpt。exSuidainCorp。Hist。
Byzant。p。58；butheissurelyunjust，whenhechargesLeowithhoardingthetreasureswhichheextortedfromthepeople。
Note:Comparelikewisethenewly—discoveredworkofLydus，deMagistratibus，ed。Hase，Paris，1812，andinthenewcollectionoftheByzantines，l。iii。c。43。Lydusstatestheexpenditureat65，000lbs。ofgold，700，000ofsilver。ButLydusexaggeratesthefleettotheincrediblenumberof10，000longships，Liburnae，andthetroopsto400，000men。Lydusdescribesthisfatalmeasure，ofwhichhechargestheblameonBasiliscus，astheshipwreckofthestate。Fromthattimealltherevenuesoftheempirewereanticipated；andthefinancesfellintoinextricableconfusion。—M。]
Experiencehasshown，thatthesuccessofaninvadermostcommonlydependsonthevigorandcelerityofhisoperations。
Thestrengthandsharpnessofthefirstimpressionarebluntedbydelay；thehealthandspiritofthetroopsinsensiblylanguishinadistantclimate；thenavalandmilitaryforce，amightyeffortwhichperhapscanneverberepeated，issilentlyconsumed；andeveryhourthatiswastedinnegotiation，accustomstheenemytocontemplateandexaminethosehostileterrors，which，ontheirfirstappearance，hedeemedirresistible。TheformidablenavyofBasiliscuspursueditsprosperousnavigationfromtheThracianBosphorustothecoastofAfrica。HelandedhistroopsatCapeBona，orthepromontoryofMercury，aboutfortymilesfromCarthage。^87ThearmyofHeraclius，andthefleetofMarcellinus，eitherjoinedorsecondedtheImperiallieutenant；
andtheVandalswhoopposedhisprogressbyseaorland，weresuccessivelyvanquished。^88IfBasiliscushadseizedthemomentofconsternation，andboldlyadvancedtothecapital，Carthagemusthavesurrendered，andthekingdomoftheVandalswasextinguished。Gensericbeheldthedangerwithfirmness，andeludeditwithhisveterandexterity。Heprotested，inthemostrespectfullanguage，thathewasreadytosubmithisperson，andhisdominions，tothewilloftheemperor；butherequestedatruceoffivedaystoregulatethetermsofhissubmission；anditwasuniversallybelieved，thathissecretliberalitycontributedtothesuccessofthispublicnegotiation。Insteadofobstinatelyrefusingwhateverindulgencehisenemysoearnestlysolicited，theguilty，orthecredulous，Basiliscusconsentedtothefataltruce；andhisimprudentsecurityseemedtoproclaim，thathealreadyconsideredhimselfastheconquerorofAfrica。Duringthisshortinterval，thewindbecamefavorabletothedesignsofGenseric。HemannedhislargestshipsofwarwiththebravestoftheMoorsandVandals；andtheytowedafterthemmanylargebarks，filledwithcombustiblematerials。Intheobscurityofthenight，thesedestructivevesselswereimpelledagainsttheunguardedandunsuspectingfleetoftheRomans，whowereawakenedbythesenseoftheirinstantdanger。Theircloseandcrowdedorderassistedtheprogressofthefire，whichwascommunicatedwithrapidandirresistibleviolence；andthenoiseofthewind，thecracklingoftheflames，thedissonantcriesofthesoldiersandmariners，whocouldneithercommandnorobey，increasedthehorrorofthenocturnaltumult。Whilsttheylaboredtoextricatethemselvesfromthefire—ships，andtosaveatleastapartofthenavy，thegalleysofGensericassaultedthemwithtemperateanddisciplinedvalor；andmanyoftheRomans，whoescapedthefuryoftheflames，weredestroyedortakenbythevictoriousVandals。Amongtheeventsofthatdisastrousnight，theheroic，orratherdesperate，courageofJohn，oneoftheprincipalofficersofBasiliscus，hasrescuedhisnamefromoblivion。Whentheship，whichhehadbravelydefended，wasalmostconsumed，hethrewhimselfinhisarmorintothesea，disdainfullyrejectedtheesteemandpityofGenso，thesonofGenseric，whopressedhimtoaccepthonorablequarter，andsunkunderthewaves；exclaiming，withhislastbreath，thathewouldneverfallaliveintothehandsofthoseimpiousdogs。Actuatedbyafardifferentspirit，Basiliscus，whosestationwasthemostremotefromdanger，disgracefullyfledinthebeginningoftheengagement，returnedtoConstantinoplewiththelossofmorethanhalfofhisfleetandarmy，andshelteredhisguiltyheadinthesanctuaryofSt。Sophia，tillhissister，byhertearsandentreaties，couldobtainhispardonfromtheindignantemperor。
Heracliuseffectedhisretreatthroughthedesert；MarcellinusretiredtoSicily，wherehewasassassinated，perhapsattheinstigationofRicimer，byoneofhisowncaptains；andthekingoftheVandalsexpressedhissurpriseandsatisfaction，thattheRomansthemselvesshouldremovefromtheworldhismostformidableantagonists。^89Afterthefailureofthisgreatexpedition，Gensericagainbecamethetyrantofthesea:thecoastsofItaly，Greece，andAsia，wereagainexposedtohisrevengeandavarice；TripoliandSardiniareturnedtohisobedience；headdedSicilytothenumberofhisprovinces；andbeforehedied，inthefulnessofyearsandofglory，hebeheldthefinalextinctionoftheempireoftheWest。^90
[Footnote87:ThispromontoryisfortymilesfromCarthage，Procop。l。i。c。6，p。192，andtwentyleaguesfromSicily，Shaw\'sTravels，p。89。Scipiolandedfartherinthebay，atthefairpromontory；seetheanimateddescriptionofLivy，xxix。26，27。]
[Footnote88:Theophanesp。100affirmsthatmanyshipsoftheVandalsweresunk。TheassertionofJornandes，deSuccessioneRegn。，thatBasiliscusattackedCarthage，mustbeunderstoodinaveryqualifiedsense]
[Footnote89:DamasciusinVit。Isidor。apudPhot。p。1048。Itwillappear，bycomparingthethreeshortchroniclesofthetimes，thatMarcellinushadfoughtnearCarthage，andwaskilledinSicily。]
[Footnote*:AccordingtoLydus，Leo，distractedbythisandtheothercalamitiesofhisreign，particularlyadreadfulfireatConstantinople，abandonedthepalace，likeanotherOrestes，andwaspreparingtoquitConstantinopleforeverliii。c。44，p。
230。—M。]
[Footnote90:FortheAfricanwar，seeProcopius，deBell。
Vandal。l。i。c。6，p。191，192，193，Theophanes，p。99，100，101，Cedrenus，p。349，350，andZonaras，tom。ii。l。xiv。p。
50，51。MontesquieuConsiderationssurlaGrandeur，&c。，c。xx。
tom。iii。p。497hasmadeajudiciousobservationonthefailureofthesegreatnavalarmaments。]
Duringhislongandactivereign，theAfricanmonarchhadstudiouslycultivatedthefriendshipoftheBarbariansofEurope，whosearmshemightemployinaseasonableandeffectualdiversionagainstthetwoempires。AfterthedeathofAttila，herenewedhisalliancewiththeVisigothsofGaul；andthesonsoftheelderTheodoric，whosuccessivelyreignedoverthatwarlikenation，wereeasilypersuaded，bythesenseofinterest，toforgetthecruelaffrontwhichGenserichadinflictedontheirsister。^91ThedeathoftheemperorMajoriandeliveredTheodorictheSecondfromtherestraintoffear，andperhapsofhonor；heviolatedhisrecenttreatywiththeRomans；andtheampleterritoryofNarbonne，whichhefirmlyunitedtohisdominions，becametheimmediaterewardofhisperfidy。TheselfishpolicyofRicimerencouragedhimtoinvadetheprovinceswhichwereinthepossessionofAegidius，hisrival；buttheactivecount，bythedefenceofArles，andthevictoryofOrleans，savedGaul，andchecked，duringhislifetime，theprogressoftheVisigoths。
Theirambitionwassoonrekindled；andthedesignofextinguishingtheRomanempireinSpainandGaulwasconceived，andalmostcompleted，inthereignofEuric，whoassassinatedhisbrotherTheodoric，anddisplayed，withamoresavagetemper，superiorabilities，bothinpeaceandwar。HepassedthePyreneesattheheadofanumerousarmy，subduedthecitiesofSaragossaandPampeluna，vanquishedinbattlethemartialnoblesoftheTarragoneseprovince，carriedhisvictoriousarmsintotheheartofLusitania，andpermittedtheSuevitoholdthekingdomofGalliciaundertheGothicmonarchyofSpain。^92TheeffortsofEuricwerenotlessvigorous，orlesssuccessful，inGaul；andthroughoutthecountrythatextendsfromthePyreneestotheRhoneandtheLoire，BerryandAuvergneweretheonlycities，ordioceses，whichrefusedtoacknowledgehimastheirmaster。^93
InthedefenceofClermont，theirprincipaltown，theinhabitantsofAuvergnesustained，withinflexibleresolution，themiseriesofwar，pestilence，andfamine；andtheVisigoths，relinquishingthefruitlesssiege，suspendedthehopesofthatimportantconquest。Theyouthoftheprovincewereanimatedbytheheroic，andalmostincredible，valorofEcdicius，thesonoftheemperorAvitus，^94whomadeadesperatesallywithonlyeighteenhorsemen，boldlyattackedtheGothicarmy，and，aftermaintainingaflyingskirmish，retiredsafeandvictoriouswithinthewallsofClermont。Hischaritywasequaltohiscourage:inatimeofextremescarcity，fourthousandpoorwerefedathisexpense；andhisprivateinfluenceleviedanarmyofBurgundiansforthedeliveranceofAuvergne。FromhisvirtuesalonethefaithfulcitizensofGaulderivedanyhopesofsafetyorfreedom；andevensuchvirtueswereinsufficienttoaverttheimpendingruinoftheircountry，sincetheywereanxioustolearn，fromhisauthorityandexample，whethertheyshouldpreferthealternativeofexileorservitude。^95Thepublicconfidencewaslost；theresourcesofthestatewereexhausted；andtheGaulshadtoomuchreasontobelieve，thatAnthemius，whoreignedinItaly，wasincapableofprotectinghisdistressedsubjectsbeyondtheAlps。
ThefeebleemperorcouldonlyprocurefortheirdefencetheserviceoftwelvethousandBritishauxiliaries。Riothamus，oneoftheindependentkings，orchieftains，oftheisland，waspersuadedtotransporthistroopstothecontinentofGaul:hesaileduptheLoire，andestablishedhisquartersinBerry，wherethepeoplecomplainedoftheseoppressiveallies，tilltheyweredestroyedordispersedbythearmsoftheVisigoths。^96
[Footnote91:JornandesisourbestguidethroughthereignsofTheodoricII。andEuric，deRebusGeticis，c。44，45，46，47，p。
675—681。Idatiusendstoosoon，andIsidoreistoosparingoftheinformationwhichhemighthavegivenontheaffairsofSpain。TheeventsthatrelatetoGaularelaboriouslyillustratedinthethirdbookoftheAbbeDubos，Hist。Critique，tom。i。p。424—620。]
[Footnote92:SeeMariana，Hist。Hispan。tom。i。l。v。c。5。p。
162。]
[Footnote93:Animperfect，butoriginal，pictureofGaul，moreespeciallyofAuvergne，isshownbySidonius；who，asasenator，andafterwardsasabishop，wasdeeplyinterestedinthefateofhiscountry。Seel。v。epist。1，5，9，&c。]
[Footnote94:Sidonius，l。iii。epist。3，p。65—68。Greg。
Turon。l。ii。c。24，intom。ii。p。174。Jornandes，c。45，p。
675。PerhapsEcdiciuswasonlytheson—in—lawofAvitus，hiswife\'ssonbyanotherhusband。]
[Footnote95:Sinullaearepublicavires，nullapraesidia；sinullae，quantumrumorest，Anthemiiprincipisopes；statuit，teauctore，nobilitas，seupatriacadimittereseucapillos，Sidon。
l。ii。epist。1，p。33。ThelastwordsSirmond，Not。p。25maylikewisedenotetheclericaltonsure，whichwasindeedthechoiceofSidoniushimself。]
[Footnote96:ThehistoryoftheseBritonsmaybetracedinJornandes，c。45，p。678，Sidonius，l。iii。epistol。9，p。73，74，andGregoryofTours，l。ii。c。18，intom。ii。p。170。
Sidoniuswhostylesthesemercenarytroopsargutos，armatos，tumultuosos，virtutenumero，contulernio，contumacesaddressestheirgeneralinatoneoffriendshipandfamiliarity。]
Oneofthelastactsofjurisdiction，whichtheRomansenateexercisedovertheirsubjectsofGaul，wasthetrialandcondemnationofArvandus，thePraetorianpraefect。Sidonius，whorejoicesthathelivedunderareigninwhichhemightpityandassistastatecriminal，hasexpressed，withtendernessandfreedom，thefaultsofhisindiscreetandunfortunatefriend。^97
Fromtheperilswhichhehadescaped，Arvandusimbibedconfidenceratherthanwisdom；andsuchwasthevarious，thoughuniform，imprudenceofhisbehavior，thathisprosperitymustappearmuchmoresurprisingthanhisdownfall。Thesecondpraefecture，whichheobtainedwithinthetermoffiveyears，abolishedthemeritandpopularityofhisprecedingadministration。Hiseasytemperwascorruptedbyflattery，andexasperatedbyopposition；hewasforcedtosatisfyhisimportunatecreditorswiththespoilsoftheprovince；hiscapriciousinsolenceoffendedthenoblesofGaul，andhesunkundertheweightofthepublichatred。Themandateofhisdisgracesummonedhimtojustifyhisconductbeforethesenate；andhepassedtheSeaofTuscanywithafavorablewind，thepresage，ashevainlyimagined，ofhisfuturefortunes。AdecentrespectwasstillobservedfortheProefectorianrank；andonhisarrivalatRome，Arvanduswascommittedtothehospitality，ratherthantothecustody，ofFlaviusAsellus，thecountofthesacredlargesses，whoresidedintheCapitol。^98Hewaseagerlypursuedbyhisaccusers，thefourdeputiesofGaul，whowerealldistinguishedbytheirbirth，theirdignities，ortheireloquence。Inthenameofagreatprovince，andaccordingtotheformsofRomanjurisprudence，theyinstitutedacivilandcriminalaction，requiringsuchrestitutionasmightcompensatethelossesofindividuals，andsuchpunishmentasmightsatisfythejusticeofthestate。Theirchargesofcorruptoppressionwerenumerousandweighty；buttheyplacedtheirsecretdependenceonaletterwhichtheyhadintercepted，andwhichtheycouldprove，bytheevidenceofhissecretary，tohavebeendictatedbyArvandushimself。TheauthorofthisletterseemedtodissuadethekingoftheGothsfromapeacewiththeGreekemperor:hesuggestedtheattackoftheBritonsontheLoire；andherecommendedadivisionofGaul，accordingtothelawofnations，betweentheVisigothsandtheBurgundians。^99Theseperniciousschemes，whichafriendcouldonlypalliatebythereproachesofvanityandindiscretion，weresusceptibleofatreasonableinterpretation；andthedeputieshadartfullyresolvednottoproducetheirmostformidableweaponstillthedecisivemomentofthecontest。ButtheirintentionswerediscoveredbythezealofSidonius。Heimmediatelyapprisedtheunsuspectingcriminalofhisdanger；andsincerelylamented，withoutanymixtureofanger，thehaughtypresumptionofArvandus，whorejected，andevenresented，thesalutaryadviceofhisfriends。Ignorantofhisrealsituation，ArvandusshowedhimselfintheCapitolinthewhiterobeofacandidate，acceptedindiscriminatesalutationsandoffersofservice，examinedtheshopsofthemerchants，thesilksandgems，sometimeswiththeindifferenceofaspectator，andsometimeswiththeattentionofapurchaser；andcomplainedofthetimes，ofthesenate，oftheprince，andofthedelaysofjustice。Hiscomplaintsweresoonremoved。Anearlydaywasfixedforhistrial；andArvandusappeared，withhisaccusers，beforeanumerousassemblyoftheRomansenate。Themournfulgarbwhichtheyaffected，excitedthecompassionofthejudges，whowerescandalizedbythegayandsplendiddressoftheiradversary:andwhenthepraefectArvandus，withthefirstoftheGallicdeputies，weredirectedtotaketheirplacesonthesenatorialbenches，thesamecontrastofprideandmodestywasobservedintheirbehavior。Inthismemorablejudgment，whichpresentedalivelyimageoftheoldrepublic，theGaulsexposed，withforceandfreedom，thegrievancesoftheprovince；andassoonasthemindsoftheaudienceweresufficientlyinflamed，theyrecitedthefatalepistle。TheobstinacyofArvanduswasfoundedonthestrangesupposition，thatasubjectcouldnotbeconvictedoftreason，unlesshehadactuallyconspiredtoassumethepurple。Asthepaperwasread，herepeatedly，andwithaloudvoice，acknowledgeditforhisgenuinecomposition；andhisastonishmentwasequaltohisdismay，whentheunanimousvoiceofthesenatedeclaredhimguiltyofacapitaloffence。Bytheirdecree，hewasdegradedfromtherankofapraefecttotheobscureconditionofaplebeian，andignominiouslydraggedbyservilehandstothepublicprison。Afterafortnight\'sadjournment，thesenatewasagainconvenedtopronouncethesentenceofhisdeath；butwhileheexpected，intheIslandofAesculapius，theexpirationofthethirtydaysallowedbyanancientlawtothevilestmalefactors，^100hisfriendsinterposed，theemperorAnthemiusrelented，andthepraefectofGaulobtainedthemilderpunishmentofexileandconfiscation。ThefaultsofArvandusmightdeservecompassion；
buttheimpunityofSeronatusaccusedthejusticeoftherepublic，tillhewascondemnedandexecuted，onthecomplaintofthepeopleofAuvergne。Thatflagitiousminister，theCatilineofhisageandcountry，heldasecretcorrespondencewiththeVisigoths，tobetraytheprovincewhichheoppressed:hisindustrywascontinuallyexercisedinthediscoveryofnewtaxesandobsoleteoffences；andhisextravagantviceswouldhaveinspiredcontempt，iftheyhadnotexcitedfearandabhorrence。
^101
[Footnote97:SeeSidonius，l。i。epist。7，p。15—20，withSirmond\'snotes。Thisletterdoeshonortohisheart，aswellastohisunderstanding。TheproseofSidonius，howevervitiatedbyafalseandaffectedtaste，ismuchsuperiortohisinsipidverses。]
[Footnote98:WhentheCapitolceasedtobeatemple，itwasappropriatedtotheuseofthecivilmagistrate；anditisstilltheresidenceoftheRomansenator。Thejewellers，&c。，mightbeallowedtoexposethenpreciouswaresintheporticos。]
[Footnote99:HaecadregemGothorum，chartavidebaturemitti，pacemcumGraecoImperatoredissuadens，BritannossuperLigerimsitosimpugnarioportere，demonstrans，cumBurgundionibusjuregentiumGalliasdivididebereconfirmans。]