[Footnote89:LeClerchascomposedacriticalandphilosophicallifeofAniciusManliusSeverinusBoetius，Bibliot。Choisie，tom。xvi。p。168—275；andbothTiraboschitom。iii。andFabriciusBibliotLatin。maybeusefullyconsulted。Thedateofhisbirthmaybeplacedabouttheyear470，andhisdeathin524，inaprematureoldage，Consol。Phil。Metrica。i。p。5。]
[Footnote90:FortheageandvalueofthisMs。，nowintheMediceanlibraryatFlorence，seetheCenotaphiaPisanap。430—
447ofCardinalNoris。]
[Footnote91:TheAthenianstudiesofBoethiusaredoubtful，Baronius，A。D。510，No。3，fromaspurioustract，DeDisciplinaScholarum，andthetermofeighteenyearsisdoubtlesstoolong:
butthesimplefactofavisittoAthensisjustifiedbymuchinternalevidence，Brucker，Hist。Crit。Philosoph。tom。iii。p。
524—527，andbyanexpressionthoughvagueandambiguousofhisfriendCassiodorus，Var。i。45，\"longepositasAthenasintrioisti。\"]
[Footnote92:Bibliothecaecomptoseboreacvitroparietes，&c。，Consol。Phil。l。i。pros。v。p。74。TheEpistlesofEnnodiusvi。6，vii。13，viii。131，37，40andCassiodorusVar。i。39，iv。6，ix。21affordmanyproofsofthehighreputationwhichheenjoyedinhisowntimes。Itistrue，thatthebishopofPaviawantedtopurchaseofhimanoldhouseatMilan，andpraisemightbetenderedandacceptedinpartofpayment。
Note:Gibbontranslatedvitro，marble；undertheimpression，nodoubtthatglasswasunknown。—M。]
[Footnote93:Pagi，Muratori，&c。，areagreedthatBoethiushimselfwasconsulintheyear510，histwosonsin522，andin487，perhaps，hisfather。Adesireofascribingthelastoftheseconsulshipstothephilosopherhadperplexedthechronologyofhislife。Inhishonors，alliances，children，hecelebrateshisownfelicity—hispastfelicity，p。109110]
Aphilosopher，liberalofhiswealthandparsimoniousofhistime，mightbeinsensibletothecommonallurementsofambition，thethirstofgoldandemployment。AndsomecreditmaybeduetotheasseverationofBoethius，thathehadreluctantlyobeyedthedivinePlato，whoenjoinseveryvirtuouscitizentorescuethestatefromtheusurpationofviceandignorance。Fortheintegrityofhispublicconductheappealstothememoryofhiscountry。Hisauthorityhadrestrainedtheprideandoppressionoftheroyalofficers，andhiseloquencehaddeliveredPaulianusfromthedogsofthepalace。Hehadalwayspitied，andoftenrelieved，thedistressoftheprovincials，whosefortuneswereexhaustedbypublicandprivaterapine；andBoethiusalonehadcouragetoopposethetyrannyoftheBarbarians，elatedbyconquest，excitedbyavarice，and，ashecomplains，encouragedbyimpunity。Inthesehonorablecontestshisspiritsoaredabovetheconsiderationofdanger，andperhapsofprudence；andwemaylearnfromtheexampleofCato，thatacharacterofpureandinflexiblevirtueisthemostapttobemisledbyprejudice，tobeheatedbyenthusiasm，andtoconfoundprivateenmitieswithpublicjustice。ThediscipleofPlatomightexaggeratetheinfirmitiesofnature，andtheimperfectionsofsociety；andthemildestformofaGothickingdom，eventheweightofallegianceandgratitude，mustbeinsupportabletothefreespiritofaRomanpatriot。ButthefavorandfidelityofBoethiusdeclinedinjustproportionwiththepublichappiness；andanunworthycolleaguewasimposedtodivideandcontrolthepowerofthemasteroftheoffices。InthelastgloomyseasonofTheodoric，heindignantlyfeltthathewasaslave；butashismasterhadonlypoweroverhislife，hestoodwithoutarmsandwithoutfearagainstthefaceofanangryBarbarian，whohadbeenprovokedtobelievethatthesafetyofthesenatewasincompatiblewithhisown。ThesenatorAlbinuswasaccusedandalreadyconvictedonthepresumptionofhoping，asitwassaid，thelibertyofRome。
\"IfAlbinusbecriminal，\"exclaimedtheorator，\"thesenateandmyselfareallguiltyofthesamecrime。Ifweareinnocent，Albinusisequallyentitledtotheprotectionofthelaws。\"Theselawsmightnothavepunishedthesimpleandbarrenwishofanunattainableblessing；buttheywouldhaveshownlessindulgencetotherashconfessionofBoethius，that，hadheknownofaconspiracy，thetyrantnevershould。^94TheadvocateofAlbinuswassooninvolvedinthedangerandperhapstheguiltofhisclient；theirsignaturewhichtheydeniedasaforgerywasaffixedtotheoriginaladdress，invitingtheemperortodeliverItalyfromtheGoths；andthreewitnessesofhonorablerank，perhapsofinfamousreputation，attestedthetreasonabledesignsoftheRomanpatrician。^95Yethisinnocencemustbepresumed，sincehewasdeprivedbyTheodoricofthemeansofjustification，andrigorouslyconfinedinthetowerofPavia，whilethesenate，atthedistanceoffivehundredmiles，pronouncedasentenceofconfiscationanddeathagainstthemostillustriousofitsmembers。AtthecommandoftheBarbarians，theoccultscienceofaphilosopherwasstigmatizedwiththenamesofsacrilegeandmagic。^96Adevoutanddutifulattachmenttothesenatewascondemnedascriminalbythetremblingvoicesofthesenatorsthemselves；andtheiringratitudedeservedthewishorpredictionofBoethius，that，afterhim，noneshouldbefoundguiltyofthesameoffence。^97
[Footnote94:Siegoscissemtunescisses。Beothiusadoptsthisanswerl。i。pros。4，p。53ofJuliusCanus，whosephilosophicdeathisdescribedbySeneca，DeTranquillitateAnimi，c。14。]
[Footnote95:Thecharactersofhistwodelators，BasiliusVar。
ii。10，11，iv。22andOpilio，v。41，viii。16，areillustrated，notmuchtotheirhonor，intheEpistlesofCassiodorus，whichlikewisementionDecoratus，v。31，theworthlesscolleagueofBeothius，l。iii。pros。4，p。193。]
[Footnote96:Asevereinquirywasinstitutedintothecrimeofmagic，Var。iv22，23，ix。18；anditwasbelievedthatmanynecromancershadescapedbymakingtheirjailersmad:formadI
shouldreaddrunk。]
[Footnote97:BoethiushadcomposedhisownApology，p。53，
perhapsmoreinterestingthanhisConsolation。Wemustbecontentwiththegeneralviewofhishonors，principles，persecution，&c。，l。i。pros。4，p。42—62，whichmaybecomparedwiththeshortandweightywordsoftheValesianFragment，p。723。AnanonymouswriterSinner，Catalog。Mss。
Bibliot。Bern。tom。i。p。287chargeshimhomewithhonorableandpatriotictreason。]
WhileBoethius，oppressedwithfetters，expectedeachmomentthesentenceorthestrokeofdeath，hecomposed，inthetowerofPavia，theConsolationofPhilosophy；agoldenvolumenotunworthyoftheleisureofPlatoorTully，butwhichclaimsincomparablemeritfromthebarbarismofthetimesandthesituationoftheauthor。Thecelestialguide，whomhehadsolonginvokedatRomeandAthens，nowcondescendedtoilluminehisdungeon，torevivehiscourage，andtopourintohiswoundshersalutarybalm。Shetaughthimtocomparehislongprosperityandhisrecentdistress，andtoconceivenewhopesfromtheinconstancyoffortune。Reasonhadinformedhimoftheprecariousconditionofhergifts；experiencehadsatisfiedhimoftheirrealvalue；hehadenjoyedthemwithoutguilt；hemightresignthemwithoutasigh，andcalmlydisdaintheimpotentmaliceofhisenemies，whohadlefthimhappiness，sincetheyhadlefthimvirtue。Fromtheearth，BoethiusascendedtoheaveninsearchoftheSupremeGood；exploredthemetaphysicallabyrinthofchanceanddestiny，ofprescienceandfreewill，oftimeandeternity；andgenerouslyattemptedtoreconciletheperfectattributesoftheDeitywiththeapparentdisordersofhismoralandphysicalgovernment。Suchtopicsofconsolationsoobvious，sovague，orsoabstruse，areineffectualtosubduethefeelingsofhumannature。Yetthesenseofmisfortunemaybedivertedbythelaborofthought；andthesagewhocouldartfullycombineinthesameworkthevariousrichesofphilosophy，poetry，andeloquence，mustalreadyhavepossessedtheintrepidcalmnesswhichheaffectedtoseek。Suspense，theworstofevils，wasatlengthdeterminedbytheministersofdeath，whoexecuted，andperhapsexceeded，theinhumanmandateofTheodoric。AstrongcordwasfastenedroundtheheadofBoethius，andforciblytightened，tillhiseyesalmoststartedfromtheirsockets；andsomemercymaybediscoveredinthemildertortureofbeatinghimwithclubstillheexpired。^98ButhisgeniussurvivedtodiffusearayofknowledgeoverthedarkestagesoftheLatinworld；thewritingsofthephilosopherweretranslatedbythemostgloriousoftheEnglishkings，^99andthethirdemperorofthenameofOthoremovedtoamorehonorabletombthebonesofaCatholicsaint，who，fromhisArianpersecutors，hadacquiredthehonorsofmartyrdom，andthefameofmiracles。^100InthelasthoursofBoethius，hederivedsomecomfortfromthesafetyofhistwosons，ofhiswife，andofhisfather—in—law，thevenerableSymmachus。ButthegriefofSymmachuswasindiscreet，andperhapsdisrespectful:hehadpresumedtolament，hemightdaretorevenge，thedeathofaninjuredfriend。HewasdraggedinchainsfromRometothepalaceofRavenna；andthesuspicionsofTheodoriccouldonlybeappeasedbythebloodofaninnocentandagedsenator。^101
[Footnote98:HewasexecutedinAgroCalventiano，Calvenzano，betweenMarignanoandPavia，Anonym。Vales。p。723，byorderofEusebius，countofTicinumorPavia。Thisplaceofconfinementisstyledthebaptistery，anedificeandnamepeculiartocathedrals。ItisclaimedbytheperpetualtraditionofthechurchofPavia。ThetowerofBoethiussubsistedtilltheyear1584，andthedraughtisyetpreserved，Tiraboschi，tom。iii。p。
47，48。]
[Footnote99:SeetheBiographiaBritannica，Alfred，tom。i。p。
80，2dedition。TheworkisstillmorehonorableifperformedunderthelearnedeyeofAlfredbyhisforeignanddomesticdoctors。ForthereputationofBoethiusinthemiddleages，consultBrucker，Hist。Crit。Philosoph。tom。iii。p。565，566。]
[Footnote100:TheinscriptiononhisnewtombwascomposedbythepreceptorofOthoIII。，thelearnedPopeSilvesterII。，who，likeBoethiushimself，wasstyledamagicianbytheignoranceofthetimes。TheCatholicmartyrhadcarriedhisheadinhishandsaconsiderableway，Baronius，A。D。526，No。17，18；andyetonasimilartale，aladyofmyacquaintanceonceobserved，\"Ladistancen\'yfaitrien；iln\'yaqueloremierpasquicoute。\"
Note:MadameduDeffand。ThiswitticismreferredtothemiracleofSt。Denis。—G。]
[Footnote101:Boethiusapplaudsthevirtuesofhisfather—in—law，l。i。pros。4，p。59，l。ii。pros。4，p。118。
Procopius，Goth。l。i。c。i。，theValesianFragment，p。724，
andtheHistoriaMiscella，l。xv。p。105，agreeinpraisingthesuperiorinnocenceorsanctityofSymmachus；andintheestimationofthelegend，theguiltofhismurderisequaltotheimprisonmentofapope。]
Humanitywillbedisposedtoencourageanyreportwhichtestifiesthejurisdictionofconscienceandtheremorseofkings；andphilosophyisnotignorantthatthemosthorridspectresaresometimescreatedbythepowersofadisorderedfancy，andtheweaknessofadistemperedbody。Afteralifeofvirtueandglory，Theodoricwasnowdescendingwithshameandguiltintothegrave；hismindwashumbledbythecontrastofthepast，andjustlyalarmedbytheinvisibleterrorsoffuturity。
Oneevening，asitisrelated，whentheheadofalargefishwasservedontheroyaltable，^102hesuddenlyexclaimed，thathebeheldtheangrycountenanceofSymmachus，hiseyesglaringfuryandrevenge，andhismoutharmedwithlongsharpteeth，whichthreatenedtodevourhim。Themonarchinstantlyretiredtohischamber，and，ashelay，tremblingwithaguishcold，underaweightofbed—clothes，heexpressed，inbrokenmurmurstohisphysicianElpidius，hisdeeprepentanceforthemurdersofBoethiusandSymmachus。^103Hismaladyincreased，andafteradysenterywhichcontinuedthreedays，heexpiredinthepalaceofRavenna，inthethirty—third，or，ifwecomputefromtheinvasionofItaly，inthethirty—seventhyearofhisreign。Consciousofhisapproachingend，hedividedhistreasuresandprovincesbetweenhistwograndsons，andfixedtheRhoneastheircommonboundary。^104AmalaricwasrestoredtothethroneofSpain。
Italy，withalltheconquestsoftheOstrogoths，wasbequeathedtoAthalaric；whoseagedidnotexceedtenyears，butwhowascherishedasthelastmaleoffspringofthelineofAmali，bytheshort—livedmarriageofhismotherAmalasunthawitharoyalfugitiveofthesameblood。^105Inthepresenceofthedyingmonarch，theGothicchiefsandItalianmagistratesmutuallyengagedtheirfaithandloyaltytotheyoungprince，andtohisguardianmother；andreceived，inthesameawfulmoment，hislastsalutaryadvice，tomaintainthelaws，tolovethesenateandpeopleofRome，andtocultivatewithdecentreverencethefriendshipoftheemperor。^106ThemonumentofTheodoricwaserectedbyhisdaughterAmalasuntha，inaconspicuoussituation，whichcommandedthecityofRavenna，theharbor，andtheadjacentcoast。Achapelofacircularform，thirtyfeetindiameter，iscrownedbyadomeofoneentirepieceofgranite:fromthecentreofthedomefourcolumnsarose，whichsupported，inavaseofporphyry，theremainsoftheGothicking，surroundedbythebrazenstatuesofthetwelveapostles。^107Hisspirit，aftersomepreviousexpiation，mighthavebeenpermittedtominglewiththebenefactorsofmankind，ifanItalianhermithadnotbeenwitness，inavision，tothedamnationofTheodoric，^108whosesoulwasplunged，bytheministersofdivinevengeance，intothevolcanoofLipari，oneoftheflamingmouthsoftheinfernalworld。^109
[Footnote102:InthefancifuleloquenceofCassiodorus，thevarietyofseaandriverfishareanevidenceofextensivedominion；andthoseoftheRhine，ofSicily，andoftheDanube，wereservedonthetableofTheodoric，Var。xii。14。ThemonstrousturbotofDomitianJuvenalSatir。iii。39hadbeencaughtontheshoresoftheAdriatic。]
[Footnote103:Procopius，Goth。l。i。c。1。Buthemighthaveinformedus，whetherhehadreceivedthiscuriousanecdotefromcommonreportorfromthemouthoftheroyalphysician。]
[Footnote104:Procopius，Goth。l。i。c。1，2，12，13。ThispartitionhadbeendirectedbyTheodoric，thoughitwasnotexecutedtillafterhisdeath，Regnihereditatemsuperstesreliquit，Isidor。Chron。p。721，edit。Grot。]
[Footnote105:Berimund，thethirdindescentfromHermanric，kingoftheOstrogoths，hadretiredintoSpain，wherehelivedanddiedinobscurity，Jornandes，c。33，p。202，edit。
Muratori。Seethediscovery，nuptials，anddeathofhisgrandsonEutharic，c。58，p。220。HisRomangamesmightrenderhimpopular，Cassiodor。inChron。，butEutharicwasasperinreligione，Anonym。Vales。p。723。]
[Footnote106:SeethecounselsofTheodoric，andtheprofessionsofhissuccessor，inProcopius，Goth。l。i。c。1，2，Jornandes，c。59，p。220，221，andCassiodorus，Var。viii。1—7。Theseepistlesarethetriumphofhisministerialeloquence。]
[Footnote107:Anonym。Vales。p。724。AgnellusdeVitis。Pont。
Raven。inMuratoriScript。RerumItal。tom。ii。P。i。p。67。
AlbertiDescrittioned\'Italia，p。311。
Note:TheMausoleumofTheodoric，nowSanteMariadellaRotonda，isengravedinD\'Agincourt，Histoiredel\'Art，pxviii。
oftheArchitecturalPrints。—M]
[Footnote108:ThislegendisrelatedbyGregoryI。，Dialog。iv。
36，andapprovedbyBaronius，A。D。526，No。28；andboththepopeandcardinalaregravedoctors，sufficienttoestablishaprobableopinion。]
[Footnote109:Theodorichimself，orratherCassiodorus，haddescribedintragicstrainsthevolcanosofLipariCluver。
Sicilia，p。406—410andVesuvius，v50。]
ChapterXL:ReignOfJustinian。
PartI。
ElevationOfJustinTheElder。—ReignOfJustinian。—I。
TheEmpressTheodora。—II。FactionsOfTheCircus，AndSeditionOfConstantinople。—III。TradeAndManufactureOfSilk。—IV。
FinancesAndTaxes。—V。EdificesOfJustinian。—ChurchOfSt。
Sophia。—FortificationsAndFrontiersOfTheEasternEmpire。—
AbolitionOfTheSchoolsOfAthens，AndTheConsulshipOfRome。
TheemperorJustinianwasborn^1neartheruinsofSardica，themodernSophia，ofanobscurerace^2ofBarbarians，^3theinhabitantsofawildanddesolatecountry，towhichthenamesofDardania，ofDacia，andofBulgaria，havebeensuccessivelyapplied。HiselevationwaspreparedbytheadventurousspiritofhisuncleJustin，who，withtwootherpeasantsofthesamevillage，deserted，fortheprofessionofarms，themoreusefulemploymentofhusbandmenorshepherds。^4Onfoot，withascantyprovisionofbiscuitintheirknapsacks，thethreeyouthsfollowedthehighroadofConstantinople，andweresoonenrolled，fortheirstrengthandstature，amongtheguardsoftheemperorLeo。Underthetwosucceedingreigns，thefortunatepeasantemergedtowealthandhonors；andhisescapefromsomedangerswhichthreatenedhislifewasafterwardsascribedtotheguardianangelwhowatchesoverthefateofkings。HislongandlaudableserviceintheIsaurianandPersianwarswouldnothavepreservedfromoblivionthenameofJustin；yettheymightwarrantthemilitarypromotion，whichinthecourseoffiftyyearshegraduallyobtained；therankoftribune，ofcount，andofgeneral；thedignityofsenator，andthecommandoftheguards，whoobeyedhimastheirchief，attheimportantcrisiswhentheemperorAnastasiuswasremovedfromtheworld。Thepowerfulkinsmenwhomhehadraisedandenrichedwereexcludedfromthethrone；andtheeunuchAmantius，whoreignedinthepalace，hadsecretlyresolvedtofixthediademontheheadofthemostobsequiousofhiscreatures。Aliberaldonative，toconciliatethesuffrageoftheguards，wasintrustedforthatpurposeinthehandsoftheircommander。ButtheseweightyargumentsweretreacherouslyemployedbyJustininhisownfavor；andasnocompetitorpresumedtoappear，theDacianpeasantwasinvestedwiththepurplebytheunanimousconsentofthesoldiers，whoknewhimtobebraveandgentle，oftheclergyandpeople，whobelievedhimtobeorthodox，andoftheprovincials，whoyieldedablindandimplicitsubmissiontothewillofthecapital。TheelderJustin，asheisdistinguishedfromanotheremperorofthesamefamilyandname，ascendedtheByzantinethroneattheageofsixty—eightyears；and，hadhebeenlefttohisownguidance，everymomentofanineyears\'reignmusthaveexposedtohissubjectstheimproprietyoftheirchoice。HisignorancewassimilartothatofTheodoric；anditisremarkablethatinanagenotdestituteoflearning，twocontemporarymonarchshadneverbeeninstructedintheknowledgeofthealphabet。ButthegeniusofJustinwasfarinferiortothatoftheGothicking:theexperienceofasoldierhadnotqualifiedhimforthegovernmentofanempire；andthoughpersonallybrave，theconsciousnessofhisownweaknesswasnaturallyattendedwithdoubt，distrust，andpoliticalapprehension。ButtheofficialbusinessofthestatewasdiligentlyandfaithfullytransactedbythequaestorProclus；