[Footnote!!:TheexpressionofProcopiusdoesnotappeartometomeanthiskindoftorture。Ibid。—M。]
Inthesucceedingcampaign，BelisariuswasagainsentagainstthePersians:hesavedtheEast，butheoffendedTheodora，andperhapstheemperorhimself。ThemaladyofJustinianhadcountenancedtherumorofhisdeath；andtheRomangeneral，onthesuppositionofthatprobableeventspokethefreelanguageofacitizenandasoldier。HiscolleagueBuzes，whoconcurredinthesamesentiments，losthisrank，hisliberty，andhishealth，bythepersecutionoftheempress:butthedisgraceofBelisariuswasalleviatedbythedignityofhisowncharacter，andtheinfluenceofhiswife，whomightwishtohumble，butcouldnotdesiretoruin，thepartnerofherfortunes。Evenhisremovalwascoloredbytheassurance，thatthesinkingstateofItalywouldberetrievedbythesinglepresenceofitsconqueror。
Butnosoonerhadhereturned，aloneanddefenceless，thanahostilecommissionwassenttotheEast，toseizehistreasuresandcriminatehisactions；theguardsandveterans，whofollowedhisprivatebanner，weredistributedamongthechiefsofthearmy，andeventheeunuchspresumedtocastlotsforthepartitionofhismartialdomestics。WhenhepassedwithasmallandsordidretinuethroughthestreetsofConstantinople，hisforlornappearanceexcitedtheamazementandcompassionofthepeople。JustinianandTheodorareceivedhimwithcoldingratitude；theservilecrowd，withinsolenceandcontempt；andintheeveningheretiredwithtremblingstepstohisdesertedpalace。Anindisposition，feignedorreal，hadconfinedAntoninatoherapartment；andshewalkeddisdainfullysilentintheadjacentportico，whileBelisariusthrewhimselfonhisbed，andexpected，inanagonyofgriefandterror，thedeathwhichhehadsooftenbravedunderthewallsofRome。Longaftersunsetamessengerwasannouncedfromtheempress:heopened，withanxiouscuriosity，theletterwhichcontainedthesentenceofhisfate。
\"Youcannotbeignoranthowmuchyouhavedeservedmydispleasure。IamnotinsensibleoftheservicesofAntonina。TohermeritsandintercessionIhavegrantedyourlife，andpermityoutoretainapartofyourtreasures，whichmightbejustlyforfeitedtothestate。Letyourgratitude，whereitisdue，bedisplayed，notinwords，butinyourfuturebehavior。\"Iknownothowtobelieveortorelatethetransportswithwhichtheheroissaidtohavereceivedthisignominiouspardon。Hefellprostratebeforehiswife，hekissedthefeetofhissavior，andhedevoutlypromisedtolivethegratefulandsubmissiveslaveofAntonina。AfineofonehundredandtwentythousandpoundssterlingwasleviedonthefortunesofBelisarius；andwiththeofficeofcount，ormasteroftheroyalstables，heacceptedtheconductoftheItalianwar。AthisdeparturefromConstantinople，hisfriends，andeventhepublic，werepersuadedthatassoonasheregainedhisfreedom，hewouldrenouncehisdissimulation，andthathiswife，Theodora，andperhapstheemperorhimself，wouldbesacrificedtothejustrevengeofavirtuousrebel。Theirhopesweredeceived；andtheunconquerablepatienceandloyaltyofBelisariusappeareitherbeloworabovethecharacterofaman。^117
[Footnote117:ThecontinuatoroftheChronicleofMarcellinusgives，inafewdecentwords，thesubstanceoftheAnecdotes:
BelisariusdeOrienteevocatus，inoffensampericulumqueincurrensgrave，etinvidiaesubeacensrursusremittiturinItaliam，p。54。]
ChapterXLII:StateOfTheBarbaricWorld。
PartI。
StateOfTheBarbaricWorld。—EstablishmentOfTheLombardsOntheDanube。—TribesAndInroadsOfTheSclavonians。—Origin，Empire，AndEmbassiesOfTheTurks。—TheFlightOfTheAvars。—
ChosroesI，OrNushirvan，KingOfPersia。—HisProsperousReignAndWarsWithTheRomans。—TheColchianOrLazicWar。—TheAethiopians。
Ourestimateofpersonalmerit，isrelativetothecommonfacultiesofmankind。Theaspiringeffortsofgenius，orvirtue，eitherinactiveorspeculativelife，aremeasured，notsomuchbytheirrealelevation，asbytheheighttowhichtheyascendabovetheleveloftheirageandcountry；andthesamestature，whichinapeopleofgiantswouldpassunnoticed，mustappearconspicuousinaraceofpygmies。Leonidas，andhisthreehundredcompanions，devotedtheirlivesatThermopylae；buttheeducationoftheinfant，theboy，andtheman，hadprepared，andalmostinsured，thismemorablesacrifice；andeachSpartanwouldapprove，ratherthanadmire，anactofduty，ofwhichhimselfandeightthousandofhisfellow—citizenswereequallycapable。^1
ThegreatPompeymightinscribeonhistrophies，thathehaddefeatedinbattletwomillionsofenemies，andreducedfifteenhundredcitiesfromtheLakeMaeotistotheRedSea:^2butthefortuneofRomeflewbeforehiseagles；thenationswereoppressedbytheirownfears，andtheinvinciblelegionswhichhecommanded，hadbeenformedbythehabitsofconquestandthedisciplineofages。Inthisview，thecharacterofBelisariusmaybedeservedlyplacedabovetheheroesoftheancientrepublics。Hisimperfectionsflowedfromthecontagionofthetimes；hisvirtueswerehisown，thefreegiftofnatureorreflection；heraisedhimselfwithoutamasterorarival；andsoinadequatewerethearmscommittedtohishand，thathissoleadvantagewasderivedfromtheprideandpresumptionofhisadversaries。Underhiscommand，thesubjectsofJustinianoftendeservedtobecalledRomans:buttheunwarlikeappellationofGreekswasimposedasatermofreproachbythehaughtyGoths；
whoaffectedtoblush，thattheymustdisputethekingdomofItalywithanationoftragedianspantomimes，andpirates。^3TheclimateofAsiahasindeedbeenfoundlesscongenialthanthatofEuropetomilitaryspirit:thosepopulouscountrieswereenervatedbyluxury，despotism，andsuperstition；andthemonksweremoreexpensiveandmorenumerousthanthesoldiersoftheEast。Theregularforceoftheempirehadonceamountedtosixhundredandforty—fivethousandmen:itwasreduced，inthetimeofJustinian，toonehundredandfiftythousand；andthisnumber，largeasitmayseem，wasthinlyscatteredovertheseaandland；
inSpainandItaly，inAfricaandEgypt，onthebanksoftheDanube，thecoastoftheEuxine，andthefrontiersofPersia。
Thecitizenwasexhausted，yetthesoldierwasunpaid；hispovertywasmischievouslysoothedbytheprivilegeofrapineandindolence；andthetardypaymentsweredetainedandinterceptedbythefraudofthoseagentswhousurp，withoutcourageordanger，theemolumentsofwar。Publicandprivatedistressrecruitedthearmiesofthestate；butinthefield，andstillmoreinthepresenceoftheenemy，theirnumberswerealwaysdefective。ThewantofnationalspiritwassuppliedbytheprecariousfaithanddisorderlyserviceofBarbarianmercenaries。
Evenmilitaryhonor，whichhasoftensurvivedthelossofvirtueandfreedom，wasalmosttotallyextinct。Thegenerals，whoweremultipliedbeyondtheexampleofformertimes，laboredonlytopreventthesuccess，ortosullythereputationoftheircolleagues；andtheyhadbeentaughtbyexperience，thatifmeritsometimesprovokedthejealousy，error，orevenguilt，wouldobtaintheindulgence，ofagraciousemperor。^4Insuchanage，thetriumphsofBelisarius，andafterwardsofNarses，shinewithincomparablelustre；buttheyareencompassedwiththedarkestshadesofdisgraceandcalamity。WhilethelieutenantofJustiniansubduedthekingdomsoftheGothsandVandals，theemperor，^5timid，thoughambitious，balancedtheforcesoftheBarbarians，fomentedtheirdivisionsbyflatteryandfalsehood，andinvitedbyhispatienceandliberalitytherepetitionofinjuries。^6ThekeysofCarthage，Rome，andRavenna，werepresentedtotheirconqueror，whileAntiochwasdestroyedbythePersians，andJustiniantrembledforthesafetyofConstantinople。
[Footnote1:Itwillbeapleasure，notatask，toreadHerodotus，l。vii。c。104，134，p。550，615。TheconversationofXerxesandDemaratusatThermopylaeisoneofthemostinterestingandmoralscenesinhistory。ItwasthetortureoftheroyalSpartantobehold，withanguishandremorse，thevirtueofhiscountry。]
[Footnote2:SeethisproudinscriptioninPliny，Hist。Natur。
vii。27。Fewmenhavemoreexquisitelytastedofgloryanddisgrace；norcouldJuvenalSatir。x。produceamorestrikingexampleofthevicissitudesoffortune，andthevanityofhumanwishes。]
[Footnote3:ThislastepithetofProcopiusistoonoblytranslatedbypirates；navalthievesistheproperword；
strippersofgarments，eitherforinjuryorinsult，DemosthenescontraCononReiske，Orator，Graec。tom。ii。p。1264。]
[Footnote4:SeethethirdandfourthbooksoftheGothicWar:
thewriteroftheAnecdotescannotaggravatetheseabuses。]
[Footnote5:Agathias，l。v。p。157，158。HeconfinesthisweaknessoftheemperorandtheempiretotheoldageofJustinian；butalas!hewasneveryoung。]
[Footnote6:Thismischievouspolicy，whichProcopiusAnecdot。
c。19imputestotheemperor，isrevealedinhisepistletoaScythianprince，whowascapableofunderstandingit。]
EventheGothicvictoriesofBelisariuswereprejudicialtothestate，sincetheyabolishedtheimportantbarrieroftheUpperDanube，whichhadbeensofaithfullyguardedbyTheodoricandhisdaughter。ForthedefenceofItaly，theGothsevacuatedPannoniaandNoricum，whichtheyleftinapeacefulandflourishingcondition:thesovereigntywasclaimedbytheemperoroftheRomans；theactualpossessionwasabandonedtotheboldnessofthefirstinvader。OntheoppositebanksoftheDanube，theplainsofUpperHungaryandtheTransylvanianhillswerepossessed，sincethedeathofAttila，bythetribesoftheGepidae，whorespectedtheGothicarms，anddespised，notindeedthegoldoftheRomans，butthesecretmotiveoftheirannualsubsidies。ThevacantfortificationsoftheriverwereinstantlyoccupiedbytheseBarbarians；theirstandardswereplantedonthewallsofSirmiumandBelgrade；andtheironicaltoneoftheirapologyaggravatedthisinsultonthemajestyoftheempire。\"Soextensive，OCaesar，areyourdominions，sonumerousareyourcities，thatyouarecontinuallyseekingfornationstowhom，eitherinpeaceorinwar，youmayrelinquishtheseuselesspossessions。TheGepidaeareyourbraveandfaithfulallies；andiftheyhaveanticipatedyourgifts，theyhaveshownajustconfidenceinyourbounty。\"TheirpresumptionwasexcusedbythemodeofrevengewhichJustinianembraced。Insteadofassertingtherightsofasovereignfortheprotectionofhissubjects，theemperorinvitedastrangepeopletoinvadeandpossesstheRomanprovincesbetweentheDanubeandtheAlpsandtheambitionoftheGepidaewascheckedbytherisingpowerandfameoftheLombards。
^7Thiscorruptappellationhasbeendiffusedinthethirteenthcenturybythemerchantsandbankers，theItalianposterityofthesesavagewarriors:buttheoriginalnameofLangobardsisexpressiveonlyofthepeculiarlengthandfashionoftheirbeards。IamnotdisposedeithertoquestionortojustifytheirScandinavianorigin；^8nortopursuethemigrationsoftheLombardsthroughunknownregionsandmarvellousadventures。
AboutthetimeofAugustusandTrajan，arayofhistoriclightbreaksonthedarknessoftheirantiquities，andtheyarediscovered，forthefirsttime，betweentheElbeandtheOder。
Fierce，beyondtheexampleoftheGermans，theydelightedtopropagatethetremendousbelief，thattheirheadswereformedliketheheadsofdogs，andthattheydrankthebloodoftheirenemies，whomtheyvanquishedinbattle。Thesmallnessoftheirnumberswasrecruitedbytheadoptionoftheirbravestslaves；
andalone，amidsttheirpowerfulneighbors，theydefendedbyarmstheirhigh—spiritedindependence。Inthetempestsofthenorth，whichoverwhelmedsomanynamesandnations，thislittlebarkoftheLombardsstillfloatedonthesurface:theygraduallydescendedtowardsthesouthandtheDanube，and，attheendoffourhundredyears，theyagainappearwiththeirancientvalorandrenown。Theirmannerswerenotlessferocious。Theassassinationofaroyalguestwasexecutedinthepresence，andbythecommand，oftheking\'sdaughter，whohadbeenprovokedbysomewordsofinsult，anddisappointedbyhisdiminutivestature；
andatribute，thepriceofblood，wasimposedontheLombards，byhisbrotherthekingoftheHeruli。Adversityrevivedasenseofmoderationandjustice，andtheinsolenceofconquestwaschastisedbythesignaldefeatandirreparabledispersionoftheHeruli，whowereseatedinthesouthernprovincesofPoland。^9
ThevictoriesoftheLombardsrecommendedthemtothefriendshipoftheemperors；andatthesolicitationsofJustinian，theypassedtheDanube，toreduce，accordingtotheirtreaty，thecitiesofNoricumandthefortressesofPannonia。Butthespiritofrapinesoontemptedthembeyondtheseamplelimits；theywanderedalongthecoastoftheHadriaticasfarasDyrrachium，andpresumed，withfamiliarrudenesstoenterthetownsandhousesoftheirRomanallies，andtoseizethecaptiveswhohadescapedfromtheiraudacioushands。Theseactsofhostility，thesallies，asitmightbepretended，ofsomelooseadventurers，weredisownedbythenation，andexcusedbytheemperor；butthearmsoftheLombardsweremoreseriouslyengagedbyacontestofthirtyyears，whichwasterminatedonlybytheextirpationoftheGepidae。ThehostilenationsoftenpleadedtheircausebeforethethroneofConstantinople；andthecraftyJustinian，towhomtheBarbarianswerealmostequallyodious，pronouncedapartialandambiguoussentence，anddexterouslyprotractedthewarbyslowandineffectualsuccors。Theirstrengthwasformidable，sincetheLombards，whosentintothefieldseveralmyriadsofsoldiers，stillclaimed，astheweakerside，theprotectionoftheRomans。Theirspiritwasintrepid；yetsuchistheuncertaintyofcourage，thatthetwoarmiesweresuddenlystruckwithapanic；theyfledfromeachother，andtherivalkingsremainedwiththeirguardsinthemidstofanemptyplain。A
shorttrucewasobtained；buttheirmutualresentmentagainkindled；andtheremembranceoftheirshamerenderedthenextencountermoredesperateandbloodyFortythousandoftheBarbariansperishedinthedecisivebattle，whichbrokethepoweroftheGepidae，transferredthefearsandwishesofJustinian，andfirstdisplayedthecharacterofAlboin，theyouthfulprinceoftheLombards，andthefutureconquerorofItaly。^10
[Footnote7:GensGermanaferitateferocior，saysVelleiusPaterculusoftheLombards，ii。106。Langobardospaucitasnobilitat。Plurimisacvalentissimisnationibuscinctinonperobsequium，sedpraeliisetperilitando，tutisunt，Tacit。deMoribusGerman。c。40。SeelikewiseStrabo，l。viii。p。446。
ThebestgeographersplacethembeyondtheElbe，inthebishopricofMagdeburghandthemiddlemarchofBrandenburgh；andtheirsituationwillagreewiththepatrioticremarkofthecountdeHertzberg，thatmostoftheBarbarianconquerorsissuedfromthesamecountrieswhichstillproducethearmiesofPrussia。
Note:SeeMalteBrun，vol。i。p402。—M]
[Footnote8:TheScandinavianoriginoftheGothsandLombards，asstatedbyPaulWarnefrid，surnamedthedeacon，isattackedbyCluverius，Germania，Antiq。l。iii。c。26，p。102，&c。，anativeofPrussia，anddefendedbyGrotius，Prolegom。adHist。
Goth。p。28，&c。，theSwedishAmbassador。]
[Footnote9:TwofactsinthenarrativeofPaulDiaconusl。i。
c。20areexpressiveofnationalmanners:1。Dumadtabulamluderet—whileheplayedatdraughts。2。Camporumviridantialina。Thecultivationofflaxsupposesproperty，commerce，agriculture，andmanufactures]
[Footnote10:Ihaveused，withoutundertakingtoreconcile，thefactsinProcopius，Goth。l。ii。c。14，l。iii。c。33，34，l。
iv。c。18，25，PaulDiaconus，deGestisLangobard，l。i。c。1—
23，inMuratori，Script。RerumItalicarum，tom。i。p。405—
419，andJornandes，deSuccess。Regnorum，p。242。ThepatientreadermaydrawsomelightfromMascouHist。oftheGermans，andAnnotat。xxiii。andDeBuat，Hist。desPeuples，&c。，tom。ix。
x。xi。]
ThewildpeoplewhodweltorwanderedintheplainsofRussia，Lithuania，andPoland，mightbereduced，intheageofJustinian，underthetwogreatfamiliesoftheBulgarians^11andtheSclavonians。AccordingtotheGreekwriters，theformer，whotouchedtheEuxineandtheLakeMaeotis，derivedfromtheHunstheirnameordescent；anditisneedlesstorenewthesimpleandwell—knownpictureofTartarmanners。Theywereboldanddexterousarchers，whodrankthemilk，andfeastedontheflesh，oftheirfleetandindefatigablehorses；whoseflocksandherdsfollowed，orratherguided，themotionsoftheirrovingcamps；towhoseinroadsnocountrywasremoteorimpervious，andwhowerepractisedinflight，thoughincapableoffear。Thenationwasdividedintotwopowerfulandhostiletribes，whopursuedeachotherwithfraternalhatred。Theyeagerlydisputedthefriendship，orratherthegifts，oftheemperor；andthedistinctionswhichnaturehadfixedbetweenthefaithfuldogandtherapaciouswolfwasappliedbyanambassadorwhoreceivedonlyverbalinstructionsfromthemouthofhisilliterateprince。^12
TheBulgarians，ofwhatsoeverspecies，wereequallyattractedbyRomanwealth:theyassumedavaguedominionovertheSclavonianname，andtheirrapidmarchescouldonlybestoppedbytheBalticSea，ortheextremecoldandpovertyofthenorth。ButthesameraceofSclavoniansappearstohavemaintained，ineveryage，thepossessionofthesamecountries。Theirnumeroustribes，howeverdistantoradverse，usedonecommonlanguage，itwasharshandirregular，andwhereknownbytheresemblanceoftheirform，whichdeviatedfromtheswarthyTartar，andapproachedwithoutattainingtheloftystatureandfaircomplexionoftheGerman。
Fourthousandsixhundredvillages^13werescatteredovertheprovincesofRussiaandPoland，andtheirhutswerehastilybuiltofroughtimber，inacountrydeficientbothinstoneandiron。
Erected，orratherconcealed，inthedepthofforests，onthebanksofrivers，ortheedgesofmorasses，wemaynotperhaps，withoutflattery，comparethemtothearchitectureofthebeaver；
whichtheyresembledinadoubleissue，tothelandandwater，fortheescapeofthesavageinhabitant，ananimallesscleanly，lessdiligent，andlesssocial，thanthatmarvellousquadruped。