首页 >出版文学> History Of The Decline And Fall Of The Roman Empir>第115章
  theygazedonthemanlycountenanceofJulian,andobservedwithpleasure,thatthefirewhichsparkledinhiseyeswastemperedbyamodestblush,onbeingthusexposed,forthefirsttime,tothepublicviewofmankind。Assoonastheceremonyofhisinvestiturehadbeenperformed,Constantiusaddressedhimwiththetoneofauthoritywhichhissuperiorageandstationpermittedhimtoassume;andexhortingthenewCaesartodeserve,byheroicdeeds,thatsacredandimmortalname,theemperorgavehiscolleaguethestrongestassurancesofafriendshipwhichshouldneverbeimpairedbytime,norinterruptedbytheirseparationintothemostdistantclimes。Assoonasthespeechwasended,thetroops,asatokenofapplause,clashedtheirshieldsagainsttheirknees;^36whiletheofficerswhosurroundedthetribunalexpressed,withdecentreserve,theirsenseofthemeritsoftherepresentativeofConstantius。
  [Footnote35:SeeAmmian。Marcellin。l。xv。c。8。Zosimus,l。
  iii。p。139。AureliusVictor。VictorJuniorinEpitom。Eutrop。
  x。14。]
  [Footnote36:Militaresomneshorrendofragorescutagenibusillidentes;quodestprosperitatisindiciumplenum;namcontracumhastisclypeiferiuntur,iraedocumentumestetdoloris……Ammianusadds,withanicedistinction,Eumqueutpotiorireverentiaservaretur,necsupramodumlaudabantnecinfraquamdecebat。]
  Thetwoprincesreturnedtothepalaceinthesamechariot;
  andduringtheslowprocession,JulianrepeatedtohimselfaverseofhisfavoriteHomer,whichhemightequallyapplytohisfortuneandtohisfears。^37Thefour—and—twentydayswhichtheCaesarspentatMilanafterhisinvestiture,andthefirstmonthsofhisGallicreign,weredevotedtoasplendidbutseverecaptivity;norcouldtheacquisitionofhonorcompensateforthelossoffreedom。^38Hisstepswerewatched,hiscorrespondencewasintercepted;andhewasobliged,byprudence,todeclinethevisitsofhismostintimatefriends。Ofhisformerdomestics,fouronlywerepermittedtoattendhim;twopages,hisphysician,andhislibrarian;thelastofwhomwasemployedinthecareofavaluablecollectionofbooks,thegiftoftheempress,whostudiedtheinclinationsaswellastheinterestofherfriend。
  Intheroomofthesefaithfulservants,ahouseholdwasformed,suchindeedasbecamethedignityofaCaesar;butitwasfilledwithacrowdofslaves,destitute,andperhapsincapable,ofanyattachmentfortheirnewmaster,towhom,forthemostpart,theywereeitherunknownorsuspected。Hiswantofexperiencemightrequiretheassistanceofawisecouncil;buttheminuteinstructionswhichregulatedtheserviceofhistable,andthedistributionofhishours,wereadaptedtoayouthstillunderthedisciplineofhispreceptors,ratherthantothesituationofaprinceintrustedwiththeconductofanimportantwar。Ifheaspiredtodeservetheesteemofhissubjects,hewascheckedbythefearofdispleasinghissovereign;andeventhefruitsofhismarriage—bedwereblastedbythejealousartificesofEusebia^39
  herself,who,onthisoccasionalone,seemstohavebeenunmindfulofthetendernessofhersex,andthegenerosityofhercharacter。ThememoryofhisfatherandofhisbrothersremindedJulianofhisowndanger,andhisapprehensionswereincreasedbytherecentandunworthyfateofSylvanus。Inthesummerwhichprecededhisownelevation,thatgeneralhadbeenchosentodeliverGaulfromthetyrannyoftheBarbarians;butSylvanussoondiscoveredthathehadlefthismostdangerousenemiesintheImperialcourt。Adexterousinformer,countenancedbyseveraloftheprincipalministers,procuredfromhimsomerecommendatoryletters;anderasingthewholeofthecontents,exceptthesignature,filledupthevacantparchmentwithmattersofhighandtreasonableimport。Bytheindustryandcourageofhisfriends,thefraudwashoweverdetected,andinagreatcouncilofthecivilandmilitaryofficers,heldinthepresenceoftheemperorhimself,theinnocenceofSylvanuswaspubliclyacknowledged。Butthediscoverycametoolate;thereportofthecalumny,andthehastyseizureofhisestate,hadalreadyprovokedtheindignantchieftotherebellionofwhichhewassounjustlyaccused。Heassumedthepurpleathishead—quartersofCologne,andhisactivepowersappearedtomenaceItalywithaninvasion,andMilanwithasiege。Inthisemergency,Ursicinus,ageneralofequalrank,regained,byanactoftreachery,thefavorwhichhehadlostbyhiseminentservicesintheEast。
  Exasperated,ashemightspeciouslyallege,bytheinjuriesofasimilarnature,hehastenedwithafewfollowerstojointhestandard,andtobetraytheconfidence,ofhistoocredulousfriend。Afterareignofonlytwenty—eightdays,Sylvanuswasassassinated:thesoldierswho,withoutanycriminalintention,hadblindlyfollowedtheexampleoftheirleader,immediatelyreturnedtotheirallegiance;andtheflatterersofConstantiuscelebratedthewisdomandfelicityofthemonarchwhohadextinguishedacivilwarwithoutthehazardofabattle。^40
  [Footnote37:ThewordpurplewhichHomerhadusedasavaguebutcommonepithetfordeath,wasappliedbyJuliantoexpress,veryaptly,thenatureandobjectofhisownapprehensions。]
  [Footnote38:Herepresents,inthemostpatheticterms,p。
  277,thedistressofhisnewsituation。Theprovisionforhistablewas,however,soelegantandsumptuous,thattheyoungphilosopherrejecteditwithdisdain。Quumlegeretlibellumassidue,quemConstantiusutprivignumadstudiamittensmanusuaconscripserat,praelicenterdisponensquidinconvivioCaesarisimpendideberit:Phasianum,etvulvametsumenexigivetuitetinferri。Ammian。Marcellin。l。xvi。c。5。]
  [Footnote39:IfwerecollectthatConstantine,thefatherofHelena,diedaboveeighteenyearsbefore,inamatureoldage,itwillappearprobable,thatthedaughter,thoughavirgin,couldnotbeveryyoungatthetimeofhermarriage。Shewassoonafterwardsdeliveredofason,whodiedimmediately,quodobstetrixcorruptamercede,moxnatumpraesectoplusquamconveneratumbiliconecavit。SheaccompaniedtheemperorandempressintheirjourneytoRome,andthelatter,quaesitumvenenumbibereperfraudemillexit,utquotiescunqueconcepisset,immaturumabjiceritpartum。Ammian。l。xvi。c。10。Ourphysicianswilldeterminewhetherthereexistssuchapoison。
  FormyownpartIaminclinedtohopethatthepublicmalignityimputedtheeffectsofaccidentastheguiltofEusebia。]
  [Footnote40:Ammianusxv。v。wasperfectlywellinformedoftheconductandfateofSylvanus。HehimselfwasoneofthefewfollowerswhoattendedUrsicinusinhisdangerousenterprise。]
  TheprotectionoftheRhaetianfrontier,andthepersecutionoftheCatholicchurch,detainedConstantiusinItalyaboveeighteenmonthsafterthedepartureofJulian。BeforetheemperorreturnedintotheEast,heindulgedhisprideandcuriosityinavisittotheancientcapital。^41HeproceededfromMilantoRomealongtheAemilianandFlaminianways,andassoonasheapproachedwithinfortymilesofthecity,themarchofaprincewhohadnevervanquishedaforeignenemy,assumedtheappearanceofatriumphalprocession。Hissplendidtrainwascomposedofalltheministersofluxury;butinatimeofprofoundpeace,hewasencompassedbytheglitteringarmsofthenumeroussquadronsofhisguardsandcuirassiers。Theirstreamingbannersofsilk,embossedwithgold,andshapedintheformofdragons,wavedroundthepersonoftheemperor。Constantiussataloneinaloftycar,resplendentwithgoldandpreciousgems;
  and,exceptwhenhebowedhisheadtopassunderthegatesofthecities,heaffectedastatelydemeanorofinflexible,and,asitmightseem,ofinsensiblegravity。TheseveredisciplineofthePersianyouthhadbeenintroducedbytheeunuchsintotheImperialpalace;andsuchwerethehabitsofpatiencewhichtheyhadinculcated,thatduringaslowandsultrymarch,hewasneverseentomovehishandtowardshisface,ortoturnhiseyeseithertotherightortotheleft。HewasreceivedbythemagistratesandsenateofRome;andtheemperorsurveyed,withattention,thecivilhonorsoftherepublic,andtheconsularimagesofthenoblefamilies。Thestreetswerelinedwithaninnumerablemultitude。Theirrepeatedacclamationsexpressedtheirjoyatbeholding,afteranabsenceofthirty—twoyears,thesacredpersonoftheirsovereign,andConstantiushimselfexpressed,withsomepleasantry,heaffectedsurprisethatthehumanraceshouldthussuddenlybecollectedonthesamespot。
  ThesonofConstantinewaslodgedintheancientpalaceofAugustus:hepresidedinthesenate,haranguedthepeoplefromthetribunalwhichCicerohadsooftenascended,assistedwithunusualcourtesyatthegamesoftheCircus,andacceptedthecrownsofgold,aswellasthePanegyricswhichhadbeenpreparedfortheceremonybythedeputiesoftheprincipalcities。Hisshortvisitofthirtydayswasemployedinviewingthemonumentsofartandpowerwhichwerescatteredoverthesevenhillsandtheinterjacentvalleys。HeadmiredtheawfulmajestyoftheCapitol,thevastextentofthebathsofCaracallaandDiocletian,theseveresimplicityofthePantheon,themassygreatnessoftheamphitheatreofTitus,theelegantarchitectureofthetheatreofPompeyandtheTempleofPeace,and,aboveall,thestatelystructureoftheForumandcolumnofTrajan;
  acknowledgingthatthevoiceoffame,sopronetoinventandtomagnify,hadmadeaninadequatereportofthemetropolisoftheworld。Thetraveller,whohascontemplatedtheruinsofancientRome,mayconceivesomeimperfectideaofthesentimentswhichtheymusthaveinspiredwhentheyrearedtheirheadsinthesplendorofunsulliedbeauty。
  [SeeThePantheon:TheseveresimplicityofthePantheon]
  [Footnote41:FortheparticularsofthevisitofConstantiustoRome,seeAmmianus,l。xvi。c。10。Wehaveonlytoadd,thatThemistiuswasappointeddeputyfromConstantinople,andthathecomposedhisfourthorationforhisceremony。]
  ThesatisfactionwhichConstantiushadreceivedfromthisjourneyexcitedhimtothegenerousemulationofbestowingontheRomanssomememorialofhisowngratitudeandmunificence。HisfirstideawastoimitatetheequestrianandcolossalstatuewhichhehadseenintheForumofTrajan;butwhenhehadmaturelyweighedthedifficultiesoftheexecution,^42hechoserathertoembellishthecapitalbythegiftofanEgyptianobelisk。Inaremotebutpolishedage,whichseemstohaveprecededtheinventionofalphabeticalwriting,agreatnumberoftheseobeliskshadbeenerected,inthecitiesofThebesandHeliopolis,bytheancientsovereignsofEgypt,inajustconfidencethatthesimplicityoftheirform,andthehardnessoftheirsubstance,wouldresisttheinjuriesoftimeandviolence。
  ^43SeveraloftheseextraordinarycolumnshadbeentransportedtoRomebyAugustusandhissuccessors,asthemostdurablemonumentsoftheirpowerandvictory;^44butthereremainedoneobelisk,which,fromitssizeorsanctity,escapedforalongtimetherapaciousvanityoftheconquerors。ItwasdesignedbyConstantinetoadornhisnewcity;^45and,afterbeingremovedbyhisorderfromthepedestalwhereitstoodbeforetheTempleoftheSunatHeliopolis,wasfloateddowntheNiletoAlexandria。ThedeathofConstantinesuspendedtheexecutionofhispurpose,andthisobeliskwasdestinedbyhissontotheancientcapitaloftheempire。Avesselofuncommonstrengthandcapaciousnesswasprovidedtoconveythisenormousweightofgranite,atleastahundredandfifteenfeetinlength,fromthebanksoftheNiletothoseoftheTyber。TheobeliskofConstantiuswaslandedaboutthreemilesfromthecity,andelevated,bytheeffortsofartandlabor,inthegreatCircusofRome。^46
  [Footnote42:Hormisdas,afugitiveprinceofPersia,observedtotheemperor,thatifhemadesuchahorse,hemustthinkofpreparingasimilarstable,theForumofTrajan。AnothersayingofHormisdasisrecorded,"thatonethingonlyhaddispleasedhim,tofindthatmendiedatRomeaswellaselsewhere。"IfweadoptthisreadingofthetextofAmmianus,displicuisse,insteadofplacuisse,wemayconsideritasareproofofRomanvanity。Thecontrarysensewouldbethatofamisanthrope。]
  [Footnote43:WhenGermanicusvisitedtheancientmonumentsofThebes,theeldestofthepriestsexplainedtohimthemeaningofthesehieroglyphics。Tacit。Annal。ii。c。60。Butitseemsprobable,thatbeforetheusefulinventionofanalphabet,thesenaturalorarbitrarysignswerethecommoncharactersoftheEgyptiannation。SeeWarburton'sDivineLegationofMoses,vol。
  iii。p。69—243。]
  [Footnote44:SeePlin。Hist。Natur。l。xxxvi。c。14,15。]
  [Footnote45:Ammian。Marcellinl。xvii。c。4。HegivesusaGreekinterpretationofthehieroglyphics,andhiscommentatorLindenbrogiusaddsaLatininscription,which,intwentyversesoftheageofConstantius,containashorthistoryoftheobelisk。]
  [Footnote46:SeeDonat。Roma。Antiqua,l。iii。c。14,l。iv。c。
  12,andthelearned,thoughconfused,DissertationofBargaeusonObelisks,insertedinthefourthvolumeofGraevius'sRomanAntiquities,p。1897—1936。ThisdissertationisdedicatedtoPopeSixtusV。,whoerectedtheobeliskofConstantiusinthesquarebeforethepatriarchalchurchofat。JohnLateran。]
  [Footnote*:ItisdoubtfulwhethertheobelisktransportedbyConstantiustoRomenowexists。EvenfromthetextofAmmianus,itisuncertainwhethertheinterpretationofHermapionreferstotheolderobelisk,obeliscoincisusestveteriquemvidemusinCirco,raised,ashehimselfstates,intheCircusMaximus,longbefore,byAugustus,ortotheonebroughtbyConstantius。TheobeliskinthesquarebeforethechurchofSt。JohnLateranisascribednottoRamesestheGreatbuttoThoutmosII。
  Champollion,1。LettreaM。deBlacas,p。32。—M]
  ThedepartureofConstantiusfromRomewashastenedbythealarmingintelligenceofthedistressanddangeroftheIllyrianprovinces。Thedistractionsofcivilwar,andtheirreparablelosswhichtheRomanlegionshadsustainedinthebattleofMursa,exposedthosecountries,almostwithoutdefence,tothelightcavalryoftheBarbarians;andparticularlytotheinroadsoftheQuadi,afierceandpowerfulnation,whoseemtohaveexchangedtheinstitutionsofGermanyforthearmsandmilitaryartsoftheirSarmatianallies。^47Thegarrisonsofthefrontierswereinsufficienttochecktheirprogress;andtheindolentmonarchwasatlengthcompelledtoassemble,fromtheextremitiesofhisdominions,theflowerofthePalatinetroops,totakethefieldinperson,andtoemployawholecampaign,withtheprecedingautumnandtheensuingspring,intheseriousprosecutionofthewar。TheemperorpassedtheDanubeonabridgeofboats,cutinpiecesallthatencounteredhismarch,penetratedintotheheartofthecountryoftheQuadi,andseverelyretaliatedthecalamitieswhichtheyhadinflictedontheRomanprovince。ThedismayedBarbariansweresoonreducedtosueforpeace:theyofferedtherestitutionofhiscaptivesubjectsasanatonementforthepast,andthenoblesthostagesasapledgeoftheirfutureconduct。ThegenerouscourtesywhichwasshowntothefirstamongtheirchieftainswhoimploredtheclemencyofConstantius,encouragedthemoretimid,orthemoreobstinate,toimitatetheirexample;andtheImperialcampwascrowdedwiththeprincesandambassadorsofthemostdistanttribes,whooccupiedtheplainsoftheLesserPoland,andwhomighthavedeemedthemselvessecurebehindtheloftyridgeoftheCarpathianMountains。WhileConstantiusgavelawstotheBarbariansbeyondtheDanube,hedistinguished,withspeciouscompassion,theSarmatianexiles,whohadbeenexpelledfromtheirnativecountrybytherebellionoftheirslaves,andwhoformedaveryconsiderableaccessiontothepoweroftheQuadi。
  Theemperor,embracingagenerousbutartfulsystemofpolicy,releasedtheSarmatiansfromthebandsofthishumiliatingdependence,andrestoredthem,byaseparatetreaty,tothedignityofanationunitedunderthegovernmentofaking,thefriendandallyoftherepublic。Hedeclaredhisresolutionofassertingthejusticeoftheircause,andofsecuringthepeaceoftheprovincesbytheextirpation,oratleastthebanishment,oftheLimigantes,whosemannerswerestillinfectedwiththevicesoftheirservileorigin。Theexecutionofthisdesignwasattendedwithmoredifficultythanglory。TheterritoryoftheLimiganteswasprotectedagainsttheRomansbytheDanube,againstthehostileBarbariansbytheTeyss。Themarshylandswhichlaybetweenthoserivers,andwereoftencoveredbytheirinundations,formedanintricatewilderness,perviousonlytotheinhabitants,whowereacquaintedwithitssecretpathsandinaccessiblefortresses。OntheapproachofConstantius,theLimigantestriedtheefficacyofprayers,offraud,andofarms;
  buthesternlyrejectedtheirsupplications,defeatedtheirrudestratagems,andrepelledwithskillandfirmnesstheeffortsoftheirirregularvalor。Oneoftheirmostwarliketribes,establishedinasmallislandtowardstheconfluxoftheTeyssandtheDanube,consentedtopasstheriverwiththeintentionofsurprisingtheemperorduringthesecurityofanamicableconference。Theysoonbecamethevictimsoftheperfidywhichtheymeditated。Encompassedoneveryside,trampleddownbythecavalry,slaughteredbytheswordsofthelegions,theydisdainedtoaskformercy;andwithanundauntedcountenance,stillgraspedtheirweaponsintheagoniesofdeath。Afterthisvictory,aconsiderablebodyofRomanswaslandedontheoppositebanksoftheDanube;theTaifalae,aGothictribeengagedintheserviceoftheempire,invadedtheLimigantesonthesideoftheTeyss;andtheirformermasters,thefreeSarmatians,animatedbyhopeandrevenge,penetratedthroughthehillycountry,intotheheartoftheirancientpossessions。AgeneralconflagrationrevealedthehutsoftheBarbarians,whichwereseatedinthedepthofthewilderness;andthesoldierfoughtwithconfidenceonmarshyground,whichitwasdangerousforhimtotread。Inthisextremity,thebravestoftheLimiganteswereresolvedtodieinarms,ratherthantoyield:butthemildersentiment,enforcedbytheauthorityoftheirelders,atlengthprevailed;
  andthesuppliantcrowd,followedbytheirwivesandchildren,repairedtotheImperialcamp,tolearntheirfatefromthemouthoftheconqueror。Aftercelebratinghisownclemency,whichwasstillinclinedtopardontheirrepeatedcrimes,andtosparetheremnantofaguiltynation,Constantiusassignedfortheplaceoftheirexilearemotecountry,wheretheymightenjoyasafeandhonorablerepose。TheLimigantesobeyedwithreluctance;butbeforetheycouldreach,atleastbeforetheycouldoccupy,theirdestinedhabitations,theyreturnedtothebanksoftheDanube,exaggeratingthehardshipsoftheirsituation,andrequesting,withferventprofessionsoffidelity,thattheemperorwouldgrantthemanundisturbedsettlementwithinthelimitsoftheRomanprovinces。Insteadofconsultinghisownexperienceoftheirincurableperfidy,Constantiuslistenedtohisflatterers,whowerereadytorepresentthehonorandadvantageofacceptingacolonyofsoldiers,atatimewhenitwasmucheasiertoobtainthepecuniarycontributionsthanthemilitaryserviceofthesubjectsoftheempire。TheLimiganteswerepermittedtopasstheDanube;andtheemperorgaveaudiencetothemultitudeinalargeplainnearthemoderncityofBuda。Theysurroundedthetribunal,andseemedtohearwithrespectanorationfullofmildnessanddignitywhenoneoftheBarbarians,castinghisshoeintotheair,exclaimedwithaloudvoice,Marha!Marha!awordofdefiance,whichwasreceivedasasignalofthetumult。