TheprovincesofEuropewhichbelongedtotheEasternemperor，werealreadyexhausted；thoseofAsiawereinaccessible；andthestrengthofConstantinoplehadresistedhisattack。Buthewastemptedbythefame，thebeauty，thewealthofItaly，whichhehadtwicevisited；andhesecretlyaspiredtoplanttheGothicstandardonthewallsofRome，andtoenrichhisarmywiththeaccumulatedspoilsofthreehundredtriumphs。^25
[Footnote20:SynesiuspassedthreeyearsA。D。397—400atConstantinople，asdeputyfromCyrenetotheemperorArcadius。
Hepresentedhimwithacrownofgold，andpronouncedbeforehimtheinstructiveorationdeRegno，p。1—32，edit。Petav。Paris，1612。ThephilosopherwasmadebishopofPtolemais，A。D。410，anddiedabout430。SeeTillemont，Mem。Eccles。tom。xii。p。490，554，683—685。]
[Footnote21:SynesiusdeRegno，p。21—26。]
[Footnote22:—quifoederarumpitDitatur:quiservat，eget:vastatorAchivaeGentis，etEpirumnuperpopulatusinultam，PraesidetIllyrico:jam，quosobsedit，amicosIngrediturmuros；illisresponsadaturus，Quorumconjugibuspotitur，natosqueperemit。
ClaudianinEutrop。l。ii。212。AlaricapplaudshisownpolicydeBellGetic。533—543intheusewhichhehadmadeofthisIllyrianjurisdiction。]
[Footnote23:Jornandes，c。29，p。651。TheGothichistorianadds，withunusualspirit，Cumsuisdeliberanssuasitsuolaborequaerereregna，quamalienisperotiumsubjacere。
—Discorsodiisqueancepscivilibusorbis，Nonsuavistutatadiu，dumfoederafallaxLudit，etalternaeperjuriavenditataulae。
ClaudiandeBell。Get。565]
[Footnote25:AlpibusItaliaeruptispenetrabisadUrbem。
ThisauthenticpredictionwasannouncedbyAlaric，oratleastbyClaudian，deBell。Getico，547，sevenyearsbeforetheevent。Butasitwasnotaccomplishedwithinthetermwhichhasbeenrashlyfixedtheinterpretersescapedthroughanambiguousmeaning。]
Thescarcityoffacts，^26andtheuncertaintyofdates，^27
opposeourattemptstodescribethecircumstancesofthefirstinvasionofItalybythearmsofAlaric。Hismarch，perhapsfromThessalonica，throughthewarlikeandhostilecountryofPannonia，asfarasthefootoftheJulianAlps；hispassageofthosemountains，whichwerestronglyguardedbytroopsandintrenchments；thesiegeofAquileia，andtheconquestoftheprovincesofIstriaandVenetia，appeartohaveemployedaconsiderabletime。Unlesshisoperationswereextremelycautiousandslow，thelengthoftheintervalwouldsuggestaprobablesuspicion，thattheGothickingretreatedtowardsthebanksoftheDanube；andreenforcedhisarmywithfreshswarmsofBarbarians，beforeheagainattemptedtopenetrateintotheheartofItaly。Sincethepublicandimportanteventsescapethediligenceofthehistorian，hemayamusehimselfwithcontemplating，foramoment，theinfluenceofthearmsofAlariconthefortunesoftwoobscureindividuals，apresbyterofAquileiaandahusbandmanofVerona。ThelearnedRufinus，whowassummonedbyhisenemiestoappearbeforeaRomansynod，^28
wiselypreferredthedangersofabesiegedcity；andtheBarbarians，whofuriouslyshookthewallsofAquileia，mightsavehimfromthecruelsentenceofanotherheretic，who，attherequestofthesamebishops，wasseverelywhipped，andcondemnedtoperpetualexileonadesertisland。^29Theoldman，^30whohadpassedhissimpleandinnocentlifeintheneighborhoodofVerona，wasastrangertothequarrelsbothofkingsandofbishops；hispleasures，hisdesires，hisknowledge，wereconfinedwithinthelittlecircleofhispaternalfarm；andastaffsupportedhisagedsteps，onthesamegroundwherehehadsportedinhisinfancy。YeteventhishumbleandrusticfelicitywhichClaudiandescribeswithsomuchtruthandfeelingwasstillexposedtotheundistinguishingrageofwar。Histrees，hisoldcontemporarytrees，^31mustblazeintheconflagrationofthewholecountry；adetachmentofGothiccavalrymightsweepawayhiscottageandhisfamily；andthepowerofAlariccoulddestroythishappiness，whichhewasnotableeithertotasteortobestow。"Fame，"saysthepoet，"encirclingwithterrorhergloomywings，proclaimedthemarchoftheBarbarianarmy，andfilledItalywithconsternation:"theapprehensionsofeachindividualwereincreasedinjustproportiontothemeasureofhisfortune:andthemosttimid，whohadalreadyembarkedtheirvaluableeffects，meditatedtheirescapetotheIslandofSicily，ortheAfricancoast。Thepublicdistresswasaggravatedbythefearsandreproachesofsuperstition。^32Everyhourproducedsomehorridtaleofstrangeandportentousaccidents；thePagansdeploredtheneglectofomens，andtheinterruptionofsacrifices；buttheChristiansstillderivedsomecomfortfromthepowerfulintercessionofthesaintsandmartyrs。^33
[Footnote26:Ourbestmaterialsare970versesofClaudianinthepoemontheGeticwar，andthebeginningofthatwhichcelebratesthesixthconsulshipofHonorius。Zosimusistotallysilent；andwearereducedtosuchscraps，orrathercrumbs，aswecanpickfromOrosiusandtheChronicles。]
[Footnote27:NotwithstandingthegrosserrorsofJornandes，whoconfoundstheItalianwarsofAlaric，c。29，hisdateoftheconsulshipofStilichoandAurelianA。D。400isfirmandrespectable。ItiscertainfromClaudianTillemont，Hist。desEmp。tom。v。p。804thatthebattleofPolentiawasfoughtA。D。
403；butwecannoteasilyfilltheinterval。]
[Footnote28:TantumRomanaeurbisjudiciumfugis，utmagisobsidionembarbaricam，quampacatoeurbisjudiciumvelissustinere。Jerom，tom。ii。p。239。Rufinusunderstoodhisowndanger；thepeacefulcitywasinflamedbythebeldamMarcella，andtherestofJerom'sfaction。]
[Footnote29:Jovinian，theenemyoffastsandofcelibacy，whowaspersecutedandinsultedbythefuriousJerom，Jortin'sRemarks，vol。iv。p。104，&c。SeetheoriginaledictofbanishmentintheTheodosianCode，xvi。tit。v。leg。43。]
[Footnote30:ThisepigramdeSeneVeronensiquisuburbiumnusquamegressusestisoneoftheearliestandmostpleasingcompositionsofClaudian。Cowley'simitationHurd'sedition，vol。ii。p。241hassomenaturalandhappystrokes:butitismuchinferiortotheoriginalportrait，whichisevidentlydrawnfromthelife。]
[Footnote31:IngentemmeminitparvoquigerminequercumAequaevumquevidetconsenuissenemus。
Aneighboringwoodbornwithhimselfhesees，Andloveshisoldcontemporarytrees。
Inthispassage，Cowleyisperhapssuperiortohisoriginal；andtheEnglishpoet，whowasagoodbotanist，hasconcealedtheoaksunderamoregeneralexpression。]
[Footnote32:ClaudiandeBell。Get。199—266。Hemayseemprolix:butfearandsuperstitionoccupiedaslargeaspaceinthemindsoftheItalians。]
[Footnote33:FromthepassagesofPaulinus，whichBaroniushasproduced，Annal。Eccles。A。D。403，No。51，itismanifestthatthegeneralalarmhadpervadedallItaly，asfarasNolainCampania，wherethatfamouspenitenthadfixedhisabode。]
ChapterXXX:RevoltOfTheGoths。
PartII。
TheemperorHonoriuswasdistinguished，abovehissubjects，bythepreeminenceoffear，aswellasofrank。Theprideandluxuryinwhichhewaseducated，hadnotallowedhimtosuspect，thatthereexistedontheearthanypowerpresumptuousenoughtoinvadethereposeofthesuccessorofAugustus。Theartsofflatteryconcealedtheimpendingdanger，tillAlaricapproachedthepalaceofMilan。Butwhenthesoundofwarhadawakenedtheyoungemperor，insteadofflyingtoarmswiththespirit，oreventherashness，ofhisage，heeagerlylistenedtothosetimidcounsellors，whoproposedtoconveyhissacredperson，andhisfaithfulattendants，tosomesecureanddistantstationintheprovincesofGaul。Stilichoalone^34hadcourageandauthoritytoresisthisdisgracefulmeasure，whichwouldhaveabandonedRomeandItalytotheBarbarians；butasthetroopsofthepalacehadbeenlatelydetachedtotheRhaetianfrontier，andastheresourceofnewlevieswasslowandprecarious，thegeneraloftheWestcouldonlypromise，thatifthecourtofMilanwouldmaintaintheirgroundduringhisabsence，hewouldsoonreturnwithanarmyequaltotheencounteroftheGothicking。Withoutlosingamoment，whileeachmomentwassoimportanttothepublicsafety，StilichohastilyembarkedontheLarianLake，ascendedthemountainsoficeandsnow，amidsttheseverityofanAlpinewinter，andsuddenlyrepressed，byhisunexpectedpresence，theenemy，whohaddisturbedthetranquillityofRhaetia。^35TheBarbarians，perhapssometribesoftheAlemanni，respectedthefirmnessofachief，whostillassumedthelanguageofcommand；andthechoicewhichhecondescendedtomake，ofaselectnumberoftheirbravestyouth，wasconsideredasamarkofhisesteemandfavor。Thecohorts，whoweredeliveredfromtheneighboringfoe，diligentlyrepairedtotheImperialstandard；
andStilichoissuedhisorderstothemostremotetroopsoftheWest，toadvance，byrapidmarches，tothedefenceofHonoriusandofItaly。ThefortressesoftheRhinewereabandoned；andthesafetyofGaulwasprotectedonlybythefaithoftheGermans，andtheancientterroroftheRomanname。Eventhelegion，whichhadbeenstationedtoguardthewallofBritainagainsttheCaledoniansoftheNorth，washastilyrecalled；^36
andanumerousbodyofthecavalryoftheAlaniwaspersuadedtoengageintheserviceoftheemperor，whoanxiouslyexpectedthereturnofhisgeneral。TheprudenceandvigorofStilichowereconspicuousonthisoccasion，whichrevealed，atthesametime，theweaknessofthefallingempire。ThelegionsofRome，whichhadlongsincelanguishedinthegradualdecayofdisciplineandcourage，wereexterminatedbytheGothicandcivilwars；anditwasfoundimpossible，withoutexhaustingandexposingtheprovinces，toassembleanarmyforthedefenceofItaly。
[Footnote34:SoluseratStilicho，&c。，istheexclusivecommendationwhichClaudianbestows，delBell。Get。267，
withoutcondescendingtoexcepttheemperor。HowinsignificantmustHonoriushaveappearedinhisowncourt。]
[Footnote35:Thefaceofthecountry，andthehardinessofStilicho，arefinelydescribed，deBell。Get。340—363。]
[Footnote36:VenitetextremislegiopraetentaBritannis，QuaeScotodatfrenatruci。
DeBell。Get。416。
YetthemostrapidmarchfromEdinburgh，orNewcastle，toMilan，musthaverequiredalongerspaceoftimethanClaudianseemswillingtoallowforthedurationoftheGothicwar。]
ChapterXXX:RevoltOfTheGoths。
PartIII。
WhenStilichoseemedtoabandonhissovereignintheunguardedpalaceofMilan，hehadprobablycalculatedthetermofhisabsence，thedistanceoftheenemy，andtheobstaclesthatmightretardtheirmarch。HeprincipallydependedontheriversofItaly，theAdige，theMincius，theOglio，andtheAddua，which，inthewinterorspring，bythefallofrains，orbythemeltingofthesnows，arecommonlyswelledintobroadandimpetuoustorrents。^37Buttheseasonhappenedtoberemarkablydry:andtheGothscouldtraverse，withoutimpediment，thewideandstonybeds，whosecentrewasfaintlymarkedbythecourseofashallowstream。ThebridgeandpassageoftheAdduaweresecuredbyastrongdetachmentoftheGothicarmy；andasAlaricapproachedthewalls，orratherthesuburbs，ofMilan，heenjoyedtheproudsatisfactionofseeingtheemperoroftheRomansflybeforehim。Honorius，accompaniedbyafeebletrainofstatesmenandeunuchs，hastilyretreatedtowardstheAlps，withadesignofsecuringhispersoninthecityofArles，whichhadoftenbeentheroyalresidenceofhispredecessors。ButHonorius^38hadscarcelypassedthePo，beforehewasovertakenbythespeedoftheGothiccavalry；^39sincetheurgencyofthedangercompelledhimtoseekatemporaryshelterwithinthefortificationsofAsta，atownofLiguriaorPiemont，situateonthebanksoftheTanarus。^40Thesiegeofanobscureplace，whichcontainedsorichaprize，andseemedincapableofalongresistance，wasinstantlyformed，andindefatigablypressed，bythekingoftheGoths；andthebolddeclaration，whichtheemperormightafterwardsmake，thathisbreasthadneverbeensusceptibleoffear，didnotprobablyobtainmuchcredit，eveninhisowncourt。
^41Inthelast，andalmosthopelessextremity，aftertheBarbarianshadalreadyproposedtheindignityofacapitulation，theImperialcaptivewassuddenlyrelievedbythefame，theapproach，andatlengththepresence，ofthehero，whomhehadsolongexpected。Attheheadofachosenandintrepidvanguard，StilichoswamthestreamoftheAddua，togainthetimewhichhemusthavelostintheattackofthebridge；thepassageofthePowasanenterpriseofmuchlesshazardanddifficulty；andthesuccessfulaction，inwhichhecuthiswaythroughtheGothiccampunderthewallsofAsta，revivedthehopes，andvindicatedthehonor，ofRome。Insteadofgraspingthefruitofhisvictory，theBarbarianwasgraduallyinvested，oneveryside，bythetroopsoftheWest，whosuccessivelyissuedthroughallthepassesoftheAlps；hisquarterswerestraitened；hisconvoyswereintercepted；andthevigilanceoftheRomanspreparedtoformachainoffortifications，andtobesiegethelinesofthebesiegers。Amilitarycouncilwasassembledofthelong—hairedchiefsoftheGothicnation；ofagedwarriors，whosebodieswerewrappedinfurs，andwhosesterncountenancesweremarkedwithhonorablewounds。Theyweighedthegloryofpersistingintheirattemptagainsttheadvantageofsecuringtheirplunder；andtheyrecommendedtheprudentmeasureofaseasonableretreat。Inthisimportantdebate，AlaricdisplayedthespiritoftheconquerorofRome；andafterhehadremindedhiscountrymenoftheirachievementsandoftheirdesigns，heconcludedhisanimatingspeechbythesolemnandpositiveassurancethathewasresolvedtofindinItalyeitherakingdomoragrave。^42
[Footnote37:EverytravellermustrecollectthefaceofLombardy，seeFonvenelle，tom。v。p。279，whichisoftentormentedbythecapriciousandirregularabundanceofwaters。
TheAustrians，beforeGenoa，wereencampedinthedrybedofthePolcevera。"Nesarebbe"saysMuratori"maipassatopermenteaque'buoniAlemanni，chequelpicciolotorrentepotesse，percosidire，inuninstantecangiarsiinunterribilgigante。"Annalid'Italia，tom。xvi。p。443，Milan，1752，8voedit。]
[Footnote*:AccordingtoLeBeauandhiscommentatorM。St。
Martin，Honoriusdidnotattempttofly。SettlementswereofferedtotheGothsinLombardy，andtheyadvancedfromthePotowardstheAlpstotakepossessionofthem。ButitwasatreacherousstratagemofStilicho，whosurprisedthemwhiletheywerereposingonthefaithofthistreaty。LeBeau，v。x。]
[Footnote38:Claudiandoesnotclearlyanswerourquestion，WherewasHonoriushimself?Yettheflightismarkedbythepursuit；andmyideaoftheGothicwasisjustifiedbytheItaliancritics，Sigoniustom。P，ii。p。369，deImp。Occident。
l。x。andMuratori，Annalid'Italia。tom。iv。p。45。]
[Footnote39:OneoftheroadsmaybetracedintheItineraries，p。98，288，294，withWesseling'sNotes。Astalaysomemilesontherighthand。]
[Footnote40:Asta，orAsti，aRomancolony，isnowthecapitalofapleasantcountry，which，inthesixteenthcentury，devolvedtothedukesofSavoy，LeandroAlbertiDescrizzioned'Italia，p。
382。]
[Footnote41:Necmetimorimpulitullus。HemightholdthisproudlanguagethenextyearatRome，fivehundredmilesfromthesceneofdangervi。Cons。Hon。449。]
[Footnote42:Hancegovelvictorregno，velmorteteneboVictus，humum。
ThespeechesdeBell。Get。479—549oftheGothicNestor，andAchilles，arestrong，characteristic，adaptedtothecircumstances；andpossiblynotlessgenuinethanthoseofLivy。]
TheloosedisciplineoftheBarbariansalwaysexposedthemtothedangerofasurprise；but，insteadofchoosingthedissolutehoursofriotandintemperance，StilichoresolvedtoattacktheChristianGoths，whilsttheyweredevoutlyemployedincelebratingthefestivalofEaster。^43Theexecutionofthestratagem，or，asitwastermedbytheclergyofthesacrilege，wasintrustedtoSaul，aBarbarianandaPagan，whohadserved，however，withdistinguishedreputationamongtheveterangeneralsofTheodosius。ThecampoftheGoths，whichAlarichadpitchedintheneighborhoodofPollentia，^44wasthrownintoconfusionbythesuddenandimpetuouschargeoftheImperialcavalry；but，inafewmoments，theundauntedgeniusoftheirleadergavethemanorder，andafieldofbattle；and，assoonastheyhadrecoveredfromtheirastonishment，thepiousconfidence，thattheGodoftheChristianswouldasserttheircause，addednewstrengthtotheirnativevalor。Inthisengagement，whichwaslongmaintainedwithequalcourageandsuccess，thechiefoftheAlani，whosediminutiveandsavageformconcealedamagnanimoussoulapprovedhissuspectedloyalty，bythezealwithwhichhefought，andfell，intheserviceoftherepublic；andthefameofthisgallantBarbarianhasbeenimperfectlypreservedintheversesofClaudian，sincethepoet，whocelebrateshisvirtue，hasomittedthementionofhisname。Hisdeathwasfollowedbytheflightanddismayofthesquadronswhichhecommanded；andthedefeatofthewingofcavalrymighthavedecidedthevictoryofAlaric，ifStilichohadnotimmediatelyledtheRomanandBarbarianinfantrytotheattack。Theskillofthegeneral，andthebraveryofthesoldiers，surmountedeveryobstacle。Intheeveningofthebloodyday，theGothsretreatedfromthefieldofbattle；theintrenchmentsoftheircampwereforced，andthesceneofrapineandslaughtermadesomeatonementforthecalamitieswhichtheyhadinflictedonthesubjectsoftheempire。^45ThemagnificentspoilsofCorinthandArgosenrichedtheveteransoftheWest；thecaptivewifeofAlaric，whohadimpatientlyclaimedhispromiseofRomanjewelsandPatricianhandmaids，^46wasreducedtoimplorethemercyoftheinsultingfoe；andmanythousandprisoners，releasedfromtheGothicchains，dispersedthroughtheprovincesofItalythepraisesoftheirheroicdeliverer。ThetriumphofStilicho^47wascomparedbythepoet，andperhapsbythepublic，tothatofMarius；who，inthesamepartofItaly，hadencounteredanddestroyedanotherarmyofNorthernBarbarians。Thehugebones，andtheemptyhelmets，oftheCimbriandoftheGoths，wouldeasilybeconfoundedbysucceedinggenerations；andposteritymighterectacommontrophytothememoryofthetwomostillustriousgenerals，whohadvanquished，onthesamememorableground，thetwomostformidableenemiesofRome。^48