Ifhechoosestohunt，oratleasttoexercisehimselfonhorseback，hisbowiscarriedbyafavoriteyouth；butwhenthegameismarked，hebendsitwithhisownhand，andseldommissestheobjectofhisaim:asaking，hedisdainstobeararmsinsuchignoblewarfare；butasasoldier，hewouldblushtoacceptanymilitaryservicewhichhecouldperformhimself。Oncommondays，hisdinnerisnotdifferentfromtherepastofaprivatecitizen，buteverySaturday，manyhonorableguestsareinvitedtotheroyaltable，which，ontheseoccasions，isservedwiththeeleganceofGreece，theplentyofGaul，andtheorderanddiligenceofItaly。^19Thegoldorsilverplateislessremarkableforitsweightthanforthebrightnessandcuriousworkmanship:thetasteisgratifiedwithoutthehelpofforeignandcostlyluxury；thesizeandnumberofthecupsofwineareregulatedwithastrictregardtothelawsoftemperance；andtherespectfulsilencethatprevails，isinterruptedonlybygraveandinstructiveconversation。Afterdinner，Theodoricsometimesindulgeshimselfinashortslumber；andassoonashewakes，hecallsforthediceandtables，encourageshisfriendstoforgettheroyalmajesty，andisdelightedwhentheyfreelyexpressthepassionswhichareexcitedbytheincidentsofplay。Atthisgame，whichhelovesastheimageofwar，healternatelydisplayshiseagerness，hisskill，hispatience，andhischeerfultemper。
Ifheloses，helaughs；heismodestandsilentifhewins。Yet，notwithstandingthisseemingindifference，hiscourtierschoosetosolicitanyfavorinthemomentsofvictory；andImyself，inmyapplicationstotheking，havederivedsomebenefitfrommylosses。^20Abouttheninthhourthreeo'clockthetideofbusinessagainreturns，andflowsincessantlytillaftersunset，whenthesignaloftheroyalsupperdismissesthewearycrowdofsuppliantsandpleaders。Atthesupper，amorefamiliarrepast，buffoonsandpantomimesaresometimesintroduced，todivert，nottooffend，thecompany，bytheirridiculouswit:butfemalesingers，andthesoft，effeminatemodesofmusic，areseverelybanished，andsuchmartialtunesasanimatethesoultodeedsofvalorarealonegratefultotheearofTheodoric。Heretiresfromtable；andthenocturnalguardsareimmediatelypostedattheentranceofthetreasury，thepalace，andtheprivateapartments。"
[Footnote16:Isidore，archbishopofSeville，whowashimselfofthebloodroyaloftheGoths，acknowledges，andalmostjustifies，Hist。Goth。p。718，thecrimewhichtheirslaveJornandeshadbaselydissembled，c43，p。673。]
[Footnote17:Thiselaboratedescriptionl。i。ep。ii。p。2—7
wasdictatedbysomepoliticalmotive。Itwasdesignedforthepubliceye，andhadbeenshownbythefriendsofSidonius，beforeitwasinsertedinthecollectionofhisepistles。Thefirstbookwaspublishedseparately。SeeTillemont，MemoiresEccles。
tom。xvi。p。264。]
[Footnote18:Ihavesuppressed，inthisportraitofTheodoric，severalminutecircumstances，andtechnicalphrases，whichcouldbetolerable，orindeedintelligible，tothoseonlywho，likethecontemporariesofSidonius，hadfrequentedthemarketswherenakedslaveswereexposedtomale，Dubos，Hist。Critique，tom。
i。p。404。]
[Footnote19:VideasibielegantiamGraecam，abundantiamGallicanam；celeritatemItalam；publicampompam，privatamdiligentiam，regiamdisciplinam。]
[Footnote20:Tuncetiamegoaliquidobsecraturusfelicitervincor，etmihitabulaperitutcausasalvetur。SidoniusofAuvergnewasnotasubjectofTheodoric；buthemightbecompelledtosoliciteitherjusticeorfavoratthecourtofThoulouse。]
WhenthekingoftheVisigothsencouragedAvitustoassumethepurple，heofferedhispersonandhisforces，asafaithfulsoldieroftherepublic。^21TheexploitsofTheodoricsoonconvincedtheworldthathehadnotdegeneratedfromthewarlikevirtuesofhisancestors。AftertheestablishmentoftheGothsinAquitain，andthepassageoftheVandalsintoAfrica，theSuevi，whohadfixedtheirkingdominGallicia，aspiredtotheconquestofSpain，andthreatenedtoextinguishthefeebleremainsoftheRomandominion。TheprovincialsofCarthagenaandTarragona，afflictedbyahostileinvasion，representedtheirinjuriesandtheirapprehensions。CountFrontowasdespatched，inthenameoftheemperorAvitus，withadvantageousoffersofpeaceandalliance；andTheodoricinterposedhisweightymediation，todeclare，that，unlesshisbrother—in—law，thekingoftheSuevi，immediatelyretired，heshouldbeobligedtoarminthecauseofjusticeandofRome。"Tellhim，"repliedthehaughtyRechiarius，"thatIdespisehisfriendshipandhisarms；butthatIshallsoontrywhetherhewilldaretoexpectmyarrivalunderthewallsofThoulouse。"SuchachallengeurgedTheodorictopreventthebolddesignsofhisenemy；hepassedthePyreneesattheheadoftheVisigoths:theFranksandBurgundiansservedunderhisstandard；andthoughheprofessedhimselfthedutifulservantofAvitus，heprivatelystipulated，forhimselfandhissuccessors，theabsolutepossessionofhisSpanishconquests。Thetwoarmies，orratherthetwonations，encounteredeachotheronthebanksoftheRiverUrbicus，abouttwelvemilesfromAstorga；andthedecisivevictoryoftheGothsappearedforawhiletohaveextirpatedthenameandkingdomoftheSuevi。FromthefieldofbattleTheodoricadvancedtoBraga，theirmetropolis，whichstillretainedthesplendidvestigesofitsancientcommerceanddignity。^22Hisentrancewasnotpollutedwithblood；andtheGothsrespectedthechastityoftheirfemalecaptives，moreespeciallyoftheconsecratedvirgins:butthegreatestpartoftheclergyandpeopleweremadeslaves，andeventhechurchesandaltarswereconfoundedintheuniversalpillage。TheunfortunatekingoftheSuevihadescapedtooneoftheportsoftheocean；
buttheobstinacyofthewindsopposedhisflight:hewasdeliveredtohisimplacablerival；andRechiarius，whoneitherdesirednorexpectedmercy，received，withmanlyconstancy，thedeathwhichhewouldprobablyhaveinflicted。Afterthisbloodysacrificetopolicyorresentment，TheodoriccarriedhisvictoriousarmsasfarasMerida，theprincipaltownofLusitania，withoutmeetinganyresistance，exceptfromthemiraculouspowersofSt。Eulalia；buthewasstoppedinthefullcareerofsuccess，andrecalledfromSpainbeforehecouldprovideforthesecurityofhisconquests。InhisretreattowardsthePyrenees，herevengedhisdisappointmentonthecountrythroughwhichhepassed；and，inthesackofPollentiaandAstorga，heshowedhimselfafaithlessally，aswellasacruelenemy。WhilstthekingoftheVisigothsfoughtandvanquishedinthenameofAvitus，thereignofAvitushadexpired；andboththehonorandtheinterestofTheodoricweredeeplywoundedbythedisgraceofafriend，whomhehadseatedonthethroneoftheWesternempire。^23
[Footnote21:Theodorichimselfhadgivenasolemnandvoluntarypromiseoffidelity，whichwasunderstoodbothinGaulandSpain。
—Romaesum，teduce，Amicus，Principete，Miles。
Sidon。Panegyr。Avit。511。]
[Footnote22:QuaequesinupelagijactatseBracaradives。
Auson。deClarisUrbibus，p。245。
FromthedesignofthekingoftheSuevi，itisevidentthatthenavigationfromtheportsofGalliciatotheMediterraneanwasknownandpractised。TheshipsofBracara，orBraga，cautiouslysteeredalongthecoast，withoutdaringtolosethemselvesintheAtlantic。]
[Footnote23:ThisSuevicwaristhemostauthenticpartoftheChronicleofIdatius，who，asbishopofIriaFlavia，washimselfaspectatorandasufferer。Jornandesc。44，p。675，676，677
hasexpatiated，withpleasure，ontheGothicvictory。]
ChapterXXXVI:TotalExtinctionOfTheWesternEmpire。
PartII。
ThepressingsolicitationsofthesenateandpeoplepersuadedtheemperorAvitustofixhisresidenceatRome，andtoaccepttheconsulshipfortheensuingyear。OnthefirstdayofJanuary，hisson—in—law，SidoniusApollinaris，celebratedhispraisesinapanegyricofsixhundredverses；butthiscomposition，thoughitwasrewardedwithabrassstatue，^24
seemstocontainaverymoderateproportion，eitherofgeniusoroftruth。Thepoet，ifwemaydegradethatsacredname，exaggeratesthemeritofasovereignandafather；andhisprophecyofalongandgloriousreignwassooncontradictedbytheevent。Avitus，atatimewhentheImperialdignitywasreducedtoapreeminenceoftoilanddanger，indulgedhimselfinthepleasuresofItalianluxury:agehadnotextinguishedhisamorousinclinations；andheisaccusedofinsulting，withindiscreetandungenerousraillery，thehusbandswhosewiveshehadseducedorviolated。^25ButtheRomanswerenotinclinedeithertoexcusehisfaultsortoacknowledgehisvirtues。Theseveralpartsoftheempirebecameeverydaymorealienatedfromeachother；andthestrangerofGaulwastheobjectofpopularhatredandcontempt。Thesenateassertedtheirlegitimateclaimintheelectionofanemperor；andtheirauthority，whichhadbeenoriginallyderivedfromtheoldconstitution，wasagainfortifiedbytheactualweaknessofadecliningmonarchy。Yetevensuchamonarchymighthaveresistedthevotesofanunarmedsenate，iftheirdiscontenthadnotbeensupported，orperhapsinflamed，bytheCountRicimer，oneoftheprincipalcommandersoftheBarbariantroops，whoformedthemilitarydefenceofItaly。ThedaughterofWallia，kingoftheVisigoths，wasthemotherofRicimer；buthewasdescended，onthefather'sside，fromthenationoftheSuevi；^26hisprideorpatriotismmightbeexasperatedbythemisfortunesofhiscountrymen；andheobeyed，withreluctance，anemperorinwhoseelevationhehadnotbeenconsulted。Hisfaithfulandimportantservicesagainstthecommonenemyrenderedhimstillmoreformidable；^27and，afterdestroyingonthecoastofCorsicaafleetofVandals，whichconsistedofsixtygalleys，RicimerreturnedintriumphwiththeappellationoftheDelivererofItaly。HechosethatmomenttosignifytoAvitus，thathisreignwasatanend；andthefeebleemperor，atadistancefromhisGothicallies，wascompelled，afterashortandunavailingstruggletoabdicatethepurple。Bytheclemency，however，orthecontempt，ofRicimer，^28hewaspermittedtodescendfromthethronetothemoredesirablestationofbishopofPlacentia:buttheresentmentofthesenatewasstillunsatisfied；andtheirinflexibleseveritypronouncedthesentenceofhisdeathHefledtowardstheAlps，withthehumblehope，notofarmingtheVisigothsinhiscause，butofsecuringhispersonandtreasuresinthesanctuaryofJulian，oneofthetutelarsaintsofAuvergne。^29Disease，orthehandoftheexecutioner，arrestedhimontheroad；yethisremainsweredecentlytransportedtoBrivas，orBrioude，inhisnativeprovince，andhereposedatthefeetofhisholypatron。^30
Avitusleftonlyonedaughter，thewifeofSidoniusApollinaris，whoinheritedthepatrimonyofhisfather—in—law；lamenting，atthesametime，thedisappointmentofhispublicandprivateexpectations。Hisresentmentpromptedhimtojoin，oratleasttocountenance，themeasuresofarebelliousfactioninGaul；andthepoethadcontractedsomeguilt，whichitwasincumbentonhimtoexpiate，byanewtributeofflatterytothesucceedingemperor。^31
[Footnote24:InoneoftheporticosorgalleriesbelongingtoTrajan'slibrary，amongthestatuesoffamouswritersandorators。Sidon。Apoll。l。ix。epist，16，p。284。Carm。viii。p。
350。]
[Footnote25:Luxurioseagerevolensasenatoribusprojectusest，istheconciseexpressionofGregoryofTours，l。ii。c。xi。intom。ii。p。168。AnoldChronicleintom。ii。p。649mentionsanindecentjestofAvitus，whichseemsmoreapplicabletoRomethantoTreves。]
[Footnote26:SidoniusPanegyr。Anthem。302，&c。praisestheroyalbirthofRicimer，thelawfulheir，ashechoosestoinsinuate，bothoftheGothicandSuevickingdoms。]
[Footnote27:SeetheChronicleofIdatius。Jornandesc。xliv。
p。676styleshim，withsometruth，virumegregium，etpenetuneinItaliaadexercitumsingularem。]
[Footnote28:ParcensinnocentiaeAviti，isthecompassionate，butcontemptuous，languageofVictorTunnunensis，inChron。apudScaligerEuseb。Inanotherplace，hecallshim，virtotiussimplicitatis。Thiscommendationismorehumble，butitismoresolidandsincere，thanthepraisesofSidonius]
[Footnote29:Hesuffered，asitissupposed，inthepersecutionofDiocletian，Tillemont，Mem。Eccles。tom。v。p。279，696。
GregoryofTours，hispeculiarvotary，hasdedicatedtothegloryofJuliantheMartyranentirebook，deGloriaMartyrum，l。ii。
inMax。Bibliot。Patrum，tom。xi。p。861—871，inwhichherelatesaboutfiftyfoolishmiraclesperformedbyhisrelics。]
[Footnote30:GregoryofToursl。ii。c。xi。p。168isconcise，butcorrect，inthereignofhiscountryman。ThewordsofIdatius，"cadetimperio，caretetvita，"seemtoimply，thatthedeathofAvituswasviolent；butitmusthavebeensecret，sinceEvagriusl。ii。c。7couldsuppose，thathediedoftheplaque。]
[Footnote31:Afteramodestappealtotheexamplesofhisbrethren，VirgilandHorace，Sidoniushonestlyconfessesthedebt，andpromisespayment。SicmihidiversonupersubMartecadentiJussistiplacidoVictorutessemanimo。
Serviatergotibiservatilinguapoetae，Atquemeaevitaelaustuasitpretium。
Sidon。Apoll。Carm。iv。p。308
SeeDubos，Hist。Critique，tom。i。p。448，&c。]
ThesuccessorofAvituspresentsthewelcomediscoveryofagreatandheroiccharacter，suchassometimesarise，inadegenerateage，tovindicatethehonorofthehumanspecies。TheemperorMajorianhasdeservedthepraisesofhiscontemporaries，andofposterity；andthesepraisesmaybestronglyexpressedinthewordsofajudiciousanddisinterestedhistorian:"Thathewasgentletohissubjects；thathewasterribletohisenemies；
andthatheexcelled，ineveryvirtue，allhispredecessorswhohadreignedovertheRomans。"^32SuchatestimonymayjustifyatleastthepanegyricofSdonius；andwemayacquiesceintheassurance，that，althoughtheobsequiousoratorwouldhaveflattered，withequalzeal，themostworthlessofprinces，theextraordinarymeritofhisobjectconfinedhim，onthisoccasion，withintheboundsoftruth。^33Majorianderivedhisnamefromhismaternalgrandfather，who，inthereignofthegreatTheodosius，hadcommandedthetroopsoftheIllyrianfrontier。HegavehisdaughterinmarriagetothefatherofMajorian，arespectableofficer，whoadministeredtherevenuesofGaulwithskillandintegrity；andgenerouslypreferredthefriendshipofAetiustothetemptingofferofaninsidiouscourt。Hisson，thefutureemperor，whowaseducatedintheprofessionofarms，displayed，fromhisearlyyouth，intrepidcourage，prematurewisdom，andunboundedliberalityinascantyfortune。HefollowedthestandardofAetius，contributedtohissuccess，shared，andsometimeseclipsed，hisglory，andatlastexcitedthejealousyofthepatrician，orratherofhiswife，whoforcedhimtoretirefromtheservice。^34Majorian，afterthedeathofAetius，wasrecalledandpromoted；andhisintimateconnectionwithCountRicimerwastheimmediatestepbywhichheascendedthethroneoftheWesternempire。DuringthevacancythatsucceededtheabdicationofAvitus，theambitiousBarbarian，whosebirthexcludedhimfromtheImperialdignity，governedItalywiththetitleofPatrician；resignedtohisfriendtheconspicuousstationofmaster—generalofthecavalryandinfantry；and，afteranintervalofsomemonths，consentedtotheunanimouswishoftheRomans，whosefavorMajorianhadsolicitedbyarecentvictoryovertheAlemanni。^35HewasinvestedwiththepurpleatRavenna:andtheepistlewhichheaddressedtothesenate，willbestdescribehissituationandhissentiments。
"Yourelection，ConscriptFathers!andtheordinanceofthemostvaliantarmy，havemademeyouremperor。^36MaythepropitiousDeitydirectandprosperthecounselsandeventsofmyadministration，toyouradvantageandtothepublicwelfare!Formyownpart，Ididnotaspire，Ihavesubmittedtoreign；norshouldIhavedischargedtheobligationsofacitizenifIhadrefused，withbaseandselfishingratitude，tosupporttheweightofthoselabors，whichwereimposedbytherepublic。Assist，therefore，theprincewhomyouhavemade；partakethedutieswhichyouhaveenjoined；andmayourcommonendeavorspromotethehappinessofanempire，whichIhaveacceptedfromyourhands。
Beassured，that，inourtimes，justiceshallresumeherancientvigor，andthatvirtueshallbecome，notonlyinnocent，butmeritorious。Letnone，excepttheauthorsthemselves，beapprehensiveofdelations，^37which，asasubject，Ihavealwayscondemned，and，asaprince，willseverelypunish。Ourownvigilance，andthatofourfather，thepatricianRicimer，shallregulateallmilitaryaffairs，andprovideforthesafetyoftheRomanworld，whichwehavesavedfromforeignanddomesticenemies。^38Younowunderstandthemaximsofmygovernment；youmayconfideinthefaithfulloveandsincereassurancesofaprincewhohasformerlybeenthecompanionofyourlifeanddangers；whostillgloriesinthenameofsenator，andwhoisanxiousthatyoushouldneverrepentthejudgmentwhichyouhavepronouncedinhisfavor。"Theemperor，who，amidsttheruinsoftheRomanworld，revivedtheancientlanguageoflawandliberty，whichTrajanwouldnothavedisclaimed，musthavederivedthosegeneroussentimentsfromhisownheart；sincetheywerenotsuggestedtohisimitationbythecustomsofhisage，ortheexampleofhispredecessors。^39
[Footnote32:ThewordsofProcopiusdeservetobetranscribeddeBell。Vandal。l。i。c。7，p。194；aconcisebutcomprehensivedefinitionofroyalvirtue。]
[Footnote33:ThePanegyricwaspronouncedatLyonsbeforetheendoftheyear458，whiletheemperorwasstillconsul。Ithasmoreartthangenius，andmorelaborthanart。Theornamentsarefalseandtrivial；theexpressionisfeebleandprolix；andSidoniuswantstheskilltoexhibittheprincipalfigureinastronganddistinctlight。TheprivatelifeofMajorianoccupiesabouttwohundredlines，107—305。]
[Footnote34:Shepressedhisimmediatedeath，andwasscarcelysatisfiedwithhisdisgrace。ItshouldseemthatAetius，likeBelisariusandMarlborough，wasgovernedbyhiswife；whoseferventpiety，thoughitmightworkmiracles，Gregor。Turon。l。
ii。c。7，p。162，wasnotincompatiblewithbaseandsanguinarycounsels。]
[Footnote35:TheAlemannihadpassedtheRhaetianAlps，andweredefeatedintheCampiCanini，orValleyofBellinzone，throughwhichtheTesinflows，initsdescentfromMountAdulatotheLagoMaggiore，CluverItaliaAntiq。tom。i。p。100，101。ThisboastedvictoryoverninehundredBarbariansPanegyr。Majorian。
373，&c。betraystheextremeweaknessofItaly。]