Suchareformationofnationalmannersmightbeembracedbytherisinggeneration；butitisthemisfortuneofthoseprinceswholaboriouslysustainadecliningmonarchy，that，toobtainsomeimmediateadvantage，ortoavertsomeimpendingdanger，theyareforcedtocountenance，andeventomultiply，themostperniciousabuses。Majorian，liketheweakestofhispredecessors，wasreducedtothedisgracefulexpedientofsubstitutingBarbarianauxiliariesintheplaceofhisunwarlikesubjects:andhissuperiorabilitiescouldonlybedisplayedinthevigoranddexteritywithwhichhewieldedadangerousinstrument，soapttorecoilonthehandthatusedit。Besidestheconfederates，whowerealreadyengagedintheserviceoftheempire，thefameofhisliberalityandvalorattractedthenationsoftheDanube，theBorysthenes，andperhapsoftheTanais。ManythousandsofthebravestsubjectsofAttila，theGepidae，theOstrogoths，theRugians，theBurgundians，theSuevi，theAlani，assembledintheplainsofLiguria；andtheirformidablestrengthwasbalancedbytheirmutualanimosities。^46TheypassedtheAlpsinaseverewinter。Theemperorledtheway，onfoot，andincompletearmor；
sounding，withhislongstaff，thedepthoftheice，orsnow，andencouragingtheScythians，whocomplainedoftheextremecold，bythecheerfulassurance，thattheyshouldbesatisfiedwiththeheatofAfrica。ThecitizensofLyonshadpresumedtoshuttheirgates；theysoonimplored，andexperienced，theclemencyofMajorian。HevanquishedTheodoricinthefield；andadmittedtohisfriendshipandallianceakingwhomhehadfoundnotunworthyofhisarms。Thebeneficial，thoughprecarious，reunionofthegreaterpartofGaulandSpain，wastheeffectofpersuasion，aswellasofforce；^47andtheindependentBagaudae，whohadescaped，orresisted，theoppression，offormerreigns，weredisposedtoconfideinthevirtuesofMajorian。HiscampwasfilledwithBarbarianallies；histhronewassupportedbythezealofanaffectionatepeople；buttheemperorhadforeseen，thatitwasimpossible，withoutamaritimepower，toachievetheconquestofAfrica。InthefirstPunicwar，therepublichadexertedsuchincrediblediligence，that，withinsixtydaysafterthefirststrokeoftheaxehadbeengivenintheforest，afleetofonehundredandsixtygalleysproudlyrodeatanchorinthesea。^48Undercircumstancesmuchlessfavorable，MajorianequalledthespiritandperseveranceoftheancientRomans。ThewoodsoftheApenninewerefelled；thearsenalsandmanufacturesofRavennaandMisenumwererestored；ItalyandGaulviedwitheachotherinliberalcontributionstothepublicservice；andtheImperialnavyofthreehundredlargegalleys，withanadequateproportionoftransportsandsmallervessels，wascollectedinthesecureandcapaciousharborofCarthagenainSpain。^49TheintrepidcountenanceofMajoriananimatedhistroopswithaconfidenceofvictory；and，ifwemightcreditthehistorianProcopius，hiscouragesometimeshurriedhimbeyondtheboundsofprudence。Anxioustoexplore，withhisowneyes，thestateoftheVandals，heventured，afterdisguisingthecolorofhishair，tovisitCarthage，inthecharacterofhisownambassador:andGensericwasafterwardsmortifiedbythediscovery，thathehadentertainedanddismissedtheemperoroftheRomans。Suchananecdotemayberejectedasanimprobablefiction；butitisafictionwhichwouldnothavebeenimagined，unlessinthelifeofahero。^50
[Footnote45:Sidon。Panegyr。Majorian，385—440。]
[Footnote46:Thereviewofthearmy，andpassageoftheAlps，containthemosttolerablepassagesofthePanegyric，470—
552。M。deBuatHist。desPeuples，&c。，tom。viii。p。49—55
isamoresatisfactorycommentator，thaneitherSavaronorSirmond。]
[Footnote47:ItisthejustandforcibledistinctionofPriscus，Excerpt。Legat。p。42，inashortfragment，whichthrowsmuchlightonthehistoryofMajorian。JornandeshassuppressedthedefeatandallianceoftheVisigoths，whichweresolemnlyproclaimedinGallicia；andaremarkedintheChronicleofIdatius。]
[Footnote48:Florus，l。ii。c。2。Heamuseshimselfwiththepoeticalfancy，thatthetreeshadbeentransformedintoships；
andindeedthewholetransaction，asitisrelatedinthefirstbookofPolybius，deviatestoomuchfromtheprobablecourseofhumanevents。]
[Footnote49:ItereaduplicitexisdumlittoreclassemInfernosuperoquemari，caditomnisinaequorSylvatibi，&c。
Sidon。Panegyr。Majorian，441—461。
Thenumberofships，whichPriscusfixedat300，ismagnified，byanindefinitecomparisonwiththefleetsofAgamemnon，Xerxes，andAugustus。]
[Footnote50:ProcopiusdeBell。Vandal。l。i。c。8，p。194。
WhenGensericconductedhisunknownguestintothearsenalofCarthage，thearmsclashedoftheirownaccord。Majorianhadtingedhisyellowlockswithablackcolor。]
ChapterXXXVI:TotalExtinctionOfTheWesternEmpire。
PartIII。
Withoutthehelpofapersonalinterview，Gensericwassufficientlyacquaintedwiththegeniusanddesignsofhisadversary。Hepracticedhiscustomaryartsoffraudanddelay，buthepracticedthemwithoutsuccess。Hisapplicationsforpeacebecameeachhourmoresubmissive，andperhapsmoresincere；buttheinflexibleMajorianhadadoptedtheancientmaxim，thatRomecouldnotbesafe，aslongasCarthageexistedinahostilestate。ThekingoftheVandalsdistrustedthevalorofhisnativesubjects，whowereenervatedbytheluxuryoftheSouth；
^51hesuspectedthefidelityofthevanquishedpeople，whoabhorredhimasanAriantyrant；andthedesperatemeasure，whichheexecuted，ofreducingMauritaniaintoadesert，^52couldnotdefeattheoperationsoftheRomanemperor，whowasatlibertytolandhistroopsonanypartoftheAfricancoast。ButGensericwassavedfromimpendingandinevitableruinbythetreacheryofsomepowerfulsubjects，envious，orapprehensive，oftheirmaster'ssuccess。Guidedbytheirsecretintelligence，hesurprisedtheunguardedfleetintheBayofCarthagena:manyoftheshipsweresunk，ortaken，orburnt；andthepreparationsofthreeyearsweredestroyedinasingleday。^53Afterthisevent，thebehaviorofthetwoantagonistsshowedthemsuperiortotheirfortune。TheVandal，insteadofbeingelatedbythisaccidentalvictory，immediatelyrenewedhissolicitationsforpeace。TheemperoroftheWest，whowascapableofforminggreatdesigns，andofsupportingheavydisappointments，consentedtoatreaty，orrathertoasuspensionofarms；inthefullassurancethat，beforehecouldrestorehisnavy，heshouldbesuppliedwithprovocationstojustifyasecondwar。MajorianreturnedtoItaly，toprosecutehislaborsforthepublichappiness；and，ashewasconsciousofhisownintegrity，hemightlongremainignorantofthedarkconspiracywhichthreatenedhisthroneandhislife。
TherecentmisfortuneofCarthagenasulliedtheglorywhichhaddazzledtheeyesofthemultitude；almosteverydescriptionofcivilandmilitaryofficerswereexasperatedagainsttheReformer，sincetheyallderivedsomeadvantagefromtheabuseswhichheendeavoredtosuppress；andthepatricianRicimerimpelledtheinconstantpassionsoftheBarbariansagainstaprincewhomheesteemedandhated。ThevirtuesofMajoriancouldnotprotecthimfromtheimpetuoussedition，whichbrokeoutinthecampnearTortona，atthefootoftheAlps。HewascompelledtoabdicatetheImperialpurple:fivedaysafterhisabdication，itwasreportedthathediedofadysentery；^54andthehumbletomb，whichcoveredhisremains，wasconsecratedbytherespectandgratitudeofsucceedinggenerations。^55TheprivatecharacterofMajorianinspiredloveandrespect。Maliciouscalumnyandsatireexcitedhisindignation，or，ifhehimselfweretheobject，hiscontempt；butheprotectedthefreedomofwit，and，inthehourswhichtheemperorgavetothefamiliarsocietyofhisfriends，hecouldindulgehistasteforpleasantry，withoutdegradingthemajestyofhisrank。^56
[Footnote51:SpoliisquepotitusImmensis，robuxluxujamperdiditomne，Quovaluitdumpaupererat。
Panegyr。Majorian，330。
HeafterwardsappliestoGenseric，unjustly，asitshouldseem，thevicesofhissubjects。]
[Footnote52:Heburntthevillages，andpoisonedthesprings，Priscus，p。42。DubosHist。Critique，tom。i。p。475
observes，thatthemagazineswhichtheMoorsburiedintheearthmightescapehisdestructivesearch。Twoorthreehundredpitsaresometimesduginthesameplace；andeachpitcontainsatleastfourhundredbushelsofcornShaw'sTravels，p。139。]
[Footnote53:Idatius，whowassafeinGalliciafromthepowerofRecimerboldlyandhonestlydeclares，Vandaliperproditeresadmoniti，&c:i。e。dissembles，however，thenameofthetraitor。]
[Footnote54:Procop。deBell。Vandal。l。i。i。c。8，p。194。
ThetestimonyofIdatiusisfairandimpartial:"MajorianumdeGalliisRomamredeuntem，etRomanoimperiovelnominiresnecessariasordinantem；Richimerlivorepercitus，etinvidorumconsiliofultus，fraudeinterficitcircumventum。"SomereadSuevorum，andIamunwillingtoeffaceeitherofthewords，astheyexpressthedifferentaccompliceswhounitedintheconspiracyagainstMajorian。]
[Footnote55:SeetheEpigramsofEnnodius，No。cxxxv。interSirmond。Opera，tom。i。p。1903。Itisflatandobscure；butEnnodiuswasmadebishopofPaviafiftyyearsafterthedeathofMajorian，andhispraisedeservescreditandregard。]
[Footnote56:Sidoniusgivesatediousaccountl。i。epist。xi。
p。25—31ofasupperatArles，towhichhewasinvitedbyMajorian，ashorttimebeforehisdeath。Hehadnointentionofpraisingadeceasedemperor:butacasualdisinterestedremark，"SubrisitAugustus；uterat，auctoritateservata，cumsecommunionidedisset，jociplenus，"outweighsthesixhundredlinesofhisvenalpanegyric。]
Itwasnot，perhaps，withoutsomeregret，thatRicimersacrificedhisfriendtotheinterestofhisambition:butheresolved，inasecondchoice，toavoidtheimprudentpreferenceofsuperiorvirtueandmerit。Athiscommand，theobsequioussenateofRomebestowedtheImperialtitleonLibiusSeverus，whoascendedthethroneoftheWestwithoutemergingfromtheobscurityofaprivatecondition。Historyhasscarcelydeignedtonoticehisbirth，hiselevation，hischaracter，orhisdeath。
Severusexpired，assoonashislifebecameinconvenienttohispatron；^57anditwouldbeuselesstodiscriminatehisnominalreigninthevacantintervalofsixyears，betweenthedeathofMajorianandtheelevationofAnthemius。Duringthatperiod，thegovernmentwasinthehandsofRicimeralone；and，althoughthemodestBarbariandisclaimedthenameofking，heaccumulatedtreasures，formedaseparatearmy，negotiatedprivatealliances，andruledItalywiththesameindependentanddespoticauthority，whichwasafterwardsexercisedbyOdoacerandTheodoric。ButhisdominionswereboundedbytheAlps；andtwoRomangenerals，MarcellinusandAegidius，maintainedtheirallegiancetotherepublic，byrejecting，withdisdain，thephantomwhichhestyledanemperor。Marcellinusstilladheredtotheoldreligion；andthedevoutPagans，whosecretlydisobeyedthelawsofthechurchandstate，applaudedhisprofoundskillinthescienceofdivination。Buthepossessedthemorevaluablequalificationsoflearning，virtue，andcourage；^58thestudyoftheLatinliteraturehadimprovedhistaste；andhismilitarytalentshadrecommendedhimtotheesteemandconfidenceofthegreatAetius，inwhoseruinhewasinvolved。Byatimelyflight，MarcellinusescapedtherageofValentinian，andboldlyassertedhislibertyamidsttheconvulsionsoftheWesternempire。Hisvoluntary，orreluctant，submissiontotheauthorityofMajorian，wasrewardedbythegovernmentofSicily，andthecommandofanarmy，stationedinthatislandtooppose，ortoattack，theVandals；
buthisBarbarianmercenaries，aftertheemperor'sdeath，weretemptedtorevoltbytheartfulliberalityofRicimer。Attheheadofabandoffaithfulfollowers，theintrepidMarcellinusoccupiedtheprovinceofDalmatia，assumedthetitleofpatricianoftheWest，securedtheloveofhissubjectsbyamildandequitablereign，builtafleetwhichclaimedthedominionoftheAdriatic，andalternatelyalarmedthecoastsofItalyandofAfrica。^59Aegidius，themaster—generalofGaul，whoequalled，oratleastwhoimitated，theheroesofancientRome，^60
proclaimedhisimmortalresentmentagainsttheassassinsofhisbelovedmaster。Abraveandnumerousarmywasattachedtohisstandard:and，thoughhewaspreventedbytheartsofRicimer，andthearmsoftheVisigoths，frommarchingtothegatesofRome，hemaintainedhisindependentsovereigntybeyondtheAlps，andrenderedthenameofAegidius，respectablebothinpeaceandwar。TheFranks，whohadpunishedwithexiletheyouthfulfolliesofChilderic，electedtheRomangeneralfortheirking:
hisvanity，ratherthanhisambition，wasgratifiedbythatsingularhonor；andwhenthenation，attheendoffouryears，repentedoftheinjurywhichtheyhadofferedtotheMerovingianfamily，hepatientlyacquiescedintherestorationofthelawfulprince。TheauthorityofAegidiusendedonlywithhislife，andthesuspicionsofpoisonandsecretviolence，whichderivedsomecountenancefromthecharacterofRicimer，wereeagerlyentertainedbythepassionatecredulityoftheGauls。^61
[Footnote57:SidoniusPanegyr。Anthem。317dismisseshimtoheaven:—AuxeratAugustusnaturaelegeSeverusDivorumnumerum。
Andanoldlistoftheemperors，composedaboutthetimeofJustinian，praiseshispiety，andfixeshisresidenceatRome，Sirmond。Not。adSidon。p。111，112。]
[Footnote58:Tillemont，whoisalwaysscandalizedbythevirtuesofinfidels，attributesthisadvantageousportraitofMarcellinuswhichSuidashaspreservedtothepartialzealofsomePaganhistorian，Hist。desEmpereurs。tom。vi。p。330。]
[Footnote59:ProcopiusdeBell。Vandal。l。i。c。6，p。191。InvariouscircumstancesofthelifeofMarcellinus，itisnoteasytoreconciletheGreekhistorianwiththeLatinChroniclesofthetimes。]
[Footnote60:ImustapplytoAegidiusthepraiseswhichSidoniusPanegyrMajorian，553bestowsonanamelessmaster—general，whocommandedtherear—guardofMajorian。Idatius，frompublicreport，commendshisChristianpiety；andPriscusmentionsp。
42hismilitaryvirtues。]
[Footnote61:Greg。Turon。l。ii。c。12，intom。ii。p。168。ThePereDaniel，whoseideasweresuperficialandmodern，hasstartedsomeobjectionsagainstthestoryofChilderic，Hist。deFrance，tom。i。PrefaceHistorique，p。lxxvii。，&c。:buttheyhavebeenfairlysatisfiedbyDubos，Hist。Critique，tom。i。p。460—510，
andbytwoauthorswhodisputedtheprizeoftheAcademyofSoissons，p。131—177，310—339。WithregardtothetermofChilderic'sexile，itisnecessaryeithertoprolongthelifeofAegidiusbeyondthedateassignedbytheChronicleofIdatiusortocorrectthetextofGregory，byreadingquartoanno，insteadofoctavo。]
ThekingdomofItaly，anametowhichtheWesternempirewasgraduallyreduced，wasafflicted，underthereignofRicimer，bytheincessantdepredationsoftheVandalpirates。^62Inthespringofeachyear，theyequippedaformidablenavyintheportofCarthage；andGenserichimself，thoughinaveryadvancedage，stillcommandedinpersonthemostimportantexpeditions。Hisdesignswereconcealedwithimpenetrablesecrecy，tillthemomentthathehoistedsail。Whenhewasasked，byhispilot，whatcourseheshouldsteer，"Leavethedeterminationtothewinds，repliedtheBarbarian，withpiousarrogance；theywilltransportustotheguiltycoast，whoseinhabitantshaveprovokedthedivinejustice；"butifGenserichimselfdeignedtoissuemorepreciseorders，hejudgedthemostwealthytobethemostcriminal。TheVandalsrepeatedlyvisitedthecoastsofSpain，Liguria，Tuscany，Campania，Lucania，Bruttium，Apulia，Calabria，Venetia，Dalmatia，Epirus，Greece，andSicily:theyweretemptedtosubduetheIslandofSardinia，soadvantageouslyplacedinthecentreoftheMediterranean；andtheirarmsspreaddesolation，orterror，fromthecolumnsofHerculestothemouthoftheNile。
Astheyweremoreambitiousofspoilthanofglory，theyseldomattackedanyfortifiedcities，orengagedanyregulartroopsintheopenfield。Butthecelerityoftheirmotionsenabledthem，almostatthesametime，tothreatenandtoattackthemostdistantobjects，whichattractedtheirdesires；andastheyalwaysembarkedasufficientnumberofhorses，theyhadnosoonerlanded，thantheysweptthedismayedcountrywithabodyoflightcavalry。Yet，notwithstandingtheexampleoftheirking，thenativeVandalsandAlaniinsensiblydeclinedthistoilsomeandperilouswarfare；thehardygenerationofthefirstconquerorswasalmostextinguished，andtheirsons，whowereborninAfrica，enjoyedthedeliciousbathsandgardenswhichhadbeenacquiredbythevaloroftheirfathers。TheirplacewasreadilysuppliedbyavariousmultitudeofMoorsandRomans，ofcaptivesandoutlaws；andthosedesperatewretches，whohadalreadyviolatedthelawsoftheircountry，werethemosteagertopromotetheatrociousactswhichdisgracethevictoriesofGenseric。Inthetreatmentofhisunhappyprisoners，hesometimesconsultedhisavarice，andsometimesindulgedhiscruelty；andthemassacreoffivehundrednoblecitizensofZantorZacynthus，whosemangledbodieshecastintotheIonianSea，wasimputed，bythepublicindignation，tohislatestposterity。
[Footnote62:ThenavalwarofGensericisdescribedbyPriscus，ExcerptaLegation。p。42，Procopius，deBell。Vandal。l。i。c。
5，p。189，190，andc。22，p。228，VictorVitensis，dePersecut。Vandal。l。i。c。17，andRuinart，p。467—481，andinthreepanegyricsofSidonius，whosechronologicalorderisabsurdlytransposedintheeditionsbothofSavaronandSirmond。
Avit。Carm。vii。441—451。Majorian。Carm。v。327—350，385—440。
Anthem。Carm。ii。348—386Inonepassagethepoetseemsinspiredbyhissubject，andexpressesastrongideabyalivelyimage:—
—HincVandalushostisUrget；etinnostrumnumerosaclassequotannisMilitatexcidium；conversoqueordineFatiTorridaCaucaseosinfertmihiByrsafuroree]
Suchcrimescouldnotbeexcusedbyanyprovocations；butthewar，whichthekingoftheVandalsprosecutedagainsttheRomanempirewasjustifiedbyaspeciousandreasonablemotive。