InthemeanwhileValentinianwasalarmedandperplexedbythedoubtfulintelligenceoftherevoltoftheEast。ThedifficultiesofaGermanwasforcedhimtoconfinehisimmediatecaretothesafetyofhisowndominions;and,aseverychannelofcommunicationwasstoppedorcorrupted,helistened,withdoubtfulanxiety,totherumorswhichwereindustriouslyspread,thatthedefeatanddeathofValenshadleftProcopiussolemasteroftheEasternprovinces。Valenswasnotdead:butonthenewsoftherebellion,whichhereceivedatCaesarea,hebaselydespairedofhislifeandfortune;proposedtonegotiatewiththeusurper,anddiscoveredhissecretinclinationtoabdicatetheImperialpurple。Thetimidmonarchwassavedfromdisgraceandruinbythefirmnessofhisministers,andtheirabilitiessoondecidedinhisfavortheeventofthecivilwar。Inaseasonoftranquillity,Sallusthadresignedwithoutamurmur;butassoonasthepublicsafetywasattacked,heambitiouslysolicitedthepreeminenceoftoilanddanger;andtherestorationofthatvirtuousministertothepraefectureoftheEast,wasthefirststepwhichindicatedtherepentanceofValens,andsatisfiedthemindsofthepeople。ThereignofProcopiuswasapparentlysupportedbypowerfularmiesandobedientprovinces。Butmanyoftheprincipalofficers,militaryaswellascivil,hadbeenurged,eitherbymotivesofdutyorinterest,towithdrawthemselvesfromtheguiltyscene;ortowatchthemomentofbetraying,anddeserting,thecauseoftheusurper。Lupicinusadvancedbyhastymarches,tobringthelegionsofSyriatotheaidofValens。Arintheus,who,instrength,beauty,andvalor,excelledalltheheroesoftheage,attackedwithasmalltroopasuperiorbodyoftherebels。Whenhebeheldthefacesofthesoldierswhohadservedunderhisbanner,hecommandedthem,withaloudvoice,toseizeanddeliveruptheirpretendedleader;andsuchwastheascendantofhisgenius,thatthisextraordinaryorderwasinstantlyobeyed。^40Arbetio,arespectableveteranofthegreatConstantine,whohadbeendistinguishedbythehonorsoftheconsulship,waspersuadedtoleavehisretirement,andoncemoretoconductanarmyintothefield。Intheheatofaction,calmlytakingoffhishelmet,heshowedhisgrayhairsandvenerablecountenance:salutedthesoldiersofProcopiusbytheendearingnamesofchildrenandcompanions,andexhortedthemnolongertosupportthedesperatecauseofacontemptibletyrant;buttofollowtheiroldcommander,whohadsooftenledthemtohonorandvictory。InthetwoengagementsofThyatira^41andNacolia,theunfortunateProcopiuswasdesertedbyhistroops,whowereseducedbytheinstructionsandexampleoftheirperfidiousofficers。AfterwanderingsometimeamongthewoodsandmountainsofPhyrgia,hewasbetrayedbyhisdespondingfollowers,conductedtotheImperialcamp,andimmediatelybeheaded。Hesufferedtheordinaryfateofanunsuccessfulusurper;buttheactsofcrueltywhichwereexercisedbytheconqueror,undertheformsoflegaljustice,excitedthepityandindignationofmankind。^42
[Footnote*:Symmachusdescribeshisembarrassment。"TheGermansarethecommonenemiesofthestate,ProcopiustheprivatefoeoftheEmperor;hisfirstcaremustbevictory,hissecondrevenge。"
Symm。Orat。p。11。—M。]
[Footnote40:Etdedignatushominemsuperarecertaminedespicabilem,auctoritatisetcelsifiduciacorporisipsishostibusjussit,suumvincirerectorem:atqueitaturmarum,antesignanusumbratiliscomprensussuorummanibus。ThestrengthandbeautyofArintheus,thenewHercules,arecelebratedbySt。
Basil,whosupposedthatGodhadcreatedhimasaninimitablemodelofthehumanspecies。Thepaintersandsculptorscouldnotexpresshisfigure:thehistoriansappearedfabulouswhentheyrelatedhisexploits,Ammian。xxvi。andVales。adloc。]
[Footnote41:ThesamefieldofbattleisplacedbyAmmianusinLycia,andbyZosimusatThyatira,whichareatthedistanceof150milesfromeachother。ButThyatiraalluiturLyco,Plin。
Hist。Natur。v。31,Cellarius,Geograph。Antiq。tom。ii。p。79;
andthetranscribersmighteasilyconvertanobscureriverintoawell—knownprovince。
Note:AmmianusandZosimusplacethelastbattleatNacoliainPhrygia;AmmianusaltogetheromitstheformerbattlenearThyatira。ProcopiuswasonhismarchitertendebattowardsLycia。SeeWagner'snote,inc。—M。]
[Footnote42:Theadventures,usurpation,andfallofProcopius,arerelated,inaregularseries,byAmmianus,xxvi。6,7,8,9,10,andZosimus,l。iv。p。203—210。Theyoftenillustrate,andseldomcontradict,eachother。ThemistiusOrat。vii。p。91,92
addssomebasepanegyric;andEunapiusp。83,84somemalicioussatire。]
[Footnote!:SymmachusjoinswithThemistiusinpraisingtheclemencyofValensdicvictoriaemoderatusest,quasicontrasenemopugnavit。Symm。Orat。p。12。—M。]
Suchindeedarethecommonandnaturalfruitsofdespotismandrebellion。Buttheinquisitionintothecrimeofmagic,^!!
which,underthereignofthetwobrothers,wassorigorouslyprosecutedbothatRomeandAntioch,wasinterpretedasthefatalsymptom,eitherofthedispleasureofHeaven,orofthedepravityofmankind。^43Letusnothesitatetoindulgealiberalpride,that,inthepresentage,theenlightenedpartofEuropehasabolished^44acruelandodiousprejudice,whichreignedineveryclimateoftheglobe,andadheredtoeverysystemofreligiousopinions。^45Thenations,andthesects,oftheRomanworld,admittedwithequalcredulity,andsimilarabhorrence,therealityofthatinfernalart,^46whichwasabletocontroltheeternalorderoftheplanets,andthevoluntaryoperationsofthehumanmind。Theydreadedthemysteriouspowerofspellsandincantations,ofpotentherbs,andexecrablerites;whichcouldextinguishorrecalllife,inflamethepassionsofthesoul,blasttheworksofcreation,andextortfromthereluctantdaemonsthesecretsoffuturity。Theybelieved,withthewildestinconsistency,thatthispreternaturaldominionoftheair,ofearth,andofhell,wasexercised,fromthevilestmotivesofmaliceorgain,bysomewrinkledhagsanditinerantsorcerers,whopassedtheirobscurelivesinpenuryandcontempt。^47Theartsofmagicwereequallycondemnedbythepublicopinion,andbythelawsofRome;butastheytendedtogratifythemostimperiouspassionsoftheheartofman,theywerecontinuallyproscribed,andcontinuallypractised。^48Animaginarycauseascapableofproducingthemostseriousandmischievouseffects。
Thedarkpredictionsofthedeathofanemperor,orthesuccessofaconspiracy,werecalculatedonlytostimulatethehopesofambition,andtodissolvethetiesoffidelity;andtheintentionalguiltofmagicwasaggravatedbytheactualcrimesoftreasonandsacrilege。^49Suchvainterrorsdisturbedthepeaceofsociety,andthehappinessofindividuals;andtheharmlessflamewhichinsensiblymeltedawaxenimage,mightderiveapowerfulandperniciousenergyfromtheaffrightedfancyofthepersonwhomitwasmaliciouslydesignedtorepresent。^50Fromtheinfusionofthoseherbs,whichweresupposedtopossessasupernaturalinfluence,itwasaneasysteptotheuseofmoresubstantialpoison;andthefollyofmankindsometimesbecametheinstrument,andthemask,ofthemostatrociouscrimes。AssoonasthezealofinformerswasencouragedbytheministersofValensandValentinian,theycouldnotrefusetolistentoanothercharge,toofrequentlymingledinthescenesofdomesticguilt;achargeofasofterandlessmalignantnature,forwhichthepious,thoughexcessive,rigorofConstantinehadrecentlydecreedthepunishmentofdeath。^51Thisdeadlyandincoherentmixtureoftreasonandmagic,ofpoisonandadultery,affordedinfinitegradationsofguiltandinnocence,ofexcuseandaggravation,whichintheseproceedingsappeartohavebeenconfoundedbytheangryorcorruptpassionsofthejudges。Theyeasilydiscoveredthatthedegreeoftheirindustryanddiscernmentwasestimated,bytheImperialcourt,accordingtothenumberofexecutionsthatwerefurnishedfromtherespectivetribunals。Itwasnotwithoutextremereluctancethattheypronouncedasentenceofacquittal;buttheyeagerlyadmittedsuchevidenceaswasstainedwithperjury,orprocuredbytorture,toprovethemostimprobablechargesagainstthemostrespectablecharacters。Theprogressoftheinquirycontinuallyopenednewsubjectsofcriminalprosecution;theaudaciousinformer,whosefalsehoodwasdetected,retiredwithimpunity;
butthewretchedvictim,whodiscoveredhisrealorpretendedaccomplices,wereseldompermittedtoreceivethepriceofhisinfamy。FromtheextremityofItalyandAsia,theyoung,andtheaged,weredraggedinchainstothetribunalsofRomeandAntioch。Senators,matrons,andphilosophers,expiredinignominiousandcrueltortures。Thesoldiers,whowereappointedtoguardtheprisons,declared,withamurmurofpityandindignation,thattheirnumberswereinsufficienttoopposetheflight,orresistance,ofthemultitudeofcaptives。Thewealthiestfamilieswereruinedbyfinesandconfiscations;themostinnocentcitizenstrembledfortheirsafety;andwemayformsomenotionofthemagnitudeoftheevil,fromtheextravagantassertionofanancientwriter,that,intheobnoxiousprovinces,theprisoners,theexiles,andthefugitives,formedthegreatestpartoftheinhabitants。^52
[Footnote!!:Thisinfamousinquisitionintosorceryandwitchcrafthasbeenofgreaterinfluenceonhumanaffairsthaniscommonlysupposed。Thepersecutionsagainstphilosophersandtheirlibrarieswascarriedonwithsomuchfury,thatfromthistimeA。D。374thenamesoftheGentilephilosophersbecamealmostextinct;andtheChristianphilosophyandreligion,particularlyintheEast,establishedtheirascendency。IamsurprisedthatGibbonhasnotmadethisobservation。Heyne,NoteonZosimus,l。iv。14,p。637。BesidesvastheapsofmanuscriptspubliclydestroyedthroughouttheEast,menoflettersburnedtheirwholelibraries,lestsomefatalvolumeshouldexposethemtothemaliceoftheinformersandtheextremepenaltyofthelaw。Amm。Marc。xxix。11。—M。]
[Footnote43:Libaniusdeulciscend。Julian。nece,c。ix。p。158,159。Thesophistdeploresthepublicfrenzy,buthedoesnotaftertheirdeathsimpeachthejusticeoftheemperors。]
[Footnote44:TheFrenchandEnglishlawyers,ofthepresentage,allowthetheory,anddenythepractice,ofwitchcraft,Denisart,RecueildeDecisionsdeJurisprudence,aumotSorciers,tom。iv。p。553。Blackstone'sCommentaries,vol。iv。
p。60。Asprivatereasonalwaysprevents,oroutstrips,publicwisdom,thepresidentMontesquieuEspritdesLoix,l。xii。c。5,6rejectstheexistenceofmagic。]
[Footnote45:SeeOeuvresdeBayle,tom。iii。p。567—589。ThescepticofRotterdamexhibits,accordingtohiscustom,astrangemedleyoflooseknowledgeandlivelywit。]
[Footnote46:ThePagansdistinguishedbetweengoodandbadmagic,theTheurgicandtheGoetic,Hist。del'Academie,&c。,tom。vii。p。25。ButtheycouldnothavedefendedthisobscuredistinctionagainsttheacutelogicofBayle。IntheJewishandChristiansystem,alldaemonsareinfernalspirits;andallcommercewiththemisidolatry,apostasy&c。,whichdeservesdeathanddamnation。]
[Footnote47:TheCanidiaofHoraceCarm。l。v。Od。5,withDacier'sandSanadon'sillustrationsisavulgarwitch。TheEricthoofLucanPharsal。vi。430—830istedious,disgusting,butsometimessublime。ShechidesthedelayoftheFuries,andthreatens,withtremendousobscurity,topronouncetheirrealnames;torevealthetrueinfernalcountenanceofHecate;toinvokethesecretpowersthatliebelowhell,&c。]
[Footnote48:Genushominumpotentibusinfidum,sperantibusfallax,quodincivitatenostraetvetabitursemperetretinebitur。Tacit。Hist。i。22。SeeAugustin。deCivitateDei,l。viii。c。19,andtheTheodosianCodel。ix。tit。xvi。,withGodefroy'sCommentary。]
[Footnote49:ThepersecutionofAntiochwasoccasionedbyacriminalconsultation。Thetwenty—fourlettersofthealphabetwerearrangedroundamagictripod:andadancingring,whichhadbeenplacedinthecentre,pointedtothefourfirstlettersinthenameofthefutureemperor,O。E。OTriangle。Theodorusperhapswithmanyothers,whoownedthefatalsyllableswasexecuted。Theodosiussucceeded。LardnerHeathenTestimonies,vol。iv。p。353—372hascopiouslyandfairlyexaminedthisdarktransactionofthereignofValens。]
[Footnote50:Limusuthicdurescit,ethaecutceraliquescitUnoeodemqueigni—Virgil。Bucolic。viii。80。
Devovetabsentes,simulacraquecereafigit。
Ovid。inEpist。Hypsil。adJason91。
Suchvainincantationscouldaffectthemind,andincreasethediseaseofGermanicus。Tacit。Annal。ii。69。]
[Footnote51:SeeHeineccius,Antiquitat。JurisRoman。tom。ii。
p。353,&c。Cod。Theodosian。l。ix。tit。7,withGodefroy'sCommentary。]
[Footnote52:ThecruelpersecutionofRomeandAntiochisdescribed,andmostprobablyexaggerated,byAmmianusxxvii。1。
xxix。1,2andZosimus,l。iv。p。216—218。ThephilosopherMaximus,withsomejustice,wasinvolvedinthechargeofmagic,EunapiusinVit。Sophist。p。88,89;andyoungChrysostom,whohadaccidentallyfoundoneoftheproscribedbooks,gavehimselfupforlost,Tillemont,Hist。desEmpereurs,tom。v。p。340。]
WhenTacitusdescribesthedeathsoftheinnocentandillustriousRomans,whoweresacrificedtothecrueltyofthefirstCaesars,theartofthehistorian,orthemeritofthesufferers,excitesinourbreastthemostlivelysensationsofterror,ofadmiration,andofpity。ThecoarseandundistinguishingpencilofAmmianushasdelineatedhisbloodyfigureswithtediousanddisgustingaccuracy。Butasourattentionisnolongerengagedbythecontrastoffreedomandservitude,ofrecentgreatnessandofactualmisery,weshouldturnwithhorrorfromthefrequentexecutions,whichdisgraced,bothatRomeandAntioch,thereignofthetwobrothers。^53
Valenswasofatimid,^54andValentinianofacholeric,disposition。^55AnanxiousregardtohispersonalsafetywastherulingprincipleoftheadministrationofValens。Intheconditionofasubject,hehadkissed,withtremblingawe,thehandoftheoppressor;andwhenheascendedthethrone,hereasonablyexpected,thatthesamefears,whichhadsubduedhisownmind,wouldsecurethepatientsubmissionofhispeople。ThefavoritesofValensobtained,bytheprivilegeofrapineandconfiscation,thewealthwhichhiseconomywouldhaverefused。
^56Theyurged,withpersuasiveeloquence,that,inallcasesoftreason,suspicionisequivalenttoproof;thatthepowersupposestheintention,ofmischief;thattheintentionisnotlesscriminalthantheact;andthatasubjectnolongerdeservestolive,ifhislifemaythreatenthesafety,ordisturbtherepose,ofhissovereign。ThejudgmentofValentinianwassometimesdeceived,andhisconfidenceabused;buthewouldhavesilencedtheinformerswithacontemptuoussmile,hadtheypresumedtoalarmhisfortitudebythesoundofdanger。Theypraisedhisinflexibleloveofjustice;and,inthepursuitofjustice,theemperorwaseasilytemptedtoconsiderclemencyasaweakness,andpassionasavirtue。Aslongashewrestledwithhisequals,intheboldcompetitionofanactiveandambitiouslife,Valentinianwasseldominjured,andneverinsulted,withimpunity:ifhisprudencewasarraigned,hisspiritwasapplauded;andtheproudestandmostpowerfulgeneralswereapprehensiveofprovokingtheresentmentofafearlesssoldier。
Afterhebecamemasteroftheworld,heunfortunatelyforgot,thatwherenoresistancecanbemade,nocouragecanbeexerted;
andinsteadofconsultingthedictatesofreasonandmagnanimity,heindulgedthefuriousemotionsofhistemper,atatimewhentheyweredisgracefultohimself,andfataltothedefencelessobjectsofhisdispleasure。Inthegovernmentofhishousehold,orofhisempire,slight,orevenimaginary,offences—ahastyword,acasualomission,aninvoluntarydelay—werechastisedbyasentenceofimmediatedeath。TheexpressionswhichissuedthemostreadilyfromthemouthoftheemperoroftheWestwere,"Strikeoffhishead;""Burnhimalive;""Lethimbebeatenwithclubstillheexpires;"^57andhismostfavoredministerssoonunderstood,that,byarashattempttodispute,orsuspend,theexecutionofhissanguinarycommands,theymightinvolvethemselvesintheguiltandpunishmentofdisobedience。TherepeatedgratificationofthissavagejusticehardenedthemindofValentinianagainstpityandremorse;andthesalliesofpassionwereconfirmedbythehabitsofcruelty。^58Hecouldbeholdwithcalmsatisfactiontheconvulsiveagoniesoftortureanddeath;hereservedhisfriendshipforthosefaithfulservantswhosetemperwasthemostcongenialtohisown。ThemeritofMaximin,whohadslaughteredthenoblestfamiliesofRome,wasrewardedwiththeroyalapprobation,andthepraefectureofGaul。
Twofierceandenormousbears,distinguishedbytheappellationsofInnocence,andMicaAurea,couldalonedeservetosharethefavorofMaximin。Thecagesofthosetrustyguardswerealwaysplacednearthebed—chamberofValentinian,whofrequentlyamusedhiseyeswiththegratefulspectacleofseeingthemtearanddevourthebleedinglimbsofthemalefactorswhowereabandonedtotheirrage。TheirdietandexerciseswerecarefullyinspectedbytheRomanemperor;andwhenInnocencehadearnedherdischarge,byalongcourseofmeritoriousservice,thefaithfulanimalwasagainrestoredtothefreedomofhernativewoods。^59
[Footnote53:ConsultthesixlastbooksofAmmianus,andmoreparticularlytheportraitsofthetworoyalbrothers,xxx。8,9,xxxi。14。Tillemonthascollectedtom。v。p。12—18,p。127—133
fromallantiquitytheirvirtuesandvices。]
[Footnote54:TheyoungerVictorasserts,thathewasvaldetimidus:yethebehaved,asalmosteverymanwoulddo,withdecentresolutionattheheadofanarmy。Thesamehistorianattemptstoprovethathisangerwasharmless。Ammianusobserves,withmorecandorandjudgment,incidentiacriminaadcontemptamvellaesamprincipisamplitudinemtrahens,insanguinemsaeviebat。]
[Footnote55:Cumessetadacerbitatemnaturaecalorepropensior……poenasperignesaugebatetgladios。Ammian。xxx。8。Seexxvii。7]