[Footnote56:IhavetransferredthereproachofavaricefromValenstohisservant。Avaricemoreproperlybelongstoministersthantokings；inwhomthatpassioniscommonlyextinguishedbyabsolutepossession。]
　　[Footnote57:Hesometimesexpressedasentenceofdeathwithatoneofpleasantry:"Abi，Comes，etmutaeicaput，quisibimutariprovinciamcupit。"Aboy，whohadslippedtoohastilyaSpartanbound；anarmorer，whohadmadeapolishedcuirassthatwantedsomegrainsofthelegitimateweight，&c。，werethevictimsofhisfury。]
　　[Footnote58:TheinnocentsofMilanwereanagentandthreeapparitors，whomValentiniancondemnedforsignifyingalegalsummons。Ammianusxxvii。7strangelysupposes，thatallwhohadbeenunjustlyexecutedwereworshippedasmartyrsbytheChristians。Hisimpartialsilencedoesnotallowustobelieve，thatthegreatchamberlainRhodanuswasburntaliveforanactofoppression，Chron。Paschal。p。392。
　　Note:Ammianusdoesnotsaythattheywereworshippedasmartyrs。OnorummemoriamapudMediolanumcolentesnuncusqueChristianiloculosubisepultisunt，adinnocentesappellant。
　　Wagner'snoteinloco。Yetifthenextparagraphreferstothattransaction，whichisnotquiteclear。Gibbonisright。—M。]
　　[Footnote59:UtbenemeritaminsylvasjussitabireInnoxiam。
　　Ammian。xxix。andValesiusadlocum。]
　　ChapterXXV:ReignsOfJovianAndValentinian，DivisionOfTheEmpire。
　　PartIII。
　　Butinthecalmermomentsofreflection，whenthemindofValenswasnotagitatedbyfear，orthatofValentinianbyrage，thetyrantresumedthesentiments，oratleasttheconduct，ofthefatherofhiscountry。ThedispassionatejudgmentoftheWesternemperorcouldclearlyperceive，andaccuratelypursue，hisownandthepublicinterest；andthesovereignoftheEast，whoimitatedwithequaldocilitythevariousexampleswhichhereceivedfromhiselderbrother，wassometimesguidedbythewisdomandvirtueofthepraefectSallust。Bothprincesinvariablyretained，inthepurple，thechasteandtemperatesimplicitywhichhadadornedtheirprivatelife；and，undertheirreign，thepleasuresofthecourtnevercostthepeopleablushorasigh。TheygraduallyreformedmanyoftheabusesofthetimesofConstantius；judiciouslyadoptedandimprovedthedesignsofJulianandhissuccessor；anddisplayedastyleandspiritoflegislationwhichmightinspireposteritywiththemostfavorableopinionoftheircharacterandgovernment。ItisnotfromthemasterofInnocence，thatweshouldexpectthetenderregardforthewelfareofhissubjects，whichpromptedValentiniantocondemntheexpositionofnew—borninfants；^60
　　andtoestablishfourteenskilfulphysicians，withstipendsandprivileges，inthefourteenquartersofRome。Thegoodsenseofanilliteratesoldierfoundedausefulandliberalinstitutionfortheeducationofyouth，andthesupportofdecliningscience。
　　^61Itwashisintention，thattheartsofrhetoricandgrammarshouldbetaughtintheGreekandLatinlanguages，inthemetropolisofeveryprovince；andasthesizeanddignityoftheschoolwasusuallyproportionedtotheimportanceofthecity，theacademiesofRomeandConstantinopleclaimedajustandsingularpreeminence。ThefragmentsoftheliteraryedictsofValentinianimperfectlyrepresenttheschoolofConstantinople，whichwasgraduallyimprovedbysubsequentregulations。Thatschoolconsistedofthirty—oneprofessorsindifferentbranchesoflearning。Onephilosopher，andtwolawyers；fivesophists，andtengrammariansfortheGreek，andthreeorators，andtengrammariansfortheLatintongue；besidessevenscribes，or，astheywerethenstyled，antiquarians，whoselaboriouspenssuppliedthepubliclibrarywithfairandcorrectcopiesoftheclassicwriters。Theruleofconduct，whichwasprescribedtothestudents，isthemorecurious，asitaffordsthefirstoutlinesoftheformanddisciplineofamodernuniversity。Itwasrequired，thattheyshouldbringpropercertificatesfromthemagistratesoftheirnativeprovince。Theirnames，professions，andplacesofabode，wereregularlyenteredinapublicregister。
　　Thestudiousyouthwereseverelyprohibitedfromwastingtheirtimeinfeasts，orinthetheatre；andthetermoftheireducationwaslimitedtotheageoftwenty。Thepraefectofthecitywasempoweredtochastisetheidleandrefractorybystripesorexpulsion；andhewasdirectedtomakeanannualreporttothemasteroftheoffices，thattheknowledgeandabilitiesofthescholarsmightbeusefullyappliedtothepublicservice。TheinstitutionsofValentiniancontributedtosecurethebenefitsofpeaceandplenty；andthecitieswereguardedbytheestablishmentoftheDefensors；^62freelyelectedasthetribunesandadvocatesofthepeople，tosupporttheirrights，andtoexposetheirgrievances，beforethetribunalsofthecivilmagistrates，orevenatthefootoftheImperialthrone。Thefinanceswerediligentlyadministeredbytwoprinces，whohadbeensolongaccustomedtotherigideconomyofaprivatefortune；butinthereceiptandapplicationoftherevenue，adiscerningeyemightobservesomedifferencebetweenthegovernmentoftheEastandoftheWest。Valenswaspersuaded，thatroyalliberalitycanbesuppliedonlybypublicoppression，andhisambitionneveraspiredtosecure，bytheiractualdistress，thefuturestrengthandprosperityofhispeople。
　　Insteadofincreasingtheweightoftaxes，which，inthespaceoffortyyears，hadbeengraduallydoubled，hereduced，inthefirstyearsofhisreign，onefourthofthetributeoftheEast。^63
　　Valentinianappearstohavebeenlessattentiveandlessanxioustorelievetheburdensofhispeople。Hemightreformtheabusesofthefiscaladministration；butheexacted，withoutscruple，averylargeshareoftheprivateproperty；ashewasconvinced，thattherevenues，whichsupportedtheluxuryofindividuals，wouldbemuchmoreadvantageouslyemployedforthedefenceandimprovementofthestate。ThesubjectsoftheEast，whoenjoyedthepresentbenefit，applaudedtheindulgenceoftheirprince。
　　Thesolidbutlesssplendid，meritofValentinianwasfeltandacknowledgedbythesubsequentgeneration。^64
　　[Footnote60:SeetheCodeofJustinian，l。viii。tit。lii。leg。
　　2。Unusquisquesabolemsuamnutriat。Quodsiexponendamputaveritanimadversioniquaeconstitutaestsubjacebit。ForthepresentIshallnotinterfereinthedisputebetweenNoodtandBinkershoek；howfar，orhowlongthisunnaturalpracticehadbeencondemnedorabolishedbylawphilosophy，andthemorecivilizedstateofsociety。]
　　[Footnote61:ThesesalutaryinstitutionsareexplainedintheTheodosianCode，l。xiii。tit。iii。DeProfessoribusetMedicis，andl。xiv。tit。ix。DeStudiisliberalibusUrbisRomoe。Besidesourusualguide，Godefroy，wemayconsultGiannone，IstoriadiNapoli，tom。i。p。105—111，whohastreatedtheinterestingsubjectwiththezealandcuriosityofamanoflatterswhostudieshisdomestichistory。]
　　[Footnote62:Cod。Theodos。l。i。tit。xi。withGodefroy'sParatitlon，whichdiligentlygleansfromtherestofthecode。]
　　[Footnote63:ThreelinesofAmmianusxxxi。14countenanceawholeorationofThemistius，viii。p。101—120，fullofadulation，pedantry，andcommon—placemorality。TheeloquentM。
　　Thomastom。i。p。366—396hasamusedhimselfwithcelebratingthevirtuesandgeniusofThemistius，whowasnotunworthyoftheageinwhichhelived。]
　　[Footnote64:Zosimus，l。iv。p。202。Ammian。xxx。9。Hisreformationofcostlyabusesmightentitlehimtothepraiseof，inprovincialesadmodumparcus，tributorumubiquemollienssarcinas。Bysomehisfrugalitywasstyledavarice，Jerom。
　　Chron。p。186]
　　ButthemosthonorablecircumstanceofthecharacterofValentinian，isthefirmandtemperateimpartialitywhichheuniformlypreservedinanageofreligiouscontention。Hisstrongsense，unenlightened，butuncorrupted，bystudy，declined，withrespectfulindifference，thesubtlequestionsoftheologicaldebate。ThegovernmentoftheEarthclaimedhisvigilance，andsatisfiedhisambition；andwhileherememberedthathewasthediscipleofthechurch，heneverforgotthathewasthesovereignoftheclergy。Underthereignofanapostate，hehadsignalizedhiszealforthehonorofChristianity:heallowedtohissubjectstheprivilegewhichhehadassumedforhimself；andtheymightaccept，withgratitudeandconfidence，thegeneraltolerationwhichwasgrantedbyaprinceaddictedtopassion，butincapableoffearorofdisguise。^65ThePagans，theJews，andallthevarioussectswhichacknowledgedthedivineauthorityofChrist，wereprotectedbythelawsfromarbitrarypowerorpopularinsult；norwasanymodeofworshipprohibitedbyValentinian，exceptthosesecretandcriminalpractices，whichabusedthenameofreligionforthedarkpurposesofviceanddisorder。Theartofmagic，asitwasmorecruellypunished，wasmorestrictlyproscribed:buttheemperoradmittedaformaldistinctiontoprotecttheancientmethodsofdivination，whichwereapprovedbythesenate，andexercisedbytheTuscanharuspices。Hehadcondemned，withtheconsentofthemostrationalPagans，thelicenseofnocturnalsacrifices；butheimmediatelyadmittedthepetitionofPraetextatus，proconsulofAchaia，whorepresented，thatthelifeoftheGreekswouldbecomedrearyandcomfortless，iftheyweredeprivedoftheinvaluableblessingoftheEleusinianmysteries。Philosophyalonecanboast，andperhapsitisnomorethantheboastofphilosophy，
　　thathergentlehandisabletoeradicatefromthehumanmindthelatentanddeadlyprincipleoffanaticism。Butthistruceoftwelveyears，whichwasenforcedbythewiseandvigorousgovernmentofValentinian，bysuspendingtherepetitionofmutualinjuries，contributedtosoftenthemanners，andabatetheprejudices，ofthereligiousfactions。
　　[Footnote65:TestessuntlegesameinexordioImperiimeidatae；quibusunicuiquequodanimoimbibissetcolendiliberafacultastributaest。Cod。Theodos。l。ix。tit。xvi。leg。9。TothisdeclarationofValentinian，wemayaddthevarioustestimoniesofAmmianus，xxx。9，Zosimus，l。iv。p。204，andSozomen，l。vi。c。7，21。Baroniuswouldnaturallyblamesuchrationaltoleration，Annal。EcclesA。D。370，No。129—132，A。D。
　　376，No。3，4。]
　　[Footnote*:Commeils'etaitprescritpourregledenepointsemelerdedisputesdereligion，sonhistoireestpresqueentierementdegageedesaffairesecclesiastiques。LeBeau。iii。
　　214。—M。]
　　Thefriendoftolerationwasunfortunatelyplacedatadistancefromthesceneofthefiercestcontroversies。AssoonastheChristiansoftheWesthadextricatedthemselvesfromthesnaresofthecreedofRimini，theyhappilyrelapsedintotheslumberoforthodoxy；andthesmallremainsoftheArianparty，thatstillsubsistedatSirmiumorMilan，mightbeconsideredratherasobjectsofcontemptthanofresentment。ButintheprovincesoftheEast，fromtheEuxinetotheextremityofThebais，thestrengthandnumbersofthehostilefactionsweremoreequallybalanced；andthisequality，insteadofrecommendingthecounselsofpeace，servedonlytoperpetuatethehorrorsofreligiouswar。Themonksandbishopssupportedtheirargumentsbyinvectives；andtheirinvectivesweresometimesfollowedbyblows。AthanasiusstillreignedatAlexandria；thethronesofConstantinopleandAntiochwereoccupiedbyArianprelates，andeveryepiscopalvacancywastheoccasionofapopulartumult。
　　TheHomoousianswerefortifiedbythereconciliationoffifty—nineMacelonian，orSemi—Arian，bishops；buttheirsecretreluctancetoembracethedivinityoftheHolyGhost，cloudedthesplendorofthetriumph；andthedeclarationofValens，who，inthefirstyearsofhisreign，hadimitatedtheimpartialconductofhisbrother，wasanimportantvictoryonthesideofArianism。
　　Thetwobrothershadpassedtheirprivatelifeintheconditionofcatechumens；butthepietyofValenspromptedhimtosolicitthesacramentofbaptism，beforeheexposedhispersontothedangersofaGothicwar。HenaturallyaddressedhimselftoEudoxus，^66bishopoftheImperialcity；andiftheignorantmonarchwasinstructedbythatArianpastorintheprinciplesofheterodoxtheology，hismisfortune，ratherthanhisguilt，wastheinevitableconsequenceofhiserroneouschoice。Whateverhadbeenthedeterminationoftheemperor，hemusthaveoffendedanumerouspartyofhisChristiansubjects；astheleadersbothoftheHomoousiansandoftheAriansbelieved，that，iftheywerenotsufferedtoreign，theyweremostcruellyinjuredandoppressed。Afterhehadtakenthisdecisivestep，itwasextremelydifficultforhimtopreserveeitherthevirtue，orthereputationofimpartiality。Heneveraspired，likeConstantius，tothefameofaprofoundtheologian；butashehadreceivedwithsimplicityandrespectthetenetsofEuxodus，Valensresignedhisconsciencetothedirectionofhisecclesiasticalguides，andpromoted，bytheinfluenceofhisauthority，thereunionoftheAthanasianhereticstothebodyoftheCatholicchurch。Atfirst，hepitiedtheirblindness；bydegreeshewasprovokedattheirobstinacy；andheinsensiblyhatedthosesectariestowhomhewasanobjectofhatred。^67ThefeeblemindofValenswasalwaysswayedbythepersonswithwhomhefamiliarlyconversed；
　　andtheexileorimprisonmentofaprivatecitizenarethefavorsthemostreadilygrantedinadespoticcourt。SuchpunishmentswerefrequentlyinflictedontheleadersoftheHomoousianparty；
　　andthemisfortuneoffourscoreecclesiasticsofConstantinople，who，perhapsaccidentally，wereburnedonshipboard，wasimputedtothecruelandpremeditatedmaliceoftheemperor，andhisArianministers。Ineverycontest，theCatholicsifwemayanticipatethatnamewereobligedtopaythepenaltyoftheirownfaults，andofthoseoftheiradversaries。Ineveryelection，theclaimsoftheAriancandidateobtainedthepreference；andiftheywereopposedbythemajorityofthepeople，hewasusuallysupportedbytheauthorityofthecivilmagistrate，orevenbytheterrorsofamilitaryforce。TheenemiesofAthanasiusattemptedtodisturbthelastyearsofhisvenerableage；andhistemporaryretreattohisfather'ssepulchrehasbeencelebratedasafifthexile。Butthezealofagreatpeople，whoinstantlyflewtoarms，intimidatedthepraefect:andthearchbishopwaspermittedtoendhislifeinpeaceandinglory，afterareignofforty—sevenyears。ThedeathofAthanasiuswasthesignalofthepersecutionofEgypt；
　　andthePaganministerofValens，whoforciblyseatedtheworthlessLuciusonthearchiepiscopalthrone，purchasedthefavorofthereigningparty，bythebloodandsufferingsoftheirChristianbrethren。ThefreetolerationoftheheathenandJewishworshipwasbitterlylamented，asacircumstancewhichaggravatedthemiseryoftheCatholics，andtheguiltoftheimpioustyrantoftheEast。^68
　　[Footnote66:Eudoxuswasofamildandtimiddisposition。WhenhebaptizedValens，A。D。367，hemusthavebeenextremelyold；
　　sincehehadstudiedtheologyfifty—fiveyearsbefore，underLucian，alearnedandpiousmartyr。Philostorg。l。ii。c。14—16，l。iv。c。4，withGodefroy，p82，206，andTillemont，Mem。
　　Eccles。tom。v。p。471—480，&c。]
　　[Footnote*:Throughtheinfluenceofhiswifesaytheecclesiasticalwriters。—M。]
　　[Footnote67:GregoryNazianzenOrat。xxv。p。432insultsthepersecutingspiritoftheArians，asaninfalliblesymptomoferrorandheresy。]
　　[Footnote68:ThissketchoftheecclesiasticalgovernmentofValensisdrawnfromSocrates，l。iv。，Sozomen，l。vi。，
　　Theodoret，l。iv。，andtheimmensecompilationsofTillemont，particularlytom。vi。viii。andix。]
　　ThetriumphoftheorthodoxpartyhasleftadeepstainofpersecutiononthememoryofValens；andthecharacterofaprincewhoderivedhisvirtues，aswellashisvices，fromafeebleunderstandingandapusillanimoustemper，scarcelydeservesthelaborofanapology。YetcandormaydiscoversomereasonstosuspectthattheecclesiasticalministersofValensoftenexceededtheorders，oreventheintentions，oftheirmaster；andthattherealmeasureoffactshasbeenveryliberallymagnifiedbythevehementdeclamationandeasycredulityofhisantagonists。^691。ThesilenceofValentinianmaysuggestaprobableargumentthatthepartialseverities，whichwereexercisedinthenameandprovincesofhiscolleague，amountedonlytosomeobscureandinconsiderabledeviationsfromtheestablishedsystemofreligioustoleration:andthejudicioushistorian，whohaspraisedtheequaltemperoftheelderbrother，hasnotthoughthimselfobligedtocontrastthetranquillityoftheWestwiththecruelpersecutionoftheEast。^702。Whatevercreditmaybeallowedtovagueanddistantreports，thecharacter，oratleastthebehavior，ofValens，maybemostdistinctlyseeninhispersonaltransactionswiththeeloquentBasil，archbishopofCaesarea，whohadsucceededAthanasiusinthemanagementoftheTrinitariancause。^71ThecircumstantialnarrativehasbeencomposedbythefriendsandadmirersofBasil；
　　andassoonaswehavestrippedawayathickcoatofrhetoricandmiracle，weshallbeastonishedbytheunexpectedmildnessoftheAriantyrant，whoadmiredthefirmnessofhischaracter，orwasapprehensive，ifheemployedviolence，ofageneralrevoltintheprovinceofCappadocia。Thearchbishop，whoasserted，withinflexiblepride，^72thetruthofhisopinions，andthedignityofhisrank，wasleftinthefreepossessionofhisconscienceandhisthrone。Theemperordevoutlyassistedatthesolemnserviceofthecathedral；and，insteadofasentenceofbanishment，subscribedthedonationofavaluableestatefortheuseofahospital，whichBasilhadlatelyfoundedintheneighborhoodofCaesarea。^733。Iamnotabletodiscover，thatanylawsuchasTheodosiusafterwardsenactedagainsttheArianswaspublishedbyValensagainsttheAthanasiansectaries；