"WithtearsandgroansamIsent，"repliedIphicles，"byareluctantpeople。"Theemperorpaused:buttheimpunityofhisministersestablishedtheperniciousmaxim，thattheymightoppresshissubjects，withoutinjuringhisservice。Astrictinquiryintotheirconductwouldhaverelievedthepublicdiscontent。TheseverecondemnationofthemurderofGabinius，wastheonlymeasurewhichcouldrestoretheconfidenceoftheGermans，andvindicatethehonoroftheRomanname。Butthehaughtymonarchwasincapableofthemagnanimitywhichdarestoacknowledgeafault。Heforgottheprovocation，rememberedonlytheinjury，andadvancedintothecountryoftheQuadiwithaninsatiatethirstofbloodandrevenge。Theextremedevastation，andpromiscuousmassacre，ofasavagewar，werejustified，intheeyesoftheemperor，andperhapsinthoseoftheworld，bythecruelequityofretaliation:^153andsuchwasthedisciplineoftheRomans，andtheconsternationoftheenemy，thatValentinianrepassedtheDanubewithoutthelossofasingleman。AshehadresolvedtocompletethedestructionoftheQuadibyasecondcampaign，hefixedhiswinterquartersatBregetio，ontheDanube，neartheHungariancityofPresburg。Whiletheoperationsofwarweresuspendedbytheseverityoftheweather，theQuadimadeanhumbleattempttodeprecatethewrathoftheirconqueror；and，attheearnestpersuasionofEquitius，theirambassadorswereintroducedintotheImperialcouncil。Theyapproachedthethronewithbendedbodiesanddejectedcountenances；andwithoutdaringtocomplainofthemurderoftheirking，theyaffirmed，withsolemnoaths，thatthelateinvasionwasthecrimeofsomeirregularrobbers，whichthepubliccouncilofthenationcondemnedandabhorred。Theansweroftheemperorleftthembutlittletohopefromhisclemencyorcompassion。Hereviled，inthemostintemperatelanguage，theirbaseness，theiringratitude，theirinsolence。Hiseyes，hisvoice，hiscolor，hisgestures，expressedtheviolenceofhisungovernedfury；andwhilehiswholeframewasagitatedwithconvulsivepassion，alargebloodvesselsuddenlyburstinhisbody；andValentinianfellspeechlessintothearmsofhisattendants。Theirpiouscareimmediatelyconcealedhissituationfromthecrowd；but，inafewminutes，theemperoroftheWestexpiredinanagonyofpain，retaininghissensestillthelast；
　　andstruggling，withoutsuccess，todeclarehisintentionstothegeneralsandministers，whosurroundedtheroyalcouch。
　　Valentinianwasaboutfifty—fouryearsofage；andhewantedonlyonehundreddaystoaccomplishthetwelveyearsofhisreign。
　　^154
　　[Footnote151:Ammianus，xxx。5，whoacknowledgesthemerit，hascensured，withbecomingasperity，theoppressiveadministrationofPetroniusProbus。WhenJeromtranslatedandcontinuedtheChronicleofEusebius，A。D。380；seeTillemont，Mem。Eccles。tom。xii。p。53，626，heexpressedthetruth，oratleastthepublicopinionofhiscountry，inthefollowingwords:
　　"ProbusP。P。Illyriciinquissimustributorumexactionibus，anteprovinciasquasregebat，quamaBarbarisvastarentur，erasit。"
　　Chron。edit。Scaliger，p。187。Animadversp。259。TheSaintafterwardsformedanintimateandtenderfriendshipwiththewidowofProbus；andthenameofCountEquitiuswithlesspropriety，butwithoutmuchinjustice，hasbeensubstitutedinthetext。]
　　[Footnote152:JulianOrat。vi。p。198representshisfriendIphicles，asamanofvirtueandmerit，whohadmadehimselfridiculousandunhappybyadoptingtheextravagantdressandmannersoftheCynics。]
　　[Footnote153:Ammian。xxx。v。Jerom，whoexaggeratesthemisfortuneofValentinian，refuseshimeventhislastconsolationofrevenge。Genitalivastatosoloetinultampatriamderelinquens，tom。i。p。26。]
　　[Footnote154:See，onthedeathofValentinian，Ammianus，xxx。
　　6，Zosimus，l。iv。p。221，Victor，inEpitom。，Socrates，l。
　　iv。c。31，andJerom，inChron。p。187，andtom。i。p。26，adHeliodor。Thereismuchvarietyofcircumstancesamongthem；andAmmianusissoeloquent，thathewritesnonsense。]
　　ThepolygamyofValentinianisseriouslyattestedbyanecclesiasticalhistorian。^155"TheempressSeveraIrelatethefableadmittedintoherfamiliarsocietythelovelyJustina，thedaughterofanItaliangovernor:heradmirationofthosenakedcharms，whichshehadoftenseeninthebath，wasexpressedwithsuchlavishandimprudentpraise，thattheemperorwastemptedtointroduceasecondwifeintohisbed；andhispublicedictextendedtoallthesubjectsoftheempirethesamedomesticprivilegewhichhehadassumedforhimself。"Butwemaybeassured，fromtheevidenceofreasonaswellashistory，thatthetwomarriagesofValentinian，withSevera，andwithJustina，weresuccessivelycontracted；andthatheusedtheancientpermissionofdivorce，whichwasstillallowedbythelaws，thoughitwascondemnedbythechurchSeverawasthemotherofGratian，whoseemedtouniteeveryclaimwhichcouldentitlehimtotheundoubtedsuccessionoftheWesternempire。Hewastheeldestsonofamonarchwhosegloriousreignhadconfirmedthefreeandhonorablechoiceofhisfellow—soldiers。Beforehehadattainedtheninthyearofhisage，theroyalyouthreceivedfromthehandsofhisindulgentfatherthepurplerobeanddiadem，withthetitleofAugustus；theelectionwassolemnlyratifiedbytheconsentandapplauseofthearmiesofGaul；^156andthenameofGratianwasaddedtothenamesofValentinianandValens，inallthelegaltransactionsoftheRomangovernment。ByhismarriagewiththegranddaughterofConstantine，thesonofValentinianacquiredallthehereditaryrightsoftheFlavianfamily；which，inaseriesofthreeImperialgenerations，weresanctifiedbytime，religion，andthereverenceofthepeople。Atthedeathofhisfather，theroyalyouthwasintheseventeenthyearofhisage；andhisvirtuesalreadyjustifiedthefavorableopinionofthearmyandthepeople。ButGratianresided，withoutapprehension，inthepalaceofTreves；whilst，atthedistanceofmanyhundredmiles，ValentiniansuddenlyexpiredinthecampofBregetio。Thepassions，whichhadbeensolongsuppressedbythepresenceofamaster，immediatelyrevivedintheImperialcouncil；andtheambitiousdesignofreigninginthenameofaninfant，wasartfullyexecutedbyMellobaudesandEquitius，whocommandedtheattachmentoftheIllyrianandItalianbands。Theycontrivedthemosthonorablepretencestoremovethepopularleaders，andthetroopsofGaul，whomighthaveassertedtheclaimsofthelawfulsuccessor；theysuggestedthenecessityofextinguishingthehopesofforeignanddomesticenemies，byaboldanddecisivemeasure。TheempressJustina，whohadbeenleftinapalaceaboutonehundredmilesfromBregetio，wasrespectivelyinvitedtoappearinthecamp，withthesonofthedeceasedemperor。OnthesixthdayafterthedeathofValentinian，theinfantprinceofthesamename，whowasonlyfouryearsold，wasshown，inthearmsofhismother，tothelegions；andsolemnlyinvested，bymilitaryacclamation，withthetitlesandensignsofsupremepower。TheimpendingdangersofacivilwarwereseasonablypreventedbythewiseandmoderateconductoftheemperorGratian。Hecheerfullyacceptedthechoiceofthearmy；declaredthatheshouldalwaysconsiderthesonofJustinaasabrother，notasarival；andadvisedtheempress，withhersonValentiniantofixtheirresidenceatMilan，inthefairandpeacefulprovinceofItaly；whileheassumedthemorearduouscommandofthecountriesbeyondtheAlps。Gratiandissembledhisresentmenttillhecouldsafelypunish，ordisgrace，theauthorsoftheconspiracy；andthoughheuniformlybehavedwithtendernessandregardtohisinfantcolleague，hegraduallyconfounded，intheadministrationoftheWesternempire，theofficeofaguardianwiththeauthorityofasovereign。ThegovernmentoftheRomanworldwasexercisedintheunitednamesofValensandhistwonephews；butthefeebleemperoroftheEast，whosucceededtotherankofhiselderbrother，neverobtainedanyweightorinfluenceinthecouncilsoftheWest。^157
　　[Footnote155:Socratesl。iv。c。31istheonlyoriginalwitnessofthisfoolishstory，sorepugnanttothelawsandmannersoftheRomans，thatitscarcelydeservedtheformalandelaboratedissertationofM。Bonamy，Mem。del'Academie，tom。
　　xxx。p。394—405。YetIwouldpreservethenaturalcircumstanceofthebath；insteadoffollowingZosimuswhorepresentsJustinaasanoldwoman，thewidowofMagnentius。]
　　[Footnote156:Ammianusxxvii。6describestheformofthismilitaryelection，andaugustinvestiture。Valentiniandoesnotappeartohaveconsulted，oreveninformed，thesenateofRome。]
　　[Footnote157:Ammianus，xxx。10。Zosimus，l。iv。p。222，223。
　　TillemonthasprovedHist。desEmpereurs，tom。v。p。707—709
　　thatGratianreigneainItaly，Africa，andIllyricum。Ihaveendeavoredtoexpresshisauthorityoverhisbrother'sdominions，asheusedit，inanambiguousstyle。]
　　ChapterXXVI:ProgressofTheHuns。
　　PartI。
　　MannersOfThePastoralNations。—ProgressOfTheHuns，FromChinaToEurope。—FlightOfTheGoths。—TheyPassTheDanube。—GothicWar。—DefeatAndDeathOfValens。—GratianInvestsTheodosiusWithTheEasternEmpire。—HisCharacterAndSuccess。—PeaceAndSettlementOfTheGoths。
　　InthesecondyearofthereignofValentinianandValens，onthemorningofthetwenty—firstdayofJuly，thegreatestpartoftheRomanworldwasshakenbyaviolentanddestructiveearthquake。Theimpressionwascommunicatedtothewaters；theshoresoftheMediterraneanwereleftdry，bythesuddenretreatofthesea；greatquantitiesoffishwerecaughtwiththehand；
　　largevesselswerestrandedonthemud；andacuriousspectator^1amusedhiseye，orratherhisfancy，bycontemplatingthevariousappearanceofvalleysandmountains，whichhadnever，sincetheformationoftheglobe，beenexposedtothesun。Butthetidesoonreturned，withtheweightofanimmenseandirresistibledeluge，whichwasseverelyfeltonthecoastsofSicily，ofDalmatia，ofGreece，andofEgypt:largeboatsweretransported，andlodgedontheroofsofhouses，oratthedistanceoftwomilesfromtheshore；thepeople，withtheirhabitations，weresweptawaybythewaters；andthecityofAlexandriaannuallycommemoratedthefatalday，onwhichfiftythousandpersonshadlosttheirlivesintheinundation。Thiscalamity，thereportofwhichwasmagnifiedfromoneprovincetoanother，astonishedandterrifiedthesubjectsofRome；andtheiraffrightedimaginationenlargedtherealextentofamomentaryevil。Theyrecollectedtheprecedingearthquakes，whichhadsubvertedthecitiesofPalestineandBithynia:theyconsideredthesealarmingstrokesasthepreludeonlyofstillmoredreadfulcalamities，andtheirfearfulvanitywasdisposedtoconfoundthesymptomsofadecliningempireandasinkingworld。^2ItwasthefashionofthetimestoattributeeveryremarkableeventtotheparticularwilloftheDeity；thealterationsofnaturewereconnected，byaninvisiblechain，withthemoralandmetaphysicalopinionsofthehumanmind；andthemostsagaciousdivinescoulddistinguish，accordingtothecoloroftheirrespectiveprejudices，thattheestablishmentofheresytendedtoproduceanearthquake；orthatadelugewastheinevitableconsequenceoftheprogressofsinanderror。Withoutpresumingtodiscussthetruthorproprietyoftheseloftyspeculations，thehistorianmaycontenthimselfwithanobservation，whichseemstobejustifiedbyexperience，thatmanhasmuchmoretofearfromthepassionsofhisfellow—creatures，thanfromtheconvulsionsoftheelements。^3Themischievouseffectsofanearthquake，ordeluge，ahurricane，ortheeruptionofavolcano，bearaveryinconsiderableportiontotheordinarycalamitiesofwar，astheyarenowmoderatedbytheprudenceorhumanityoftheprincesofEurope，whoamusetheirownleisure，andexercisethecourageoftheirsubjects，inthepracticeofthemilitaryart。Butthelawsandmannersofmodernnationsprotectthesafetyandfreedomofthevanquishedsoldier；andthepeacefulcitizenhasseldomreasontocomplain，thathislife，orevenhisfortune，isexposedtotherageofwar。InthedisastrousperiodofthefalloftheRomanempire，whichmayjustlybedatedfromthereignofValens，thehappinessandsecurityofeachindividualwerepersonallyattacked；andtheartsandlaborsofageswererudelydefacedbytheBarbariansofScythiaandGermany。TheinvasionoftheHunsprecipitatedontheprovincesoftheWesttheGothicnation，whichadvanced，inlessthanfortyyears，fromtheDanubetotheAtlantic，andopenedaway，bythesuccessoftheirarms，totheinroadsofsomanyhostiletribes，moresavagethanthemselves。TheoriginalprincipleofmotionwasconcealedintheremotecountriesoftheNorth；andthecuriousobservationofthepastorallifeoftheScythians，^4orTartars，^5willillustratethelatentcauseofthesedestructiveemigrations。
　　[Footnote1:SuchisthebadtasteofAmmianus，xxvi。10，thatitisnoteasytodistinguishhisfactsfromhismetaphors。Yethepositivelyaffirms，thathesawtherottencarcassofaship，adModon，inPeloponnesus。]
　　[Footnote2:TheearthquakesandinundationsarevariouslydescribedbyLibanius，Orat。deulciscendaJulianinece，c。x。，inFabricius，Bibl。Graec。tom。vii。p。158，withalearnednoteofOlearius，Zosimus，l。iv。p。221，Sozomen，l。vi。c。2，
　　Cedrenus，p。310，314，andJerom，inChron。p。186，andtom。
　　i。p。250，inVit。Hilarion。Epidaurusmusthavebeenoverwhelmed，hadnottheprudentcitizensplacedSt。Hilarion，anEgyptianmonk，onthebeach。HemadethesignoftheCross；themountain—wavestopped，bowed，andreturned。]
　　[Footnote3:Dicaearchus，thePeripatetic，composedaformaltreatise，toprovethisobvioustruth；whichisnotthemosthonorabletothehumanspecies。Cicero，deOfficiis，ii。5。]
　　[Footnote4:TheoriginalScythiansofHerodotusl。iv。c。47—
　　57，99—101wereconfined，bytheDanubeandthePalusMaeotis，withinasquareof4000stadia，400Romanmiles。SeeD'AnvilleMem。del'Academie，tom。xxxv。p。573—591。DiodorusSiculustom。i。l。ii。p。155，edit。Wesselinghasmarkedthegradualprogressofthenameandnation。]
　　[Footnote5:TheTatars，orTartars，wereaprimitivetribe，therivals，andatlengththesubjects，oftheMoguls。InthevictoriousarmiesofZingisKhan，andhissuccessors，theTartarsformedthevanguard；andthename，whichfirstreachedtheearsofforeigners，wasappliedtothewholenation，Freret，intheHist。del'Academie，tom。xviii。p。60。Inspeakingofall，oranyofthenorthernshepherdsofEurope，orAsia，IindifferentlyusetheappellationsofScythiansorTartars。
　　Note:TheMoguls，Mongols，accordingtoM。Klaproth，areatribeoftheTartarnation。TableauxHist。del'Asie，p。154。—
　　M。]
　　Thedifferentcharactersthatmarkthecivilizednationsoftheglobe，maybeascribedtotheuse，andtheabuse，ofreason；
　　whichsovariouslyshapes，andsoartificiallycomposes，themannersandopinionsofaEuropean，oraChinese。Buttheoperationofinstinctismoresureandsimplethanthatofreason:itismucheasiertoascertaintheappetitesofaquadrupedthanthespeculationsofaphilosopher；andthesavagetribesofmankind，astheyapproachnearertotheconditionofanimals，preserveastrongerresemblancetothemselvesandtoeachother。Theuniformstabilityoftheirmannersisthenaturalconsequenceoftheimperfectionoftheirfaculties。
　　Reducedtoasimilarsituation，theirwants，theirdesires，theirenjoyments，stillcontinuethesame:andtheinfluenceoffoodorclimate，which，inamoreimprovedstateofsociety，issuspended，orsubdued，bysomanymoralcauses，mostpowerfullycontributestoform，andtomaintain，thenationalcharacterofBarbarians。Ineveryage，theimmenseplainsofScythia，orTartary，havebeeninhabitedbyvagranttribesofhuntersandshepherds，whoseindolencerefusestocultivatetheearth，andwhoserestlessspiritdisdainstheconfinementofasedentarylife。Ineveryage，theScythians，andTartars，havebeenrenownedfortheirinvinciblecourageandrapidconquests。ThethronesofAsiahavebeenrepeatedlyoverturnedbytheshepherdsoftheNorth；andtheirarmshavespreadterroranddevastationoverthemostfertileandwarlikecountriesofEurope。^6Onthisoccasion，aswellasonmanyothers，thesoberhistorianisforciblyawakenedfromapleasingvision；andiscompelled，withsomereluctance，toconfess，thatthepastoralmanners，whichhavebeenadornedwiththefairestattributesofpeaceandinnocence，aremuchbetteradaptedtothefierceandcruelhabitsofamilitarylife。Toillustratethisobservation，Ishallnowproceedtoconsideranationofshepherdsandofwarriors，inthethreeimportantarticlesof，I。Theirdiet；II。Theirhabitations；and，III。Theirexercises。Thenarrativesofantiquityarejustifiedbytheexperienceofmoderntimes；^7andthebanksoftheBorysthenes，oftheVolga，oroftheSelinga，willindifferentlypresentthesameuniformspectacleofsimilarandnativemanners。^8
　　[Footnote6:ImperiumAsiaeterquaesivere:ipsiperpetuoabalienoimperio，autintactiautinvicti，mansere。SincethetimeofJustin，ii。2，theyhavemultipliedthisaccount。Voltaire，inafewwords，tom。x。p。64，Hist。Generale，c。156，hasabridgedtheTartarconquests。
　　Ofto'erthetremblingnationsfromafar，HasScythiabreathedthelivingcloudofwar。
　　Note*:Gray。—M。]
　　[Footnote7:ThefourthbookofHerodotusaffordsacuriousthoughimperfect，portraitoftheScythians。Amongthemoderns，whodescribetheuniformscene，theKhanofKhowaresm，AbulghaziBahadur，expresseshisnativefeelings；andhisgenealogicalhistoryoftheTartarshasbeencopiouslyillustratedbytheFrenchandEnglisheditors。Carpin，Ascelin，andRubruquisintheHist。desVoyages，tom。vii。representtheMogulsofthefourteenthcentury。TotheseguidesIhaveaddedGerbillon，andtheotherJesuits，DescriptiondelaChinaparduHalde，tom。