Theusurperpursued，withimplacablerage，thelifeofhisyoungerbrother，whosecourageandabilitieshefeared；andMascezel，oppressedbysuperiorpower，refugeinthecourtofMilan，wherehesoonreceivedthecruelintelligencethathistwoinnocentandhelplesschildrenhadbeenmurderedbytheirinhumanuncle。Theafflictionofthefatherwassuspendedonlybythedesireofrevenge。ThevigilantStilichoalreadypreparedtocollectthenavalandmilitaryforceoftheWesternempire；andhehadresolved，ifthetyrantshouldbeabletowageanequalanddoubtfulwar，tomarchagainsthiminperson。ButasItalyrequiredhispresence，andasitmightbedangeroustoweakentheofthefrontier，hejudgeditmoreadvisable，thatMascezelshouldattemptthisarduousadventureattheheadofachosenbodyofGallicveterans，whohadlatelyservedexhortedtoconvincetheworldthattheycouldsubvert，aswellasdefendthethroneofausurper，consistedoftheJovian，theHerculian，andtheAugustanlegions；oftheNervianauxiliaries；ofthesoldierswhodisplayedintheirbannersthesymbolofalion，andofthetroopswhichweredistinguishedbytheauspiciousnamesofFortunate，andInvincible。Yetsuchwasthesmallnessoftheirestablishments，orthedifficultyofrecruiting，thatthesesevenbands，^44ofhighdignityandreputationintheserviceofRome，amountedtonomorethanfivethousandeffectivemen。^45ThefleetofgalleysandtransportssailedintempestuousweatherfromtheportofPisa，inTuscany，andsteeredtheircoursetothelittleislandofCapraria；whichhadborrowedthatnamefromthewildgoats，itsoriginalinhabitants，whoseplacewasoccupiedbyanewcolonyofastrangeandsavageappearance。
"Thewholeislandsaysaningenioustravellerofthosetimesisfilled，orratherdefiled，bymenwhoflyfromthelight。TheycallthemselvesMonks，orsolitaries，becausetheychoosetolivealone，withoutanywitnessesoftheiractions。Theyfearthegiftsoffortune，fromtheapprehensionoflosingthem；and，lesttheyshouldbemiserable，theyembracealifeofvoluntarywretchedness。Howabsurdistheirchoice!howperversetheirunderstanding!todreadtheevils，withoutbeingabletosupporttheblessings，ofthehumancondition。Eitherthismelancholymadnessistheeffectofdisease，orexerciseontheirownbodiesthetortureswhichareinflictedonfugitiveslavesbythehandofjustice。"^46SuchwasthecontemptofaprofanemagistrateforthemonksasthechosenservantsofGod。^47Someofthemwerepersuaded，byhisentreaties，toembarkonboardthefleet；
anditisobserved，tothepraiseoftheRomangeneral，thathisdaysandnightswereemployedinprayer，fasting，andtheoccupationofsingingpsalms。Thedevoutleader，who，withsuchareenforcement，appearedconfidentofvictory，avoidedthedangerousrocksofCorsica，coastedalongtheeasternsideofSardinia，andsecuredhisshipsagainsttheviolenceofthesouthwind，bycastinganchorintheandcapaciousharborofCagliari，atthedistanceofonehundredandfortymilesfromtheAfricanshores。^48
[Footnote43:Hewasofamatureage；sincehehadformerlyA。D。
373servedagainsthisbrotherFirmusAmmian。xxix。5。
Claudian，whounderstoodthecourtofMilan，dwellsontheinjuries，ratherthanthemerits，ofMascezel，deBell。Gild。
389—414。TheMoorishwarwasnotworthyofHonorius，orStilicho，&c。]
[Footnote44:Claudian，Bell。Gild。415—423。ThechangeofdisciplineallowedhimtouseindifferentlythenamesofLegioCohors，Manipulus。SeeNotitiaImperii，S。38，40。]
[Footnote45:Orosiusl。vii。c。36，p。565qualifiesthisaccountwithanexpressionofdoubt，utaiunt；anditscarcelycoincideswithZosimus，l。v。p。303。YetClaudian，aftersomedeclamationaboutCadmus，soldiers，franklyownsthatStilichosentasmallarmylesttherebelsshouldfly，netimearetimes，i。Cons。Stilich。l。i。314&c。]
[Footnote46:Claud。Rutil。Numatian。Itinerar。i。439—448。Heafterwards515—526mentionsareligiousmadmanontheIsleofGorgona。Forsuchprofaneremarks，Rutiliusandhisaccomplicesarestyled，byhiscommentator，Barthius，rabiosicanesdiaboli。
TillemontMem。Ecclescom。xii。p。471morecalmlyobserves，thattheunbelievingpoetpraiseswherehemeanstocensure。]
[Footnote47:Orosius，l。vii。c。36，p。564。AugustincommendstwoofthesesavagesaintsoftheIsleofGoats，epist。lxxxi。
apudTillemont，Mem。Eccles。tom。xiii。p。317，andBaronius，AnnalEccles。A。D。398No。51。]
[Footnote48:HerethefirstbookoftheGildonicwaristerminated。TherestofClaudian'spoemhasbeenlost；andweareignoranthoworwherethearmymadegoodtheirlandinginAfica。]
GildowaspreparedtoresisttheinvasionwithalltheforcesofAfrica。Bytheliberalityofhisgiftsandpromises，heendeavoredtosecurethedoubtfulallegianceoftheRomansoldiers，whilstheattractedtohisstandardthedistanttribesofGaetuliaandAethiopia。Heproudlyreviewedanarmyofseventythousandmen，andboasted，withtherashpresumptionwhichistheforerunnerofdisgrace，thathisnumerouscavalrywouldtrampleundertheirhorses'feetthetroopsofMascezel，andinvolve，inacloudofburningsand，thenativesofthecoldregionsofGaulandGermany。^49ButtheMoor，whocommandedthelegionsofHonorius，wastoowellacquaintedwiththemannersofhiscountrymen，toentertainanyseriousapprehensionofanakedanddisorderlyhostofBarbarians；whoseleftarm，insteadofashield，wasprotectedonlybymantle；whoweretotallydisarmedassoonastheyhaddartedtheirjavelinfromtheirrighthand；
andwhosehorseshadneverHefixedhiscampoffivethousandveteransinthefaceofasuperiorenemy，and，afterthedelayofthreedays，gavethesignalofageneralengagement。^50AsMascezeladvancedbeforethefrontwithfairoffersofpeaceandpardon，heencounteredoneoftheforemoststandard—bearersoftheAfricans，and，onhisrefusaltoyield，struckhimonthearmwithhissword。Thearm，andthestandard，sunkundertheweightoftheblow；andtheimaginaryactofsubmissionwashastilyrepeatedbyallthestandardsoftheline。Atthisthedisaffectedcohortsproclaimedthenameoftheirlawfulsovereign；theBarbarians，astonishedbythedefectionoftheirRomanallies，dispersed，accordingtotheircustom，intumultuaryflight；andMascezelobtainedtheofaneasy，andalmostbloodless，victory。^51Thetyrantescapedfromthefieldofbattletothesea—shore；andthrewhimselfintoasmallvessel，withthehopeofreachinginsafetysomefriendlyportoftheempireoftheEast；buttheobstinacyofthewinddrovehimbackintotheharborofTabraca，^52whichhadacknowledged，withtherestoftheprovince，thedominionofHonorius，andtheauthorityofhislieutenant。Theinhabitants，asaproofoftheirrepentanceandloyalty，seizedandconfinedthepersonofGildoinadungeon；andhisowndespairsavedhimfromtheintolerabletortureofsupportingthepresenceofaninjuredandvictoriousbrother。^53ThecaptivesandthespoilsofAfricawerelaidatthefeetoftheemperor；butmoresincere，inthemidstofprosperity，stillaffectedtoconsultthelawsoftherepublic；
andreferredtothesenateandpeopleofRomethejudgmentofthemostillustriouscriminals。^54Theirtrialwaspublicandsolemn；butthejudges，intheexerciseofthisobsoleteandprecariousjurisdiction，wereimpatienttopunishtheAfricanmagistrates，whohadinterceptedthesubsistenceoftheRomanpeople。TherichandguiltyprovincewasoppressedbytheImperialministers，whohadavisibleinteresttomultiplythenumberoftheaccomplicesofGildo；andifanedictofHonoriusseemstocheckthemaliciousindustryofinformers，asubsequentedict，atthedistanceoftenyears，continuesandrenewstheprosecutionofthewhichhadbeencommittedinthetimeofthegeneralrebellion。^55Theadherentsofthetyrantwhoescapedthefirstfuryofthesoldiers，andthejudges，mightderivesomeconsolationfromthetragicfateofhisbrother，whocouldneverobtainhispardonfortheextraordinaryserviceswhichhehadperformed。Afterhehadfinishedanimportantwarinthespaceofasinglewinter，MascezelwasreceivedatthecourtofMilanwithloudapplause，affectedgratitude，andsecretjealousy；^56
andhisdeath，which，perhaps，wastheeffectofpassageofabridge，theMoorishprince，whoaccompaniedthemaster—generaloftheWest，wassuddenlythrownfromhishorseintotheriver；theofficioushasteoftheattendantswasonthecountenanceofStilicho；andwhiletheydelayedthenecessaryassistance，theunfortunateMascezelwasirrecoverablydrowned。^57
[Footnote49:Orosiusmustberesponsiblefortheaccount。ThepresumptionofGildoandhisvarioustrainofBarbariansiscelebratedbyClaudian，Cons。Stil。l。i。345—355。]
[Footnote50:St。Ambrose，whohadbeendeadaboutayear，revealed，inavision，thetimeandplaceofthevictory。
MascezelafterwardsrelatedhisdreamtoPaulinus，theoriginalbiographerofthesaint，fromwhomitmighteasilypasstoOrosius。]
[Footnote51:Zosimusl。v。p。303supposesanobstinatecombat；butthenarrativeofOrosiusappearstoconcealarealfact，underthedisguiseofamiracle。]
[Footnote52:TabracalaybetweenthetwoHippos，Cellarius，tom。ii。p。112；D'Anville，tom。iii。p。84。Orosiushasdistinctlynamedthefieldofbattle，butourignorancecannotdefinetheprecisesituation。]
[Footnote53:ThedeathofGildoisexpressedbyClaudiani。
Cons。Stil。357andhisbestinterpreters，ZosimusandOrosius。]
[Footnote54:Claudianii。Cons。Stilich。99—119describestheirtrialtremuitquosAfricanuper，cernuntrostrareos，andapplaudstherestorationoftheancientconstitution。Itisherethatheintroducesthefamoussentence，sofamiliartothefriendsofdespotism:
—Nunquamlibertasgratiorexstat，Quamsubregepio。
Butthefreedomwhichdependsonroyalpiety，scarcelydeservesappellation]
[Footnote55:SeetheTheodosianCode，l。ix。tit。xxxix。leg。3，tit。xl。leg。19。]
[Footnote56:Stilicho，whoclaimedanequalshareinallthevictoriesofTheodosiusandhisson，particularlyasserts，thatAfricawasrecoveredbythewisdomofhiscounsels，seeaninscriptionproducedbyBaronius。]
[Footnote57:IhavesoftenedthenarrativeofZosimus，which，initscrudesimplicity，isalmostincredible，l。v。p。303。
Orosiusdamnsthevictoriousgeneralp。538forviolatingtherightofsanctuary。]
ThejoyoftheAfricantriumphwashappilyconnectedwiththenuptialsoftheemperorHonorius，andofhiscousinMaria，thedaughterofStilicho:andthisequalandhonorableallianceseemedtoinvestthepowerfulministerwiththeauthorityofaparentoverhissubmissivepupil。ThemuseofClaudianwasnotsilentonthispropitiousday；^58hesung，invariousandlivelystrains，thehappinessoftheroyalpair；andthegloryofthehero，whoconfirmedtheirunion，andsupportedtheirthrone。TheancientfablesofGreece，whichhadalmostceasedtobetheobjectofreligiousfaith，weresavedfromoblivionbythegeniusofpoetry。ThepictureoftheCypriangrove，theseatofharmonyandlove；thetriumphantprogressofVenusoverhernativeseas，andthemildinfluencewhichherpresencediffusedinthepalaceofMilan，expresstoeveryagethenaturalsentimentsoftheheart，inthejustandpleasinglanguageofallegoricalfiction。
ButtheamorousimpatiencewhichClaudianattributestotheyoungprince，^59mustexcitethesmilesofthecourt；andhisbeauteousspouseifshedeservedthepraiseofbeautyhadnotmuchtofearortohopefromthepassionsofherlover。Honoriuswasonlyinthefourteenthyearofhisage；Serena，themotherofhisbride，deferred，byartofpersuasion，theconsummationoftheroyalnuptials；Mariadiedavirgin，aftershehadbeentenyearsawife；andthechastityoftheemperorwassecuredbythecoldness，perhaps，thedebility，ofhisconstitution。^60Hissubjects，whoattentivelystudiedthecharacteroftheiryoungsovereign，discoveredthatHonoriuswaswithoutpassions，andconsequentlywithouttalents；andthathisfeebleandlanguiddispositionwasalikeincapableofdischargingthedutiesofhisrank，orofenjoyingthepleasuresofhisage。Inhisearlyyouthhemadesomeprogressintheexercisesofridinganddrawingthebow:buthesoonrelinquishedthesefatiguingoccupations，andtheamusementoffeedingpoultrybecametheseriousanddailycareofthemonarchoftheWest，^61whoresignedthereinsofempiretothefirmandskilfulhandofhisguardianStilicho。Theexperienceofhistorywillcountenancethesuspicionthataprincewhowasborninthepurple，receivedaworseeducationthanthemeanestpeasantofhisdominions；andthattheambitiousministersufferedhimtoattaintheageofmanhood，withoutattemptingtoexcitehiscourage，ortoenlightenhisunderstanding。^62ThepredecessorsofHonoriuswereaccustomedtoanimatebytheirexample，oratleastbytheirpresence，thevalorofthelegions；andthedatesoftheirlawsattesttheperpetualactivityoftheirmotionsthroughtheprovincesoftheRomanworld。ButthesonofTheodosiuspassedtheslumberofhislife，acaptiveinhispalace，astrangerinhiscountry，andthepatient，almosttheindifferent，spectatoroftheruinoftheWesternempire，whichwasrepeatedlyattacked，andfinallysubverted，bythearmsoftheBarbarians。Intheeventfulhistoryofareignoftwenty—eightyears，itwillseldombenecessarytomentionthenameoftheemperorHonorius。
[Footnote58:Claudian，asthepoetlaureate，composedaseriousandelaborateepithalamiumof340lines；besidessomegayFescennines，whichweresung，inamorelicentioustone，ontheweddingnight。]
[Footnote59:—CaletobviusireJamprinceps，tardumquecupitdiscederesolem。
Nobilishaudalitersonipes。
DeNuptiisHonor。etMariae，andmorefreelyintheFescennines112—116
Dices，Oquoties，hocmihidulciusQuamflavosdecicsvincereSarmatas……
Tumvictormadidoprosiliastoro，Nocturnireferensvulneraproelii。
[Footnote60:SeeZosimus，l。v。p。333。]
[Footnote61:ProcopiusdeBell。Gothico，l。i。c。2。IhaveborrowedthegeneralpracticeofHonorius，withoutadoptingthesingular，andindeedimprobabletale，whichisrelatedbytheGreekhistorian。]
[Footnote62:ThelessonsofTheodosius，orratherClaudian，iv。
Cons。Honor214—418，mightcomposeafineinstitutionforthefutureprinceofagreatandfreenation。ItwasfaraboveHonorius，andhisdegeneratesubjects。]
ChapterXXX:RevoltOfTheGoths。
PartI。
RevoltOfTheGoths。—TheyPlunderGreece。—TwoGreatInvasionsOfItalyByAlaricAndRadagaisus。—TheyAreRepulsedByStilicho。—TheGermansOverrunGaul。—UsurpationOfConstantineInTheWest。—DisgraceAndDeathOfStilicho。
IfthesubjectsofRomecouldbeignorantoftheirobligationstothegreatTheodosius，theyweretoosoonconvinced，howpainfullythespiritandabilitiesoftheirdeceasedemperorhadsupportedthefrailandmoulderingedificeoftherepublic。HediedinthemonthofJanuary；andbeforetheendofthewinterofthesameyear，theGothicnationwasinarms。^1TheBarbarianauxiliarieserectedtheirindependentstandard；andboldlyavowedthehostiledesigns，whichtheyhadlongcherishedintheirferociousminds。Theircountrymen，whohadbeencondemned，bytheconditionsofthelasttreaty，toalifeoftranquilityandlabor，desertedtheirfarmsatthefirstsoundofthetrumpet；andeagerlyresumedtheweaponswhichtheyhadreluctantlylaiddown。ThebarriersoftheDanubewerethrownopen；thesavagewarriorsofScythiaissuedfromtheirforests；andtheuncommonseverityofthewinterallowedthepoettoremark，"thattheyrolledtheirponderouswagonsoverthebroadandicybackoftheindignantriver。"^2TheunhappynativesoftheprovincestothesouthoftheDanubesubmittedtothecalamities，which，inthecourseoftwentyyears，werealmostgrownfamiliartotheirimagination；andthevarioustroopsofBarbarians，whogloriedintheGothicname，wereirregularlyspreadfromwoodyshoresofDalmatia，tothewallsofConstantinople。^3Theinterruption，oratleastthediminution，ofthesubsidy，whichtheGothshadreceivedfromtheprudentliberalityofTheodosius，wasthespeciouspretenceoftheirrevolt:theaffrontwasimbitteredbytheircontemptfortheunwarlikesonsofTheodosius；andtheirresentmentwasinflamedbytheweakness，ortreachery，oftheministerofArcadius。ThefrequentvisitsofRufinustothecampoftheBarbarianswhosearmsandapparelheaffectedtoimitate，wereconsideredasasufficientevidenceofhisguiltycorrespondence，andthepublicenemy，fromamotiveeitherofgratitudeorofpolicy，wasattentive，amidstthegeneraldevastation，tosparetheprivateestatesoftheunpopularpraefect。TheGoths，insteadofbeingimpelledbytheblindandheadstrongpassionsoftheirchiefs，werenowdirectedbytheboldandartfulgeniusofAlaric。ThatrenownedleaderwasdescendedfromthenobleraceoftheBalti；