[Footnote94:Procop。deBell。Vandal。l。i。c。2。]
[Footnote95:SeethecauseandcircumstancesofthefallofAttalusinZosimus，l。vi。p。380—383。Sozomen，l。ix。c。8。
Philostorg。l。xii。c。3。ThetwoactsofindemnityintheTheodosianCode，l。ix。tit。xxxviii。leg。11，12，whichwerepublishedthe12thofFebruary，andthe8thofAugust，A。D。410，evidentlyrelatetothisusurper。]
[Footnote96:Inhoc，Alaricus，imperatore，facto，infecto，refecto，acdefecto……Mimumrisit，etludumspectavitimperii。
Orosius，l。vii。c。42，p。582。]
ThedegradationofAttalusremovedtheonlyrealobstacletotheconclusionofthepeace；andAlaricadvancedwithinthreemilesofRavenna，topresstheirresolutionoftheImperialministers，whoseinsolencesoonreturnedwiththereturnoffortune。Hisindignationwaskindledbythereport，thatarivalchieftain，thatSarus，thepersonalenemyofAdolphus，andthehereditaryfoeofthehouseofBalti，hadbeenreceivedintothepalace。Attheheadofthreehundredfollowers，thatfearlessBarbarianimmediatelysalliedfromthegatesofRavenna；
surprised，andcutinpieces，aconsiderablebodyofGoths；
reenteredthecityintriumph；andwaspermittedtoinsulthisadversary，bythevoiceofaherald，whopubliclydeclaredthattheguiltofAlarichadforeverexcludedhimfromthefriendshipandallianceoftheemperor。^97ThecrimeandfollyofthecourtofRavennawasexpiated，athirdtime，bythecalamitiesofRome。
ThekingoftheGoths，whonolongerdissembledhisappetiteforplunderandrevenge，appearedinarmsunderthewallsofthecapital；andthetremblingsenate，withoutanyhopesofrelief，prepared，byadesperateresistance，todefraytheruinoftheircountry。Buttheywereunabletoguardagainstthesecretconspiracyoftheirslavesanddomestics；who，eitherfrombirthorinterest，wereattachedtothecauseoftheenemy。Atthehourofmidnight，theSalariangatewassilentlyopened，andtheinhabitantswereawakenedbythetremendoussoundoftheGothictrumpet。Elevenhundredandsixty—threeyearsafterthefoundationofRome，theImperialcity，whichhadsubduedandcivilizedsoconsiderableapartofmankind，wasdeliveredtothelicentiousfuryofthetribesofGermanyandScythia。^98
[Footnote97:Zosimus，l。vi。p。384。Sozomen，l。ix。c。9。
Philostorgius，l。xii。c。3。InthisplacethetextofZosimusismutilated，andwehavelosttheremainderofhissixthandlastbook，whichendedwiththesackofRome。Credulousandpartialasheis，wemusttakeourleaveofthathistorianwithsomeregret。]
[Footnote98:AdestAlaricus，trepidamRomamobsidet，turbat，irrumpit。Orosius，l。vii。c。39，p。573。Hedespatchesthisgreateventinsevenwords；butheemployswholepagesincelebratingthedevotionoftheGoths。IhaveextractedfromanimprobablestoryofProcopius，thecircumstanceswhichhadanairofprobability。Procop。deBell。Vandal。l。i。c。2。Hesupposesthatthecitywassurprisedwhilethesenatorssleptintheafternoon；butJerom，withmoreauthorityandmorereason，affirms，thatitwasinthenight，nocteMoabcaptaest。noctececiditmurusejus，tom。i。p。121，adPrincipiam。]
TheproclamationofAlaric，whenheforcedhisentranceintoavanquishedcity，discovered，however，someregardforthelawsofhumanityandreligion。Heencouragedhistroopsboldlytoseizetherewardsofvalor，andtoenrichthemselveswiththespoilsofawealthyandeffeminatepeople:butheexhortedthem，atthesametime，tosparethelivesoftheunresistingcitizens，andtorespectthechurchesoftheapostles，St。PeterandSt。
Paul，asholyandinviolablesanctuaries。Amidstthehorrorsofanocturnaltumult，severaloftheChristianGothsdisplayedthefervorofarecentconversion；andsomeinstancesoftheiruncommonpietyandmoderationarerelated，andperhapsadorned，bythezealofecclesiasticalwriters。^99WhiletheBarbariansroamedthroughthecityinquestofprey，thehumbledwellingofanagedvirgin，whohaddevotedherlifetotheserviceofthealtar，wasforcedopenbyoneofthepowerfulGoths。Heimmediatelydemanded，thoughincivillanguage，allthegoldandsilverinherpossession；andwasastonishedatthereadinesswithwhichsheconductedhimtoasplendidhoardofmassyplate，oftherichestmaterials，andthemostcuriousworkmanship。TheBarbarianviewedwithwonderanddelightthisvaluableacquisition，tillhewasinterruptedbyaseriousadmonition，addressedtohiminthefollowingwords:"These，"saidshe，"aretheconsecratedvesselsbelongingtoSt。Peter:ifyoupresumetotouchthem，thesacrilegiousdeedwillremainonyourconscience。
Formypart，IdarenotkeepwhatIamunabletodefend。"TheGothiccaptain，struckwithreverentialawe，despatchedamessengertoinformthekingofthetreasurewhichhehaddiscovered；andreceivedaperemptoryorderfromAlaric，thatalltheconsecratedplateandornamentsshouldbetransported，withoutdamageordelay，tothechurchoftheapostle。Fromtheextremity，perhaps，oftheQuirinalhill，tothedistantquarteroftheVatican，anumerousdetachmentofGoths，marchinginorderofbattlethroughtheprincipalstreets，protected，withglitteringarms，thelongtrainoftheirdevoutcompanions，whoborealoft，ontheirheads，thesacredvesselsofgoldandsilver；andthemartialshoutsoftheBarbariansweremingledwiththesoundofreligiouspsalmody。Fromalltheadjacenthouses，acrowdofChristianshastenedtojointhisedifyingprocession；andamultitudeoffugitives，withoutdistinctionofage，orrank，orevenofsect，hadthegoodfortunetoescapetothesecureandhospitablesanctuaryoftheVatican。Thelearnedwork，concerningtheCityofGod，wasprofessedlycomposedbySt。
Augustin，tojustifythewaysofProvidenceinthedestructionoftheRomangreatness。Hecelebrates，withpeculiarsatisfaction，thismemorabletriumphofChrist；andinsultshisadversaries，bychallengingthemtoproducesomesimilarexampleofatowntakenbystorm，inwhichthefabulousgodsofantiquityhadbeenabletoprotecteitherthemselvesortheirdeludedvotaries。^100
[Footnote99:Orosiusl。vii。c。39，p。573—576applaudsthepietyoftheChristianGoths，withoutseemingtoperceivethatthegreatestpartofthemwereArianheretics。Jornandesc。30，p。653andIsidoreofSeville，Chron。p。417，edit。Grot。，whowerebothattachedtotheGothiccause，haverepeatedandembellishedtheseedifyingtales。AccordingtoIsidore，Alarichimselfwasheardtosay，thathewagedwarwiththeRomans，andnotwiththeapostles。Suchwasthestyleoftheseventhcentury；twohundredyearsbefore，thefameandmerithadbeenascribed，nottotheapostles，buttoChrist。]
[Footnote100:SeeAugustin，deCivitat。Dei，l。i。c。1—6。HeparticularlyappealstotheexamplesofTroy，Syracuse，andTarentum。]
InthesackofRome，somerareandextraordinaryexamplesofBarbarianvirtuehavebeendeservedlyapplauded。ButtheholyprecinctsoftheVatican，andtheapostolicchurches，couldreceiveaverysmallproportionoftheRomanpeople；manythousandwarriors，moreespeciallyoftheHuns，whoservedunderthestandardofAlaric，werestrangerstothename，oratleasttothefaith，ofChrist；andwemaysuspect，withoutanybreachofcharityorcandor，thatinthehourofsavagelicense，wheneverypassionwasinflamed，andeveryrestraintwasremoved，thepreceptsoftheGospelseldominfluencedthebehavioroftheGothicChristians。Thewriters，thebestdisposedtoexaggeratetheirclemency，havefreelyconfessed，thatacruelslaughterwasmadeoftheRomans；^101andthatthestreetsofthecitywerefilledwithdeadbodies，whichremainedwithoutburialduringthegeneralconsternation。Thedespairofthecitizenswassometimesconvertedintofury:andwhenevertheBarbarianswereprovokedbyopposition，theyextendedthepromiscuousmassacretothefeeble，theinnocent，andthehelpless。Theprivaterevengeoffortythousandslaveswasexercisedwithoutpityorremorse；andtheignominiouslashes，whichtheyhadformerlyreceived，werewashedawayinthebloodoftheguilty，orobnoxious，families。ThematronsandvirginsofRomewereexposedtoinjuriesmoredreadful，intheapprehensionofchastity，thandeathitself；andtheecclesiasticalhistorianhasselectedanexampleoffemalevirtue，fortheadmirationoffutureages。^102ARomanlady，ofsingularbeautyandorthodoxfaith，hadexcitedtheimpatientdesiresofayoungGoth，who，accordingtothesagaciousremarkofSozomen，wasattachedtotheArianheresy。Exasperatedbyherobstinateresistance，hedrewhissword，and，withtheangerofalover，slightlywoundedherneck。Thebleedingheroinestillcontinuedtobravehisresentment，andtorepelhislove，tilltheravisherdesistedfromhisunavailingefforts，respectfullyconductedhertothesanctuaryoftheVatican，andgavesixpiecesofgoldtotheguardsofthechurch，onconditionthattheyshouldrestoreherinviolatetothearmsofherhusband。
Suchinstancesofcourageandgenerositywerenotextremelycommon。Thebrutalsoldierssatisfiedtheirsensualappetites，withoutconsultingeithertheinclinationorthedutiesoftheirfemalecaptives:andanicequestionofcasuistrywasseriouslyagitated，Whetherthosetendervictims，whohadinflexiblyrefusedtheirconsenttotheviolationwhichtheysustained，hadlost，bytheirmisfortune，thegloriouscrownofvirginity。^103
Theirwereotherlossesindeedofamoresubstantialkind，andmoregeneralconcern。Itcannotbepresumed，thatalltheBarbarianswereatalltimescapableofperpetratingsuchamorousoutrages；andthewantofyouth，orbeauty，orchastity，protectedthegreatestpartoftheRomanwomenfromthedangerofarape。Butavariceisaninsatiateanduniversalpassion；sincetheenjoymentofalmosteveryobjectthatcanaffordpleasuretothedifferenttastesandtempersofmankindmaybeprocuredbythepossessionofwealth。InthepillageofRome，ajustpreferencewasgiventogoldandjewels，whichcontainthegreatestvalueinthesmallestcompassandweight:but，aftertheseportablericheshadbeenremovedbythemorediligentrobbers，thepalacesofRomewererudelystrippedoftheirsplendidandcostlyfurniture。Thesideboardsofmassyplate，andthevariegatedwardrobesofsilkandpurple，wereirregularlypiledinthewagons，thatalwaysfollowedthemarchofaGothicarmy。Themostexquisiteworksofartwereroughlyhandled，orwantonlydestroyed；manyastatuewasmeltedforthesakeofthepreciousmaterials；andmanyavase，inthedivisionofthespoil，wasshiveredintofragmentsbythestrokeofabattle—axe。
TheacquisitionofrichesservedonlytostimulatetheavariceoftherapaciousBarbarians，whoproceeded，bythreats，byblows，andbytortures，toforcefromtheirprisonerstheconfessionofhiddentreasure。^104Visiblesplendorandexpensewereallegedastheproofofaplentifulfortune；theappearanceofpovertywasimputedtoaparsimoniousdisposition；andtheobstinacyofsomemisers，whoenduredthemostcrueltormentsbeforetheywoulddiscoverthesecretobjectoftheiraffection，wasfataltomanyunhappywretches，whoexpiredunderthelash，forrefusingtorevealtheirimaginarytreasures。TheedificesofRome，thoughthedamagehasbeenmuchexaggerated，receivedsomeinjuryfromtheviolenceoftheGoths。AttheirentrancethroughtheSalariangate，theyfiredtheadjacenthousestoguidetheirmarch，andtodistracttheattentionofthecitizens；theflames，whichencounterednoobstacleinthedisorderofthenight，consumedmanyprivateandpublicbuildings；andtheruinsofthepalaceofSallust^105remained，intheageofJustinian，astatelymonumentoftheGothicconflagration。^106Yetacontemporaryhistorianhasobserved，thatfirecouldscarcelyconsumetheenormousbeamsofsolidbrass，andthatthestrengthofmanwasinsufficienttosubvertthefoundationsofancientstructures。Sometruthmaypossiblybeconcealedinhisdevoutassertion，thatthewrathofHeavensuppliedtheimperfectionsofhostilerage；andthattheproudForumofRome，decoratedwiththestatuesofsomanygodsandheroes，waslevelledinthedustbythestrokeoflightning。^107
[Footnote101:Jeromtom。i。p。121，adPrincipiamhasappliedtothesackofRomeallthestrongexpressionsofVirgil:—
Quisclademilliusnoctis，quisfunerafando，Explicet，&c。
Procopiusl。i。c。2positivelyaffirmsthatgreatnumberswereslainbytheGoths。AugustindeCiv。Dei，l。i。c。12，13
offersChristiancomfortforthedeathofthosewhosebodiesmultacorporahadremainedintantastrageunburied。
Baronius，fromthedifferentwritingsoftheFathers，hasthrownsomelightonthesackofRome。Annal。Eccles。A。D。410，No。16
—34。]
[Footnote102:Sozomen。l。ix。c。10。AugustindeCivitat。Dei，l。i。c。17intimates，thatsomevirginsormatronsactuallykilledthemselvestoescapeviolation；andthoughheadmirestheirspirit，heisobliged，byhistheology，tocondemntheirrashpresumption。PerhapsthegoodbishopofHippowastooeasyinthebelief，aswellastoorigidinthecensure，ofthisactoffemaleheroism。ThetwentymaidensiftheyeverexistedwhothrewthemselvesintotheElbe，whenMagdeburghwastakenbystorm，havebeenmultipliedtothenumberoftwelvehundred。SeeHarte'sHistoryofGustavusAdolphus，vol。i。p。308。]
[Footnote103:SeeAugustindeCivitat。Dei，l。i。c。16，18。Hetreatsthesubjectwithremarkableaccuracy:andafteradmittingthattherecannotbeanycrimewherethereisnoconsent，headds，Sedquianonsolumquodaddolorem，verumetiamquodadlibidinem，pertinet，incorporealienopepetraripotest；quicquidtalefactumfuerit，etsiretentamconstantissimoanimopudicitiamnonexcutit，pudoremtamenincutit，necredaturfactumcummentisetiamvoluntate，quodfierifortassesinecarnisaliquavoluptatenonpotuit。Inc。18hemakessomecuriousdistinctionsbetweenmoralandphysicalvirginity。]
[Footnote104:Marcella，aRomanlady，equallyrespectableforherrank，herage，andherpiety，wasthrownontheground，andcruellybeatenandwhipped，caesamfustibusflagellisque，&c。
Jerom，tom。i。p。121，adPrincipiam。SeeAugustin，deCiv。Dei，l。c。10。ThemodernSaccodiRoma，p。208，givesanideaofthevariousmethodsoftorturingprisonersforgold。]
[Footnote105:ThehistorianSallust，whousefullypracticedtheviceswhichhehassoeloquentlycensured，employedtheplunderofNumidiatoadornhispalaceandgardensontheQuirinalhill。
ThespotwherethehousestoodisnowmarkedbythechurchofSt。
Susanna，separatedonlybyastreetfromthebathsofDiocletian，andnotfardistantfromtheSalariangate。SeeNardini，RomaAntica，p。192，193，andthegreatI'lanofModernRome，byNolli。]
[Footnote106:TheexpressionsofProcopiusaredistinctandmoderate，deBell。Vandal。l。i。c。2。TheChronicleofMarcellinusspeakstoostronglypartemurbisRomaecremavit；andthewordsofPhilostorgiusl。xii。c。3conveyafalseandexaggeratedidea。Bargaeushascomposedaparticulardissertationseetom。iv。Antiquit。Rom。Graev。toprovethattheedificesofRomewerenotsubvertedbytheGothsandVandals。]
[Footnote107:Orosius，l。ii。c。19，p。143。Hespeaksasifhedisapprovedallstatues；velDeumvelhominemmentiuntur。TheyconsistedofthekingsofAlbaandRomefromAeneas，theRomans，illustriouseitherinarmsorarts，andthedeifiedCaesars。TheexpressionwhichheusesofForumissomewhatambiguous，sincethereexistedfiveprincipalFora；butastheywereallcontiguousandadjacent，intheplainwhichissurroundedbytheCapitoline，theQuirinal，theEsquiline，andthePalatinehills，theymightfairlybeconsideredasone。SeetheRomaAntiquaofDonatus，p。162—201，andtheRomaAnticaofNardini，p。212—
273。Theformerismoreusefulfortheancientdescriptions，thelatterfortheactualtopography。]
ChapterXXXI:InvasionOfItaly，OccupationOfTerritoriesByBarbarians。
PartIV。
Whatevermightbethenumbersofequestrianorplebeianrank，whoperishedinthemassacreofRome，itisconfidentlyaffirmedthatonlyonesenatorlosthislifebytheswordoftheenemy。^108Butitwasnoteasytocomputethemultitudes，who，fromanhonorablestationandaprosperousfortune，weresuddenlyreducedtothemiserableconditionofcaptivesandexiles。AstheBarbarianshadmoreoccasionformoneythanforslaves，theyfixedatamoderatepricetheredemptionoftheirindigentprisoners；andtheransomwasoftenpaidbythebenevolenceoftheirfriends，orthecharityofstrangers。^109Thecaptives，whowereregularlysold，eitherinopenmarket，orbyprivatecontract，wouldhavelegallyregainedtheirnativefreedom，whichitwasimpossibleforacitizentolose，ortoalienate。^110Butasitwassoondiscoveredthatthevindicationoftheirlibertywouldendangertheirlives；andthattheGoths，unlesstheyweretemptedtosell，mightbeprovokedtomurder，theiruselessprisoners；theciviljurisprudencehadbeenalreadyqualifiedbyawiseregulation，thattheyshouldbeobligedtoservethemoderatetermoffiveyears，tilltheyhaddischargedbytheirlaborthepriceoftheirredemption。^111ThenationswhoinvadedtheRomanempire，haddrivenbeforethem，intoItaly，wholetroopsofhungryandaffrightedprovincials，lessapprehensiveofservitudethanoffamine。ThecalamitiesofRomeandItalydispersedtheinhabitantstothemostlonely，themostsecure，themostdistantplacesofrefuge。WhiletheGothiccavalryspreadterroranddesolationalongthesea—coastofCampaniaandTuscany，thelittleislandofIgilium，separatedbyanarrowchannelfromtheArgentarianpromontory，repulsed，oreluded，theirhostileattempts；andatsosmalladistancefromRome，greatnumbersofcitizensweresecurelyconcealedinthethickwoodsofthatsequesteredspot。^112Theamplepatrimonies，whichmanysenatorianfamiliespossessedinAfrica，invitedthem，iftheyhadtime，andprudence，toescapefromtheruinoftheircountry，toembracetheshelterofthathospitableprovince。ThemostillustriousofthesefugitiveswasthenobleandpiousProba，^113thewidowofthepraefectPetronius。Afterthedeathofherhusband，themostpowerfulsubjectofRome，shehadremainedattheheadoftheAnicianfamily，andsuccessivelysupplied，fromherprivatefortune，theexpenseoftheconsulshipsofherthreesons。WhenthecitywasbesiegedandtakenbytheGoths，Probasupported，withChristianresignation，thelossofimmenseriches；embarkedinasmallvessel，fromwhenceshebeheld，atsea，theflamesofherburningpalace，andfledwithherdaughterLaeta，andhergranddaughter，thecelebratedvirgin，Demetrias，tothecoastofAfrica。Thebenevolentprofusionwithwhichthematrondistributedthefruits，ortheprice，ofherestates，contributedtoalleviatethemisfortunesofexileandcaptivity。ButeventhefamilyofProbaherselfwasnotexemptfromtherapaciousoppressionofCountHeraclian，whobaselysold，inmatrimonialprostitution，thenoblestmaidensofRometothelustoravariceoftheSyrianmerchants。TheItalianfugitivesweredispersedthroughtheprovinces，alongthecoastofEgyptandAsia，asfarasConstantinopleandJerusalem；andthevillageofBethlem，thesolitaryresidenceofSt。Jeromandhisfemaleconverts，wascrowdedwithillustriousbeggarsofeithersex，andeveryage，whoexcitedthepubliccompassionbytheremembranceoftheirpastfortune。^114ThisawfulcatastropheofRomefilledtheastonishedempirewithgriefandterror。Sointerestingacontrastofgreatnessandruin，disposedthefondcredulityofthepeopletodeplore，andeventoexaggerate，theafflictionsofthequeenofcities。Theclergy，whoappliedtorecenteventstheloftymetaphorsoforientalprophecy，weresometimestemptedtoconfoundthedestructionofthecapitalandthedissolutionoftheglobe。