[Footnote108:Orosiusl。ii。c。19，p。142comparesthecrueltyoftheGaulsandtheclemencyoftheGoths。Ibivixquemquaminventumsenatorem，quivelabsensevaserit；hicvixquemquamrequiri，quiforteutlatensperierit。Butthereisanairofrhetoric，andperhapsoffalsehood，inthisantithesis；
andSocratesl。vii。c。10affirms，perhapsbyanoppositeexaggeration，thatmanysenatorswereputtodeathwithvariousandexquisitetortures。]
[Footnote109:Multi……Christianiincaptivitatemductisunt。
Augustin，deCivDei，l。i。c。14；andtheChristiansexperiencednopeculiarhardships。]
[Footnote110:SeeHeineccius，Antiquitat。JurisRoman。tom。i。
p。96。]
[Footnote111:AppendixCod。Theodos。xvi。inSirmond。Opera，tom。i。p。735。Thisedictwaspublishedonthe11thofDecember，A。D。408，andismorereasonablethanproperlybelongedtotheministersofHonorius。]
[Footnote112:EminusIgiliisylvosacacuminamiror；
Quemfraudarenefaslaudishonoresuae。
Haecpropriosnupertutataestinsulasaltus；
Sivelociingenio，seuDominigenio。
Gurgitecummodicovictricibusobstititarmis，Tanquamlonginquodissociatamari。
Haecmultoslacerasuscepitaburbefugates，Hicfessispositocertatimoresalus。
Plurimaterrenopopulaverataequorabello，Contranaturamclassetimenduseques:
Unum，mirafides，variodiscrimineportum!
TampropeRomanis，tamproculesseGetis。
Rutilius，inItinerar。l。i。325
TheislandisnowcalledGiglio。SeeCluver。Ital。Antiq。
l。ii。]
[Footnote113:AstheadventuresofProbaandherfamilyareconnectedwiththelifeofSt。Augustin，theyarediligentlyillustratedbyTillemont，Mem。Eccles。tom。xiii。p。620—635。
SometimeaftertheirarrivalinAfrica，Demetriastooktheveil，andmadeavowofvirginity；aneventwhichwasconsideredasofthehighestimportancetoRomeandtotheworld。AlltheSaintswrotecongratulatoryletterstoher；thatofJeromisstillextant，tom。i。p。62—73，adDemetriad。deservandVirginitat。，andcontainsamixtureofabsurdreasoning，spiriteddeclamation，andcuriousfacts，someofwhichrelatetothesiegeandsackofRome。]
[Footnote114:SeethepatheticcomplaintofJerom，tom。v。p。
400，inhisprefacetothesecondbookofhisCommentariesontheProphetEzekiel。]
Thereexistsinhumannatureastrongpropensitytodepreciatetheadvantages，andtomagnifytheevils，ofthepresenttimes。Yet，whenthefirstemotionshadsubsided，andafairestimatewasmadeoftherealdamage，themorelearnedandjudiciouscontemporarieswereforcedtoconfess，thatinfantRomehadformerlyreceivedmoreessentialinjuryfromtheGauls，thanshehadnowsustainedfromtheGothsinherdecliningage。^115
Theexperienceofelevencenturieshasenabledposteritytoproduceamuchmoresingularparallel；andtoaffirmwithconfidence，thattheravagesoftheBarbarians，whomAlarichadledfromthebanksoftheDanube，werelessdestructivethanthehostilitiesexercisedbythetroopsofCharlestheFifth，aCatholicprince，whostyledhimselfEmperoroftheRomans。^116
TheGothsevacuatedthecityattheendofsixdays，butRomeremainedaboveninemonthsinthepossessionoftheImperialists；
andeveryhourwasstainedbysomeatrociousactofcruelty，lust，andrapine。TheauthorityofAlaricpreservedsomeorderandmoderationamongtheferociousmultitudewhichacknowledgedhimfortheirleaderandking；buttheconstableofBourbonhadgloriouslyfallenintheattackofthewalls；andthedeathofthegeneralremovedeveryrestraintofdisciplinefromanarmywhichconsistedofthreeindependentnations，theItalians，theSpaniards，andtheGermans。Inthebeginningofthesixteenthcentury，themannersofItalyexhibitedaremarkablesceneofthedepravityofmankind。Theyunitedthesanguinarycrimesthatprevailinanunsettledstateofsociety，withthepolishedviceswhichspringfromtheabuseofartandluxury；andthelooseadventurers，whohadviolatedeveryprejudiceofpatriotismandsuperstitiontoassaultthepalaceoftheRomanpontiff，mustdeservetobeconsideredasthemostprofligateoftheItalians。
Atthesameaera，theSpaniardsweretheterrorbothoftheOldandNewWorld:buttheirhigh—spiritedvalorwasdisgracedbygloomypride，rapaciousavarice，andunrelentingcruelty。
Indefatigableinthepursuitoffameandriches，theyhadimproved，byrepeatedpractice，themostexquisiteandeffectualmethodsoftorturingtheirprisoners:manyoftheCastilians，whopillagedRome，werefamiliarsoftheholyinquisition；andsomevolunteers，perhaps，werelatelyreturnedfromtheconquestofMexicoTheGermanswerelesscorruptthantheItalians，lesscruelthantheSpaniards；andtherustic，orevensavage，aspectofthoseTramontanewarriors，oftendisguisedasimpleandmercifuldisposition。Buttheyhadimbibed，inthefirstfervorofthereformation，thespirit，aswellastheprinciplesofLuther。Itwastheirfavoriteamusementtoinsult，ordestroy，theconsecratedobjectsofCatholicsuperstition；theyindulged，withoutpityorremorse，adevouthatredagainsttheclergyofeverydenominationanddegree，whoformsoconsiderableapartoftheinhabitantsofmodernRome；andtheirfanaticzealmightaspiretosubvertthethroneofAnti—christ，topurify，withbloodandfire，theabominationsofthespiritualBabylon。^117
[Footnote115:Orosius，thoughwithsometheologicalpartiality，statesthiscomparison，l。ii。c。19，p。142，l。vii。c。39，p。
575。But，inthehistoryofthetakingofRomebytheGauls，everythingisuncertain，andperhapsfabulous。SeeBeaufortsurl'Incertitude，&c。，del'HistoireRomaine，p。356；andMelot，intheMem。del'AcademiedesInscript。tom。xv。p。1—21。]
[Footnote116:Thereaderwhowishestoinformhimselfofthecircumstancesofhisfamousevent，mayperuseanadmirablenarrativeinDr。Robertson'sHistoryofCharlesV。vol。ii。p。
283；orconsulttheAnnalid'ItaliaofthelearnedMuratori，tom。
xiv。p。230—244，octavoedition。Ifheisdesirousofexaminingtheoriginals，hemayhaverecoursetotheeighteenthbookofthegreat，butunfinished，historyofGuicciardini。Buttheaccountwhichmosttrulydeservesthenameofauthenticandoriginal，isalittlebook，entitled，IlSaccodiRoma，composed，withinlessthanamonthaftertheassaultofthecity，bythebrotherofthehistorianGuicciardini，whoappearstohavebeenanablemagistrateandadispassionatewriter。]
[Footnote117:ThefuriousspiritofLuther，theeffectoftemperandenthusiasm，hasbeenforciblyattacked，Bossuet，Hist。desVariationsdesEglisesProtestantes，livrei。p。20—36，andfeeblydefended，Seckendorf。Comment。deLutheranismo，especiallyl。i。No。78，p。120，andl。iii。No。122，p。556。]
TheretreatofthevictoriousGoths，whoevacuatedRomeonthesixthday，^118mightbetheresultofprudence；butitwasnotsurelytheeffectoffear。^119Attheheadofanarmyencumberedwithrichandweightyspoils，theirintrepidleaderadvancedalongtheAppianwayintothesouthernprovincesofItaly，destroyingwhateverdaredtoopposehispassage，andcontentinghimselfwiththeplunderoftheunresistingcountry。
ThefateofCapua，theproudandluxuriousmetropolisofCampania，andwhichwasrespected，eveninitsdecay，astheeighthcityoftheempire，^120isburiedinoblivion；whilsttheadjacenttownofNola^121hasbeenillustrated，onthisoccasion，bythesanctityofPaulinus，^122whowassuccessivelyaconsul，amonk，andabishop。Attheageofforty，herenouncedtheenjoymentofwealthandhonor，ofsocietyandliterature，toembracealifeofsolitudeandpenance；andtheloudapplauseoftheclergyencouragedhimtodespisethereproachesofhisworldlyfriends，whoascribedthisdesperateacttosomedisorderofthemindorbody。^123AnearlyandpassionateattachmentdeterminedhimtofixhishumbledwellinginoneofthesuburbsofNola，nearthemiraculoustombofSt。
Faelix，whichthepublicdevotionhadalreadysurroundedwithfivelargeandpopulouschurches。Theremainsofhisfortune，andofhisunderstanding，werededicatedtotheserviceofthegloriousmartyr；whosepraise，onthedayofhisfestival，Paulinusneverfailedtocelebratebyasolemnhymn；andinwhosenameheerectedasixthchurch，ofsuperioreleganceandbeauty，whichwasdecoratedwithmanycuriouspictures，fromthehistoryoftheOldandNewTestament。Suchassiduouszealsecuredthefavorofthesaint，^124oratleastofthepeople；and，afterfifteenyears'retirement，theRomanconsulwascompelledtoacceptthebishopricofNola，afewmonthsbeforethecitywasinvestedbytheGoths。Duringthesiege，somereligiouspersonsweresatisfiedthattheyhadseen，eitherindreamsorvisions，thedivineformoftheirtutelarpatron；yetitsoonappearedbytheevent，thatFaelixwantedpower，orinclination，topreservetheflockofwhichhehadformerlybeentheshepherd。Nolawasnotsavedfromthegeneraldevastation；^125andthecaptivebishopwasprotectedonlybythegeneralopinionofhisinnocenceandpoverty。AbovefouryearselapsedfromthesuccessfulinvasionofItalybythearmsofAlaric，tothevoluntaryretreatoftheGothsundertheconductofhissuccessorAdolphus；and，duringthewholetime，theyreignedwithoutcontroloveracountry，which，intheopinionoftheancients，hadunitedallthevariousexcellencesofnatureandart。Theprosperity，indeed，whichItalyhadattainedintheauspiciousageoftheAntonines，hadgraduallydeclinedwiththedeclineoftheempire。
ThefruitsofalongpeaceperishedundertherudegraspoftheBarbarians；andtheythemselveswereincapableoftastingthemoreelegantrefinementsofluxury，whichhadbeenpreparedfortheuseofthesoftandpolishedItalians。Eachsoldier，however，claimedanampleportionofthesubstantialplenty，thecornandcattle，oilandwine，thatwasdailycollectedandconsumedintheGothiccamp；andtheprincipalwarriorsinsultedthevillasandgardens，onceinhabitedbyLucullusandCicero，alongthebeauteouscoastofCampania。Theirtremblingcaptives，thesonsanddaughtersofRomansenators，presented，ingobletsofgoldandgems，largedraughtsofFalernianwinetothehaughtyvictors；whostretchedtheirhugelimbsundertheshadeofplane—trees，^126artificiallydisposedtoexcludethescorchingrays，andtoadmitthegenialwarmth，ofthesun。Thesedelightswereenhancedbythememoryofpasthardships:thecomparisonoftheirnativesoil，thebleakandbarrenhillsofScythia，andthefrozenbanksoftheElbeandDanube，addednewcharmstothefelicityoftheItalianclimate。^127
[Footnote118:Marcellinus，inChron。Orosius，l。vii。c。39，p。
575，asserts，thatheleftRomeonthethirdday；butthisdifferenceiseasilyreconciledbythesuccessivemotionsofgreatbodiesoftroops。]
[Footnote119:Socratesl。vii。c。10pretends，withoutanycoloroftruth，orreason，thatAlaricfledonthereportthatthearmiesoftheEasternempirewereinfullmarchtoattackhim。]
[Footnote120:AusoniusdeClarisUrbibus，p。233，edit。Toll。
TheluxuryofCapuahadformerlysurpassedthatofSybarisitself。SeeAthenaeusDeipnosophist。l。xii。p。528，edit。
Casaubon。]
[Footnote121:Forty—eightyearsbeforethefoundationofRome，about800beforetheChristianaera，theTuscansbuiltCapuaandNola，atthedistanceoftwenty—threemilesfromeachother；
butthelatterofthetwocitiesneveremergedfromastateofmediocrity。]
[Footnote122:TillemontMem。Eccles。tom。xiv。p。1—46hascompiled，withhisusualdiligence，allthatrelatestothelifeandwritingsofPaulinus，whoseretreatiscelebratedbyhisownpen，andbythepraisesofSt。Ambrose，St。Jerom，St。Augustin，SulpiciusSeverus，&c。，hisChristianfriendsandcontemporaries。]
[Footnote123:SeetheaffectionatelettersofAusoniusepist。
xix。—xxv。p。650—698，edit。Toll。tohiscolleague，hisfriend，andhisdisciple，Paulinus。ThereligionofAusoniusisstillaproblem，seeMem。del'AcademiedesInscriptions，tom。
xv。p。123—138。Ibelievethatitwassuchinhisowntime，and，consequently，thatinhishearthewasaPagan。]
[Footnote124:ThehumblePaulinusoncepresumedtosay，thathebelievedSt。Faelixdidlovehim；atleast，asamasterloveshislittledog。]
[Footnote125:SeeJornandes，deReb。Get。c。30，p。653。
Philostorgius，l。xii。c。3。Augustin。deCiv。Dei，l。i。c。10。
Baronius，Annal。Eccles。A。D。410，No。45，46。]
[Footnote126:Theplatanus，orplane—tree，wasafavoriteoftheancients，bywhomitwaspropagated，forthesakeofshade，fromtheEasttoGaul。Plin。Hist。Natur。xii。3，4，5。Hementionsseveralofanenormoussize；oneintheImperialvilla，atVelitrae，whichCaligulacalledhisnest，asthebrancheswerecapableofholdingalargetable，theproperattendants，andtheemperorhimself，whomPlinyquaintlystylesparsumbroe；anexpressionwhichmight，withequalreason，beappliedtoAlaric]
[Footnote127:TheprostrateSouthtothedestroyeryieldsHerboastedtitles，andhergoldenfields；
WithgrimdelightthebroodofwinterviewAbrighterday，andskiesofazurehue；
Scentthenewfragranceoftheopeningrose，Andquaffthependentvintageasitgrows。
SeeGray'sPoems，publishedbyMr。Mason，p。197。Insteadofcompilingtablesofchronologyandnaturalhistory，whydidnotMr。Grayapplythepowersofhisgeniustofinishthephilosophicpoem，ofwhichhehasleftsuchanexquisitespecimen?]
Whetherfame，orconquest，orriches，weretheobjectorAlaric，hepursuedthatobjectwithanindefatigableardor，whichcouldneitherbequelledbyadversitynorsatiatedbysuccess。
NosoonerhadhereachedtheextremelandofItaly，thanhewasattractedbytheneighboringprospectofafertileandpeacefulisland。YeteventhepossessionofSicilyheconsideredonlyasanintermediatesteptotheimportantexpedition，whichhealreadymeditatedagainstthecontinentofAfrica。TheStraitsofRhegiumandMessina^128aretwelvemilesinlength，and，inthenarrowestpassage，aboutonemileandahalfbroad；andthefabulousmonstersofthedeep，therocksofScylla，andthewhirlpoolofCharybdis，couldterrifynonebutthemosttimidandunskilfulmariners。YetassoonasthefirstdivisionoftheGothshadembarked，asuddentempestarose，whichsunk，orscattered，manyofthetransports；theircouragewasdauntedbytheterrorsofanewelement；andthewholedesignwasdefeatedbytheprematuredeathofAlaric，whichfixed，afterashortillness，thefataltermofhisconquests。TheferociouscharacteroftheBarbarianswasdisplayedinthefuneralofaherowhosevalorandfortunetheycelebratedwithmournfulapplause。Bythelaborofacaptivemultitude，theyforciblydivertedthecourseoftheBusentinus，asmallriverthatwashesthewallsofConsentia。Theroyalsepulchre，adornedwiththesplendidspoilsandtrophiesofRome，wasconstructedinthevacantbed；thewaterswerethenrestoredtotheirnaturalchannel；andthesecretspot，wheretheremainsofAlarichadbeendeposited，wasforeverconcealedbytheinhumanmassacreoftheprisoners，whohadbeenemployedtoexecutethework。^129
[Footnote128:FortheperfectdescriptionoftheStraitsofMessina，Scylla，Clarybdis，&c。，seeCluverius，Ital。Antiq。l。
iv。p。1293，andSiciliaAntiq。l。i。p。60—76，whohaddiligentlystudiedtheancients，andsurveyedwithacuriouseyetheactualfaceofthecountry。]
[Footnote129:Jornandes，deRebGet。c。30，p。654。]
ChapterXXXI:InvasionOfItaly，OccupationOfTerritoriesByBarbarians。
PartV。
ThepersonalanimositiesandhereditaryfeudsoftheBarbariansweresuspendedbythestrongnecessityoftheiraffairs；andthebraveAdolphus，thebrother—in—lawofthedeceasedmonarch，wasunanimouslyelectedtosucceedtohisthrone。ThecharacterandpoliticalsystemofthenewkingoftheGothsmaybebestunderstoodfromhisownconversationwithanillustriouscitizenofNarbonne；whoafterwards，inapilgrimagetotheHolyLand，relatedittoSt。Jerom，inthepresenceofthehistorianOrosius。"Inthefullconfidenceofvalorandvictory，IonceaspiredsaidAdolphustochangethefaceoftheuniverse；toobliteratethenameofRome；toerectonitsruinsthedominionoftheGoths；andtoacquire，likeAugustus，theimmortalfameofthefounderofanewempire。Byrepeatedexperiments，Iwasgraduallyconvinced，thatlawsareessentiallynecessarytomaintainandregulateawell—constitutedstate；andthatthefierce，untractablehumoroftheGothswasincapableofbearingthesalutaryyokeoflawsandcivilgovernment。FromthatmomentIproposedtomyselfadifferentobjectofgloryandambition；anditisnowmysincerewishthatthegratitudeoffutureagesshouldacknowledgethemeritofastranger，whoemployedtheswordoftheGoths，nottosubvert，buttorestoreandmaintain，theprosperityoftheRomanempire。"
^130Withthesepacificviews，thesuccessorofAlaricsuspendedtheoperationsofwar；andseriouslynegotiatedwiththeImperialcourtatreatyoffriendshipandalliance。ItwastheinterestoftheministersofHonorius，whowerenowreleasedfromtheobligationoftheirextravagantoath，todeliverItalyfromtheintolerableweightoftheGothicpowers；andtheyreadilyacceptedtheirserviceagainstthetyrantsandBarbarianswhoinfestedtheprovincesbeyondtheAlps。^131Adolphus，assumingthecharacterofaRomangeneral，directedhismarchfromtheextremityofCampaniatothesouthernprovincesofGaul。Histroops，eitherbyforceofagreement，immediatelyoccupiedthecitiesofNarbonne，Thoulouse，andBordeaux；andthoughtheywererepulsedbyCountBonifacefromthewallsofMarseilles，theysoonextendedtheirquartersfromtheMediterraneantotheOcean。
Theoppressedprovincialsmightexclaim，thatthemiserableremnant，whichtheenemyhadspared，wascruellyravishedbytheirpretendedallies；yetsomespeciouscolorswerenotwantingtopalliate，orjustifytheviolenceoftheGoths。ThecitiesofGaul，whichtheyattacked，mightperhapsbeconsideredasinastateofrebellionagainstthegovernmentofHonorius:thearticlesofthetreaty，orthesecretinstructionsofthecourt，mightsometimesbeallegedinfavoroftheseemingusurpationsofAdolphus；andtheguiltofanyirregular，unsuccessfulactofhostilitymightalwaysbeimputed，withanappearanceoftruth，totheungovernablespiritofaBarbarianhost，impatientofpeaceordiscipline。TheluxuryofItalyhadbeenlesseffectualtosoftenthetemper，thantorelaxthecourage，oftheGoths；
andtheyhadimbibedthevices，withoutimitatingtheartsandinstitutions，ofcivilizedsociety。^132
[Footnote130:Orosius，l。vii。c。43，p。584，585。HewassentbySt。Augustinintheyear415，fromAfricatoPalestine，tovisitSt。Jerom，andtoconsultwithhimonthesubjectofthePelagiancontroversy。]
[Footnote131:Jornandessupposes，withoutmuchprobability，thatAdolphusvisitedandplunderedRomeasecondtime，morelocustarumerasitYetheagreeswithOrosiusinsupposingthatatreatyofpeacewasconcludedbetweentheGothicprinceandHonorius。SeeOros。l。vii。c。43p。584，585。Jornandes，deReb。Geticis，c。31，p。654，655。]
[Footnote132:TheretreatoftheGothsfromItaly，andtheirfirsttransactionsinGaul，aredarkanddoubtful。IhavederivedmuchassistancefromMascou，Hist。oftheAncientGermans，l。viii。c。29，35，36，37，whohasillustrated，andconnected，thebrokenchroniclesandfragmentsofthetimes。]