differencesreconciled，alliancesformed，contributionsimposed，wiseresolutionsoftenconcerted，andsometimesexecuted；andthereisreasontobelieve，that，inmomentsofextremedanger，aPendragon，orDictator，waselectedbythegeneralconsentoftheBritons。Thesepastoralcares，soworthyoftheepiscopalcharacter，wereinterrupted，however，byzealandsuperstition；
andtheBritishclergyincessantlylaboredtoeradicatethePelagianheresy，whichtheyabhorred，asthepeculiardisgraceoftheirnativecountry。^189
[Footnote179:Ioweittomyself，andtohistorictruth，todeclare，thatsomecircumstancesinthisparagrapharefoundedonlyonconjectureandanalogy。Thestubbornnessofourlanguagehassometimesforcedmetodeviatefromtheconditionalintotheindicativemood。]
[Footnote180:Zosimus，l。vi。p。383。]
[Footnote181:TwocitiesofBritainweremunicipia，ninecolonies，tenLatiijuredonatoe，twelvestipendiarioeofeminentnote。ThisdetailistakenfromRichardofCirencester，deSituBritanniae，p。36；andthoughitmaynotseemprobablethathewrotefromtheMss。ofaRomangeneral，heshowsagenuineknowledgeofantiquity，veryextraordinaryforamonkofthefourteenthcentury。
Note:ThenamesmaybefoundinWhitaker'sHist。ofManchestervol。ii。330，379。Turner，Hist。Anglo—Saxons，i。
216。—M。]
[Footnote182:SeeMaffeiVeronaIllustrata，parti。l。v。p。83
—106。]
[Footnote183:Legesrestituit，libertatemquereducit，Etservosfamulisnonsinitessesuis。
Itinerar。Rutil。l。i。215。]
[Footnote184:AninscriptionapudSirmond，Not。adSidon。
Apollinar。p。59describesacastle，cummurisetportis，tutioniomnium，erectedbyDardanusonhisownestate，nearSisteron，inthesecondNarbonnese，andnamedbyhimTheopolis。]
[Footnote185:Theestablishmentoftheirpowerwouldhavebeeneasyindeed，ifwecouldadopttheimpracticableschemeofalivelyandlearnedantiquarian；whosupposesthattheBritishmonarchsoftheseveraltribescontinuedtoreign，thoughwithsubordinatejurisdiction，fromthetimeofClaudiustothatofHonorius。SeeWhitaker'sHistoryofManchester，vol。i。p。247—
257。]
[Footnote186:Procopius，deBell。Vandal。l。i。c。3，p。181。
Britanniafertilisprovinciatyrannorum，wastheexpressionofJerom，intheyear415tom。ii。p。255，adCtesiphont。Bythepilgrims，whoresortedeveryyeartotheHolyLand，themonkofBethlemreceivedtheearliestandmostaccurateintelligence。]
[Footnote187:SeeBingham'sEccles。Antiquities，vol。i。l。ix。
c。6，p。394。]
[Footnote188:ItisreportedofthreeBritishbishopswhoassistedatthecouncilofRimini，A。D。359，tampauperesfuisseutnihilhaberent。SulpiciusSeverus，Hist。Sacra，l。ii。p。420。
Someoftheirbrethrenhowever，wereinbettercircumstances。]
[Footnote189:ConsultUsher，deAntiq。Eccles。Britannicar。c。8
—12。]
Itissomewhatremarkable，orratheritisextremelynatural，thattherevoltofBritainandArmoricashouldhaveintroducedanappearanceoflibertyintotheobedientprovincesofGaul。Inasolemnedict，^190filledwiththestrongestassurancesofthatpaternalaffectionwhichprincessooftenexpress，andsoseldomfeel，theemperorHonoriuspromulgatedhisintentionofconveninganannualassemblyofthesevenprovinces:
anamepeculiarlyappropriatedtoAquitainandtheancientNarbonnese，whichhadlongsinceexchangedtheirCelticrudenessfortheusefulandelegantartsofItaly。^191Arles，theseatofgovernmentandcommerce，wasappointedfortheplaceoftheassembly；whichregularlycontinuedtwenty—eightdays，fromthefifteenthofAugusttothethirteenthofSeptember，ofeveryyear。ItconsistedofthePraetorianpraefectoftheGauls；ofsevenprovincialgovernors，oneconsular，andsixpresidents；ofthemagistrates，andperhapsthebishops，ofaboutsixtycities；
andofacompetent，thoughindefinite，numberofthemosthonorableandopulentpossessorsofland，whomightjustlybeconsideredastherepresentativesoftheircountry。Theywereempoweredtointerpretandcommunicatethelawsoftheirsovereign；toexposethegrievancesandwishesoftheirconstituents；tomoderatetheexcessiveorunequalweightoftaxes；andtodeliberateoneverysubjectoflocalornationalimportance，thatcouldtendtotherestorationofthepeaceandprosperityofthesevenprovinces。Ifsuchaninstitution，whichgavethepeopleaninterestintheirowngovernment，hadbeenuniversallyestablishedbyTrajanortheAntonines，theseedsofpublicwisdomandvirtuemighthavebeencherishedandpropagatedintheempireofRome。Theprivilegesofthesubjectwouldhavesecuredthethroneofthemonarch；theabusesofanarbitraryadministrationmighthavebeenprevented，insomedegree，orcorrected，bytheinterpositionoftheserepresentativeassemblies；andthecountrywouldhavebeendefendedagainstaforeignenemybythearmsofnativesandfreemen。Underthemildandgenerousinfluenceofliberty，theRomanempiremighthaveremainedinvincibleandimmortal；orifitsexcessivemagnitude，andtheinstabilityofhumanaffairs，hadopposedsuchperpetualcontinuance，itsvitalandconstituentmembersmighthaveseparatelypreservedtheirvigorandindependence。Butinthedeclineoftheempire，wheneveryprincipleofhealthandlifehadbeenexhausted，thetardyapplicationofthispartialremedywasincapableofproducinganyimportantorsalutaryeffects。
TheemperorHonoriusexpresseshissurprise，thathemustcompelthereluctantprovincestoacceptaprivilegewhichtheyshouldardentlyhavesolicited。Afineofthree，orevenfive，poundsofgold，wasimposedontheabsentrepresentatives；whoseemtohavedeclinedthisimaginarygiftofafreeconstitution，asthelastandmostcruelinsultoftheiroppressors。
[Footnote190:Seethecorrecttextofthisedict，aspublishedbySirmond，Not。adSidon。Apollin。p。148。HincmarofRheims，whoassignsaplacetothebishops，hadprobablyseenintheninthcenturyamoreperfectcopy。Dubos，Hist。CritiquedelaMonarchieFrancoise，tom。i。p。241—255]
[Footnote191:ItisevidentfromtheNotitia，thatthesevenprovincesweretheViennensis，themaritimeAlps，thefirstandsecondNarbonneseNovempopulania，andthefirstandsecondAquitain。IntheroomofthefirstAquitain，theAbbeDubos，ontheauthorityofHincmar，desirestointroducethefirstLugdunensis，orLyonnese。]
ChapterXXXII:EmperorsArcadius，Eutropius，TheodosiusII。
PartI。
ArcadiusEmperorOfTheEast。—AdministrationAndDisgraceOfEutropius。—RevoltOfGainas。—PersecutionOfSt。JohnChrysostom。—TheodosiusII。EmperorOfTheEast。—HisSisterPulcheria。—HisWifeEudocia。—ThePersianWar，AndDivisionOfArmenia。
ThedivisionoftheRomanworldbetweenthesonsofTheodosiusmarksthefinalestablishmentoftheempireoftheEast，which，fromthereignofArcadiustothetakingofConstantinoplebytheTurks，subsistedonethousandandfifty—eightyears，inastateofprematureandperpetualdecay。
Thesovereignofthatempireassumed，andobstinatelyretained，thevain，andatlengthfictitious，titleofEmperoroftheRomans；andthehereditaryappellationofCaesarandAugustuscontinuedtodeclare，thathewasthelegitimatesuccessorofthefirstofmen，whohadreignedoverthefirstofnations。TheplaceofConstantinoplerivalled，andperhapsexcelled，themagnificenceofPersia；andtheeloquentsermonsofSt。
Chrysostom^1celebrate，whiletheycondemn，thepompousluxuryofthereignofArcadius。"Theemperor，"sayshe，"wearsonhisheadeitheradiadem，oracrownofgold，decoratedwithpreciousstonesofinestimablevalue。Theseornaments，andhispurplegarments，arereservedforhissacredpersonalone；andhisrobesofsilkareembroideredwiththefiguresofgoldendragons。Histhroneisofmassygold。Wheneverheappearsinpublic，heissurroundedbyhiscourtiers，hisguards，andhisattendants。
Theirspears，theirshields，theircuirasses，thebridlesandtrappingsoftheirhorses，haveeitherthesubstanceortheappearanceofgold；andthelargesplendidbossinthemidstoftheirshieldisencircledwithsmallerbosses，whichrepresenttheshapeofthehumaneye。Thetwomulesthatdrewthechariotofthemonarchareperfectlywhite，andshiningalloverwithgold。Thechariotitself，ofpureandsolidgold，attractstheadmirationofthespectators，whocontemplatethepurplecurtains，thesnowycarpet，thesizeofthepreciousstones，andtheresplendentplatesofgold，thatglitterastheyareagitatedbythemotionofthecarriage。TheImperialpicturesarewhite，onablueground；theemperorappearsseatedonhisthrone，withhisarms，hishorses，andhisguardsbesidehim；andhisvanquishedenemiesinchainsathisfeet。"ThesuccessorsofConstantineestablishedtheirperpetualresidenceintheroyalcity，whichhehaderectedonthevergeofEuropeandAsia。
Inaccessibletothemenacesoftheirenemies，andperhapstothecomplaintsoftheirpeople，theyreceived，witheachwind，thetributaryproductionsofeveryclimate；whiletheimpregnablestrengthoftheircapitalcontinuedforagestodefythehostileattemptsoftheBarbarians。TheirdominionswereboundedbytheAdriaticandtheTigris；andthewholeintervaloftwenty—fivedays'navigation，whichseparatedtheextremecoldofScythiafromthetorridzoneofAethiopia，^2wascomprehendedwithinthelimitsoftheempireoftheEast。Thepopulouscountriesofthatempireweretheseatofartandlearning，ofluxuryandwealth；
andtheinhabitants，whohadassumedthelanguageandmannersofGreeks，styledthemselves，withsomeappearanceoftruth，themostenlightenedandcivilizedportionofthehumanspecies。Theformofgovernmentwasapureandsimplemonarchy；thenameoftheRomanRepublic，whichsolongpreservedafainttraditionoffreedom，wasconfinedtotheLatinprovinces；andtheprincesofConstantinoplemeasuredtheirgreatnessbytheservileobedienceoftheirpeople。Theywereignoranthowmuchthispassivedispositionenervatesanddegradeseveryfacultyofthemind。
Thesubjects，whohadresignedtheirwilltotheabsolutecommandsofamaster，wereequallyincapableofguardingtheirlivesandfortunesagainsttheassaultsoftheBarbarians，orofdefendingtheirreasonfromtheterrorsofsuperstition。
[Footnote1:FatherMontfaucon，who，bythecommandofhisBenedictinesuperiors，wascompelledseeLongueruana，tom。i。p。
205toexecutethelaboriouseditionofSt。Chrysostom，inthirteenvolumesinfolio，Paris，1738，amusedhimselfwithextractingfromthatimmensecollectionofmorals，somecuriousantiquities，whichillustratethemannersoftheTheodosianage，seeChrysostom，Opera，tom。xiii。p。192—196，andhisFrenchDissertation，intheMemoiresdel'Acad。desInscriptions，tom。
xiii。p。474—490。]
[Footnote2:Accordingtotheloosereckoning，thatashipcouldsail，withafairwind，1000stadia，or125miles，intherevolutionofadayandnight，DiodorusSiculuscomputestendaysfromthePalusMoeotistoRhodes，andfourdaysfromRhodestoAlexandria。ThenavigationoftheNilefromAlexandriatoSyene，underthetropicofCancer，required，asitwasagainstthestream，tendaysmore。Diodor。Sicul。tom。i。l。iii。p。200，edit。Wesseling。Hemight，withoutmuchimpropriety，measuretheextremeheatfromthevergeofthetorridzone；buthespeaksoftheMoeotisinthe47thdegreeofnorthernlatitude，asifitlaywithinthepolarcircle。]
ThefirsteventsofthereignofArcadiusandHonoriusaresointimatelyconnected，thattherebellionoftheGoths，andthefallofRufinus，havealreadyclaimedaplaceinthehistoryoftheWest。Ithasalreadybeenobserved，thatEutropius，^3oneoftheprincipaleunuchsofthepalaceofConstantinople，succeededthehaughtyministerwhoseruinhehadaccomplished，andwhoseviceshesoonimitated。Everyorderofthestatebowedtothenewfavorite；andtheirtameandobsequioussubmissionencouragedhimtoinsultthelaws，and，whatisstillmoredifficultanddangerous，themannersofhiscountry。UndertheweakestofthepredecessorsofArcadius，thereignoftheeunuchshadbeensecretandalmostinvisible。Theyinsinuatedthemselvesintotheconfidenceoftheprince；buttheirostensiblefunctionswereconfinedtothemenialserviceofthewardrobeandImperialbed—chamber。Theymightdirect，inawhisper，thepubliccounsels，andblast，bytheirmalicioussuggestions，thefameandfortunesofthemostillustriouscitizens；buttheyneverpresumedtostandforwardinthefrontofempire，^4ortoprofanethepublichonorsofthestate。Eutropiuswasthefirstofhisartificialsex，whodaredtoassumethecharacterofaRomanmagistrateandgeneral。^5Sometimes，inthepresenceoftheblushingsenate，heascendedthetribunaltopronouncejudgment，ortorepeatelaborateharangues；and，sometimes，appearedonhorseback，attheheadofhistroops，inthedressandarmorofahero。Thedisregardofcustomanddecencyalwaysbetraysaweakandill—regulatedmind；nordoesEutropiusseemtohavecompensatedforthefollyofthedesignbyanysuperiormeritorabilityintheexecution。Hisformerhabitsoflifehadnotintroducedhimtothestudyofthelaws，ortheexercisesofthefield；hisawkwardandunsuccessfulattemptsprovokedthesecretcontemptofthespectators；theGothsexpressedtheirwishthatsuchageneralmightalwayscommandthearmiesofRome；andthenameoftheministerwasbrandedwithridicule，morepernicious，perhaps，thanhatred，toapubliccharacter。ThesubjectsofArcadiuswereexasperatedbytherecollection，thatthisdeformedanddecrepiteunuch，^6whosoperverselymimickedtheactionsofaman，wasborninthemostabjectconditionofservitude；thatbeforeheenteredtheImperialpalace，hehadbeensuccessivelysoldandpurchasedbyahundredmasters，whohadexhaustedhisyouthfulstrengthineverymeanandinfamousoffice，andatlengthdismissedhim，inhisoldage，tofreedomandpoverty。^7Whilethesedisgracefulstorieswerecirculated，andperhapsexaggerated，inprivateconversation，thevanityofthefavoritewasflatteredwiththemostextraordinaryhonors。
Inthesenate，inthecapital，intheprovinces，thestatuesofEutropiuswereerected，inbrass，ormarble，decoratedwiththesymbolsofhiscivilandmilitaryvirtues，andinscribedwiththepompoustitleofthethirdfounderofConstantinople。Hewaspromotedtotherankofpatrician，whichbegantosignifyinapopular，andevenlegal，acceptation，thefatheroftheemperor；
andthelastyearofthefourthcenturywaspollutedbytheconsulshipofaeunuchandaslave。Thisstrangeandinexpiableprodigy^8awakened，however，theprejudicesoftheRomans。TheeffeminateconsulwasrejectedbytheWest，asanindeliblestaintotheannalsoftherepublic；andwithoutinvokingtheshadesofBrutusandCamillus，thecolleagueofEutropius，alearnedandrespectablemagistrate，^9sufficientlyrepresentedthedifferentmaximsofthetwoadministrations。
[Footnote3:Barthius，whoadoredhisauthorwiththeblindsuperstitionofacommentator，givesthepreferencetothetwobookswhichClaudiancomposedagainstEutropius，aboveallhisotherproductions，BailletJugemensdesSavans，tom。iv。p。
227。Theyareindeedaveryelegantandspiritedsatire；andwouldbemorevaluableinanhistoricallight，iftheinvectivewerelessvagueandmoretemperate。]
[Footnote4:AfterlamentingtheprogressoftheeunuchsintheRomanpalace，anddefiningtheirproperfunctions，Claudianadds，—Afronterecedant。
Imperii。
InEutrop。i。422。
Yetitdoesnotappearthattheeunuchshadassumedanyoftheefficientofficesoftheempire，andheisstyledonlyPraepositunsacricubiculi，intheedictofhisbanishment。SeeCod。Theod。l。leg17。
Jamqueoblitasui，necsobriadivitiismensInmiseraslegeshominumquenegotialuditJudicateunuchus……
Armaetiamviolareparat……
Claudian，i。229—270，withthatmixtureofindignationandhumorwhichalwayspleasesinasatiricpoet，describestheinsolentfollyoftheeunuch，thedisgraceoftheempire，andthejoyoftheGoths。
—Gaudet，cumviderit，hostis，Etsentitjamdeesseviros。]
[Footnote6:Thepoet'slivelydescriptionofhisdeformityi。
110—125isconfirmedbytheauthentictestimonyofChrysostom，tom。iii。p。384，editMontfaucon；whoobserves，thatwhenthepaintwaswashedawaythefaceofEutropiusappearedmoreuglyandwrinkledthanthatofanoldwoman。Claudianremarks，i。
469，andtheremarkmusthavebeenfoundedonexperience，thattherewasscarcelyanintervalbetweentheyouthandthedecrepitageofaeunuch。]
[Footnote7:EutropiusappearstohavebeenanativeofArmeniaorAssyria。Histhreeservices，whichClaudianmoreparticularlydescribes，werethese:1。HespentmanyyearsasthecatamiteofPtolemy，agroomorsoldieroftheImperialstables。2。PtolemygavehimtotheoldgeneralArintheus，forwhomheveryskilfullyexercisedtheprofessionofapimp。3。Hewasgiven，onhermarriage，tothedaughterofArintheus；andthefutureconsulwasemployedtocombherhair，topresentthesilverewertowashandtofanhismistressinhotweather。Seel。i。31—137。]
[Footnote8:Claudian，l。i。inEutrop。l。—22，afterenumeratingthevariousprodigiesofmonstrousbirths，speakinganimals，showersofbloodorstones，doublesuns，&c。，adds，withsomeexaggeration，Omniacesserunteunuchoconsulemonstra。
ThefirstbookconcludeswithanoblespeechofthegoddessofRometoherfavoriteHonorius，deprecatingthenewignominytowhichshewasexposed。]
[Footnote9:Fl。MalliusTheodorus，whosecivilhonors，andphilosophicalworks，havebeencelebratedbyClaudianinaveryelegantpanegyric。]
TheboldandvigorousmindofRufinusseemstohavebeenactuatedbyamoresanguinaryandrevengefulspirit；buttheavariceoftheeunuchwasnotlessinsatiatethanthatofthepraefect。^10Aslongashedespoiledtheoppressors，whohadenrichedthemselveswiththeplunderofthepeople，Eutropiusmightgratifyhiscovetousdispositionwithoutmuchenvyorinjustice:buttheprogressofhisrapinesooninvadedthewealthwhichhadbeenacquiredbylawfulinheritance，orlaudableindustry。Theusualmethodsofextortionwerepractisedandimproved；andClaudianhassketchedalivelyandoriginalpictureofthepublicauctionofthestate。"Theimpotenceoftheeunuch，"saysthatagreeablesatirist，"hasservedonlytostimulatehisavarice:thesamehandwhichinhisservilecondition，wasexercisedinpettythefts，tounlockthecoffersofhismaster，nowgraspstherichesoftheworld；andthisinfamousbrokeroftheempireappreciatesanddividestheRomanprovincesfromMountHaemustotheTigris。Oneman，attheexpenseofhisvilla，ismadeproconsulofAsia；asecondpurchasesSyriawithhiswife'sjewels；andathirdlamentsthathehasexchangedhispaternalestateforthegovernmentofBithynia。IntheantechamberofEutropius，alargetabletisexposedtopublicview，whichmarkstherespectivepricesoftheprovinces。ThedifferentvalueofPontus，ofGalatia，ofLydia，isaccuratelydistinguished。Lyciamaybeobtainedforsomanythousandpiecesofgold；buttheopulenceofPhrygiawillrequireamoreconsiderablesum。Theeunuchwishestoobliterate，bythegeneraldisgrace，hispersonalignominy；andashehasbeensoldhimself，heisdesirousofsellingtherestofmankind。Intheeagercontention，thebalance，whichcontainsthefateandfortunesoftheprovince，oftentremblesonthebeam；andtilloneofthescalesisinclined，byasuperiorweight，themindoftheimpartialjudgeremainsinanxioussuspense。^11Such，"