Augustin，withoutexaminingthegroundsofthequarrel，piouslyexhortshimtodischargethedutiesofaChristianandasubject:
toextricatehimselfwithoutdelayfromhisdangerousandguiltysituation；andeven，ifhecouldobtaintheconsentofhiswife，toembracealifeofcelibacyandpenance，Tillemont，Mem。
Eccles。tom。xiii。p。890。ThebishopwasintimatelyconnectedwithDarius，theministerofpeace，Id。tom。xiii。p。928。]
ThelongandnarrowtractoftheAfricancoastwasfilledwithfrequentmonumentsofRomanartandmagnificence；andtherespectivedegreesofimprovementmightbeaccuratelymeasuredbythedistancefromCarthageandtheMediterranean。Asimplereflectionwillimpresseverythinkingmindwiththeclearestideaoffertilityandcultivation:thecountrywasextremelypopulous；theinhabitantsreservedaliberalsubsistencefortheirownuse；andtheannualexportation，particularlyofwheat，wassoregularandplentiful，thatAfricadeservedthenameofthecommongranaryofRomeandofmankind。Onasuddenthesevenfruitfulprovinces，fromTangiertoTripoli，wereoverwhelmedbytheinvasionoftheVandals；whosedestructiveragehasperhapsbeenexaggeratedbypopularanimosity，religiouszeal，andextravagantdeclamation。War，initsfairestform，impliesaperpetualviolationofhumanityandjustice；andthehostilitiesofBarbariansareinflamedbythefierceandlawlessspiritwhichincessantlydisturbstheirpeacefulanddomesticsociety。TheVandals，wheretheyfoundresistance，seldomgavequarter；andthedeathsoftheirvaliantcountrymenwereexpiatedbytheruinofthecitiesunderwhosewallstheyhadfallen。Carelessofthedistinctionsofage，orsex，orrank，theyemployedeveryspeciesofindignityandtorture，toforcefromthecaptivesadiscoveryoftheirhiddenwealth。ThesternpolicyofGensericjustifiedhisfrequentexamplesofmilitaryexecution:hewasnotalwaysthemasterofhisownpassions，orofthoseofhisfollowers；andthecalamitiesofwarwereaggravatedbythelicentiousnessoftheMoors，andthefanaticismoftheDonatists。YetIshallnoteasilybepersuaded，thatitwasthecommonpracticeoftheVandalstoextirpatetheolives，andotherfruittrees，ofacountrywheretheyintendedtosettle:norcanIbelievethatitwasausualstratagemtoslaughtergreatnumbersoftheirprisonersbeforethewallsofabesiegedcity，forthesolepurposeofinfectingtheair，andproducingapestilence，ofwhichtheythemselvesmusthavebeenthefirstvictims。^25
[Footnote25:TheoriginalcomplaintsofthedesolationofAfricaarecontained1。InaletterfromCapreolus，bishopofCarthage，toexcusehisabsencefromthecouncilofEphesus，ap。Ruinart，p。427。2。InthelifeofSt。Augustin，byhisfriendandcolleaguePossidius，ap。Ruinart，p。427。3。InthehistoryoftheVandalicpersecution，byVictorVitensis，l。i。c。1，2，3，edit。Ruinart。Thelastpicture，whichwasdrawnsixtyyearsaftertheevent，ismoreexpressiveoftheauthor'spassionsthanofthetruthoffacts。]
ThegenerousmindofCountBonifacewastorturedbytheexquisitedistressofbeholdingtheruinwhichhehadoccasioned，andwhoserapidprogresshewasunabletocheck。AfterthelossofabattleheretiredintoHippoRegius；wherehewasimmediatelybesiegedbyanenemy，whoconsideredhimastherealbulwarkofAfrica。ThemaritimecolonyofHippo，^26abouttwohundredmileswestwardofCarthage，hadformerlyacquiredthedistinguishingepithetofRegius，fromtheresidenceofNumidiankings；andsomeremainsoftradeandpopulousnessstilladheretothemoderncity，whichisknowninEuropebythecorruptednameofBona。Themilitarylabors，andanxiousreflections，ofCountBoniface，werealleviatedbytheedifyingconversationofhisfriendSt。Augustin；^27tillthatbishop，thelightandpillaroftheCatholicchurch，wasgentlyreleased，inthethirdmonthofthesiege，andintheseventy—sixthyearofhisage，fromtheactualandtheimpendingcalamitiesofhiscountry。TheyouthofAugustinhadbeenstainedbythevicesanderrorswhichhesoingenuouslyconfesses；butfromthemomentofhisconversiontothatofhisdeath，themannersofthebishopofHippowerepureandaustere:andthemostconspicuousofhisvirtueswasanardentzealagainsthereticsofeverydenomination；theManichaeans，theDonatists，andthePelagians，againstwhomhewagedaperpetualcontroversy。Whenthecity，somemonthsafterhisdeath，wasburntbytheVandals，thelibrarywasfortunatelysaved，whichcontainedhisvoluminouswritings；twohundredandthirty—twoseparatebooksortreatisesontheologicalsubjects，besidesacompleteexpositionofthepsalterandthegospel，andacopiousmagazineofepistlesandhomilies。^28Accordingtothejudgmentofthemostimpartialcritics，thesuperficiallearningofAugustinwasconfinedtotheLatinlanguage；^29andhisstyle，thoughsometimesanimatedbytheeloquenceofpassion，isusuallycloudedbyfalseandaffectedrhetoric。Buthepossessedastrong，capacious，argumentativemind；heboldlysoundedthedarkabyssofgrace，predestination，freewill，andoriginalsin；
andtherigidsystemofChristianitywhichheframedorrestored，^30hasbeenentertained，withpublicapplause，andsecretreluctance，bytheLatinchurch。^31
[Footnote26:SeeCellarius，Geograph。Antiq。tom。ii。partii。
p。112。LeoAfrican。inRamusio，tom。i。fol。70。L'AfriquedeMarmol，tom。ii。p。434，437。Shaw'sTravels，p。46，47。TheoldHippoRegiuswasfinallydestroyedbytheArabsintheseventhcentury；butanewtown，atthedistanceoftwomiles，wasbuiltwiththematerials；anditcontained，inthesixteenthcentury，aboutthreehundredfamiliesofindustrious，butturbulentmanufacturers。Theadjacentterritoryisrenownedforapureair，afertilesoil，andplentyofexquisitefruits。]
[Footnote27:ThelifeofSt。Augustin，byTillemont，fillsaquartovolumeMem。Eccles。tom。xiii。ofmorethanonethousandpages；andthediligenceofthatlearnedJansenistwasexcited，onthisoccasion，byfactiousanddevoutzealforthefounderofhissect。]
[Footnote28:Such，atleast，istheaccountofVictorVitensis，dePersecut。Vandal。l。i。c。3；thoughGennadiusseemstodoubtwhetheranypersonhadread，orevencollected，alltheworksofSt。Augustin，seeHieronym。Opera，tom。i。p。319，inCatalog。Scriptor。Eccles。Theyhavebeenrepeatedlyprinted；
andDupinBibliothequeEccles。tom。iii。p。158—257hasgivenalargeandsatisfactoryabstractofthemastheystandinthelasteditionoftheBenedictines。MypersonalacquaintancewiththebishopofHippodoesnotextendbeyondtheConfessions，andtheCityofGod。]
[Footnote29:InhisearlyyouthConfess。i。14St。AugustindislikedandneglectedthestudyofGreek；andhefranklyownsthathereadthePlatonistsinaLatinversion，Confes。vii。9。
Somemoderncriticshavethought，thathisignoranceofGreekdisqualifiedhimfromexpoundingtheScriptures；andCiceroorQuintilianwouldhaverequiredtheknowledgeofthatlanguageinaprofessorofrhetoric。]
[Footnote30:Thesequestionswereseldomagitated，fromthetimeofSt。PaultothatofSt。Augustin。IaminformedthattheGreekfathersmaintainthenaturalsentimentsoftheSemi—Pelagians；andthattheorthodoxyofSt。AugustinwasderivedfromtheManichaeanschool。]
[Footnote31:ThechurchofRomehascanonizedAugustin，andreprobatedCalvin。Yetastherealdifferencebetweenthemisinvisibleeventoatheologicalmicroscope，theMolinistsareoppressedbytheauthorityofthesaint，andtheJansenistsaredisgracedbytheirresemblancetotheheretic。Inthemeanwhile，theProtestantArminiansstandaloof，andderidethemutualperplexityofthedisputants，seeacuriousReviewoftheControversy，byLeClerc，BibliothequeUniverselle，tom。xiv。p。
144—398。Perhapsareasonerstillmoreindependentmaysmileinhisturn，whenheperusesanArminianCommentaryontheEpistletotheRomans。]
ChapterXXXIII:ConquestOfAfricaByTheVandals。
PartII。
BytheskillofBoniface，andperhapsbytheignoranceoftheVandals，thesiegeofHippowasprotractedabovefourteenmonths:theseawascontinuallyopen；andwhentheadjacentcountryhadbeenexhaustedbyirregularrapine，thebesiegersthemselveswerecompelledbyfaminetorelinquishtheirenterprise。TheimportanceanddangerofAfricaweredeeplyfeltbytheregentoftheWest。Placidiaimploredtheassistanceofhereasternally；andtheItalianfleetandarmywerereenforcedbyAsper，whosailedfromConstantinoplewithapowerfularmament。AssoonastheforceofthetwoempireswasunitedunderthecommandofBoniface，heboldlymarchedagainsttheVandals；andthelossofasecondbattleirretrievablydecidedthefateofAfrica。Heembarkedwiththeprecipitationofdespair；andthepeopleofHippowerepermitted，withtheirfamiliesandeffects，tooccupythevacantplaceofthesoldiers，thegreatestpartofwhomwereeitherslainormadeprisonersbytheVandals。Thecount，whosefatalcredulityhadwoundedthevitalsoftherepublic，mightenterthepalaceofRavennawithsomeanxiety，whichwassoonremovedbythesmilesofPlacidia。
Bonifaceacceptedwithgratitudetherankofpatrician，andthedignityofmaster—generaloftheRomanarmies；buthemusthaveblushedatthesightofthosemedals，inwhichhewasrepresentedwiththenameandattributesofvictory。^32Thediscoveryofhisfraud，thedispleasureoftheempress，andthedistinguishedfavorofhisrival，exasperatedthehaughtyandperfidioussoulofAetius。HehastilyreturnedfromGaultoItaly，witharetinue，orratherwithanarmy，ofBarbarianfollowers；andsuchwastheweaknessofthegovernment，thatthetwogeneralsdecidedtheirprivatequarrelinabloodybattle。Bonifacewassuccessful；buthereceivedintheconflictamortalwoundfromthespearofhisadversary，ofwhichheexpiredwithinafewdays，insuchChristianandcharitablesentiments，thatheexhortedhiswife，arichheiressofSpain，toacceptAetiusforhersecondhusband。ButAetiuscouldnotderiveanyimmediateadvantagefromthegenerosityofhisdyingenemy:hewasproclaimedarebelbythejusticeofPlacidia；andthoughheattemptedtodefendsomestrongfortresses，erectedonhispatrimonialestate，theImperialpowersooncompelledhimtoretireintoPannonia，tothetentsofhisfaithfulHuns。Therepublicwasdeprived，bytheirmutualdiscord，oftheserviceofhertwomostillustriouschampions。^33
[Footnote32:Ducange，Fam。Byzant。p。67。Ononeside，theheadofValentinian；onthereverse，Boniface，withascourgeinonehand，andapalmintheother，standinginatriumphalcar，whichisdrawnbyfourhorses，or，inanothermedal，byfourstags；anunluckyemblem!IshoulddoubtwhetheranotherexamplecanbefoundoftheheadofasubjectonthereverseofanImperialmedal。SeeSciencedesMedailles，bythePereJobert，tom。i。p。
132—150，edit。of1739，bytheharondelaBastie。
Note:LordMahon，LifeofBelisarius，p。133，mentionsoneofBelisariusontheauthorityofCedrenus—M。]
[Footnote33:ProcopiusdeBell。Vandal。l。i。c。3，p。185
continuesthehistoryofBonifacenofurtherthanhisreturntoItaly。HisdeathismentionedbyProsperandMarcellinus；theexpressionofthelatter，thatAetius，thedaybefore，hadprovidedhimselfwithalongerspear，impliessomethinglikearegularduel。]
Itmightnaturallybeexpected，aftertheretreatofBoniface，thattheVandalswouldachieve，withoutresistanceordelay，theconquestofAfrica。Eightyears，however，elapsed，fromtheevacuationofHippotothereductionofCarthage。Inthemidstofthatinterval，theambitiousGenseric，inthefulltideofapparentprosperity，negotiatedatreatyofpeace，bywhichhegavehissonHunnericforahostage；andconsentedtoleavetheWesternemperorintheundisturbedpossessionofthethreeMauritanias。^34Thismoderation，whichcannotbeimputedtothejustice，mustbeascribedtothepolicy，oftheconqueror。
Histhronewasencompassedwithdomesticenemies，whoaccusedthebasenessofhisbirth，andassertedthelegitimateclaimsofhisnephews，thesonsofGonderic。Thosenephews，indeed，hesacrificedtohissafety；andtheirmother，thewidowofthedeceasedking，wasprecipitated，byhisorder，intotheriverAmpsaga。Butthepublicdiscontentburstforthindangerousandfrequentconspiracies；andthewarliketyrantissupposedtohaveshedmoreVandalbloodbythehandoftheexecutioner，thaninthefieldofbattle。^35TheconvulsionsofAfrica，whichhadfavoredhisattack，opposedthefirmestablishmentofhispower；
andthevariousseditionsoftheMoorsandGermans，theDonatistsandCatholics，continuallydisturbed，orthreatened，theunsettledreignoftheconqueror。AsheadvancedtowardsCarthage，hewasforcedtowithdrawhistroopsfromtheWesternprovinces；thesea—coastwasexposedtothenavalenterprisesoftheRomansofSpainandItaly；and，intheheartofNumidia，thestronginlandcityofCortastillpersistedinobstinateindependence。^36Thesedifficultiesweregraduallysubduedbythespirit，theperseverance，andthecrueltyofGenseric；whoalternatelyappliedtheartsofpeaceandwartotheestablishmentofhisAfricankingdom。Hesubscribedasolemntreaty，withthehopeofderivingsomeadvantagefromthetermofitscontinuance，andthemomentofitsviolation。Thevigilanceofhisenemieswasrelaxedbytheprotestationsoffriendship，whichconcealedhishostileapproach；andCarthagewasatlengthsurprisedbytheVandals，fivehundredandeighty—fiveyearsafterthedestructionofthecityandrepublicbytheyoungerScipio。^37
[Footnote34:SeeProcopius，deBell。Vandal。l。i。c。4，p。186。
Valentinianpublishedseveralhumanelaws，torelievethedistressofhisNumidianandMauritaniansubjects；hedischargedthem，inagreatmeasure，fromthepaymentoftheirdebts，reducedtheirtributetooneeighth，andgavethemarightofappealfromtheirprovincialmagistratestothepraefectofRome。
Cod。Theod。tom。vi。Novell。p。11，12。]
[Footnote35:VictorVitensis，dePersecut。Vandal。l。ii。c。5，p。26。ThecrueltiesofGenserictowardshissubjectsarestronglyexpressedinProsper'sChronicle，A。D。442。]
[Footnote36:Possidius，inVit。Augustin。c。28，apudRuinart，p。428。]
[Footnote37:SeetheChroniclesofIdatius，Isidore，Prosper，andMarcellinus。Theymarkthesameyear，butdifferentdays，forthesurprisalofCarthage。]
Anewcityhadarisenfromitsruins，withthetitleofacolony；andthoughCarthagemightyieldtotheroyalprerogativesofConstantinople，andperhapstothetradeofAlexandria，orthesplendorofAntioch，shestillmaintainedthesecondrankintheWest；astheRomeifwemayusethestyleofcontemporariesoftheAfricanworld。Thatwealthyandopulentmetropolis^38
displayed，inadependentcondition，theimageofaflourishingrepublic。Carthagecontainedthemanufactures，thearms，andthetreasuresofthesixprovinces。Aregularsubordinationofcivilhonorsgraduallyascendedfromtheprocuratorsofthestreetsandquartersofthecity，tothetribunalofthesuprememagistrate，who，withthetitleofproconsul，representedthestateanddignityofaconsulofancientRome。SchoolsandgymnasiawereinstitutedfortheeducationoftheAfricanyouth；andtheliberalartsandmanners，grammar，rhetoric，andphilosophy，werepubliclytaughtintheGreekandLatinlanguages。ThebuildingsofCarthagewereuniformandmagnificent；ashadygrovewasplantedinthemidstofthecapital；thenewport，asecureandcapaciousharbor，wassubservienttothecommercialindustryofcitizensandstrangers；andthesplendidgamesofthecircusandtheatrewereexhibitedalmostinthepresenceoftheBarbarians。
ThereputationoftheCarthaginianswasnotequaltothatoftheircountry，andthereproachofPunicfaithstilladheredtotheirsubtleandfaithlesscharacter。^39Thehabitsoftrade，andtheabuseofluxury，hadcorruptedtheirmanners；buttheirimpiouscontemptofmonks，andtheshamelesspracticeofunnaturallusts，arethetwoabominationswhichexcitethepiousvehemenceofSalvian，thepreacheroftheage。^40ThekingoftheVandalsseverelyreformedthevicesofavoluptuouspeople；
andtheancient，noble，ingenuousfreedomofCarthagetheseexpressionsofVictorarenotwithoutenergywasreducedbyGensericintoastateofignominiousservitude。Afterhehadpermittedhislicentioustroopstosatiatetheirrageandavarice，heinstitutedamoreregularsystemofrapineandoppression。Anedictwaspromulgated，whichenjoinedallpersons，withoutfraudordelay，todelivertheirgold，silver，jewels，andvaluablefurnitureorapparel，totheroyalofficers；
andtheattempttosecreteanypartoftheirpatrimonywasinexorablypunishedwithdeathandtorture，asanactoftreasonagainstthestate。Thelandsoftheproconsularprovince，whichformedtheimmediatedistrictofCarthage，wereaccuratelymeasured，anddividedamongtheBarbarians；andtheconquerorreservedforhispeculiardomainthefertileterritoryofByzacium，andtheadjacentpartsofNumidiaandGetulia。^41
[Footnote38:ThepictureofCarthage；asitflourishedinthefourthandfifthcenturies，istakenfromtheExpositiototiusMundi，p。17，18，inthethirdvolumeofHudson'sMinorGeographers，fromAusoniusdeClarisUrbibus，p。228，229；andprincipallyfromSalvian，deGubernationeDei，l。vii。p。257，258。]
[Footnote39:TheanonymousauthoroftheExpositiototiusMundicomparesinhisbarbarousLatin，thecountryandtheinhabitants；
and，afterstigmatizingtheirwantoffaith，hecoollyconcludes，Difficileautemintereosinveniturbonus，tameninmultispauciboniessepossuntP。18。]
[Footnote40:Hedeclares，thatthepeculiarvicesofeachcountrywerecollectedinthesinkofCarthage，l。vii。p。257。
Intheindulgenceofvice，theAfricansapplaudedtheirmanlyvirtue。Etillisemagisvirilisfortitudinisessecrederent，quimaximeviresfoemineiususprobositatefregissent，p。268。
ThestreetsofCarthagewerepollutedbyeffeminatewretches，whopubliclyassumedthecountenance，thedress，andthecharacterofwomen，p。264。Ifamonkappearedinthecity，theholymanwaspursuedwithimpiousscornandridicule；detestantibusridentiumcachinnis，p。289。]
[Footnote41:CompareProcopiusdeBell。Vandal。l。i。c。5，p。
189，190，andVictorVitensis，dePersecutVandal。l。i。c。4。]
ItwasnaturalenoughthatGensericshouldhatethosewhomhehadinjured:thenobilityandsenatorsofCarthagewereexposedtohisjealousyandresentment；andallthosewhorefusedtheignominiousterms，whichtheirhonorandreligionforbadethemtoaccept，werecompelledbytheAriantyranttoembracetheconditionofperpetualbanishment。Rome，Italy，andtheprovincesoftheEast，werefilledwithacrowdofexiles，offugitives，andofingenuouscaptives，whosolicitedthepubliccompassion；andthebenevolentepistlesofTheodoretstillpreservethenamesandmisfortunesofCaelestianandMaria。^42
TheSyrianbishopdeploresthemisfortunesofCaelestian，who，fromthestateofanobleandopulentsenatorofCarthage，wasreduced，withhiswifeandfamily，andservants，tobeghisbreadinaforeigncountry；butheapplaudstheresignationoftheChristianexile，andthephilosophictemper，which，underthepressureofsuchcalamities，couldenjoymorerealhappinessthanwastheordinarylotofwealthandprosperity。ThestoryofMaria，thedaughterofthemagnificentEudaemon，issingularandinteresting。InthesackofCarthage，shewaspurchasedfromtheVandalsbysomemerchantsofSyria，whoafterwardssoldherasaslaveintheirnativecountry。Afemaleattendant，transportedinthesameship，andsoldinthesamefamily，stillcontinuedtorespectamistresswhomfortunehadreducedtothecommonlevelofservitude；andthedaughterofEudaemonreceivedfromhergratefulaffectionthedomesticserviceswhichshehadoncerequiredfromherobedience。ThisremarkablebehaviordivulgedtherealconditionofMaria，who，intheabsenceofthebishopofCyrrhus，wasredeemedfromslaveryoythegenerosityofsomesoldiersofthegarrison。TheliberalityofTheodoretprovidedforherdecentmaintenance；andshepassedtenmonthsamongthedeaconessesofthechurch；tillshewasunexpectedlyinformed，thatherfather，whohadescapedfromtheruinofCarthage，exercisedanhonorableofficeinoneoftheWesternprovinces。