Page:1909historyofdec04gibbuoft.djvu/29

 chap, xxxvij OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE 5 Maximus might have shown in a subordinate station, he was found incapable of administering an empire; and, though he might easily have been informed of the naval preparations which were made on the opposite shores of Africa, he expected with supine indifference the approach of the enemy, without adopting any measures of defence, of negotiation, or of a timely retreat. When the Vandals disembarked at the mouth of the Tiber, the emperor was suddenly roused from his lethargy by the clamours of a trembling and exasperated multitude. The only hope which presented itself to his astonished mind was that of a precipitate flight, and he exhorted the senators to imitate the example of their prince. But no sooner did Maximus appear in the streets than he was assaulted by a shower of stones ; a Koman, or a Burgundian, soldier claimed the honour of the first wound ; his mangled body was igno- miniously cast into the Tiber ; the Roman people rejoiced in the punishment which they had inflicted on the author of the public calamities ; and the domestics of Eudoxia signalised their zeal in the service of their mistress. 8 On the third day after the tumult, Genseric boldly advanced sack of from the port of Ostia to the gates of the defenceless city. In- thTvan- stead of a sally of the Eoman youth, there issued from the 455, 8 june > ' gates an unarmed and venerable procession of the bishop at the head of his clergy. 1 ' The fearless spirit of Leo, his author- ity and eloquence, again mitigated the fierceness of a Bar- barian conqueror : the king of the Vandals promised to spare the unresisting multitude, to protect the buildings from fire, and to exempt the captives from torture ; and, although such orders were neither seriously given nor strictly obeyed, the popolo a sognare e spacciar voci false ". But his argument, from the interval of time and place, is extremely feeble. The figs which grew near Carthage were produced to the senate of Eome on the third day. [The story of Eudoxia is rejected, like that of Honoria, by Martroye, Genseric, p. 155.] 8 . . . Infidoque tibi Burgundio ductu Extorquet trepidas mactandi principis iras. Sidon. in Panegyr. Avit. 442. A remarkable line, which insinuates that Rome and Maximus were betrayed by their Burgundian mercenaries. [Binding, Geseh. des burgundisch-romanischen Konigr. p. 49, conjectures that there had been a recent Burgundian incursion into Italy.] a The apparent success of pope Leo may be justified by Prosper and the Historic/, Miscella ; but the improbable notion of Baronius (a.d. 455, No. 13) that Genseric spared the three apostolical churches is not countenanced even by the doubtful testimony of the Liber Pontificalis.