Page:Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire vol 3 (1897).djvu/217

 OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE 197 they addressed their unavailing prayers to the throne ^^ increased the zeal of the Christian reformers to extirpate, without mercy, the root of superstition. The laws of the emperors exhibit some symptoms of a milder disposition ; ^^ but their cold and languid efforts were insufficient to stem the torrent of enthusiasm and rapine, which was conducted, or rather impelled, by the spiritual rulers of the church. In Gaul, the holy Martin, bishop of Tours, 3'' marched at the head of his faithful monks, to destroy the idols, the temples, and the consecrated trees of his extensive diocese ; and in the execution of this arduous task, the prudent reader will judge whether Martin was supported by the aid of miraculous powers or of carnal weapons. In Syria, the divine and excellent Marcellus,^^ as he is styled by Theodoret, a bishop animated with apostolic fervour, resolved to level with the ground the stately temples within the diocese of Apamea. His attack was resisted by the skill and solidity Avith which the temple of Jupiter had been constructed. The building was seated on an eminence ; on each of the four sides, the lofty roof was supported by fifteen massy columns, sixteen feet in circumference ; and the large stones, of which they were composed, were firmly cemented with lead and iron. The force of the strongest and sharpest tools had been tried without effect. It was found necessary to undermine the foundations of the columns, which fell down as soon as the temporary wooden props had been consumed with fire ; and the difficulties of the enterprise are described under the allegory of a black daemon, who retarded, though he could not defeat, the operations of the Christian engineers. Elated with victory, Marcellus took the field in person against the powers of darkness ; a numerous troop of soldiers and gladiators marched under the episcopal banner, and he successively attacked the villages and temple of Edessa, which Theodosius wished to save for civil uses, was soon after- wards a heap of mins (Libanius pro Templis, p. 26, 27, and Godefroy's notes, p. 59); 55 See this curious oration of Libanius pro Templis, pronounced, or rather composed, about the year 390. I have consulted, with advantage, Dr. Lardners version and remarks (Heathen Testimonies, vol. iv. p. 135-163). [-rreplTuiv iepiiv, or. xxviii. , Reiske, ii. 155 si/f., composed between 385 (Cod. Th. xvi. 10, 9, cp. Lib. 163, &c.) and 391 (Cod. Th. xvi. 10, 10, cp. Lib. 180, 182). But 388 may be the prior limit, cp. Sievers, Das Leben des Libanius, p. 192.] (as Don Quixote might have done) an harmless funeral for an idolatrous procession, and imprudently committed a miracle. they relate the crusade and death of Marcellus.
 * ♦ Cod. Theodos. 1. xvi. tit. x. leg. 8, i8. There is room to believe that this
 * >.See the life of Martin, by Sulpicius Severus, c. 9-14. The saint once mistook
 * ^ Compare Sozomen (1. vii. c. 15) with Theodoret (1. v. c. 21). Between them,