Page:Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire vol 3 (1897).djvu/270

 AJ). 403 250 THE DECLINE AND FALL country ; a detachment of Gothic cavahy might sweep away his cottage and his family ; and the power of Alaric could destroy this happiness which he was not able either to taste or to bestow. " Fame/' says the poet, " encircling with terror her gloomy wings, proclaimed the march of the Barbarian army, and filled Italy with consternation ; " the apprehensions of each individual were increased in just proportion to the measure of his fortune ; and the most timid, who had already embarked their valuable effects, meditated their escape to the island of Sicily or the African coast. The public distress was aggravated by the fears and reproaches of superstition. 3- Every hour pro- duced some horrid tale of strange and portentous accidents ; the Pagans deplored the neglect of omens and the interruption of sacrifices ; but the Christians still derived some comfort from the powerful intercession of the saints and martyrs. ^^ Eonorins The cmpcror Honorius was distinguished, above his subjects, Huon."" by the pre-eminence of fear, as well as of rank. The pride and luxury in which he was educated had not allowed him to suspect that there existed on the earth any power presump- tuous enough to invade the repose of the successor of Augustus. The arts of flattery concealed the impending danger, till Alaric approached the palace of Milan. But, when the sound of war had awakened the young emperor, instead of flying to arms with the spirit, or e'en the rashness, of his age, he eagerly listened to those timid counsellors who proposed to convey his sacred person and his faithful attendants to some secure and distant station in the provinces of Gaul. Stilicho alone 2"* had courage and authority to resist this disgraceful measure, which would have abandoned Rome and Italy to the Barbarians ; but, as the troops of the palace had been lately detached to the Rhaetian frontier, and as the resource of new levies was slow and precarious, the general of the West could only promise that, if the court of Milan would maintain their ground during his A neighbouring wood born with himself he sees, And loves his old contemporary trees. In this passage, Cowley is perhaps superior to his original ; and the English poet, who was a good botanist, has concealed the oaks under a more general expression. 32 Claudian de Bell. Get. 192-266. He may seem prolix : but fear and super- stition occupied as large a space in the minds of the Italians. 23 From the passages of Paulinus, which Baronius has produced (Annal. Eccles. A.D. 403, No. 51) it is manifest that the general alarm had pervaded all Italy, as far as Nola in Campania, where that famous penitent had fixed his abode. 3^ Solus erat Stilicho, &c. , is the exclusive commendation which Claudian bestows (de Bell. Get. 267) without condescending to except the emperor. How insignificant must Honorius have appeared in his own court 1