Page:Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire vol 3 (1897).djvu/365

 OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE 345 self: he was condemned, after the amputation of two fingei's, to a perpetual exile in the isle of Lipari, where he was supplied with the decent necessaries of life. The remainder of the reign of Honorius was undisturbed by rebellion ; and it may be observed that, in the space of five years, seven usurpers had yielded to the fortunes of a prince, who was himself incapable either of counsel or of action. The situation of Spain, separated, on all sides, from the invasion of enemies of Rome, by the sea, by the mountains, and by inter- the suevi, mediate provinces, had secured the long tranquillity of that Aiani? &c. I'emote and sequestered countiy ; and we may observe, as a October is sure symptom of domestic happiness, that in a period of fouroctfis] hundred years Spain furnished veiy few materials to the history of the Roman empire. The footsteps of the Barbarians, who, in the reign of Gallienus, had peneti'ated beyond the Pyrenees, were soon obliterated by the return of peace ; and in the fourth century of the Christian aera, the cities of Emerita, or Merida, of Corduba, Seville, Bracara, and Tarragona, were numbered with the most illustrious of the Roman world. The various plenty of the animal, the vegetable, and the mineral kingdoms was improved and manufactured by the skill of an industrious people ; and the peculiar advantages of naval stores contributed to support an extensive and profitable trade. i*^*^ The arts and sciences flourished under the protection of the Emperors ; and, if the character of the Spaniards was enfeebled by peace and servitude, the hostile approach of the Germans, who had spread terror and desolation from the Rhine to the Pyrenees, seemed to rekindle some sparks of military ardour. As long as the defence of the mountains was entrusted to the hardy and faith- ful militia of the country, they successfully repelled the frequent attempts of the Barbarians. But no sooner had the national troops been compelled to I'esign their post to the Honorian bands in the service of Constantine than the gates of Spain were treacherously betrayed to the public enemy, about ten months before the sack of Rome by the Goths. ^*^i The con- 180 Without recurring to the more ancient writers, I shall quote three respectable testimonies which belong to the fourth and seventh centuries ; the Expositio totius Mundi (p. i6 in the third volume of Hudson's Minor Geographers), Ausonius (de Claris Urbibus, p. 242, edit. Toll), and Isidore of Seville (Prjefat. ad Chron. ap. Grotium, Hist. Goth. p. 707). Many particulars relative to the fertility and trade of Spain may be found in Nonnius, Hispania lUustrata, and in Huet, Hist, du Commerce des Anciens, c. 40, p. 228-234. 161 The date is accurately fi.xed in the Fasti and the Chronicle of Idatius. Orosius {1. vii. c. 40, p. 578) imputes the loss of Spain to the treachery of the Honorians, while Sozomen (1. ix. c. 12) accuses only their negligence.