Page:Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire vol 3 (1897).djvu/425

 OF THE ROMAN EMPIKE 405 thage, the imaginary provocations were mutually explained; the opposite letters of Aetius were produced and compared ; and the fraud was easily detected. Placidia and Boniface lamented their fatal error ; and the count had sufficient magnanimity to confide in the forgiveness of his sovereign or to expose his head to her future resentment. His repentance was fervent and sincere ; but he soon discovered that it was no longer in his power to restore the edifice which he had shaken to its foundations. Carthage, and the Roman gaiTisons, i-eturned with their general to the allegiance of ^alentinian ; but the rest of Africa was still distracted with Avar and faction ; and the inexorable king of the Vandals, disdaining all terms of accommodation, sternly refused to relinquish the possession of his prey. The band of veterans, who marched under the standard of Boniface, and his hasty levies of provincial troops, Avere defeated with considerable loss ; the victorious Barbarians insulted the open country ; and Car- thage, Cirta, and Hippo Regius were the only cities that ap- peared to rise above the general inundation. The long and narrow tract of the African coast was filled Avith Desolation of Africa frequent monuments of Roman art and magnificence ; and the respectie degrees of improvement might be accurately measured by the distance from Carthage and the Mediterranean. A simple reflection Avill impress every thinking mind Avith the clearest idea of fertility and cultivation : the countiy AA-as extremely populous; the inhabitants reserved a liberal subsistence for their OAvn use ; and the annual exportation, particularly of Avheat, Avas so regular and plentiful that Africa deserved the name of the common granary of Rome and of mankind. On a sudden the seven fruitful provinces, from Tangier to Tripoli, Avere over- Avhelmed by the iiiAasion of the Vandals ; Avhose destructive rage has perhaps been exaggerated by popular animosity, religious zeal, and extravagant declamation. War, in its fairest form, im- plies a perpetual violation of humanity and justice; and the hostilities of Barbarians are inflamed by the fierce and laAvless spirit Avhich incessantly disturbs their peaceful and domestic society. The Vandals, Avhere they found resistance, seldom gave quarter ; and the deaths of their valiant countrymen Avere ex- piated by the ruin of the cities under Avhose Avails they had fallen. Careless of the distinctions of age, or sex, or rank, they employed every species of indignity and torture, to force from the captives a discovery of their hidden wealth. The stern policy of Genseric justified his frequent examples of military e:^ecution: he Avas not always the master of his oAvn passions, or