Page:Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire vol 3 (1897).djvu/465

 OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE 445 Constantinople, consisted in two hundred pieces of gold, which he had borrowed of a friend. He passed nineteen years in the domestic and military service of Aspar and his son Ardaburius ; followed those powerful generals to the Persian and African wars ; and obtained, by their influence, the honourable rank of tribune and senator. His mild disposition, and useful talents, without alarming the jealousy, recommended Marcian to the esteem and favour, of his patrons ; he had seen, perhaps he had felt, the abuses of a venal and oppressive administration ; and his own example gave weight and energy to the laws which he promulgated for the reformation of manners.^* 5-1 Procopius, de Bell. Vandal. 1. i. c. 4. Evagrius, 1. ii. c. i. Theophanes, p. 90, 91. Novell, ad Calcem Cod. Theod. torn. vi. p. 30. The praises which St. Leo and the Catholics have bestowed on Marcian are diligently transcribed, by Baronius, as an encouragement for future princes.