Page:Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire vol 5 (1897).djvu/277

 OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE 255 tyrant's head, both in this world and the next.^^ I am not at leisure to examine how far the monks provoked, nor how much they have exaggerated, their real and pretended sufferings, nor how many lost their lives or limbs, their eyes or their beards, by the cruelty of the emperor. From the chastisement of in- dividuals, he proceeded to the abolition of the order; and, as it was wealthy and useless, his resentment might be stimulated by avarice and justified by patriotism. The formidable name and mission of the Dragon, -* his visitor-general, excited the terror and abhorrence of the black nation ; the religious com- munities were dissolved, the buildings were converted into magazines, or barracks ; the lands, moveables, and cattle were confiscated ; and our modern precedents will support the charge that much wanton or malicious havoc was exercised against the relics, and even the books, of the monasteries. With the habit and profession of monks, the public and private worship of images was rigorously proscribed ; and it should seem that a solemn abjuration of idolatry was exacted from the subjects, or at least from the clergy, of the Eastern empire.-'" The patient East abjured, with reluctance, her sacred images ; state of they were fondly cherished, and vigorously defended, by the independent zeal of the Italians. In ecclesiastical rank and jurisdiction, the patriarch of Constantinople and the pope of able office in the service of the caliph, His zeal in the cause of images exposed him to the resentment and treachery of the Greek emperor ; and on the suspicion of a treasonable correspondence he was deprived of his right hand, which was miraculously restored by the Virgin. After this deliverance, he resigned his office, distributed his wealth, and buried himself in the monastery of St. Sabas, between Jerusalem and the Dead Sea. The legend is famous ; but his learned editor, Father Lequien, has unluckily proved that St. John Damascenus was already a monk before the Iconoclast dispute (Opera, torn. i. Vit. St. Joan. Damascen. p. 10-13, et Notas ad loc). [Cp. Appendix i.] 2'^ After sending Leo to the devil, he introduces his heir — to fiiapbi- avrov yiwrnxa, Kai rris KaKia.^ aVTOv (cArjpoi'OMos ev SnrKw yei/d/xei'O! (Opera DamaSCen. toni. i. p. 625 [c. Const. Cab., c. 20]). If the authenticity of this piece be suspicious [there is no doubt that it is spurious], we are sure that in other works, no longer extant, Damascenus bestowed on Constantine the title of viov Muanife Xpttrrdnaxoi', fiLa-ayiof (tom. i. p. 306). [The authority for these citations from John of Damascus is the Vita Stephani Junioris. Cp. Appendix i.] 24 In the narrative of this persecution from Theophanes and Cedrenus, Span- heim (p. 235-238) is happy to compare the Draco of Leo with the dragoons {Dracones) of Louis XIV. ; and highly solaces himself with this controversial pun. Ilpo-ypafifia ykp e^eTrc/xi/'e (cora wacrau egapxCav ttji' iiiro t^s X'''P°5 avTov, navTas VTToypaif/ai. Kal OfJ-vvvai tov a0eT»j(rai tt)!/ wpO(rKvi/r]cn.v riov asTTTrnv eixdi'ioi' ([pseudo-] Danrascen. Op. tom. i. p. 625 [c. Const. Cabal 1., 21]). This oath and subscrip- tion I do not remember to have seen in any modern compilation.