Suchareformationofnationalmannersmightbeembracedbytherisinggeneration；butitisthemisfortuneofthoseprinceswholaboriouslysustainadecliningmonarchy，that，toobtainsomeimmediateadvantage，ortoavertsomeimpendingdanger，theyareforcedtocountenance，andeventomultiply，themostperniciousabuses。Majorian，liketheweakestofhispredecessors，wasreducedtothedisgracefulexpedientofsubstitutingBarbarianauxiliariesintheplaceofhisunwarlikesubjects:andhissuperiorabilitiescouldonlybedisplayedinthevigoranddexteritywithwhichhewieldedadangerousinstrument，soapttorecoilonthehandthatusedit。Besidestheconfederates，whowerealreadyengagedintheserviceoftheempire，thefameofhisliberalityandvalorattractedthenationsoftheDanube，theBorysthenes，andperhapsoftheTanais。ManythousandsofthebravestsubjectsofAttila，theGepidae，theOstrogoths，theRugians，theBurgundians，theSuevi，theAlani，assembledintheplainsofLiguria；andtheirformidablestrengthwasbalancedbytheirmutualanimosities。^46TheypassedtheAlpsinaseverewinter。Theemperorledtheway，onfoot，andincompletearmor；
sounding，withhislongstaff，thedepthoftheice，orsnow，andencouragingtheScythians，whocomplainedoftheextremecold，bythecheerfulassurance，thattheyshouldbesatisfiedwiththeheatofAfrica。ThecitizensofLyonshadpresumedtoshuttheirgates；theysoonimplored，andexperienced，theclemencyofMajorian。HevanquishedTheodoricinthefield；andadmittedtohisfriendshipandallianceakingwhomhehadfoundnotunworthyofhisarms。Thebeneficial，thoughprecarious，reunionofthegreaterpartofGaulandSpain，wastheeffectofpersuasion，aswellasofforce；^47andtheindependentBagaudae，whohadescaped，orresisted，theoppression，offormerreigns，weredisposedtoconfideinthevirtuesofMajorian。HiscampwasfilledwithBarbarianallies；histhronewassupportedbythezealofanaffectionatepeople；buttheemperorhadforeseen，thatitwasimpossible，withoutamaritimepower，toachievetheconquestofAfrica。InthefirstPunicwar，therepublichadexertedsuchincrediblediligence，that，withinsixtydaysafterthefirststrokeoftheaxehadbeengivenintheforest，afleetofonehundredandsixtygalleysproudlyrodeatanchorinthesea。^48Undercircumstancesmuchlessfavorable，MajorianequalledthespiritandperseveranceoftheancientRomans。ThewoodsoftheApenninewerefelled；thearsenalsandmanufacturesofRavennaandMisenumwererestored；ItalyandGaulviedwitheachotherinliberalcontributionstothepublicservice；andtheImperialnavyofthreehundredlargegalleys，withanadequateproportionoftransportsandsmallervessels，wascollectedinthesecureandcapaciousharborofCarthagenainSpain。^49TheintrepidcountenanceofMajoriananimatedhistroopswithaconfidenceofvictory；and，ifwemightcreditthehistorianProcopius，hiscouragesometimeshurriedhimbeyondtheboundsofprudence。Anxioustoexplore，withhisowneyes，thestateoftheVandals，heventured，afterdisguisingthecolorofhishair，tovisitCarthage，inthecharacterofhisownambassador:andGensericwasafterwardsmortifiedbythediscovery，thathehadentertainedanddismissedtheemperoroftheRomans。Suchananecdotemayberejectedasanimprobablefiction；butitisafictionwhichwouldnothavebeenimagined，unlessinthelifeofahero。^50
[Footnote45:Sidon。Panegyr。Majorian，385—440。]
[Footnote46:Thereviewofthearmy，andpassageoftheAlps，containthemosttolerablepassagesofthePanegyric，470—
552。M。deBuatHist。desPeuples，&c。，tom。viii。p。49—55