ThemaximsofRomanjurisprudence，iftheycouldfairlybetransferredfromprivatepropertytopublicdominion，wouldhaveadjudgedtotheemperorHonoriustheguardianshipofhisnephew，tillhehadattained，atleast，thefourteenthyearofhisage。

　　ButtheweaknessofHonorius，andthecalamitiesofhisreign，disqualifiedhimfromprosecutingthisnaturalclaim；andsuchwastheabsoluteseparationofthetwomonarchies，bothininterestandaffection，thatConstantinoplewouldhaveobeyed，withlessreluctance，theordersofthePersian，thanthoseoftheItalian，court。Underaprincewhoseweaknessisdisguisedbytheexternalsignsofmanhoodanddiscretion，themostworthlessfavoritesmaysecretlydisputetheempireofthepalace；anddictatetosubmissiveprovincesthecommandsofamaster，whomtheydirectanddespise。Buttheministersofachild，whoisincapableofarmingthemwiththesanctionoftheroyalname，mustacquireandexerciseanindependentauthority。Thegreatofficersofthestateandarmy，whohadbeenappointedbeforethedeathofArcadius，formedanaristocracy，whichmighthaveinspiredthemwiththeideaofafreerepublic；andthegovernmentoftheEasternempirewasfortunatelyassumedbythepraefectAnthemius，^65whoobtained，byhissuperiorabilities，alastingascendantoverthemindsofhisequals。ThesafetyoftheyoungemperorprovedthemeritandintegrityofAnthemius；

　　andhisprudentfirmnesssustainedtheforceandreputationofaninfantreign。Uldin，withaformidablehostofBarbarians，wasencampedintheheartofThrace；heproudlyrejectedalltermsofaccommodation；and，pointingtotherisingsun，declaredtotheRomanambassadors，thatthecourseofthatplanetshouldaloneterminatetheconquestoftheHuns。Butthedesertionofhisconfederates，whowereprivatelyconvincedofthejusticeandliberalityoftheImperialministers，obligedUldintorepasstheDanube:thetribeoftheScyrri，whichcomposedhisrear—guard，wasalmostextirpated；andmanythousandcaptivesweredispersedtocultivate，withservilelabor，thefieldsofAsia。^66Inthemidstofthepublictriumph，Constantinoplewasprotectedbyastrongenclosureofnewandmoreextensivewalls；thesamevigilantcarewasappliedtorestorethefortificationsoftheIllyriancities；andaplanwasjudiciouslyconceived，which，inthespaceofsevenyears，wouldhavesecuredthecommandoftheDanube，byestablishingonthatriveraperpetualfleetoftwohundredandfiftyarmedvessels。^67

　　[Footnote65:Socrates，l。vii。c。l。AnthemiuswasthegrandsonofPhilip，oneoftheministersofConstantius，andthegrandfatheroftheemperorAnthemius。AfterhisreturnfromthePersianembassy，hewasappointedconsulandPraetorianpraefectoftheEast，intheyear405andheldthepraefectureabouttenyears。SeehishonorsandpraisesinGodefroy，Cod。Theod。tom。

　　vi。p。350。Tillemont，Hist。desEmptom。vi。p。1。&c。]

......

购买会员看全站小说，或者下载APP免费观看所有作品 点击立即下载，搜索"History Of The Decline And Fall Of The Roman Empir",免费读到尾