The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire

A.D. 408.

BY AMMIANUS MARCELLINUS.

"Sometimes indeed these heroes undertake more arduous achieve"ments: they visit their estates in Italy, and procure themselves, by "the toil of servile hands, the amusements of the chace.39 If at any "time, but more especially on a hot day, they have courage to sail “in their painted galleys from the Lucrine lake to their elegant "villas on the sea-coast of Puteoli and Caieta,11 they compare their "own expeditions to the marches of Cæsar and Alexander. Yet "should a fly presume to settle on the silken folds of their gilded "umbrellas, should a sunbeam penetrate through some unguarded "and imperceptible chink, they deplore their intolerable hardships, "and lament in affected language that they were not born in the "land of the Cimmerians, 42 the regions of eternal darkness. "these journeys into the country43 the whole body of the household "marches with their master. In the same manner as the cavalry "and infantry, the heavy and the light armed troops, the advanced guard and the rear, are marshalled by the skill of their military "leaders, so the domestic officers, who bear a rod as an ensign of "authority, distribute and arrange the numerous train of slaves and "attendants. The baggage and wardrobe move in the front, and "are immediately followed by a multitude of cooks and inferior "ministers employed in the service of the kitchens and of the table. "The main body is composed of a promiscuous crowd of slaves, in

39 See Pliny's Epistles, 6. Three large wild boars were allured and taken in the toils without interrupting the studies of the philosophic sportsman.

40 The change from the inauspicious word Avernus, which stands in the text, is immaterial. The two lakes, Avernus and Lucrinus, communicated with each other, and were fashioned by the stupendous moles of Agrippa into the Julian port, which opened through a narrow entrance into the gulf of Puteoli. Virgil, who resided on the spot, has described (Georgic ii. 161) this work at the moment of its execution: and his commentators, especially Catrou, have derived much light from Strabo, Suetonius, and Dion. Earthquakes and volcanoes have changed the face of the country, and turned the Lucrine lake, since the year 1538, into the Monte Nuovo. See Camillo Pellegrino Discorsi della Campania Felice, p. 239, 244, &c. Antonii Sanfelicii Campania, p. 13, 88.

The regna Cumana et Puteolana; loca cæteroqui valde expetenda, interpellantium autem multitudine pæne fugienda. Cicero ad Attic. xiv. 16.

42 The proverbial expression of Cimmerian darkness was originally borrowed from the description of Homer (in the eleventh book of the Odyssey) which he applies to a remote and fabulous country on the shores of the ocean. See Erasmi Adagia, in his Works, tom. ii. p. 593, the Leyden edition.

43 We may learn from Seneca, Epist. cxxiii., three curious circumstances relative to the journeys of the Romans. 1. They were preceded by a troop of Numidian lighthorse, who announced by a cloud of dust the approach of a great man. 2. Their baggage-mules transported not only the precious vases but even the fragile vessels of crystal and murra, which last is almost proved, by the learned French translator of Seneca (tom. iii. p. 402-422), to mean the porcelain of China and Japan. 3. The beautiful faces of the young slaves were covered with a medicated crust, or ointment, which secured them against the effects of the sun and frost.

This would be rendered still more probable if we could place dependence upon the statement of Sir W. Gell, "that

"the porcelain of the East was called "Mirrha di Smyrna to as late a date as "1555." Pompeiana, vol. i. p. 98, 99.-S.

"creased by the accidental concourse of idle or dependent plebeians. "The rear is closed by the favourite band of eunuchs, distributed "from age to youth, according to the order of seniority. Their "numbers and their deformity excite the horror of the indignant "spectators, who are ready to execrate the memory of Semiramis for "the cruel art which she invented of frustrating the purposes of "nature, and of blasting in the bud the hopes of future generations. "In the exercise of domestic jurisdiction the nobles of Rome express an exquisite sensibility for any personal injury, and a contemptuous "indifference for the rest of the human species. When they have "called for warm water, if a slave has been tardy in his obedience, "he is instantly chastised with three hundred lashes; but should the same slave commit a wilful murder, the master will mildly observe "that he is a worthless fellow, but that if he repeats the offence he "shall not escape punishment. Hospitality was formerly the virtue "of the Romans; and every stranger who could plead either merit "or misfortune was relieved or rewarded by their generosity. At "present, if a foreigner. perhaps of no contemptible rank, is intro"duced to one of the proud and wealthy senators, he is welcomed “indeed in the first audience with such warm professions and such "kind inquiries, that he retires enchanted with the affability of his "illustrious friend, and full of regret that he had so long delayed his 'journey to Rome, the native seat of manners as well as of empire. "Secure of a favourable reception, he repeats his visit the ensuing day, and is mortified by the discovery that his person, his name, "and his country are already forgotten. If he still has resolution to persevere, he is gradually numbered in the train of dependents, and "obtains the permission to pay his assiduous and unprofitable court to "a haughty patron, incapable of gratitude or friendship, who scarcely deigns to remark his presence, his departure, or his return. When"ever the rich prepare a solemn and popular entertainment, whenever they celebrate with profuse and pernicious luxury their private banquets, the choice of the guests is the subject of anxious delibera"tion. The modest, the sober, and the learned are seldom preferred; "and the nomenclators, who are commonly swayed by interested

44 Distributio solemnium sportularum. The sportula, or sportellæ, were small baskets supposed to contain a quantity of hot provisions of the value of 100 quadrantes, or twelvepence halfpenny, which were ranged in order in the hall, and ostentatiously distributed to the hungry or servile crowd who waited at the door. This indelicate custom is very frequently mentioned in the epigrams of Martial and the satires of Juvenal. See likewise Suetonius, in Claud. c. 21; in Neron. c. 16; in Domitian. c. 4, 7. These baskets of provisions were afterwards converted into large pieces of gold and silver coin, or plate, which were mutually given and accepted even by the persons of the highest rank (see Symmach. Epist. iv. 55, ix. 124, and Miscell. p. 256 [ed. Paris, 1604]), on solemn occasions, of consulships, marriages, &c.

A.D. 408.

BY AMMIANUS MARCELLINUS.

"motives, have the address to insert in the list of invitations the “obscure names of the most worthless of mankind. But the frequent "and familiar companions of the great are those parasites who prac"tise the most useful of all arts, the art of flattery; who eagerly "applaud each word and every action of their immortal patron; gaze "with rapture on his marble columns and variegated pavements, and strenuously praise the pomp and elegance which he is taught to "consider as a part of his personal merit. At the Roman tables the "birds, the squirrels, or the fish, which appear of an uncommon "size, are contemplated with curious attention; a pair of scales is "accurately applied to ascertain their real weight; and, while the "more rational guests are disgusted by the vain and tedious repeti“tion, notaries are summoned to attest by an authentic record the "truth of such a marvellous event. Another method of introduction "into the houses and society of the great is derived from the pro❝fession of gaming, or, as it is more politely styled, of play. The “confederates are united by a strict and indissoluble bond of friendship, or rather of conspiracy; a superior degree of skill in the "Tesserarian art (which may be interpreted the game of dice and tables1o) is a sure road to wealth and reputation. A master of that "sublime science, who in a supper or assembly is placed below a "magistrate, displays in his countenance the surprise and indignation "which Cato might be supposed to feel when he was refused the "prætorship by the votes of a capricious people. The acquisition of knowledge seldom engages the curiosity of the nobles, who abhor "the fatigue and disdain the advantages of study; and the only books "which they peruse are the Satires of Juvenal, and the verbose and

45 The want of an English name obliges me to refer to the common genus of squirrels, the Latin glis, the French loir; a little animal who inhabits the woods and remains torpid in cold weather (see Plin. Hist. Natur. viii. 82; Buffon, Hist. Naturelle, tom. viii. 158; Pennant's Synopsis of Quadrupeds, p. 289). The art of rearing and fattening great numbers of glires was practised in Roman villas as a profitable article of rural economy (Varro, de Re Rusticâ, iii. 15). The excessive demand of them for luxurious tables was increased by the foolish prohibitions of the censors; and it is reported that they are still esteemed in modern Rome, and are frequently sent as presents by the Colonna princes (see Brotier, the last editor of Pliny, tom. ii. p. 458, apud Barbou, 1779).

46 This game, which might be translated by the more familiar names of trictrac, or backgammon, was a favourite amusement of the gravest Romans; and old Mucius Scævola, the lawyer, had the reputation of a very skilful player. It was called ludus duodecim scriptorum, from the twelve scripta or lines which equally divided the alveolus or table. On these the two armies, the white and the black, each consisting of fifteen men, or calculi, were regularly placed and alternately moved according to the laws of the game and the chances of the tessera or dice. Dr. Hyde, who diligently traces the history and varieties of the nerdiludium (a name of Persic etymology) from Ireland to Japan, pours forth on this trifling subject a copious torrent of classic and Oriental learning. See Syntagma Dissertat. tom. ii. p. 217-405.

a Is it not the dormouse?-M.

VOL. IV.

"fabulous histories of Marius Maximus." The libraries which they "have inherited from their fathers are secluded, like dreary sepulchres, "from the light of day.48 But the costly instruments of the theatre, "flutes, and enormous lyres, and hydraulic organs, are constructed "for their use; and the harmony of vocal and instrumental music is "incessantly repeated in the palaces of Rome. In those palaces "sound is preferred to sense, and the care of the body to that of the "mind. It is allowed as a salutary maxim, that the light and frivo"lous suspicion of a contagious malady is of sufficient weight to excuse "the visits of the most intimate friends; and even the servants who "are despatched to make the decent inquiries are not suffered to "return home till they have undergone the ceremony of a previous "ablution. Yet this selfish and unmanly delicacy occasionally yields "to the more imperious passion of avarice. The prospect of gain "will urge a rich and gouty senator as far as Spoleto; every senti"ment of arrogance and dignity is subdued by the hopes of an "inheritance, or even of a legacy; and a wealthy childless citizen is "the most powerful of the Romans. The art of obtaining the signa"ture of a favourable testament, and sometimes of hastening the moment of its execution, is perfectly understood; and it has happened that in the same house, though in different apartments, a "husband and a wife, with the laudable design of overreaching each "other, have summoned their respective lawyers, to declare at the "same time their mutual but contradictory intentions. The distress "which follows and chastises extravagant luxury often reduces the great to the use of the most humiliating expedients. When they “desire to borrow, they employ the base and supplicating style of "the slave in the comedy; but when they are called upon to pay, they assume the royal and tragic declamation of the grandsons of "Hercules. If the demand is repeated, they readily procure some "trusty sycophant, instructed to maintain a charge of poison, or "magic, against the insolent creditor, who is seldom released from "prison till he has signed a discharge of the whole debt. These "vices, which degrade the moral character of the Romans, are "mixed with a puerile superstition that disgraces their understand"ing. They listen with confidence to the predictions of haruspices, "who pretend to read in the entrails of victims the signs of future

47 Marius Maximus, homo omnium verbosissimus, qui et mythistoricis se voluminibus implicavit. Vopiscus in Hist. August. p. 242 [Vopisc. Firm. c. 1]. He wrote the Lives of the Emperors from Trajan to Alexander Severus. See Gerard Vossius de Historicis Latin. 1. ii. c. 3, in his Works, vol. iv. p. 57.

48 This satire is probably exaggerated. The Saturnalia of Macrobius, and the Epistles of Jerom, afford satisfactory proofs that Christian theology and classic literature were studiously cultivated by several Romans of both sexes and of the highest rank.

A.D. 408.

STATE OF THE PEOPLE

greatness and prosperity; and there are many who do not presume "either to bathe or to dine, or to appear in public, till they have diligently consulted, according to the rules of astrology, the "situation of Mercury and the aspect of the moon.49 It is singular "enough that this vain credulity may often be discovered among the profane sceptics who impiously doubt or deny the existence of a "celestial power."

the people

In populous cities, which are the seat of commerce and manufactures, the middle ranks of inhabitants, who derive their state and subsistence from the dexterity or labour of their hands, character of are commonly the most prolific, the most useful, and, of Rome. in that sense, the most respectable part of the community. But the plebeians of Rome, who disdained such sedentary and servile arts, had been oppressed from the earliest times by the weight of debt and usury, and the husbandman, during the term of his military service, was obliged to abandon the cultivation of his farm.50 The lands of Italy, which had been originally divided among the families of free and indigent proprietors, were insensibly purchased or usurped by the avarice of the nobles; and in the age which preceded the fall of the republic, it was computed that only two thousand citizens were possessed of any independent substance.51 Yet as long as the people bestowed by their suffrages the honours of the state, the command of the legions, and the administration of wealthy provinces, their conscious pride alleviated in some measure the hardships of poverty; and their wants were seasonably supplied by the ambitious liberality of the candidates, who aspired to secure a venal majority in the thirty-five tribes, or the hundred and ninetythree centuries, of Rome. But when the prodigal commons had imprudently alienated not only the use, but the inheritance, of power, they sunk, under the reign of the Cæsars, into a vile and wretched populace, which must, in a few generations, have been totally extinguished, if it had not been continually recruited by the manumission of slaves and the influx of strangers. As early as the time of Hadrian it was the just complaint of the ingenuous natives that the capital had

49 Macrobius, the friend of these Roman nobles, considered the stars as the cause, or at least the signs, of future events (de Somn. Scipion. 1. i. c. 19, p. 68).

50 The histories of Livy (see particularly vi. 36) are full of the extortions of the rich and the sufferings of the poor debtors. The melancholy story of a brave old soldier (Dionys. Hal. 1. vi. c. 26, p. 347, edit. Hudson, and Livy, ii. 23) must have been frequently repeated in those primitive times, which have been so undeservedly praised.

51 Non esse in civitate duo millia hominum qui rem haberent. Cicero, Offic. ii. 21, and Comment. Paul. Manut. in edit. Græv. This vague computation was made A.U.C. 649, in a speech of the tribune Philippus, and it was his object, as well as that of the Gracchi (see Plutarch), to deplore, and perhaps to exaggerate, the misery of the common people.

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The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, Volum 4