History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire — Volume 3Gibbon, Edward
History
History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire — Volume 3
Gibbon, Edward
Byzantine Empire -- History -- To 527; Rome -- History -- Empire, 30 B.C.-476 A.D.
97 (return) [ According to the discipline of St. Basil, (Canon
lvi.,) the voluntary homicide was four years a mourner; five a
hearer; seven in a prostrate state; and four in a standing
posture. I have the original (Beveridge, Pandect. tom. ii. p.
47-151) and a translation (Chardon, Hist. des Sacremens, tom. iv.
p. 219-277) of the Canonical Epistles of St. Basil.]
98 (return) [ The penance of Theodosius is authenticated by
Ambrose, (tom. vi. de Obit. Theodos. c. 34, p. 1207,) Augustin,
(de Civitat. Dei, v. 26,) and Paulinus, (in Vit. Ambros. c. 24.)
Socrates is ignorant; Sozomen (l. vii. c. 25) concise; and the
copious narrative of Theodoret (l. v. c. 18) must be used with
precaution.]
99 (return) [ Codex Theodos. l. ix. tit. xl. leg. 13. The date
and circumstances of this law are perplexed with difficulties;
but I feel myself inclined to favor the honest efforts of
Tillemont (Hist. des Emp. tom. v. p. 721) and Pagi, (Critica,
tom. i. p. 578.)]
100 (return) [ Un prince qui aime la religion, et qui la craint,
est un lion qui cede a la main qui le flatte, ou a la voix qui
l’appaise. Esprit des Loix, l. xxiv. c. 2.]
Chapter XXVII: Civil Wars, Reign Of Theodosius.—Part V.
After the defeat and death of the tyrant of Gaul, the Roman world
was in the possession of Theodosius. He derived from the choice
of Gratian his honorable title to the provinces of the East: he
had acquired the West by the right of conquest; and the three
years which he spent in Italy were usefully employed to restore
the authority of the laws, and to correct the abuses which had
prevailed with impunity under the usurpation of Maximus, and the
minority of Valentinian. The name of Valentinian was regularly
inserted in the public acts: but the tender age, and doubtful
faith, of the son of Justina, appeared to require the prudent
care of an orthodox guardian; and his specious ambition might
have excluded the unfortunate youth, without a struggle, and
almost without a murmur, from the administration, and even from
the inheritance, of the empire. If Theodosius had consulted the
rigid maxims of interest and policy, his conduct would have been
justified by his friends; but the generosity of his behavior on
this memorable occasion has extorted the applause of his most
inveterate enemies. He seated Valentinian on the throne of Milan;
and, without stipulating any present or future advantages,
restored him to the absolute dominion of all the provinces, from
which he had been driven by the arms of Maximus. To the
restitution of his ample patrimony, Theodosius added the free and
generous gift of the countries beyond the Alps, which his
successful valor had recovered from the assassin of Gratian. 101
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