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chap, xliii] OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE 415 CHAPTEE XLIII Rebellions of Africa — Restoration of the Gothic Kingdom by Totila — Loss and Recovery of Rome — Final Conquest of Italy by N arses — Extinction of the Ostrogoths — Defeat of the Franks and Alemanni — Last Victory, Disgrace, and Death of Belisarius — Death and Character of Justinian — Comet, Earthquakes, and Plague THE review of the nations from the Danube to the Nile has exposed on every side the weakness of the Romans ; and our wonder is reasonably excited that they should presume to enlarge an empire whose ancient limits they were incapable of defending. But the wars, the conquests, and the triumphs of Justinian are the feeble and pernicious efforts of old age, which exhaust the remains of strength, and accelerate the decay of the powers of life. He exulted in the glorious act of restoring Africa and Italy to the republic ; but the calamities which followed the departure of Belisarius betrayed the im- potence of the conqueror and accomplished the ruin of those unfortunate countries. From his new acquisitions, Justinian expected that his The avarice as well as pride should be richly gratified. A rapacious Africa. ad 535-545 minister of the finances closely pursued the footsteps of Beli- sarius ; and, as the old registers of tribute had been burnt by the Vandals, he indulged his fancy in a liberal calculation and arbitrary assessment of the wealth of Africa. 1 The increase 1 For the troubles of Africa, I neither have nor desire another guide than Procopius, whose eye contemplated the image, and whose ear collected the reports, of the memorable events of his own times. In the second book of the Vandalic war he relates the revolt of Stoza (c. 14-24), the return of Belisarius (c. 15), the victory of Germanus (c. 16, 17, 18), the second administration of Solomon (c. 19, 20, 21), the government of Sergius (c. 22, 23), of Areobindus (c. 24), the tyranny and death of Gontharis (o. 25, 26, 27, 28) ; nor can I discern any symptoms of flattery or malevo- lence in his various portraits. [But we have now the Johannis of Corippus ; see Appendix 1 and 19.]