Page:1909historyofdec04gibbuoft.djvu/50

26 THE DECLINE AND FALL [Chap, xxxvi supporting heavy disappointments, consented to a treaty, or rather to a suspension of arms ; in the full assurance that, before he could restore his navy, he should be supplied with provocations to justify a second war. Majorian returned to Italy, to prosecute his labours for the public happiness ; and, as he was conscious of his own integrity, he might long remain ignorant of the dark conspiracy which threatened his throne and his life. The recent misfortune of Carthagena sullied the glory which had dazzled the eyes of the multitude; almost every description of civil and military officers were exasperated against the Reformer, since they all derived some advantage from the abuses which he endeavoured to suppress ; and the patrician Ricimer impelled the inconstant passions of the Bar- barians against a prince whom he esteemed and hated. The virtues of Majorian could not protect him from the impetuous [Aug. 2] sedition which broke out in the camp near Tortona, at the foot of the Alps. He was compelled to abdicate the Imperial purple : ms death, five days after his abdication, it was reported that he died of a August 7 dysentery ; ra and the humble tomb, which covered his remains, was consecrated by the respect and gratitude of succeeding generations. 04 The private character of Majorian inspired love and respect. Malicious calumny and satire excited his indignation, or, if he himself were the object, his contempt ; but he protected the freedom of wit, and, in the hours which the emperor gave to the familiar society of his friends, he could indulge his taste for pleasantry, without degrading the majesty of his rank. 65 It was not perhaps without some regret that Ricimer sacri- 63 Procop. cle Bell. Vandal. 1. i. c. 8, p. 194. The testimony of Idatius is fair and impartial : " Majorianum de Galliis Eomam redeuntem et Romano imperio vel nomini res necessarias ordinantem, Richimer livore percitus, et invidorum consilio ultus, fraude interfieit circumventum ". Some read Suevorum, and I am unwilling to efface either of the words, as they express the different accomplices who united in the conspiracy of Majorian. [For date of his deposition and death see Fasti Vindob. Priores, in Chron. Minora, i. p. 305. Cp. Appendix 1.] 64 See the Epigrams of Ennodius, No. cxxxv. inter Sirmond. Opera, torn. i. p. 1903. It is flat and obscure ; but Ennodius was made bishop of Pavia fifty years after the death of Majorian, and his praise deserves credit and regard [cccliv., p. 256, ed. Vogcl]. 86 Sidonius gives a tedious account (1. i. epist. xi. p. 25-31) of a supper at Aries, to which he was invited by Majorian, a short time before his death. He had no in- tention of praising a deceased emperor, but a casual disinterested remark [§ 12], " Subrisit Augustus ; ut erat, auctoritate servata, cum se oommunioni dedisset joci plenus," outweighs the six hundred lines of his venal panegyric.