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Chap, xxxvi] OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE 31 a master from the choice of the emperor of the East. 72 It is not the purpose of the present chapter [or even of the present volume] 7 -* to continue the distinct series of the Byzantine history; but a concise view of the reign and character of the Emperor Leo may explain the last efforts that were attempted to save the falling empire of the West. 73 Since the death of the younger Theodosius, the domestic Leo, em- „ ~ -iiii • -, , perorofthe repose of Constantinople had never been interrupted by war East. a.d. or faction. Pulcheria had bestowed her hand, and the sceptre of the East, on the modest virtue of Marcian ; he gratefully reverenced her august rank and virgin chastity ; and, after her death, he gave his people the example of the religious worship that was due to the memory of the Imperial saint. 74 Attentive to the prosperity of his own dominions, Marcian seemed to behold with indifference the misfortunes of Konie ; and the obstinate refusal of a brave and active prince to draw his sword against the Vandals was ascribed to a secret promise, which had formerly been exacted from him when he was a captive in the power of Genseric. 70 The death of Marcian, after a reign u.d . 457] of seven years, would have exposed the East to the danger of a popular election, if the superior weight of a single family had not been able to incline the balance in favour of the candidate whose interest they supported. The patrician Aspar might have placed the diadem on his own head, if he would have subscribed the Nicene creed. 76 During three generations the 72 The poet himself is compelled to acknowledge the distress of Ricimer [ii. 352] :— Preeterea invictus Ricimer, quern publica fata Respiciunt, prqprio — solus vix Marte repellit Piratam per rura vagum — Italy addresses her complaint to the Tiber, and Rome, at the solicitation of the river-god, transports herself to Constantinople, renounces her ancient claims, and implores the friendship of Aurora, the goddess of the East. This fabulous machinery, which the genius of Claudian had used and abused, is the constant and miserable resource of the muse of Sidonius. 72a [Vol. 3 of the quarto ed. ended with the Fall of the Western Empire : below, p. 181.] 73 The original authors of the reigns of Marcian, Leo, and Zeno are reduced to some imperfect fragments, whose deficiencies must be supplied from the more recent compilations of Theophanes, Zonaras, and Cedrenus. 74 St. Pulcheria died a.d. 453, four years before her nominal husband, and her festival is celebrated on the 10th of September by the modern Greeks ; she be- queathed an immense patrimony to pious, or at least to ecclesiastical, uses. See Tillemont, Memoires Eccles. torn. xv. p. 181-184. 75 See Procopius de Bell. Vandal. 1. i. c. 4, p. 185. 76 From this disability of Aspar to ascend the throne, it may be inferred that the stain of Heresy was perpetual and indelible, while that of Barbarism dis-