Chapter XXX: Revolt Of The Goths.—Part II

The emperor Honorius was distinguished, above his subjects, by
the preeminence of fear, as well as of rank. The pride and luxury
in which he was educated, had not allowed him to suspect, that
there existed on the earth any power presumptuous enough to
invade the repose of the successor of Augustus. The arts of
flattery concealed the impending danger, till Alaric approached
the palace of Milan. But when the sound of war had awakened the
young emperor, instead of flying to arms with the spirit, or even
the rashness, of his age, he eagerly listened to those timid
counsellors, who proposed to convey his sacred person, and his
faithful attendants, to some secure and distant station in the
provinces of Gaul. Stilicho alone 34 had courage and authority to
resist his disgraceful measure, which would have abandoned Rome
and Italy to the Barbarians; but as the troops of the palace had
been lately detached to the Rhaetian frontier, and as the
resource of new levies was slow and precarious, the general of
the West could only promise, that if the court of Milan would
maintain their ground during his absence, he would soon return
with an army equal to the encounter of the Gothic king. Without
losing a moment, (while each moment was so important to the
public safety,) Stilicho hastily embarked on the Larian Lake,
ascended the mountains of ice and snow, amidst the severity of an
Alpine winter, and suddenly repressed, by his unexpected
presence, the enemy, who had disturbed the tranquillity of
Rhaetia. 35 The Barbarians, perhaps some tribes of the Alemanni,
respected the firmness of a chief, who still assumed the language
of command; and the choice which he condescended to make, of a
select number of their bravest youth, was considered as a mark of
his esteem and favor. The cohorts, who were delivered from the
neighboring foe, diligently repaired to the Imperial standard;
and Stilicho issued his orders to the most remote troops of the
West, to advance, by rapid marches, to the defence of Honorius
and of Italy. The fortresses of the Rhine were abandoned; and the
safety of Gaul was protected only by the faith of the Germans,
and the ancient terror of the Roman name. Even the legion, which
had been stationed to guard the wall of Britain against the
Caledonians of the North, was hastily recalled; 36 and a numerous
body of the cavalry of the Alani was persuaded to engage in the
service of the emperor, who anxiously expected the return of his
general. The prudence and vigor of Stilicho were conspicuous on
this occasion, which revealed, at the same time, the weakness of
the falling empire. The legions of Rome, which had long since
languished in the gradual decay of discipline and courage, were
exterminated by the Gothic and civil wars; and it was found
impossible, without exhausting and exposing the provinces, to
assemble an army for the defence of Italy.

34 (return) [ Solus erat Stilicho, &c., is the exclusive
commendation which Claudian bestows, (del Bell. Get. 267,)
without condescending to except the emperor. How insignificant
must Honorius have appeared in his own court.]

35 (return) [ The face of the country, and the hardiness of
Stilicho, are finely described, (de Bell. Get. 340-363.)]

36 (return) [

Venit et extremis legio praetenta Britannis, Quae Scoto dat frena
truci. —-De Bell. Get. 416.

Yet the most rapid march from Edinburgh, or Newcastle, to Milan,
must have required a longer space of time than Claudian seems
willing to allow for the duration of the Gothic war.]