Belisarius

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Author's Preface

.1 KNOW, and it must not be dissembled, that .the fact, upon which the following piece is grounded, may be looked upon rather as a popular opinion, than an historical truth. But that opinion has so .universally prevailed, and the idea of a blind old man reduced to beggary, is now so associated with the name of Belisarius, that the latter never occurs without presenting to the imagination, a picture of the former.

In this light, therefore, Belisarius is here represented : in every other particular, I have relied upon the faith of history, and Procopius has been my guide. But I pay no sort of regard to that defamatory libel, which, under the title of Anecdotes or Secret History, has been attributed to him. On the contrary, it appears to me demonstrable, that such r an indigested mass of scandal, falsehood, and detraction, could not be his, but of some declaimer, whose honesty and genius were much upon a level '.

Of all the historians, who writ in the same period with Procopius, or who succeeded him during a space of five hundred years, not one has made mention of

1 An Advocate of Caesr.rea has been supposed to be the author. Vide Mem.de V Acad, des Inscriptions et Belles Let' Mes* torn. 21,

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these Anecdotes. Agathias, who was a cotemporary writer, enumerates the works of our author, but is totally silent in regard to the work in question. Will it be urged, that it was concealed? In the course of three hundred years from the date of it, it is clear, that it might have been public: the learned Photius would certainly have known it, and yet it appears, that he never heard of it. Suidas, a writer of the eleventh century, is the first who imputes this despicable satire to Procopius: upon his authority the notion has been adopted, and, without ever being examined, has passed current among the learned 2 . Writers, however, are still extant, by whom the authority of Suidas has been doubted 3 : and there are not wanting those who have roundly denied it. Of this number was Eichelius, in the notes and preface to the edition he has given us. He sets out with proving, that it is neither true nor probable that Procopius was the author ; and he adds, though he were, that a declamation so extravagant, so shameless and absurd, would be entitled to no sort of credit. The only difficulty that remains with me is, that the illustrious author of the Spirit of Laws has given a degree of sanction to the forgery. I know the weight of so respectable an authority, but it must yield to the force of evidence.

Ts it possible to believe, that a writer, who was a statesman, and had the esteem of the age in which he lived, for the little gratification of traducing his benefactors, would leave behind him a work of defama-

2 Vossius, Grotius, &c.

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tion, which could. not fail to blacken his own memory, by reducing after-ages to the necessity of considering him either as the author of a virulent libel, or a flatterer of the meanest servility? Can it be supposed that he, who had in every other respect maintained the dignity of a judicious historian, could of a sudden be so lost to all sense of decency, as to desire, upon his own bare assertion, that the character of " a stupid blockhead, a compound of rus- " ticity and folly 4 ," should be fixed upon the emperor Justinian, that wise and virtuous old man, who from obscurity, from the lowest station in the army, raised himself, by his valour and his talents, to the highest rank, obtained the joint suffrages of the senate, the army, and the people, in his favour, and rose at last to the imperial throne? Is it credible that he, who composed the history of his own times in a strain of candour, truth, and knowledge, could be capable of transmitting to us concerning Justinian, that he was " stupid and sluggish as an ass, " that he suffered himself to be led by the nose, " and that he frequently pricked up his ears 5 ; that " he was not a man, but a fury in human shape 6 : " that his mother, before she conceived him, had " commerce with a demon that was invisible, but

?1 tf palpable to the touch 7 ; and, in short, that he " brought such a number of calamities upon the " empire, as could not be equalled in the annals of " all former ages 8 ? Could an author of reputation, who, in the style of sober history, had represented Belisarius as an accomplished hero, adorned with triumph and with glory, descend so lowly from his character, as to call him at last, " a man despised " by the world, and pointed at for a fool 9 ?" and this too in the crisis of that hero's fame, when he was called upon to be the guardian of the state by* the expulsion of the Huns ?

It is true, that in the original Greek, some have pretended to trace the style of Procopius : but did they discern bis good sense and manner of thinking ? I will grant that he might be susceptible of ingratitude, and of spleen and malice to his benefactors ! but would the rancour of an able writer vent itself in boyish declamation ? Would he think puerility sufficient to efface his former strain of panegyric, and to retract the facts upon which that panegyric was founded ? It is not likely that Procopius, the historian, would so trifle with posterity, as to sit down in a fit of malevolence, to prove in form r

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that Justinian and his ministers " were not men, but " a set of evil demons, who stalked the earth in " human shape, and heaped destruction upon man- " kind l0 " Of such a degree of infatuation I should be almost inclined to acquit him, though all his cotemporaries were to depose against him : most assuredly I shall do so now, when there is no other evidence but that of a single man who lived five hundred years after him.

It is Procopius the historian, and not the writer of scandalous memoirs, that I have followed : I have consulted him in his genuine work, and from thence I have copied the character of my hero, his modesty, his benevolence, his affability, the simplicity of his manner, his beneficence, and, above all, that fund of humanity which was the basis of his virtues, and made him the idol of the people. " It " was the delight," says my author, " of the citiu zens of Byzantium, to behold Belisarius coming " forth every morning to the Forum. — He was dis- " tinguished by the size and the graceful proportions " of his stature. To the dignity of his person, he u added such an air of meekness, benignity, and u cheerful demeanour to all who came in his way, " that- he might have passed for one of the ordinary " rank of people. — His munificence to his sol- " diers was unbounded. — To the husbandman and " the labourer of the field he behaved with such " a tender concern, that while he commanded, they

" were suffering no kind of outrage from the army, " His care, moreover, extended to all the fruits of " the earth: he provided with solicitude that his " troopers should not trample down the corn grow- " ing up in the field ; and to touch any part of the n farmer's store, without leave from the owner, was " made penal throughout his army "."

BELISARIUS.

CHAP. L

IN the old age of Justinian, the empire, weakened by long and violent struggles, hastened to its ruin. Every part of the administration was neglected : laws were disregarded, the finances squandered, and military discipline was totally despised. The Emperor, weary of war, purchases with his gold a shameful peace from his enemies ; whilst his few remaining troops loitered in inaction, useless yet expensive to the state ; and their commanders, wholly devoted to pleasure, renewed their warlike ideas, and at the same time, dispelled the languors of idleness in the exercise of the chase.

One night after this diversion, when a few of these young captains were supping together at a castle in Thrace, a blind old man, led by a child, stood- at the door, entreating their hospitality. Youth is easily moved to compassion ; they caused him to enter. It was now autumn ; and the cold, which was already set in, had seized the old man : they there* fore ordered him to sit by the fire.

Supper was not yet ended ; the chiefs were in fullspirits ; and their conversation turned on the evils of the state. This was indeed a large field for censure ; and here disappointed vanity gave itself loose reigns. Each exaggerated his past actions ; and boasted of what he might still have done, had not his services been despised and his talents disregarded. Every evil that befel the empire, in their estimation, was owing to the neglect of placing such men as themselves at the head of affairs. Thus did they govern the world over their cups ; and each glass brought an increase of infallibility to their schemes.

The old man, sitting at the corner of the fire, listened and smiled with pity. One of them perceived it, and thus spoke: And have you, good man, the presumption to treat what we are saying as ridiculous? Not as ridiculous, replied the old man, but as a little trifling, as is natural to your age. The reply confounded them. You imagine you have reason to complain, continued he, and I also think it is wrong to neglect you ; but this is the least of our evils. Lament indeed that the empire has lost its power and its glory; that a prince worn out with cares and old age is obliged to see with another's eyes, and to employ unfaithful hands in his service. But in this general calamity, is it worth while to think of one's self? In your time, replied one at the table, was it the custom for people not to be concerned for themselves ? Well, what of that, times change, for now it is the chief care. So much the worse, said the old man ; and if this then be your case, to neglect you is to do you justice. Is it to insult people, said the youth, that you ask their hospitality ? T do not insult yon, replied the old man ; I speak as a friend, and I pay for my sanctuary by telling you the truth.

The young Tiberius, afterwards the virtuous Emperor, then in the company, was struck with the venerable aspect and grey hairs of this blind man. You speak to us, said he, with wisdom •, but with a little too much severity : you require us to devote ourselves to our country ; this to be sure is an exalted virtue ; but, at the same time, it is no duty. It is a duty you owe your country, replied the old man with firmness ; or rather it is the foundation of your duties and of every military virtue. AVhoever devotes himself to the service of his country, should suppose her insolvent ; for what he hazards for her is inestimable. But he must, at the same time, expect to find her ungrateful : for whoever looks for a reward for a free and generous sacrifice of himself, is foolishly inconsistent. There is nothing but the love of glory, and an enthusiasm for virtue, that is worthy of animating you. And what matters it then, how your services are received? Your recompence is independent an the caprice of a minister or the discernment of the sovereign. The common soldier, indeed, may be induced by the hopes of booty ; he may hazard his life for a pittance ta maintain it. This I readily comprehend ; but you, Sir, born to affluence, with whom to live is to enjoy, when you relinquish the softer scenes of life to undergo fatigue and labour, opposing yourself voluntarily to various perils, can you derogate so far from the generous act, as to desire wages for it ? It is depreciated by payment: who attends to the advantage of salary, is a mercenary slave ; nor is the case altered by the quantity of reward ; the man who appraises his talents, and converts them to profit, is to thi: full as venal as the soul that sells itself for a piece of money.

What I have said of pecuniary recompence, I affirm also of the allurements of ambition : honours, titles, rank, and the favours of the sovereign, what are they but wages? He who desires them has his hire. We must either give or sell ourselves : there is no other alternative. The former is the act of freedom, the latter of slavery : you, gentlemen, will incline to that which agrees best with the propensities of your hearts. — At this rate, honest friend, said the company, you place sovereigns in a very easy condition. — Were my discourse addressed to sovereigns, returned the blind stranger, I should tell them, that as it is your duty to observe a disinterested conduct, so it is theirs to be just and upright. — What, then, is it just, do you think, to give merit its due recompence? — Most certainly it is ; but he to whom service is rendered, is to dispense the reward, and if he omits to do it, it is his misfortune. But to go a little farther: which of us, in weighing our own merits, can be sure of holding the balance with an even hand? To illustrate this, in your condition, for instance;- in order that every body should be dealt with to his satisfaction, it would be necessary that each should command in chief, and then what becomes of subordination ? This, you see, is impracticable. Let me then assume it as a truth, that government may incidentally want penetration, and even equity ; but still it will be more discerning and wise in its appointments, than if it were implicitly to take the recommendation each of you would give in favour of himself. — And who are you that talks to us in this strain ? says the young master of the feast, with an elevation of voice. — Belisarius, replied the old man.

The surprise occasioned by this discovery need not be expressed : the astonishment and confusion that seized their young minds at the name of Belisarius, at the name of him who had so often conquered in three parts of the globe, will suggest them* selves to every imagination. The w 7 hole company remained motionless, and a deep silence marked the respect with which they were impressed. Reverential awe possessed them, and forgetting that Belisarius was blind, not one of them dared to lift up his eyes. Tiberius at length broke silence : Thou venerable man, said he, how unjust and cruel has fortune been to thee ! — to thee, whom the whole empire, for thirty years together, felt the author of its glory arid its flourishing condition ; till at length wicked malice framed a charge of treason and revolt ! — Thou art that hero, whom the persecuting rage of envious men loaded with irons, and barbarously deprived of the organs of sight! — And yet, thus basely treated, you can still persevere to inculcate the principles of public spirit and disinterested love of country ! — And from whom, says Belisarius, would you expect to hear the lessons of virtue?. Are the slaves of court-favour to be your moralists? — Oh ! shame indelible ! says Tiberius, interrupting him ; unparalleled ingratitude ! Posterity will scarce believe the monstrous story ! — It must not be dissembled, repHed Belisarius, that my enemies did take me unprovided, and surprise me a little; I never expected to be injured to that excess of outrage. I had, however, been familiar with the idea of dying in the service of the empire ; and whether dead or blind, the difference is inconsiderable. Devoted to my country, I did not except my eyes. All that I hold dearer than my eyes or my life still remains to me ; the honour of my character is inviolate, and, above all, the virtues of my heart are still mine, unconquered by my enemies. The actions of my life may indeed be effaced from the memory of a court ; but the memory of mankind will be more retentive ; and if it should not, I have the conscious remembrance, and that is sufficient.

The company, now struck w ; ith admiration, solicited Belisarius to make one at the table. Excuse me, gentlemen, says he, at my age the best place is the fire-side. Every civility was tendered to him, and he was much importuned to accept the best bed in the castle ; he contented himself with a little straw. I have often slept harder, says he : but this child, who guides me, I recommend to your good offices ; for he is more delicate than I am.

The next morning, as soon as there was light enough for his guide, Belisarius departed, before his hosts, fatigued with the sport of the preceding day, were yet awake. Being informed when they rose, that the hero had left the place, they proposed to ge In quest of him, in order to provide him with a caj>

Tiage, and what other conveniencies he might want. No, says Tiberius, that will be labour in vain ; Belisarius has not conceived esteem enough for us, to make him willing to receive an obligation.

The young Tiberius had sensibility and reflection-; on his mind an exalted virtue in the very extreme of misfortune made the deepest impression. Never, says he to one of his friends who came to him from the emperor, never shall I forget last night's solemn scene ! never shall the words of the venerable man be erased from my memory. Humiliating as he was, yet his lesson has taught me what a task remains upon my hands, if I aspire to the dignity of my nature; if I mean to be a man. An account of this incident reached the ear of Justinian, who desired an interview with Tiberius.

Tiberius related the whole with accuracy to the emperor, and then, continued he, It is impossible, Sir, that so elevated a mind could descend to the baseness of the conspiracy laid to his charge ; I would en^ gage my life that he is innocent, if a life like mine were worthy of being surety for so illustrious a character. I will see him, and confer with him, replied Justinian, without disclosing myself to him : in the condition of blindness, to which he is reduced, this will not be impracticable. Since his release from prison, he cannot have removed himself to any considerable distance : pursue his steps, and entice him, if possible, to your country-seat : thither I will come in private. This command of the emperor Tiberius received with transport, and the next day pursued ihe road Belisarius had taken.

Chap. II

BELISARIUS, in the mean time, begging alms as he went, journied on towards an old ruinous castle, where his family expected him. He had given directions to his young guide, not to mention his name on the road ; but the dignified air of his countenance, and his whole person', was sufficient to interest every beholder. Arriving that night at a village, his conductor stopped at the door of an house which had a simple, but neat appearance.

The landlord was entering with a spade in his hand : the mien and features of Belisarius attracted his attention, and made him curious to know so respectable a vagrant. A poor invalid, says Belisarius, an old decrepid soldier! — A soldier! — exclaims the villager, and that honour is your recompence .' — There is no help for it, replied Belisarius ; the greatest misfortune of a sovereign is his inability to pay the price of all the blood spilt in his service. The heart of the villager was touched by this answer, and Belisarius was invited to partake of his hospitality.

I here introduce, says the master of the house to his wife, a gallant brave veteran, who bears the severities of his fate with fortitude of mind : then turning to Belisarius, My honest guest, be not ashamed of your condition in a family which has been inured to misfortunes ; sit you down, we are going to supper ; while we wait to have it laid upon the table,

17 tell me, pray, what wars have you served in? — In the wars of Italy, says Belisarius, against the Goths, that in Asia against the Persians, and in Africa against the Vandals and the Moors.

At these words the villager could not suppress a deep sigh. At this rate then, continued he, you made every campaign with Belisarius ? — Yes, every campaign : we were never asunder. — Indeed ! that excellent man ! the equal composure of his mind ! that constant uprightness ! that greatness of soul ! Is he still living, pray? for in this solitude it is about five and twenty years since I have heard what is doing in the world. — Yes, Belisarius is still alive. — May Heaven guard and prolong his days ! — If he heard your wishes for him, your goodness would affect him tenderly. — Very like ; and how do they say he fares at court ? In great power, to be sure ! adored by every body ! — Alas ! envy is ever an attendant on prosperity. — Very true ; but the emperor should be upon his guard against the enemies of so great a man, the tutelary genius, the protector of the empire ! — He is far gone in years now. — But what then ? he will be as great in council, as he was formerly in the field. His wisdom, if he is attended to, may, perhaps, be of more extensive use, than even his valour.- — And how, says Belisarius, inwardly softened, how was he known to you ? — Let us sit down to table, answered the villager : your question would lead into a long detail,

Belisarius now felt some secret hints that his landlord must be some officer who had formerly served under him ; and had reason to be contented with his

c general. During supper, the latter was inquisitive concerning the events of war in Italy and the East, but was totally silent in regard to Africa. Belisarius gratified his curiosity in a plain and simple style. Let us drink, says the host, at the conclusion of the repast, let us drink to the health of your general, and may Heaven requite him with its bounty for all the evil he heaped on me ! — He ! replied Belisarius, did he injure you ? — He discharged his duty, and I make no complaint. I have learned in the school of adversity to compassionate the distresses of mankind, and you shall know, my honest friend, how that lesson was taught me. As you have served in Africa, you must have seen the king of the Vandals, the unfortunate Gilimer, led by Belisarius in triumph to Constantinople, with his wife and children involved in his captivity. That very Gilimer has opened to you his hospitable door ! you have supped with him ! — Thou Gilimer ! exclaimed Belisarius ; and has not the emperor assigned you a better lot ? —He had promised — yes, he promised, and, to do him justice, he kept his word. Dignities were offered to me, and even the rank of a Patrician ; but I declined the offer. To him who has been a king, and has lost his crown, the only resource is obscurity and repose. — Thou Gilimer !— Yes, I am he! that vanquished prince, wbo, you may remember, was besieged upon the mountain of Papua. There I suffered unheard-of hardships ■ : the inclemency of the winter season, the necessities of famine, the miser-

1 Vide Procop. de Beilo Vandalico, lib, 2,

19 able aspect of a whole people driven to the last despair, and ready to devour their very wives and children ; the unremitting vigilance of that brave officer Pharas, who, even amidst the operations of the siege he earned on, never ceased by his remonstrances to awaken my feelings both for myself and the miseries of my people : all these circumstances, together with the entire confidence I had in the uprightness of your general, prevailed upon me at length to lay down my arms. With what an air of sober dignity did Belisarius receive me ! Every proper attention w 7 as paid to me by his direction. With what address, with what respect did he strive to soften my affliction ! The space of near six lustres has elapsed since I have dwelt in this solitary retreat, and not a day has passed without hearing my most fervent prayers for Belisarius.

I perceive, said Belisarius, in this account of your* self, the mild effects of that philosophy, which, even on the mountain where you endured so much, could make you chant your calamities in song; which gave you, when you appeared before Belisarius, that serenity of countenance, and on his day of triumph animated that look of magnanimity, which astonished the emperor Justinian, My good guest, replied Gilimer, the strength and weakness of our minds depend entirely upon the light in which things appear to us. True constancy and fortitude first sprung up in my heart, when I began to consider the w 7 orld as the sport of fortune. Till then I had lived the most voluptuous of kings, dissolved in luxury, and ever entranced in the lap of pleasure ; on a sudden I passed from my palace, that scene of revelry and delight, t© the cavern of the Moors 2 , where, pillowed upon straw, I lived on barley coarsely pounded, and half roasted under the cinders. Nay, to such hardship was I reduced, that a loaf of bread, sent to me by the humanity of an enemy, was an inestimable present. From this situation I fell into captivity, was loaded with irons, and walked in the conqueror's triumph. In extremities like these, you will agree with me, that the heart must break with grief, or rise superior to the caprice of fortune.

You find in that composure of your soul, says Belisarius, many resources against calamity; and I promise to superadd a new motive of consolation before we part.

Their conversation ended here, and each retired to rest.

Gilimer, at the dawn of day, instead of betaking himself to the cultivation of his garden, made it his first care to enquire how his aged guest had passed the night. He found him already up, with his stick in his hand, ready to set out on his journey. How ! said he, not give us a few days before you leave us! — That, replied Belisarius, is not in my power: I have a wife and daughter inconsolable during my absence. Farewell ! — and hear without emotion what remains to be told you: blind and superannuated as I am, Belisarius will never forget the recep-

Procop. ibidem* tlon you have given him. — How! Belisarius! — It is Belisarius who now embraces you. — Righteous Heaven ! exclaims Gilimer, half wild with astonishment, Belisarius blind, and abandoned in his old age ! — Even so, replied Belisarius ; and, to shew you the extreme of cruelty, before they turned him adrift to beg his way through the world, his enemies put out his eyes. — Amazement! says Gilimer, in a tone of grief and horror; can it be possible? who were the monsters ? — Envious men, replied Belisarius ; they impeached me of designs upon the crown, when my thoughts were fixed upon my grave. They had credit enough to ruin me, and I was laid in irons. The people at length clamoured loudly for my enlargement ; it was in vain to resist the popular outcry ; but in restoring me to liberty, they deprived me of my sight. Justinian too ordained it ; there the wound stuck deeper! You can witness with what zeal, with what affection I served him. Even now I love him, and grieve that he is surrounded by wicked men, who cloud and blacken the evening of his days. When I heard that he himself pronounced the definitive sentence, I own my constancy failed me : the very executioners relented into pity, and fell prostrate at my feet. Now all is over ; and, thanks be to Heaven, I have but a little time to crawl about blind and wretched. — Pass that time with me, says Gilimer : here, under my roof, close an illustrious life. — That, returned Belisarius, would have something soothing in it : but I must give myself to my family, and I now go to expire in their arms. Farewell !

22 Gilimer embraced him, bathed him with his tears, and could hardly quit his hold. At length he let him go with a parting pang, and straining his eyes after him, O prosperity ! says he, thou cheat prosperity ! who can confide in thee? The warlike hero, the great, the good Belisarius ! Now indeed he may think himself happy who digs his garden. T\ ith these words the king of the Vandals resumed fcis spade,