15.  The late invasion so alarmed the timid Hono’rius, that he resolved to fix his residence in some remote and strong fortress; and for this purpose he selected Raven’na, an ancient city, but which had not previously obtained notoriety. 16.  Before Italy had recovered from the terrors of the Gothic invasion, a new host of barbarians rushed from the shores of the Baltic, bore down before them all opposition in Germany and Gaul; and had passed the Alps, the Po, and the Apennines, ere an army could be assembled to resist them. 17.  Radagai’sus, the leader of these hordes, was a more formidable enemy even than Alaric; the Goths had embraced Christianity, and their fierce passions were in some degree moderated by the mild precepts of the gospel; but Radagai’sus was a stranger to any religion but the cruel creed of his fathers, which taught that the favour of the gods could only be propitiated by human sacrifices. 18.  The wealthy city of Florence was besieged by the barbarians, but its bishop, St. Ambrose, by his zealous exhortations, and by holding out the hope of divine assistance, prevented the garrison from yielding to despair.  Stil’icho a second time earned the title of the deliverer of Italy; Radagai’sus was defeated and slain; but the remains of his forces escaped into Gaul, and spread desolation over that entire province, from which the garrisons had been withdrawn for the defence of Italy. 19.  An usurper, named Constantine, about this time appeared in Britain, and soon established his minority both in Gaul and Spain, which had been virtually deserted by the emperor.  Al’aric offered his services to repress the rebellion, and to purchase either his assistance or his forbearance, a large subsidy was voted to him by the senate, through the influence of Stil’icho. 20.  But the reign of this great man was drawing fast to a close; Olym’pius, a miserable favourite, who owed his first elevation to Stil’icho, filled the emperor’s mind with suspicion, and a secret resolution to destroy the minister was adopted. 21.  By exciting the jealousy of the legions against the auxiliary forces that Stil’icho employed, Olym’pius was enabled to gain the army to his side, and the last great supporter of the Roman name fell by the swords of those soldiers whom he had so often led to victory.  His friends, including the best and bravest generals of the army, shared his fate; many of them were racked, to extort from them a confession of a conspiracy which never existed; and their silence under the tortures at once proved their own innocence and that of their leader.

Questions for Examination.

1.  What division was made of the Roman empire between the sons of Theodosius?

2.  By what enemies was the Western empire assailed?

3.  What was the internal condition of the state?

4.  To what ministers did the emperors trust the administration?

5.  How did Stilicho prevail over Rufinus?