But the most solid praise
of Basil is drawn from the comparison of a ruined and a flourishing
monarchy, that which he wrested from the dissolute Michael, and that
which he bequeathed to the Mecedonian dynasty. The evils which had been
sanctified by time and example, were corrected by his master-hand; and
he revived, if not the national spirit, at least the order and majesty
of the Roman empire. His application was indefatigable, his temper cool,
his understanding vigorous and decisive; and in his practice he observed
that rare and salutary moderation, which pursues each virtue, at an
equal distance between the opposite vices. His military service had been
confined to the palace: nor was the emperor endowed with the spirit or
the talents of a warrior. Yet under his reign the Roman arms were again
formidable to the Barbarians. As soon as he had formed a new army by
discipline and exercise, he appeared in person on the banks of the
Euphrates, curbed the pride of the Saracens, and suppressed the
dangerous though just revolt of the Manichaeans. His indignation against
a rebel who had long eluded his pursuit, provoked him to wish and to
pray, that, by the grace of God, he might drive three arrows into the
head of Chrysochir. That odious head, which had been obtained by treason
rather than by valor, was suspended from a tree, and thrice exposed to
the dexterity of the Imperial archer; a base revenge against the
dead, more worthy of the times than of the character of Basil. But his
principal merit was in the civil administration of the finances and of
the laws. To replenish and exhausted treasury, it was proposed to resume
the lavish and ill-placed gifts of his predecessor: his prudence abated
one moiety of the restitution; and a sum of twelve hundred thousand
pounds was instantly procured to answer the most pressing demands, and
to allow some space for the mature operations of economy. Among the
various schemes for the improvement of the revenue, a new mode was
suggested of capitation, or tribute, which would have too much depended
on the arbitrary discretion of the assessors. A sufficient list of
honest and able agents was instantly produced by the minister; but on
the more careful scrutiny of Basil himself, only two could be found, who
might be safely intrusted with such dangerous powers; but they justified
his esteem by declining his confidence. But the serious and successful
diligence of the emperor established by degrees th