and that of our father, the
patrician Ricimer, shall regulate all military affairs, and provide
for the safety of the Roman world, which we have saved from foreign and
domestic enemies. [38] You now understand the maxims of my government;
you may confide in the faithful love and sincere assurances of a prince
who has formerly been the companion of your life and dangers; who still
glories in the name of senator, and who is anxious that you should
never repent the judgment which you have pronounced in his favor." The
emperor, who, amidst the ruins of the Roman world, revived the ancient
language of law and liberty, which Trajan would not have disclaimed,
must have derived those generous sentiments from his own heart; since
they were not suggested to his imitation by the customs of his age, or
the example of his predecessors. [39]

[Footnote 32: The words of Procopius deserve to be transcribed (de Bell.
Vandal. l. i. c. 7, p. 194;) a concise but comprehensive definition of
royal virtue.]

[Footnote 33: The Panegyric was pronounced at Lyons before the end of
the year 458, while the emperor was still consul. It has more art than
genius, and more labor than art. The ornaments are false and trivial;
the expression is feeble and prolix; and Sidonius wants the skill to
exhibit the principal figure in a strong and distinct light. The private
life of Majorian occupies about two hundred lines, 107-305.]

[Footnote 34: She pressed his immediate death, and was scarcely
satisfied with his disgrace. It should seem that Aetius, like Belisarius
and Marlborough, was governed by his wife; whose fervent piety, though
it might work miracles, (Gregor. Turon. l. ii. c. 7, p. 162,) was not
incompatible with base and sanguinary counsels.]

[Footnote 35: The Alemanni had passed the Rhaetian Alps, and were
defeated in the Campi Canini, or Valley of Bellinzone, through which
the Tesin flows, in its descent from Mount Adula to the Lago Maggiore,
(Cluver Italia Antiq. tom. i. p. 100, 101.) This boasted victory over
nine hundred Barbarians (Panegyr. Majorian. 373, &c.) betrays the
extreme weakness of Italy.]

[Footnote 36: Imperatorem me factum, P.C. electionis vestrae arbitrio,
et fortissimi exercitus ordinatione agnoscite, (Novell. Majorian. tit.
iii. p. 34, ad Calcem. Cod. Theodos.) Sidonius proclaims the unanimous
voice of the empire:--

Postquam ordine vobis
Ordo omnis regnum dederat; plebs, curia, nules,
---Et collega simu