The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1810-03-06
TIE PICTURE OF A HERO,
FRo,H GI8BON

| after the second victory of Bcsari,,s, envy a.
gam whispered, Iustin;ah listened ani ths. her,
WIS recalled. "The remnant oftl,e Gothic ,,,r
was no longer worthy of his presence a IRA.
cl''"s sovereign Was impatient go reward !iis
! services, ai4i 10 consult It's wisdom a,l .
a'o ne was capable of defending the L ,st az alus,
Tie innumcrahle armies of Persia" Be,sar,us
Understood the :uspicion, accepted the excise
eihoarSed 1t kavenna lis spps and t-pnllies :
and provec, by s ready obedience, that such AN
abrupt removal from the government OF lt,lv wa,
not less unjust than it n..Lt have beeen ,nd;s
Greet. lie emperor received with honourah,e
courtesy, both Vitiges and his more noble. con-.
sort AND as the KING, OF the Cuths condemned
to the Ath nasan C,i,h, he obtained, with rich
inheritance OF lands III Asia, tho rank of sena
tor and parician. Every spectator admired.
without pfr;i, the strength and stature OF the
young barDir,ans they adorel ,It majesty ,r
the throne, M promised to shed their blood in
ihe service of their benefactor IIs,inian demo
s.ted az the Br2 tlnc palace the treasures OF the
Soth'c monarch. if";terirg senate was some
times admitted !, g-ze ON the magnificent spec.
tac'e out'; was eITiousy secluded from the pub
NC view ana the conqueror OF italy renouncr,i,
without murul,lr, perhaps without 4 sigh, the
weliearncd lon;prs Of a secou, irunnh IL.
glory WAS indeed exalted above all external
Pomp; and the INT a"d hollow PRAISES of the
c'urt were suppl ID, even in serile age, hv the
aspect and admiration OF his country. When.
ever he appeared in the streets and public places
Ioi Ionstsn.nur!e, Delisarius atrac, ed and salts
isal Tie eyes OF the people. His lofty stature
ana majestic countenarIe fulfilled N,e'r expecta.
lions oil an nero the meancst OF his f-l!ew C. iii
zehs were emboldened ~ lis geaue ana gracious
demesnor; and the marital train whic,, attended
las footsteps, lett his person more accessible than
III "A day OF battle. Seven thousand horsemea
atciiess Tor beauty and yaiour, were int a.T..I
IN Tie service, and at the private expenoe OF the
general. Their Prowess was always conspicuous
IN single combats. or in the foremost ranks sod
ooih parties confessed that in the siege of Rome
the guards OF BelisariUs had alone vanouishcd
the Barbarian host. Their numbers were CONT
naaliy augmented by the bravest and most faith
III OF the enemy and his fortunate captiyes
Tie andals, the Moors and the Coths, emul,ted
The attachment OF his domestic followers ry the
union OF iiberality anu Justice he acquired tie
love or tie soldiers, without alternating the alice
tons OF the people. The sick and w,,ynde Il were
relieved with medicines and money and still
more eicaciously,by the healing visits and sni,es
OF their commander. The loss of a weapon or
an horse was Instantly repaired, and each deed Of
Valour was rewarded oy The rich and honorable
gifts or bracelet or collar, which We're render.
ed more precious by the Judgment OF 3e,;sarirs
lie was endeared ~ the iI;,sbancnen, by the
peace and plenty which they enjoyed under the
shadow OF his standard. Instead of being in;ur
ed, the counir, was enriched by the inarch al the
Roman armies; and such was the r,gid Gisci-
pine Other camp, that not an apple Was eaher.
ed from the tree, not a path could be traced in
the tleldS OF cora Belisarius was chaste and so.
ber In the licence OF a military life, none could
boast that they had seen INN intoxicated with
wine the most beautiful capti,es OF Go.hic or
Vandal race were offered 90 his embraces but
he turned aside from ner charms, and the has.
band OF Antonlna was never suspected OF viol.t-
ing the laws of conjugd fidelity. The specta-
tor and historian OF his exploits has observed
that, amidst the pers OF war, lie was daring
without rashneSs, prudent without fear, slow or
rapid according to the eXigences of the moment
that in the deepest distress. he was animated by
real or apparent hope, but that lie was modest
and humble in the most prosperous fortune by
these virtues, ne equalied or exceIled the ancient
masters OF the military art. Victory, oy sea and
land, attended his arms. He subdued Africa.
Italy and the adjacent islands, led away cap
tives the successors OF Genserc and Theoicric.
filed Constan,nopie with the spos ofther pal.
aces, and in the space OF six yoar5 recovered hall
the provinces Of the Western empire III his
fame and merit. in wealth and power, he remain
ed without rival, the first of the Roman sub
Jects the voice of envy could only magnify his
dangerous importance and Ine emperor might
applaud his own discerning spirit, which had
discovered and raiEsd the genius OF Be,isArius