54

THE DECLINE AND FALL

CHAP.

XVII.

coast of Phoenicia , which flourished above threecenturies from the time of Alexander Severus ,the author , perhaps, of an institution so advan-tageous to his native country. After a regularcourse of education, which lasted five years,the students dispersed themselves through theprovinces, in search of fortunes and honours;nor could they want an inexhaustible supply ofbusiness in a great empire, already corruptedby the multiplicity of laws, of arts, and of vices.The court of the praetorian praefect of the Eastcould alone furnish employment for one hun-dred and fifty advocates, sixty-four of whomwere distinguished by peculiar privileges, andtwo were annually chosen, with a salary of six-ty pounds of gold, to defend the causes of thetreasury. The first experiment was made oftheir judicial talents, by appointing them to actoccasionally as assessors to the magistrates;from thence, they were often raised to presidein the tribunals before which they had pleaded.They obtained the government of a province;and, by the aid of merit, of reputation, or of fa-vour, they ascended, by successive steps, to theillustrious dignities of the state.* In the prac-

to have lasted from the third to the middle of the sixth century.—Heinecc. Jnr. Iloni. Hist. p. 351-356.

e As in a former period I have traced the civil and military promo-tion of Periinax, I shall here insert the civil honours of Mallius Theo-doras. 1, He was distinguished by his eloquence, while he pleadedas an advocate in the court of the praetorian praefect* 2, He govern-ed one of the provinces of Africa , either as president or consular, anddeserved, by his administration, the honour of a brass statue. 3. Hewas appointed vicar, or vire-pnefcct, of Macedonia. 4, Questor.

Couut of the sacred largesses. 6. Praetorian praefect of the Gauls ,

whilst