THE DECLINE AND FALL

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chap, pendent situation of Julian displayed his virtues, and concealed his defects. The younghero, who supported, in Gaul, the throne ofConstantius , was not permitted to reform thevices of the government; but he had courageto alleviate or to pity the distress of the people.Unless he had been able to revive the martialspirit of the Romans, or to introduce the artsof industry and refinement among their savageenemies, he could not entertain any rationalhopes of securing the public tranquillity, eitherby the peace or conquest of Germany . Yetthe victories of Julian suspended, for a shorttime, the inroads of the barbarians, and delayedthe ruin of the Western empire.

ti > 0 < n < of P His salllta, T influence restored the cities of

Paris Gaul, which had been so long exposed to theevils of civil discord, barbarian war, and do-mestic tyranny; and the spirit of industry wasrevived with the hopes of enjoyment. Agricul-ture, manufactures, and commerce, again flou-rished under the protection of the laws ; andthe curia, or civil corporations, were again fill-ed with useful and respectable members : theyouth were no longer apprehensive of marriage;and married persons were no longer apprehen-sive of posterity: the public and private festi-vals were celebrated with customary pomp;and the frequent and secure intercourse of theprovinces displayed the image of national pros-

spatia divisa sunt, ut ant barbaros domitet, aut civibus jura restituatjperpetuum professus, aut contra hostem, aut contra vitia, ccrtamca.