^4whichyieldedonlytotheroyaldignityoftheAmali:hehadsolicitedthecommandoftheRomanarmies；andtheImperialcourtprovokedhimtodemonstratethefollyoftheirrefusal，andtheimportanceoftheirloss。WhateverhopesmightbeentertainedoftheconquestofConstantinople，thejudiciousgeneralsoonabandonedanimpracticableenterprise。Inthemidstofadividedcourtandadiscontentedpeople，theemperorArcadiuswasterrifiedbytheaspectoftheGothicarms；butthewantofwisdomandvalorwassuppliedbythestrengthofthecity；andthefortifications，bothoftheseaandland，mightsecurelybravetheimpotentandrandomdartsoftheBarbarians。AlaricdisdainedtotrampleanylongerontheprostrateandruinedcountriesofThraceandDacia，andheresolvedtoseekaplentifulharvestoffameandrichesinaprovincewhichhadhithertoescapedtheravagesofwar。^5

　　[Footnote1:TherevoltoftheGoths，andtheblockadeofConstantinople，aredistinctlymentionedbyClaudian，inRufin。

　　l。ii。7—100，Zosimus，l。v。292，andJornandes，deRebusGeticis，c。29。]

　　[Footnote2:—AliipertogaferocisDanubiisolidataruunt；expertaqueremisFranguntstagnarotis。

　　ClaudianandOvidoftenamusetheirfancybyinterchangingthemetaphorsandpropertiesofliquidwater，andsolidice。Muchfalsewithasbeenexpendedinthiseasyexercise。]

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