Theirson，whowasenrolledalmostinhisinfancyintheguards，wasgivenasahostage，firsttoAlaric，andafterwardstotheHuns；^!andhesuccessivelyobtainedthecivilandmilitaryhonorsofthepalace，forwhichhewasequallyqualifiedbysuperiormerit。ThegracefulfigureofAetiuswasnotabovethemiddlestature；buthismanlylimbswereadmirablyformedforstrength，beauty，andagility；andheexcelledinthemartialexercisesofmanagingahorse，drawingthebow，anddartingthejavelin。Hecouldpatientlyendurethewantoffood，orofsleep；andhismindandbodywerealikecapableofthemostlaboriousefforts。Hepossessedthegenuinecouragethatcandespisenotonlydangers，butinjuries:anditwasimpossibleeithertocorrupt，ordeceive，orintimidatethefirmintegrityofhissoul。\"^6TheBarbarians，whohadseatedthemselvesintheWesternprovinces，wereinsensiblytaughttorespectthefaithandvalorofthepatricianAetius。Hesoothedtheirpassions，consultedtheirprejudices，balancedtheirinterests，andcheckedtheirambition。Aseasonabletreaty，whichheconcludedwithGenseric，protectedItalyfromthedepredationsoftheVandals；
theindependentBritonsimploredandacknowledgedhissalutaryaid；theImperialauthoritywasrestoredandmaintainedinGaulandSpain；andhecompelledtheFranksandtheSuevi，whomhehadvanquishedinthefield，tobecometheusefulconfederatesoftherepublic。
[Footnote4:VictorVitensisdePersecut。Vandal。l。i。6，p。8，edit。Ruinartcallshim，acerconsilioetstrenuusinbello:buthiscourage，whenhebecameunfortunate，wascensuredasdesperaterashness；andSebastiandeserved，orobtained，theepithetofproeceps，Sidon。ApollinarCarmenix。181。HisadventuresinConstantinople，inSicily，Gaul，Spain，andAfrica，arefaintlymarkedintheChroniclesofMarcellinusandIdatius。
Inhisdistresshewasalwaysfollowedbyanumeroustrain；sincehecouldravagetheHellespontandPropontis，andseizethecityofBarcelona。]
[Footnote5:ReipublicaeRomanaesingulariternatus，quisuperbiamSuevorum，FrancorumquebarbariemimmensiscaedibusservireImperioRomanocoegisset。JornandesdeRebusGeticis，c。
34，p。660。]
[Footnote*:SomevaluablefragmentsofapoeticalpanegyriconAetiusbyMerobaudes，aSpaniard，havebeenrecoveredfromapalimpsestMS。bythesagacityandindustryofNiebuhr。TheyhavebeenreprintedintheneweditionoftheByzantineHistorians。ThepoetspeaksinglowingtermsofthelongannosapeaceenjoyedundertheadministrationofAetius。Theversesareveryspirited。ThepoetwasrewardedbyastatuepubliclydedicatedtohishonorinRome。
Danuviicumpaceredit，TanaimquefuroreExuit，etnigrocandentesaethereterrasMartesuocaruissejubet。DeditotiaferroCaucasus，etsaevicondemnantpraeliareges。
AddidithibernifamulantiafoederaRhenusOrbis……
LustratAremoricosjammitiorincolasaltus；
Perdiditetmorestellus，adsuetaquesaevoCriminequaesitassilviscelarerapinas，DiscitinexpertisCereremcommitterecampis；
CaesareoquediumanusobluctatalaboriSustinetacceptasnostrosubconsuleleges；
EtquamvisGeticissulcumconfundataratris，Barbaravicinaerefugitconsortiagentis。
Merobaudes，p。1]
[Footnote!:—cumScythicissuccumberetensibusorbis，TelaqueTarpeiaspremerentArctoasecures，Hostilemfregitrabiem，pignusquesuperbiFoederisetmundipretiumfuit。HincmodovotiRatafides，validisquodduxprematimpigerarmisEdomuitquospacepuer；bellumquerepressitIgnarusquidbellaforent。StupuereferocesIntenerojammembraGetae。Rexipse，verendumMiratuspueridecusetprodentiafatumLumina，primaevasdederatgestarefaretras，LaudabatquemanuslibrantemettelagerentemOblitusquodnostereratPronesciaregisCorda，ferisquantopopulisdiscrimineconstetQuodLatiumdocetarmaducem。
Merobaudes，Panegyr。p。15。—M。]
[Footnote6:ThisportraitisdrawnbyRenetusProfuturusFrigeridus，acontemporaryhistorian，knownonlybysomeextracts，whicharepreservedbyGregoryofTours，l。ii。c。8，intom。ii。p。163。Itwasprobablytheduty，oratleasttheinterest，ofRenatus，tomagnifythevirtuesofAetius；buthewouldhaveshownmoredexterityifhehadnotinsistedonhispatient，forgivingdisposition。]
[Footnote*:InsessorLibyes，quamvis，fatalibusarmisAususElisaeisoliumrescindereregni，MilibusArctoisTyriascompleveratarces，NunchostemexutuspactisproprioribusarsitRomanamvincirefidem，LatiosqueparentesAdnumeraresib，sociamqueintexereprolem。
Merobaudes，p。12。—M。]
Fromaprincipleofinterest，aswellasgratitude，AetiusassiduouslycultivatedtheallianceoftheHuns。Whileheresidedintheirtentsasahostage，oranexile，hehadfamiliarlyconversedwithAttilahimself，thenephewofhisbenefactor；andthetwofamousantagonistsappearedtohavebeenconnectedbyapersonalandmilitaryfriendship，whichtheyafterwardsconfirmedbymutualgifts，frequentembassies，andtheeducationofCarpilio，thesonofAetius，inthecampofAttila。
Bythespeciousprofessionsofgratitudeandvoluntaryattachment，thepatricianmightdisguisehisapprehensionsoftheScythianconqueror，whopressedthetwoempireswithhisinnumerablearmies。Hisdemandswereobeyedoreluded。Whenheclaimedthespoilsofavanquishedcity，somevasesofgold，whichhadbeenfraudulentlyembezzled，thecivilandmilitarygovernorsofNoricumwereimmediatelydespatchedtosatisfyhiscomplaints:^7anditisevident，fromtheirconversationwithMaximinandPriscus，intheroyalvillage，thatthevalorandprudenceofAetiushadnotsavedtheWesternRomansfromthecommonignominyoftribute。Yethisdexterouspolicyprolongedtheadvantagesofasalutarypeace；andanumerousarmyofHunsandAlani，whomhehadattachedtohisperson，wasemployedinthedefenceofGaul。TwocoloniesoftheseBarbarianswerejudiciouslyfixedintheterritoriesofValensandOrleans；^8
andtheiractivecavalrysecuredtheimportantpassagesoftheRhoneandoftheLoire。ThesesavageallieswerenotindeedlessformidabletothesubjectsthantotheenemiesofRome。Theiroriginalsettlementwasenforcedwiththelicentiousviolenceofconquest；andtheprovincethroughwhichtheymarchedwasexposedtoallthecalamitiesofahostileinvasion。^9Strangerstotheemperorortherepublic，theAlaniofGaulwasdevotedtotheambitionofAetius，andthoughhemightsuspect，that，inacontestwithAttilahimself，theywouldrevolttothestandardoftheirnationalking，thepatricianlaboredtorestrain，ratherthantoexcite，theirzealandresentmentagainsttheGoths，theBurgundians，andtheFranks。
[Footnote7:TheembassyconsistedofCountRomulus；ofPromotus，presidentofNoricum；andofRomanus，themilitaryduke。TheywereaccompaniedbyTatullus，anillustriouscitizenofPetovio，inthesameprovince，andfatherofOrestes，whohadmarriedthedaughterofCountRomulus。SeePriscus，p。57，65。CassiodorusVariar。i。4mentionsanotherembassy，whichwasexecutedbyhisfatherandCarpilio，thesonofAetius；and，asAttilawasnomore，hecouldsafelyboastoftheirmanly，intrepidbehaviorinhispresence。]
[Footnote8:DesertaValentinaeurbisruraAlanispartiendatraduntur。Prosper。TyronisChron。inHistoriensdeFrance，tom。
i。p。639。Afewlinesafterwards，Prosperobserves，thatlandsintheulteriorGaulwereassignedtotheAlani。WithoutadmittingthecorrectionofDubos，tom。i。p。300，thereasonablesuppositionoftwocoloniesorgarrisonsofAlaniwillconfirmhisarguments，andremovehisobjections。]
[Footnote9:SeeProsper。Tyro，p。639。SidoniusPanegyr。Avit。
246complains，inthenameofAuvergne，hisnativecountry，—
LitoriusScythicosequitestuncfortesubactoCelsusAremorico，GeticumrapiebatinagmenPerterras，Averne，tuas，quiproximaquaedueDiscursu，flammis，ferro，feritate，rapinis，Delebant；pacisfallentesnomeninane。
anotherpoet，PaulinusofPerigord，confirmsthecomplaint:—
Namsociumvixferrequeas，quiduriorhoste。
SeeDubos，tom。i。p。330。]
ThekingdomestablishedbytheVisigothsinthesouthernprovincesofGaul，hadgraduallyacquiredstrengthandmaturity；
andtheconductofthoseambitiousBarbarians，eitherinpeaceorwar，engagedtheperpetualvigilanceofAetius。AfterthedeathofWallia，theGothicsceptredevolvedtoTheodoric，thesonofthegreatAlaric；^10andhisprosperousreignofmorethanthirtyyears，overaturbulentpeople，maybeallowedtoprove，thathisprudencewassupportedbyuncommonvigor，bothofmindandbody。Impatientofhisnarrowlimits，TheodoricaspiredtothepossessionofArles，thewealthyseatofgovernmentandcommerce；butthecitywassavedbythetimelyapproachofAetius；andtheGothicking，whohadraisedthesiegewithsomelossanddisgrace，waspersuaded，foranadequatesubsidy，todivertthemartialvalorofhissubjectsinaSpanishwar。YetTheodoricstillwatched，andeagerlyseized，thefavorablemomentofrenewinghishostileattempts。TheGothsbesiegedNarbonne，whiletheBelgicprovinceswereinvadedbytheBurgundians；andthepublicsafetywasthreatenedoneverysidebytheapparentunionoftheenemiesofRome。Oneveryside，theactivityofAetius，andhisScythiancavalry，opposedafirmandsuccessfulresistance。TwentythousandBurgundianswereslaininbattle；
andtheremainsofthenationhumblyacceptedadependentseatinthemountainsofSavoy。^11ThewallsofNarbonnehadbeenshakenbythebatteringengines，andtheinhabitantshadenduredthelastextremitiesoffamine，whenCountLitorius，approachinginsilence，anddirectingeachhorsemantocarrybehindhimtwosacksofflour，cuthiswaythroughtheintrenchmentsofthebesiegers。Thesiegewasimmediatelyraised；andthemoredecisivevictory，whichisascribedtothepersonalconductofAetiushimself，wasmarkedwiththebloodofeightthousandGoths。Butintheabsenceofthepatrician，whowashastilysummonedtoItalybysomepublicorprivateinterest，CountLitoriussucceededtothecommand；andhispresumptionsoondiscoveredthatfardifferenttalentsarerequiredtoleadawingofcavalry，ortodirecttheoperationsofanimportantwar。AttheheadofanarmyofHuns，herashlyadvancedtothegatesofThoulouse，fullofcarelesscontemptforanenemywhomhismisfortuneshadrenderedprudent，andhissituationmadedesperate。ThepredictionsoftheaugurshadinspiredLitoriuswiththeprofaneconfidencethatheshouldentertheGothiccapitalintriumph；andthetrustwhichhereposedinhisPaganallies，encouragedhimtorejectthefairconditionsofpeace，whichwererepeatedlyproposedbythebishopsinthenameofTheodoric。ThekingoftheGothsexhibitedinhisdistresstheedifyingcontrastofChristianpietyandmoderation；nordidhelayasidehissackclothandashestillhewaspreparedtoarmforthecombat。Hissoldiers，animatedwithmartialandreligiousenthusiasm，assaultedthecampofLitorius。Theconflictwasobstinate；theslaughterwasmutual。TheRomangeneral，afteratotaldefeat，whichcouldbeimputedonlytohisunskilfulrashness，wasactuallyledthroughthestreetsofThoulouse，notinhisown，butinahostiletriumph；andthemiserywhichheexperienced，inalongandignominiouscaptivity，excitedthecompassionoftheBarbariansthemselves。^12Suchaloss，inacountrywhosespiritandfinanceswerelongsinceexhausted，couldnoteasilyberepaired；andtheGoths，assuming，intheirturn，thesentimentsofambitionandrevenge，wouldhaveplantedtheirvictoriousstandardsonthebanksoftheRhone，ifthepresenceofAetiushadnotrestoredstrengthanddisciplinetotheRomans。^13Thetwoarmiesexpectedthesignalofadecisiveaction；butthegenerals，whowereconsciousofeachother\'sforce，anddoubtfuloftheirownsuperiority，prudentlysheathedtheirswordsinthefieldofbattle；andtheirreconciliationwaspermanentandsincere。Theodoric，kingoftheVisigoths，appearstohavedeservedtheloveofhissubjects，theconfidenceofhisallies，andtheesteemofmankind。Histhronewassurroundedbysixvaliantsons，whowereeducatedwithequalcareintheexercisesoftheBarbariancamp，andinthoseoftheGallicschools:fromthestudyoftheRomanjurisprudence，theyacquiredthetheory，atleast，oflawandjustice；andtheharmonioussenseofVirgilcontributedtosoftentheasperityoftheirnativemanners。^14ThetwodaughtersoftheGothickingweregiveninmarriagetotheeldestsonsofthekingsoftheSueviandoftheVandals，whoreignedinSpainandAfrica:buttheseillustriousallianceswerepregnantwithguiltanddiscord。ThequeenoftheSuevibewailedthedeathofahusbandinhumanlymassacredbyherbrother。TheprincessoftheVandalswasthevictimofajealoustyrant，whomshecalledherfather。ThecruelGensericsuspectedthathisson\'swifehadconspiredtopoisonhim；thesupposedcrimewaspunishedbytheamputationofhernoseandears；andtheunhappydaughterofTheodoricwasignominiouslyreturnedtothecourtofThoulouseinthatdeformedandmutilatedcondition。Thishorridact，whichmustseemincredibletoacivilizedagedrewtearsfromeveryspectator；
butTheodoricwasurged，bythefeelingsofaparentandaking，torevengesuchirreparableinjuries。TheImperialministers，whoalwayscherishedthediscordoftheBarbarians，wouldhavesuppliedtheGothswitharms，andships，andtreasures，fortheAfricanwar；andthecrueltyofGensericmighthavebeenfataltohimself，iftheartfulVandalhadnotarmed，inhiscause，theformidablepoweroftheHuns。HisrichgiftsandpressingsolicitationsinflamedtheambitionofAttila；andthedesignsofAetiusandTheodoricwerepreventedbytheinvasionofGaul。^15
[Footnote10:TheodoricII。，thesonofTheodoricI。，declarestoAvitushisresolutionofrepairing，orexpiating，thefaultswhichhisgrandfatherhadcommitted，—
Quaenosterpeccavitavus，quemfuscatidunum，Quodte，Roma，capit。
Sidon。Panegyric。Avit。505。
Thischaracter，applicableonlytothegreatAlaric，establishesthegenealogyoftheGothickings，whichhashithertobeenunnoticed。]
[Footnote11:ThenameofSapaudia，theoriginofSavoy，isfirstmentionedbyAmmianusMarcellinus；andtwomilitarypostsareascertainedbytheNotitia，withinthelimitsofthatprovince；acohortwasstationedatGrenobleinDauphine；andEbredunum，orIverdun，shelteredafleetofsmallvessels，whichcommandedtheLakeofNeufchatel。SeeValesius，Notit。Galliarum，p。503。
D\'Anville，Noticedel\'AncienneGaule，p。284，579。]
[Footnote12:SalvianhasattemptedtoexplainthemoralgovernmentoftheDeity；ataskwhichmaybereadilyperformedbysupposingthatthecalamitiesofthewickedarejudgments，andthoseoftherighteous，trials。]
[Footnote13:—CaptoterrarumdamnapatebantLitorio，inRhodanumpropriosproducerefines，Thendoridaefixum；neceratpugnarenecesse，SedmigrareGetis；rabidamtruxasperatiramVictor；quodsensitScythicumsubmoenibushostemImputat，etnihilestgravius，siforsitanunquamVincerecontingat，trepido。Panegyr。Avit。300，&c。
Sitioniusthenproceeds，accordingtothedutyofapanegyrist，totransferthewholemeritfromAetiustohisministerAvitus。]
[Footnote14:TheodoricII。revered，inthepersonofAvitus，thecharacterofhispreceptor。
—MihiRomuladudumPertejuraplacent；parvumqueediscerejussitAdtuaverbapater，dociliquopriscaMaronisCarminemolliretScythicosmihipaginamores。
Sidon。Panegyr。Avit。495&c。]
[Footnote15:OurauthoritiesforthereignofTheodoricI。are，JornandesdeRebusGeticis，c。34，36，andtheChroniclesofIdatius，andthetwoProspers，insertedinthehistoriansofFrance，tom。i。p。612—640。TothesewemayaddSalviandeGubernationeDei，l。vii。p。243，244，245，andthepanegyricofAvitus，bySidonius。]
TheFranks，whosemonarchywasstillconfinedtotheneighborhoodoftheLowerRhine，hadwiselyestablishedtherightofhereditarysuccessioninthenoblefamilyoftheMerovingians。
^16Theseprinceswereelevatedonabuckler，thesymbolofmilitarycommand；^17andtheroyalfashionoflonghairwastheensignoftheirbirthanddignity。Theirflaxenlocks，whichtheycombedanddressedwithsingularcare，hungdowninflowingringletsontheirbackandshoulders；whiletherestofthenationwereobliged，eitherbylaworcustom，toshavethehinderpartoftheirhead，tocombtheirhairovertheforehead，andtocontentthemselveswiththeornamentoftwosmallwhiskers。^18
TheloftystatureoftheFranks，andtheirblueeyes，denotedaGermanicorigin；theircloseapparelaccuratelyexpressedthefigureoftheirlimbs；aweightyswordwassuspendedfromabroadbelt；theirbodieswereprotectedbyalargeshield；andthesewarlikeBarbariansweretrained，fromtheirearliestyouth，torun，toleap，toswim；todartthejavelin，orbattle—axe，withunerringaim；toadvance，withouthesitation，againstasuperiorenemy；andtomaintain，eitherinlifeordeath，theinvinciblereputationoftheirancestors。^19Clodion，thefirstoftheirlong—hairedkings，whosenameandactionsarementionedinauthentichistory，heldhisresidenceatDispargum，^20avillageorfortress，whoseplacemaybeassignedbetweenLouvainandBrussels。Fromthereportofhisspies，thekingoftheFrankswasinformed，thatthedefencelessstateofthesecondBelgicmustyield，ontheslightestattack，tothevalorofhissubjects。HeboldlypenetratedthroughthethicketsandmorassesoftheCarbonarianforest；^21occupiedTournayandCambray，theonlycitieswhichexistedinthefifthcentury，andextendedhisconquestsasfarastheRiverSomme，overadesolatecountry，whosecultivationandpopulousnessaretheeffectsofmorerecentindustry。^22WhileClodionlayencampedintheplainsofArtois，^23andcelebrated，withvainandostentatioussecurity，themarriage，perhaps，ofhisson，thenuptialfeastwasinterruptedbytheunexpectedandunwelcomepresenceofAetius，whohadpassedtheSommeattheheadofhislightcavalry。Thetables，whichhadbeenspreadundertheshelterofahill，alongthebanksofapleasantstream，wererudelyoverturned；theFrankswereoppressedbeforetheycouldrecovertheirarms，ortheirranks；andtheirunavailingvalorwasfatalonlytothemselves。