Shouldthesespeculationsbefounddoubtfulorfallacious，therestillremainsamorehumblesourceofcomfortandhope。
Thediscoveriesofancientandmodernnavigators，andthedomestichistory，ortradition，ofthemostenlightenednations，representthehumansavage，nakedbothinbodyandmindanddestituteoflaws，ofarts，ofideas，andalmostoflanguage。^10
Fromthisabjectcondition，perhapstheprimitiveanduniversalstateofman，hehasgraduallyarisentocommandtheanimals，tofertilizetheearth，totraversetheoceanandtomeasuretheheavens。Hisprogressintheimprovementandexerciseofhismentalandcorporealfaculties^11hasbeenirregularandvarious；infinitelyslowinthebeginning，andincreasingbydegreeswithredoubledvelocity:agesoflaboriousascenthavebeenfollowedbyamomentofrapiddownfall；andtheseveralclimatesoftheglobehavefeltthevicissitudesoflightanddarkness。Yettheexperienceoffourthousandyearsshouldenlargeourhopes，anddiminishourapprehensions:wecannotdeterminetowhatheightthehumanspeciesmayaspireintheiradvancestowardsperfection；butitmaysafelybepresumed，thatnopeople，unlessthefaceofnatureischanged，willrelapseintotheiroriginalbarbarism。Theimprovementsofsocietymaybeviewedunderathreefoldaspect。1。Thepoetorphilosopherillustrateshisageandcountrybytheeffortsofasinglemind；
butthosesuperiorpowersofreasonorfancyarerareandspontaneousproductions；andthegeniusofHomer，orCicero，orNewton，wouldexcitelessadmiration，iftheycouldbecreatedbythewillofaprince，orthelessonsofapreceptor。2。Thebenefitsoflawandpolicy，oftradeandmanufactures，ofartsandsciences，aremoresolidandpermanent:andmanyindividualsmaybequalified，byeducationanddiscipline，topromote，intheirrespectivestations，theinterestofthecommunity。Butthisgeneralorderistheeffectofskillandlabor；andthecomplexmachinerymaybedecayedbytime，orinjuredbyviolence。
3。Fortunatelyformankind，themoreuseful，or，atleast，morenecessaryarts，canbeperformedwithoutsuperiortalents，ornationalsubordination:withoutthepowersofone，ortheunionofmany。Eachvillage，eachfamily，eachindividual，mustalwayspossessbothabilityandinclinationtoperpetuatetheuseoffire^12andofmetals；thepropagationandserviceofdomesticanimals；themethodsofhuntingandfishing；therudimentsofnavigation；theimperfectcultivationofcorn，orothernutritivegrain；andthesimplepracticeofthemechanictrades。Privategeniusandpublicindustrymaybeextirpated；butthesehardyplantssurvivethetempest，andstrikeaneverlastingrootintothemostunfavorablesoil。ThesplendiddaysofAugustusandTrajanwereeclipsedbyacloudofignorance；andtheBarbarianssubvertedthelawsandpalacesofRome。Butthescythe，theinventionoremblemofSaturn，^13stillcontinuedannuallytomowtheharvestsofItaly；andthehumanfeastsoftheLaestrigons^14haveneverbeenrenewedonthecoastofCampania。
[Footnote10:Itwouldbeaneasy，thoughtedious，task，toproducetheauthoritiesofpoets，philosophers，andhistorians。
IshallthereforecontentmyselfwithappealingtothedecisiveandauthentictestimonyofDiodorusSiculus，tom。i。l。i。p。
11，12，l。iii。p。184，&c。，edit。Wesseling。TheIcthyophagi，whoinhistimewanderedalongtheshoresoftheRedSea，canonlybecomparedtothenativesofNewHolland，Dampier\'sVoyages，vol。i。p。464—469。Fancy，orperhapsreason，maystillsupposeanextremeandabsolutestateofnaturefarbelowthelevelofthesesavages，whohadacquiredsomeartsandinstruments。]
[Footnote11:SeethelearnedandrationalworkofthepresidentGoguet，del\'OriginedesLoix，desArts，etdesSciences。Hetracesfromfacts，orconjectures，tom。i。p。147—337，edit。
12mo。，thefirstandmostdifficultstepsofhumaninvention。]
[Footnote12:Itiscertain，howeverstrange，thatmanynationshavebeenignorantoftheuseoffire。EventheingeniousnativesofOtaheite，whoaredestituteofmetals，havenotinventedanyearthenvesselscapableofsustainingtheactionoffire，andofcommunicatingtheheattotheliquidswhichtheycontain。]
[Footnote13:Plutarch。Quaest。Rom。intom。ii。p。275。Macrob。
Saturnal。l。i。c。8，p。152，edit。London。ThearrivalofSaturnofhisreligiousworshipinaship，mayindicate，thatthesavagecoastofLatiumwasfirstdiscoveredandcivilizedbythePhoenicians。]
[Footnote14:IntheninthandtenthbooksoftheOdyssey，Homerhasembellishedthetalesoffearfulandcreduloussailors，whotransformedthecannibalsofItalyandSicilyintomonstrousgiants。]
Sincethefirstdiscoveryofthearts，war，commerce，andreligiouszealhavediffused，amongthesavagesoftheOldandNewWorld，theseinestimablegifts:theyhavebeensuccessivelypropagated；theycanneverbelost。Wemaythereforeacquiesceinthepleasingconclusion，thateveryageoftheworldhasincreased，andstillincreases，therealwealth，thehappiness，theknowledge，andperhapsthevirtue，ofthehumanrace。^15
[Footnote15:Themeritofdiscoveryhastoooftenbeenstainedwithavarice，cruelty，andfanaticism；andtheintercourseofnationshasproducedthecommunicationofdiseaseandprejudice。
Asingularexceptionisduetothevirtueofourowntimesandcountry。Thefivegreatvoyages，successivelyundertakenbythecommandofhispresentMajesty，wereinspiredbythepureandgenerousloveofscienceandofmankind。Thesameprince，adaptinghisbenefactionstothedifferentstagesofsociety，hasfoundedhisschoolofpaintinginhiscapital；andhasintroducedintotheislandsoftheSouthSeathevegetablesandanimalsmostusefultohumanlife。]
EndHistoryOfTheDeclineAndFallOfTheRomanEmpireEdwardGibbon，Esq。
WithnotesbytheRev。H。H。MilmanVol。4
1782Written，1845Revised
ChapterXXXIX:GothicKingdomOfItaly。
PartI。
ZenoAndAnastasius，EmperorsOfTheEast。—Birth，Education，AndFirstExploitsOfTheodoricTheOstrogoth。—HisInvasionAndConquestOfItaly。—TheGothicKingdomOfItaly。—
StateOfTheWest。—MilitaryAndCivilGovernment。—TheSenatorBoethius。—LastActsAndDeathOfTheodoric。
AfterthefalloftheRomanempireintheWest，anintervaloffiftyyears，tillthememorablereignofJustinian，isfaintlymarkedbytheobscurenamesandimperfectannalsofZeno，Anastasius，andJustin，whosuccessivelyascendedtothethroneofConstantinople。Duringthesameperiod，ItalyrevivedandflourishedunderthegovernmentofaGothicking，whomighthavedeservedastatueamongthebestandbravestoftheancientRomans。
TheodorictheOstrogoth，thefourteenthinlinealdescentoftheroyallineoftheAmali，^1wasbornintheneighborhoodofVienna^2twoyearsafterthedeathofAttila。^!ArecentvictoryhadrestoredtheindependenceoftheOstrogoths；andthethreebrothers，Walamir，Theodemir，andWidimir，whoruledthatwarlikenationwithunitedcounsels，hadseparatelypitchedtheirhabitationsinthefertilethoughdesolateprovinceofPannonia。
TheHunsstillthreatenedtheirrevoltedsubjects，buttheirhastyattackwasrepelledbythesingleforcesofWalamir，andthenewsofhisvictoryreachedthedistantcampofhisbrotherinthesameauspiciousmomentthatthefavoriteconcubineofTheodemirwasdeliveredofasonandheir。Intheeighthyearofhisage，Theodoricwasreluctantlyyieldedbyhisfathertothepublicinterest，asthepledgeofanalliancewhichLeo，emperoroftheEast，hadconsentedtopurchasebyanannualsubsidyofthreehundredpoundsofgold。TheroyalhostagewaseducatedatConstantinoplewithcareandtenderness。Hisbodywasformedtoalltheexercisesofwar，hismindwasexpandedbythehabitsofliberalconversation；hefrequentedtheschoolsofthemostskilfulmasters；buthedisdainedorneglectedtheartsofGreece，andsoignorantdidhealwaysremainofthefirstelementsofscience，thatarudemarkwascontrivedtorepresentthesignatureoftheilliteratekingofItaly。^3Assoonashehadattainedtheageofeighteen，hewasrestoredtothewishesoftheOstrogoths，whomtheemperoraspiredtogainbyliberalityandconfidence。Walamirhadfalleninbattle；theyoungestofthebrothers，Widimir，hadledawayintoItalyandGaulanarmyofBarbarians，andthewholenationacknowledgedfortheirkingthefatherofTheodoric。Hisferocioussubjectsadmiredthestrengthandstatureoftheiryoungprince；^4andhesoonconvincedthemthathehadnotdegeneratedfromthevalorofhisancestors。Attheheadofsixthousandvolunteers，hesecretlyleftthecampinquestofadventures，descendedtheDanubeasfarasSingidunum，orBelgrade，andsoonreturnedtohisfatherwiththespoilsofaSarmatiankingwhomhehadvanquishedandslain。
Suchtriumphs，however，wereproductiveonlyoffame，andtheinvincibleOstrogothswerereducedtoextremedistressbythewantofclothingandfood。TheyunanimouslyresolvedtodeserttheirPannonianencampments，andboldlytoadvanceintothewarmandwealthyneighborhoodoftheByzantinecourt，whichalreadymaintainedinprideandluxurysomanybandsofconfederateGoths。Afterproving，bysomeactsofhostility，thattheycouldbedangerous，oratleasttroublesome，enemies，theOstrogothssoldatahighpricetheirreconciliationandfidelity，acceptedadonativeoflandsandmoney，andwereintrustedwiththedefenceoftheLowerDanube，underthecommandofTheodoric，whosucceededafterhisfather\'sdeathtothehereditarythroneoftheAmali。^5
[Footnote1:JornandesdeRebusGeticis，c。13，14，p。629，630，edit。Grot。hasdrawnthepedigreeofTheodoricfromGapt，oneoftheAnsesorDemigods，wholivedaboutthetimeofDomitian。
Cassiodorus，thefirstwhocelebratestheroyalraceoftheAmali，Viriar。viii。5，ix。25，x。2，xi。1，reckonsthegrandsonofTheodoricasthexviithindescent。PeringscioldtheSwedishcommentatorofCochloeus，Vit。Theodoric。p。271，&c。，Stockholm，1699laborstoconnectthisgenealogywiththelegendsortraditionsofhisnativecountry。
Note:AmalawasanameofhereditarysanctityandhonoramongtheVisigoths。ItentersintothenamesofAmalaberga，Amalasuintha，swinthermeansstrength，Amalafred，Amalarich。
InthepoemoftheNibelungenwrittenthreehundredyearslater，theOstrogothsarecalledtheAmilungen。AccordingtoWachteritmeans，unstained，fromtheprivativea，andmaloastain。ItispureSanscrit，Amala，immaculatus。Schlegel。IndischeBibliothek，1。p。233。—M。]
[Footnote2:MorecorrectlyonthebanksoftheLakePelso，Nieusiedler—see，nearCarnuntum，almostonthesamespotwhereMarcusAntoninuscomposedhismeditations，Jornandes，c。52，p。
659。Severin。PannoniaIllustrata，p。22。Cellarius，Geograph。
Antiq。tom。i。p。350。]
[Footnote!:ThedateofTheodoric\'sbirthisnotaccuratelydetermined。Wecanhardlyerr，observesManso，inplacingitbetweentheyears453and455，Manso，GeschichtedesOstGothischenReichs，p。14。—M。]
[Footnote3:Thefourfirstlettersofhisnamewereinscribedonagoldplate，andwhenitwasfixedonthepaper，thekingdrewhispenthroughtheintervalsAnonym。Valesian。adcalcemAmm。
Marcellinp。722。Thisauthenticfact，withthetestimonyofProcopius，oratleastofthecontemporaryGoths，Gothic。1。i。
c。2，p。311，faroutweighsthevaguepraisesofEnnodiusSirmondOpera，tom。i。p。1596andTheophanes，Chronograph。p。
112。
Note:LeBeauandhisCommentator，M。St。Martin，support，thoughwithnoverysatisfactoryevidence，theoppositeopinion。
ButLordMahonLifeofBelisarius，p。19urgesthemuchstrongerargument，theByzantineeducationofTheodroic。—M。]
[Footnote4:Staturaestquaeresignetproceritateregnantem，Ennodius，p。1614。ThebishopofPaviaImeantheecclesiasticwhowishedtobeabishopthenproceedstocelebratethecomplexion，eyes，hands，&c，ofhissovereign。]
[Footnote5:ThestateoftheOstrogoths，andthefirstyearsofTheodoric，arefoundinJornandes，c。52—56，p。689—696andMalchus，Excerpt。Legat。p。78—80，whoerroneouslystyleshimthesonofWalamir。]
Ahero，descendedfromaraceofkings，musthavedespisedthebaseIsaurianwhowasinvestedwiththeRomanpurple，withoutanyendowmentofmindorbody，withoutanyadvantagesofroyalbirth，orsuperiorqualifications。AfterthefailureoftheTheodosianlife，thechoiceofPulcheriaandofthesenatemightbejustifiedinsomemeasurebythecharactersofMartinandLeo，butthelatteroftheseprincesconfirmedanddishonoredhisreignbytheperfidiousmurderofAsparandhissons，whotoorigorouslyexactedthedebtofgratitudeandobedience。TheinheritanceofLeoandoftheEastwaspeaceablydevolvedonhisinfantgrandson，thesonofhisdaughterAriadne；andherIsaurianhusband，thefortunateTrascalisseus，exchangedthatbarbaroussoundfortheGrecianappellationofZeno。AfterthedeceaseoftheelderLeo，heapproachedwithunnaturalrespectthethroneofhisson，humblyreceived，asagift，thesecondrankintheempire，andsoonexcitedthepublicsuspiciononthesuddenandprematuredeathofhisyoungcolleague，whoselifecouldnolongerpromotethesuccessofhisambition。ButthepalaceofConstantinoplewasruledbyfemaleinfluence，andagitatedbyfemalepassions:andVerina，thewidowofLeo，claiminghisempireasherown，pronouncedasentenceofdepositionagainsttheworthlessandungratefulservantonwhomshealonehadbestowedthesceptreoftheEast。^6AssoonasshesoundedarevoltintheearsofZeno，hefledwithprecipitationintothemountainsofIsauria，andherbrotherBasiliscus，alreadyinfamousbyhisAfricanexpedition，^7wasunanimouslyproclaimedbytheservilesenate。Butthereignoftheusurperwasshortandturbulent。Basiliscuspresumedtoassassinatetheloverofhissister；hedaredtooffendtheloverofhiswife，thevainandinsolentHarmatius，who，inthemidstofAsiaticluxury，affectedthedress，thedemeanor，andthesurnameofAchilles。^8Bytheconspiracyofthemalecontents，Zenowasrecalledfromexile；thearmies，thecapital，theperson，ofBasiliscus，werebetrayed；andhiswholefamilywascondemnedtothelongagonyofcoldandhungerbytheinhumanconqueror，whowantedcouragetoencounterortoforgivehisenemies。ThehaughtyspiritofVerinawasstillincapableofsubmissionorrepose。Sheprovokedtheenmityofafavoritegeneral，embracedhiscauseassoonashewasdisgraced，createdanewemperorinSyriaandEgypt，raisedanarmyofseventythousandmen，andpersistedtothelastmomentofherlifeinafruitlessrebellion，which，accordingtothefashionoftheage，hadbeenpredictedbyChristianhermitsandPaganmagicians。WhiletheEastwasafflictedbythepassionsofVerina，herdaughterAriadnewasdistinguishedbythefemalevirtuesofmildnessandfidelity；shefollowedherhusbandinhisexile，andafterhisrestoration，sheimploredhisclemencyinfavorofhermother。
OnthedeceaseofZeno，Ariadne，thedaughter，themother，andthewidowofanemperor，gaveherhandandtheImperialtitletoAnastasius，anageddomesticofthepalace，whosurvivedhiselevationabovetwenty—sevenyears，andwhosecharacterisattestedbytheacclamationofthepeople，\"Reignasyouhavelived!\"^9^!
[Footnote6:Theophanesp。111insertsacopyofhersacredletterstotheprovinces。SuchfemalepretensionswouldhaveastonishedtheslavesofthefirstCaesars。]
[Footnote7:Vol。iii。p。504—508。]
[Footnote8:Suidas，tom。i。p。332，333，edit。Kuster。]
[Footnote*:JoannesLydusaccusesZenooftimidity，or，rather，ofcowardice；hepurchasedanignominiouspeacefromtheenemiesoftheempire，whomhedarednotmeetinbattle；andemployedhiswholetimeathomeinconfiscationsandexecutions。Lydus，deMagist。iii。45，p。230。—M。]
[Footnote*:NamedIllus。—M。]
[Footnote9:ThecontemporaryhistoriesofMalchusandCandidusarelost；butsomeextractsorfragmentshavebeensavedbyPhotius，lxxviii。lxxix。p。100—102，ConstantinePorphyrogenitus，Excerpt。Leg。p。78—97，andinvariousarticlesoftheLexiconofSuidas。TheChroniclesofMarcellinusImagoHistoriaeareoriginalsforthereignsofZenoandAnastasius；andImustacknowledge，almostforthelasttime，myobligationstothelargeandaccuratecollectionsofTillemont，Hist。desEmp。tom。vi。p。472—652。]
[Footnote!:ThePanegyricofProcopiusofGaza，editedbyVilloisoninhisAnecdotaGraeca，andreprintedintheneweditionoftheByzantinehistoriansbyNiebuhr，inthesamevol。
withDexippusandEunapius，viii。p。488516，wasunknowntoGibbon。Itisvagueandpedantic，andcontainsfewfacts。ThesamecriticismwillapplytothepoeticalpanegyricofPriscianeditedfromtheMs。ofBobbiobyAng。Mai。Priscian，thegrammarian，Niebuhrarguesfromthiswork，musthavebeenbornintheAfrican，notineitheroftheAsiaticCaesareas。Pref。p。xi。—
M。]
Whateverfearofaffectioncouldbestow，wasprofuselylavishedbyZenoonthekingoftheOstrogoths；therankofpatricianandconsul，thecommandofthePalatinetroops，anequestrianstatue，atreasureingoldandsilverofmanythousandpounds，thenameofson，andthepromiseofarichandhonorablewife。AslongasTheodoriccondescendedtoserve，hesupportedwithcourageandfidelitythecauseofhisbenefactor；hisrapidmarchcontributedtotherestorationofZeno；andinthesecondrevolt，theWalamirs，astheywerecalled，pursuedandpressedtheAsiaticrebels，tilltheyleftaneasyvictorytotheImperialtroops。^10Butthefaithfulservantwassuddenlyconvertedintoaformidableenemy，whospreadtheflamesofwarfromConstantinopletotheAdriatic；manyflourishingcitieswerereducedtoashes，andtheagricultureofThracewasalmostextirpatedbythewantoncrueltyoftheGoths，whodeprivedtheircaptivepeasantsoftherighthandthatguidedtheplough。^11Onsuchoccasions，Theodoricsustainedtheloudandspeciousreproachofdisloyalty，ofingratitude，andofinsatiateavarice，whichcouldbeonlyexcusedbythehardnecessityofhissituation。Hereigned，notasthemonarch，butastheministerofaferociouspeople，whosespiritwasunbrokenbyslavery，andimpatientofrealorimaginaryinsults。Theirpovertywasincurable；sincethemostliberaldonativesweresoondissipatedinwastefulluxury，andthemostfertileestatesbecamebarrenintheirhands；theydespised，buttheyenvied，thelaboriousprovincials；andwhentheirsubsistencehadfailed，theOstrogothsembracedthefamiliarresourcesofwarandrapine。IthadbeenthewishofTheodoricsuchatleastwashisdeclarationtoleadapeaceful，obscure，obedientlifeontheconfinesofScythia，tilltheByzantinecourt，bysplendidandfallaciouspromises，seducedhimtoattackaconfederatetribeofGoths，whohadbeenengagedinthepartyofBasiliscus。HemarchedfromhisstationinMaesia，onthesolemnassurancethatbeforehereachedAdrianople，heshouldmeetaplentifulconvoyofprovisions，andareenforcementofeightthousandhorseandthirtythousandfoot，whilethelegionsofAsiawereencampedatHeracleatosecondhisoperations。Thesemeasuresweredisappointedbymutualjealousy。AsheadvancedintoThrace，thesonofTheodemirfoundaninhospitablesolitude，andhisGothicfollowers，withaheavytrainofhorses，ofmules，andofwagons，werebetrayedbytheirguidesamongtherocksandprecipicesofMountSondis，wherehewasassaultedbythearmsandinvectivesofTheodoricthesonofTriarius。Fromaneighboringheight，hisartfulrivalharanguedthecampoftheWalamirs，andbrandedtheirleaderwiththeopprobriousnamesofchild，ofmadman，ofperjuredtraitor，theenemyofhisbloodandnation。\"Areyouignorant，\"exclaimedthesonofTriarius，\"thatitistheconstantpolicyoftheRomanstodestroytheGothsbyeachother\'sswords?Areyouinsensiblethatthevictorinthisunnaturalcontestwillbeexposed，andjustlyexposed，totheirimplacablerevenge?Wherearethosewarriors，mykinsmenandthyown，whosewidowsnowlamentthattheirlivesweresacrificedtothyrashambition?Whereisthewealthwhichthysoldierspossessedwhentheywerefirstalluredfromtheirnativehomestoenlistunderthystandard?Eachofthemwasthenmasterofthreeorfourhorses；theynowfollowtheeonfoot，likeslaves，throughthedesertsofThrace；thosemenwhoweretemptedbythehopeofmeasuringgoldwithabushel，thosebravemenwhoareasfreeandasnobleasthyself。\"AlanguagesowellsuitedtothetemperoftheGothsexcitedclamoranddiscontent；andthesonofTheodemir，apprehensiveofbeingleftalone，wascompelledtoembracehisbrethren，andtoimitatetheexampleofRomanperfidy。^12