[Footnote10:Inipsiscongressionistuaeforibuscessitinvasor，cumprofugopertesceptraredderenturdesalutedubitanti。
Ennodiusthenproceedsp。1596，1597，tom。i。Sirmond。totransporthisheroonaflyingdragon?intoAethiopia，beyondthetropicofCancer。TheevidenceoftheValesianFragment，p。
717，Liberatus，Brev。Eutych。c。25p。118，andTheophanes，p。112，ismoresoberandrational。]
[Footnote11:ThiscruelpracticeisspeciallyimputedtotheTriarianGoths，lessbarbarous，asitshouldseem，thantheWalamirs；butthesonofTheodemirischargedwiththeruinofmanyRomancities，Malchus，Excerpt。Leg。p。95。]
[Footnote12:Jornandesc。56，57，p。696displaystheservicesofTheodoric，confesseshisrewards，butdissembleshisrevolt，ofwhichsuchcuriousdetailshavebeenpreservedbyMalchus，Excerpt。Legat。p。78—97。Marcellinus，adomesticofJustinian，underwhoseivthconsulshipA。D。534hecomposedhisChronicle，Scaliger，ThesaurusTemporum，P。ii，p。34—57，
betrayshisprejudiceandpassion:inGraeciamdebacchantem……Zenonismunificentiapenepacatus……beneficiisnunquamsatiatus，&c。]
[Footnote*:GibbonhasomittedmuchofthecomplicatedintriguesoftheByzantinecourtwiththetwoTheodorics。Theweakemperorattemptedtoplaythemoneagainsttheother，andwashimselfinturninsulted，andtheempireravaged，byboth。Thedetailsofthesuccessiveallianceandrevolt，ofhostilityandofunion，betweenthetwoGothicchieftains，todictatetermstotheemperor，maybefoundinMalchus。—M。]
Ineverystateofhisfortune，theprudenceandfirmnessofTheodoricwereequallyconspicuous；whetherhethreatenedConstantinopleattheheadoftheconfederateGoths，orretreatedwithafaithfulbandtothemountainsandsea—coastofEpirus。
AtlengththeaccidentaldeathofthesonofTriarius^13
destroyedthebalancewhichtheRomanshadbeensoanxioustopreserve，thewholenationacknowledgedthesupremacyoftheAmali，andtheByzantinecourtsubscribedanignominiousandoppressivetreaty。^14Thesenatehadalreadydeclared，thatitwasnecessarytochooseapartyamongtheGoths，sincethepublicwasunequaltothesupportoftheirunitedforces；asubsidyoftwothousandpoundsofgold，withtheamplepayofthirteenthousandmen，wererequiredfortheleastconsiderableoftheirarmies；^15andtheIsaurians，whoguardednottheempirebuttheemperor，enjoyed，besidestheprivilegeofrapine，anannualpensionoffivethousandpounds。ThesagaciousmindofTheodoricsoonperceivedthathewasodioustotheRomans，andsuspectedbytheBarbarians:heunderstoodthepopularmurmur，thathissubjectswereexposedintheirfrozenhutstointolerablehardships，whiletheirkingwasdissolvedintheluxuryofGreece，andhepreventedthepainfulalternativeofencounteringtheGoths，asthechampion，orofleadingthemtothefield，astheenemy，ofZeno。Embracinganenterpriseworthyofhiscourageandambition，Theodoricaddressedtheemperorinthefollowingwords:\"Althoughyourservantismaintainedinaffluencebyyourliberality，graciouslylistentothewishesofmyheart!Italy，theinheritanceofyourpredecessors，andRomeitself，theheadandmistressoftheworld，nowfluctuateundertheviolenceandoppressionofOdoacerthemercenary。Directme，withmynationaltroops，tomarchagainstthetyrant。IfIfall，youwillberelievedfromanexpensiveandtroublesomefriend:
if，withthedivinepermission，Isucceed，Ishallgoverninyourname，andtoyourglory，theRomansenate，andthepartoftherepublicdeliveredfromslaverybymyvictoriousarms。\"TheproposalofTheodoricwasaccepted，andperhapshadbeensuggested，bytheByzantinecourt。Buttheformsofthecommission，orgrant，appeartohavebeenexpressedwithaprudentambiguity，whichmightbeexplainedbytheevent；anditwasleftdoubtful，whethertheconquerorofItalyshouldreignasthelieutenant，thevassal，ortheally，oftheemperoroftheEast。^16
[Footnote13:Ashewasridinginhisowncamp，anunrulyhorsethrewhimagainstthepointofaspearwhichhungbeforeatent，orwasfixedonawagon，Marcellin。inChron。Evagrius，l。iii。
c。25。]
[Footnote14:SeeMalchusp。91andEvagrius，l。iii。c。35。]
[Footnote15:Malchus，p。85。Inasingleaction，whichwasdecidedbytheskillanddisciplineofSabinian，Theodoriccouldlose5000men。]
[Footnote16:Jornandesc。57，p。696，697hasabridgedthegreathistoryofCassiodorus。See，compare，andreconcileProcopius，Gothic。l。i。c。i。，theValesianFragment，p。
718，Theophanes，p。113，andMarcellinus，inChron。]
Thereputationbothoftheleaderandofthewardiffusedauniversalardor；theWalamirsweremultipliedbytheGothicswarmsalreadyengagedintheservice，orseatedintheprovinces，oftheempire；andeachboldBarbarian，whohadheardofthewealthandbeautyofItaly，wasimpatienttoseek，throughthemostperilousadventures，thepossessionofsuchenchantingobjects。ThemarchofTheodoricmustbeconsideredastheemigrationofanentirepeople；thewivesandchildrenoftheGoths，theiragedparents，andmostpreciouseffects，werecarefullytransported；andsomeideamaybeformedoftheheavybaggagethatnowfollowedthecamp，bythelossoftwothousandwagons，whichhadbeensustainedinasingleactioninthewarofEpirus。Fortheirsubsistence，theGothsdependedonthemagazinesofcornwhichwasgroundinportablemillsbythehandsoftheirwomen；onthemilkandfleshoftheirflocksandherds；
onthecasualproduceofthechase，anduponthecontributionswhichtheymightimposeonallwhoshouldpresumetodisputethepassage，ortorefusetheirfriendlyassistance。Notwithstandingtheseprecautions，theywereexposedtothedanger，andalmosttothedistress，offamine，inamarchofsevenhundredmiles，whichhadbeenundertakeninthedepthofarigorouswinter。SincethefalloftheRomanpower，DaciaandPannonianolongerexhibitedtherichprospectofpopulouscities，well—cultivatedfields，andconvenienthighways:thereignofbarbarismanddesolationwasrestored，andthetribesofBulgarians，Gepidae，andSarmatians，whohadoccupiedthevacantprovince，werepromptedbytheirnativefierceness，orthesolicitationsofOdoacer，toresisttheprogressofhisenemy。Inmanyobscurethoughbloodybattles，Theodoricfoughtandvanquished；tillatlength，surmountingeveryobstaclebyskilfulconductandperseveringcourage，hedescendedfromtheJulianAlps，anddisplayedhisinvinciblebannersontheconfinesofItaly。^17
[Footnote17:Theodoric\'smarchissuppliedandillustratedbyEnnodius，p。1598—1602，whenthebombastoftheorationistranslatedintothelanguageofcommonsense。]
Odoacer，arivalnotunworthyofhisarms，hadalreadyoccupiedtheadvantageousandwell—knownpostoftheRiverSontius，neartheruinsofAquileia，attheheadofapowerfulhost，whoseindependentkings^18orleadersdisdainedthedutiesofsubordinationandtheprudenceofdelays。NosoonerhadTheodoricgainedashortreposeandrefreshmenttohisweariedcavalry，thanheboldlyattackedthefortificationsoftheenemy；
theOstrogothsshowedmoreardortoacquire，thanthemercenariestodefend，thelandsofItaly；andtherewardofthefirstvictorywasthepossessionoftheVenetianprovinceasfarasthewallsofVerona。Intheneighborhoodofthatcity，onthesteepbanksoftherapidAdige，hewasopposedbyanewarmy，reenforcedinitsnumbers，andnotimpairedinitscourage:thecontestwasmoreobstinate，buttheeventwasstillmoredecisive；OdoacerfledtoRavenna，TheodoricadvancedtoMilan，andthevanquishedtroopssalutedtheirconquerorwithloudacclamationsofrespectandfidelity。Buttheirwanteitherofconstancyoroffaithsoonexposedhimtothemostimminentdanger；hisvanguard，withseveralGothiccounts，whichhadbeenrashlyintrustedtoadeserter，wasbetrayedanddestroyednearFaenzabyhisdoubletreachery；Odoaceragainappearedmasterofthefield，andtheinvader，stronglyintrenchedinhiscampofPavia，wasreducedtosolicittheaidofakindrednation，theVisigothsofGaul。InthecourseofthisHistory，themostvoraciousappetiteforwarwillbeabundantlysatiated；norcanI
muchlamentthatourdarkandimperfectmaterialsdonotaffordamoreamplenarrativeofthedistressofItaly，andofthefierceconflict，whichwasfinallydecidedbytheabilities，experience，andvaloroftheGothicking。ImmediatelybeforethebattleofVerona，hevisitedthetentofhismother^19andsister，andrequested，thatonaday，themostillustriousfestivalofhislife，theywouldadornhimwiththerichgarmentswhichtheyhadworkedwiththeirownhands。\"Ourglory，\"saidhe，\"ismutualandinseparable。YouareknowntotheworldasthemotherofTheodoric；anditbecomesmetoprove，thatIamthegenuineoffspringofthoseheroesfromwhomIclaimmydescent。\"ThewifeorconcubineofTheodemirwasinspiredwiththespiritoftheGermanmatrons，whoesteemedtheirsons\'honorfarabovetheirsafety；anditisreported，thatinadesperateaction，whenTheodorichimselfwashurriedalongbythetorrentofaflyingcrowd，sheboldlymetthemattheentranceofthecamp，and，byhergenerousreproaches，drovethembackontheswordsoftheenemy。^20
[Footnote18:Totreges，&c。，Ennodius，p。1602。Wemustrecollecthowmuchtheroyaltitlewasmultipliedanddegraded，andthatthemercenariesofItalywerethefragmentsofmanytribesandnations。]
[Footnote19:SeeEnnodius，p。1603，1604。Sincetheorator，intheking\'spresence，couldmentionandpraisehismother，wemayconcludethatthemagnanimityofTheodoricwasnothurtbythevulgarreproachesofconcubineandbastard。
Note:GibbonhereassumesthatthemotherofTheodoricwastheconcubineofTheodemir，whichheleavesdoubtfulinthetext。
—M。]
[Footnote20:ThisanecdoteisrelatedonthemodernbutrespectableauthorityofSigonius，Op。tom。i。p。580。DeOccident。Impl。l。xv。:hiswordsarecurious:\"Wouldyoureturn?\"&c。Shepresentedandalmostdisplayedtheoriginalrecess。
Note:TheauthorityofSigoniuswouldscarcelyhaveweighedwithGibboaexceptforanindecentanecdote。IhavearecollectionofasimilarstoryinsomeoftheItalianwars。—
M。]]
FromtheAlpstotheextremityofCalabria，Theodoricreignedbytherightofconquest；theVandalambassadorssurrenderedtheIslandofSicily，asalawfulappendageofhiskingdom；andhewasacceptedasthedelivererofRomebythesenateandpeople，whohadshuttheirgatesagainsttheflyingusurper。^21Ravennaalone，secureinthefortificationsofartandnature，stillsustainedasiegeofalmostthreeyears；andthedaringsalliesofOdoacercarriedslaughteranddismayintotheGothiccamp。Atlength，destituteofprovisionsandhopelessofrelief，thatunfortunatemonarchyieldedtothegroansofhissubjectsandtheclamorsofhissoldiers。AtreatyofpeacewasnegotiatedbythebishopofRavenna；theOstrogothswereadmittedintothecity，andthehostilekingsconsented，underthesanctionofanoath，torulewithequalandundividedauthoritytheprovincesofItaly。Theeventofsuchanagreementmaybeeasilyforeseen。Aftersomedayshadbeendevotedtothesemblanceofjoyandfriendship，Odoacer，inthemidstofasolemnbanquet，wasstabbedbythehand，oratleastbythecommand，ofhisrival。Secretandeffectualordershadbeenpreviouslydespatched；thefaithlessandrapaciousmercenaries，atthesamemoment，andwithoutresistance，wereuniversallymassacred；andtheroyaltyofTheodoricwasproclaimedbytheGoths，withthetardy，reluctant，ambiguousconsentoftheemperoroftheEast。Thedesignofaconspiracywasimputed，accordingtotheusualforms，totheprostratetyrant；buthisinnocence，andtheguiltofhisconqueror，^22aresufficientlyprovedbytheadvantageoustreatywhichforcewouldnotsincerelyhavegranted，norweaknesshaverashlyinfringed。Thejealousyofpower，andthemischiefsofdiscord，maysuggestamoredecentapology，andasentencelessrigorousmaybepronouncedagainstacrimewhichwasnecessarytointroduceintoItalyagenerationofpublicfelicity。Thelivingauthorofthisfelicitywasaudaciouslypraisedinhisownpresencebysacredandprofaneorators；^23buthistoryinhistimeshewasmuteandinglorioushasnotleftanyjustrepresentationoftheeventswhichdisplayed，orofthedefectswhichclouded，thevirtuesofTheodoric。^24Onerecordofhisfame，thevolumeofpublicepistlescomposedbyCassiodorusintheroyalname，isstillextant，andhasobtainedmoreimplicitcreditthanitseemstodeserve。^25Theyexhibittheforms，ratherthanthesubstance，ofhisgovernment；andweshouldvainlysearchforthepureandspontaneoussentimentsoftheBarbarianamidstthedeclamationandlearningofasophist，thewishesofaRomansenator，theprecedentsofoffice，andthevagueprofessions，which，ineverycourt，andoneveryoccasion，composethelanguageofdiscreetministers。ThereputationofTheodoricmayreposewithmoreconfidenceonthevisiblepeaceandprosperityofareignofthirty—threeyears；theunanimousesteemofhisowntimes，andthememoryofhiswisdomandcourage，hisjusticeandhumanity，whichwasdeeplyimpressedonthemindsoftheGothsandItalians。
[Footnote21:Hist。Miscell。l。xv。，aRomanhistoryfromJanustotheixthcentury，anEpitomeofEutropius，PaulusDiaconus，andTheophaneswhichMuratorihaspublishedfromaMs。intheAmbrosianlibrary，Script。RerumItalicarum，tom。i。p。100。]
[Footnote22:ProcopiusGothic。l。i。c。i。approveshimselfanimpartialsceptic。CassiodorusinChron。andEnnodiusp。1604
areloyalandcredulous，andthetestimonyoftheValesianFragmentp。718mayjustifytheirbelief。MarcellinusspitsthevenomofaGreeksubject—perjuriisillectus，interfectusqueest，inChron。]
[Footnote23:ThesonorousandservileorationofEnnodiuswaspronouncedatMilanorRavennaintheyears507or508，Sirmond，tom。i。p。615。Twoorthreeyearsafterwards，theoratorwasrewardedwiththebishopricofPavia，whichheheldtillhisdeathintheyear521。Dupin，Bibliot。Eccles。tom。v。p。11—
14。SeeSaxiiOnomasticon，tom。ii。p。12。]
[Footnote24:OurbestmaterialsareoccasionalhintsfromProcopiusandtheValesianFragment，whichwasdiscoveredbySirmond，andispublishedattheendofAmmianusMarcellinus。
Theauthor\'snameisunknown，andhisstyleisbarbarous；butinhisvariousfactsheexhibitstheknowledge，withoutthepassions，ofacontemporary。ThepresidentMontesquieuhadformedtheplanofahistoryofTheodoric，whichatadistancemightappeararichandinterestingsubject。]
[Footnote25:ThebesteditionoftheVariarumLibrixii。isthatofJoh。Garretius，Rotomagi，1679，inOpp。Cassiodor。2vols。infol。；buttheydeservedandrequiredsuchaneditorastheMarquisScipioMaffei，whothoughtofpublishingthematVerona。
TheBarbaraEleganzaasitisingeniouslynamedbyTiraboschi
isneversimple，andseldomperspicuous]
ThepartitionofthelandsofItaly，ofwhichTheodoricassignedthethirdparttohissoldiers，ishonorablyarraignedasthesoleinjusticeofhislife。AndeventhisactmaybefairlyjustifiedbytheexampleofOdoacer，therightsofconquest，thetrueinterestoftheItalians，andthesacreddutyofsubsistingawholepeople，who，onthefaithofhispromises，hadtransportedthemselvesintoadistantland。^26UnderthereignofTheodoric，andinthehappyclimateofItaly，theGothssoonmultipliedtoaformidablehostoftwohundredthousandmen，^27andthewholeamountoftheirfamiliesmaybecomputedbytheordinaryadditionofwomenandchildren。Theirinvasionofproperty，apartofwhichmusthavebeenalreadyvacant，wasdisguisedbythegenerousbutimpropernameofhospitality；theseunwelcomeguestswereirregularlydispersedoverthefaceofItaly，andthelotofeachBarbarianwasadequatetohisbirthandoffice，thenumberofhisfollowers，andtherusticwealthwhichhepossessedinslavesandcattle。Thedistinctionofnobleandplebeianwereacknowledged；^28butthelandsofeveryfreemanwereexemptfromtaxes，andheenjoyedtheinestimableprivilegeofbeingsubjectonlytothelawsofhiscountry。^29
Fashion，andevenconvenience，soonpersuadedtheconquerorstoassumethemoreelegantdressofthenatives，buttheystillpersistedintheuseoftheirmother—tongue；andtheircontemptfortheLatinschoolswasapplaudedbyTheodorichimself，whogratifiedtheirprejudices，orhisown，bydeclaring，thatthechildwhohadtrembledatarod，wouldneverdaretolookuponasword。^30DistressmightsometimesprovoketheindigentRomantoassumetheferociousmannerswhichwereinsensiblyrelinquishedbytherichandluxuriousBarbarian；^31butthesemutualconversionswerenotencouragedbythepolicyofamonarchwhoperpetuatedtheseparationoftheItaliansandGoths；reservingtheformerfortheartsofpeace，andthelatterfortheserviceofwar。Toaccomplishthisdesign，hestudiedtoprotecthisindustrioussubjects，andtomoderatetheviolence，withoutenervatingthevalor，ofhissoldiers，whoweremaintainedforthepublicdefence。Theyheldtheirlandsandbeneficesasamilitarystipend:atthesoundofthetrumpet，theywerepreparedtomarchundertheconductoftheirprovincialofficers；andthewholeextentofItalywasdistributedintotheseveralquartersofawell—regulatedcamp。Theserviceofthepalaceandofthefrontierswasperformedbychoiceorbyrotation；andeachextraordinaryfatiguewasrecompensedbyanincreaseofpayandoccasionaldonatives。Theodorichadconvincedhisbravecompanions，thatempiremustbeacquiredanddefendedbythesamearts。Afterhisexample，theystrovetoexcelintheuse，notonlyofthelanceandsword，theinstrumentsoftheirvictories，butofthemissileweapons，whichtheyweretoomuchinclinedtoneglect；andthelivelyimageofwarwasdisplayedinthedailyexerciseandannualreviewsoftheGothiccavalry。Afirmthoughgentledisciplineimposedthehabitsofmodesty，obedience，andtemperance；andtheGothswereinstructedtosparethepeople，toreverencethelaws，tounderstandthedutiesofcivilsociety，andtodisclaimthebarbarouslicenseofjudicialcombatandprivaterevenge。^32