[Footnote*:CompareGibbon，ch。xxxvi。vol。iii。p。459，&c。—
Mansoobservesthatthisdivisionwasconductednotinaviolentandirregular，butinalegalandorderly，manner。TheBarbarian，whocouldnotshowatitleofgrantfromtheofficersofTheodoricappointedforthepurpose，oraprescriptiverightofthirtyyears，incasehehadobtainedthepropertybeforetheOstrogothicconquest，wasejectedfromtheestate。Heconceivesthatestatestoosmalltobeardivisionpaidathirdoftheirproduce。—GeschichtedesOsGothischenReiches，p。82。—M。]
[Footnote26:Procopius，Gothic，l。i。c。i。Variarum，ii。MaffeiVeronaIllustrata，P。i。p。228exaggeratestheinjusticeoftheGoths，whomhehatedasanItaliannoble。TheplebeianMuratoricrouchesundertheiroppression。]
[Footnote27:Procopius，Goth。l。iii。c。421。Ennodiusdescribesp。1612，1613themilitaryartsandincreasingnumbersoftheGoths。]
[Footnote28:WhenTheodoricgavehissistertothekingoftheVandalsshesailedforAfricawithaguardof1000nobleGoths，eachofwhomwasattendedbyfivearmedfollowers，Procop。
Vandal。l。i。c。8。TheGothicnobilitymusthavebeenasnumerousasbrave。]
[Footnote*:Mansop。100quotestwopassagesfromCassiodorustoshowthattheGothswerenotexemptfromthefiscalclaims。—
Cassiodor，i。19，iv。14—M。]
[Footnote29:SeetheacknowledgmentofGothicliberty，Var。v。
30。]
[Footnote30:Procopius，Goth。l。i。c。2。TheRomanboyslearntthelanguageVar。viii。21oftheGoths。TheirgeneralignoranceisnotdestroyedbytheexceptionsofAmalasuntha，afemale，whomightstudywithoutshame，orofTheodatus，whoselearningprovokedtheindignationandcontemptofhiscountrymen。]
[Footnote31:AsayingofTheodoricwasfoundedonexperience:
\"RomanusmiserimitaturGothum；ututilisdivesGothusimitaturRomanum。\"SeetheFragmentandNotesofValesius，p。719。]
[Footnote32:TheviewofthemilitaryestablishmentoftheGothsinItalyiscollectedfromtheEpistlesofCassiodorusVar。i。
24，40；iii。3，24，48；iv。13，14；v。26，27；viii。3，4，25。
TheyareillustratedbythelearnedMascou，Hist。oftheGermans，l。xi。40—44，Annotationxiv。
Note:CompareManso，GeschichtedesOstGothischenReiches，p。114。—M。]
ChapterXXXIX:GothicKingdomOfItaly。
PartII。
AmongtheBarbariansoftheWest，thevictoryofTheodorichadspreadageneralalarm。Butassoonasitappearedthathewassatisfiedwithconquestanddesirousofpeace，terrorwaschangedintorespect，andtheysubmittedtoapowerfulmediation，whichwasuniformlyemployedforthebestpurposesofreconcilingtheirquarrelsandcivilizingtheirmanners。^33TheambassadorswhoresortedtoRavennafromthemostdistantcountriesofEurope，admiredhiswisdom，magnificence，^34andcourtesy；andifhesometimesacceptedeitherslavesorarms，whitehorsesorstrangeanimals，thegiftofasun—dial，awater—clock，oramusician，admonishedeventheprincesofGaulofthesuperiorartandindustryofhisItaliansubjects。Hisdomesticalliances，^35
awife，twodaughters，asister，andaniece，unitedthefamilyofTheodoricwiththekingsoftheFranks，theBurgundians，theVisigoths，theVandals，andtheThuringians，andcontributedtomaintaintheharmony，oratleastthebalance，ofthegreatrepublicoftheWest。^36ItisdifficultinthedarkforestsofGermanyandPolandtopursuetheemigrationsoftheHeruli，afiercepeoplewhodisdainedtheuseofarmor，andwhocondemnedtheirwidowsandagedparentsnottosurvivethelossoftheirhusbands，orthedecayoftheirstrength。^37ThekingofthesesavagewarriorssolicitedthefriendshipofTheodoric，andwaselevatedtotherankofhisson，accordingtothebarbaricritesofamilitaryadoption。^38FromtheshoresoftheBaltic，theAestiansorLivonianslaidtheirofferingsofnativeamber^39atthefeetofaprince，whosefamehadexcitedthemtoundertakeanunknownanddangerousjourneyoffifteenhundredmiles。Withthecountry^40fromwhencetheGothicnationderivedtheirorigin，hemaintainedafrequentandfriendlycorrespondence:theItalianswereclothedintherichsables^41ofSweden；andoneofitssovereigns，afteravoluntaryorreluctantabdication，foundahospitableretreatinthepalaceofRavenna。HehadreignedoveroneofthethirteenpopuloustribeswhocultivatedasmallportionofthegreatislandorpeninsulaofScandinavia，towhichthevagueappellationofThulehasbeensometimesapplied。
Thatnorthernregionwaspeopled，orhadbeenexplored，ashighasthesixty—eighthdegreeoflatitude，wherethenativesofthepolarcircleenjoyandlosethepresenceofthesunateachsummerandwintersolsticeduringanequalperiodoffortydays。
^42Thelongnightofhisabsenceordeathwasthemournfulseasonofdistressandanxiety，tillthemessengers，whohadbeensenttothemountaintops，descriedthefirstraysofreturninglight，andproclaimedtotheplainbelowthefestivalofhisresurrection。^43
[Footnote33:SeetheclearnessandvigorofhisnegotiationsinEnnodius，p。1607，andCassiodorus，Var。iii。1，2，3，4；iv。
13；v。43，44，whogivesthedifferentstylesoffriendship，counselexpostulation，&c。]
[Footnote34:EvenofhistableVar。vi。9andpalace，vii。
5。Theadmirationofstrangersisrepresentedasthemostrationalmotivetojustifythesevainexpenses，andtostimulatethediligenceoftheofficerstowhomtheseprovinceswereintrusted。]
[Footnote35:SeethepublicandprivatealliancesoftheGothicmonarch，withtheBurgundians，Var。i。45，46，withtheFranks，ii。40，withtheThuringians，iv。1，andwiththeVandals，v。1；eachoftheseepistlesaffordssomecuriousknowledgeofthepolicyandmannersoftheBarbarians。]
[Footnote36:HispoliticalsystemmaybeobservedinCassiodorus，Var。iv。lix。l，Jornandes，c。58，p。698，699，
andtheValesianFragment，p。720，721。Peace，honorablepeace，wastheconstantaimofTheodoric。]
[Footnote37:ThecuriousreadermaycontemplatetheHeruliofProcopius，Goth。l。ii。c。14，andthepatientreadermayplungeintothedarkandminuteresearchesofM。deBuat，Hist。
desPeuplesAnciens，tom。ix。p。348—396。
Note:CompareManso，OstGothischeReich。Beylage，vi。
Malte—BrunbringsthemfromScandinavia:theirnames，theonlyremainsoftheirlanguage，areGothic。\"Theyfoughtalmostnaked，liketheIcelandicBerserkirstheirbraverywaslikemadness:fewinnumber，theyweremostlyofroyalblood。Whatferocity，whatunrestrainedlicense，sulliedtheirvictories!
TheGothrespectsthechurch，thepriests，thesenate；theHerulimangleallinageneralmassacre:thereisnopityforage，norefugeforchastity。Amongthemselvesthereisthesameferocity:thesickandtheagedareputtodeath。attheirownrequest，duringasolemnfestival；thewidowendsherdaysbyhangingherselfuponthetreewhichshadowsherhusband\'stomb。
Allthesecircumstances，sostrikingtoamindfamiliarwithScandinavianhistory，leadustodiscoveramongtheHerulinotsomuchanationasaconfederacyofprincesandnobles，boundbyanoathtoliveanddietogetherwiththeirarmsintheirhands。
Theirname，sometimeswrittenHeruliorEruli。sometimesAeruli，signified，accordingtoanancientauthor，Isid。Hispal。ingloss。p。24，adcalc。Lex。Philolog。Martini，ll，nobles，andappearstocorrespondbetterwiththeScandinavianwordiarlorearl，thanwithanyofthosenumerousderivationsproposedbyetymologists。\"Malte—Brun，vol。i。p。400，edit。1831。OfalltheBarbarianswhothrewthemselvesontheruinsoftheRomanempire，itismostdifficulttotracetheoriginoftheHeruli。
Theyseemnevertohavebeenverypowerfulasanation，andbranchesofthemarefoundincountriesveryremotefromeachother。InmyopiniontheybelongtotheGothicrace，andhaveacloseaffinitywiththeScyrriorHirri。Theywere，possibly，adivisionofthatnation。TheyareoftenmingledandconfoundedwiththeAlani。Thoughbraveandformidable。theywerenevernumerous。nordidtheyfoundanystate。—St。Martin，vol。vi。p。
375。—M。SchafarckconsidersthemdescendantsoftheHirri。ofwhichHeruliisadiminutive，—SlawischeAlterthinner—M。
1845。]
[Footnote38:Variarum，iv。2。ThespiritandformsofthismartialinstitutionarenoticedbyCassiodorus；butheseemstohaveonlytranslatedthesentimentsoftheGothickingintothelanguageofRomaneloquence。]
[Footnote39:Cassiodorus，whoquotesTacitustotheAestians，theunletteredsavagesoftheBaltic，Var。v。2，describestheamberforwhichtheirshoreshaveeverbeenfamous，asthegumofatree，hardenedbythesun，andpurifiedandwaftedbythewaves。Whenthatsingularsubstanceisanalyzedbythechemists，ityieldsavegetableoilandamineralacid。]
[Footnote40:Scanzia，orThule，isdescribedbyJornandesc。3，p。610—613andProcopius，Goth。l。ii。c。15。NeithertheGothnortheGreekhadvisitedthecountry:bothhadconversedwiththenativesintheirexileatRavennaorConstantinople。]
[Footnote41:Sapherinaspelles。InthetimeofJornandestheyinhabitedSuethans，theproperSweden；butthatbeautifulraceofanimalshasgraduallybeendrivenintotheeasternpartsofSiberia。SeeBuffon，Hist。Nat。tom。xiii。p。309—313，quartoedition；Pennant，SystemofQuadrupeds，vol。i。p。322—328；
Gmelin，Hist。Gendes。Voyages，tom。xviii。p。257，258；andLevesque，Hist。deRussie，tom。v。p。165，166，514，515。]
[Footnote42:InthesystemorromanceofMr。Bailly，LettressurlesSciencesetsurl\'Atlantide，tom。i。p。249—256，tom。
ii。p。114—139，thephoenixoftheEdda，andtheannualdeathandrevivalofAdonisandOsiris，aretheallegoricalsymbolsoftheabsenceandreturnofthesunintheArcticregions。ThisingeniouswriterisaworthydiscipleofthegreatBuffon；norisiteasyforthecoldestreasontowithstandthemagicoftheirphilosophy。]
[Footnote43:SaysProcopius。AtpresentarudeManicheismgenerousenoughprevailsamongtheSamoyedesinGreenlandandinLapland，Hist。desVoyages，tom。xviii。p。508，509，tom。
xix。p。105，106，527，528；yet，accordingtoOrotiusSamojutaecoelumatqueastraadorant，numinahaudaliisiniquiora，deRebusBelgicis，l。iv。p。338，folioeditionasentencewhichTacituswouldnothavedisowned。]
ThelifeofTheodoricrepresentstherareandmeritoriousexampleofaBarbarian，whosheathedhisswordintheprideofvictoryandthevigorofhisage。Areignofthreeandthirtyyearswasconsecratedtothedutiesofcivilgovernment，andthehostilities，inwhichhewassometimesinvolved，werespeedilyterminatedbytheconductofhislieutenants，thedisciplineofhistroops，thearmsofhisallies，andevenbytheterrorofhisname。Hereduced，underastrongandregulargovernment，theunprofitablecountriesofRhaetia，Noricum，Dalmatia，andPannonia，fromthesourceoftheDanubeandtheterritoryoftheBavarians，^44tothepettykingdomerectedbytheGepidaeontheruinsofSirmium。HisprudencecouldnotsafelyintrustthebulwarkofItalytosuchfeebleandturbulentneighbors；andhisjusticemightclaimthelandswhichtheyoppressed，eitherasapartofhiskingdom，orastheinheritanceofhisfather。Thegreatnessofaservant，whowasnamedperfidiousbecausehewassuccessful，awakenedthejealousyoftheemperorAnastasius；andawarwaskindledontheDacianfrontier，bytheprotectionwhichtheGothicking，inthevicissitudeofhumanaffairs，hadgrantedtooneofthedescendantsofAttila。Sabinian，ageneralillustriousbyhisownandfather\'smerit，advancedattheheadoftenthousandRomans；andtheprovisionsandarms，whichfilledalongtrainofwagons，weredistributedtothefiercestoftheBulgariantribes。ButinthefieldsofMargus，theeasternpowersweredefeatedbytheinferiorforcesoftheGothsandHuns；theflowerandeventhehopeoftheRomanarmieswasirretrievablydestroyed；andsuchwasthetemperancewithwhichTheodorichadinspiredhisvictorioustroops，that，astheirleaderhadnotgiventhesignalofpillage，therichspoilsoftheenemylayuntouchedattheirfeet。^45Exasperatedbythisdisgrace，theByzantinecourtdespatchedtwohundredshipsandeightthousandmentoplunderthesea—coastofCalabriaandApulia:theyassaultedtheancientcityofTarentum，interruptedthetradeandagricultureofahappycountry，andsailedbacktotheHellespont，proudoftheirpiraticalvictoryoverapeoplewhomtheystillpresumedtoconsiderastheirRomanbrethren。^46
TheirretreatwaspossiblyhastenedbytheactivityofTheodoric；
Italywascoveredbyafleetofathousandlightvessels，^47
whichheconstructedwithincredibledespatch；andhisfirmmoderationwassoonrewardedbyasolidandhonorablepeace。Hemaintained，withapowerfulhand，thebalanceoftheWest，tillitwasatlengthoverthrownbytheambitionofClovis；andalthoughunabletoassisthisrashandunfortunatekinsman，thekingoftheVisigoths，hesavedtheremainsofhisfamilyandpeople，andcheckedtheFranksinthemidstoftheirvictoriouscareer。Iamnotdesiroustoprolongorrepeat^48thisnarrativeofmilitaryevents，theleastinterestingofthereignofTheodoric；andshallbecontenttoadd，thattheAlemanniwereprotected，^49thataninroadoftheBurgundianswasseverelychastised，andthattheconquestofArlesandMarseillesopenedafreecommunicationwiththeVisigoths，whoreveredhimastheirnationalprotector，andastheguardianofhisgrandchild，theinfantsonofAlaric。Underthisrespectablecharacter，thekingofItalyrestoredthepraetorianpraefectureoftheGauls，reformedsomeabusesinthecivilgovernmentofSpain，andacceptedtheannualtributeandapparentsubmissionofitsmilitarygovernor，whowiselyrefusedtotrusthispersoninthepalaceofRavenna。^50TheGothicsovereigntywasestablishedfromSicilytotheDanube，fromSirmiumorBelgradetotheAtlanticOcean；andtheGreeksthemselveshaveacknowledgedthatTheodoricreignedoverthefairestportionoftheWesternempire。
^51
[Footnote44:SeetheHist。desPeuplesAnciens，&c。，tom。ix。p。
255—273，396—501。ThecountdeBuatwasFrenchministeratthecourtofBavaria:aliberalcuriositypromptedhisinquiriesintotheantiquitiesofthecountry，andthatcuriositywasthegermoftwelverespectablevolumes。]
[Footnote45:SeetheGothictransactionsontheDanubeandtheIllyricum，inJornandes，c。58，p。699；Ennodius，p。1607—
1610；MarcellmusinChron。p。44，47，48；andCassiodorus，ininChronandVar。iii。2950，iv。13，vii。424，viii。9，10，11，21，ix。8，9。]
[Footnote46:IcannotforbeartranscribingtheliberalandclassicstyleofCountMarcellinus:Romanuscomesdomesticorum，etRusticuscomesscholariorumcumcentumarmatisnavibus，totidemquedromonibus，octomilliamilitumarmatorumsecumferentibus，addevastandaItaliaelittoraprocesserunt，utusqueadTarentumantiquissimamcivitatemaggressisunt；remensoquemariinhonestamvictoriamquampiraticoausuRomaniexRomanisrapuerunt，AnastasioCaesarireportarunt，inChron。p。48。SeeVariar。i。16，ii。38。]
[Footnote47:Seetheroyalordersandinstructions，Var。iv。
15，v。16—20。ThesearmedboatsshouldbestillsmallerthanthethousandvesselsofAgamemnonatthesiegeofTroy。Manso，p。121。]
[Footnote48:Vol。iii。p。581—585。]
[Footnote49:Ennodiusp。1610andCassiodorus，intheroyalname，Var。ii41，recordhissalutaryprotectionoftheAlemanni。]
[Footnote50:TheGothictransactionsinGaulandSpainarerepresentedwithsomeperplexityinCassiodorus，Var。iii。32，38，41，43，44，v。39。Jornandes，c。58，p。698，699，andProcopius，Goth。l。i。c。12。IwillneitherhearnorreconcilethelongandcontradictoryargumentsoftheAbbeDubosandtheCountdeBuat，aboutthewarsofBurgundy。]
[Footnote51:Theophanes，p。113。]