History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire — Volume 4Gibbon, Edward
History
History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire — Volume 4
Gibbon, Edward
Byzantine Empire -- History -- To 527; Rome -- History -- Empire, 30 B.C.-476 A.D.
the camp of the Walamirs, and branded their leader with the
opprobrious names of child, of madman, of perjured traitor, the
enemy of his blood and nation. “Are you ignorant,” exclaimed the
son of Triarius, “that it is the constant policy of the Romans to
destroy the Goths by each other’s swords? Are you insensible that
the victor in this unnatural contest will be exposed, and justly
exposed, to their implacable revenge? Where are those warriors,
my kinsmen and thy own, whose widows now lament that their lives
were sacrificed to thy rash ambition? Where is the wealth which
thy soldiers possessed when they were first allured from their
native homes to enlist under thy standard? Each of them was then
master of three or four horses; they now follow thee on foot,
like slaves, through the deserts of Thrace; those men who were
tempted by the hope of measuring gold with a bushel, those brave
men who are as free and as noble as thyself.” A language so well
suited to the temper of the Goths excited clamor and discontent;
and the son of Theodemir, apprehensive of being left alone, was
compelled to embrace his brethren, and to imitate the example of
Roman perfidy. 12 1211
10 (return) [ In ipsis congressionis tuae foribus cessit invasor,
cum profugo per te sceptra redderentur de salute dubitanti.
Ennodius then proceeds (p. 1596, 1597, tom. i. Sirmond.) to
transport his hero (on a flying dragon?) into Aethiopia, beyond
the tropic of Cancer. The evidence of the Valesian Fragment, (p.
717,) Liberatus, (Brev. Eutych. c. 25 p. 118,) and Theophanes,
(p. 112,) is more sober and rational.]
11 (return) [ This cruel practice is specially imputed to the
Triarian Goths, less barbarous, as it should seem, than the
Walamirs; but the son of Theodemir is charged with the ruin of
many Roman cities, (Malchus, Excerpt. Leg. p. 95.)]
12 (return) [ Jornandes (c. 56, 57, p. 696) displays the services
of Theodoric, confesses his rewards, but dissembles his revolt,
of which such curious details have been preserved by Malchus,
(Excerpt. Legat. p. 78—97.) Marcellinus, a domestic of Justinian,
under whose ivth consulship (A.D. 534) he composed his Chronicle,
(Scaliger, Thesaurus Temporum, P. ii, p. 34—57,) betrays his
prejudice and passion: in Graeciam debacchantem ...Zenonis
munificentia pene pacatus...beneficiis nunquam satiatus, &c.]
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