TheunionoftheGothsandRomansmighthavefixedforagesthetransienthappinessofItaly；andthefirstofnations，anewpeopleoffreesubjectsandenlightenedsoldiers，mighthavegraduallyarisenfromthemutualemulationoftheirrespectivevirtues。ButthesublimemeritofguidingorsecondingsucharevolutionwasnotreservedforthereignofTheodoric:hewantedeitherthegeniusortheopportunitiesofalegislator；^52andwhileheindulgedtheGothsintheenjoymentofrudeliberty，heservilelycopiedtheinstitutions，andeventheabuses，ofthepoliticalsystemwhichhadbeenframedbyConstantineandhissuccessors。FromatenderregardtotheexpiringprejudicesofRome，theBarbariandeclinedthename，thepurple，andthediadem，oftheemperors；butheassumed，underthehereditarytitleofking，thewholesubstanceandplenitudeofImperialprerogative。^53Hisaddressestotheeasternthronewererespectfulandambiguous:hecelebrated，inpompousstyle，theharmonyofthetworepublics，applaudedhisowngovernmentastheperfectsimilitudeofasoleandundividedempire，andclaimedabovethekingsoftheearththesamepreeminencewhichhemodestlyallowedtothepersonorrankofAnastasius。TheallianceoftheEastandWestwasannuallydeclaredbytheunanimouschoiceoftwoconsuls；butitshouldseemthattheItaliancandidatewhowasnamedbyTheodoricacceptedaformalconfirmationfromthesovereignofConstantinople。^54TheGothicpalaceofRavennareflectedtheimageofthecourtofTheodosiusorValentinian。ThePraetorianpraefect，thepraefectofRome，thequaestor，themasteroftheoffices，withthepublicandpatrimonialtreasurers，whosefunctionsarepaintedingaudycolorsbytherhetoricofCassiodorus，stillcontinuedtoactastheministersofstate。Andthesubordinatecareofjusticeandtherevenuewasdelegatedtosevenconsulars，threecorrectors，andfivepresidents，whogovernedthefifteenregionsofItalyaccordingtotheprinciples，andeventheforms，ofRomanjurisprudence。^55Theviolenceoftheconquerorswasabatedoreludedbytheslowartificeofjudicialproceedings；theciviladministration，withitshonorsandemoluments，wasconfinedtotheItalians；andthepeoplestillpreservedtheirdressandlanguage，theirlawsandcustoms，theirpersonalfreedom，andtwothirdsoftheirlandedproperty。^!IthadbeentheobjectofAugustustoconcealtheintroductionofmonarchy；itwasthepolicyofTheodorictodisguisethereignofaBarbarian。^56IfhissubjectsweresometimesawakenedfromthispleasingvisionofaRomangovernment，theyderivedmoresubstantialcomfortfromthecharacterofaGothicprince，whohadpenetrationtodiscern，andfirmnesstopursue，hisownandthepublicinterest。
Theodoriclovedthevirtueswhichhepossessed，andthetalentsofwhichhewasdestitute。LiberiuswaspromotedtotheofficeofPraetorianpraefectforhisunshakenfidelitytotheunfortunatecauseofOdoacer。TheministersofTheodoric，Cassiodorus，^57andBoethius，havereflectedonhisreignthelustreoftheirgeniusandlearning。Moreprudentormorefortunatethanhiscolleague，Cassiodoruspreservedhisownesteemwithoutforfeitingtheroyalfavor；andafterpassingthirtyyearsinthehonorsoftheworld，hewasblessedwithanequaltermofreposeinthedevoutandstudioussolitudeofSquillace。
[Footnote52:ProcopiusaffirmsthatnolawswhatsoeverwerepromulgatedbyTheodoricandthesucceedingkingsofItaly，Goth。l。ii。c。6。HemustmeanintheGothiclanguage。A
LatinedictofTheodoricisstillextant，inonehundredandfifty—fourarticles。
Note:SeeManso，92。Savigny，vol。ii。p。164，etseq。—M。]
[Footnote53:TheimageofTheodoricisengravedonhiscoins:
hismodestsuccessorsweresatisfiedwithaddingtheirownnametotheheadofthereigningemperor，Muratori，Antiquitat。
ItaliaeMediiAevi，tom。ii。dissert。xxvii。p。577—579。
Giannone，IstoriaCivilediNapolitom。i。p。166。]
[Footnote54:TheallianceoftheemperorandthekingofItalyarerepresentedbyCassiodorusVar。i。l，ii。1，2，3，vi。l
andProcopius，Goth。l。ii。c。6，l。iii。c。21，whocelebratethefriendshipofAnastasiusandTheodoric；butthefigurativestyleofcomplimentwasinterpretedinaverydifferentsenseatConstantinopleandRavenna。]
[Footnote*:AllcausesbetweenRomanandRomanwerejudgedbytheoldRomancourts。ThecomesGothorumjudgedbetweenGothandGoth；betweenGothsandRomans，withoutconsideringwhichwastheplaintiff。thecomesGothorum，withaRomanjuristashisassessor，makingakindofmixedjurisdiction，butwithanaturalpredominancetothesideoftheGothSavigny，vol。i。p。290。—
M。]
[Footnote55:Tothexvii。provincesoftheNotitia，PaulWarnefridthedeaconDeReb。Longobard。l。ii。c。14—22hassubjoinedanxviiith，theApennine，Muratori，Script。RerumItalicarum，tom。i。p。431—443。ButoftheseSardiniaandCorsicawerepossessedbytheVandals，andthetwoRhaetias，aswellastheCottianAlps，seemtohavebeenabandonedtoamilitarygovernment。ThestateofthefourprovincesthatnowformthekingdomofNaplesislaboredbyGiannonetom。i。p。
172，178withpatrioticdiligence。]
[Footnote!:MansoenumeratesanddevelopsatsomelengththefollowingsourcesoftheroyalrevenueofTheodoric:1。Adomain，eitherbysuccessiontothatofOdoacer，orapartofthethirdofthelandswasreservedfortheroyalpatrimony。1。Regalia，includingmines，unclaimedestates，treasure—trove，andconfiscations。3。Landtax。4。Aurarium，liketheChrysargyrum，ataxoncertainbranchesoftrade。5。GrantofMonopolies。6。
Siliquaticum，asmalltaxonthesaleofallkindsofcommodities。7。Portoria，customsManso，96，111。Savignyi。
285supposesthatinmanycasesthepropertyremainedintheoriginalowner，whopaidhistertia，athirdoftheproducetothecrown，vol。i。p。285。—M。]
[Footnote56:SeetheGothichistoryofProcopius，l。i。c。1，l。ii。c。6，theEpistlesofCassiodorus，passim，butespeciallythevthandvithbooks，whichcontaintheformulae，orpatentsofoffices，andtheCivilHistoryofGiannone，tom。i。
l。ii。iii。TheGothiccounts，whichheplacesineveryItaliancity，areannihilated，however，byMaffei，VeronaIllustrata，P。
i。l。viii。p。227；forthoseofSyracuseandNaplesVarvi。22，23werespecialandtemporarycommissions。]
[Footnote57:TwoItaliansofthenameofCassiodorus，thefatherVar。i。24，40andtheson，ix。24，25，weresuccessivelyemployedintheadministrationofTheodoric。Thesonwasbornintheyear479:hisvariousepistlesasquaestor，masteroftheoffices，andPraetorianpraefect，extendfrom509to539，andhelivedasamonkaboutthirtyyears，TiraboschiStoriadellaLetteraturaItaliana，tom。iii。p。7—24。Fabricius，Bibliot。
Lat。Med。Aevi，tom。i。p。357，358，edit。Mansi。]
[Footnote*:Cassiodoruswasofanancientandhonorablefamily；
hisgrandfatherhaddistinguishedhimselfinthedefenceofSicilyagainsttheravagesofGenseric；hisfatherheldahighrankatthecourtofValentinianIII。，enjoyedthefriendshipofAetius，andwasoneoftheambassadorssenttoarresttheprogressofAttila。CassiodorushimselfwasfirstthetreasureroftheprivateexpendituretoOdoacer，afterwards"countofthesacredlargesses。"YieldingwiththerestoftheRomanstothedominionofTheodoric，hewasinstrumentalinthepeaceablesubmissionofSicily；wassuccessivelygovernorofhisnativeprovincesofBruttiumandLucania，quaestor，magister，palatii，Praetorianpraefect，patrician，consul，andprivatesecretary，and，infact，firstministeroftheking。HewasfivetimesPraetorianpraefectunderdifferentsovereigns，thelasttimeinthereignofVitiges。ThisisthetheoryofManso，whichisnotunencumberedwithdifficulties。M。BuathadsupposedthatitwasthefatherofCassiodoruswhoheldtheofficefirstnamed。
CompareManso，p。85，&c。，andBeylage，vii。ItcertainlyappearsimprobablethatCassiodorusshouldhavebeencountofthesacredlargessesattwentyyearsold。—M。]
Asthepatronoftherepublic，itwastheinterestanddutyoftheGothickingtocultivatetheaffectionsofthesenate^58
andpeople。ThenoblesofRomewereflatteredbysonorousepithetsandformalprofessionsofrespect，whichhadbeenmorejustlyappliedtothemeritandauthorityoftheirancestors。
Thepeopleenjoyed，withoutfearordanger，thethreeblessingsofacapital，order，plenty，andpublicamusements。Avisiblediminutionoftheirnumbersmaybefoundeveninthemeasureofliberality；^59yetApulia，Calabria，andSicily，pouredtheirtributeofcornintothegranariesofRomeanallowanceofbreadandmeatwasdistributedtotheindigentcitizens；andeveryofficewasdeemedhonorablewhichwasconsecratedtothecareoftheirhealthandhappiness。Thepublicgames，suchastheGreekambassadormightpolitelyapplaud，exhibitedafaintandfeeblecopyofthemagnificenceoftheCaesars:yetthemusical，thegymnastic，andthepantomimearts，hadnottotallysunkinoblivion；thewildbeastsofAfricastillexercisedintheamphitheatrethecourageanddexterityofthehunters；andtheindulgentGotheitherpatientlytoleratedorgentlyrestrainedtheblueandgreenfactions，whosecontestssooftenfilledthecircuswithclamorandevenwithblood。^60Intheseventhyearofhispeacefulreign，Theodoricvisitedtheoldcapitaloftheworld；thesenateandpeopleadvancedinsolemnprocessiontosaluteasecondTrajan，anewValentinian；andhenoblysupportedthatcharacterbytheassuranceofajustandlegalgovernment，^61inadiscoursewhichhewasnotafraidtopronounceinpublic，andtoinscribeonatabletofbrass。Rome，inthisaugustceremony，shotalastrayofdecliningglory；andasaint，thespectatorofthispompousscene，couldonlyhope，inhispiousfancy，thatitwasexcelledbythecelestialsplendorofthenewJerusalem。^62Duringaresidenceofsixmonths，thefame，theperson，andthecourteousdemeanoroftheGothicking，excitedtheadmirationoftheRomans，andhecontemplated，withequalcuriosityandsurprise，themonumentsthatremainedoftheirancientgreatness。HeimprintedthefootstepsofaconquerorontheCapitolinehill，andfranklyconfessedthateachdayheviewedwithfreshwondertheforumofTrajanandhisloftycolumn。ThetheatreofPompeyappeared，eveninitsdecay，asahugemountainartificiallyhollowed，andpolished，andadornedbyhumanindustry；andhevaguelycomputed，thatariverofgoldmusthavebeendrainedtoerectthecolossalamphitheatreofTitus。^63Fromthemouthsoffourteenaqueducts，apureandcopiousstreamwasdiffusedintoeverypartofthecity；amongthesetheClaudianwater，whicharoseatthedistanceofthirty—eightmilesintheSabinemountains，wasconveyedalongagentlethoughconstantdeclivityofsolidarches，tillitdescendedonthesummitoftheAventinehill。Thelongandspaciousvaultswhichhadbeenconstructedforthepurposeofcommonsewers，subsisted，aftertwelvecenturies，intheirpristinestrength；andthesesubterraneouschannelshavebeenpreferredtoallthevisiblewondersofRome。^64TheGothickings，soinjuriouslyaccusedoftheruinofantiquity，wereanxioustopreservethemonumentsofthenationwhomtheyhadsubdued。^65Theroyaledictswereframedtopreventtheabuses，theneglect，orthedepredationsofthecitizensthemselves；andaprofessedarchitect，theannualsumoftwohundredpoundsofgold，twenty—fivethousandtiles，andthereceiptofcustomsfromtheLucrineport，wereassignedfortheordinaryrepairsofthewallsandpublicedifices。Asimilarcarewasextendedtothestatuesofmetalormarbleofmenoranimals。Thespiritofthehorses，whichhavegivenamodernnametotheQuirinal，wasapplaudedbytheBarbarians；^66thebrazenelephantsoftheViasacrawerediligentlyrestored；^67thefamousheiferofMyrondeceivedthecattle，astheyweredriventhroughtheforumofpeace；^68andanofficerwascreatedtoprotectthoseworksofrat，whichTheodoricconsideredasthenoblestornamentofhiskingdom。
[Footnote58:SeehisregardforthesenateinCochlaeus，Vit。
Theod。viii。p。72—80。]
[Footnote59:Nomorethan120，000modii，orfourthousandquarters，Anonym。Valesian。p。721，andVar。i。35，vi。18，xi。
5，39。]
[Footnote60:Seehisregardandindulgenceforthespectaclesofthecircus，theamphitheatre，andthetheatre，intheChronicleandEpistlesofCassiodorus，Var。i。20，27，30，31，32，iii。
51，iv。51，illustratedbythexivthAnnotationofMascou'sHistory，whohascontrivedtosprinklethesubjectwithostentatious，thoughagreeable，learning。]
[Footnote61:Anonym。Vales。p。721。MariusAventicensisinChron。Inthescaleofpublicandpersonalmerit，theGothicconquerorisatleastasmuchaboveValentinian，ashemayseeminferiortoTrajan。]
[Footnote62:Vit。FulgentiiinBaron。Annal。Eccles。A。D。500，No。10。]
[Footnote63:CassiodorusdescribesinhispompousstyletheForumofTrajanVar。vii。6，thetheatreofMarcellus，iv。
51，andtheamphitheatreofTitus，v。42；andhisdescriptionsarenotunworthyofthereader'sperusal。Accordingtothemodernprices，theAbbeBarthelemycomputesthatthebrickworkandmasonryoftheColiseumwouldnowcosttwentymillionsofFrenchlivres，Mem。del'AcademiedesInscriptions，tom。xxviii。p。
585，586。Howsmallapartofthatstupendousfabric!]
[Footnote64:Fortheaqueductsandcloacae，seeStrabo，l。v。
p。360；Pliny，Hist。Natur。xxxvi。24；Cassiodorus，Var。iii。
30，31，vi。6；Procopius，Goth。l。i。c。19；andNardini，RomaAntica，p。514—522。HowsuchworkscouldbeexecutedbyakingofRome，isyetaproblem。
Note:SeeNiebuhr，vol。i。p。402。ThesestupendousworksareamongthemoststrikingconfirmationsofNiebuhr'sviewsoftheearlyRomanhistory；atleasttheyappeartojustifyhisstrongsentence—"TheseworksandthebuildingoftheCapitolattestwithunquestionableevidencethatthisRomeofthelaterkingswasthechiefcityofagreatstate。"—Page110—M。]
[Footnote65:FortheGothiccareofthebuildingsandstatues，seeCassiodorusVar。i。21，25，ii。34，iv。30，vii。6，13，15
andtheValesianFragment，p。721。]
[Footnote66:Var。vii。15。ThesehorsesofMonteCavallohadbeentransportedfromAlexandriatothebathsofConstantine，Nardini，p。188。TheirsculptureisdisdainedbytheAbbeDubos，ReflexionssurlaPoesieetsurlaPeinture，tom。i。
section39，andadmiredbyWinkelman，Hist。del'Art，tom。ii。
p。159。]
[Footnote67:Var。x。10。Theywereprobablyafragmentofsometriumphalcar，CuperdeElephantis，ii。10。]
[Footnote68:ProcopiusGoth。l。iv。c。21relatesafoolishstoryofMyron'scow，whichiscelebratedbythefalsewithofthirty—sixGreekepigrams，Antholog。l。iv。p。302—306，edit。
Hen。Steph。；Auson。Epigram。xiii。—lxviii。]
ChapterXXXIX:GothicKingdomOfItaly。
PartIII。
Aftertheexampleofthelastemperors，TheodoricpreferredtheresidenceofRavenna，wherehecultivatedanorchardwithhisownhands。^69AsoftenasthepeaceofhiskingdomwasthreatenedforitwasneverinvadedbytheBarbarians，heremovedhiscourttoVerona^70onthenorthernfrontier，andtheimageofhispalace，stillextantonacoin，representstheoldestandmostauthenticmodelofGothicarchitecture。Thesetwocapitals，aswellasPavia，Spoleto，Naples，andtherestoftheItaliancities，acquiredunderhisreigntheusefulorsplendiddecorationsofchurches，aqueducts，baths，porticos，andpalaces。^71Butthehappinessofthesubjectwasmoretrulyconspicuousinthebusysceneoflaborandluxury，intherapidincreaseandboldenjoymentofnationalwealth。FromtheshadesofTiburandPraeneste，theRomansenatorsstillretiredinthewinterseasontothewarmsun，andsalubriousspringsofBaiae；
andtheirvillas，whichadvancedonsolidmolesintotheBayofNaples，commandedthevariousprospectofthesky，theearth，andthewater。OntheeasternsideoftheAdriatic，anewCampaniawasformedinthefairandfruitfulprovinceofIstria，whichcommunicatedwiththepalaceofRavennabyaneasynavigationofonehundredmiles。TherichproductionsofLucaniaandtheadjacentprovinceswereexchangedattheMarcilianfountain，inapopulousfairannuallydedicatedtotrade，intemperance，andsuperstition。InthesolitudeofComum，whichhadoncebeenanimatedbythemildgeniusofPliny，atransparentbasinabovesixtymilesinlengthstillreflectedtheruralseatswhichencompassedthemarginoftheLarianlake；andthegradualascentofthehillswascoveredbyatripleplantationofolives，ofvines，andofchestnuttrees。^72Agriculturerevivedundertheshadowofpeace，andthenumberofhusbandmenwasmultipliedbytheredemptionofcaptives。^73TheironminesofDalmatia，agoldmineinBruttium，werecarefullyexplored，andthePomptinemarshes，aswellasthoseofSpoleto，weredrainedandcultivatedbyprivateundertakers，whosedistantrewardmustdependonthecontinuanceofthepublicprosperity。^74Whenevertheseasonswerelesspropitious，thedoubtfulprecautionsofformingmagazinesofcorn，fixingtheprice，andprohibitingtheexportation，attestedatleastthebenevolenceofthestate；butsuchwastheextraordinaryplentywhichanindustriouspeopleproducedfromagratefulsoil，thatagallonofwinewassometimessoldinItalyforlessthanthreefarthings，andaquarterofwheatataboutfiveshillingsandsixpence。^75A
countrypossessedofsomanyvaluableobjectsofexchangesoonattractedthemerchantsoftheworld，whosebeneficialtrafficwasencouragedandprotectedbytheliberalspiritofTheodoric。
Thefreeintercourseoftheprovincesbylandandwaterwasrestoredandextended；thecitygateswerenevershuteitherbydayorbynight；andthecommonsaying，thatapurseofgoldmightbesafelyleftinthefields，wasexpressiveoftheconscioussecurityoftheinhabitants。
[Footnote69:SeeanepigramofEnnodiusii。3，p。1893，1894
onthisgardenandtheroyalgardener。]