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OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE. 3

[right margin] CHAP. XXXIX. [end right margin]

Italy [superscript 3]. As soon as he had attained the age of
eighteen, he was restored to the wishes of the
Ostrogoths, whom the emperor aspired to gain
by liberality and confidence. Walamir had fallen
in battle; the youngest of the brothers, Widimir,
had led away into Italy and Gaul an army of
Barbarians, and the whole nation acknowledged
for their king the father of Theodoric. His ferocious
subjects admired the strength and stature
of their young prince[superscript 4]; and he soon convinced
them that he had not degenerated from the valour
of his ancestors. At the head of six thousand
volunteers he secretly left the camp in quest of
adventures, descended the Danube as far as
Singidunum or Belgrade, and soon returned to
his father with the spoils of a Sarmatian king
whom he had vanquished and slain. Such triumphs,
however, were productive only of fame, and the
invincible Ostrogoths were reduced to extreme
distress by the want of clothing and food. They
unanimously resolved to desert their annonian
encampments, and boldly to advance into the
warm and wealthy neighbourhood of the Byzantine
court, which already maintained in pride
and luxury so many bands of confederate Goths.
After proving by some acts of hostility that they
could be dangerous, or at least troublesome enemies,
the Ostrogoths sold at a high price their
reconciliation and fidelity, accepted a donative
of lands and money, and were entrusted with
the defence of the lower Danube, under the

B 2

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