The Goths, from the earliest times to the end of the Gothic dominion in Spain . mprobable,and we would fain hope that some of the circum-stances of treachery and brutality have been exag-gerated. When we think how gloriously Theodericreigned over Italy for thirty-three years, how helaboured to secure the happiness of his subjects, andhow Goths and Romans alike acknowledged theeven-handed justice of his rule, we cannot helpbelieving that the act by which he gained his king-dom was not altogether the cold-blooded treasonwhich his account represents it to have been. Noth-ing that we know of Odova
The Goths, from the earliest times to the end of the Gothic dominion in Spain . mprobable,and we would fain hope that some of the circum-stances of treachery and brutality have been exag-gerated. When we think how gloriously Theodericreigned over Italy for thirty-three years, how helaboured to secure the happiness of his subjects, andhow Goths and Romans alike acknowledged theeven-handed justice of his rule, we cannot helpbelieving that the act by which he gained his king-dom was not altogether the cold-blooded treasonwhich his account represents it to have been. Noth-ing that we know of Odovacar, on the other hand,forbids us to think him capable of plotting the murderof the rival with whom he had sworn peace andfriendship. If Theoderic had indeed discovered evi-dence of such a plot we can scarcely wonder that heshould be moved to take violent means to render itsexecution impossible. But whatever may be said inpalliation of the murder of Odovacar, we cannot helpfeeling sorry that the reign of the great Theodericshould have begun with this fierce and lawless deed,. «^ XVII. THE WISDOM OF THEODEraC. Once more we have to lament the truth of Miltonssaying, that the victories of peace are less renowned than those of war. Far more interesting, if it couldonly be told, than the records of all the battles whichTheoderic ever won, would be the story of the peacefulachievements which followed. By what means theGothic usurper succeeded in giving order and pros-perity to the land so long the prey of lawlessness andoppression, by what arts he so won the hearts of hissubjects, both Romans and Goths, that when he diedhe was mourned as no ruler had been for centuriespast, are questions which history gives us very im-perfect answers. The earliest act of Theoderics which we read ofafter the death of Odovacar did not seem to promisewell for the wisdom and gentleness (5f his rule. Hepublished an edict by which all those Romans whohad in any way exhibited any sympathy withOdovacar agai
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1880, booksubjectgoths, bookyear1887
