210 THE DECLINE AND FALL [Chap, xxxix sive to the orthodox zeal of the Italians. They respected the armed heresy of the Goths; but their pious rage was safely pointed against the rich and defenceless Jews, who had formed their establishments at Naples, Eome, Eavenna, Milan, and Genoa, for the benefit of trade, and under the sanction of the laws. 97 Their persons were insulted, their effects were pillaged, and their synagogues were burnt by the mad populace of Bavenna and Eome, inflamed, as it should seem, by the most frivolous or extravagant pretences. The government which could neglect, would have deserved, such an outrage. A legal inquiry was instantly directed ; and, as the authors of the tumult had escaped in the crowd, the whole community was condemned to repair the damage ; and the obstinate bigots who refused their contributions were whipped through the streets by the hand of the executioner. This simple act of justice ex- asperated the discontent of the Catholics, who applauded the merit and patience of these holy confessors ; three hundred pulpits deplored the persecution of the church ; and, if the chapel of St. Stephen at Verona was demolished by the com- mand of Theodoric, it is probable that some miracle hostile to his name and dignity had been performed on that sacred theatre. - At the close of a glorious life, the king of Italy dis- covered that he had excited the hatred of a people whose happiness he had so assiduously laboured to promote ; and his mind was soured by indignation, jealousy, and the bitterness of unrequited love. The Gothic conqueror condescended to disarm the unwarlike natives of Italy, interdicting all weapons of offence, and excepting only a small knife for domestic use. The deliverer of Eome was accused of conspiring with the vilest informers against the lives of senators whom he sus- pected of a secret and treasonable correspondence with the [518a.d.] Byzantine court. 9S After the death of Anastasius, the diadem had been placed on the head of a feeble old man ; but the powers of government were assumed by his nephew Justinian, 97 The Jews were settled at Naples (Procopius, Goth. 1. i. c. 8), at Genoa (Var. ii. 28 ; iv. 33), Milan (v. 37), Rome (iv. 43). See likewise Basnage, Hist, des Juifs, torn. viii. c. 7, p. 254. 98 Rex avidus communis exitii, &c. (Boethius, 1. i. p. 59) : rex dolum Romanis tendebat (Anonym. Vales, p. 723 [§ 86 ; the Mss. have tenebat]). These are hard words : they speak the passions of the Italians, and those (I fear) of Theodoric him- self.
