332 THE DECLINE AND FALL [Chap, xli Dalrnatia, Venetia, and Gaul ; and the feeble mind of their king was confounded by the unsuccessful event of a divination, which seemed to presage the downfall of his empire. 81 The most abject slaves have arraigned the guilt or weakness of an unfortunate master. The character of Theodatus was rigor- ously scrutinized by a free and idle camp of Barbarians, con- scious of their privilege and power ; he was declared unworthy of his race, his nation, and his throne ; and their general Vitiges, whose valour had been signalized in the Illyrian war, was raised with unanimous applause on the bucklers of his companions. On the first rumour, the abdicated monarch fled from the justice of his country; but he was pursued by private revenge. A Goth whom he had injured in his love overtook Theodatus on the Flaminian way, and, regardless of his unmanly cries, slaughtered him as he lay prostrate on the ground, like a [Decern- victim (says the historian) at the foot of the altar. The choice of the people is the best and purest title to reign over them, yet such is the prejudice of every age, that Vitiges im- patiently wished to return to Ravenna, where he might seize, with the reluctant hand of the daughter of Amalasontha, some faint shadow of hereditary right. A national council was immedi- ately held, and the new monarch reconciled the impatient spirit of the Barbarians to a measure of disgrace which the miscon- duct of his predecessor rendered wise and indispensable. The Goths consented to retreat in the presence of a victorious enemy ; to delay till the next spring the operations of offensive war ; to summon their scattered forces ; to relinquish their distant possessions ; and to trust even Rome itself to the faith of its inhabitants. Leuderis, an aged warrior, w T as left in the capital with four thousand soldiers, a feeble garrison, which might have seconded the zeal, though it was incapable of opposing the wishes, of the Romans. But a momentary enthusiasm of religion and patriotism was kindled in their minds. They furiously exclaimed that the apostolic throne should no longer be profaned by the triumph or toleration of Arianism ; that the tombs of the Caesars should no longer be trampled by the 81 A Jew gratified his contempt and hatred for all the Christians, by enclosing three bands, each of ten hogs, and discriminated by the names of Goths, Greeks, and Romans. Of the first, almost all were found dead — almost all the second were alive — of the third, half died, and the rest lost their bristles. No unsuitable emblem of the event.
