[Footnote70:Hisaffectionforthatcityisprovedbytheepithetof"Veronatua，'andthelegendofthehero；underthebarbarousnameofDietrichofBern，PeringscioldandCochloeum，p。240，Maffeitraceshimwithknowledgeandpleasureinhisnativecountry，l。ix。p。230—236。]
[Footnote71:SeeMaffei，VeronaIllustrata，Parti。p。231，232，308，&c。HisamputesGothicarchitecture，likethecorruptionoflanguage，writing&c。，nottotheBarbarians，buttotheItaliansthemselves。ComparehissentimentswiththoseofTiraboschi，tom。iii。p。61。
Note:Mr。Hallamvol。iii。p。432observesthat"theimageofTheodoric'spalace"isrepresentedinMaffei，notfromacoin，butfromaseal。CompareD'AgincourtStoriadell'arte，ItalianTransl。，Arcitecttura，Platexvii。No。2，andPittura，Platexvi。No。15，wherethereislikewiseanengravingfromamosaicinthechurchofSt。ApollinarisinRavenna，representingabuildingascribedtoTheodoricinthatcity。Neitherofthese，asMr。Hallamjustlyobserves，intheleastapproximatestowhatiscalledtheGothicstyle。TheyareevidentlythedegenerateRomanarchitecture，andmoreresembletheearlyattemptsofourarchitectstogetbackfromournationalGothicintoaclassicalGreekstyle。OneofthemcallstomindInigoJonesinnerquadrangleinSt。John'sCollegeOxford。CompareHallamandD'Aginconvol。i。p。140—145。—M]
[Footnote72:Thevillas，climate，andlandscapeofBaiae，Var。
ix。6；seeCluverItaliaAntiq。l。iv。c。2，p。1119，&c。，
Istria，Var。xii。22，26，andComum，Var。xi。14；comparewithPliny'stwovillas，ix。7，areagreeablypaintedintheEpistlesofCassiodorus。]
[Footnote73:InLigurianumerosaagricolarumprogenies，Ennodius，p。1678，1679，1680。St。EpiphaniusofPaviaredeemedbyprayerorransom6000captivesfromtheBurgundiansofLyonsandSavoy。Suchdeedsarethebestofmiracles。]
[Footnote74:ThepoliticaleconomyofTheodoricseeAnonym。
Vales。p。721，andCassiodorus，inChron。maybedistinctlytracedunderthefollowingheads:ironmine，Var。iii。23；goldmine，ix。3；Pomptinemarshes，ii。32，33；Spoleto，ii。21；
corn，i。34，x。27，28，xi。11，12；trade，vi。7，vii。9，23；
fairofLeucothoeorSt。CyprianinLucania，viii。33；plenty，xii。4；thecursus，orpublicpost，i。29，ii。31，iv。47，v。
5，vi6，vii。33；theFlaminianway，xii。18。
Note:TheinscriptioncommemorativeofthedrainingofthePomptinemarshesmaybefoundinmanyworks；inGruter，Inscript。
Ant。Heidelberg，p。152，No。8。Withvariations，inNicolaiDe'
bonificamentidelleterrePontine，p。103。InSartorius，inhisprizeessayonthereignofTheodoric，andManseBeylage，xi。—
M。]
[Footnote75:LXmodiitriticiinsolidumipsiustemporefuerunt，etvinumxxxamphorasinsolidum，Fragment。Vales。Cornwasdistributedfromthegranariesatxvorxxvmodiiforapieceofgold，andthepricewasstillmoderate。]
Adifferenceofreligionisalwayspernicious，andoftenfatal，totheharmonyoftheprinceandpeople:theGothicconquerorhadbeeneducatedintheprofessionofArianism，andItalywasdevoutlyattachedtotheNicenefaith。ButthepersuasionofTheodoricwasnotinfectedbyzeal；andhepiouslyadheredtotheheresyofhisfathers，withoutcondescendingtobalancethesubtileargumentsoftheologicalmetaphysics。
SatisfiedwiththeprivatetolerationofhisAriansectaries，hejustlyconceivedhimselftobetheguardianofthepublicworship，andhisexternalreverenceforasuperstitionwhichhedespised，mayhavenourishedinhismindthesalutaryindifferenceofastatesmanorphilosopher。TheCatholicsofhisdominionsacknowledged，perhapswithreluctance，thepeaceofthechurch；theirclergy，accordingtothedegreesofrankormerit，werehonorablyentertainedinthepalaceofTheodoric；heesteemedthelivingsanctityofCaesarius^76andEpiphanius，^77
theorthodoxbishopsofArlesandPavia；andpresentedadecentofferingonthetombofSt。Peter，withoutanyscrupulousinquiryintothecreedoftheapostle。^78HisfavoriteGoths，andevenhismother，werepermittedtoretainorembracetheAthanasianfaith，andhislongreigncouldnotaffordtheexampleofanItalianCatholic，who，eitherfromchoiceorcompulsion，haddeviatedintothereligionoftheconqueror。^79Thepeople，andtheBarbariansthemselves，wereedifiedbythepompandorderofreligiousworship；themagistrateswereinstructedtodefendthejustimmunitiesofecclesiasticalpersonsandpossessions；thebishopsheldtheirsynods，themetropolitansexercisedtheirjurisdiction，andtheprivilegesofsanctuaryweremaintainedormoderatedaccordingtothespiritoftheRomanjurisprudence。^80
Withtheprotection，Theodoricassumedthelegalsupremacy，ofthechurch；andhisfirmadministrationrestoredorextendedsomeusefulprerogativeswhichhadbeenneglectedbythefeebleemperorsoftheWest。HewasnotignorantofthedignityandimportanceoftheRomanpontiff，towhomthevenerablenameofPopewasnowappropriated。ThepeaceortherevoltofItalymightdependonthecharacterofawealthyandpopularbishop，whoclaimedsuchampledominionbothinheavenandearth；whohadbeendeclaredinanumeroussynodtobepurefromallsin，andexemptfromalljudgment。^81WhenthechairofSt。PeterwasdisputedbySymmachusandLaurence，theyappearedathissummonsbeforethetribunalofanArianmonarch，andheconfirmedtheelectionofthemostworthyorthemostobsequiouscandidate。Attheendofhislife，inamomentofjealousyandresentment，hepreventedthechoiceoftheRomans，bynominatingapopeinthepalaceofRavenna。Thedangerandfuriouscontestsofaschismweremildlyrestrained，andthelastdecreeofthesenatewasenactedtoextinguish，ifitwerepossible，thescandalousvenalityofthepapalelections。^82
[Footnote76:SeethelifeofSt。CaesariusinBaronius，A。D。
508，No。12，13，14。Thekingpresentedhimwith300goldsolidi，andadiscusofsilveroftheweightofsixtypounds。]
[Footnote77:EnnodiusinVit。St。Epiphanii，inSirmond，Op。
tom。i。p。1672—1690。Theodoricbestowedsomeimportantfavorsonthisbishop，whomheusedasacounsellorinpeaceandwar。]
[Footnote78:DevotissimusacsiCatholicus，Anonym。Vales。p。
720；yethisofferingwasnomorethantwosilvercandlestickscerostrataoftheweightofseventypounds，farinferiortothegoldandgemsofConstantinopleandFrance，AnastasiusinVit。
Pont。inHormisda，p。34，edit。Paris。]
[Footnote79:ThetoleratingsystemofhisreignEnnodius，p。
1612。Anonym。Vales。p。719。Procop。Goth。l。i。c。1，l。ii。
c。6maybestudiedintheEpistlesofCassiodorous，underthefollowingheads:bishops，Var。i。9，vii。15，24，xi。23；
immunities，i。26，ii。29，30；churchlandsiv。17，20；
sanctuaries，ii。11，iii。47；churchplate，xii。20；
discipline，iv。44；whichprove，atthesametime，thathewastheheadofthechurchaswellasofthestate。
Note:HerecommendedthesametolerationtotheemperorJustin。—M。]
[Footnote80:WemayrejectafoolishtaleofhisbeheadingaCatholicdeaconwhoturnedArian，Theodor。Lector。No。17。WhyisTheodoricsurnamedAfter?FromVafer?Vales。adloc。A
lightconjecture。]
[Footnote81:Ennodius，p。1621，1622，1636，1638。HislibelwasapprovedandregisteredsynodaliterbyaRomancouncil，Baronius，A。D。503，No。6，FranciscusPagiinBreviar。Pont。
Rom。tom。i。p。242。]
[Footnote82:SeeCassiodorus，Var。viii。15，ix。15，16，
Anastasius，inSymmacho，p。31，andthexviithAnnotationofMascou。Baronius，Pagi，andmostoftheCatholicdoctors，confess，withanangrygrowl，thisGothicusurpation。]
IhavedescantedwithpleasureonthefortunateconditionofItaly；butourfancymustnothastilyconceivethatthegoldenageofthepoets，araceofmenwithoutviceormisery，wasrealizedundertheGothicconquest。Thefairprospectwassometimesovercastwithclouds；thewisdomofTheodoricmightbedeceived，hispowermightberesistedandthedecliningageofthemonarchwassulliedwithpopularhatredandpatricianblood。
Inthefirstinsolenceofvictory，hehadbeentemptedtodeprivethewholepartyofOdoacerofthecivilandeventhenaturalrightsofsociety；^83ataxunseasonablyimposedafterthecalamitiesofwar，wouldhavecrushedtherisingagricultureofLiguria；arigidpreemptionofcorn，whichwasintendedforthepublicrelief，musthaveaggravatedthedistressofCampania。
ThesedangerousprojectsweredefeatedbythevirtueandeloquenceofEpiphaniusandBoethius，who，inthepresenceofTheodorichimself，successfullypleadedthecauseofthepeople:
^84butiftheroyalearwasopentothevoiceoftruth，asaintandaphilosopherarenotalwaystobefoundattheearofkings。
Theprivilegesofrank，oroffice，orfavor，weretoofrequentlyabusedbyItalianfraudandGothicviolence，andtheavariceoftheking'snephewwaspubliclyexposed，atfirstbytheusurpation，andafterwardsbytherestitutionoftheestateswhichhehadunjustlyextortedfromhisTuscanneighbors。TwohundredthousandBarbarians，formidableeventotheirmaster，wereseatedintheheartofItaly；theyindignantlysupportedtherestraintsofpeaceanddiscipline；thedisordersoftheirmarchwerealwaysfeltandsometimescompensated；andwhereitwasdangeroustopunish，itmightbeprudenttodissemble，thesalliesoftheirnativefierceness。WhentheindulgenceofTheodorichadremittedtwothirdsoftheLiguriantribute，hecondescendedtoexplainthedifficultiesofhissituation，andtolamenttheheavythoughinevitableburdenswhichheimposedonhissubjectsfortheirowndefence。^85Theseungratefulsubjectscouldneverbecordiallyreconciledtotheorigin，thereligion，oreventhevirtuesoftheGothicconqueror；pastcalamitieswereforgotten，andthesenseorsuspicionofinjurieswasrenderedstillmoreexquisitebythepresentfelicityofthetimes。
[Footnote83:Hedisabledthem—alicentiatestandi；andallItalymourned—lamentabilijustitio。Iwishtobelieve，thatthesepenaltieswereenactedagainsttherebelswhohadviolatedtheiroathofallegiance；butthetestimonyofEnnodiusp。1675
—1678isthemoreweighty，ashelivedanddiedunderthereignofTheodoric。]
[Footnote84:Ennodius，inVit。Epiphan。p。1589，1690。BoethiusdeConsolationePhilosphiae，l。i。pros。iv。p。45，46，47。
Respect，butweighthepassionsofthesaintandthesenator；andfortifyandalleviatetheircomplaintsbythevarioushintsofCassiodorus，ii。8，iv。36，viii。5。]
[Footnote85:Immaniumexpensarumpondus……proipsorumsalute，&c。；yetthesearenomorethanwords。]
EventhereligioustolerationwhichTheodorichadthegloryofintroducingintotheChristianworld，waspainfulandoffensivetotheorthodoxzealoftheItalians。TheyrespectedthearmedheresyoftheGoths；buttheirpiousragewassafelypointedagainsttherichanddefencelessJews，whohadformedtheirestablishmentsatNaples，Rome，Ravenna，Milan，andGenoa，forthebenefitoftrade，andunderthesanctionofthelaws。^86
Theirpersonswereinsulted，theireffectswerepillaged，andtheirsynagogueswereburnedbythemadpopulaceofRavennaandRome，inflamed，asitshouldseem，bythemostfrivolousorextravagantpretences。Thegovernmentwhichcouldneglect，wouldhavedeservedsuchanoutrage。Alegalinquirywasinstantlydirected；andastheauthorsofthetumulthadescapedinthecrowd，thewholecommunitywascondemnedtorepairthedamage；
andtheobstinatebigots，whorefusedtheircontributions，werewhippedthroughthestreetsbythehandoftheexecutioner。
ThissimpleactofjusticeexasperatedthediscontentoftheCatholics，whoapplaudedthemeritandpatienceoftheseholyconfessors。Threehundredpulpitsdeploredthepersecutionofthechurch；andifthechapelofSt。StephenatVeronawasdemolishedbythecommandofTheodoric，itisprobablethatsomemiraclehostiletohisnameanddignityhadbeenperformedonthatsacredtheatre。Atthecloseofagloriouslife，thekingofItalydiscoveredthathehadexcitedthehatredofapeoplewhosehappinesshehadsoassiduouslylaboredtopromote；andhismindwassouredbyindignation，jealousy，andthebitternessofunrequitedlove。TheGothicconquerorcondescendedtodisarmtheunwarlikenativesofItaly，interdictingallweaponsofoffence，andexceptingonlyasmallknifefordomesticuse。ThedelivererofRomewasaccusedofconspiringwiththevilestinformersagainstthelivesofsenatorswhomhesuspectedofasecretandtreasonablecorrespondencewiththeByzantinecourt。^87AfterthedeathofAnastasius，thediademhadbeenplacedontheheadofafeebleoldman；butthepowersofgovernmentwereassumedbyhisnephewJustinian，whoalreadymeditatedtheextirpationofheresy，andtheconquestofItalyandAfrica。Arigorouslaw，whichwaspublishedatConstantinople，toreducetheAriansbythedreadofpunishmentwithinthepaleofthechurch，awakenedthejustresentmentofTheodoric，whoclaimedforhisdistressedbrethrenoftheEastthesameindulgencewhichhehadsolonggrantedtotheCatholicsofhisdominions。^!Athissterncommand，theRomanpontiff，withfourillustrioussenators，embarkedonanembassy，ofwhichhemusthavealikedreadedthefailureorthesuccess。ThesingularvenerationshowntothefirstpopewhohadvisitedConstantinoplewaspunishedasacrimebyhisjealousmonarch；theartfulorperemptoryrefusaloftheByzantinecourtmightexcuseanequal，andwouldprovokealarger，measureofretaliation；andamandatewaspreparedinItaly，toprohibit，afterastatedday，theexerciseoftheCatholicworship。Bythebigotryofhissubjectsandenemies，themosttolerantofprinceswasdriventothebrinkofpersecution；andthelifeofTheodoricwastoolong，sincehelivedtocondemnthevirtueofBoethiusandSymmachus。^88
[Footnote86:TheJewsweresettledatNaples，Procopius，Goth。
l。i。c。8，atGenoa，Var。ii。28，iv。33，Milan，v。37，
Rome，iv。43。SeelikewiseBasnage，Hist。desJuifs，tom。viii。
c。7，p。254。]
[Footnote*:SeeHistoryoftheJewsvol。iii。p。217。—M。]
[Footnote87:Rexaviduscommunisexitii，&c。，Boethius，l。i。
p。59:rexcolumRomanistendebat，Anonym。Vales。p。723。
Thesearehardwords:theyspeakthepassionsoftheItaliansandthoseIfearofTheodorichimself。]
[Footnote!:GibbonshouldnothaveomittedthegoldenwordsofTheodoricinaletterwhichheaddressedtoJustin:ThattopretendtoadominionovertheconscienceistousurptheprerogativeofGod；thatbythenatureofthingsthepowerofsovereignsisconfinedtoexternalgovernment；thattheyhavenorightofpunishmentbutoverthosewhodisturbthepublicpeace，ofwhichtheyaretheguardians；thatthemostdangerousheresyisthatofasovereignwhoseparatesfromhimselfapartofhissubjectsbecausetheybelievenotaccordingtohisbelief。
CompareLeBeau，volviii。p。68。—M]
[Footnote88:Ihavelaboredtoextractarationalnarrativefromthedark，concise，andvarioushintsoftheValesianFragment，p。722，723，724，Theophanes，p。145，Anastasius，inJohanne，p。35，andtheHistMiscella，p。103，edit。Muratori。
Agentlepressureandparaphraseoftheirwordsisnoviolence。
ConsultlikewiseMuratoriAnnalid'Italia，tom。iv。p。471—
478，withtheAnnalsandBreviarytom。i。p。259—263ofthetwoPagis，theuncleandthenephew。]
ThesenatorBoethius^89isthelastoftheRomanswhomCatoorTullycouldhaveacknowledgedfortheircountryman。Asawealthyorphan，heinheritedthepatrimonyandhonorsoftheAnicianfamily，anameambitiouslyassumedbythekingsandemperorsoftheage；andtheappellationofManliusassertedhisgenuineorfabulousdescentfromaraceofconsulsanddictators，whohadrepulsedtheGaulsfromtheCapitol，andsacrificedtheirsonstothedisciplineoftherepublic。IntheyouthofBoethiusthestudiesofRomewerenottotallyabandoned；aVirgil^90isnowextant，correctedbythehandofaconsul；andtheprofessorsofgrammar，rhetoric，andjurisprudence，weremaintainedintheirprivilegesandpensionsbytheliberalityoftheGoths。ButtheeruditionoftheLatinlanguagewasinsufficienttosatiatehisardentcuriosity:andBoethiusissaidtohaveemployedeighteenlaboriousyearsintheschoolsofAthens，^91whichweresupportedbythezeal，thelearning，andthediligenceofProclusandhisdisciples。ThereasonandpietyoftheirRomanpupilwerefortunatelysavedfromthecontagionofmysteryandmagic，whichpollutedthegrovesoftheacademy；butheimbibedthespirit，andimitatedthemethod，ofhisdeadandlivingmasters，whoattemptedtoreconcilethestrongandsubtilesenseofAristotlewiththedevoutcontemplationandsublimefancyofPlato。AfterhisreturntoRome，andhismarriagewiththedaughterofhisfriend，thepatricianSymmachus，Boethiusstillcontinued，inapalaceofivoryandmarble，toprosecutethesamestudies。^92ThechurchwasedifiedbyhisprofounddefenceoftheorthodoxcreedagainsttheArian，theEutychian，andtheNestorianheresies；andtheCatholicunitywasexplainedorexposedinaformaltreatisebytheindifferenceofthreedistinctthoughconsubstantialpersons。ForthebenefitofhisLatinreaders，hisgeniussubmittedtoteachthefirstelementsoftheartsandsciencesofGreece。ThegeometryofEuclid，themusicofPythagoras，thearithmeticofNicomachus，themechanicsofArchimedes，theastronomyofPtolemy，thetheologyofPlato，andthelogicofAristotle，withthecommentaryofPorphyry，weretranslatedandillustratedbytheindefatigablepenoftheRomansenator。Andhealonewasesteemedcapableofdescribingthewondersofart，asun—dial，awater—clock，oraspherewhichrepresentedthemotionsoftheplanets。Fromtheseabstrusespeculations，Boethiusstooped，or，tospeakmoretruly，herosetothesocialdutiesofpublicandprivatelife:theindigentwererelievedbyhisliberality；andhiseloquence，whichflatterymightcomparetothevoiceofDemosthenesorCicero，wasuniformlyexertedinthecauseofinnocenceandhumanity。Suchconspicuousmeritwasfeltandrewardedbyadiscerningprince:
thedignityofBoethiuswasadornedwiththetitlesofconsulandpatrician，andhistalentswereusefullyemployedintheimportantstationofmasteroftheoffices。NotwithstandingtheequalclaimsoftheEastandWest，histwosonswerecreated，intheirtenderyouth，theconsulsofthesameyear。^93Onthememorabledayoftheirinauguration，theyproceededinsolemnpompfromtheirpalacetotheforumamidsttheapplauseofthesenateandpeople；andtheirjoyfulfather，thetrueconsulofRome，afterpronouncinganorationinthepraiseofhisroyalbenefactor，distributedatriumphallargessinthegamesofthecircus。Prosperousinhisfameandfortunes，inhispublichonorsandprivatealliances，inthecultivationofscienceandtheconsciousnessofvirtue，Boethiusmighthavebeenstyledhappy，ifthatprecariousepithetcouldbesafelyappliedbeforethelasttermofthelifeofman。