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 chap, xxxix] OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE 191 Ostrogoths shewed more ardour to acquire, than the mercenaries to defend, the lands of Italy ; and the reward of the first victory was the possession of the Venetian province as far as the walls of Verona. In the neighbourhood of that city, on the steep banks of the rapid Adige, he was opposed by a new army, rein- [Athesis] forced in its numbers and not impaired in its courage : the con- [(2) Battle test was more obstinate, but the event was still more decisive ; se P t er 3M a ' Odoacer fled to Ravenna, Theodoric advanced to Milan, and the vanquished troops saluted their conqueror with loud accla- mations of respect and fidelity. But their want either of con- stancy or of faith soon exposed him to the most imminent danger ; his vanguard, with several Gothic counts, which had been rashly [489 a.d.] entrusted to a deserter, was betrayed and destroyed near Faenza [Faventia] by his double treachery ; Odoacer again appeared master of the field, and the invader, strongly entrenched in his camp of Pavia, [Ticinum] was reduced to solicit the aid of a kindred nation, the Visigoths of Gaul. 23 In the course of this history, the most voracious appetite for war will be abundantly satiated ; nor can I much lament that our dark and imperfect materials do not afford a more ample narrative of the distress of Italy and of the fierce conflict which was finally decided by the abilities, experience, [(3) Battle and valour of the Gothic king. Immediately before the battle Addua. of Verona, he visited the tent of his mother 24 and sister, and^f ust11, requested that on a day, the most illustrious festival of his life, they would adorn him with the rich garments which they had worked with their own hands. " Our glory," said he, " is mutual and inseparable. You are known to the world as the mother of Theodoric ; and it becomes me to prove that I am the genuine offspring of those heroes from whom I claim my descent." The wife or concubine of Theodemir was inspired with the spirit of the German matrons who esteemed their sons' honour far above their safety ; and it is reported that in a desperate action, when Theodoric himself was hurried along by the torrent of a flying crowd, she boldly met them at the entrance of the camp, and, 23 [They were a counterpoise to the Burgundians who came to the aid of Odo- vacar and invaded Liguria. See Historia Miecella.] 24 See Ennodius, p. 1603, 1604 [p. 208, ed. Vog.]. Since the orator, in the king's presence, could mention and praise his mother, we may conclude that the magnanimity of Theodoric was not hurt by the vulgar reproaches of concubine and bastard.