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 440 THE DECLINE AND FALL [Chap xliii the ships were so closely grappled that only twelve of the Goths escaped from this unfortunate conflict. They affected to de- preciate an element in which they were unskilled, but their own experience confirmed the truth of a maxim, that the master of the sea will always acquire the dominion of the land. 53 character After the loss of Germanus, the nations were provoked to tion e of P the smile by the strange intelligence that the command of the NmeV Koman armies was given to an eunuch. But the eunuch Narses M is ranked among the few who have rescued that unhappy name from the contempt and hatred of mankind. A feeble diminu- tive body concealed the soul of a statesman and a warrior. His youth had been employed in the management of the loom and distaff, in the cares of the household, and the service of female luxury; but, while his hands were busy, he secretly exercised the faculties of a vigorous and discerning mind. A stranger to the schools and the camp, he studied in the palace to dissemble, to flatter, and to persuade ; and, as soon as he approached the person of the emperor, Justinian listened with surprise and pleasure to the manly counsels of his chamberlain and private treasurer. 55 The talents of Narses were tried and improved in frequent embassies; he led an army into Italy, acquired a practical knowledge of the war and the country, and presumed to strive with the genius of Belisarius. Twelve years after his return, the eunuch was chosen to achieve the conquest which had been left imperfect by the first of the Boman generals. Instead of being dazzled by vanity or emulation, he seriously declared that, unless he were armed with an adequate force, he would never consent to risk his own glory and that of his sovereign. Justinian granted to the favourite what he might 53 The third book of Procopius is terminated by the death of Germanus (Add. 1. iv. c. 23, 24, 25, 26). 54 Prooopius relates the whole series of this second Gothic war and the victory of Narses (1. iv. c. 21, 26-35). A splendid scene ! Among the six subjects of epic poetry which Tasso revolved in his mind, he hesitated between the conquests of Italy by Belisarius and by Narses (Hayley's Works, vol. iv. p. 70). 55 The country of Narses is unknown, since he must not be confounded with thePersarmenian. Procopius styles him (Goth. 1. ii. c. 13) f}acriiKwt' xpvuaTwv Ta/nias ; Paul Warnefrid (1. ii. c. 3, p. 776), Chartularius : Marcellinus adds the name of CubicularhiR. In an inscription on the Salarian bridge he is entitled Ex-consul, Ex- propositus, Cubiculi Patricius (Mascou, Hist, of the Germans, 1. xiii. c. 25) [see C. I. L. vi. 1199]. The law of Theodosius against eunuchs was obsolete or abolished (Annotation xx.) ; but the foolish prophecy of the Romans subsisted in full vigour (Procop. 1. iv. o. 21). [Narses b fa<ritws ra^das was a Persarmenian ; Proc, B. P. i. 15, p. 79 ed. Haury.]