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 476-490 Chap, xxxvi] OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE 53 popular leader ; and the unfortunate patrician, overwhelmed by the torrent, hastily retreated to the strong city of Pavia, the episcopal seat of the holy Epiphanius. 127a Pavia was immediately besieged, the fortifications were stormed, the town was pillaged ; and, although the bishop might labour, with much zeal and some success, to save the property of the church and the chastity of female captives, the tumult could only be appeased by the execution of Orestes. 1 ' 28 His brother Paul was slain in an action near Kavenna ; and the helpless Augustulus, who could no longer command the respect, was reduced to implore the clemency, of Odoacer. That successful Barbarian was the son of Edecon: who, odoacei, king of in some remarkable transactions, particularly described in aitaiy. ad. preceding chapter, had been the colleague of Orestes himself. The honour of an ambassador should be exempt from suspicion ; and Edecon had listened to a conspiracy against the life of his sovereign. But this apparent guilt was expiated by his merit or repentance ; his rank was eminent and conspicuous ; he enjoyed the favour of Attila ; and the troops under his com- mand, who guarded in their turn the royal village, consisted in a tribe of Scyrri, his immediate and hereditary subjects. In the revolt of the nations, they still adhered to the Huns ; and, more than twelve years afterwards, the name of Edecon is honourably mentioned, in their unequal contest with the Ostrogoths ; which was terminated, after two bloody battles, by the defeat and dispersion of the Scyrri. 129 Their gallant leader, who did not survive this national calamity, left two sons, Onulf and Odoacer, to struggle with adversity, and to maintain as they might, by rapine or service, the faithful followers of their exile. Onulf directed his steps towards i27» [The quarto has the misprint Epiphanites, which has remained uncorrected in subsequent editions.] 128 See Ennodius (in Vit. Epiphan. Sirmond, torn. i. p. 1669, 1670). He adds weight to the narrative of Procopius, though we may doubt whether the devil actually contrived the siege of Pavia to distress the bishop and his flock [p. 96, ed. Vogel]. 129 Jornandes, c. 53, 54, p. 692-695. M. de Buat (Hist, des Peuples de l'Europe, torn. viii. p. 221-228) has clearly explained the origin and adventures of Odoacer. I am almost inclined to believe that he was the same who pillaged Angers and commanded a fleet of Saxon pirates on the ocean. Greg. Turon. 1. ii. c. 18, in torn. ii. p. 170. [The genuine form of Odoacer' s name is Odovacar, as it appears in the contemporary writer Ennodius. Cp. below, note 132. Though other German nationalities have been claimed for Odovacar, most authorities agree that he was a Seyrian.]