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 54 THE DECLINE AND FALL [Chap, xxxvi Constantinople, where he sullied, by the assassination of a generous benefactor, the fame which he had acquired in arms. His brother Odoacer led a wandering life among the Barbarians of Noricum, with a mind and a fortune suited to the most desperate adventures ; and, when he had fixed his choice, he piously visited the cell of Severinus, the popular saint of the country, to solicit his approbation and blessing. The lowness of the door would not admit the lofty stature of Odoacer : he was obliged to stoop ; but in that humble attitude the saint could discern the symptoms of his future greatness ; and, addressing him in a prophetic tone, "Pursue" (said he) "your design; proceed to Italy; you will soon cast away this coarse garment of skins ; and your wealth will be adequate to the liberality of your mind ". 130 The Barbarian, whose daring spirit accepted and ratified the prediction, was admitted into the service of the Western empire, and soon obtained an honourable rank in the guards. His manners were gradually polished, his military skill was improved, and the confederates of Italy would not have elected him for their general, unless the exploits of Odoacer had established a high opinion of his courage and capacity. 131 Their military acclamations saluted him with the title of King ; but he abstained, during his whole reign, from the use of the purple and diadem, 132 lest he should offend those princes whose subjects, by their accidental mixture, had formed the victorious army which time and policy might insensibly unite into a great nation. Extinction Royalty was familiar to the Barbarians, and the submissive western people of Italy was prepared to obey, without a murmur, the empire. A-D. 476, or a.d. 479 130 Vade ad Italiam, vade vilissimis nunc pellibus coopertus ; sed multis cito plurima largiturus. Anonym. Vales, p. 717 [10, § 46]. He quotes the life of St. Severinus, which is extant, and contains much unknown and valuable history ; it was composed by his disciple Eugippius (a.d. 511) thirty years after his death. See Tillemont, Mem. Eccles. torn. xvi. p. 168-181. [See Appendix 1.] 131 Theophanes, who calls him a Goth, affirms that he was educated, nursed (rpafrfVTos), in Italy (p. 102) ; and, as this strong expression will not bear a literal interpretation, it must be explained by long service in the Imperial guards. 132 Nomen regis Odoacer assumpsit, cum tamen neque purpura nee regalibus uteretur insignibus. Cassiodor. in Chron. a.d. 476. He seems to have assumed the abstract title of a king, without applying it to any particular nation or country. [One silver coin (a half siliqua) is extant, which was probably issued by Odovacar. The legend (obv.) is PI. Od(ov)ac, and the reverse shows the monogram of Odova. Cp. Hodgkin, Italy and her Invaders, iii. 722. It is to be noted that Odovacar was not " King of Italy," as he is inaccurately styled below on p. 58. The day of territorial royalty had not yet come.]