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 mind that for some time past the Goths had been on peaceful and even friendly terms with the empire, and had supplied a great number of its soldiers. Now in their distress they sought its protection, and prayed that they might be allowed to cross the Danube and to settle in Thrace, as Roman subjects. Their prayer was granted, and they were to be received into Roman territory on condition of surrendering their arms, giving up their children as hostages for their good behaviour, and letting them be dispersed throughout the province of Asia. All this, in their dismay at the Huns, they conceded, and after some delay, and with much difficulty and danger and loss, one of the three great tribes of the Gothic people, the Visigoths, were conveyed across the broad and rapid stream of the Danube. But by a fatal error, due, it would seem, to the covetousness and dishonesty of the emperor's ministers, who let themselves be bribed into disregarding the most important of the conditions required from the Goths, the vast multitude were permitted to retain their arms, and now they stood, a formidable and threatening host, on the plains of Bulgaria. It seems that many of them were very rich, and this stimulated the greedy Romans to charge them extortionate prices for the necessaries of life. The Goths bore it patiently for a time, thinking, perhaps, that it was better to be robbed in peace and safety than to fall a prey to the terrible Huns. But at last they were provoked beyond endurance, and somewhere near Shumla, their leader, Fritigern, who had their entire confidence, roused them to action against their mean and grasping