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 OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE 251 absence, he would soon return with an army equal to the encounter of the Gothic king. Without losing a moment (while each moment was so important to the public safety) Stihcho hastily embarked on the Larian lake, ascended the mountains of ice and snow, amidst the severity of an Alpine [winter of] winter, and suddenly repressed, by his unexpected presence, ^'°' *°^"^ the enemy who had disturbed the tranquillity of Rhaetia.^^ The Barbarians, perhaps some tribes of the Alemanni, respected the firmness of a chief who still assum.ed the language of command ; and the choice which he condescended to make of a select number of their bravest youths was considered as a mark of his esteem and favour. The cohorts, who were delivered from the neighbouring foe, diligently repaired to the Imperial stand- ard ; and Stilicho issued his orders to the most remote troops of the West to advance, by rapid marches, to the defence of Honorius and of Italy. The fortresses of the Rhine were abandoned ; and the safety of Gaul was protected only by the faith of the Germans and the ancient terror of the Roman name. Even the legion which had been stationed to guard the wall [Twentieth of Britain against the Caledonians of the north was hastily recalled ; ^'^ and a numerous body of the cavaliy of the Alani was persuaded to engage in the service of the emperor, who anxiously expected the return of his general. The prudence and vigour of Stilicho were conspicuous on this occasion, which revealed, at the same time, the weakness of the falling empire. The legions of Rome, which had long since languished in the gi-adual decay of discipline and courage, were exterminated by the Gothic and civil wars ; and it was found impossible, with- out exhausting and exposing the provinces, to assemble an army for the defence of Italy. When Stilicho seemed to abandon his sovereign in the He is pureed unguarded palace of Milan, he had probably calculated the oy the G&fiia term of his Juoence, the distance of the enemy, and the obstacles that might retard their march. He principally de- 35 The face of the country, and the hardiness of Stilicho, are finely described (de Bell. Get. 340-363). [The danger which Stilicho had to meet in Rcetia and Vindelicia was an attack of the Goth Radagaisus, who was in league with Alaric ; see Prosper, sub anno 400, a notice which has been improperly confounded with that under 505, and cp. Appendix 17.] ^ Venit et extremis legio prgetenta Britannis Quae Scoto dat frena truci. De Bell. Get. 416. Yet the most rapid march from Edinburgh, or Newcastle, to Milan must have required a longer space of time than Claudian seems willing to allow for the duration of the Gothic war,