Page:Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire vol 3 (1897).djvu/470

 448 THE DECLINE AND FALL was born for the salvation of the Roman republic ; * and the following portrait, though it is drawn in the fairest colours, must be allowed to contain a much larger proportion of truth than of flattery. " His mother was a wealthy and noble Italian, and his father Gaudentius, Avho held a distinguished rank in the pro- vince of Scythia, gradually rose from the station of a military domestic to the dignity of master of the cavalry. Their son, who was enrolled almost in his infancy in the guards, was given as a hostage, first to Alaric, and afterwards to the Huns; and he successively obtained the civil and military honours of the palace, for which he w'as equally qualified by superior merit. The graceful figure of Aetius was not above the middle stature ; but his manly limbs were admirably formed for strength, beauty, and agility; and he excelled in the martial exercises of managing a horse, drawing the bow, and darting the javelin. He could patiently endure the want of food or of sleep; and his mind and body Avere alike capable of the most laborious efforts. He possessed the genuine courage that can despise not only dangers but injuries; and it was impossible either to corrupt, or deceive, or intimidate, the firm integrity of his soul." ^ The Barbarians who had seated themselves in the Western provinces were insensibly taught to respect the faith and valour of the patrician Aetius. He soothed their passions, consulted their prejudices, balanced their interests, and checked their ambition. A seasonable treaty, which he concluded with Genseric, protected Italy from the depredations of the ^andals ; the independent Britons implored and acknowledged his salutary aid ; the Im- perialaut hority was restored and maintained in Gaul and Spain ; and he compelled the Franks and the Suevi, whom he had vanquished in the field, to become the useful confederates of the republic. Hifl con- From a principle of interest, as well as gratitude, Aetius as- the Huns siduously cultivated the alliance of the Huns. While he re- sided in their tents as a hostage or an exile, he had familiarly conversed with Attila himself, the nephew of his benefactor ; and •'' ReipublicEe Romanae singulariter natus, qui superbiam Suevorum, Fran- corumque barbariem immensis casdibus servire Imperio Romano coegisset. Jor- nandes de Rebus Geticis, c. 34, p. 660. 6 This portrait is drawn by Renatus Profuturus Frigeridus, a contemporary historian, known only by some extracts, which are preserved by Gregory of Tours (1. ii. c. 8, in tom. ii. p. 163). It was probably the duty, or at least the interest, of Renatus to magnify the virtues of Aetius ; but he would have shewn more dex- terity, if he had not insisted on his pa.ie.n., forgiving disposition. [See further the panegyric of Aetius by Merobaudes, ed. by Bekker. Cp. Appendix i.]