Anarmyofconquerorswasbrokenintomanydisorderlybandsofsavagerobbers；andtheirblindandirregularfurywasnotlesspernicioustothemselves，thantotheirenemies。Theirmischievousdispositionwasshowninthedestructionofeveryobjectwhichtheywantedstrengthtoremove，ortastetoenjoy；
andtheyoftenconsumed，withimprovidentrage，theharvests，orthegranaries，whichsoonafterwardsbecamenecessaryfortheirownsubsistence。Aspiritofdiscordaroseamongtheindependenttribesandnations，whichhadbeenunitedonlybythebandsofalooseandvoluntaryalliance。ThetroopsoftheHunsandtheAlaniwouldnaturallyupbraidtheflightoftheGoths；whowerenotdisposedtousewithmoderationtheadvantagesoftheirfortune；theancientjealousyoftheOstrogothsandtheVisigothscouldnotlongbesuspended；andthehaughtychiefsstillrememberedtheinsultsandinjuries，whichtheyhadreciprocallyoffered，orsustained，whilethenationwasseatedinthecountriesbeyondtheDanube。Theprogressofdomesticfactionabatedthemorediffusivesentimentofnationalanimosity；andtheofficersofTheodosiuswereinstructedtopurchase，withliberalgiftsandpromises，theretreatorserviceofthediscontentedparty。TheacquisitionofModar，aprinceoftheroyalbloodoftheAmali，gaveaboldandfaithfulchampiontothecauseofRome。Theillustriousdesertersoonobtainedtherankofmaster—general，withanimportantcommand；surprisedanarmyofhiscountrymen，whowereimmersedinwineandsleep；and，afteracruelslaughteroftheastonishedGoths，returnedwithanimmensespoil，andfourthousandwagons，totheImperialcamp。
^120Inthehandsofaskilfulpolitician，themostdifferentmeansmaybesuccessfullyappliedtothesameends；andthepeaceoftheempire，whichhadbeenforwardedbythedivisions，wasaccomplishedbythereunion，oftheGothicnation。Athanaric，whohadbeenapatientspectatoroftheseextraordinaryevents，wasatlengthdriven，bythechanceofarms，fromthedarkrecessesofthewoodsofCaucaland。HenolongerhesitatedtopasstheDanube；andaveryconsiderablepartofthesubjectsofFritigern，whoalreadyfelttheinconveniencesofanarchy，wereeasilypersuadedtoacknowledgefortheirkingaGothicJudge，whosebirththeyrespected，andwhoseabilitiestheyhadfrequentlyexperienced。ButagehadchilledthedaringspiritofAthanaric；and，insteadofleadinghispeopletothefieldofbattleandvictory，hewiselylistenedtothefairproposalofanhonorableandadvantageoustreaty。Theodosius，whowasacquaintedwiththemeritandpowerofhisnewally，condescendedtomeethimatthedistanceofseveralmilesfromConstantinople；
andentertainedhimintheImperialcity，withtheconfidenceofafriend，andthemagnificenceofamonarch。\"TheBarbarianprinceobserved，withcuriousattention，thevarietyofobjectswhichattractedhisnotice，andatlastbrokeoutintoasincereandpassionateexclamationofwonder。Inowbeholdsaidhe
whatInevercouldbelieve，thegloriesofthisstupendouscapital!Andashecasthiseyesaround，heviewed，andheadmired，thecommandingsituationofthecity，thestrengthandbeautyofthewallsandpublicedifices，thecapaciousharbor，crowdedwithinnumerablevessels，theperpetualconcourseofdistantnations，andthearmsanddisciplineofthetroops。