ChapterXXXI:InvasionOfItaly，OccupationOfTerritoriesByBarbarians。
PartIII。
Atthedistanceoffourteencenturies，wemaybesatisfiedwithrelatingthemilitaryexploitsoftheconquerorsofRome，withoutpresumingtoinvestigatethemotivesoftheirpoliticalconduct。Inthemidstofhisapparentprosperity，Alaricwasconscious，perhaps，ofsomesecretweakness，someinternaldefect；orperhapsthemoderationwhichhedisplayed，wasintendedonlytodeceiveanddisarmtheeasycredulityoftheministersofHonorius。ThekingoftheGothsrepeatedlydeclared，thatitwashisdesiretobeconsideredasthefriendofpeace，andoftheRomans。Threesenators，athisearnestrequest，weresentambassadorstothecourtofRavenna，tosolicittheexchangeofhostages，andtheconclusionofthetreaty；andtheproposals，whichhemoreclearlyexpressedduringthecourseofthenegotiations，couldonlyinspireadoubtofhissincerity，astheymightseeminadequatetothestateofhisfortune。TheBarbarianstillaspiredtotherankofmaster—generalofthearmiesoftheWest；hestipulatedanannualsubsidyofcornandmoney；andhechosetheprovincesofDalmatia，Noricum，andVenetia，fortheseatofhisnewkingdom，whichwouldhavecommandedtheimportantcommunicationbetweenItalyandtheDanube。Ifthesemodesttermsshouldberejected，Alaricshowedadispositiontorelinquishhispecuniarydemands，andeventocontenthimselfwiththepossessionofNoricum；anexhaustedandimpoverishedcountry，perpetuallyexposedtotheinroadsoftheBarbariansofGermany。^82Butthehopesofpeaceweredisappointedbytheweakobstinacy，orinterestedviews，oftheministerOlympius。Withoutlisteningtothesalutaryremonstrancesofthesenate，hedismissedtheirambassadorsundertheconductofamilitaryescort，toonumerousforaretinueofhonor，andtoofeebleforanyarmyofdefence。SixthousandDalmatians，thefloweroftheImperiallegions，wereorderedtomarchfromRavennatoRome，throughanopencountrywhichwasoccupiedbytheformidablemyriadsoftheBarbarians。Thesebravelegionaries，encompassedandbetrayed，fellasacrificetoministerialfolly；theirgeneral，Valens，withahundredsoldiers，escapedfromthefieldofbattle；andoneoftheambassadors，whocouldnolongerclaimtheprotectionofthelawofnations，wasobligedtopurchasehisfreedomwitharansomofthirtythousandpiecesofgold。YetAlaric，insteadofresentingthisactofimpotenthostility，immediatelyrenewedhisproposalsofpeace；andthesecondembassyoftheRomansenate，whichderivedweightanddignityfromthepresenceofInnocent，bishopofthecity，wasguardedfromthedangersoftheroadbyadetachmentofGothicsoldiers。^83
[Footnote82:Zosimus，l。v。p。367368，369。]
[Footnote83:Zosimus，l。v。p。360，361，362。Thebishop，byremainingatRavenna，escapedtheimpendingcalamitiesofthecity。Orosius，l。vii。c。39，p。573。]