TheprofessionsofAdolphuswereprobablysincere，andhisattachmenttothecauseoftherepublicwassecuredbytheascendantwhichaRomanprincesshadacquiredovertheheartandunderstandingoftheBarbarianking。Placidia，^133thedaughterofthegreatTheodosius，andofGalla，hissecondwife，hadreceivedaroyaleducationinthepalaceofConstantinople；buttheeventfulstoryofherlifeisconnectedwiththerevolutionswhichagitatedtheWesternempireunderthereignofherbrotherHonorius。WhenRomewasfirstinvestedbythearmsofAlaric，Placidia，whowasthenabouttwentyyearsofage，residedinthecity；andherreadyconsenttothedeathofhercousinSerenahasacruelandungratefulappearance，which，accordingtothecircumstancesoftheaction，maybeaggravated，orexcused，bytheconsiderationofhertenderage。^134ThevictoriousBarbariansdetained，eitherasahostageoracaptive，^135thesisterofHonorius；but，whileshewasexposedtothedisgraceoffollowingroundItalythemotionsofaGothiccamp，sheexperienced，however，adecentandrespectfultreatment。TheauthorityofJornandes，whopraisesthebeautyofPlacidia，mayperhapsbecounterbalancedbythesilence，theexpressivesilence，ofherflatterers:yetthesplendorofherbirth，thebloomofyouth，theeleganceofmanners，andthedexterousinsinuationwhichshecondescendedtoemploy，madeadeepimpressiononthemindofAdolphus；andtheGothickingaspiredtocallhimselfthebrotheroftheemperor。TheministersofHonoriusrejectedwithdisdaintheproposalofanalliancesoinjurioustoeverysentimentofRomanpride；andrepeatedlyurgedtherestitutionofPlacidia，asanindispensableconditionofthetreatyofpeace。ButthedaughterofTheodosiussubmitted，withoutreluctance，tothedesiresoftheconqueror，ayoungandvaliantprince，whoyieldedtoAlaricinloftinessofstature，butwhoexcelledinthemoreattractivequalitiesofgraceandbeauty。ThemarriageofAdolphusandPlacidia^136wasconsummatedbeforetheGothsretiredfromItaly；andthesolemn，perhapstheanniversarydayoftheirnuptialswasafterwardscelebratedinthehouseofIngenuus，oneofthemostillustriouscitizensofNarbonneinGaul。Thebride，attiredandadornedlikeaRomanempress，wasplacedonathroneofstate；andthekingoftheGoths，whoassumed，onthisoccasion，theRomanhabit，contentedhimselfwithalesshonorableseatbyherside。
Thenuptialgift，which，accordingtothecustomofhisnation，^137wasofferedtoPlacidia，consistedoftherareandmagnificentspoilsofhercountry。Fiftybeautifulyouths，insilkenrobes，carriedabasinineachhand；andoneofthesebasinswasfilledwithpiecesofgold，theotherwithpreciousstonesofaninestimablevalue。Attalus，solongthesportoffortune，andoftheGoths，wasappointedtoleadthechorusoftheHymenealsong；andthedegradedemperormightaspiretothepraiseofaskilfulmusician。TheBarbariansenjoyedtheinsolenceoftheirtriumph；andtheprovincialsrejoicedinthisalliance，whichtempered，bythemildinfluenceofloveandreason，thefiercespiritoftheirGothiclord。^138
[Footnote133:SeeanaccountofPlacidiainDucangeFam。Byzant。
p。72；andTillemont，Hist。desEmpereurs，tom。v。p。260，386，&c。tom。vi。p。240。]
[Footnote134:Zosim。l。v。p。350。]