Theirson，whowasenrolledalmostinhisinfancyintheguards，wasgivenasahostage，firsttoAlaric，andafterwardstotheHuns；^!andhesuccessivelyobtainedthecivilandmilitaryhonorsofthepalace，forwhichhewasequallyqualifiedbysuperiormerit。ThegracefulfigureofAetiuswasnotabovethemiddlestature；buthismanlylimbswereadmirablyformedforstrength，beauty，andagility；andheexcelledinthemartialexercisesofmanagingahorse，drawingthebow，anddartingthejavelin。Hecouldpatientlyendurethewantoffood，orofsleep；andhismindandbodywerealikecapableofthemostlaboriousefforts。Hepossessedthegenuinecouragethatcandespisenotonlydangers，butinjuries:anditwasimpossibleeithertocorrupt，ordeceive，orintimidatethefirmintegrityofhissoul。\"^6TheBarbarians，whohadseatedthemselvesintheWesternprovinces，wereinsensiblytaughttorespectthefaithandvalorofthepatricianAetius。Hesoothedtheirpassions，consultedtheirprejudices，balancedtheirinterests，andcheckedtheirambition。Aseasonabletreaty，whichheconcludedwithGenseric，protectedItalyfromthedepredationsoftheVandals；
theindependentBritonsimploredandacknowledgedhissalutaryaid；theImperialauthoritywasrestoredandmaintainedinGaulandSpain；andhecompelledtheFranksandtheSuevi，whomhehadvanquishedinthefield，tobecometheusefulconfederatesoftherepublic。
[Footnote4:VictorVitensisdePersecut。Vandal。l。i。6，p。8，edit。Ruinartcallshim，acerconsilioetstrenuusinbello:buthiscourage，whenhebecameunfortunate，wascensuredasdesperaterashness；andSebastiandeserved，orobtained，theepithetofproeceps，Sidon。ApollinarCarmenix。181。HisadventuresinConstantinople，inSicily，Gaul，Spain，andAfrica，arefaintlymarkedintheChroniclesofMarcellinusandIdatius。
Inhisdistresshewasalwaysfollowedbyanumeroustrain；sincehecouldravagetheHellespontandPropontis，andseizethecityofBarcelona。]
[Footnote5:ReipublicaeRomanaesingulariternatus，quisuperbiamSuevorum，FrancorumquebarbariemimmensiscaedibusservireImperioRomanocoegisset。JornandesdeRebusGeticis，c。