Ifhechoosestohunt，oratleasttoexercisehimselfonhorseback，hisbowiscarriedbyafavoriteyouth；butwhenthegameismarked，hebendsitwithhisownhand，andseldommissestheobjectofhisaim:asaking，hedisdainstobeararmsinsuchignoblewarfare；butasasoldier，hewouldblushtoacceptanymilitaryservicewhichhecouldperformhimself。Oncommondays，hisdinnerisnotdifferentfromtherepastofaprivatecitizen，buteverySaturday，manyhonorableguestsareinvitedtotheroyaltable，which，ontheseoccasions，isservedwiththeeleganceofGreece，theplentyofGaul，andtheorderanddiligenceofItaly。^19Thegoldorsilverplateislessremarkableforitsweightthanforthebrightnessandcuriousworkmanship:thetasteisgratifiedwithoutthehelpofforeignandcostlyluxury；thesizeandnumberofthecupsofwineareregulatedwithastrictregardtothelawsoftemperance；andtherespectfulsilencethatprevails，isinterruptedonlybygraveandinstructiveconversation。Afterdinner，Theodoricsometimesindulgeshimselfinashortslumber；andassoonashewakes，hecallsforthediceandtables，encourageshisfriendstoforgettheroyalmajesty，andisdelightedwhentheyfreelyexpressthepassionswhichareexcitedbytheincidentsofplay。Atthisgame，whichhelovesastheimageofwar，healternatelydisplayshiseagerness，hisskill，hispatience，andhischeerfultemper。
Ifheloses，helaughs；heismodestandsilentifhewins。Yet，notwithstandingthisseemingindifference，hiscourtierschoosetosolicitanyfavorinthemomentsofvictory；andImyself，inmyapplicationstotheking，havederivedsomebenefitfrommylosses。^20Abouttheninthhourthreeo\'clockthetideofbusinessagainreturns，andflowsincessantlytillaftersunset，whenthesignaloftheroyalsupperdismissesthewearycrowdofsuppliantsandpleaders。Atthesupper，amorefamiliarrepast，buffoonsandpantomimesaresometimesintroduced，todivert，nottooffend，thecompany，bytheirridiculouswit:butfemalesingers，andthesoft，effeminatemodesofmusic，areseverelybanished，andsuchmartialtunesasanimatethesoultodeedsofvalorarealonegratefultotheearofTheodoric。Heretiresfromtable；andthenocturnalguardsareimmediatelypostedattheentranceofthetreasury，thepalace，andtheprivateapartments。\"
[Footnote16:Isidore，archbishopofSeville，whowashimselfofthebloodroyaloftheGoths，acknowledges，andalmostjustifies，Hist。Goth。p。718，thecrimewhichtheirslaveJornandeshadbaselydissembled，c43，p。673。]
[Footnote17:Thiselaboratedescriptionl。i。ep。ii。p。2—7
wasdictatedbysomepoliticalmotive。Itwasdesignedforthepubliceye，andhadbeenshownbythefriendsofSidonius，beforeitwasinsertedinthecollectionofhisepistles。Thefirstbookwaspublishedseparately。SeeTillemont，MemoiresEccles。