Theodoric，kingoftheOstrogoths，whoreignedinItaly，hadlaboredtomaintainthetranquillityofGaul；andheassumed，oraffected，forthatpurpose，theimpartialcharacterofamediator。ButthesagaciousmonarchdreadedtherisingempireofClovis，andhewasfirmlyengagedtosupportthenationalandreligiouscauseoftheGoths。
[Footnote46:GregoryofToursl。ii。c。37，intom。ii。p。181
insertstheshortbutpersuasivespeechofClovis。Valdemolestefero，quodhiArianipartemteneantGalliarum，theauthoroftheGestaFrancorum，intom。ii。p。553，addsthepreciousepithetofoptimam，camuscumDeiadjutorio，et，superatiseis，redigamusterraminditionemnostram。]
[Footnote47:TuncrexprojecitaseindirectumBipennemsuamquodestFrancisca，&c。GestaFranc。intom。ii。p。554。TheformanduseofthisweaponareclearlydescribedbyProcopius，intom。ii。p。37。ExamplesofitsnationalappellationinLatinandFrenchmaybefoundintheGlossaryofDucange，andthelargeDictionnairedeTrevoux。]
[Footnote48:ItissingularenoughthatsomeimportantandauthenticfactsshouldbefoundinaLifeofQuintianus，composedinrhymeintheoldPatoisofRouergue，Dubos，Hist。Critique，&c。，tom。ii。p。179。]