TheunionoftheGothsandRomansmighthavefixedforagesthetransienthappinessofItaly；andthefirstofnations，anewpeopleoffreesubjectsandenlightenedsoldiers，mighthavegraduallyarisenfromthemutualemulationoftheirrespectivevirtues。ButthesublimemeritofguidingorsecondingsucharevolutionwasnotreservedforthereignofTheodoric:hewantedeitherthegeniusortheopportunitiesofalegislator；^52andwhileheindulgedtheGothsintheenjoymentofrudeliberty，heservilelycopiedtheinstitutions，andeventheabuses，ofthepoliticalsystemwhichhadbeenframedbyConstantineandhissuccessors。FromatenderregardtotheexpiringprejudicesofRome，theBarbariandeclinedthename，thepurple，andthediadem，oftheemperors；butheassumed，underthehereditarytitleofking，thewholesubstanceandplenitudeofImperialprerogative。^53Hisaddressestotheeasternthronewererespectfulandambiguous:hecelebrated，inpompousstyle，theharmonyofthetworepublics，applaudedhisowngovernmentastheperfectsimilitudeofasoleandundividedempire，andclaimedabovethekingsoftheearththesamepreeminencewhichhemodestlyallowedtothepersonorrankofAnastasius。TheallianceoftheEastandWestwasannuallydeclaredbytheunanimouschoiceoftwoconsuls；butitshouldseemthattheItaliancandidatewhowasnamedbyTheodoricacceptedaformalconfirmationfromthesovereignofConstantinople。^54TheGothicpalaceofRavennareflectedtheimageofthecourtofTheodosiusorValentinian。ThePraetorianpraefect，thepraefectofRome，thequaestor，themasteroftheoffices，withthepublicandpatrimonialtreasurers，whosefunctionsarepaintedingaudycolorsbytherhetoricofCassiodorus，stillcontinuedtoactastheministersofstate。Andthesubordinatecareofjusticeandtherevenuewasdelegatedtosevenconsulars，threecorrectors，andfivepresidents，whogovernedthefifteenregionsofItalyaccordingtotheprinciples，andeventheforms，ofRomanjurisprudence。^55Theviolenceoftheconquerorswasabatedoreludedbytheslowartificeofjudicialproceedings；theciviladministration，withitshonorsandemoluments，wasconfinedtotheItalians；andthepeoplestillpreservedtheirdressandlanguage，theirlawsandcustoms，theirpersonalfreedom，andtwothirdsoftheirlandedproperty。^!IthadbeentheobjectofAugustustoconcealtheintroductionofmonarchy；itwasthepolicyofTheodorictodisguisethereignofaBarbarian。^56IfhissubjectsweresometimesawakenedfromthispleasingvisionofaRomangovernment，theyderivedmoresubstantialcomfortfromthecharacterofaGothicprince，whohadpenetrationtodiscern，andfirmnesstopursue，hisownandthepublicinterest。
Theodoriclovedthevirtueswhichhepossessed，andthetalentsofwhichhewasdestitute。LiberiuswaspromotedtotheofficeofPraetorianpraefectforhisunshakenfidelitytotheunfortunatecauseofOdoacer。TheministersofTheodoric，Cassiodorus，^57andBoethius，havereflectedonhisreignthelustreoftheirgeniusandlearning。Moreprudentormorefortunatethanhiscolleague，Cassiodoruspreservedhisownesteemwithoutforfeitingtheroyalfavor；andafterpassingthirtyyearsinthehonorsoftheworld，hewasblessedwithanequaltermofreposeinthedevoutandstudioussolitudeofSquillace。
[Footnote52:ProcopiusaffirmsthatnolawswhatsoeverwerepromulgatedbyTheodoricandthesucceedingkingsofItaly，Goth。l。ii。c。6。HemustmeanintheGothiclanguage。A
LatinedictofTheodoricisstillextant，inonehundredandfifty—fourarticles。
Note:SeeManso，92。Savigny，vol。ii。p。164，etseq。—M。]