The history of the decline and fall of the Roman Empire Volume 6 - Softcover

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1811 edition. Excerpt: ...have we not endured? Regardless of " the majesty of the purple, I gave my daughter " to a Goth; I sacrificed my own blood to the " safety of the republic. The liberality which-; ought to have secured the eternal attachment " of Ricimer has exasperated him against his " benefactor. What wars has he not excited " against the empire? How often has he insti" gated, and assisted the fury of hostile nations? " Shall I now accept his perfidious friendship? " Can I hope that he will respect the engage" ments of a treaty, who has already violated " the duties of a son?" But the anger of Anthemius evaporated in these passionate exclamations: he insensibly yielded to the proposals of Epiphanius; and the bishop returned to his diocess with Chap. the satisfaction of restoring-the peace of Italy, XXXVI H,. X,,. by a reconciliation," of which the sincerity and continuance might be reasonably suspected. The clemency of the emperor was extorted from his weakness; and Ricimer suspended his ambi-tious designs, till he had secretly prepared the engines with which he resolved to subvert the throne of Anthemius. The mask of peace and moderation was then thrown aside. The army of Ricimer was fortified by a numerous reinforce-ment of Burgundians and oriental Suevi: he disclaimed all allegiance to the Greek emperor,.marched from Milan to the gates of Rome, and fixing his camp on the banks of the Anio, im-patiently expected the arrival of Olybrius, his imperial candidate. The senator Olybrius, of the Anician family, might esteem himself the lawful heir of the the West, western empire. He had married Placidia, the younger daughter of Valentinian, after she was restored by Genseric; who still detained her sister Eudoxia, as the wife, or rather as the captive, of his son....