From a neighboring height, his artful rival harangued the camp of the _Walamirs_, and brand the leader with the opprobrious names of child, of madman, of perjured traitor, the enemy of his blood and nation.
Are you ignorant," exclaimed the son of Triarius, "that it is the constant policy of the Romans to destroy the Goths by each other's swords?
Are you insensible that the victor in this unnatural contest will be exposed, and justly exposed, to their implacable revenge?
Where are those warriors, my kinsmen and thy own, whose widows now lament that their lives were sacrificed to thy rash ambition?
Where is the wealth which thy soldiers possessed when they were first allured from their native homes to enlist under thy standard?
Each of them was then master of three or four horses; they now follow thee on foot, like slaves, through the deserts of Thrace; those men who were tempted by the hope of measuring gold with a bushel, those brave men who are as free and as noble as thyself."
A language so well suited to the temper of the Goths excited clamor and discontent; and the son of Theodemir, apprehensive of being left alone, was compelled to embrace his brethren, and to imitate the example of Roman perfidy.
Are you ignorant," exclaimed the son of Triarius, "that it is the constant policy of the Romans to destroy the Goths by each other's swords?
Are you insensible that the victor in this unnatural contest will be exposed, and justly exposed, to their implacable revenge?
Where are those warriors, my kinsmen and thy own, whose widows now lament that their lives were sacrificed to thy rash ambition?
Where is the wealth which thy soldiers possessed when they were first allured from their native homes to enlist under thy standard?
Each of them was then master of three or four horses; they now follow thee on foot, like slaves, through the deserts of Thrace; those men who were tempted by the hope of measuring gold with a bushel, those brave men who are as free and as noble as thyself."
A language so well suited to the temper of the Goths excited clamor and discontent; and the son of Theodemir, apprehensive of being left alone, was compelled to embrace his brethren, and to imitate the example of Roman perfidy.