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116 THE DECLINE AND FALL [Chap, xxxviii tine was immediately baptized, with three thousand of his war- like subjects ; and their example was imitated by the remainder of the gentle Barbarians, who, in obedience to the victorious prelate, adored the cross which they had burnt, and burnt the idols which they had formerly adored. 33 The mind of Clovis was susceptible of transient fervour : he was exasperated by the pathetic tale of the passion and death of Christ; and, in- stead of weighing the salutary consequences of that mysteri- ous sacrifice, he exclaimed, with indiscreet fury, " Had I been present at the head of my valiant Franks, I would have revenged his injuries ", 34 But the savage conqueror of Gaul was incapable of examining the proofs of a religion which depends on the laborious investigation of historic evidence and speculative theology. He was still more incapable of feeling the mild influence of the gospel, which persuades and purifies the heart of a genuine convert. His ambitious reign was a perpetual violation of moral and Christian duties ; his hands were stained with blood, in peace as well as in war ; and, as soon as Clovis had dismissed a synod of the Gallican church, he calmly assassinated all the princes of the Merovingian race. 35 Yet the king of the Franks might sincerely worship the Christian God, as a Being more excellent and powerful than his national deities ; and the signal deliverance and victory of Tolbiac encouraged Clovis to confide in the future protection of the Lord of Hosts. Martin, the most popular of the saints, had filled the Western world with the fame of those miracles which were incessantly performed at his holy sepulchre of Tours. His visible or invisible aid promoted the cause of a liberal and orthodox prince ; and the profane remark of Clovis himself that St. Martin was an expensive friend M 33 Mitis depone colla, Sicamber : adora quod ineendisti, incende quod adorasti. Greg. Turon. 1. ii. c. 31, in torn. ii. p. 177. [ " Gentle barbarian " is misleading ; for mitis is predicate. It is certain that all the Frank nation was not converted to Christianity along with their king. See Junghans, op. cit. p. 60-62.] 34 Si ego ibidem cum Francis meis fuissem, injurias ejus vindicassem. This rash expression, which Gregory has prudently concealed, is celebrated by Frede- garius (Epitom. c. 21, in torn. ii. p. 400), Aimoin (1. i. c. 16, in torn. iii. p. 40), and the Chroniques de St. Denys (1. i. c. 20, in torn. iii. p. 171) as an admirable effusion of Christian zeal. 35 Gregory (1. ii. c. 40-43, in torn. ii. p. 183-185), after coolly relating the re- peated crimes, and affected remorse, of Clovis, concludes, perhaps undesignedly, with a lesson which ambition will never hear : " His ita transactis . . . obiit ". 3(i After the Gothic victory, Clovis made rich offerings to St. Martin of Tours. He wished to redeem his war-horse by the gift of one hundred pieces of gold ; but