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320 THE DECLINE AND FALL [Chap, xli safety or payment ; and, as they were fortified by perpetual supplies from Africa, they maintained their impregnable stations, for the mischievous purpose of inflaming the civil and religious factions of the Barbarians. Seventy years elapsed before this painful thorn could be extirpated from the bosom of the monarchy ; and, as long as the emperors retained any share of these remote and useless possessions, their vanity might number Spain in the list of their provinces, and the successors of Alaric in the rank of their vassals. 56 Beiisarius The error of the Goths who reigned in Italy was less excus- the ostro- able than that of their Spanish brethren, and their punishment itaiy. a.d. was still more immediate and terrible. From a motive of private revenge, they enabled their most dangerous enemy to destroy their most valuable ally. A sister of the great Theo- doric had been given in marriage to Thrasimond the African king : 57 on this occasion, the fortress of Lilybseum 58 in Sicily was resigned to the Vandals ; and the princess Amalafrida was attended by a martial train of one thousand nobles, and five thousand Gothic soldiers, who signalized their valour in the Moorish wars. Their merit was over-rated by themselves, and perhaps neglected by the Vandals; they viewed the country with envy, and the conquerors with disdain ; but their real or fictitious conspiracy was prevented by a massacre ; the Goths were oppressed, and the captivity of Amalafrida was soon followed by her secret and suspicious death. The eloquent pen of Cassiodorius was employed to reproach the Vandal court with the cruel violation of every social and public duty ; but the vengeance which he threatened in the name of his sovereign might be derided with impunity, as long as Africa was protected by the sea, and the Goths were destitute of a navy. In the blind impotence of grief and indignation, they joyfully saluted the approach of the Romans, entertained the fleet of Beiisarius in the ports of Sicily, and were speedily delighted or alarmed 56 See the original Chronicle of Isidore, and the vth and vith books of the History of Spain by Mariana. The Komans were finally expelled by Suintila king of the Visigoths (a.d. 621-626), after their reunion to the Catholic church. 57 See the marriage and fate of Amalafrida in Procopius (Vandal. 1. i. c. 8, 9), and in Cassiodorius (Var. ix. 1) the expostulation of her royal brother. Compare likewise the Chronicle of Victor Tunnunensis. 88 Lilybseum was built by the Carthaginians, Olymp. xcv. 4 ; and in the first Punic war a strong situation and excellent harbour rendered that place an important object to both nations.