Page:1909historyofdec04gibbuoft.djvu/501

Chap, xliii] OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE 439 the jealousy of the court. Theodora had injured him in the rights of a private citizen, the marriage of his children, and the testament of his brother; and, although his conduct was pure and blameless, Justinian was displeased that he should be thought worthy of the confidence of the malecontents. The life of Germanus was a lesson of implicit obedience ; he nobly refused to prostitute his name and character in the factions of the circus; the gravity of his manners was tempered by innocent cheerfulness; and his riches were lent without in- terest to indigent or deserving friends. His valour had formerly triumphed over the Sclavonians of the Danube and the rebels [*•»• 627] of Africa; the first report of his promotion revived the hopes of the Italians ; and he was privately assured that a crowd of Roman deserters would abandon, on his approach, the standard of Totila. His second marriage with Malasontha, the grand- [Mata- daughter of Theodoric, endeared Germanus to the Goths them- selves; and they marched with reluctance against the father of a royal infant, the last offspring of the line of Amali. 51 A splendid allowance was assigned by the emperor; the general contributed his private fortune ; his two sons were popular and active; and he surpassed, in the promptitude and success of his levies, the expectation of mankind. He was permitted to select some squadrons of Thracian cavalry ; the veterans, as well as the youth of Constantinople and Europe, engaged their volun- tary service; and as far as the heart of Germany 52 his fame and liberality attracted the aid of the Barbarians. The Romans advanced to Sardica ; an army of Sclavonians fled before their march ; but within two days of their final departure, the designs of Germanus were terminated by his malady and death. Yet the impulse which he had given to the Italian war still continued to act with energy and effect. The maritime towns, Ancona, Crotona, Centumcellae, resisted the assaults of Totila. Sicily was reduced by the zeal of Artaban, and the Gothic navy was defeated near the coast of the Hadriatic. The two fleets were almost equal, forty-seven to fifty galleys : the victory was decided by the knowledge and dexterity of the Greeks; but 51 Conjnneta Anioiorum gens cum Amala stirpe spern adhuc utriusque generis promittit, Jornandes, c. 60, p. 703. He wrote at Bavenna before the death of Totila. 53 [Procopius says nothing of troops from the heart of Germany.]