roved fashion
of the ancient Romans on such occasions, to put Fava to death in cold
blood.

The records of this feat are to be found, as far as I know them, in one
short chapter (I. xix.) of Paulus Diaconus, and in Muratori's notes
thereto; but however small the records, the deed decided the fate of
Italy. Frederic, son of Fava, took refuge with the Ostrogoths, and
demanded revenge in the name of his royal race; and it is easy to
conceive that the sympathies of the Goths would be with him. An attack
(seemingly unprovoked) on an ancient Teutonic nation by a mere band of
adventurers was--or could easily be made--a grievous wrong, and clear
casus belli, over and above the innate Teutonic lust for fighting and
adventures, simply for the sake of 'the sport.'

Dietrich went back, and from that day, the dream of eastern luxury was
broken, and young Dietrich was a Goth again, for good and for evil.

He assembled the Goths, and marched straight on Constantinople, burning
and pillaging as he went. So say, at least, the Greek historians, of
whom, all through this strange story, no one need believe more than he
likes. Had the Goths had the writing of the life of Dietrich, we should
have heard another tale. As it is, we have, as it were, a life of Lord
Clive composed by the court scribes of Delhi.

To no Roman would he tell what was in his mind. Five leagues from
Constantinople he paused. Some say that he had compassion on the city
where he had been brought up. Who can tell? He demanded to speak to
Zeno alone, and the father in arms and his wild son met once more. There
was still strong in him the old Teutonic feudal instinct. He was 'Zeno's
man,' in spite of all. He asked (says Jornandes) Zeno's leave to march
against Odoacer, and conquer Italy. Procopius and the Valesian Fragment
say that Zeno sent him, and that in case of success, he was to reign
there till Zeno came. Zeno was, no doubt, glad to get rid of him at any
price. As Ennodius well says, 'Another's honour made him remember his
own origin, and fear the very legions which obeyed him--for that
obedience is suspected which serves the unworthy.' Rome was only
nominally under Zeno's dominion; and it mattered little to him whether
Herule or Gothic adventurer called himself his representative.

Then was held a grand function. Dietrich, solemnly appointed
'Patrician,' had Italy ceded to him by a 'Pragmatic' sanction, and Zeno
placed on his head the sacrum ve