presume
upon their own well-known valour[701]. For it is inevitable that the
character of the ruler should in some degree influence the reputation
of the whole people.

[Footnote 701: 'Ut de ejus fama laboraret quamvis de propria virtute
praesumeret.' I have translated as if 'laboraret' and 'praesumeret'
were in the plural, and even so, find it difficult to get a
satisfactory meaning out of these words.]

'But, as ye have heard, called forth by the dangers of my kindred, I
was ready to undergo with them one common fate; but they would not
suffer me to continue a mere General, feeling that they needed a
veteran King. Wherefore now accept first the Divine decree, and then
the judgment of the Goths, since it is your unanimous wish which makes
me King. Lay aside then the fear of disaster: cast off the suspicion
of further losses: fear no rude strokes of fate under our dominion. We
who have ridden so oft to war have learned to love valiant men.
Associated in all things with your labours, I have been myself a
witness to the brave deeds of each of you, and need no other evidence
of your worth. By no fraudulent variations between my public and
private negotiations shall the might of the Gothic arms be
broken[702]. Everything that we do shall have respect to the welfare
of our whole people: in private we will not even love. We promise to
follow those courses which shall adorn the royal name. Finally, we
undertake that our rule shall in all things be such as becomes a
Gothic King, the successor of the renowned Theodoric--that man who was
so rarely and so nobly qualified by Nature for the cares of royalty;
that man of whom it may be truly said that every other Sovereign is
illustrious in so far as he loves _his_ counsels. Therefore he who
succeeds in imitating the deeds of Theodoric ought to be considered as
belonging to his line. Thus then, manifest your anxious care for the
welfare of our kingdom, while your hearts are at ease, through God's
goodness, as to our internal security.'

[Footnote 702: 'Arma Gothorum nulla promissionum mearum varietate
frangenda sunt.' An evident allusion to the treacherous and
unpatriotic diplomacy of Theodahad, as described by Procopius.]

32. KING WITIGIS TO THE EMPEROR JUSTINIAN.

[Sidenote: Overtures for peace with the Empire.]

'How much, oh most clement Emperor, we long for the sweetness of your
favour, may be understood from this fact alone, that after such
serious injuries and such