n of charming manners, of distinguished merit, a soldier
with honourable scars--who even while absent in his Praefecture has
received the _fasces_ and a patrimony from her.

[Footnote 723: No doubt the same Liberius who nobly defended the
character of Amalasuentha at the Court of Justinian (Procopius, De
Bello Gotthico i. 4). Apparently he was made Consul, but his name does
not appear in the Fasti at this time.]

'What can I say of her strength of mind and tenacity of purpose, in
which she excels even philosophers? I speak of this from my own
experience. You know, oh Conscript Fathers, what influences were
arrayed against me[724]. Neither gold nor the prayers of great men
availed: all things were tried, and tried in vain, to prove the
glorious constancy of that wisest Lady.

[Footnote 724: Probably to prevent his obtaining the Praefecture.]

[Sidenote: Virtues of the Amal Kings.]

'And here the rules of rhetoric would require me to compare her with a
long line of Empresses in the past. But if men cannot vie with her
glory, what is the use of adducing female examples? If we look at the
Royal Cohort of her ancestors, we shall see that she, like a pure
mirror, reflects all their excellences. For Amal[725] was conspicuous
for his good fortune, Ostrogotha for his patience, Athal for mildness,
Munitarius [Winithar] for justice, Unimund for beauty, Thorismuth for
chastity, Unalamer [Walamir] for faith, Theudimer for warmth of
heart[726], and Theodoric, the renowned father of Amalasuentha, as ye
have all seen, for patience. Each of these would recognise in her his
own special attribute, but all would acknowledge that in these very
attributes they are excelled by her.

[Footnote 725: This and the following names belong to the ancestors of
Amalasuentha, and are found with slight variations in the treatise of
Jordanes on the History of the Goths, which was founded on a similar
treatise by Cassiodorus.]

[Footnote 726: 'Pietate Theudimer.']

'You will now perhaps expect me to praise our young King, but in
extolling the author of his being, I have abundantly extolled him, her
offspring. You will remember that excellent saying of the eloquent
Symmachus, "I hesitate to praise the beginning of his career because I
am confidently hoping for his advance in virtue[727]." Come to my
help, Conscript Fathers, and render to your Lords and mine your united
thanks for my promotion.'

[Footnote 727: 'Specto feliciter virtutis ejus aug