singular talent of explaining, in their native tongue,
the dictates of reason and equity. The diligence and affability of their
judge rendered him popular, the impartial wisdom of his decrees obtained
their voluntary obedience, and the reign of Syagrius over the Franks and
Burgundians seemed to revive the original institution of civil society.
[16] In the midst of these peaceful occupations, Syagrius received,
and boldly accepted, the hostile defiance of Clovis; who challenged his
rival in the spirit, and almost in the language, of chivalry, to appoint
the day and the field [17] of battle. In the time of Caesar Soissons
would have poured forth a body of fifty thousand horse and such an
army might have been plentifully supplied with shields, cuirasses, and
military engines, from the three arsenals or manufactures of the city.
[18] But the courage and numbers of the Gallic youth were long since
exhausted; and the loose bands of volunteers, or mercenaries, who
marched under the standard of Syagrius, were incapable of contending
with the national valor of the Franks. It would be ungenerous without
some more accurate knowledge of his strength and resources, to condemn
the rapid flight of Syagrius, who escaped, after the loss of a battle,
to the distant court of Thoulouse. The feeble minority of Alaric could
not assist or protect an unfortunate fugitive; the pusillanimous [19]
Goths were intimidated by the menaces of Clovis; and the Roman
king, after a short confinement, was delivered into the hands of the
executioner. The Belgic cities surrendered to the king of the Franks;
and his dominions were enlarged towards the East by the ample diocese of
Tongres [20] which Clovis subdued in the tenth year of his reign.

[Footnote 14: M. Biet (in a Dissertation which deserved the prize of the
Academy of Soissons, p. 178-226,) has accurately defined the nature and
extent of the kingdom of Syagrius and his father; but he too readily
allows the slight evidence of Dubos (tom. ii. p. 54-57) to deprive him
of Beauvais and Amiens.]

[Footnote 15: I may observe that Fredegarius, in his epitome of Gregory
of Tours, (tom. ii. p. 398,) has prudently substituted the name of
Patricius for the incredible title of Rex Romanorum.]

[Footnote 16: Sidonius, (l. v. Epist. 5, in tom. i. p. 794,) who styles
him the Solon, the Amphion, of the Barbarians, addresses this imaginary
king in the tone of friendship and equality. From such offices of
arbitratio