or THE ROMAN EMPIRE 253 whom he nad so long expected. At the head of a chosen and intrepid vanguard, StiUcho swam the stream of the Addua, to gain the time which he must have lost in the attack of the bridge ; the passage of the Po was an enterprise of much less hazard and difficulty ; and the successful action, in which he cut his way through the Gothic camp under the walls of Asta, revived the hopes, and vindicated the honour, of Rome. Instead of grasping the fruit of his victory, the Barbarian was gradually invested, on every side, by the troops of the West, who suc- cessively issued through all the passes of the Alps ; his quarters were straitened ; his convoys were intercepted ; and the vigilance of the Romans prepared to form a chain of fortifica- tions, and to besiege the lines of the besiegers, A military council was assembled of the long-haired chiefs of the Gothic nation ; of aged waiTiors, whose bodies were wrapped in furs, and whose stern countenances were marked with honourable wounds. They weighed the glory of persisting in their attempt against the advantage of securing their plunder ; and they recommended the prudent measure of a seasonable retreat. In this important debate, Alaric displayed the spirit of the conqueror of Rome ; and, after he had reminded his country- men of their achievements and of their designs, he concluded his animating speech by the solemn and positive assurance that he was resolved to find in Italy either a kingdom or a grave.*^ The loose discipline of the Barbarians always exposed them Battle of 11 (- .1. T/'iii PoUentla. to the danger oi a surprise ; but, mstead oi choosmg the dis- a.d. m solute hours of riot and intemperance, Stilicho resolved to [Apru e, attack the Christian Goths, whilst they were devoutly employed ' ' *'^ in celebrating the festival of Easter.*^ The execution of the stratagem, or, as it was termed by the clergy, of the sacrilege, was entrusted to Saul, a Barbarian and a Pagan, who had served, however, with distinguished reputation among the veteran generals of Theodosius. The camp of the Goths, which ^ Hanc ego vel victor regno vel morte tenebo Victus humum The speeches (de Bell. Get. 479-549) of the Gothic Nestor and Achilles are strong, characteristic, adapted to the circumstances, and possibly not less genuine than those of Livy. •1' Orosius (1. vii. c. 37) is shocked at the impiety of the Romans v-'ho attacked, on Easter Sunday, such pious Christians. Yet, at the same time, public prayers were offered at the shrine of St. Thomas of Edessa, for the destruction of the Arian robber. See Tillemont (Hist, des Emp. tom. v. p. 529), who quotes an homily, which has been erroneously ascribed to St. Chrysostom. [For date see Appendi.x 17.]
