aric. [81]

[Footnote 79: Pepper was a favorite ingredient of the most expensive
Roman cookery, and the best sort commonly sold for fifteen denarii,
or ten shillings, the pound. See Pliny, Hist. Natur. xii. 14. It was
brought from India; and the same country, the coast of Malabar, still
affords the greatest plenty: but the improvement of trade and navigation
has multiplied the quantity and reduced the price. See Histoire
Politique et Philosophique, &c., tom. i. p. 457.]

[Footnote 80: This Gothic chieftain is called by Jornandes and Isidore,
Athaulphus; by Zosimus and Orosius, Ataulphus; and by Olympiodorus,
Adaoulphus. I have used the celebrated name of Adolphus, which seems to
be authorized by the practice of the Swedes, the sons or brothers of the
ancient Goths.]

[Footnote 81: The treaty between Alaric and the Romans, &c., is taken
from Zosimus, l. v. p. 354, 355, 358, 359, 362, 363. The additional
circumstances are too few and trifling to require any other quotation.]

Chapter XXXI: Invasion Of Italy, Occupation Of Territories By
Barbarians.--Part III.

At the distance of fourteen centuries, we may be satisfied with relating
the military exploits of the conquerors of Rome, without presuming to
investigate the motives of their political conduct. In the midst of
his apparent prosperity, Alaric was conscious, perhaps, of some secret
weakness, some internal defect; or perhaps the moderation which he
displayed, was intended only to deceive and disarm the easy credulity
of the ministers of Honorius. The king of the Goths repeatedly declared,
that it was his desire to be considered as the friend of peace, and
of the Romans. Three senators, at his earnest request, were sent
ambassadors to the court of Ravenna, to solicit the exchange of
hostages, and the conclusion of the treaty; and the proposals, which he
more clearly expressed during the course of the negotiations, could only
inspire a doubt of his sincerity, as they might seem inadequate to
the state of his fortune. The Barbarian still aspired to the rank
of master-general of the armies of the West; he stipulated an annual
subsidy of corn and money; and he chose the provinces of Dalmatia,
Noricum, and Venetia, for the seat of his new kingdom, which would have
commanded the important communication between Italy and the Danube. If
these modest terms should be rejected, Alaric showed a disposition to
relinquish his pecuniary demands, and even to content himself