OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE.

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the Goths , by the memory of'the wars, which, inthe preceding century, they had maintained withunequal forces against the invaders of theircountry. They were connected with the Ro-mans, by the mutual benefits of commerce; asthey were supplied from the provinces of Asia with corn and manufactures, which they pur-chased with their only productions, salt, wax,and hides. Obedient to the requisition of Con-stantine, they prepared, under the conduct oftheir magistrate Diogenes , a considerable army,of which the principal strength consisted incross-bows and military chariots. The speedymarch and intrepid attack of the Chersonites, bydiverting the attention of the Goths , assisted theoperations of the imperial generals. The Goths ,vanquished on every side, were driven into themountains, where, in the course of a severe cam-paign, above an hundred thousand were com-puted to have perished by cold and hunger.Peace was at length granted to their humblesupplications ; the eldest son of Araric was ac-cepted as the most valuable hostage; and Con-stantine endeavoured to convince their chiefs,by a liberal distribution of honours and rewards,how far the friendship of the Romans was pre-ferable to their enmity. In the expressions ofhis gratitude towards the faithful Chersonites,the emperor was still more magnificent. Thepride of the nation was gratified by the splendidand almost royal decorations bestowed on theirmagistrate and his successors. A perpetualexemption from all duties was stipulated fortheir vessels which traded to the ports of the

CHAP.

XVIII.