not true, particularly with regard to the many prodigies
forerunning my death. However, they are now very little worth
disputing; and if they can serve any purpose of the historian
they are extremely at his service. "My next entrance into the
world was at Laodicea, in Syria, in a Roman family of no great
note; and, being of a roving disposition, I came at the age of
seventeen to Constantinople, where, after about a year's stay, I
set out for Thrace, at the time when the emperor Valens admitted
the Goths into that country. I was there so captivated with the
beauty of a Gothic lady, the wife of one Rodoric, a captain,
whose name, out of the most delicate tenderness for her lovely
sex, I shall even at this distance conceal; since her behavior to
me was more consistent with good-nature than with that virtue
which women are obliged to preserve against every assailant. In
order to procure an intimacy with this woman I sold myself a
slave to her husband, who, being of a nation not over-inclined to
jealousy, presented me to his wife, for those very reasons which
would have induced one of a jealous complexion to have withheld
me from her, namely, for that I was young and handsome.

"Matters succeeded so far according to my wish, and the sequel
answered those hopes which this beginning had raised. I soon
perceived my service was very acceptable to her; I often met her
eyes, nor did she withdraw them without a confusion which is
scarce consistent with entire purity of heart. Indeed, she gave
me every day fresh encouragement; but the unhappy distance which
circumstances had placed between us deterred me long from making
any direct attack; and she was too strict an observer of decorum
to violate the severe rules of modesty by advancing first; but
passion at last got the better of my respect, and I resolved to