He assembled the Goths, and marched straight on Constantinople,
burning and pillaging as he went. So say, at least, the Greek
historians, of whom, all through this strange story, no one need
believe more than he likes. Had the Goths had the writing of the
life of Dietrich, we should have heard another tale. As it is, we
have, as it were, a life of Lord Clive composed by the court scribes
of Delhi.

To no Roman would he tell what was in his mind. Five leagues from
Constantinople he paused. Some say that he had compassion on the
city where he had been brought up. Who can tell? He demanded to
speak to Zeno alone, and the father in arms and his wild son met once
more. There was still strong in him the old Teutonic feudal
instinct. He was 'Zeno's man,' in spite of all. He asked (says
Jornandes) Zeno's leave to march against Odoacer, and conquer Italy.
Procopius and the Valesian Fragment say that Zeno sent him, and that
in case of success, he was to reign there till Zeno came. Zeno was,
no doubt, glad to get rid of him at any price. As Ennodius well
says, 'Another's honour made him remember his own origin, and fear
the very legions which obeyed him--for that obedience is suspected
which serves the unworthy.' Rome was only nominally under Zeno's
dominion; and it mattered little to him whether Herule or Gothic
adventurer called himself his representative.

Then was held a grand function. Dietrich, solemnly appointed
'Patrician,' had Italy ceded to him by a 'Pragmatic' sanction, and
Zeno placed on his head the sacrum velamen, a square of purple,
signifying in Constantinople things wonderful, august, imperial--if
they could only be made to come to pass. And he made them come to
pass. He gathered all Teutonic heroes of every tribe, as well as his