[The year 409. The Roman senators visit Alaric the Goth to sue for peace.]
When they were introduced into his presence, they declared, perhaps in a more lofty style than
became their abject condition, that the Romans were resolved to maintain their dignity, either in peace or war; and that, if Alaric refused them a fair and honourable capitulation,
he might sound his trumpets, and prepare to give battle to an innumerable people, exercised in arms and animated by despair. The thicker the hay, the easier it is mowed,
was the concise reply of the barbarian; and this rustic metaphor was accompanied by a loud and insulting laugh, expressive of his contempt for the menaces of an unwarlike populace, enervated by luxury before they were emaciated by famine. He then condescended to fix the ransom which he would accept as the
price of his retreat from the walls of Rome: all the gold and silver in the city, whether it were the property of the state or of individuals; all the rich and precious moveables; and all the slaves who could prove their title to the name of barbarians. The ministers of the senate presumed to ask, in modest and suppliant tone, "If such, O king! are your demands, what do you intend to leave us?" "YOUR LIVES," replied the haughty conqueror: they trembled and retired.
[Alaric then demanded land for his people, but the Roman emperor unwisely did not grant it. Alaric returned and sacked Rome.]
--From Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire (pub. 1776-1781), chapter 31, by Edward Gibbon (1737-1794)
Was not "ransom", was the long time due payment for protecting (according to the signed Treaty) the Northern border of the Roman Empire unpaid for years.
Legitimate compensation - like it or no, sorry!
Posted by: geo | 06 March 2022 at 01:21
Did not know this! Thank you! Guess I need to reread my Gibbon. Or do you have a new book you recommend?
Posted by: Sedulia | 14 March 2022 at 22:09