When we compare the date of the last siege with that of this, and
glance over the events which had taken place between them, we feel
great surprise that no siege of Rome should have intervened. It would
appear that the Eternal City was guarded by some supernatural power,
through shocks and changes of empires, from feeling convulsions, of
which it really was the centre. Through the period of the empire,
Rome may be said never to have been invaded by a foreign enemy, or by
its own children in revolt. The empire changed masters, at times, as
a conjurer shifts his balls, and men of all countries occupied its
throne; but, in all these revolutions, Rome itself was held sacred.
Alaric, king of the Goths, entered Italy, and advanced towards Rome to
lay siege to it. On his route, a pious solitary came to throw himself
at his feet, imploring him with tears to spare that city, which had
become the centre of the Christian world. “Rather,” replied the prince,
“it is not my will that leads me on; I incessantly hear a voice in my
ears, which cries--‘On, Alaric, on! and sack Rome!’” He reduced it to
the most frightful extremity, by closing every passage for provisions,
and by making himself master of the navigation of the Tiber. Pestilence
was soon added to famine. Rome was nothing but one vast cemetery: it
became necessary to treat with the king of the Goths.
The deputies of Rome declared that the Roman people were willing to
accept peace upon reasonable conditions; but rather than its glory
should be stained, they would give battle. “Very good!” replied Alaric,
with a loud laugh; “it is never so easy to cut the hay as when the
grass is thickest!” They were forced to lay aside their ancient pride,
and submit to circumstances. The conqueror ordered them to bring to
him all the gold, silver, valuable furniture, and foreign slaves that
were in the city. “And what will you leave, then, to the inhabitants?”
asked the deputies. “Life!” replied Alaric. After long contestations,
it was agreed that Rome should pay five thousand pounds weight of gold,
thirty thousand pounds weight of silver, four thousand silken tunics,
three thousand skins coloured scarlet, three thousand pounds weight
of spices, and, as hostages, give up the children of the most noble
citizens. When these conditions were complied with, the king of the
Goths raised the siege.