Whether the slave is killed or stolen, the indemnity does not change, for the injury is the same; but the indemnity increases or diminishes according to the value of the serf.

In all these particulars Germanic slavery and Roman servitude are alike." This similarity is worthy of notice.

Slavery is always the same, whether in a Roman villa or on a Barbarian farm.

The man, like the ox and the ass, is a part of the live-stock; a price is set upon his head; he is a tool without a conscience, a chattel without personality, an impeccable, irresponsible being, who has neither rights nor duties.
Why did his condition improve?
"In good season..." [when ?] "the serf began to be regarded as a man; and, as such, the law of the Visigoths, under the influence of Christian ideas, punished with fine or banishment any one who maimed or killed him." Always Christianity, always religion, though we should like to speak of the laws only.

Did the philanthropy of the Visigoths make its first appearance before or after the preaching of the Gospel?
This point must be cleared up.
"After the conquest, the serfs were scattered over the large estates of the Barbarians, each having his house, his lot, and his peculium, in return for which he paid rent and performed service.