All dissensions were healed, and all opposition was subdued, by the temperate authority of the Roman general, to whom his enemies could not refuse their esteem; and Belisarius inculcated the salutary lesson that the forces of the state should compose one body, and be animated by one soul.

But in the interval of discord, the Goths were permitted to breathe; an important season was lost, Milan was destroyed, and the northern provinces of Italy were afflicted by an inundation of the Franks.
[Footnote 95: This transaction is related in the public history (Goth.
l.ii.c.

8) with candor or caution; in the Anecdotes (c.

7) with malevolence or freedom; but Marcellinus, or rather his continuator, (in Chron.,) casts a shade of premeditated assassination over the death of Constantine.

He had performed good service at Rome and Spoleto, (Procop.
Goth l.i.c.7, 14;) but Alemannus confounds him with a Constantianus comes stabuli.] [Footnote 96: They refused to serve after his departure; sold their captives and cattle to the Goths; and swore never to fight against them.
Procopius introduces a curious digression on the manners and adventures of this wandering nation, a part of whom finally emigrated to Thule or Scandinavia.