6.  What instances of savage cruelty were exhibited by the murderers of Rufinus?

7.  Did Stilicho derive any advantage from the death of his rival?

8.  What rivalry broke out between the subjects of the eastern and western empire?

9.  How did the revolt of Gildo in Africa end?

10.  Why did the Goths attack the eastern empire?

11.  How did the Gothic invasion of Greece end?

12.  Did the western emperor display any courage when Italy was invaded?

13.  How was Honorius saved from ruin?

14.  Was this defeat destructive of the Gothic power?

15.  Where did Honorius fix the seat of his government?

16.  What new hordes invaded Italy?

17.  Why were the northern barbarians more formidable than the Goths?

18.  How was Florence saved?

19.  On what occasion was a subsidy voted to Alaric?

20.  Who conspired against Stilicho?

21.  In what manner was Stilicho slain?

SECTION II.

      Time’s immortal garlands twine
  O’er desolation’s mournful shrine. 
  Like youth’s embrace around decline.—­Malcolm.

1.  Al’aric, posted on the confines of Italy, watched the distractions of the peninsula with secret joy; he had been unwisely irritated by the delay of the subsidy which had formerly been promised him, and when payment was finally refused, he once more led his followers into Italy.

[Sidenote:  A.D. 408.]

2.  The feeble successors of Stil’icho had made no preparations for resistance; they retired with their master into the fortress of Raven’na, while the Goths, spreading ruin in their march, advanced to the very walls of Rome.  Six hundred years had now elapsed since an enemy had appeared to threaten THE ETERNAL CITY; a worse foe than Hannibal was now at their gates, and the citizens were more disabled by luxury from attempting a defence, than their ancestors had been by the carnage of Can’nae.[1] 3.  The strength of the walls deterred the Goth from attempting a regular siege, but he subjected the city to a strict blockade.  Famine, and its usual attendant, pestilence, soon began to waste the miserable Romans; but even the extreme of misery could not induce them to sally forth, and try their fortune in the field.  They purchased the retreat of Al’aric by the sacrifice of their wealth; and the victorious Goth formed his winter quarters in Tuscany, where his army was reinforced by more than forty thousand of his countrymen who had been enslaved by the Romans.