Opera Omnia Vol. II: Vandal & Gothic Wars

For I believe that even human matters are not precisely graspable by man, let alone those pertaining to the nature of God. 7. For my part, let these things be silenced without risk, solely for the reason that those things which are honored should not be doubted. 8. For I would say nothing else about God at all, except that He is entirely good and holds all things within His own power. 9. Let everyone, both priest and layman, speak as they think they know about these things. Meanwhile, Theodatus met with these envoys in secret and instructed them to report to the Emperor Justinian all that he had planned, declaring everything that I have just revealed.

10. In the meantime, Atalaricus Athalaric had fallen into a state of drunkenness and was seized by a wasting disease. 11. Because of this, Amalasuntha was perplexed. She had no confidence in the judgment of the boy, who had been driven to such absurdity, and she did not believe that if Atalaricus Athalaric were taken from among men a euphemism for death, her life would be secure thereafter, having offended the most distinguished of the Goths. 12. Therefore, she wanted to hand over the power of the Goths and Italians to the Emperor Justinian so that she might be saved. 13. It happened that Alexander, a man of the council, had arrived there along with Demetrius and Hypatius. 14. For when the Emperor heard that Amalasuntha’s ship was anchored in the harbor of Epidamnus, and that she was still delaying despite the passage of much time, he sent...