JORDANES

THE ORIGIN AND DEEDS OF THE GOTHS

551 AD

translated by Charles C. Mierow

Princeton University Press, 1915

Conclusion

And now we have recited the origin of the Goths, the noble line of the Amali
and the deeds of brave men. This glorious race yielded to a more glorious prince
and surrendered to a more valiant leader, whose fame shall be silenced by no ages
or cycles of years; for the victorious and triumphant Emperor Justinian and his
consul Belisarius shall be named and known as Vandalicus, Africanus and Geticus.

Thou who readest this, know that I have followed the writings of my ancestors,
and have culled a few flowers from their broad meadows to weave a chaplet for
him who cares to know these things. Let no one believe that to the advantage of
the race of which I have spoken–though indeed I trace my own descent from it–I
have added aught besides what I have read or learned by inquiry. Even thus I have
not included all that is written or told about them, nor spoken so much to their
praise as to the glory of him who conquered them.