74. With regard to the cause and circumstances of the deaths
of Aetius and Valentinian, our information is dark and
imperfect. Procopius (de Bell. Vandal. l. i. c. 4, p. 186,
187, 188 [tom. i. p. 327-331, ed. Bonn]) is a fabulous
writer for the events which precede his own memory. His
narrative must therefore be supplied and corrected by five
or six Chronicles, none of which were composed in Rome or
Italy, and which can only express, in broken sentences, the
popular rumours as they were conveyed to Gaul, Spain,
Africa, Constantinople, or Alexandria.