139. A famine, which afflicted Italy at the time of the
irruption of Odoacer, king of the Heruli, is eloquently
described in prose and verse by a French poet (Les Mois,
tom. ii. p. l74,206, edit. in 12mo.). I am ignorant from
whence he derives his information; but I am well assured
that he relates some facts incompatible with the truth of
history.