18.28. 28. Of Adoption among the Germans.
As the Germans became of age by
the wielding of arms, so they were adopted by the same sign. Thus
Gontram, willing to declare his nephew Childebert of age and to adopt
him for his son, made use of these words: "I have put this javelin into
thy hands as a token that I have given thee all my kingdom."
[51]
Then, turning towards the assembly, he added, "You see that my son Childebert
is grown a man; obey him." Theodoric, king of the Ostrogoths, intending
to adopt the king of the Heruli, wrote to him thus:
[52]
"It is a noble custom of ours to be adopted by arms; for men of courage alone deserve
to be our children. Such is the efficacy of this act, that whoever is
the object of it had rather die than submit to anything ignominious.
Therefore, in compliance with the national usage, and because you are a
man of courage, we adopt you for our son by these bucklers, these
swords, these horses, which we send you as a present."
Footnotes
[52]
In "Cassiodorus," lib. iv, ep. 2.
