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History of the Franks

St Gregory of Tours, tr. Dalton, 1927

Book 3, 9. How Childebert Went to Auvergne

While Theuderic was still in Thuringia, the rumour spread at Clermont that he had been slain. Arcadius, a man of senatorial family in the city, invited Childebert to take possession of Auvergne. The king without delay set forth for Clermont. On that day there was so thick a mist that nothing could be seen at a greater distance than a few yards. He had been wont to say: ‘Fain would I see with my own eyes the Limagne of Auvergne which men call so bright and so gay.’ But God did not grant him the fulfilment of his wish. The city gates were closed, and there was no way of ingress open to him, till Arcadius cut through the bar of one gate and gave him admittance to the town. While this was happening, news was brought that Theuderic was not dead, but had returned out of Thuringia.