Herfilialimpatiencewassecondedbythepiousbishop:
Theodoret，inaletterstillextant，recommendsMariatothebishopofAegae，amaritimecityofCilicia，whichwasfrequented，duringtheannualfair，bythevesselsoftheWest；
mostearnestlyrequesting，thathiscolleaguewouldusethemaidenwithatendernesssuitabletoherbirth；andthathewouldintrusthertothecareofsuchfaithfulmerchants，aswouldesteemitasufficientgain，iftheyrestoredadaughter，lostbeyondallhumanhope，tothearmsofherafflictedparent。
[Footnote42:Ruinartp。441—457hascollectedfromTheodoret，andotherauthors，themisfortunes，realandfabulous，oftheinhabitantsofCarthage。]
Amongtheinsipidlegendsofecclesiasticalhistory，IamtemptedtodistinguishthememorablefableoftheSevenSleepers；
^43whoseimaginarydatecorrespondswiththereignoftheyoungerTheodosius，andtheconquestofAfricabytheVandals。
^44WhentheemperorDeciuspersecutedtheChristians，sevennobleyouthsofEphesusconcealedthemselvesinaspaciouscaverninthesideofanadjacentmountain；wheretheyweredoomedtoperishbythetyrant，whogaveordersthattheentranceshouldbefirmlysecuredbytheapileofhugestones。Theyimmediatelyfellintoadeepslumber，whichwasmiraculouslyprolongedwithoutinjuringthepowersoflife，duringaperiodofonehundredandeighty—sevenyears。Attheendofthattime，theslavesofAdolius，towhomtheinheritanceofthemountainhaddescended，removedthestonestosupplymaterialsforsomerusticedifice:thelightofthesundartedintothecavern，andtheSevenSleeperswerepermittedtoawake。Afteraslumber，astheythoughtofafewhours，theywerepressedbythecallsofhunger；
andresolvedthatJamblichus，oneoftheirnumber，shouldsecretlyreturntothecitytopurchasebreadfortheuseofhiscompanions。Theyouthifwemaystillemploythatappellation
couldnolongerrecognizetheoncefamiliaraspectofhisnativecountry；andhissurprisewasincreasedbytheappearanceofalargecross，triumphantlyerectedovertheprincipalgateofEphesus。Hissingulardress，andobsoletelanguage，confoundedthebaker，towhomheofferedanancientmedalofDeciusasthecurrentcoinoftheempire；andJamblichus，onthesuspicionofasecrettreasure，wasdraggedbeforethejudge。Theirmutualinquiriesproducedtheamazingdiscovery，thattwocenturieswerealmostelapsedsinceJamblichusandhisfriendshadescapedfromtherageofaPagantyrant。ThebishopofEphesus，theclergy，themagistrates，thepeople，and，asitissaid，theemperorTheodosiushimself，hastenedtovisitthecavernoftheSevenSleepers；whobestowedtheirbenediction，relatedtheirstory，andatthesameinstantpeaceablyexpired。TheoriginofthismarvellousfablecannotbeascribedtothepiousfraudandcredulityofthemodernGreeks，sincetheauthentictraditionmaybetracedwithinhalfacenturyofthesupposedmiracle。JamesofSarug，aSyrianbishop，whowasbornonlytwoyearsafterthedeathoftheyoungerTheodosius，hasdevotedoneofhistwohundredandthirtyhomiliestothepraiseoftheyoungmenofEphesus。^45Theirlegend，beforetheendofthesixthcentury，wastranslatedfromtheSyriacintotheLatinlanguage，bythecareofGregoryofTours。ThehostilecommunionsoftheEastpreservetheirmemorywithequalreverence；andtheirnamesarehonorablyinscribedintheRoman，theAbyssinian，andtheRussiancalendar。^46NorhastheirreputationbeenconfinedtotheChristianworld。Thispopulartale，whichMahometmightlearnwhenhedrovehiscamelstothefairsofSyria，isintroducedasadivinerevelation，intotheKoran。^47ThestoryoftheSevenSleepershasbeenadoptedandadornedbythenations，fromBengaltoAfrica，whoprofesstheMahometanreligion；^48andsomevestigesofasimilartraditionhavebeendiscoveredintheremoteextremitiesofScandinavia。^49Thiseasyanduniversalbelief，soexpressiveofthesenseofmankind，maybeascribedtothegenuinemeritofthefableitself。Weimperceptiblyadvancefromyouthtoage，withoutobservingthegradual，butincessant，changeofhumanaffairs；andeveninourlargerexperienceofhistory，theimaginationisaccustomed，byaperpetualseriesofcausesandeffects，tounitethemostdistantrevolutions。Butiftheintervalbetweentwomemorableaerascouldbeinstantlyannihilated；ifitwerepossible，afteramomentaryslumberoftwohundredyears，todisplaythenewworldtotheeyesofaspectator，whostillretainedalivelyandrecentimpressionoftheold，hissurpriseandhisreflectionswouldfurnishthepleasingsubjectofaphilosophicalromance。Thescenecouldnotbemoreadvantageouslyplaced，thaninthetwocenturieswhichelapsedbetweenthereignsofDeciusandofTheodosiustheYounger。Duringthisperiod，theseatofgovernmenthadbeentransportedfromRometoanewcityonthebanksoftheThracianBosphorus；andtheabuseofmilitaryspirithadbeensuppressedbyanartificialsystemoftameandceremoniousservitude。ThethroneofthepersecutingDeciuswasfilledbyasuccessionofChristianandorthodoxprinces，whohadextirpatedthefabulousgodsofantiquity:andthepublicdevotionoftheagewasimpatienttoexaltthesaintsandmartyrsoftheCatholicchurch，onthealtarsofDianaandHercules。TheunionoftheRomanempirewasdissolved；itsgeniuswashumbledinthedust；andarmiesofunknownBarbarians，issuingfromthefrozenregionsoftheNorth，hadestablishedtheirvictoriousreignoverthefairestprovincesofEuropeandAfrica。
[Footnote43:Thechoiceoffabulouscircumstancesisofsmallimportance；yetIhaveconfinedmyselftothenarrativewhichwastranslatedfromtheSyriacbythecareofGregoryofTours，deGloriaMartyrum，l。i。c。95，inMax。BibliothecaPatrum，tom。
xi。p。856，totheGreekactsoftheirmartyrdomapudPhotium，p。1400，1401andtotheAnnalsofthePatriarchEutychius，tom。i。p。391，531，532，535，Vers。Pocock。]
[Footnote44:TwoSyriacwriters，astheyarequotedbyAssemanni，Bibliot。Oriental。tom。i。p。336，338，placetheresurrectionoftheSevenSleepersintheyear736A。D。425or748，A。D。437，oftheaeraoftheSeleucides。TheirGreekacts，whichPhotiushadread，assignthedateofthethirty—eighthyearofthereignofTheodosius，whichmaycoincideeitherwithA。D。
439，or446。TheperiodwhichhadelapsedsincethepersecutionofDeciusiseasilyascertained；andnothinglessthantheignoranceofMahomet，orthelegendaries，couldsupposeaninternalofthreeorfourhundredyears。]
[Footnote45:James，oneoftheorthodoxfathersoftheSyrianchurch，wasbornA。D。452；hebegantocomposehissermonsA。D。
474；hewasmadebishopofBatnae，inthedistrictofSarug，andprovinceofMesopotamia，A。D。519，anddiedA。D。521。
Assemanni，tom。i。p。288，289。ForthehomilydePuerisEphesinis，seep。335—339:thoughIcouldwishthatAssemannihadtranslatedthetextofJamesofSarug，insteadofansweringtheobjectionsofBaronius。]
[Footnote46:SeetheActaSanctorumoftheBollandists，MensisJulii，tom。vi。p。375—397。ThisimmensecalendarofSaints，inonehundredandtwenty—sixyears，1644—1770，andinfiftyvolumesinfolio，hasadvancednofurtherthanthe7thdayofOctober。ThesuppressionoftheJesuitshasmostprobablycheckedanundertaking，which，throughthemediumoffableandsuperstition，communicatesmuchhistoricalandphilosophicalinstruction。]
[Footnote47:SeeMaracciAlcoran。Suraxviii。tom。ii。p。420—
427，andtom。i。partiv。p。103。Withsuchanampleprivilege，Mahomethasnotshownmuchtasteoringenuity。HehasinventedthedogAlRakimtheSevenSleepers；therespectofthesun，whoalteredhiscoursetwiceaday，thathemightnotshineintothecavern；andthecareofGodhimself，whopreservedtheirbodiesfromputrefaction，byturningthemtotherightandleft。]
[Footnote48:SeeD\'Herbelot，BibliothequeOrientale，p。139；andRenaudot，Hist。Patriarch。Alexandrin。p。39，40。]
[Footnote49:Paul，thedeaconofAquileia，deGestisLangobardorum，l。i。c。4，p。745，746，edit。Grot。，wholivedtowardstheendoftheeightcentury，hasplacedinacavern，underarock，ontheshoreoftheocean，theSevenSleepersoftheNorth，whoselongreposewasrespectedbytheBarbarians。
TheirdressdeclaredthemtobeRomansandthedeaconconjectures，thattheywerereservedbyProvidenceasthefutureapostlesofthoseunbelievingcountries。]
ChapterXXXIV:Attila。
PartI。
TheCharacter，Conquests，AndCourtOfAttila，KingOfTheHuns。—DeathOfTheodosiusTheYounger。—ElevationOfMarcianToTheEmpireOfTheEast。
TheWesternworldwasoppressedbytheGothsandVandals，whofledbeforetheHuns；buttheachievementsoftheHunsthemselveswerenotadequatetotheirpowerandprosperity。
TheirvictorioushordeshadspreadfromtheVolgatotheDanube；
butthepublicforcewasexhaustedbythediscordofindependentchieftains；theirvalorwasidlyconsumedinobscureandpredatoryexcursions；andtheyoftendegradedtheirnationaldignity，bycondescending，forthehopesofspoil，toenlistunderthebannersoftheirfugitiveenemies。InthereignofAttila，^1theHunsagainbecametheterroroftheworld；andI
shallnowdescribethecharacterandactionsofthatformidableBarbarian；whoalternatelyinsultedandinvadedtheEastandtheWest，andurgedtherapiddownfalloftheRomanempire。
[Footnote1:TheauthenticmaterialsforthehistoryofAttila，maybefoundinJornandesdeRebusGeticis，c。34—50，p。
668—688，edit。Grot。andPriscusExcerptadeLegationibus，p。
33—76，Paris，1648。IhavenotseentheLivesofAttila，composedbyJuvencusCaeliusCalanusDalmatinus，inthetwelfthcentury，orbyNicholasOlahus，archbishopofGran，inthesixteenth。SeeMascou\'sHistoryoftheGermans，ix。，andMaffeiOsservazioniLitterarie，tom。i。p。88，89。WhateverthemodernHungarianshaveaddedmustbefabulous；andtheydonotseemtohaveexcelledintheartoffiction。Theysuppose，thatwhenAttilainvadedGaulandItaly，marriedinnumerablewives，&c。，hewasonehundredandtwentyyearsofage。ThewroczChron。c。i。p。
22，inScript。Hunger。tom。i。p。76。]
InthetideofemigrationwhichimpetuouslyrolledfromtheconfinesofChinatothoseofGermany，themostpowerfulandpopuloustribesmaycommonlybefoundonthevergeoftheRomanprovinces。Theaccumulatedweightwassustainedforawhilebyartificialbarriers；andtheeasycondescensionoftheemperorsinvited，withoutsatisfying，theinsolentdemandsoftheBarbarians，whohadacquiredaneagerappetitefortheluxuriesofcivilizedlife。TheHungarians，whoambitiouslyinsertthenameofAttilaamongtheirnativekings，mayaffirmwithtruththatthehordes，whichweresubjecttohisuncleRoas，orRugilas，hadformedtheirencampmentswithinthelimitsofmodernHungary，^2inafertilecountry，whichliberallysuppliedthewantsofanationofhuntersandshepherds。Inthisadvantageoussituation，Rugilas，andhisvaliantbrothers，whocontinuallyaddedtotheirpowerandreputation，commandedthealternativeofpeaceorwarwiththetwoempires。HisalliancewiththeRomansoftheWestwascementedbyhispersonalfriendshipforthegreatAetius；whowasalwayssecureoffinding，intheBarbariancamp，ahospitablereceptionandapowerfulsupport。Athissolicitation，andinthenameofJohntheusurper，sixtythousandHunsadvancedtotheconfinesofItaly；theirmarchandtheirretreatwerealikeexpensivetothestate；andthegratefulpolicyofAetiusabandonedthepossessionofPannoniatohisfaithfulconfederates。TheRomansoftheEastwerenotlessapprehensiveofthearmsofRugilas，whichthreatenedtheprovinces，oreventhecapital。SomeecclesiasticalhistorianshavedestroyedtheBarbarianswithlightningandpestilence；^3
butTheodosiuswasreducedtothemorehumbleexpedientofstipulatinganannualpaymentofthreehundredandfiftypoundsofgold，andofdisguisingthisdishonorabletributebythetitleofgeneral，whichthekingoftheHunscondescendedtoaccept。
ThepublictranquillitywasfrequentlyinterruptedbythefierceimpatienceoftheBarbarians，andtheperfidiousintriguesoftheByzantinecourt。Fourdependentnations，amongwhomwemaydistinguishtheBarbarians，disclaimedthesovereigntyoftheHuns；andtheirrevoltwasencouragedandprotectedbyaRomanalliance；tillthejustclaims，andformidablepower，ofRugilas，wereeffectuallyurgedbythevoiceofEslawhisambassador。
Peacewastheunanimouswishofthesenate:theirdecreewasratifiedbytheemperor；andtwoambassadorswerenamed，Plinthas，ageneralofScythianextraction，butofconsularrank；
andthequaestorEpigenes，awiseandexperiencedstatesman，whowasrecommendedtothatofficebyhisambitiouscolleague。
[Footnote2:HungaryhasbeensuccessivelyoccupiedbythreeScythiancolonies。1。TheHunsofAttila；2。TheAbares，inthesixthcentury；and，3。TheTurksorMagiars，A。D。889；theimmediateandgenuineancestorsofthemodernHungarians，whoseconnectionwiththetwoformerisextremelyfaintandremote。
TheProdromusandNotitiaofMatthewBeliusappeartocontainarichfundofinformationconcerningancientandmodernHungary。I
haveseentheextractsinBibliothequeAncienneetModerne，tom。
xxii。p。1—51，andBibliothequeRaisonnee，tom。xvi。p。127—
175。
Note:MailathinhisGeschichtederMagyarenconsidersthequestionoftheoriginoftheMagyarsasstillundecided。TheoldHungarianchroniclesunanimouslyderivedthemfromtheHunsofAttilaSeenote，vol。iv。pp。341，342。Thelateropinion，adoptedbySchlozer，Belnay，andDankowsky，ascribesthem，fromtheirlanguage，totheFinnishrace。Fessler，inhishistoryofHungary，agreeswithGibboninsupposingthemTurks。MailathhasinsertedaningeniousdissertationofFejer，whichattemptstoconnectthemwiththeParthians。Vol。i。Ammerkungenp。50—M。]
[Footnote3:Socrates，l。vii。c。43。Theodoret，l。v。c。36。
Tillemont，whoalwaysdependsonthefaithofhisecclesiasticalauthors，strenuouslycontendsHist。desEmp。tom。vi。p。136，607thatthewarsandpersonageswerenotthesame。]
ThedeathofRugilassuspendedtheprogressofthetreaty。
Histwonephews，AttilaandBleda，whosucceededtothethroneoftheiruncle，consentedtoapersonalinterviewwiththeambassadorsofConstantinople；butastheyproudlyrefusedtodismount，thebusinesswastransactedonhorseback，inaspaciousplainnearthecityofMargus，intheUpperMaesia。ThekingsoftheHunsassumedthesolidbenefits，aswellasthevainhonors，ofthenegotiation。Theydictatedtheconditionsofpeace，andeachconditionwasaninsultonthemajestyoftheempire。
BesidesthefreedomofasafeandplentifulmarketonthebanksoftheDanube，theyrequiredthattheannualcontributionshouldbeaugmentedfromthreehundredandfiftytosevenhundredpoundsofgold；thatafineorransomofeightpiecesofgoldshouldbepaidforeveryRomancaptivewhohadescapedfromhisBarbarianmaster；thattheemperorshouldrenouncealltreatiesandengagementswiththeenemiesoftheHuns；andthatallthefugitiveswhohadtakenrefugeinthecourtorprovincesofTheodosius，shouldbedeliveredtothejusticeoftheiroffendedsovereign。Thisjusticewasrigorouslyinflictedonsomeunfortunateyouthsofaroyalrace。Theywerecrucifiedontheterritoriesoftheempire，bythecommandofAttila:andassoonasthekingoftheHunshadimpressedtheRomanswiththeterrorofhisname，heindulgedtheminashortandarbitraryrespite，whilsthesubduedtherebelliousorindependentnationsofScythiaandGermany。^4
[Footnote4:SeePriscus，p。47，48，andHist。dePeuplesdel\'Europe，tom。v。i。c。xii，xiii，xiv，xv。]
Attila，thesonofMundzuk，deducedhisnoble，perhapshisregal，descent^5fromtheancientHuns，whohadformerlycontendedwiththemonarchsofChina。Hisfeatures，accordingtotheobservationofaGothichistorian，borethestampofhisnationalorigin；andtheportraitofAttilaexhibitsthegenuinedeformityofamodernCalmuk；^6alargehead，aswarthycomplexion，small，deep—seatedeyes，aflatnose，afewhairsintheplaceofabeard，broadshoulders，andashortsquarebody，ofnervousstrength，thoughofadisproportionedform。ThehaughtystepanddemeanorofthekingoftheHunsexpressedtheconsciousnessofhissuperiorityabovetherestofmankind；andhehadacustomoffiercelyrollinghiseyes，asifhewishedtoenjoytheterrorwhichheinspired。Yetthissavageherowasnotinaccessibletopity；hissuppliantenemiesmightconfideintheassuranceofpeaceorpardon；andAttilawasconsideredbyhissubjectsasajustandindulgentmaster。Hedelightedinwar；
but，afterhehadascendedthethroneinamatureage，hishead，ratherthanhishand，achievedtheconquestoftheNorth；andthefameofanadventuroussoldierwasusefullyexchangedforthatofaprudentandsuccessfulgeneral。Theeffectsofpersonalvaloraresoinconsiderable，exceptinpoetryorromance，thatvictory，evenamongBarbarians，mustdependonthedegreeofskillwithwhichthepassionsofthemultitudearecombinedandguidedfortheserviceofasingleman。TheScythianconquerors，AttilaandZingis，surpassedtheirrudecountrymeninartratherthanincourage；anditmaybeobservedthatthemonarchies，bothoftheHunsandoftheMoguls，wereerectedbytheirfoundersonthebasisofpopularsuperstitionThemiraculousconception，whichfraudandcredulityascribedtothevirgin—motherofZingis，raisedhimabovethelevelofhumannature；andthenakedprophet，whointhenameoftheDeityinvestedhimwiththeempireoftheearth，pointedthevaloroftheMogulswithirresistibleenthusiasm。^7ThereligiousartsofAttilawerenotlessskillfullyadaptedtothecharacterofhisageandcountry。
ItwasnaturalenoughthattheScythiansshouldadore，withpeculiardevotion，thegodofwar；butastheywereincapableofformingeitheranabstractidea，oracorporealrepresentation，theyworshippedtheirtutelardeityunderthesymbolofanironcimeter。^8OneoftheshepherdsoftheHunsperceived，thataheifer，whowasgrazing，hadwoundedherselfinthefoot，andcuriouslyfollowedthetrackoftheblood，tillhediscovered，amongthelonggrass，thepointofanancientsword，whichhedugoutofthegroundandpresentedtoAttila。Thatmagnanimous，orratherthatartful，princeaccepted，withpiousgratitude，thiscelestialfavor；and，astherightfulpossessoroftheswordofMars，assertedhisdivineandindefeasibleclaimtothedominionoftheearth。^9IftheritesofScythiawerepractisedonthissolemnoccasion，aloftyaltar，orratherpileoffagots，threehundredyardsinlengthandinbreadth，wasraisedinaspaciousplain；andtheswordofMarswasplacederectonthesummitofthisrusticaltar，whichwasannuallyconsecratedbythebloodofsheep，horses，andofthehundredthcaptive。^10WhetherhumansacrificesformedanypartoftheworshipofAttila，orwhetherhepropitiatedthegodofwarwiththevictimswhichhecontinuallyofferedinthefieldofbattle，thefavoriteofMarssoonacquiredasacredcharacter，whichrendedhisconquestsmoreeasyandmorepermanent；andtheBarbarianprincesconfessed，inthelanguageofdevotionorflattery，thattheycouldnotpresumetogaze，withasteadyeye，onthedivinemajestyofthekingoftheHuns。^11HisbrotherBleda，whoreignedoveraconsiderablepartofthenation，wascompelledtoresignhissceptreandhislife。Yeteventhiscruelactwasattributedtoasupernaturalimpulse；andthevigorwithwhichAttilawieldedtheswordofMars，convincedtheworldthatithadbeenreservedaloneforhisinvinciblearm。^12Buttheextentofhisempireaffordstheonlyremainingevidenceofthenumberandimportanceofhisvictories；