andtheScythianmonarch，howeverignorantofthevalueofscienceandphilosophy，mightperhapslamentthathisilliteratesubjectsweredestituteoftheartwhichcouldperpetuatethememoryofhisexploits。
[Footnote5:Priscus，p。39。ThemodernHungarianshavededucedhisgenealogy，whichascends，inthethirty—fifthdegree，toHam，thesonofNoah；yettheyareignorantofhisfather\'srealname。
DeGuignes，Hist。desHuns，tom。ii。p。297。]
[Footnote6:CompareJornandesc。35，p。661withBuffon，Hist。
Naturelle，tom。iii。p。380。Theformerhadarighttoobserve，originissuaesiguarestituens。ThecharacterandportraitofAttilaareprobablytranscribedfromCassiodorus。]
[Footnote7:Abulpharag。Pocock，p。281。GenealogicalHistoryoftheTartars，byAbulghaziBahaderKhan，partiiic。15，partivc。3。ViedeGengiscan，parPetitdelaCroix，l。1，c。1，6。
Therelationsofthemissionaries，whovisitedTartaryinthethirteenthcentury，seetheseventhvolumeoftheHistoiredesVoyages，expressthepopularlanguageandopinions；ZingisisstyledthesonofGod，&c。&c。]
[Footnote8:Nectemplumapudeosvisitur，autdelubrum，netuguriumquidemculmotectumcerniusquampotest；sedgladiusBarbaricorituhumifigiturnudus，eumqueutMartemregionumquascircumcircantpraesulemverecundiuscolunt。Ammian。Marcellin。
xxxi。2，andthelearnedNotesofLindenbrogiusandValesius。]
[Footnote9:Priscusrelatesthisremarkablestory，bothinhisowntextp。65andinthequotationmadebyJornandes，c。35，p。662。Hemighthaveexplainedthetradition，orfable，whichcharacterizedthisfamoussword，andthename，aswellasattributes，oftheScythiandeity，whomhehastranslatedintotheMarsoftheGreeksandRomans。]
[Footnote10:Herodot。l。iv。c。62。Forthesakeofeconomy，I
havecalculatedbythesmalleststadium。Inthehumansacrifices，theycutofftheshoulderandarmofthevictim，whichtheythrewupintotheair，anddrewomensandpresagesfromthemanneroftheirfallingonthepile]
[Footnote11:Priscus，p。65。Amorecivilizedhero，Augustushimself，waspleased，ifthepersononwhomhefixedhiseyesseemedunabletosupporttheirdivinelustre。Sueton。inAugust。
c。79。]
[Footnote12:TheCountdeBuatHist。desPeuplesdel\'Europe，tom。vii。p。428，429attemptstoclearAttilafromthemurderofhisbrother；andisalmostinclinedtorejecttheconcurrenttestimonyofJornandes，andthecontemporaryChronicles。]
Ifalineofseparationweredrawnbetweenthecivilizedandthesavageclimatesoftheglobe；betweentheinhabitantsofcities，whocultivatedtheearth，andthehuntersandshepherds，whodweltintents，AttilamightaspiretothetitleofsupremeandsolemonarchoftheBarbarians。^13Healone，amongtheconquerorsofancientandmoderntimes，unitedthetwomightykingdomsofGermanyandScythia；andthosevagueappellations，whentheyareappliedtohisreign，maybeunderstoodwithanamplelatitude。Thuringia，whichstretchedbeyonditsactuallimitsasfarastheDanube，wasinthenumberofhisprovinces；
heinterposed，withtheweightofapowerfulneighbor，inthedomesticaffairsoftheFranks；andoneofhislieutenantschastised，andalmostexterminated，theBurgundiansoftheRhine。
Hesubduedtheislandsoftheocean，thekingdomsofScandinavia，encompassedanddividedbythewatersoftheBaltic；andtheHunsmightderiveatributeoffursfromthatnorthernregion，whichhasbeenprotectedfromallotherconquerorsbytheseverityoftheclimate，andthecourageofthenatives。TowardstheEast，itisdifficulttocircumscribethedominionofAttilaovertheScythiandeserts；yetwemaybeassured，thathereignedonthebanksoftheVolga；thatthekingoftheHunswasdreaded，notonlyasawarrior，butasamagician；^14thatheinsultedandvanquishedthekhanoftheformidableGeougen；andthathesentambassadorstonegotiateanequalalliancewiththeempireofChina。IntheproudreviewofthenationswhoacknowledgedthesovereigntyofAttila，andwhoneverentertained，duringhislifetime，thethoughtofarevolt，theGepidaeandtheOstrogothsweredistinguishedbytheirnumbers，theirbravery，andthepersonalmeritsoftheirchiefs。TherenownedArdaric，kingoftheGepidae，wasthefaithfulandsagaciouscounsellorofthemonarch，whoesteemedhisintrepidgenius，whilsthelovedthemildanddiscreetvirtuesofthenobleWalamir，kingoftheOstrogoths。Thecrowdofvulgarkings，theleadersofsomanymartialtribes，whoservedunderthestandardofAttila，wererangedinthesubmissiveorderofguardsanddomesticsroundthepersonoftheirmaster。Theywatchedhisnod；theytrembledathisfrown；andatthefirstsignalofhiswill，theyexecuted，withoutmurmurorhesitation，hissternandabsolutecommands。
Intimeofpeace，thedependentprinces，withtheirnationaltroops，attendedtheroyalcampinregularsuccession；butwhenAttilacollectedhismilitaryforce，hewasabletobringintothefieldanarmyoffive，or，accordingtoanotheraccount，ofsevenhundredthousandBarbarians。^15
[Footnote13:Fortissimarumgentiumdominus，quiinauditaantesepotentiacolusScythicaetGermanicaregnapossedit。Jornandes，c。49，p。684。Priscus，p。64，65。M。deGuignes，byhisknowledgeoftheChinese，hasacquiredtom。ii。p。295—301anadequateideaoftheempireofAttila。]
[Footnote14:SeeHist。desHuns，tom。ii。p。296。TheGeougenbelievedthattheHunscouldexcite，atpleasure，stormsofwindandrain。ThisphenomenonwasproducedbythestoneGezi；towhosemagicpowerthelossofabattlewasascribedbytheMahometanTartarsofthefourteenthcentury。SeeCherefeddinAli，Hist。deTimurBec，tom。i。p。82，83。]
[Footnote15:Jornandes，c。35，p。661，c。37，p。667。SeeTillemont，Hist。deaEmpereurs，tom。vi。p。129，138。CorneillehasrepresentedtheprideofAttilatohissubjectkings，andhistragedyopenswiththesetworidiculouslines:—
Ilsnesontpasvenus，nosdeuxrois!qu\'onleurdieQu\'ilssefonttropattendre，etqu\'Attilas\'ennuie。
ThetwokingsoftheGepidaeandtheOstrogothsareprofoundpoliticiansandsentimentallovers，andthewholepieceexhibitsthedefectswithoutthegenius，ofthepoet。]
TheambassadorsoftheHunsmightawakentheattentionofTheodosius，byremindinghimthattheywerehisneighborsbothinEuropeandAsia；sincetheytouchedtheDanubeononehand，andreached，withtheother，asfarastheTanais。InthereignofhisfatherArcadius，abandofadventurousHunshadravagedtheprovincesoftheEast；fromwhencetheybroughtawayrichspoilsandinnumerablecaptives。^16Theyadvanced，byasecretpath，alongtheshoresoftheCaspianSea；traversedthesnowymountainsofArmenia；passedtheTigris，theEuphrates，andtheHalys；recruitedtheirwearycavalrywiththegenerousbreedofCappadocianhorses；occupiedthehillycountryofCilicia，anddisturbedthefestalsongsanddancesofthecitizensofAntioch。
Egypttrembledattheirapproach；andthemonksandpilgrimsoftheHolyLandpreparedtoescapedtheirfurybyaspeedyembarkation。ThememoryofthisinvasionwasstillrecentinthemindsoftheOrientals。ThesubjectsofAttilamightexecute，withsuperiorforces，thedesignwhichtheseadventurershadsoboldlyattempted；anditsoonbecamethesubjectofanxiousconjecture，whetherthetempestwouldfallonthedominionsofRome，orofPersia。SomeofthegreatvassalsofthekingoftheHuns，whowerethemselvesintherankofpowerfulprinces，hadbeensenttoratifyanallianceandsocietyofarmswiththeemperor，orratherwiththegeneraloftheWest。Theyrelated，duringtheirresidenceatRome，thecircumstancesofanexpedition，whichtheyhadlatelymadeintotheEast。Afterpassingadesertandamorass，supposedbytheRomanstobetheLakeMaeotis，theypenetratedthroughthemountains，andarrived，attheendoffifteendays\'march，ontheconfinesofMedia；
wheretheyadvancedasfarastheunknowncitiesofBasicandCursic。TheyencounteredthePersianarmyintheplainsofMediaandtheair，accordingtotheirownexpression，wasdarkenedbyacloudofarrows。ButtheHunswereobligedtoretirebeforethenumbersoftheenemy。Theirlaboriousretreatwaseffectedbyadifferentroad；theylostthegreatestpartoftheirbooty；andatlengthreturnedtotheroyalcamp，withsomeknowledgeofthecountry，andanimpatientdesireofrevenge。InthefreeconversationoftheImperialambassadors，whodiscussed，atthecourtofAttila，thecharacteranddesignsoftheirformidableenemy，theministersofConstantinopleexpressedtheirhope，thathisstrengthmightbedivertedandemployedinalonganddoubtfulcontestwiththeprincesofthehouseofSassan。
ThemoresagaciousItaliansadmonishedtheirEasternbrethrenofthefollyanddangerofsuchahope；andconvincedthem，thattheMedesandPersianswereincapableofresistingthearmsoftheHuns；andthattheeasyandimportantacquisitionwouldexaltthepride，aswellaspower，oftheconqueror。Insteadofcontentinghimselfwithamoderatecontribution，andamilitarytitle，whichequalledhimonlytothegeneralsofTheodosius，AttilawouldproceedtoimposeadisgracefulandintolerableyokeonthenecksoftheprostrateandcaptiveRomans，whowouldthenbeencompassed，onallsides，bytheempireoftheHuns。^17
[Footnote16:—aliiperCaspiaclaustraArmeniasquenives，inopinotramiteductiInvaduntOrientisopes:jampascuafumantCappadocum，volucrumqueparensArgaeusequorum。
JamrubetaltusHalys，necsedefenditiniquoMonteCilix；SyriaetractusvestanturamoeniAssuetumquechoris，etlaetaplebecanorum，ProteritimbellemsonipeshostilisOrontem。
Claudian，inRufin。l。ii。28—35。
Seelikewise，inEutrop。l。i。243—251，andthestrongdescriptionofJerom，whowrotefromhisfeelings，tom。i。p。26，adHeliodor。p。200adOcean。Philostorgiusl。ix。c。8
mentionsthisirruption。]
[Footnote*:Gibbonhasmadeacuriousmistake；BasicandCursicwerethenamesofthecommandersoftheHuns。Priscus，edit。
Bonn，p。200。—M。]
[Footnote17:SeetheoriginalconversationinPriscus，p。64，65。]
WhilethepowersofEuropeandAsiaweresolicitoustoaverttheimpendingdanger，theallianceofAttilamaintainedtheVandalsinthepossessionofAfrica。AnenterprisehadbeenconcertedbetweenthecourtsofRavennaandConstantinople，fortherecoveryofthatvaluableprovince；andtheportsofSicilywerealreadyfilledwiththemilitaryandnavalforcesofTheodosius。ButthesubtleGenseric，whospreadhisnegotiationsroundtheworld，preventedtheirdesigns，byexcitingthekingoftheHunstoinvadetheEasternempire；andatriflingincidentsoonbecamethemotive，orpretence，ofadestructivewar。^18
UnderthefaithofthetreatyofMargus，afreemarketwasheldontheNorthernsideoftheDanube，whichwasprotectedbyaRomanfortresssurnamedConstantia。AtroopofBarbariansviolatedthecommercialsecurity；killed，ordispersed，theunsuspectingtraders；andlevelledthefortresswiththeground。
TheHunsjustifiedthisoutrageasanactofreprisal；alleged，thatthebishopofMargushadenteredtheirterritories，todiscoverandstealasecrettreasureoftheirkings；andsternlydemandedtheguiltyprelate，thesacrilegiousspoil，andthefugitivesubjects，whohadescapedfromthejusticeofAttila。
TherefusaloftheByzantinecourtwasthesignalofwar；andtheMaesiansatfirstapplaudedthegenerousfirmnessoftheirsovereign。ButtheyweresoonintimidatedbythedestructionofViminiacumandtheadjacenttowns；andthepeoplewaspersuadedtoadopttheconvenientmaxim，thataprivatecitizen，howeverinnocentorrespectable，maybejustlysacrificedtothesafetyofhiscountry。ThebishopofMargus，whodidnotpossessthespiritofamartyr，resolvedtopreventthedesignswhichhesuspected。HeboldlytreatedwiththeprincesoftheHuns:
secured，bysolemnoaths，hispardonandreward；postedanumerousdetachmentofBarbarians，insilentambush，onthebanksoftheDanube；and，attheappointedhour，opened，withhisownhand，thegatesofhisepiscopalcity。Thisadvantage，whichhadbeenobtainedbytreachery，servedasapreludetomorehonorableanddecisivevictories。TheIllyrianfrontierwascoveredbyalineofcastlesandfortresses；andthoughthegreatestpartofthemconsistedonlyofasingletower，withasmallgarrison，theywerecommonlysufficienttorepel，ortointercept，theinroadsofanenemy，whowasignorantoftheart，andimpatientofthedelay，ofaregularsiege。ButtheseslightobstacleswereinstantlysweptawaybytheinundationoftheHuns。^19Theydestroyed，withfireandsword，thepopulouscitiesofSirmiumandSingidunum，ofRatiariaandMarcianopolis，ofNaissusandSardica；whereeverycircumstanceofthedisciplineofthepeople，andtheconstructionofthebuildings，hadbeengraduallyadaptedtothesolepurposeofdefence。ThewholebreadthofEurope，asitextendsabovefivehundredmilesfromtheEuxinetotheHadriatic，wasatonceinvaded，andoccupied，anddesolated，bythemyriadsofBarbarianswhomAttilaledintothefield。Thepublicdangeranddistresscouldnot，however，provokeTheodosiustointerrupthisamusementsanddevotion，ortoappearinpersonattheheadoftheRomanlegions。Butthetroops，whichhadbeensentagainstGenseric，werehastilyrecalledfromSicily；thegarrisons，onthesideofPersia，wereexhausted；andamilitaryforcewascollectedinEurope，formidablebytheirarmsandnumbers，ifthegeneralshadunderstoodthescienceofcommand，andthesoldiersthedutyofobedience。ThearmiesoftheEasternempirewerevanquishedinthreesuccessiveengagements；
andtheprogressofAttilamaybetracedbythefieldsofbattle。
Thetwoformer，onthebanksoftheUtus，andunderthewallsofMarcianopolis，werefoughtintheextensiveplainsbetweentheDanubeandMountHaemus。AstheRomanswerepressedbyavictoriousenemy，theygradually，andunskilfully，retiredtowardstheChersonesusofThrace；andthatnarrowpeninsula，thelastextremityoftheland，wasmarkedbytheirthird，andirreparable，defeat。Bythedestructionofthisarmy，Attilaacquiredtheindisputablepossessionofthefield。FromtheHellesponttoThermopylae，andthesuburbsofConstantinople，heravaged，withoutresistance，andwithoutmercy，theprovincesofThraceandMacedonia。HeracleaandHadrianoplemight，perhaps，escapethisdreadfulirruptionoftheHuns；butthewords，themostexpressiveoftotalextirpationanderasure，areappliedtothecalamitieswhichtheyinflictedonseventycitiesoftheEasternempire。^20Theodosius，hiscourt，andtheunwarlikepeople，wereprotectedbythewallsofConstantinople；butthosewallshadbeenshakenbyarecentearthquake，andthefalloffifty—eighttowershadopenedalargeandtremendousbreach。Thedamageindeedwasspeedilyrepaired；butthisaccidentwasaggravatedbyasuperstitiousfear，thatHeavenitselfhaddeliveredtheImperialcitytotheshepherdsofScythia，whowerestrangerstothelaws，thelanguage，andthereligion，oftheRomans。^21
[Footnote18:Priscus，p。331。Hishistorycontainedacopiousandelegantaccountofthewar，Evagrius，l。i。c。17；buttheextractswhichrelatetotheembassiesaretheonlypartsthathavereachedourtimes。Theoriginalworkwasaccessible，however，tothewritersfromwhomweborrowourimperfectknowledge，Jornandes，Theophanes，CountMarcellinus，Prosper—
Tyro，andtheauthoroftheAlexandrian，orPaschal，Chronicle。
M。deBuatHist。desPeuplesdel\'Europe，tom。vii。c。xv。hasexaminedthecause，thecircumstances，andthedurationofthiswar；andwillnotallowittoextendbeyondtheyear44。]
[Footnote19:Procopius，deEdificiis，l。4，c。5。Thesefortresseswereafterwardsrestored，strengthened，andenlargedbytheemperorJustinian，buttheyweresoondestroyedbytheAbares，whosucceededtothepowerandpossessionsoftheHuns。]
[Footnote20:SeptuagintacivitatessaysProsper—Tyro
depredationevastatoe。ThelanguageofCountMarcellinusisstillmoreforcible。PenetotamEuropam，invasisexcisisquecivitatibusatquecastellis，conrasit。]
[Footnote21:TillemontHistdesEmpereurs，tom。vi。p。106，107haspaidgreatattentiontothismemorableearthquake；whichwasfeltasfarfromConstantinopleasAntiochandAlexandria，andiscelebratedbyalltheecclesiasticalwriters。Inthehandsofapopularpreacher，anearthquakeisanengineofadmirableeffect。]
InalltheirinvasionsofthecivilizedempiresoftheSouth，theScythianshepherdshavebeenuniformlyactuatedbyasavageanddestructivespirit。Thelawsofwar，thatrestraintheexerciseofnationalrapineandmurder，arefoundedontwoprinciplesofsubstantialinterest:theknowledgeofthepermanentbenefitswhichmaybeobtainedbyamoderateuseofconquest；andajustapprehension，lestthedesolationwhichweinflictontheenemy\'scountrymayberetaliatedonourown。Buttheseconsiderationsofhopeandfeararealmostunknowninthepastoralstateofnations。TheHunsofAttilamay，withoutinjustice，becomparedtotheMogulsandTartars，beforetheirprimitivemannerswerechangedbyreligionandluxury；andtheevidenceofOrientalhistorymayreflectsomelightontheshortandimperfectannalsofRome。AftertheMogulshadsubduedthenorthernprovincesofChina，itwasseriouslyproposed，notinthehourofvictoryandpassion，butincalmdeliberatecouncil，toexterminatealltheinhabitantsofthatpopulouscountry，thatthevacantlandmightbeconvertedtothepastureofcattle。ThefirmnessofaChinesemandarin，^22whoinsinuatedsomeprinciplesofrationalpolicyintothemindofZingis，divertedhimfromtheexecutionofthishorriddesign。ButinthecitiesofAsia，whichyieldedtotheMoguls，theinhumanabuseoftherightsofwarwasexercisedwitharegularformofdiscipline，whichmay，withequalreason，thoughnotwithequalauthority，beimputedtothevictoriousHuns。Theinhabitants，whohadsubmittedtotheirdiscretion，wereorderedtoevacuatetheirhouses，andtoassembleinsomeplainadjacenttothecity；whereadivisionwasmadeofthevanquishedintothreeparts。Thefirstclassconsistedofthesoldiersofthegarrison，andoftheyoungmencapableofbearingarms；andtheirfatewasinstantlydecidedtheywereeitherenlistedamongtheMoguls，ortheyweremassacredonthespotbythetroops，who，withpointedspearsandbendedbows，hadformedacircleroundthecaptivemultitude。
Thesecondclass，composedoftheyoungandbeautifulwomen，oftheartificersofeveryrankandprofession，andofthemorewealthyorhonorablecitizens，fromwhomaprivateransommightbeexpected，wasdistributedinequalorproportionablelots。
Theremainder，whoselifeordeathwasalikeuselesstotheconquerors，werepermittedtoreturntothecity；which，inthemeanwhile，hadbeenstrippedofitsvaluablefurniture；andataxwasimposedonthosewretchedinhabitantsfortheindulgenceofbreathingtheirnativeair。SuchwasthebehavioroftheMoguls，whentheywerenotconsciousofanyextraordinaryrigor。