^23Butthemostcasualprovocation，theslightestmotiveofcapriceorconvenience，oftenprovokedthemtoinvolveawholepeopleinanindiscriminatemassacre；andtheruinofsomeflourishingcitieswasexecutedwithsuchunrelentingperseverance，that，accordingtotheirownexpression，horsesmightrun，withoutstumbling，overthegroundwheretheyhadoncestood。ThethreegreatcapitalsofKhorasan，Maru，Neisabour，andHerat，weredestroyedbythearmiesofZingis；andtheexactaccountwhichwastakenoftheslainamountedtofourmillionsthreehundredandforty—seventhousandpersons。^24Timur，orTamerlane，waseducatedinalessbarbarousage，andintheprofessionoftheMahometanreligion；yet，ifAttilaequalledthehostileravagesofTamerlane，^25eithertheTartarortheHunmightdeservetheepithetoftheScourgeofGod。^26
[Footnote22:HerepresentedtotheemperoroftheMogulsthatthefourprovinces，Petcheli，Chantong，Chansi，andLeaotong，whichhealreadypossessed，mightannuallyproduce，underamildadministration，500，000ouncesofsilver，400，000
measuresofrice，and800，000piecesofsilk。Gaubil，Hist。delaDynastiedesMongous，p。58，59。Yelutchousaysuchwasthenameofthemandarinwasawiseandvirtuousminister，whosavedhiscountry，andcivilizedtheconquerors。
Note:Comparethelifeofthisremarkableman，translatedfromtheChinesebyM。AbelRemusat。NouveauxMelangesAsiatiques，t。ii。p。64。—M]
[Footnote23:Particularinstanceswouldbeendless；butthecuriousreadermayconsultthelifeofGengiscan，byPetitdelaCroix，theHistoiredesMongous，andthefifteenthbookoftheHistoryoftheHuns。]
[Footnote24:AtMaru，1，300，000；atHerat，1，600，000；atNeisabour，1，747，000。D\'Herbelot，BibliothequeOrientale，p。
380，381。IusetheorthographyofD\'Anville\'smaps。Itmust，however，beallowed，thatthePersiansweredisposedtoexaggeratetheirlossesandtheMogulstomagnifytheirexploits。]
[Footnote25:CherefeddinAli，hisservilepanegyrist，wouldaffordusmanyhorridexamples。InhiscampbeforeDelhi，Timourmassacred100，000Indianprisoners，whohadsmiledwhenthearmyoftheircountrymenappearedinsight，Hist。deTimurBec，tom。
iii。p。90。ThepeopleofIspahansupplied70，000humanskullsforthestructureofseveralloftytowers，id。tom。i。p。434。
AsimilartaxwasleviedontherevoltofBagdad，tom。iii。p。
370；andtheexactaccount，whichCherefeddinwasnotabletoprocurefromtheproperofficers，isstatedbyanotherhistorianAhmedArabsiada，tom。ii。p。175，veraMangerat90，000heads。]
[Footnote26:Theancients，Jornandes，Priscus，&c。，areignorantofthisepithet。ThemodernHungarianshaveimagined，thatitwasapplied，byahermitofGaul，toAttila，whowaspleasedtoinsertitamongthetitlesofhisroyaldignity。Mascou，ix。23，andTillemont，Hist。desEmpereurs，tom。vi。p。143。]
ChapterXXXIV:Attila。
PartII。
Itmaybeaffirmed，withbolderassurance，thattheHunsdepopulatedtheprovincesoftheempire，bythenumberofRomansubjectswhomtheyledawayintocaptivity。Inthehandsofawiselegislator，suchanindustriouscolonymighthavecontributedtodiffusethroughthedesertsofScythiatherudimentsoftheusefulandornamentalarts；butthesecaptives，whohadbeentakeninwar，wereaccidentallydispersedamongthehordesthatobeyedtheempireofAttila。TheestimateoftheirrespectivevaluewasformedbythesimplejudgmentofunenlightenedandunprejudicedBarbarians。Perhapstheymightnotunderstandthemeritofatheologian，profoundlyskilledinthecontroversiesoftheTrinityandtheIncarnation；yettheyrespectedtheministersofeveryreligionandtheactivezealoftheChristianmissionaries，withoutapproachingthepersonorthepalaceofthemonarch，successfullylaboredinthepropagationofthegospel。^27Thepastoraltribes，whowereignorantofthedistinctionoflandedproperty，musthavedisregardedtheuse，aswellastheabuse，ofciviljurisprudence；andtheskillofaneloquentlawyercouldexciteonlytheircontemptortheirabhorrence。^28TheperpetualintercourseoftheHunsandtheGothshadcommunicatedthefamiliarknowledgeofthetwonationaldialects；andtheBarbarianswereambitiousofconversinginLatin，themilitaryidiomevenoftheEasternempire。^29ButtheydisdainedthelanguageandthesciencesoftheGreeks；andthevainsophist，orgravephilosopher，whohadenjoyedtheflatteringapplauseoftheschools，wasmortifiedtofindthathisrobustservantwasacaptiveofmorevalueandimportancethanhimself。Themechanicartswereencouragedandesteemed，astheytendedtosatisfythewantsoftheHuns。AnarchitectintheserviceofOnegesius，oneofthefavoritesofAttila，wasemployedtoconstructabath；butthisworkwasarareexampleofprivateluxury；andthetradesofthesmith，thecarpenter，thearmorer，weremuchmoreadaptedtosupplyawanderingpeoplewiththeusefulinstrumentsofpeaceandwar。Butthemeritofthephysicianwasreceivedwithuniversalfavorandrespect:theBarbarians，whodespiseddeath，mightbeapprehensiveofdisease；
andthehaughtyconquerortrembledinthepresenceofacaptive，towhomheascribed，perhaps，animaginarypowerofprolongingorpreservinghislife。^30TheHunsmightbeprovokedtoinsultthemiseryoftheirslaves，overwhomtheyexercisedadespoticcommand；^31buttheirmannerswerenotsusceptibleofarefinedsystemofoppression；andtheeffortsofcourageanddiligencewereoftenrecompensedbythegiftoffreedom。ThehistorianPriscus，whoseembassyisasourceofcuriousinstruction，wasaccostedinthecampofAttilabyastranger，whosalutedhimintheGreeklanguage，butwhosedressandfiguredisplayedtheappearanceofawealthyScythian。InthesiegeofViminiacum，hehadlost，accordingtohisownaccount，hisfortuneandliberty；
hebecametheslaveofOnegesius；buthisfaithfulservices，againsttheRomansandtheAcatzires，hadgraduallyraisedhimtotherankofthenativeHuns；towhomhewasattachedbythedomesticpledgesofanewwifeandseveralchildren。Thespoilsofwarhadrestoredandimprovedhisprivateproperty；hewasadmittedtothetableofhisformerlord；andtheapostateGreekblessedthehourofhiscaptivity，sinceithadbeentheintroductiontoahappyandindependentstate；whichheheldbythehonorabletenureofmilitaryservice。ThisreflectionnaturallyproducedadisputeontheadvantagesanddefectsoftheRomangovernment，whichwasseverelyarraignedbytheapostate，anddefendedbyPriscusinaprolixandfeebledeclamation。ThefreedmanofOnegesiusexposed，intrueandlivelycolors，thevicesofadecliningempire，ofwhichhehadsolongbeenthevictim；thecruelabsurdityoftheRomanprinces，unabletoprotecttheirsubjectsagainstthepublicenemy，unwillingtotrustthemwitharmsfortheirowndefence；theintolerableweightoftaxes，renderedstillmoreoppressivebytheintricateorarbitrarymodesofcollection；theobscurityofnumerousandcontradictorylaws；thetediousandexpensiveformsofjudicialproceedings；thepartialadministrationofjustice；andtheuniversalcorruption，whichincreasedtheinfluenceoftherich，andaggravatedthemisfortunesofthepoor。Asentimentofpatrioticsympathywasatlengthrevivedinthebreastofthefortunateexile；andhelamented，withafloodoftears，theguiltorweaknessofthosemagistrateswhohadpervertedthewisestandmostsalutaryinstitutions。^32
[Footnote27:ThemissionariesofSt。ChrysostomhadconvertedgreatnumbersoftheScythians，whodweltbeyondtheDanubeintentsandwagons。Theodoret，l。v。c。31。Photius，p。1517。TheMahometans，theNestorians，andtheLatinChristians，thoughtthemselvessecureofgainingthesonsandgrandsonsofZingis，whotreatedtherivalmissionarieswithimpartialfavor。]
[Footnote28:TheGermans，whoexterminatedVarusandhislegions，hadbeenparticularlyoffendedwiththeRomanlawsandlawyers。OneoftheBarbarians，aftertheeffectualprecautionsofcuttingoutthetongueofanadvocate，andsewinguphismouth，observed，withmuchsatisfaction，thatthevipercouldnolongerhiss。Florus，iv。12。]
[Footnote29:Priscus，p。59。ItshouldseemthattheHunspreferredtheGothicandLatinlanguagestotheirown；whichwasprobablyaharshandbarrenidiom。]
[Footnote30:PhilipdeComines，inhisadmirablepictureofthelastmomentsofLewisXI。，Memoires，l。vi。c。12，representstheinsolenceofhisphysician，who，infivemonths，extorted54，000crowns，andarichbishopric，fromthestern，avaricioustyrant。]
[Footnote31:Priscusp。61extolstheequityoftheRomanlaws，whichprotectedthelifeofaslave。OccideresolentsaysTacitusoftheGermansnondisciplinaetseveritate，sedimpetuetira，utinimicum，nisiquodimpune。DeMoribusGerm。c。25。
TheHeruli，whowerethesubjectsofAttila，claimed，andexercised，thepoweroflifeanddeathovertheirslaves。SeearemarkableinstanceinthesecondbookofAgathias]
[Footnote32:SeethewholeconversationinPriscus，p。59—62。]
ThetimidorselfishpolicyoftheWesternRomanshadabandonedtheEasternempiretotheHuns。^33Thelossofarmies，andthewantofdisciplineorvirtue，werenotsuppliedbythepersonalcharacterofthemonarch。Theodosiusmightstillaffectthestyle，aswellasthetitle，ofInvincibleAugustus；buthewasreducedtosolicittheclemencyofAttila，whoimperiouslydictatedtheseharshandhumiliatingconditionsofpeace。I。TheemperoroftheEastresigned，byanexpressortacitconvention，anextensiveandimportantterritory，whichstretchedalongthesouthernbanksoftheDanube，fromSingidunum，orBelgrade，asfarasNovae，inthedioceseofThrace。Thebreadthwasdefinedbythevaguecomputationoffifteendays\'journey；but，fromtheproposalofAttilatoremovethesituationofthenationalmarket，itsoonappeared，thathecomprehendedtheruinedcityofNaissuswithinthelimitsofhisdominions。II。ThekingoftheHunsrequiredandobtained，thathistributeorsubsidyshouldbeaugmentedfromsevenhundredpoundsofgoldtotheannualsumoftwothousandonehundred；andhestipulatedtheimmediatepaymentofsixthousandpoundsofgold，todefraytheexpenses，ortoexpiatetheguilt，ofthewar。Onemightimagine，thatsuchademand，whichscarcelyequalledthemeasureofprivatewealth，wouldhavebeenreadilydischargedbytheopulentempireoftheEast；andthepublicdistressaffordsaremarkableproofoftheimpoverished，oratleastofthedisorderly，stateofthefinances。Alargeproportionofthetaxesextortedfromthepeoplewasdetainedandinterceptedintheirpassage，thoughthefoulestchannels，tothetreasuryofConstantinople。TherevenuewasdissipatedbyTheodosiusandhisfavoritesinwastefulandprofuseluxury；whichwasdisguisedbythenamesofImperialmagnificence，orChristiancharity。Theimmediatesupplieshadbeenexhaustedbytheunforeseennecessityofmilitarypreparations。Apersonalcontribution，rigorously，butcapriciously，imposedonthemembersofthesenatorianorder，wastheonlyexpedientthatcoulddisarm，withoutlossoftime，theimpatientavariceofAttila；andthepovertyofthenoblescompelledthemtoadoptthescandalousresourceofexposingtopublicauctionthejewelsoftheirwives，andthehereditaryornamentsoftheirpalaces。^34III。ThekingoftheHunsappearstohaveestablished，asaprincipleofnationaljurisprudence，thathecouldneverlosetheproperty，whichhehadonceacquired，inthepersonswhohadyieldedeitheravoluntary，orreluctant，submissiontohisauthority。Fromthisprincipleheconcluded，andtheconclusionsofAttilawereirrevocablelaws，thattheHuns，whohadbeentakenprisonerinwar，shouldbereleasedwithoutdelay，andwithoutransom；thateveryRomancaptive，whohadpresumedtoescape，shouldpurchasehisrighttofreedomatthepriceoftwelvepiecesofgold；andthatalltheBarbarians，whohaddesertedthestandardofAttila，shouldberestored，withoutanypromiseorstipulationofpardon。
Intheexecutionofthiscruelandignominioustreaty，theImperialofficerswereforcedtomassacreseveralloyalandnobledeserters，whorefusedtodevotethemselvestocertaindeath；andtheRomansforfeitedallreasonableclaimstothefriendshipofanyScythianpeople，bythispublicconfession，thattheyweredestituteeitheroffaith，orpower，toprotectthesuppliant，whohadembracedthethroneofTheodosius。^35
[Footnote33:NovaiterumOrientiassurgitruina……quumnullaabCocidentalibusferrenturauxilia。ProsperTyrocomposedhisChronicleintheWest；andhisobservationimpliesacensure。]
[Footnote*:FiveinthelasteditionofPriscus。Niebuhr，Byz。
Hist。p147—M]
[Footnote34:Accordingtothedescription，orratherinvective，ofChrysostom，anauctionofByzantineluxurymusthavebeenveryproductive。Everywealthyhousepossessedasemicirculartableofmassysilversuchastwomencouldscarcelylift，avaseofsolidgoldoftheweightoffortypounds，cups，dishes，ofthesamemetal，&c。]
[Footnote35:Thearticlesofthetreaty，expressedwithoutmuchorderorprecision，maybefoundinPriscus，p。34，35，36，37，53，&c。CountMarcellinusdispensessomecomfort，byobserving，1。ThatAttilahimselfsolicitedthepeaceandpresents，whichhehadformerlyrefused；and，2dly，That，aboutthesametime，theambassadorsofIndiapresentedafinelargetametigertotheemperorTheodosius。]
Thefirmnessofasingletown，soobscure，that，exceptonthisoccasion，ithasneverbeenmentionedbyanyhistorianorgeographer，exposedthedisgraceoftheemperorandempire。
Azimus，orAzimuntium，asmallcityofThraceontheIllyrianborders，^36hadbeendistinguishedbythemartialspiritofitsyouth，theskillandreputationoftheleaderswhomtheyhadchosen，andtheirdaringexploitsagainsttheinnumerablehostoftheBarbarians。Insteadoftamelyexpectingtheirapproach，theAzimuntinesattacked，infrequentandsuccessfulsallies，thetroopsoftheHuns，whograduallydeclinedthedangerousneighborhood，rescuedfromtheirhandsthespoilandthecaptives，andrecruitedtheirdomesticforcebythevoluntaryassociationoffugitivesanddeserters。Aftertheconclusionofthetreaty，Attilastillmenacedtheempirewithimplacablewar，unlesstheAzimuntineswerepersuaded，orcompelled，tocomplywiththeconditionswhichtheirsovereignhadaccepted。TheministersofTheodosiusconfessedwithshame，andwithtruth，thattheynolongerpossessedanyauthorityoverasocietyofmen，whosobravelyassertedtheirnaturalindependence；andthekingoftheHunscondescendedtonegotiateanequalexchangewiththecitizensofAzimus。Theydemandedtherestitutionofsomeshepherds，who，withtheircattle，hadbeenaccidentallysurprised。Astrict，thoughfruitless，inquirywasallowed:buttheHunswereobligedtoswear，thattheydidnotdetainanyprisonersbelongingtothecity，beforetheycouldrecovertwosurvivingcountrymen，whomtheAzimuntineshadreservedaspledgesforthesafetyoftheirlostcompanions。Attila，onhisside，wassatisfied，anddeceived，bytheirsolemnasseveration，thattherestofthecaptiveshadbeenputtothesword；andthatitwastheirconstantpractice，immediatelytodismisstheRomansandthedeserters，whohadobtainedthesecurityofthepublicfaith。Thisprudentandofficiousdissimulationmaybecondemned，orexcused，bythecasuists，astheyinclinetotherigiddecreeofSt。Augustin，ortothemildersentimentofSt。
JeromandSt。Chrysostom:buteverysoldier，everystatesman，mustacknowledge，that，iftheraceoftheAzimuntineshadbeenencouragedandmultiplied，theBarbarianswouldhaveceasedtotrampleonthemajestyoftheempire。^37
[Footnote36:Priscus，p。35，36。Amongthehundredandeighty—twoforts，orcastles，ofThrace，enumeratedbyProcopius，deEdificiis，l。iv。c。xi。tom。ii。p。92，edit。Paris，thereisoneofthenameofEsimontou，whosepositionisdoubtfullymarked，intheneighborhoodofAnchialusandtheEuxineSea。ThenameandwallsofAzimuntiummightsubsisttillthereignofJustinian；buttheraceofitsbravedefendershadbeencarefullyextirpatedbythejealousyoftheRomanprinces]
[Footnote37:ThepeevishdisputeofSt。JeromandSt。Augustin，wholabored，bydifferentexpedients，toreconciletheseemingquarrelofthetwoapostles，St。PeterandSt。Paul，dependsonthesolutionofanimportantquestion，Middleton\'sWorks，vol。
ii。p。5—20，whichhasbeenfrequentlyagitatedbyCatholicandProtestantdivines，andevenbylawyersandphilosophersofeveryage。]
Itwouldhavebeenstrange，indeed，ifTheodosiushadpurchased，bythelossofhonor，asecureandsolidtranquillity，orifhistamenesshadnotinvitedtherepetitionofinjuries。
TheByzantinecourtwasinsultedbyfiveorsixsuccessiveembassies；^38andtheministersofAttilawereuniformlyinstructedtopressthetardyorimperfectexecutionofthelasttreaty；toproducethenamesoffugitivesanddeserters，whowerestillprotectedbytheempire；andtodeclare，withseemingmoderation，that，unlesstheirsovereignobtainedcompleteandimmediatesatisfaction，itwouldbeimpossibleforhim，wereitevenhiswish，tochecktheresentmentofhiswarliketribes。
Besidesthemotivesofprideandinterest，whichmightpromptthekingoftheHunstocontinuethistrainofnegotiation，hewasinfluencedbythelesshonorableviewofenrichinghisfavoritesattheexpenseofhisenemies。TheImperialtreasurywasexhausted，toprocurethefriendlyofficesoftheambassadorsandtheirprincipalattendants，whosefavorablereportmightconducetothemaintenanceofpeace。TheBarbarianmonarchwasflatteredbytheliberalreceptionofhisministers；hecomputed，withpleasure，thevalueandsplendoroftheirgifts，rigorouslyexactedtheperformanceofeverypromisewhichwouldcontributetotheirprivateemolument，andtreatedasanimportantbusinessofstatethemarriageofhissecretaryConstantius。^39ThatGallicadventurer，whowasrecommendedbyAetiustothekingoftheHuns，hadengagedhisservicetotheministersofConstantinople，forthestipulatedrewardofawealthyandnoblewife；andthedaughterofCountSaturninuswaschosentodischargetheobligationsofhercountry。Thereluctanceofthevictim，somedomestictroubles，andtheunjustconfiscationofherfortune，cooledtheardorofherinterestedlover；buthestilldemanded，inthenameofAttila，anequivalentalliance；
and，aftermanyambiguousdelaysandexcuses，theByzantinecourtwascompelledtosacrificetothisinsolentstrangerthewidowofArmatius，whosebirth，opulence，andbeauty，placedherinthemostillustriousrankoftheRomanmatrons。Fortheseimportunateandoppressiveembassies，Attilaclaimedasuitablereturn:heweighed，withsuspiciouspride，thecharacterandstationoftheImperialenvoys；buthecondescendedtopromisethathewouldadvanceasfarasSardicatoreceiveanyministerswhohadbeeninvestedwiththeconsulardignity。ThecouncilofTheodosiuseludedthisproposal，byrepresentingthedesolateandruinedconditionofSardica，andevenventuredtoinsinuatethateveryofficerofthearmyorhouseholdwasqualifiedtotreatwiththemostpowerfulprincesofScythia。Maximin，^40arespectablecourtier，whoseabilitieshadbeenlongexercisedincivilandmilitaryemployments，accepted，withreluctance，thetroublesome，andperhapsdangerous，commissionofreconcilingtheangryspiritofthekingoftheHuns。Hisfriend，thehistorianPriscus，^41embracedtheopportunityofobservingtheBarbarianherointhepeacefulanddomesticscenesoflife:butthesecretoftheembassy，afatalandguiltysecret，wasintrustedonlytotheinterpreterVigilius。ThetwolastambassadorsoftheHuns，Orestes，anoblesubjectofthePannonianprovince，andEdecon，avaliantchieftainofthetribeoftheScyrri，returnedatthesametimefromConstantinopletotheroyalcamp。Theirobscurenameswereafterwardsillustratedbytheextraordinaryfortuneandthecontrastoftheirsons:thetwoservantsofAttilabecamethefathersofthelastRomanemperoroftheWest，andofthefirstBarbariankingofItaly。