[Footnote38:MontesquieuConsiderationssurlaGrandeur，&c。c。
xix。hasdelineated，withaboldandeasypencil，someofthemoststrikingcircumstancesoftheprideofAttila，andthedisgraceoftheRomans。HedeservesthepraiseofhavingreadtheFragmentsofPriscus，whichhavebeentoomuchdisregarded。]
[Footnote39:SeePriscus，p。69，71，72，&c。Iwouldfainbelieve，thatthisadventurerwasafterwardscrucifiedbytheorderofAttila，onasuspicionoftreasonablepractices；butPriscusp。57hastooplainlydistinguishedtwopersonsofthenameofConstantius，who，fromthesimilareventsoftheirlives，mighthavebeeneasilyconfounded。]
[Footnote40:InthePersiantreaty，concludedintheyear422，thewiseandeloquentMaximinhadbeentheassessorofArdaburius，Socrates，l。vii。c。20。WhenMarcianascendedthethrone，theofficeofGreatChamberlainwasbestowedonMaximin，whoisranked，inthepublicedict，amongthefourprincipalministersofstate，Novell。adCalc。Cod。Theod。p。31。HeexecutedacivilandmilitarycommissionintheEasternprovinces；andhisdeathwaslamentedbythesavagesofAethiopia，whoseincursionshehadrepressed。SeePriscus，p。
40，41。]
[Footnote41:PriscuswasanativeofPaniuminThrace，anddeserved，byhiseloquence，anhonorableplaceamongthesophistsoftheage。HisByzantinehistory，whichrelatedtohisowntimes，wascomprisedinsevenbooks。SeeFabricius，Bibliot。
Graec。tom。vi。p。235，236。Notwithstandingthecharitablejudgmentofthecritics，IsuspectthatPriscuswasaPagan。
Note:Niebuhrconcursinthisopinion。LifeofPriscusintheneweditionoftheByzantinehistorians。—M]
Theambassadors，whowerefollowedbyanumeroustrainofmenandhorses，madetheirfirsthaltatSardica，atthedistanceofthreehundredandfiftymiles，orthirteendays\'journey，fromConstantinople。AstheremainsofSardicawerestillincludedwithinthelimitsoftheempire，itwasincumbentontheRomanstoexercisethedutiesofhospitality。Theyprovided，withtheassistanceoftheprovincials，asufficientnumberofsheepandoxen，andinvitedtheHunstoasplendid，oratleast，aplentifulsupper。Buttheharmonyoftheentertainmentwassoondisturbedbymutualprejudiceandindiscretion。Thegreatnessoftheemperorandtheempirewaswarmlymaintainedbytheirministers；theHuns，withequalardor，assertedthesuperiorityoftheirvictoriousmonarch:thedisputewasinflamedbytherashandunseasonableflatteryofVigilius，whopassionatelyrejectedthecomparisonofameremortalwiththedivineTheodosius；anditwaswithextremedifficultythatMaximinandPriscuswereabletodiverttheconversation，ortosoothetheangryminds，oftheBarbarians。Whentheyrosefromtable，theImperialambassadorpresentedEdeconandOresteswithrichgiftsofsilkrobesandIndianpearls，whichtheythankfullyaccepted。YetOrestescouldnotforbearinsinuatingthathehadnotalwaysbeentreatedwithsuchrespectandliberality:andtheoffensivedistinctionwhichwasimplied，betweenhiscivilofficeandthehereditaryrankofhiscolleagueseemstohavemadeEdeconadoubtfulfriend，andOrestesanirreconcilableenemy。Afterthisentertainment，theytravelledaboutonehundredmilesfromSardicatoNaissus。Thatflourishingcity，whichhasgivenbirthtothegreatConstantine，waslevelledwiththeground:theinhabitantsweredestroyedordispersed；andtheappearanceofsomesickpersons，whowerestillpermittedtoexistamongtheruinsofthechurches，servedonlytoincreasethehorroroftheprospect。Thesurfaceofthecountrywascoveredwiththebonesoftheslain；andtheambassadors，whodirectedtheircoursetothenorth—west，wereobligedtopassthehillsofmodernServia，beforetheydescendedintotheflatandmarshygroundswhichareterminatedbytheDanube。TheHunsweremastersofthegreatriver:theirnavigationwasperformedinlargecanoes，hollowedoutofthetrunkofasingletree；theministersofTheodosiusweresafelylandedontheoppositebank；andtheirBarbarianassociatesimmediatelyhastenedtothecampofAttila，whichwasequallypreparedfortheamusementsofhuntingorofwar。NosoonerhadMaximinadvancedabouttwomilesfromtheDanube，thanhebegantoexperiencethefastidiousinsolenceoftheconqueror。
Hewassternlyforbidtopitchhistentsinapleasantvalley，lestheshouldinfringethedistantawethatwasduetotheroyalmansion。^!TheministersofAttilapressedthemtocommunicatethebusiness，andtheinstructions，whichhereservedfortheearoftheirsovereignWhenMaximintemperatelyurgedthecontrarypracticeofnations，hewasstillmoreconfoundedtofindthattheresolutionsoftheSacredConsistory，thosesecretssaysPriscuswhichshouldnotberevealedtothegodsthemselves，hadbeentreacherouslydisclosedtothepublicenemy。Onhisrefusaltocomplywithsuchignominiousterms，theImperialenvoywascommandedinstantlytodepart；theorderwasrecalled；itwasagainrepeated；andtheHunsrenewedtheirineffectualattemptstosubduethepatientfirmnessofMaximin。Atlength，bytheintercessionofScotta，thebrotherofOnegesius，whosefriendshiphadbeenpurchasedbyaliberalgift，hewasadmittedtotheroyalpresence；but，insteadofobtainingadecisiveanswer，hewascompelledtoundertakearemotejourneytowardsthenorth，thatAttilamightenjoytheproudsatisfactionofreceiving，inthesamecamp，theambassadorsoftheEasternandWesternempires。Hisjourneywasregulatedbytheguides，whoobligedhimtohalt，tohastenhismarch，ortodeviatefromthecommonroad，asitbestsuitedtheconvenienceoftheking。TheRomans，whotraversedtheplainsofHungary，supposethattheypassedseveralnavigablerivers，eitherincanoesorportableboats；butthereisreasontosuspectthatthewindingstreamoftheTeyss，orTibiscus，mightpresentitselfindifferentplacesunderdifferentnames。Fromthecontiguousvillagestheyreceivedaplentifulandregularsupplyofprovisions；meadinsteadofwine，milletintheplaceofbread，andacertainliquornamedcamus，whichaccordingtothereportofPriscus，wasdistilledfrombarley。^42SuchfaremightappearcoarseandindelicatetomenwhohadtastedtheluxuryofConstantinople；
but，intheiraccidentaldistress，theywererelievedbythegentlenessandhospitalityofthesameBarbarians，soterribleandsomercilessinwar。Theambassadorshadencampedontheedgeofalargemorass。Aviolenttempestofwindandrain，ofthunderandlightning，overturnedtheirtents，immersedtheirbaggageandfurnitureinthewater，andscatteredtheirretinue，whowanderedinthedarknessofthenight，uncertainoftheirroad，andapprehensiveofsomeunknowndanger，tilltheyawakenedbytheircriestheinhabitantsofaneighboringvillage，thepropertyofthewidowofBleda。Abrightillumination，and，inafewmoments，acomfortablefireofreeds，waskindledbytheirofficiousbenevolence；thewants，andeventhedesires，oftheRomanswereliberallysatisfied；andtheyseemtohavebeenembarrassedbythesingularpolitenessofBleda\'swidow，whoaddedtoherotherfavorsthegift，oratleasttheloan，ofasufficientnumberofbeautifulandobsequiousdamsels。Thesunshineofthesucceedingdaywasdedicatedtorepose，tocollectanddrythebaggage，andtotherefreshmentofthemenandhorses:but，intheevening，beforetheypursuedtheirjourney，theambassadorsexpressedtheirgratitudetothebounteousladyofthevillage，byaveryacceptablepresentofsilvercups，redfleeces，driedfruits，andIndianpepper。Soonafterthisadventure，theyrejoinedthemarchofAttila，fromwhomtheyhadbeenseparatedaboutsixdays，andslowlyproceededtothecapitalofanempire，whichdidnotcontain，inthespaceofseveralthousandmiles，asinglecity。
[Footnote*:70stadia。Priscus，173。—M。]
[Footnote!:HewasforbiddentopitchhistentsonaneminencebecauseAttila\'swerebelowontheplain。Ibid。—M。]
[Footnote42:TheHunsthemselvesstillcontinuedtodespisethelaborsofagriculture:theyabusedtheprivilegeofavictoriousnation；andtheGoths，theirindustrioussubjects，whocultivatedtheearth，dreadedtheirneighborhood，likethatofsomanyravenouswolves，Priscus，p。45。InthesamemannertheSartsandTadgicsprovidefortheirownsubsistence，andforthatoftheUsbecTartars，theirlazyandrapacioussovereigns。SeeGenealogicalHistoryoftheTartars，p。423455，&c。]
AsfaraswemayascertainthevagueandobscuregeographyofPriscus，thiscapitalappearstohavebeenseatedbetweentheDanube，theTeyss，andtheCarpathianhills，intheplainsofUpperHungary，andmostprobablyintheneighborhoodofJezberin，Agria，orTokay。^43Initsoriginitcouldbenomorethananaccidentalcamp，which，bythelongandfrequentresidenceofAttila，hadinsensiblyswelledintoahugevillage，forthereceptionofhiscourt，ofthetroopswhofollowedhisperson，andofthevariousmultitudeofidleorindustriousslavesandretainers。^44Thebaths，constructedbyOnegesius，weretheonlyedificeofstone；thematerialshadbeentransportedfromPannonia；andsincetheadjacentcountrywasdestituteevenoflargetimber，itmaybepresumed，thatthemeanerhabitationsoftheroyalvillageconsistedofstraw，ormud，orofcanvass。ThewoodenhousesofthemoreillustriousHunswerebuiltandadornedwithrudemagnificence，accordingtotherank，thefortune，orthetasteoftheproprietors。Theyseemtohavebeendistributedwithsomedegreeoforderandsymmetry；andeachspotbecamemorehonorableasitapproachedthepersonofthesovereign。ThepalaceofAttila，whichsurpassedallotherhousesinhisdominions，wasbuiltentirelyofwood，andcoveredanamplespaceofground。Theoutwardenclosurewasaloftywall，orpalisade，ofsmoothsquaretimber，intersectedwithhightowers，butintendedratherforornamentthandefence。Thiswall，whichseemstohaveencircledthedeclivityofahill，comprehendedagreatvarietyofwoodenedifices，adaptedtotheusesofroyalty。
AseparatehousewasassignedtoeachofthenumerouswivesofAttila；and，insteadoftherigidandilliberalconfinementimposedbyAsiaticjealousytheypolitelyadmittedtheRomanambassadorstotheirpresence，theirtable，andeventothefreedomofaninnocentembrace。WhenMaximinofferedhispresentstoCerca，theprincipalqueen，headmiredthesingulararchitectureonhermansion，theheightoftheroundcolumns，thesizeandbeautyofthewood，whichwascuriouslyshapedorturnedorpolishedorcarved；andhisattentiveeyewasabletodiscoversometasteintheornamentsandsomeregularityintheproportions。Afterpassingthroughtheguards，whowatchedbeforethegate，theambassadorswereintroducedintotheprivateapartmentofCerca。ThewifeofAttilareceivedtheirvisitsitting，orratherlying，onasoftcouch；thefloorwascoveredwithacarpet；thedomesticsformedacircleroundthequeen；andherdamsels，seatedontheground，wereemployedinworkingthevariegatedembroiderywhichadornedthedressoftheBarbaricwarriors。TheHunswereambitiousofdisplayingthosericheswhichwerethefruitandevidenceoftheirvictories:thetrappingsoftheirhorses，theirswords，andeventheirshoes，werestuddedwithgoldandpreciousstones；andtheirtableswereprofuselyspreadwithplates，andgoblets，andvasesofgoldandsilver，whichhadbeenfashionedbythelaborofGrecianartists。
ThemonarchaloneassumedthesuperiorprideofstilladheringtothesimplicityofhisScythianancestors。^45ThedressofAttila，hisarms，andthefurnitureofhishorse，wereplain，withoutornament，andofasinglecolor。Theroyaltablewasservedinwoodencupsandplatters；fleshwashisonlyfood；andtheconqueroroftheNorthnevertastedtheluxuryofbread。
[Footnote43:ItisevidentthatPriscuspassedtheDanubeandtheTeyss，andthathedidnotreachthefootoftheCarpathianhills。Agria，Tokay，andJazberin，aresituatedintheplainscircumscribedbythisdefinition。M。deBuatHistoiredesPeuples，&c。，tom。vii。p。461haschosenTokay；Otrokosci，p。
180，apudMascou，ix。23，alearnedHungarian，haspreferredJazberin，aplaceaboutthirty—sixmileswestwardofBudaandtheDanube。
Note:M。St。MartinconsidersthenarrativeofPriscus，theonlyauthorityofM。deBuatandofGibbon，toovaguetofixthepositionofAttila\'scamp。\"Itisworthyofremark，thatintheHungariantraditionscollectedbyThwrocz，l。2，c。17，preciselyontheleftbranchoftheDanube，whereAttila\'sresidencewassituated，inthesameparallelstandsthepresentcityofBuda，inHungarianBuduvur。ItisforthisreasonthatthiscityhasretainedforalongtimeamongtheGermansofHungarythenameofEtzelnburghorEtzela—burgh，i。e。，thecityofAttila。ThedistanceofBudafromtheplacewherePriscuscrossedtheDanube，onhiswayfromNaissus，isequaltothatwhichhetraversedtoreachtheresidenceofthekingoftheHuns。IseenogoodreasonfornotaccedingtotherelationsoftheHungarianhistorians。\"St。Martin，vi。191。—M]
[Footnote44:TheroyalvillageofAttilamaybecomparedtothecityofKaracorum，theresidenceofthesuccessorsofZingis；
which，thoughitappearstohavebeenamorestablehabitation，didnotequalthesizeorsplendorofthetownandabbeyofSt。
Denys，inthe13thcentury。SeeRubruquis，intheHistoireGeneraledesVoyages，tom。viip。286。ThecampofAurengzebe，asitissoagreeablydescribedbyBernier，tom。ii。p。217—
235，blendedthemannersofScythiawiththemagnificenceandluxuryofHindostan。]
[Footnote*:ThenameofthisqueenoccursthreetimesinPriscus，andalwaysinadifferentform—Cerca，Creca，andRheca。TheScandinavianpoetshavepreservedhermemoryunderthenameofHerkia。St。Martin，vi。192。—M。]
[Footnote45:WhentheMogulsdisplayedthespoilsofAsia，inthedietofToncat，thethroneofZingiswasstillcoveredwiththeoriginalblackfeltcarpet，onwhichhehadbeenseated，whenhewasraisedtothecommandofhiswarlikecountrymen。SeeViedeGengiscan，v。c。9。]
WhenAttilafirstgaveaudiencetotheRomanambassadorsonthebanksoftheDanube，histentwasencompassedwithaformidableguard。Themonarchhimselfwasseatedinawoodenchair。Hissterncountenance，angrygestures，andimpatienttone，astonishedthefirmnessofMaximin；butVigiliushadmorereasontotremble，sincehedistinctlyunderstoodthemenace，thatifAttiladidnotrespectthelawofnations，hewouldnailthedeceitfulinterpretertothecross。andleavehisbodytothevultures。TheBarbariancondescended，byproducinganaccuratelist，toexposetheboldfalsehoodofVigilius，whohadaffirmedthatnomorethanseventeendeserterscouldbefound。Buthearrogantlydeclared，thatheapprehendedonlythedisgraceofcontendingwithhisfugitiveslaves；sincehedespisedtheirimpotenteffortstodefendtheprovinceswhichTheodosiushadintrustedtotheirarms:\"Forwhatfortress，\"addedAttila，
\"whatcity，inthewideextentoftheRomanempire，canhopetoexist，secureandimpregnable，ifitisourpleasurethatitshouldbeerasedfromtheearth?\"Hedismissed，however，theinterpreter，whoreturnedtoConstantinoplewithhisperemptorydemandofmorecompleterestitution，andamoresplendidembassy。
Hisangergraduallysubsided，andhisdomesticsatisfactioninamarriagewhichhecelebratedontheroadwiththedaughterofEslam，mightperhapscontributetomollifythenativefiercenessofhistemper。TheentranceofAttilaintotheroyalvillagewasmarkedbyaverysingularceremony。Anumeroustroopofwomencameouttomeettheirheroandtheirking。Theymarchedbeforehim，distributedintolongandregularfiles；theintervalsbetweenthefileswerefilledbywhiteveilsofthinlinen，whichthewomenoneithersideborealoftintheirhands，andwhichformedacanopyforachorusofyoungvirgins，whochantedhymnsandsongsintheScythianlanguage。ThewifeofhisfavoriteOnegesius，withatrainoffemaleattendants，salutedAttilaatthedoorofherownhouse，onhiswaytothepalace；andoffered，accordingtothecustomofthecountry，herrespectfulhomage，byentreatinghimtotastethewineandmeatwhichshehadpreparedforhisreception。Assoonasthemonarchhadgraciouslyacceptedherhospitablegift，hisdomesticsliftedasmallsilvertabletoaconvenientheight，ashesatonhorseback；andAttila，whenhehadtouchedthegobletwithhislips，againsalutedthewifeofOnegesius，andcontinuedhismarch。Duringhisresidenceattheseatofempire，hishourswerenotwastedintherecluseidlenessofaseraglio；andthekingoftheHunscouldmaintainhissuperiordignity，withoutconcealinghispersonfromthepublicview。Hefrequentlyassembledhiscouncil，andgaveaudiencetotheambassadorsofthenations；andhispeoplemightappealtothesupremetribunal，whichheheldatstatedtimes，and，accordingtotheEasterncustom，beforetheprincipalgateofhiswoodenpalace。TheRomans，bothoftheEastandoftheWest，weretwiceinvitedtothebanquets，whereAttilafeastedwiththeprincesandnoblesofScythia。Maximinandhiscolleagueswerestoppedonthethreshold，tilltheyhadmadeadevoutlibationtothehealthandprosperityofthekingoftheHuns；andwereconducted，afterthisceremony，totheirrespectiveseatsinaspacioushall。Theroyaltableandcouch，coveredwithcarpetsandfinelinen，wasraisedbyseveralstepsinthemidstofthehall；andason，anuncle，orperhapsafavoriteking，wereadmittedtosharethesimpleandhomelyrepastofAttila。Twolinesofsmalltables，eachofwhichcontainedthreeorfourguests，wererangedinorderoneitherhand；therightwasesteemedthemosthonorable，buttheRomansingenuouslyconfess，thattheywereplacedontheleft；andthatBeric，anunknownchieftain，mostprobablyoftheGothicrace，precededtherepresentativesofTheodosiusandValentinian。TheBarbarianmonarchreceivedfromhiscup—beareragobletfilledwithwine，andcourteouslydranktothehealthofthemostdistinguishedguest；whorosefromhisseat，andexpressed，inthesamemanner，hisloyalandrespectfulvows。Thisceremonywassuccessivelyperformedforall，oratleastfortheillustriouspersonsoftheassembly；andaconsiderabletimemusthavebeenconsumed，sinceitwasthricerepeatedaseachcourseorservicewasplacedonthetable。Butthewinestillremainedafterthemeathadbeenremoved；andtheHunscontinuedtoindulgetheirintemperancelongafterthesoberanddecentambassadorsofthetwoempireshadwithdrawnthemselvesfromthenocturnalbanquet。
Yetbeforetheyretired，theyenjoyedasingularopportunityofobservingthemannersofthenationintheirconvivialamusements。TwoScythiansstoodbeforethecouchofAttila，andrecitedtheverseswhichtheyhadcomposed，tocelebratehisvalorandhisvictories。Aprofoundsilenceprevailedinthehall；andtheattentionoftheguestswascaptivatedbythevocalharmony，whichrevivedandperpetuatedthememoryoftheirownexploits；amartialardorflashedfromtheeyesofthewarriors，whowereimpatientforbattle；andthetearsoftheoldmenexpressedtheirgenerousdespair，thattheycouldnolongerpartakethedangerandgloryofthefield。^46Thisentertainment，whichmightbeconsideredasaschoolofmilitaryvirtue，wassucceededbyafarce，thatdebasedthedignityofhumannature。AMoorishandaScythianbuffconsuccessivelyexcitedthemirthoftherudespectators，bytheirdeformedfigure，ridiculousdress，anticgestures，absurdspeeches，andthestrange，unintelligibleconfusionoftheLatin，theGothic，andtheHunniclanguages；andthehallresoundedwithloudandlicentiouspealsoflaughter。Inthemidstofthisintemperateriot，Attilaalone，withoutachangeofcountenance，maintainedhissteadfastandinflexiblegravity；whichwasneverrelaxed，exceptontheentranceofIrnac，theyoungestofhissons:heembracedtheboywithasmileofpaternaltenderness，gentlypinchedhimbythecheek，andbetrayedapartialaffection，whichwasjustifiedbytheassuranceofhisprophets，thatIrnacwouldbethefuturesupportofhisfamilyandempire。Twodaysafterwards，theambassadorsreceivedasecondinvitation；andtheyhadreasontopraisethepoliteness，aswellasthehospitality，ofAttila。ThekingoftheHunsheldalongandfamiliarconversationwithMaximin；buthiscivilitywasinterruptedbyrudeexpressionsandhaughtyreproaches；andhewasprovoked，byamotiveofinterest，tosupport，withunbecomingzeal，theprivateclaimsofhissecretaryConstantius。