\"Theemperor\"saidAttila\"haslongpromisedhimarichwife:
Constantiusmustnotbedisappointed；norshouldaRomanemperordeservethenameofliar。\"Onthethirdday，theambassadorsweredismissed；thefreedomofseveralcaptiveswasgranted，foramoderateransom，totheirpressingentreaties；and，besidestheroyalpresents，theywerepermittedtoacceptfromeachoftheScythiannoblesthehonorableandusefulgiftofahorse。
Maximinreturned，bythesameroad，toConstantinople；andthoughhewasinvolvedinanaccidentaldisputewithBeric，thenewambassadorofAttila，heflatteredhimselfthathehadcontributed，bythelaboriousjourney，toconfirmthepeaceandallianceofthetwonations。^47
[Footnote*:Wasthishisowndaughter，orthedaughterofapersonnamedEscam?GibbonhaswrittenincorrectlyEslam，anunknownname。TheofficerofAttila，calledEslas。Ineithercasetheconstructionisimperfect:agoodGreekwriterwouldhaveintroducedanarticletodeterminethesense。Norisitquiteclear，whetherScythianusageisadducedtoexcusethepolygamy，oramarriage，whichwouldbeconsideredincestuousinothercountries。TheLatinversionhascarefullypreservedtheambiguity，filiamEscamuxorem。Iamnotinclinedtoconstrueit\'hisowndaughter\'thoughIhavetoolittleconfidenceintheuniformityofthegrammaticalidiomsoftheByzantinesthoughPriscusisoneofthebesttoexpressmyselfwithouthesitation。
—M。]
[Footnote*:ThispassageisremarkablefromtheconnectionofthenameofAttilawiththatextraordinarycycleofpoetry，whichisfoundindifferentformsinalmostalltheTeutoniclanguages。
ALatinpoem，deprimaexpeditioneAttilae，RegisHunnorum，inGallias，waspublishedintheyear1780，byFischeratLeipsic。
Itcontains，withthecontinuation，1452lines。Itaboundsinmetricalfaults，butisoccasionallynotwithoutsomerudespiritandsomecopiousnessoffancyinthevariationofthecircumstancesinthedifferentcombatsoftheheroWalther，princeofAquitania。Itcontainslittlewhichcanbesupposedhistorical，andstilllesswhichischaracteristicconcerningAttila。ItrelatestoafirstexpeditionofAttilaintoEuropewhichcannotbetracedinhistory，duringwhichthekingsoftheFranks，oftheBurgundians，andofAquitaine，submitthemselves，andgivehostagestoAttila:thekingoftheFranks，apersonagewhoseemsthesamewiththeHagenofTeutonicromance；thekingofBurgundy，hisdaughterHeldgund；thekingofAquitaine，hissonWalther。ThemainsubjectofthepoemistheescapeofWaltherandHeldgundfromthecampofAttila，andthecombatbetweenWaltherandGunthar，kingoftheFranks。withhistwelvepeers，amongwhomisHagen。WaltherhadbeenbetrayedwhilehepassedthroughWorms，thecityoftheFrankishking。bypayingforhisferryovertheRhinewithsomestrangefish，whichhehadcaughtduringhisflight，andwhichwereunknowninthewatersoftheRhine。Guntharwasdesirousofplunderinghimofthetreasure，whichWaltherhadcarriedofffromthecampofAttila。
Theauthorofthispoemisunknown，norcanI，onthevagueandratherdoubtfulallusiontoThule，asIceland，venturetoassignitsdate。Itwas，evidently，recitedinamonastery，asappearsbythefirstline；andnodoubtcomposedthere。Thefaultsofmetrewouldpointoutalatedate；anditmayhavebeenformeduponsomelocaltradition，asWalther，thehero，seemstohaveturnedmonk。
Thispoem，however，initscharacteranditsincidents，bearsnorelationtotheTeutoniccycle，ofwhichtheNibelungenLiedisthemostcompleteform。Inthis，intheHeldenbuch，insomeoftheDanishSagas。incountesslaysandballadsinallthedialectsofScandinavia，appearsKingEtzelAttilainstrifewiththeBurgundiansandtheFranks。Withtheseappears，byapoeticanachronism，DietrichofBerne。TheodoricofVerona，
thecelebratedOstrogothicking；andmanyotherverysingularcoincidencesofhistoricnames，whichappearinthepoems。SeeLachmanKritikderSageinhisvolumeofvariousreadingstotheNibelungen；Berlin，1836，p。336。
ChapterXXXIV:Attila。
PartIII。
Imustacknowledgemyselfunabletoformanysatisfactorytheoryastotheconnectionofthesepoemswiththehistoryofthetime，ortheperiod，fromwhichtheymaydatetheirorigin；
notwithstandingthelaboriousinvestigationsandcriticalsagacityoftheSchlegels，theGrimms，ofP。E。MullerandLachman，andawholehostofGermancriticsandantiquaries；nottoomitourowncountryman，Mr。Herbert，whosetheoryconcerningAttilaiscertainlyneitherdeficientinboldnessnororiginality。IconceivetheonlywaytoobtainanythinglikeaclearconceptiononthispointwouldbewhatLachmanhasbegun，seeabove，patientlytocollectandcomparethevariousformswhichthetraditionshaveassumed，withoutanypreconceived，eithermythicalorpoetical，theory，and，ifpossible，todiscovertheoriginalbasisofthewholerichandfantasticlegend。Onepoint，whichtomeisstronglyinfavoroftheantiquityofthispoeticcycle，is，thatthemannersaresoclearlyanteriortochivalry，andtotheinfluenceexercisedonthepoeticliteratureofEuropebythechivalrouspoemsandromances。IthinkIfindsometracesofthatinfluenceintheLatinpoem，thoughstrainedthroughtheimaginationofamonk。
TheEnglishreaderwillfindanamusingaccountoftheGermanNibelungenandHeldenbuch，andofsomeoftheScandinavianSagas，inthevolumeofNorthernAntiquitiespublishedbyWeber，thefriendofSirWalterScott。Scotthimselfcontributedaconsiderable，nodoubtfarthemostvaluable，parttothework。
SeealsothevariousGermaneditionsoftheNibelungen，towhichLachman，withtrueGermanperseverance，hascompiledathickvolumeofvariousreadings；theHeldenbuch，theoldDanishpoemsbyGrimm，theEddas，&c。Herbert\'sAttila，p。510，etseq。—M。]
[Footnote46:IfwemaybelievePlutarch，inDemetrio，tom。v。
p。24，itwasthecustomoftheScythians，whentheyindulgedinthepleasuresofthetable，toawakentheirlanguidcouragebythemartialharmonyoftwangingtheirbow—strings。]
[Footnote*:TheScythianwasanidiotorlunatic；theMooraregularbuffcon—M。]
[Footnote47:Thecuriousnarrativeofthisembassy，whichrequiredfewobservations，andwasnotsusceptibleofanycollateralevidence，maybefoundinPriscus，p。49—70。ButI
havenotconfinedmyselftothesameorder；andIhadpreviouslyextractedthehistoricalcircumstances，whichwerelessintimatelyconnectedwiththejourney，andbusiness，oftheRomanambassadors。]
ButtheRomanambassadorwasignorantofthetreacherousdesign，whichhadbeenconcealedunderthemaskofthepublicfaith。ThesurpriseandsatisfactionofEdecon，whenhecontemplatedthesplendorofConstantinople，hadencouragedtheinterpreterVigiliustoprocureforhimasecretinterviewwiththeeunuchChrysaphius，^48whogovernedtheemperorandtheempire。Aftersomepreviousconversation，andamutualoathofsecrecy，theeunuch，whohadnot，fromhisownfeelingsorexperience，imbibedanyexaltednotionsofministerialvirtue，venturedtoproposethedeathofAttila，asanimportantservice，bywhichEdeconmightdeservealiberalshareofthewealthandluxurywhichheadmired。TheambassadoroftheHunslistenedtothetemptingoffer；andprofessed，withapparentzeal，hisability，aswellasreadiness，toexecutethebloodydeed；thedesignwascommunicatedtothemasteroftheoffices，andthedevoutTheodosiusconsentedtotheassassinationofhisinvincibleenemy。Butthisperfidiousconspiracywasdefeatedbythedissimulation，ortherepentance，ofEdecon；andthoughhemightexaggeratehisinwardabhorrenceforthetreason，whichheseemedtoapprove，hedexterouslyassumedthemeritofanearlyandvoluntaryconfession。IfwenowreviewtheembassyofMaximin，andthebehaviorofAttila，wemustapplaudtheBarbarian，whorespectedthelawsofhospitality，andgenerouslyentertainedanddismissedtheministerofaprincewhohadconspiredagainsthislife。ButtherashnessofVigiliuswillappearstillmoreextraordinary，sincehereturned，consciousofhisguiltanddanger，totheroyalcamp，accompaniedbyhisson，andcarryingwithhimaweightypurseofgold，whichthefavoriteeunuchhadfurnished，tosatisfythedemandsofEdecon，andtocorruptthefidelityoftheguards。Theinterpreterwasinstantlyseized，anddraggedbeforethetribunalofAttila，whereheassertedhisinnocencewithspeciousfirmness，tillthethreatofinflictinginstantdeathonhissonextortedfromhimasincerediscoveryofthecriminaltransaction。Underthenameofransom，orconfiscation，therapaciouskingoftheHunsacceptedtwohundredpoundsofgoldforthelifeofatraitor，whomhedisdainedtopunish。Hepointedhisjustindignationagainstanoblerobject。Hisambassadors，EslawandOrestes，wereimmediatelydespatchedtoConstantinople，withaperemptoryinstruction，whichitwasmuchsaferforthemtoexecutethantodisobey。TheyboldlyenteredtheImperialpresence，withthefatalpursehangingdownfromtheneckofOrestes；whointerrogatedtheeunuchChrysaphius，ashestoodbesidethethrone，whetherherecognizedtheevidenceofhisguilt。ButtheofficeofreproofwasreservedforthesuperiordignityofhiscolleagueEslaw，whogravelyaddressedtheemperoroftheEastinthefollowingwords:\"Theodosiusisthesonofanillustriousandrespectableparent:Attilalikewiseisdescendedfromanoblerace；andhehassupported，byhisactions，thedignitywhichheinheritedfromhisfatherMundzuk。ButTheodosiushasforfeitedhispaternalhonors，and，byconsentingtopaytributehasdegradedhimselftotheconditionofaslave。Itisthereforejust，thatheshouldreverencethemanwhomfortuneandmerithaveplacedabovehim；insteadofattempting，likeawickedslave，clandestinelytoconspireagainsthismaster。\"ThesonofArcadius，whowasaccustomedonlytothevoiceofflattery，heardwithastonishmenttheseverelanguageoftruth:heblushedandtrembled；nordidhepresumedirectlytorefusetheheadofChrysaphius，whichEslawandOresteswereinstructedtodemand。
Asolemnembassy，armedwithfullpowersandmagnificentgifts，washastilysenttodeprecatethewrathofAttila；andhispridewasgratifiedbythechoiceofNomiusandAnatolius，twoministersofconsularorpatricianrank，ofwhomtheonewasgreattreasurer，andtheotherwasmaster—generalofthearmiesoftheEast。HecondescendedtomeettheseambassadorsonthebanksoftheRiverDrenco；andthoughheatfirstaffectedasternandhaughtydemeanor，hisangerwasinsensiblymollifiedbytheireloquenceandliberality。Hecondescendedtopardontheemperor，theeunuch，andtheinterpreter；boundhimselfbyanoathtoobservetheconditionsofpeace；releasedagreatnumberofcaptives；abandonedthefugitivesanddeserterstotheirfate；
andresignedalargeterritory，tothesouthoftheDanube，whichhehadalreadyexhaustedofitswealthandinhabitants。Butthistreatywaspurchasedatanexpensewhichmighthavesupportedavigorousandsuccessfulwar；andthesubjectsofTheodosiuswerecompelledtoredeemthesafetyofaworthlessfavoritebyoppressivetaxes，whichtheywouldmorecheerfullyhavepaidforhisdestruction。^49
[Footnote48:M。deTillemonthasveryproperlygiventhesuccessionofchamberlains，whoreignedinthenameofTheodosius。Chrysaphiuswasthelast，and，accordingtotheunanimousevidenceofhistory，theworstofthesefavorites，seeHist。desEmpereurs，tom。vi。p。117—119。Mem。Eccles。tom。xv。
p。438。HispartialityforhisgodfathertheheresiarchEutyches，engagedhimtopersecutetheorthodoxparty]
[Footnote49:Thissecretconspiracyanditsimportantconsequences，maybetracedinthefragmentsofPriscus，p。37，38，39，54，70，71，72。Thechronologyofthathistorianisnotfixedbyanyprecisedate；buttheseriesofnegotiationsbetweenAttilaandtheEasternempiremustbeincludedwithinthethreeorfouryearswhichareterminated，A。D。450。bythedeathofTheodosius。]
TheemperorTheodosiusdidnotlongsurvivethemosthumiliatingcircumstanceofaningloriouslife。Ashewasriding，orhunting，intheneighborhoodofConstantinople，hewasthrownfromhishorseintotheRiverLycus:thespineofthebackwasinjuredbythefall；andheexpiredsomedaysafterwards，inthefiftiethyearofhisage，andtheforty—thirdofhisreign。
^50HissisterPulcheria，whoseauthorityhadbeencontrolledbothincivilandecclesiasticalaffairsbytheperniciousinfluenceoftheeunuchs，wasunanimouslyproclaimedEmpressoftheEast；andtheRomans，forthefirsttime，submittedtoafemalereign。NosoonerhadPulcheriaascendedthethrone，thansheindulgedherownandthepublicresentment，byanactofpopularjustice。Withoutanylegaltrial，theeunuchChrysaphiuswasexecutedbeforethegatesofthecity；andtheimmensericheswhichhadbeenaccumulatedbytherapaciousfavorite，servedonlytohastenandtojustifyhispunishment。^51Amidstthegeneralacclamationsoftheclergyandpeople，theempressdidnotforgettheprejudiceanddisadvantagetowhichhersexwasexposed；andshewiselyresolvedtopreventtheirmurmursbythechoiceofacolleague，whowouldalwaysrespectthesuperiorrankandvirginchastityofhiswife。ShegaveherhandtoMarcian，asenator，aboutsixtyyearsofage；andthenominalhusbandofPulcheriawassolemnlyinvestedwiththeImperialpurple。Thezealwhichhedisplayedfortheorthodoxcreed，asitwasestablishedbythecouncilofChalcedon，wouldalonehaveinspiredthegratefuleloquenceoftheCatholics。ButthebehaviorofMarcianinaprivatelife，andafterwardsonthethrone，maysupportamorerationalbelief，thathewasqualifiedtorestoreandinvigorateanempire，whichhadbeenalmostdissolvedbythesuccessiveweaknessoftwohereditarymonarchs。HewasborninThrace，andeducatedtotheprofessionofarms；butMarcian\'syouthhadbeenseverelyexercisedbypovertyandmisfortune，sincehisonlyresource，whenhefirstarrivedatConstantinople，consistedintwohundredpiecesofgold，whichhehadborrowedofafriend。
HepassednineteenyearsinthedomesticandmilitaryserviceofAspar，andhissonArdaburius；followedthosepowerfulgeneralstothePersianandAfricanwars；andobtained，bytheirinfluence，thehonorablerankoftribuneandsenator。Hismilddisposition，andusefultalents，withoutalarmingthejealousy，recommendedMarciantotheesteemandfavorofhispatrons；hehadseen，perhapshehadfelt，theabusesofavenalandoppressiveadministration；andhisownexamplegaveweightandenergytothelaws，whichhepromulgatedforthereformationofmanners。^52
[Footnote50:TheodorustheReader，seeVales。Hist。Eccles。
tom。iii。p。563，andthePaschalChronicle，mentionthefall，withoutspecifyingtheinjury:buttheconsequencewassolikelytohappen，andsounlikelytobeinvented，thatwemaysafelygivecredittoNicephorusCallistus，aGreekofthefourteenthcentury。]
[Footnote51:PulcheriaenutusaysCountMarcellinussuacumavaritiainteremptusest。Sheabandonedtheeunuchtothepiousrevengeofason，whosefatherhadsufferedathisinstigation。
Note:MightnottheexecutionofChrysaphiushavebeenasacrificetoaverttheangerofAttila，whoseassassinationtheeunuchhadattemptedtocontrive?—M。]
[Footnote52:deBell。Vandal。l。i。c。4。Evagrius，l。ii。c。
1。Theophanes，p。90，91。Novell。adCalcem。Cod。Theod。tom。vi。
p。30。ThepraiseswhichSt。LeoandtheCatholicshavebestowedonMarcian，arediligentlytranscribedbyBaronius，asanencouragementforfutureprinces。]
ChapterXXXV:InvasionByAttila。
PartI。
InvasionOfGaulByAttila。—HeIsRepulsedByAetiusAndTheVisigoths。—AttilaInvadesAndEvacuatesItaly。—TheDeathsOfAttila，Aetius，AndValentinianTheThird。
ItwastheopinionofMarcian，thatwarshouldbeavoided，aslongasitispossibletopreserveasecureandhonorablepeace；butitwaslikewisehisopinion，thatpeacecannotbehonorableorsecure，ifthesovereignbetraysapusillanimousaversiontowar。ThistemperatecouragedictatedhisreplytothedemandsofAttila，whoinsolentlypressedthepaymentoftheannualtribute。TheemperorsignifiedtotheBarbarians，thattheymustnolongerinsultthemajestyofRomebythementionofatribute；thathewasdisposedtoreward，withbecomingliberality，thefaithfulfriendshipofhisallies；butthat，iftheypresumedtoviolatethepublicpeace，theyshouldfeelthathepossessedtroops，andarms，andresolution，torepeltheirattacks。Thesamelanguage，eveninthecampoftheHuns，wasusedbyhisambassadorApollonius，whoseboldrefusaltodeliverthepresents，tillhehadbeenadmittedtoapersonalinterview，displayedasenseofdignity，andacontemptofdanger，whichAttilawasnotpreparedtoexpectfromthedegenerateRomans。^1
HethreatenedtochastisetherashsuccessorofTheodosius；buthehesitatedwhetherheshouldfirstdirecthisinvinciblearmsagainsttheEasternortheWesternempire。Whilemankindawaitedhisdecisionwithawfulsuspense，hesentanequaldefiancetothecourtsofRavennaandConstantinople；andhisministerssalutedthetwoemperorswiththesamehaughtydeclaration。
\"Attila，mylord，andthylord，commandstheetoprovideapalaceforhisimmediatereception。\"^2ButastheBarbariandespised，oraffectedtodespise，theRomansoftheEast，whomhehadsooftenvanquished，hesoondeclaredhisresolutionofsuspendingtheeasyconquest，tillhehadachievedamoregloriousandimportantenterprise。InthememorableinvasionsofGaulandItaly，theHunswerenaturallyattractedbythewealthandfertilityofthoseprovinces；buttheparticularmotivesandprovocationsofAttilacanonlybeexplainedbythestateoftheWesternempireunderthereignofValentinian，or，tospeakmorecorrectly，undertheadministrationofAetius。^3
[Footnote1:SeePriscus，p。39，72。]
[Footnote2:TheAlexandrianorPaschalChronicle，whichintroducesthishaughtymessage，duringthelifetimeofTheodosius，mayhaveanticipatedthedate；butthedullannalistwasincapableofinventingtheoriginalandgenuinestyleofAttila。]
[Footnote3:ThesecondbookoftheHistoireCritiquedel\'EtablissementdelaMonarchieFrancoisetom。i。p。189—424，throwsgreatlightonthestateofGaul，whenitwasinvadedbyAttila；buttheingeniousauthor，theAbbeDubos，toooftenbewildershimselfinsystemandconjecture。]
AfterthedeathofhisrivalBoniface，AetiushadprudentlyretiredtothetentsoftheHuns；andhewasindebtedtotheirallianceforhissafetyandhisrestoration。Insteadofthesuppliantlanguageofaguiltyexile，hesolicitedhispardonattheheadofsixtythousandBarbarians；andtheempressPlacidiaconfessed，byafeebleresistance，thatthecondescension，whichmighthavebeenascribedtoclemency，wastheeffectofweaknessorfear。Shedeliveredherself，hersonValentinian，andtheWesternempire，intothehandsofaninsolentsubject；norcouldPlacidiaprotecttheson—in—lawofBoniface，thevirtuousandfaithfulSebastian，^4fromtheimplacablepersecutionwhichurgedhimfromonekingdomtoanother，tillhemiserablyperishedintheserviceoftheVandals。ThefortunateAetius，whowasimmediatelypromotedtotherankofpatrician，andthriceinvestedwiththehonorsoftheconsulship，assumed，withthetitleofmasterofthecavalryandinfantry，thewholemilitarypowerofthestate；andheissometimesstyled，bycontemporarywriters，theduke，orgeneral，oftheRomansoftheWest。Hisprudence，ratherthanhisvirtue，engagedhimtoleavethegrandsonofTheodosiusinthepossessionofthepurple；andValentinianwaspermittedtoenjoythepeaceandluxuryofItaly，whilethepatricianappearedinthegloriouslightofaheroandapatriot，whosupportedneartwentyyearstheruinsoftheWesternempire。TheGothichistorianingenuouslyconfesses，thatAetiuswasbornforthesalvationoftheRomanrepublic；^5andthefollowingportrait，thoughitisdrawninthefairestcolors，mustbeallowedtocontainamuchlargerproportionoftruththanofflattery。\"HismotherwasawealthyandnobleItalian，andhisfatherGaudentius，whoheldadistinguishedrankintheprovinceofScythia，graduallyrosefromthestationofamilitarydomestic，tothedignityofmasterofthecavalry。