Theloadedwagons，whichhadfollowedtheirmarch，affordedarichbooty；andthevirgin—bride，withherfemaleattendants，submittedtothenewlovers，whowereimposedonthembythechanceofwar。Thisadvance，whichhadbeenobtainedbytheskillandactivityofAetius，mightreflectsomedisgraceonthemilitaryprudenceofClodion；butthekingoftheFrankssoonregainedhisstrengthandreputation，andstillmaintainedthepossessionofhisGallickingdomfromtheRhinetotheSomme。^24
Underhisreign，andmostprobablyfromthetheeenterprisingspiritofhissubjects，histhreecapitals，Mentz，Treves，andCologne，experiencedtheeffectsofhostilecrueltyandavarice。
ThedistressofColognewasprolongedbytheperpetualdominionofthesameBarbarians，whoevacuatedtheruinsofTreves；andTreves，whichinthespaceoffortyyearshadbeenfourtimesbesiegedandpillaged，wasdisposedtolosethememoryofherafflictionsinthevainamusementsoftheCircus。^25ThedeathofClodion，afterareignoftwentyyears，exposedhiskingdomtothediscordandambitionofhistwosons。Meroveus，theyounger，^26waspersuadedtoimploretheprotectionofRome；hewasreceivedattheImperialcourt，astheallyofValentinian，andtheadoptedsonofthepatricianAetius；anddismissedtohisnativecountry，withsplendidgifts，andthestrongestassurancesoffriendshipandsupport。Duringhisabsence，hiselderbrotherhadsolicited，withequalardor，theformidableaidofAttila；
andthekingoftheHunsembracedanalliance，whichfacilitatedthepassageoftheRhine，andjustified，byaspeciousandhonorablepretence，theinvasionofGaul。^27
[Footnote16:RegesCrinitossecreavissedeprima，etutitadicamnobiliorisuorumfamilia，Greg。Turon。l。ii。c。9，p。
166，ofthesecondvolumeoftheHistoriansofFrance。GregoryhimselfdoesnotmentiontheMerovingianname，whichmaybetraced，however，tothebeginningoftheseventhcentury，asthedistinctiveappellationoftheroyalfamily，andevenoftheFrenchmonarchy。AningeniouscritichasdeducedtheMerovingiansfromthegreatMaroboduus；andhehasclearlyproved，thattheprince，whogavehisnametothefirstrace，wasmoreancientthanthefatherofChilderic。SeeMemoiresdel\'AcademiedesInscriptions，tom。xx。p。52—90，tom。xxx。p。557—587。]
[Footnote17:ThisGermancustom，whichmaybetracedfromTacitustoGregoryofTours，wasatlengthadoptedbytheemperorsofConstantinople。FromaMS。ofthetenthcentury，Montfauconhasdelineatedtherepresentationofasimilarceremony，whichtheignoranceoftheagehadappliedtoKingDavid。SeeMonumensdelaMonarchieFrancoise，tom。i。DiscoursPreliminaire。]
[Footnote18:Caesariesprolixa……criniumflagellispertergadimissis，&c。SeethePrefacetothethirdvolumeoftheHistoriansofFrance，andtheAbbeLeBoeuf，Dissertat。tom。
iii。p。47—79。ThispeculiarfashionoftheMerovingianshasbeenremarkedbynativesandstrangers；byPriscus，tom。i。p。
608，byAgathias，tom。ii。p。49，andbyGregoryofTours，l。
viii。18，vi。24，viii。10，tom。ii。p。196，278，316。]
[Footnote19:Seeanoriginalpictureofthefigure，dress，arms，andtemperoftheancientFranks，inSidoniusApollinaris，Panegyr。Majorian。238—254；andsuchpictures，thoughcoarselydrawn，havearealandintrinsicvalue。FatherDanielHistorydelaMiliceFrancoise，tom。i。p。2—7hasillustratedthedescription。]
[Footnote20:Dubos，Hist。Critique，&c。，tom。i。p。271，272。
SomegeographershaveplacedDispargumontheGermansideoftheRhine。SeeanoteoftheBenedictineEditors，totheHistoriansofFrance，tom。iip。166。]
[Footnote21:TheCarbonarianwoodwasthatpartofthegreatforestoftheArdenneswhichlaybetweentheEscaut，orScheldt，andtheMeuse。Vales。Notit。Gall。p。126。]
[Footnote22:Gregor。Turon。l。ii。c。9，intom。ii。p。166，167。Fredegar。Epitom。c。9，p。395。GestaReg。Francor。c。5，intom。ii。p。544。VitSt。Remig。abHincmar，intom。iii。p。
373。]
[Footnote23:—FrancusquaCloiopatentesAtrebatumterraspervaserat。
Panegyr。Majorian213
Theprecisespotwasatownorvillage，calledVicusHelena；andboththenameandplacearediscoveredbymoderngeographersatLensSeeVales。Notit。Gall。p。246。Longuerue，DescriptiondelaFrancetom。ii。p。88。]
[Footnote24:SeeavagueaccountoftheactioninSidonius。
Panegyr。Majorian212—230。TheFrenchcritics，impatienttoestablishtheirmonarchyinGaul，havedrawnastrongargumentfromthesilenceofSidonius，whodaresnotinsinuate，thatthevanquishedFrankswerecompelledtorepasstheRhine。Dubos，tom。
i。p。322。]
[Footnote25:SalviandeGubernat。Dei，l。vi。hasexpressed，invagueanddeclamatorylanguage，themisfortunesofthesethreecities，whicharedistinctlyascertainedbythelearnedMascou，Hist。oftheAncientGermans，ix。21。]
[Footnote26:Priscus，inrelatingthecontest，doesnotnamethetwobrothers；thesecondofwhomhehadseenatRome，abeardlessyouth，withlong，flowinghair，HistoriansofFrance，tom。i。p。
607，608。TheBenedictineEditorsareinclinedtobelieve，thattheywerethesonsofsomeunknownkingoftheFranks，whoreignedonthebanksoftheNeckar；buttheargumentsofM。deFoncemagneMem。del\'Academie，tom。viii。p。464seemtoprovethatthesuccessionofClodionwasdisputedbyhistwosons，andthattheyoungerwasMeroveus，thefatherofChilderic。
Note:TherelationshipofMeroveustoClodionisextremelydoubtful。—Bysomeheiscalledanillegitimateson；byothersmerelyofhisrace。Turii。c。9，inSismondi，Hist。desFrancais，i。177。SeeMezeray。]
[Footnote27:UndertheMerovingianrace，thethronewashereditary；butallthesonsofthedeceasedmonarchwereequallyentitledtotheirshareofhistreasuresandterritories。SeetheDissertationsofM。deFoncemagne，inthesixthandeighthvolumesoftheMemoiresdel\'Academie。]
ChapterXXXV:InvasionByAttila。
PartII。
WhenAttiladeclaredhisresolutionofsupportingthecauseofhisallies，theVandalsandtheFranks，atthesametime，andalmostinthespiritofromanticchivalry，thesavagemonarchprofessedhimselftheloverandthechampionoftheprincessHonoria。ThesisterofValentinianwaseducatedinthepalaceofRavenna；andashermarriagemightbeproductiveofsomedangertothestate，shewasraised，bythetitleofAugusta，^28abovethehopesofthemostpresumptuoussubject。ButthefairHonoriahadnosoonerattainedthesixteenthyearofherage，thanshedetestedtheimportunategreatnesswhichmustforeverexcludeherfromthecomfortsofhonorablelove；inthemidstofvainandunsatisfactorypomp，Honoriasighed，yieldedtotheimpulseofnature，andthrewherselfintothearmsofherchamberlainEugenius。Herguiltandshamesuchistheabsurdlanguageofimperiousmanweresoonbetrayedbytheappearancesofpregnancy；butthedisgraceoftheroyalfamilywaspublishedtotheworldbytheimprudenceoftheempressPlacidiawhodismissedherdaughter，afterastrictandshamefulconfinement，toaremoteexileatConstantinople。TheunhappyprincesspassedtwelveorfourteenyearsintheirksomesocietyofthesistersofTheodosius，andtheirchosenvirgins；towhosecrownHonoriacouldnolongeraspire，andwhosemonasticassiduityofprayer，fasting，andvigils，shereluctantlyimitated。Herimpatienceoflongandhopelesscelibacyurgedhertoembraceastrangeanddesperateresolution。ThenameofAttilawasfamiliarandformidableatConstantinople；andhisfrequentembassiesentertainedaperpetualintercoursebetweenhiscampandtheImperialpalace。Inthepursuitoflove，orratherofrevenge，thedaughterofPlacidiasacrificedeverydutyandeveryprejudice；andofferedtodeliverherpersonintothearmsofaBarbarian，ofwhoselanguageshewasignorant，whosefigurewasscarcelyhuman，andwhosereligionandmannerssheabhorred。Bytheministryofafaithfuleunuch，shetransmittedtoAttilaaring，thepledgeofheraffection；andearnestlyconjuredhimtoclaimherasalawfulspouse，towhomhehadbeensecretlybetrothed。Theseindecentadvanceswerereceived，however，withcoldnessanddisdain；andthekingoftheHunscontinuedtomultiplythenumberofhiswives，tillhislovewasawakenedbythemoreforciblepassionsofambitionandavarice。TheinvasionofGaulwaspreceded，andjustified，byaformaldemandoftheprincessHonoria，withajustandequalshareoftheImperialpatrimony。Hispredecessors，theancientTanjous，hadoftenaddressed，inthesamehostileandperemptorymanner，thedaughtersofChina；andthepretensionsofAttilawerenotlessoffensivetothemajestyofRome。Afirm，buttemperate，refusalwascommunicatedtohisambassadors。Therightoffemalesuccession，thoughitmightderiveaspeciousargumentfromtherecentexamplesofPlacidiaandPulcheria，wasstrenuouslydenied；andtheindissolubleengagementsofHonoriawereopposedtotheclaimsofherScythianlover。^29OnthediscoveryofherconnectionwiththekingoftheHuns，theguiltyprincesshadbeensentaway，asanobjectofhorror，fromConstantinopletoItaly:herlifewasspared；buttheceremonyofhermarriagewasperformedwithsomeobscureandnominalhusband，beforeshewasimmuredinaperpetualprison，tobewailthosecrimesandmisfortunes，whichHonoriamighthaveescaped，hadshenotbeenbornthedaughterofanemperor。^30
[Footnote28:Amedalisstillextant，whichexhibitsthepleasingcountenanceofHonoria，withthetitleofAugusta；andonthereverse，theimproperlegendofSalusReipublicoeroundthemonogramofChrist。SeeDucange，Famil。Byzantin。p。67，73。]
[Footnote29:SeePriscus，p，39，40。Itmightbefairlyalleged，thatiffemalescouldsucceedtothethrone，Valentinianhimself，whohadmarriedthedaughterandheiressoftheyoungerTheodosius，wouldhaveassertedherrighttotheEasternempire。]
[Footnote30:TheadventuresofHonoriaareimperfectlyrelatedbyJornandes，deSuccessioneRegn。c。97，anddeReb。Get。c。42，p。674；andintheChroniclesofProsperandMarcellinus；buttheycannotbemadeconsistent，orprobable，unlessweseparate，byanintervaloftimeandplace，herintriguewithEugenius，andherinvitationofAttila。]
AnativeofGaul，andacontemporary，thelearnedandeloquentSidonius，whowasafterwardsbishopofClermont，hadmadeapromisetooneofhisfriends，thathewouldcomposearegularhistoryofthewarofAttila。IfthemodestyofSidoniushadnotdiscouragedhimfromtheprosecutionofthisinterestingwork，^31thehistorianwouldhaverelated，withthesimplicityoftruth，thosememorableevents，towhichthepoet，invagueanddoubtfulmetaphors，hasconciselyalluded。^32ThekingsandnationsofGermanyandScythia，fromtheVolgaperhapstotheDanube，obeyedthewarlikesummonsofAttila。Fromtheroyalvillage，intheplainsofHungaryhisstandardmovedtowardstheWest；andafteramarchofsevenoreighthundredmiles，hereachedtheconfluxoftheRhineandtheNeckar，wherehewasjoinedbytheFranks，whoadheredtohisally，theelderofthesonsofClodion。AtroopoflightBarbarians，whoroamedinquestofplunder，mightchoosethewinterfortheconvenienceofpassingtheriverontheice；buttheinnumerablecavalryoftheHunsrequiredsuchplentyofforageandprovisions，ascouldbeprocuredonlyinamilderseason；theHercynianforestsuppliedmaterialsforabridgeofboats；andthehostilemyriadswerepoured，withresistlessviolence，intotheBelgicprovinces。^33
TheconsternationofGaulwasuniversal；andthevariousfortunesofitscitieshavebeenadornedbytraditionwithmartyrdomsandmiracles。^34TroyeswassavedbythemeritsofSt。Lupus；St。
Servatiuswasremovedfromtheworld，thathemightnotbeholdtheruinofTongres；andtheprayersofSt。GenevievedivertedthemarchofAttilafromtheneighborhoodofParis。ButasthegreatestpartoftheGalliccitieswerealikedestituteofsaintsandsoldiers，theywerebesiegedandstormedbytheHuns；whopractised，intheexampleofMetz，^35theircustomarymaximsofwar。Theyinvolved，inapromiscuousmassacre，thepriestswhoservedatthealtar，andtheinfants，who，inthehourofdanger，hadbeenprovidentlybaptizedbythebishop；theflourishingcitywasdeliveredtotheflames，andasolitarychapelofSt。Stephenmarkedtheplacewhereitformerlystood。FromtheRhineandtheMoselle，AttilaadvancedintotheheartofGaul；crossedtheSeineatAuxerre；and，afteralongandlaboriousmarch，fixedhiscampunderthewallsofOrleans。Hewasdesirousofsecuringhisconquestsbythepossessionofanadvantageouspost，whichcommandedthepassageoftheLoire；andhedependedonthesecretinvitationofSangiban，kingoftheAlani，whohadpromisedtobetraythecity，andtorevoltfromtheserviceoftheempire。
Butthistreacherousconspiracywasdetectedanddisappointed:
Orleanshadbeenstrengthenedwithrecentfortifications；andtheassaultsoftheHunswerevigorouslyrepelledbythefaithfulvalorofthesoldiers，orcitizens，whodefendedtheplace。ThepastoraldiligenceofAnianus，abishopofprimitivesanctityandconsummateprudence，exhaustedeveryartofreligiouspolicytosupporttheircourage，tillthearrivaloftheexpectedsuccors。
Afteranobstinatesiege，thewallswereshakenbythebatteringrams；theHunshadalreadyoccupiedthesuburbs；andthepeople，whowereincapableofbearingarms，layprostrateinprayer。
Anianus，whoanxiouslycountedthedaysandhours，despatchedatrustymessengertoobserve，fromtherampari，thefaceofthedistantcountry。Hereturnedtwice，withoutanyintelligencethatcouldinspirehopeorcomfort；but，inhisthirdreport，hementionedasmallcloud，whichhehadfaintlydescriedattheextremityofthehorizon。\"ItistheaidofGod!\"exclaimedthebishop，inatoneofpiousconfidence；andthewholemultituderepeatedafterhim，\"ItistheaidofGod。\"Theremoteobject，onwhicheveryeyewasfixed，becameeachmomentlarger，andmoredistinct；theRomanandGothicbannersweregraduallyperceived；
andafavorablewindblowingasidethedust，discovered，indeeparray，theimpatientsquadronsofAetiusandTheodoric，whopressedforwardstothereliefofOrleans。
[Footnote31:Exegerasmihi，utpromitteremtibi，Attilaebellumstylomeposterisintimaturum……coeperamscribere，sedoperisarreptifasceperspecto，taeduitinchoasse。Sidon。Apoll。l。
viii。epist。15，p。235]
[Footnote32:—SubitocumruptatumultuBarbariestotasintetransfuderatArctos，Gallia。PugnacemRugumcomitanteGelono，Gepidatruxsequitur；ScyrumBurgundiocogit:
Chunus，Bellonotus，Neurus，Basterna，Toringus，Bructerus，ulvosavelquemNicerabluitundaProrumpitFrancus。CeciditcitosectabipenniHercyniainlintres，etRhenumtexuitalno。EtjamterrificisdiffuderatAttilaturmisIncamposse，Belga，tuos。
Panegyr。Avit。]
[Footnote33:ThemostauthenticandcircumstantialaccountofthiswariscontainedinJornandes，deReb。Geticis，c。36—41，p。662—672，whohassometimesabridged，andsometimestranscribed，thelargerhistoryofCassiodorus。Jornandes，aquotationwhichitwouldbesuperfluoustorepeat，maybecorrectedandillustratedbyGregoryofTours，l。ii。c。5，6，7，andtheChroniclesofIdatius，Isidore，andthetwoProspers。
AlltheancienttestimoniesarecollectedandinsertedintheHistoriansofFrance；butthereadershouldbecautionedagainstasupposedextractfromtheChronicleofIdatius，amongthefragmentsofFredegarius，tom。ii。p。462，whichoftencontradictsthegenuinetextoftheGallicianbishop。]
[Footnote34:Theancientlegendariesdeservesomeregard，astheyareobligedtoconnecttheirfableswiththerealhistoryoftheirowntimes。SeethelivesofSt。Lupus，St。Anianus，thebishopsofMetz，Ste。Genevieve，&c。，intheHistoriansofFrance，tom。i。p。644，645，649，tom。iii。p。369。]
[Footnote35:ThescepticismofthecountdeBuatHist。desPeuples，tom。vii。p。539，540cannotbereconciledwithanyprinciplesofreasonorcriticism。IsnotGregoryofTourspreciseandpositiveinhisaccountofthedestructionofMetz?
Atthedistanceofnomorethanahundredyears，couldhebeignorant，couldthepeoplebeignorantofthefateofacity，theactualresidenceofhissovereigns，thekingsofAustrasia?Thelearnedcount，whoseemstohaveundertakentheapologyofAttilaandtheBarbarians，appealstothefalseIdatius，parcensGermaniaeetGalliae，andforgetsthatthetrueIdatiushadexplicitlyaffirmed，plurimaecivitateseffractoe，amongwhichheenumeratesMetz。]
ThefacilitywithwhichAttilahadpenetratedintotheheartofGaul，maybeascribedtohisinsidiouspolicy，aswellastotheterrorofhisarms。Hispublicdeclarationswereskilfullymitigatedbyhisprivateassurances；healternatelysoothedandthreatenedtheRomansandtheGoths；andthecourtsofRavennaandThoulouse，mutuallysuspiciousofeachother\'sintentions，beheld，withsupineindifference，theapproachoftheircommonenemy。Aetiuswasthesoleguardianofthepublicsafety；buthiswisestmeasureswereembarrassedbyafaction，which，sincethedeathofPlacidia，infestedtheImperialpalace:theyouthofItalytrembledatthesoundofthetrumpet；andtheBarbarians，who，fromfearoraffection，wereinclinedtothecauseofAttila，awaitedwithdoubtfulandvenalfaith，theeventofthewar。ThepatricianpassedtheAlpsattheheadofsometroops，whosestrengthandnumbersscarcelydeservedthenameofanarmy。
^36ButonhisarrivalatArles，orLyons，hewasconfoundedbytheintelligence，thattheVisigoths，refusingtoembracethedefenceofGaul，haddeterminedtoexpect，withintheirownterritories，theformidableinvader，whomtheyprofessedtodespise。ThesenatorAvitus，who，afterthehonorableexerciseofthePraetorianpraefecture，hadretiredtohisestateinAuvergne，waspersuadedtoaccepttheimportantembassy，whichheexecutedwithabilityandsuccess。HerepresentedtoTheodoric，thatanambitiousconqueror，whoaspiredtothedominionoftheearth，couldberesistedonlybythefirmandunanimousallianceofthepowerswhomhelaboredtooppress。ThelivelyeloquenceofAvitusinflamedtheGothicwarriors，bythedescriptionoftheinjurieswhichtheirancestorshadsufferedfromtheHuns；whoseimplacablefurystillpursuedthemfromtheDanubetothefootofthePyrenees。Hestrenuouslyurged，thatitwasthedutyofeveryChristiantosave，fromsacrilegiousviolation，thechurchesofGod，andtherelicsofthesaints:thatitwastheinterestofeveryBarbarian，whohadacquiredasettlementinGaul，todefendthefieldsandvineyards，whichwerecultivatedforhisuse，againstthedesolationoftheScythianshepherds。
Theodoricyieldedtotheevidenceoftruth；adoptedthemeasureatoncethemostprudentandthemosthonorable；anddeclared，that，asthefaithfulallyofAetiusandtheRomans，hewasreadytoexposehislifeandkingdomforthecommonsafetyofGaul。^37
TheVisigoths，who，atthattime，wereinthematurevigoroftheirfameandpower，obeyedwithalacritythesignalofwar；
preparedtheirarmsandhorses，andassembledunderthestandardoftheiragedking，whowasresolved，withhistwoeldestsons，TorismondandTheodoric，tocommandinpersonhisnumerousandvaliantpeople。TheexampleoftheGothsdeterminedseveraltribesornations，thatseemedtofluctuatebetweentheHunsandtheRomans。TheindefatigablediligenceofthepatriciangraduallycollectedthetroopsofGaulandGermany，whohadformerlyacknowledgedthemselvesthesubjects，orsoldiers，oftherepublic，butwhonowclaimedtherewardsofvoluntaryservice，andtherankofindependentallies；theLaeti，theArmoricans，theBreonestheSaxons，theBurgundians，theSarmatians，orAlani，theRipuarians，andtheFrankswhofollowedMeroveusastheirlawfulprince。Suchwasthevariousarmy，which，undertheconductofAetiusandTheodoric，advanced，byrapidmarchestorelieveOrleans，andtogivebattletotheinnumerablehostofAttila。^38
[Footnote36:—VixliqueratAlpesAetius，tenue，etrarumsinemiliteducensRobur，inauxiliisGeticummalecredulusagmenIncassumpropriispraesumensadforecastris。
Panegyr。Avit。328，&c。]
[Footnote37:ThepolicyofAttila，ofAetius，andoftheVisigoths，isimperfectlydescribedinthePanegyricofAvitus，andthethirty—sixthchapterofJornandes。Thepoetandthehistorianwerebothbiasedbypersonalornationalprejudices。
TheformerexaltsthemeritandimportanceofAvitus；orbis，Avite，salus，&c。!ThelatterisanxioustoshowtheGothsinthemostfavorablelight。Yettheiragreementwhentheyarefairlyinterpreted，isaproofoftheirveracity。]
[Footnote38:ThereviewofthearmyofAetiusismadebyJornandes，c。36，p。664，edit。Grot。tom。ii。p。23，oftheHistoriansofFrance，withthenotesoftheBenedictineeditor。
TheLoetiwereapromiscuousraceofBarbarians，bornornaturalizedinGaul；andtheRiparii，orRipuarii，derivedtheirnamefromtheirpostonthethreerivers，theRhine，theMeuse，andtheMoselle；theArmoricanspossessedtheindependentcitiesbetweentheSeineandtheLoire。AcolonyofSaxonshadbeenplantedinthedioceseofBayeux；theBurgundiansweresettledinSavoy；andtheBreoneswereawarliketribeofRhaetians，totheeastoftheLakeofConstance。]