OntheirapproachthekingoftheHunsimmediatelyraisedthesiege，andsoundedaretreattorecalltheforemostofhistroopsfromthepillageofacitywhichtheyhadalreadyentered。
^39ThevalorofAttilawasalwaysguidedbyhisprudence；andasheforesawthefatalconsequencesofadefeatintheheartofGaul，herepassedtheSeine，andexpectedtheenemyintheplainsofChalons，whosesmoothandlevelsurfacewasadaptedtotheoperationsofhisScythiancavalry。Butinthistumultuaryretreat，thevanguardoftheRomansandtheiralliescontinuallypressed，andsometimesengaged，thetroopswhomAttilahadpostedintherear；thehostilecolumns，inthedarknessofthenightandtheperplexityoftheroads，mightencountereachotherwithoutdesign；andthebloodyconflictoftheFranksandGepidae，inwhichfifteenthousand^40Barbarianswereslain，wasapreludetoamoregeneralanddecisiveaction。TheCatalaunianfields^41spreadthemselvesroundChalons，andextend，accordingtothevaguemeasurementofJornandes，tothelengthofonehundredandfifty，andthebreadthofonehundredmiles，overthewholeprovince，whichisentitledtotheappellationofachampaigncountry。^42Thisspaciousplainwasdistinguished，however，bysomeinequalitiesofground；andtheimportanceofaheight，whichcommandedthecampofAttila，wasunderstoodanddisputedbythetwogenerals。TheyoungandvaliantTorismondfirstoccupiedthesummit；theGothsrushedwithirresistibleweightontheHuns，wholaboredtoascendfromtheoppositeside:
andthepossessionofthisadvantageouspostinspiredboththetroopsandtheirleaderswithafairassuranceofvictory。TheanxietyofAttilapromptedhimtoconsulthispriestsandharuspices。Itwasreported，that，afterscrutinizingtheentrailsofvictims，andscrapingtheirbones，theyrevealed，inmysteriouslanguage，hisowndefeat，withthedeathofhisprincipaladversary；andthattheBarbarians，byacceptingtheequivalent，expressedhisinvoluntaryesteemforthesuperiormeritofAetius。Buttheunusualdespondency，whichseemedtoprevailamongtheHuns，engagedAttilatousetheexpedient，sofamiliartothegeneralsofantiquity，ofanimatinghistroopsbyamilitaryoration；andhislanguagewasthatofaking，whohadoftenfoughtandconqueredattheirhead。^43Hepressedthemtoconsidertheirpastglory，theiractualdanger，andtheirfuturehopes。Thesamefortune，whichopenedthedesertsandmorassesofScythiatotheirunarmedvalor，whichhadlaidsomanywarlikenationsprostrateattheirfeet，hadreservedthejoysofthismemorablefieldfortheconsummationoftheirvictories。Thecautiousstepsoftheirenemies，theirstrictalliance，andtheiradvantageousposts，heartfullyrepresentedastheeffects，notofprudence，butoffear。TheVisigothsalonewerethestrengthandnervesoftheoppositearmy；andtheHunsmightsecurelytrampleonthedegenerateRomans，whosecloseandcompactorderbetrayedtheirapprehensions，andwhowereequallyincapableofsupportingthedangersorthefatiguesofadayofbattle。Thedoctrineofpredestination，sofavorabletomartiavirtue，wascarefullyinculcatedbythekingoftheHuns；whoassuredhissubjects，thatthewarriors，protectedbyHeaven，weresafeandinvulnerableamidstthedartsoftheenemy；butthattheunerringFateswouldstriketheirvictimsinthebosomofingloriouspeace。\"Imyself，\"continuedAttila，\"willthrowthefirstjavelin，andthewretchwhorefusestoimitatetheexampleofhissovereign，isdevotedtoinevitabledeath。\"ThespiritoftheBarbarianswasrekindledbythepresence，thevoice，andtheexampleoftheirintrepidleader；andAttila，yieldingtotheirimpatience，immediatelyformedhisorderofbattle。AttheheadofhisbraveandfaithfulHuns，heoccupiedinpersonthecentreoftheline。Thenationssubjecttohisempire，theRugians，theHeruli，theThuringians，theFranks，theBurgundians，wereextendedoneitherhand，overtheamplespaceoftheCatalaunianfields；therightwingwascommandedbyArdaric，kingoftheGepidae；andthethreevaliantbrothers，whoreignedovertheOstrogoths，werepostedonthelefttoopposethekindredtribesoftheVisigoths。Thedispositionoftheallieswasregulatedbyadifferentprinciple。Sangiban，thefaithlesskingoftheAlani，wasplacedinthecentre，wherehismotionsmightbestrictlywatched，andthatthetreacherymightbeinstantlypunished。Aetiusassumedthecommandoftheleft，andTheodoricoftherightwing；whileTorismondstillcontinuedtooccupytheheightswhichappeartohavestretchedontheflank，andperhapstherear，oftheScythianarmy。ThenationsfromtheVolgatotheAtlanticwereassembledontheplainofChalons；butmanyofthesenationshadbeendividedbyfaction，orconquest，oremigration；andtheappearanceofsimilararmsandensigns，whichthreatenedeachother，presentedtheimageofacivilwar。
[Footnote39:Aurelianensisurbisobsidio，oppugnatio，irruptio，necdireptio，l。v。Sidon。Apollin。l。viii。Epist。15，p。246。
ThepreservationofOrleansmighteasilybeturnedintoamiracle，obtainedandforetoldbytheholybishop。]
[Footnote40:Thecommoneditionsreadxcmbutthereissomeauthorityofmanuscriptsandalmostanyauthorityissufficient
forthemorereasonablenumberofxvm。]
[Footnote41:Chalons，orDuro—Catalaunum，afterwardsCatalauni，hadformerlymadeapartoftheterritoryofRheimsfromwhenceitisdistantonlytwenty—sevenmiles。SeeVales，Notit。Gall。
p。136。D\'Anville，Noticedel\'AncienneGaule，p。212，279。]
[Footnote42:ThenameofCampania，orChampagne，isfrequentlymentionedbyGregoryofTours；andthatgreatprovince，ofwhichRheimswasthecapital，obeyedthecommandofaduke。Vales。
Notit。p。120—123。]
[Footnote43:Iamsensiblethatthesemilitaryorationsareusuallycomposedbythehistorian；yettheoldOstrogoths，whohadservedunderAttila，mightrepeathisdiscoursetoCassiodorus；theideas，andeventheexpressions，haveanoriginalScythiancast；andIdoubt，whetheranItalianofthesixthcenturywouldhavethoughtofthehujuscertaminisgaudia。]
ThedisciplineandtacticsoftheGreeksandRomansformaninterestingpartoftheirnationalmanners。TheattentivestudyofthemilitaryoperationsofXenophon，orCaesar，orFrederic，whentheyaredescribedbythesamegeniuswhichconceivedandexecutedthem，maytendtoimproveifsuchimprovementcanbewishedtheartofdestroyingthehumanspecies。ButthebattleofChalonscanonlyexciteourcuriositybythemagnitudeoftheobject；sinceitwasdecidedbytheblindimpetuosityofBarbarians，andhasbeenrelatedbypartialwriters，whosecivilorecclesiasticalprofessionsecludedthemfromtheknowledgeofmilitaryaffairs。Cassiolorus，however，hadfamiliarlyconversedwithmanyGothicwarriors，whoservedinthatmemorableengagement；\"aconflict，\"astheyinformedhim，\"fierce，various，obstinate，andbloody；suchascouldnotbeparalleledeitherinthepresentorinpastages。\"Thenumberoftheslainamountedtoonehundredandsixty—twothousand，or，accordingtoanotheraccount，threehundredthousandpersons；^44andtheseincredibleexaggerationssupposearealandeffectivelosssufficienttojustifythehistorian\'sremark，thatwholegenerationsmaybesweptawaybythemadnessofkings，inthespaceofasinglehour。Afterthemutualandrepeateddischargeofmissileweapons，inwhichthearchersofScythiamightsignalizetheirsuperiordexterity，thecavalryandinfantryofthetwoarmieswerefuriouslymingledinclosercombat。TheHuns，whofoughtundertheeyesoftheirkingpiercedthroughthefeebleanddoubtfulcentreoftheallies，separatedtheirwingsfromeachother，andwheeling，witharapideffort，totheleft，directedtheirwholeforceagainsttheVisigoths。AsTheodoricrodealongtheranks，toanimatehistroops，hereceivedamortalstrokefromthejavelinofAndages，anobleOstrogoth，andimmediatelyfellfromhishorse。Thewoundedkingwasoppressedinthegeneraldisorder，andtrampledunderthefeetofhisowncavalry；
andthisimportantdeathservedtoexplaintheambiguousprophecyoftheharuspices。Attilaalreadyexultedintheconfidenceofvictory，whenthevaliantTorismonddescendedfromthehills，andverifiedtheremainderoftheprediction。TheVisigoths，whohadbeenthrownintoconfusionbytheflightordefectionoftheAlani，graduallyrestoredtheirorderofbattle；andtheHunswereundoubtedlyvanquished，sinceAttilawascompelledtoretreat。Hehadexposedhispersonwiththerashnessofaprivatesoldier；buttheintrepidtroopsofthecentrehadpushedforwardsbeyondtherestoftheline；theirattackwasfaintlysupported；theirflankswereunguarded；andtheconquerorsofScythiaandGermanyweresavedbytheapproachofthenightfromatotaldefeat。Theyretiredwithinthecircleofwagonsthatfortifiedtheircamp；andthedismountedsquadronspreparedthemselvesforadefence，towhichneithertheirarms，northeirtemper，wereadapted。Theeventwasdoubtful:butAttilahadsecuredalastandhonorableresource。Thesaddlesandrichfurnitureofthecavalrywerecollected，byhisorder，intoafuneralpile；andthemagnanimousBarbarianhadresolved，ifhisintrenchmentsshouldbeforced，torushheadlongintotheflames，andtodeprivehisenemiesoftheglorywhichtheymighthaveacquired，bythedeathorcaptivityofAttila。^45
[Footnote44:TheexpressionsofJornandes，orratherofCassiodorus，areextremelystrong。Bellumatrox，multiplex，immane，pertinax，cuisimilenullausquamnarratantiquitas:ubitaliagestareferuntur，utnihilessetquodinvitasuaconspicerepotuissetegregius，quihujusmiraculiprivareturaspectu。DubosHist。Critique，tom。i。p。392，393attemptstoreconcilethe162，000ofJornandeswiththe300，000ofIdatiusandIsidore，bysupposingthatthelargernumberincludedthetotaldestructionofthewar，theeffectsofdisease，theslaughteroftheunarmedpeople，&c。]
[Footnote45:ThecountdeBuat，Hist。desPeuples，&c。，tom。
vii。p。554—573，stilldependingonthefalse，andagainrejectingthetrue，Idatius，hasdividedthedefeatofAttilaintotwogreatbattles；theformernearOrleans，thelatterinChampagne:intheone，Theodoricwasslainintheother，hewasrevenged。]
Buthisenemieshadpassedthenightinequaldisorderandanxiety。TheinconsideratecourageofTorismondwastemptedtourgethepursuit，tillheunexpectedlyfoundhimself，withafewfollowers，inthemidstoftheScythianwagons。Intheconfusionofanocturnalcombat，hewasthrownfromhishorse；andtheGothicprincemusthaveperishedlikehisfather，ifhisyouthfulstrength，andtheintrepidzealofhiscompanions，hadnotrescuedhimfromthisdangeroussituation。Inthesamemanner，butontheleftoftheline，Aetiushimself，separatedfromhisallies，ignorantoftheirvictory，andanxiousfortheirfate，encounteredandescapedthehostiletroopsthatwerescatteredovertheplainsofChalons；andatlengthreachedthecampoftheGoths，whichhecouldonlyfortifywithaslightrampartofshields，tillthedawnofday。TheImperialgeneralwassoonsatisfiedofthedefeatofAttila，whostillremainedinactivewithinhisintrenchments；andwhenhecontemplatedthebloodyscene，heobserved，withsecretsatisfaction，thatthelosshadprincipallyfallenontheBarbarians。ThebodyofTheodoric，piercedwithhonorablewounds，wasdiscoveredunderaheapoftheslain:issubjectsbewailedthedeathoftheirkingandfather；
buttheirtearsweremingledwithsongsandacclamations，andhisfuneralriteswereperformedinthefaceofavanquishedenemy。
TheGoths，clashingtheirarms，elevatedonabucklerhiseldestsonTorismond，towhomtheyjustlyascribedthegloryoftheirsuccess；andthenewkingacceptedtheobligationofrevengeasasacredportionofhispaternalinheritance。YettheGothsthemselveswereastonishedbythefierceandundauntedaspectoftheirformidableantagonist；andtheirhistorianhascomparedAttilatoalionencompassedinhisden，andthreateninghishunterswithredoubledfury。Thekingsandnationswhomighthavedesertedhisstandardinthehourofdistress，weremadesensiblethatthedispleasureoftheirmonarchwasthemostimminentandinevitabledanger。Allhisinstrumentsofmartialmusicincessantlysoundedaloudandanimatingstrainofdefiance；andtheforemosttroopswhoadvancedtotheassaultwerecheckedordestroyedbyshowersofarrowsfromeverysideoftheintrenchments。Itwasdetermined，inageneralcouncilofwar，tobesiegethekingoftheHunsinhiscamp，tointercepthisprovisions，andtoreducehimtothealternativeofadisgracefultreatyoranunequalcombat。ButtheimpatienceoftheBarbarianssoondisdainedthesecautiousanddilatorymeasures；andthematurepolicyofAetiuswasapprehensivethat，aftertheextirpationoftheHuns，therepublicwouldbeoppressedbytheprideandpoweroftheGothicnation。Thepatricianexertedthesuperiorascendantofauthorityandreasontocalmthepassions，whichthesonofTheodoricconsideredasaduty；represented，withseemingaffectionandrealtruth，thedangersofabsenceanddelayandpersuadedTorismondtodisappoint，byhisspeedyreturn，theambitiousdesignsofhisbrothers，whomightoccupythethroneandtreasuresofThoulouse。
^46AfterthedepartureoftheGoths，andtheseparationofthealliedarmy，AttilawassurprisedatthevastsilencethatreignedovertheplainsofChalons:thesuspicionofsomehostilestratagemdetainedhimseveraldayswithinthecircleofhiswagons，andhisretreatbeyondtheRhineconfessedthelastvictorywhichwasachievedinthenameoftheWesternempire。
MeroveusandhisFranks，observingaprudentdistance，andmagnifyingtheopinionoftheirstrengthbythenumerousfireswhichtheykindledeverynight，continuedtofollowtherearoftheHunstilltheyreachedtheconfinesofThuringia。TheThuringiansservedinthearmyofAttila:theytraversed，bothintheirmarchandintheirreturn，theterritoriesoftheFranks；
anditwasperhapsinthiswarthattheyexercisedthecrueltieswhich，aboutfourscoreyearsafterwards，wererevengedbythesonofClovis。Theymassacredtheirhostages，aswellastheircaptives:twohundredyoungmaidensweretorturedwithexquisiteandunrelentingrage；theirbodiesweretornasunderbywildhorses，ortheirboneswerecrushedundertheweightofrollingwagons；andtheirunburiedlimbswereabandonedonthepublicroads，asapreytodogsandvultures。Suchwerethosesavageancestors，whoseimaginaryvirtueshavesometimesexcitedthepraiseandenvyofcivilizedages。^47
[Footnote46:JornandesdeRebusGeticis，c。41，p。671。ThepolicyofAetius，andthebehaviorofTorismond，areextremelynatural；andthepatrician，accordingtoGregoryofTours，l。
ii。c。7，p。163，dismissedtheprinceoftheFranks，bysuggestingtohimasimilarapprehension。ThefalseIdatiusridiculouslypretends，thatAetiuspaidaclandestinenocturnalvisittothekingsoftheHunsandoftheVisigoths；fromeachofwhomheobtainedabribeoftenthousandpiecesofgold，asthepriceofanundisturbedretreat。]
[Footnote47:Thesecruelties，whicharepassionatelydeploredbyTheodoric，thesonofClovis，GregoryofTours，l。iii。c。10，p。190，suitthetimeandcircumstancesoftheinvasionofAttila。HisresidenceinThuringiawaslongattestedbypopulartradition；andheissupposedtohaveassembledacouroultai，ordiet，intheterritoryofEisenach。SeeMascou，ix。30，whosettleswithniceaccuracytheextentofancientThuringia，andderivesitsnamefromtheGothictribeoftheTherungi]
ChapterXXXV:InvasionByAttila。
PartIII。
Neitherthespirit，northeforces，northereputation，ofAttila，wereimpairedbythefailureoftheGallicexpeditionIntheensuingspringherepeatedhisdemandoftheprincessHonoria，andherpatrimonialtreasures。Thedemandwasagainrejected，oreluded；andtheindignantloverimmediatelytookthefield，passedtheAlps，invadedItaly，andbesiegedAquileiawithaninnumerablehostofBarbarians。ThoseBarbarianswereunskilledinthemethodsofconductingaregularsiege，which，evenamongtheancients，requiredsomeknowledge，oratleastsomepractice，ofthemechanicarts。Butthelaborofmanythousandprovincialsandcaptives，whoselivesweresacrificedwithoutpity，mightexecutethemostpainfulanddangerouswork。
TheskilloftheRomanartistsmightbecorruptedtothedestructionoftheircountry。ThewallsofAquileiawereassaultedbyaformidabletrainofbatteringrams，movableturrets，andengines，thatthrewstones，darts，andfire；^48andthemonarchoftheHunsemployedtheforcibleimpulseofhope，fear，emulation，andinterest，tosubverttheonlybarrierwhichdelayedtheconquestofItaly。Aquileiawasatthatperiodoneoftherichest，themostpopulous，andthestrongestofthemaritimecitiesoftheAdriaticcoast。TheGothicauxiliaries，whoappearedtohaveservedundertheirnativeprinces，AlaricandAntala，communicatedtheirintrepidspirit；andthecitizensstillrememberedthegloriousandsuccessfulresistancewhichtheirancestorshadopposedtoafierce，inexorableBarbarian，whodisgracedthemajestyoftheRomanpurple。ThreemonthswereconsumedwithouteffectinthesiegeoftheAquileia；tillthewantofprovisions，andtheclamorsofhisarmy，compelledAttilatorelinquishtheenterprise；andreluctantlytoissuehisorders，thatthetroopsshouldstriketheirtentsthenextmorning，andbegintheirretreat。Butasheroderoundthewalls，pensive，angry，anddisappointed，heobservedastorkpreparingtoleavehernest，inoneofthetowers，andtoflywithherinfantfamilytowardsthecountry。Heseized，withthereadypenetrationofastatesman，thistriflingincident，whichchancehadofferedtosuperstition；andexclaimed，inaloudandcheerfultone，thatsuchadomesticbird，soconstantlyattachedtohumansociety，wouldneverhaveabandonedherancientseats，unlessthosetowershadbeendevotedtoimpendingruinandsolitude。^49Thefavorableomeninspiredanassuranceofvictory；thesiegewasrenewedandprosecutedwithfreshvigor；alargebreachwasmadeinthepartofthewallfromwhencethestorkhadtakenherflight；theHunsmountedtotheassaultwithirresistiblefury；andthesucceedinggenerationcouldscarcelydiscovertheruinsofAquileia。^50Afterthisdreadfulchastisement，Attilapursuedhismarch；andashepassed，thecitiesofAltinum，Concordia，andPadua，werereducedintoheapsofstonesandashes。Theinlandtowns，Vicenza，Verona，andBergamo，wereexposedtotherapaciouscrueltyoftheHuns。MilanandPaviasubmitted，withoutresistance，tothelossoftheirwealth；andapplaudedtheunusualclemencywhichpreservedfromtheflamesthepublic，aswellasprivate，buildings，andsparedthelivesofthecaptivemultitude。ThepopulartraditionsofComum，Turin，orModena，mayjustlybesuspected；yettheyconcurwithmoreauthenticevidencetoprove，thatAttilaspreadhisravagesovertherichplainsofmodernLombardy；whicharedividedbythePo，andboundedbytheAlpsandApennine。^51WhenhetookpossessionoftheroyalpalaceofMilan，hewassurprisedandoffendedatthesightofapicturewhichrepresentedtheCaesarsseatedontheirthrone，andtheprincesofScythiaprostrateattheirfeet。TherevengewhichAttilainflictedonthismonumentofRomanvanity，washarmlessandingenious。Hecommandedapaintertoreversethefiguresandtheattitudes；andtheemperorsweredelineatedonthesamecanvas，approachinginasuppliantposturetoemptytheirbagsoftributarygoldbeforethethroneoftheScythianmonarch。^52Thespectatorsmusthaveconfessedthetruthandproprietyofthealteration；andwereperhapstemptedtoapply，onthissingularoccasion，thewell—knownfableofthedisputebetweenthelionandtheman。^53
[Footnote48:Machinisconstructis，omnibusquetormentorumgeneribusadhibitis。Jornandes，c。42，p。673。Inthethirteenthcentury，theMogulsbatteredthecitiesofChinawithlargeengines，constructedbytheMahometansorChristiansintheirservice，whichthrewstonesfrom150to300poundsweight。
Inthedefenceoftheircountry，theChineseusedgunpowder，andevenbombs，aboveahundredyearsbeforetheywereknowninEurope；yeteventhosecelestial，orinfernal，armswereinsufficienttoprotectapusillanimousnation。SeeGaubil。
Hist。desMongous，p。70，71，155，157，&c。]
[Footnote49:ThesamestoryistoldbyJornandes，andbyProcopius，deBellVandal。l。i。c。4，p。187，188:norisiteasytodecidewhichistheoriginal。ButtheGreekhistorianisguiltyofaninexcusablemistake，inplacingthesiegeofAquileiaafterthedeathofAetius。]
[Footnote50:Jornandes，aboutahundredyearsafterwards，affirms，thatAquileiawassocompletelyruined，itautvixejusvestigia，utappareant，reliquerint。SeeJornandesdeReb。
Geticis，c。42，p。673。Paul。Diacon。l。ii。c。14，p。785。