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。]