Page:1909historyofdec04gibbuoft.djvu/434

 378 THE DECLINE AND FALL [Chap, xlii victorious march, the new Avars arrived at the foot of mount Caucasus, in the country of the Alani 38 and Circassians, where they first heard of the splendour and weakness of the Roman empire. They humbly requested their confederate, the prince of the Alani, to lead them to this source of riches; and their ambassador, with the permission of the governor of Lazica, was transported by the Euxine sea to Constantinople. The whole city was poured forth to behold with curiosity and terror the aspect of a strange people : their long hair, which hung in tresses down their backs, was gracefully bound with ribbons, but the rest of their habit appeared to imitate the fashion of Their em- the Huns. When they were admitted to the audience of constant*- Justinian, Candish, the first of the ambassadors, addressed the 558 Roman emperor in these terms : " You see before you, mighty prince, the representatives of the strongest and most populous of nations, the invincible, the irresistible Avars. We are will- ing to devote ourselves to your service : we are able to vanquish and destroy all the enemies who now disturb your repose. But we expect, as the price of our alliance, as the reward of our valour, precious gifts, annual subsidies, and fruitful possessions." At the time of this embassy Justinian had reigned above thirty, he had lived above seventy-five, years ; his mind, as well as his body, was feeble and languid ; and the conqueror of Africa and Italy, careless of the permanent interest of his people, aspired only to end his days in the bosom even of inglorious peace. In a studied oration he imparted to the senate his resolution to dissemble the insult, and to purchase the friendship, of the Avars; and the whole senate, like the mandarins of China, applauded the incomparable wisdom and foresight of their sovereign. The instruments of luxury were immediately pre- pared to captivate the Barbarians : silken garments, soft and splendid beds, and chains and collars incrusted with gold. The ambassadors, content with such liberal reception, departed from Constantinople, and Valentin, one of the emperor's guards, was sent with a similar character to their camp at the foot of mount Caucasus. As their destruction or their success must be alike 38 The Alani are still found.in the Genealogical History of the Tartars (p. 617), and in d'Anville's maps. They opposed the march of the generals of Zingis round the Caspian sea, and were overthrown in a great battle (Hist, de Gengiscan, 1. iv. c. 9, p. 447).