Page:Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire vol 3 (1897).djvu/460

 440 THE DECLINE AND FALL seraglio ; and the king of the Huns could maintain his superior dignity, without concealing his person from the public view. He frequently assembled his council, and gave audience to the ambassadors of the nations ; and his people might appeal to the supreme tribunal, which he held at stated times, and, according to the eastern custom, before the principal gate of his wooden palace. The Romans, both of the East and of the West, were twice invited to the banquets, where Attila feasted with the princes and nobles of Scythia. Maximin and his colleagues were stopped on the threshold, till they had made a devout libation Lo the health and prosperity of the king of the Huns ; and were conducted, after this ceremony, to their respective seats in a spacious hall. The royal table and couch, covered with carpets and fine linen, was raised by several steps in the midst of the hall ; and a son, an uncle, or perhaps a favourite king, were admitted to share the simple and homely repast of Attila. Two lines of small tables, each of which contained three or four guests, were ranged in order on either hand ; the right was esteemed the most honourable, but the Romans ingenuously confess that they were placed on the left ; and that Beric, an unknown chieftain, most probably of the Gothic race, preceded the representatives of Theodosius and alentinian. The Bar- barian monarch received from his cup-bearer a goblet filled with wine, and courteously drank to the health of the most dis- tinguished guest, who rose from his seat and expressed, in the same manner, his loyal and respectful vows. This ceremony was successively performed for all, or at least for the illustrious persons of the assembly ; and a considerable time must have been consumed, since it was thrice repeated, as each course or service was placed on the table. But the wine still remained after the meat had been removed ; and the Huns continued to indulge their intemperance long after the sober and decent ambassadors of the two empires had withdrawn themselves from the nocturnal banquet. Yet before they retired, they enjoyed a singular ojjportuuity of observing the manners of the nation in their convivial amusements. Two Scythians stood before the couch of Attila, and recited the verses which they had cora- ])osed, to celebrate his valour and his victories. A profound silence prevailed in the hall ; and the attention of the guests was captivated by the vocal harmony, which revived and perpetuated the memory of their own exploits : a martial ardour flashed from the eyes of the warriors, who were impatient for battle ; and the tears of the old men expressed their generous despair