Page:Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire vol 3 (1897).djvu/462

 442 THE DECLINE AND FALL Conjpiracy of But the RoiTian the Komana agalmt the Ufe of Attila He repri- mands and forgives the Emperor ambassador was iji^norant of the treacherous clesi<>n, which had been concealed under the mask of the pubUc faith. The surprise and satisfaction of Edecon, when he contem- plated the splendour of Constantinople, had encourajred the interpreter Vijrilius to procure for him a secret interview with the eunuch Clnysapliius,''" who ooverned the emperor and the empire. After some previous conversation, and a mutual oath of secrecy, the eunuch, who had not, from his own feelings or experience, imbibed any exalted notions of ministerial virtue, ventured to propose the death of Attila, as an important service, by which Edecon might deserve a liberal share of the wealth and luxury which he admired. The ambassador of the Huns listened to the tempting ofter, and professed, with apparent zeal, his ability, as well as readiness, to execute the bloody deed ; the design was communicated to the master of the ofKces, and the devout Theodosius consented to the assassination of his invincible enemy. But this perfidious conspiracy was defeated by the dissimulation, or the repentance, of Edecon ; and, though he might exaggerate his inward abhorrence for the treason, which he seemed to approve, he dexterously assumed the merit of an early and voluntary confession. If we iia?v review the embassy of Maximin^ and the behaviour of Attila, we must applaud the Barbarian, who respected the laws of hospitality, and generously entertained and dismissed the minister of a prince who had conspired against his life. But the rashness of Vigilius will appear still more extraordinary, since he returned, conscious of his guilt and danger, to the royal camp ; accom- panied by his son, and carrying with him a weighty purse of gold, which the favourite eunuch had furnished, to satisfy the demands of Edecon, and to corrupt the fidelity of the guards. The interpreter was instantly seized, and dragged before the tribunal of Attila, where he asserted his innocence with specious firmness, till the threat of inflicting instant death on his son extorted from him a sincere discovery of the criminal transaction. Under the name of ransom or confiscation, the rapacious king of the Huns accepted two hundred pounds of gold for the life of a traitor, whom he disdained to punish. He pointed his just ™ M. de Tillemont has very properly given the succession of Chamberlains who reigned in the name of Theodosius. Chrysaphius was the last and, according to the unanimous evidence of history, the worst of these favourites (see Hist, des Empereurs, torn. vi. p. 117-119. M^m. Ecclt^s. torn. xv. p. 438). His partiality for his godfather, the heresiarch Eiityches, engaged him to persecute the orthodox party.