Page:Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire vol 3 (1897).djvu/91

 OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE 71 tion of the pastoral life of the Scythians/ or Tartars,^ will illustrate the latent cause of these destructive emigrations. The different characters that mark the civilized nations of the The pastoral globe may be ascribed to the use, and the abuse, of reason; of the which so variously shapes, and so artificially composes, the or Tartars manners and opinions of an European or a Chinese. But the operation of instinct is more sure and simple than that of reason : it is much easier to ascertain the appetites of a quadruped than the speculations of a philosopher ; and the savage tribes of mankind, as they approach nearer to the condition of animals, preserve a stronger resemblance to themselves and to each other. The uniform stability of their manners is the natural consequence of the imperfection of their faculties. Reduced to a similar situation, their wants, their desires, their enjoyments, still continue the same ; and the influence of food or climate, which, in a more improved state of society, is suspended or subdued by so many moral causes, most powerfully contributes to form and to maintain the national character of Barbarians. In every age, the immense plains of Scythia or Tartary have been inhabited by vagrant tribes of hunters and shepherds, whose indolence refuses to cultivate the earth, and whose restless spirit disdains the confinement of a sedentary life. In every age, the Scythians and Tartars have been renowned for their invincible courage and rapid conquests. The thrones of Asia have been repeatedly overturned by the shepherds of the North ; and their arms have spread terror and devastation over the most fertile and warlike countries of Europe.*^ On this occasion, as well as on many others, the sober historian is forcibly awakened from a pleasing vision ; and is compelled, by the Danube and the Palus Mseotis, within a square of 4000 stadia (400 Roman miles). See d'Anville (M6m de I'Acad^mie, torn. xxxv. p. 573-591). Diodorus Siculus (torn. i. 1. ii. p. 155, edit. Wesseling) has marked the gradual progress of the name and nation. ^ The Tatars, or Tartars, were a primitive tribe, the rivals, and at length the subjects, of the Moguls. In the victorious armies of Zingis Khan, and his successors, the Tartars formed the vanguard ; and the name, which first reached the ears of foreigners, was applied to the whole nation (Fr^ret, in the Hist, de I'Acad^mie, torn, xviii. p. 60). In speaking of all, or any, of the northern shepherds of Europe, or Asia, I indifferently use the appellations of Scythians or Tartars. ^ Impenum Asiae ter quaesivere : ipsi perpetuo ab alieno imperio aut intacti aut invicti mansere. Since the time of Justin (ii. 2), they have multiplied this account. Voltaire, in a few words (tom. x. p. 64, Hist. G6n6rale, c. 156), has abridged the Tartar conquests. Oft o'er the trembling nations from afar Has Scythia breath'd the living cloud of war.
 * The original Scythians of Herodotus (1. iv. c. 47-57, 99-101) were confined