Page:Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire vol 6 (1897).djvu/149

 OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE 129 CHAPTER LV The Bulgarians — Origin, Migrations, and Selllement of the Hungarians — Their inroads in the East and West — The monarchy of Russia — Geography and Trade — Wars of the Russians against the Greek Empire — Conversion of the Bar- barians Under the reign of Constantine the grandson of Heraclius, the ancient barrier of the Danube, so often violated and so often restored, was irretrievably swept away by a new deluge of barbarians. Their progress was favoured by the caliphs, their unknown and accidental auxiliaries : the Roman legions were occupied in Asia ; and, after the loss of Syria, Egypt, and Afi'ica, the Caesars were twice reduced to the danger and disgrace of defending their capital against the Saracens. If, in the account of this interesting people, I have deviated from the strict and original line of my undertaking, the merit of the subject will hide my transgression or solicit my excuse. In the East, in the West, in war, in religion, in science, in their prosperity, and in their decay, the Arabians press themselves on our curiosity : the first overthrow of the church and empire of the Greeks may be imputed to their arms ; and the disciples of Mahomet still hold the civil and religious sceptre of the Oriental world. But the same labour would be unworthily bestowed on the swarms of savages who, between the seventh and the twelfth century, descended from the plains of Scythia, in transient inroad or perpetual emigration.^ Their names are uncouth, their origins doubtful, their actions obscure, their superstition was blind, their valour brutal, and the uniformity of their ^ All the passages of the Byzantine history which relate to the barbarians are compiled, methodized, and transcribed, in a Latin version, by the laborious John Gotthelf Stritter, in his " Memoriae Populorum ad Danubium, Pontum Euxinum, Paludem Mceotidem, Caucasum, Mare Caspium, et inde magis ad Septemtriones incolentium ". Petropoli, 1771-1779 ; in four tomes, or six volumes, in 4to. But the fashion has not enhanced the price of these raw materials. VOL. VI. 9