Page:Readings in European History Vol 1.djvu/85

 The German Invasions 49 full of meat, and behind him came the other attendants with bread and viands, which they laid on the tables. A luxurious meal, served on silver plate, had been made ready for us and the barbarian guests, but Attila ate nothing but meat on a wooden trencher. In everything else, too, he showed himself temperate ; his cup was of wood, while to the guests were given goblets of gold and silver. His dress, too, was quite simple, affecting only to be clean. The sword he carried at his side, the latchets of his Scythian shoes, the bridle of his horse were not adorned, like those of the other Scythians, with gold or gems or anything costly. When the viands of the first course had been consumed, we all stood up, and did not resume our seats until each one, in the order before observed, drank to the health of Attila in the goblet of wine presented to him. We then sat down, and a second dish was placed on each table with eatables of another kind. After this course the same ceremony was observed as after the first. When evening fell torches were lit, and two barbarians coming forward in front of Attila sang songs they had composed, celebrating his victories and deeds of valor in war. IV. How POPE LEO THE GREAT SAVED ROME FROM ATTILA Prosper, a Christian chronicler, writing about 455, gives the following simple account of Leo's famous inter- view with the king of the Huns three years before : Now Attila, having once more collected his forces which 15. Pros- had been scattered in Gaul [at the battle of Chalons], took JJJjJ^jT his way through Pannonia into Italy. ... To the emperor mee tmg of and the senate and Roman people none of all the proposed Leo the plans to oppose the enemy seemed so practicable as to send Jttfla^p) legates to the most savage king and beg for peace. Our most blessed Pope Leo trusting in the help of God, who never fails the righteous in their trials undertook the task, accom- panied by Avienus, a man of consular rank, and the prefect