The revise the paper of the Eurasian nomad history

224 Priscus: Tex t

ignotis apparuit, cerva disparuit. quod, credo, spiritus illi, unde pro­

I geniem trahunt, ad Scytharum invidia id egerunt. I Illi vero, qui praeter Meotidam alium mundum esse paenitus 11 ji ignorabant, admiratione ducti terrae Scythicae et, ut sunt sollertes,

iter ilIud nullae ante aetati notissimum divinitus sibi ostensum rati, r ad suos redeunt, rei gestum edocent, Scythiam laudant persuasaque

I L gente sua via, qua cerva indice dedicerant, ad Scythiam properant, et

quantoscumque prius in ingressu Scytharum habuerunt, litavere victoriae, reliquos perdomitos subegerunt. nam mox ingentem illam paludem transierunt, ilico Alpidzuros, Alcildzuros, Itimaros, Tun­j

,I carsos et Boiscos, qui ripae istius Scythiae insedebant, quasi I quaedam turbo gentium rapuerunt. i j (Cf. Procopius, Wars 8,5,4 and 7-12)

2 t;

(Exc. de Leg. Rom. 1) "On 'Pooa {3amX€VoVTD<: Owvwv. 'A/ltX~ovpOtC; Kat 'Inll.apOte;

Kat TovvoovpOt Kat BotoKOte; Kat €T€pOte; l!1'1v€m rrpOOOtKOUOt TOV ~ ,

J 10TPOV Kat Ee; riw 'Pw/lUiwv OJ1llt'xpiav KaTQJ,pvyyavovow Ee; JlciXT/v I

€A(}€W rrpOTJP1]/l€Voc; €K1f€/lrr€t 'BoXalI €lw1'16ra Errt TOLC; Ow...pOPOLC; aVrQ T€ Kal. 'Pw/lUlote; 8r.aKOV€Lo1'1at. XV€W riw rrpoUrrapxovoav elprWT/v arr€tAwv, €t /lrl 'Y€ rrc1.vTae; TOVe; rrapa. ol{iie; KaTaIfJV"(ovTae; EK8oL€V. [3oVX€VO/lEVWV 8f: 'Pw/laiwv OT€LXat rrpea[3€iav rrapu Tove; Oiivvovc:. rrpea[3€v€w /lEV ii1'1€Xov I1Xiv1'1ae; Kat Atovvotoc;, I1Xiv1'1ae; /1€V TOU kKV1'1tKOV, Awvvow<: OE TOU 8pq.KWV 'Y€VOVC:. aWtYr€pOt oe OTpaT01T€OWV fryOV/1€VOt Kat d.p~avT€e; rilv mraTOV rrapa 'PW/lUWte; aPxrlv. €rr€t8i1 8€ i86K€t "HoXali rrapa. TOV 'Pofxw CMptKV€to1'1at rrp6­ T€POV Tije; eKrr€w1'h700/1€li1]e; rrpea[3€iae;. OVV€Krr€/1rr€t I1Xiv1'1ae; krzrr£Xaxov, av8pa TWV E1ftT778dwv. rr€toat TOV 'POIXw aim1J Kat /111 €repotc; 'PW/lULwV Ee; A&yovC; EX1'1e"iP.

T€X€VTT/oaVToc; 8€ ·Poua. Kat rr€pWTaOT/e; Tije; olJvvwv [3am­ X€iae; ee; 'ATrrjXav Kat BXrl8av, e8oK€t riJ 'PW/lULwV [3ovXiJ IIXiv1'1av rrp€o[3€Veo1'1at rrap' aUTove;. Kat Kvpw1'1dOT/e; h' aUT4J rrapa [3am­ X€we; 1J;rltpOV, i[30VX€TO Kat 'Em'Y€v1]v 6 I1Xw1'1ae; ov/1rrp€o[3€v€W aim,;; we; /1ertOT77V Errt oopiq. 86~av Errtl{!€p6/1€vov Kat riw dpX~v €XOVTa TOV KatatOTOpoc;. X€tpoTOVLae; DE Kat Err' airrQ 'Y€VO/1€VTJc:, aJllPW Errt rilv rrpea[3€iav e~wP/l1]Oali Kat rrapa'YivovTat ee; Map'Yov (~ O€ rr6Xte; TWV EV 'IXXvpiq. Mvowv rrpOc; T<;J 10TP,+, K€tJ1€li1] rrOTa/14J dVTtKPU KWVOTaliTtae; IfJPOVptOV KaTU rilv eT€paV tix1'h7v 8r.aK€tJ1€VOV),

1 A~1nl"ovpo,c; Maenchen-Helfen (1973 pA02)

Translation: Priscus 225

them, came into view, and the hind disappeared. I believe that those spirits, of whom the Huns were engendered, did this out of hatred for the Scythians. I

The hunters, who were completely unaware that there was another world beyond Maeotis, were seized with wonder at the land of Scythia and, concluding that the way which was utterly unknown to any age before theirs had been revealed to them by a divine power (since they were knowledgeable of such things), returned to their own people. They related what they had done, praised Scythia and, having won over their tribe, led them to Scythia by the route which the hind had revealed to them. Whomsoever they came upon immediately after their entrance into Scy;thia they annihilated, the others they utterly defeated and made their subjects. For as soon as they had crossed the great marsh, they fell like some human whirlwind upon the Alpizuri, the Alcilzuri, the Itimari, the Tuncarsi and the Boisci, who inhabited that area of Scythia.2 (Cf. Procopius, Wars 8,5,4 and 7-12)

2

(Exc. de Leg. Rom. 1) When Rua was king of the Huns, the Amilzuri, Itimari, Toun­

soures, Boisci and other tribes who were living near to the Danube were fleeing to fight on the side of the Romans. 3 Rua decided to go to war with these tribes and sent Eslas, a man who usually handled negotiations over differences between himself and the Romans, threatening to break the present peace if they did not hand over all who had fled to them. The Romans wished to send an embassy to the Huns, and both Plinthas and Dionysius wished to go. Plinthas was a Scythian, Dionysius a Thracian; both were generals and had held the Roman consulship. Since it seemed that Eslas would reach Rua before the embassy was despatched, Plinthas sent along with him Sengilach, one of his own retainers, to persuade Rua to negotiate with none of the Romans but himself.

When Rua died, the kingship of the Huns devolved upon Attila and Bleda, and the Roman senate recommended that Plinthas be sent as ambassador to them. When this vcte had been ratified for him by the Emperor, Plinthas wanted Epigenes as his fellow ambassador, since he had a great reputation for wisdom and held the office of quaestor. 4

When this had been agreed upon, they both set out on this embassy and came to Margus, where the Scythian kings, too, were assembled. (Mar­ gus is a city of Moesia in Illyria lying on the river Danube, and opposite it on the far bank is the fortress of Constantia.) They held a meeting

226 Priscus: Text

El<: ijv Kat Ot {3aUtAEWI. uv~eaav ~KufiaL. Kat. TiW uw050v €~W 1ii<: rrOAEW<: errOLOVVTO €rrr{3e{31/K6TE<: Lrrrrwv' ov rap €OOKEL TO"[<: {3ap{3apOL<; 25 Q,rro(XiaL AayarroLELafiaL. waTE Kat. TOU<; ·PWJ.UlLWV rrp€a{3w: rii<: ul{)WV aVrwv a~ia<: rrpOVoov/l€VOV<: arro Tij<: aUri7<: rrpoaLp€aEW<: €<: TaVrOv TO"[<: ~KvfiaL<: €AfiEW. rrpfx: TO /IT, TOu.; /lev ~. Lrrrrwv. TOU<; oe rrE~oiJ<: 8LaMyeafiaL ... TOU<: Q,rro Tii<: ~KvfiLKij<: KaTCLlpElryOVTa<:. ana Kat. TOU<; ijo1/ rrEl{!EurOra<: aVv Kat TOL<: ai;XJ1aAWTOL<: 'PW/laioL<: TO"[<: aVEv 30 AVrPWV €<: Ta mp€TEpa ~Lr/l€VOL<: eKolOoafiaL, cl /lr1 rE Urrep emaTOV rrEl{JEurOrO<: TOL<: KaTa rrOAE/lOV KT'T/ua/l€VOL<: OKT0..1 OOfiELEV xpvuo'i· {fiVEL oe {3ap{3d.py /lit UV/lJ.UlXELv 'Pw/lawu<: rrpfx: OVWOU<: aipov­ /lEVOV<: rrOAE/lOv' EwaL oe Kat. Ta<: rraV'T/'YVpEL<: WOVO/lOU<: Kat UKW­ OVVOV<: 'PWJ.UlLoL<: TE Kat OWVOL<:' l{JVMTTeafiaL O€ Kat. OLa/lEVEW Ta<: 35 uvvfi7]Ka<: €rrTaKOUtWV ALTPWV xpvaiov {TOU<: eKaaTov TEAOV/l€VWV rrapa 'PWJ.UlLWV TOLl; {3aULAeiOL<: ~KvfiaL<:' rrPOTEPOV oe rrEVrrlKOVTa Kat TPLaKOaLaL ai TOO T€AOU<: €TlryxaVOV ouuaL. Errt. TOlrrOL<: eurrEvoOVTO 'Pw/laroi TE Kat OUWOL KatrraTpWV OPKOV O/lOuaVTE<: e<: Ta a/ll{JOrEpa €rrav~eaav. oi Of rrapa 'PwJ.Uliov<: KaTUl(JurovTE<: €~EOOfi11Uav {3ap- 40 {3d.POL<:, €V Ot<: Kat rraWE<: MaJ.Ul Kat 'ATaKU/l TOU {3aaLAELov r€VOV<:. oik €V Kapay l{JPOVpLy 8pCfKiy 01 rrapELA1/l{JOrE<: €aTavpwaav oixa<: uVTOU<; rrpaTTO/lEVOL Tij<: l{Juri{<:.

at Of rrEpt. 'ATtr7Aav Kat BMoav riw Elpr1lJ1/V rrpo<: ·PWJ.UlLoV<: fiE/lEVOL oLE~~eaav Ta €V 11J ~KvfiLK~ efiv1/ XELPOV/lEVOL Kat rrOAE/lOV 45 rrpo<: ~op6arov<: uWEcm1aavTo.

24 avvry€aav 1:Kl.h9aL Niebuhr Iauviiaav 1:Kv,')aL~ codd. 29 'Pw/lalou~ oil /lOVOv €t~ TO /le/l./l.ov /lr, oexw,')aL suppl. Niebuhr in lac. 33-34 alpou/levou~ de Boor [alpou/levou~ codd. alpo/levou~ edd. alpo/lev'f' Niebuhr in app. cnt. 39 a<p€Tfpa ante d/l.pOT€pa add. Bekker

[3] [1. (John of Antioch Fr. 194 =Exc. de Virt. et Vit. 72)

vOn 8E05ouLo<: riw apxitv rrapa 'APKaOLoV TOU rraTpfx: <OLa>­ oE~d/lEVO<: UrrOAE/lO<: 17V Kat OEtAia UVV€~1/ Kat TT,V dpr/V1/V xpr1J.UlaL Kat 0Ux. OrrAOL<: eKTT/UaTO. Kat Vrro ~OL<: EVvOUXOL<: rraVTa ErrpaTTEV. Kat €<: ToaoVTOV Ta rrparJ.UlTa uTarria<: l{J€peafiaL oi EVvOUxOL rrapeaKEv­ aaav, w<: uvvEAovn drrELv arr0(3ovKoAOVvTE<: TOV 8E05oawv. WU1TEP 5 Too<: rrawa<: afivPJ.Ulaw, ovoev 0 n Kat li.~LOV 1lIJ7?/l1/<: oLarrpa~aafiaL UVVEXWp1/aav, KaiTOL ara1'h1<: UrrapXOVTa l{JUaEW<:' an' €<: V' €VL­ aUTOU<; uvvEMaavTa {3avavaOL<: TE TWL TEXVaL<: Kat. fi7]paL<: rrpoa­ KapTEpELv rrap€rrEWaV, WUTE aVT01J<: TE Kat TOV Xpvadl{Jwv EXEW TO

1 om- add. Valesius 2-3 au!"wv ... KTTlaa./l€Vo~ Suda 7 auv€xwpTjaav [1TapWKeVaaav Suda 8-9 avv€/l.daavTa ... Kat [E/l.Tl/l.u,')W~ OLfT€/l.W€ (3avav­ aou~ T€ TLva~ /l€TLWV T€xva~ Kat ,')r,Pq, 1TPOaKapTfpWV, waTf TOV~ €iJvoVxo~ KalSuda

Translation: Priscus 227

outside the city mounted on horseback. For the barbarians do not think it proper to confer dismounted, so that the Romans, mindful of their own dignity, chose to meet the Scythians in the same fashion, lest one side speak from horseback, the other on foot ... <it was agreed> not only that for the future the Romans not receive those who fled from Scythia, but also that those who had already fled should be handed back together with the Roman prisoners-of-war who had made their way back to their own country without ransom, unless for each one who escaped eight solidi were given to those who had captured him in war; that the Romans should make no alliance with a barbarian people against the Huns when the latter were preparing for war against them;S that there should be safe markets with equal rights for Romans and Huns; that the treaty should be maintained and last as long as the Romans paid seven hundred pounds of gold each year to the Scythian kings (previously the payments had been three hundred and fifty pounds of gold). On these terms the Romans and the Huns made a treaty and, haVing sworn their native oaths, they returned each to their own country. The fugitives amongst the Romans were handed back to the barbarians, amongst whom were Mama and Atakam, children of the royal house. Those who received them exacted the penalty for their flight by impaling them near to Carsum, a fortress in Thrace.

When they had made peace with the Romans, Attila, Bleda and their forces marched through Scythia subdUing the tribes there and also -.J made war on the Sorosgi.6

[3 ] [1. (John of Antioch Fr. 194 =Exc. de Virt. et Vit. 72)

Theodosius, who succeeded his father Arcadius as Emperor, was unwarlike and lived a life of cowardice. He obtained peace by money, not by fighting for it. Everything he did was under the influence of eunuchs, and they brought affairs to such a level of absurdity that, to put it briefly, they distracted Theodosius, as children are distracted with toys, and allowed him to do nothing at all worthy of record, although he had a good character. Even when he had reached fifty years of age they persuaded him to persist in certain low-class pursuits and in wild-beast hunting, so that they, and Chrysaphius in particular,

I 230 Priscus: Text

6

1. (Exc. de Leg. Gent. 1) "On TWV ~KV1'twv KaTa TaV rife; 1TavrrYuP€W, KaLPav Kara­

arpaTrrtT/aaVTwV 'Pw/laiovc: Kat 1TOAAove; aV€AOVTWV, Ot 'PW/lawt €1TeaT€AAOV 1TpO<; TOU<; ~Kv1'tae; EV aiTlq, mpiie; 1TOWU/l€VOt rif, TOU lfJPovpiov atpea€we; €V€K€V Kat rife; TWV a1TOVOWV OAt'YWpia,. at OE a1T€KpWaVTO we; OUK ap~d/l€vOt aAA' a/lvvo/l€VOt raiJTa opaa€tav' TaV 5 rap rife; Maprov trriaK01TOV €k rilv aUrwv Ota{3€{3T/K6ra riiv Kat OlE­ p€vvT/ad/l€vov TCl.c; 1Tapa al{Jlat {3aatA.€iovc: 1't1/Kae; a€avAT/Kevat TOU<; a1TOK€lJ.L€VOVC: 1'tT/aavpoVc;' Kat El /lTr TOVTOV EKOoI€v, EKOo'i€V oe Kal. TOU<; lfJvraoo.e; KaTa Ta UrroK€i/l€Va (€wat rap 1Tapd 'Pw/laiote; 1TA€ia- TOve:) Tav 1TOA€/lOV E1Ta~€w. 'Pw/laiwv oe rilv alTiav OUK aAT/1'tf/ 10 lfJU/l€VWV e"[vat, EV TOIS al{J€TepOte; AOrOte; Ta 1TtaTaV oi {3d.p{3aPOt 1'tE/l€VOt Kpia€we; /l€V TWV tiJllfJt/30AWV KaTWAtrWpOVv, 1TPO<; 1T6A€/lOV O€ €Tpa1TT/aav, Kat 1T€patw1'tEVT€, TaV 'laTpov 1TOA€te; Kat lfJPOVpta 1TAEiara E1Tt Ty 1TOTa/lY €KaKwaav. EV ol, Kat TO Bt/lwaKtOv €lAov' 1TOAte; oe a(J17/ TWV EV 'IAAvpwle; Mvawv. wv rWO/l€VWV, Ka{ TWWV 15 Aor01TOWUVTWV we; b 1ije; MdProv €1TiaK01TO\ EKOO1't€i1/, WaT€ /lii ~vOe; avopOc: 1T€pt Ty 1TaVTt 'Pw/laiwv TaV EK TOU 1TOAE/lOV E1Tax1'tf/vat KlvOVVOV, imOT01Tr/aae; <> av1'tpWTroc; €Koo1'tf/aea1'tat, Aa1'twv TOU<; €V Ty aaTEt 1TPOc: TOU<; 1TOA€/liove; 1Taparlv€rat Kat aUrol, 1TapaOwa€w imwXV€ITat rilv 1TOAW, er r€ €1Tt€tKEe; n Ot TWV ~KV1'twv {3oVA€VaUWTO 20 {3aatAeIe;. Ot oe {lfJUaw 1TaVTa 1TOt7ja€W Ta. ara1'ta, El ri}v aUrou arOt €e; eprov im6axeaw· O€~tWV T€ Kat OPKWV E1Tt Tol, eiPT//lEVOte; OO1't€VTWV, /l€Ta {3ap{3aptKifc; 1TOAllTTAT/1'tw..e; E, ri}v 'Pw/laiXTrv €1TaV€Wt ri/v Kat TaU17/V 1TpOAoxiaae; CwTtKpV rife; 6x.1'tT/e; VVKTCk otavia17/aw €K avv­ 1't1//lUTo\ Kat imb Tole; aVTt1TaAote; rilv 1T6AW 1TOt€I. 0T/w1'teiUT/, OE rife; 25 Maprov TaV Tp6rrOV TOiJTOV, E1Tt /l€itov T/U~7j1'tT/ Ta TWV {3ap{3d.pwv 1Tpar/laTa.

2. (Fr. 1b Dindorf, Muller V pp.25f.) 'E1TOAWPKOVV Ot ~Ku1'tat rr}v Na"iaa6v· 1TOAt, oe aim] TWV

'IAAVptWV E1Tt t t:.avov{3a K€lJ.LEVT/ 1TOTa/l4J. KwvaravTlvov aUrij, €lvat oixwr7]v lfJUaw, Ck Kat n}v <>/lWVV/lOV ~aVTY 1TOAW E1Tt T4J Bv~avTi4' €O€/.J1aTO. ola oil OVv 1TOAvdv1'tpW1TOV T€ 1T6AW aLp7ja€w Ot {3ap{3apOt /l€AAOVT€e; Kat aAAwe; EPVJ1VTrV otd. 1TaUT/' €XWPOVV 1Tel.pa,. TWV OE 5 a1Ta TOU aaT€We; OV 1'tappoUvTWV E1T€~t€vat 1TPO<; JlciXT/V. Tav 1TOTa/lOV WaT€ Pql>w..v €ivat 1TA7j1'tEt rilv otd{3aaw h€lfJupwaav KaTa TO /l€UT//l­ {3ptVOV /lepoe;, Ka1't' 0 Kat rilv 1T6AW 1Tapapp€I, Kat /IT/Xavae; TQ

2 Ll.avovl3a cod. [TW Na"ioow TrOTa/J.w MUller TW Notll3a TrOTa/J.w Dindorf 7 TiiJ ante TrA1J~€( ad"d. MUller' , , , ,

Translation: Priscus 231

6

1. (Exc. de Leg. Gent. 1) 1 When the Scythians at the time of the market overcame the Ro- I

mans by a trick and killed many of them, the Romans sent to the Scythians, blaming them for the capture of the fort and their contempt for the treaty. They replied that they had done these things not to initiate the trouble but as a riposte.9 For they claimed that the bishop of Margus had crossed over to their land and, searching out their royal tombs,to had stolen the valuables stored there. Furthermore, they said that if they did not hand him over and also hand over the fugitives as had been agreed (and there were very many amongst the Romans), they would prosecute the war. When the Romans replied that this claim was untrue, the barbarians, confident in the truth of their own alle­ gations, rejected arbitration of the disputed matters and turned to war. They crossed the Danube and ravaged very many cities and forts along the river, amongst which they took Viminacium, a city of Moesia in Illyria. While these things were happening, some were arguing that the bishop of Margus should be handed over, so that the whole Roman people should not be endangered by the war for the sake of one man. He, suspecting that he would be surrendered, slipped away from those in the city, crossed over to the enemy and promised that he would betray the city to them if the Scythian kings made him any reasonable offer. They said that if he fulfllled his promise, they would treat him well in every way, and hands were shaken and oaths given for what had been promised. He re-crossed to Roman territory with a large force of barbarians, which he concealed right by the river bank, and, rousing it during the night, he handed the city over to the enemy. When Margus had been laid waste in this way, the position of the barbarians was I greatly improved. __,J

2. (Fr. 1b Dindorf, Muller V pp.25f.) The Scythians were besieging Naissus, a city of the Illyrians on

the river Danuba,u They say that it was founded by Constantine,12 who also built the city at Byzantium named after himself. Since the bar­ barians were destined to take this populous and also well-fortified city, they made progress with every attempt. Since the citizens did not dare to come out to battle, the Scythians, to make crossing easy for their forces, bridged the river from the southern side at the point where it flowed past the city and brought their machines up to the circuit wal1. 13

236 Priscus: Text

2. (Exc. de Leg, Rom. 2) "On EJe08oolf)(; €rrep.rre L,rWclropa dv8pa inraru(()v rrapa rov

'Arrr/l\.av rrpea{3evoop.evov. &: oV8e ro TOO rrpeo{3evrou €XWV ovop.a et'JclppT/oe rre~o<; rrapa rolx: Ovvvo~ Ul{JtKEot'Jat, aXX' ~rrt rov IIovrov Kat T7}v '08vaOT/vwv €rrXevoe rroXw, ev fJ Kat EJeooovXD<: orparrrrrx €KrreJ,hp1Jete; 8tErpt{3ev. 5 4 'OlivaaT/vwv Niebuhr ['Olivaa,k cod.

3. (Exc. de Leg. Gent. 3) "On p.era T7}v ev Xeppovr1oy p.Q.XT/v 'Pwp.alwv rrprx Ovvvo~

hivovro Kat at avp.{3aoetC;, 'AvaroXiov rrpea{3evoap.Evov. Kat Errt roio8e €orrEv8ovro, Orrwc; €K8ot'JeIev IJiv rOLC; OVVVotC; oll{Jlr(tifjec;, Kat €~ XtXt.d1iec; xpvoiov Xtrpwv UrrEP rwv rrclXat avvrcl~ewv 8ot'Jeiev aVroic;· I{JOPOV 8e €ro~ €KaOrOV &axtXtac; Kat €KarOV Xirpac; xpvoov 5 ol{Jiat rera'Yp.Evov eWat· inrep 8E alxp.aXwrov 'Pwp.aiov I{JErlyovrD<: Kat ec; ri}v Ol{JErEpav 'Yiiv avev Mrpwv 8ta[3aivovrD<: 8w8eKa xpvoofjc; ewat arror{p.T/ow. p.n Kara.{3MXovrac; 8e Talx: Urr08exop.€vo~ €K8t8ovat rov l{JeVyovra' p.T/8eva 8E {3Qp{3apov 'Pwp.awvc; Kara Ol.pac; I{JErlyovra 8exeat'Jat. 10

Taln'ac; rrpooerrowuvro p.ev et'JeXovrai. 'Pwp.aWt rdc; avvtJilKac; rlt'}eot'Jat· dVd.'YK~ 8E. inrep{3ciXXovn 8Eet, &rep KareIxe roUe; OI{JWV apxovrac;, rrw €rrira'Yp.a Kairrep QV xaXerrov TlJ)(ew Tfic; elpr/vT/c; eorrov8aKOrec; ilop.€vt~OV, Kat rilv rwv I{JOPWV aVvra~w {3apvraTT/v ovoav rrpoo{evro, rwv xpT/p.Q.rwv aVrotc; Kat rwv {3aOtAtKWV t'J'TIoav­15 pwv OUK eic; 8€ov eKt>eOOrravT/p.€VWV, uXA.a rrept t'JEac; ar6rro~ Kat I{JtAonp.iac; OUK e6Aayovc; Kat Ti8ovdc; Kat oorravac; aveq.J.Evac;, nc; oooek rwv ev I{Jpovovvrwv oooE ev einrpa'YtatC; lmooraiT/, p.rm 'Ye 8'11 Ot rwv OrrXwv oXt'Ywpr/oavrec;, G)ore p.Ti p.ovov L,KMatc;, aXA.a 'Yap Kat rOLC; Xotrroic; {3ap{3d.potC; rotc; rrapotKoiJat rilv 'Pwp.aiwv lnraKOVeW ec; I{J6pov 20 arra'Yw'Yr/v.

ToVrwv rwv ovvra~ewv Kat rwv xpT/p.Q.rwv rrEPt, arrep ~8et roic; OiJvVOtC; €Krr€p.rreot'Jat, ovvewl{Jrffpew rravrac; ilvcl'YKaoav ooop.ov eiorrparrop.€vo~ Kat roVe; Kara xp6vov rwa rilv {3apvrclTT/v KOVlpW­ t'JEvrac; rijc; 'Yiic: UrrOTLp.T/OW eLre 8tKaorwv Kpioet etre {3aOtAEWV I{JtAO­25 rq.J.iatc;. ovvew€l{JEpov 8e pT/rov xpvoiov Kat at €V rij 'Yepovo{q, uva­ 'YE'Ypap.p.evot Urrep Tfic; Ol{Jwv a&rwv ~iac;. Kat ilv rroXXoic; Ti Aap.rrpa rUxT/ {3iov p.era{3oXr/· €oerrparrovTO 'Yap p.era aLKwp.wv lirrep ~Kaorov urre'Ypcll/Javro Ot rrapd {3aOtAEWC; roiJro rrOtew €1rtrera'Yp.evot, G)ore rOv KOOP.OV rwv 'YVVUtKWV Kat ra €'rrtrrXa roVe; rrclXat eooa{p.ovac; rrpo­30 nt'J€vat €V d'YopQ.. roiJro p.ev p.era rOv rr6Xep.ov ro KaKov 'Pwp.aio~ 18 QV post eil1rpa'Yla,~ add. Dindorf 23 fwa'Y,wae edd.

Translation: Priscus 237

2. (Exc. de Leg. Rom. 2) Theodosius sent Senator, a man of consular rank, as ambassador

to Attila. Although he had the title of ambassador, he was not con­ fident of reaching the Huns by land and so he sailed to the Black Sea to the city of Odessus, where Theodulus, who had been sent out as a general, was stationed.

3. (Exc. de Leg. Gent. 3) After the battle between the Romans and the Huns in the Cherso­

nese, a treaty was negotiated by Anatolius. The terms were as follows: that the fugitives should be handed over to the Huns, and six thousand pounds of gold be paid to complete the oustanding instalments of tribute; that the tribute henceforth be set at 2,100 pounds of gold per year; that for each Roman prisoner of war who escaped and reached his home territory without ransom, twelve solidi were to be the payment, and if those who received him did not pay, they were to hand over the fugitive; and that the Romans were to receive no barbarian who fled to them.

The Romans pretended that they had made these agreements voluntarily, but because of the overwhelming fear which gripped their commanders 19 they were compelled to accept gladly every injunction, however harsh, in their eagerness for peace. They paid over the instal­ ments of the tribute, heavy as they were, although both their own wealth and that of the imperial treasuries had been squandered not on necessities but upon disgusting spectacles, unreasonable displays of generosity, pleasures and dissolute banquets, such as no right-minded person would participate in, even in times when things were going well, even if military matters were of no concern to him. The result of this was that they submitted to pay tribute not only to the Scythians but also to the other barbarian neighbours of the Roman Empire. c--l

To these payments of tribute and the other monies which had to be sent to the Huns they forced all taxpayers to contribute, even those who for a period of time had been relieved of the heaviest category of land tax through a judicial decision or through imperial liberality. Even members of the Senate contributed a fixed amount of gold according to their rank. To many their high station brought a change of lifestyle. For they paid only with diffIculty what they had each been assigned by those whom the Emperor appointed to the task, so that formerly wealthy men were selling on the market their wives' jewellery and their furniture. This was the calamity that befell the Romans after the war,

n

Translation: Priscus 241240 Priseus: Text

fortress. Unless these were returned, they would not hand over their ap1TClaaL TlVa<:, 0V<; et /1T[ drrOAa(3oL€V, ovoe Olpiis TOU<: VO/1Y rrOA€/1ov KTT/t't€VTa<: Q.rroOwa€lV. raura arra'Y'Y€u...avTwv TWV rrapa mu<: 'AUT/­ /1oVVTiov<: Q.pL'YJl€VWV, Ty T€ ~Kvt'tWV (3aau...d Kat TOI:<: 'PWj1aLoL<: apxovalV EOOK€L /1€V ava~T/T€l:at'taL oik Ot 'AUT//10VVTWL €l{XLaav i1prraat'taL rrawa<:, OOO€VO<: oe lfXlV€lJTU<:, Ot rrapa ToI<: 'AUT//10VVTLot<: 75 (3<ip(3aPOL arr€oot'tT/aav, rriaT€L<: TWV ~KVt'tWV OOVTWV w<: rrap' at'Jrol<: at rraw€<: OOK dT/aav. ErrW/1lJVoVTO oE Kat Ot 'AOT//10VVTLOL. W<: Ot rrapa a<pii<: KaTGJ.PV'Y0VT€<: 'Pw/lUloL Err' €A€Vt't€pLq, d.p€it'tT/aav. w/1lJVOV oe, Kairr€p rrapa OlpialV OVTWV 'Pwj1aiwv' ov 'Yap €rrWpKOV c;JOVTO OPKOV O/1lJVvaL Errt aWTT/plq. TWV €K ToD aI()€T€pOV 'Y€vov<: dvopwv. 80

[4. (Theophanes Chron. a.m. 5942) Tou oe aToAov, w<: rrpo€l.fJI1/1€v, EV ~LK€Alq. €KO€XO/1€VOV riw TWV

rrp€O(3€VTWV rL~€piXov &pt.~W Kat ri[v TOU (3aau...€w<: K€A€ValV, €V TciJ /1€ra~iJ 'ATTiAa<:, 0 Movvoiov rrai<:, ~KVt'tT/<;, 'Y€VOJ1€vu<: avop{io<; Kat VrrWr1\{flVU<:, drr0(3aAwv BO€AAaV, Tav rrp€O(3Vr€pOV CLO€Al{J6V, Kat /10VU<: apxwv TO TWV ~KVt'tWV (3aaiA€LOV, OV<; Kat OVVVOV<: KaAovaw, 5 KaTaTp€X€L ri[v 8P~KT/V. oC DV IlciAwra 8€Ol50aLU<: O1T€VO€raL <rrpo<:> fL~€PLXOV Kat €rrava'Y€L TOV aTOAOV €K ~LK€Aia<:. arrOaTeAA€L oe Tav "Aarrapa aUv Tfi Vrr' aVTOV oVVa/1€L Kal 'AP€o(3lVoov Kal 'Ap'Ya'YiaKAOV Errt Tav 'Arri)..av 'PaTlapiav TjOT/ Kat Nci:iaov Kat epu...LrrrroUrroAIV Kal 'ApKaowUrroAw Kat KwvaraVTtaV Kat €T€pa rrA€tara rroAia/lUra 10 KaraaTp€1/!aJ1€VOV Kat aUV aiX/lUAWTOL<; rroAAol:<; Vrr€PO-YKOV aV/1­ l{JOPr1aavra A€l.av. TWV OVv aTpaTT/'YWV EAarrwt't€VTWV al{Joopa ral<; IlcixaL<;. rrpOT/At't€V 'Arri)..a<: Kat /1€XPL t'tciMaOT/<; €KaT€pa<;, Tij<: T€ TOU nOlJTOV Kat Tij<; rrpo<: KaAAL1TOA€L Kat ~T/aTY K€XV/1€VT/<;, rriiaav rrOAW Kall{Jpovplil OOVAOV/1€VU<: rrATW 'A0PIilVOllTTOA€W<; Kat 'HPaKA€ta<;, Tf'i<; 15 rrOT€ n€LpWt'tOV KAT/t't€iOT/<;. WaT€ Kat El<; Tav 'At'tvpav arJrOV l{JPOVPWV €At't€lJJ. Q.va'YKd~€raL ovv 8€oOOaLU<: rrp€O(3€Vaaat'taL rrpo<: 'Arri)..av Kat €~aKWXLML<; xpvaiov AiTpa<; VrrEP Tij<: avaxwpi'la€w<; rrapaaxEl)), xu...iwv OE xpvaiov ALTPWV €Tr]awv l{J6pov aVrY 71P€/10UVn rrpoa0/10­ Ao-yijaaL T€AEI)). (Cf. Nicephorus CaIlistus HE 14,57)] 20

1 OTOAOV b [Aaoli xyz 6 rrpo~ add. de Boor 12 TWV ouv oTpaTTrywv b [TWV oVOTparrl'Ywv xz 13 rrpoo'ilAt9€V y 19-20 rrpoowlloArYyTjO€ cg

10 j

(Exc. de Leg. Gent. 4) ·On 'Y€VO/1€VWV TWV O1TOVOWV 'ATTr]Aa<; aiJt'tL<; rrapa ToV<:

€yav<; €rr€/11/!€ rrp€a(3€L<; l{JV'Yaoo<; atTwv. ot OE TOU<; rrp€O(3€vo/1€Vov<: o€~a/1€VOL Kat rrAEtaTOL<; OWpOL<; t't€parr€VaavT€<; arr€rr€/11/!av l{JV'Yaoa<; /1T[ €x.€w 'PiJaaVT€<;. b oe rraAW €T€POV<: e'rr€/11/!€v. xpT//lUnaa/1€VWV oe

prisoners whom they had captured under the rules of war. When the messengers to the Asimuntians brought back this reply, the Scythian king and the Roman commanders agreed that a search should be made for the children whom the Asimuntians claimed had been seized, and, when none were found, the Scythians swore that they did not have the

children, and the barbarians in Asimuntian hands were given back. The Asimuntians also swore that the Romans who had escaped to them had departed to freedom, and they swore this although there were Romans amongst them. For they did not consider that they had sworn a false oath, since they had done it for the safety of men of their own race.

•[4. (Theophanes Chron. a.m. 5942) While the fleet was, as we have described,20 in Sicily receiving the

envoys of Gaiseric and awaiting the commands of the Emperor, Attila, the son of Mundius, a Scythian and a brave and haughty man, killed his elder brother Bleda, became sole ruler of the kingdom of the Scythians (whom they also call 'Huns') and devastated Thrace. Particularly be­ cause of him Theodosius made a treaty with Gaiseric and withdrew the fleet from Sicily. Against Attila, who had already sacked Ratiaria, Naissus, Philippopolis, Arcadiopolis, Constantia and very many other cities and had collected an enormous plunder and many prisoners, he sent Aspar with the force under his command and Areobindus and Argagisclus?l The generals were badly beaten in the battles they fOUght, and Attila advanced to both seas, the Black Sea and that which washes Callipolis and Sestus. He captured every city and fortress except for Adrianople and Heracleia (which was once called Perinthus), so that he reached the fortress of Athyras itself. Theodosius was forced, there­ fore, to send an embassy to Attila, to buy his withdrawal for six thousand pounds of gold and to promise to pay him a yearly tribute of one thousand pounds of gold if he kept the peace. (Cf. Nicephorus CaIlistus HE 14,57)] 22

10

(Exc. de Leg. Gent. 4) When the treaty was in force, Attila again sent envoys to the '

eastern Romans demanding the fugitives. They received the envoys, honoured them with many gifts and sent them away saying that they had no fugitives. Again, he sent others, and, when they had been enriched,

1

I: 242 Priscus: Text

Kat aVTWV, TpiT71 1rapeY€V€TO 1rpcu{3€ia, Kat T€TfipT71 J.I.€T' aim]v. b 5

rap (Jap{3apoc; €<: ri]v 'PwJ.l.Uiwv alfXJPWV r.pLAOTLJ.l.iaV, ilv €1rOWVVTO €VAa(J€tq. TOU J.l.fI 1rapa(Jarti'ivaL Ta<: arrov&i<;. oaov<: TWV €1rLTT/OcLWV €V 1rOL€W €{30VA€TO €1r€J.l.1r€ 1rap' alrroo<:, aLTia<: T€ aVa1rAaTTWV Kat 1rpor.paa€L<: €r.p€vpiaKwv K€vcis. Ot OE 1ravTt lnr17KOVOV €1rLTarJ.l.an Kat OCU1rOrov fryOVVTO TO 1rpoaTarJ.l.a, Orr€P Q.v €K€WO<: 1rap€K€A€VaaTO. OV 10 rap J.l.OVOV TaV 1rPO<: aUrav Q.v€A€artaL 1rOA€J.l.OV €VAa{30VVTO, aAM Kat llaprtooiov<: EV 1rapaaK€vij TlJYX.avovTa<: €o€oicuav Kat Bavo!.Aov<: Ta KaTa rtaAaaaav TapaTTOVTa<: Kat 'Iaavpov<: 1rPO<: ri]v ATJaT€iav OLa­ VWTaJ.l.€VOV<: Kat 'J:,apaKT/VOV<: rii<: aUrwv €7rLKpaT€ia<: riw €W KaTaTp€­ XOVTa<: Kat Ta AWL01rLKa €rtVT/ auvwTaJ.l.€Va. OLO or} T€Ta1r€WWJ.I.€VOL 15 TOV J.l.EV 'ArrflAav Ert€pa1r€VOV, 1rPO<: O€ Ta AOma €rtVT/ E1r€LPWVTO 1rapa­ TaTTcurtaL OVVaJ.l.€L<: T€ (WpOi~OVT€<: Kat aTpaTT/'YOlx; X€LPOTOVOVVT€<:.

11

1. (Exc. de Leg. Gent. 5) "On Kat avrtL<: 'EO€KWV flK€ 1rp€a(JL<:, aviJp 'J:,KUr1T/<: J.I.€rWTa

KaTa 1rOA€J.l.OV €'pra oLa1rpa~aJ.l.€VOC;, avv 'Op€aTTj, &: TOU 'PwJ.l.ai.K.oU r€VOV<: wV e.;JK€L rilv 1rPO<: TQ 'J:,ay 1rOTaJ.l.0? llawvwv xwpav TQ (Jap{3rip~ KaTa Ta<: 'A€Tiov aTpaTT/'YOV TWV earr€piwv 'PwJ.l.alwv avv­ tJr7Ka<: lnraKOvovaav.· oVrO<: 0 'EO€KWV E<: Ta {3aaiA€La 1rap€Artwv 5 CL1r€OWOV Ta 1rapa 'ATTi/Aa rpaJ.l.J.l.UTa, €V ol<: E1rOL€iTO TOV<: 'PWJ.l.aWv<: EV aiTt.q. TWV r.pvraowv 1r€PL' avrt' WV 'I11r€!.A€L €1rt Ta OrrAa XWP€W, €L J.l.fI a1roOort€t€v aVTQ Kat d.p€~OVTaL 'PWJ.l.aWL TflV OOPtUAWTOV apOVVT€<:. €WaL OE J.l.f'iKO<: J.l.EV avrii<: KaTa TO p€VJ.l.a TOU 1aTpov CL1rO rii<: llawvwv a:XPL No(Jwv TWV 8pq.Kiwv, TO OE (Jartoc; 1r€VT€ ilJ.I.€pWV 10 600v· Kat TflV aropav rilv EV 'IAAvpWt<: J.l.fl1rPO<: Tfi OXr1T/ TOU 1aTpov 1rOTaJ.l.0U rwcurtaL, warr€p Kat mlAaL, aAA' EV NaiaaQ,'~v opWV w<: w' aUrou oTJwrt€laav rii<: 'J:,KVrtWV Kat 'PwJ.l.aiwv ETW€TO rfi<:, 1r€VT€ flJ.I.€PWV ooov €V~wvy avopt TOU 1aTpov a1r€XOVaaV 1rOTaJ.l.Ov. 1rp€a­ (J€L<: OE €K€A€Va€ 1rpo<: aUrav Ur.pt.KlJ€LartaL ToV<: 1r€P'i TWV aJ.I.<Prf3oAwv 15 OLaA€~OJ.l.€VOV<:, oV TWV €1rLTlJ)(OVTWV, aAAiL TWV waTLKwv avopwv rov<: J.l.eyiaTOV<:· ov<: cl EK1r€J.l.1r€W €VAaf3'T/rt€L€v. aUrav O€~OJ.l.€VOV ar.pd<: e<: riW 'J:,€poLKi/V ota{3riacurtaL.

ToVrwv avarvwart€VTWV {3aaLA€L TWV rpaJ.l.J.LdTwv, w<: w€~- f'iArt€V 0 'EO€KWV aVv Te:;; BLr!.Aq. epJ.l.T/v€vaavn oaa1r€p 0 {3cip{3apoc; 20 U1ra aTOJ.I.UTOC; €r.ppaa€ TWV 'ATTi/ACf O€0O'YJ.I.€VWV, Kat €<: €T€POV<: oLKOV<: 1rap€r€V€TO, WaT€ aUrav Xpvaar.pl~ Te:;; {3aatA€w<: waarrwT'ij ala oil Ta J.I.€rWTa OVvaJ.l.€vy e<: 6l/1w €Art€W, a1r€r1aUJ.l.aa€ ri]v TWV

13 .m' Papabasileios (1896) [E1T' codd.

Translation: Priscus 243

he sent a third embassy and a fourth after it. For the barbarian, mindful of the Romans' liberality, which they showed out of caution lest the treaty be broken, sent to them those of his retinue whom he wished to benefit, inventing new reasons and discovering new pretexts. The Romans heeded his every bidding and obeyed whatever order their master issued. They were not only wary of starting a war with Attila, but they were afraid also of the Parthians who were preparing for hostilities, the Vandals who were harrying the coastal regions, the Isaurians whose banditry was reviving, the Saracens who were ravaging the eastern parts of their dominions, and the Ethiopian tribes who were in the process of uniting. Therefore, having been humbled by Attila, they paid him court }'Ihile they tried to organise themselves to face the other peoples by collecting their forces and appointing generals. 23

11

1. (Exc. de Leg. Gent. 5) Edeco, a Scythian who had performed outstanding deeds in war,

came again as ambassador together with Orestes, a Roman by origin who lived in the part of Pannonia close to the river Save which became subject to the barbarian by the treaty made with Aetius, the general of the western Romans. This Edeco came to the court and handed over the letters from Attila, in which he blamed the Romans in respect of the fugitives. In retaliation he threatened to resort to arms if the Romans did not surrender them and if they did not cease cultivating the land which he had won in the war. This, he asserted, was a strip five days' journey wide and extending along the Danube from Pannonia to Novae in Thrace. Furthermore, he said that the market in Illyria was not on the bank of the Danube, as it had been before, but at Naissus, which he had laid waste and established as the border point between the Scythian and the Roman territory, it being five days' journey from the Danube for an unladen man. He ordered that ambassadors come to him and not just ordinary men but the highest ranking of the consulars; if the Romans were wary of sending them, he would cross to Serdica to receive them.

When the letters had been read out to the Emperor, Edeco de­ parted with Vigilas, who had interpreted all of Attila's views which the barbarian had communicated, and went to another suite to meet Chrysaphius, the Emperor's chamberlain and the most powerful of his ministers. The barbarian expressed wonder at the magnificence of the

244 Priscus: Text

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"Eoo~e oil rQ evvouX6;J eu Ae-yew, Kat Tfj<: -YVW/lT/<: rov (3<ip­ [3apov arrooe~a/levoc: arrorre/lrret /lera ro oelrrvov Kat errt ~aaiAea <p€pet rilv ~ovA7]v. 0<: MapnaAWV rilv rou /lU-yiarpov Ot€rrovra apxiJv rrpoa­ /lerarre/l1/la/levoc: eAe-ye ra<: rrpbf; rOll ~ap~apoll avvfh]Ka<:. aVa-YKT/ oe 60 Mcippet ro Tii<: apxf'i<:' rraawv -yap rwv ~aatAew<: ~OVAWV 6 1l6..­ -ywrp6<: ean KOWWVO<:, ola oil rwv re aneALal{JOpwv Kat ep/lT/vewv

32 €'X€L de Boor [I!XOL E, Niebuhr €X€w A 39-40 Kat ante lmd in codd. trans. ante €1rl de Boor 44 'Pw/Ja{ovc; Hoeschel ['Pw/Ja{OLC; A

Translation: Priscus 245

palace rooms, and when he came to speak to Chrysaphius, Vigilas, while translating, said that Edeco was praising the palace and congratulating the Romans on their wealth. Chrysaphius said that he, too, would be­ come the owner of wealth and of rooms with golden ceilings if he were to disregard Scythian interests and work for those of the Romans. When Edeco replied that it was not right for the servant of another master to do this without his lord's permission, the eunuch asked if he had unrestricted access to Attila and any authority amongst the Scythians. When Edeco replied that he was one of Attila's intimates and that he, together with others selected from amongst the leading men, was entrusted with guarding Attila (he explained that on fixed days each of them in turn.guarded Attila under arms), the eunuch said that if he would receive oaths, he would speak greatly to his advantage; there was, however, need of leisure for this, and they would have it if Edeco came to dinner with him without Orestes and his other fellow ambassa­ dors. Edeco promised to do this and came to dinner at the eunuch's residence. With Vigilas interpreting, they clasped right hands and exchanged oaths, the eunuch that he would speak not to Edeco's harm but to his great advantage, Edeco that he would not reveal what would be said to him even if he did not work towards its achievement. Then the eunuch said that if Edeco should cross to Scythia, slay Attila and return to the Romans, he would enjoy a life of happiness and very great wealth. Edeco promised to do this and said that for its accomplishment he required money - not much, only fifty pounds of gold to be given to the force acting under his orders, to ensure that they co-operated fully with him in the attack. When the eunuch replied that he would give the money immediately, the barbarian said that he should be sent off to report to Attila upon the embassy and that Vigilas should be sent with him to receive Attila's reply on the subject of the fugitives. Through Vigilas he would send instructions as to how the gold was to be dispatched. Since he had been away, he, like the others, would be closely questioned by Attila as to who amongst the Romans had given him gifts and how much money he had received, and because of his companions he could not hide the fifty pounds of gold.

Edeco's words seemed sensible to the eunuch, and, accepting the barbarian's advice, he dismissed him after dinner and took the plan to the Emperor. The Emperor summoned Martialis, the master of the offices, and told him of the agreements with the barbarian. (Of ne­ cessity he confided in this official, since the master of the offices, being

i-I I,i , .

Translation: Priscus 247 'T""''''

246 Priscus: Text

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2. (Exc. de Leg. Rom. 3) "On TaU XpvaGl.pwv TaU evvovxov rrapaweaavTo<; 'EoeKWVt

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in charge of the messengers, interpreters and imperial bodyguard, is informed of all the Emperor's plans.) They discussed the proposal and decided to send as envoys to Attila not only Vigilas but also Maxi­ minus.

2. (Exc. de Leg. Rom. 3) When Chrysaphius had proposed to Edeco that he kill Attila, the

Emperor Theodosius and the master of the offices Martialis discussed the proposal and decided to send as envoys to Attila not only Vigilas but also Maximinus. They told Vigilas, while apparently serving as inter­ preter, to take his orders from Edeco, and Maximinus, who knew nothing of what they had planned, to deliver the Emperor's letters. In reply to Attila it wao written on behalf of the ambassadors that Vigilas was the interpreter and that Maximinus was a man of higher rank than Vigilas, of illustrious lineage and a confidant of the Emperor in matters of the highest importance. Then it was written, "It is not proper that one who is undermining the treaty should enter Roman territory", and, "In addition to those already handed over I have sent you seventeen fugitives, since there are no more" .24 These were the words in the letters. Maximinus was ordered to speak personally to Attila in order that he need not demand that envoys of the highest rank come to him; for this had not been the case with his ancestors or other rulers of Scythia, but ordinary soldiers and messengers had acted as ambassadors. To settle the matters in dispute it seemed best to send Onegesius to the Romans, for, since Serdica had been sacked, Attila could not proceed there with a man of consular rank. 'I

Maximinus by his pleadings persuaded me to accompany him on \

this embassy. So, we set out together with the barbarians and reached Serdica, which is thirteen days from Constantinople for an unladen traveller. There we broke our journey and thought it proper to offer hospitality to Edeco and the barbarians with him. The inhabitants supplied us with sheep and cattle which we slaughtered, and we pre­ pared a meal. While we were drinking, the barbarians toasted Attila and we Theodosius. But Vigilas said that it was not proper to compare a god and a man, meaning Attila by a man and Theodosius by a god. This annoyed the Huns, and gradually they grew heated and angry. But we turned the conversation to other things and by our friendly manner calmed their anger, and when we were leaving after dinner, Maximinus

Priscus: Text250

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Translation: Priscus 251

the river in boats which they had made from single trunks, themselves cutting and hollowing out the trees. They had not made these boats for our sake, but had already ferried across a force of barbarians, which had met us on the road, since Attila wished to cross over to Roman terri­ tory as if to hunt. But the royal Scythian was really doing this in preparation for war, on the pretext that all the fugitives had not been given Up.32

When we had crossed the Danube and travelled about seventy stades with the barbarians, we were compelled to wait on some flat ground while Edeco's attendants went to Attila to announce our arrival. Our barbarian guides remained with us, and in the late afternoon we were taking our djnner when we heard the clatter of horses coming towards us and two Scythians arrived and told us to come to Attila. 33

We bade them first join us for dinner, and they dismounted and were well entertained. On the next day they led us on the road, and we arrived at Attila's tents (of which there were many) at about the ninth hour of the day. When we wanted to pitch our tents on a hill, the barbarians who had come to meet us prevented us because Attila's tent was on low ground.

When we had encamped where the Scythians thought best, Edeco, Orestes, Scottas and others of the leading men amongst the Huns came and asked what we hoped to achieve in making the embassy. We were shocked by this unreasonable question and looked at each other, but they persisted, becoming troublesome in their demands for a reply. When we said that the Emperor had ordered us to speak to Attila and no others, Scottas became angry and replied that this was the command of their leader; for they would not have come to us meddling on their own. We said that it was not the rule for ambassadors that they should wrangle through others over the purpose of their mission without meeting or coming into the presence of those to whom they had been sent. The Scythians, moreover, were not ignorant of this since they had sent frequent embassies to the Emperor: we deserved equal treatment, and if we did not receive it we would not tell the purpose of the embassy. They went off to Attila and came back again without Edeco and told us everything for which we had come on the embassy, ordering us to leave with all speed if we had nothing further to say. At these words we were even more puzzled, since we could not see how things which the Emperor had decided in secret had come to their knowledge. We considered that it was of no advantage to our

254 Priscus: Text

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Translation: Priscus 255

I spoke to Scottas and said that he would receive many gifts from Maximinus if he obtained him an interview with AttiIa. For his embassy would benefit not only the Romans and the Huns, but also Onegesius whom the Emperor wished to come to him to settle the disputes between the two peoples and who, if he came, would receive very great gifts. Since Onegesius was absent he must help us - or, rather, his brother - in this laudable enterprise. I said that we had heard that he, too, had influence with AttiIa, but that the reports about him would not seem well-founded unless we had an example of his power. He rose to the challenge and said that we should no longer doubt that he spoke and acted before AttiIa on an equality with his brother. Then he immediately mount~d his horse and galloped off to AttiIa's tent.

I returned to Maximinus, who, like VigiIas, was in despair and at a loss in the present situation, and I told him what I had said to Scottas and what he had replied. I said that they should prepare the gifts to give the barbarian and work out what they would say to him. Both of them leaped up (for they had been lying on the grass) and applauded what I had done. They called back those who had already set out with the pack animals and fell to considering how they should address Attila and how to present to him the gifts from the Emperor and those which Maximinus had brought for him. ~..

While we were busy with these matters, Attila summoned us i through Scottas, and we came to his tent, which was surrounded by a ring of barbarian guards. When we were granted entrance, we saw Attila seated on a wooden chair. We halted a little before the throne, and Maximinus advanced, greeted the barbarian, gave him the letters from the Emperor and said that the Emperor prayed that he and his followers were safe and well. He replied that the Romans would have what they wished for him. Then he immediately directed his words towards Vigilas, calling him a shameless beast and asking why he had wished to come to him when he knew the peace terms agreed between himself and Anatolius, which specified that no ambassadors should come to him before all the fugitives had been surrendered to the barbarians. When Vigil as replied that there was not one fugitive of the Scythian race amongst the Romans, for all who were there had been surrendered, Attila became even more angry and abused him violently, shouting that he would have impaled him and left him as food for the birds if he had not thought that it infringed the rights of ambassadors to punish him in this way for the shamelessness and effrontery of his

256 Priscus: Text

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Translation: Priscus 257

words. He continued that there were many fugitives of his own race amongst the Romans and he ordered the secretaries to read out their names, which were written on papyrus. When the secretaries had read out all the names, Attila told Vigilas to depart immediately and he said that he would send with him Eslas to tell the Romans to return to him all the barbarians who had fled to them from the time of Carpilio (the son of Aetius, the general of the Romans in the West), who had been a hostage at his court.38 He would not allow his own servants to go to war against himself, even though they were unable to help those who en­ trusted to them the guarding of their own land. For, asked Attila, what city or fortress had been saved by them after he had set out to capture it? When they had announced his views on the fugitives, they were to return and report whether the Romans were willing to give them up or would go to war on their behalf. Maximinus he first ordered to remain with the court so that through him he might reply to the Emperor's written messages, and then he told us to hand over the gifts which" Maximinus was bringing and to withdraw. 39

We handed over the gifts and, returning to our tent, discussed amongst ourselves each of the things which had been said. Vigilas expressed amazement that while Attila had seemed calm and mild towards him on the previous embassy, on the present occasion he abused him violently. I said that perhaps some of the barbarians who had dined with us at Serdica had made Attila angry by telling him that Vigilas had called the Roman Emperor a god and Attila a man. Maxi­ minus, since he had no part in the plot which the eunuch had devised against the barbarian, accepted this explanation as likely. But Vigilas was at a loss and appeared to me to have no explanation of why Attila had railed at him. For he did not think, as he told us later, that either the business at Serdica or the details of the plot had been reported to Attila, since no one else from the group, because of the fear which constrained all of them, would dare to go to speak with him, and Edeco would keep entirely quiet both because of his oaths and because of the uncertainty in the matter, in case he should be judged to have forwarded the plot, since he took part in the talks, and be killed as a punishment.

While we were in this state of uncertainty, Edeco arrived. He drew Vigilas aside from our group and, pretending to be serious about what they had planned, said that the gold should be brought to be given to those who would co-operate with him in the attempt. Then he left.

~ 260 Priscus: Text

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279 XOP1]"(OV/-lEIJOIJ Dindorf [xOP1]"(OV/-lEIJOt codd. 301 d1r1]"(opEvaa/-lEIJ Hoeschel 303 EIJ 4J1rEP T~ de Boor [q>1rEP EIJ T~ codd. [OV1rEP EIJ T~ Hoeschel

Translation: Priscus 261

country. For a while we travelled with him and then turned off onto a different road at the command of our Scythian guides, since Attila was to go to a certain village where he wished to marry a daughter of Escam.~2)(Althoughhe had many wives, he was marrying her according toScythian custom.) From there we travelled along a level road over a plain and crossed navigable rivers, of which the greatest, after the Danube, were the ones named the Drecon, the Tigas and the Tiphesas.43

These we crossed in boats made of single tree trunks, which those living near the rivers used; the others we negotiated on the rafts which the barbarians carry on their wagons because of the marshy areas. At the villages we were abundantly supplied with foodstuffs, millet instead of wheat and instead, of wine what is called by the natives medos. The attendants in our train also carried millet and the drink made from barley which the barbarians call kamon.44

Having completed a long journey, in the late afternoon we encamped near to a pool containing drinkable water which supplied the inhabitants of the nearby village. Suddenly a wind and a storm arose with thunder and a great deal of lightning and rain, and it not only collapsed our tent but blew all our baggage into the pool. Terrified by the tumult that was raging in the air and by what had already hap­ pened, we fled the place and scattered, each of us in the darkness and the downpour taking the path which we thought would be the easiest. 45

Arriving at the huts of the village (which we all reached by our different routes), we gathered together and began to shout for the things we needed. At the uproar the Scythians rushed out, kindling the reeds which they used for fire and making light, and asked us what we wanted with our shouting. When the barbarians who were with us replied that we were panicked by the storm, they called to us and took us into their own homes and, burning a great quantity of reeds, gave us warmth.

The woman who ruled the village (she had been one of Bleda's wives) sent us food and attractive women for intercourse, which is a mark of honour amongst the Scythians. We plied the women generously from the foods placed before us, but refused intercourse with them. We remained in the huts and at about daybreak we went to search for our baggage and found it all, some in the spot in which we had happened to halt on the previous day, some at the edge of the pool, and some actually in the water. We gathered it up and spent the day in

264 Priscus: Text

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348 ov add. Bekker [Kal expo Muller 350 p.Era post P.T1 inserui, quod Niebuhr pro P.T1 scripsit 351 EVAtry~ rrpo<paoet Bornmann (974) 353 eK5wOEL~ X 366 OVO€V 'Yap MP OVO€ post 'Yap expo Hoeschel

Translation: Priscus 265

came to suspect Constantius of treachery and crucified him, and, after a time, Attila, being informed of the matter of the bowls, wished Sil­ van us to be handed over to him as a thief of his own possessions. There­ fore, envoys had been sent by Aetius and the Emperor of the western Romans to say that, as Constantius' creditor, Silvanus had received the bowls as sureties and not as stolen property and that he had sold them for silver to priests and not to common citizens; for it was not right that men should use for their own purposes vessels dedicated to God. Accordingly, if, after S2 this reasonable explanation and out of respect for divinity, Attila would not drop his demand for the bowls, they would send gold for them but would not surrender Silvanus, since they would not hand over a man who had done no wrong. This was the reason for their e~bassy, and they were attending him so that the barbarian might give his reply and dismiss them.

Since we were on the same journey, we waited for Attila to go~1 !

ahead and followed with our whole party. Having crossed some rivers, we came to a very large village S3 in which Attila's palace was said to be more spectacular than those elsewhere. It was constructed of timbers and smoothly planed boards s4 and was surrounded by a wooden wall which was built with an eye not to security but to elegance. The buildings of Onegesius were second only to those of the king in magni­ ficence, and they too had a circuit wall made of timbers but not em­ bellished with towers, as was Attila's, NQt far from this wall was a bath which Onegesius, whose power amongst the Scythians was second only to that of Attila, had built, fetching stdhes from Pannonia. For there is neither stone nor timber amongst the barbarians who inhabit this area, but the wood that they use is imported. The builder of the bath had been taken prisoner at Sirmium, and he hoped to gain his freedom as a reward for his inventive work. But he was disappointed and fell into greater distress than slavery amongst the Scythians. For Onegesius made him bath attendant, and he waited upon him and his followers when they bathed.

In this village, as Attila was entering, young girls came to meet 1 him and went before him in rows under narrow cloths of white linen, which were held up by the hands of women on either side. These cloths were stretched out to such a length that under each one seven or more girls walked, There were many such rows of women under the cloths, and they sang Scythian songs. When Attila came near to Onegesius'

266 Priscus: Text

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'Hpele: De elJ rot.e: 'OlJrrmaLOV, EKewov rrapaKeAEVaap€lJOv, h­ KarepewapelJ' €rralJeAT/Avt'J€L 'Yap aUlJ rQ 'Arri/Aa rrawL. 71Pwro­ rrOLT/aapet'Ja <fiE>, De~LWaap€lJT/e: TipGS rife; re 'Yaperiie: Kat rWlJ 390 Kara 'Y€lJae: avrQ DLal{JepOlJrwlJ' aurae: 'Yap rQ 'Arrr/ACf pera ri/lJ erralJooolJ rore rrpWTOlJ Ee: oljlw O\t'JWlJ Kat a6TQ ra Errt riJ rrpU~€L, El{J' T/lJ earaAro, urranEAAWlJ Kat ro rrat'Jae: ro r0 'Arri/Aa rrawt aVVelJext'JElJ (rillJ 'Yap De~tW xelpa E~OAWthlaae: Karea~elJ) OVlJEV­ wxei"at'JaL ilpw OUK frye axoArw. pera oe ro DelrrlJOlJ arrOAL7TOlJree: ra 395 rou 'OlJT/'YT/aLOV ou<~para rrAT/aLOlJ rWlJ 'Arri/Aa Kar€OKT/lJWaapelJ e7TLrparr€lJree:, ware KaLpou KaAOUlJroe: ~ rrapa ralJ 'Arri/AalJ Eat€lJaL ralJ Ma~LpWOlJ ifyoVlJ Kat foie: Q.AAOLe: role: apl{J' auralJ ee: A&yOVe: (£VaL o"etAolJTa pi! rroAAQ KexwpiaooL DULarr/pan. DUL'Ya'YOlJTWlJ OE ilpwlJ EKewT/lJ riw lJUKra ElJ 0rrep KareMaapelJ XWpLy, UnOlpaWOuaT/e: 400 fJpEpae: b Ma~L/lwae: arEAAeL pe rrapa ralJ 'OvT/'Yr/aWlJ ra Dwpa DWaOlJTa, cl re aurae: eD{Dov, a. re {3aOLAeve: arrearaM€L, Kat Orrwe: 'YlJoiT/ Ot {3ovAeTaL aurQ Kat &rrore ee: A&yOVe: EAt'Jew. rrapa'YelJopelJae: De clpa roie: Kopi~ovaw avrQ VrrT/PETaLe: rrpoaeKaprepOVlJ, En rWlJ t'JvPWlJ KeKAeWpElJWlJ, a:XPLe: orov ne: Vrre~eAt'JWlJ rillJ fJper€palJ 405 pT/lJvaetelJ a.l{JL~W.

!:J.ULrpi{30lJn De pOL Kat rrepL7Tarovc: rrowvpElJ't! rrpa TOO rrepL­ {30AOV rWlJ oU<T/JlarWlJ rrpoaeAt'JWlJ ne:, OlJ {3<ip{3aPOlJ €K riie: ~KVt'JLKijc; 071ttrW ewaL aTOAiic:, 'EAAT/lJLKf} uarra~era{ pe lfJWlJ'ij, xalpe rrpoaeL­ rrWlJ, ware pe t'Javpa~ew On 'Ye DiI €AAT/lJL~€L ~KvtJrie: CwrlP. ~l!'YKAvfiee: 410 'Yap OlJree: rrpoe: TiJ al{J€r€pCf (3ap{3cipy 'YAwaOT) ~T/AOUaW ii rT1lJ OVlJlJWlJ ii rillJ rort'JWlJ -ry' KaL rillJ AvaolJ{wlJ, aaOLe: aurwv rrpoe: 'Pw­ paiovc: errL/lL~ia· Kat OU /lq.oiwe: ne: al{JwlJ €AAT/lJL~eL TiJ l{JWlJ~, rr MlJ WlJ arrr/'Ya'YolJ aLXJ11lAWrWlJ arro riie: 8pq.Kiae: KaL 'IAAVPWOC: rrapu- AOV. aAA' eKewOL PElJ 'YlJWPLPOL role: €lJTV/'xavovaw erl!'YXalJOlJ €K re 415 rWlJ DtePPW'YOrWlJ €lJDvpQ.rwlJ KaL rou alJxp.ou riie: KelfJUAijc; we: ee:

390 O€ add. de Boor 397 €rrLTparr€VT€~ ..• KaAovvTo~ om. X et edd. 399 OLa'Ya'YclvTwv Bekker [oLa'YclvTwv codd. 400 vrr€P'PavovaT/~ M ex quo vrr€p­ 'PavotJaT/~ Dindorf 403 ot Dindorf [01 codd. El Bekker

Translation: Priscus 267

compound, through which the road to the palace passed,55 Onegesius' wife came out to meet him with a crowd of servants, some carrying food and others wine (this is a very great honour amongst the Scythi­ ans), welcomed him and asked him to partake of what she had brought out of friendship. In order to please the wife of a close friend, he ate while sitting on his horse, the barbarians who were accompanying him having raised aloft the platter which was of silver. When he had also drunk from the cup of wine which was offered to him, he proceeded to the palace, which was higher than the other structures and built on a

rise. We waited at the compound of Onegesius as he had ordered, for

he had returned with Attila's son. His wife and the most important members of his clan received us, and there we dined. Onegesius did not have time to dine with us, since immediately upon his return he had gone to speak with Attila to report to him upon the business for which he had been sent and upon the accident suffered by Attila's son, who had fallen and broken his right arm. After the meal we left Onegesius' compound, moved closer to Attila's palace and camped there, so that when the time came for Maxirninus to have an audience with Attila or else to speak with others of his retinue, he should not be far away. We spent the night where we had encamped, and at daybreak Maximinus sent me to Onegesius to give him the gifts, both those which he was giving and those which the Emperor had sent, and to learn where and when he wished to speak with him. I arrived with the servants who were carrying the gifts for him and, since the doors were still shut, I waited until someone should come out and report our arrival.

As I was waiting and walking about before the circuit wall of the palace, someone, whom I took to be a barbarian from his Scythian dress, approached me and greeted me in Greek, saying, "khaire" ("Hello"). I was amazed that a Scythian was speaking Greek. Being a mixture of peoples, in addition to their own languages they cultivate Hunnic or Gothic or (in the case of those who have dealings with the Romans) Latin. But none of them can easily speak Greek, except for those whom they have taken prisoner from the sea coasts of Thrace and Illyria;56 and whoever met them could easily recognise them from their tattered clothes and filthy hair as persons who had fallen into

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421 EI{)"/ x et edd. 431 'AKaTlpwv MUller ['AKaT11Pwv codd, 441 To1~ XPW}JEVOt~ Maltese (1977) [TWV XPW}JEVWV codd. 441-42 1'/ TUX17 T1j TWV oTpaT17-Ywv KaKia de Boor 442 }J170E M et Dindorf 446 Eon Bekker [~1Tl codd, 451 n~ Niebuhr [El~ codd. 452 T'iJ TE Hoeschel [TOTE codd.

Translation: Priscus 269

adversity. This one, however, was like a well-cared-for Scythian with good clothing and his hair clipped all around. 57

I returned his greeting and asked who he was and where he came from to the land of the barbarians and took up a Scythian way of life, In reply he asked why I was so eager to know this. I said that his Greek speech was the reason for my curiosity. He laughed and said that he was a Greek and for purposes of trade he had gone to Viminacium, the city in Moesia on the river Danube. He had lived there for a very long time and married a very rich woman, When the city was captured by the barbarians,58 he was deprived of his prosperity and, because of his great wealth, was assigned to Onegesius himself in the division of the spoils; for after Attila the leading men of the Scythians, because they were in command of very many men,59 chose their captives from amongst the well-ta-do, Having proven his valour in later battles against the Romans and the nation of the Akatiri and having, according to Scythian law, given his booty to his master, he had won his freedom, He had married a barbarian wife and had children, and, as a sharer at the table of Onegesius, he now enjoyed a better life than he had previously.

He continued, saying that after a war men amongst the Scythians live at ease, each enjoying his own possessions and troubling others or being troubled not at all or very little. But amongst the Romans, since on account of their tyrants60 not all men carry weapons, they place their hope of safety in others and are thus easily destroyed in war. Moreover, those who do use arms are endangered still more by the cowardice of their generals, who are unable to sustain a war. In peace misfortunes await one even more painful than the evils of war because of the imposition of heavy taxes and injuries done by criminals, For the laws are not applied to all. If the wrongdoer is rich, the result is that he does not pay the penalty for his crime, whereas if he is poor and does not know how to handle the matter, he suffers the prescribed punishment - if he does not die before judgement is given (since law­ suits are much protracted and much money is spent on them). And this may be the most painful thing, to have to pay for justice. For no one will grant a hearing to a wronged man unless he hands over money for the judge and his assessors.

270 Priscus: Text

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464 oe Kal TOtl~ expo Bekker [gTa~av, ha~av oe Kal nl o. elo7TpaTuo19al Thompson (1947) 474 TOU TTW xe/Pova [se. 1ji?1lPOvl de Boor [TOU TTW xeipovo~ E T?1 TOU xeipovo~ X TOU nl xelpov Niebuhr 482 dVTlTl19€VTWV Valesius 488 nlv add. Niebuhr 490 8 Bekker [8~ eodd. W~ Valesius

Translation: Priscus 271

While he was putting these and many other complaints, I said gently in reply that he should also hear my point of view. "Those who founded the Roman polity were," I said, "wise and good men. So that things should not be done haphazardly, they ordained that some should be guardians of the laws and that others should attend to weaponry and undergo military training, with their sole object that they be ready for battle and go out confidently to war as if to SOme familiar exercise, their fear having been already eradicated by their training. Our founders also ordained that those whose care was farming and the cultivation of the land should support both themselves and those fighting on their behalf by contributing the military grain-tax. Still others they ap­ pointed to take th9ught for those who had suffered wrongs, some to have charge of the cases of those who, through their own natural incapability, were unable to plead for themselves, and others to sit in judgement and uphold the intent of the law. Furthermore, they took thought for those who came before the courts, that there should be persons to ensure that the one who obtained the judgement should receive his award and that the one adjudged guilty should not pay more than the judge decided. If there did not exist persons to take thought for these matters, a reason for a second case would arise out of the cause of the first, because either the victor would proceed too harsWy or the one who had obtained the adverse decision would persist in his

injustice. 61

"There is also a set sum of money laid down for these men to be paid by the litigants, just as the farmers pay a set sum to the soldiers. Is it not right to support one who comes to your aid and to reward his good will (in the same way as the feeding of a horse benefits the horse­ man and the care of cattle, dogs and other animals benefits herdsmen, hunters and others who keep the animals for their own safety and profit) and to blame one's own illegal act rather than another person whenever the court costs have to be paid even though the case has been lost?

"The excessive time taken over the cases, if that happens, is the result of a concern for justice, lest the judges deal with them carelessly and err in their decisions. For they think it is better to conclude a case late than by hurrying to wrong a man and offend against God, the founder of justice. The laws apply to all, and even the Emperor obeys them. It is not a fact" - as was part of his charge - "that the rich do

272 Priscus: Text

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'EA€Vt'J€piae:; D€ TpOrrOt 1Tap' amole:; 1TA€iaTOt, ijv ou j10VOV 1T€ptOVT€e:; aAAa Kat T€A€VTWVT€e:; xapi~ovTat DIflTaTTOVT€e:; KaTa Ti/<:; 505 1T€pWvaiae:; QV ~OUAOVTat TPOrrOV, Kat V0j10e:; eaTW &€P €K.aaToe:; T€A€VTWV 1T€pt TWV 1TpOaT/KOVTWV ~OVA€VaOtTO .

Kat oe:; DaKpvaae:; €tpT/ we:; Ot j1ev V0j10t KaAOt Kat iI 1TOAtT€/a 'PWJ1U1WV ara t'Jr/, Ot De apXOVT€e:; oux 0j10ta Tole:; 1TaAat tpPOVOUVT€e:; ailT77V DIflAVj1aWOVTat. 510

Tafrra DtaAEyOj1€VWV ilj1WV, 1TpOa€At'}wv ne:; TWV EVDOt'J€V avoir€t Tae:; t'Jupae:; TOU 1T€ptMAOV. EyW 8f 1TpOaDpaj1WV E1Tvt'JOj1T/V 0 n 1TpaTTWV 'OVT/rr/awe:; 7V)'xavOt· a1Tarr€LAat rap aim+:> j1€ ~ouAeat'Jai n TOU 1Tapa 'Pwj1aiwv i/KOVTOe:; 1Tpea~€VTou. &; De a1T€KpWaTO aunt> j1€ €vT€l)~eat'Jat j1tKPOV avaj1€wavTa' j1€AA€W rap aVTov lnr€~tEvat. 515 Kat Di! ov 1TOAAOU Dlflr€VOj1fVOV xpovov, we:; 1TpoioVTa €[{)OV, 1Tpoa­ €At'JWV €A€rOV we:; 0 'PwJ1U1WV aUTov aa7T(i~€Tat 1Tpea{3€vTr/e:;, Kat Dwpa €~ aVTOV iiKW tpEPWV aVv Kat T<fJ 1Tapa ~utMwe:; 1T€j1tpt'J€Vn xpvaiv.;· Ea1Tov8aKon De ee:; AOrOVe:; fAt'J€W ol Kat 1TOT€ ~OVA€Tat DtaAEreat'Jat. &; De TO T€ xpvaiov Ta T€ Dwpa €K€A€Va€ TOVe:; 1TPOari­ 520 KOVTae:; D€~aat'Jat, Ej1e De a1Tarr€AA€W Ma~LJ1wv.; we:; fi~ot aiJTiKa 1Tap' aVTov. fj1r/VVOV TOWVV erraV€At'Jwv TOV 'Ovrrrl7aWV 1TaparWeat'Jat· Kat €Vt'JU<; T1K€V ee:; Ti/V aKT/vr/v.

Ilpoa€t1Twv De TOV Ma~LJ1wov EtpaaK€ Xapw 0j10Aor€W lm€P TWV DWPWV aim{J T€ Kat ~aatA€i Kat aVT/pwTa 8n AEr€W ~ovMj1€voc:; amov 525 j1€T€1T€j1t/JaTo. 0 De EtpaaK€V iiK€W KatpOV WaT€ 'Ovrrrriawv j1€I~ov ~v avt'Jpw1TOte:; E~€W KMo<:;, et1T€P 1Tapa. ~autAEa €At'JWV Dt€VKpW~a€t Ta

499 emliE"(lJVVTE~ CIassen 501 Ka/add. Thompson (1947) 514 TaVrrapa. Bekker rrapa. TOU codd. rrape TOU rrapa. Bekker rrapa. TOU 'Pw/Lalwv tjKOVTa de Boor 515 /LE •.. dVa/LElvavTa de Boor [/LO! ••• dVa/LElvavTa codd. /LO! ... dVa/LElvavrL Hoeschel 519 or Valesius [t+> codd. rrou Bekker

1""I' Translation: Priscus 273 violence to the poor with impunity, unless one escapes justice through escaping detection; and this is a recourse for the poor as wen as for the

I rich. These offenders would go unpunished because of lack of evidence, something which happens not only amongst the Romans but amongst

an peoples. "For your freedom you should give thanks to fortune rather than

to your master. He led you out to war, where, through inexperience, you might have been killed by the enemy or, fleeing the battle, have been punished by your owner. The Romans are wont to treat even their household slaves better. They act as fathers or teachers towards them and punish them, like their own children, if they do wrong, so that they are restrained from i;nproper behaviour and pursue what is thought right for them. Unlike amongst the Scythians, it is forbidden to punish them with death.

"Amongst the Romans there are many ways of giving freedom. Not only the living but also the dead bestow it lavishly, arranging their estates as they wish; and whatever a man has willed for his possessions at his death is legally binding."

My acquaintance wept and said that the laws were fair and the Roman polity was good, but that the authorities were ruining it by not \ taking the same thought for it as those of old. ~j

While we were discussing these things, one of those inside came out and opened the gates of the wall. I ran forward and asked what Onegesius was doing, saying that I wished to pass him a message from the ambassador of the Romans. He replied that if I waited a little I should meet him, since he was about to go out. Shortly afterwards I saw him coming out and I went forward and said that the ambassador of the Romans sent him greetings and that I had come bearing gifts from him and gold sent by the Emperor. I also asked where and when he was willing to speak with the ambassador, who was eager to confer with him. He ordered his attendants to take the gold and the gifts and told me to report to Maximinus that he would come to him straight­ away. I returned to Maximinus and reported that Onegesius was on his way; and he came to the tent immediately.

Onegesius addressed Maximinus, thanking both him and the Emperor for the gifts and asking what he wished to say in sending for him. Maximinus said that the time had come when Onegesius would win greater fame amongst men if he went to the Emperor and, by his

274 Priscus: Text

riP<fJi[30AU n] a«J€T€pCf aw€aet KUt 0POVOlaV 'PWPUtOt~ KUt OVlJlJOt~ KUTaarr7aETat. rEvr]aEmt rap ev1'J€VOE DV pOVOV Tol~ l!1'Jvww riP<fJO­ T€POt~ OVP<fJ€POV, aAM KUt niJ a«J€T€PY omy aru1'Ja 7TUP€~Et rrOAAa, 530 e7TtT770EW~ E~ rid utmk TE KUt at UVTOV 7TUWE~ {3uatAd TE KUt T0 eKEivov €aOpEVOt reVEL. 0 Of 'Ovrryr/aw~ €<fJTI' KUt Tt 7TOtWV eamt KeXUPWP€VD<; {3aatAel ~ Orrw~ 7TUp' UUTOl! Ta ap<fJi[3oAu Av1'Jet1}; arro­ KptVUP€VOV Of W~ ola{3a~ Pfv ek T71V 'PWPULWV {3uatAel rilv xo.,pw Kamt'h7aet, OtEVKpwr/aet Of Ta UP<fJi[30AU Ta~ UiTia~ OtepEVlJWV KUt 535 TaVTU~ KaTa <TOV> Tii~ dpr/v1}~ AUWV 1'Jwpov, €<fJUaKeV €KEWU epelv {3UatAeL Te KUt TO;;~ rip<fJ' U1JT()V, Q.7Tep 'ATrilAU~ {3ovAEmt. fj otea1'Jut €<fJTI 'PWPULOV~ ToaovTov eKAt7TUpr/aEw UVTOV waTe Kum7TpOOOUVUt OW7TOT1}V KUt uvuTPD<pii~ Tii~ 7Tupa L,KV1'JUt~ KUt rUpeTWV KUt rruwwv KUToAqwp'f/aUt, PT! pet~OVu oe TrrE;;a1'JUt rilv 7Tupa 'ATrr7Aq. OOVAEiUV 540 TOU rrupa 'PWPULOt~ 7TAOm-OV; avvoLaEw oe €7Ttp€vovm ri] omEia TOV [rap] TaU oea7ToTov KUTa7TpUVVew 1'Jvpov, €<fJ' o[~ UVTOV '6prt~e'a1'Jut KUTa. 'PWPULWV avp{3uwet, ~ 7Tupa a.pas EA1'Jovm U[Tlq, lmarw1'JUt ErEPU ~7TEP heivy OOKE;; Ola7TpU~apEvov. mura dP1}KW~ Kape 7TOtEl.a1'JUt rilv 7TPO~ UUTOV eiarry1}aapevD<; EVTev~w 7Tepi WV 7Tvv1'Ja- 545 vw1'JUt UUTOV {30VAOpe1'JU, (DU rap T0 MU~(.J.1Lvy W~ ev a~iq. TEAOVVTt TJ avvex* 7TpOaOOD<; 77v dmperr*) avexWpEt. erw oe nJ vaTepu/t:f. e~ TOV 'A TTr/AU 7Tepi[3oAov CuptJ<llOVPUt owpu nJ UVTOU KOPL~ wv ruperij, CHpeKuv OE OVopa UUnJ) e~ Yi~ uVry 7TUWE~ E-yerOVEWUV Tpel~, WV 0 7TPW{3VTEpo~ 77Pxe TWV 'AKaTipwv KUt TWV AOt7TWV e1'Jvwv TWV 550 vepop€VWV rilv 7TPO~ nt> DOVTy L,Kv1'Judw. EVOOV oe TOU 7Tept{3oAov 7TAeiam erVrxuvEv oiKr/pum, Ta pEV EK auvwwv errA&.pWV KUt TJPpoap€VWV Ek EUnP€7TElaV, 7<1 oe €K AL1'JWV KEKu1'JuPP€VWV Kat 7TPO~ Ev1'Jtrmm e7Te~eapevwv, eJ.L!3e{3A1}pevwv OE ~VAOt~ <KVKAOV<;> a7TO­ TEAouaw' ol OE KVKAot EV TOU e611pov<; uPxopeVOt E~ iJljJo~ aV€{3uwov 555 PETpLW~. evmu1'Ju Tii~ 'ATrilAU €VOlatTWpelJ1}~ rupeTfj~, 0tG. TWV 7TP~ TV 1'JVPCf {3ap{3d.pwv eroxov daooov KUt uVr71v E7Tt aTpwpuTO~ paAUKOU KE(.J.1€lJ1}V KUTeAu{3ov, Tol~ EK Tii~ epeu~ 7TtAWTOi~ TOU eoci.<{Jov~ aKE7TOp€VOV, waTe (;rr' UVTWV {3aOL~ew. rreptei7Te oe urJrilv 1'JEpu7TOVTWV rrAii1'Jo~ KVKAy' KUt 1'Jeparruwut Errt TOU eOd.<fJOv~ aVTU<.pv 560 ut)'rii~ Ku1'Jr/PEVUt 61'J6vu~ Twa~ xpwpuat ote7TOlxtAAOV e7Tt!3A1}t'h/ao­ P€VU~ 7TPO~ Koapov €a1'J1}paTwV {3up{3upU<.wv. 7TpoaeA 1'Jwv roivvv KUt

532-33 lTOlWlJ (aral K€xaplaJ.L€lJO~ de Boor [lTolWlJr€~ KUlXUPlOJ.L€lJO~ eodd. lTowiilJT€~ K€XUPWJ.L€lJW~ Hoesehel 536 rOlJ add. Muller 540 KUrO~I.l'j'w­ pijaul de Boor [Karoi'I.l'j'wplla€l~ E Karoll.l'j'wplla€(JJ Hoesehel 542 'j'ap expo Muller 545 7'rY1]oa.J.L€lJO~ X et edd. 549 'Hp€KalJ seripsi (er. n.62) [Kp€KU eodd. €'j'€')'olJ1]aulJ B €')'nOlJEOUlJ edd. 550 AKurjPWlJ Muller [AKarllPWlJ eodd. 551 lTPO~ rw nOlJrW de Boor [lTpO~ ro nOlJ eodd. lTPO~ rOlJ nOlJrOlJ edd. 553 II.WWlJ Hoesehel r'll.6-yWlJ eodd. II.V'j'WlJ de Boor OOKWlJ Cantoc1ar. 554 KVKlI.oV~ add. Bekker

Translation: Priscus 275

own sagacity, settled the disputes and established harmony between the Romans and the Huns. From this not only would advantage come for both nations, but also he would derive many benefits for his own household, since he and his children would be forever friends of the Emperor and his family. Onegesius asked what he was to do to win the Emperor's friendship and how the disputes were to be settled. When Maximinus replied that if he crossed over to Roman territory, he would earn the Emperor's gratitude and he would settle the disputes by investigating the causes and removing them in accordance with the terms of the peace, Onegesius said that he would simply tell the Em­ peror and his officials what Attila wished. "Or do the Romans think," he retorted, "that tltey will bring so much persuasion to bear on me that I shall betray my master, turn my back upon my upbringing amongst the Scythians, my wives and my children and think that slavery to Attila is not preferable to wealth amongst the Romans?" He concluded that it would be better for him to remain in his own country and to calm his master's rage on those matters over which he was angry at the Romans rather than to go to them and incur the charge that he had acted other than seemed best to Attila. Having said this and having instructed that I should confer with him on questions we wished to ask of him (for continual visiting was not proper for Maximinus, a man in an official position), he went away.

On the following day I approached Attila's wall bearing gifts for Attila's Wife, whose name was Hereka 62 and who had borne him three sons, the eldest of whom ruled the Akatiri and the other tribes dwelling by the Black Sea in Scythia. 63 Inside the wall there was a large cluster of buildings, some made of planks carved and fitted together for orna­ mental effect, others from timbers which had been debarked and planed straight. They were set on circular piles made of stones, which began from the ground and rose to a moderate height. 64 Here lived Attila's wife. I entered through the barbarians at her door and found her reclining on a soft couch. The floor was covered with woollen-felt rugs for walking upon. A group of servants stood around her in attendance, and servant girls sat facing her working coloured em­ broidery on fine linens to be worn as ornaments over the barbarian clothing. I went forward, greeted her, presented the gifts and withdrew.

276 Priscus: Text

711 owpa /l€Ta Tav aonao/lov oove:; Vrr€hl€w Kat Ent Ta eT€pa E~aOt~OV oiKil/laTa, ~v ale:; otaTpi~€w TOV 'Arri}Auv €TlrrXav€V, an€KD€XO/l€Voe:; MOT€ im€~eAt'fOt 'Ovrrri}owe:;· ijDT/ 'Yap ana TWV aVTou OtKT/Jlci.TWV 565 E~€AT/AVt'f€t Kat €VDOV TW. /l€Ta~V De TaU naVToe:; tOTa/l€Voe:; nA71t'fove:; ('YVWpt/loe:; T€ 'Yap WV Tale:; 'Arri}Aa lppovpoie:; Kat TOte:; nap€no/l€vote:; ailTcfJ ~ap~apote:; un' OOO€voe:; Dt€KWAVO/lT/V) €wOV nAi)t'fo<; nop€VO/l€VOV Kat t'fpovv Kat t'f6pv~ov n€pt TOV TOnOV 'Y€VO/l€VOV, we:; TaU 'ATn7Aa Vrr€~tOVTOe:;. npo1Jet De TaU OtKr//laToe:; ~aDi~wv oo~apwe:; rfi8e KaK€I 570 n€pt/3A€nO/l€Voe:;. we:; oe Un€~€At'fWV aUv T0 'OvT/'YT/oi,,? lOTT/ npo TaU OiKr//lUToe:;, nOAAot De TWV a/llpW~T/n70€te:; npOc:: aAA71Aovc:; ~XOVTWV npoo'Tj€oav Kat riJv a&rou Kpiow €DeXOVTO. elTa €naV~et we:; TO OLKT//lU Kat npEO~€te:; nap' aVTOV i/Kovrae:; (3a.p~apove:; eDeX€TO.

'E/lat De an€KO€XO/lEV,,? TOV 'OVT/'Yr/OWV 'PW/lVAO<; Kat TIPO/lOU- 575 TO<; Kat 'PW/lUVOc:: at e~ 'haMIe:; EAt'fOVT€e:; napa TOV 'ATrT7AaV npeo­ ~ete:; TWV lptaAWV €V€Ka TWV xpVOWV, av/lnapOVToe:; aVToie:; Kat 'POVO­ TtKiav TaU KaTa. KWVOTa.VTtOV, Kat KWVOTaVTtOAOV, aVDpoe:; EK Ti'ie:; ITatOVWv xwpae:; Ti'ie:; Uno 'ATrT7AC!: TaTTO/leVT/e:;, Ee:; AO-yOVe:; ijAt'fov Kat aVT/pWTWV, nOT€pOV otW€it'f77J1€V 1/ e1ft/lev€w ava'YKa~O/l€t'fa. Kat 580 E/lOU tprJoavToe:;, we:; TOVTOV Xa.ptV n€voo/l€Voe:; TaU 'OVT/'Yr70WV TOie:; n€pt/3oAOte:; npOOKapT€pW, Kat aVT€pWTr/oaVTOe:;, <El> aVTOte:; b 'ATn7Aae:; T//l€POV Tt Kat npiiov n€pt Ti/c:: npea~€{ae:; an€KpWaTO, EA€'YOV /IT/Da/lwe:; /l€TaTpeneat'fat Ti'ie:; 'YVW/lT/e:;, aAAa nOA€/lOV Kara'Y­ 'Y€AA€W, €t /lr/ 'Y€ a&ry r,tA~avOc:: i/ Ta EKnW/laTa n€/llpt'feiT/ . 585

'Anot'faV/la~OVTWV DE i'J/lWV Ti/c:: anovoiae:; TOV ~a.p~apov, Uno­ Aa~wv b 'PW/lVAO<;, npea~€vn7e:; aviJp Kat nOAAWV npa'Y/la.TWV f/lnetpo<;, €A€'Y€ TiW a&rou /l€'YiOTT/V TVxT/V Kat n7V eK Tfie:; rVx.T/e:; Mva/lw €~aip€w aVTOV, WOT€ /lfJ avexeat'fat DtKaiwv AO-yWV, €l /lTJ npoe:; aVTou vO/lio7] imapx€w aVTove:;. oVrrw 'Yap <TW> TWV nWnOT€ 590 Ti'ie:; r,KVt'ftKi/c:: i/ ~at €TEpae:; ap~d.vTwv 'Yi/c:: Tooaura' ev OAt-y"? Kan­ npaxt'fT/, WOT€ Kat TWV €V T4) 'nK€av0 vr/owv apx€w Kat npOc:: mlO7J Tij r,KVt'ftKij Kat 'Pw/laiove:; €X€W ee:; lpOPOV ana'Yw'Yryv. €lpt€/l€VOV De npoe:; TOte:; napoum nAetOVWV Kat Ent /l€I~ov aiJ~ovTa n7V apXfJV Kat Ee:; TIepoae:; E1ft€Vat ~ovAeat'fat. 595

Twv 8€ €V iJ/lW TWO<; nvt'fO/lEVOV, now OOOV Tpan€te:; €e:; ITepoae:; eAt'f€w Dvv'ljO€Tat, €A€'Y€V 6 'PW/lVAO<; /lTJ nOAAC) DtaOn7/lUTt riJv M71Dwv alp€OTaVat Tije:; r,KVt'ftKi/c::' OOD€ 'Yap OVVVOve:; aneipovc:; Tfie:; ODOU TaVTT/e:; €wat, aAAU mlAat ee:; a&riw ef.lf3€~AT/K€Vat, At/lOV T€ riJv Xwpuv Kparr70aVToe:;, Kat 'PW/latWV DtU TOV TOr€ avvwTa/l€VOV 600

565 V1TEtEA1'tO( van Herwerden [€1TEtEA1'tO( codd. 582 El add. Bekker 583 Tt Niebuhr [TE codd. 590 re.;> add. de Boor [OUDEV! pro Oi!1TW coni. Niebuhr 591-92 Kura1TE1Tpa.x1'tU( Bekker 595 d1T(EVU( X et edd.

Translation: Priscus 277

Then I walked to the other group of buildings, where Attila was living, and waited for Onegesius to come out, since he had already left his own dwellings and was within. As I was standing in the midst of the whole throng (for I was known to Attila's guards and followers, and no one hindered me), I saw a group of persons advancing and heard murmuring and shouts around the place, since Attila was coming out. He came out of the house swaggering and casting his eyes around. When he had come out, he stood with Onegesius in front of the building, and many persons who had disputes with one another stepped forward and received his judgement. Then he re-entered the house and received the barbarian envoys who had come to him.

While I was ~aiting for Onegesius, Romulus, Promotus and Ro­ manus, who had come from Italy as envoys to Attila over the golden bowls, came to speak to me. With them were Rusticius, the subordinate of Constantius,65 and Constantiolus, a man from the part of Pannonia subject to Attila. They asked whether we had been dismissed or whether we were being forced to remain. I said that I was waiting by the enclosures to learn this from Onegesius. When I, in my turn, asked whether Attila had given them a mild and gentle reply on the matter of their embassy, they said that he had changed his mind not at all and was threatening war unless either Silvanus or the bowls were sent to him.

When we expressed amazement at the unreasonableness of the barbarian, Romulus, an ambassador of long experience, replied that his very great good fortune and the power which it had given him had made him so arrogant that he would not entertain just proposals unless he thought that they were to his advantage. No previous ruler of Scythia or of any other land had ever achieved so much in so short a time. He ruled the islands of the Ocean and, in addition to the whole of Scythia, forced the Romans to pay tribute. He was aiming at more than his present achievements and, in order to increase his empire further, he wanted to attack the Persians.

When one of those amongst us asked what road Attila could take to reach Persia, Romulus replied that the land of the Medes was not a great distance from Scythia, and the Huns were not ignorant of the route. They came upon it long ago when famine was sweeping their land and the Romans did not oppose them on account of the war in

280 Priseus: Text

3. (Jordanes Get. 34,178-80 and 182) Ad quem in legatione se missum a Theodosio iuniore Priscus

istoricus tali voce inter alia refert: ingentia si quid em flumina, id est Tisia Tibisiaque et Dricca transientes venimus in loco illo, ubi dudum Vidigoia Gothorum fortissimus Sarmatum dolo occubuit; indeque non longe ad vicum, in quo rex Attila morabatur, accessimus, vicum 5 inq uam ad ins tar civitatis amplissimae, in quo Iignea moenia ex tabulis nitentibus fabricata repperimus, quarum compago ita solidum mentiebatur, ut vix ab intentu possit iunctura tabularum conprae­ hendi. videres triclinia ambitu prolixiore distenta porticusque in omni decore dispositas. area vero curtis ingenti ambitu cingebatur, ut 10 amplitudo ipsa regiam aulam ostenderet. hae sedes erant Attilae regis barbariae tota tenenti; haec captis civitatibus habitacula prae­ ponebat.

Is namque Attila patre genitus Mundzuco, cuius fuere germani Octar et Roas, qui ante Attilam regnum tenuisse narrantur, quamvis 15 non omnino cunctorum quorum ipse .... vir in concussione gentium natus in mundo, terrarum omnium metus, qui, nescio qua sorte, terrebat cuncta formidabili de se opinione vulgata. erat namque superb us incessu, huc atq ue illuc circumferens oculos, ut elati potentia ipso quoque motu corporis appareret; bellorum quid em 20 amator, sed ipse manu temperans, consilio validissimus, sup­ plicantium exorabilis, propitius autem in fide semel susceptis; forma brevis, lato pectore, capite grandiore, minutis oculis, rarus barba, canis aspersus, semo nasu, teter colore, origenis suae signa restituens. 25

7 nitentibus [ingentibus XYZ 8 metiebatur 0 15 Hunnorum post regnum add. B 16 confusionem XYZ 22 autem om. SOB [enim XYZ receptis ASOB acceptis XYZ

12 1. (Exc. de Leg. Rom. 3)

"Eaeat'1at O€ OUK eic; JJ11J<.pav rfic; rrapouUT/C; aim;:> ouvaj1ewc; aV~T/atv· UT/J1Uwetv Kat TOVTO TOV t'1eov TO TOU "Apeoc; aVC1AfJT1vaVTa ~¥OC;, emep QV tepov Kat rrapa TWV ~KVt'1tKWV ~aarA€WV Tf./1Wj1eVOV, ola oil Tc.;J e.pOp<,¥ TWV rrof...€j1WV aVaI<.ei.j1evov, €V Toic; rraf...at OJ.pavw­ t9ijvat )(pOVOtC;, elm 01iL ~oOc; eupet9ijvat. 5

2. (Jordanes Get. 35,183) Qui quamvis huius esset naturae, ut semper magna confideret,

addebat ei tamen confidentia gladius Martis inventus, sacer apud

2 ei [et BXY

Translation: Priscus 281

3. (Jordanes Get. 34,178-80 and 182) The historian Priscus says that he was sent on an embassy to him

[Attila] by the younger Theodosius. Amongst other things, he reports as follows: When we had crossed some great rivers, namely the Tisia, Tibisia and Dricca,71 we came to that place where long ago Vidigoia, the bravest of the Goths, was killed through the treachery of the Sar­ matians. 72 Not far from this place we reached a village in which Attila was staying, a village actually like a very large city, in which we found wooden walls made of smoothed planks. These were joined together to suggest solidity in such a way that even by looking hard one could scarcely see the joints.73 You might see dining rooms of great di· mensions and cololJ.nades laid out with every form of decoration. 74 The area of the courtyard was enclosed by a circuit wall of high extent so that its size might show that this was a royal palace. This was the seat of Attila, the king who ruled the whole barbarian world; this was the dwelling he preferred to the cities which he had captured.

AttiIa's father was Mundzuc, whose own brothers were Octar and Ruas, who are said to have held the kingship before Attila, though by no means over all the peoples whom he ruled .... 75 [Attila] was a man born in the world for the shattering of nations, the terror of all the lands who, through some chance, made all quake as his fearsome repu-. tation spread abroad. His gait was haughty, and he cast his eyes hither and thither, so that the power of his pride was reflected in the move­ ments of his body. Though a lover of war, he was not prone to violence. He was a very wise counsellor, merciful to those who sought it and loyal to those whom he had accepted as friends. He was short, with a broad chest and large head; his eyes were small, his beard sparse and flecked with grey, his nose flat and his complexion dark, which showed the signs of his origin.

12 1. (Exc. de Leg. Rom. 3)

[Constantiolus said that] in a short time there would be an increase in his [Attila's] present power. God had indicated this by revealing the sword of Ares, which is a sacred object honoured by the Scythian kings, since it was dedicated to the guardian of wars. In ancient times it had disappeared and then it was found through the agency of an OX. 76

2. (Jordanes Get. 35,183) Although he [Attila] was by nature always self-assured, his con- I

fidence was increased by the finding of the sword of Mars, which is held

282 Priscus: Text

Scytharum reges semper habitus, quem Priscus istoricus tali refert occasione detect urn. cum pastor, inquiens, quidam gregis unam bo­ culam conspiceret claudicantem nec causam tanti vulneris inveniret, 5 sol licit us vestigia cruoris insequitur tandemque venit ad gladium, quem depascens herbas incauta calcaverat, effossumque protinus ad Attilam defert. quo ille munere gratulatus, ut erat magnanimis, arbitratur se mundi totius principem constitutum et per Martis gladium potestatem sibi concessam esse bellorum. 10

7 incaute LSOB

13 1. (Exc. de Leg. Rom. 3)

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9 aiJT()!J Niebuhr [TlJ!J codd. 15 /jE~ia{)al Niebuhr [/jE~aa{)al codd. 21 wpa!J post r'1JJ.ipa~ coni. de Boor 24 Kvil.tKa Hoeschel (€mlil.lKa codd. de Boor suspicitur versum archetypi intercidisse inter hr6- et -il.lKa

Translation: Priscus 283

sacred amongst the Scythian kings. The historian Priscus says it was found under the following circumstances. When a herdsman noticed one of his heifers limping and could find no reason for such a wound, he was troubled and followed the trail of blood. At length he came to a sword which the animal had carelessly trodden on while grazing. He dug it up and took it straight to Attila. He was pleased by this gift and, since he was a high-spirited man, he concluded that he had been ap­ pointed ruler of the whole world and that through the sword of Mars he had been granted invincibility in war.

13 1. (Exc. de Leg. Rom. 3)

As each of us was wanting to say something about the present situation, Onegesius came out and we went over to him and attempted to obtain information upon our own business. When he had first spoken to some barbarians, he sent me to Maximinus to ask which man of consular rank the Romans were sending as ambassador to Attila. When I came to the tent, I reported what had been said to me and discussed with Maximinus what I should reply to the question which the bar­ barian had asked of us. I returned to Onegesius and said that the Romans wished him to go to them to discuss the disputes, but if this were denied them, the Emperor would send whomever he desired. He immediately told me to bring Maximinus, and when he arrived, took him to Attila. Shortly afterwards Maximinus came out and said that the barbarian wanted Nomus, Anatolius or Senator as ambassador and that he would receive no other than those named. When Maximinus had replied that he ought not render these men suspect to the Emperor by naming them for an embassy, Attila said that if the Romans were unwilling to follow his wishes, the disputes would be settled by arms.

When we returned to our tent, Tatulus, the father of Orestes, -'\ came to us and announced, "Attila invites you both to his banquet. It will begin at about the ninth hour of the day." We waited for the time, and those of us who had been invited and the envoys of the western Romans presented ourselves. We stood at the threshold facing Attila, and, as was the custom of the land, the wine waiters gave us a cup 77 so that we might make a prayer before taking our seats. When we had

284 Priscus: Text

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45 Tt) Hoeschel [Tt)" codd. avrc.;J add. Bekker

Tran~lation: Priscus 285

done this and had tasted from the cup, we went to the seats where we were to si t for dinner.

All the seats were arranged around the walls of the building on both sides. In the very middle of the room Attila sat upon a couch. Behind him was another couch, and behind that steps led up to Attila's bed, which was screened by fine linens and multicoloured ornamental hangings like those which the Greeks and Romans prepare for weddings. The position of those dining on the right of Attila was con­ sidered the most honourable, that on the left, where we were, less so. Ahead of us sat Berichus, a Scythian noble, for Onegesius sat on a chair to the right of Attila. Opposite Onegesius two of Attila's sons sat on a chair; the eldest one sat upon Attila's couch, not close to him but right at the end, gazing at the ground out of respect for his father. 78

When all were seated in order, a wine waiter came up to Attila and offered him a wooden cup of wine. He took the cup and greeted the first in the order. The one who was honoured with the greeting stood up, and it was the custom that he not sit down until he had either tasted the wine or drunk it all and had returned the wooden cup to the waiter. When he had sat down, all present honoured him in the same manner, taking our cups and tasting them after the greeting. Each guest had a wine waiter in attendance, who had to step forward in line after Attila's waiter retired. When the second had been honoured and the rest in order, Attila greeted us with the same ceremony according to the order of the seats. 79 When all had been honoured with this greeting, the wine waiters withdrew and, beginning from Attila,80 tables were set up for three or four or more persons, from which each could partake of what was placed on the platter without leaving the line of chairs. Attila's servant entered first bearing a plate full of meat, and after him those who were serving us placed bread and cooked foods on the tables. While for the other barbarians and for us there were lavisWy prepared dishes served on silver platters, for Attila there was only meat on a wooden plate. He showed himself temperate in other ways also. For golden and silver goblets were handed to the men at the feast, whereas his cup was of wood. His clothing was plain and differed not at all from that of the rest, except that it was clean. Neither the sword that hung at his side nor the fastenings of his barbarian boots nor his horse's bridle was adorned, like those of the other Scythians, with gold or precious stones or anything else of value.

"~I

286 Priseus: Text

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Translation: Priscus 287

When we had finished the food on the first platters, we all stood up, and no one resumed his seat until, in the order as before, we had each drained the cup full of wine which was given to us and prayed for Attila's health. When he had been honoured in this way we resumed our seats, and a second platter, containing different dishes, was placed on each table. When all had partaken of this, again we stood up in the same manner, drank a cup of wine and sat down. Since it was now evening, pine torches were lit. Two barbarians came and stood before Attila and chanted songs which they had composed, telling of his victories and his deeds of courage in war. The guests fixed their eyes on the singers: some took pleasure in the verses, others recalling the wars became excited, while others, whose bodies were enfeebled by age and whose spirits were compelled to rest, werE, reduced to tears.

After the songs a Scythian whose mind was deranged came for­ ward and, by uttering outlandish, unintelligible and altogether crazy words, caused all to burst into laughter. After him Zercon the Moor entered.

2. (Suda Z 29) Zercon: a Scythian so-called,sl but a Moor by origin. Because of

his physical deformity and the laughter which his stammering and his general appearance caused (for he was rather short, hunchbacked, with distorted feet and a nose that, because of its excessive flatness, was indicated only by the nostrils) he was presented to Aspar, the son of Ardabur, when he was in Libya. When the barbarians attacked Thrace, he was captured and taken to the Scythian kings. Attila could not stand the sight of him, but Bleda was most pleased by him, not only when he was saying amusing things but even when he was not, because of the strange movements of his body as he walked. He accompanied Bleda both at feasts and on campaigns, and on these expeditions he wore a suit of armour made for amusing effect. Bleda thought so highly of him that when he ran off with some Roman prisoners, he ignored the rest but ordered him to be sought for with all diligence. When Zercon was recaptured and brought back in chains, Bleda, at the sight of him, burst into laughter, abated his anger and asked the reason for his flight and why he thought life amongst the Romans was better than that amongst themselves. He answered that his flight had been a crime, but he had a reason for the crime, that he had not been given a wife. Bleda laughed even more and gave him a wife from one of the well-born attendants upon the queen, who was no longer in her service because of some

T 288 Priseus: Text Translation: Priscus 289I Kat OVTW OI£TEAH a1Tavra TOV )(flOVOV 7C.1J BA7joq. OVVWv. PETa of: rilv aUTOV TEAEVTfW 'ATn7Aa<; 'AETi~ T0 oTparrrr0 TWV 'E01TEpiwv 'Pwpaiwv OwpOV TOV ZEpKwva oiOwow, C)<; aUrov 1Tapa TOV "A01Tapa a1TE1TEpt/JEV. 25

3. (Exc. de Leg. Rom. 3) '0 'Yap 'EOEKWV aUrov 1Tapa TOV 'ATn7AaV EAJJeIV 1Tap€1TEWEV

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9 rrap€lll-YlJv Papabasileios (1896) [rrapalll-YlJVUI aut rrapalll-YlJV~ TW de Boor 11 aiJ'TI)~ [Oi5TO~ Dindorf 16 EXOl Niebuhr [EX€l codd.

14 (Exc. de Leg. Rom. 3)

'HpEpa<; Of 'YEVOPEV1}<; E1T/. Tal) 'Ovrrrr}OWV ijAJJOPEV )(flijvat iJJ1ii<; OLa<pEJJijvaL A€'YOV7E<; Kat P71 71}Va.AAW<; Tpi(3EW TOV )(flavov. Kat &; f<p1} EJJEAEW Kat TOV 'ATrr7AaV a1T01TEp1TEW 1Jpa<;. Kat PLKPOV 0f.Q.­ AL1TWV dpa TO'[<; AOfa.oW E{30VAEUeTO 1TEpt TWV 'AT,qAq. OEOOfP€VWV Kat Ta {3aoLAEt a1Too01JT}oopEva avV€TaTTE 'YpappaTa. imOfPa.p€WV 5 aVT0 1TapaVTWV Kat 'POVOTLKiov, d.vopo<; 6ppwp€vOV pEV €K Tij<; avw Mvoia<;, o..AOVTO<; Of EV T0 1TOAEP~ Kai. ow. Ao,WV apETi}v T0 {3ap­ {3cip~ E1Tt TlJ TWV 'YpapJlciTwv Of.Q.1TOVOVP€VOV avVTa.~EL.

misdemeanour. Thus he passed all his time with Bleda. After his death Attila gave Zercon as a gift to Aetius, the general of the western Romans, who sent him back to Aspar.

3. (Exc. de Leg. Rom. 3) Edeco had persuaded him [Zercon] to come to Attila in order to

recover his wife, whom he had been given in the country of the bar­ barians as a result of his great favour with Bleda, but whom he had left behind in Scythia when Attila had sent him as a gift to Aetius. But he was disappointed in his hopes, since Attila was angry that he had returned to his c01!ntry. Now, during the banquet he came forward and by his appearance, his clothing, his voice and the words which he spoke all jumbled together (for he mixed Latin, Hunnic and Gothic) he put all in a good humour and caused all to burst into uncontrollable laughter,82 except Attila. He remained unmoved with no change of expression and neither said nor did anything that hinted at laughter, except when his youngest son, whose name was Ernach,83 came up and stood by him. Then he drew him closer by the cheek and gazed at him with gentle eyes. When I expressed amazement that he paid attention to this son while ignoring the others, the barbarian who sat next to me and who knew Latin, warning me to repeat nothing of what he would tell me, said that the prophets had foretold to Attila that his race would fall, but would be restored by this boy. Since they were spending the night over the banquet, we departed, not wishing to continue drinking for a long time.

14 (Exc. de Leg. Rom. 3)

When day came we went to Onegesius and said that we ought to be dismissed without any pointless delay. He said that Attila was willing to send us away. After a short time he deliberated with the leading men upon Attila's views and had the letters drawn up to be delivered to the Emperor. Present at this transaction were his own secretaries and Rusticius, a man from Upper Moesia who had been captured in war and who, because of his literary skills, was employed by the barbarian in drawing up letters.

294 Priscus: Text

r7Il LV T71<: errt r7J rrpea~eicf arrOKptOew<: elp1/ll€va c1prrmoallevoL Tii<: €rravooov etxOlletJa. w<: O€ ~<: rilv KWVOTaVTWOV rrapeyevolletJa, 85 lleTa{3e~MotJaL Ili:v c.;;olletJa TOV BepLXOv Tii<: opril<:' &: 5i; Tii<: arpia<: OUK €rreXD\1/0TO l{!uoew<:, aXX' e<: 5tal{!opa.<: €XWpet Kat €V KaTT/'YOp!.q, €rrOLeLTo TOV Ma~Lllwov, w<: €l{!1/oev el<: rilv r,KVtJtKi}v 5ta~a.<: TOV 'Ape6~w50v Kat TOV "Aorrapa ilv5pa<: OTpaTT/rOV<: 1l1/5e­ Iliav rrapa. ~aotXei. €xew Ilotpav, Kat W<: €V OXLrWp!.q, Ta. KaT' aiJrov<: 90 €rr0L170aTO Ti}V ~ap~pLKfJV €X€r~a<: KOVl{!6T'T/Ta.

Liber IV 15

1. (Exc. de Leg. Rom. 3) 'Ava~eu~avTa 5i: TOV BLrlXav el<: rilv r,KVtJtKfJV Kat €V 0[<; TOV

'ATrilXav TimOL<: 5taTp~ew ovv€~awev dl{JtK0llevov rrepWTavTe<: elxov at rrpo<: TOVTO rrapeOKeVaOIl€VOL ~ap~apOL Kat Ta. XPr7J1aTa, arrep T<{) 'E5€KWVL €KOIlL~ev, alf!EtXOVTO. w<: 5i; Kat aiJrov rrapa TOV 'ATrilXav fryov, Kat aV1/pwTiiTO. Orov Xapw TOOOiJTOV l{!€POL XPVOLOV, 1!l{!1/ olxeia<: 5 Te Kat TWV rraperrOIl€vwV rrpovoLa<: eveKa, wOTe Ili] €v5eicf TPOlf!WV ii trrrrwv om1.vet ii Kat TWV l{JOPTT/'YWV Vrro~vriwv Vrro TiI<: J1aKpa<: eK­ oorrav1/tJeVTWV OOOV 5tallapTew Ti/<: rrept Tii<: rrpea~eia<: arrov5i1<:' rrapeaKeoootJaL 5e aiJry Kat e<: alXllaXwTwv WVTW, rroXXwv KaTa. rilv 'Pwllaiwv 5e1/tJ€VTWV aVTOV ToV<: Ol{!lOL rrpOar7KOVTa<: MoaotJat. 10 Kat 6 'ATri/Xa<:' aXX' oun, €l{!1/, aV rrov1/pov ih/piov. TOV BL'YiAav Xerwv, TfJV 5iK1/v oOl{!L~6Ilevo<; Moet<:. ou5i: {OTaL OOL rrpOpaot<: iKavi] El<: TO Ti]v KoXaow 5tal{!vrew, Ilel~ovo<: Ilev rfj<: oil<: OOrrav1/<: rrapa­ oKelJ'ii<: OOL XP1/JJ.6.TWV UrrapxovOT/<:, Kat TWV Vrro OOV trrrrwv Kat Vrro­ ~vriwv WIJ1/ih/oOIl€VWV, Kat Ti/<: TWV atXllaXWTWV Moew<:. ijv aVv 15 Ma~l.J1iv"lJ rrap' €Ili; c1ptKOllevy rrOtew arrT/'Yopevoa .

TaiJTa etrrwv TOV viov (f}v 5e Kat TetJ BLriAq. TOTe rrpWTOV El<: Ti]v ~ap~apwv rjKOXOVih/KW<: xwpav) ~¥et KaTa{3X1/1'tfjvaL rrapeKe­ XevoaTO, et IlTJ l{!tJaoa<: elrroL, OTy Ta XPrlJ1aTa Kat 5L' 1]V alTiav KOlll~et. 6 5e w<: €tJeaOaTO TOV rrawa €rrt tJavaTov oTeixovTa, €<: 20 5d.Kpoo Te Kat OXOlf!VPIlOV<: erparr1/ Kat ave~6a rilv 5iK1/V err' aUTov tpEpew TO ~il{JO<:, OVK €rrt TOV V€OV TOV a5tKovvTa 0&5~v. Kat 1l1/5ev lleXXrloa<: Ta Te aiJry Kat 'E5eKWVL Kat TQ eUVOVX"lJ Kat Te.;; (3a.atXeL lleXeT1/tJ€VTa €Xeyev. ovvexw<: 5€ et<: iKeaia<: Tperrollevo<;, wOTe aiJrov Il€V avaLpetJijvaL. 5talf!E1'tfivaL 5€ TOV rrawa. rvov<: 5i: b 'ATrilXa<: arro 25 TWV 'E5eKwvL elp1/llevwv 1l1/5ev 5teljJevotJaL TOV BL'YiAav €V 5eallOt<: elvaL rrpOOeTaTTeV, ou rrpoTepov Xvoew arretA77oa<:. rrpiv il TOV rraiOO.

2 elxov [avveLXov Niebuhr

Translation: Priseus 295

then continued our return journey. When we reached Constantinople, we thought Berichus had put off his anger, but he had not shed his savage nature. He came into dispute with us and accused Maxirninus of saying, when he crossed into Scythia, that the generals Areobindus and Aspar carried no weight with the Emperor and of pouring contempt upon their achievements by arguing that they were unreliable bar­ barians. 92

Book IV 15

1. (Exc. de Leg. Rom. 3) --':

When Vigilas had returned to Scythia and reached the district where Attila was staying, barbarians who had been readied for this purpose surrounded and detained him and took away the money which he was bringing for Edeco. When they brought him before Attila and he was asked for what reason he was carrying so much gold, he replied that it was for the purposes of himself and those with him, so that they would not fail to achieve the object of the embassy through lack of supplies or inadequacy of the horses and baggage animals which had been exhausted by the long journey. Moreover, money had been supplied to him to purchase captives, since many in Roman territory had begged him to ransom their relatives. Then Attila, calling Vigilas a "worthless beast", said, "You will escape justice no longer with your tricks. Your excuses will not be enough for you to avoid punishment. Your supply of money is more than you need to buy provisions for yourself, and horses, and baggage animals, and to ransom the captives, which I forbade you to do when you came to me with Maxirninus."

Saying this he ordered that Vigilas , son, who on that occasion had accompanied his father to the land of the barbarians for the first time, be struck down with a sword unless Vigilas first told why and for what purpose he was bringing the money. When Vigilas saw his son facing death, he burst into tears and lamentations and called upon justice to use the sword on him, not upon an innocent youth. Without hesitation he described what had been planned by himself, Edeco, the eunuch and the Emperor, all the time begging that he be put to death and his son be sent away. When Attila knew from what Edeco had told him that Vigilas was not lying, he ordered him to be put in chains and promised that he would not free him until he sent his son back and

f i 314 Priscus: Text

i' i

I

TOVTOV KaAuiv dX€v, tLrr' ovo€pui<: alTI.a<: €~arrwaiw<: KaTarrWELV Kat Tol<: rrOA€ptOl<: TaVTIJ EalT1/Ta €<: n7V rroAW 'Y€V€U~al, oVrw T€ riw 'AKVA1/l.aV KaTa KpaTO<: Q.AWVal. Ta PEV OVV ap<pt 7i1 'AKVA1/!q. TaVr7J rr1/ eux€v. 30

[3. (Suda M 405)

If IL. il !,

M€owMvov ... rroAvdv~pwrro<; rrOAl<:, T/v KaTaAa{3wv 'ATrr,Aa<: flvoparrOOtUaTo. <-0<: Of €lD€V €V 'YPQJ.(iij TOU<: PEV 'Pwpaiwv {3aalA€i<: Errt xpvuwv ~povwv Ka~p€Vov<:, ~Kv~a<: O€ aV1JP1/P€VOV<; Kat rrpo TWV mp(;jv rroowv K€lJ1EVOV<:, ~'T/TT/ua<: ~wrPCL<poV EKEA€VU€V alrrOV PEV 'YPCL<p€W Errt MKOV, TOV<: OE 'Pwpaiwv {3aalA€i<: KWPUKOV<: <fJ€P€W Err!. TWV WPWV Kat xpVUOV rrpo TWV airrov XE€W rroowv. (Cr. K 2123)]

5

1.'.. '1,.. \. . ~(

4 a<pwv TrOOWV A [TrOOWV UVTWV GVM ;Ir

~ 23"lil 11),\, 1. (Exc. de Leg. Gent. 9) 11,·1\

"On 0 'ATn7Aa<: p€TiL TO T'I7V 'ITaAiav avoparrooiuaU~llfjil~. Errt Ta 1I1l,"-" U<p€T€pa tLva~€v~a<: TOIS KpaTOVUl TWV €ywv 'PwpatWV rrOA€pOV

Kat avoparroowpov Tii<: xwpa<: KaTr/r'Y€AA€V, W<: P'17 €Krr€p<P~€VTO<: TOU rrapa 6€ooouiov T€Ta'YPEVOV <pOpOV.

[2. (Jordanes Get. 43,225) Reversus itaque Attila in sedes suas et quasi otii penitens

graviterque ferens a bello cessare, ad Orientis principem Marcianum legatos dirigit, provinciarum testans vastationem, quod sibi pro­ missum a Theodosio quondam imperatore minime persolveretur, et inhumanior solito suis hostibus apparereL] 5

1 itaque [namque A suas [proprias X propria Y 4 minime [munus A perso!veretur [so!veretur A

3. (Exc. de Leg. Rom. 6) "On TOU 'ATT71Aa <TOV> rrapa 6€oooulov T€Ta'YPEVOV <popov

~1/TOVVTO<: ii rrOA€pOV arr€lAoVvTO<;, TWV 'Pwpaiwv UT€AA€W rrap' aUrov rrpEu{3€l<: arroKpwapEvwv, 'ArroAAWVlO<; ErrEprr€TO, Olm€P b M€A<PO<: n7v 2;aTOpVLAOV 'YE-yap1/KEl ~vraT€pa, iiv b 6€OOOUlO<; E{3oVA€TO KWVUTaVTty KaTE-y'Yoov, Zr/vwv OE 'POlJ<py EO€OWKEl rrpo<: 5 'Yapov' TOT€ OE E~ tLv~pwrrwv h€'YoVEl. TOU ZT/vwvo<: oUv TWV Em­ TT/OEtWV b 'ArroAAWVlO<; 'Y€'YOVW<: Kat n7V UTpaT'T/'YWa Aaxwv apXiw rrapa TOV 'ATrr,Aav Err€prr€TO rrpw{3€VUOP€Vo<;, Kat TOV P€V 1UTPOV Err€pawfi'ro, aUK ~TUX€ Of Tfi<: rrpo<: TOV {3CLp{3apov rrpouooov. EV OP'Y~

1 TOV add. Bekker 9 Trpoaooov Hoeschel[TrpoooOV codd.

Translation: Priscus 315

that bird's nest suddenly collapsed for no reason. At that point the enemy gained access to the city, and so Aquileia was taken by storm. This is what befell Aquileia.

[3. (Suda M 405) Milan, a very populous city which Attila captured and enslaved.

When he saw in a painting the Roman Emperors sitting upon golden thrones and Scythians lying dead before their feet, he sought out a painter and ordered him to paint Attila upon a throne and the Roman Emperors heaving sacks upon their shoulders and pouring out gold before his feet. (Cf; K 2123)]

23 1. (Exc. de Leg. Gent. 9)

After enslaving Italy Attila returned to his own territories and threatened the rulers of the eastern Romans with war and the enslave­ ment of their land because the tribute agreed by Theodosius had not been sent.

[2. (Jordanes Get. 43,225) Attila returned, therefore, to his own lands and, as if he re­

gretted the peace and were angry that he was not at war, sent envoys to Marcian, the Emperor of the East, threatening to devastate his pro­ vinces because what the previous Emperor, Theodosius, had promised had not been sent and in order that he might appear still more cruel to his enemies.]

3. (Exc. de Leg. Rom. 6) When Attila demanded the tribute agreed by Theodosius and

threatened war, the Romans replied that they were sending envoys to him, and they sent Apollonius. His brother had married Saturnilus' daughter, whom Theodosius had wished to betroth to Constantius, but whom Zeno had given in marriage to Rufus; then he had died .114 Therefore, Apollonius, one of Zeno's associates who held the rank of general, was sent to Attila as ambassador. He crossed the Danube but was not given admittance to the barbarian. For Attila was angry that

316 Priscus: Text

'Yap eK€fvo<: 7TOWUP€VOC: ro P?1 K€KOpLUOaL rove; <popovc;, ove; {A€'Y€V 10 am-0 7Tapa rwv {3€AnOVWV Kat {3auLALKWr€pWV TErdxOaL, ouM; rov 7Tpw{3€vucip€vov EOEx€rO TOO 7T€pt/Javro<: KaroAL'YWpWV. 0 OE 'A7TOA­ Awvwe; avopoe; ep'Yov Kara rovrov rav KaLpav <paW€TaL OLa7Tpa~a­ P€voc:. rou 'Yap 'ArrT-tAa pr] 7TPOUL€P€VOV r?1v am-ou 7TPW{3d.av PT/OE €e; AO-yove; am-0 €AO€W {30VAOPEVOV, 7TapaK€A€VopEVOV oE 7T€P7TELV U7T€P 15 avr0 €K {3auLA€We; owpa €KOPL~€V, Kat Oavarov a7TELAOuvro<:, El P?1 oolT/, €<{!T/U€V' aUK airEIv 7TPOaijK€ ~KvOaLe; U7T€P am-Ote; €~wrw i1 owpa 1/ UKuAa Aa{3€W, 7Tapa15T/AWV owpa P€V am-OLe; oo011uwOaL, Et am-av 7TpouOE~oLVro 7TPW{3€VOP€VOV, UKUAa fiE, El civ€AovTEe; a<p€- AOLVro. OUTW P€V OVV a7TpaKroe; €7Tav~€L. 20

24 1. (Jordanes Get. 49,254-55; [256-58J)

Qui, ut Priscus istoricus refert, exitus sui tempore puellam Ildico nomine decoram valde sibi in matrimonio post innumerabiles uxores, ut mos erat gentis illius, socians eiusque in nuptiis hilaritate nimia resolutus, vino somnoque gravatus resupinus iaceret, re­ dundans sanguis, qui ei solite de naribus effluebat, dum consuetis 5 meatibus impeditur, itinere ferali fauctbus illapsus extinxit. ita glorioso per bella regi temulentia pudendos exitos dedit. sequenti vero luce cum magna pars diei fuisset exempta, ministri regii triste aliquid suspicantes post clamores maximos fores effringunt in­ veniuntque Attilae sine ullo vulnere necem sanguinis effusione 10 peractam puellamque demisso vultu sub velamine lacrimantem. tunc, ut gentis illius mos est, crinium parte truncata informes facies cavis turpavere vulneribus, ut proeliator eximius non femineis lamen­ tationibus et lacrimis, sed sanguine lugeretur virile. de quo id accessit mirabile, ut Marciano principi Orientis de tarn feroci hoste sollicito 15 in somnis divinitas adsistens arcum Attilae in eadem nocte fractum ostenderet, quasi quod gens ipsa eo telo multum praesumat. hoc Priscus istoricus vera se dicit adtestatione probare. nam in tantum magnis imperiis Attila terribilis habitus est, ut eius mortem in locum muneris superna regnantibus indicarent. 20

[Cuius manes quibus a sua gente honoratae sunt, pauca de multis dicere non omittamus. in mediis si qUidem campis et intra tenturia sirica cadavere conlocato spectaculum admirandum et sollemniter exhibetur. nam de tota gente Hunnorum lectissimi

1 exitii HPA extinctionis OB 5 affluebat HB 6 elapsus HPVLA 8 regni o 13 turbavere HVLA 21 modis post quibus habet B 24 sollemne BbXYZ electissirni B

Translation: Priscus 317

the tribute, which he said was agreed with him by better and more kingly men, had not been brought, and he would not receive the ambassador since he scorned the one who had sent him. On that occasion Apollonius performed what was clearly the act of a brave man. For when Attila would not receive his embassy and refused to speak with him, but ordered him to send whatever gifts he had brought from the Emperor, threatening to kill him if he did not hand them over, Apollonius replied, "It is not right for the Scythians to demand what they can take either as gifts or as spoils". He meant that they would be given as gifts to them if they received him as ambassador and would be spoils if they killed him and took them away. Thus he left having accomplished nothing.

24 1. (Jordanes Get. 49,254-55; [256-58J)

At the time of his death, as the historian Priscus relates, [Attila] , after countless other wives, took in marriage according to the custom of his race a very beautiful girl named Ildico. At his wedding he gave him­ self up to excessive celebration and he lay down on his back sodden with wine and sleep. He suffered a haemorrhage, and the blood, which would ordinarily have drained through his nose, was unable to pass through the usual passages and flowed in its deadly course down his throat, killing him. Thus drunkenness brought a shameful end to a king who had won glory in war. On the morrow, when most of the day had passed, the king's attendants, suspecting something was amiss, first shouted loudly and then broke open the doors. They found Attila unwounded but dead from a haemorrhage and the girl weeping with downcast face beneath her veil. Then, after the custom of their race, they cut off part of their hair and disfigured their already hideous faces with deep wounds to mourn the famous warrior not with womanly tears and wailings, but with the blood of men. In connection with his death the following mar­ vel occurred. Marcian, the Emperor of the East, was troubled over such a fierce enemy, and in his sleep a divine figure stood by him and showed him the bow of Attila broken that very night - for the Huns place much store by that weapon. This story the historian Priscus says he accepts upon reliable evidence. us For so terrible was Attila held to be to great empires, that the powers above revealed his death to their rulers as a boon.

[We shall not omit to describe a few of the many ways in which his spirit was honoured by his race. In the middle of a plain his body was laid out in a silken tent, and a remarkable spectacle was solemnly per· formed. For in the place where he had been laid out the best horsemen

318 Priseus: Text

equites in eo loco, quo erat positus, in modum circensium cursibus 25 ambientes, facta eius cantu funereo tali ordine referebant.

"Praecipuus Hunnorum rex Attila, patre genitus Mundzuco, fortissimarum gentium dominus, qui inaudita ante se potentia solus Scythica et Germanica regna possedit nec non utraque Romani urbis imperia captis civitatibus terruit et, ne praedae reliqua subderentur, 30 placatus praecibus annuum vectigal accepit: cumque haec omnia proventu felicitatis egerit, non vulnere hostium, non fraude suorum, sed gente incolume inter gaudia laetus sine sensu doloris occubuit. quis ergo hunc exitum putet, quem nullus aestimat vindicandum?"

Postquam talibus lamentis est defletus, stravam super tumulum 35 eius quam appellant ipsi ingenti commessatione concelebrant, et contraria invicem sibi copulantes luctu funereo mixto gaudio explicabant, noctuque secreto cadaver terra reconditum coopercula primum auro, secundum argento, tertium ferri rigore communiunt, significantes tali argumento potentissimo regi omnia convenisse: 40 ferrum, quod gentes edomuit, aurum et argentum, quod ornatum rei publicae utriusque acceperit. addunt arma hostium caedibus ad­ quisita, faleras vario gemmarum fulgore praetiosas et diversi generis insignia, quibus colitur aulicum decus. et, ut tantis divitiis humana curiositas arceretur, operi deputatos detestabili mercede trucidarunt, 45 emersitque momentanea mos sepelientibus cum sepulto.]

34 dicat exit urn OB 36 celebrant B 38 explicabant OBXY [celebrabant AHPVL 44 aulicurn [aliquod OB

2. (Theophanes Chron. a.m. 5946) '0 De 'ATTfA.ac; €irrp€1ri~€TO 1rOA€p'iiuat MapKtavy PfJ W€XO­

PEVctJ TOV <popov aVTy 1rapauxeu{fat TOV lmO 8€oOouiov TaX{fEVTa. P€Ta~iJ De K6pT/C; €VrrP€1rOUC; nvoc; epau{f€,s Kat TOV 1rPOC; airrfJV iapov E1rtTf:AWV olvw{f€ic; T€ u<poopa Kat VrrV4J {3apT/{f€ic;, a'tpaTOC; a{fpoov Dca. pwwv T€ Kat TOU UTOpaTOC; €VEx{fellTOC;, T€A€VTq. TOV {3iov. rilv De 5 Touaim}li airrov DVVaUT€LaV at 1raw€c; TOVrOV DtaD€~ap€VOt Kat UTaat­ aUaVT€C; 1rpO<; dAA'I]AOVC: Dta<{J{f€I.pOVTaL (CL Malalas Chron. l4p.359;Chron.Pasch. p.558 =Fr. 21,1) 3 aim'll' [aimj f aim?~ m 4 d~poov c 5 PUJck y

[25] [(Jordanes Get. 50,259-63)

Talibus peractis, ut solent animi iuvenum ambitu potentiae concitari, inter successores Attilae de regno orta contentio est, et

2 contio HPV

Translation: Priseus 319

of the whole Hunnic race rode around in a circle, as if at the circus games, and recited his deeds in a funeral chant as follows.

"Chief king of the Huns, Attila, son of Mundzuc, lord of the bravest peoples, who possessed alone the sovereignty of Scythia and Germany with power unheard of before him and who terrorised both empires of the city of Rome by capturing their cities and, placated by their prayers, accepted a yearly tribute lest he plunder the rest. When he had achieved all these things through his good fortune, he died not by an enemy's wound or through treachery of his followers, but pain­ lessly while his people was safe and happy amidst his pleasures. Who, then, shall call this a death, which no one thinks needs be avenged?"

When they had bewailed him with such lamentations, over his tomb they celebrated with great revelry what they call a strava and abandoned themselves to a mixture of joy and funereal grief, displaying both extremes of emotion. They committed his body to the earth in the secrecy of night and bound his coffins, the first with gold, the second with silver and the third with the strength of iron, demon­ strating by this means that all three metals were appropriate for the most powerful king of all: iron because he had subdued nations, gold and silver because he had taken the valuables of both Empires. They added the arms of enemies won in combat, trappings gleaming with various precious stones and ornaments of various types, the marks of royal glory. Moreover, in order that such great riches be kept safe from human curiosity, those to whom the task was delegated they rewarded abominably by killing them. Thus, sudden death engulfed both the one who was buried and those who buried him.] 116

2. (Theophanes Chron. a.m. 5946) Attila prepared to make war upon Marcian, who refused to pay

the tribute which Theodosius had agreed. Meanwhile he fell in love with a beautiful girl. In the midst of his marriage celebrations, when he was drunk and heavy with sleep, a haemorrhage through his nostrils and mouth killed him. His sons inherited his great empire, came to war with one another and were destroyed. 117

(CL Malalas Chron. 14 p.359; Chron. Pasch. p.558 =Fr. 21,1)

[25] --,1 [(J ordanes Get. 50,259-63)

When these [funeral rites] had been completed, Attila's successors began to fight over his kingdom (for the minds of the young are usually

320 Priscus: Text

dum inconsulti imperare cupiunt cuncti, omnes simul imperium perdiderunt. sic frequenter regna gravat copia quam inopia suc­ cessorum. nam fili Attilae, quorum per licentiam libidinis pene 5 populus fuit, gentes sibi dividi aequa sorte poscebant, ut ad instar familiae bellicosi reges cum populis mitterentur in sortem. quod ut Gepidarum rex conperit Ardarichus, indignatus de tot gentibus velut vilissimorum mancipiorum condicione tractari, contra filios Attilae primus insurgit inlatumque serviendi pudore secuta felicitate de- 10 tersit, nec solum suam gentem, sed et ceteras qui pariter prae­

I, mebantur sua discessione absolvit, quia facile omnes adpetunt, quod pro cunctorum utilitate temptatur. in mutuum igitur armantur exitium bellumque committitur in Pannonia iuxta flumen, cui I~I t,~ ' nomen est Nedao. illic concursus factus est gentium variarum, quas 15

~t' Attila in sua tenuerat dicione. dividuntur regna cum populis,H ',! :'. fiuntque ex uno corpore membra diversa, nec quae unius passioni

~ conpaterentur, sed quae exciso capite in invicem insanirent; quae :i:;f numquam contra se pares invenerant, nisi ipsi mutuis se vulneribus sauciantes se ipsos discerperent fortissimae nationes. nam ibi ad- 20 rnirandum re or fuisse spectaculum, ubi cernere erat contis pugnan­ tern Gothum, ense furentem Gepida, in vulnere suo Rugum tela frangentem, Suavum pede, Hunnum sagitta praesumere, Alanum gravi, Herulum levi armatura aciem strui. post multos ergo gravesque conflictos favit Gepidis inopinata victoria. nam xxx fere milia tarn 25 Hunnorum quam aliarum gentium, quae Hunnis ferebant auxilium, Ardarici gladius conspiratioque perernit. in quo proelio filius Attilae maior natu nomine Ellac occiditur, quem tantum parens super citeros amasse perhibebatur, ut eum cunctis diversisque liberis suis in regno preferret; sed non fuit vota patris fortuna consentiens. nam 30 post multas hostium cedes sic viriliter eum constat peremptum, ut tarn gloriosum superstis pater optasset interitum. reliqui vero ger­ mani eius eo occiso fugantur iuxta litus Pontici maris, ubi prius Gothos sedisse descripsimus.

Cesserunt itaque Hunni, quibus cedere putabatur universitas. 35 adeo discidium perniciosa res est, ut divisi corruerent, qui adunatis viribus territabant. haec causa Ardarici regis Gepidarum felix affuit diversis nationibus, qui Hunnorum regirnini inviti famulabantur, eorumque diu maestissimos animos ad helaritatem libertatis votivam

~t

4 plus ante copia B 6 etiam pro aequa XYZ 7 quod ut [quod dum B (quodum 0) 12 quia [quam OB quod [quae A 17 compassioni A 22 suo Rugum [suorum cuncta B 24 instrui 0 (instruere B) 28 parens [pater OB 29 liberis [fIliis OB

Translation: Priscus 321

fired with ambition for power), and while they all were mindlessly eager to rule, they together destroyed his empire. ItS For the sons of Attila, who because of his lust themselves amounted almost to a people, sought to divide the tribes equally amongst themselves and to allot war­ like kings and peoples like household servants. When Ardaric, the king of the Gepids, learned this, he became enraged that so many peoples were being treated like the lowest of slaves and began the revolt against the sons of Attila. Success attended him, and he erased the stain of servitude that was upon him. Moreover, through his revolt he freed not only his own people but also the others who were equally oppressed; for all readily strive for what is undertaken for the common good. They took up arms agaillSt the destruction that faced them all and met in battle in Pannonia near to the river named Nedao. There the various peoples over whom Attila held sway clashed. The kingdoms and the peoples were split asunder, and a united body became various limbs which did not act together under one impulse but raged independently now that the head was removed. Whenever the bravest of nations found their equals ranged against them they wounded each other and tore themselves to pieces. There, I think, a remarkable spectacle took place, where the Goth fought with his pike, the Gepid raged with his sword, the Rugian broke the weapons in his own wound, the Suavian was on foot, the Hun fought with his arrows, the Alan formed his heavy-armed battle line, the Herul his light-armed one. After much heavy fighting, victory unexpectedly went to the Gepids. For the sword and the alliance of Ardaric destroyed almost thirty thousand of the Huns and those who were assisting them. In this battle was killed Attila's eldest son, Ellac, whom his father is said to have loved so much more than the rest that he preferred him to all his various children in his kingdom. But fortune did not consent to the father's wish. It is known that after killing many of the enemy, he died fighting so bravely that, had his father been alive, he would have wished for an end so glorious. When he was killed the rest of his brothers fled near to the coast of the Black Sea, where, as we have said, the Goths earlier had their homes.

Thus ended the Huns, before whom it was thought the whole world would fall. So ruinous a thing is dissension, that those who terri­ fied the world when united in their strength, perished when divided. The cause of Ardaric, the king of the Gepids, was fortunate for those who chafed at their subjection to the rule of the Huns, and it raised their spirits, long most downcast, to the joyous hope of freedom.