Attila, king of the Huns

Front matter

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Preface

The general course of this poem conforms with historical truth and fabulous traditions. The reapparition, however, on the field of Chalons of the deer, which led the Huns into Europe, is not founded on tradition, and Hacon is a fictitious person. The abduction of the wife of Alberon by the Romans is only thus far supported by history, that the bride of some distinguished person, whose nuptials Clodion was celebrating, was carried off by them, and Alberon was perhaps not the bridegroom. The subsequent adventures of the lady are imaginary. The character of Cyprianus is invented, the anecdote attributed to him in Alexandria being however true concerning some person, whose name has not been preserved. The loves of Andages and Mycoltha are invented, nothing being recorded concerning her, except her parentage and her marriage with Attila on the last night of his life. The termination of the story of Honoria by her forced marriage does not rest upon certain grounds, though I think the expressions of Priscus evidently point to some such impediment to her marriage with Attila having been devised, though it is barely possible that the objection that she had been

Vlll PREFACE.

given to another man might have reference to her previous incontinence. Her repentance is supplied by me, history being silent concerning the close of her life. The names of Ostorius and Lucilia are fictitious, but not the sacrifice. The history of Hilda is conformable with the accounts given in the Scandinavian and Teutonic legends, reconciling their differences. The name of Escam, the daughter and wife of Attila, mentioned in the history of Priscus, is applied to the legends concerning the younger Hilda, who was his daughter and wife. The mutiny of the heathens in Rome, quelled by Leo, was not an actual occurrence at the period stated, but such a mutiny broke out with an attempt to reestablish paganism a few years before on the advance of the great army of Radagais to Florence, and the same feelings must have been in activity on the approach of Attila. I hope it will be found that I have filled up the outline with nothing repugnant to truth and tradition ; but I am doubtful whether I have not shackled my imagination too much, by the desire to adhere to them as closely as practicable. I trust that nothing I have said concerning the Arians of the fifth century will be misapplied to the Unitarians, whose opinions I look upon as totally distinct from the ribaldry of the Thalia of Arius. I intend nothing polemic towards any person or sect of the present day.

Book Tenth

Attila prepares to advance against Rome. — Embassy from Valentinian. — Vision of St. Paul and St. Peter. — Attila quails before them, and is abandoned by the evil spirits. — Pestilence amongst the Huns. — Return of Leo and thanksgivings at Rome. . . . .210

Book Eleventh

Retreat of Attila to the huge circles of Hunniwar. — Adventures of Mycoltha. — Treason of Hilda, and failure of the Burgundian conspirators. — Interview between Satan and Ariel the spirit of Rome. . . . 226

Book Twelfth

Compulsory nuptials of the Christian Mycoltha with Attila. — Death and obsequies of Attila and Hilda, and dissipation of the Antichristian confederacy. . 251

ATTILA.

BOOK FIRST. Him terrible I sing, the scourge of heaven

Who, braving the Messiah, with thy sword,

Dread Ariman,* outpour'd his Scythian flood,

What time the empire of Quirinus old

Quaked from the base ; for even then its years 5

Were ended, and the breathless nations look'd

For who upon the seven eternal hills

Should sit enthroned with might ; and, in God's house

Blaspheming the Most High, with impious pomp

Display himself as God. Night's shadow sank 10

On Catalaunum,f and the dreary waste

Red with the blood of thousands, that confused

Lay on its bosom weltering. The sound

Of conflict was o'erpast, the shock of all

Whom Earth could send from her remotest bounds, 15

Heathen or faithful ; from thy hundred mouths

That feed the Caspian with Riphean snows,

Huge Volga ! from famed Hypanis, that once

Cradled the Hun ; from all the countless realms

Between Imaus and that utmost strand, 20

* Ares, or Areimanios, in Latin Mars, the war-god. t Chalons.

B

Where columns of Herculean rock confront

The blown Atlantic ; Roman, Goth, and Hun,

And Scythian strength of chivalry, that tread

The cold Codanian* shore, or what far lands

Inhospitable drink Cimmerian floods, 25

Francs, Saxons, Suevic and Sarmatian chiefs,

And who from green Armorica or Spain

Flock'd to the work of death. Arduous it were

To scan the tribes, different of faith and mien,

Upon the waste of Catalaunum heap'd 30

In undistinguish'd wreck. Within his camp

Stood Attila unbroken, undismay'd

By that disastrous hour, his pagan host

Beneath unnumber'd banners mustering,

Various and many-tongued ; in this agreed, 35

Firm trust on him their leader, him revered

E'en as a God; with courage desperate,

That little heeded life, and by reverse

Unshaken. O'er that field, where battle's din

Had seem'd a voice from Erebus, now reign'd 40

Stern silence ; save where moans of agony

Came on the night-breeze, or the howl of wolves

From Ardenne gathering to their loathsome feast

Made the deep stillness horrible. Around

Flamed beacons, lighted by the wary Francs, 45

Whom Meroveus of the flowing hair

Marshall'd against the invader. On the south,

Flank'd by victorious Goths, the middle post

Held princely Sangiban, of dubious faith,

With his brave Alans. Sorely had they rued 50

* The Coclani dwelt by the Baltic. There is no trace of the existence of the name Dane there before the reign of Attila.