my master and yours, orders you to prepare him a ralace." This meant an invasion. 5. Dragging along with him a train of tributary princes and five hundred thousand barbarians, he crossed the Rhine and pushed on through the provinces of Gaul (A. D. 451). Several of its cities were given up to pillage and to the violence of an unbridled soldiery. 6. Metz had provoked a redder vengeance by a longer resistance, and saw its streets flowing with the blood of the greater part of its inhabitants. The survivors, with their bishop, were led away captives, and the city, given up to the flames, was soon but a heap of ashes. Troyes was threatened with the same fate. Its holy bishop, Lupus, importuned the mercy of God by his ceaseless prayers, tears, fasts, and good werks. At length, inspired with a supernatural confidence, he goes forth in full pontifical attire, to meet the barbarian, and asks him: "Who art thou that dost overcome so many kings and nations, ruin so many cities, and subdue the world?" Attila replied: "I am King or the Huns, the Scourge of God!" "If thou art the scourge of my God," returned the bishop, "remember to do only what is allowed thee by the hand that moves and governs thee." Attila, astonished at the boldness of this address, and awed by the majesty of the holy prelate, promised to spare the city, and passed through it without doing it any harm. In Paris, such was the dismay that the inhabi tants wore preparing to leave the city, with their wives. and children, to seek the protection of some more strongly fortified place. St. Genevieve, the humble virgin of Nanterre, became the patroness and mother of the city. She restored the failing courage, provided for every want, procured means of subsistence for the affrighted multitude, and promised, in the name of Heaven, that Attila should not approach the walls of Paris. 8. In effect, Attila, suddenly changing the direction of his march, fell with his savage hordes, upon the city of Orleans. This city, which seemed marked out for miraculous deliverances, was then governed by the holy Bishop St. Aignan, to whom it owed its safety He had been able to go to Arles and solicit help from Etius, the Roman general. Just as Orleans was on the point of opening its gates to the besiegers, the combined armies of Etius and Theodoric, king of the Visigoths, came within sight of its walls. Attila, foaming with rage, raised the siege, and in the plain of Chalons sought a field in which he could display his forces and meet his opponents. 9. The confederates counted a body of Franks commanded by their Prince Meroveus. The two armies, now encamped face to face, numbered about a million warriors. They met and then ensued one of the bloo liest battles that crimson the pages of history. Three hundred thousand slain encumbered the field; a little neighboring stream was swelled like a torrent by the quantity of blood that flowed into its channel. Theodoric fell, but his valor had won the victory for the allies. Attila was utterly defeated, and recrossed the Rhine in hasty flight. 10. In the following year (A.D. 452) he reappeared, more formidable than ever, on the borders of Italy, leaving Pannonia' and Noricum wasted by fire and sword. Valentinian III. made a precipitate retreat from Ravenna, and hastened to seek shelter within the walls of Rome. Attila besieged and destroyed the cities of Aquileia, Padua, Verona, Vicenza, Brescia, and Bergamo; Milan and Pavia* were given up to pillage. 11. The Hun pushed on amid the smoking ruins of the conquered cities, and halted near Mantua, on the banks of the Mincio; the terrified inhabitants fled at his approach, and sought, in the marshes where Venice now stands, a refuge from the violence of the victorious barbarians. The last hour of the Roman Empire seemed at hand; St. Leo succeeded in warding off the threatened ruin. He appeared before Attila as the ambassador of Heaven, as a herald of peace. 12. The two great sovereignties of the Word and the Sword stood face to face; and the Sword bowed Cities of Italy. before the majesty of the Gospel. Attila was awed by the bearing of the great pontiff whose fame had reached the remote borders of Tartary, and he lent a favorable ear to his propositions; quitting the soil of Italy, he withdrew across the Danube, where death suddenly snatched him from the midst of his plans of destruction (A D 453). On his return from the successful embassy, the pope was received in triumph, and the enthusiastic people bestowed upon him the title of Great. HUNS, a people of Northern Asia, merly the residence of the Roman Emperors. 6 CON-STAN-TI-NO-PLE, the present capital of Turkey, was formerly the capital and residence of the Emperors of the East. 7 PAN-NO-NIA', the ancient Pannonia was a considerable territory in the southern part of Europe. IN-EX-PLIC'-A-BLY, in a manner NOR'-I-CUM, that part of South not to be explained. DAN-UBE, a large river of Southern Europe. • RAVEN'-NA, a city of Italy, for Germany between the Save and the Danube. 9 MIN-CI-O, a river of Italy. IL-THE TYRANT AND THE CAPTIVE. ADELAIDE A. PROCTOR. 1. It was midnight when I listened, Yet I saw no Vision enter, And I heard no steps depart, Fate it might be and a Heart. 2. Thus the stern Voice spake in triumph From the radiant world of nature, And no sweetness of the night." 3. But the soft Voice answered calmly: I can dream the rest of Spring; 4. But its bitter taunt repeating, Cried the harsh Voice: "Where are ti ey Which you thought so strong before; And your very heart is lonely, And alone, since loved no more." |