Liutprand，Hist。l。iii。c。2。ThenameofAquileiawassometimesappliedtoForumJulii，CividaddelFriuli，themorerecentcapitaloftheVenetianprovince。
Note:ComparethecuriousLatinpoemsonthedestructionofAquileia，publishedbyM。EndlicherinhisvaluablecatalogueofLatinMss。inthelibraryofVienna，p。298，&c。
Repletaquondamdomibussublimibus，ornatismire，niveis，marmorels，Nuneferaxfrugummetirisfuniculoruricolarum。
ThemonkishpoethashisconsolationinAttila'ssufferingsinsoulandbody。
VindictamtamennonevasitimpiusdestructortuusAttilasevissimus，Nuncignisimulgehennaeetvermibusexcruciatur—P。290。—M。]
[Footnote51:IndescribingthiswarofAttila，awarsofamous，butsoimperfectlyknown，IhavetakenformyguidestwolearnedItalians，whoconsideredthesubjectwithsomepeculiaradvantages；Sigonius，deImperioOccidentali，l。xiii。inhisworks，tom。i。p。495—502；andMuratori，Annalid'Italia，tom。
iv。p。229—236，8vo。edition。]
[Footnote52:ThisanecdotemaybefoundundertwodifferentarticlesofthemiscellaneouscompilationofSuidas。]
[Footnote53:Leorespondit，humana，hocpictummanu:
Videreshominemdejectum，sipingereLeonesscirent。
AppendixadPhaedrum，Fab。xxv。
ThelioninPhaedrusveryfoolishlyappealsfrompicturestotheamphitheatre；andIamgladtoobserve，thatthenativetasteofLaFontainel。iii。fablex。hasomittedthismostlameandimpotentconclusion。]
ItisasayingworthyoftheferociousprideofAttila，thatthegrassnevergrewonthespotwherehishorsehadtrod。Yetthesavagedestroyerundesignedlylaidthefoundationofarepublic，whichrevived，inthefeudalstateofEurope，theartandspiritofcommercialindustry。ThecelebratednameofVenice，orVenetia，^54wasformerlydiffusedoveralargeandfertileprovinceofItaly，fromtheconfinesofPannoniatotheRiverAddua，andfromthePototheRhaetianandJulianAlps。
BeforetheirruptionoftheBarbarians，fiftyVenetiancitiesflourishedinpeaceandprosperity:Aquileiawasplacedinthemostconspicuousstation:buttheancientdignityofPaduawassupportedbyagricultureandmanufactures；andthepropertyoffivehundredcitizens，whowereentitledtotheequestrianrank，musthaveamounted，atthestrictestcomputation，toonemillionsevenhundredthousandpounds。ManyfamiliesofAquileia，Padua，andtheadjacenttowns，whofledfromtheswordoftheHuns，foundasafe，thoughobscure，refugeintheneighboringislands。
^55AttheextremityoftheGulf，wheretheAdriaticfeeblyimitatesthetidesoftheocean，nearahundredsmallislandsareseparatedbyshallowwaterfromthecontinent，andprotectedfromthewavesbyseverallongslipsofland，whichadmittheentranceofvesselsthroughsomesecretandnarrowchannels。^56Tillthemiddleofthefifthcentury，theseremoteandsequesteredspotsremainedwithoutcultivation，withfewinhabitants，andalmostwithoutaname。ButthemannersoftheVenetianfugitives，theirartsandtheirgovernment，weregraduallyformedbytheirnewsituation；andoneoftheepistlesofCassiodorus，^57whichdescribestheirconditionaboutseventyyearsafterwards，maybeconsideredastheprimitivemonumentoftherepublic。TheministerofTheodoriccomparesthem，inhisquaintdeclamatorystyle，towater—fowl，whohadfixedtheirnestsonthebosomofthewaves；andthoughheallows，thattheVenetianprovinceshadformerlycontainedmanynoblefamilies，heinsinuates，thattheywerenowreducedbymisfortunetothesamelevelofhumblepoverty。Fishwasthecommon，andalmosttheuniversal，foodofeveryrank:theironlytreasureconsistedintheplentyofsalt，whichtheyextractedfromthesea:andtheexchangeofthatcommodity，soessentialtohumanlife，wassubstitutedintheneighboringmarketstothecurrencyofgoldandsilver。A
people，whosehabitationsmightbedoubtfullyassignedtotheearthorwater，soonbecamealikefamiliarwiththetwoelements；
andthedemandsofavaricesucceededtothoseofnecessity。Theislanders，who，fromGradotoChiozza，wereintimatelyconnectedwitheachother，penetratedintotheheartofItaly，bythesecure，thoughlaborious，navigationoftheriversandinlandcanals。Theirvessels，whichwerecontinuallyincreasinginsizeandnumber，visitedalltheharborsoftheGulf；andthemarriagewhichVeniceannuallycelebrateswiththeAdriatic，wascontractedinherearlyinfancy。TheepistleofCassiodorus，thePraetorianpraefect，isaddressedtothemaritimetribunes；andheexhortsthem，inamildtoneofauthority，toanimatethezealoftheircountrymenforthepublicservice，whichrequiredtheirassistancetotransportthemagazinesofwineandoilfromtheprovinceofIstriatotheroyalcityofRavenna。Theambiguousofficeofthesemagistratesisexplainedbythetradition，that，inthetwelveprincipalislands，twelvetribunes，orjudges，werecreatedbyanannualandpopularelection。TheexistenceoftheVenetianrepublicundertheGothickingdomofItaly，isattestedbythesameauthenticrecord，whichannihilatestheirloftyclaimoforiginalandperpetualindependence。^58
[Footnote54:PaultheDeacondeGestisLangobard。l。ii。c。14，p。784describestheprovincesofItalyabouttheendoftheeighthcenturyVenetianonsoluminpaucisinsulisquasnuncVenetiasdicimus，constat；sedejusterminusaPannoniaefinibususqueAdduamfluviumprotelatur。ThehistoryofthatprovincetilltheageofCharlemagneformsthefirstandmostinterestingpartoftheVeronaIllustrata，p。1—388，inwhichthemarquisScipioMaffeihasshownhimselfequallycapableofenlargedviewsandminutedisquisitions。]
[Footnote55:Thisemigrationisnotattestedbyanycontemporaryevidence；butthefactisprovedbytheevent，andthecircumstancesmightbepreservedbytradition。ThecitizensofAquileiaretiredtotheIsleofGradus，thoseofPaduatoRivusAltus，orRialto，wherethecityofVenicewasafterwardsbuilt，&c。]
[Footnote56:ThetopographyandantiquitiesoftheVenetianislands，fromGradustoClodia，orChioggia，areaccuratelystatedintheDissertatioChorographicadeItaliaMediiAevi。p。
151—155。]
[Footnote57:Cassiodor。Variar。l。xii。epist。24。MaffeiVeronaIllustrata，parti。p。240—254hastranslatedandexplainedthiscuriousletter，inthespiritofalearnedantiquarianandafaithfulsubject，whoconsideredVeniceastheonlylegitimateoffspringoftheRomanrepublic。Hefixesthedateoftheepistle，andconsequentlythepraefecture，ofCassiodorus，A。D。523；andthemarquis'sauthorityhasthemoreweight，ashepreparedaneditionofhisworks，andactuallypublishedadissertationonthetrueorthographyofhisname。
SeeOsservazioniLetterarie，tom。ii。p。290—339。]
[Footnote*:ThelearnedcountFigliasihasproved，inhismemoirsupontheVenetiMemoriede'VenetiprimiesecondidelconteFigliasi，t。vi。Veneziai，796，thatfromthemostremoteperiod，thisnation，whichoccupiedthecountrywhichhassincebeencalledtheVenetianStatesorTerraFirma，likewiseinhabitedtheislandsscattereduponthecoast，andthatfromthencearosethenamesofVenetiaprimaandsecunda，ofwhichthefirstappliedtothemainlandandthesecondtotheislandsandlagunes。FromthetimeofthePelasgiandoftheEtrurians，thefirstVeneti，inhabitingafertileandpleasantcountry，devotedthemselvestoagriculture:thesecond，placedinthemidstofcanals，atthemouthofseveralrivers，convenientlysituatedwithregardtotheislandsofGreece，aswellasthefertileplainsofItaly，appliedthemselvestonavigationandcommerce。
BothsubmittedtotheRomansashorttimebeforethesecondPunicwar；yetitwasnottillafterthevictoryofMariusovertheCimbri，thattheircountrywasreducedtoaRomanprovince。Undertheemperors，VenetiaPrimaobtainedmorethanonce，byitscalamities，aplaceinhistory。**Butthemaritimeprovincewasoccupiedinsaltworks，fisheries，andcommerce。TheRomanshaveconsideredtheinhabitantsofthispartasbeneaththedignityofhistory，andhavelefttheminobscurity。***Theydweltthereuntiltheperiodwhentheirislandsaffordedaretreattotheirruinedandfugitivecompatriots。Sismondi。Hist。desRep。
Italiens，v。i。p。313。—G。
Compare，ontheoriginofVenice，Daru，Hist。deVenise，vol。i。c。l。—M。]
[Footnote58:See，inthesecondvolumeofAmelotdelaHoussaie，HistoireduGouvernementdeVenise，atranslationofthefamousSquittinio。Thisbook，whichhasbeenexaltedfaraboveitsmerits，isstained，ineveryline，withthedisingenuousmalevolenceofparty:buttheprincipalevidence，genuineandapocryphal，isbroughttogetherandthereaderwilleasilychoosethefairmedium。]
TheItalians，whohadlongsincerenouncedtheexerciseofarms，weresurprised，afterfortyyears'peace，bytheapproachofaformidableBarbarian，whomtheyabhorred，astheenemyoftheirreligion，aswellasoftheirrepublic。Amidstthegeneralconsternation，Aetiusalonewasincapableoffear；butitwasimpossiblethatheshouldachieve，aloneandunassisted，anymilitaryexploitsworthyofhisformerrenown。TheBarbarianswhohaddefendedGaul，refusedtomarchtothereliefofItaly；
andthesuccorspromisedbytheEasternemperorweredistantanddoubtful。SinceAetius，attheheadofhisdomestictroops，stillmaintainedthefield，andharassedorretardedthemarchofAttila，henevershowedhimselfmoretrulygreat，thanatthetimewhenhisconductwasblamedbyanignorantandungratefulpeople。^59IfthemindofValentinianhadbeensusceptibleofanygeneroussentiments，hewouldhavechosensuchageneralforhisexampleandhisguide。ButthetimidgrandsonofTheodosius，insteadofsharingthedangers，escapedfromthesoundofwar；
andhishastyretreatfromRavennatoRome，fromanimpregnablefortresstoanopencapital，betrayedhissecretintentionofabandoningItaly，assoonasthedangershouldapproachhisImperialperson。Thisshamefulabdicationwassuspended，however，bythespiritofdoubtanddelay，whichcommonlyadherestopusillanimouscounsels，andsometimescorrectstheirpernicioustendency。TheWesternemperor，withthesenateandpeopleofRome，embracedthemoresalutaryresolutionofdeprecating，byasolemnandsuppliantembassy，thewrathofAttila。ThisimportantcommissionwasacceptedbyAvienus，who，fromhisbirthandriches，hisconsulardignity，thenumeroustrainofhisclients，andhispersonalabilities，heldthefirstrankintheRomansenate。ThespeciousandartfulcharacterofAvienus^60
wasadmirablyqualifiedtoconductanegotiationeitherofpublicorprivateinterest:hiscolleagueTrigetiushadexercisedthePraetorianpraefectureofItaly；andLeo，bishopofRome，consentedtoexposehislifeforthesafetyofhisflock。ThegeniusofLeo^61wasexercisedanddisplayedinthepublicmisfortunes；andhehasdeservedtheappellationofGreat，bythesuccessfulzealwithwhichhelaboredtoestablishhisopinionsandhisauthority，underthevenerablenamesoforthodoxfaithandecclesiasticaldiscipline。TheRomanambassadorswereintroducedtothetentofAttila，ashelayencampedattheplacewheretheslow—windingMinciusislostinthefoamingwavesoftheLakeBenacus，^62andtrampled，withhisScythiancavalry，thefarmsofCatullusandVirgil。^63TheBarbarianmonarchlistenedwithfavorable，andevenrespectful，attention；andthedeliveranceofItalywaspurchasedbytheimmenseransom，ordowry，oftheprincessHonoria。Thestateofhisarmymightfacilitatethetreaty，andhastenhisretreat。Theirmartialspiritwasrelaxedbythewealthandidolenceofawarmclimate。
TheshepherdsoftheNorth，whoseordinaryfoodconsistedofmilkandrawflesh，indulgedthemselvestoofreelyintheuseofbread，ofwine，andofmeat，preparedandseasonedbytheartsofcookery；andtheprogressofdiseaserevengedinsomemeasuretheinjuriesoftheItalians。^64WhenAttiladeclaredhisresolutionofcarryinghisvictoriousarmstothegatesofRome，hewasadmonishedbyhisfriends，aswellasbyhisenemies，thatAlarichadnotlongsurvivedtheconquestoftheeternalcity。Hismind，superiortorealdanger，wasassaultedbyimaginaryterrors；norcouldheescapetheinfluenceofsuperstition，whichhadsooftenbeensubservienttohisdesigns。^65ThepressingeloquenceofLeo，hismajesticaspectandsacerdotalrobes，excitedthevenerationofAttilaforthespiritualfatheroftheChristians。Theapparitionofthetwoapostles，St。PeterandSt。Paul，whomenacedtheBarbarianwithinstantdeath，ifherejectedtheprayeroftheirsuccessor，isoneofthenoblestlegendsofecclesiasticaltradition。ThesafetyofRomemightdeservetheinterpositionofcelestialbeings；andsomeindulgenceisduetoafable，whichhasbeenrepresentedbythepencilofRaphael，andthechiselofAlgardi。^66
[Footnote59:SirmondNot。adSidon。Apollin。p。19haspublishedacuriouspassagefromtheChronicleofProsper。
Attila，redintegratisviribus，quasinGalliaamiserat，ItaliamingrediperPannoniasintendit；nihilducenostroAetiosecundumpriorisbellioperaprospiciente，&c。HereproachesAetiuswithneglectingtoguardtheAlps，andwithadesigntoabandonItaly；
butthisrashcensuremayatleastbecounterbalancedbythefavorabletestimoniesofIdatiusandIsidore。]
[Footnote60:SeetheoriginalportraitsofAvienusandhisrivalBasilius，delineatedandcontrastedintheepistlesi。9。p。22
ofSidonius。Hehadstudiedthecharactersofthetwochiefsofthesenate；butheattachedhimselftoBasilius，asthemoresolidanddisinterestedfriend。]
[Footnote61:ThecharacterandprinciplesofLeomaybetracedinonehundredandforty—oneoriginalepistles，whichillustratetheecclesiasticalhistoryofhislongandbusypontificate，fromA。D。440to461。SeeDupin，BibliothequeEcclesiastique，tom。
iii。partiip。120—165。]
[Footnote62:—tardisingensubiflexibuserratMincius，ettenerapraetexitarundineripas————
Annelacustantos，teLarimaxime，tequeFluctibus，etfremituassurgensBenacemarino。]
[Footnote63:ThemarquisMaffeiVeronaIllustrata，parti。p。
95，129，221，partii。p。2，6hasillustratedwithtasteandlearningthisinterestingtopography。HeplacestheinterviewofAttilaandSt。LeonearAriolica，orArdelica，nowPeschiera，attheconfluxofthelakeandriver；ascertainsthevillaofCatullus，inthedelightfulpeninsulaofSirmio，anddiscoverstheAndesofVirgil，inthevillageofBandes，preciselysituate，quasesubducerecollesincipiunt，wheretheVeronesehillsimperceptiblyslopedownintotheplainofMantua。
Note:Gibbonhasmadeasingularmistake:theMinciusflowsoutoftheBonacusatPeschiera，notintoit。TheinterviewislikewiseplacedatPonteMolino。andatGovernolo，attheconfluxoftheMincioandtheGonzaga。bishopofMantua，erectedatabletintheyear1616，inthechurchofthelatterplace，commemorativeoftheevent。DescrizionediVeronaadelasuaprovincia。C。11，p。126。—M。]
[Footnote64:Sistatiminfestoagmineurbempetiissent，grandediscrimenesset:sedinVenetiaquoferetractuItaliamollissimaest，ipsasolicoeliqueclementiaroburelanquit。Adhocpanisusucarnisquecoctae，etdulcedinevinimitigatos，&c。ThispassageofFlorusiii。3isstillmoreapplicabletotheHunsthantotheCimbri，anditmayserveasacommentaryonthecelestialplague，withwhichIdatiusandIsidorehaveafflictedthetroopsofAttila。]
[Footnote65:ThehistorianPriscushadpositivelymentionedtheeffectwhichthisexampleproducedonthemindofAttila。
Jornandes，c。42，p。673]
[Footnote66:ThepictureofRaphaelisintheVatican；thebassoorperhapsthealtorelievoofAlgardi，ononeofthealtarsofSt。Peter，seeDubos，ReflexionssurlaPoesieetsurlaPeinture，tom。i。p。519，520。BaroniusAnnal。Eccles。A。D。
452，No。57，58bravelysustainsthetruthoftheapparition；
whichisrejected，however，bythemostlearnedandpiousCatholics。]
BeforethekingoftheHunsevacuatedItaly，hethreatenedtoreturnmoredreadful，andmoreimplacable，ifhisbride，theprincessHonoria，werenotdeliveredtohisambassadorswithinthetermstipulatedbythetreaty。Yet，inthemeanwhile，Attilarelievedhistenderanxiety，byaddingabeautifulmaid，whosenamewasIldico，tothelistofhisinnumerablewives。^67
Theirmarriagewascelebratedwithbarbaricpompandfestivity，athiswoodenpalacebeyondtheDanube；andthemonarch，oppressedwithwineandsleep，retiredatalatehourfromthebanquettothenuptialbed。Hisattendantscontinuedtorespecthispleasures，orhisrepose，thegreatestpartoftheensuingday，tilltheunusualsilencealarmedtheirfearsandsuspicions；
and，afterattemptingtoawakenAttilabyloudandrepeatedcries，theyatlengthbrokeintotheroyalapartment。Theyfoundthetremblingbridesittingbythebedside，hidingherfacewithherveil，andlamentingherowndanger，aswellasthedeathoftheking，whohadexpiredduringthenight。^68Anarteryhadsuddenlyburst:andasAttilalayinasupineposture，hewassuffocatedbyatorrentofblood，which，insteadoffindingapassagethroughthenostrils，regurgitatedintothelungsandstomach。Hisbodywassolemnlyexposedinthemidstoftheplain，underasilkenpavilion；andthechosensquadronsoftheHuns，wheelingroundinmeasuredevolutions，chantedafuneralsongtothememoryofahero，gloriousinhislife，invincibleinhisdeath，thefatherofhispeople，thescourgeofhisenemies，andtheterroroftheworld。Accordingtotheirnationalcustom，theBarbarianscutoffapartoftheirhair，gashedtheirfaceswithunseemlywounds，andbewailedtheirvaliantleaderashedeserved，notwiththetearsofwomen，butwiththebloodofwarriors。TheremainsofAttilawereenclosedwithinthreecoffins，ofgold，ofsilver，andofiron，andprivatelyburiedinthenight:thespoilsofnationswerethrownintohisgrave；thecaptiveswhohadopenedthegroundwereinhumanlymassacred；andthesameHuns，whohadindulgedsuchexcessivegrief，feasted，withdissoluteandintemperatemirth，abouttherecentsepulchreoftheirking。ItwasreportedatConstantinople，thatonthefortunatenightonwhichheexpired，MarcianbeheldinadreamthebowofAttilabrokenasunder:andthereportmaybeallowedtoprove，howseldomtheimageofthatformidableBarbarianwasabsentfromthemindofaRomanemperor。^69[Footnote67:
Attila，utPriscushistoricusrefert，extinctionissuaetempore，puellamIldiconomine，decoram，valde，sibimatrimoniumpostinnumerabilesuxores……socians。Jornandes，c。49，p。683，684。
Heafterwardsadds，c。50，p。686，FiliiAttilae，quorumperlicentiamlibidinispoenepopulusfuit。PolygamyhasbeenestablishedamongtheTartarsofeveryage。Therankofplebeianwivesisregulatedonlybytheirpersonalcharms；andthefadedmatronprepares，withoutamurmur，thebedwhichisdestinedforherbloomingrival。Butinroyalfamilies，thedaughtersofKhanscommunicatetotheirsonsapriorright。SeeGenealogicalHistory，p。406，407，408。]
[Footnote68:ThereportofherguiltreachedConstantinople，whereitobtainedaverydifferentname；andMarcellinusobserves，thatthetyrantofEuropewasslaininthenightbythehand，andtheknife，ofawomanCorneille，whohasadaptedthegenuineaccounttohistragedy，describestheirruptionofbloodinfortybombastlines，andAttilaexclaims，withridiculousfury，—S'ilneveuts'arreter，hisblood。