theirappetitewasstimulatedbythepepperandcinnamonofIndia；^25theannualsubsidyortributewasraisedfromfourscoretoonehundredandtwentythousandpiecesofgold；andaftereachhostileinterruption，thepaymentofthearrears，withexorbitantinterest，wasalwaysmadethefirstconditionofthenewtreaty。InthelanguageofaBarbarian，withoutguile，theprinceoftheAvarsaffectedtocomplainoftheinsincerityoftheGreeks；^26yethewasnotinferiortothemostcivilizednationsintherefinementofdissimulationandperfidy。AsthesuccessoroftheLombards，thechaganassertedhisclaimtotheimportantcityofSirmium，theancientbulwarkoftheIllyrianprovinces。^27TheplainsoftheLowerHungarywerecoveredwiththeAvarhorseandafleetoflargeboatswasbuiltintheHercynianwood，todescendtheDanube，andtotransportintotheSavethematerialsofabridge。ButasthestronggarrisonofSingidunum，whichcommandedtheconfluxofthetworivers，mighthavestoppedtheirpassageandbaffledhisdesigns，hedispelledtheirapprehensionsbyasolemnoaththathisviewswerenothostiletotheempire。Hesworebyhissword，thesymbolofthegodofwar，thathedidnot，astheenemyofRome，constructabridgeupontheSave。\"IfIviolatemyoath，\"pursuedtheintrepidBaian，\"mayImyself，andthelastofmynation，perishbythesword!Maytheheavens，andfire，thedeityoftheheavens，falluponourheads!Maytheforestsandmountainsburyusintheirruins!andtheSavereturning，againstthelawsofnature，tohissource，overwhelmusinhisangrywaters!\"Afterthisbarbarousimprecation，hecalmlyinquired，whatoathwasmostsacredandvenerableamongtheChristians，whatguiltorperjuryitwasmostdangeroustoincur。ThebishopofSingidunumpresentedthegospel，whichthechaganreceivedwithdevoutreverence。\"Iswear，\"saidhe，\"bytheGodwhohasspokeninthisholybook，thatIhaveneitherfalsehoodonmytongue，nortreacheryinmyheart。\"Assoonasherosefromhisknees，heacceleratedthelaborofthebridge，anddespatchedanenvoytoproclaimwhathenolongerwishedtoconceal。\"Informtheemperor，\"saidtheperfidiousBaian，\"thatSirmiumisinvestedoneveryside。Advisehisprudencetowithdrawthecitizensandtheireffects，andtoresignacitywhichitisnowimpossibletorelieveordefend。\"Withoutthehopeofrelief，thedefenceofSirmiumwasprolongedabovethreeyears:thewallswerestilluntouched；butfaminewasenclosedwithinthewalls，tillamercifulcapitulationallowedtheescapeofthenakedandhungryinhabitants。Singidunum，atthedistanceoffiftymiles，experiencedamorecruelfate:thebuildingswererazed，andthevanquishedpeoplewascondemnedtoservitudeandexile。YettheruinsofSirmiumarenolongervisible；theadvantageoussituationofSingidunumsoonattractedanewcolonyofSclavonians，andtheconfluxoftheSaveandDanubeisstillguardedbythefortificationsofBelgrade，ortheWhiteCity，sooftenandsoobstinatelydisputedbytheChristianandTurkisharms。^28FromBelgradetothewallsofConstantinoplealinemaybemeasuredofsixhundredmiles:thatlinewasmarkedwithflamesandwithblood；thehorsesoftheAvarswerealternatelybathedintheEuxineandtheAdriatic；andtheRomanpontiff，alarmedbytheapproachofamoresavageenemy，^29wasreducedtocherishtheLombards，astheprotectorsofItaly。Thedespairofacaptive，whomhiscountryrefusedtoransom，disclosedtotheAvarstheinventionandpracticeofmilitaryengines。^30Butinthefirstattemptstheywererudelyframed，andawkwardlymanaged；andtheresistanceofDiocletianopolisandBeraea，ofPhilippopolisandAdrianople，soonexhaustedtheskillandpatienceofthebesiegers。ThewarfareofBaianwasthatofaTartar；yethismindwassusceptibleofahumaneandgeneroussentiment:hesparedAnchialus，whosesalutarywatershadrestoredthehealthofthebestbelovedofhiswives；andtheRomansconfessed，thattheirstarvingarmywasfedanddismissedbytheliberalityofafoe。HisempireextendedoverHungary，Poland，andPrussia，fromthemouthoftheDanubetothatoftheOder；^31andhisnewsubjectsweredividedandtransplantedbythejealouspolicyoftheconqueror。^32TheeasternregionsofGermany，whichhadbeenleftvacantbytheemigrationoftheVandals，werereplenishedwithSclavoniancolonists；thesametribesarediscoveredintheneighborhoodoftheAdriaticandoftheBaltic，andwiththenameofBaianhimself，theIllyriancitiesofNeyssandLissaareagainfoundintheheartofSilesia。Inthedispositionbothofhistroopsandprovincesthechaganexposedthevassals，whoseliveshedisregarded，^33tothefirstassault；andtheswordsoftheenemywerebluntedbeforetheyencounteredthenativevaloroftheAvars。
[Footnote23:AgeneralideaoftheprideandpowerofthechaganmaybetakenfromMenanderExcerpt。Legat。p。118，&c。andTheophylact，l。i。c。3，l。vii。c。15，whoseeightbooksaremuchmorehonorabletotheAvarthantotheRomanprince。ThepredecessorsofBaianhadtastedtheliberalityofRome，andhesurvivedthereignofMaurice，Buat，Hist。desPeuplesBarbares，tom。xi。p。545。ThechaganwhoinvadedItaly，A。D。611，Muratori，Annali，tom。v。p。305，wastheninveniliaetateflorentem，PaulWarnefrid，deGest。Langobard。lvc38，theson，perhaps，orthegrandson，ofBaian。]
[Footnote24:Theophylact，l。i。c。5，6。]
[Footnote25:Eveninthefield，thechagandelightedintheuseofthesearomatics。Hesolicited，asagift，andreceived。
Theophylact，l。vii。c。13。TheEuropeansoftheruderagesconsumedmorespicesintheirmeatanddrinkthaniscompatiblewiththedelicacyofamodernpalate。ViePriveedesFrancois，tom。ii。p。162，163。]