anditmaybepresumed，thatnosoldierwaspermittedtotranscendtheluxuryofhischief。ByanembassyfromNicephorus，theGreekemperor，hewasmovedtoundertaketheconquestofBulgaria；andagiftoffifteenhundredpoundsofgoldwaslaidathisfeettodefraytheexpense，orrewardthetoils，oftheexpedition。Anarmyofsixtythousandmenwasassembledandembarked；theysailedfromtheBorysthenestotheDanube；theirlandingwaseffectedontheMaesianshore；and，afterasharpencounter，theswordsoftheRussiansprevailedagainstthearrowsoftheBulgarianhorse。Thevanquishedkingsunkintothegrave；hischildrenweremadecaptive；andhisdominions，asfarasMountHaemus，weresubduedorravagedbythenortherninvaders。Butinsteadofrelinquishinghisprey，andperforminghisengagements，theVarangianprincewasmoredisposedtoadvancethantoretire；and，hadhisambitionbeencrownedwithsuccess，theseatofempireinthatearlyperiodmighthavebeentransferredtoamoretemperateandfruitfulclimate。Swatoslausenjoyedandacknowledgedtheadvantagesofhisnewposition，inwhichhecouldunite，byexchangeorrapine，thevariousproductionsoftheearth。ByaneasynavigationhemightdrawfromRussiathenativecommoditiesoffurs，wax，andhydromed:HungarysuppliedhimwithabreedofhorsesandthespoilsoftheWest；andGreeceaboundedwithgold，silver，andtheforeignluxuries，whichhispovertyhadaffectedtodisdain。
ThebandsofPatzinacites，Chozars，andTurks，repairedtothestandardofvictory；andtheambassadorofNicephorusbetrayedhistrust，assumedthepurple，andpromisedtosharewithhisnewalliesthetreasuresoftheEasternworld。FromthebanksoftheDanubetheRussianprincepursuedhismarchasfarasAdrianople；
aformalsummonstoevacuatetheRomanprovincewasdismissedwithcontempt；andSwatoslausfiercelyreplied，thatConstantinoplemightsoonexpectthepresenceofanenemyandamaster。
[Footnote67:ThelifeofSwatoslaus，orSviatoslaf，orSphendosthlabus，isextractedfromtheRussianChroniclesbyM。
Levesque，Hist。deRussie，tom。i。p。94—107。]