OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE.

199

gantes were permitted to pass the Danube ; andthe emperor gave audience to the multitude ina large plain near the modern city of JBuda.They surrounded the tribunal, and seemed tohear with respect an oration full of mildness anddignity; when one of the barbarians, casting hisshoe into the air, exclaimed with a loud voice,War ha! Mar ha! a word of defiance, which wasreceived as the signal of the tumult. They rush-ed with fury to seize the person of the emperor;his royal throne and golden couch were pillagedby these rude hands; but the faithful defence ofhis guards, who died at his feet, allowed him amoment to mount a fleet horse, and to escapefrom the confusion. The disgrace which hadbeen incurred by a treacherous surprise, wassoon retrieved by the numbers and disciplineof the Romans; and the combat was only ter-minated by the extinction of the name and na-tion of the Limigantes. The free Sarmatianswere reinstated in the possession of their ancientseats; and although Constantius distrusted thelevity of their character, he entertained somehopes that a sense of gratitude might influencetheir future conduct. He had remarked thelofty stature and obsequious demeanour of Zi-zais, one of the noblest of their chiefs. Heconferred on him the title of king; and Zizaisproved that he was not unworthy to reign, bya sincere and lasting attachment to the in-terest of his benefactor, who, after this splen-did success, received the name of Sarmati-

CHAP.

XIX.