Chap, xxxviii] OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE 147 into the same family. The Barbarian purchased Leo for the price of twelve pieces of gold ; and was pleased to learn that he was deeply skilled in the luxury of an episcopal table. « Next Sunday," said the Frank, "I shall invite my neighbours and kinsmen. Exert thy art, and force them to confess that they have never seen, or tasted, such an entertainment, even in the king's house." Leo assured him that, if he would provide a sufficient quantity of poultry, his wishes should be satisfied. The master, who already aspired to the merit of elegant hospi- tality, assumed, as his own, the praise which the voracious guests unanimously bestowed on his cook ; and the dexterous Leo insensibly acquired the trust and management of his house- hold. After the patient expectation of a whole year, he cauti- ously whispered his design to Attalus, and exhorted him to prepare for flight in the ensuing night. At the hour of mid- night, the intemperate guests retired from table ; and the Frank's son-in-law, whom Leo attended to his apartment with a noc- turnal potation, condescended to jest on the facility with which he might betray his trust. The intrepid slave, after sustaining this dangerous raillery, entered his master's bed-chamber ; re- moved his spear and shield ; silently drew the fleetest horses from the stable ; unbarred the ponderous gates ; and excited Attalus to save his life and liberty by incessant diligence. Their apprehensions urged them to leave their horses on the banks of the Meuse ; 115 they swam the river, wandered three days in the adjacent forest, and subsisted only by the accidental discovery of a wild plum-tree. As they lay concealed in a dark thicket, they heard the noise of horses ; they were terrified by the angry countenance of their master, and they anxiously listened to his declaration that, if he could seize the guilty fugitives, one of them he would cut in pieces with his sword, and would expose the other on a gibbet. At length Attalus and his faithful Leo thirty-two as bishop of Langres. According to the poet Fortunatus, he displayed equal merit in these different stations. Nobilis antiqua deeurrens prole parentum, Nobilior gestis, nunc super astra manet. Arbiter ante ferox, dein pius ipse sacerdos, Quos domuit judex, fovit arnore patris. 115 As M. de Valois and the P. Ruinart are determined to change the Mosella of the text into Mosa, it becomes me to acquiesce in the alteration. Yet, after some examination of the topography, I could defend the common reading. [P. 124, ed. Arndt and Kruseh.]
