Italy and Her Invaders: Volume II - The Hunnish Invasion

THERE is a race on Scythia’s verge extreme
Eastward, beyond the Tanais’ chilly stream.
The Northern Bear looks on no uglier crew :
Base is their garb, their bodies foul to view;
Their souls are Ne'er subdued to sturdy toil
Or Ceres’ arts : their sustenance is spoil.
With horrid wounds they gash their brutal brows,
And o'er their murdered parents bind their vows.
Not e'en the Centaur-offspring of the Cloud
Were horsed more firmly than this savage crowd.
Brisk, lithe, in loose array they fir...