The Raees of the Danube. 221 



Germany by Charles the Great, this is the most 

 conspicuous feature of Roman history. The area 

 of stable nationality in Europe was continually 

 enlarged, and the frontier to be defended against 

 wild tribes was gradually shortened and pushed 

 eastward to the Lower Danube. In the time of 

 Marius, the Gaul and the German were enemies 

 who might possibly undo all the good work that 

 had been begun. But the Gaul very quickly be- 

 came a thorough Roman in his habits and inter- 

 ests, forgetting even his native language ; and the 

 German tribes, as they acquired a foothold, one 

 after another, within the limits of the Empire, 

 became so far assimilated that the transformation 

 of the Roman structure effected by them was in 

 no respect, not even in a political sense, an over- 

 throw. 



In the turbulent period of the fifth century, 

 when the debatable frontier was still at the Rhine 

 and Upper Danube, a terrible foe appeared in 

 Attila, with his horde of savage Huns ; and it 

 was then mainly by the prowess of Gauls and 

 Germans, in the memorable battle of Chalons, 

 that the security of European civilization was 

 decisively guaranteed. So formidable a danger 

 has perhaps never since menaced Christendom, 

 though Gibbon reckoned the teaching of the 



