Roman troops in Britain were recalled, and then the Picts and Scots invaded the island, and the Britons called in the Saxons to assist in repelling them. This was the beginning of the present kingdom of England. Alaric died whilst pursuing his conquests in Italy. His body was, by his own desire, buried in the bed of a river, that it might be saved from any indignity. Ataulphus, his brother-in-law, a man much more civilised than Alaric, withdrew his forces from Italy, and set up a kingdom of the Visigoths in Southern Gaul. Honorius died A.D. 423, and was succeeded by his son, a mere boy, known as Valentinian III. By this time the barbarian tribes had gained such a footing in the Western empire that there were scarcely any dominions left to govern; and when Attila, king of the Huns, who called himself "The Scourge of God," entered Italy with his wild forces, all hope of defence seemed gone. It was a Christian bishop, Pope Leo the Great, who saved Rome. He went himself to the camp of Attila, threatened him with the wrath of God if he attacked the city which was deemed sacred, and so worked upon the barbarian's mind that Attila was induced to retire beyond the Alps. The death of the famous Hun followed soon after, and again there was a short breathing-time.

But

Valentinian was assassinated A.D. 454, and that same year Genseric, king of the Vandals, who were among the wildest and most savage of the tribes, appeared before Rome, and the city was taken and given up to pillage.

For twenty years after this, successive barbarian and invading tribes were really master of Italy, but no less than eight nominal emperors were elected. At last Orestes, an officer in the army, of great distinction. took it into his head to make

The

his little boy of six years old emperor. child was named Romulus Augustulus, and thus, singularly enough, he who bore the name of the first Roman king and the first Roman emperor was the last who claimed anything like imperial authority over the Western empire. Romulus Augustulus (A.D. 475) reigned one year, and was then deposed by Odoacer, generally known as King of the Heruli. He was the leader of a barbarian tribe, and took the title of king because he did not venture to assume that of emperor. After this no more emperors of the West were elected, and by degrees the Western provinces became distinct kingdoms, founded by various invading tribes. The Eastern emperors, indeed, who ruled at Constantinople until it was taken by the Turks, A.D. 1453, still claimed dominion over the Western provinces, but they seldom tried to make their claim felt, and in the end it ceased to be recognised.

CHAPTER LVI.

HAVING learnt so much of the history of the Romans, it may be useful to know something of their dwellings, habits, and manners; although these can scarcely be described with perfect correctness, as they must have changed from time to time. The account which will now be given of them is according to what they are believed to have been in the days when the Romans were more civilized.

A Roman house was, in many respects, very unlike an English house; for the warm climate enabled the people to do many things which we cannot venture upon. There was a sort of court before the

door, round three sides of which the rest of the house was built. The street door opened into a hall, where a porter was stationed, and a dog frequently kept for protection; and beyond the hall was a large apartment called the Atrium, with an opening in the roof through which the rainwater fell into a cistern in the floor. This cistern was usually ornamented with statues and columns, and thus made beautiful as well as useful: this was the principal room in the house, and was used for receiving visitors. The images of their ancestors were placed in it, and the fire-place was considered sacred, and dedicated to the Lares, or household gods. It was fitted up very splendidly: indeed, the Romans went to a vast expense for the furnishing and adornment of their houses; so that we are told of as much as 30,0007. being given as the price of one; and of a villa so magnificent, that, when it was burnt, the loss was estimated at more than 800,0007.

There was often a court besides, open to the sky and surrounded by columns, and decorated with trees and flowers.

The rest of the house varied according to the taste of the person who lived in it. The bed-rooms were small; and, as the Romans generally rested in the middle of the day, there were apartments of this kind both for the day and the night. Their beds were rather high, and usually entered by means of steps. Sometimes they were made of metal; sometimes of costly wood, ornamented with tortoiseshell and ivory. The counterpanes were generally purple, embroidered with beautiful figures in gold. It is not known whether they had curtains. The dining-room was usually of an oblong shape, and fitted up with soft couches; for the Roman men did not sit up as we do, but were accustomed to