THE SCENE: If we are to believe the Saxon writer Widukind, the Huns were descended from exiled witches who lived in a swamp like wild beasts until their pursuit of a singular deer led to their introduction to the community of nations.
THE TEXT: The Huns went out from the land of the Goths. The Goths are so called after one of their own leaders named Gotha. During his leadership certain women in the train of the army were accused of magical practices, were arrested and found guilty. Since there were quite a number of them he did not execute upon them their condign punishment, but he did banish them all from the army. But after this banishment they sought out a nearby forest. This forest was surrounded by the sea and by the Meotic swamps, and there appeared no easy way of leaving the place. Some of the women were already pregnant, and they gave birth there. And once from these children others and still others were born, they became quite a powerful tribe; and living in the manner of wild beasts, untamed and unconquered, they came to be most skillful hunters.
After many generations, since, while living there, they were completely ignorant of any other part of the world, it happened one time that in their pursuit of a deer, they forced their way across the Meotic marshes that had hitherto proved impassable to all men. Observing there for the first time cities and town and an unknown race of men, they returned by the same route and related everything to their companions. The latter were moved with curiosity and went across in large groups to discover the truth of what they had heard.
But the inhabitants of those outlying cities and towns, when they saw this strange multitude, hideous both in body and in dress, thinking them demons, fled for safety. Their enemies [the Huns], stupefied by the aspect of strange things, at first did indeed refrain from slaughter and rapine; but finding that no one resisted them, and being touched by human cupidity, they began to slaughter the men, and finally they spared nothing. They captured great booty, and returned to their native haunts. But at last, seeing that affairs were turning out badly for them there, they came back again with their wives and children and all their rough household belonging, laid waste all the outposts and civilizations on ever side, and at last begin to settle down in Pannonia.
– The Deeds of the Saxons, Widukind of Corvey, 10th Century AD
