Res Gestae

The day after these events the serious news came to the emperor, while he was quietly at table, that the Persian leader called the Surena[*](See xxiv. 2, 4.) had unexpectedly attacked three squadrons of our scouting cavalry, had killed a very few of them, including one of their tribunes, and carried off a standard.

At once roused to furious anger, Julian hurried forth with an armed force,—his safest course lay in his very speed-and routed the marauders in shameful confusion; he cashiered the two surviving tribunes as inefficient and cowardly, and following the ancient laws, discharged and put to death ten[*](If the reference is to decimation, Ammianus does not express himself clearly.) of the soldiers who had fled from the field.