Res Gestae

In the midst of this great confusion Aequitius, who had learned from trustworthy sources that the whole burden of the war had been transferred to Asia, marched through the pass of Succi and with all his might tried to open Philippopolis, formerly Eumolpias,[*](Cf. xxii. 2, 2.) which had been closed by the enemy’s garrison; for that city was very favourably situated and, if left in his rear, could hinder his attempt, if he should be compelled to hasten to Haemimontus[*](A place on Mt. Haemus.)

But learning a little later of the vain presumption of Marcellus, he at once sent bold and active soldiers who seized him and imprisoned him as a guilty slave. A few days later the usurper was brought out, his body was soundly scourged, and after his accomplices had been similarly treated, he was put to death: a man who deserves credit only for making away with Serenianus, who was cruel as Phalaris, and loyal to Procopius because of the accursed science which for vain reasons he pretended to have.[*](Ammianus apparently refers to magic and prophecy, to which Serenianus was given (cf. xiv. 7, 7, 8; 11, 23).)

Through the death of the leader[*](Marcellus.) the horrors of war were rooted out; but many were punished more severely than their errors or faults demanded, especially the defenders of Philippopolis, who surrendered the city and themselves most reluctantly, and only when they saw the head of Procopius, which was being taken to Gaul.

Some, however, through the influence of those who interceded for them, were treated more leniently, among them notably Araxius, who in the very heat of the conflagration had solicited and gained the prefecture;[*](Cf. 7, 6, above.) he, through the intercession of his son-in-law Agilo, was deported to an island, but soon afterwards made his escape.

Euphrasius, however, and also Phronimius were sent to the west and left to the decision of Valentinian.[*](They were Gauls; cf. 7, 4, above.) Euphrasius was pardoned, but Phronimius was banished to the Chersonesus,[*](The Tauric Chersonesus.)

To these events were added other more serious matters, far more to be feared than those of wartime. For executioner, instruments of torture, and bloody inquisitions raged without any distinction of age or of rank through all classes and orders, and under the mantle of peace[*](Implying that in time of war the laws were suspended.) abominable robbery was carried on, while all cursed the ill-omened victory, which was worse than any war, however destructive.

For amid arms and clarions, equality of condition makes dangers lighter; the force of martial valour either destroys what it attacks, or ennobles it; and death (if it comes) is attended with no sense of shame and brings with it at once an end of life and of suffering. But when the laws and statutes are pretexts for impious designs, and judges take their seats in false imitation of the character of a Cato or a Cassius,[*](See xxii. 9, 9, note; and cf. Cic. In Verr. ii. 3, 62, 146 non quaero indices Cassianos, veterem iudiciorum severitatem non requiro. ) but everything is decided according to the will of men of swollen powers, and by their caprice the question of the life or death of all those who come before them is weighed, then, destruction results that is deadly and sudden.

For when any one at that time had become powerful for any reason, and having almost royal authority and being

For the emperor, rather inclined himself to do injury, lent his ear to accusers, listened to death-dealing denunciations, and took unbridled joy in various kinds of executions; unaware of that saying of Cicero’s which asserts that those are unlucky who think that they have power to do anything they wish.

This implacability in a cause which was most just, but where victory brought shame,[*](Cf. Cic., De Off. ii. 8, 27, of Julius Caesar, ergo in illo secuta est honestam causam non honesta victoria. ) delivered many innocent victims to the torturers, either placing them on the rack until they were bowed down[*](With sub eculeo locavit incurvos cf. xxviii. 1, 19, quamquam incurvus sub eculeo staret. In both passages sub eculeo is to be taken with the adjective (incurvos), which is proleptic, meaning under (the torture of) the rack. It cannot be taken literally with locavit and staret, since the eculeus was a wooden instrument shaped somewhat like a horse (ecus, equus) on which the victim was placed with weights on his feet. There he might also be flogged or tortured in other ways. Though commonly translated rack, the eculeuo was not like the medieval rack.) or exposing them to the sword-stroke of a cruel executioner. It would have been better for them (if nature allowed it), to lose even ten lives in battle, rather than though free from all blame, with lacerated sides, amid general groans to suffer punishment for alleged treason, with their bodies first mutilated, a thing which is more awful than any death.

When finally ferocity was overcome by the grief that it caused, and had burnt itself out, the most distinguished men suffered proscription, exile, and other punishments which seem lighter to some, terrible though they are; and in order that another might be enriched, a man of noble birth and perhaps richer in