Res Gestae

However, when Sebastianus was recognized, although late, and allowed to enter the city, his men were refreshed with such food and rest as

Fritigern was greatly alarmed by this stroke, and feared lest the general, whom he had always heard to be successful,[*](For this meaning of impetrabilis, cf. xiv. 8, 5, and Plautus, Most. 1162, etc.) might make an unexpected attack upon his scattered and heedless bands, which were intent only upon pillage, and utterly destroy them; he therefore recalled all his men to the vicinity of the town of Cabyle and quickly left that neighbourhood, in order that his people, by living in the open plains, might not suffer from famine or from secret attacks.

While this was going on in Thrace, Gratian, having informed his uncle by letter with what energy he had overthrown the Alamanni, sent on ahead by land all his baggage and packs, and descending the Danube with a band of light-armed troops, came to Bononia[*](Ptolemy locates this place in Upper Pannonia, the modern Banastar; cf. xxi. 9, 6.) and entered Sirmium. Having delayed there for four days, he went on over the same river to the Camp of Mars,[*](A small town in Dacia Ripensis (in Moesia, according to Sozomenus, ix. 5).) although attacked by intermittent fevers. In that region the Halani unexpectedly fell upon him, and he lost a few of his followers.

In those same days Valens was troubled for two reasons: first, by the news that the Lentienses had been defeated; secondly, because Sebastianus wrote from time to time exaggerating his exploits. He therefore marched forth from Melanthias, being eager to do some glorious deed to equal his young nephew, whose valiant exploits consumed him with envy.[*](Eunapius says that Gratian had also, at the wish of his army, taken the younger Valentinian as his colleague, without consulting his uncle Valens; moreover, that Valens was an Arian, while Gratian, according to Ambrose, was a Christian (christianissimus). [Val. in Wagner-Erfurdt.]) He had under his command a force made up of varying elements, but one neither contemptible, nor unwarlike; for he had joined with them also a large number of veterans, among whom were other officers of high rank and Trajanus, shortly before a commander-in-chief, whom he had recalled to active service.

And since it was learned from careful reconnoitring that the enemy were planning with strong guards to block the roads over which the necessary supplies were being brought, he tried competently to frustrate this attempt by quickly sending an infantry troop of bowmen and a squadron of cavalry, in order to secure the advantages of the narrow passes, which were near by.

During the next three days, when the barbarians, advancing at a slow pace and through unfrequented places, since they feared a sally, were fifteen miles distant from the city,[*](Constantinople.) and were making for the station of Nice,[*](See 11, 2, above, and note.) through some mistake or other the emperor was assured by his skirmishers that all that part of the enemy’s horde which they had seen consisted of only ten

Accordingly, advancing in square formation,[*](See xxix. 5, 39, note on agmine quadrato. ) he came to the vicinity of a suburb of Hadrianopolis,[*](Or perhaps to the vicinity of Hadrianopolis—with Ammianus’ usual tautology. Clark has Hadrianupolis, with V.) where he made a strong rampart of stakes, surrounded by a moat, and impatiently waited for Gratian; there he received Richomeres, general of the household troops, sent in advance by Gratian with a letter, in which he said that he himself also would soon be there.

Since the contents besought him to wait a while for the partner in his dangers, and not rashly to expose himself alone to serious perils, Valens called a council of various of his higher officers and considered what ought to be done.

And while some, influenced by Sebastianus, urged him to give battle at once, the man called Victor,[*](Although he is often mentioned, it is usually in this way (see e.g. 13, 9, below, and 7, 1, above).) a commander of cavalry, a Sarmatian by birth, but foresighted and careful,[*](Unlike the Sarmatians generally.) with the support of many others recommended that his imperial colleague be awaited, so that, strengthened by the addition of the Gallic army, he might the more easily crush the fiery over-confidence of the barbarians.