Res Gestae

But on the dawn of that day which is numbered in the calendar as the fifth before the Ides of August[*](Aug. 9.) the army began its march with extreme haste, leaving all its baggage and packs near the walls of Hadrianopolis with a suitable guard of legions; for the treasury, and the insignia of imperial dignity besides,[*](Here cetera is used as alius often is; see note 1, above.) with the prefect[*](I.e., the praetorian prefect.) and the emperor’s council, were kept within the circuit of the walls.

So after hastening a long distance over rough ground, while the hot day was advancing towards noon, finally at the eighth hour[*](At about two in the afternoon.) they saw the wagons

But the left wing of the horsemen (which was formed with the greatest difficulty, since very many of them were still scattered along the roads) was hastening to the spot at swift pace. And while that same wing was being extended, still without interruption, the barbarians were terrified by the awful din, the hiss of whirring arrows[*](For sibilantibus armis, cf. xxv. 1, 18.) and the menacing clash of shields; and since a part of their forces under Alatheus and Saphrax was far away and, though sent for, had not yet returned, they sent envoys to beg for peace.

The emperor scorned these because of their low origin, demanding for the execution of a lasting treaty that suitable chieftains be sent; meanwhile the enemy purposely delayed, in order that during the pretended truce their cavalry might return, who, they hoped, would soon make their appearance; also that our soldiers might be exposed to the fiery summer heat and exhausted by their dry throats,[*](I.e., by thirst.) while the broad plains gleamed with fires, which the enemy were feeding with wood and dry fuel, for this same purpose.[*](I.e., to exhaust the Romans by heat and thirst.) To that evil was added another deadly one, namely, that men and beasts were tormented by severe hunger.

Meanwhile Fritigern, shrewd to foresee the future and fearing the uncertainty of war, on his own initiative sent one of his common soldiers as a

The proposal of the dreaded leader was welcome and approved, and the tribune Aequitius,[*](Cf. xxvi. 1, 4.) then marshal of the court and a relative of Valens, with the general consent was chosen to go speedily as a surety. When he objected, on the ground that he had once been captured by the enemy but had escaped from Dibaltum, and therefore feared their unreasonable anger, Richomeres voluntarily offered his own services and gladly promised to go, thinking this also to be a fine act and worthy of a brave man. And soon he was on his way [bringing] proofs of his rank and birth. . . .[*](There is a lacuna here of twenty letters; indicia is obviously the object of some word such as ferens. )

As he was on his way to the enemy’s rampart, the archers and the targeteers, then under the command of one Bacurius of Hiberia[*](On the northern frontier of Armenia.) and Cassio, had rushed forward too eagerly in hot attack, and were already engaged with their adversaries; and as their charge had been untimely, so their retreat was cowardly; and thus they gave an unfavourable omen to the beginning of the battle.

This unseasonable proceeding not only thwarted the prompt action of Richomeres, who was not allowed to go at all, but also the Gothic cavalry, returning with Alatheus and Saphrax, combined with a band of the Halani, dashed out as a thunderbolt does near high mountains, and threw into

On every side armour and weapons clashed, and Bellona, raging with more than usual madness for the destruction of the Romans, blew her lamentable war-trumpets; our soldiers who were giving way rallied, exchanging many encouraging shouts, but the battle, spreading like flames,[*](Cf. Iliad xi. 595; xvii. 576 f.) filled their hearts with terror, as numbers of them were pierced by strokes of whirling spears and arrows.