Res Gestae

However, the fatal insistence of the emperor prevailed, supported by the flattering opinion of some of his courtiers, who urged him to make all haste in order that Gratian might not have a share in the victory which (as they represented) was already all but won.

While the necessary preparations for the decisive battle were going on, a Christian presbyter[*](Elder.) (to use their own term), who had been sent by Fritigem as an envoy, in company with some humble

Besides this the aforesaid Christian, apparently a confidant and trusted friend of Fritigern, presented also[*](For the translation of alias, see xxiii. 3, 9, note 5.) a private letter of the same king, who, all too skilled in craft and in various forms of deception, informed Valens, pretending that he hoped soon to be his friend and ally, that he could not tame the savagery of his people, or entice them to adopt conditions favourable to the Roman state, unless the emperor should from time to time show them near at hand his army ready for battle, and through the fear aroused by the imperial name check their destructive eagerness for war. But as to the envoys, their sincerity was doubted, and they left without accomplishing their purpose.

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. )