Res Gestae

And since after many events the narrative has reached this point, I earnestly entreat my readers (if I ever have any) not to demand of me a strictly accurate account of what happened or the exact number of the slain, which there was no way of finding out. For it will be enough to describe simply the main points of events, without concealing the truth through any false statement, since faithful honesty is ever a requisite in giving an historical account.

Those who are unacquainted with ancient records say that the state was never before overspread by such a dark cloud of misfortune, but they are deceived by the horror of the recent ills which have overwhelmed them. For if they study earlier times or those which have recently passed, these will show that such dire disturbances have often happened.

The[*](§§ 12–17 are a digression on great disasters which Rome had suffered from invading barbarians.) Teutones with the Cimbri, coming from unknown parts

Again, when Marcus was ruling the empire, the united madness of different tribes, after endless alarms of war, after the woes of captured and plundered cities, after the destruction of forces shaken by the death of their able leader,[*](Macrinus Vindex, praetorian prefect of Marcus Aurelius; see Dio, lxxi. 3.) would have left only a small part of them unscathed.[*](Text and exact meaning are uncertain; for the events referred to, see Dio, lxxi. ff.; Eutrop. viii. 13; Orosius, vii. 15, 6 ff.)

But after calamitous losses the state was presently restored to its former condition, because the temperance of old times was not yet infected by the effeminacy of a more licentious mode of life, and did not crave extravagant feasts or shameful gains; but high and low alike with united ardour and in agreement hastened to a noble death for their country, as if to some quiet and peaceful haven.

Swarms of the Scythian peoples with two thousand ships[*](Treb. Poll., Claud. 8, 2, gives this figure: Zos. i. 42, 6000.) broke through the Bosporus and the shores of the Propontis, and after crossing inflicted bitter losses by land and sea; but they lost the greater part of their number and were obliged to retreat.

Emperor Decius and Decius his son

After many disasters had been suffered and many cruel calamities had been inflicted, Philippopolis was destroyed[*](In the time of Decius; Zos. i. 24.) and a hundred thousand people (unless the histories are false) were butchered within her walls. Foreign foes roamed at will over Epirus, Thessaly and the whole of Greece; but after the illustrious general Claudius became emperor and after he had been snatched from us by a noble death,[*](According to Pseud.-Aur. Vict., Epit. 34, 3, he sacrificed himself in battle. Others say that he died a natural death.) they were driven out by Aurelian,[*](Cf. Rufius Festus, 8.) a vigorous man and a severe avenger of their sins, and remained quiet for long ages, except that afterwards single bands of robbers made raids into the neighbouring regions, but very rarely and to their own destruction. But let me go on with the narrative from which I digressed.