Res Gestae

The Roman leaders, therefore, led by hopes for a more favourable turn of affairs, and intending to dare some glorious deed when chance brought the opportunity, were keenly watching for any movement that the Goths might attempt; making ready of course for this, that in case the enemy moved their camp to any other place, as they very frequently did, they might attack the hindermost in the rear, kill many of them with their pikes, and appropriate a great part of their spoils.

When the Goths perceived this, or were informed by the reports of deserters, through whom everything was made known to them, they remained for a long time in the same position. But overwhelmed with fear of the opposing army, and of the additional soldiers that they now expected to flock to it, by means of the message used by their race[*](Cf. 5, 8, above; vexillis de more sublatis, auditisque triste sonantibus classicis . . . concursabant. ) they summoned the predatory bands scattered over various places near by; these at once, in obedience to the orders of their chiefs, like fire-darts,[*](See xxiii. 4, 14; xxi. 9, 6.) returned with winged speed to their wagon city (as they themselves call it)[*](In Greek, καραγός; for a description see Claudian, In Ruf. ii. 127 ff.; Vegetius, iii. 10.) and gave their countrymen an incentive to greater deeds of daring.

After this there was no rest for either side except for a short armistice. For upon the return of those whom necessity had called forth, the whole multitude,

For their part the Romans, on learning this, also spent the night without sleep, because they feared the enemy and their insane leaders as they might fear madly raging beasts; and although the outcome was doubtful, since they were considerably fewer in number, yet because of the greater justice of their cause they looked for success with unterrified minds.