Res Gestae

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.

Therefore the light of day had hardly appeared, when the trumpets on both sides sounded the call to take up arms, and the barbarians, after taking oath together according to their custom, tried to reach the heights, in order that from there by a swift rush down the slope like so many rollers they might overwhelm all before them. On seeing this, our soldiers hastened each to his own company, where they stood fast without moving about or leaving the ranks and rushing forward.

So, when both armies after advancing cautiously remained unmoved, the opposing warriors stared at each other with savage and sidelong glances. The Romans in unison sounded their war-cry, as usual rising from a low to a louder tone, of which the national name is barritus,[*](Cf. xvi. 12, 43; derived from the elephant’s cry.) and thus roused themselves to mighty strength. But the barbarians sounded the glories of their