find Valens in those regions, since they were wholly ignorant that he had perished in battle, er else certainly (as is rather believed) burnt to death in the cottage. 3. Meanwhile the Goths, combining with the Huns and Alani, both brave and warlike tribes, and inured to toil and hardship, whom Fritigern had with great ability won over to his side by the temptation of great rewards-fixed their camp near Perinthus; but recollecting their previous losses, they did not venture to come close to the city, or make any attempt to take it; they, however, devastated and entirely stripped the fertile territory surrounding it, slaying or making prisoners of the inhabitants! 4. From hence they marched with speed to Constantinople in battle array, from fear of ambuscades; being eager to make themselves masters of its ample riches, and resolved to try every means to take that illustrious city. But while giving way to extravagant pride, and beating almost against the barriers of the gates, they were repulsed in this instance by the Deity. 5. A body of Saracens (a nation of whose origin and manners we have already given a full account in several places), being more suited for sallies and skirmishes than for pitched battles, had been lately introduced into the city; and, as soon as they saw the barbarian host, they sallied out boldly from the city to attack it. There was a stubborn fight for some time; and at last both armies parted on equal terms. 6. But a strange and unprecedented incident gave the final advantage to the eastern warriors; for one of them with long hair, naked-with the exception of a covering round his waist-shouting a hoarse and melancholy cry, drew his dagger and plunged into the middle of the Gothic host, and after he had slain an enemy, put his lips to his throat, and sucked his blood. The barbarians were terrified at this marvellous prodigy, and from that time forth, when they proceeded on any enterprise, displayed none of their former and usual ferocity, but advanced with hesitating steps. 7. As time went on their ardour damped, and they began to take into consideration the vast circuit of the walls (which was the greater on account of the large space occupied by mansions with gardens within it), the in A.D. 378] RETREAT OF THE GOTHS FROM CONSTANTINOPLE. 623 accessible beauties of the city, and the immensity of its population; also the vicinity of the strait which divides the Black Sea from the Egean. Then after destroying the works which they had constructed, having sustained greater losses than they had inflicted, they raised the siege, and roamed at random over the northern provinces, which they traversed without restraint as far as the Julian Alps, which the ancients used to call the Venetian Alps. 8. At this time the energy and promptitude of Julius, the commander of the forces on the other side of Mount Taurus, was particularly distinguished; for when he learnt what had happened in Thrace, be sent secret letters to all the governors of the different cities and forts, who were all Romans (which at this time is not very common), requesting them, on one and the same day, as at a concerted signal, to put to death all the Goths who had previously been admitted into the places under their charge; first luring them into the suburbs, in expectation of receiving the pay which had been promised to them. This wise plan was carried out without any disturbance or any delay; and thus the Eastern provinces were delivered from great dangers. 9. Thus have I, a Greek by birth, and formerly a soldier, related all the events from the accession of Nerva to the death of Valens, to the best of my abilities; professing above all things to tell the truth, which, as I believe, I have never knowingly perverted, either by silence or by falsehood. Let better men in the flower of their age, and of eminent accomplishments, relate the subsequent events. But if it should please them to undertake the task, I warn them to sharpen their tongues to a loftier style. Elian, Count, 182, 183; crucified by Enus, a city of Thrace, 286, 444 Agabana, a fortress in Persia, 463 Agazaca, a city of the Paropanisata, 342 Agenaricus, king of the Allemanni, 113 151 Agilo, an equerry, 34, 266; pro Aginatius put to death by Maximin 474 Aiadalthes, a tribune, 181 587 Albani, allies of the Persians, 176, 187 Albinus of Etruria, 56 Alexander the Great, 41, 46, 89 a city in Arachosia, 343 in Ariana, 342 in Carmania, 339 an island in Persia, 338 a town in Sogdiana, 340 Alfenus, a distinguished lawyer, 558 Alicodia, a city in Bactria,,340 Allobroges, a nation of Gaul, 81 27 Amardus, a river in Media, 337 Amicenses, a Sarmatian tribe, 154 Amiens (Ambians), a city in Belgium, Aminias, a Persian general, 369 Amphiaraus an ancient seer, 4 Amudis, a fort in Mesopotamia, 173 139 Anatha, a fortress in Mesopotami, Anatolis, prefect of Illyricum, 204; 253 Anatolius, an officer of the palace, 504 dicted the fall of stones and earth- Anaximander, a Milesian philosopher, 139 Anazarbus, a city of Cilicia, 27 Anchialos, a city of Thrace, 293, 444 Ancyra, a city of Galatia, 296, 403, 426 Anthropophagi, a Scythian tribe, 580 Antiochia, in Persia, 339 |