contudimus Tanain vel cornua fregimus Histri. invisum miles sitiens haurire cruorem per varias vestes onerataque plaustra metallo 605 transit et argenti cumulos et caedis avarus contemptas proculcat opes; pretiosior auro sanguis erat; passim neglecti prodiga lucri turba furens strictis odium mucronibus explet. purpureos cultus absumptique igne Valentis 610 exuvias miserisque graves crateras ab Argis raptaque flagranti spirantia signa Corintho callidus ante pedes venientibus obicit hostis incassum; neque enim feralis praeda moratur, sed iustos praebent stimulos monumenta doloris. 615 Adseritur ferro captivum vulgus, et omnes diversae vocis populi, quos traxerat hostis servitio, tandem dominorum strage redempti blanda cruentatis adfigunt oscula dextris desertosque lares et pignora laeta revisunt. 620 miratur sua quemque domus cladesque renarrant ordine; tum grati referunt miracula belli. Quis tibi tunc, Alarice, dolor, cum Marte perirent divitiae spoliisque diu quaesita supellex pulsaretque tuas ululatus coniugis aures, 625 coniugis, invicto dudum quae freta marito demens Ausonidum gemmata monilia matrum Romanasque alta famulas cervice petebat! * * * * * Page 171 never was Tanais’ pride abased by such a crushing defeat nor the horns of Ister so broken. Thirsting to drink the enemy’s hateful blood our soldiers passed by rich and varied raiment, carts laden with gold, heaps of silver, and, eager for the foe’s destruction, spurned his wealth. They held blood of more account than gold; none of them would stoop to pick up the fortune that lay at their feet but drew their swords and sated their wild fury. The crafty foe threw in the path of our advancing troops the robes of scarlet dye, and other spoils reft from Valens[59] who perished in the flames, heavy mixing-bowls looted from unhappy Argos and lifelike statues rescued from burning Corinth--all in vain, for this ill-omened booty, so far from delaying our men, reminded them of past reverses and so the more inflamed their righteous indignation. The crowd of prisoners is loosed from its fetters and all the peoples of different tongue whom the Getae had led away captive. Freed at last by the slaughter of their captors they plant thankful kisses on the bloody hands of their deliverers and hasten back to their long-lost homes and their dear children. At each his household looks in wonder as they tell the story of their woes and then recount the marvel of welcome victory.