The Roman History of Ammianus Marcellinus: During the Reigns of the Emperors Constantius, Julian, Jovianus, Valentinian, and ValensAmmianus Marcellinus
History
The Roman History of Ammianus Marcellinus: During the Reigns of the Emperors Constantius, Julian, Jovianus, Valentinian, and Valens
Ammianus Marcellinus
Rome -- History -- Empire, 284-476
59. And because it was impossible for him to reach his camp without
crossing the Rhine, he hid his face that he might not be recognized, and
after that retreated slowly. And when he got near the bank of the river,
as he was feeling his way round a marsh, partly overflowed, seeking some
path by which to cross it, his horse suddenly stumbled in some soft and
sticky place, and he was thrown down, but though he was fat and heavy,
he without delay reached the shelter of a hill in the neighbourhood;
there he was recognized (for indeed he could not conceal who he was,
being betrayed by the greatness of his former fortune): and immediately
a squadron of cavalry came up at full gallop with its tribune, and
cautiously surrounded the wooded mound; though they feared to enter the
thicket lest they should fall into any ambuscade concealed among the
trees.
60. But when he saw them he was seized with extreme terror, and of his
own accord came forth by himself and surrendered; and his companions,
two hundred in number, and his three most intimate friends, thinking it
would be a crime in them to survive their king, or not to die for him if
occasion required, gave themselves up also as prisoners.
61. And, as barbarians are naturally low spirited in adverse fortune,
and very much the reverse in moments of prosperity, so now that he was
in the power of another he became pale and confused, his consciousness
of guilt closing his mouth; widely different from him who lately,
insulting the ashes of the Gauls with ferocious and lamentable violence,
poured forth savage threats against the whole empire.
62. Now after these affairs were thus by the favour of the deity brought
to an end, the victorious soldiers were recalled at the close of the
day to their camp by the signal of the trumpeter, and marched towards
the bank of the Rhine, and there erecting a rampart of shields piled
together in several rows, they refreshed themselves with food and sleep.
63. There fell in this battle, of Romans 243, and four generals:
Bainobaudes, the tribune of the Cornuti, and with him Laipso, and
Innocentius, who commanded the cuirassiers and one tribune who had no
particular command, and whose name I forget. But of the Allemanni, there
were found 6000 corpses on the field, and incalculable numbers were
carried down by the waves of the river.
64. Then Julian, as one who was now manifestly approved by fortune, and
was also greater in his merit than even in his authority, was by
unanimous acclamation hailed as Augustus by the soldiers; but he sharply
reproved them for so doing, affirming with an oath that he neither
wished for such an honour, nor would accept it.
65. In order to increase the joy at his recent success, Julian ordered
Chnodomarius to be brought before him at his council; who at first
bowing, and then like a suppliant, prostrating himself on the ground,
and imploring pardon with entreaties framed after the fashion of his
nation, was bidden to take courage.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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