Res Gestae

But the peace which was granted under pretence of humanity caused the destruction of many, who, tormented by hunger up to their last breath, and so going ahead unnoticed by the army,[*](Since hunger drove them to try to cross before the rest.) were either, being unskilled in swimming, swallowed up in the depths of the river, or if they mastered the power of the stream and reached the opposite bank, were seized by the Saracens or Persians (who, as I said shortly before, had been routed by the Germans),[*](Cf. 6, 14, above.) and were either cut down like so many cattle, or led off farther inland to be sold.

But as soon as the trumpets’ blast openly gave the signal for crossing the river, it was remarkable with what great eagerness and haste they rushed into all kinds of danger. Each man strove to outstrip all others and hastened to save himself from so many terrors; some used the hastily constructed rafts, holding to

The emperor himself with a few others crossed in the small boats, which, as I have said, survived the burning of the fleet, and ordered the same craft to go back and forth, until we were all transported. At last all of us (except those who were drowned) reached the opposite bank, saved from danger by the favour of the supreme deity after many difficulties.

While the fear of impending disasters oppressed us, we learned from the report of our scouting cavalry, that the Persians, too far off to be seen, were making a bridge, in order that when all hostilities should cease after the conclusion of the treaty of peace, and our men were marching carelessly, they might attack the sick and the animals which had long been exhausted; but when they found that they were discovered, they gave up their wicked design.

Relieved now from this anxiety and hastening on by forced marches, we approached Hatra, an old city lying in the midst of a desert and long since abandoned. The warlike emperors Trajan[*](Dio. lxviii. 31, 2.) and Severus tried at various times to destroy it, but almost perished with their armies; I have related these acts also in telling of their careers.

Here we learned that on a plain extending for seventy miles through dry regions only water that was salt and ill-smelling could be found, and nothing to eat except southernwood, wormwood, dragonwort and other plants of

And after completing a march of six days and finding not even grass as the solace of their extreme necessity, Cassianus, the duke[*](Duces were usually military commanders, but some- times governors; see Index II., vol. i. s.v.) commanding the army in Mesopotamia,[*](Ur of the Chaldeans, mentioned also in the books of Moses.) and the tribune Mauricius (who had been sent long before for the purpose) came to a Persian stronghold called Ur[*](Duces were usually military commanders, but some- times governors; see Index II., vol. i. s.v.) and brought food from the supplies which the army left with Procopius and Sebastianus had saved by frugal living.

From here another Procopius, a state-secretary, and the military tribune Memoridus were sent to the lands of Illyricum and Gaul, to announce the death of Julian, and the elevation of Jovian (after Julian’s decease) to Augustan rank.