Res Gestae

Another, if he finds a creditor of his demanding his due with too great urgency, resorts to a charioteer[*](Charioteers were notorious for the use of magic arts against their rivals, and in general; see xxvi. 3, 3, note; xxviii. 1, 27.) who is all too ready to dare any enterprise, and causes the creditor to be charged with being a poisoner; and he is not let off until he has surrendered the bill of indebtedness and paid heavy costs. And besides, the accuser has the voluntary

In another place a wife by hammering day and night on the same anvil—as the old proverb has it[*](Cf. Cic., De Orat. ii. 39, 162, and xviii. 4, 2.) —drives her husband to make a will, and the husband insistently urges his wife to do the same. Skilled jurists are brought in on both sides, one in a bedroom, the other, his rival, in the dining-room to discuss disputed points. These are joined by opposing interpreters of horoscopes,[*](Cf. Lucian, Dial. Mort., 11, 1.) on the one side making profuse promises of prefectures and the burial of rich matrons, on the other telling women that for their husbands’ funerals now quietly approaching they must make the necessary preparations. And a maid-servant bears witness, by nature somewhat pale,. . .[*](The rest of this sentence seems hopelessly corrupt and unintelligible.) As Cicero says:[*](De Amic. 21, 79.) They know of nothing on earth that is good unless it brings gain. Of their friends, as of their cattle, they love those best from whom they hope to get the greatest profit.

When these people seek any loan, you will see them in slippers like a Micon or a Laches;[*](Characters in comedy; i.e., they are humble and obsequious.) when

Let us now turn to the idle and slothful commons. Among them some who have no shoes are conspicuous as though they had cultured names, such as the Messores, Statarii, Semicupae and Serapini, and Cicymbricus, with Gluturinus and Trulla, and Lucanicus with Porclaca and Salsula, and countless others.[*](Cf. xxviii. 4, 7. Ammianus is satirical, since these names are derived from humble occupations.)

These spend all their life with wine and dice, in low haunts, pleasures, and the games. Their temple, their dwelling, their assembly, and the height of all their hopes is the Circus Maximus. You may see many groups of them gathered in the fora, the cross-roads, the streets,[*](See Class. Phil. xxxii (1937), 49 ff.) and their other meeting-places, engaged in quarrelsome arguments with one another, some (as usual) defending this, others that.

Among them those who have enjoyed a surfeit of life, influential through long experience, often swear by their hoary hair and wrinkles that the state cannot exist if in the coming race the charioteer whom each favours is not first to rush forth from the barriers, and fails to round the turning-point closely with his ill-omened[*](Perhaps implying that magic arts have been used against him; but see crit. note. In general, cf. Hor., Odes, i. 1, 4 f., metaque fervidis evitata rotis. ) horses.

And when there is such a dry rot of thoughtlessness, as soon as the longed-for day of the chariot-races begins to

If from there they come to worthless theatrical pieces, any actor is hissed off the boards who has not won the favour of the low rabble with money. And if this noisy form of demonstration is lacking, they cry in imitation of the Tauric race[*](Referring to the myth that the Tauri (xxii. 8, 33) sacrificed strangers at the altar of Diana.) that all strangers—on whose aid they have always depended and stood upright[*](Cf. Aurel. Vict., Caesares, 11, 13, mihi quidem . . . plane compertum urbem Romam externorum virtute . . . praecipue crevisse. ) —ought to be driven from the city. All this in foul and absurd terms, very different from the expressions of their interests and desires made by your commons of old, of whose many witty and happy sayings tradition tells us.[*](Cf. xvi. 10, 13.)

And it has now come to this, that in place of the lively sound of approval from men appointed to applaud, at every public show an actor of afterpieces, a beast-baiter, a charioteer, every kind of player, and the magistrates of higher and lower rank, nay even matrons, are constantly greeted with the shout You should be these fellows’ teachers!; but what they ought to learn no one is able to explain.

The greater number of these gentry, given over to over-stuffing themselves with food,[*](Cf. xxii. 12, 6, for similar language.) led by the charm of the odour of cooking[*](Cf. Suet., Claud., 33, 1, ictus nidore prandii. ) and by the shrill voices of the women, like a flock of peacocks screaming with hunger, stand even from cockcrow beside

But enough for the present of this account of affairs in the city. Now let us return to the other events which were caused by various incidents in the provinces.

In the third consulship of the two Augusti a[*](370 A.D.) horde of Saxons[*](Hieronymus puts the defeat of the Saxons in 374, Cassiodorus in 373. They first appear in history under Diocletian, and had their home in what is now Hqlstein.) broke out, and after overcoming the dangers of the Ocean advanced at rapid pace towards the Roman frontier,[*](Of Gaul.) having often been glutted with the slaughter of our people. The storm of this first inroad was met by Nannenus, the general in charge of those regions, a leader approved by long experience in wars.

But meeting then with a people resolved[*](Cf. destinatis animis, xvii. 2, 2.) to fight to the death, after

When he, bringing forces adequate for the purpose, had reached the spot and the troops had been drawn up in divisions, he so terrified and confused the arrogant barbarians before the struggle began, that they did not oppose him in strife, but, dazzled by the gleam of the standards and eagles, begged for pardon and peace.

And after a long and varied discussion, since it seemed to be in the interest of the state, a truce was agreed upon, and in accordance with the conditions that were proposed the Saxons gave us as hostages many young men fit for military service, and then were allowed to depart and return without hindrance to the place from which they had come.

When they thought themselves now free from all fear and were preparing to return, foot-soldiers were secretly sent and laid an ambuscade in a secluded valley, from which they could attack the Saxons with slight trouble as they passed by. But the result was far otherwise than was hoped.

For, excited by the sound of the approaching Saxons, some of our men rushed out before the proper time; on their sudden appearance the savages raised terrible howls, and while the Romans were hastening to steady themselves, they were put to flight. Presently, however, they halted and massed themselves together, and as their dangerous plight gave them strength (though somewhat impaired), they

Then the contest became hotter and the Romans with fortified courage pressed upon the Saxons from all sides, surrounded them, and slew them with their drawn swords; not one of them could again return to his native home, not a single one was allowed to survive the slaughter of his comrades. And although some just judge will condemn this act as treacherous and hateful, yet on careful consideration of the matter he will not think it improper that a destructive band of brigands was destroyed when the opportunity at last offered.

After these affairs had been so successfully concluded,[*](369 f. A.D.) Valentinian, turning over various thoughts in his mind, was oppressed by anxious care, as he thought over many plans and considered by what devices he might break the arrogance of the Alamanni and their king Macrianus,[*](Cf. xviii. 2, 15.) who without limit or measure was confusing the Roman state by his restless disturbances.

For this savage nation, although from its very cradle weakened by a variety of disasters, so often recovers its youthful strength, that people think it has been unassailed for long ages. And the emperor finally decided, after favouring first one plan and then another, to bring about their destruction through the Burgundians, a warlike people, rich in the strength of countless young