Res Gestae

Ammianus Marcellinus

Ammianus Marcellinus. Ammianus Marcellinus, with an English translation, Vols. I-III. Rolfe, John C., translator. Cambridge, MA; London: Harvard University Press; W. Heinemann, 1935-1940 (printing).

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

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dawn, before the sun is yet shining clearly they all hasten in crowds to the spot at top speed, as if they would outstrip the very chariots that are to take part in the contest; and torn by their conflicting hopes about the result of the race, the greater number of them in their anxiety pass sleepless nights.

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

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the pots[*](Wagner and T.L.L. take aulis = ollis, which suits the context; cf. Gell. xvii. 8, 2, 3, etc.) on tip-toe and gnaw the ends of their fingers[*](Cf. Plaut., Pseud. 881 ff. ego ita convivis cenam conditam dabo . . . ut quisque quidque conditum gustaverit, ipsus sibi faciam ut digitos praerodat suos.) as they wait for the dishes to cool. Others hang over the nauseous mass of half-raw meat, while it is cooking, watching it so intently that one would think that Democritus[*](The famous Greek physical philosopher, from Abdera; cf. xv. 1, 4; xiv. 5, 1. There is a word-play on anatomis and anatomicis; see p. 97, note 2.) with other dissectors was examining the internal organs of dismembered animals and showing by what means future generations might be cured of internal pains.

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

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he had lost some of his men and had himself been wounded, he perceived that he would be unequal to frequent contests with them. Accordingly, having reported to the emperor what ought to be done, he managed that Severus, commander of the infantry,[*](Cf. xxvii. 6, 3.) should come to help him in his difficult situation.

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.