Page:Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire vol 3 (1897).djvu/54

 34 THE DECLINE AND FALL Jnly ['/A.D. 368] Valentln- ian p&Bses and forti- fies tbe Rhlns, AD. 368 [Eaater, March 23 7] dismay ; and the confused multitude of the bravest warriors was pierced by the swords and javelins of the le^^ionaries and auxilia- ries. The fugitives escaped to the third and most considerable camp, in the Catalaunian plains, near C halons in C hampagne : the straggling detachments were hastily recalled to their standard ; and the Barbarian chiefs, alarmed and admonished by the fate of their companions, prepared to encounter, in a decisive battle, the victorious forces of the lieutenant of 'alentinian. The bloody and obstinate conflict lasted a whole summer's day, with equal valour, and with alternate success. The Romans at length prevailed, with the loss of about twelve hundred men. Six thousand of the Alemanni were slain, four thousand were wounded ; and the brave Jovinus, after chasing the flying rem- nant of their host as far as the banks of the Rhine, returned to Paris, to receive the applause of his sovereign and the ensigns of the consulship for the ensuing year.^^ The triumph of the Romans Avas indeed sullied by their treatment of the captive king, whom they hung on a gibbet without the knowledge of their indignant general. This disgraceful act of cruelty which might be imputed to the fury of the troops, was followed by the deliberate murder of Withicab, the son of Vadomair; a Gennan prince, of a weak and sicklj' constitution, but of a daring and formidable spirit. The domestic assassin was instigated and protected by the Romans ; ^^ and the violation of the laws of humanity and justice betrayed their secret apprehension of the weakness of the declining empire. The use of the dagger is seldom adopted in public councils, as long as they retain any confidence in the power of the sword. 'hile the Alemanni appeared to be humbled by their recent calamities, the pride of 'alentinian was mortified by the unex- pected surprisal of Moguntiacum, or Mentz, the principal city of the Upper Germany. In the unsuspicious moment of a Christian festival, Rando, a bold and artful chieftain, who had long meditated his attempt, suddenly passed the Rhine ; entered the defenceless town, and retired with a multitude of captives of either sex. Valentinian resolved to execute severe ven- geance on the whole body of the nation. Count Sebastian, with 209 [c. 9] ), who supposes Valentinian to have been present. • 92 Studio solicitante nostroruni, occubuit. Ammian. xxvii. 10. [This murder did not happen in 366, as might be inferred from the text, but (i) beginning of 368 (Sievers), or (2) summer 368 (Reiche), or (3) autumn 368 (Maurer). Tillemont put it at end of 367, and also the surprisal of Mainz, with which it was doubtless connected. But cp. Reiche, p. 23.]
 * The battles are described by Animianus (xxvii. 2), and by Zosimus (1. iv. p.