Page:The Emperor Marcus Antoninus - His Conversation with Himself.djvu/120

 lxviii any thing. And now being harrass'd, and just spent by the Heat of the Weather, the Enemy prepar'd to attack them : So that expecting no manner of Relief either from their Courage, their Fortune, or their Gods, they look'd upon themselves as just ready to be Sacrificed : And now when there was nothing but Groans and Howling to be heard, and Things appeared in the most lamentable Condition imaginable, all on the suddain the Sky was over-cast, the Sun shrowded, and a prodigious Showr powr'd down upon their Camp. Thefe poor Wretches, who look'd more like Ghosts than Men, and had scarcely strength to stand on their Feet, were somewhat reviv'd at the sight of this unexpected Rain ; and imagining they should find more of it by marching farther, press'd forward, and at the same time held up their Mouths, their Head-pieces, and their Shields to catch the Water.

The Romans were too busy in quenching their Thirst, to mind Discipline, and keep their Ranks ; And thus their Forces being in some Disorder, the Barbarians not willing to lose the Opportunity, charg'd them on all sides. The Romans fought and drank at the same time; And many of them swallow'd down their own Blood, which running from their Wounds, mix'd it self