Page:The Emperor Marcus Antoninus - His Conversation with Himself.djvu/130

 lxxviii now the Fight was renew'd with greater Fury than before; for the Enemy perceiving the Romans not used to fight upon Ice, and scarcely able to keep their Feet, concluded they would not abide the Shock: Presuming upon this Advantage they immediately rallied, and charg'd them on all sides. Antoninus's Infantry were shaken a little at the first onset, and had been absolutely lost had not the Soldiers reliev'd themselves by a new Invention in the use of their Shields: These they threw upon the Ice to stand firm with one Foot; And having thus recovered themselves, they made head against the Enemy, seiz'd their Bridles, catch'd hold of their Bucklers and Lances, and pull'd them so close to them, that at last they were drag'd off their Horses. For these Barbarians having but slight Armour were in no Condition to resist the Romans, who were well arm'd Cap à Piè. In short, of all this vast Number of Sarmatians, but a small Party escap'd, by running off into the Forest, or into some Camp they had fortified. The Emperour not losing time in the pursuit of those that fled, attacked them in their Retrenchments, and carried his Point notwithstanding a stout Resistance of the Enemy, who look'd upon these Posts as their last Refuge and Security, and defended them accordingly.