OntheninthofAugust，adaywhichhasdeservedtobemarkedamongthemostinauspiciousoftheRomanCalendar，^91theemperorValens，leaving，underastrongguard，hisbaggageandmilitarytreasure，marchedfromHadrianopletoattacktheGoths，whowereencampedabouttwelvemilesfromthecity。^92Bysomemistakeoftheorders，orsomeignoranceoftheground，therightwing，orcolumnofcavalryarrivedinsightoftheenemy，whilsttheleftwasstillataconsiderabledistance；thesoldierswerecompelled，inthesultryheatofsummer，toprecipitatetheirpace；andthelineofbattlewasformedwithtediousconfusionandirregulardelay。TheGothiccavalryhadbeendetachedtoforageintheadjacentcountry；andFritigernstillcontinuedtopractisehiscustomaryarts。Hedespatchedmessengersofpeace，madeproposals，requiredhostages，andwastedthehours，tilltheRomans，exposedwithoutsheltertotheburningraysofthesun，wereexhaustedbythirst，hunger，andintolerablefatigue。TheemperorwaspersuadedtosendanambassadortotheGothiccamp；
thezealofRichomer，whoalonehadcouragetoacceptthedangerouscommission，wasapplauded；andthecountofthedomestics，adornedwiththesplendidensignsofhisdignity，hadproceededsomewayinthespacebetweenthetwoarmies，whenhewassuddenlyrecalledbythealarmofbattle。ThehastyandimprudentattackwasmadebyBacuriustheIberian，whocommandedabodyofarchersandtargeteers；andastheyadvancedwithrashness，theyretreatedwithlossanddisgrace。Inthesamemoment，theflyingsquadronsofAlatheusandSaphrax，whosereturnwasanxiouslyexpectedbythegeneraloftheGoths，descendedlikeawhirlwindfromthehills，sweptacrosstheplain，andaddednewterrorstothetumultuous，butirresistiblechargeoftheBarbarianhost。TheeventofthebattleofHadrianople，sofataltoValensandtotheempire，maybedescribedinafewwords:theRomancavalryfled；theinfantrywasabandoned，surrounded，andcutinpieces。Themostskilfulevolutions，thefirmestcourage，arescarcelysufficienttoextricateabodyoffoot，encompassed，onanopenplain，bysuperiornumbersofhorse；butthetroopsofValens，oppressedbytheweightoftheenemyandtheirownfears，werecrowdedintoanarrowspace，whereitwasimpossibleforthemtoextendtheirranks，oreventouse，witheffect，theirswordsandjavelins。
Inthemidstoftumult，ofslaughter，andofdismay，theemperor，desertedbyhisguardsandwounded，asitwassupposed，withanarrow，soughtprotectionamongtheLanceariiandtheMattiarii，whostillmaintainedtheirgroundwithsomeappearanceoforderandfirmness。Hisfaithfulgenerals，TrajanandVictor，whoperceivedhisdanger，loudlyexclaimedthatallwaslost，unlessthepersonoftheemperorcouldbesaved。Sometroops，animatedbytheirexhortation，advancedtohisrelief:theyfoundonlyabloodyspot，coveredwithaheapofbrokenarmsandmangledbodies，withoutbeingabletodiscovertheirunfortunateprince，eitheramongthelivingorthedead。Theirsearchcouldnotindeedbesuccessful，ifthereisanytruthinthecircumstanceswithwhichsomehistorianshaverelatedthedeathoftheemperor。
Bythecareofhisattendants，Valenswasremovedfromthefieldofbattletoaneighboringcottage，wheretheyattemptedtodresshiswound，andtoprovideforhisfuturesafety。Butthishumbleretreatwasinstantlysurroundedbytheenemy:theytriedtoforcethedoor，theywereprovokedbyadischargeofarrowsfromtheroof，tillatlength，impatientofdelay，theysetfiretoapileofdrymagots，andconsumedthecottagewiththeRomanemperorandhistrain。Valensperishedintheflames；andayouth，whodroppedfromthewindow，aloneescaped，toattestthemelancholytale，andtoinformtheGothsoftheinestimableprizewhichtheyhadlostbytheirownrashness。AgreatnumberofbraveanddistinguishedofficersperishedinthebattleofHadrianople，whichequalledintheactualloss，andfarsurpassedinthefatalconsequences，themisfortunewhichRomehadformerlysustainedinthefieldsofCannae。^93Twomaster—generalsofthecavalryandinfantry，twogreatofficersofthepalace，andthirty—fivetribunes，werefoundamongtheslain；andthedeathofSebastianmightsatisfytheworld，thathewasthevictim，aswellastheauthor，ofthepubliccalamity。AbovetwothirdsoftheRomanarmyweredestroyed:andthedarknessofthenightwasesteemedaveryfavorablecircumstance，asitservedtoconcealtheflightofthemultitude，andtoprotectthemoreorderlyretreatofVictorandRichomer，whoalone，amidstthegeneralconsternation，maintainedtheadvantageofcalmcourageandregulardiscipline。^94
[Footnote91:Ammianusxxxi。12，13almostalonedescribesthecouncilsandactionswhichwereterminatedbythefatalbattleofHadrianople。Wemightcensurethevicesofhisstyle，thedisorderandperplexityofhisnarrative:butwemustnowtakeleaveofthisimpartialhistorian；andreproachissilencedbyourregretforsuchanirreparableloss。]
[Footnote92:ThedifferenceoftheeightmilesofAmmianus，andthetwelveofIdatius，canonlyembarrassthosecriticsValesiusadloc。，whosupposeagreatarmytobeamathematicalpoint，withoutspaceordimensions。]
[Footnote93:Necullaannalibus，praeterCannensempugnam，itaadinternecionemreslegiturgesta。Ammian。xxxi。13。AccordingtothegravePolybius，nomorethan370horse，and3，000foot，escapedfromthefieldofCannae:10，000weremadeprisoners；andthenumberoftheslainamountedto5，630horse，and70，000foot，Polyb。l。iii。p371，edit。Casaubon，8vo。Livyxxii。49issomewhatlessbloody:heslaughtersonly2，700horse，and40，000
foot。TheRomanarmywassupposedtoconsistof87，200effectivemen，xxii。36。]
[Footnote94:WehavegainedsomefaintlightfromJerom，tom。
i。p。26andinChron。p。188，Victor，inEpitome，Orosius，l。vii。c。33，p。554，Jornandes，c。27，Zosimus，l。iv。p。
230，Socrates，l。iv。c。38，Sozomen，l。vi。c。40，Idatius，inChron。Buttheirunitedevidence，ifweighedagainstAmmianusalone，islightandunsubstantial。]
Whiletheimpressionsofgriefandterrorwerestillrecentinthemindsofmen，themostcelebratedrhetoricianoftheagecomposedthefuneralorationofavanquishedarmy，andofanunpopularprince，whosethronewasalreadyoccupiedbyastranger。\"Therearenotwanting，\"saysthecandidLibanius，\"thosewhoarraigntheprudenceoftheemperor，orwhoimputethepublicmisfortunetothewantofcourageanddisciplineinthetroops。Formyownpart，Ireverencethememoryoftheirformerexploits:Ireverencethegloriousdeath，whichtheybravelyreceived，standing，andfightingintheirranks:Ireverencethefieldofbattle，stainedwiththeirblood，andthebloodoftheBarbarians。Thosehonorablemarkshavebeenalreadywashedawaybytherains；buttheloftymonumentsoftheirbones，thebonesofgenerals，ofcenturions，andofvaliantwarriors，claimalongerperiodofduration。Thekinghimselffoughtandfellintheforemostranksofthebattle。HisattendantspresentedhimwiththefleetesthorsesoftheImperialstable，thatwouldsoonhavecarriedhimbeyondthepursuitoftheenemy。Theyvainlypressedhimtoreservehisimportantlifeforthefutureserviceoftherepublic。Hestilldeclaredthathewasunworthytosurvivesomanyofthebravestandmostfaithfulofhissubjects；
andthemonarchwasnoblyburiedunderamountainoftheslain。
Letnone，therefore，presumetoascribethevictoryoftheBarbarianstothefear，theweakness，ortheimprudence，oftheRomantroops。Thechiefsandthesoldierswereanimatedbythevirtueoftheirancestors，whomtheyequalledindisciplineandtheartsofwar。Theirgenerousemulationwassupportedbytheloveofglory，whichpromptedthemtocontendatthesametimewithheatandthirst，withfireandthesword；andcheerfullytoembraceanhonorabledeath，astheirrefugeagainstflightandinfamy。Theindignationofthegodshasbeentheonlycauseofthesuccessofourenemies。\"Thetruthofhistorymaydisclaimsomepartsofthispanegyric，whichcannotstrictlybereconciledwiththecharacterofValens，orthecircumstancesofthebattle:
butthefairestcommendationisduetotheeloquence，andstillmoretothegenerosity，ofthesophistofAntioch。^95
[Footnote95:Libaniusdeulciscend。Julian。nece，c。3，inFabricius，BibliotGraec。tom。vii。p。146—148。]
TheprideoftheGothswaselatedbythismemorablevictory；
buttheiravaricewasdisappointedbythemortifyingdiscovery，thattherichestpartoftheImperialspoilhadbeenwithinthewallsofHadrianople。Theyhastenedtopossesstherewardoftheirvalor；buttheywereencounteredbytheremainsofavanquishedarmy，withanintrepidresolution，whichwastheeffectoftheirdespair，andtheonlyhopeoftheirsafety。Thewallsofthecity，andtherampartsoftheadjacentcamp，werelinedwithmilitaryengines，thatthrewstonesofanenormousweight；andastonishedtheignorantBarbariansbythenoise，andvelocity，stillmorethanbytherealeffects，ofthedischarge。
Thesoldiers，thecitizens，theprovincials，thedomesticsofthepalace，wereunitedinthedanger，andinthedefence:thefuriousassaultoftheGothswasrepulsed；theirsecretartsoftreacheryandtreasonwerediscovered；and，afteranobstinateconflictofmanyhours，theyretiredtotheirtents；convinced，byexperience，thatitwouldbefarmoreadvisabletoobservethetreaty，whichtheirsagaciousleaderhadtacitlystipulatedwiththefortificationsofgreatandpopulouscities。Afterthehastyandimpoliticmassacreofthreehundreddeserters，anactofjusticeextremelyusefultothedisciplineoftheRomanarmies，theGothsindignantlyraisedthesiegeofHadrianople。Thesceneofwarandtumultwasinstantlyconvertedintoasilentsolitude:
themultitudesuddenlydisappeared；thesecretpathsofthewoodsandmountainsweremarkedwiththefootstepsofthetremblingfugitives，whosoughtarefugeinthedistantcitiesofIllyricumandMacedonia；andthefaithfulofficersofthehousehold，andthetreasury，cautiouslyproceededinsearchoftheemperor，ofwhosedeaththeywerestillignorant。ThetideoftheGothicinundationrolledfromthewallsofHadrianopletothesuburbsofConstantinople。TheBarbariansweresurprisedwiththesplendidappearanceofthecapitaloftheEast，theheightandextentofthewalls，themyriadsofwealthyandaffrightedcitizenswhocrowdedtheramparts，andthevariousprospectoftheseaandland。WhiletheygazedwithhopelessdesireontheinaccessiblebeautiesofConstantinople，asallywasmadefromoneofthegatesbyapartyofSaracens，^96whohadbeenfortunatelyengagedintheserviceofValens。ThecavalryofScythiawasforcedtoyieldtotheadmirableswiftnessandspiritoftheArabianhorses:theirriderswereskilledintheevolutionsofirregularwar；andtheNorthernBarbarianswereastonishedanddismayed，bytheinhumanferocityoftheBarbariansoftheSouth。
AGothicsoldierwasslainbythedaggerofanArab；andthehairy，nakedsavage，applyinghislipstothewound，expressedahorriddelight，whilehesuckedthebloodofhisvanquishedenemy。^97ThearmyoftheGoths，ladenwiththespoilsofthewealthysuburbsandtheadjacentterritory，slowlymoved，fromtheBosphorus，tothemountainswhichformthewesternboundaryofThrace。TheimportantpassofSucciwasbetrayedbythefear，orthemisconduct，ofMaurus；andtheBarbarians，whonolongerhadanyresistancetoapprehendfromthescatteredandvanquishedtroopsoftheEast，spreadthemselvesoverthefaceofafertileandcultivatedcountry，asfarastheconfinesofItalyandtheHadriaticSea。^98
[Footnote96:Valenshadgained，orratherpurchased，thefriendshipoftheSaracens，whosevexatiousinroadswerefeltonthebordersofPhoenicia，Palestine，andEgypt。TheChristianfaithhadbeenlatelyintroducedamongapeople，reserved，inafutureage，topropagateanotherreligion，Tillemont，Hist。desEmpereurs，tom。v。p。104，106，141。Mem。Eccles。tom。vii。p。
593。]
[Footnote97:Crinitusquidam，nudusomniapraeterpubem，subraunumetugubrestrepens。Ammian。xxxi。16，andVales。adloc。TheArabsoftenfoughtnaked；acustomwhichmaybeascribedtotheirsultryclimate，andostentatiousbravery。ThedescriptionofthisunknownsavageisthelivelyportraitofDerar，anamesodreadfultotheChristiansofSyria。SeeOckley\'sHist。oftheSaracens，vol。i。p。72，84，87。]
[Footnote98:TheseriesofeventsmaystillbetracedinthelastpagesofAmmianus，xxxi。15，16。Zosimus，l。iv。p。227，231，whomwearenowreducedtocherish，misplacesthesallyoftheArabsbeforethedeathofValens。EunapiusinExcerpt。
Legat。p。20praisesthefertilityofThrace，Macedonia，&c。]
TheRomans，whosocoolly，andsoconcisely，mentiontheactsofjusticewhichwereexercisedbythelegions，^99reservetheircompassion，andtheireloquence，fortheirownsufferings，whentheprovinceswereinvaded，anddesolated，bythearmsofthesuccessfulBarbarians。Thesimplecircumstantialnarrativedidsuchanarrativeexistoftheruinofasingletown，ofthemisfortunesofasinglefamily，^100mightexhibitaninterestingandinstructivepictureofhumanmanners:butthetediousrepetitionofvagueanddeclamatorycomplaintswouldfatiguetheattentionofthemostpatientreader。Thesamecensuremaybeapplied，thoughnotperhapsinanequaldegree，totheprofane，andtheecclesiastical，writersofthisunhappyperiod；thattheirmindswereinflamedbypopularandreligiousanimosity；andthatthetruesizeandcolorofeveryobjectisfalsifiedbytheexaggerationsoftheircorrupteloquence。ThevehementJerom^101mightjustlydeplorethecalamitiesinflictedbytheGoths，andtheirbarbarousallies，onhisnativecountryofPannonia，andthewideextentoftheprovinces，fromthewallsofConstantinopletothefootoftheJulianAlps；therapes，themassacres，theconflagrations；and，aboveall，theprofanationofthechurches，thatwereturnedintostables，andthecontemptuoustreatmentoftherelicsofholymartyrs。ButtheSaintissurelytransportedbeyondthelimitsofnatureandhistory，whenheaffirms，\"that，inthosedesertcountries，nothingwasleftexcepttheskyandtheearth；that，afterthedestructionofthecities，andtheextirpationofthehumanrace，thelandwasovergrownwiththickforestsandinextricablebrambles；andthattheuniversaldesolation，announcedbytheprophetZephaniah，wasaccomplished，inthescarcityofthebeasts，thebirds，andevenofthefish。\"ThesecomplaintswerepronouncedabouttwentyyearsafterthedeathofValens；andtheIllyrianprovinces，whichwereconstantlyexposedtotheinvasionandpassageoftheBarbarians，stillcontinued，afteracalamitousperiodoftencenturies，tosupplynewmaterialsforrapineanddestruction。Coulditevenbesupposed，thatalargetractofcountryhadbeenleftwithoutcultivationandwithoutinhabitants，theconsequencesmightnothavebeensofataltotheinferiorproductionsofanimatednature。Theusefulandfeebleanimals，whicharenourishedbythehandofman，mightsufferandperish，iftheyweredeprivedofhisprotection；butthebeastsoftheforest，hisenemiesorhisvictims，wouldmultiplyinthefreeandundisturbedpossessionoftheirsolitarydomain。Thevarioustribesthatpeopletheair，orthewaters，arestilllessconnectedwiththefateofthehumanspecies；anditishighlyprobablethatthefishoftheDanubewouldhavefeltmoreterroranddistress，fromtheapproachofavoraciouspike，thanfromthehostileinroadofaGothicarmy。
[Footnote99:ObservewithhowmuchindifferenceCaesarrelates，intheCommentariesoftheGallicwar，thatheputtodeaththewholesenateoftheVeneti，whohadyieldedtohismercy，iii。
16；thathelaboredtoextirpatethewholenationoftheEburones，vi。31；thatfortythousandpersonsweremassacredatBourgesbythejustrevengeofhissoldiers，whosparedneitheragenorsex，vii。27，&c。]
[Footnote100:SucharetheaccountsofthesackofMagdeburgh，bytheecclesiasticandthefisherman，whichMr。Hartehastranscribed，Hist。ofGustavusAdolphus，vol。i。p。313—320，
withsomeapprehensionofviolatingthedignityofhistory。]
[Footnote101:Etvastatisurbibus，hominibusqueinterfectis，solitudinemetraritatembestiarumquoquefieri，etvolatilium，pisciumque:testisIllyricumest，testisThracia，testisinquoortussumsolum，Pannonia；ubipraetercoelumetterram，etcrescentesvepres，etcondensasylvarumcunctaperierunt。Tom。
vii。p。250，l，Cap。Sophoniasandtom。i。p。26。]
ChapterXXVI:ProgressofTheHuns。
PartV。
WhatevermayhavebeenthejustmeasureofthecalamitiesofEurope，therewasreasontofearthatthesamecalamitieswouldsoonextendtothepeacefulcountriesofAsia。ThesonsoftheGothshadbeenjudiciouslydistributedthroughthecitiesoftheEast；andtheartsofeducationwereemployedtopolish，andsubdue，thenativefiercenessoftheirtemper。Inthespaceofabouttwelveyears，theirnumbershadcontinuallyincreased；andthechildren，who，inthefirstemigration，weresentovertheHellespont，hadattained，withrapidgrowth，thestrengthandspiritofperfectmanhood。^102ItwasimpossibletoconcealfromtheirknowledgetheeventsoftheGothicwar；and，asthosedaringyouthshadnotstudiedthelanguageofdissimulation，theybetrayedtheirwish，theirdesire，perhapstheirintention，toemulatethegloriousexampleoftheirfathersThedangerofthetimesseemedtojustifythejealoussuspicionsoftheprovincials；andthesesuspicionswereadmittedasunquestionableevidence，thattheGothsofAsiahadformedasecretanddangerousconspiracyagainstthepublicsafety。ThedeathofValenshadlefttheEastwithoutasovereign；andJulius，whofilledtheimportantstationofmaster—generalofthetroops，withahighreputationofdiligenceandability，thoughtithisdutytoconsultthesenateofConstantinople；whichheconsidered，duringthevacancyofthethrone，astherepresentativecouncilofthenation。Assoonashehadobtainedthediscretionarypowerofactingasheshouldjudgemostexpedientforthegoodoftherepublic，heassembledtheprincipalofficers，andprivatelyconcertedeffectualmeasuresfortheexecutionofhisbloodydesign。Anorderwasimmediatelypromulgated，that，onastatedday，theGothicyouthshouldassembleinthecapitalcitiesoftheirrespectiveprovinces；