eady few, many having
perished in the previous battles. Varus, therefore, and the most eminent
of the other leaders, fearing that they might either be taken alive or be
killed by their bitterest foes,--for they had been wounded,--dared do a
deed which was frightful but not to be avoided: they killed themselves.

[-22-] When this news was spread, none of the rest, even if he had
strength still left, defended himself longer. Some imitated their leader;
others, throwing aside their arms, allowed who pleased to slay them. To
flee was impossible, however one might wish it. Every man and horse,
therefore, was cut down without resistance, and the[3] ...

And the barbarians occupied all the strongholds save one, delay over
which prevented them from either crossing the Rhine or invading Gaul.
Yet they found themselves unable to reduce this particular fort because
they did not understand the conduct of sieges and because the Romans
employed numerous archers, who repeatedly repulsed them and from
first to last destroyed a large proportion of the attacking party.

Later they learned that the Romans had posted a guard at the Rhine
and that Tiberius was approaching with an imposing force of fighters.
Therefore most of the barbarians retired from the fortress, and the
detachment still left there withdrew some distance away, so as not to
be damaged by sudden sallies of the men inside; and they kept watch
of the roads, hoping to capture the garrison through scarcity of food
supplies. The Romans within, so long as they had abundance of sustenance,
remained where they were awaiting relief. But when no one
came to their assistance and they were likewise a prey to hunger, they
watched for a stormy night and issued forth--the soldiers were but
fed, the unarmed many,--and

they passed the first and second guard of their adversaries, but when
they reached the third they were detected; for on account of fatigue and
fear, and the darkness and cold, the women and children kept calling to
the men of fighting age to come back. They would all have perished or
been captured, had not the barbarians been so busily occupied with
seizing the plunder. This gave an opportunity for many of the most hardy
to get some distance off, and the trumpeters with them by sounding the
signal for a double quick march caused the enemy to think (for night
was coming on and they could not be seen) that they had been sent from
Asprenas.