ministers of the emperor, of the common benefits
of nature, and the fair intercourse of social life, they retaliated the
injustice on the subjects of the empire; and the crimes of Lupicinus
were expiated by the ruin of the peaceful husbandmen of Thrace, the
conflagration of their villages, and the massacre, or captivity, of
their innocent families. The report of the Gothic victory was soon
diffused over the adjacent country; and while it filled the minds of the
Romans with terror and dismay, their own hasty imprudence contributed
to increase the forces of Fritigern, and the calamities of the province.
Some time before the great emigration, a numerous body of Goths, under
the command of Suerid and Colias, had been received into the protection
and service of the empire. [73] They were encamped under the walls of
Hadrianople; but the ministers of Valens were anxious to remove them
beyond the Hellespont, at a distance from the dangerous temptation which
might so easily be communicated by the neighborhood, and the success, of
their countrymen. The respectful submission with which they yielded
to the order of their march, might be considered as a proof of their
fidelity; and their moderate request of a sufficient allowance of
provisions, and of a delay of only two days was expressed in the most
dutiful terms. But the first magistrate of Hadrianople, incensed by some
disorders which had been committed at his country-house, refused this
indulgence; and arming against them the inhabitants and manufacturers
of a populous city, he urged, with hostile threats, their instant
departure. The Barbarians stood silent and amazed, till they were
exasperated by the insulting clamors, and missile weapons, of the
populace: but when patience or contempt was fatigued, they crushed the
undisciplined multitude, inflicted many a shameful wound on the backs
of their flying enemies, and despoiled them of the splendid armor, [74]
which they were unworthy to bear. The resemblance of their sufferings
and their actions soon united this victorious detachment to the nation
of the Visigoths; the troops of Colias and Suerid expected the approach
of the great Fritigern, ranged themselves under his standard, and
signalized their ardor in the siege of Hadrianople. But the resistance
of the garrison informed the Barbarians, that in the attack of regular
fortifications, the efforts of unskillful courage are seldom effectual.
Their general acknowledged his error,