chomer, count of the domestics; and the auxiliaries of the West, that
marched under his banner, were composed of the Gallic legions, reduced
indeed, by a spirit of desertion, to the vain appearances of strength
and numbers. In a council of war, which was influenced by pride,
rather than by reason, it was resolved to seek, and to encounter, the
Barbarians, who lay encamped in the spacious and fertile meadows, near
the most southern of the six mouths of the Danube. [79] Their camp
was surrounded by the usual fortification of wagons; [80] and the
Barbarians, secure within the vast circle of the enclosure, enjoyed the
fruits of their valor, and the spoils of the province. In the midst of
riotous intemperance, the watchful Fritigern observed the motions, and
penetrated the designs, of the Romans. He perceived, that the numbers
of the enemy were continually increasing: and, as he understood their
intention of attacking his rear, as soon as the scarcity of forage
should oblige him to remove his camp, he recalled to their standard his
predatory detachments, which covered the adjacent country. As soon as
they descried the flaming beacons, [81] they obeyed, with incredible
speed, the signal of their leader: the camp was filled with the martial
crowd of Barbarians; their impatient clamors demanded the battle, and
their tumultuous zeal was approved and animated by the spirit of
their chiefs. The evening was already far advanced; and the two armies
prepared themselves for the approaching combat, which was deferred only
till the dawn of day.

While the trumpets sounded to arms, the undaunted courage of the Goths
was confirmed by the mutual obligation of a solemn oath; and as they
advanced to meet the enemy, the rude songs, which celebrated the glory
of their forefathers, were mingled with their fierce and dissonant
outcries, and opposed to the artificial harmony of the Roman shout. Some
military skill was displayed by Fritigern to gain the advantage of a
commanding eminence; but the bloody conflict, which began and ended with
the light, was maintained on either side, by the personal and obstinate
efforts of strength, valor, and agility. The legions of Armenia
supported their fame in arms; but they were oppressed by the
irresistible weight of the hostile multitude the left wing of the Romans
was thrown into disorder and the field was strewed with their mangled
carcasses. This partial defeat was balanced, however, by partial
success; a