ians
from higher ground, broke their ranks and put them to flight. Most of
the Ambrones were cut down in the stream, where they were crowded upon
one another, and the river[86] was filled with blood and dead bodies;
and those who made their way across, not venturing to face about, were
smitten by the Romans till they reached their camp and the waggons in
their flight. There the women meeting them with swords and axes, with
horrid furious yells, attempted to drive back both the fugitives and
their pursuers, the fugitives as traitors and the pursuers as their
enemies, mingling among the combatants, and with their bare hands
tearing from the Romans their shields, laying hold of their swords,
and enduring wounds and gashes till they fell, in spirit unvanquished.
In this manner, it is said that the battle on the river was brought
about rather from accident than any design on the part of the
commander.

XX. After destroying many of the Ambrones, the Romans retreated and
night came on; yet this great success was not followed, as is usual on
such occasions, by paeans of victory, and drinking in the tents, and
merriment over supper, and what is sweetest of all to men who have won
a victory, gentle sleep, but the Romans spent that night of all others
in fear and alarm. For their camp had neither palisade nor rampart,
and there were still left many thousands of the enemy, and all night
long they heard the lamentation of the Ambrones who had escaped and
joined the rest of the barbarians, and it was not like the weeping and
groaning of men, but a howl resembling that of wild beasts; and a
bellowing mingled with threats and cries of sorrow proceeding from
such mighty numbers, re-echoed from the surrounding mountains and the
banks of the river. A frightful noise filled the whole plain, and the
Romans were alarmed, and even Marius himself was disturbed, expecting
a disorderly and confused battle in the night. However, the enemy made
no attack either on that night or the following day, but they were
occupied in arranging their forces and making preparations. In the
meantime, as the position of the enemy was backed by sloping hills and
deep ravines shaded with trees, Marius sent there Claudius Marcellus,
with three thousand heavy-armed soldiers, with instructions to lie
concealed in ambush, and to appear on the rear of the barbarians when
the battle was begun. The rest of the army, who supped in good time
and got a night's rest, he drew