peace.

4. The question of granting it to them was long discussed, with variety
of opinion, between the Roman commanders; but at last, as it seemed for
the advantage of the republic, a truce was granted, and after they had
agreed to the conditions proposed, one of which was that they should
furnish a number of young men suitable for military service, the Saxons
were permitted to withdraw, but without their baggage, and to return to
their own country.

5. But when they, being now freed from all fear, were preparing to
return, some of our infantry were sent forward, who secretly laid an
ambuscade in a certain hidden defile, from which they would easily be
able to attack them as they passed. But the matter turned out very
differently from what was expected.

6. For some of our men being roused by the noise of the Saxons, sprang
from their ambush unseasonably; and being suddenly seen, while they were
hastening to establish themselves, the barbarians, with a terrible yell,
put them to flight. Presently, however, they halted in a solid body, and
being now driven to extremities, were compelled to fight, though their
strength was far from great. The slaughter was great, and they would
have been all cut off to a man, had not a column of cuirassier cavalry,
which had been similarly placed in ambuscade at a place where the road
divided, in order there also to attack the barbarians in their passage,
been roused by the uproar, and come up suddenly.

7. Then the battle raged more fiercely, and with dauntless breasts the
Romans pressed forward on all sides, and with drawn swords hemmed in
their enemies, and slew them; nor did any of them ever return home, for
not one survived the slaughter. And although an impartial judge will
blame the action as treacherous and disgraceful, still if he weighs all
the circumstances, he will not regret that a mischievous band of robbers
was at length destroyed when such an opportunity presented itself.

8. After these affairs had been consummated thus successfully,
Valentinian revolving in his mind a great variety of opinions, was
filled with anxious solicitude, considering and contemplating different
measures for breaking the pride of the Allemanni and their king
Macrianus, who were incessantly and furiously disturbing the republic
with their restless movements.

9. For that ferocious nation, though from its earliest origin
diminished by various disasters, yet continually revives, so that it
mi