t only warlike, but so active as usually to keep out of
bowshot, rather by manoeuvres and skill than by hazardous engagements.

33. Still he from time to time sent out envoys, skilled in the arts of
persuasion, to the surrounding tribes, the Basurae, the Cautauriani, the
Anastomates, the Cafaves, the Davares, and other people in their
neighbourhood, trying to bring them over to our alliance, either by
presents, threats, or by promises of pardon for past violence ...
seeking by delays and intrigues to crush an enemy who offered so stout a
resistance to his attacks, just as Pompey in times past had subdued
Mithridates.

34. On this account Firmus, avoiding immediate destruction, although he
was strengthened by a large body of troops, abandoned the army which he
had collected by a lavish expenditure of money, and as the darkness of
night afforded a chance of concealment, he fled to the Caprarian
mountains, which were at a great distance, and from their precipitous
character inaccessible.

35. On his clandestine departure, his army also dispersed, being broken
up into small detachments without any leader, and thus afforded our men
an opportunity of attacking their camp. That was soon plundered, and all
who resisted were put to the sword, or else taken prisoners; and then,
having devastated the greater portion of the country, our wise general
appointed prefects of tried loyalty as governors of the different tribes
through which he passed.

36. The traitor was thrown into consternation by the unexpected boldness
of his pursuit, and with the escort of only a few servants, hoping to
secure his safety by the rapidity of his movements, in order to have
nothing to impede his flight, threw away all the valuable baggage which
he had taken with him. His wife, exhausted with continual toil....

37. Theodosius ... showing mercy to none of them, having refreshed his
soldiers by a supply of better food, and gratified them by a
distribution of pay, defeated the Capracienses and Abanni, who were the
next tribes to them, in some unimportant skirmishes, and then advanced
with great speed to the town of ... and having received certain
intelligence that the barbarians had already occupied the hills, and
were spread over the precipitous and broken ground to a great height, so
that they were quite inaccessible to any but natives who were intimately
acquainted with the whole country, he retired, giving the enemy an
opportunity by a truce, sh