ors
had refused to ransom her, it would have been the cause of terrible
disasters to the republic. After this the Quadi in conjunction with the
Sarmatians, extended their ravages further (since both these tribes were
addicted beyond measure to plunder and robbery), carrying off, men,
women, and cattle, and exulting in the ashes of burnt villas, and in the
misery of the murdered inhabitants, whom they fell upon unexpectedly and
slaughtered without mercy.

9. All the neighbouring districts were filled with apprehension of
similar evils, and Probus, the prefect of the praetorium, who was at that
time at Sirmium, a man wholly unexperienced in war, being panic-struck
with the calamitous appearance of these new occurrences, and scarcely
able to raise his eyes for fear, was for a long time wavering in doubt
what to do. At first he prepared some swift horses and resolved to fly
the next night; but afterwards, taking advice from some one who gave him
safer counsel, he stayed where he was, but without doing anything.

10. For he had been assured that all those who were within the walls of
the city would immediately follow him, with the intention of concealing
themselves in suitable hiding-places; and if that had been done, the
city, left without defenders, would have fallen into the hands of the
enemy.

11. Presently, after his terror had been a little moderated, he applied
himself with some activity to do what was most pressing; he cleared out
the fosses which were choked up with ruins; he repaired the greater
portion of the walls which, through the security engendered by a long
peace, had been neglected, and had fallen into decay, and raised them
again to the height of lofty towers, devoting himself zealously to the
work of building. In this way the work was speedily completed, because
he found that the sums which some time before had been collected for the
erection of a theatre were sufficient for the purpose he was now
pressing forward. And to this prudent measure he added another of like
precaution, in summoning a cohort of archer cavalry from the nearest
station, that it might be at hand to resist a siege should any take
place.

12. By these barriers, as they may be called, the barbarians were forced
to abandon their design of besieging the city, since they were not
skilful in contests of this kind, and were also hampered by the burden
of their booty; accordingly they turned aside to pursue Equitius. And
when, from the