other place and entered the territories of the Quadi, who
from their precipitous mountains were watching for his approach; the
main body of their nation, in their perplexity and uncertainty of what
might happen, had taken refuge with their families in those hills; but
were overwhelmed with consternation when they unexpectedly saw the
imperial standards in their country.

14. Valentinian advanced with as much rapidity as he could, slaughtering
every one of whatever age whom his sudden inroad surprised straggling
about the country, and after burning all their dwellings, he returned
safe without having experienced the slightest loss. And then, as autumn
was now on the wane, he stopped awhile at Buda, seeking where best to
fix his winter quarters in a region subject to very rigorous frost. And
he could not find any suitable place except Sabaria, though that town
was at the time in a very bad state of defence, having been ruined by
frequent sieges.

15. Accordingly when he reached this place, though it was one of great
consequence to him, he remained there but a very short time; and having
left it, he marched along the bank of the river, which he strengthened
with several forts and castles, and manned them with adequate garrisons.
He then proceeded to Bregitio; and in that town, after settling down
there in quiet, his Destiny, by numerous prodigies, portended to him his
approaching fate.

16. For a very few days before some of those comets, which ever give
token of the ruins of lofty fortunes, and of which we have already
explained the origin, appeared in the heavens. Also, a short time
before, a thunderbolt fell at Sirmium, accompanied with a terrific clap
of thunder, and set fire to a portion of the palace and senate-house:
and much about the same time an owl settled on the top of the royal
baths at Sabaria, and pouring forth a funeral strain, withstood all the
attempts to slay it with arrows or stones, however truly aimed, and
though numbers of people shot at it in diligent rivalry.

17. And again, when the emperor was quitting the city to return to the
camp, he set out to leave it by the same gate by which he had entered
it, with the object of obtaining an augury that he should speedily
return to Gaul. But the spot through neglect had become choked up with
ruins; and when they were cleaning it out they found that the door,
which had originally closed the entrance, had fallen down: and a great
multitude of people, tho