ce the time of Constans.

6. And Valentinian was deservedly dreaded by them because he took care
to keep up the numbers of his army by strong reinforcements, and because
also he fortified both banks of the Rhine with lofty fortresses and
castles, to prevent the enemy from ever passing over into our territory
without being perceived.

7. We may pass over many circumstances, and many acts which he performed
with the authority of an emperor whose power was fully established, and
many of the reforms which he either effected himself, or caused to be
carried out by his vigorous lieutenants. But we must record how, after
he had raised his son Gratian to a partnership in the imperial
authority, he contrived the secret murder of Vithigabius, the king of
the Allemanni, and the son of Vadomarius, a young man in the flower of
youth, who was actively stirring up the surrounding nations to tumults
and wars; doing this because he found it impossible to procure his death
openly. How also he fought a battle against the Allemanni near
Solicinium, where he was nearly circumvented and slain by the
manoeuvres of the enemy; but where at last he utterly destroyed their
whole army with the exception of a few who saved themselves by the aid
of the darkness which assisted the rapidity of their flight.

8. Amid all these prudent actions he also turned his attention to the
Saxons who had lately broken out with extreme ferocity, making attacks
in every direction where they were least expected, and had now
penetrated into the inland districts, from which they were returning
enriched by a vast booty. He destroyed them utterly by a device which
was indeed treacherous, but most advantageous; and he recovered by force
all the booty which the defeated robbers were carrying off.

9. Nor did he disregard the condition of the Britons, who were unable to
make head against the vast hosts of their enemies, who were overrunning
their country; he revived their hopes of better fortune, and
re-established liberty and steady tranquillity among them; routing their
invaders so completely that scarcely any of them returned to their own
country.

10. With similar vigour he crushed Valentinus the Pannonian exile (who
was labouring to disturb the general tranquillity in that province),
before his enterprise could become dangerous. He also delivered Africa
from great dangers at a time when it was thrown into confusion by an
unexpected disaster: when Firmus, unable to