s as a favourable opportunity, and seeing
that the Roman soldiers were occupied in another quarter, and that the
vessels which used to go up and down, to prevent them from crossing,
were now stationary, crossed the river on roughly-made rafts, and
pitched their camp at a great distance from Fritigern.

4. But he, by his innate foresight, provided against everything that
could happen, and marching on slowly as well in obedience to the
commands he had received as to allow time for other powerful kings to
join him, came by slow marches to Marcianopolis, arriving later than he
was expected. And here another atrocious occurrence took place, which
kindled the torches of the Furies for general calamity.

5. Alavivus and Fritigern were invited to a banquet; while Lupicinus
drew up his soldiers against the chief host of the barbarians, and so
kept them at a distance from the walls of the town; though they with
humble perseverance implored admission in order so to procure necessary
provisions, professing themselves loyal and obedient subjects. At last a
serious strife arose between the citizens and the strangers who were
thus refused admittance, which gradually led to a regular battle. And
the barbarians, being excited to an unusual pitch of ferocity when they
saw their relations treated as enemies, began to plunder the soldiers
whom they had slain.

6. But when Lupicinus, of whom we have already spoken, learnt by secret
intelligence that this was taking place, while he was engaged in an
extravagant entertainment, surrounded by buffoons, and almost overcome
by wine and sleep, he, fearing the issue, put to death all the guards
who, partly as a compliment and partly as a guard to the chiefs, were on
duty before the general's tent.

7. The people who were still around the walls heard of this with great
indignation, and rising up by degrees into a resolution to avenge their
kings, who, as they fancied, were being detained as prisoners, broke out
with furious threats. And Fritigern, being a man of great readiness of
resource, and fearing that perhaps he might be detained with the rest as
a hostage, exclaimed that there would be a terrible and destructive
conflict if he were not allowed to go forth with his companions in order
to pacify the multitude, who he said had broken out in this tumult from
believing that their leaders had been trepanned and murdered under show
of courtesy. Having obtained permission, they all went forth, and