like a wild beast, complaining, of
fortune as merciless and blind, who in a brief moment had stripped him
of his riches, of his beloved relations, and his home; had made him see
his house reduced to ashes, and had reduced him to expect either to be
torn limb from limb himself, or else to be exposed to scourging and
torture, as the slave of a ferocious conqueror.

9. But the barbarians, like beasts who had broken loose from their
cages, pouring unrestrainedly over the vast extent of country, marched
upon a town called Dibaltum, where they found Barzimeres, a tribune of
the Scutarii, with his battalion, and some of the Cornuti legion, and
several other bodies of infantry pitching a camp, like a veteran general
of great experience as he was.

10. Instantly (as the only means of avoiding immediate destruction) he
ordered the trumpet to give the signal for battle; and strengthening his
flanks, rushed forward with his little army in perfect order. And he
made so gallant a struggle, that the barbarians would have obtained no
advantage over him, if a strong body of cavalry had not come round upon
him from behind, while his men were panting and weary with their
exertions: so at last he fell, but not without having inflicted great
slaughter on the barbarians, though the vastness of their numbers made
their losses less observed.

IX.

Sec. 1. After this affair had terminated, the Goths, being uncertain what
next to do, went in quest of Frigeridus, with the resolution to destroy
him wherever they could find him, as a formidable obstacle to their
success; and having rested for a while to refresh themselves with sleep
and better food than usual, they then pursued him like so many wild
beasts, having learnt that by Gratian's order he had returned into
Thrace, and had pitched his camp near Beraea, intending to wait there to
see how affairs would turn out.

2. They hastened accordingly, that by a rapid march they might carry
out their proposed plan; but Frigeridus, who knew as well how to command
as to preserve his troops, either suspected their plans, or else
obtained accurate information respecting them from the scouts whom he
had sent out; and therefore returned over the mountains and through the
thick forests into Illyricum; being full of joy at the success which an
unexpected chance threw in his way.

3. For as he was retreating, and moving on steadily with his force in a
solid column, he came upon Farnobius, one of the ch