the grievous disasters
of the republic.

20. Therefore having made all the arrangements which the time would
permit for the affairs of Gaul, and having punished the traitor of the
Scutarii who had betrayed to the barbarians the intelligence that the
emperor was about to depart with all speed for Illyricum, Gratianus
quitted the army, and passing through the fortress known as that of
Arbor Felix, he proceeded by forced marches to carry his assistance to
those who needed it.

21. About this time, while Frigeridus was with great wisdom devising
many schemes likely to prove of advantage to the general safety, and was
preparing to fortify the defiles of the Succi, to prevent the enemy
(who, by the rapidity of their movements and their fondness for sallies,
were always threatening the northern provinces like a torrent) from
extending their inroads any further he was superseded by a count named
Maurus, a man cruel, ferocious, fickle, and untrustworthy. This man, as
we have related in our account of preceding transactions being one of
Julian's body-guard to whom the defence of the palace was expressly
committed, while that prince was doubting about accepting the imperial
authority, took the chain from his own neck and offered it to him for a
diadem.

22. Thus, in the most critical aspect of our difficulties, a cautious
and energetic general was removed, when, even if he had previously
retired into private life, he ought, from the greatness of the affairs
which required his superintendence, to have been brought back again to
the camp.

XI.

A.D. 378.

Sec. 1. About the same time Valens quitted Antioch, and, after a long
journey, came to Constantinople, where he stayed a few days, being made
anxious by a trifling sedition among the citizens. He intrusted the
command of the infantry, which had previously been committed to Trajan,
to Sebastian, who at his request had been lately sent to him from Italy,
being a general of well-known vigilance; and he himself went to
Melanthias, a country palace belonging to the emperors, where he
conciliated the soldiers by giving them their pay, furnishing them with
provisions, and frequently addressing them in courteous speeches.

2. Having left this place, he proceeded according to the stages he had
marked out, and came to a station named Nice, where he learnt from
intelligence brought by his scouts, that the barbarians, who had
collected a rich booty, were returning loaded with it f