r, master-general
of the cavalry, a Sarmatian by birth, but a man of slow and cautious
temper, recommended him to wait for his imperial colleague, and this
advice was supported by several other officers, who suggested that the
reinforcement of the Gallic army would be likely to awe the fiery
arrogance of the barbarians.

7. However, the fatal obstinacy of the emperor prevailed, fortified by
the flattery of some of the princes, who advised him to hasten with all
speed, so that Gratian might have no share in a victory which, as they
fancied, was already almost gained.

8. And while all necessary preparations were being made for the battle,
a presbyter of the Christian religion (as he called himself), having
been sent by Fritigern as his ambassador, came, with some colleagues of
low rank, to the emperor's camp; and having been received with courtesy,
he presented a letter from that chieftain, openly requesting that the
emperor would grant to him and to his followers, who were now exiles
from their native homes, from which they had been driven by the rapid
invasions of savage nations, Thrace, with all its flocks and all its
crops, for a habitation. And if Valens would consent to this, Fritigern
would agree to a perpetual peace.

9. In addition to this message, the same Christian, as one acquainted
with his commander's secrets, and well trusted, produced other secret
letters from his chieftain who, being full of craft and every resource
of deceit, informed Valens, as one who was hereafter to be his friend
and ally, that he had no other means to appease the ferocity of his
countrymen, or to induce them to accept conditions advantageous to the
Roman state, unless from time to time he showed them an army under arms
close at hand, and by frightening them with the name of the emperor,
recalled them from their mischievous eagerness for fighting. The
ambassadors retired unsuccessful, having been looked on as suspicious
characters by the emperor.

10. When the day broke which the annals mark as the fifth of the Ides of
August, the Roman standards were advanced with haste, the baggage having
been placed close to the walls of Hadrianople, under a sufficient guard
of soldiers of the legions; the treasures and the chief insignia of the
emperor's rank were within the walls, with the prefect and the principal
members of the council.

11. Then, having traversed the broken ground which divided the two
armies, as the burning day was pr