They seduced some picked soldiers of our army, who had revolted to
them the day before, to pretend to escape back to their former comrades,
and thus gain admittance within the walls; and after they had effected
their entrance, they were secretly to set fire to some part of the city,
so that the conflagration might serve as a secret signal, and while the
garrison and citizens were occupied in extinguishing it, the walls might
be left undefended, and so be easily stormed.

9. The traitors did as they were commanded; and when they came near the
ditch they stretched out their hands, and with entreaties requested to
be admitted into the city as Romans. When they were admitted, however
(since no suspicion existed to hinder their admission), and were
questioned as to the plans of the enemy, they varied in their tale: and
in consequence they were put to the torture, and having formally
confessed what they had undertaken to do, they were all beheaded.

10. Accordingly, every resource of war having been prepared, the
barbarians, at the third watch discarding all fear from past failures,
rushed in enormous numbers against the blocked-up entrances of the city,
their officers urging them with great obstinacy. But the provincials and
imperial guards, with the rest of the garrison, rose with fearless
courage to repel them, and their missiles of every kind, even when shot
at random among so vast a crowd, could not fall harmless. Our men
perceived that the barbarians were using the same weapons which we
ourselves had shot at them: and accordingly an order was given that the
strings which fastened the iron points to the javelins and arrows should
be cut before they were hurled or shot; so that while flying they should
preserve their efficacy, but when they pierced a body or fell on the
ground they should come asunder.

11. While affairs were in this critical state an unexpected accident had
a considerable influence on the result. A scorpion, a military engine
which in ordinary language is also known as the wild-ass, being
stationed opposite the dense array of the enemy, hurled forth a huge
stone, which, although it fell harmless on the ground, yet by the mere
sight of it terrified them so greatly, that in alarm at the strange
spectacle they all fell back and endeavoured to retreat.

12. But their officers ordering the trumpets to sound a charge, the
battle was renewed; and the Romans, as before, got the advantage, not a
single javeli