air; the dust rose to the sky in one vast cloud, preventing
all possibility of seeing, and causing arms to fall upon arms, man upon
man.

44. But the barbarians, in their undisciplined anger and fury, raged
like the flames; and with ceaseless blows of their swords sought to
pierce through the compact mass of the shields with which our soldiers
defended themselves, as with the testudo.[67]

45. And when this was seen, the Batavi, with the royal legion, hastened
to the support of their comrades, a formidable band, well able, if
fortune aided them, to save even those who were in the extremest danger.
And amid the fierce notes of their trumpets, the battle again raged with
undiminished ferocity.

46. But the Allemanni, still charging forward impetuously, strove more
and more vigorously, hoping to bear down all opposition by the violence
of their fury. Darts, spears, and javelins never ceased; arrows pointed
with iron were shot; while at the same time, in hand-to-hand conflict,
sword struck sword, breastplates were cloven, and even the wounded, if
not quite exhausted with loss of blood, rose up still to deeds of
greater daring.

47. In some sense it may be said that the combatants were equal. The
Allemanni were the stronger and the taller men; our soldiers by great
practice were the more skilful. The one were fierce and savage, the
others composed and wary; the one trusted to their courage, the others
to their physical strength.

48. Often, indeed, the Roman soldier was beaten down by the weight of
his enemy's arms, but he constantly rose again; and then, on the other
hand, the barbarian, finding his knees fail under him with fatigue,
would rest his left knee on the ground, and even in that position
attack his enemy, an act of extreme obstinacy.

49. Presently there sprang forward with sudden vigour a fiery band of
nobles, among whom also were the princes of the petty tribes, and, as
the common soldiers followed them in great numbers, they burst through
our lines, and forced a path for themselves up to the principal legion
of the reserve, which was stationed in the centre, in a position called
the praetorian camp; and there the soldiery, being in closer array, and
in densely serried ranks, stood firm as so many towers, and renewed the
battle with increased spirit. And intent upon parrying the blows of the
enemy, and covering themselves with their shields as the Mirmillos[68]
do, with their drawn swords wounded their