ld that a warlike and vigilant emperor had iron, not
gold.

11. Here, owing to the obstinate hostility of the Persians, we lost four
days. For when we advanced they followed us, compelling us to retrace
our steps by their incessant attacks. When we halted gradually to fight,
they retired, tormenting us by their long delay. And now (for when men
are in great fear even falsehoods please them) a report being spread
that we were at no great distance from our own frontier, the army raised
an impatient shout, and demanded to be at once led across the Tigris.

12. But the emperor and his officers opposed this demand, and showed
them that the river, now just at the time of the rising of the Dogstar,
was much flooded, entreated them not to trust themselves to its
dangerous currents, reminding them that most of them could not swim, and
adding likewise that the enemy had occupied the banks of the river,
swoln as it was at many parts.

13. But when the demand was repeated over and over again in the camp,
and the soldiers with shouts and great eagerness began to threaten
violence, the order was given very unwillingly that the Gauls, mingled
with the northern Germans, should lead the way into the river, in order
that if they were carried away by the violence of the stream the
obstinacy of the rest might be shaken; or on the other hand, if they
accomplished the passage in safety the rest might attempt it with more
confidence.

14. And men were selected suited to such an enterprise, who from their
childhood had been accustomed in their native land to cross the greatest
rivers. And when the darkness of night presented an opportunity for
making the attempt unperceived, as if they had just escaped from a
prison, they reached the opposite bank sooner than could have been
expected; and having beaten down and slain numbers of the Persians whom,
though they had been placed there to guard the passage, their fancied
security had lulled into a gentle slumber, they held up their hands, and
shook their cloaks so as to give the concerted signal that their bold
attempt had succeeded.

15. And when the signal was seen, the soldiers became eager to cross,
and could only be restrained by the promise of the engineers to make
them bridges by means of bladders and the hides of slaughtered animals.

VII.

Sec. 1. While these vain attempts were going on, king Sapor, both while at
a distance, and also when he approached, received from his scouts an