lens hastened into Syria; and when he had reached the
borders of Bithynia he learnt from the accounts of the generals that the
nation of the Goths, who up to that time had never come into collision
with us, and who were therefore very fierce and untractable, were all
with one consent preparing for an invasion of our Thracian frontier.
When he heard this, in order to proceed on his own journey without
hindrance, he ordered a sufficient force of cavalry and infantry to be
sent into the districts in which the inroads of these barbarians were
apprehended.

12. Therefore, as the emperor was now at a distance, Procopius, being
wearied by his protracted sufferings, and thinking even a cruel death
preferable to a longer endurance of them, precipitately plunged into
danger; and not fearing the last extremities, but being wrought up
almost to madness, he undertook a most audacious enterprise. His desire
was to win over the legions known as the Divitenses and the younger
Tungricani, who were under orders to march through Thrace for the coming
campaign, and, according to custom, would stop two days at
Constantinople on their way; and for this object he intended to employ
some of them whom he knew, thinking it safer to rely on the fidelity of
a few, and dangerous and difficult to harangue the whole body.

13. Those whom he selected as emissaries, being secured by the hope of
great rewards, promised with a solemn oath to do everything he desired;
and undertook also for the good-will of their comrades, among whom they
had great influence from their long and distinguished service.

14. As was settled between them, when day broke, Procopius, agitated by
all kinds of thoughts and plans, repaired to the Baths of Anastasia, so
called from the sister of Constantine, where he knew these legions were
stationed; and being assured by his emissaries that in an assembly which
had been held during the preceding night all the men had declared their
adherence to his party, he received from them a promise of safety, and
was gladly admitted to their assembly; where, however, though treated
with all honour by the throng of mercenary soldiers, he found himself
detained almost as a hostage; for they, like the praetorians who after
the death of Pertinax had accepted Julian as their emperor because he
bid highest, now undertook the cause of Procopius in the hope of great
gain to themselves from the unlucky reign he was planning.

15. Procopius therefore