would have studied the secret
inclinations of a prince always inclined to cruelty, and would have shed
the blood of many innocent persons.

3. Having killed him, Marcellus by a rapid march seized on Chalcedon,
and with the aid of a few people, whom the lowness of their condition
and despair urged to crime, obtained a shadow of authority which proved
fatal to him, being deceived by two circumstances, because he thought
that the three thousand Goths who, after their kings had been
conciliated, had been sent to aid Procopius, who had prevailed on them
to support him by pleading his relationship to Constantine, would at a
small cost be easily won over to support him, and also because he was
ignorant of what had happened in Illyricum.

4. While these alarming events were taking place, Equitius, having
learnt by trustworthy reports from his scouts that the whole stress of
the war was now to be found in Asia, passed through the Succi, and made
a vigorous attempt to take Philippopolis, the ancient Eumolpias,[159]
which was occupied by a garrison of the enemy. It was a city in a most
favourable position, and likely to prove an obstacle to his approach if
left in his rear, and if he, while conducting reinforcements to Valens
(for he was not yet acquainted with what had happened at Nacolia),
should be compelled to hasten to the district around Mount Haemus.

5. But when, a few days later, he heard of the foolish usurpation of
Marcellus, he sent against him a body of bold and active troops, who
seized him as a mischievous slave, and threw him into prison. From
which, some days afterwards, he was brought forth, scourged severely
with his accomplices, and put to death, having deserved favour by no
action of his life except that he had slain Serenianus, a man as cruel
as Phalaris, and faithful only in barbarity, which he displayed on the
slightest pretext.

6. The war being now at an end by the death of the leader, many were
treated with much greater severity than their errors or faults required,
especially the defenders of Philippopolis, who would not surrender the
city or themselves till they saw the head of Procopius, which was
conveyed to Gaul.

7. Some, however, by the influence of intercessors, received mercy, the
most eminent of whom was Araxius, who, when the crisis was at its
height, had applied for and obtained the office of prefect. He, by the
intercession of his son-in-law Agilo, was punished only by banishment to
a