Page:Readings in European History Vol 1.djvu/73

The German Invasions 37 movements barbarians; and after long deliberation as to where to fix their abode, they resolved that a retreat into Thrace was the most suitable for these two reasons : first of all, because it is a district most fertile in grass ; and secondly, because, owing to the great breadth of the Danube, it is wholly separated from the districts exposed to the impending attacks of the invaders. Accordingly, under the command of their leader Alavivus, they occupied the banks of the Danube, and sent ambassa- dors to the emperor Valens, humbly entreating to be received by him as his subjects. They promised to live quietly, and to furnish a body of auxiliary troops if necessary. While these events were taking place abroad, the terrify- News of the ing rumor reached us that the tribes of the north were planning new and unprecedented attacks upon us ; and that over the whole region which extends from the country of Roman gov- the Marcomanni and Quadi to Pontus, hosts of barbarians ernment - composed of various nations, which had suddenly been driven by force from their own countries, were now, with all their families, wandering about in different directions on the banks of the river Danube. At first this intelligence was lightly treated by our people, because they were not in the habit of hearing of any wars in those remote districts till they were terminated either by victory or by treaty. But presently the belief in these occurrences grew stronger and was confirmed by the arrival of ambassadors, who, with prayers and earnest entreaties, begged that their people, thus driven from their homes and now encamped on the other side of the river, might be kindly received by us. The affair now seemed a cause of joy rather than of fear, according to the skillful flatterers who were always extolling and exaggerating the good fortune of the emperor. They congratulated him that an embassy had come from the farthest corners of the earth, unexpectedly offering him a large body of recruits ; and that, by combining the strength of his own people with these foreign forces, he would have an army absolutely invincible. They observed further that the