Book 30
1.17
And to palliate their fault or the deception which they had suffered from greater cleverness, they bombarded the ears of the emperor (most retentive of all gossip) with false charges against Papa, alleging that he was wonderfully skilled through the incantations of CirceCf. Odyss. x. 233 ff. in changing and weakening men’s bodies; and they added that, having by arts of that kind spread darkness round himself,Offusa sibi caligine refers to Papa, meaning that he had wrapped himself in a cloud. and by changing his own form and that of his followers, having passed through their lines, if he survived this trickery, he would cause sad troubles.
1.18
In this way the irreconcilable hatred of the emperor for Papa was increased, and plots were devised every day for taking his life either by violence or secretly; and to Trajanus,Cf. xxix. 1, 2. who was then in Armenia in command of the military forces, this work was entrusted through secret letters.
1.19
That general sought to win the king by treacherous flattery, now showing him letters of Valens as tokens of his calm state of mind, and now forcing himself upon his banquets; finally, when his plot was matured, he invited him with great respect to a luncheon. The king came, fearing no hostility, and took his place in the seat of honour granted him.
