Book 31
7.6
The Roman leaders, therefore, led by hopes for a more favourable turn of affairs, and intending to dare some glorious deed when chance brought the opportunity, were keenly watching for any movement that the Goths might attempt; making ready of course for this, that in case the enemy moved their camp to any other place, as they very frequently did, they might attack the hindermost in the rear, kill many of them with their pikes, and appropriate a great part of their spoils.
7.7
When the Goths perceived this, or were informed by the reports of deserters, through whom everything was made known to them, they remained for a long time in the same position. But overwhelmed with fear of the opposing army, and of the additional soldiers that they now expected to flock to it, by means of the message used by their raceCf. 5, 8, above; vexillis de more sublatis, auditisque triste sonantibus classicis . . . concursabant. they summoned the predatory bands scattered over various places near by; these at once, in obedience to the orders of their chiefs, like fire-darts,See xxiii. 4, 14; xxi. 9, 6. returned with winged speed to their wagon city (as they themselves call it)In Greek, καραγός; for a description see Claudian, In Ruf. ii. 127 ff.; Vegetius, iii. 10. and gave their countrymen an incentive to greater deeds of daring.
