Kitap 17
12.15
But after a discussion of the question, orders were given that the Sarmatians (as permanent dependents of the Romans) should be freed from the domination of others and should present hostages as bonds for keeping the peace; an offer which they gladly accepted.
12.16
Moreover, after this there offered themselves a very great number of kings and nations, coming together in companies, and begged that swords be poised at their very throats,Lindenbrog and Wagner translate: that swords should be placed at their throats as a symbol of an oath and what would happen to them if they broke it; cf. xxi. 5, 10, gladiis cervicibus suis admotis sub exsecrationibus diris iuravereo; here begging that the swords be withdrawn would give a doubtful meaning to suspendi. as soon as they learned that Araharius had got off scot-free. And they too in the same way gained the peace which they sought, and sooner than was expected they summoned from the innermost parts of the kingdom and brought in as hostages the sons of eminent men, and also our prisoners (as had been stipulated), from whom they parted with as deep sighs as they did from their own countrymen.
12.17
These affairs once set in order, his attention was turned to the Sarmatians, who were deserving rather of pity than of anger; and to them this situation brought an incredible degree of prosperity; so that the opinion of some might well be deemed true, that fortune is either mastered or made by the power of a prince.
