Kitap 30
3.1
In the year following these events, Gratianus was made consul as the colleague of Aequitius; and Valentinian, who after devastating several cantons of the Alamanni was building a fortification near Basle, which the neighbours call Robur,Near modern Hüningen. received the report of the prefect Probus, telling of the devastation in Illyricum.By the Quadi; xxix. 6, 6, 8.
3.2
On reading this with careful attention, as became a cautious general, he was distracted by anxious reflections and sending the secretary Paternianus, gave the matter the most searching investigation. As soon as he received through him a true account of what had happened, he hastened to set out at once, in order (as he intended) to crush by the first clash of his arms the savages who had ventured to violate our frontier.
3.3
But since autumn was waning and many difficulties stood in the way, all the principal men at the court strove by entreaties and prayersCf. Ter., Andr., 592, gnatam ut det oro, vixque id exoro. to hold him back until the beginning of spring. In the first place, they urged that the roads, hardened with frost, where neither any growth of grass would be found for fodder nor anything else fit for the use of the army, could not be penetrated. In the second place, they set before him the alleged savagery of the kings bordering on Gaul, and most of all of Macrianus, who was formidable, and (as was well known) had been left unsubdued,Cf. xxix. 4, 2. and would actually attack even fortified cities.
