Kitap 30
10.2
When affairs were in this critical state, and all were equally in dread, and likely to share in whatever dangers that might arise, as if in the same boat,A common proverb; cf. Cic., Ad Fam. ii. 5, 1; Livy, xliv. 22, 12. it was agreedFor this meaning of sedit, cf. xiv. 1, 5; xix. 7, 6, sedit consilium. in accordance with the advice of the highest officers, after having torn down the bridge, which they had previously built under necessity when invading the enemy’s territory, that Merobaudes at onceCf. 5, 13. should be summoned by order of Valentinian when he was still alive.
10.3
He, being a sharp-wittedman, either guessing what had happened, or perhaps having learned it from the messenger who summoned him, and suspecting that the Gallic troops would violate the terms of peace, pretended that an order-ticket had been sent to him to return with the messenger, in order to guard the banks of the Rhine because the barbarians were getting wilder. And Sebastianus, who was still unaware of the emperor’s death, he sent to a more distant post, which had been secretly ordered; for although Sebastianus was a quiet and peace-loving man, he stood in high favour with the troops, and hence he was particularly to be feared at that time.
