Ammianus Marcellinus, Res Gestae, John C. Rolfe (Translator), 19.11.7

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[7] When this was known after the return of the tribunes, the emperor, exulting in the accomplishment without any toil of a task which he thought insuperable, admitted them all, being inflamed with the desire for greater gain, which his crew of flatterers increased by constantly dinning it into his ears that now that foreign troubles were quieted, and peace made everywhere, he would gain more child-producing subjects and be able to muster a strong force of recruits; for the provincials are glad to contribute gold to save their bodies,¹ a hope which has more than once proved disastrous to the Roman state.²

Res Gestae. Ammianus Marcellinus. John C. Rolfe (Translator). Cambridge, MA. 1935-1940.

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Current edition Perseus

History (English) (Ammianus Marcellinus. Ammianus Marcellinus, with an English translation, Vols. I-III. Rolfe, John C., translator. Cambridge, MA; London: Harvard University Press; W. Heinemann, 1935-1940 (printing).)

Editions (1)

Res Gestae Perseus (Ammianus Marcellinus. Ammianus Marcellinus, with an English translation, Vols. I-III. Rolfe, John C., editor. Cambridge, MA; London: Harvard University Press; W. Heinemann, 1935-1940 (printing).) — 19.11.7 focus

[7] His post reditum tribunorum compertis, imperator exsultans, ut negotio quod rebatur inexplicabile sine ullo pulvere consummando, cunctos admisit, aviditate plus habendi incensus, quam adulatorum cohors augebat, id sine modo strepentium, quod externis sopitis, et ubique pace composita, proletarios lucrabitur plures, et tirocinia cogere poterit validissima: aurum quippe gratanter provinciales pro¹ corporibus dabunt, quae spes rem Romanam aliquotiens aggravavit.²

Notes on the current edition

History

1. I.e. they would rather contribute money than personal service or recruits.

2. It was in fact this hope that led the Romans to allow the Goths to cross the Danube, and thus brought on the defeat at Adrianople in 378; see xxxi., 4, 4,

pro militari supplemento quod provinciatim annuum pendebatur, thesaurisaccederet auri cumulus magnus

Ammianus Marcellinus Res Gestae 19.11.7

John C. Rolfe (Translator)

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