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Marcellus protector, eius cognatus, et multi Procopianarum partium supplicio capitis affecti.

[1] Eisdem fere diebus, protector Marcellus, eiusdem cognatus, agens apud Nicaeam praesidium, proditione militum et interitu Procopii cognito, Serenianum intra palatium clausum, medio noctis horrore incautum adortus, occidit. Cuius mors saluti plurimis fuit.

[2] Nam si victoriae superfuisset incultis moribus homo, et nocendi acerbitate conflagrans, Valentique ob similitudinem morum, et genitalis patriae vicinitatem, acceptus, occultas voluntates principis introspiciens, ad crudelitatem propensioris multas innocentium ediderat strages.

[3] Quo interfecto, idem Marcellus, occupata celeri cursu Chalcedone, concrepantibus paucis, quos vilitas et desperatio trudebat in scelus, umbram principatus funesti capessit, gemina ratione fallente, quod et Gothorum tria milia regibus iam lenitis, ad auxilium transmissa¹ Procopio, Constantianam praetendenti necessitudinem, ad societatem suam parva mercede traduci posse existimabat, quodque gesta in Illyrico etiam tum latebant.

[4] Inter quae tam trepida, speculationibus fidis Aequitius doctus, conversam molem belli totius in Asiam, degressus per Succos, Philippopolim clausam praesidiis hostium, Eumolpiadam veterem, reserare magna vi conabatur, urbem admodum opportunam et impedituram eius appetitus, si pone relicta adiumenta Valenti laturus (nondum enim apud Nacoliam gesta compererat), festinare ad Haemimontum² cogeretur.

[5] Verum paulo postea cognita levi praesumptione Marcelli, milites missi sunt audaces et prompti, qui eum raptum, ut deditum noxae mancipium, in custodiam compegerunt. Unde post dies paucos³ productus, lateribus sulcatis acerrime, pariaque perpessis consortibus, interiit,⁴ hoc favorabilis solo quod abstulit Serenianum e medio, crudelem ut Phalarim, et illi⁵ fidum quia⁶ doctrinarum diritatem causis inanibus praetexebat.

[6] Exstirpatis occasu ducis funeribus belli, saevitum est in multos acrius quam errata flagitaverant vel delicta, maximeque in Philippopoleos defensores, qui urbem seque ipsos, non nisi capite viso Procopii, quod ad Gallias portabatur, aegerrime dediderunt.

[7] Ad gratiam tamen precantium, coerciti sunt aliqui lenius. Inter quos eminebat Araxius, in ipso rerum exustarum ardore adeptus ambitu praefecturam, et Agilone intercedente genero supplicio insulari multatus, breve post tempus evasit.

[8] Euphrasius vero, itemque Phronemius Phronimius, missi ad occiduas partes, arbitrio obiecti sunt Valentiniani, et absolute Euphrasio, Phronemius Phronimius Cherronesum deportatur, inclementius in codem punitus negotio, ea re quod divo Iuliano fuit acceptus, cuius memorandis virtutibus, ambo fratres principes obtrectabant, nec similes eius, nec suppares.

[9] His accedebant alia graviora, et multo magis quam in proeliis formidanda. Carnifex enim, et unci, et cruentae quaestiones, sine discrimine ullo aetatum et dignitatum, per fortunas omnes et ordines grassabantur, et pacis obtentu latrocinium detestandum agitabatur, infaustam victoriam exsecrantibus universis internecivo bello quovis graviorem.

[10] Nam inter arma et lituos condicionis aequatio leviora facit pericula, et Martiae virtutis potestas, aut absumit quod⁷ occupat, aut nobilitat, et⁸ mors (si acciderit), nullum ignominiae continet sensum, finemque secum vivendi simul et dolendi perducit: ubi vero consiliis impiis iura quidem praetenduntur et leges, et Catonianae vel Cassianae sententiae fuco perliti resident residerint⁹ iudices, agatur autem, quod agitur, ad voluntatem praetumidae potestatis, et ex eius libidine, incidentium¹⁰ vitae necisque momenta pensantur, ibi capitalis vertitur pernicies et abrupta.

[11] Nam ut quisque ea tempestate ob quamlibet valuerat¹¹ causam, regio imperio¹² prope¹³ accedens, et aliena rapiendi aviditate exustus, licet aperte insontem, arcessens, ut familiaris suscipiebatur et fidus, ditandus casibus alienis.

[12] Imperator enim promptior ad nocendum, criminantibus patens, et funereas delationes adsciscens, per suppliciorum diversitates effrenatius exsultavit, sententiae illius Tullianae ignarus, docentis infelices esse eos qui omnia sibi licere existimarunt.

[13] Haec implacabilitas causae quidem piissimae, sed victoriae foedioris, innocentes tortoribus exposuit multos, vel sub eculeo locavit¹⁴ incurvos, aut ictu carnificis torvi substravit: quibus (si pateretur natura), vel denas animas profundere praestabat in pugna, quam lateribus fodicatis, omni culpa immunis, fortunis gementibus universis, quasi laesae maiestatis luere poenas, dilaniatis ante corporibus, quod omni est tristius morte.

[14] Exin cum superata luctibus ferocia deflagrasset, proscriptiones et exsilia et quae leviora quibusdam videntur, quamquam sint aspera, viri pertulere summates, et (ut ditaretur alius) genere nobilis, et forte meritis locupletior, actus patrimonio praeceps, trususque in exsilium consumebatur angore, aut stipe precaria victitabat, nec modus ullus exitialibus malis impositus, quam diu principem et proximos opum satietas cepit et caedis.

[15] Hoc novatore adhuc superstite, cuius actus multiplices docuimus et interitum, diem duodecimum Kalendas Augustas, consule Valentiniano primum cum fratre, horrendi terrores¹⁵ per omnem orbis ambitum grassati sunt subito, qualis nec fabulae nec veridicae nobis antiquitates exponunt.

[16] Paulo enim post lucis exortum, densitate praevia fulgurum acrius vibratorum, tremefacta concutitur omnis terreni stabilitas ponderis, mareque dispulsum, retro fluctibus evolutis abscessit, ut retecta voragine profundorum, species natantium multiformes limo cernerentur haerentes, valliumque vastitates et montium tunc tune (ut opinari dabatur), sus- picerent radios solis, quos¹⁶ primigenia rerum natura¹⁷ sub immensis gurgitibus amendavit.

[17] Multis igitur navibus velut arida humo conexis, et licenter per exiguas undarum reliquias palantibus plurimis, ut pisces manibus colligerent et similia: marini fremitus velut gravati repulsam, versa vice consurgunt, perque vada ferventia insulis et continentis terrae porrectis spatiis violenter illisi, innumera quaedam in civitatibus, et ubi reperta sunt aedificia, complanarunt: proinde ut elementorum furente discordia, involuta facies mundi, miraculorum species ostendebat.

[18] Relapsa enim aequorum magnitudo magnitude cum minime speraretur, milia multa necavit hominum et submersit, recurrentiumque aestuum incitata vertigine, quaedam naves, postquam umentis substantiae consenuit tumor, pessum datae visae sunt, exanimataque naufragiis corpora supina iacebant aut prona.

[19] Ingentes aliae naves, extrusae rabidis flatibus, culminibus insedere tectorum (ut Alexandriae contigit) et ad secundum lapidem fere procul a litore contortae sunt aliquae, ut Laconicam prope Mothonen oppidum nos transeundo conspeximus, diuturna carie fatiscentem.

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

Sponsored by Perseus Project, Tufts University.

Funding provided by Tufts University.

Current edition Perseus

Res Gestae (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).)

Translations (1)

History Perseus (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).) — 26.10 focus

[1] At about the same time Marcellus, an officer of the guard and a relative of Procopius, commanding the garrison at Nicaea and learning of the betrayal of the usurper by the soldiers and his consequent death, at the fearful hour of midnight unexpectedly attacked Serenianus, who was imprisoned within the palace,¹ and killed him; and his death saved the lives of many.

[2] For if this man of rude nature, burning with a cruel desire to hurt, had survived the victory, being dear to Valens because of their likeness of character and their common fatherland, and well aware of the secret wishes of a prince inclined to cruelty, he would have caused the death of many innocent people.

[3] After killing Serenianus, Marcellus quickly got possession of Chalcedon, and, supported by the cheers of a few, whom their worthlessness and desperation drove to crime, seized the shadow of a fatal principate. He was deceived by two ideas, first because the kings of the Goths, who had now been conciliated, had sent three thousand men² to the aid of Procopius, led by his show of relationship to Constantius, and Marcellus thought that these men could for a small sum be brought over to his side; and secondly, because he had not yet learned what had happened in Illyricum.

[4] In the midst of this great confusion Aequitius, who had learned from trustworthy sources that the whole burden of the war had been transferred to Asia, marched through the pass of Succi and with all his might tried to open Philippopolis, formerly Eumolpias,³ which had been closed by the enemy’s garrison; for that city was very favourably situated and, if left in his rear, could hinder his attempt, if he should be compelled to hasten to Haemimontus⁴ in order to bring reinforcements to Valens; for he had not yet learned what had happened at Nacolia.⁵

[5] But learning a little later of the vain presumption of Marcellus, he at once sent bold and active soldiers who seized him and imprisoned him as a guilty slave. A few days later the usurper was brought out, his body was soundly scourged, and after his accomplices had been similarly treated, he was put to death: a man who deserves credit only for making away with Serenianus, who was cruel as Phalaris, and loyal to Procopius because of the accursed science which for vain reasons he pretended to have.⁶

[6] Through the death of the leader⁷ the horrors of war were rooted out; but many were punished more severely than their errors or faults demanded, especially the defenders of Philippopolis, who surrendered the city and themselves most reluctantly, and only when they saw the head of Procopius, which was being taken to Gaul.

[7] Some, however, through the influence of those who interceded for them, were treated more leniently, among them notably Araxius, who in the very heat of the conflagration had solicited and gained the prefecture;⁸ he, through the intercession of his son-in-law Agilo, was deported to an island, but soon afterwards made his escape.

[8] Euphrasius, however, and also Phronimius were sent to the west and left to the decision of Valentinian.⁹ Euphrasius was pardoned, but Phronimius was banished to the Chersonesus,¹⁰ receiving a severer punishment for the same offence because he had been well regarded by the deified Julian, whose noteworthy merits both the imperial brothers¹¹ depreciated, without being his equal or anywhere near it.

[9] To these events were added other more serious matters, far more to be feared than those of wartime. For executioner, instruments of torture, and bloody inquisitions raged without any distinction of age or of rank through all classes and orders, and under the mantle of peace¹² abominable robbery was carried on, while all cursed the ill-omened victory, which was worse than any war, however destructive.

[10] For amid arms and clarions, equality of condition makes dangers lighter; the force of martial valour either destroys what it attacks, or ennobles it; and death (if it comes) is attended with no sense of shame and brings with it at once an end of life and of suffering. But when the laws and statutes are pretexts for impious designs, and judges take their seats in false imitation of the character of a Cato or a Cassius,¹³ but everything is decided according to the will of men of swollen powers, and by their caprice the question of the life or death of all those who come before them is weighed, then, destruction results that is deadly and sudden.

[11] For when any one at that time had become powerful for any reason, and having almost royal authority and being consumed with longing to seize the goods of others, accused some clearly guiltless person, he was welcomed as an intimate and loyal friend,¹⁴ who was to be enriched by the ruin of other men.

[12] For the emperor, rather inclined himself to do injury, lent his ear to accusers, listened to death-dealing denunciations, and took unbridled joy in various kinds of executions; unaware of that saying of Cicero’s which asserts that those are unlucky who think that they have power to do anything they wish.

[13] This implacability in a cause which was most just, but where victory brought shame,¹⁵ delivered many innocent victims to the torturers, either placing them on the rack until they were bowed down¹⁶ or exposing them to the sword-stroke of a cruel executioner. It would have been better for them (if nature allowed it), to lose even ten lives in battle, rather than though free from all blame, with lacerated sides, amid general groans to suffer punishment for alleged treason, with their bodies first mutilated, a thing which is more awful than any death.

[14] When finally ferocity was overcome by the grief that it caused, and had burnt itself out, the most distinguished men suffered proscription, exile, and other punishments which seem lighter to some, terrible though they are; and in order that another might be enriched, a man of noble birth and perhaps richer in deserts was deprived of his patrimony and driven headlong into banishment, there to waste away from sorrow, or to support his life by beggary; and no limit was set to the deadly cruelties, until the emperor and his nearest friends were glutted with wealth and bloodshed.

[15] While that usurper¹⁷ of whose many deeds and his death we have told, still survived, on the twenty-first of July in the first consulship of Valentinian with his brother,¹⁸ horrible phenomena suddenly spread through the entire extent of the world, such as are related to us neither in fable nor in truthful history.

[16] For a little after daybreak, preceded by heavy and repeated thunder and lightning, the whole of the firm and solid earth was shaken and trembled, the sea with its rolling waves was driven back and withdrew from the land, so that in the abyss of the deep thus revealed men saw many kinds of sea-creatures stuck fast in the slime; and vast mountains and deep valleys, which Nature, the creator, had hidden in the unplumbed depths, then, as one might well believe, first saw the beams of the sun.

[17] Hence, many ships were stranded as if on dry land, and since many men roamed about without fear in the little that remained of the waters, to gather fish and similar things¹⁹ with their hands, the roaring sea, resenting, as it were, this forced retreat, rose in its turn; and over the boiling shoals it dashed mightily upon islands and broad stretches of the mainland, and levelled innumerable buildings in the cities and wherever else they were found; so that amid the mad discord of the elements the altered face of the earth revealed marvellous sights.

[18] For the great mass of waters, returning when it was least expected, killed many thousands of men by drowning; and by the swift recoil of the eddying tides a number of ships, after the swelling of the wet element subsided, were seen to have foundered, and the lifeless bodies of shipwrecked persons lay floating on their backs or on their faces.²⁰

[19] Other great ships, driven by the mad blasts, landed on the tops of buildings (as happened at Alexandria), and some were driven almost two miles inland, like a Laconian ship which I myself in passing that way saw near the town of Mothone,²¹ yawning²² apart through long decay.

Notes on the current edition

Res Gestae

1. transmissa, Pet.; erant missa, V.

2. Aemimontum, G; eam montum, V.

3. post dies paucos, Pet.; postridie, G; post dies, V.

4. interiit, G in b; inter, V.

5. et illi, Eyssen.; falari mille et ille, V.

6. quia, Her., who thought, c.c., that in primis, or something similar, had been lost before quia; a, V.

7. obtentu latrocinium, Novák; obtentuitum, V.

8. absumit quod, Novák; ausum id quod, V.

9. nobilita et, Novák ( nobilitat, Momm.); nobilitate et, V.

10. residerint, Her.; resident, G; residerendi, V.

11. incidentium, V, restored by Clark (cf. xix. 12, 13); inceden. tium, G. valuerit, V;

12. voluerit, vulgo, Momm.

13. imperio, added by Her.; V omits. prope, V; propere, vulgo.

14. locavit, Novák; capitis, B; capite statuit, Her.; capit, V.

15. terrore, N 2 vulgo; tremores, BG (but cf. xvii. 7, 12); erroris, V.

16. quas, Pet.; quos, V.

17. rerum nature Novák, Momm.; rerum, V.

Ammianus Marcellinus Res Gestae 26.10

John C. Rolfe (Translator)

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Marcellus protector, eius cognatus, et multi Procopianarum partium supplicio capitis affecti.

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