Whilethetrumpetssoundedtoarms，theundauntedcourageoftheGothswasconfirmedbythemutualobligationofasolemnoath；
andastheyadvancedtomeettheenemy，therudesongs，whichcelebratedthegloryoftheirforefathers，weremingledwiththeirfierceanddissonantoutcries，andopposedtotheartificialharmonyoftheRomanshout。SomemilitaryskillwasdisplayedbyFritigerntogaintheadvantageofacommandingeminence；butthebloodyconflict，whichbeganandendedwiththelight，wasmaintainedoneitherside，bythepersonalandobstinateeffortsofstrength，valor，andagility。ThelegionsofArmeniasupportedtheirfameinarms；buttheywereoppressedbytheirresistibleweightofthehostilemultitudetheleftwingoftheRomanswasthrownintodisorderandthefieldwasstrewedwiththeirmangledcarcasses。Thispartialdefeatwasbalanced，however，bypartialsuccess；andwhenthetwoarmies，atalatehouroftheevening，retreatedtotheirrespectivecamps，neitherofthemcouldclaimthehonors，ortheeffects，ofadecisivevictory。ThereallosswasmoreseverelyfeltbytheRomans，inproportiontothesmallnessoftheirnumbers；buttheGothsweresodeeplyconfoundedanddismayedbythisvigorous，andperhapsunexpected，resistance，thattheyremainedsevendayswithinthecircleoftheirfortifications。Suchfuneralrites，asthecircumstancesoftimeandplacewouldadmit，werepiouslydischargedtosomeofficersofdistinguishedrank；buttheindiscriminatevulgarwasleftunburiedontheplain。Theirfleshwasgreedilydevouredbythebirdsofprey，whointhatageenjoyedveryfrequentanddeliciousfeasts；andseveralyearsafterwardsthewhiteandnakedbones，whichcoveredthewideextentofthefields，presentedtotheeyesofAmmianusadreadfulmonumentofthebattleofSalices。^82
[Footnote79:TheItineraryofAntoninusp。226，227，edit。
WesselingmarksthesituationofthisplaceaboutsixtymilesnorthofTomi，Ovid\'sexile；andthenameofSalicesthewillowsexpressesthenatureofthesoil。]
[Footnote80:Thiscircleofwagons，theCarrago，wastheusualfortificationoftheBarbarians。VegetiusdeReMilitari，l。