OntheninthofAugust，adaywhichhasdeservedtobemarkedamongthemostinauspiciousoftheRomanCalendar，^91theemperorValens，leaving，underastrongguard，hisbaggageandmilitarytreasure，marchedfromHadrianopletoattacktheGoths，whowereencampedabouttwelvemilesfromthecity。^92Bysomemistakeoftheorders，orsomeignoranceoftheground，therightwing，orcolumnofcavalryarrivedinsightoftheenemy，whilsttheleftwasstillataconsiderabledistance；thesoldierswerecompelled，inthesultryheatofsummer，toprecipitatetheirpace；andthelineofbattlewasformedwithtediousconfusionandirregulardelay。TheGothiccavalryhadbeendetachedtoforageintheadjacentcountry；andFritigernstillcontinuedtopractisehiscustomaryarts。Hedespatchedmessengersofpeace，madeproposals，requiredhostages，andwastedthehours，tilltheRomans，exposedwithoutsheltertotheburningraysofthesun，wereexhaustedbythirst，hunger，andintolerablefatigue。TheemperorwaspersuadedtosendanambassadortotheGothiccamp；
thezealofRichomer，whoalonehadcouragetoacceptthedangerouscommission，wasapplauded；andthecountofthedomestics，adornedwiththesplendidensignsofhisdignity，hadproceededsomewayinthespacebetweenthetwoarmies，whenhewassuddenlyrecalledbythealarmofbattle。ThehastyandimprudentattackwasmadebyBacuriustheIberian，whocommandedabodyofarchersandtargeteers；andastheyadvancedwithrashness，theyretreatedwithlossanddisgrace。Inthesamemoment，theflyingsquadronsofAlatheusandSaphrax，whosereturnwasanxiouslyexpectedbythegeneraloftheGoths，descendedlikeawhirlwindfromthehills，sweptacrosstheplain，andaddednewterrorstothetumultuous，butirresistiblechargeoftheBarbarianhost。TheeventofthebattleofHadrianople，sofataltoValensandtotheempire，maybedescribedinafewwords:theRomancavalryfled；theinfantrywasabandoned，surrounded，andcutinpieces。Themostskilfulevolutions，thefirmestcourage，arescarcelysufficienttoextricateabodyoffoot，encompassed，onanopenplain，bysuperiornumbersofhorse；butthetroopsofValens，oppressedbytheweightoftheenemyandtheirownfears，werecrowdedintoanarrowspace，whereitwasimpossibleforthemtoextendtheirranks，oreventouse，witheffect，theirswordsandjavelins。
Inthemidstoftumult，ofslaughter，andofdismay，theemperor，desertedbyhisguardsandwounded，asitwassupposed，withanarrow，soughtprotectionamongtheLanceariiandtheMattiarii，whostillmaintainedtheirgroundwithsomeappearanceoforderandfirmness。Hisfaithfulgenerals，TrajanandVictor，whoperceivedhisdanger，loudlyexclaimedthatallwaslost，unlessthepersonoftheemperorcouldbesaved。Sometroops，animatedbytheirexhortation，advancedtohisrelief:theyfoundonlyabloodyspot，coveredwithaheapofbrokenarmsandmangledbodies，withoutbeingabletodiscovertheirunfortunateprince，eitheramongthelivingorthedead。Theirsearchcouldnotindeedbesuccessful，ifthereisanytruthinthecircumstanceswithwhichsomehistorianshaverelatedthedeathoftheemperor。
Bythecareofhisattendants，Valenswasremovedfromthefieldofbattletoaneighboringcottage，wheretheyattemptedtodresshiswound，andtoprovideforhisfuturesafety。Butthishumbleretreatwasinstantlysurroundedbytheenemy:theytriedtoforcethedoor，theywereprovokedbyadischargeofarrowsfromtheroof，tillatlength，impatientofdelay，theysetfiretoapileofdrymagots，andconsumedthecottagewiththeRomanemperorandhistrain。Valensperishedintheflames；andayouth，whodroppedfromthewindow，aloneescaped，toattestthemelancholytale，andtoinformtheGothsoftheinestimableprizewhichtheyhadlostbytheirownrashness。AgreatnumberofbraveanddistinguishedofficersperishedinthebattleofHadrianople，whichequalledintheactualloss，andfarsurpassedinthefatalconsequences，themisfortunewhichRomehadformerlysustainedinthefieldsofCannae。^93Twomaster—generalsofthecavalryandinfantry，twogreatofficersofthepalace，andthirty—fivetribunes，werefoundamongtheslain；andthedeathofSebastianmightsatisfytheworld，thathewasthevictim，aswellastheauthor，ofthepubliccalamity。AbovetwothirdsoftheRomanarmyweredestroyed:andthedarknessofthenightwasesteemedaveryfavorablecircumstance，asitservedtoconcealtheflightofthemultitude，andtoprotectthemoreorderlyretreatofVictorandRichomer，whoalone，amidstthegeneralconsternation，maintainedtheadvantageofcalmcourageandregulardiscipline。^94
[Footnote91:Ammianusxxxi。12，13almostalonedescribesthecouncilsandactionswhichwereterminatedbythefatalbattleofHadrianople。Wemightcensurethevicesofhisstyle，thedisorderandperplexityofhisnarrative:butwemustnowtakeleaveofthisimpartialhistorian；andreproachissilencedbyourregretforsuchanirreparableloss。]