in which such
numbers of barbarians fell that nothing but the fact of our victory
proved that there had been any battle at all.

12. Those in arms had scarcely been routed when the relations of the
dead, of every age and sex, were brought forward in crowds, having been
dragged from their humble dwellings. And all their former pride being
now gone, they descended to the lowest depths of servile obedience, and
after a very short time nothing but barrows of the dead and bands of
captives were beheld.

13. So, the heat of strife and the excitement of victory stimulating our
men, they rose up to destroy all who had escaped the battle, or who were
lying hidden in their dwellings. And when, eager for the blood of the
barbarians, our soldiers had reached the spot, they tore to pieces the
slight straw-thatched huts; nor could even the strongest-built cottages,
or the stoutest beams save any one from death.

14. At last, when everything was set on fire, and when no one could be
concealed any longer, since every protection for their lives was
destroyed, they either perished obstinately in the flames, or else, if
they avoided the fire and sallied out, they only escaped that
destruction to fall beneath the sword of their enemies.

15. Some, however, did escape from the weapons of the enemy and from the
spreading flames, and committed themselves to the stream, trusting to
their skill in swimming to enable them to reach the further bank; but
many of them were drowned, and others were transfixed by our javelins,
so that the winding stream of the vast river was discoloured with blood,
and thus, by the agency of both elements, did the indignation and valour
of the conquerors destroy the Sarmatians.

16. After these events it was determined to leave the barbarians no hope
nor comfort of life; and after burning their houses and carrying off
their families, an order was given to collect boats in order to hunt out
those who, being on the opposite bank of the river, had escaped the
attack of our men.

17. And immediately, that the alacrity of our warriors might have no
time to cool, some light-armed troops were embarked in boats, and led by
secret paths to occupy the retreats of the Sarmatians. The barbarians at
first were deceived by seeing only the boats of their own country, and
crews with whom they were acquainted.

18. But when the weapons glittered in the distance, and they perceived
that what they feared was upon them, they sou