Turesis
and his band stayed for night: of which our General was aware. The guards
were therefore strengthened with extraordinary reinforcements: and now
with the night, darkness prevailed, its horror heightened by outrageous
rain; and the enemy with tumultuous shouts, and by turns with vast
silence, alarmed and puzzled the besiegers. Sabinus therefore going round
the camp, warned the soldiers, "that they should not be misguided by the
deceitful voice of uproar, nor trust to a feigned calm, and thence open an
advantage to the enemy, who by these wiles sought it; but keep immovably
to their several posts; nor throw their darts at random."
Just then came the Barbarians, pouring in distinct droves: here, with
stones, with wooden javelins hardened in the fire, and with the broken
limbs of trees, they battered the palisade: there with hurdles, faggots
and dead bodies, they filled the trench: by others, bridges and ladders,
both before framed, were planted against the battlements; these they
violently grappled and tore, and struggled hand to hand with those who
opposed them. The Romans, on the other side, beat them back with their
bucklers, drove them down with darts, and hurled upon them great mural
stakes and heaps of stones.
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