198

THE DECLINE AND FALL

CHAP.

XIX..

into the heart of their ancient possessions. Ageneral conflagration revealed the huts of thebarbarians, which were seated in the depth ofthe wilderness; and the soldier fought with con-fidence on marshy ground, which it was dan-gerous for him to tread. In this extremity, thebravest of the Limigantes were resolved to diein arms, rather than to yield; but the mildersentiment, enforced by the authority of theirelders, at length prevailed; and the suppliantcrowd, followed by their wives and children,repaired to the imperial camp, to learn theirfate from the mouth of the conqueror. Aftercelebrating his own clemency, which was stillinclined to pardon their repeated crimes, andto spare the remnant of a guilty nation, Con-stantius assigned for the place of their exile aremote country, where they might enjoy a safeand honourable repose. The Limigantes obey-ed with reluctance; but before they could reach,at least before they could occupy, their destinedhabitations, they returned to the banks of theDanube , exaggerating the hardships of their si-tuation, and requesting, with fervent profes-sions of fidelity, that the emperor would grantthem an undisturbed settlement within the li-mits of the Roman provinces. Instead of con-sulting his own experience of their incurableperfidy, Constantius listened to his flatterers,who were ready to represent the honour andadvantage of accepting a colony of soldiers, ata time when it was much easier to obtain thepecuniary contributions, than the military ser-vice of the subjects of the empire. The Litni-