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| Constantine. The Army of Honorius and Edovicus his General. Defeat of Edovicus by Ulphilas, the General of Constantine. Death of Edovicus.
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Chapter
XIV.—Constantine. The Army of Honorius and Edovicus his
General. Defeat of Edovicus by Ulphilas, the General of Constantine.
Death of Edovicus.
Although the city of Arles was
closely besieged by the army of Honorius, Constantine still resisted
the siege, because Edovicus was announced as at hand with many
allies.1638
| 1638Independent chapter. Cf. Olymp. Fragm.
16.
|
This frightened the generals of Honorius beyond measure. Then they
determined to return to Italy, and to carry on the war there. When they
had united on this plan, Edovicus was announced as in the neighborhood,
so they crossed the river Rhone. Constantius, who commanded the
infantry, quietly awaited the approach of the enemy, while Ulphilas,
the fellow-general of Constantius, remained not far off in ambush with
his cavalry. The enemy passed by the army of Ulphilas, and were about
to engage with the troops of Constantius, when a signal was given, and
Ulphilas suddenly appeared and assaulted the enemy from the rear. Their
flight was immediate. Some escaped, some were slain, while others threw
down their arms and asked for pardon, and were spared. Edovicus mounted
his horse and fled to the lands of one Ecdicius, a landed proprietor,
to whom he had formerly rendered some important service, and whom he
therefore imagined to be his friend. Ecdicius, however, struck off his
head, and presented it to the generals of Honorius, in hope of
receiving some great reward and honor. Constantius, on receiving the
head, proclaimed that the public thanks were due to Ecdicius for the
deed of Ulphilas; but when Ecdicius was eager to accompany him he
commanded him to depart, for he did not consider the companionship of a
malicious host to be good for himself or the army. And the man who had
dared to commit the most unholy murder of a friend and a guest who was
in an unfortunate situation,—this man went away, as the proverb
says, gaping with emptiness.
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