Et hoc disposito stipatus velitibus paucis, ipse quoque pedes civitatis situm diligenti inquisitione exploraturus, in perniciosas praecipitatus insidias, ex ipso vitae discrimine tandem emersit. Namque per latentem oppidi portam, Persae decem armati degressi, imaque clivorum pervadentes, poplitibus subsidendo, repentino impetu nostros aggressi sunt. E quibus duo conspectiorem habitu principem gladiis petiere districtis, sed occurrit ictibus erectum altius scutum,
Translation :
After making this provision, attended by a few light-armed soldiers and himself also marching on foot, Julian planned to make a careful examination of the position of the city; but he fell into a dangerous ambuscade, from which he escaped only with difficulty and at the risk of his life. For through a secret gate of the town ten armed Persians came out, and after crossing the lower slopes on bended knees made a sudden onslaught on our men. Two with drawn swords attacked the emperor, whose bearing made him conspicuous, but he met their strokes by lifting up his shield.
Edition :
Ammianus Marcellinus. With An English Translation. John C. Rolfe, Ph.D., Litt.D. Cambridge. Cambridge, Mass., Harvard University Press; London, William Heinemann, Ltd. 1935-1940.
Remark :
titel: For the defense of Julian and his men, please refer to: "Julian and his men kill two Persian soldiers attacking the former, strip them of their arms, wounding others and forcing them to flee."
