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ALTHOUGH the city of Aries was closely besieged by the army of
Honorius, Constantine still resisted the siege, because Edovicus
was announced as at hand with many allies. 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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