[Sidenote:  A.D. 172(?) 173(?)] [Sidenote:—­7—­] The Iazyges were conquered by the Romans on land at this time and subsequently on the river.  By this I mean not that any naval battle took place, but that the Romans followed them as they fled over the frozen Ister and fought there as on dry land.  The Iazyges, perceiving that they were being pursued, awaited the foe’s onset, expecting easily to overcome them, since their opponents were not accustomed to ice.  Accordingly, some of the barbarians dashed straight at them, while others rode around to attack the flanks, for their horses were trained to run safely even over a surface of this kind.  The Romans, seeing this, were not alarmed, but made a close formation, placing themselves so as to face all of them at once.  The majority laid down their shields and resting one foot upon them, so that they might slip less, received the enemy’s assault.  Some seized bridles, others shields and spear-shafts, and drew them towards them.  Then, becoming involved in close conflict, they knocked down both men and horses, for on account of their momentum the enemy could not help slipping.  The Romans also slipped down:  but in case one of them fell on his back he dragged his adversary down on top of him and then by winding his legs about him as in a wrestling match would get him underneath; and if one fell on his face, he made his opponent fall before he did, also on his face.  The barbarians, being unused to a contest of this sort, and having lighter equipment, were unable to resist, so that but few escaped out of a large force.

[Sidenote:  A.D. 174 (a.u. 927)] [Sidenote:—­8—­] So Marcus made the Marcomani and Iazyges subservient by a series of great struggles and dangers.  A great war against the so-called Quadi also fell to his lot and it was his good fortune to win an unexpected victory, or rather it was given him from Heaven.  At a time when the Romans had run into danger in the battle the Heavenly Power most unexpectedly saved them.  The Quadi had surrounded them at an opportune spot and the Romans were fighting valiantly with their shields locked together:  and the barbarians ceased fighting, expecting to capture their enemies easily by heat and thirst.  So they posted guards all about and hemmed them in to prevent their getting water anywhere, for the barbarians were far superior in numbers.  The Romans fell into dire distress from their fatigue and wounds and the sun’s heat and their thirst, and for these reasons could neither fight nor march in any direction but were standing and being scorched in line of battle and at their several posts, when suddenly numbers of clouds rushed together and a great rain, certainly of divine origin, came pouring down.  Indeed, there is a story that Arnouphis, an Egyptian wizard, who was a companion of Marcus, invoked by means of enchantments various deities and in particular Mercury, god of the air, and by this means attracted the rain.