but if it fell anywhere among them it was straightway extinguished.  On the other hand, the shower did the barbarians no good, but like oil served rather to feed the flames that fed on them, and they searched for water while in the midst of rain.  Some wounded themselves in the attempt to put out the fire with blood, and others ran over to the side of the Romans, convinced that they alone had the saving water.  Marcus finally took pity on them.  He was for the seventh time saluted as imperator by the soldiers.  And although he was not wont to accept any such honor before the senate voted it, [Footnote:  Cp.  Mommsen, Staatsrecht, 12, p. 123 (or 13, p. 124); also III, p. 1108.] nevertheless this time he took it under the assumption that it was bestowed from Heaven, and he sent a despatch to that effect to the senate.—­Moreover Faustina was named “Mother of the Legions.”

[Sidenote:—­11—­] [Marcus [Antoninus] remained in Pannonia in order to transact business with the embassies of the barbarians.  Many came to him also at this time.  Some promised an alliance:  they were led by Battarius, a child twelve years old, and they received money and succeeded in restraining Tarbus, a neighboring potentate, who had come into Dacia, was demanding money, and threatening to make war if he should not get it.  Others, like the Quadi, were asking for peace, and they obtained it, the emperor’s purpose being to have them detached from the Marcomani.  Another reason was that they gave horses and cattle, surrendered all the deserters and the captives at first to the number of thirteen thousand, though later they promised to restore the remainder as well.  However, the right of free intercourse even at markets was not granted them, the intention being to prevent the Iazyges and the Marcomani, whom they had sworn not to receive nor let pass through their country, from either mingling with them or presenting themselves also in the guise of Quadi,—­a plan which would enable them to reconnoitre the Roman position and to purchase provisions.  Besides these who came to Marcus, many others despatched envoys, some by tribes and some by nations, offering to surrender themselves.  Some of them were sent on campaigns to other parts of the world, and the captives and deserters who were fit for it were similarly treated.  Others received land, in Dacia or in Pannonia or in Moesia and Germany or in Italy itself.  A few of them who settled at Ravenna made an uprising and even dared to take possession of the city:  and for this reason he did not again bring any barbarian into Italy, but made even those who had previously come there find homes outside.]

Detachments of both Astingi and Lacringi had come to lend assistance to Marcus.