that there is nothing which human energy can not accomplish.  Trajan’s reason for constructing the bridge was his fear that, some time when the Ister was frozen, war might be made on the Romans across the water, and his desire to enjoy the easy access to them that this work would permit.  Hadrian, on the contrary, was afraid that the barbarians might overpower the guard at the bridge and cross into Moesia, and so he removed the surface work.

[Sidenote:  A.D. 105 (a.u. 858)] [Sidenote:—­14—­] Trajan, having crossed the Ister on this bridge, conducted the war with prudence, rather than with haste, and eventually, after a hard struggle, vanquished the Dacians.  In the course of these encounters he personally performed many deeds of good generalship and bravery, and his soldiers ran many risks and displayed great prowess on his behalf.  It was here that a certain horseman, dangerously wounded, was carried from the battle on the supposition that he could be healed; but, when he found that he could not recover, he rushed from his quarters (since his hurt had not incapacitated him) and stationing himself in the line again he perished, after having displayed great valor. [Sidenote:  A.D. 106 (a.u. 859)] Decebalus, when his capital and all his territory had been occupied and he was himself in danger of being captured, committed suicide, and his head was brought to Rome.

In this way Dacia became subject to Rome and Trajan founded cities there.  The treasures of Decebalus were also discovered, though hidden beneath the Sargetia river, which ran past his palace.  He had made some captives divert the course of the river and had then excavated its bed.  There he had placed a large amount of silver and of gold and other objects of great value, that could endure some moisture, had heaped stones over them and piled on earth.  After that he had let the river flow over them.  The same captives were compelled to deposit his robes and other similar objects in neighboring caves; and when he had effected this, he made away with them to prevent their talking.  But Bicilis, a comrade of his, who knew what had been done, was seized and gave this information.—­About this same time, Palma, who was governor of Syria, subdued the portion of Arabia, near Petra, and made it subservient to the Romans.

[Sidenote:—­15—­] [The ambassadors who came from the kings were given seats by Trajan in the senatorial row at spectacles.]

[Sidenote:  A.D. 107 (a.u. 860)] Upon Trajan’s return to Rome the greatest imaginable number of embassies came to him from the barbarians, even the Indi being represented.  And he gave spectacles on one hundred and twenty-three days.  At these affairs thousands, yes, possibly tens of thousands of animals, both wild and tame, were slaughtered, and fully ten thousand gladiators fought in combat.

About the same period he made the Pontine marshes traversable by means of a stone foundation, and built roads alongside, which he furnished with most magnificent bridges.—­All the obsolete money he had melted down.