Zosimus, New History 5.44

The translation of Zosimus' New History offered here was printed in 1814 by W. Green and T. Chaplin in London, and was probably prepared by J. Davis of the Military Chronicle and Military Classics Office. The translator is anonymous. The text was found at Tertullian.org. The notes were added by Jona Lendering.

[5.44.1] The peace with Alaric being not yet confirmed, as the emperor had neither given him the hostages nor complied with all his desires, the Senate sent Caecilianus, Attalus, and Maximianus, on an embassy to Ravenna. Although these persons made a lamentable representation of the miseries which Rome had endured, and described the number who had tragically perished, yet they derived no benefit from it, because Olympius kept all in a confused state, and impeded the due course of affairs.

[5.44.2] From this cause the emperor dismissed the ambassadors without having effected the purpose of their mission and discharged Theodorus from his office of prefect of the city, giving it to Caecilianus, and appointed Attalus to be treasurer. As Olympius was wholly intent on searching all places for those who were reported to have any knowledge of the affairs of Stilicho, several persons were called in question on false accusations. Among these were Marcellianus and Salonius, two brothers, belonging to the imperial Notaries. These two were delivered by Olympius to the prefect of the court. Though by his order they were beaten and used with every severity, yet they made not the smallest disclosure such as Olympius was anxious to obtain from them.