[1]
Priscus fr. 1a Bornmann, still 1a Carolla; but with middle voice and no article:
a)phgoreu/onto po/nw|; also fr. 5 Blockley (228-229) with the Suda's reading. The fragment's context is the seizure (434-441? CE) of the important eastern Roman port city of Noviodunum (on the Danube, Barrington Atlas map 23 grid B3, near the modern-day Romanian town of Isaccea) by the Germanic chieftain Valips (cf.
tau 458 note and Thompson (86)). With a substantial force the Romans besieged the city. Their arrow and javelin volleys had the barbarians on the verge of surrender, but in desperation they stationed the children of their captives on the city's ramparts. The attackers held back. Valips was later able to reach a truce with the Romans, a negotiated outcome at which the next comment (see next note) might well gesture; cf. Blockley (op. cit. and 380 note 8).
2In some manuscripts only. (A mysterious addition; it does not, as one might have supposed, complete the Priscus quotation.)