But Theodosius the Emperor is a good man . As I know . ' Parnesius was silent for a moment and then continued . ' I wrote back to Maximus that , though we had peace on the Wall , I should be happier with a few more men and some new catapults . He answered : `` You must live a little longer under the shadow of my victories , till I can see what young Theodosius intends . He may welcome me as a brother-Emperor , or he may be preparing an army . In either case I can not spare men just now . '' ` But he was always saying that , ' cried Una . ` It was true . He did not make excuses ; but thanks , as he said , to the news of his victories , we had no trouble on the Wall for a long , long time . The Picts grew fat as their own sheep among the heather , and as many of my men as lived were well exercised in their weapons . Yes , the Wall looked strong . For myself , I knew how weak we were . I knew that if even a false rumour of any defeat to Maximus broke loose among the Winged Hats , they might come down in earnest , and then -- the Wall must go ! For the Picts I never cared , but in those years I learned something of the strength of the Winged Hats . They increased their strength every day , but I could not increase my men . Maximus had emptied Britain behind us , and I felt myself to be a man with a rotten stick standing before a broken fence to turn bulls . ` Thus , my friends , we lived on the Wall , waiting -- waiting -- waiting for the men that Maximus never sent . ` Presently he wrote that he was preparing an army against Theodosius . He wrote -- and Pertinax read it over my shoulder in our quarters : '' Tell your Father that my destiny orders me to drive three mules or be torn in pieces by them .
I hope within a year to finish with XXXXX , son of Theodosius , once and for all .
Father Maximus Parnesius Pertinax Picts Theodosius brother-Emperor day rumour years