et primi Romani hostem undique  lamminis  ferreis  in  modum  tenuis plumae contectum, fidentemque, quod tela rigentis ferri lapsibus impacta resiliebant, crebris procursationibus et minaci murmure lacessebant: non numquam compage scutorum, qua velut testudine infigurabilium1 fornicum operiebantur aptissime, assiduis motibus laxius dehiscente.
The Romans were the first with repeated onslaughts and threatening roars to attack the foe, who were covered with plates of iron as if by a thin layer of feathers, and were full of confidence since the arrows flew back as they struck the folds of the hard iron; but at times the covering of joined shields, with which our men skilfully covered themselves as if by the protection of irregularly shaped arches, because of their continual movements yawned apart.
final_alignments\Ammianus_Marcellinus_Book24.json