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 BOHN'S CLASSICAL LIBRARY. 
 
 AMMIANUS MARCELLINUS
 
 THE 
 
 ROMAN HISTORY 
 
 AMMIANUS MARCELL1NTJS. 
 
 DURING THE REIGNS OF 
 
 THE EMPERORS CONSTANTIU8, JULIAN, JOVIANUS, 
 VALENTIN1AN, AND VALENS. 
 
 TRANSLATED BY 
 
 C. D. YONGB, B.A. 
 
 WITH A GENERAL INDEX. 
 
 LONDON: 
 
 HENRY G. BOHN, YORK STREET, COVENT GARDEN. 
 
 M.DCCC.LXII.
 
 LONDON" : PRINTED BY WILLIAM CLOWES AND SONS, STAMFORD STREET.
 
 Stack 
 
 Annex 
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 OF Ammianus Marcellinus, the writer of the following 
 History, we know very little more than what can be col- 
 lected from that portion of it which remains to us. From 
 that source we learn that he was a native of Antioch, and 
 a soldier ; being one of the prefectores domestici the bo y- 
 guard of the emperor, into which none but men of noble birth 
 were admitted. He was on the staff of Ursicinus, whom 
 he attended in several of his expeditions ; and he bore a 
 share in the campaigns which Julian made against the 
 Persians. After that time he never mentions himself, and 
 we are ignorant when he quitted the service and retired 
 to Eome, in which city he composed his History. We 
 know not when he was born, or when he died, except that 
 from one or two incidental passages in his work it is plain 
 that he lived nearly to the end of the fourth century : and 
 it is even uncertain whether he was a Christian or a Pagan,; 
 though the general belief is, that he adhered to the religion 
 of the ancient Romans, without, however, permitting it to 
 lead him even to speak disrespectfully of Christians or 
 Christianity. 
 
 His History, which he divided into thirty-one books (of 
 which the first thirteen are lost, while the text of those 
 which remain is in some places imperfect), began with the 
 accession of Nerva, A.D. 96, where Tacitus and Suetonius
 
 VI PREFACE. 
 
 end. and was continued to the death of Valens, A.P. 378, a 
 period of 282 years. And there is probably no work as to the 
 intrinsic value of which there is so little difference of opi- 
 nion. Gibbon bears repeated testimony to his accuracy, 
 fidelity, and impartiality, and quotes him extensively. In 
 losing his aid after A.D. 378, he says, " It is not without 
 sincere regret that I must now take leave of an accurate 
 and faithful guide, who has composed the history of his 
 own times without^ indulging the prejudices and passions 
 which usually affect the mind of a contemporary." Pro- 
 fessor Ramsay (in Smith's Dictionar3 r of Greek and Roman 
 Biography) says, " We are indebted to him for a know- 
 ledge of many important facts not elsewhere recorded, 
 and for much valuable insight into the modes of thought 
 and the general tone of public feeling prevalent in his 
 day. Nearly all the statements admitted appear to be 
 founded upon his own observations, or upon the informa- 
 tion derived from trustworthy eye-witnesses. A consider- 
 able number of dissertations and digressions are introduced, 
 many of them highly interesting and valuable. Such are 
 his notices of the institutions and manners of the Saracens 
 (xiv. 4), of the Scythians and Sarmatians (xvii. 12), of the 
 Huns and Alani (xxxi. 2), of the Egyptians and their 
 country (xxii. 6, 14-16), and his geographical discussions 
 upon Gaul (xv. 9), the Pontus (xxii. 8), and Thrace (xxvii. 
 4). Less legitimate and less judicious are his geological 
 speculations upon earthquakes (xvii. 7), his astronomical 
 inquiries into eclipses (xx. 3), comets (xxv. 10), and the 
 regulation of the calendar (xxvi. 1) ; his medical researches 
 into the origin of epidemics (xix. 4) ; his zoological theory 
 on the destruction of lions by mosquitos (xviii. 7), and his 
 horticultural essay on the impregnation of palms (xxiv. 3). 
 In addition .to industry in research and honesty of purpose, 
 he was gifted with a large measure of strong common sense, 
 which enabled him in many points to rise superior to the 
 prejudices of his day, and with a clear-sighted independence
 
 PREFACE. Vll 
 
 of spirit which prevented him from being dazzled or over- 
 awed by the brilliancy and the terrors which enveloped 
 the" imperial throne. But although sufficiently acute in 
 detecting and exposing the follies of others, and especially 
 in ridiculing the absurdities of popular superstition, Ana- 
 mianus did not entirely escape the contagion. The general 
 and deep-seated belief in magic spells, omens, prodigies, 
 and oracles, which appears to have gained additional 
 strength upon the first introduction of Christianity, evi- 
 dently exercised no small influence over his mind. The 
 old legends and doctrines of the pagan creed, and the 
 subtle mysticism which philosophers pretended to discover 
 lurking below, when mixed up with the pure and simple 
 but startling tenets of the new faith, formed a confused 
 mass which few intellects could reduce to order and har- 
 mony." 
 
 The vices of our author's style, and his ambitious affect- 
 ation of ornament, are condemned by most critics ; but 
 some of the points which strike a modern reader as defects 
 evidently arise from the alteration which the Latin lan- 
 guage had already undergone since the days of Livy. His 
 great value, however, consists in the facts he has made 
 known to us, and is quite independent of the style or lan- 
 guage in which he has conveyed that knowledge, of which 
 without him we should have been nearly destitute. 
 
 The present translation has been made from Wagner and 
 Erfurdt's edition, published at Leipzig in 1808, and their 
 division of ^chapters into short paragraphs has been fol- 
 lowed. 
 
 Feb. 1862.
 
 
 
 THE HISTORY OF AMMIANUS 
 MAECELLINUS. 
 
 THE FIRST THIETEEN BOOKS AKE LOST. 
 
 BOOK XIV. 
 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 I. The cruelty of the Caesar Gallus. II. The incursions of the Isau- 
 rians. III. The unsuccessful plans of the Persians. IV. The 
 invasion of the Saracens, and the manners of that people. 
 V. The punishment of the adherents of Magnentius. VI. The 
 vices of the senate and people of Home. VII. The ferocity and 
 inhumanity of the Osesar Gallus. VIII. A description of the pro- 
 vinces of the East. IX. About the Caesar Constantius Gallus. 
 X. The Emperor Constantius grants the Allemanni peace at their 
 request. XL The Caesar Constantius Gallus is sent for by the 
 Emperor Constautius, and beheaded. 
 
 I. 
 
 A.D. 853. 
 
 1. AFTER the events of an expedition full of almost in- 
 superable difficulties, while the spirits of all parties in the 
 state, broken by the variety of their dangers and toils, were 
 still enfeebled; while the clang of trumpets was ringing 
 in men's ears, and the troops were still distributed in their 
 winter quarters, the storms of angry fortune surrounded 
 the commonwealth with fresh dangers through the mani- 
 fold and terrible atrocities of Cassar Gallus :' who, when 
 just entering into the prime of life, having been raised with 
 
 1 Gallus and his brother Julian were the nephews of the great Con- 
 stantine, sons of his brother Julius. When Constantius, who succeeded 
 Constantine on the throne, murdered his uncles and most of his cousins, 
 he spared these two, probably on account of their tender age. 
 
 B
 
 2 AMMIAXDS MARCELLINUS. [Bit. XIV. Cn. r. 
 
 unexpected honour from the lowest depth of miseiy to the 
 highest rank, exceeded all the legitimate bounds of the 
 power conferred on him, and with preposterous violence 
 threw everything into confusion. For by his near relation- 
 ship to the royal family, and his connection with the name 
 of Constantine, he was so inflated with pride, that if he had 
 had more power, he would, as it seemed, have ventured 
 to attack even the author of his prosperity. 
 
 2. His wife added fuel to his natural ferocity ; she was a 
 woman immoderately proud of her sisterly relationship to 
 Augustus, and had been formerly given in marriage by 
 the elder Constantine to King Hannibalianus, 1 his brother's 
 son. She was an incarnate fury : never weary of inflam- 
 ing his savage temper, thirsting for human blood as 
 insatiably as her husband. The pair, in process of time, 
 becoming more skilful in the infliction of suffering, em- 
 ployed a gang of underhand and crafty talebearers, accus- 
 tomed in their wickedness to make random additions to 
 their discoveries, which consisted in general of such false- 
 hoods as they themselves delighted in ; and these men loaded 
 the innocent with calumnies, charging them with aiming at 
 kingly power, or with practising infamous acts of magic. 
 
 3. And among his less remarkable atrocities, when his 
 power had gone beyond the bounds of moderate crimes, 
 was conspicuous the horrible and sudden death of a certain 
 noble citizen of Alexandria, named Clematius. His 
 mother-in-law, having conceived a passion for him, could 
 not prevail on him to gratify it ; and in consequence, as 
 
 1 Hannibalianus was another nephew of Constantine. That emperor 
 raised his own three sons, Constantine, Constantius, and Constans, io 
 the dignity of Caasar ; and of his two favourite nephews, Dalmacius 
 and Hannibalianus, he raised the first, by the title of Csosar, to an 
 equality witli his cousins; "in favour of the latter he invented the 
 new and singular appellation of Fortitissimus, to which he annexed 
 the flattering distinction of a robe of purple and gold. But ol' the 
 whole series of Roman princes in any age of the empire Hannibalianns 
 alone was distinguished by the title of king, a name which the sni/jt.rts 
 of Tiberius would have detested as the profane and cruel insult of 
 capricious tyranny." Gibbon, cxviii. The editor of Bohn's edition 
 adds in a note : " The title given to Hannibalianus did not apply to 
 him as a Roman prince, but as king of a territory assigned to him in 
 Asia. This territory consisted of Pontus, Cappadocia, and the lesser 
 Armenia, the city of Cresarea being chosen for his residence." Gibbon, 
 I.olm's edition, vol. ii. pp. 25G, 257.
 
 A.D. 353.] CRUELTY CF GALLUS. 3 
 
 was reported, she, having obtained an introduction by a 
 secret door into the palace, won over the queen by the 
 present of a costly necklace, and procured a fatal warrant 
 to be sent to Honoratus, at that time count-governor of the 
 East, in compliance with which Clematius was put to 
 death, a man wholly innocent of any kind of wickedness, 
 without being permitted to say a word in his defence. 
 
 4. After this iniquitous transaction, which struck others 
 also with fear lest they should meet with similar treat- 
 ment, as if cruelty had now obtained a licence, many were 
 condemned on mere vague suspicion ; of "whom some were 
 put to death, others were punished by the confiscation of 
 their property, and driven forth as exiles from their 
 homes, so that having nothing left but their tears and 
 complaints, they were reduced to live on the contributions 
 of their friends ; and many opulent and famous houses were 
 shut up, the old constitutional and just authority being 
 changed into a government at the will of a bloodthirsty 
 tyrant. 
 
 5. Nor amid these manifold atrocities was any testimony 
 of an accuser, not even of a suborned one, sought for, in 
 order to give at least an appearance of these crimes being 
 committed according to law and statute, as very commonly 
 even the most cruel princes have done : but whatever 
 suited the implacable temper of Caesar was instantly accom- 
 plished in haste, as if its accordance with human and 
 divine law had been well considered. 
 
 6. After these deeds a fresh device was adopted, and a 
 body of obscure men, such as, by reason of the meanness 
 of their condition, were little likely to excite suspicion, 
 were sent through all the districts of Antioch, to collect 
 reports, and to bring news of whatever they might hear. 
 They, travelling about, and concealing their object, joined 
 clandestinely in the conversational circles of honourable 
 men, and also in disguise obtained entrance into the houses 
 of the rich. When they returned they were secretly ad- 
 mitted by back doors into the palace, and then reported 
 all that they had been able to hear or to collect ; taking 
 care with an unanimous kind of conspiracy to invent 
 many things, and to exaggerate for the worse all they really 
 knew ; at the same time suppressing any praises of Cassar 
 which had come to their ears, although these were wrung
 
 AM MI AN US JIAUCELLINUS. [BK. XIV. CH. r. 
 
 from many, against their consciences, by the dread of 
 impending evils. 
 
 7. And it had happened sometimes that, if in his secret 
 chamber, when no domestic servant was by, the master of 
 the house had whispered anything into his wife's ear, the 
 very next day, as if those renowned seers of old, Amphia- 
 raus or Marcius, had been at hand to report it, the 
 emperor was informed of what had been said; so that 
 even the walls of a ma,n's secret chamber, the only wit- 
 nesses to his language, were viewed with apprehension. 
 
 8. And Cassar's fixed resolution to inquire into these 
 and other similar occurrences was increased by the queen, 
 who constantly stimulated his desire, and was driving on 
 the fortunes of her husband to headlong destruction, while 
 she ought rather, by giving him useful advice, to have led 
 him back into the paths of truth and mercy, by feminine 
 gentleness, as, in recounting the acts of the Gordiani, we 
 have related to have been done by the wife of that trucu- 
 lent emperor Maximimis. 
 
 9. At last, by an unsurpassed and most pernicious 
 baseness, Gallus ventured on adopting a course of fearful 
 wickedness, which indeed Gallienus, to his own exceed- 
 ing infamy, is said formerly to have tried at Rome ; and, 
 taking with him a few followers secretly armed, he used 
 to rove in the evening through the streets and among the 
 shops, making inquiries in the Greek language, in which 
 he was well skilled, what were the feelings of individuals 
 towards Caesar. And he used to do this boldly in the city, 
 where the brillancy of the lamps at night often equalled 
 the light of day. At last, being often recognized, and 
 considering that if he went out in this way he should be 
 known, he took care never to go out except openly in broad 
 daylight, to transact whatever business which he thought 
 of serious importance. And these things caused bitter 
 though secret lamentation, and discontent to many. 
 
 10. But at that time Thalassius was the present prefect 1 
 of the palace, a man of an arrogant temper ; and he, per- 
 
 1 " There was among the commanders of the soldiery one prefect 
 who was especially entitled Prsesens, or Prsesentalis, because his office 
 was to be always in the court or about the person of the prince, rnd 
 because the einoeror's body-guard was under his particular orders.' 
 II. Valesius.
 
 i.e. 353.] REBELLION OF THE ISAURIANS. 5 
 
 ceiving that the hasty fury of Gallus gradually increased 
 to the danger of many of the citizens, did not mollify it by 
 efther delay or wise counsels, as men in high office have 
 very often pacified the anger of their princes ; but by 
 untimely opposition and reproof, did often excite him the 
 more to frenzy; often also informing Augustus of his 
 actions, and that too with exaggeration, and taking care, 
 I know not with what intention, that what he did should 
 not be unknown to the emperor. And at this Csesar soon 
 became more vehemently exasperated, and, as if raising 
 more on high than ever the standard of his contumacy, 
 without any regard to the safety of others or of himself, he 
 bore himself onwards like a rapid torrent, with an impe- 
 tuosity which would listen to no reason, to sweep away all 
 the obstacles which opposed his will. 
 
 II. 
 
 1. NOR indeed was the East the only quarter which this 
 plague affected with its various disasters. For the 
 Isaurians also, a people who were accustomed to frequent 
 alternations of peace, and of turbulence which threw 
 everything into confusion with sudden outbreaks impu- 
 nity having fostered their growing audacity and encouraged 
 it to evil broke out in a formidable war. Being especially 
 excited, as they gave out by this indignity, that some of 
 their allies, having been taken prisoners, were in an unpre- 
 cedented manner exposed to wild beasts, and in the games 
 of the amphitheatre, at Iconium, a town of Pisidia. 
 
 2. And as Cicero ' says, that " even wild beasts, when 
 reminded by hunger, generally return to that place where 
 they have been fed before." So they all, descending like a 
 whirlwind from their high and pathless mountains, came 
 into the districts bordering on the sea : in which hiding 
 themselves in roads full of lurking-places, and in defiles, 
 when the long nights were approaching, the moon being at 
 that time new, and so not yet giving her full light, they 
 lay wait for the sailors ; and when they perceived that they 
 were wrapped in sleep, they, crawling on their hands and 
 feet along the cables which held the anchors, and raising 
 themselves up by them, swung themselves into the boats, 
 1 The passage is found in Cicero's Oration pro Oluentio, c. 25.
 
 6 AMMIAXUS MARCELL1XUS. [BK. XIV. CH. II. 
 
 and so carne upon the crews unexpectedly, and, their 
 natural ferocity being inflamed by covetousness, they 
 spared not even those who offered no resistance, but slew 
 them all, and carried off a splendid booty with no more 
 trouble than if it had been valueless. 
 
 3. This conduct did not last long, for when the deaths 
 of the crews thus plundered and slaughtered became 
 known, no one afterwards brought a vessel to the stations 
 on that coast ; but, avoiding them as they would have 
 avoided the deadly precipices of Sciron, 1 they sailed on, 
 without halting, to the shores of Cyprus, which lie oppo- 
 site to the rocks of Tsauria. 
 
 4. Therefore as time went on, and no foreign vessels 
 went there any more, they quitted the sea- coast, and be- 
 took themselves to Lycaonia, a country which lies on the 
 borders of Isauria. And there, occupying the roads with 
 thick barricades, they sought a living by plundering the 
 inhabitants of the district, as well as travellers. These 
 outrages aroused the soldiers who were dispersed among 
 the many municipal towns and forts which lie on the 
 borders. And they, endeavouring to the utmost of their 
 strength to repel these banditti, who were spreading every 
 day more widely, sometimes in solid bodies, at others in 
 small straggling parties, were overcome by their vast 
 numbers. 
 
 5. Since the Isaurians, having been born and brought up 
 amid the entangled denies of lofty mountains, could bound 
 over them as over plain and easy paths, and attacked all 
 who came in their way with missiles from a distance, 
 terrifying them at the same time with savage yells. 
 
 6. And very often our infantry were compelled in 
 pursuit of them to climb lofty crags, and, when their feet 
 slipped, to catch hold of the shrubs and briars to raise 
 themselves to the summits ; without ever being able to 
 deploy into battle array, by reason of the narrow and 
 difficult nature of the ground, nor even to stand firm ; 
 while their enemy running round in every direction 
 hurled down upon them fragments of rock from above 
 till they retired down the declivities with great danger. 
 
 1 Sciron was a pirate slain by Theseus, v. Ov. Metam. vii. 44, and 
 the Epistle of Ariadne to Theseus. 
 
 " Cum fuerit Sciron lect-us, torvusque Procrustes."
 
 A.U. j3.J REBELLION OF THE ISAUKIANS. 7 
 
 Or else, sometimes, in the last necessity fighting bravely, 
 they were overwhelmed with fragments of immense bulk 
 and weight. 
 
 7. On this account they subsequently were forced to 
 observe more caution, and whenever the plunderers began 
 to retire to the high ground, our soldiers yielded to the 
 unfavourable character of the country and retired. But, 
 whenever they could be met with in the plain, which often 
 happened, then charging them without giving them time 
 to combine their strength, or even to brandish the javelins 
 of which they always carried two or three, they slaughtered 
 them like defenceless sheep. 
 
 8. So that these banditti, conceiving a fear of Lycaonia, 
 which is for the most part a champaign country, since 
 they had learnt by repeated proofs that they were unequal 
 to our troops in a pitched battle, betook themselves by 
 unfrequented tracks to Pamphylia. This district had long 
 been free from the evils of war, but nevertheless had been 
 fortified in all quarters by strong forts and garrisons, from 
 the dread entertained by the people of rapine and slaugh- 
 ter, since soldiers were scattered over all the neighbouring 
 districts. 
 
 9. Therefore hastening with all speed, in order by their 
 exceeding celerity of movement to anticipate all rumour of 
 their motions, trusting to their strength and activity of 
 body, they travelled by winding roads until they reached 
 the high ground on the tops of the mountains, the steep- 
 ness of which delayed their march more than they had 
 expected. And when at last, having surmounted all the 
 difficulties of the mountains, they came to the precipitous 
 banks of the Melas, a deep river and one full of dangerous 
 currents, which winds round the district, protecting the 
 inhabitants like a wall, the night which had overtaken 
 them increased their fears, so that they halted for a while 
 awaiting the daylight. For they expected to be able to cross 
 without hindrance, and then, in consequence of the sudden- 
 ness of their inroad, to be able to ravage all the country 
 around ; but they had incurred great toil to no purpose. 
 
 10. For when the sun rose they were prevented from 
 crossing by the size of the river, which though narrow was 
 very deep. And while they were searching for some 
 fishing-boats, or preparing to commit themselves to the
 
 8 AMMIANC3 MARCELL1NUS. [Bit. XIV. Cir. ir. 
 
 stream on rafts hastily put together, the legions which at 
 that time were wintering about Side, came down upon 
 them with great speed and impetuosity ; arid having 
 pitched their standards close to the bank with a view to an 
 immediate battle, they packed their shields together before 
 them in a most skilful manner, and without any difficulty 
 slew some of the banditti, who either trusted to their 
 swimming, or who tried to cross the river unperceived in 
 barks made of the trunks of trees hollowed out. 
 
 11. And the Isaurians having tried many devices to 
 obtain success in a regular battle, and having failed in 
 everything, being repulsed in great consternation, and 
 with great vigour on the part of the legions, and being 
 uncertain which way to go, came near the town of La- 
 randa. And there, after they had refreshed themselves 
 with food and rest, and recovered from their fears, they at- 
 tacked several Avealthy towns ; but being presently scared 
 by the support given to the citizens by some squadrons 
 of horse which happened to be at hand, and which they 
 would not venture to resist in the extensive plains, they 
 retreated, and retracing their steps summoned all the flower 
 of their yoiith which had been left at home to join them. 
 
 12. And as they were oppressed with severe famine, they 
 made for a place called l j alea, standing on the sea-shore, 
 and fortified with a strong wall ; where even to this day 
 supplies are usually kept in store, to be distributed to the 
 armies which defend the frontier of Isauria. 
 
 13. Therefore they encamped around this fortress for 
 three days and three nights, and as the steepness of the 
 ground on which it stood prevented any attempt to storm 
 it without the most deadly peril, and as it was impossible 
 to effect anything by mines, and no other manoeuvres 
 such as are employed in sieges availed anything, they 
 retired much dejected, being compelled by the necessities 
 of their situation to undertake some enterprise, even if it 
 should be greater than their strength was equal to. 
 
 14. Then giving way to greater fury than ever, being 
 inflamed both by despair and hunger, and their strength 
 increased by their unrestrainable ardour, they directed 
 their efforts to destroy the city of Seleucia, the metropolis 
 of the province, which Avas defended by Count Castucius, 
 whose legions were inured to every kind of miiituiy i-civice.
 
 A.D. 353.] THE SIEGE OF SELEUCIA. 9 
 
 15. The commanders of the garrison being forewarned 
 of their approach by their own trusty scouts, having, ac- 
 Gording to custom, given out the Avatchword to the troops, 
 led forth all their forces in a rapid sally, and having with 
 great activity passed the bridge over the river Calicadnus, 
 the mighty waters of which wash the turrets of the walls, 
 they drew out their men as if prepared for battle. But 
 as yet no man left the ranks, and the army was not 
 allowed to engage; for the band of the Isaurians was 
 dreaded, inasmuch as they were desperate with rage, and 
 superior in number, and likely to rush upon the aims of 
 the legions without any rega:d to their lives. There- 
 fore as soon as the army was beheld at a distance, 
 and the music of the trumpeters was heard, the banditti 
 halted and stood still for a while, brandishing their 
 threatening swords, and after a time they marched on 
 slowly. And when the steady Eoman soldiery began to 
 deploy, preparing to encounter them, beating their shields 
 with their spears (a custom which rouses the fury of the 
 combatants, and strikes terror into their enemies), they 
 filled the front ranks of the Isaurians with consternation. 
 But as the troops were pressing forward eagerly to tho 
 combat their generals recalled them, thinking it inoppor- 
 tune to enter upon a contest of doubtful issue, when their 
 walls were not far distant, under protection of which the 
 safely of the whole army could be placed on a solid 
 foundation. 
 
 16. Therefore the soldiers were brought back inside the 
 walls in accordance with this resolution, and all the ap- 
 proaches and gates were strongly barred ; and the men 
 were placed on the battlements and bulwarks, having vast 
 stones and weapons of all kinds piled close at hand, so that 
 if any one forced his way inside he might be overwhelmed 
 with a multitude of missiles and stones. 
 
 17. But those who were bhut up in the walls were at 
 the same time greatly afflicted, because the Isaurians 
 having taken some vessels which were conveying grain 
 down the river, were well provided with abundance of 
 food, while they themselves, having almost consumed the 
 usual stores of food, were in a state of alarm dreading the 
 fatal agonies of approaching famine. "When the news < f 
 this distress got abroad, and when repeated messages
 
 10 AM.MIAXU.3 MARCELL1XUS. [Bit. XIV. On. m. 
 
 to this effect had moved Gallus Cassar, because the master 
 of the horse was kept away longer than usual at that 
 season, Xebridius the count of the East was ordered to 
 collect a military force from all quarters, and hastened 
 forward with exceeding zeal to deliver the city, so wealthy 
 and important, from, such a peril. And when this was 
 known the banditti retired, without having performed 
 any memorable exploit, and dispersing, according to their 
 wont, they sought the trackless recesses of the lofty 
 mountains. 
 
 III. 
 
 1 . WHILE affairs were in this state in Isauria, and while the 
 king of Persia was involved in wars upon his frontier, 
 repulsing from his borders a set of ferocious tribes which, 
 being full of fickleness, were continually either attacking 
 him in a hostile manner, or, as often happens, aiding him 
 when he turned his arms against us, a certain noble, by name 
 Nohodares, having been appointed to invade Mesopotamia, 
 whenever occasion might serve, was anxiously exploring 
 our territories with a view to some sudden incursion, if he 
 could an% r where find an opportunity. 
 
 2. And because since every part of Mesopotamia is accus- 
 tomed to be disturbed continually, the lands were pro- 
 tected by frequent barriers, and military stations in the rural 
 districts, Nohodares, having directed his march to the left, 
 had occupied the most remote parts of the Osdroene, having 
 devised a novel plan of operations which had never 
 hitherto been tried. And if he had succeeded he wuuln 
 have laid waste the whole country like a thunderbolt. 
 
 3. Now the plan which lie hail conceived was of this kind. 
 There is a town in Anthemusia called Batne, built by the- 
 ancient Macedonians, a short distance from the river Eu- 
 phrates, thickly peopled by wealthy merchants. To this 
 city, about the beginning of the month of September, a 
 great multitude of all ranks throng to a fair, in order to 
 buy the wares which the Indians and Chinese send thither, 
 and many other articles which are usually brought to this 
 fair by land and sea. 
 
 4. The leader before named, preparing to invade this 
 district on the days set apart for this solemnity, marching 
 through the deserts and along the grassy banks of the
 
 A.I). 353.] THE SARACENS. 1 1 
 
 river Abora, was betrayed by information given by some 
 of his own men, who being alarmed at the discovery of 
 certain crimes which they had committed, deserted to the 
 Koman garrisons, and accordingly he retired again without 
 having accomplished anything ; and after that remained 
 quiet without undertaking any further enterprise. 
 
 IV. 
 
 1. AT this time also the Saracens, a race whom it is 
 never desirable to have either for friends or enemies, 
 ranging up and down the country, if ever they found any- 
 thing, plundered it in a moment, like rapacious hawks 
 who, if from on high they behold any prey, carry it off 
 with rapid swoop, or, if they fail in their attempt, do not 
 tarry. 
 
 2. And although, in recounting the career of the Prince 
 Marcus, and once or twice subsequently, I remember 
 having discussed the manners of this people, nevertheless 
 I will now briefly enumerate a few more particulars con- 
 cerning them. 
 
 3. Among these tribes, whose primary origin is derived 
 from the cataracts of the Nile and the borders of the Blem- 
 myae, all the men are warriors of equal rank ; half naked, 
 clad in coloured cloaks down to the waist, overrunning 
 different countries, with the aid of swift and active horses 
 and speedy camels, alike in times of peace and war. Nor 
 does any member of their tribes ever take plough in hand 
 or cultivate a tree, or seek food by the tillage of the land ; 
 but they are perpetually wandering over various and 
 extensive districts, having no home, no fixed abode or 
 laws ; nor can they endure to remain long in the same 
 climate, no one district or country pleasing them for a 
 continuance. 
 
 4. Their life is one continued wandering; their wives 
 are hired, on special covenant, for a fixed time; and that 
 there may be some appearance of marriage in the business, 
 the intended wife, under the name of a dowry, offers a 
 spear and a tent to her husband, with a right to quit him 
 after a fixed day, if she shoxild choose to do so. And it is 
 inconceivable with what eagerness the individuals of both 
 sexes give themselves up to matrimonial pleasures.
 
 12 AMMIANUS MARCELLINUS. [Bit. XIV.Cn. r. 
 
 5. But as long as they live they wander about with such 
 extensive and perpetual migrations, that the woman is 
 married in one place, brings forth her children in another, 
 and rears them at a distance from either place, no oppor- 
 txmity of remaining quiet being ever granted to her. 
 
 6. They all live on venison, and are further supported 
 on a great abundance of milk, and on many kinds of herbs, 
 and on whatever birds they can catch by fowling. And 
 we have seen a great many of them wholly ignorant of the 
 use of either corn or wine. 
 
 7. So much for this most mischievous nation. Now let 
 us return to the subject we originally proposed to our 
 selves. 
 
 V. 
 
 1. WHILE these events were taking place in the East, Con- 
 stantius was passing the winter at Aries ; and after an 
 exhibition of games in the theatre and in the circus, which 
 were displayed with most sumptuous magnificence, on the 
 tenth of October, the day which completed the thirtieth 
 year of his reign, he began to give the reins more freely 
 to his insolence, believing every information which was 
 laid before him as proved, however doubtful or false it 
 might be ; and among other acts of cruelty, he put Geron- 
 tius, a count of the party of Magnentius, to the torture, 
 and then condemned him to banishment. 
 
 2. And as the body of a sick man is apt to be agitated 
 by even trifling grievances, so his narrow and sensitive 
 mind, thinking every sound that stirred something either 
 done or planned to the injury of his safety, made his 
 victory ' mournful by the slaughter of innocent men. 
 
 3^ For if any one of his military officers, or of 1lio.-e 
 who had ever received marks of honour, or if any one of 
 high rank was accused, on the barest rumour, of having 
 favoured the faction of his enemy, lie was loaded with 
 chains and dragged about like a beast. And whether any 
 enemy of the accused man pressed him or not, as if the 
 
 1 His victory over Magnentius, whom lie defeated at Mursa, on fie 
 Doave, in the year 3f>l. Maguentius fled to Aquileia, but was pursued, 
 and again defeated the next year, at a place called Mons Seleuci, in 
 the neighbourhood of Gap, and threw himself on hi,-; own sword to 
 poid fulling into the hands of Conskintius.
 
 A.D. 353.] CHUELTY OF CONST ANTIUS. 13 
 
 mere fact, tliat his name had been mentioned was sufficient, 
 every one who was informed against or in any way called 
 iii. question, was condemned either to death, or to confis- 
 cation of his property, or to confinement in a desert 
 island. 
 
 4. For his ferocity was excited to a still further degree 
 when any mention was made of treason or sedition ; and 
 the bloodthirsty insinuations of those around him, ex- 
 aggerating everything that happened, and pretending 
 great concern at any danger which inight threaten the life 
 of the emperor, on whose safety, as on a thread, they 
 hypocritically exclaimed the whole world depended, added 
 daily to his suspicions and watchful anger. 
 
 5. And therefore it is reported he gave orders that 
 no one who was at any time sentenced to punishment 
 for these or similar offences should be readmitted to his 
 presence for the purpose of offering the usual testimonies 
 to his character, a thing which the most implacable princes 
 have been wont to permit. And thus deadly cruelty, 
 which in all other men at times grows cool, in him only 
 became more violent as he advanced in years, because the 
 court of flatterers which attended on him added continual 
 fuel to his stern obstinacy. 
 
 6. Of this court a most conspicuous member was Paulus, 
 the secretary, a native of Spain, a man keeping his objects 
 hidden beneath a smooth countenance, and acute bej'ond 
 all men in smelling out secret ways to bring others into 
 danger. He, having been sent into Britain to arrest some 
 military officers who had dared to favour the conspiracy 
 of Magnentius, as they could not resist, licentiously 
 exceeded his commands, and like a flood poured with 
 sudden violence upon the fortunes of a great number 
 of people, making his path through manifold slaughter 
 and destruction, loading the bodies of free-born men with 
 chains, and crushing some with fetters, while patching 
 up all kinds of accusations far removed from the 
 truth. And to this man is owing one especial atrocity 
 which has branded the time of Constantius with indelible 
 infamy. 
 
 7. Martinus, who at that time governed these provinces 
 as deputy, being greatly concerned for the sufferings in- 
 flicted on innocent men, and making frequent entreaties
 
 14 AAIMIANCS MARCELLINUS. [BK. XIV. CH. vi. 
 
 that those who were free from all guilt might be spared, 
 when he found that he could not prevail, threatened to 
 withdraw from the province, in the hope that this male- 
 volent inquisitor, Paulus, might be afraid of his doing so, 
 and so give over exposing to open danger men who had 
 combined only in a wish for tranquillity. 
 
 8. Paulus, thinking that this conduct of Martinus was 
 a hindrance to his own zeal, being, as he was, a formidable 
 artist in involving matters, from which people gave him 
 the nickname of " the Chain," attacked the deputy him- 
 self while still engaged in defending the people whom he 
 was set to govern, and involved him in the dangers which 
 surrounded every one else, threatening that he would carry 
 him, with his tribunes and many other persons, as a pri- 
 soner to the emperor's court. Martiniis, alarmed at this 
 threat, and seeing the imminent danger in which his life 
 was, drew his sword and attacked Paulus. But because 
 from want of strength in his hand he was unable to give 
 him a mortal Avound, he then plunged his drawn sword 
 into his own side. And by this unseemly kind of death 
 that most just man departed from life, merely for having 
 dared to interpose some delay to the miserable calamities 
 of many citizens. 
 
 9. And when these wicked deeds had been perpetrated, 
 Paulus, covered with blood, returned to the emperor's 
 camp, bringing with him a crowd of prisoners almost 
 covered with chains, in the lowest condition of squalor 
 and misery; on whose arrival the racks were prepared, 
 and the executioner began to prepare his hooks and other 
 engines of torture. Of these prisoners, many of them had 
 their property confiscated, others were sentenced to banish- 
 ment, some were given over to the sword of the exe- 
 cutioner. Nor is it easy to cite the acquittal of a single 
 person in the time of Constantius, where the slightest 
 whisper of accusation had been brought against him. 
 
 VI. 
 
 1. AT this time Orfitus was the governor of the Eternal 
 City, with the rank of prefect ; and he behaved with a 
 degree of insolence beyond the proper limits of the dignity 
 thus conferred upon him. A man of prudence indeed, and
 
 A.D.353.] ORFITUS, GOVERNOR OF ROME. 15 
 
 well skilled in all the forensic business of the city, but 
 less accomplished in general literature and in the fine arts 
 than was becoming in a nobleman. Under his adminis- 
 tration some very formidable seditions broke out in con- 
 sequence of the scarcity of wine, as the people, being 
 exceedingly eager for an abundant use of that article, were 
 easily excited to frequent and violent disorders. 
 
 2. And since I think it likely that foreigners who may 
 read this account (if, indeed, any such should meet with 
 it) are likely to wonder how it is that, when my history 
 has reached the point of narrating what was done at Rome, 
 nothing is spoken of but seditions, and shops, and cheap- 
 ness, and other similarly inconsiderable matters, I will 
 briefly touch upon the causes of this, never intentionally 
 departing from the strict truth. 
 
 3. At the time when Rome first rose into mundane 
 brilliancy that Rome which was fated to last as long as 
 mankind shall endure, and to be increased with a sublime 
 progress and growth virtue and fortune, though com- 
 monly at variance, agreed upon a treaty of eternal peace, 
 as far as she was concerned. For if either of them had 
 been wanting to her, she would never have reached her 
 perfect and complete supremacy. 
 
 4. Her people, from its very earliest infancy to the latest 
 moment of its youth, a period which extends over about 
 three hundred years, carried on a variety of wars with the 
 natives around its walls. Then, when it arrived at its 
 full-grown manhood, after man} 7 and various labours in 
 war, it crossed the Alps and the sea, till, as youth and man, 
 it had carried the triumphs of victory into every country 
 in the world. 
 
 5. And now that it is declining into old age, and often 
 owes its victories to its mere name, it has come to a more 
 tranquil time of life. Therefore the venerable city, after 
 having bowed down the haughty necks of fierce nations, 
 and given laws to the world, to be the foundations and 
 eternal anchors of liberty, like a thrifty parent, prudent 
 and rich, intrusted to the Caesars, as to its own children, 
 the right of governing their ancestral inheritance. 
 
 6. And although the tribes are indolent, and the 
 countries peaceful, and although there are no contests for 
 votes, but the tranquillity of the age of Numa has returned,
 
 10 AJIMIANUS MAECELLINUS. [UK. XIV. CH. vi. 
 
 nevertheless, in every quarter of the world Home is still 
 looked up to as the mistress and the queen of the earth, 
 and the name of the Eoman people is respected and 
 venerated. 
 
 7. But this magnificent splendour of the assemblies and 
 councils of the Eoman people is defaced by the inconside- 
 rate levity of a few, who never recollect where they have 
 been born, but who fall away into error and licentiousness, 
 as if a perfect impunity were granted to vice. For as the 
 lyric poet Simonides teaches us, the man who would live 
 happily in accordance with perfect reason, ought above all 
 things to have a glorious country. 
 
 8. Of these men, some thinking that they can be handed 
 down to immortality by means of statues, are eagerly 
 desirous of them, as if they would obtain a higher reward 
 from brazen figures unendowed with sense than from a 
 consciousness of upright and honourable actions ; and they 
 even are anxious to have them plated over with gold, a 
 thing which is reported to have been first done in the in- 
 stance of Acilius Glabrio, who by his wisdom and valour 
 had subdued King Antiochus. But how really noble a 
 thing it is to despise all these inconsiderable and trifling 
 things, and to bend one's attention to the long and toilsome 
 steps of true glory, as the poet of Ascrea 1 has sung, and Cato 
 the Censor has shown by his example. For when he was 
 asked how it was that while many other nobles had statues 
 he had none, replied : " I had rather that good men should 
 marvel how it was that 1 did not earn one, than (Avhat 
 would be a much heavier misfortune) inquire how it was 
 that I had obtained one." 
 
 9. Others place the height ol glory in having a coach 
 higher than usual, or splendid apparel ; and so toil and 
 sweat tinder a vast burden of cloaks, which are fastened 
 to their necks by many clasps, and blow about from the 
 excessive fineness of the material ; showing a desire, by 
 the continual wriggling of their bodies, and especially by 
 the waving of the left hand, to make their long fringes and 
 tunics, embroidered in multiform figures of animals with 
 threads of various colours, more conspicuous. 
 
 10. Others, with not any one asking them, put on a 
 
 1 Hesiod. Ammianus refers to the passage in Hesiod's Op. et Dies, 
 289, beginning rris 5" dperf/s ISpwTa, Oeol TrpoirdooiOev fBrjffav.
 
 A.D. 353.] ARROGANCE OF THE RICH. 17 
 
 feigned severity of countenance, and extol their patrimonial 
 estates in a boundless degree, exaggerating the yearly pro- 
 cFtice of their fruitful fields, which they boast of possessing 
 in numbers from east to west, being forsooth ignorant that 
 their ancestors, by whom the greatness of Rome was so 
 widely extended, were not eminent for riches ; but through 
 a course of dreadful wars overpowered by their valour all 
 who were opposed to them, though differing but little from 
 the common soldiers either in riches, or in their mode of life, 
 or in the costliness of their garments. 
 
 11. This is how it happened that Valerius Publicola was 
 buried by the contributions of his friends, and that the 
 destitute wife of Regulus was, with her children, supported 
 by the aid of the friends of her husband, and that the 
 daughter of Scipio had a dowry provided for her out of the 
 public treasury, the other nobles being ashamed to see the 
 beauty of this full-grown maiden, while her monej'less 
 father was so long absent on the service of his country. 
 
 12. But now if you, as an honourable stranger, should 
 enter the house of any one well off, and on that account 
 full of pride, for the purpose of saluting him, at first, 
 indeed, you will be hospitably received, as though your 
 presence had been desired ; and after having had many 
 questions put to you, and having been forced 'to tell a 
 number of lies, you will wonder, since the man had never 
 seen you before, that one of high rank should pay such 
 attention to you who are but an unimportant individual ; 
 so that by reason of this as a principal sowce of happiness, 
 you begin to repent of not having come to Kome ten years 
 ago. 
 
 13. And when relying on this affability you do the 
 same thing the next day, you will stand waiting as one 
 utterly unknown and unexpected, while he who yester- 
 day encouraged you to repeat your visit, counts upon his 
 fingers who you can be, marvelling, for a long time, 
 whence you come, and what you want. But when at 
 length you are recognized and admitted to his acquaint- 
 ance, if you should devote yourself to the attention of 
 saluting him for three years consecutively, and after this 
 intermit your visits for an equal length of time, then if 
 you return to repeat a similar course, you will never be 
 questioned about your absence any more than if you had 
 
 c
 
 18 AMMIANUS MARCELLINUS. [BK. XIV. CH. vr. 
 
 been dead, and you will waste your whole life in sub*mit- 
 ting to court the humours of this blockhead. 
 
 14. But when those long and unwholesome banquets, 
 which are indulged in at certain intervals, begin to be pre- 
 pared, or the distribution of the usual dole-baskets takes 
 place, then it is discussed with anxious deliberation whether 
 when those to whom a return is due are to be entertained, 
 it is proper to invite also a stranger; and if, after the 
 matter has been thoroughly sifted, it is determined that it 
 may be done, that person is preferred who \vaits all night 
 before the houses of charioteers, or who professes a skill in 
 dice, or pretends to be acquainted with some peculiar secrets. 
 
 15. For such entertainers avoid all learned and sober men 
 as unprofitable and useless ; with this addition, that the 
 nomenclators' also, who are accustomed to make a market 
 of these invitations and of similar favours, selling them for 
 bribes, do for gain thrust in mean and obscure men at these 
 dinners. 
 
 10. The whirlpools of banquets, and the various allure- 
 ments of luxury, I omit, that I may not be too prolix, and 
 with the object of passing on to this fact, that some people, 
 hastening on without fear of danger, drive their horses, 
 as if they were post-horses, with a regular licence, as the 
 saying is, through the wide streets of the city, over the 
 roads paved with flint, dragging behind them large bodies of 
 slaves like bands of robbers ; not leaving at home even 
 Sannio, 2 as the comic poet says. 
 
 17. And many matrons, imitating these men, gallop over 
 every quarter of the city with their heads covered, and in close 
 carriages. And as skilful conductors of battles place in the 
 van their densest and strongest battalions, then their light- 
 armed troops, behind them the darters, and in the extreme 
 rear troops of reserve, ready to join in the attack if necessity 
 should arise ; so, according to the careful arrangements of 
 the stewards of these city households, who are conspicuous 
 by wands fastened to their right hands, as if a regular 
 watchword had been issued from the camp, first of all, near 
 
 1 A nomenclator was a slave who attended a great noble in his walk 
 through the city to remind him of the names of thosa whom he met. 
 See Cicero pro Murrena, c. 36. 
 
 2 The name of a slave in the Eunuch, of Terence, who says, act. iv. 
 sc. 8 Sanuio alone stays at home.
 
 A.D.353.] ARROGANCE OF THE RICH. 10 
 
 the front of the carriage march all the slaves concerned in 
 spinning and working ; next to them come the blackened 
 .grew employed in the kitchen ; then the whole body of 
 slaves promiscuously mixed up with a gang of idle plebeians 
 from the neighbourhood ; last of all) the multitude of 
 eunuchs, beginning with the old men and ending with the 
 boys, pale and unsightly from the distorted deformity of 
 their features ; so that whichever way any one goes, seeing 
 troops of mutilated men, he will detest the memory of 
 Semiramis, that ancient queen who was the first person to 
 castrate male youths of tender age ; doing as it were a 
 violence to nature, and forcing it back from its appointed 
 course, which at the very first beginning and birth of the 
 child, by a kind of secret law revealing the primitive foun- 
 tains of seed, points out the way of propagating posterity. 
 
 18. And as this is the case, those few houses which were 
 formerly celebrated for the serious cultivation of becoming 
 studies, are now filled with the ridiculous amusements of 
 torpid indolence, re-echoing with the sound of vocal music 
 and the tinkle of flutes and lyres. Lastly, instead of a philo- 
 sopher, you find a singer ; instead of an orator, some teacher 
 of ridiculous arts is summoned ; and the libraries closed for 
 ever, like so many graves ; organs to be played by water- 
 power are made ; and lyres of so vast a size, that they look 
 like waggons ; and flutes, and ponderous machines suited 
 for the exhibitions of actors. 
 
 19. Last of all, they have arrived at such a depth of un- 
 worthiness, that when, no very long time ago, on account 
 of an apprehended scarcity of food, the foreigners were 
 driven in haste from the city ; those who practised liberal 
 accomplishments, the number of whom was exceedingly 
 small, were expelled without a moment's breathing-time ; 
 yet the followers of actresses, and all who at that time 
 pretended to be of such a class, were allowed to remain ; and 
 three thousand dancing-girls had not even a question put 
 to them, but stayed unmolested with the members of their 
 choruses, and a corresponding number of dancing masters. 
 
 20. And wherever you turn your eyes, you may .see a 
 multitude of women with their hair curled, who, as far as 
 their age goes, might, if they had married, been by this 
 time the mothers of three children, sweeping the pavements 
 with their feet till they are weary, whirling round in rapid
 
 20 AMMIAXUS MARCELLISUS. [BK. XIV. CH. vi. 
 
 gyrations, while representing innumei'able groups and 
 figures which the theatrical plays contain. 
 
 21. It is a truth beyond all question, that, when at one 
 time Rome was the al-ode of all the virtues, many of the 
 nobles, like the Lotophagi, celebrated in Homer, who 
 detained men by the deliciousness of their fruit, allured 
 foreigners of free birth by manifold attentions of courtesy 
 and kindness. 
 
 22. But now, in their empty arrogance, some persons 
 look upon everything as worthless which is born outside of 
 the walls of the city, except only the childless and the un- 
 married. Nor can it be conceived with what a variety of 
 obsequious observance men without children are courted 
 at Rome. 
 
 23. And since among them, as is natural in a city so 
 great as to be the metropolis of the world, diseases attain 
 to such an insurmountable degree of violence, that all the 
 skill of the physician is ineffectual even to mitigate them ; 
 a certain assistance and means of safety has been devised, 
 in the rule that no one should go to see a friend in such a 
 condition, and to a few precautionary measures a fuither 
 remedy of sufficient potency has been added, that men 
 should not readmit into their houses servants who have 
 been sent to inquire how a man's friends who may have 
 been seized with an illness of this kind are, until they have 
 cleansed and purified their persons in the bath. So that a 
 taint is feared, even when it has only been seen with the 
 eyes of another. 
 
 24. But nevertheless, when these rules are observed thus 
 stringently, some persons, if they be invited to a wedding, 
 though the vigour of their limbs be much diminished, yet, 
 when gold is offered 1 in the hollow palm of the right hand, 
 will go actively as far as Spoletum. These are the customs 
 of the nobles. 
 
 25. But of the lower and most indigent class of the popu- 
 lace some spend the whole night in the wine shops. 
 Some lie concealed in the shady arcades of the theatres ; 
 which Catulus was in his axlileship the first person to 
 
 1 It was customary on such solemnities, as also on the occasion of 
 n.snming the toga virilis, or entering on any important magistracy, to 
 make small presents of money to the guests who were invited to cele- 
 brate the occasion. Cf. Plin. Epist. x. 117.
 
 A.D. 353.] CRUELTY OF CALLUS. 21 
 
 raise, in imitation of the lascivious manners of Campania, or 
 else they play at dice so eagerly as to quarrel over them ; 
 siruffing up 1heir nostrils and making unseemly noises by 
 drawing back their breath into their noses ; or (and this is 
 tKeir favourite pursuit of all others) from sunrise to even- 
 ing they stay gaping through sunshine or rain, examining 
 in the most careful manner the most sterling good or 
 bad qualities of the charioteers and horses. 
 
 26. And it is very wonderful to see an innumerable 
 multitude of people with great eagerness of mind intent 
 upon the event of the contests in the chariot race. These 
 pursuits, and others of like character, prevent anything 
 worth mentioning or important from being done at Eome. 
 Therefore we must return to our original subject. 
 
 VII. 
 
 1. His licentiousness having now become more unbounded, 
 the Cassar began to be burdensome to all virtuous men ; and 
 discarding all moderation, he harassed every part of the 
 East, sparing neither those who had received public 
 honours, nor the chief citizens of the different cities ; nor 
 the common people. 
 
 2. At last by one single sentence he ordered all the 
 principal persons at Antioch to be put to death ; being 
 exasperated because when he recommended that a low 
 price should be established in the market at an unsea- 
 sonable time, when the city was threatened with a scarcity, 
 they answered him with objections, urged with more 
 force than he approved ; and they would all have been 
 put to death to a man, if Honoratus, who was at that time 
 count of the East, had not resisted him with pertinacious 
 constancy. 
 
 3. This circumstance was also a proof, and that no 
 doubtful or concealed one, of the cruelty of his nature, 
 that he took delight in cruel sports, and in the circus he 
 would rejoice as if he had made some great gain, to see six 
 or seven gladiators killing one another in combats which 
 have often been forbidden. 
 
 4. In addition to these things a certain worthless woman 
 inflamed his purpose of inflicting misery; for she, having 
 obtained admission to the palace, as she had requested, gave
 
 22 AMMIAXUS MARCELLIXUS. [BK. XIV. CH. vn. 
 
 him information that a plot was secretly laid against him 
 by a few soldiers of the lowest rank. And Constantina, 
 in her exultation, thinking that her husband's safety was 
 now fully secured, rewarded and placed this woman, in a 
 carriage, and in this way sent her out into the public 
 street through the great gate of the palace, in order, by such 
 a temptation, to allure others also to give similar or more 
 important information. 
 
 5. After these events, Gallus being about to set out for 
 Hierapolis, in order, as far as appearance went, to take 
 part in the expedition, the common people of Antioch 
 entreated him in a suppliant manner to remove their fear 
 of a famine which for many reasons (some of them difficult 
 to explain) it was believed was impending ; Gallus, how- 
 ever, did not, as is the custom of princes whose power, 
 by the great extent of country over which it is diffused, is 
 able continually to remedy local distresses, order any dis- 
 tribution of food to be made, or any supplies to be brought 
 from the neighbouring countries ; but he pointed out to 
 them a man of consular rank, named Theophilus, the 
 governor of Syria, who happened to be standing by, re- 
 plying to the repeated appeals of the multitude, who were 
 trembling with apprehensions of the last extremities, that 
 no one could possibly want food if the governor were not 
 willing that they should be in want of it. 
 
 6. These words increased the audacity of the lower 
 classes, and when the scarcity of provisions became more 
 severe, urged by hunger and frenzy, they set fire to and 
 burnt down the splendid house of a man of the name of 
 Eubulus, a man of great reputation among his fellow- 
 citizens ; and they attacked the governor himself with 
 blows and kicks as one especially made over to them by 
 the judgment of the emperor, kicking him till he was 
 half dead, and then tearing him to pieces in a miserable 
 manner. And after his wretched death every one saw in 
 the destruction of this single individual a type of the 
 danger to which he was himself exposed, and, taught by 
 this recent example, feared a similar fate. 
 
 7. About the same time Serenianus, who had previously 
 been duke ' of Phoenicia, to whose inactivity it was owing, 
 
 1 The Latin is Dux. It is about this period that the title Duke and 
 C ount, which we have already had, arose, indicating however at fir.-.t
 
 A.D. 353.] COXSTANT1US SUMMONS GALLUS. 23 
 
 as we have already related, that Celse in Phoenicia was 
 laid waste, was deservedly and legally accused of trea- 
 son, and no one saw how he could possibly be acquitted. 
 He was also manifestly proved to have sent an intimate 
 friend with a cap (with which he used to cover his own 
 head) which had been enchanted by forbidden acts to the 
 temple of prophecy, 1 on purpose to ask expressly whether, 
 according to his wish, a firm enjoyment of the whole 
 empire was portended for him. 
 
 8. And in these days a twofold misfortune occurred : 
 first, that a heavy penalty had fallen upon Theophilus who 
 was innocent ; and, secondly, that Serenianus who deserved 
 universal execration, was acquitted without the general 
 feeling being able to offer any effectual remonstrance. 
 
 9. Oonstantius then hearing from time to time of these 
 transactions, and having been further informed of some 
 particular occurrences by Thalassius, who however had 
 now died by the ordinary course of nature, wrote courteous 
 letters to the Caesar, but at the same time gradually with- 
 drew from him his support, pretending to be uneasy, least 
 as the leisure of soldiers is usually a disorderly time, the 
 troops might be conspiring to his injury : and he desired 
 him to content himself with the schools of the Palatine, 2 
 and with those of the Protectors, with the Scutarii, and 
 Gentiles. And he ordered Domitianus, who had formerly 
 been the Superintendent of the Treasury, but who was now 
 promoted to be a prefect, as soon as he arrived in Syria, to 
 addi'ess Gallus in persuasive and respectful language, ex- 
 horting him to repair with all speed to Italy, to which 
 province the emperor had repeatedly summoned him. 
 
 not territorial possessions, but military commands ; and it is worth 
 noticing that the rank of Count was the higher of the two. 
 
 1 Constantine, on his conversion to Christianity, had issued an edict 
 forbidding the consultation of oracles ; but the practice was not wholly 
 abandoned till the time of Theodosius. 
 
 2 Schools was the name given at Eome to buildings where men were 
 wont to meet for any purpose, whether of study, of traffic, or of the 
 practice of any art. The schools of the Palatine were the station of 
 the cohorts of the guard. The " Protectors or Guards " were a body of 
 soldiers of higher rank, receiving also higher pay ; called also "Domes- 
 tici or household troops," as especially set apart for the protection of the 
 imperial palace and person. The "Scutarii" (shield-bearers) belonged 
 to the Palatine schools ; and the Gentiles were troops enlisted from 
 among those nations which were still accounted barbarous.
 
 24. AMMIANUS MARCELL1NUS. r BK. XIV. CH. vii. 
 
 10. And when, with this object, Domitianus had reached 
 Antioch, having travelled express, he passed by the gates 
 of the palace, in contempt of the Cassar, whom, however, 
 he ought to have visited, and proceeded to the general's 
 camp with ostentatious pomp, and there pretended to be 
 sick ; he neither visited the palace, nor ever appeared in 
 public, but keeping himself private, he deviled many things 
 to bring about the destruction of the Caesar, adding many 
 superfluous circumstances to the relations which he was 
 continually sending to the emperor. 
 
 11. At last, being expressly invited by the Caesar, and 
 being admitted into the prince's council-chamber, without 
 making the slightest preface he began in thin inconsiderate 
 and light-minded manner : " Depart," said he, " as you 
 have been commanded, Csesar, and know this, that if you 
 make any delay I shall at once order all the provisions 
 allotted for the support of yourself and your court to be 
 carried away." And then, having said nothing more than 
 these insolent woi'ds, he departed with every appearance of 
 rage ; and would never afterwards come into his sight 
 though frequently sent for. 
 
 12. The Ctesar being indignant at this, as thinking he 
 had been unworthily and unjustly treated, ordered his 
 faithful protectors to take the prefect into custody ; and 
 when this became known, Montius, who at that time was 
 quaestor, a man of deep craft indeed, but still inclined to 
 moderate measures, 1 taking counsel for the common good, 
 sent for the principal members of the Palatine schools and 
 addressed them in pacific words, pointing out that it was 
 neither proper nor expedient that such things should be 
 done ; and adding also in a reproving tone of voice, that if 
 such conduct as this were approved of, then, after throwing 
 down the statues of Constantius the prefect would begin 
 to think how he might also with the greater security take 
 his life also. 
 
 13. \Vhen this was known Gallus, like a serpent attacked 
 with stones or darts, being now reduced to the extremity 
 of despair, and eager to insure his safety by any possible 
 
 1 Gibbon here proposes for lenitatem to read leaitatem, fickleness ; 
 himself describing Moutius as " a statesman whose art and experience 
 were frequently betrayed by the levity of his disposition." Cap. xix., 
 p. 298, vol. iii., Bolm's edition.
 
 A.D. 353.] RESISTANCE OF CALLUS. 25 
 
 means, ordered all Ills troops to be collected in arms, and 
 when they stood around him in amazement he gnashed his 
 tetth, and hissing with rage, said, 
 
 14. "You are present here as brave men, come to the 
 aid of me who am in one common danger with you. Mon- 
 tius, with a novel and unprecedented arrogance, accuses us 
 of rebellion and resistance to the majesty of the emperor, 
 by roaring out all these charges against us. Being offended 
 forsooth that, as a matter of precaution, I ordered a contu- 
 macious prefect, who pretended not to know what the state 
 of affairs required, to be arrested and kept in custody." 
 
 15. On hearing these words the soldiers immediately, 
 being always on the watch to raise disturbances, first of all 
 attacked Montius, who happened to be living close at hand, 
 an old man of no great bodily strength, and enfeebled by 
 disease ; and having bound his legs with coarse ropes, they 
 dragged him straddling, without giving him a moment to 
 take breath, as far as the general's camp. 
 
 1C. And with the same violence they also bound Domitia- 
 nus, dragging him head first down the stairs ; and then having 
 fastened the two men together, they dragged them through 
 all the spacious streets of the city at full speed. And, all 
 their limbs and joints being thus dislocated, they trampled 
 on their corpses after they were dead, and mutilated them 
 in the most unseemly manner ; and at last, having glutted 
 their rage, they threw them into the river. 
 
 17. But there was a certain man named Luscus, the 
 governor of the city, who, suddenly appearing among the 
 soldiers, had inflamed them, always ready for mischief, 
 to the nefarious actions which they had thus committed ; 
 exciting them with repeated cries, like the musician who 
 gives the tune to the mourners at funerals, to finish what 
 they had begun : and for this deed he was, not long after, 
 burnt alive. 
 
 18. And because Montius, when just about to expire 
 under the hands of those who were tearing him to pieces, 
 repeatedly named Epigonius and Eusebius, without indi- 
 cating either their rank or their profession, a great deal 
 of trouble was taken to find out who they were ; and, lest 
 the search should have time to cool, they sent for a philo- 
 sopher named Epigonius, from Lycia, and for Eusebius the 
 orator, surnamed Pittacos, from Emissa ; though they were
 
 20 AMMIA.NUS MARCELLINUS. I.BK. XIV. CH. vn. 
 
 not those whom Montius had meant, but some tribunes, 
 superintendents of the manufactures of arms, who had pro- 
 mised him information if they heard of any revolutionary 
 measures being agitated. 
 
 19. About the same time Apollinaris, the son-in-law of 
 Domitianus, who a short time before had been the chief 
 steward of the Cassar's palace, being sent to Mesopotamia 
 by his father-in-1 aw, took exceeding pains to inquire among 
 the soldiers whether they had received any secret de- 
 spatches from the Cassar, indicating his having meditated any 
 deeper designs than usual. And as soon as he heard of the 
 events which had taken place at Antioch, he passed through 
 the lesser Armenia and took the road to Constantinople ; 
 but he was seized on his journey by the Protectors, and 
 brought back to Antioch, and there kept in close confine- 
 ment. 
 
 20. And while these things were taking place there was 
 discovered at Tyre a royal robe, which had been secretly 
 made, though it was quite uncertain who had placed it 
 where it was, or for whose use it had been made. And on 
 that account the governor of the province, who was at that 
 time the father of Apollinaris, and bore the same name, 
 was arrested as an accomplice in his guilt ; and great num- 
 bers of other persons were collected from different cities, 
 who were all involved in serious accusations. 
 
 21. And now, when the trumpets of internal war and 
 slaughter began to sound, the turbulent disposition of the 
 Caesar, indifferent to any consideration of the truth, began 
 also to break forth, and that not secretly as before. And 
 without making any solemn investigation into the truth of 
 the charges brought against the citizens, and without sepa- 
 rating the innocent from the guilty, he discarded all ideas 
 of right or justice, as if they had been expelled from the 
 seat of judgment. And while all lawful defence on trials 
 was silent, the torturer, and plunderer, and the executioner, 
 and every kind of confiscation of property , raged unrestrained 
 throughout the eastern provinces of the empire, which I 
 think it now a favourable moment to enumerate, with the 
 exception of Mesopotamia, which I have already described 
 when I was relating the Parthian wars ; and also with the 
 exception of Egypt, which I am forced to postpone to 
 another opportunity.
 
 DESCRIPTION OF C1LICIA. 27 
 
 VIII. 
 
 1. AFTER passing over the summit of Mount Taurus, which 
 towards the east rises up to a vast height, Cilicia spreads 
 itself out for a very great distance a land rich, in all valu- 
 able productions. It is bordered on its right by Isauria, 
 which is equally fertile in vines and in many kinds of 
 grain. The Calycadnus, a navigable river, flows through 
 the middle of Isaurus. 
 
 2. This province, besides other towns, is particularly 
 adorned by two cities, Seleucia, founded by King Seleucus, 
 and Claudiopolis, which the Emperor Claudius Caesar esta- 
 blished as a colony. For the city of Isauria, which was 
 formerly too powerful, was in ancient times overthrown as 
 an incurable and dangerous rebel, and so completely de- 
 stroyed that it is not easy to discover any traces of its 
 pristine splendour. 
 
 3. The province of Cilicia, which exults in the river 
 Cydnus, is ornamented by Tarsus, a city of great magni- 
 ficence. This city is said to have been founded by Perseus, 
 the son of Jupiter and Danae ; or else, and more probably, 
 by a certain emigrant who came from Ethiopia, by name 
 Sandan, a man of great wealth and of noble birth. It is 
 also adorned by the city of Anazarbus, which bears the 
 name of its founder ; and by Mopsuestia, the abode of the 
 celebrated seer Mopsus, who wandered from his comrades 
 the Argonauts when they were returning after having 
 carried off the Golden Fleece, and strayed to the African 
 coast, where he died a sudden death. His heroic remains, 
 though covered by Punic turf, have ever since that time 
 cured a great variety of diseases, and have generally re- 
 stored men to sound health. 
 
 4. These two provinces being full of banditti were for- 
 merly subdued by the pro-consul Servilius, in a piratical 
 war, and were passed under the yoke, and made tributary 
 to the empire. These districts being placed, as it were, on 
 a prominent tongue of land, are cut off from the main conti- 
 nent by Mount Amanus. 
 
 5. The frontier of the East stretching straight forward 
 for a great distance, reached from the banks of the river 
 Euphrates to those of the Nile, being bounded on the
 
 23 AMMIAXUS MABCELLIN'US. [Ex. XIV. CH. vm. 
 
 left by the tribes of the Saracens and on the right by the 
 sea. 
 
 (5. Xicator Seleucus, after he had occupied that dis- 
 trict, increased its prosperity to a wonderful degree, when, 
 after the death of Alexander, king of Macedonia, he 
 took possession of the kingdom of Persia by right of suc- 
 cession ; being a mighty and victorious king, as his sur- 
 name indicates. And making free use of his numerous 
 subjects, whom he governed for a long time in tranquil- 
 lity, he changed groups of rustic habitations into regular 
 cities, important for their great wealth and power, the 
 greater part of which at the present day, although thoy 
 are called by Greek names which were given them by 
 the choice of their founder, have nevertheless not lost 
 their original appellations which the original settlers of 
 the villages gave them in the Assyrian language. 
 
 7. After Osdroene, which, as I have already said, I 
 intend to omit from this description, the first province to 
 be mentioned is Commagena, now called Euphraten.sis, 
 Avhich has arisen into importance by slow degrees, and is 
 remarkable for the splendid cities of Hierapolis, the 
 ancient Ninus, and Samosata. 
 
 8. The next province is Syria, which is spread over a 
 beautiful champaign country. This province is ennobled 
 by Antioch, a city known over the whole world, with 
 which no other can vie in respect of its riches, whether 
 imported or natural : and by Laodicea and Apameia, and 
 also by Seleucia, all cities which have ever been most 
 prosperous from their earliest foundation. 
 
 9. After this comes Phoenicia, a province lying under 
 Mount Lebanon, full of beauty and elegance, and deco- 
 rated with cities of great size and splendour, among 
 which Tyre excels all in the beauty of its situation and in 
 it.s renown. And next come Sidon and Berytus, and on a 
 par with them Emissa and Damascus, cities founded in 
 remote ages. 
 
 10. These provinces, which the river Orontes borders, 
 a river which passes by the foot of the celebrated and 
 lofty mountain Cassius, and at last falls into the Levant 
 near the Gulf of Issus, were added to the 1 Ionian dominion 
 by Cmeus Pompey, who, after he had conquered Tigranes, 
 separated them from the kingdom of Armenia.
 
 A. n. 353.] ARABIA. 29 
 
 11. The last province of the Sj'rias is Palestine, a dis- 
 trict, of great extent, abounding in well-cultivated and 
 tTtautiful land, and having several magnificent cities, all 
 of equal importance, and rivalling one another as it were, 
 in parallel lines. For instance, Cassarea, which Herod built 
 in honour of the Prince Octavianus, and Eleuthempolis, 
 and Neapolis, and also Ascalon, and Gaza, cities built in 
 bygone ages. 
 
 12. In these districts no navigable river is seen : in 
 many places, too, waters naturally hot rise out of the 
 ground well suited for the cure of various diseases. These 
 regions also Pompey formed into a Roman, province after 
 he had subdued the Jews and taken Jerusalem : and he 
 made over their government to a local governor. 
 
 13. Contiguous to Palestine is Arabia, a country which 
 on its other side joins the Kabatheei a land full of the 
 most plenteous variety of merchandize, and studded with 
 strong forts and castles, which the watchful solicitude of its 
 ancient inhabitants has erected in suitable defiles, in order 
 to repress the inroads of the neighbouring nations. This 
 province, too, besides several towns, has some mighty 
 cities, such as Bostra, Gerasa, and Philadelphia, fortified 
 with very strong walls. It was the Emperor Trajan who 
 first gave this country the name of a Roman province, and 
 appointed a governor over it, and compelled it to obey our 
 laws, after having by repeated victories crushed the arro- 
 gance of the inhabitants, when he was carrying his glorious 
 arms into Media and Parthia. 
 
 14. There is also the island of Cyprus, not very far from 
 the continent, and abounding in excellent harbours, which, , 
 besides its many municipal towns, is especially famous for 
 two renowned cities, Salamis and Paphos, the one cele- 
 brated for its temple of Jupiter, the other for its temple ot 
 Venus. This same Cyprus is so fertile, and so abounding 
 in riches of every kind, that without requiring any ex- 
 ternal assistance, it can by its own native resources build 
 a merchant ship from the very foundation of the keel up to 
 the top sails, and send it to sea fully equipped with 
 stores. 
 
 15. It is not to be denied that the Roman people invaded 
 this island with more covetousness than justice. For 
 when Ptolemy, the king, who was connected with us by
 
 30 AMMIANUS MARCELLINUS. BK. XIV. CH. ix. 
 
 treaty, and was also our ally, was without any fault of his 
 own proscribed, merely on account of the necessities of our 
 treasury, and slew himself by taking poison, the island was 
 made tributary to us, and its spoils placed on board our 
 fleet, as if taken from an enemy, and carried to Rome 
 by Cato. We will now return to the actions of Constan- 
 tius in their due order. 
 
 3X. 
 
 1. AMID all these various disasters, Ursicinus, who was 
 the governor of Nisibis, an officer to whom the command 
 of the emperor had particularly attached me as a servant, 
 was summoned from that city, arid in spite of his reluc- 
 tance, and of the opposition which he made to the clamorous 
 bands of flatterers, was forced to investigate the origin of 
 the pernicious strife which had arisen. He was indeed a 
 soldier of great skill in war, and an approved leader of 
 troops ; but a man who had always kept himself aloof from 
 the strife of the forum. He, alarmed at his own danger 
 when he saw the corrupt accusers and judges who were 
 associated with him, all emerging out of the same lurking- 
 places, wrote secret letters to Constantius informing him of 
 what was going on, both publicly and in secret ; and im- 
 ploring such assistance as, by striking fear into Gallus, 
 should somewhat curb his notorious arrogance. 
 
 2. But through excessive caution he had fallen into a 
 worse snare, as we shall relate hereafter, since his enemies 
 got the opportunity of laying numerous snares for him, to 
 poison the mind of Constantius against him ; Constantius, 
 in other respects a prince of moderation, was severe and 
 implacable if any person, however mean and unknown, 
 whispered suspicion of danger into his ears, and in such 
 matters was wholly unlike himself. 
 
 3. On the day appointed for this fatal examination, the 
 master of the horse took his seat under the pretence of 
 being the judge ; others being also set as his assessors, 
 who were instructed beforehand what was to be done : 
 and there were present also notaries on -each side of him, 
 who kept the Cresar rapidly and continually informed of all 
 the questions which were put and all the answers which 
 were given ; and by his pitiless orders, urged as he was by
 
 A.D. 353.] TORTURES OF THE PRISONERS. ' 31 
 
 the persuasions of the queen, who kept her ear at the 
 curtain, many were put to death without being permitted 
 tcrsofteu the accusations brought against them, or to say a 
 word in their own defence. 
 
 4. The first persons who were brought before them were 
 Epigonius and Eusebius, who were ruined because of the 
 similarity of their names to those of other people ; for we 
 have already mentioned that Montius, when just at the 
 point of death, had intended to inculpate the tribunes of 
 manufactures, who were called by these names, as men who 
 had promised to be his supports in some future enterprise. 
 
 5. Epigonius was only a philosopher as far as his dress 
 went, as was evident, when, having tried entreaties 
 in vain, his sides having been torn with blows, and the 
 fear of instant death being presented to him, he affirmed 
 by a base confession that his companion was privy to 
 his plans, though in fact he had no plans ; nor had he 
 ever seen or heard anything, being wholly unconnected 
 with forensic affairs. But Eusebius, confidently denying 
 what he was accused of, continued firm in unshaken con- 
 stancy, loudly declaring that it was a band of robbers 
 before whom he was brought, and not a court of justice. 
 
 6. And when, like a man well acquainted with the law, 
 he demanded that his accuser should be produced, and 
 claimed the usual rights of a prisoner ; the Caesar, having 
 heard of his conduct, and looking on his freedom as pride, 
 ordered him to be put to the torture as an audacious 
 calumniator ; and when Eusebius had been tortured so 
 severely that he had no longer any limbs left for torments, 
 imploring heaven for justice, and still smiling disdain- 
 fully, he remained immovable, with a firm heart, not 
 permitting his tongue to accuse himself or any one else. 
 And so at length, without having either made any con- 
 fession, or being convicted of anything, he was condemned 
 to death with the spiritless partner of his sufferings. Pie 
 was then led away to death, protesting against the ini 
 quity of the times ; imitating in his conduct the cele- 
 brated Stoic of old, Zeno, who, after he had been long 
 subjected to torture in order to extract from him some 
 false confession, tore out his tongue by the roots and threw 
 it, bloody as it was, into the face of the king of Cyprus, 
 who was examining him.
 
 32 AMMIANUS MARCKLUNUS. [BK. XIV. CH. x. 
 
 7. After these events the affair of the royal robe was 
 examined into. And when those who were employed in 
 dyeing purple had been put to the torture, and had con- 
 fessed that they had woven a short tunic to cover the 
 chest, without sleeves, a- certain person, by name Maras, 
 was brought in, a deacon, as the Christians call him ; 
 letters from whom were produced, written in the Greek 
 language *o the superintendent of the weaving manu- 
 factory at Tyre, which pressed him to have the beau- 
 tiful work finished speedily ; of which work, however, 
 these letters gave no further description. And at last this 
 man al.so was tortured, to the danger of his life, but could 
 not be made to confess anything. 
 
 8. After the investigation had been carried on with 
 the examination, under torture of many persons, when 
 some things appeared doubtful, and others it was plain 
 were of a very unimportant character, and after many 
 persons had been put to death, the two Apollinares, 
 father and son, were condemned to banishment ; and 
 when they had come to a place which is called Cra- 
 terse, a country house of their own, which is four-and- 
 twenty miles from Antioch, there, according to the order 
 which had been given, their legs were broken, and they 
 were put to death. 
 
 9. After their death Gallus was not at all less ferocious 
 than before, but rather like a lion which has once tasted 
 blood, he made many similar investigations, all of which 
 it is not worth while to relate, lest 1 should exceed the 
 bounds which I have laid down for myself; an error which 
 is to be avoided 
 
 1. WHILE the East was thus for a long time suffering under 
 these calamities, at the first approach of open weather, 
 Constantius being in his seventh consulship, and the Cassar 
 in his third, the emperor quitted Aries and went to 
 Yalentia, with the intention of making war upon the 
 brothers Gundomadus and Vadomarius, chiefs of 'the 
 Allemanni ; by whose repeated inroads the territories of 
 the Gauls, which lay upon their frontier, were continually 
 laid waste. 
 
 2. And while he was staying in that district, as he did
 
 A.P. 353.] DISCONTENT OF THE SOLDIERS. * 33 
 
 for some time while waiting for supplies, tlie importation 
 of which from Aquitania was prevented by the spring 
 rams, which were this year more severe than usual, so that 
 the rivers were flooded by them, Herculanus arrived, a 
 principal officer of the guard, son of Hermogenes, who had 
 formerly been master of the horse at Constantinople, and 
 had been torn to pieces in a popular tumult as we have 
 mentioned before. And as he brought a faithful account 
 of what Gallus had done, the emperor, sorrowing over the 
 miseries that were passed, and full of anxious fear for the 
 future, for a time stilled the grief of his mind as well as 
 he could. 
 
 3. But in the mean time all the soldiery being assembled 
 at Cabillon, 1 began to be impatient of delay, and to get 
 furious, being so much the more exasperated because they 
 had not sufficient means of living, the usual supplies not 
 yet having arrived. 
 
 4. And in consequence of this state of things, Eufinus, 
 at that time prefect of the camp, was exposed to the most 
 imminent danger. For he himself was r-ompelled to go 
 among the soldiers, whose natural ferocity was inflamed 
 by their want of food, and who on other occasions are 
 by nature generally inclined to be savage and bitter against 
 men of civil dignities. He was compelled, I say, to go 
 among them to appease them and explain on what account 
 the arrival of their corn was delayed. 
 
 5. And the task thus imposed on him was veiy cun- 
 ningly contrived, in order that he, the uncle of Gallus, 
 might perish in the snare ; lest he, being a man of great 
 power and energy, should rouse his nephew to confidence, 
 and lead him to undertake enterprises which might be mis- 
 chievous. Great caution, however, was used to escape 
 this ; and, when the danger was got rid of for a while. 
 Eusebius, the high chamberlain, was sent to Cabillon with 
 a large sum of money, which he distributed secretly among 
 the chief leaders of sedition : and so the turbulent and 
 arrogant disposition of the soldiers was pacified, and the 
 safety of the prefect secured. Afterwards food having 
 arrived in abundance the camp was strack on the clay 
 appointed. 
 
 6. After great difficulties had been surmounted, many 
 
 1 Chalons sur Saoue. 
 
 D
 
 34 AMMIANUS MARCELLINUS. [Bs. XIV. CH. x. 
 
 of the roads being buried in snow, the army came near to 
 Rauracum * on the banks of the Ehine, where the mul- 
 titude of the Allemanni offered great resistance, so that 
 by their fierceness the Komans were prevented from fixing 
 their bridge of boats, darts being poured upon them from 
 all sides like hail; and, when it seemed impossible to 
 succeed in that attempt, the emperor being taken by sur- 
 prise, and full of anxious thoughts, began to consider \vhut 
 to do. 
 
 7. When suddenly a guide well acquainted with the 
 country arrived, and for a reward pointed out a ford by 
 night, where the river could be crossed ; and the army 
 crossing at that point, while the enemy had their attention 
 directed elsewhere, zuight without any one expecting such 
 a step, have and waste the whole country, if a few men 
 of the same nation to whom the higher posts in the Roman 
 army were intrusted had not (as some people believe) in- 
 formed their fellow-countrymen of the design by secret 
 messengers. 
 
 8. The disgrace of this suspicion fell chiefly on Latinus, 
 a commander of the domestic guard, and on Agilo, an 
 equerry, and on Scudilo, the commander of the Scutari i, 
 men who at that time were looked up to as those who sup- 
 ported the republic with their right hands. 
 
 9. But the- barbarians, though taking instant counsel 
 on such an emergency, yet either because the auspices 
 turned out unfavourable, or because the authority of the 
 sacrifices prohibited an instant engagement, abated their 
 energy, and the confidence with which they had hitherto 
 resisted ; and sent some of their chiefs to beg pardon for 
 their offences, and sue foi peace. 
 
 10 Therefore, having detained for some time the envoys 
 of both the kings, and having long deliberated over the affair 
 in secret, the emperor, when he had decided that it was ex- 
 pedient to grant peace on the terms proposed, summoned his 
 army to an assembly with the intention of making them a 
 short speech, and mounting the tribunal, surrounded with a 
 staff of officers of high rank, spoke in the following manner : 
 
 11. "I hope no one will wonder, after the long and 
 toilsome marches we have made, and the vast supplies 
 and magazines which have been provided, from the ccnfi- 
 1 Near Basle.
 
 A.D. 353.J SPEECH OF COXSTAXT1US. , 33 
 
 dence which I felt in you, that now although we are close 
 to the villages of the barbarians, I have, as if I had sud- 
 denly changed my plans, adopted more peaceful counsels. 
 
 12. "For if every one of you, having regard to his own 
 position and his own feelings, considers the case, he will 
 find this to be the truth : that the individual soldier in all 
 cases, however strong and vigorous he may be, regards and 
 defends nothing but himself and his own life ; while the 
 general, looking on all with impartiality as the guardian 
 of their general safety, is aware that the common interest 
 of the people cannot be separated from his own safety ; 
 and he is bound to seize with alacrity every remedy of 
 which the condition of affairs admits, as being put into his 
 hand by the favour of the gods. 
 
 13. "That therefore I may in a few words set before 
 you and explain on what account I wished all of you, 
 my most faithful comrades, to assemble here, I entreat you 
 to listen attentively to what I will state with all the brevity 
 possible. For the language of truth is always concise and 
 simple. 
 
 14. " The kings and people of the Allemanni, viewing 
 with apprehension the lofty steps of your glory (which 
 fame, increaeing in magnificence, has diffused throughout 
 the most distant countries), now by their ambassadors 
 humbly implore pardon for their past offences, and peace. 
 And this indulgence I, as a cautious and prudent adviser 
 of what is useful, think expedient to grant them, if your 
 consent be not wanting : being led to this opinion by many 
 considerations, in the first place that so we may avoid the 
 doubtful issues of war ; in the second place, that instead 
 of enemies we may have allies, as they promise we shall 
 find them ; further, that without bloodshed we may pacify 
 their haughty ferocity, a feeling which is often mis- 
 chievous in our provinces ; and last of all, recollecting 
 that the man who falls in battle, overwhelmed by supe- 
 rior weapons or strength, is not the only enemy who has 
 to be subdued; and that with much greater safety to the 
 state, even while the trumpet of war is silent, he is sub- 
 dued who makes voluntary submission, having learnt by 
 experience that we lack neither courage against rebels, nor 
 mercy towards suppliants. 
 
 15. " To sum up, making you as it were the arbitrators, I
 
 36 AMMIANUS MARCELLINUS. [BK. XIV. CH. xi. 
 
 wait to see what yon determine ; having no doubt myself, 
 as an emperor always desirous of peace, that it is best to 
 employ moderation while prosperity descends upon us. 
 For, believe me, this conduct which I recommend, and 
 which is wisely chosen, will not be imputed to want of 
 courage on your part, but to your moderation and huma- 
 nity." 
 
 16. As soon as he had finished speaking, the whole 
 assembly being ready to agree to what the emperor de- 
 sired, and praising his advice, gave their votes for peace ; 
 being principally influenced by this consideration, that 
 they had already learnt by frequent expeditions that the 
 fortune of the emperor was only propitious in times of civil 
 troubles ; but that when foreign wars were undertaken 
 they had often proved disastrous. On this, therefore, 
 a treaty being made according to the customs of the 
 Allemanni, and all the solemnities being completed, the 
 emperor retired to Milan for the winter. 
 
 XI. 
 
 1. AT Milan, having discarded the weight of other cares, 
 the emperor took into his consideration that most difficult 
 gordian knot, how by a mighty effort to uproot the Cassar. 
 And while he was deliberating on this matter with his 
 friends in secret conference by night, and considering 
 what force, and what contrivances might be employed for 
 the purpose, before Gallus in his audacity should more 
 resolutely set himself to plunging affairs into confusion, 
 it seemed best that Gallus should be invited by civil letters, 
 under pretence of some public affairs of an urgent nature 
 requiring his advice, so that, being deprived of all support, 
 he might be put to death without any hindrance. 
 
 2. But as several knots of light-minded flatterers opposed 
 this opinion, among whom was Arbetio, a man of keen 
 wit and always inclined to treachery, and Eusebius, a man 
 always disposed to mischief, at that time the principal 
 chamberlain, they suggested that if the Cajsar were to 
 quit those countries it would be dangerous to leave 
 Ursicinus in the East, with no one to check his designs, if 
 he should cherish ambitious notions. 
 
 3. And these counsels were supported by the rest of the
 
 A.D. 353.] JEALOUSY OF CONSTANTIUS. , 37 
 
 royal eunuchs, whose avarice and covetousness at that 
 period had risen to excess. These men, while performing 
 their private duties about the court, by secret whispers 
 supplied food for false accusations ; and by raising bitter 
 suspicions of Ursicinus, ruined a most gallant man, creating 
 by underhand means a belief that his grown-up sons began 
 to aim at supreme power ; intimating that they were 
 youths in the flower of their age and of admirable per- 
 sonal beauty, skilful in the use of every kind of weapon, 
 well trained in all athletic and military exercises, and 
 favourably known for prudence and wisdom. They in- 
 sinuated also that Gallus himself, being by nature fierce 
 and unmanageable, had been excited to acts of additional 
 cruelty and ferocity by persons placed about him for that 
 purpose, to the end that, when he had brought upon him- 
 self universal detestation, the ensigns of power might be 
 transferred to the children of the master of the horse. 
 
 4. When these and similar suspicions were poured 
 into the ears of Constantius, which were always open 
 to reports of this kind, the emperor, revolving different 
 plans in his mind, at last chose the following as the 
 most advisable course. He commanded Ursicinus in a 
 most complimentary manner to come to him, on the 
 pretence that the urgent state of certain affairs required 
 to be arranged by the aid of his counsel and concurrence, 
 and that he had need of such additional support in order 
 to crush the power of the Parthian tribes, who were 
 threatening war. ' 
 
 5. And that he who was thus invited might not sus- 
 pect anything unfriendly, the Count Prosper was sent to 
 act as his deputy till he returned. Accordingly, when 
 Ursicinus had received the letters, and had obtained a 
 sufficient supply of carriages, and means of travelling, we 1 
 hastened to Milan with all speed. 
 
 6. The next thing was to contrive to summon the Csesar, 
 and to induce him to make the like haste. And to remove 
 all suspicion in his mind, Constantius used many hypocri- 
 tical endearments to persuade his own sister, Gallus' s 
 wife, whom he pretended he had long been wishing 
 to see, to accompany him. And although she hesitated 
 
 1 It will be observed that Ammianus here speaks of himself aa 
 in attendance upon Ursicinus.
 
 38 AMMIAXUS MARCELLIXUS. [BK. XIV. CH. xi. 
 
 from fear of her brother's habitual cruelty, yet, from a 
 hope that, as he was her brother, she might be able to 
 pacify him, she set out ; but when she reached Bithynia, 
 at the station named Caeni Gallici, she was seized with a 
 sudden fever and died. And after her death, her husband, 
 considering that he had lost his greatest security and the 
 chief support on which he relied, hesitated, taking anxious 
 thought what he should do. 
 
 7. For amid the multiplicity of embarrassing affairs 
 which distracted his attention, this point especially filled 
 his mind with apprehension, that Constantius, determining 
 everything according to his own sole judgment, was not a 
 man to admit of any excuse, or to pardon any error; but 
 being, as he was, more inclined to severity towards his 
 kinsmen than towards others, would be sure to put him to 
 death if he could get him into his power. 
 
 8. Being therefore in this critical sitiiation, and feeling 
 that he had to expect the worst unless he took vigilant 
 care, he embraced the idea of seizing on the supreme 
 power if he could find any opportunity : but for two 
 reasons he distrusted the good faith of his most intimate 
 councillors ; both because they dreaded him as at once 
 cruel and fickle, and also because amid civil dissensions they 
 looked with awe upon the loftier fortune of Constantius. 
 
 9. While perplexed with these vast and weighty anxieties 
 he received continual letters from, the emperor, advising 
 and entreating him to come to him ; and giving him hints 
 that the republic neither could nor ought to be divided ; 
 but that every one was bound to the utmost of his power 
 to bring aid to it when it was tottering; alluding in this 
 to the devastations of the Gauls. 
 
 10. And to this suggestion he added an example of no 
 great antiquity, that in the time of Diocletian and his 
 colleague, 1 the Caesars obeyed them as their officers, not 
 remaining stationary, but hastening to execute their orders 
 in every direction. And that even Galerius went in his 
 purple robe on foot for nearly a mile before the chariot of 
 Augustus* when he was offended with him. 
 
 11. After many other messengers had been despatched to 
 him, Scudilo the tribune of the Scutarii arrived, a very cun- 
 ning master of persuasion under the cloak of a rude, blunt 
 
 1 Maximianiis Herculius. 2 Diocletian.
 
 VD.353.J CALLUS REACHES CONSTANTINOPLE. 39 
 
 disposition. He, by mixing flattering language with his 
 serious conversation, induced him to proceed, when no one 
 ej^e could do so, continually assuring him, with a hypo- 
 critical countenance, that his cousin was extremely desirous 
 to see him ; that, like a clement and merciful prince, he 
 would pardon whatever errors had been committed through 
 thoughtlessness ; that he would make him a partner in his 
 own royal rank, and take him for his associate in those 
 toils which the northern provinces, long in a disturbed 
 state, imposed upon him. 
 
 12. And as when the Fates lay their hand upon a man 
 his senses are wont to be blunted and dimmed, so Gallus, 
 being led on by these alluring persuasions to the expectation 
 of a better fortune, quitted Antioch under the guidance of 
 an unfriendly star, and hurried, as the old proverb has it, 
 out. of the smoke into the flame; 1 and having arrived at 
 Constantinople as if in great prosperity and security, at 
 the celebration of the equestrian games, he with his own 
 band placed the crown on the head of the charioteer Corax, 
 when he obtained the victory. 
 
 13. When Constantius heard this he became exaspe- 
 rated beyond all bounds of moderation ; and lest by any 
 chance Gallus, feeling uncertain of the future, should 
 attempt to consult his safety by flight, all the garrisons 
 stationed in the towns which lay in his road were care- 
 fully removed. 
 
 14. And at the same time Taurus, who was sent as 
 quasstor into Armenia, passed by without visiting or seeing 
 him. Some persons, however, by the command of 1he 
 emperor, arrived under the pretence of one duty or another, 
 in order to take care that he should not be able to move, 
 or make any secret attempt of any kind. Among whom 
 was Leontius, afterwards prefect of the city, who was 
 sent as quastor ; and Lucillianus, as count of the domestic 
 guards, and a tribune of the Scutarii named Bainobaudes. 
 
 15. Therefore after a long journey through the level 
 country, when he had reached Hadrianopolis, a city in the 
 district of Mount Haemus, which had been formerly called 
 Uscudama, where he stayed twelve days to recover from his 
 fatigue, he found that the Theban legions, who were in 
 winter quarters in the neighbouring towns of those parts, 
 
 1 As we say, Out of the fryinjj-pan into the fire.
 
 40 AMMIANUS MARCELLIXUS. [B K . XIV. CH. xi. 
 
 had sent some of their comrades to exhort him by trust- 
 worthy and sure promises to remain there relying upon 
 them, since they were posted in great force among the 
 neighbouring stations ; but those about him watched him 
 with such diligent care that he could get no opportunity of 
 seeing them, or of hearing their message. 
 
 16. Then, as letter after letter from the emperor urged 
 him to quit that city, he took ten public carriages, as he 
 was desired to do, and leaving behind him all his retinue, 
 except a few of his chamberlains and domestic officers, 
 whom he had brought with him, he was in this poor 
 manner compelled to hasten his journey, his guards forcing 
 him to use all speed ; while he from time to time, with 
 many regrets, bewailed the rashness which had placed 
 him in a mean, and despised condition at the mercy of men 
 of the lowest class. 
 
 17. And amid all these circumstances, in moments when 
 exhausted nature sought repose in sleep, his senses were 
 kept in a state of agitation by dreadful spectres making 
 unseemly noises about him ; and crowds of those whom 
 he had slain, led on by Domitianus and Montius, seemed 
 to seize and tortiire him with all the torments of the 
 Furies. 
 
 18. For the mind, when freed by sleep from its con- 
 nection with the body, is nevertheless active, and being 
 full of the thoughts and anxieties of mortal pursuits, en- 
 genders mighty visions which we call phantoms. 
 
 19. Therefore his melancholy fate, by which it was 
 destined he shoiild be deprived, of empire and life, lead- 
 ing the way, he proceeded on his journey by continual 
 relays of horses, till he arrived at Petobio, 1 a town in 
 Noricum. Here all disguise Avas thrown off, and the 
 Count Barbatio suddenly made his appearance, with Apo- 
 demius, the secretary for the provinces, and an escort 
 of soldiers whom the emperor had picked out as men 
 bound to him by especial favours, feeling sure that they 
 could not be turned from their obedience either by bribes 
 or pity. 
 
 20. And now the affair was conducted to its conclusion 
 without further disguise or deceit, and the whole portion of 
 the palace which is outside the walls was surrounded by 
 
 1 The town of Pettau, on the Drave.
 
 A.D. 353.] CALLUS IS SENT INTO ISTRIA. 41 
 
 armed men. Barbatio, entering the palace before day- 
 break, stripped the Csesar of his royal robes, and clothed 
 him with a tunic and an ordinary soldier's garment, 
 assuring him with many protestations, as if by the especial 
 command of the emperor, that he should be exposed to no 
 further suffering ; and then said to him, " Stand up at 
 once." And having suddenly placed him in a private car- 
 riage, he conducted him into \ stria, near to the town of 
 Pola, where it is reported that Crispus, the son of Constan- 
 tine, was formerly put to death. 
 
 21. And while he was there kept in strict confine- 
 ment, being already terrified with apprehensions of his 
 approaching destruction, Eusebius, at that time the high 
 chamberlain, arrived in haste, and with him Pentadius 
 the secretary, and Mallobaudes the tribune of the guard, 
 who had the emperor's orders to compel him to explain, 
 case by case, on what accounts he had ordered each of the 
 individuals whom he had executed at Antioch to bo put to 
 death. 
 
 22. He being struck with a paleness like that of 
 Aclrastus ' at these questions, was only able to reply that 
 he had put most of them to death at the instigation of his 
 wife Constantina ; being forsooth ignorant that when the 
 mother of Alexander the Great urged him to put to death 
 some one who was innocent, and in the hope of prevailing 
 with him, repeated to him over and over again that she 
 had borne him nine months in her womb, and was his 
 mother, that emperor made her this prudent answer, " My 
 excellent mother, ask for some other reward ; for the life 
 of a man cannot be put in the balance with any kind of 
 service." 
 
 23. "When this was known, the emperor, giving way to 
 unchangeable indignation and anger, saw that his only 
 hope of establishing security firmly lay in putting the 
 Caesar to death. And having sent Serenianus, whom 
 we have already spoken of as having been accused of 
 treason, but acquitted by intrigue, and Pentadius the secre- 
 tary, and Apoderaius the, secretary for the provinces, he 
 commanded that they should put him to death. And 
 
 1 A paleness such as overspread the countenance of Aclrastus when 
 he saw his two sons-in-law, Pydeus and Polynices, slain at Thebes. 
 Virgil speaks of Adrasti pallentis imago, Mil. vi. 480.
 
 4-2 AMMIAXU3 MARCELLIXU3. [BK. XIV. Cu. xi 
 
 accordingly his hands were bound like those of some con- 
 victed thief, and he was beheaded, and his carcass, which 
 but a little while ago had been the object of dread to 
 cities and provinces, deprived of head and defaced: it was 
 then left on the ground. 
 
 24. In this the supervision of the supreme Deity mani- 
 fested itself to be everywhere vigilant. For not only did 
 the cruelties of Gallus bring about his own destruction, but 
 they also who, by their pernicious flattery and instigation, 
 and charges supported by perjury, had led him to the 
 perpetration of many murders, not long afterwards died 
 miserably. Scudilo, being afflicted with a liver complaint 
 which penetrated to his lungs, died vomiting ; while Bai % - 
 batio, who had long busied himself in inventing false 
 accusations against Gallus, was accused by secret infor- 
 mation of aiming at some post higher than his command 
 of infantry, and being condemned, though unjustly, was 
 put to death, and so by his melancholy end made atonement 
 to the shade of the Csesar. 
 
 25. These, and innumerable other actions of the same 
 kind, Adrastea, who is also called Nemesis, the avenger 
 of wicked and the rewarder of good deeds, is continually 
 bringing to pass : would that she could always do so ! 
 She is a kind of sublime agent of the powerful Deity, 
 dwelling, according to common belief, above the human 
 circle ; or, as others define her, she is a substantial pro- 
 tection, presiding over the particular destinies of indi- 
 viduals, and feigned by the ancient theologians to be 
 the daughter of Justice, looking down from a certain 
 inscrutable eternity upon all terrestrial and mundane 
 affairs. 
 
 26. She, as queen of all causes of events, and arbitress 
 and umpire in all affairs of life, regulates the urn which 
 contains the lots of men, and directs the alternations of 
 fortune which we behold in the world, frequently bringing 
 our undertakings to an issue different from what we in- 
 tended, and involving and changing great numbers of 
 actions. She also, binding the vainly swelling pride of 
 mankind by the indissoluble fetters of necessity, and sway- 
 ing the inclination of progress and decay according to her 
 will, sometimes bows down and enfeebles the stiff neck 
 of arrogance, and sometimes raises virtxious men from the
 
 4.D. 353.J DEATH OF GALLUS. 43 
 
 lowest depth, leading them to a prosperous and happy 
 life. And it is on this account that the fables of antiquity 
 have represented her with wings, that she may be sup- 
 posed to be present at all events with prompt celerity. 
 And they have also placed a rudder in her hand and given 
 her a wheel under her feet, that mankind may be aware 
 that she governs the universe, running at will through all 
 the elements. 1 
 
 27. In this untimely manner did the Csesar, being himself 
 also already weary of life, die, in the twenty-ninth year of 
 his age, having reigned four years. He was born in the 
 country of the Etrurians, in the district of Yeternum,' 2 
 being the son of Constantius, the brother of the Emperor 
 Constantine ; his mother was Galla, the sister of Kufinus 
 and Cerealis, men who had been ennobled by the offices of 
 consul and prefect. 
 
 28. He was a man of splendid stature and great beauty 
 of person and figure, with soft hair of a golden colour, his 
 newly sprouting beard covering his cheeks with a tender 
 down, and in spite of his youth his countenance showed 
 dignity and authority. He differed as much from the tem- 
 perate habits of his brother Julian, as the sons of Vespasian, 
 Domitian and Titus, differed from each other. 
 
 29. After he had been taken by the emperor as his 
 colleague, and raised to the highest eminence of power, he 
 experienced the fickle changeableness of fortune which 
 mocks mortality, sometimes raising individuals to the 
 
 1 Ammianus here confounds Nemesis with Fortuna. Compare 
 Horace's description of the latter goddess, Lib. i. Od. 34 : 
 
 "... Valet ima summis 
 Mutare, et insignia attenuat deus 
 Obscura promens : hiric apieena rapax 
 
 Fortuna cum stridore acuto 
 
 Sustulit ; hie posuisse gaudet." 
 
 Or, as it is translated by Dr. Francis : 
 
 " The hand of Jove can crush the proud 
 Down to the meanness of the crowd : 
 
 And raise the lowest in his stead : 
 But rapid Fortune pulls him down, 
 And snatches his imperial crown, 
 
 To place, not fx it, on another's head." 
 
 2 Near the modern city of Sienna.
 
 4-t AMMIANUS MARCKLLIXUS. [BK. XIV. CH. xr. 
 
 stars, at others sinking them to the lowest depths of 
 hell. 
 
 30. And though the examples of such vicissitudes are 
 beyond number, nevertheless I will only enumerable a few 
 in a cursory manner. This changeable and fickle fortune 
 made Agathocles, the Sicilian, a king from being a potter, 
 and reduced Dionysius, formerly the terror of all nations, 
 to be the master of a grammar school. This same fortune 
 emboldened Andriscus of Adramyttimn, who had been born 
 in a fuller's shop, to assume the name of Philip, and com- 
 pelled the legitimate son of Perseus ' to descend to the 
 trade of a blacksmith to obtain a livelihood. Again, for- 
 tune surrendered Mancinus 2 to the people of Kumantia, 
 after he had enjoyed the supreme command, exposed 
 Veturrus 3 to the cruelty of the Sanmites, Claudius 4 to 
 that of the Corsicans, and made Eegulus 5 a victim to the 
 ferocity of the Carthaginians. Through the injustice of 
 fortune, Pompey, 6 after he had acquired the surname of 
 the Great by the grandeur of his exploits, was murdered 
 in /Egypt at the pleasure of some eunuchs, while a fellow 
 named Eunus, a slave who had escaped from a house 
 of correction, commanded an army of runaway slaves in 
 Sicily. How many men of the highest birth, through 
 the connivance of this same fortune, submitted to the 
 authority of Viriathus and of Spartacus ! 7 How many 
 heads at which nations once trembled have fallen under 
 the deadly hand of the executioner ! One man is thrown 
 into prison, another is promoted to unexpected power, 
 
 1 See Plutarch's Life of -ZEmilius, c. 37. The name of the young 
 prince was Alexander. 
 
 2 Called also Hostilius; cf. Veil. Paterc. ii. 1. 
 
 3 Cf. Liv. ix. c. x. ; Cicero de Officiis, iii. 30. 
 
 4 Of Val. Max. vi. 3. 
 
 5 Cf. Horace, Od. iv. nit. ; Floras, ii. 1. The story of the cruelties 
 inflicted on Regulus is now, however, generally disbelieved. 
 
 6 The fate of Pompey served also as an instance to Juvenal in iiis 
 satire on the vanity of human wishes. 
 
 Provida Pompeio diderat Campania febres 
 Optandas, sed mu'ltte urbes et publica vota 
 Vicerunt ; igitnr Fortuna ipsius et urbis 
 Servatum victo caput abstulit. Sat. X. 283, &c. 
 
 " Spartacus was the celebrated leader of the slaves in the Servile 
 War.
 
 A.D. 35-l.j INDUSTRY OF THE AUTHOR. 45 
 
 a third is hurled down from the highest rank and dignity. 
 But he who would endeavour to enumerate all the various 
 antl frequent instances of the caprice of fortune, might as 
 well undertake to number the sands or ascertain the weight 
 of mountains. 
 
 BOOK XV. 
 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 I. The death of the Csesar Gallus is announced to the emperor. 
 II. Ursicinus, the commander of the cavalry in the East ; Julian, 
 the brother of the Caesar Gallus ; and Gorgonius, the high cham- 
 berlain, are accused of treason. III. The adherents and servants 
 of the Ca3sar Gallus are punished. IV. The Allemanni of the 
 district of Lintz are defeated by the Emperor Constantius with 
 great loss. V. Silvanus, a Frank, the commander of the infantry in 
 Gaul, is saluted as emperor at Cologne ; and on the twenty-eighth 
 day of his reign is destroyed by stratagem. VI. The friends and 
 adherents of Silvanus are put to death. VII. Seditions of the 
 Eoman people are repressed by Leontius, the prefect of the city ; 
 Liberius, the bishop, is driven from his see. VIII. Julian, the 
 brother of Gallus, is created Csesar by the Emperor Constantius, 
 his uncle ; and is appointed to command. IX. On the origin of 
 the Gauls, and from whence they derive the names of Celts and 
 Gauls ; and of their treaties. X. Of the Gallic Alps, and of 
 the various passes over them. XI. A brief description of Gaul, 
 and of the course of the River Rhone. XII. Of the manners of 
 the Gauls. XIII. Of Musonianus, prefect of the Prsetorium in 
 the East. 
 
 I. 
 A.D. 354. 
 
 1. HAVING investigated the truth to the best of our power 
 we have hitherto related all the transactions which either 
 our age permitted us to witness, or which we could 
 learn from careful examination of those who were con- 
 cerned in them, in the order in which the several events 
 took place. The remaining facts, which the succeeding 
 books will set forth, we will, as far as our talent permits, 
 explain with the greatest accuracy, without fearing those 
 who may be inclined to cavil at our work as too long;
 
 46 A1IMIANUS MAUCELLIXUS. '_%& XV. CH. r. 
 
 for brevity is only to be praised when, while it puts an 
 end to unseasonable delays, it suppresses nothing which 
 is well authenticated. 
 
 2. Gallus had hardly breathed his last in Koricum, when 
 Apodemius, who as long as he lived had been a fieiy 
 instigator of disturbances, caught up his shoes and carried 
 them off, journeying, with frequent relays of horses, so 
 rapidly as even to kill some of them by excess of speed, 
 and so brought the first news of what had occurred to 
 Milan. And having made his way into the palace, he 
 threw down the shoes before the feet of Constantius, as if 
 he were bringing the spoils of a king of the Parthians 
 who had been slain. And when this sudden news arrived 
 that an affair so unexpected and difficult had been exe- 
 cuted with entire facility in complete accordance with 
 the wish of the emperor, the principal courtiers, accord- 
 ing to their custom, exerting all their zeal in the 
 path of flattery, extolled to the skies the virtue and 
 good fortune of the emperor, at whose nod, as if they 
 had been mere common soldiers, two princes had thus 
 been deprived of their power, namely, Veteranio and 
 Gallus. 
 
 3. And Constantius being exceedingly elated at the 
 exquisite taste of this adulation, and thinking that he him- 
 self for the future should be free from all the ordinary 
 inconveniences of mortality, now began to depart from 
 the path of justice so evidently that he even at times 
 laid claim to immortality ; and in writing letters with his 
 own hand, would style himself lord of the whole world ; 
 a thing which, if others had said, any one ought to 
 have been indignant at, who laboured with proper dili- 
 gence to form his life and habits in emulation of the con- 
 stitutional princes who had preceded him, as he professed 
 to do. 
 
 4. For even if he had under his power the infinities of 
 worlds fancied by Democritus, as Alexander the Great, 
 under the promptings of Anaxarchus, did fancy, yet either 
 by reading, or by hearing others speak, he might have 
 considered that (as mathematicians unanimously agree) 
 the circumference of the whole earth, immense as it seems 
 to us, is nevertheless not bigger than a pin's point as com- 
 pared with the greatness of the universe.
 
 A.D. 354.] DANGER OF URSICINUS. 47 
 
 II. 
 
 IT AND now, after the pitiable death of the Czesar, the 
 trumpet of judicial dangers sounded the alarm, and Ursi- 
 cinus was impeached of treason, envy gaining more and 
 more strength every day to attack his safety ; envy which 
 is inimical to all powerful men. 
 
 2. For he was overcome by this difficulty, that, while 
 the ears of the emperor were shut against all defences 
 which were reasonable and easy of proof, they were open 
 to all the secret whispers of calumniators, who pretended 
 that his name was almost disused among all the districts of 
 the East, and that Ursicinus was urged by them both 
 privately and publicly to be their commander, as one who 
 could be formidable to the Persian nation. 
 
 3. But this magnanimous man stood his ground im- 
 movably against whatever might happen, only taking care 
 not to throw himself away in an abject manner, and 
 grieving from his heart that innocence had no safe founda- 
 tion on which to stand. And the more sad also for this 
 consideration, that before these events took place many of 
 his friends had gone over to other more powerful persons, 
 as in cases of official dignity the lictors go over to the 
 successors of former officers. ' 
 
 4. His colleague Arbetio was attacking him by cajol- 
 ing words of feigned good-will, often publicly speaking 
 of him as a virtuous and brave man ; Arbetio being a man 
 of great cunning in laying snares for men of simple life, 
 and one who at that season enjoyed too much power. 
 For as a serpent that has its hole underground and hidden 
 from the sight of man observes the different passers-by, 
 and attacks whom it will Avith a sudden spring, so this man, 
 having been raised from being a common soldier of the 
 lowest class to the highest military dignities, without 
 having received any injury or any provocation, polluted 
 his conscience from an insatiable desire of doing mis- 
 chief. 
 
 5. Therefore, having a few partners in his secrets for 
 accomplices, he had secretly arranged with the emperor 
 when he asked his opinion, that on the next night Ursicinus 
 should be seized and carried away from the sight of the 
 soldiers, and so be put to death uncondemned, just as
 
 48 .AMMIANUS MARCELLINUS. [Bs. XV. CH. I. 
 
 formerly Domitius Corbulo, that faithful and wise defender 
 of our provinces, is said to have been slain in the miserable 
 period of Nero's cruelty. 
 
 G. And after the matter had been thus arranged, while 
 the men destined for the service of seizing Ursicinus were 
 waiting fur the appointed time, the emperor's mind changed 
 feo mercy, and so this impious deed was put off for further 
 consideration. 
 
 7. Then the engine of calumny was directed against 
 Julian, who had lately been brought to court ; a prince 
 who afterwards became memorable, but Avho was now 
 attacked with a two-fold accusation, as the iniquity of his 
 enemies thought requisite. First, that he had gone from 
 the Park of Macellurn, which lies in Cappadocia, into 
 Asia, from a desire of acquiring polite learning. Secondly, 
 that he had seen his brother as he passed through Con- 
 stantinople. 
 
 8. And when he had explained away the charges thus 
 brought against him, and had proved that he had not done 
 either of these things without being ordered, he would 
 still have perished through the intrigues of the abandoned 
 court of flatterers, if he had not been saved by the favour of 
 the supreme Deity, with the assistance of Queen Eusebia. 
 By her intercession he obtained leave to be conducted to 
 the town of Como, in the neighbourhood of Milan ; and 
 after he had remained there a short time he was permitted 
 to go to Greece for the purpose of cultivating his literary 
 tastes, as he was very eager to do. 
 
 9. Nor were there wanting other incidents arising out of 
 these occurrences, which might be looked upon as events 
 under the direction of Providence, as some of them were 
 rightly pxmished, while others failed of their design, 
 proving vain and ineffective. But it occasionally happened 
 that rich men, relying on the protection of those in office, 
 and clinging to them as the ivy clings to lofty trees, bought 
 acquittals at immense prices ; and that poor men Avho had 
 little or no means of piirchasing safety were condemned out 
 of hand. And therefore truth was overshadowed by false- 
 hood, and sometimes falsehood obtained the authority of 
 truth. 
 
 10. In these days Gorgonius also was summoned to 
 court, the man who had been the Caesar's principal cham-
 
 A.D. 351.] SEVERE TREATiMENT OF CALLUS'S FRIENDS. 49 
 
 berlain. And though it was made plain by his own con- 
 fession that he had been a partner in his undertakings, 
 anrt sometimes a chief instigator of them, yet through the 
 conspiracy of the eunuchs justice was overpowered by 
 dexterously arranged falsehoods, and he was acquitted and 
 so escaped the danger. 
 
 III. 
 
 1. WHILE these events were taking place at Milan, batta- 
 lions of soldiers were brought from the East to Aquileia, 
 with a number of members of the court, who, being broken 
 in spirit, while their limbs were enfeebled by the weight 
 of their chains, cursed the protraction of their lives which 
 -were surrounded with every variety of misery. For they 
 were accused of having been the ministers of the ferocity 
 of Gallus, and it was believed to be owing to them that 
 Domitian had been torn to pieces, and that Montius and 
 others had been brought to destruction. 
 
 2. Arboreus, and Eusebius, at that time high chamber- 
 lain, both men of insane arrogance, and equally unjust and 
 cruel, were appointed to try these men. And they, with- 
 out any careful examination, or making any distinction 
 between the innocent and the guilty, condemned some to 
 scourgings, others to torture and exile, some they adjudged 
 to serve in the lowest ranks of the army, and the rest they 
 condemned to death. And when they had thus filled the 
 sepulchres with dead bodies, they returned as if in triumph, 
 and brought an account of their exploits to the emperor, 
 who was notoriously severe and implacable against all 
 offences of the kind. 
 
 3. After this, throughout the rest of his reign, Con- 
 stantius, as if resolved to reverse the prescribed arrangement 
 of the Fates, behaved with greater violence than ever, and 
 opened his heart to numbers of designing plotters. And 
 owing to this conduct, many men arose who watched 
 for all kinds of reports, at first attacking, as with the 
 appetite of wild beasts, those in the enjoyment of the 
 highest honours and rank, and afterwards both poor and 
 rich indiscriminately. Not like those Cibyratse in the time 
 of Verres, 1 fawning on the tribunal of a single lieutenant, 
 
 1 Tlepolemus and Hiero, whom Cicero, Verres iii. 11, calls Cibyratici 
 canes. 
 
 E
 
 50 AMMIAJTCJS MARCELLIXUS. [BK. XV. CH. in. 
 
 but harassing the liinbs of the whole republic by means of 
 all the evils that arose anywhere. 
 
 4. Among these men Paulus and Mercurius were espe- 
 cially conspicuous, the first a Dacian born, the latter a 
 Persian. Mercurius was a notary, and Paulus had been 
 promoted from being a steward of the emperor's table to 
 a receivership in the provinces. Paulus, as I have already 
 mentioned, had been nicknamed The Chain, because in 
 weaving knots of calumnies he was invincible, scattering 
 around foul poisons and destroying people by various 
 means, as some skilful wrestlers are wont in their contests 
 to catch hold of their antagonists by the heel. 
 
 5. Mercurius was nicknamed Count of Dreams, because 
 (as a dog fond of biting secretly fawns and wags his tail 
 while full of inward spite) he forced his way into feasts 
 and companies, and if any one in his sleep (when nature 
 roves about with an extraordinary degree of freedom) 
 communicated to a friend that he had seen anything, ex- 
 aggerated it, colouring it for the most part with envenomed 
 arts, and bore it to the open ears of the emperor. And for 
 such speeches men were attacked with formidable accusa- 
 tions, as if they had committed inexpiable crimes. 
 
 6. The news of these events having got abroad, men 
 were so cautious of even relating nocturnal dreams, that, 
 in the presence of a stranger, they would scarcely con- 
 fess they had slept at all. And some accomplished men 
 lamented that they had not been born in the country of 
 Mount Atlas, 1 where it is said that dreams never occur, 
 though what the cause of such a fact is, we must leave to 
 those who are learned in such matters to decide. 
 
 7. Amid all these terrible investigations and punish- 
 ments, another disaster took place in Illyricum, which 
 from some empty words involved many in danger. At an 
 entertainment given by Africanus, the governor of the 
 second Pannonia, at Sirmium, some men having drunk 
 rather too much, and thinking there was no witness of 
 their proceedings, spoke freely of the existing imperial 
 government, accusing it as most vexatious to the people. 
 And some of them expressed a hope that a change, such 
 as was wished for by all, might be at hand, affirming that 
 
 1 Herodotus, iv. 184, records that in Africa, in the country about 
 3. r ount Atlas, dreams are unknown.
 
 A.D. 354.] SEVERE TREATMENT OF GALLUS's FRIENDS. ol 
 
 this was portended by omens, while some, with incredible 
 rashness, affirmed that the auguries of their ancestral house 
 pKimised the same thing. 
 
 8. Among those present at the banquet was Gaudentius, 
 one of the secretaries, a stupid man, and of a hasty disposi- 
 tion. And he looking upon the matter as serious, reported 
 it to Rufinus, who was at that time the chief commander 
 of the guard of the praetorian prefecture, a man always 
 eager for the most cruel measures, and infamous for every 
 kind of wickedness. 
 
 9. He immediately, as if borne on wings, flew to the 
 court of the emperor, and so bitterly inflamed him, always 
 easy of access and susceptible of impressions from sus- 
 picious circumstances of this kind, that without a moment's 
 deliberation he ordered Africanus and all who had been 
 partakers of his fatal banquet to be seized. And when 
 this was done, the wicked informer, always fond of what- 
 ever is contrary to popular manners, obtained what he most 
 coveted, a continuation of his existing office for two years. 
 
 10. To arrest these men, Teutomeres, the chief of the 
 Protectores, was sent with his colleague ; and he loaded 
 them all with chains, and conducted them, as he had been 
 ordered, to the emperor's court. But when they arrived at 
 Aquileia, Marinus, who from having been a drillmaster 
 had been promoted to a tribuneship, but who at that 
 time had had no pai~ticular duty, being a man who had held 
 dangerous language, and who was in other respects of an 
 intemperate disposition, being left in an inn while things 
 necessary for the journey were being prepared, stabbed 
 himself with a knife which he accidentally found, and his 
 bowels gushed out, so that he died. The rest were con- 
 ducted to Milan, and subjected to torture ; and having 
 been forced by their agony to confess that while at the 
 banquet they had used some petulant expressions, were 
 ordered to be kept in penal confinement, with some hope, 
 though an uncertain one, of eventual "release. But Teuto- 
 meres and his colleague, being accused of having allowed 
 Marinus to kill himself, were condemned to banishment, 
 though they were afterwards pardoned through the inter- 
 cession of Arbetio.
 
 52 AMMIANUS MARCELLINUS. [BK. XV. CH. IV. 
 
 IV. 
 
 1. SOON after this transaction had been thus terminated, 
 war was declared against the tribes of the Alleinanni 
 'around Lentia, 1 who had often made extensive incursions 
 into the contiguous Eoman territories. The emperor him- 
 self set out on the expedition, and went as far as Rhsetia, 
 and the district of the Canini. 2 And there, after long 
 and careful deliberation, it was decided to be both honour- 
 able and expedient that Arbetio, the master of the horse, 
 should inarch with a division of the troops, in fact with 
 the greater part of the army, along the borders of the lake 
 of Brigantia, with the object of coming to an immediate 
 engagement with the barbarians. And I will here describe 
 the character of the ground briefly, as well as I can. 
 
 2. The Rhine rising among the denies of lofty moun- 
 tains, and forcing its way with immense violence through 
 steep rocks, stretches its onward course without receiving 
 any foreign waters, in the same manner as the Nile pours 
 down with headlong descent through the cataracts. And 
 it is so abundantly full by its own natural riches that it 
 would be navigable up to its very source were it not like 
 a torrent rather than a stream. 
 
 3. And soon after it has disentangled itself from its 
 denies, rolling onward between high banks, it enters a 
 vast lake of circular form, which the Rhsetian natives call 
 Brigantia, 3 being four hundred and sixty furlongs in 
 length, and of nearly equal extent in breadth, unapproach- 
 able on account of a vast mass of dark woods, except where 
 the energy of the Romans has made a wide road through 
 them, in spite of the hostility of the barbarians, and the 
 unfavourable character both of the ground and the climate. 
 
 4. The Rhine forcing its way into this pool, and roaring 
 with its foaming eddies, pierces the sluggish quiet of the 
 waters, and rushes through the middle from one end to 
 the other. And like an element separated from some 
 other element by eternal discord, without any increase or 
 diminution of the volume of water which it has brought 
 into the lake, it comes forth from it again with its old 
 
 1 Lintz. 2 The district around Bcllinzona. 
 
 3 The Bodensee, more generally known us the Lake of Constance : 
 at its south-eastern end is the town of Bregenz, the ancient Brigantia.
 
 A.D. 351.] THE OUTBREAK OF THE LENTIEXSES. 53 
 
 name and its unalloyed power, never having suffered from 
 the contact, and so proceeds till it mingles with the waves 
 of~fhe sea. 
 
 5. And what is exceedingly strange, the lake is not 
 moved at all by this rapid passage of the river through 
 it, nor is it affected by the muddy soil beneath the waters 
 of the lake ; the two bodies of water being incapable of 
 mingling with each other. A thing which would be sup- 
 posed impossible, did not the very sight of the lake prove 
 the fact. 
 
 6. In a similar manner, the Alpheus, rising in Arcadia, 
 being seized with a love for the fountain Arethusa, 1 passing 
 through the Ionian sea, as is related by the poets, proceeds 
 
 " onward till it arrives at the neighbourhood of its beloved 
 fountain. 
 
 7. Arbetio not choosing to wait till messengers arrived to 
 announce the approach of the barbarians, although he 
 knew the fierce way in which they begin their wars, 
 Allowed himself to be betrayed into a hidden ambush, 
 where he stood without the power of moving, being 
 bewildered by the suddenness of his disaster. 
 
 8. In the mean time the enemy, showing themselves, 
 sprang forth from their hiding-places and spared not one 
 who came in their way, but overwhelmed them with every 
 kind of weapon. For none of our men could offer the 
 smallest resistance, nor was there any hope of any of them 
 being able to save their lives except by a speedy flight. 
 Therefore, being intent only on avoiding wounds, our 
 soldiers, losing all order, ran almost at random in every 
 direction, exposing their backs to the blows of the enemy. 
 Nevertheless the greater part of them, scattering themselves 
 among narrow paths, were saved from danger by tho 
 protecting darkness of the night, and at the retxim of day 
 recovered their courage and rejoined their different legions. 
 But still by this sad and unexpected disaster a vast 
 number of common soldiers and ten tribunes were slain. 
 
 9. The Allemanni were greatly elated at this event, and 
 advanced with increased boldness, every day coming up to 
 the fortifications of the Romans while the morning mists 
 obscured the light ; and drawing their swords roamed about 
 
 1 The Aretlmsa is in Sicily, near Syracuse.
 
 0-t AMMIAXUS MARCELL1NUS. [Bu. XV. CH. iv. 
 
 in every direction, gnashing their teeth, and threatening 
 us with haughty shouts. Then with a sudden sally our 
 Scutarii would rush forth, and after being stopped for a 
 moment by the resistance of the hostile squadrons, would 
 call out all their comrades to join them in the engage- 
 ment. 
 
 10. But the greater part of our men were alarmed by 
 the recollection of their recent disaster, and Arbetio 
 hesitated, thinking everything pregnant with danger. 
 Upon this three tribunes at once sallied forth, Arintheus 
 who was a lieutenant commander of the heavy troops, 
 Seniauchus who commanded the cavalry of the Comites, 1 
 and Bappo who had the command of the Promoti* and 
 of those troops who had been particularly intnisted to his 
 charge by the emperor. 
 
 11. These men, looking on the common cause as their 
 own, resolved to repel the violence of the enemy according 
 to the example of their ancient comrades. And pouring 
 down upon the foe like a torrent, not in a regular line of 
 battle, but in desultory attacks like those of banditti, they 
 put them all to flight in a disgraceful manner. Since 
 they, being in loose order and straggling, and hampered 
 by their endeavours to escape, exposed their unprotected 
 bodies to our weapons, and were slain by repeated blows 
 of sword and spear. 
 
 12. Many too were slain with their horses, and seemed 
 as they lay on their backs to be so entangled as still to be 
 sitting on them. And when this was seen, all our men 
 who had previously hesitated to engage in battle with their 
 comrades, poured forth out of the camp ; and now, forget- 
 ful of all precautions, they drove before them the mob of 
 barbarians, except such as flight had saved from destruction, 
 trampling on the heaps of slain, and covered with gore. 
 
 13. "When the battle was thus terminated the emperor 
 in triumph and joy returned to Milan to winter quarters. 
 
 1 The Comites were a picked body of troops, divided into several 
 regiments distinguished by separate names, such as Seniores, Juniores, 
 J-'airittarii, &c. 
 
 - The Promoti were also picked men, something like the Comites 
 the French translator calls them the Veterans.
 
 >.i. 555.1 THE STORY OF SILVAXUS. 55 
 
 V. 
 
 A.D. 355. 
 
 1. AFTER these unhappy circumstances, accompanied as 
 they were with equal calamities in the provinces, a whirl- 
 wind of new misfortunes arose which seemed likely to 
 destroy the whole state at once, if Fortune, which regu- 
 lates the events of human life, had not terminated a state 
 of affairs which all regarded with great apprehension, by 
 bringing the dangers to a speedy issue. 
 
 2. From the long neglect with which these provinces 
 had been treated, the Gauls, having no assistance on which 
 to rely, had borne cruel massacres, with plunder and con- 
 flagration, from barbarians who raged throughout their 
 land with impunity. Silvanus, the commander of the 
 infantry, being a man well suited to correct these evils, 
 went thither at the command of the emperor, Arbetio at 
 the same time urging with all his power that this task 
 should be undertaken without delay, with the object of 
 imposing the dangerous burden of this duty on his absent 
 rival, whom he was vexed to see still in prosperity. . ' . . 
 
 3. There was a certain man -named Dynartmis, the super- 
 intendent of the emperor's beasts of burden, who had 
 begged of Silvanus recommendatory letters to his friends as 
 of one who was admitted to his most intimate friendship. 
 Having obtained this favour, as Silvanus, having no sus- 
 picion of any evil intention, had with great simplicity 
 granted what ho was asked, Dynamius kept the letters, in 
 order at a future time to plan something to his injury. 
 
 4. Therefore, when the aforesaid commander had gone 
 to" the Gauls in the service of the republic, and while be 
 was engaged in repelling the barbarians, who already 
 began to distrust their own power, and to be filled with 
 alarm, Dynamius, being restless, like a man of cunning and 
 practised deceitfulness, devised a wicked plot ; and in 
 this it is said he had for his accomplices Lampadius, the 
 prefect of the praetorian guard, Euscbius, who had 
 been the superintendent of the emperor's privy purse, 
 and was known by the nickname of Matty ocopa, 1 and 
 
 1 From K6irrw to cut, and parrva. any delicate food ; meant as 
 equivalent to our cheeseparer, or skinflint.
 
 56 AJIMIANUS MARCELLINUS. [Bu. XV. Cn. v 
 
 yEdesius, formerly keeper of the records, whom this 
 prefect had contrived to have elected consul, as being 
 his dearest friend. He then with a sponge effaced the 
 contents of the letters, leaving nothing but the address, 
 and inserted a text materially differing from the original 
 writing, as if Silvanus had asked, by indirect hints, and 
 entreated his friends who were within the palace and those 
 who had no office (among whom was Albinus of Etruria, 
 and many others), to aid him in projects of loftier am- 
 bition, as one who would soon attain the imperial throne. 
 This bundle of letters he thus made up, inventing at 
 his leisure, in order with them to endanger the life of this 
 innocent man. 
 
 5. Dynamius was appointed to investigate these charges 
 on behalf of the emperor ; and while he was artfully weaving 
 these and similar plans, he contrived to enter alone into 
 the imperial chamber, choosing his opportunity, and hoping 
 to entangle firmly in his meshes the most vigilant guardian 
 of the emperor's safety. And being full of wicked cun- 
 ning, after he had read the forged packet of letters in the 
 council chamber, the tribunes were ordered to be com- 
 mitted to custody, and also several private individuals 
 were commanded to be arrested and brought up from 
 the provinces, whose names were mentioned in those 
 letters. 
 
 6. But presently Malarichus, the commander of the Gen- 
 tiles, being struck with the iniquity of the business, and 
 taking his colleagues to his counsel, spoke out loudly that 
 men devoted to the preservation of the emperor ought not to 
 be circumvented by factions and treachery. He accordingly 
 demanded that he himself, his nearest relations being left as 
 hostages, and Mallobaudes, the tribune of the heavy-armed 
 soldiers, giving bail that he would return, might be commis- 
 sioned to go with speed to bring back Silvanus, who he 
 was certain had never entertained the idea of any such 
 attempt as these bitter plotters had imputed to him. Or, as 
 an alternative, he entreated that he might become security 
 for Mallobaudes, and that their officers might be permitted 
 to go and do what he had proposed to take upon himself. 
 
 7. For he affirmed that he knew beyond all question 
 that, if any stranger were sent, Silvanus, who was inclined 
 to be somewhat apprehensive of danger, even when no
 
 A.D. 355.] THE STORY OF SILVANUS. 57 
 
 circumstances were really calculated to alarm him, woiiH 
 very likely throw matters into confusion. 
 -8. But, although the advice which he gave was useful 
 and necessary, he spoke as to the winds, to no purpose. 
 For by the counsels of Arbetio, Apodemius, who was a 
 persevering and bitter enemy to all good men, was sent 
 with letters to summon Silvanus to the presence. When 
 he had ai-rived in Gaul, taking no heed of the commission 
 with which he was charged, and caring but little for any- 
 thing that might happen, he remained inactive, without 
 either seeing Silvanus, or delivering the letters which 
 commanded him to appear at court. And having taken 
 the receiver of the province into his counsels, he began 
 with arrogance and malevolence to harass the clients and 
 servants of the master of the horse, as if that officer had 
 been already condemned and was on the point of being 
 executed. 
 
 9. In the mean time, while the arrival of Silvanus was 
 looked for, and while Apodemius was throwing everything, 
 though quiet before, into commotion, Dynamius, that he 
 might by still more convincing proofs establish belief in 
 his wicked plots, had sent other forged letters (agreeing 
 with the previous ones which he had brought under the 
 emperor's notice by the agency of the prefect) to the 
 tribune of the factory at Cremona : these were written in 
 the names of Silvanus and Malarichus, in which the 
 tribune, as one privy to their secrets, was warned to lose 
 no time in having everything in readiness. 
 
 10. But when this tribune had read the whole of the 
 letters, he was for some time in doubt and perplexity as 
 to what they could mean (for he did not recollect that 
 those persons whose letters he had thus received had 
 ever spoken with him upon private transactions of any 
 kind) ; and accordingly he sent the letters themselves, 
 by the courier who had brought them, to Malarichus, 
 sending a soldier also with him ; and entreated Malarichus 
 to explain in intelligible language what he wanted, and 
 not to use such obscure terms. For he declared that he, 
 being but a plain and somewhat rude man, had not in the 
 least understood what was intimated so obscurely. 
 
 11. Malarichus the moment he received the letters, being 
 already in sorrow and anxiety, and alarmed for his own
 
 58 .AMMIANUS MARCELL1NUS. [BK. XV. CH. v 
 
 fate and that of his countryman Silvanus, called around 
 him. the Franks, of whom at that time there was a great 
 multitude in the palace, and in resolute language laid 
 open and proved the falsehood of the machinations by 
 which their lives were threatened, and was loud in his 
 complaints. 
 
 12. When these things became known to the emperor, 
 he appointed the members of his secret council and the 
 chief officers of his army to make further investigation of 
 the matter. And when the judges appeared to make light 
 of it, Florentius the son of iS'igridianus, who at that time 
 filled the post of master of the offices, 1 having examined 
 the writings carefully, and detecting beneath them some 
 vestiges of the tops of the former words which had been 
 effaced, perceived, as was indeed the case, that by inter- 
 polations of the original letter, matters very different from 
 any of which Silvanus was author had been written over 
 them, according to the fancy of the contriver of this 
 forgery. 
 
 13. On this the cloud of treachery was dispersed, and 
 the emperor, informed of the truth by a faithful report, 
 recalled the powers granted to the prefect, and ordered 
 him to be submitted to an examination. Nevertheless 
 he was acquitted through the active combination of many 
 of his friends ; while Eusebius, the former treasurer of the 
 emperor's secret purse, being put to the torture, confessed 
 that these things had been done with his privity. 
 
 14. yEdesius, affirming with obstinate denial that lie 
 had never known anything which had been done in the 
 matter, escaped, being adjudged innocent. And thus the 
 transaction was brought to an end, and all those who had 
 been accused in the original information were acquitted ; 
 and Dyiiamius, as a man of exceeding accomplishments 
 and prudence, was appointed to govern Etruria with the 
 rank of corrector. 
 
 15. While these affairs were proceeding, Silvanus was 
 living at Agrippina, 4 and having learnt by continual 
 
 1 This was a very important post ; it seems to have united the func- 
 tions of a modern chamberlain, chancellor, and secretary of state. The 
 master presented citizens to the emperor, received foreign ambassadors, 
 recommended men for civil employments, decided civil actions of 
 several kinds, and superintended many of the affairs of the post. 
 
 2 Cologne.
 
 A.D. 355.] S1LVANUS ASSUMES THE IMPERIAL DIGNITY. 59 
 
 information sent to him by his friends what Apodemius 
 was doing with the hope of effecting his ruin; and 
 Knowing also how impressible the mind of the feeble 
 emperor was ; began to fear lest in his absence, and without 
 being convicted of any crime, he might still be treated as a 
 criminal. And so, being placed in a situation of the 
 greatest difficulty, he began to think of trusting himself to 
 the good faith of the barbarians. 
 
 16. But being dissuaded from this by Laniogaisus, at 
 that time a tribiine, whom we have already spoken of as 
 the only person who was present with Constans when he 
 was dying, himself serving at that time as a volunteer ; 
 and being assured by Laniogaisus that the Franks, of 
 whom he himself was a countryman, would put him to 
 death, or else betray him for a bribe, he saw no safety 
 anywhere in the present emergency, and so was driven to 
 extreme counsels. And by degrees, having secretly con- 
 ferred with the chiefs of the principal legions, and having 
 excited them by the magnitude of promised rewards, he 
 tore for use on this occasion the purple silk from the in- 
 signia of the dragons ' and standards, and so assumed the 
 title of emperor. 
 
 17. And while these events are passing in Gaul, one day, 
 a little before sunset, an unexpected messenger arrived at 
 Milan, relating fully that Silvanus, being ambitious to rise 
 above his place as commander of the infantry, had tampered 
 with the army, and assumed the imperial dignity. 
 
 18. Constantius, at this amazing and unexpected event, 
 seemed as if struck by a thunderbolt of fate, and having 
 at once summoned a council to meet at the second watch, 
 all the nobles hastened to the palace. No one had either 
 mind to conceive or tongue to recommend what was best to 
 be done; but in suppressed tones they mentioned the 
 name of Ursicinus as a man eminent for skill in affairs of 
 war, and one who had been undeservedly exposed to most 
 injurious treatment. He was immediately sent for by the 
 principal chamberlain, which is the most honourable kind 
 of summons, and as soon as he entered the council-chamber 
 he was offered the purple to salute much more graciously 
 than at any former time. Diocletian was the first who in- 
 troduced the custom of offering reverence to the emperor 
 
 1 The dragons were the effigies on some of the standards.
 
 60 A1IMIANUS MARCELLINUS. [Bs. XV. Cn. v. 
 
 after this foreign manner and royal pretension ; whereas 
 all former princes, as we read, had been saluted like judges. 
 
 19. And so the man who a little while before, through 
 the malevolent persecution of certain of the courtiers, had 
 been termed the whirlpool of the East, and who had been 
 accused of a design to aim at the supreme power for his 
 sons, was now recommended as one who was a most skilful 
 general, who had been the comrade of the great Constan- 
 tine, and as the only man capable of extinguishing the 
 threatened conflagration. And though the reasons for 
 which he was sent for were honest, they were not wholly 
 free from underhand motives. For while great anxiety 
 was felt that Silvanus should be destroyed as a most for- 
 midable rebel, yet, if that object miscarried, it was thought 
 that Ursicinus, being damaged by the failure, would him- 
 self easily be ruined ; so that no scruple, which else was 
 to be feai^ed, would interpose to save him from, destruction. 
 
 20. While arrangements were being made for acclerating 
 his journey, the general was preparing to repel the charges 
 which had been brought against him ; but the emperor 
 prevented him, forbidding him in conciliatory language, 
 saying that this was not an opportunity suitable for under- 
 taking any controversy in defence of his cause, when the 
 imminent necessity of affairs rather prompted that no delay 
 should be interposed to the restoration of parties to their 
 pristine concord before the disunion got worse. 
 
 21. Therefore, after a long deliberation about many 
 things, the first and most important matter in which con- 
 sultation was held, was by what means Silvanus could be 
 led to think the emperor still ignorant of his conduct. 
 And the most likely manner to confirm him in his con- 
 fidence appeared to be that he should be informed, in a 
 complimentary despatch, that Ursicinus was appointed his 
 successor, and that he was invited to return to court with 
 undiminished power. 
 
 22. After this affair was arranged, the officer who had 
 brought the news to Milan was ordered to depart with 
 some tribunes and ten of the Protectores and domestic guard 
 as an escort, given to him at his own request, to aid him 
 in the discharge of his public duty. And of these I myself 
 was one, with my colleague Verriuianus ; and all the rest 
 were either friends or relations of mine.
 
 
 A.D. 355.] URSICINUS GOES TO COLOGNE. 61 
 
 23. And now all of us, fearing mainly for ourselves, 
 accompanied him a long distance on his journey ; and 
 although we seemed as exposed to danger as gladiators 
 about to fight with wild beasts, yet considering in our 
 minds that evils are often the forerunners of good, we 
 recollected with admiration that expression of Cicero's, 
 uttered by him in accordance with the eternal maxims of 
 truth, which runs in these words : l " And although it is a 
 thing most desirable that one's fortune should always con- 
 tinue in a most flourishing condition ; still that general 
 level state of life brings not so much sensation of joy as we 
 feel when, after having been surrounded by disasters or by 
 dangers, fortune returns into a happier condition." 
 
 24. Accordingly we hastened onwards by forced journeys, 
 in order that the master of the horse, who was eager to 
 acquire the honour of suppressing the revolt, might make 
 his appearance in the suspected district before any rumour 
 of the usurpation of Silvanus had spread among the 
 Italians. But rapidly as we hastened, fame, like the 
 wind, had outstripped us, and had revealed some part of 
 the facts ; and when we reached Agrippina we found 
 matters quite out of the reach of our attempts. 
 
 25. For a vast multitude of people, assembled from all 
 quarters, were, with a mixture of haste and alarm, 
 strengthening the foundations of Silvanus's enterprise, and 
 a numerous military force was collected ; so that it seemed 
 more advisable, on the existing emergency, for our unfor- 
 tunate general to await the intentions and pleasure of the 
 new emperor, who was assuring himself by ridiculous omens 
 and signs that he was gaining accessions of strength. By 
 permitting his feelings of security to increase, by diiferent 
 
 1 There is no such passage in any extant -work of Cicero, but a sen- 
 tence in his speech ad Pontiflces resembles it : " For although it be 
 more desirable to end one's life without pain, and without injury, still 
 it tends more to an immortality of glory to be regretted by one's 
 countrymen, than to have been always free from injury." And a still 
 closer likeness to the sentiment is found in his speech ad Quirites post 
 reditum : " Although there is nothing more to be wished for by man 
 than prosperous, equal, continual good-fortune in life, flowing on in a 
 prosperous course, without any misadventure ; still, if all my life had 
 been tranquil and peaceful, I should have been deprived of the in- 
 credible and almost heavenly delight and happiness which I now 
 enjoy through your kindness." Orations, v. 2 ; Bohn, p. 491-2.
 
 62 A.MMIAXUS MARCELLIXL'S. [BK. XV. CH. v. 
 
 pretences of agreement and flattery, Silvanus, it was 
 thought, might be relieved from all fear of hostility, and 
 so be the more easily deceived. 
 
 26. But the accomplishment of such a design appeared 
 difficult. For it was necessary to use great care and 
 watchfulness to make our desires subordinate to our oppor- 
 tunities, and to prevent their either outrunning them, or 
 falling behind them ; since if our wishes were allowed to 
 become known unseasonably, it was plain we should all be 
 involved in one sentence of death. 
 
 27. However our general was kindly received, and (the 
 very business itself forcing us to bend our necks), having 
 been compelled to prostrate himself with all solemnity 
 before the newly robed prince, still aiming at higher 
 power, was treated as a highly favoured and eminent friend ; 
 having freedom of access and the honour of a seat at the 
 royal table granted to him in preference to every one else, 
 in order that he might be consulted with the more secrecy 
 about the principal affairs of state. 
 
 28. Silvanus expressed his indignation that, while un- 
 worthy persons had been raised to the consulship and to 
 other high dignities, he and Ursicinus alone, after the fre- 
 quent and great toils which they had endured for the sake 
 of the republic, had been so despised that he himself had 
 been accused of treason in consequence of the examination 
 of some slaves, and had been exposed to an ignoble trial ; 
 while Ursicinus had been brought over from the East, and 
 placed at the mercy of his enemies ; and these were the 
 subjects of his incessant complaints both in public and in 
 private. 
 
 29. While, however, he was holding this kind of lan- 
 guage, we were alarmed at the murmurs of our soldiers 
 who were now suffering from want, whiph surrounded 
 us on all sides ; the troops showing every eagerness to 
 make a rapid march through the defiles of the Cottian 
 Alps. 
 
 30. In this state of anxiety and agitation, we occu- 
 pied ourselves in secretly deliberating on the means of 
 arriving at our object ; and at length, after our plans had 
 been repeatedly changed out of fear, it was determined 
 to use great industry in seeking out prudent agents, bind 
 ing them to secrecy by solemn oaths, in order to tamper
 
 A.D. 355.] DEATH OF SILVANUS. G3 
 
 with the Gallic soldiers whom we knew to be men of 
 doubtful fidelity, and at any time open to change for a 
 sufficient reward. 
 
 31. Therefore, after we had secured our success by 
 the address of some agents among the common soldiers, 
 men by their very obscurity fitted for the accomplish- 
 ment of such a task, and now excited by the expecta- 
 tion of reward, at sunrise, as soon as the east began to 
 redden, a band of armed men suddenly sallied forth, and, 
 as is common in critical moments, behaving with more than 
 usual audacity. They slew the sentinels and penetrated 
 into the palace, and so having dragged Silvanus out of a 
 little chapel in which, in his terror, he had taken refuge on 
 his way to a conventicle devoted to the ceremonies of the 
 Christian worship, they slew him with repeated strokes of 
 their swords. 
 
 32. In this way did a general of no slight merit perish, 
 through fear of false accusations heaped on him in his 
 absence by a faction of wicked men, and which drove 
 h m to the utmost extremities in order to preserve his 
 safety. 
 
 33. For although he had acquired strong claims on the 
 gratitude of Constantius by his seasonable sally with his 
 troops before the battle of Mursa, and although he could 
 boast the valorous exploits of his father Bonitus, a man 
 of Frankish extraction, but who had espoused the party of 
 Constantino, and often in the civil war had exhibited 
 great prowess against the troops of Licinius, still he 
 always feared him as a prince of wavering and fickle cha- 
 racter. 
 
 34. Now before any of these events had taken place in 
 Gaul, it happened that one day in the Circus Maximus at 
 Rome, the populace cried out with a loud voice, " Silvanus 
 is conquered." Whether influenced by instinct or by some 
 prophetic spirit, cannot be decided. 
 
 35. Silvanus having been slain, as I have narrated, 
 at Agrippina, the emperor was seized with inconceivable 
 joy when he heard the news, and gave way to exceeding 
 insolence and arrogance, attributing this event also to the 
 prosperous course of his good fortune ; giving the reins to 
 his habitual disposition which always led him to hate men 
 of brave conduct, as Domitian in former times had done,
 
 64 AMMIANUS MAUCKLLIXUS. [Ex. XV. CH. vi. 
 
 and desiring at all times to destroy them by every act of 
 opposition. 
 
 36. And he was so far from praising even his act of 
 diligence and fidelity, that he recorded in writing a 
 charge that Ursicinus had embezzled a part of the Gallic 
 treasures, which no one had ever touched. And he ordered 
 strict inquiry to be made into the fact, by an examination 
 of Bemigius, who was at that time accountant-general to 
 Ursicinus in his capacity of commander of the heavy troops. 
 And long afterwards, in the time of Valentinian, this Remi- 
 gius hung himself on accotint of the trouble into which he 
 fell in the matter of his appointment as legate in Tripolis. 
 
 37. And after this business was terminated, Constan- 
 tius, thinking his prosperity had now raised him to 
 an equality with the gods, and had bestowed on him 
 entire sovereignty over human affairs, gave himself up 
 to elation at the praises of his flatterers, whom he himsefi: 
 encouraged, despising and trampling under foot all who 
 were unskilled in that kind of court. As we read that 
 Croesus, when he was king, drove Solon headlong from his 
 court because he would not fawn on him ; and that Diony- 
 sius threatened the poet Philoxenus with death because, 
 when the king recited his absurd and unrhythmical verses, 
 he alone refused to fall into an ecstasy while all the rest of 
 the courtiers praised them. 
 
 38. And this mischievous taste is the nurse of vices ; for 
 praise ought only to be acceptable in high places, where 
 blame also is permitted when things are not sufficiently 
 performed. 
 
 VI. 
 
 1 . AND now, after the re-establishment of security, inves- 
 tigations as usual were set on foot, and many persons were 
 put in prison as guilty. For that infernal informer Paulus, 
 boiling over with delight, arose to exercise his poisonous 
 employment with increased freedom, and while the 
 members of the emperor's council and the military officers 
 were employed in the investigation of these affairs, as they 
 were commanded, Proculus was put to the torture, who 
 had been a servant of Silvanus, a man of weak body and 
 of ill health ; so that every one was afraid lest the exceed-
 
 A.D. 355.J EXECUTION OF SEVERAL NOBLES. 65 
 
 ing violence of his torture should prove too much for his 
 feeble lirobs, so that he would expose numbers to be im- 
 plicated in the accusations of atrocious crimes. But the 
 result proved quite different to what had been expected. 
 
 2. For remembering a dream in which he had been for- 
 bidden, while asleep, as he affirmed, to accuse any innocent 
 person, though he should be tortured till he was brought to 
 the very point of death, he neither informed against, nor 
 even named any one ; but, with reference to the usurpation 
 of Silvanus, he invariably asserted that he had been driven 
 to contemplate that act, not out of ambition, but from sheer 
 necessity ; and he proved this assertion by evident argu- 
 ments. 
 
 3. For he adduced one important excuse, which was 
 established by the testimony of many persons, that, five 
 days before he assumed the ensigns of imperial authority, 
 he addressed the soldiers, while distributing their pay to 
 them, in the name of Constantius, exhorting them to prove 
 always brave and loyal. From which it was plain that if 
 he had then been thinking of seizing on a loftier fortune, 
 he would have given them this money as if it had pro- 
 ceeded from himself. 
 
 4. After Proculus, Posmenius was condemned and put 
 to death ; he who, as we have mentioned before, 1 when the 
 Treveri had shut their gates against Caesar Decentius, was 
 chosen to defend that people. After him, Asclepiodotus, 
 and Luto, and Maudio, all Counts, were put to death, and 
 many others also, the obdurate cruelty of the times seeking 
 for these and similar punishments with avidity. 
 
 VII. 
 
 1. WHILE the fatal disturbances of the state multi- 
 plied these general slaughters, Leontius, who was the 
 governor of Koine itself, gave many proofs of his deserv- 
 ing the character of an admirable judge ; being prompt in 
 hearing cases, rigidly just in deciding them, and merciful 
 by nature, although, for the sake of maintaining lawful au- 
 thority, he appeared to some people to be severe. He was 
 also of a somewhat amorous temperament. 
 
 2. The first pretext for exciting any sedition against him 
 
 1 In one of the lost books of this history.
 
 AMMIANUS MAKCliLLlNUS. [Bs. XV. CH. vn. 
 
 was a most slight and trumpery one. For when an order 
 had been issued to arrest a charioteer, named Philoromus, 
 the whole populace followed him, as if resolved to defend 
 something of their own, and with terrible violence assailed 
 the prefect, presuming him to be timorous. But he re- 
 mained unmoved and upright, and sending his officers 
 among the crowd, arrested some and punished them, and 
 then, without any one venturing to oppose him, or even to 
 murmur, condemned them to banishment. 
 
 3. A few days later the populace again became excited 
 to its customary frenzy, and alleging as a grievance the 
 scarcity of wine, assembled at the well-known place called 
 Septemzodium, where the Emperor Marcus built the 
 Nymphasum, 1 an edifice of great magnificence. To that 
 place the prefect went forthwith, although he was earnestly 
 entreated by all his household and civil officers not to 
 trust himself among an arrogant and threatening multi- 
 tude, now in a state of fury equal to any of their former 
 commotions ; but he, unsusceptible of fear, went right 
 onwards, though many of his attendants deserted him, 
 when they saw him hastening into imminent danger. 
 
 4. Therefore, sitting in a carriage, with every appear- 
 ance of confidence, he looked with fierce eyes at the coun- 
 tenance of the tumultuous mobs thronging towards him 
 from all quarters, and agitating themselves like serpents. 
 And after suffering many bitter insults, at last, when he 
 had recognized one man who was conspicuous among all 
 the rest by his vast size and red hair, he asked him 
 whether his name was Petrus Valvomeres, as he had heard 
 it was ; and when the man replied in a defiant tone that 
 it was so, Leontius, in spite of the outcries of many 
 around, ordered him to be seized as one who had long 
 since been a notorious ringleader of the disaffected, and 
 having his hands bound behind him, commanded him to 
 be suspended on a rack. 
 
 5. And when he was seen in the air, in vain imploring 
 
 1 The Nymphseum was a temple sacred to the Nymphs, deriving its 
 name of Septemzodium, or Septizonium (which it shared with more 
 than one other building at Rome), from tho seven rows of pillars, one 
 above the other, and each row lessening both in circuit and in height, 
 with which the exterior was embellished. Another temple of this kind 
 was built by Septimius Severus.
 
 A.D. 355.] CHARACTER OF ATHANASIUS. fi7 
 
 the aid of his fellow-tribesmen, the whole mob, which 
 a little while before was so closely packed, dispersed at 
 onSe over the diiferent quarters of the city, so as to offer 
 no hindrance to the punishment of this seditious leader, 
 who after having been thus tortured with as little resist- 
 ance as if he had been in a secret dungeon of the court 
 was transported to Picenum, where, on a subsequent 
 occasion, having offered violence to a virgin of high rank, 
 he was condemned to death by the judgment of Patruinus, 
 a noble of consular dignity. 
 
 6. While Leontius governed the city in this manner, 
 Liberius, a priest of the Christian law, was ordered by 
 Constantius to be brought before the council, as one who 
 had resisted the commands of the emperor, and the decrees 
 of many of his own colleagues, in an affair which 1 will 
 explain briefly. 
 
 7. Athanasius was at that time bishop of Alexandria; 
 and as he was a man who sought to magnify himself above 
 his profession, and to mix himself up with affairs which 
 did not belong to his province, as continual reports made 
 known, an assembly of many of his sect met together 
 a synod, as they call it and deprived him of the right of 
 administering the sacraments, which he previously enjoyed. 
 
 8. For it was said that he, being very deeply skilled in 
 the arts of prophecy and the interpretation of auguries and 
 omens, had very often predicted coming events. And to 
 these charges were added others very inconsistent with 
 the laws of the religion over which he presided. 
 
 9. So Liberius, being of the same opinion with those 
 who condemned these practices, was ordered, by the 
 sentence of the emperor, to expel Athanasius from his 
 priestly seat ; but this he firmly refused to do, reiterat- 
 ing the assertion that it was the extremity of wicked- 
 ness to condemn a man who had neither been brought 
 before any court nor been heard in his defence, in this 
 openly resisting the commands of the emperor. 
 
 10. For that prince, being always unfavourable to Atha- 
 nasius, although he knew that what he ordered had in 
 fact taken effect, yet was exceedingly desirous that it 
 should be confirmed by that authority which the bishops 
 of the Eternal City enjoy, as being of higher rank. And 
 as he did not succeed in this, Liberius was removed by
 
 f>8 AMMIAXUS MARCELLINUS. [fin. XV. CH. vm. 
 
 night : a measure which was not effected without great 
 difficulty, through the fear which his enemies had of the 
 people, among whom he was exceedingly popular. 
 
 VIII. 
 
 1. THESE events, then, took place at Eome, as I have 
 already mentioned. But Constantius was agitated by 
 frequent intelligence which assured him that the Gauls 
 were in a lamentable condition, since no adequate resist- 
 ance could be made to the barbarians who were now 
 carrying their devastations with fire and sword over the 
 whole country. And after deliberating a long time, in 
 great anxiety, what force he could employ to repel these 
 dangers (himself remaining in Italy, as he thought it very 
 dangerous to remove into so remote a country), he at last 
 determined on a wise plan, which was this : to associate 
 with himself in the cares of the empire his cousin Julian, 
 whom he had some time before summoned to court, and 
 who still retained the robe he had worn in the Greek 
 schools. 
 
 2. And when, oppressed by the heavy weight of im- 
 pending calamities, he had confessed to his dearest friends 
 that by himself he was unequal to the burden of such 
 weighty and numerous difficulties a thing which he had 
 never felt bef re they, being trained to excessive flattery, 
 tried to fill him with foolish ideas, affirming that there 
 was nothing in the world so difficult but what his pre- 
 eminent virtue and his good fortune, equal to that of the 
 gods, would be able to overcome, as it always hitherto 
 had done. And many of them added further, being 
 stung by their consciousness of guilt, that henceforth he 
 ought to beware of conferring the title of Csesar on any 
 one, enumerating the deeds which had been done in the 
 time of Gallus. 
 
 3. They therefore opposed his design resolutely, and it 
 was supported by no one but the queen, who, whether it 
 was that she feared a journey to a distant country, or that, 
 from her own natural wisdom, she saw the best course for 
 the common good, urged him that a relation like Julian 
 ou-ht to be preferred to every one else. Accordingly,
 
 A.D. 355.] PROMOTION OF JUUAX. 69 
 
 after many undecided deliberations and long discussions, 
 his resolution was at last taken decidedly, and having 
 discarded all further vain debate, he resolved on asso- 
 ciating Julian with him in the empire. 
 
 4. He was therefore summoned ; and when he had ar- 
 rived, on a fixed day, the whole of his fellow- comrades who 
 were in the city were ordered to attend, and a tribunal 
 was erected on a lofty scaffolding, surrounded by the 
 eagles and standards. And Augustus, mounting it, and 
 holding Julian by the right hand, made this conciliatory 
 speech : 
 
 5. " We stand here before you, most excellent defenders 
 of the republic, to avenge with one unanimous spirit tlio 
 common dangers of the state. And how I propose to 
 provide for it I will briefly explain to you, as impartial 
 judges. 
 
 6. " After the death of those rebellious tyrants whom 
 rage and madness prompted to engage in the enterprises 
 which they undertook, the barbarians, as if they meant 
 to sacrifice unto their wicked manes with Eoman blood, 
 having violated the peace and invaded the territories of 
 the Gauls, are encouraged by this consideration, that our 
 empire, being spread over very remote countries, causes 
 us to be beset with great difficulties. 
 
 7. " If, then, your decision and mine are mutual to en- 
 counter this evil, already progressing beyond the barriers 
 which were opposed to it, while there is still time to 
 check it, the necks of these haughty nations will learn to 
 humble their pride, and the borders of the empire will 
 remain inviolate. It remains for you to give, by your 
 strength, prosperous effect to the hopes which I entertain. 
 
 8. " You all know my cousin Julian, whom I hero present 
 to you ; a youth endeared to us by his modesty as well as 
 by his relationship ; a youth of virtue already proved, and 
 of conspicuous industry and energy. Him I have deter- 
 mined to raise to the rank of Caesar, and hope, if this 
 seems expedient to you, to have my decision confirmed by 
 your consent." 
 
 9. Ho was proceeding to say more, but was prevented 
 by the whole assembly interrupting him with friendly 
 shouts, declaring that his decision was the judgment of 
 the Supreme Deity, and not of any human mind ; with
 
 70 AMMIANUS MARCP:LLINUS. [BK. xv. CH. \m. 
 
 such certainty that one might have thought them inspired 
 with the spirit of prophecy. 
 
 10. The emperor stood without moving till they- re- 
 sumed silence, and then with greater confidence proceeded 
 to explain what he had to say further. 
 
 " Because, therefore, your joyful acclamations show that 
 you look favourably on the design I have announced, let 
 this youth, of tranquil strength, whose temperate disposi- 
 tion it will be better to imitate than merely to praise, rise 
 up now to receive the honours prepared for him. His 
 excellent disposition, increased as it has been by all liberal 
 accomplishments, I will say no more of than is seen in 
 the fact that I have chosen him. Therefore, now, with 
 the manifest consent of the Deity, I will clothe him with 
 the imperial robe." 
 
 1 1. This was his speech. And then, having immediately 
 clothed Julian with the purple robe of his ancestors, and 
 having pronounced him Caesar, to the great joy of the army, 
 he thus addressed him, though Julian himself appeared by 
 his grave countenance to be somewhat melancholy. 
 
 12. "Most beloved of all my brothers, you thus in 
 early youth have received the splendid honour belonging 
 to your birth, not, I confess, without some addition to 
 my own glory ; who thus show myself as just in confer- 
 ring supreme power on a noble character nearly related 
 to me, as I appear also sublime by virtue of my own 
 power. Come thou, therefore, to be a partner in my 
 labours and dangers, and undertake the defence of the 
 government of the Gauls, devoting thyself with all benefi- 
 cence to alleviate the calamities of those afflicted countries. 
 
 13. "And if it should be necessary to engage with the 
 enemy in battle, do thou take thy place steadily among the 
 standard-bearers themselves, as a prudent encourager of 
 daring at the proper opportunity ; exciting the warriors 
 by leading them on with caution, supporting any troops 
 which may be thrown into disorder by reserves, gently 
 reproving those who hang back, and being present as 
 a trustworthy witness of the actions of all, whether brave 
 or timid. 
 
 14. " Think that a serious crisis is upon us, and so show 
 yourself a great man, worthy to command brave men. 
 V\ e ourselves will stand by you in the energetic constancy
 
 A.D. 3:,5.] JOY OF THE SOLD1EKS. 71 
 
 of affection, or will join you in the labours of war, so that 
 we may govern together the whole world in peace, if 
 ofTry God will grant us, as we pray he may, to govern 
 with equal moderation and piety. You will everywhere 
 represent me, and I also will never desert you in what- 
 ever ta.sk you may be engaged. To sum up : Go forth ; 
 go forth supported by the friendly prayers of men of all 
 ranks, to defend with watchful care the station assigned 
 to you, it may be said, by the republic itself." 
 
 15. After the emperor had thus ended his speech, no one 
 held his peace, but all the soldiers, with a tremendous 
 crash, rattled their shields against their knees (which is 
 an abundant indication of applause ; while on the other 
 hand to strike the shield with the spear is a testimony of 
 anger and indignation), and it was marvellous with what 
 excessive joy they all, except a very few, showed their 
 approbation of the judgment of Augustus : and they re- 
 ceived the Caesar with well-deserved admiration, brilliant 
 as he was with the splendour of the imperial purple. 
 
 16. And while they gazed earnestly on his eyes, terrible 
 in their beauty, and his countenance more attractive than 
 ever by reason of his present excitement, they augured from 
 his looks what kind of ruler he was likely to prove, as if 
 they had been searching into those ancient volumes which 
 teach how to judge of a man's moral disposition by the 
 external signs on his person. And that he might be re- 
 garded with the greater reverence, they neither praised 
 him above measure, nor yet below his desert. And so the 
 voices raised in his favour were looked upon as the judg- 
 ment of censors, not of soldiers. 
 
 17. After the ceremony was over, Julian was taken up 
 into the imperial chariot and received into the palace, and 
 was heard to whisper to himself this verse of Homer 
 
 " Now purple death hath seized on me, 
 And powerful strength of destiny." 
 
 These transactions took place on the sixth of November, 
 in the year of the consulship of Arbetio and Lollianus. 
 
 18. A few days afterwards, Helen, the maiden sister of 
 Constantius, was also given in marriage to the Csesar. And 
 everything being got ready which the journey required, 
 he started on the first of December with a small retinue ;
 
 72 AMMIANUS JIAUCELLINUS. CBK. XV. Cir. nc. 
 
 and having been escorted on his way by Augustus himself 
 as far as the spot, marked by two pillars, which lies 
 between Laumellum and Ticinurn, he proceeded straight 
 on to the country of the Taurini, where he received dis- 
 astrous intelligence, which had recently reached the em- 
 peror's court, but still had been intentionally kept back, lest 
 all the preparations made for his journey should be wasted. 
 
 19. And this intelligence was that Colonia Agrippina, 1 
 a city of great renown in lower Germany, had been 
 carried by a vigorous siege of the barbarians, who appeared 
 before it in great force, and had utterly destroyed it. 
 
 20. Julian being greatly disti'essed at this news, looking 
 on it as a kind of omen of misfortunes to come, was often 
 heard to murmur in querulous tones, " that he had gained 
 nothing except the fate of dying amid greater trouble and 
 employment than before." 
 
 21. But when he arrived at Vienne, people of every age 
 and class went forth to meet him on his entrance to the 
 city, with a view to do him honour by their reception of him 
 as one who had been long wished for, and was now granted 
 to their prayers. And when he was seen in the distance 
 the whole population of the city and of the adjacent neigh- 
 bourhood, going before his chariot, celebrated his praises, 
 saluting him as Emperor, clement and prosperous, greet- 
 ing with eager joy this royal procession in honour of a 
 lawful prince. And they placed all their hopes of a 
 remedy for the evils which affected the whole province on 
 his arrival, thinking that now, when their affairs were in 
 a most desperate condition, some friendly genius had come 
 to shine upon them. 
 
 22. And a blind old woman, when in reply to her ques- 
 tion " Who was entering the city ?" she received for 
 answer " Julian the Caesar," cried out that " lie would 
 restore the temples of the gods." 
 
 IX. 
 
 1 . Xow then, since, as the sublime poet of Manttia has 
 sung, " A greater series of incident rises to my view ; in a 
 more arduous task I engage," I think it a proper oppor- 
 
 1 Cologne.
 
 ^D. 355.] DESCRIPTION OF GAUL. 73 
 
 tunity to describe the situation and different countries of 
 the Gauls, lest, among the narration of fiery preparations 
 ami the various chances of battles, I should seem, while 
 speaking of matters not understood by every one, to 
 resemble those negligent sailors, who, when tossed about 
 by dangerous waves and storms, begin, to repair their 
 sails and ropes which they might have attended to in calm 
 weather. 
 
 2. Ancient writers, pursuing their investigations into 
 the earliest origin of the Gauls, left our knowledge of the 
 truth very imperfect ; but at a later period, Timagenes, 
 a thorough Greek both in diligence and language, collected 
 from various writings facts which had been long unknown, 
 and guided by his faithful statements, we, dispelling all 
 obscurity, will now give a plain and intelligible relation 
 of them. 
 
 3. Some persons affirm that the first inhabitants ever 
 seen in these regions were called Celts, after the name of 
 their king, who was very popular among them, and some- 
 times also Galatai, after the name of his mother. For 
 Galatse is the Greek translation of the Eoman term Galli. 
 Others affirm that they are Dorians, who, following a more 
 ancient Hercules, selected for their home the districts 
 bordering on the ocean. 
 
 4. The Druids affirm that a portion of the people was 
 really indigenous to the soil, but that other inhabitants 
 poured in from the islands on the coast, and from the dis- 
 tricts across the Ehine, having been driven from their 
 former abodes l>y frequent wars, and sometimes by inroads 
 of the tempestuous sea. 
 
 5. Some again maintain that after the destruction of 
 Troy, a few Trojans fleeing from the Greeks, who were 
 then scattered over the whole world, occupied these dis- 
 tricts, which at that time had no inhabitants at all. 
 
 6. But the natives of these countries affirm this more 
 positively than any other fact (and, indeed, we ourselves 
 have read it engraved on their monuments), that Hercules, 
 the son of Amphitryon, hastening to the destruction of 
 those cruel tyrants, Geryon and Tauriscus, one of whom 
 was oppressing the Gauls, and the other Spain, after he 
 had conquered both of them, took to wife some women of 
 noble birth in those countries, and became the father of
 
 74 AMMTAXUS MARCELLIXUS. [Bsc. XV. Cu. x. 
 
 many children ; and that his sons called the districts of 
 which they became the kings after their own names. 
 
 7. Also an Asiatic tribe coming from Phocsea in order to 
 escape the cruelty of Harpalus, the lieutenant of Cyrus the 
 king, sought to sail to Italy.' And a part of them founded 
 Velia, in Lucania, others settled a colony at Marseilles, in 
 the territory of Vienne ; and then, in subsequent ages, 
 these towns increasing in strength and importance, founded 
 other cities. But we must avoid a variety of details which 
 are commonly apt to weary. 
 
 8. Throughout these provinces, the people gradually 
 becoming civilized, the study of liberal accomplishments 
 flourished, having been first introduced by the Bards, the 
 Eubages, 2 and the Druids. The Bards were accustomed to 
 employ themselves in celebrating the brave achievements 
 of their illustrious men, in epic verse, accompanied with 
 sweet airs on the lyre. The Eubages investigated the 
 system and sublime secrets of nature, and sought to explain 
 them to their followers. Between these two came the 
 Druids, men of loftier genixis, bound in brotherhoods 
 according to the precepts and example of Pythagoras ; and 
 their minds were elevated by investigations into secret 
 and sublime matters, and from the contempt which they 
 entertained for human affairs they pronounced the soul 
 immortal. 
 
 X. 
 
 1. THIS country then of the Gauls was by reason of its 
 lofty mountain ranges perpetually covered with terrible 
 snows, almost unknown to the inhabitants of the rest of 
 the world, except where it borders on the ocean ; vast 
 fortresses raised by nature, in the place of art, surrounding 
 it on all sides. 
 
 2. On the southern side it is washed by -the Etruscan 
 and Gallic sea : where it looks towards the north it is 
 separated from the tribes of the barbarians by the river 
 Khine ; where it is placed under the western star it is 
 bounded by the ocean, and the lofty chain of the Pyrenees ; 
 
 1 This story of the Phocseenses is told by Herodotus, i. 16G, and 
 alluded to by Horace, Epod. xv. 10. 
 
 - The Eubages, or Ovare'is, as Strabo calls them, appear to have 
 been a tribe of priests.
 
 A.D. 355.] THE ALPS. 75 
 
 where it has au eastern aspect it is bounded by the Cottian l 
 Alps. In these mountains King Cottiiis, after the Gauls 
 hall been subdued, lying by himself in their denies, and 
 relying on the rugged and pathless character of the country, 
 long maintained his independence ; though afterwards he 
 abated his pride, and was admitted to the friendship of the 
 Emperor Octavianus. And subsequently he constructed 
 immense works to serve as a splendid gift to the emperor, 
 making roads over them, short, and convenient for 
 travellers, between other ancient passes of the Alps ; on 
 which subject we will presently set forth what discoveries 
 have been made. 
 
 3. In these Cottian Alps, which begin at the town of 
 Susa, one vast ridge rises up, scarcely passable by any one 
 without danger. 
 
 4. For to travellers who reach it from the side of Gaul 
 it descends with a steepness almost precipitous, being 
 terrible to behold, in consequence of the bulk of its over- 
 hanging rocks. In the spring, when the ice is melting, 
 and the snow beginning to give way from the warm spring 
 breezes, if any one seeks to descend along the mountain, 
 men and beasts and wagons all fall together through the 
 fissures and clefts in the rocks, which yawn in every direc- 
 tion, though previously hidden by the frost. And the 
 only remedy ever found to ward off entire destruction is to 
 have many vehicles bound together with enormous ropes, 
 with men or oxen hanging on behind, to hold them back 
 with great efforts ; and so with a crouching step they get 
 down with some degree of safety. And this, as I have 
 sftid, is what happens in the spring. 
 
 5. But in winter, the grotind being covered over with a 
 smooth crust of ice, and therefore slippery under foot, the 
 traveller is often plunged headlong; and the valleys, 
 which seem to open here and there into wide plains, which 
 are merely a covering of treacherous ice, sometimes 
 swallow up those who try to pass over them. On ac- 
 count of which danger those who are acquainted with 
 the country fix projecting wooden piles over the safest 
 spots, in order that a series of them may conduct the 
 
 1 The Cottian Alps are Mont Genevre. It is unnecessary to point oxit 
 bow Arnmianus mistakes the true bearing of these frontiers of Gaul.
 
 76 A.MMIANUS TJAllCELLIXUS. [BK. XV. CH. x. 
 
 traveller nnliurt to his destination; though if these piles 
 get covered with snow and hidden, or thrown down by 
 melting torrents descending from the mountains, then it is 
 difficult for any one to pass, even if natives of the district 
 lead the way. 
 
 6. But on the summit of this Italian mountain there is a 
 plain, seven miles in extent, reaching as far as the station 
 known by the name of Mars ; and after that comes another 
 ridge, still more steep, and scarcely possible to be climbed, 
 which stretches on to the summit of Mons Matrona, named 
 so from an event which happened to a noble lady. 
 
 7. From this point a path, steep indeed, but easily 
 passable, leads to the fortress of Virgantia. 1 The sepulchre 
 of this petty prince whom we have spoken of as the maker 
 of these roads is at Susa, close to the walls ; and his re- 
 mains are honoured with religious veneration for two 
 reasons : first of all, because he governed his people with 
 equitable moderation ; and secondly, because, by becoming 
 an ally of the Koman republic, he procured lasting tran- 
 quillity for his subjects. 
 
 8. And although this road which I have been speaking 
 of runs through the centre of the district, and is shorter 
 and more frequented now than any other, yet other roads 
 also were made at much earlier periods, on different occa- 
 sions. 
 
 9. The first of them, near the maritime alps, was made 
 by the Theban Hercules, when he was proceeding in a 
 leisurely manner to destroy Geryon and Tauriscus, as has 
 already been mentioned ; and he it was who gave to these 
 alps the name of the Grecian Alps. 2 In the same way hjp 
 consecrated the citadel and port of Monaecus to keep alive 
 the recollection of his name for ever. And this was the 
 reason why, many ages afterwards, those alps were called 
 the Penine Alps. 3 
 
 10. Publius Cornelius Scipio, the father of the elder 
 Africanus, when about to go to the assistance of the citizens 
 
 1 Briancon. 
 
 2 The Graiae Alps are the Little St. Bernard ; and it was over them 
 that Hannibal really passed, as has been conclusively proved by Dr. J. 
 A. Cramer. 
 
 3 From the god Pen, or Penintis, Liv. xxi. 38. The Alpes Peninsa 
 are the Great St. Bernard.
 
 A.D. 355.] HANNIBAL'S PASSAGE OF THE ALPS. 77 
 
 of Saguntum celebrated for the distresses which they 
 ensured, and for their loyalty to Korae, at the time when 
 they were besieged with great resolution by the Cartha- 
 ginians led to the Spanish coast a fleet having on board a 
 numerous army. But after the city had been destroyed by 
 the valour of the Carthaginians, he, being unable to over- 
 take Hannibal, who had crossed the Bhone, and had 
 obtained three days' start of him in the march towards 
 Italy, crossed the sea, which at that point was not wide, 
 making a rapid voyage ; and taking hia station near Genoa, 
 a town of the Ligures, awaited his descent from the moun- 
 tains, so that, if chance should afford him an oppor- 
 tunity, he might attack him in the plain w r hile still fatigued 
 with the ruggedness of the way by which he had come. 
 
 11. But still, having regard to the interests of the 
 republic, he ordered Cnaeus Scipio, his brother, to go into 
 Spain, to prevent Hasdrubal from making a similar expedi- 
 tion from that country. But Hannibal, having received 
 information of their design by some deserters, being also 
 a man of great shrewdness and readiness of resources, 
 obtained some guides from the Taurini who inhabited those 
 districts, and passing through the Tricastini and through 
 the district of the Yocontii, he thus reached the defiles of 
 the Tricorii. 1 Then starting from this point, he made 
 another march over a line previously impassable. And 
 having cut through a rock of immense height, which he 
 melted by means of mighty fires, and pouring over it a 
 quantity of vinegar, he proceeded along the Druentia, a 
 river full of danger from its eddies and currents, until he 
 reached the district of Etruria. This is enough to say of 
 the Alps ; now let us return to our original subject. 
 
 XI. 
 
 1. IN former times, when these provinces were little 
 known, as being barbarous, they were considered to be 
 divided" into three races : 2 namely, the Celtae, the same 
 
 1 Compare Livy's account of Hannibal's march, from which, wholly 
 erroneous as it is, this description seems 1o have been taken ; not that 
 even Livy has made such a gross mistake about the Druentia, or 
 Durance, which falls into the Rhone. 
 
 2 Cfcsar's account of his expedition begins with the statement that 
 " Gaul is divided into three provinces.''
 
 78 AMMIAXUS MARCELL1XU3. [BK. XV. CH. xi. 
 
 who are also called Galli ; the Aquitani, and the Belgae : 
 all differing from each other in language, manners, and 
 laws. 
 
 2. The Galli, who, as I have said, are the same as the 
 Celtse, are divided from the Aquitani by the river Garonne, 
 which rises in the mountains of the Pyrenees ; and after 
 passing through many towns, loses itself in the ocean. 
 
 3. On the other side they are separated from the Belgians 
 by the Marne and the Seine, both rivers of considerable 
 size, which flowing through the tribe of the Lugdunenses, 
 after surrounding the stronghold of the Parisii named 
 Lutetia, so as to make an island of it, proceed onwards 
 together, and fall into the sea near the camp of Con- 
 stantius. 
 
 4. Of all these people the Belgians are said by ancient 
 writers to be the most warlike, because, being more remote 
 from civilization, and not having been rendered effeminate 
 by foreign luxuries, they have been engaged in continual 
 wars with the Germans on the other side of the Rhine. 
 
 5. For the Aquitanians, to whose shores, as being nearest 
 and also pacific, foreign merchandise is abundantly im- 
 ported, were easily brought under the dominion of the 
 Romans, because their character had become enervated. 
 
 6. But from the time when the Gauls, after long and 
 repeated wars, submitted to the dictator Julius, all their 
 provinces were governed by Roman officers, the country 
 being divided into four portions; one of which was the 
 province of "N'ar bonne ; containing the districts of Vicnne 
 and Lyons : a second province comprehended all the 
 tribes of the Aquitanians ; upper and lower Germany 
 formed a third jurisdiction, and the "Belgians a fourth at 
 that period. 
 
 7. But now the whole extent of the country is portioned 
 out into many provinces. The second (or lower) Germany 
 is the first, if you begin on the western side, fortified by 
 Cologne and Tongres, both cities of great wealth and 
 importance. 
 
 8. Next comes the first (or high) Germany, in which, 
 besides other nvunicipal towns, there is Mayence, and 
 Worms, and Spiers, and Strasburg, a city celebrated for the 
 defeats sustained by the barbarians in its neighbourhood. 
 
 9. After these the first Belgic province stretches as far
 
 A.D. 355.] PROVINCES OF GAUL. 79 
 
 as Metz and Treves, which city is the splendid abode of 
 the chief governor of the country. 
 
 TO. Next to that conies the second Belgic province, 
 where we find Amiens, a city of conspicuous magnificence, 
 and Chalons, 1 and Eheims. 
 
 11. In the province of the Sequani, the finest cities 
 are Besan9on and Basle. The first Lyonnese province 
 contains Lyons, Chalons, 2 Sens, Bourges, and Autun, the 
 walls of which are very extensive and of great antiquity. 
 
 12. In the second Lyonnese province are Tours, and 
 Eouen, Evreux, and Troyes. The Gi'ecian and Penine 
 Alps have, besides other towns of less note, Avenche, a 
 city which indeed is now deserted, but which was formerly 
 one of no small importance, as even now is proved by its 
 half-ruinous edifices. These are the most important pro- 
 vinces, and most splendid cities of the Galli. 
 
 13. In Aquitania, which looks towards the Pyrenees, 
 and that part of the ocean which belongs to the Spaniards, 
 the first province is Aquitanica, very rich in large and 
 populous cities ; passing over others, I may mention as 
 pre-erninent, Bordeaux, Clermont, Saintes, and Poictiers. 
 
 14. The province called the Nine Nations is enriched 
 by Ausch and Bazas. In the province of Narbonne, the 
 cities of Narbonne, Euses, and Toulouse are the principal 
 places of importance. The Viennese exults in the magni- 
 ficence of many cities, the chief of which are Vienne itself, 
 and Aries, and V 7 alence ; to which may be added Marseilles, 
 by the alliance with and power of which we read that Eome 
 itself was more than once supported in moments of danger. 
 
 15. And near to these cities is also.Aix, Nice, Antibes, 
 and the islands of Hieres. 
 
 16. And since we have come in the progress of our 
 work to this district, it would be inconsistent and absurd to 
 omit all mention of the Ehone, a river of the greatest 
 celebrity. The Ehone rises in the Penine Alps, from 
 sources of great abundance, and descending with headlong 
 impetuosity into the more champaign districts, it often 
 overruns its banks with its own waters, and then plunges 
 into a lake called Lake Leman, and though it passes 
 through it, yet it never mingles with any foreign waters, 
 but, rushing over the top of those which flow with -less 
 
 1 Chalons sur Marue. 2 Chalons sur Saone.
 
 80 AMMIAXUS MARCELLINCTS. [BK. XV. Cu. xn. 
 
 rapidity, in its search for an exit, it forces its own way by 
 the violence of its stream. 
 
 17. And thus passing through that lake without any 
 damage, it runs through Savoy and the district of Tranche 
 Comte ; and, after a long course, it forms the boundary 
 between the Viennese on its left, and the Lyonnese on its 
 right. Then after many windings it receives the Saone, 
 a river which rises in the first Germany, and this latter 
 river here merges its name in the Rhone. At this point is 
 the beginning of the Gauls. And from this spot the dis- 
 tances are measured not by miles but by leagues. 
 
 18. From this point also, the Rhone, being now enriched 
 by other rivers, becomes navigable for large vessels, which 
 are often tossed about in it by gales of wind ; and at last, 
 having finished the course which nature has marked out 
 for it, foaming on it joins the Gallic Sea in the wide gulf 
 which they call the Gulf of Lyons, about eighteen miles 
 from Aries. This is enough to say of the situation of the 
 province ; I will now proceed to describe the appearance 
 and character of the inhabitants. 
 
 XII. 
 
 1. NEARLY all the Gauls are of a lofty stature, fair, and 
 of ruddy complexion ; terrible from the sternness of their 
 eyes, very quarrelsome, and of great pride and insolence. 
 A whole troop of foreigners would not be able to with- 
 stand a single Gaul if he called his wife to his assistance, 
 who is usually very strong, and with blue eyes ; es- 
 pecially when, swelling her neck, gnashing her teeth, 
 and brandishing her sallow arms of enormous size, she 
 begins to strike blows mingled with kicks, as if they were 
 so many missiles sent from the string of a catapult. 
 
 2. The voices of the generality are formidable and 
 threatening, whether they are in good humour or angry : 
 they are all exceedingly careful of cleanliness and neatness, 
 nor in all the country, and most especially -in Aquitania, 
 could any man or woman, however poor, be eeen either 
 dirty or ragged. 
 
 3. The men of every age are equally inclined to war, 
 and the old man and the man in the prime of life answer 
 with equal zeal the call to arms, their bodies being
 
 MANNERS OF GAUL. 81 
 
 hardened by their cold weather and by constant exercise, 
 SQ^hat they are all inclined to despise dangers and terrors. 
 Nor has any one of this nation ever mutilated his thumb 
 from fear of the toils of war, as men have done in Italy, 
 whom in their district are called Murci. 
 
 4. The nation is fond of wine, and of several kinds of 
 liquor which resemble wine. And many individuals of 
 the lower orders, whose senses have become impaired by 
 continual intoxication, which the apophthegm of Cato 
 defined to be a kind of voluntary madness, run about in 
 all directions at random ;' so that there appears to be some 
 point in that saying which is found in Cicero's oration in 
 defence of Fonteius, "that henceforth the Gauls will drink 
 their wine less strong than formerly," because forsooth 
 they thought there was poison in it. 
 
 5. These countries, and especially such parts of them 
 as border on Italy, fell gradually under the dominion 
 of the Eomans without much trouble to their conquerors, 
 having been first attacked by Fulvius, afterwards weakened 
 in many trifling combats by Sextius, and at last entirely 
 subdued by Fabius Maximus ; who gained an additional 
 surname from the complete accomplishment of this task, 
 after he had brought into subjection the fierce tribe of the 
 Allobroges. 
 
 6. Caesar finally subdued all the Gauls, except where 
 their country was absolutely inaccessible from its morasses, 
 as we learn from Sallust, after a war of ten years, in which 
 both nations suffered many disasters ; and at last he united 
 them to us in eternal alliance by formal treaties. I have 
 digressed further than I had intended, but now I will 
 return to my original subject. 
 
 XIII. 
 
 1. AFTER Domitianus had perished by a cruel death, 
 Musonianus his successor governed the East with the 
 rank of pragtorian prefect ; a man celebrated for his 
 eloquence and thorough knowledge of both the Greek 
 and Latin languages; from which he reaped a loftier glory 
 than he expected. 
 
 2. For when Constantino was desirous of obtaining a
 
 82 AMMIANUS JIARCELL1NUS. [BK. XV. CH. xm. 
 
 more accurate knowledge of the different sects in the 
 empire, the Manicheans and other similar bodies, and no 
 one could be found able sufficiently to explain them, 
 Musonianus was chosen for the task, having been recom- 
 mended as competent ; and when he had discharged this 
 duty with skill, the emperor gave him the name of Muso- 
 nianus, for he had been previously called Strategics. 
 After that he ran through many degrees of rank and 
 honour, and soon reached the dignity of prefect ; being in 
 other matters also a man of wisdom, popular in the pro- 
 vinces, and of a mild and courteous disposition. But at 
 the same time, whenever he could find an opportunity, 
 especially in any controversies or lawsuits (which is most 
 shameful and wicked), he was greatly devoted to sordid 
 gain. Not to mention many other instances, this was es- 
 pecially exemplified in the investigations which were made 
 into the death of Theophilus, the governor of Syria, a man 
 of consular rank, who gave information against the Caesar 
 Gallus, and who was torn to pieces in a tumult of the 
 people ; for which several poor men were condemned, 
 who, it was clearly proved, were at a distance at the time 
 of the transaction, while certain rich men who were the 
 real authors of the crime were spared from all punish- 
 ment, except the confiscation of their property. 
 
 3. In this he was equalled by Prosper, at that time 
 master of the horse in Gaul ; a man of abject spirit and 
 great inactivity ; and, as the comic poet has it, despising 
 the acts of secret robbing he plundered openly. 1 
 
 4. And, while these two officers were conniving to- 
 gether, and reciprocally helping each other to many means 
 of acquiring riches, the chiefs of the Persian nation who 
 lived nearest to the river, profiting by the fact that the 
 king was occupied in the most distant parts of his do- 
 minions, and that these commanders were occupied in 
 plundering the people placed under their authority, began 
 to harass our territories with predatory bands, making 
 audacious inroads, sometimes into Armenia, often also into 
 Mesopotamia. 
 
 1 Ammianus refers to Pl.vutus, Epidicus, Act. I., so. i., line 10 : 
 Thcsprio. I am less of a pilferer now than formerly. 
 Ep. How so ? 
 Thes. I rob openly.
 
 83 
 
 BOOK XVI. 
 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 A panegyric of Julian the Caesar. II. Julian attacks and defeats 
 the Allcmanni. III. He recovers Cologne, which had been taken 
 by the Franks, and concludes a peace with the king of the Franks. 
 IW. He is besieged in the city of Sens by the Allcmanni. V. His 
 virtues. VI. The prosecution and acquittal of Arbetio. VII. The 
 Cffisar Julian is defended before the emperor by his chamberlain 
 Eutherius against the accusations of Marcellus. VIII. Calumnies 
 are rife in the camp of the Emperor Constantius, and the courtiers 
 are rapacious. IX. The question of peace with the Persians. 
 X. The triumphal entry of Constantius into Rome. XI. Julian 
 attacks the Allemanni in the islands of the Rhine in which they 
 had taken refuge, and repairs the fort of Saverne. XII. Ho 
 attacks the kings of the Allemanni on the borders of Gaul, and 
 defeats them at Strasburg. 
 
 I. 
 
 1. "While the chain of destiny was bringing these events 
 to pass in the Eoman world, Julian, being at Vienne, was 
 taken by the emperor, then in his own eighth consulship, 
 as a partner in that dignity; and, under the promptings of 
 his own innate energy, dreamt of nothing but the crash of 
 battles and the slaughter of the barbarians ; preparing 
 without delay to re-establish the province, and to reunite 
 the fragments that had been broken from it, if only fortune 
 should be favourable to him. 
 
 2. And because the great achievements which by his 
 valour and good fortune Julian performed in the Gauls, 
 surpass many of the most gallant exploits of the ancients, 
 I will relate them in order as they occurred, employing 
 all the resources of my talents, moderate as they are, in 
 the hope that they may suffice for the narrative. 
 
 3. But what I am about to relate, though not embla- 
 zoned by craftily devised falsehood, and being simply a 
 plain statement of facts, supported by evident proofs, will 
 have all the effect of a studied panegyric. 
 
 4. For it would seem that some principle of a more than 
 commonly virtuous life guided this yoting prince from his
 
 84 AMMIANU.S MARCELLIXUS. IBK. \VJ. On. n. 
 
 very cradle to his last breath. Increasing rapidly in every 
 desirable quality, he soon became so conspicuous both at 
 home and abroad, that in respect to his prudence he was 
 looked upon as a second Titus : in his glorious deeds of 
 war he was accounted equal to Trajan ; in mercy he was 
 the prototype of Antoninus ; and in the pursuit and disco- 
 very of true and perfect wisdom, he resembled Marcus 
 Aurelius, in imitation of whom he formed all his actions 
 and character. 
 
 5. And since, as we are taught by Cicero, that th^ lofti- 
 ness of great virtues delights us, as does that of high trees, 
 while we are not equally interested in the roots and 
 trunks; so, also, the first beginnings of his admirable dis- 
 position were kept concealed by many circumstances which 
 threw a cloud over them ; though in fact they ought to be 
 preferred to many of his most marvellous actions of later 
 life, in that he, who in his early youth had been brought 
 up like Erectheus in the retirement sacred to Minerva, 
 nevertheless when he was drawn forth from the quiet 
 shades of the academy (and not from any military tent) 
 into the labours of war, subdued Germany, tranquillized 
 the districts of the frozen Ehine, routed the barbarian kings 
 breathing nothing but bloodshed and slaughter, and forced 
 them to submission. 
 
 II. 
 
 J . THEREFORE while passing a toilsome winter in the city 
 aforesaid, he learnt, among the numerous reports which 
 were flying about, that the ancient city of Autun, the walls 
 of which, though of vast extent, were in a state of great 
 decay from age, was now besieged by the barbarians, who 
 had suddenly appeared before it in great force ; and while 
 the garrison remained panic-stricken and inactive, the 
 town was defended by a body of veterans who were be- 
 having with great courage and vigilance ; as it often 
 happens that extreme despair repulses dangers which 
 appear destructive of all hope or safety. 
 
 2. Therefore, without relaxing his anxiet}^ about other 
 matters, and putting aside all the adulation of the courtiers 
 with which they sought to divert his mind towards volup- 
 tuousness and luxury, he hastened his preparations, and 
 when everything was ready he set out, and on the 24th of
 
 A.. 356.] JULIAN MARCHES AGAINST THE ALLEMANNI. 85 
 
 June arrived at Autun ; behaving like a veteran general 
 conspicuous alike for skill and prowess, and prepared to 
 fail upon the barbarians, who were straggling in every 
 direction over the country, the moment fortune afforded 
 him an opportunity. 
 
 3. Therefore having deliberated on his plans, and con- 
 sulted those who were acquainted with the country as to 
 what would be the safest line of march for him to adopt, 
 after having received much information in favour of dif- 
 ferent, routes, some recommending Arbois, others insisting 
 on it ihat the best way was by Saulieu and Cure. 
 
 4. But as some persons affirmed that Silvanus, in com- 
 mand of a body of infantry, had, a short time before, made 
 his way with 8,000 men by a road shorter than either, but 
 dangerous as lying through many dark woods and defiles 
 suitable for ambuscades, Julian became exceedingly eager 
 to imitate the audacity of this brave man. 
 
 5. And to prevent any delay, taking with him only his 
 cuirassiers and archers, who would not have been sufficient 
 to defend his ^person had he been attacked, he took the 
 same route as Silvanus ; and so came to Auxerre. 
 
 6. And there, having, according to his custom, devoted 
 a short time to rest, for the purpose of refreshing his men, 
 he proceeded onwards towards Troyes ; and strengthened 
 his flanks that he might with the greater effect watch the 
 barbarians, who attacked him in numerous bodies, which he 
 avoided as well as he could, thinking them more numerous 
 than they really were. Presently, however, having occupied 
 some favourable ground, he descended upon one body of 
 them, and routed it, and took some prisoners whom their 
 own fears delivered to him ; and then he allowed the rest, 
 who now devoted all their energies to flying with what 
 speed they could, to escape unattacked, as his men could 
 not pursue them by reason of the weight of their armour. 
 
 7. This occurrence gave him more hope of being able 
 to resist any attack which they might make, and marching 
 forwards with this confidence, after many dangers he 
 reached Troyes so unexpectedly, that when he arrived at 
 the gates, the inhabitants for some time hesitated to give 
 him entrance into the city, so great was their fear of the 
 straggling multitudes of the barbarians. 
 
 8. After a little delay, devoted to again refreshing his 
 weary troops, thinking that there was no time to waste, he
 
 86 AMMIAXUS MARCELLIXUS. [I5 K . XVI. CH. in. 
 
 proceeded to the city of Eheims, where he had ordered 
 his whole army, carrying*. ... to assemble, and there to 
 await his presence. The army at Eheims was under the 
 command of Marcellus, the successor of ITrsicinus ; and 
 l'ricinus himself was ordered to remain there till the 
 termination of the expedition. 
 
 9. Again Julian took counsel, and after many opinions 
 of different purport had been delivered, it was determined 
 to attack the host of the Allemanni in the neighbourhood 
 of Dieu.se ; and to that quarter the army now marched in 
 dense order, and with more than usual alacrity. 
 
 10. And because the weather, being damp and misty, pre- 
 vented even what was near from being seen, the enemy, 
 availing themselves of their knowledge of the country, 
 came by an oblique road upon the Caesar's rear, and 
 attacked two legions while they were piling their arms ; 
 and they would almost have destroyed them if the uproar 
 which suddenly arose had not brought the auxiliary troops 
 of the allies to their support. 
 
 11. From this time forth Julian, thinking it impossible 
 to find any roads or any rivers free from ambuscades, 
 proceeded with consummate prudence and caution ; qua- 
 lities which above all others in great generals usually bring 
 safely and success to armies. 
 
 12. Hearing therefore that Strasburg, Brumat, Saverne, 
 Spiers, Worms, and Mayence, were all in the hands of the 
 barbarians, who were established in their suburbs, for the 
 barbarians shunned fixing themselves in the towns them- 
 selves, looking upon them like graves surrounded with 
 nets, he first of all entered Brumat, and just as he reached 
 that place he was encountered by a body of Germans pre- 
 pared for battle. 
 
 18. Having arranged his own army in the form of a 
 crescent, the engagement began, and the enemy were 
 speedily surrounded and utterly defeated. Some were 
 taken prisoners, others were slain in the heat of the 
 battle, the rest sought safety by rapid flight. 
 
 III. 
 
 1. AFTER this, meeting with no resistance; he determined 
 (o proceed to recover Cologne, which had been destroyed 
 
 * The text is defective here, as it is whorevc-r these marks occur.
 
 *.D. 356.1 JULIAN'S OPERATIONS. 87 
 
 before liis arrival in Gaul. In that district there is no city 
 or fortress to be seen except that near Confluentes ; a 
 place so named because there the river Moselle becomes 
 mingled with the Rhine there is also the village of 
 liheinmagen, and likewise a single tower near Cologne. 
 
 2. After having taken possession of Cologne he did not 
 leave it till the Frank kings began, through fear of him, 
 to abate of their fury, when he contracted a peace with 
 them likely to be of future advantage to the republic. In 
 the mean time he put the whole city into a state of com- 
 plete defence. 
 
 3. Then, auguring well from these first-fruits of victor}-, 
 he departed, passing through the district of Treves, with 
 the intention of wintering at Sens, which was a town very 
 suitable for that purpose. \Yhen bearing, so to say, the 
 weight of a world of wars upon his shoulders, he was 
 occupied by perplexities of various kinds, and among them 
 how to provide for establishing in places most exposed tc 
 danger the soldiers who had quitted their former posts ; 
 how to defeat the enemies who had conspired together to 
 injure the Roman cause ; and further, how to provide 
 supplies for the army while employed in so many different 
 quarters. 
 
 IV. 
 
 1. WHILE he was anxiously revolving these things in his 
 mind, he was attacked by a numerous force of the enemy, 
 who had conceived a hope of being able to take the town. 
 And they were the more confident of success because, from 
 the information of deserters, they had learnt that he neither 
 had with him his Scutarii nor his Gentiles, both of which 
 bodies of* troops had been distributed among the different 
 municipal towns in order that they might be the more 
 easily supplied with provisions. 
 
 2. Therefore after the gates of the city had been, barri- 
 caded, and the weakest portions of the walls carefully 
 strengthened, Jxilian was seen night and day on the 
 battlements and ramparts, attended by a band of armed 
 men, boiling over with anger and -gnashing his teeth, 
 because, often as he wished to sally forth, he was pre- 
 
 i Cobk-nz.
 
 88 AMMIAXUS MAUCELLINUS. [BK. XVI. Cn. v. 
 
 vented from taking such a step by the scantiness of the 
 force which he had with him. 
 
 3. At last, after thirty days, the barbarians retired 
 disappointed, murmuring that they liad been so vain 
 and weak as to attempt the siege of such a city. It 
 deserves however to be remarked, as a most unworthy 
 circumstance, that when Julian was in great personal 
 danger, Marcellus, the master of the horse, who was posted 
 in the immediate neighbourhood, omitted to bring him any 
 assistance, though the danger of the city itself, even if the 
 prince had not been there, ought to have excited his en- 
 deavours to relieve it from the peril of a siege by so for- 
 midable an enemy. 
 
 4. Being now delivered from this fear, Julian, ever 
 prudent and active, directed his anxious thoughts inces- 
 santly to the care of providing that, after their long 
 labours, his soldiers should have rest, which, however 
 brief, might be sufficient to recruit their strength. In 
 addition to the exhaustion consequent on their toils, they 
 were distressed by the deficiency of crops on the land, 
 which through the frequent devastations to which they 
 had been exposed afforded but little suitable for human food. 
 
 5. But these difficulties he likewise surmounted by his 
 ever wakeful diligence, and a more confident hope of 
 future success opening itself to his mind, he rose with 
 higher spirits to accomplish his other designs. 
 
 V. 
 
 1. IN the first place (and this is a most difficult task 
 for every one), he imposed on himself a rigid temperance, 
 and maintained it as if he had been living under the 
 obligation of the sumptuary laws. These were originally 
 brought to Borne from the edicts of Lycurgus and the 
 tables of laws compiled by Solon, and were for a long 
 time strictly observed. When they had become some- 
 what obsolete, they were re-established by Sylla, who, 
 guided by the apophthegms of Democritus, agreed with 
 him that it is Fortune which spreads an ambitious table, 
 but that Virtue is content with a sparing one. 
 
 2. And likewise Cato of Tusculum, who from his pure 
 and temperate way of life obtained the surname of the
 
 A.D. 356.] INDUSTRY OF JULIAX. 89 
 
 Censor, said with profound wisdom on the same subject, 
 " When there is great care about food, there is very little 
 care about virtue." 
 
 3. Lastly, though he was continually reading the little 
 treatise which Constantius, when sending him as his step- 
 son to prosecute his studies, had written for him with his 
 own hand, in which he made extravagant provision for the 
 dinner-expenses of the Csesar, Julian now forbade phea- 
 sants, or sausages, or even sow's udder to be served up to 
 him, contenting himself with the cheap and ordinary food 
 of the common soldiers. 
 
 4. Hereupon arose his custom of dividing his nights 
 into three portions, one of which he allotted to rest, one to 
 the affairs of the state, and one to the study of literature ; 
 and we read that Alexander the Great had been accus- 
 tomed to do the same, though he practised the rule with 
 less self-reliance. For Alexander, having placed a brazen 
 shell on the ground beneath him, used to hold a silver 
 ball in his hand, which he kept stretched outside his bed, 
 so that when sleep pervading his whole body had relaxed 
 the rigour of his muscles, the rattling of the ball falling 
 might banish slumber from his eyes. 
 
 5. But Julian, without any instrument, awoke whenever 
 he pleased ; and always rising when the night was but half 
 spent, and that not from a bed of feathers, or silken cover- 
 lets shining with varied brilliancy, but from a rough 
 blanket or rug, would secretly offer his supplications to 
 Mercury, who, as the theological lessons which he had re- 
 ceived had taught him, was the swift intelligence of the 
 world, exciting the different emotions of the mind. And 
 thus removed from all external circumstances calculated to 
 distract his attention, he gave his whole attention to the 
 affairs of the repiiblic. 
 
 6. Then, after having ended this arduous and important 
 business, he turned and applied himself to the cultivation 
 of his intellect. And it was marvellous with what exces- 
 sive ardour he investigated and attained to the sublime 
 knowledge of the loftiest matters, and how, seeking as it 
 were some food for his mind which might give it strength 
 to climb up to the sublimest truths, he ran through 
 every branch of philosophy in profound and subtle discus- 
 sions.
 
 90 AinilAN'US MARCELUXU3. [fiK. XVI, CH. v. 
 
 7. Nevertheless, while engaged in amassing knowledge 
 of this kind in all its fullness and power, he did not 
 despise the humbler accomplishments. He was tolerably 
 fond of poetry and rhetoric, as is shown by the invari- 
 able and pure elegance, mingled with dignity, of all his 
 speeches and letters. And he likewise studied the varied 
 history of our own state and of foreign countries. To all 
 these accomplishments was added a very tolerable degree 
 of eloquence in the Latin language. 
 
 8. Therefore, if it be true, as many writers affirm, that 
 Cyrus the king, and S'monides the lyric poet, and Hippias 
 of Elis, the most acul^ of the Sophists, excelled as they did. 
 in memory because they had obtained that faculty through 
 drinking a particular medicine, we must also believe that 
 Julian in his early manhood had drunk the whole cask 
 of memory, if such a thing could ever be found. And these 
 are the nocturnal signs of his chastity and virtue. 
 
 9. But as for the manner in which he passed his days, 
 whether in conversing with eloquence and \vit, or in 
 making preparations for war, or in actual conflict of battle, 
 or in his administration of affairs of the state, correct- 
 ing all defects with magnanimity and liberality, these 
 things shall all be set forth in their proper place. 
 
 10. When he was compelled, as being a prince, to apply 
 himself to the study of military discipline, having been 
 previously confined to lessons of philosophy, and when he 
 was learning the art of marching in time while the pipes 
 were playing the Pyrrhic air, he often, calling upon the 
 name of Plato, ironically quoted that old proverb, " A pack- 
 saddle is placed on an ox ; this is clearly a burden which 
 does not belong to me." 
 
 11. On one occasion, when some secretaries were intro- 
 duced into the council-chamber, with solemn ceremony, to 
 receive some gold, one of their company did not, as is the 
 usual custom, open his robe to receive it, but took it in the 
 hollow of both his hands joined together ; on which Julian 
 said, secretaries only know how to seize things, not how to 
 accept them. 
 
 12. Having been approached by the parents of a virgin 
 who had been ravished, seeking for justice, he gave sen- 
 tence that the ravisher, on conviction, should be banished ; 
 and when the parents complained of this sentence as uu-
 
 356.] JULIANS MODERATION. 91 
 
 equal to the crime, because the criminal had not been 
 condemned to death, he replied, " Let the laws blame my 
 ch?me.ncy ; but it is fitting that an emperor of a most 
 merciful disposition should be superior to all other laws." 
 
 13. Once when he was about to set forth on an expedi- 
 tion, he was interrupted by several people complaining of 
 injuries which they had received, whom he referred for 
 a hearing to the governors of their respective provinces. 
 And after he had returned, he inquired what had been 
 done in each case, and with genuine clemency mitigated 
 the punishments which had been assigned to the offences. 
 
 1 4. Last of all, without here making any mention of the 
 victories in which he repeatedly defeated the barbarians, 
 and the vigilance with which he protected his army from 
 all harm, the benefits which he conferred on the Galli, pre- 
 viously exhausted by extreme want, are most especially 
 evident from this fact, that when he first entered the 
 country he found that four-and-twenty pieces of gold were 
 exacted, under the name of tribute, in the way of poll-tax, 
 from each individual. But when he quitted the country 
 seven pieces only were required, which made up all the 
 payments due from them to the state. On which account 
 they rejoiced with festivals and dances, looking upon him 
 as a serene sun which had shone upon them after melan- 
 choly darkness. 
 
 15. Moreover we know that up to the very end of his 
 reign and of his life, he carefully and with great benefit 
 observed this rule, not to remit the arrears of tribute by 
 edicts which they call indulgences. For he knew that by 
 such conduct he should be giving something to the rich, 
 whilst it is notorious everywhere that, the moment that 
 taxes are imposed, the poor are compelled to pay them all 
 at once without any relief. 
 
 16. But while he was thus regulating and governing the 
 country in a manner deserving the imitation of all virtuous 
 princes, the rage of the barbarians again broke out more 
 violently than ever. 
 
 17. And as wild beasts, which, owing to the carelessness 
 of the shepherds, have been wont to plunder their flocks, 
 even when these careless keepers are exchanged for more 
 watchful ones, still cling to their habit, and being furious 
 with hunger, will, without any regard for their own safety,
 
 92 AM..UI AN US MARCELLINUS. [BK. XVI. Cn. vu 
 
 again attack the flocks and herds; so also the barbarians, 
 having consumed all their plunder, continued, under the 
 pressure of hunger, repeatedly to make inroads for the 
 sake of booty, though sometimes they died of want before 
 they could obtain any. 
 
 VI. 
 
 1. These were the events which took place in Gaul 
 during this year ; at first of doubtful issue, but in the end 
 successful. Meanwhile in the emperor's court envy con- 
 stantly assailed Arbetio, accusing him of having already 
 assumed the ensigns of imperial rank, as if designing soon 
 to attain the supreme dignity itself. And especially was 
 he attacked by a count named Verissimus, who with great 
 vehemence brought forth terrible charges against him, 
 openly alleging that although he had been raised from 
 the rank of a common soldier to high military office, he 
 was not contented, thinking little of what he had obtained, 
 and aiming at the highest place. 
 
 2. And he was also vigorously attacked by a man named 
 Dorns, who had formerly been surgeon of the Scutarii, and 
 of whom we have spoken, when promoted in the time of 
 Magnentius to be inspector of the works of art at Eome, as 
 having brought accusations again.st Adelphius, the prefect 
 of the city, as forming ambitious designs. 
 
 3. And when the matter was brought forward for judi- 
 cial inquiry, and all preliminary arrangements were made, 
 proof of the accusations which had been confidently looked 
 for was still dela} ed ; when suddenly, as if the business 
 had been meant as a satire on the administration of justice, 
 through the interposition of the chamberlains, as rumour 
 affirmed, the persons who had been imprisoned as accom- 
 plices were released from their confinement : Dorus disap- 
 peared, and Verissimus kept silence for the future, as if the 
 curtain had dropped and the scene had been suddenly 
 changed. 
 
 VII. 
 
 1. ABOUT the same time, Constantius having learnt, from 
 common report, that Marcellus had omitted to carry assist- 
 ance to the Cassar when he was besieged at Sens, cashiered 
 him, and ordered him to retire to his own house. Arid he,
 
 A.D. 356.J MARCELLUS PLOTS AGAINST JULIAX. 93 
 
 as if he had received a great injury, began to plot against 
 Julian, relying upon the disposition of the emperor to open 
 hiiTears to every accusation. 
 
 2. Therefore, when he departed, Eutherius, the chief 
 chamberlain, was immediately sent after him, that he might 
 convict him before the emperor if he propagated any false- 
 hoods. But Marcellus, unaware of this, as soon as he 
 arrived at Milan, began talking loudly, and seeking to 
 create alarm, like a vain chatterer half mad as he was. 
 And when he was admitted into the council-chamber, he 
 began to accuse Julian of being insolent, and of preparing 
 for himself stronger wings in order to soar to a greater 
 height. For this was his expression, agitating his body 
 violently as he uttered it. 
 
 3. While he was thus uttering his imaginary charges with 
 great freedom, Eutherius being, at his own request, intro- 
 duced into the presence, and being commanded to say what 
 he wished, speaking with great respect and moderation 
 showed the emperor that the truth was being overlaid with 
 falsehood. For that, while the commander of the heavy- 
 armed troops had, as it was believed, held back on purpose, 
 the Caesar having been long besieged at Sens, had by his 
 vigilance and energy repelled the barbarians. And he 
 pledged his own life that the C0esar would, as long as he 
 lived, be faithful to the author of his greatness. 
 
 4. The opportunity reminds me here to mention a few 
 facts concerning this same Eutherius, which perhaps will 
 hardly be believed ; because if Xuma Pornpilius or Socrates 
 were to say anything good of a eunuch, and were to con- 
 firm what they said by an oath, they would be accused of 
 having departed from the truth. But roses grow up among 
 thorns, and among wild beasts some are of gentle disposi- 
 tion. And therefore I will briefly mention a few of his 
 most important acts which are well ascertained. 
 
 5. He was born in Armenia, of a respectable family, and 
 having while a very little child been taken prisoner by the 
 enemies on the border, he was castrated and sold to some 
 Roman merchants, and by them conducted to the palace of 
 Constantine, where, while growing up to manhood, he 
 began to display good principles and good talents, becom- 
 ing accomplished in literature to a degree quite sufficient 
 for his fortune, displaying extraordinary acuteness in dis-
 
 94 AMM1AXUS MARCELLIXUS. [BK. XVI. CH. vn. 
 
 covering matters of a doubtful and difficult complexion ; 
 being remarkable also for a marvellous memory, always 
 eager to do good, and full of wise and honest counsel. A 
 man, in short, who, if the Emperor Constantius had listened 
 to his advice, which, whether he gave it in youth or man- 
 hood, was always honourable and upright, would have 
 been prevented from committing any errors, or at least any 
 that were not pardonable. 
 
 6. ^Vhen he became high chamberlain he sometimes 
 also found fault even with Julian, who, as being tainted 
 with Asiatic manners, was apt to be capricious. Finally, 
 when he quitted office for private life, and again when he 
 was recalled to court, he was always sober and consistent, 
 cultivating those excellent virtues of good faith and con- 
 stancy to such a degree that he never betrayed any secret, 
 except for the purpose of securing another's safely ; nor 
 was he ever accused of covetous or grasping conduct, as 
 the other courtiers were. 
 
 7. From which it arose that, when at a late period he 
 retired to Borne, and fixed there the abode of his old age, 
 bearing with him the company of a good conscience, he 
 was loved and respected by men of all ranks, though men 
 of that class generally, after having amassed riches by 
 iniquity, love to seek secret places of retirement, just as 
 owls or moths, and avoid the sight of the multitude whom 
 they have injured. 
 
 8. Though I have often ransacked the accounts of anti- 
 quity, I do not find any ancient eunuch to whom I can 
 compare him. . There were indeed among the ancients 
 some, though very few, faithful and economical, but still 
 they were stained by some vice or other ; and among the 
 chief faults which they had either by nature or habit, they 
 were apt to be either rapacious or else boorish, arid on that 
 account contemptible ; or else ill-natured and mischievous ; 
 or fawning too much on the powerful ; or too elated with 
 power, and therefore arrogant. But of any one so univer- 
 sally accomplished and prudent, I confess I have neither 
 ever read nor heard, relying-for the truth of this judgment 
 on the general testimony of the age. 
 
 9. But if any careful reader of ancient histories should 
 oppose to us Menophilus, the eunuch of King Mithridates, 
 I would warn him to recollect that nothing is really known
 
 A.I). 350.] ACCUSATIONS OF SORCERY. 95 
 
 of him except this single fact, that he behaved gloriously 
 in a^moment of extreme danger. 
 
 10. \Vhen the king above mentioned, having been 
 defeated by the Eomans under the command of Pompey, 
 and fleeing to his kingdom of Colchis, left a grown-up 
 daughter, named Drypetina, who at the time was danger- 
 ously ill, in the castle of Synhorium, under the care of this 
 Menophilus, he completely cured the maiden by a variety 
 of remedies, and preserved her in safety for her father ; and 
 when the fortress in which they were enclosed began to be 
 besieged by Manlius Priscus, the lieutenant of the general, 
 and when he became aware that the garrison were pro- 
 posing to surrender, he, fearing that, to the dishonour of 
 her father, this noble damsel might be made a prisoner and 
 be ravished, slew her, and then fell upon his sword himself. 
 Now I will return to the point from which I digressed. 
 
 VIII. 
 
 1. AFTER Marcellus had been foiled, as I have men- 
 tioned, and had returned to Serdica, which was his native 
 place, many great crimes were perpetrated in the camp of 
 Augustus, iinder pretence of upholding the majesty of the 
 emperor. 
 
 2. For if any one had consulted any cunning soothsayer 
 about the squeak of a mouse, or the appearance of a weasel, 
 or any other similar portent, or had used any old woman's 
 chants to assuage any pain a practice which the autho- 
 rity of medicine does not always prohibit such a man was 
 at once informed against, without being able to conceive 
 by whom, and was brought before a court of law, and at 
 once condemned to death. 
 
 3. About the same time an individual named Dames 
 was accused by his wife of certain trifling acts, of which, 
 whether he was innocent or not is uncertain ; but Kufinus 
 was his enemy, who, as we have mentioned, had given in- 
 formation of some matters which had been communicated 
 to him by Gaudentius, the emperor's secretary, causing 
 Africanus, then governing Pannonia with the rank of a 
 consul, to be put to death, with all his friends. This 
 Eufinus was now, for his devotion to the interests of the 
 emperor, the chief commander of the praetorian guard.
 
 90 AMM1AXUS MAUCELLINTS. [BK. XVI. Cu. vin 
 
 4. He, being given to talking in a boastful manner, 
 after having seduced that easily deluded woman (the wife 
 of Dames) into an illicit connection with him, allured her 
 into a perilous fraud, and persuaded her by an accumu- 
 lation of lies to accuse her innocent husband of treason, 
 and to invent a story that he had stolen a purple garment 
 from the sepulchre of Diocletian, and, by the help of 
 some accomplices, still kept it concealed. 
 
 5. When this story had been thus devised in a way to 
 cause the destruction of many persons, Eufinus himself, 
 full of hopes of some advantage, hastened to the camp of 
 the emperor, to spread his customary calumnies. And 
 when the transaction had been divulged, Manlius, at that 
 time the commander of the praetorian camp, a man cf ad- 
 mirable integrity, received orders to make a strict inquiry 
 into the charge, having united to him, as a colleague in the 
 examination, Ursulus, the chief paymaster, a man likewise 
 of praiseworthy equity and strictness. 
 
 6. There, after the matter had been rigorously inves- 
 tigated according to the fashion of that period, and when, 
 after many persons had been put to the torture, nothing 
 was found out, and the judges were in doubt and per- 
 plexity ; at length truth, long suppressed, found a respite, 
 and, under the compulsion of a rigorous examination, 
 the woman confessed that Eufinus was the author of 
 the whole plot, nor did she even conceal the fact of her 
 adultery with him. Reference was immediately made to 
 the law, and as order and justice required, the judges con- 
 demned them both to death. 
 
 7. But as soon as this was known, Constantius became 
 greatly enraged, and lamenting Eufinus as if the champion 
 of his safety had been destroyed, he sent couriers on 
 horseback express, with threatening orders to Ursulus, 
 commanding him to return to court. Ursulus, disregard- 
 ing the remonstrances of those who advised him to dis- 
 obey, hastened fearlessly to the presence ; and having 
 entered the emperor's council-chambers, with nn daunted 
 heart and voice related the whole transaction; and this 
 confident behaviour of his shut the mouths of the flatterers. 
 and delivered both the prefect and himself from serious 
 danger. 
 
 8. It was at this time also that an event took place in Aqui-
 
 A.i>. S56.] INFLUENCE OF INFORMERS. 97 
 
 which, was more extensively talk,ed about. A certain 
 cunning person being invited to a splendid and sumptuous 
 banquet, which are frequent in that province, having seen 
 a pair of coverlets, with two purple borders of such width, 
 that 'ry the skill of those who waited they seemed to be 
 but one ; and beholding the table also covered with a 
 similar cloth, he took up one in each hand, and arranged 
 them so as to resemble the front of a cloak, representing them 
 as having formed the ornament of the imperial robe ; and 
 then searching over the whole house in order to find the 
 robe which he affirmed must be hidden there, he thus 
 caused the ruin of a wealthy estate. 
 
 9. With similar malignity, a certain secretary in Spain, 
 who was likewise invited to a supper, hearing the servants, 
 while bringing in the evening candles, cry "let us con- 
 quer," affixing a malignant interpretation to that common 
 exclamation, in like manner ruined a noble family. 
 
 10. These and other evils increasing more and more, 
 because Constantius, being a man of a very timorous dis- 
 position, was always thinking that blows were being aimed 
 at him, like the celebrated tyrant of Sicily, Dionysius, 
 who, because of this vice of his, taught his daughters to 
 shave him, in order that he might not have to put his face 
 in a stranger's power ; and surrounded the small chamber 
 in which he was accustomed to sleep wi(h a deep ditch, 
 so placed that it coxild only be entered by a drawbridge ; 
 the loose beams and axles of which when he went to bed 
 he removed into his own chamber, replacing them when 
 about to go forth at daybreak. 
 
 11. Moreover, those who had influence in the court pro- 
 moted the spread of these evils, with the hope of joining 
 to their own estates the forfeited possessions of those who 
 should be condemned ; and thus becoming rich by the ruin 
 of their neighbours. 
 
 12. For, as clear evidence has shown, if Constantino 
 was the first to excite the appetites of his followers, Con- 
 stantius was the prince who fattened them on the marrow 
 of the provinces. 
 
 13. For under him the principal persons of every rank 
 burnt with an insatiable desire of riches, without any 
 regard for justice or right. And among the ordinary 
 judges, Rufinus, the chit? prefect of the prsetorium, was 
 
 H
 
 98 AMMIANUS MARCELLISUS. [Bit. XVI. CH. K. 
 
 conspicuous for this avarice. And among the military 
 officers Arbetio, the master of the horse, and Eusebius, 
 the high chamberlain, . . . Ard . . . anus, the 
 quaestor, and in the city, the two Anicii, whose posterity, 
 treading in the steps of their fathers, could not be satisfied 
 even with possessions much larger than they themselves 
 had enjoyed. 
 
 IX. 
 
 1. BUT in the East, the Persians now practising pre- 
 datory inroads and forays, in preference to engaging in 
 pitched battles, as they had been wont to do before, carried 
 off continually great numbers of men and cattle : some- 
 times making great booty, owing to the unexpectedness of 
 their incursions, but at other times being overpowered by 
 superior numbers, they suffered losses. Sometimes, also, 
 the inhabitants of the districts which they had invaded had 
 removed everything which could be carried off. 
 
 2. But Musonianus, the prefect of the prsetorium, a man, 
 as we have already said, of many liberal accomplishments 
 but corrupt, and a person easily turned from the truth by 
 a bribe, acquired, by means of some emissaries who were 
 skilful in deceiving and obtaining information, a know- 
 ledge of the plans of the Persians ; taking to his counsels 
 on this subject Cassianus, duke of Mesopotamia, a veteran 
 who had served many campaigns, and had become hard- 
 ened by all kinds of dangers. 
 
 3. And when, by the concurrent report of spies, these 
 officers had become certain that Sapor was occupied in the 
 most remote frontier of his kingdom in repelling the hos- 
 tilities of the bordering tribes, which he could not accom- 
 plish without great difficulty and bloodshed, they sought 
 to tamper with Tamsapor, the general in command in the 
 district nearest our border. Accordingly they sent soldiers 
 of no renown to confer with him secretly, to engage him, if 
 opportunity served, to write to the king to persuade him to 
 make peace with the Roman emperor ; whereby he, being 
 then secure on every side, might be the better able to 
 subdue the rebels who were never weary of exciting dis- 
 turbances. 
 
 4. Tamsapor coincided with these wishes, and, trust- 
 ing to them, reported to the king that Constantius,
 
 A.D. 356.] WEAKNESS OF CONSTANT1US. 99 
 
 being involved in very formidable wars, was a suppliant 
 for peace. But it took a long time for these letters to 
 reach the country of the Chionites and the Euseni, on 
 whose borders Sapor had taken up his winter quarters. 
 
 X. 
 
 1. WHILE matters were thus proceeding in the eastern 
 regions and in the Gauls, Constantius, as if the temple of 
 Janus were now shut and hostilities everywhere at an end, 
 became desirous of visiting Rome, with the intention of 
 celebrating his triumph over Magnentius, to which he 
 could give no name, since the blood that he had spilt was 
 that of Roman foes. 
 
 2. For indeed, neither by his own exertions, nor by 
 those of his generals did he ever conquer any nation that 
 made war upon him ; nor did he make any additions to 
 the empire ; nor at critical moments was he ever seen to 
 be the foremost or even among the foremost ; but still he 
 was eager to exhibit to the people, now in the enjoyment 
 of peace, a vast procession, and standards heavy with gold, 
 and a splendid train of guards and followers, though the 
 citizens themselves neither expected nor desired any such 
 spectacle. 
 
 3. He \vas ignorant, probably, that some of the ancient 
 emperors were, in time of peace, contented with their 
 lictors, and that when the ardour of war forbade all in- 
 activity, one, 1 in a violent storm, had trusted himself to a 
 fisherman's boat ; another,* following the example of the 
 Decii, had sacrificed his life for the safety of the republic ; 
 another 3 had by himself, accompanied by only a few 
 soldiers of the lowest rank, gone as a spy into the camp of 
 the enemy : in short, that many of them had rendered 
 themselves illustrious by splendid exploits, in order to 
 hand down to posterity a glorious memory of themselves, 
 earned by their achievements. 
 
 1 Julius Caesar : the story of the frightened fisherman being en- 
 couraged by the assurance that he was carrying " Caesar and his for- 
 tunes " is universally known. 
 
 2 Claudius, who devoted himself in the Gothic war. 
 
 3 Galerius Maximianus, who reconnoitred in person the camp of tho 
 king of Persia.
 
 100 A1IMIANUS MARCELLINUS. [BK. XVI. CH. x. 
 
 4. Accordingly, after long and sumptuous preparation, 
 . . . in the second prefecture of Orfitus, Constantius, 
 elated with his great honours, and escorted by a formidable 
 array of troops, marching in order of battle, passed through 
 Ocricoli, attracting towards himself the astonished gaze 
 of all the citizens. 
 
 5. And when he drew near to the city, contemplating . 
 the salutations offered him by the senators, and the whole 
 body of fathers venerable from their likeness to their 
 ancestors, he thought, not like Cineas, the ambassador of 
 Pyrrhus, that a multitude of kings was here assembled 
 together, but that the city was the asylum of the whole 
 world. 
 
 6. And when from them he had turned his eyes upon 
 the citizens, he marvelled to think with what rapidity the 
 whole race of mankind upon earth had come from all 
 quarters to Home ; and, as if he would have terrified the 
 Euphrates or the Rhine with a show of armed men, he 
 himself came on, preceded by standards on both sides, sit 
 ting alone in a golden chariot, shining with all kinds of 
 brilliant precious stones, which seemed to spread a flicker- 
 ing light all around. 
 
 7. Numbers also of the chief officers who went before 
 him were surrounded by dragons embroidered on various 
 kinds of tissue, fastened to the golden or jewelled points of 
 spears, the mouths of the dragons being open so as to 
 catch the wind, which made them hiss as though they 
 were inflamed with anger ; while the coils of their tails 
 were also contrived to be agitated by the breeze. 
 
 8. After these matched a double row of heavy-armed 
 soldiers, with shields and crested helmets, glittering with 
 brilliant light, and clad in radiant breast-plates ; and 
 among these were scattered cavalry with cuirasses, whom 
 the Persians call Clibanarii, 1 protected by coverings of 
 iron breast-plates, and girdled with belts of iron, so that 
 you would fancy them statues polished by the hand of 
 Praxiteles, rather than men. And the light circular plates 
 of iron which surrounded their bodies, and covered all 
 their limbs, were so well .fitted to all their motions, that 
 in whatever direction they had occasion to move, the joints 
 
 1 The word is derived from K\I&O.VOV, an oven, and seems to meaa 
 entirely clothed in iron.
 
 A.D. 356.] ARROGANCE OF CONSTANT1US. 101 
 
 jof their iron clothing adapted themselves equally to any 
 position. 
 
 9. The emperor as he proceeded was saluted as Augustus 
 by voices of good omen, the mountains and shores re-echo- 
 ing the shouts of the people, amid which he preserved the 
 same immovable countenance which he was accustomed tc 
 display in his provinces. 
 
 10. For though he was very short, yet he bowed down 
 when entering high gates, and looking straight before him, 
 as though he had had his neck in a vice, he turned his 
 eyes neither to the right nor to the left, as if he had been 
 a statue : nor when the carriage shook him did he nod his 
 head, or spit, or rub his face or his nose ; nor was he ever 
 seen even to move a hand. 
 
 11. And although this calmness was affectation, yet these 
 and other portions of his inner life were indicative of a 
 most extraordinary patience, as it may be thought, granted 
 to him alone. 
 
 1 2. I pass over the circumstance that during the whole 
 of his reign he never either took up any one to sit with 
 him in his chariot, or admitted any private person to bo 
 his partner in the consulship, as other emperors had done ; 
 also many other things which he, being filled with elation 
 and pride, prescribed to himself as the justest of all rules 
 of conduct, recollecting that I mentioned those facts before, 
 as occasion served. 
 
 13. As he went on, having entered Rome, that home of 
 sovereignty and of all virtues, when he arrived at the 
 rostra, he gazed with amazed awe on the Forum, the most 
 renowned monument of ancient power ; and, being be- 
 wildered with the number of wonders on every side to 
 which he turned his eyes, having addressed the nobles in 
 the senate-house, and harangued the populace from the 
 tribune, he retired, with the good-wi]l of all, into his 
 palace, where he enjoyed the luxury he had wished for. 
 And often, when celebrating the equestrian games, was he 
 delighted with the talkativeness of the common people, 
 who were neither proud, nor, on the other hand, inclined 
 to become rebellious from too much liberty, while he him- 
 self also reverently observed a proper moderation. 
 
 14. For he did not, as was usually done in other cities, 
 allow the length of the gladiatorial contests to depend on
 
 102 AMMIANUS MARCELLINU3. [BK. XVI. CH. x. 
 
 his caprice ; but left it to be decided by various occurrences. 
 Then, traversing the summits of the seven hills, and the 
 different quarters of the city, whether placed on the slopes 
 of the hills or on the level ground, and visiting, too, the 
 siiburban divisions, he was so delighted that whatever he 
 saw first he thought the most excellent of all. Admiring the 
 temple of the Tarpeian Jupiter, which is as much superior 
 to other temples as divine things are superior to those of 
 men ; and the baths of the size of provinces ; and the 
 vast mass of the amphitheatre, so solidly erected of Tiber- 
 tine stone, to the top of which human vision can scarcely 
 reach ; and the Pantheon with its vast extent, its imposing 
 height, and the solid magnificence of its arches, and the 
 lofty niches rising one above another like stairs, adorned 
 with the images of former emperors ; and the temple of 
 the city, and the forum of peace, and the theatre of 
 Pompey, and the odeum, and the racecourse, and the other 
 ornaments of the Eternal City. 
 
 15. But when he came to the forum of Trajan, the most 
 exquisite structure, in my opinion, under the canopy of 
 heaven, and admired even by the deities themselves, he 
 stood transfixed with wonder, casting his mind over the 
 gigantic proportions of the place, beyond the power of 
 mortal to describe, and beyond the reasonable desire of 
 mortals to rival. Therefore giving up all hopes of attempt- 
 ing anything of this kind, he contented himself with say- 
 ing that he should wish to imitate, and could imitate the 
 horse of Trajan, which stands by itself in the middle of 
 the hall, bearing the emperor himself on his back. 
 
 16. And the royal prince Hormisda, whose departure 
 from Persia we have already mentioned, standing by 
 answered, with the refinement of his nature, " But first, 
 emperor, command such a stable to be built for him, if you 
 can, that the horse which you purpose to make may have 
 as fair a domain as this which we see." And when he was 
 asked what he thought of Rome, he said that " he was 
 particularly delighted with it because he had learnt that 
 men died also there." 
 
 17. Now after he had beheld all these various objects 
 with awful admiration, the emperor complained of fame, 
 as either deficient in power, or else spiteful, because, 
 though it usually exaggerates everything, it fell very
 
 
 A.D. 356.] PLOTS OF EUSEBIA. 103 
 
 short in its praises of the things which are at Eome ; and 
 "ftaving deliberated for some time what he should do, he 
 determined to add to the ornaments of the city by erecting 
 .an obelisk in the Circus Maxirnus, the origin and form 
 of which I will describe when I come to the proper 
 place. 
 
 18. At this time Eusebia, the queen, who herself was 
 barren all her life, began to plot against Helena, the sister 
 of Constantius, and wife of the Caasar Julian, whom she 
 had induced to come to Rome under a pretence of affection, 
 and by wicked machinations she induced her to drink a 
 poison which she had procured, which shoxild have the 
 effect, whenever Helena conceived, of producing abortion. 
 
 19. For already, when in Gaul, she had borne a male 
 child, but that also had been dishonestly destroyed because 
 the midwife, having been bribed, killed it as soon as it was 
 born, by cutting through the navel-string too deeply; 
 such exceeding care was taken that this most gallant man 
 should have no offspring. 
 
 20. But the emperor, while wishing to remain longer in 
 this most august spot of the whole world, in order to enjoy 
 a purer tranquillity and higher degree of pleasure, was 
 alarmed by repeated intelligence on which he could rely, 
 which informed him that the Suevi were invading the 
 Tyrol, that the Quadi were ravaging Valeria, 1 and that the 
 Sarmatians, a tribe most skilful in plunder, were laying 
 waste the upper Mcesia, and the second Pannonia. And 
 roused by these news, on the thirtieth day after he had 
 entered Rome, he again quitted it, leaving it on the 29th 
 of May, and passing through Trent he proceeded with all 
 haste towards Illyricum. 
 
 21. And from that city he sent Severus to succeed 
 Marcellus, a man of great experience and ripe skill in war, 
 and summoned Ursicinus to himself. He, having gladly 
 received the letter of summons, came to Sirmium, with a 
 large retinue, and after a long deliberation on the peace 
 which Musonianus had reported as possible to be made 
 with the Persians, he was sent back to the East with the 
 authority of commander-in-chief, and the older officers of 
 our company having been promoted to commands over the 
 
 1 Valeria was a division of Pannonia, so called from Valeria, the 
 daughter of Diocletian, and the wife of Galerius.
 
 104 AMMIANUS 3IARCELLIXUS. [Bit. XVI. CH. xi. 
 
 soldiers, we younger men were ordered to follow him to 
 perform whatever he commanded us for the service of the 
 republic. 
 
 XI. 
 A.D. 357. 
 
 1. BUT Julian, having passed his winter at Sens, amid 
 continual disturbance, in the ninth consulship of the era- 
 peror, and his own second, while the threats of the 
 Germans were raging on all sides, being roused by favour- 
 able omens, marched with speed to Eheims, with the 
 greater alacrity and joy because Severus was in command 
 of the army there ; a man inclined to agree with him, 
 void of arrogance, but of proved propriety of conduct and 
 experience in war, and likely to follow his lawful au- 
 thority, obeying his general like a well- disciplined sol- 
 dier. 
 
 2. In another quarter, Barbatio, who after the death of 
 Silvanus had been promoted to the command of the in- 
 fantry, came from Italy by the emperor's orders, to Augst, 
 with 25,000 heavy-armed soldiers. 
 
 3. For the plan proposed and very anxiously prepared 
 was, that the Allernanni, who were in a state of greater 
 rage than ever, and were extending their incursions more 
 widely, should be caught between our two armies, as if 
 between the arms of a pair of pincers, and so driven into 
 a corner and destroyed. 
 
 4. But while these well-devised plans were being 
 pressed forward, the barbarians, in joy at some success 
 which they had obtained, and skilful in seizing every 
 opportunity for plunder, passed secretly between the camps 
 of the armies, and attacked Lyons unexpectedly. And 
 having plundered the district around, they would have 
 stormed and burnt the city itself, if they had not found 
 the gates so strongly defended that they were repulsed ; so 
 that they only destroyed all they could find outside the 
 city. 
 
 5. When this disaster was known, Caesar, with great 
 alacrity, despatched three squadrons of light cavalry, of 
 approved valour, to watch three lines of road, knowing 
 that beyond all question the invaders must quit the district 
 by one of them.
 
 
 A.D. 357.] PLOTS AGAINST JULIAN. 105 
 
 6. K or was he mistaken ; for all who came by these 
 fOads were slaughtered by our men, and the whole of the 
 booty which they were carrying off was recovered unhurt. 
 Those alone escaped in safety who passed by the camp of 
 Barbatio, who were suffered to escape in that direction 
 because Bainobaudes the tribune, and Valentinian (after 
 wards emperor), who had been appointed to watch that 
 pass with the squadrons of cavalry under their orders, were 
 forbidden by Cella (the tribune of the Scutarii, who had 
 been sent as colleague to Barbatio) to occupy that road, 
 though they were sure that by that the Germans would 
 return to their own country. 
 
 7. The cowardly master of the horse, being also an 
 obstinate enemy to the glory of Julian, was not contented 
 with this, but being conscious that he had given orders 
 inconsistent with the interests of Rome (for when he was 
 accused of it Cella confessed what he had done), he made 
 a false report to Constantius, and told him that these same 
 tribunes had, under a pretence of the business of the state, 
 came thither for the purpose of tampering with the 
 soldiers whom he commanded. And owing to this state- 
 ment they were deprived of their commands, and returned 
 home as. private individuals. 
 
 8. In these days, also, the barbarians, alarmed at the 
 approach of our armies, which had established their sta- 
 tions on the left bank of the Rhine, employed some part 
 of their force in skilfully barricading the roads, naturally 
 difficult of access, and full of hills, by abattis constructed 
 of large trees cut down ; others occupied the numerous 
 islands scattered up and down the Rhone, and with horrid 
 howls poured forth constant reproaches against the Romans 
 and the Caesar ; who, being now more than ever resolved to 
 crush some of their armies, demanded from Barbatio seven 
 of those boats which he had collected, for the purpose of 
 constructing a bridge with them, with the intention of 
 crossing the river. But Barbatio, determined that no as- 
 sistance should be got from him, burnt them all. 
 
 9. Julian, therefore, having learnt from the report of 
 some spies whom he had lately taken prisoners, that, when 
 the drought of summer arrived, the river was fordable, 
 addressed a speech of encouragement to his light-armed 
 auxiliary troops, and sent them forward with Baiuobaudes,
 
 10G AMMIAXUS MARCELLIXUS. [BK. XVI. CH. X! 
 
 the tribune of the Cornuti, to try and perform some gallant 
 exploit, if they could find an opportunity. And they, 
 entering the shallow of the river, and sometimes, when 
 there was occasion for swimming, putting their shields 
 under them like canoes, reached a neighbouring island, 
 and having landed, killed every one they found on it, men 
 and women, without distinction of age, like so many sheep. 
 And having found some empty boats, though they were 
 not very safe, they crossed in them, forcing their way into 
 many places of the .same land. When they were weary of 
 slaughter, and loaded with a rich booty, some of which, 
 however, they lost through the violence of the river, they 
 returned, back to the camp without losing a man. 
 
 10. And when this was known, the rest of the Germans, 
 Junking they could no longer trust the garrisons left in 
 the islands, removed their relations, and their magazines, 
 and their barbaric treasures, into the inland parts. 
 
 11. After this Julian turned his attention to repair the 
 fortress known by the name of Saverne, which had a little 
 time before been destro} r ed by a violent attack of the 
 enemy, but which, while it stood, manifestly prevented 
 the Germans from forcing their way into the interior of 
 the Gauls, as they had been accustomed to do ; and he 
 executed this work with greater rapidity than he expected, 
 and he laid up for the garrison which he intended to post 
 there sufficient magazines for a whole year's consump- 
 tion, which his army collected from the crops of the 
 barbarians, not without occasional contests with the 
 owners. 
 
 12. Xor indeed was he contented with this, but he also 
 collected provisions for himself and his army sufficient for 
 twenty days. For the soldiers delighted in using the 
 food which they had won with their own right hands, 
 being especially indignant because, out of all the supplies 
 which had been recently sent them, they were not able to 
 obtain anything, inasmuch as Barbatio, when they were 
 passing near his camp, had with great insolence seized on 
 a portion of them, and had collected all the rest into a 
 heap and burnt them. "Whether he acted thus out of his 
 own vanity and insane folly, or whether others were really 
 the authors of this wickedness, relying on the command of 
 the emperor himself, has never been known.
 
 A.D. 357.1 PRUDENCE OF JUU,YX. 107 
 
 13. However, as far as report went, the story commonly 
 was, that Julian had been elected Caasar, not for the object 
 of relieving the distresses of the Gauls, but rather of being 
 himself destroyed by the formidable wars in which he was 
 sure to be involved ; being at that time, as was supposed, 
 inexperienced in war, and not likely to endure even the 
 sound of arms. 
 
 14. While the works of the camp were steadily rising, 
 and while a portion of the army was being distributed 
 among the stations in the country districts, Julian occu- 
 pied himself in other quarters with collecting supplies, 
 operating with great caution, from the fear of ambuscades. 
 And in the mean time, a vast host of the barbarians, out- 
 stripping all report of their approach by the celerity of 
 their movements, came down with a sudden attack upon 
 Barbatio, and the army which (as I have already men- 
 tioned) he had under his command, separated from the 
 Gallic army of Severus only by a rampart ; and having 
 put him to flight, pursued him as far as Augst, and beyond 
 that town too, as far as they could ; and, having made booty 
 of the greater part of his baggage and beasts of burden, 
 and having carried off many of the sutlers as prisoners, 
 they returned to their main army. 
 
 15. And Barbatio, as if he had brought his expectations 
 to a prosperous issue, now distributed his soldiers into 
 winter quarters, and returned to the emperor's court, to 
 forge new accusations against the Caesar, according to his 
 custom. 
 
 XII. 
 
 1. WHEN this disgraceful disaster had become known, 
 Chnodomarius and Vestralpus, the kings of the Allemanni, 
 and Urius and Ursicinus, with Serapion, and Suomarius, 
 and Hortarius, having collected all their forces into one 
 body, encamped near the city of Strasburg, thinking that 
 the Caesar, from fear of imminent danger, had retreated 
 at the very time that he was wholly occupied with com- 
 pleting a fortress to enable him to make a permanent 
 stand. 
 
 2. Their confidence and assurance of success was in- 
 creased by one of the Scutarii who deserted to them, who,
 
 108 AMMIANUS MARCELLIXUS. [BK. XVI. CH. xn. 
 
 fearing punishment for some offence which he had com- 
 mitted, crossed over to them after the departure of Bar- 
 batio, and assured them that Julian had now only 13,000 
 men remaining with him. For that was the number of 
 troops that he had now with him, while the ferocious 
 barbarians were stirring up attacks upon him from all 
 sides. 
 
 3. And as he constantly adhered to the same story, they 
 were excited to more haughty attempts by the confidence 
 with which he inspired them, and sent ambassadors in an 
 imperious tone to Caesar, demanding that he should retire 
 from the territory which they had acquired by their own 
 valour in arms. But he, a stranger to fear, and not liable 
 to be swayed either by anger or by disappointment, de- 
 spised the arrogance of the barbarians, and detaining the 
 ambassadors till he had completed the works of his camp, 
 remained immovable on his ground with admirable con- 
 stancy. 
 
 4. But King Chnodomarius, moving about in every direc- 
 tion, and being always the first to undertake dangerous 
 enterprises, kept everything in continual agitation and 
 confusion, being full of arrogance and pride, as one whose 
 head was turned by repeated success. 
 
 5. For he had defeated the Caesar Decentius in a pitched 
 battle, and he had plundered and destroyed many wealthy 
 cities, and he had long ravaged all Gaul at his own 
 pleasure without meeting with any resistance. And his 
 confidence was now increased by the recent retreat of a 
 general superior to him in the number and strength of his 
 forces. 
 
 6. For the Allemanni, beholding the emblems on their 
 shields, saw that a few predatory bands of their men had 
 wrested those districts from those soldiers whom they had 
 formerly never engaged Tbut with fear, and by whom they 
 had often been routed with much loss. And these cir- 
 cumstances made Julian very anxious, because, after the 
 defection of Barbatio, he himself under the pressure of 
 absolute necessity was compelled to encounter very popu- 
 lous tribes, with but very few, though brave troops. 
 
 7. And now, the sun being fully risen, the trumpets 
 sounded, and the infantry were led forth from the camp in 
 slow march, and on their flanks were arrayed the
 
 A.D. 357.] JULIAN'S SPEECH TO HIS SOLDIERS. 109 
 
 squadrons of cavalry, among which were both the cui- 
 rassiers and the archers, troops whose equipment was very 
 formidable. 
 
 8. And since from the spot from which the Eoman 
 standards had first advanced to the rampart of the bar- 
 barian camp were fourteen leagues, that is to say one-and- 
 twenty miles, Caesar, carefully providing for the advantage 
 and safety of his army, called in the skirmishers who had 
 gone out in front, and having ordered silence in his usual 
 voice, while they all stood in battalions around him, 
 addressed them in his natural tranquillity of voice. 
 
 9. " The necessity of providing for our common safety, 
 to say the least of it, compels me, and I am no prince of 
 abject spirit, to exhort yon, my comrades, to rely so much 
 on your own mature and vigorous valour, as to follow 
 my counsels in adopting a prudent manner of enduring or 
 repelling the evils which we anticipate, rather than resort 
 to an overhasty mode of action which must be doubtful in 
 its issue. 
 
 10. " For though amid dangers youth ought to be ener- 
 getic and bold, so also in cases of necessity it should 
 show itself manageable arid prudent. Now what I think 
 best to be done, if your opinion accords with mine, and 
 if your just indignation will endure it, I will briefly 
 explain. 
 
 11. " Already noon is approaching, we are weary with 
 our march, and if we advance we shall enter upon rugged 
 paths where we can hardly see our way. As the moon is 
 waning the night will not be lighted up by any stars. 
 The earth is burnt up with the heat, and will afford us no 
 supplies of water. And even if by any contrivance we 
 could get over these difficulties comfortably, still, when 
 the swarms of the enemy fall upon us, refreshed as they 
 will be with rest, meat, and drink, what will become 
 of us ? What strength will there be in our weary limbs, 
 exhausted as we shall be with hunger, thirst, and toil, to 
 encounter them ? 
 
 12. " Therefore, since the most critical difficulties are 
 often overcome by skilful arrangements, and since, after 
 good counsel has been taken in good part, divine-looking 
 remedies have often re-established affairs which seemed to 
 be tottering ; I entreat you to let us here, surrounded as
 
 110 AMMIAXUS MARCELLIXUS. [BK. XVI. CH. xn 
 
 we are with fosse and rampart, take our repose, after first 
 parcelling out our regular watches, and then, having 
 refreshed ourselves with sleep and food as well as the time 
 will allow, let us, under the protection of God, with the 
 earliest dawn move forth our conquering eagles and 
 standards to reap a certain triumph." 
 
 13. The soldiers would hardly allow him to finish his 
 speech, gnashing their teeth, and showing their eagerness 
 for combat by beating their shields with their spears ; and 
 entreating at once to be led against the enemy already in 
 their sight, relying on the favour of the God of heaven, and 
 on their own valour, and on the proved courage of their 
 fortunate general. And, as the result proved, it was a 
 certain kind genius that was present with them thus 
 prompting them to fight while still under his inspiration. 
 
 14. And this eagerness of theirs was further stimulated 
 by the full approval of the officers of high rank, and 
 especially of Florentius the prefect of the praetorian guard, 
 who openly gave his opinion for fighting at once, while 
 the enemy were in the solid mass in Avhich they were now 
 arranged ; admitting the danger indeed, but still thinking 
 it the wisest plan, because, if the enemy once dispersed, 
 it would be impossible to restrain the soldiers, at all times 
 inclined by their natural vehemence of disposition towards 
 sedition ; and they were likely to be, as he thought, so in- 
 dignant at being denied the victory they sought, as to be 
 easily tempted to the most lawless violence. 
 
 15. Two other considerations also added to the con- 
 fidence of our men. First, because they recollected that 
 in the previous year, when the Eomans spread themselves 
 in every direction over the countries on the other side of 
 the Khine, not one of the barbarians stood to defend his 
 home, nor ventured to encounter them ; but they contented 
 themselves with blockading the roads in every direction 
 with vast abattis, throughout the whole winter retiring into 
 the remote districts, and willingly endured the greatest 
 hardships rather than fight ; recollecting also that, after 
 the emperor actually invaded their territories, the barba- 
 rians neither ventured to make any resistance, nor even 
 to show themselves at all, but implored peace in the most 
 suppliant manner, till they obtained it. 
 
 16. But no one considered that the times were changed,
 
 
 A.D. 357.] EAGERNESS OF THE ROMANS FOR BATTLE. Ill 
 
 because the barbarians were at that time pressed with a 
 threefold danger. The emperor hastening against them 
 through the Tyrol, the Caesar who was actually in their 
 country cutting off all possibility of retreat, while the 
 neighbouring tribes, whom recent quarrels had converted 
 into enemies, were all but treading on their heels ; and 
 thus they were surrounded on all sides. But since that 
 time the emperor, having granted them peace, had returned 
 to Italy, and the neighbouring tribes, having all cause of 
 quarrel removed, were again in alliance with them ; and 
 the disgraceful retreat of one of the Eoman generals had 
 increased their natural confidence and boldness. 
 
 17. Moreover there was another circumstance which at 
 this crisis added weight to the difficulties which pressed 
 upon the Eomans. The two royal brothers, who had 
 obtained peace from Constantius in the preceding year, 
 being bound by the obligations of that treaty, neither 
 ventured to raise any disturbance, nor indeed to put them- 
 selves in motion at all. But a little after the conclusion 
 of that peace one of them whose name was Gundomadus, 
 and who was the most loyal and the most faithful to his 
 word, was slain by treachery, and then all his tribe joined 
 our enemies ; and on this the tribe of Vadomarius also, 
 against his will, as he affirmed, ranged itself on the side of 
 the barbarians who were arming for war. 
 
 18. Therefore, since all the soldiers of every rank, from 
 the highest to the lowest, approved of engaging instantly, 
 and would not relax the least from the rigour of their 
 determination, on a sudden the standard-bearer shouted 
 out, " Go forth, O Csesar, most fortunate of all princes. 
 Go whither thy better fortune leads thee. At least we 
 have learnt by your example the power of valour and 
 military skill. Go on and lead us, as a fortunate and 
 gallant champion. You shall see what a soldier under the 
 eye of a warlike general, a witness of the exploits of each 
 individual, can do, and how little, with the favour of the 
 Deity, any obstacle can avail against him." 
 
 19. When these words were heard, without a moment's 
 delay, the whole army advanced and approached a hill 
 of moderate height, covered with ripe corn, at no great 
 distance from the banks of the Rhine. On its summit 
 were posted three cavalry soldiers of the enemy as scouts,
 
 112 AMMIAN'US MARCELLIXUS. [Bic. XVI. CH. xn. 
 
 who at once hastened back to their comrades to announce 
 that the Roman army was at hand ; but one infantry 
 soldier who was with them, not being able to keep up 
 with them, was taken prisoner by the activity of some of 
 our soldiers, and informed us that the Germans had been 
 passing over the river for three days and three nights. 
 
 20. And when our generals beheld them now at no 
 great distance forming their men into solid columns, they 
 halted, and formed all the first ranks of their troops into 
 a similarly solid body, and with equal caution the enemy 
 likewise halted. 
 
 21. And when in consequence of this halt, the enemy 
 saw (as the deserter I mentioned above had informed 
 them) that all our cavalry was ranged against them in 
 our right wing, then they posted all their own cavalry in 
 close order on their left wing. And with them they 
 mingled every here and there a few infantry, skirmishers 
 and light-armed soldiers, which indeed was a very wise 
 manoeuvre. 
 
 22. For they knew that a cavalry soldier, however skilful, 
 if fighting with one of our men in complete armour, while 
 his hands were occupied with shield and bridle, so that he 
 could use no offensive weapon but the spear which he 
 brandished in his right hand, could never injure an enemy 
 wholly covered with iron mail ; but that an infantry 
 soldier, amid the actual struggles of personal conflict, 
 when nothing is usually guarded against by a combatant 
 except that which is straight before him, may crawl 
 unperceivedly along the ground, and piercing the side of 
 the Roman soldier's horse, throw the rider down headlong, 
 rendering him thus an easy victim. 
 
 23. When these dispositions had been thus made, the 
 barbarians also protected their right flank with secret 
 ambuscades and snares. Now the whole of these warlike 
 and savage tribes were on this day under the command of 
 Chnodomarius and Serapio, monarchs of more power than 
 any of their former kings. 
 
 24. Chnodomarius was indeed the wicked instigator of 
 the whole war, and bearing on his head a helmet blazing 
 like fire, he led on the left wing with great boldness, 
 confiding much on his vast personal strength. And now 
 with great eagerness for the impending battle he mounted
 
 A.l). 357-1 THE BATTLE OF STRASBUKG. 113 
 
 a spirited horse, that by the increased height lie might be 
 mo"'re conspicuous, leaning upon a spear of most formidable 
 size, and remarkable for the splendour of his arms. Being 
 indeed a prince who had on former occasions shown him- 
 self brave as a warrior and a general, eminent for skill 
 above his fellows. 
 
 25. The light wing was led by Serapio, a youth whose 
 beard had hardly grown, but who was beyond his years 
 in courage and strength. He was the son of Mederichus 
 the brother of Chnodomarius, a man throughout his whole 
 life of the greatest perfidy ; and he had received the name 
 of Serapio because his father, having been given as a 
 hostage, had been detained in Gaul for a long time, and 
 had there learnt some of the mysteries of the Greeks, in 
 consequence of which he had changed the name of his son, 
 who at his birth was named Agenarichus, into that of 
 Serapio. 
 
 26. These two leaders were followed by five other 
 kings who were but little inferior in power to themselves, 
 by ten petty princes, a vast number of nobles, and thirty- 
 five thousand armed men, collected from various nations 
 partly by pay, and partly by a promise of requiting their 
 service by similar assistance on a future day. 
 
 27. The trumpets now gave forth a terrible sound ; 
 Severus, the Koman general in command of the left wing, 
 when he came near the ditches filled with armed men, 
 fi-om which the enemy had arranged that those who were 
 there concealed should suddenly rise up, and throw the 
 Eoman line into confusion, halted boldly, and suspecting 
 some yet hidden ambuscade, neither attempted to retreat 
 nor advance. 
 
 28. Seeing this, Julian, always full of courage at the 
 moment of the greatest difficulty, galloped with an escort 
 of two hundred cavalry through the ranks of the infantry 
 at full speed,, addressing them with words of encourage- 
 ment, as the critical circumstances in which they were 
 placed required. 
 
 29. And as the extent of the space over which they were 
 spread and the denseness of the multitude thus collected 
 into one body, would not allow him to address the whole 
 army (and also because on other accounts he wished to 
 avoid exposing himself to malice and envy, as well as not 
 
 i
 
 114 AMMIANUS MARCEULINUS. [BK. XVI. CH. xn. 
 
 to affect that which Augustus thought belonged exclusively 
 to himself), he, while taking care of himself as he passed 
 within reach of the darts of the enemy, encouraged all 
 whom his voice could reach, whether known or unknown 
 to him, to fight bravely, with these and similar words : 
 
 30. " Now, my comrades, the fit time for fighting has 
 arrived ; the time which I, as well as you, have long de- 
 sired, and which you just now invited when, with gestures 
 of impatience, you demanded to be led on." Again, when 
 he came to those in the rear rank, who were posted in 
 reserve : " Behold," said he, " my comrades, the long- 
 wished-for day is at hand, which incites us all to wash out 
 former stains, and to restore to its proper brightness the 
 Roman majesty. These men before you are barbarians, 
 whom their own rage and intemperate madness have urged 
 forward to meet with the destruction of their fortunes, de- 
 feated as they will now be by our might." 
 
 31. Presently, when making better dispositions for the 
 array of some troops who, by long experience in war, had 
 attained to greater skill, he aided his arrangements by 
 these exhortations. " Let us rise up like brave men ; let 
 us by our native valour repel the disgi'ace which has at 
 one time been brought upon our arms, from contemplating 
 which it was that after much delay I consented to take the 
 name of Caesar." 
 
 32. But to any whom he saw inconsiderately demanding 
 the signal to be given for instant battle, and likely by their 
 rash movements to be inattentive to orders, he said, " I 
 entreat you not to be too eager in your pursuit of the 
 flying enemy, so as to risk losing the glory of the victory 
 which awaits us, and also never to retreat, except under 
 the last necessity. 
 
 33. " For I shall certainly take no care of those who flee. 
 But among those who press on to the slaughter of the 
 enemy I shall be present, and share with you indiscrimi- 
 nately, provided only that your charge be made with 
 moderation and prudence." 
 
 34. While repeatedly addressing these and similar ex- 
 hortations to the troops, he drew up the principal part of 
 his army opposite to the front rank of the barbarians. And 
 suddenly there arose from the Allemanni a great shout, 
 mingled with indignant cries, all exclaiming with one
 
 A.D.357.] THE BATTLE CF STRASBURG. 115 
 
 voice that the princes ought to leave their horses and 
 fight in the ranks on equal terms with their men, lest if 
 any mischance should occur they should avail themselves 
 of the facility of escaping, and leave the mass of the army 
 in miserable plight. 
 
 35. When this was known, Chnodomarius immediately 
 leapt down from his horse, and the rest of the princes fol- 
 lowed his example without hesitation. For indeed none of 
 them doubted but that their side would be victorious. 
 
 36. Then the signal for battle being given as usual by 
 the sound of trumpets, the armies rushed to the combat 
 with all their force. First of all javelins were hurled, and 
 the Germans, hastening on with the utmost impetuosity, 
 brandishing their javelins in their right hands, dashed 
 among the squadrons of our cavalry, uttering fearful cries. 
 They had excited themselves to more than usual rage ; 
 their flowing hair bristling with their eagerness, and fuiy 
 blazing from, their eyes. While in opposition to them our 
 soldiers, standing steadily, protecting their heads with the 
 bulwark of their shields, and drawing their swords or 
 brandishing their javelins, equally threatened death to 
 their assailants. 
 
 37. And while in the very conflict of battle, the cavalry 
 kept their gallant squadrons in close order, and the in- 
 fantry strengthened their flanks, standing shoulder to 
 shoulder with closely-locked shields, clouds of thick dust 
 arose, and the battle rocked to and fro, our men some- 
 times advancing, sometimes receding. Some of the most 
 powerful warriors among the barbarians pressed upon their 
 antagonists with their knees, trying to throw them down ; 
 and in the general excitement men fought hand to hand, 
 shield pressing upon shield ; while the heaven resounded 
 with the loud cries of the conquerors and of the dying. 
 Presently, when our left wing, advancing forward, had 
 driven back with superior strength the vast bands of 
 German assailants, and was itself advancing with lotid 
 cries against the enemy, our cavalry on the right wing 
 unexpectedly retreated in disorder ; but when the leading 
 fugitives came upon those in the rear, they halted, perceiving 
 themselves covered by the legions, and renewed the battle. 
 
 38. This disaster had arisen from the cuirassiers see'ng 
 their commander slightly wounded, and one of their
 
 116 AMMIAXUS MARCELLINUS. [B K . XVI. CH. xii 
 
 comrades crushed under the weight of his own arms, 
 and of his horse, which fell upon him while they were 
 changing their position, on which they all fled as each 
 could, and would have trampled down the infantry, and 
 thrown everything into confusion, if the infantry had not 
 steadily kept their ranks and stood immovable, supporting 
 each other. Julian, when from a distance he saw his 
 cavalry thus seeking safety in flight, spurred his horse 
 towards them, and himself stopped them like a barrier. 
 
 39. For as he was at once recognized by his purple 
 standard of the dragon, which was fixed to the top of a long 
 spear, waving its fringe as a real dragon sheds its skin, 
 the tribune of one squadron halted, and turning pale with 
 alarm, hastened back to renew the battle. 
 
 40. Then, as is customary in critical moments, Julian 
 gently reproached his men : " ^Vhither," said he, " gallant 
 comrades, are ye retreating ? Are ye ignorant that flight, 
 which never insures safety, proves the folly of having 
 made a vain attempt ? Let us return to our army, to be 
 partakers of their glory, and not rashly desert those who 
 are fighting for the republic." 
 
 41. Saying these words in a dignified tone, he led them 
 all back to discharge their duties in the fight, imitating 
 in this the ancient hero Sylla, if we make allowances for 
 the difference of situation. For when Sylla, having led 
 his army against Archelaus, the general of Mithridates, 
 became exhausted by the violence of the conflict, and was 
 desei'ted by all his soldiers, he ran to the foremost rank, 
 and seizing a standard he turned it against the enemy, ex- 
 claiming, " Go ! ye once chosen companions of my dangers ; 
 and when you are asked where I, your general, was left, 
 tell them this truth, alone in Boeotia, fighting for us all, 
 to his own destruction." 
 
 42. The Allemanni, when our cavalry had been thus 
 driven back and thrown into confusion, attacked the first 
 line of our infantry, expecting to find their spirit abated, 
 and to be able to rout them without much resistance. 
 
 43. But when they came to close quarters with them, 
 they found they had met an equal match. The conflict 
 lasted long; for the Comuti and Braccati, 1 veterans of 
 
 1 Troops named from the fashion of their arms ; the Cornuti having 
 projections like horns on their helmets, the Braccati wearing drawers.
 
 A.D. 357.] THE BATTLE OF STRASBUKG. 117 
 
 great experience in war, frightening even by their ges- 
 tures, shouted their battle cry, and the uproar, through 
 the heat of the conflict, rising up from a gentle murmur, 
 and becoming gradually louder and louder, grew fierce as 
 that of waves dashing against the rocks ; the javelins 
 hissed as they flew hither and thither through the air ; the 
 dust rose to the sky in one vast cloud, preventing all 
 possibility of seeing, and causing arms to fall upon arms, 
 man upon man. 
 
 44. But the barbarians, in their undisciplined anger and 
 fury, raged like the flames ; and with ceaseless blows of 
 their swords sought to pierce through the compact mass of 
 the shields with which our soldiers defended themselves, 
 as with the testudo. 1 
 
 45. And when this was seen, the Batavi, with the royal 
 legion, hastened to the support of their comrades, a for- 
 midable band, well able, if fortune aided them, to save 
 even those who were in the extremest danger. And amid 
 the fierce notes of their trumpets, the battle again raged 
 with undiminished ferocity. 
 
 46. But the Allemanni, still charging forward impetu- 
 ously, strove more and more vigorously, hoping to bear 
 down all opposition by the violence of their fury. Darts, 
 spears, and javelins never ceased ; arrows pointed with 
 iron were shot ; while at the same time, in hand-to-hand 
 conflict, sword struck sword, breastplates were cloven, and 
 even the wounded, if not quite exhausted with loss of 
 blood, rose up still to deeds of greater daring. 
 
 47. In some sense it may be said that the combatants 
 were equal. The Allemanni were the stronger and the 
 taller men ; our soldiers by great practice were the more 
 skilful. The one were fierce and savage, the others com- 
 posed ,and wary ; the one trusted to their courage, the 
 others to their physical strength. 
 
 48. Often, indeed, the Roman soldier was beaten down 
 by the weight of his enemy's arms, but he constantly rose 
 again ; and then, on the other hand, the barbarian, finding 
 his knees fail under him with fatigue, would rest his left 
 
 1 The testudo was properly applied to the manner in which they 
 locked their shields over their heads while advancing to storm a wallej 
 town.
 
 118 AMMIANUS MAKCELUXUS. [BK. XVI. CH. xn 
 
 knee on the ground, and even in that position attack his 
 enemy, an act of extreme obstinacy. 
 
 49. Presently there sprang forward with sudden vigour 
 a fieiy band of nobles, among whom also were the princes of 
 the petty tribes, and, as the common soldiers followed 
 them in great numbers, they burst through our lines, and 
 forced a path for themselves up to the principal legion of 
 the reserve, which was stationed in the centre, in a posi- 
 tion called the praetorian camp ; and there the soldiery, 
 being in closer array, and in densely serried ranks, stood 
 firm as so many towers, and renewed the battle with 
 increased spirit. And intent upon parrying the blows of 
 the enemy, and covering themselves with their shields as 
 the Minnillos l do, with their drawn swords wounded 
 their antagonists in the sides, which their too vehement 
 impetuosity left unprotected. 
 
 50. And thus the barbarians threw away their lives in 
 their struggles for victory, while toiling to break the 
 compact array of our battalions. But still, in spite of 
 the ceaseless slaughter made among them by the Romans, 
 whose courage rose with their success, fresh barbarians 
 succeeded those who fell ; and as the frequent groans of 
 the dying were heard, many became panic-stricken, and 
 lost all strength. 
 
 51. At last, exhausted by their losses, and having no 
 strength for anything but flight, they sought to escape 
 with all speed by different roads, like as sailors and 
 traders, when the sea rages in a storm, are glad to flee 
 wherever the wind carries them. But any one then 
 present will confess that escape was a matter rather to be 
 wished than hoped for. 
 
 52. And the merciful protection of a favourable deity 
 was present on our side, so that our soldiers, now slashing 
 at the backs of the fugitives, and finding their swords so 
 battered that they were insufficient to wound, used the 
 enemy's own javelins, and so slew them. Nor could any 
 one of the pumiers satiate himself enough with their 
 blood, nor allow his hand to weary with slaughter, nor did 
 any one spare a suppliant out of pity. 
 
 53. Numbers, therefore, lay on the ground, mortally 
 
 1 The Mirmillo was a gladiator opposed to a Retiarius, protecting 
 himself by his oblong shield against the net of the latter.
 
 A.D. 357.] DEFEAT OF THE ALLEMAXNI. 119 
 
 wounded, imploring instant death as a relief; others, half 
 dead, with failing breath turned their dying eyes to the 
 last enjoyment of the light. Of some the heads were 
 almost cut off by the huge weapons, and merely hung by 
 small strips to their necks; others, again, who had fallen 
 because the ground had been rendered slippery by the 
 ^lood of their comrades, without themselves receiving any 
 wound, were killed by being smothered in the mass of 
 those who fell over them. 
 
 54. While these events were proceeding thus prosper- 
 ously for us, the conquerors pressed on vigorously, though 
 the edges of their weapons were blunted by frequent use, 
 and shining helmets and shields were trampled under foot. 
 At last, in the extremity of their distress, the barbarians, 
 finding the heaps of corpses block up all the paths, sought 
 the aid of the river, which was the only hope left to them, 
 and which they had now reached. 
 
 55. And because our soldiers unweariedly and with 
 great speed pressed, with arms in their hands, upon the 
 fleeing bands, many, hoping to be able to deliver them- 
 selves from danger by their skill in swimming, trusted 
 their lives to the waves. And Julian, with prompt appre- 
 hension, seeing what would be the result, strictly forbade 
 the tribxines and captains to allow any of our men to 
 pursue them so eagerly as to trust themselves to the dan- 
 gerous currents of the river. 
 
 56. In consequence of which order they halted on the 
 brink, and from it wounded the Germans with every kind 
 of missile ; while, if any of them escaped from death of 
 that kind by the celerity of their movements, they still 
 sunk to the bottom from the weight of their own arms. 
 
 57. And as sometimes in a theatrical spectacle the cur- 
 tain exhibits marvellous figures, so here one could see 
 many strange things in that danger ; some unconsciously 
 clinging to others who were good swimmers, others 
 who were floating were pushed off by those less encum- 
 bered as so many logs, others again, as if the violence of 
 the stream itself fought against them, were swallowed up 
 in the eddies. Some supported themselves on their shields, 
 avoiding the heaviest attacks of the opposing waves by 
 crossing them in an oblique direction, and so, after many 
 dangers, reached the opposite brink, till at last the foaming
 
 120 AMJIIANUS MAROELLIXUS. [BK. XVI. CH. xn. 
 
 river, discoloured with barbarian blood, was itself amazed 
 at the unusual increase it had received. 
 
 58. And while this was going on, Chnodomarius, the 
 king, finding an opportunity of escaping, making his way 
 over the heaps of dead with a small .escort, hastened with 
 exceeding speed towards the camp which he had made 
 near the two Koman fortresses of Alstatt and Lauterbourg, in 
 the country of the Tribocci, that he might embark in some 
 boats which had already been prepared in case of any 
 emergency, and so escape to some secret hiding-place in 
 which he might conceal himself. 
 
 59. And because it was impossible for him to reach his 
 camp without crossing the Rhine, he hid his face that he 
 might not be recognized, and after that retreated slowly. 
 And when he got near the bank of the river, as he was 
 feeling his way round a marsh, partly overflowed, seeking 
 some path by which to cross it, his horse suddenly stumbled 
 in some soft and sticky place, and he was thrown down, 
 but though he was fat and heavy, he without delay reached 
 the shelter of a hill in the neighbourhood ; there he was 
 recognized (for indeed he could not conceal who he was, 
 being betrayed by the greatness of his former fortune) : and 
 immediately a squadron of cavalry came up at full gallop 
 with its tribune, and cautiously surrounded the wooded 
 mound ; though they feared to enter the thicket lest they 
 should fall into any ambuscade concealed among the trees. 
 
 60. But when he saw them he was seized with extreme 
 terror, and of his own accord came forth by himself and 
 surrendered ; and his companions, two hundred in number, 
 and his three most intimate friends, thinking it would be a 
 crime in them to survive their king, or not to die for him 
 if occasion required, gave themselves up also as prisoners. 
 
 61. And, as barbarians are naturally low spirited in 
 adverse fortune, and very much the reverse in moments of 
 prosperity, so now that he was in the power of another he 
 became pale and confused, his consciousness of guilt closing 
 his mouth ; widely diiferent from him who lately, insulting 
 the ashes of the Gauls with ferocious and lamentable 
 violence, poured forth savage threats against the whole 
 empire. 
 
 (J2. Xow after these affairs were thus by the favour of 
 the deity brought to an end, the victorious soldiers were
 
 A.D. 357.] DEATH OF CHNODOMARIUS. 121 
 
 recalled at the close of the day to their camp by the 
 signal of the trumpeter, and marched towards the bank of 
 the Rhine, and there erecting a rampart of shields piled 
 together in several rows, they refreshed themselves with 
 food and sleep. 
 
 63. There fell in this battle, of Eomans 243, and four 
 -generals : Bainobaudes, the tribune of the Cornuti, and with 
 
 him Laipso, and Innocentius, who commanded the cuiras- 
 siers, and one tribune who had no particular command, 
 and whose name I forget. But of the Allemanni, there 
 were found 6000 corpses on the field, and incalculable num- 
 bers were carried down by the waves of the river. 
 
 64. Then Julian, as one who was now manifestly ap- 
 proved by fortune, and was also greater in his merit than 
 even in his authority, was by unanimous acclamation hailed 
 as Augustus by the soldiers ; but he sharply reproved them 
 for so doing, affirming with an oath that he neither wished 
 for such an honour, nor would accept it. 
 
 65. In order to increase the joy at his recent success, 
 Julian ordered Chnodomarius to be brought before him at 
 his council ; who at first bowing, and then like a sup- 
 pliant, prostrating himself on the ground, and imploring 
 pardon with entreaties framed after the fashion of his 
 nation, was bidden to take courage. 
 
 66. A few days afterwards he was conducted to the court 
 of the emperor, and thence he was sent to Rome, where he 
 died of a lethargy in the foreign camp which is stationed on 
 Mons Caelius. 
 
 67. Notwithstanding that these numerous and important 
 events were brought to so happy an issue, some persons in 
 the palace of Constantius, disparaging Julian in order to 
 give pleasure to the emperor, in a tone of derision called 
 him Yictorinus, because he, modestly relating how often 
 he had been employed in leading the army, at the same 
 time related that the Germans had received many defeats. 
 
 68. They at the same time, by loading the emperor with 
 empty praises, of which the extravagance was glaringly 
 conspicuous, so inflated an inherent pride, already beyond 
 all natural bounds, that he was led to believe that, what- 
 ever took place in the whole circumference of the earth 
 was owing to his fortunate auspices. 
 
 69. So that, being inflated by the pompous language of
 
 122 AMMIANUS MARCELUNU3. [BK. XVI. CH. xn. 
 
 his flatterers, he then, and at all subsequent periods, be- 
 came accustomed in all the edicts which he published to 
 advance many unfounded statements ; assuming, that he 
 by himself had fought and conquered, when in fact he had 
 not been present at anything that had happened ; often 
 also asserting that he had raised up the suppliant kings of 
 conquered nations. For instance, if while he was still in 
 Italy any of his generals had fought a brilliant campaign 
 against the Persians, the emperor would write triumphant 
 letters to the provinces without the slightest mention of 
 the general throughout its whole length, relating with 
 odious self-praise how he himself had fought in the front 
 ranks. 
 
 70. Lastly, edicts of his are still extant, laid up among 
 the public records of the empire .... relating . . . .* 
 and extolling himself to the skies. A letter also is to 
 be found, though he was forty days' journey from Stras- 
 burg when the battle was fought, describing the engage- 
 ment, saying that he marshalled the army, stood among 
 the standard-bearers, and put the barbarians to the rout ; 
 and with amazing falsehood asserting that Chnodomarius 
 was brought before him, without (oh shameful indignity!) 
 saying a single word about the exploits of Julian ; which 
 he would have utterly buried in oblivion if fame had no{ 
 refused to let great deeds die, however many people may 
 try to keep them in the shade. 
 
 * The text is mutilated here, as in many other passages similarly 
 marked.
 
 123 
 
 BOOK XVII 
 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 I. Julian crosses the Rhine and plunders and burns the towns of the 
 Allemanni, repairs the fortress of Trajan, and grants the barbarians 
 a truce for ten months. II. He hems in six hundred Franks 
 who are devastating the second Germania, and starves them into 
 surrender. III. He endeavours to relieve the Gauls from some 
 of the tribute which weighs them down. IV. By order of the 
 Emperor Constantius an obelisk is erected at Rome in the Circus 
 Maximus ; some observations on obelisks and on hieroglyphics. 
 
 V. Constantius and Sapor, king of the Persians, by means of 
 ambassadors and letters, enter into a vain negotiation for peace. 
 
 VI. The Nethargi, an Alleman tribe, are defeated in the Tyrol, 
 which they were laying waste. VII. Nicomedia is destroyed by 
 an earthquake ; some observations on earthquakes VIII. Julian 
 receives the surrender of the Salii, a Prankish tribe. He defeats 
 one body of the Ohamari, takes another body prisoners, and grants 
 peace to the rest. IX. He repairs three forts on the Meuse that 
 had been destroyed by the barbarians. His soldiers suffer from 
 want, and become discontented and reproachful. X. Surmarius 
 and Hortarius, kings of the Allemanni, surrender their prisoners 
 and obtain peace from Julian. XI. Julian, after his successes in 
 Gaul, is disparaged at the court of Constantius by enviers of his 
 fame, and is spoken of as inactive and cowardly. XII. The 
 Emperor Constantius compels the Sarmatians to give hostage, and 
 to restore their prisoners ; and imposes a king on the Sarmatiau 
 exiles, whom he restores to their country and to freedom. XIII. He 
 compels the Limigantes, after defeating them with great slaughter, 
 to emigrate, and harangues his own soldiers. XIV. The Roman 
 ambassadors, who had been sent to treat for peace, return from 
 Persia ; and Sapor returns into Armenia and Mesopotamia. 
 
 I. 
 
 A.D. 357. 
 
 1. AFTER the various affairs which we have described 
 were brought to a conclusion, the warlike young prince, 
 now that the battle of Strasburg had secured him the na- 
 vigation of the Rhine, felt anxious that the ill-omened
 
 124 , AMMIAXDS MARCELLINUS. [BK. XVII. CH. t 
 
 birds should not feed on the corpses of the slain, and so 
 ordered them all to be buried without distinction. And 
 having dismissed the ambassadors whom we have men- 
 tioned as having come with some arrogant messages before 
 the battle, he returned to Saverne. 
 
 2. From this place he ordered all the booty and the 
 prisoners to be brought to Metz, to be left there till his 
 return. Then departing for Mayence, to lay down a bridge 
 at that city and to seek the barbarians in their own terri- 
 tories, since he had left none of them in arms, he was at 
 first met by great opposition on the part of his army ; but 
 addressing them with eloquence and persuasion he soon 
 won them to his opinion. For their affection for him, be- 
 coming strengthened by repeated experience, induced them 
 to follow one who shared in all their toils, and who, while 
 never surrendering his authority, was still accustomed, as 
 every one saw, to impose more labour on himself than on 
 his men. They soon arrived at the appointed spot, and, 
 crossing the river by a bridge they laid down, occupied 
 the territory of the enemy. 
 
 3. The barbarians, amazed at the greatness of his enter- 
 prise, inasmuch as they had fancied they were situated in 
 a position in which they could hardly be disturbed, were 
 now led by the destruction of their countrymen to think 
 anxiously of their own future fate, and accordingly, pre- 
 tending to implore peace that they might escape from the 
 violence of his first invasion, they sent ambassadors to him 
 with a set message, offering a lasting treaty of agreement ; 
 but (though it is not known what design or change of 
 circumstances altered their purpose) they immediately 
 afterwards sent off some others with all speed, to threaten 
 our troops with implacable war if they did not at once quit 
 their territories. 
 
 4. And when this was known, the Caesar, as soon as all 
 was quiet, at the beginning of night embarked 800 men in 
 some small swift boats, with the intention that they should 
 row with all their strength up stream for some distance, 
 and then land and destroy all they could find with fire 
 and sword. 
 
 5. After he had made this arrangement, the barbarians 
 were seen at daybreak on the tops of the mountains, on
 
 A.D. 357.] JULIAN PURSUES THE ALLKMANN1. 125 
 
 which our soldiers were led with speed to the higher 
 ground ; and when no enemy was found there (since the 
 barbarians, divining their plan, immediately retreated to 
 a distance), presently large volumes of smoke were seen, 
 which indicated that our men had broken into the enemy's 
 .territory, and were laying it waste. 
 
 6. This event broke the spirit of the Germans, who, de- 
 serting the ambuscades which they had laid for our men 
 in narrow denies full of lurking-places, they fled across 
 the river Maine to carry aid to their countrymen. 
 
 7. For, as is often the case in times of uncertainty and 
 difficulty, they were panic-stricken by the incursion of our 
 cavalry on the one side, and the sudden attacks of our 
 infantry, conveyed in boats, on the other ; and therefore, 
 relying on their knowledge of the country, they sought 
 safety in the rapidity of their flight ; and, as their retreat 
 left the motions of our troops free, we plundered the 
 wealthy farms of their crops and their cattle, sparing no 
 one. And having carried off a number of prisoners, we 
 set fire to, and burnt to the ground all their houses, which 
 in that district were built more carefully than usual, in 
 the Roman fashion. 
 
 8. And when we had penetrated a distance of ten miles, 
 till we came near a wood terrible from the denseness of its 
 shade, our army halted for a while, and stayed its advance, 
 having learnt from information given by a deserter that 
 a number of enemies were concealed in some subterranean 
 passages and caverns with many entrances in the neigh- 
 bourhood, ready to sally forth when a favourable oppor- 
 tunity should appear. 
 
 9. Nevertheless our men presently ventured to advance 
 in full confidence, and found the roads blockaded by oaks, 
 ashes, and pines, of great size, cut down and laid together. 
 And so they retreated with caution, perceiving that it was 
 impossible to advance except by long and rugged defiles ; 
 though they could hardly restrain their indignation at 
 being compelled to do so. 
 
 10. The weather too became very sever e, BO that they 
 were enveloped in all kinds of toil and danger to no pur- 
 pose (forasmuch as it was now past the autumnal equinox, 
 and the snow, which had already fallen in those regions, 
 covered the mountains and the plains), and so, instead of
 
 126 AMMIANUS MARCELLINUS. [BK. XVII. Cii. r. 
 
 proceeding, Julian undertook a work worthy of being 
 related. 
 
 11. He repaired with great expedition, while there was 
 no one to hinder him, the fortress which Trajan had con- 
 structed in the territory of the Allemanni, and to which 
 he had given his own name, and "which had lately been 
 attacked with great violence and almost destroyed. And 
 he placed there a temporary garrison, and also some maga- 
 zines, which he had collected from the barbarians. 
 
 12. But when the Allemanni saw these preparations 
 made for their destruction, they assembled rapidly in great 
 consternation at what had already been done, and sent 
 ambassadors to implore peace, with prayers of extreme 
 humility. And the Caesar, now that he had fully matured 
 and secured the success of all his designs, taking into con- 
 sideration all probabilities, granted them a truce for ten 
 months. In reality he was especially influenced by this 
 prudent consideration, that the camp which he had thus 
 occupied without hindrance, in a way that could hardly 
 have been hoped for, required, nevertheless, to be fortified 
 with mural engines and other adequate equipments. 
 
 13. Trusting to this truce, three of the most ferocious 
 of those kings who had sent reinforcements to their 
 countrymen when defeated at Strasburg, came to him, 
 though still in some degree of alarm, and took the oaths 
 according to the formula in use in their country, that they 
 would create no further disturbance, but that they would 
 keep the truce faithfully up to the appointed day, because 
 that had been the decision of our generals ; and that they 
 would not attack the fortress ; and that they would even 
 bring supplies to it on their shoulders if the garrison 
 informed them that they were in want; all which they 
 promised, because their fear bridled their treachery. 
 
 14. In this memorable war, which deserves to be com- 
 pared with those against the Carthaginians or the Gauls, 
 yet was accompanied with very little loss to the republic, 
 Julian triumphed as a fortunate and successful leader. 
 The very smallness of his losses might have given some 
 colour to the assertions of his detractors, who declared 
 that he had only fought bravely on all occasions, because 
 he preferred dying gloriously to being put to death like 
 his brother Gallus, as a condemned malefactor, as they had
 
 A.D. 357.] JULIAN'S OPERATIONS. 127 
 
 expected lie would be, if he had not, after the death of 
 Constantius, continued to distinguish himself equally by 
 splendid exploits. 
 
 II. 
 
 1. Now when everything was settled in that country as 
 "fairly as the case permitted, Julian, returning to his winter 
 quarters, found some trouble still left for him. Severus, 
 the master of the horse, being on the way to Eheims through 
 Cologne and Juliers, fell in with some strong battalions of 
 Franks, consisting of six hundred light-armed soldiers, who 
 were laying waste those places which were not defended 
 by garrisons. They had been encouraged to this audacious 
 wickedness by the opportunity afforded them when the 
 Caesar was occupied in the remote districts of the Alle- 
 manni, thinking to obtain a rich booty without any hin- 
 drance. But in fear of the army which had now returned, 
 they occupied two fortresses which had been abandoned 
 for some time, ond defended themselves there as long as 
 they could. 
 
 2. Julian, amazed at the novelty of such an attempt, and 
 thinking it impossible to say how far such a spirit would 
 spread if he allowed it to pass without a check, halted 
 his soldiers, and gave orders to blockade the forts. . . . 
 The Meuse passes beneath them ; and the blockade was 
 protracted for fifty-four days, through nearly the entire 
 months of December and January, the barbarians resisting 
 with incredible obstinacy and courage. 
 
 3. Then the Cfesar, like an experienced general, fearing 
 that the barbarians might take advantage of some moonless 
 night to cross over the river, which was now thoroughly 
 frozen, ordered soldiers to go up and down the stream 
 every day in light boats, from sunset till daybreak, so as to 
 break the crust of ice and prevent any one from escaping 
 in that manner. Owing to this manoeuvre, the barbarians 
 were so exhausted by hunger, watching, and the extremity 
 of despair, that at last they voluntarily surrendered, and 
 were immediately sent to the court of the emperor. 
 
 4. And a vast multitude of Franks, who had come to 
 their assistance, hearing that they were taken prisoners and 
 Bent off, would not venture on any further enterprise, but 
 returned to their own country. And when this affair
 
 128 AMMIANUS MARCELLINUS. [BK. XVII. CH. m. 
 
 was finished, the Ceesar retired to Paris to pass the winter 
 there. 
 
 Ill, 
 
 1 . IT was now expected that a number of tribes Avould 
 unite in greater force, and therefore the prudent Jiilian, 
 bearing in mind the uncertainties of war, became very 
 anxious and full of care. And as he thought that the 
 truce lately made, though not free from trouble, and not 
 of long duration, still gave him opportunity to remedy 
 some things which were faulty, he began to remodel the 
 arrangements about tribute. 
 
 2. And when Florentius, the prefect of the praetorium, 
 having taken an estimate of everything, affirmed that 
 whatever deficiency there might be in the produce of a 
 capitation tax he should be able to make good from what 
 he could levy by force, Julian, deprecating this prac- 
 tice, determined to lose his own life rath.er than permit 
 it. 
 
 3. For he knew that the wounds inflicted by such ex- 
 tortions, or, as I should rather call them, confiscations, are 
 incurable, and have often reduced provinces to extreme 
 destitution. Indeed, such conduct, as will be related here- 
 after, utterly lost us Illy ri cum. 
 
 4. And when, owing to this resolution of his, the 
 prgetorian prefect exclaimed that it could not be endured 
 that he, to whom the emperor had intrusted the chief 
 authority in this matter, should be thus distrusted, Julian 
 attempted to appease him, showing by exact and accurate 
 calculations that the capitation tax was not only enough, 
 but more than enough to provide all the necessaiy 
 supplies. 
 
 5. And when some time afterwards an edict for a 
 supplementary tax was nevertheless presented to him by 
 Florentius, he refused to sign or even to read it ; and 
 threw it on the ground ; and when warned by letters 
 from the emperor (written on receiving the prefect's 
 report) not to act in so embarrassing a manner, lest he 
 should seem to be diminishing the authority of Florentius, 
 Julian wrote in answer, that it was a matter to be 
 thankful for, if a province that had been devastated in 
 every direction could still pay its regular taxes, without
 
 A.D. 357.1 JULIAN'S MEASURES L\ GAUL. 129 
 
 demanding from it any extraordinary contributions, which 
 indeed no punishments could extort from men in a state of 
 destitution : and then, and from that time forward, owing 
 to the firmness of one man, no one ever attempted to extort 
 anything illegal in Gaul beyond the regular taxes. 
 
 6. The Caesar had also in another affair set an example 
 "Wholly unprecedented, entreating the prefect to intrust 
 to him the government of the second Belgic province, 
 which was oppressed by manifold evils ; on the especial 
 and single condition that no officer, either belonging to the 
 prefect or to the garrison, should force any one to pay 
 anything. And the whole people whom he thus took 
 under his care, comforted and relieved by this mildness, 
 paid all the taxes due from them before the appointed day, 
 without any demand being made upon them. 
 
 IV. 
 
 1. WHILE Julian was thus beginning to put Gaul into 
 a better condition, and while Orfitus was still governor of 
 the second province, an obelisk was erected at Rome, in 
 the Circus Maximus, concerning which, as this seems a 
 convenient opportunity, I will mention a few particulars. 
 
 2. The city of Thebes, in Egypt, built in remote ages, 
 with enormous walls, and celebrated also for entrances by 
 a hundred gates, was from this circumstance called by its 
 founders e/caro/jTri/Xoe (Hecatompylos) ; and from the name of 
 this city the whole district is known as Thebais. 
 
 3. AVhen Carthage began to rise in greatness, the Cartha- 
 ginian generals conquered and destroyed Thebes by a 
 sudden attack. And after it was rebuilt, Cambyses, the 
 celebrated king of Persia, who throughout his whole life 
 was covetous and ferocious, overran. Egypt, and again 
 attacked this city that he might plunder it of its wealth, 
 which was enough to excite his envy ; and he spared not 
 even the offerings which had been made to the gods. 
 
 4. And while he was in his savage manner moving to 
 nnd fro among his plunderers, he got entangled in his own 
 flowing robes, and fell on his face, and by the fall his 
 dagger, which he wore close to his thigh, got loose from 
 the scabbard, and he was mortally wounded and died. 
 
 5. And long afterwards, Cornelius Gallus, who was gover- 
 
 K
 
 130 AMMIANUS MARCELLIXUS. [BK.X7II.Cn.iv. 
 
 nor of Egypt at the time when Octaviamis was emperor of 
 Eome, impoverished the city by plundering it of most of 
 its treasuries ; and returning to Borne on being accused of 
 theft and of laying waste the province, he, from fear of the 
 nobles, who were bitterly indignant against him, as one to 
 whom the emperor had committed a most honourable task, 
 fell on his own sword and so died. If I mistake not, he is 
 the same person as Galhis the poet, whose loss Virgil de- 
 plores at the end of his Bucolics, celebrating his memory 
 in sweet verses. 
 
 6. In this city of Thebes, among many works of art and 
 different structures recording the tales relating to the 
 Eg} r ptian deities, we saw several obelisks in their places, 
 and others which had been thrown down and broken ; 
 which the ancient kings, when elated at some victory or 
 at the general prosperity of their affairs, had caused to be 
 hewn out of mountains in distant pa,rts of the world, and 
 erected in honour of the gods, to whom they solemnly 
 consecrated them. 
 
 7. Now an obelisk is a rough stone, rising to a great 
 height, shaped like a pillar in the stadium ; and it tapers 
 upwards in imitation of a sunbeam, keeping its quadri- 
 lateral shape, till it rises almost to a point, being made 
 smooth by the hand of a sculptor. 
 
 8. On these obelisks the ancient authority of elementary 
 wisdom has caused innumerable marks of strange forms 
 all over them, which are called hieroglyphics. 
 
 9. For the workmen, carving many kinds of birds and 
 beasts, some even such as must belong to another world, in 
 order that the recollection of the exploits which the obelisk 
 was designed to commemorate might reach to subsequent 
 ages, showed by them the accomplishment of vows which 
 the kings had made. 
 
 10. For it was not the case then as it is now, that the 
 established number of letters can distinctly express what- 
 ever the human niind conceives ; nor did the ancient Egyp- 
 tians write in such a manner ; but each separate character 
 served for a separate noun or verb, and sometimes even 
 for an entire sense. 
 
 11. Of which fact the two following may for the present 
 be sufficient instances : by the figure of a vulture they 
 indicate the name of nature ; because naturalists declare
 
 A.B. 357.] EGYPTIAN OBELISKS. 131 
 
 that no males are found in this class of bird. And by the 
 figure of a bee making honey they indicate a king ; show- 
 ing by such a sign that stings as well as sweetness are 
 the characteristics of a ruler ; and there are many similar 
 emblems. 
 
 12. And because the flatterers, who were continually 
 """whispering into the ear of Constantius, kept always affirm- 
 ing that when Augustus Octavianus had brought two obe- 
 lisks from Heliopolis, a city of Egypt, one of which was 
 placed in the Circus Maximus, and the other in the Campus 
 Martius, he yet did not venture to touch or move this 
 one which has just been brought to Rome, being alarmed 
 at the greatness of such a task ; I would have those, who 
 do not know the truth, learn that the ancient emperor, 
 though he moved several obelisks, left this one tintouched, 
 because it was especially dedicated to the Sun-god, and 
 was set up within the precincts of his magnificent temple, 
 which it was impious to profane ; and of which it was the 
 most conspicuous ornament. 
 
 13. But Constantino deeming that a consideration of no 
 importance, had it torn up from its place, and thinking 
 rightly that he should not be oifering any insult to religion 
 if he removed a splendid work from some other temple to 
 dedicate it to the gods at Rome, which is the temple of the 
 whole world, let it lie on the ground for some time while 
 arrangements for its removal were being prepared. And 
 when it had been carried down the Nile, and landed at 
 Alexandria, a ship of a burden hitherto unexampled, re- 
 quiring three hundred rowers to propel it, was built to 
 receive it. 
 
 14. And when these preparations were made, and after 
 the aforenamed emperor had died, the enterprise began 
 to cool. However, after a time it was at last put on board 
 ship, and conveyed over sea, and up the stream of the 
 Tiber, which seemed as it were frightened, lest its own 
 winding waters should hardly be equal to conveying a 
 present from the almost unknown Nile to the walls which 
 itself cherished. At last the obelisk reached the village 
 of Alexandria, three miles from the city ; and then it was 
 placed in a cradle, and drawn slowly on, and brought 
 through the Ostran gate and the public fish-market to the 
 Circus Maximus.
 
 132 AMMIANUS MARCELLINUS. [Ex. XVII. On. n-. 
 
 1 5. The only work remaining to be done was to raise it, 
 which was generally believed to be hardly, if at all, practi- 
 cable. And vast beams having been raised on end in a 
 most dangerous manner, so that they looked like a grove 
 of machines, long ropes of huge size were fastened to 
 them, darkening the very sky with their density, as they 
 formed a web of innumerable threads ; and into them the 
 great stone itself, covered over as it was with elements of 
 writing, was bound, and gradually raised into the empt}' 
 air, and long suspended, many thousands of men turning it 
 round and round like a millstone, till it was at last placed 
 in the middle of the square ; and on it was placed a 
 brazen sphere, made brighter with plates of gold : and as 
 that was immediately afterwards struck by lightning, and 
 destroyed, a brazen figure like a torch was placed on it, 
 also plated with gold to look as if the torch were fully 
 alight. 
 
 16. Subsequent ages also removed other obelisks ; one 
 of which is in the Vatican, a second in the garden of 
 Sallust ; and two in the monument of Augustus. 
 
 17. But the writing which is engraven on the old 
 obelisk in the Circus, we have set forth below in Greek 
 characters, following in this the work of Hermapion : 
 
 APXHN AHO TON NOTION AIEPMHNEYMENA 
 
 EXEI 
 2TIXO2 HPiiTO2 TAAE. 
 
 18. The first line, beginning on the south side, boars 
 this interpretation" The Sun to Eamestes the king I 
 have given to thee to reign with joy over the whole 
 earth ; to thee whom the Sun and Apollo love to thee, the 
 mighty truth-loving son of Heron the god-bom ruler of 
 the habitable earth ; whom the Sim has chosen above all 
 men, the valiant warlike King Karnestes. Under whose 
 power, by his valour and might, the whole world is placed. 
 The King Eamestes, the immortal son of the Sun." 
 
 19. The second line is " The mighty Apollo, who 
 takes his stand upon truth, the lord of the diadem, he who 
 has honoured Egypt by becoming its master, adorning 
 Heliopolis, and having created the rest of the world, and 
 having greatly honoured the gods who have their shrines 
 in the city of the Sun ; whom the son loves."
 
 AJ). 358.] INSCRIPTIONS ON THE OBELISKS. 133 
 
 20. The third line" The mighty Apollo, the all- 
 brilliant son of the Sun, whom the Sun chose above all 
 others, and to whom the valiant Mars gave gifts. Thou 
 whose good fortune abideth for ever. Thou whom 
 Ammon loves. Thou who hast filled the temple of the 
 Phoenix with good things. Thou to whom the gods have 
 
 """given long life. Apollo the mighty son of Heron, Eamestes 
 the king of the world. Who has defended Egypt, having 
 subdued the foreign enemy. Whom the Sun loves. To 
 whom the gods have given long life the master of the 
 world the immortal Eamestes," 
 
 21. Another second line " The Sun, the great God, 
 the master of heaven. I have given unto thee a life free 
 from satiety. Apollo, the mighty master of the diadem ; 
 to whom nothing is comparable. To whom the lord of 
 Egypt has erected many statues in this kingdom. And 
 has made the city of Heliopolis as brilliant as the Sun him- 
 self, the master of heaven. The son of the Sun, the king 
 living for ever., has co-operated in the completion of this 
 work." 
 
 22. A third line " I, the Sun, the god, the master of 
 heaven, have given to Eamestes the king might and 
 authority over all. Whom Apollo the truth-lover, the 
 master of time, and Vulcan the father of the gods hath 
 chosen above others by reason of his courage. The all- 
 rejoicing king, the son of the Sun, and beloved by the 
 Sun." 
 
 23. The first line, looking towards the east " The great 
 God of Heliopolis, the mighty Apollo who dwelleth in 
 Heaven, the son of Heron whom the Sun hath guided. 
 Whom the gods have honoured. He who ruleth over all 
 the earth : whom the Sun has chosen before all others. 
 The king valiant by the favour of Mars. Whom Ammon 
 loveth, and the all-shining god, who hath chosen him as a 
 king for everlasting." And so on. 
 
 V. 
 
 A.D. 358. 
 
 1. IN the consulship of Datianus and Cerealis, when all 
 arrangements in Gaul were made with more careful zeal 
 than before, and while the terror caused by past events
 
 134 AMMIAXUS MAKCELLIXUS. ' [Bir. XVII. CH. v 
 
 still checked the outbreaks of the barbarians, the king of 
 the Persians, being still on the frontiers of those nations 
 which border on his dominions, and having made a treaty 
 of alliance with the Chionitse and the Gelani, the most 
 warlike and indefatigable of all tribes, being about to 
 return to his own country, received the letters of Tamsapor 
 which announced to him that the Eoman emperor was a 
 suppliant for peace. 
 
 2. And he, suspecting that Constantius would never 
 have done so if the empire had not been weakened all over, 
 raised his own pretensions, and embracing the name indeed 
 of peace, offered very unwelcome conditions. And having 
 sent a man of the name of Xarses as ambassador with many 
 presents, he gave him letters to Constantius, in which he in 
 no respect abated of his natural pride. The purport of 
 these letters we have understood to be this : 
 
 3. " I, Sapor, king of kings, partner of the stars, brother 
 of the sun and moon, to Constantius Cassar my brother send 
 much greeting. I am glad and am well pleased that at 
 last thou hast returned to the right way, and hast acknow- 
 ledged the incorruptible decree of equity, having gained 
 experience by facts, and having learnt what disasters an 
 obstinate covetousness of the property of others has often 
 caused. 
 
 4. " Because therefore the language of truth ought to be 
 unrestrained and free, and because men in the highest 
 rank ought only to say what the} r mean, I will reduce my 
 propositions into a few words ; remembering that I have 
 already often repeated what I am now about to say. 
 
 5. " Even your own ancient records bear witness that 
 my ancestors possessed all the countiy up to the Stryrnon 
 and the frontier of Macedonia. And these lands it is 
 fitting that I who (not to speak arrogantly) am superior 
 to those ancient kings in magnificence, and in all eminent 
 virtues, should now reclaim. But I am at all times 
 thoughtful to remember that, from my earliest youth, I 
 have never done anything to repent of. 
 
 6. " And therefore it is a duty in me to recover 
 Armenia and Mesopotamia, which were wrested from my 
 ancestor by deliberate treachery. That principle was 
 never admitted by us which you with exultation assert, 
 that all successes in war deserve praise, without con-
 
 A.D. 358.] SAPOR'S LETTEU. 135 
 
 sidering whether they were achieved by valour or by 
 treachery. 
 
 7. " Lastly, if you are willing to be giiided by one who 
 gives you good advice, I would bid you despise a small 
 part of your dominions which is ever the parent of 
 sorrow and bloodshed, in order to reign in safety over the 
 rest. "Wisely considering that physicians also sometimes 
 apply cautery or amputation, and cut oft' portions of the 
 body that the patient may have good use of the rest of 
 his limbs. Nay, that even beasts do the same : since 
 when they observe on what account they are most espe- 
 cially hunted, they will of their own accord deprive them- 
 selves of that, in order henceforth to be able to live in 
 security. 
 
 8. " This, in short, I declare, that should my present 
 embassy return without having succeeded in its object, 
 after giving the winter season to rest I will gird myself up 
 with all my strength, and while fortune and justice give 
 me a well-founded hope of ultimate success, I will hasten 
 my march as much as Providence will permit." 
 
 9. Having given long consideration to this letter, the 
 emperor with upright and wise heart, as the saying is, 
 made answer in this manner : 
 
 10. " Constantius, always august, conqueror by land and 
 sea, to my brother Sapor much health. I congratulate 
 thee on thy safety, as one who is willing to be a friend to 
 thee if thou wilt. But I greatly blame thy insatiable 
 covetousness, now more grasping than ever. 
 
 11. "Thou demandest Mesopotamia as thine own, and 
 then Armenia. And thou biddest me cut off some members 
 from my sound body in order to place its health on a 
 sound footing : a demand which is to be rejected at once 
 rather than to be encouraged by any consent. Receive 
 therefore the truth, not covered with any pretences, but 
 clear, and not to be shaken by any threats. 
 
 12. " The prefect of my praetorian guard, thinking to 
 undertake an affair which might be beneficial to the state, 
 without my knowledge discoursed about peace with thy 
 generals, by the agency of some low persons. Peace we 
 should neither regret nor refuse let it only come with 
 credit and honour, in such a way as to impair neither our 
 Belf-respect nor our dignity.
 
 136 A5IMIAXUS J1A11CELLIXUS. [BK. XVII. CH. TI. 
 
 13. " For it would be an unbecoming and shameful 
 thing when all men's ears are filled with our exploits, 
 so as to have shut even the mouth of envy ; when after 
 the destruction of tyrants the whole Roman world obeys 
 us, to give up those territories which even when limited 
 to the narrow boundaries of the east we preserved un- 
 diminished. 
 
 14. " But I pray thee make an end of the threats which 
 thou utterest against me, in obedience to thy national 
 habit, when it cannot be doubted that it is not from 
 inactivity, but from moderation, that we have at times 
 endured attacks instead of being the assailants ourselves : 
 and know that, whenever we are attacked, we defend our 
 own with bravery and good will : being assured both by 
 thy reading and thy personal experience that in battle it 
 has been rare for Romans to meet with disaster ; and that 
 in the final issue of a war we have never come off the 
 worst." 
 
 15. The embassy was therefore dismissed without gaining 
 any of its objects ; and indeed no other reply could be 
 given to the unbridled covetousness of the king. And a 
 few days afterwards, Count Prosper followed, and Spectatus 
 the tribune and secretary ; and also, by the suggestion of 
 Musonianus, Eustathius the philosopher, as one skilful in 
 persuading, bearing a letter from the emperor, and 
 presents, with a view to induce Sapor to suspend his pre- 
 parations, so that all our attention might be turned to 
 fortifying the northern provinces in the most effective 
 manner. 
 
 VI. 
 
 1. Now while these affairs, of so doubtful a complexion, 
 were proceeding, that portion of the Allemanni which 
 borders on the regions of Italy, forgetful of the peace and 
 of the treaties which they only obtained by abject entreaty, 
 laid waste the Tyrol with such fury that they even 
 went beyond their usual habit in undertaking the siege of 
 some walled towns. 
 
 2. And when a strong force had been sent to repel them 
 under the command of Barbatio, who had been promoted 
 to the command of the infantry in the room of Silvanrs,
 
 A.D. 358.] EARTHQUAKES IN ASIA. 137 
 
 a man of not much, activity, but a fluent talker, he, as his 
 troops were in a high state of indignation at the invaders, 
 gave them so terrible a defeat, that only a very few, who 
 took to flight in their panic, escaped to earuy back their 
 tears and lamentations to their homes. 
 
 _^ 3. In this battle Nevita, who afterwards became consul, 
 was present as commander of a squadron of cavalry, and 
 displayed great gallantry. 
 
 VII. 
 
 1. THIS year also some terrible earthquakes took place in 
 Macedonia, Asia Minor, and Pontus, and their repeated 
 shocks overthrew many towns, and even mountains. But 
 the most remarkable of all the manifold disasters which 
 they caused was the entire ruin of Nicomedia, the metro- 
 polis of Bithynia ; which I will here relate with truth and 
 brevity. 
 
 2. On the 23rd of August, at daybreak, some heavy black 
 clouds suddenly obscured the sky, which just before was 
 quite fair. And the sun was so wholly concealed that it 
 was impossible to see what was near or even quite close, 
 so completely did a thick lurid darkness settle on the 
 ground, preventing the least use of the eyes. 
 
 3. Presently, as if the supreme deity were himself 
 letting loose his fatal wrath, and stirring up the winds 
 from their hinges, a violent raging storm descended, by 
 the fury of which the groaning mountains were struck, 
 and the crash of the waves on the shore was heard to a 
 vast distance. And then followed typhoons and whirlwinds 
 with a horrid trembling of the earth, throwing down 
 the whole city and its suburbs. 
 
 4. And as most of the houses were built on the slopes of 
 the hills, they now fell down one over the other, while all 
 around resounded with the vast crash of their fall. In 
 the mean time the tops of the hills re-echoed all sorts of 
 noises, as well as outcries of men seeking their wives and 
 children, and other relations. 
 
 5. At last, after two hours, or at least within three, 
 the air became again clear and serene, and disclosed 
 the destruction which till then was unseen. Some, 
 overwhelmed by the enormous masses of ruins which had 
 fallen upon them, were crushed to death. Some were
 
 138 AMMIAXUS MARCELLIXUS. [BK. XVII. CH. vn. 
 
 buried up to the neck, and might have been saved if there 
 had been any timely help at hand, but perished for want of 
 assistance ; others were transfixed by the points of beams 
 projecting forth, on which they hung suspended. 
 
 6. Here was seen a crowd of persons slain by one blow ; 
 there a promiscuous heap of corpses piled in various ways 
 some were buried beneath the roofs of falling houses, 
 which leant over so as to protect them from any actual 
 blows, but reserved them for an agonizing death by starva- 
 tion. Among whom was Aristaenetus, who, with the 
 authority of deputy, governed Bithynia, which had been 
 recently erected into a province ; and to which Constantius 
 had given the name of -Piety, in honour of his wife Eusebia, 
 (a Greek word, equivalent to Pietas in Latin) ; and he 
 perished thus by a lingering death. 
 
 7- Others who were overwhelmed by the sudden fall of 
 vast buildings, are still lying entombed beneath the im- 
 movable masses. Some with their skulls fractured, or 
 their shoulders or legs cut through, lay between life and 
 death, imploring aid from others suffering equally with 
 themselves ; but in spite of their entreaties they were 
 abandoned. 
 
 8. Not but what the greater part of the temples and 
 buildings and of the citizens also would have escaped 
 unhurt, if a fire had not suddenly broken out, which 
 raged with great violence for fifty days and nights, and 
 destroyed all that remained. 
 
 9. I think this a good opportunity to enumerate a few of 
 the conjectures which the ancients have formed about 
 earthquakes. For as to any accurate knowledge of their 
 causes, not only has that never been attained by the 
 ignorance of the common people, but they have equally 
 eluded the long lucubrations and subtle researches of 
 natural philosophers. 
 
 10. And on this account in all priestly ceremonies, 
 whether ritual or pontifical, care is taken not at such 
 times to name one god more than another, for fear of 
 impiety, since it is quite uncertain which god causes these 
 visitations. 
 
 1 1 . But as the various opinions, among which Aristotle 
 wavers and hesitates, suggest, earthquakes are engendered 
 either in small caverns under the earth, which the Greeks
 
 A.D.358.] CAUSES OF EARTHQUAKES. 139 
 
 call o-upiyyee, because of the waters pouring through them, 
 with a more rapid motion than usual, or, as Anaxagoras 
 affirms, they arise from the force of the wind penetrating 
 the lower parts of the earth, which, when they have got 
 down to the encrusted solid mass, finding no vent-holeB, 
 fih^ake those portions in their solid state, into which they 
 have got entrance when in a state of solution. And this 
 is corroborated by the observation that at such times no 
 breezes of wind are felt by us above ground, because the 
 winds are occupied in the lowest recesses of the earth. 
 
 12. Anaxiinancler says that the earth when burnt up by 
 excessive heat and drought, and also after excessive rains, 
 opens larger fissures than usual, which the upper air pene- 
 trates with great force and in excessive quantities, and the 
 earth, shaken by the furious blasts which penetrate those 
 fissures, is disturbed to its very foundations ; for which 
 reason these fearful events occur either at times of great 
 evaporation or else at those cf an extravagant fall of rain 
 from heaven. And therefore the ancient poets and theo- 
 logians gave Neptune the name of Earthshaker, 1 as being 
 the power of moist substance. 
 
 13. Now earthquakes take place in four manners: 
 either they are brasmatice* which raise up the ground in a 
 terrible manner, and throw vast masses up to the surface, 
 as in Asia, Delos arose, and Hiera ; and also Anaphe and 
 Rhodes, which has at different times been called Ophiusa 
 and Pelagia, and was once watered with a shower of 
 gold ; 3 and Eleusis in Boaotia, and the Hellenian islands in 
 the Tyrrhenian sea, and many other islands. Or they are 
 dimatioe* which, with a slanting and oblique blow, level 
 cities, edifices, and mountains. Or chasmatice, 5 which sud- 
 denly, by a violent motion, open huge mouths, and so 
 swallow up portions of the earth, as in the Atlantic sea, 
 
 1 'Evoffix6(ai>, 2s n'x0&>i/, 'EvvoffiySaios, from 4v66u> and fffita, to shake, 
 and x^ J/ smd ya.1a, the earth. 
 
 - From jSpufo), to boil over. 
 
 * Strabo gives Ophiusa as one of the names of Rhodes, and Homer 
 mentions the golden shower : 
 
 KOI ff<piv QfffTreffiov TrKovrov KOT';i>e Kpovitiiv. II. (8. vi. 70. 
 
 \s also does Pindar, 01. vii. 63. 
 4 From K\ivu:, to lay down. 
 b From x^"/" a > a chasm, derived from x a ' ivu > to gape.
 
 140 AMMIAXtJS MARCELL1NUS. [BK. XVII. Cn. vnl. 
 
 on the coast of Europe, a large island l was swallowed 
 up, and in the Crissaean Gulf, Helice and Bnra,* and in 
 Italy, in the Ciminian district, the town of Saccuinum 3 was 
 swallowed up in a deep gulf and hidden in everlasting 
 darkness. And among these three kinds of earthquakes, 
 mycemotice 4 are heard with a threatening roar, when the 
 elements either spring apart, their joints being broken, or 
 again resettle in their former places, when the earth also 
 settles back ; for then it cannot be but that crashes and 
 roars of the earth should resound with bull-like bellowings. 
 Let us now return to our original subject. 
 
 VIII. 
 
 1. C.ESAR, passing his winter among the Parisii, was 
 eagerly preparing to anticipate the Allemanni, who were 
 not yet assembled in one body, but who, since the battle 
 of Strasburg, were working themselves up to a pitch of 
 insane audacity and ferocity. And he was waiting with 
 ^reat impatience for the month of July, when the Gallic 
 campaigns usually begin. For indeed he could not march 
 before the summer had banished the frost and cold, and 
 allowed him to receive supplies from Aquitania. 
 
 2. But as diligence overcomes almost all difficulties, he, 
 revolving many plans of all kinds in his mind, at last con- 
 ceived the idea of not waiting till the crops were ripe, 
 but falling on the barbarians before they expected him. 
 And having resolved on that plan, he caused his men to 
 take corn for twenty days' consumption from what they 
 had in store, and to make it into biscuit, so that it might 
 keep longer ; and this enabled the soldiers to carry it, 
 which they did willingly. And relying on this pro 1 . 
 
 and setting out as before, with favourable auspic 
 reckoned that in the course of five or six months he might 
 finish two urgent and indispensable expeditions. 
 
 3. And when all his preparations were made, he first 
 
 1 This is a tale told by Plato in the TimsBus (which is believed to 
 have no foundation). 
 
 2 The destruction of Helice is related in Diodorus Sic. xiv. 48 ; cf. 
 Ov. Met. xv. 290. 
 
 3 The lake Ciminus was near Cenhtmcellfe, cf. Virg. JEn. vii. G97. 
 The town of Saccumum is not mentioned by any other writer. 
 
 * From uu/caa>, to roar like a bull.
 
 A.D.358.] VIGOUR OF JULIAN. 141 
 
 marched against the Franks, that is against that tribe of 
 them usually called Salii, who some time before had 
 ventured with great boldness to fix their habitations on the 
 Eoman soil near Toxandria. 1 But when he had reached 
 Tongres, he was met by an embassy from this tribe, who 
 expected still to find him in his winter quarters, offering 
 him peace on condition of his leaving them unattacked an(* 
 unmolested, as if the ground they had seized were right- 
 fully their own. Julian comprehended the whole aft'air, 
 and having given the ambassadors an ambiguous reply, 
 and also some presents, sent them back again, leaving 
 them to suppose he would remain in the same place till 
 they returned. 
 
 4. But the moment they had departed he followed 
 them, sending Severus along the bank of the river, and 
 suddenly came upon the whole settlement like a thunder- 
 bolt ; and availing himself of his victory to make a reason- 
 able exhibition of clemency, as indeed they met him with 
 entreaties rather than with resistance, he received the 
 submission of them and their children. 
 
 5. He then attacked the Chamavi, 2 who had been guilty 
 of similar audacity, and through the same celerity of move- 
 ment he slew one portion of them, and another who made 
 u vigorous resistance he took prisoners, while others who 
 fled precipitately he allowed to escape unhurt to their 
 own territories, to avoid exhausting his soldiers with a 
 long campaign. And when ambassadors were afterwards 
 sent by them to implore his pardon, and generally to do 
 what they could for them, when they prostrated them- 
 selves before him, he granted them peace on condition of 
 retiring to their own districts without doing any mischief. 
 
 IX. 
 
 1. EVERYTHING thus succeeding according to his wish, 
 Julian, always on the watch to establish by every means 
 in his power the security of the provinces on a solid foun- 
 dation, determined to put in as good repair as the time 
 permitted those fortresses erected in a line on the banks of 
 the Mouse, which some time before had been destroyed by 
 
 1 Toxandria was in Bcljrfiim, on the Scheldt. 
 
 2 The Chamari were a tribe at the mouth of the Rhino.
 
 142 AMMIAXTJS MARCELLIXUS. [Bjs. XVII. CH. ix 
 
 an attack of the barbarians. And accordingly he desisted 
 for a while from all other operations, and restored them. 
 
 2. And that he might by a prudent rapidity insure 
 their safety, he took a part of the seventeen days' pro- 
 visions, which troops, when going on an expedition, carry 
 on their backs, and stored in those forts, hoping to replace 
 what he thus took from the soldiers by seizing the crops 
 of the Chamavi. 
 
 3. But he was greatly disappointed. For as the crops 
 were not yet ripe, the soldiers when they had consumed 
 what they had with them were unable to find food, and 
 began to utter violent threats against Julian, mingled with 
 fierce cries and reproaches, calling him Asiatic, Greek, a 
 cheat, and a fool pretending to be wise. And as it is com- 
 monly the case among soldiers that some men are found of 
 remarkable fluency of speech, they poured forth such 
 harangues as this : 
 
 4. " Whither are we being dragged, having lost all hope 
 of good fortune ? We formerly, indeed, suffered terrible 
 hardships in the snow, and cruel biting frost ; but now 
 (oh, shame !), when we have the fate of the enemy in our 
 hands, we are wasting away with famine, the most miser- 
 able of all deaths. Let no one think that we are stirrers up 
 of tumults ; we declare that we are speaking for our very 
 lives. We do not ask for gold or silver, which it is long 
 since we have touched or seen, and which are as much 
 denied to us as if we had been convicted of having en- 
 countered all our toils and perils in the service of the 
 enemies of the republic." 
 
 5. And their complaints were just. For after all his 
 gallant exploits and all his doubtful changes and dangers, 
 the soldiers were exhausted by his Gallic campaigns, with- 
 out even receiving either donation or pay from the time that 
 Julian was sent to take the command ; because he himself 
 had nothing to give, nor would Constant] us permit any- 
 thing to be drawn for that purpose from the treasury, as 
 had been the custom. 
 
 6. And at a later period it was manifest that this was 
 owing more to ill- will than to parsimony, because when 
 Julian had given some small coin to one of the common 
 soldiers, who, as was the custom, had asked for some to get 
 shaved with, he was attacked for it with most insulting
 
 AJ). 358.] SUBMISSION OF SURMARIUS. 143 
 
 calumnies by Gaudentius, the secretary, who had long 
 remained in Gaul as a spy upon his actions, and whom he 
 himself subsequently ordered to be put to death, as will be 
 related in its fitting place. 
 
 X. 
 
 1. WHEN at length their discontent was appeased by 
 various kinds of caresses, and when the Ehine had been 
 crossed by a bridge of boats, which was thrown over it, 
 Severus, the master of the horse, up to that time a brave 
 and energetic soldier, suddenly lost all his vigour. 
 
 2. And he who had frequently been used to exhort the 
 troops, both in bodies and as individuals, to gallant acts, 
 now seemed a base and timid skulker from battle, as if he 
 feared the approach of death. As we read in the books of 
 Tages l that those who are fated to be soon struck by light- 
 ning, so lose their senses that they cannot hear thunder, 
 or even greater noises. And he marched 011 in a lazy way, 
 not natural to him, and even threatened with death the 
 guides, who were leading on the army with a brisk step, if 
 they would not agree to say that they were wholly igno- 
 rant of the road any further. So they, fearing his power, 
 and being forbidden to show the way any more, advanced 
 no further. 
 
 3. But amid this delay, Suomarius, king of the Alle- 
 manni, arrived unexpectedly with his suite ; and he who 
 had formerly been fierce and eager for any injury to the 
 Eomans, was now inclined to regard it as an unexpected 
 gain to be permitted to retain his former possessions. And 
 because his looks and his gait showed him to be a sup- 
 pliant, he was received as a friend, and desired to be of 
 good cheer. But still he submitted himself to Julian's 
 discretion, and implored peace on his bended knees. And 
 peace was granted him, with pardon for the past, on con- 
 dition of giving up our prisoners and of supplying our 
 soldiers with food, whenever it was required, receiving, 
 like any ordinary purveyor, security for payment of what 
 
 1 Tages was an Etruscan, the son, it is said, of a genius, Jovialis, and 
 grandson of Jupiter, who rose out of the ground as a man named 
 Tarchon was ploughing near Tarquinii, and instructed the auspices in 
 divination. Cf. Cic. Div. ii. 23.
 
 144 AMM.IANUS MARCELLIJSUS. [Bu. XVII. CH. x. 
 
 he provided. But lie was at the same time warned, that if 
 he did not furnish the required supplies in time he would 
 be liable to be called in question for his former hostility. 
 
 5. And that which had been discreetly planned was car- 
 ried out without hindrance. Julian desiring to reach a, 
 town belonging to another chieftain, named Hortarius, to- 
 wards which object nothing seemed wanting but guides, 
 gave orders to Kestica, a tribune of the Scutarii, and to Cha- 
 riettoa, a man of marvellous courage, to take great pains 
 to capture a prisoner and to bring him to him. A youth 
 of the Allemanni was speedily caught and brought before 
 him, who, on condition of obtaining his freedom, pro- 
 mised to show the road. The army, following him as its 
 guide, was soon obstructed by an abattis of lofty trees, 
 which had been cut down ; but by taking long and cir- 
 cuitous paths, they at last came to the desired spot, and 
 the soldiers in their rage laid waste the fields with fire, 
 earned off the cattle and the inhabitants, and slew all who 
 resisted without mercy. 
 
 6. The king, bewildered at this disaster, seeing the nume- 
 rous legions, and the remains of his burnt villages, and look- 
 ing upon the last calamities of fortune as impending over 
 him, of his own accord implored pardon, promising to do all 
 that should be commanded him, and binding himself on 
 oath to restore all his prisoners. For that was the object 
 about which Julian was the most anxious. But still he 
 restored only a few, and detained the greater part of them. 
 
 7. ^Vhen Julian knew this, he was filled with just indig- 
 nation, and when the king came to receive the customary 
 presents, the Caesar refused to release his four companions, 
 on whose support and fidelity the king principally relied, 
 till all the prisoners were restored. 
 
 8. But when the king was summoned by the Csesar to a 
 conference, looking up at him with trembling eyes, he was 
 overcome by the aspect of the conqueror, and overwhelmed 
 by a sense of his own embarrassing condition, and especially 
 by the compulsion under which he was now (since it was 
 reasonable that after so many successes of the Romans that 
 the cities which had been destroyed by the violence of the 
 barbarians should be rebuilt) to supply waggons and 
 materials from his own stores and those of his subjects. 
 
 9. And after he had promised to do to, and had bound him-
 
 A.D. 358.] MALICE TOWARDS JULIAN. 145 
 
 self with an oath to consent to die if he were guilty of any 
 treachery, he was permitted to return to his own country. 
 For he could not be compelled to furnish provisions like 
 Suomarius, because his land had been so utterly laid waste 
 that nothing could be found on it for him to give. 
 
 10. Thus those kings who were formerly so pfoud and 
 "aTccustomed to grow rich by the plunder of our citizens, 
 were now brought under the Eoman yoke ; and as if they 
 had been born and brought up among our tributaries, they 
 submitted to our commands, though with reluctance. And 
 when these events were thus brought to a conclusion, the 
 Caesar distributed his army among its usual stations, and 
 returned to his winter quarters. 
 
 XI. 
 
 1. WHEX these transactions presently became known in 
 the court of Constantius for the knowledge of them could 
 not be concealed, since the Caesar, as if he had been 
 merely an officer of the emperor's, referred to him on all 
 occasions those who had the greatest influence in the 
 palace, being skilful professors of flattery, turned all Julian's 
 well-arranged plans and their successful accomplishment 
 into ridicule ; continually uttering such malicious sayings 
 as this, " We have had enough of the goat and his victo- 
 ries ;" sneering at Julian because of his beard, and calling 
 him a chattering mole, a purple-robed ape, and a Greek 
 pedant. And pouring forth numbers of sneers of the same 
 kind, acceptable to the emperor, who liked to hear them, 
 they endeavoured with shameless speeches to overwhelm 
 Julian's virtues, slandering him as a lazy, timid, carpet- 
 knight, and one whose chief care was to set off his exploits 
 by fine descriptions ; it not being the first time that such 
 a thing had been done. 
 
 2. For the greatest glory is always exposed to envy. 
 So we read in respect of the illustrious generals of old, 
 that, though no fault could be found in them, still the 
 malignity which found offence in their greatest actions was 
 constantly inventing false charges and accusations against 
 them. 
 
 3. In the same manner Cimon the son of Miltiades, who 
 destroyed a vast host of the Persians on the Eurymedon, a
 
 146 AMMIANUS MARCELLIMJS. [BK. XVII. Cu. xir. 
 
 river in Pamphylia, and compelled a nation always insolent 
 and arrogant to beg for peace most humbly, was accused 
 of intemperance; and again Scipio ^Emilianus, by whose 
 indomitable vigilance two 1 most powerful cities, which had 
 made great efforts to injure Rome, were both destroyed, 
 was disparaged as a mere drone. 
 
 4. Moreover, wicked detractors, scrutinizing the cha 
 racter of Pompey, when no pretext for finding fault with 
 him could be discovered, remarked two qualities in which 
 they could raise a laugh against him ; one that he had a 
 sort of natural trick of scratching his head with one 
 finger : another that for the purpose of concealing an un- 
 sightly sore, he used to bind one of his legs with a white 
 bandage. Of which habits, the first they said showed a 
 dissolute man ; the second, one eager for a change of 
 government ; contending, with a somewhat meagre argu- 
 ment, that it did not signify what part of his body he 
 clothed with a badge of royal dignity ; so snarling at 
 that man of whom the most glorious proofs show that no 
 braver and truer patriot ever lived. 
 
 5. During these transactions, Artemius, the deputy go- 
 vernor of Borne, succeeded Bassus in the prefecture also ; 
 for Bassus, who had lately been promoted to be prefect of 
 the city, had since died. His administration had been 
 marked by turbulent sedition, but by no other events suffi- 
 ciently memorable to deserve mention. 
 
 XII. 
 
 1 . Ix the mean time, while the emperor was passing the 
 winter quietly at Sirmium, he received frequent and trust- 
 worthy intelligence that the Sarmatians and the Quadi, 
 two tribes contiguous to each other, and similar in man- 
 ners and mode of warfare, were conjointly overrunning 
 Pannonia and the second province of Mcesia, in straggling 
 detachments. 
 
 2. These tribes are more suited to predatory incur- 
 sions than to regular war ; they curry long spears, and wear 
 breastplates made of horn scraped and polished, let into 
 linen jackets, so that the layers of horn are like the feathers 
 
 1 Carthage and Numantia.
 
 A..D. 358.] HE DEFEATS THE SARMATIANS. 147 
 
 of a bird. Their horses are chiefly geldings, lest at the 
 sight of mares they should be excited and run away, or, 
 when held back in reserve, should betray their riders by 
 their fierce neighing. 
 
 3. They cover vast spaces in their movements, whether 
 in pursuit or in retreat, their horses being swift and very 
 
 "manageable ; and they lead with them one or sometimes 
 two spare chargers apiece, in order that the change may 
 keep up the strength of their cattle, and that their vigour 
 may be preserved by alternations of rest. 
 
 4. Therefore, after the vernal equinox was past, the 
 emperor, having collected a strong body of soldiers, 
 marched forth under the guidance of propitious fortune. 
 Having arrived at a suitable place, he crossed the Danube, 
 which was now flooded from the melting of the snow, by 
 a bridge of boats, and descended on the lands of the 
 barbarians, which he began to lay waste. They, being 
 taken by surprise through tLe rapidity of his march, and 
 seeing that the battalions of his warlike army were at 
 their throats, when they had not supposed it possible that 
 such a force could be collected for a year, had no courage 
 to make a stand, but, as the only means of escaping un- 
 expected destruction, took to flight. 
 
 5. When many had been slain, fear fettering their 
 steps, those whose speed had saved them from death hid 
 themselves among the secret defiles of the mountains, and 
 from thence beheld their country destroyed by the sword, 
 which they might have delivered if they had resisted with 
 as much vigour as they fled. 
 
 6. These events took place in that part of Sarmatia 
 which looks towards the second Pannonia. Another mili- 
 tary expedition, conducted with equal courage, routed 
 the troops of the barbarians in Valeria, who were plunder- 
 ing and destroying everything within their reach. 
 
 7. Terrified at the greatness of this disaster, the Sar- 
 matians, under pretext of imploring peace, planned to 
 divide their force into three bodies, and to attack our 
 army while in a state of fancied security ; so that they 
 should neither be able to prepare their weapons, nor 
 avoid wounds, nor (which is the last resource in a despe- 
 rate case) take to flight. 
 
 8. There were with the Sarmatians likewise on this
 
 148 A.VIM JANUS MARCKLLIXDS. [BK. XVli. CH. xit. 
 
 occasion, as partners in their danger, the Quadi, 1 who 
 had often before taken part in the injuries inflicted on us ; 
 but their prompt boldness did not help them on this 
 occasion, rushing as they did into open danger. 
 
 9. For many of them were slain, and the survivors 
 escaped among the hills, with which they were familiar. 
 And as this event raised the spirits and courage of our 
 army, they united in solid columns, and marched with 
 speed into the territories of the Quadi ; who, having 
 learnt by the past to dread the evils which impended over 
 them, came boldly into the emperor's presence to implore 
 peace as suppliants, since he was inclined to be merciful 
 in such cases. On the day appointed for settling the 
 conditions, one of their princes named Zizais, a young man 
 of great stature, marshalled the ranks of the Sarmatians to 
 oifer their entreaties of peace in the fashion of an army ; 
 and as soon as they came within sight, he threw away his 
 arms, and fell like one dead, prostrating himself on his 
 breast before the emperor ; his very voice from fear 
 refusing its office, when he ought to have uttered his en- 
 treaties, he awakened the more pity, making many attempts, 
 and being scarcely able from the violence of his sobs to 
 give iitterance to his wishes. 
 
 10. At last, having recovered himself, and being bidden 
 to rise up, he knelt, and having regained the use of his 
 tongue, he implored pardon for his offences. His followers 
 also, whose mouths had been closed by fear while the fate 
 of their leader was still doubtful, were admitted to offer 
 the same petition, and when he, being commanded to rise, 
 gave them the signal which they had been long expecting, 
 to present their petition, they all threw away their javelins 
 and their shields, and held out their hands in an attitude 
 of supplication, striving to surpass their prince in the 
 humility of their entreaties. 
 
 11. Among the other Sarmatians the prince had brought 
 with him three chiefs of tribes, Rumo, Zinafer, and Fragi- 
 ledus, and many nobles who came to offer the same petition 
 with earnest hope of success. And they, being elated at 
 the promise of safety, undertook to make amends for their 
 former deeds of hostilit} r by performing the conditions now 
 imposed on them ; giving up willingly into the power 
 
 1 The Quadi occupied a part of Hungary.
 
 AJ>. 358.] SUBMISSION OF OTHER CHIEFS. 149 
 
 of the Romans themselves, their wives and children, and 
 all their possessions. The kindness of the emperor, united 
 with justice, subdued them; and he bidding them be of 
 good cheer and return to their homes, they restored 
 our prisoners. They also brought the hostages who were 
 1 demanded of them, and promised prompt obedience to all 
 the emperor's commands. 
 
 12. Then, encouraged by this example of our clemency, 
 other chieftains came with all their tribe, by name Ara- 
 harius and Usafer, men of distinction among the nobles, 
 and at the head of a great force of their country- 
 men ; one of them being chief of a portion of the Quadi 
 who dwelt beyond the mountains, and the other of a 
 division of the Sarmatians : the two being united by the 
 proximity of their territories, and their natural ferocity. 
 But the emperor, fearing the number of their followers, 
 lest, while pretending to make a treaty, they should sud- 
 denly rise up in arms, separated them ; ordering those 
 who were acting for the Sarmatians to retire for a while, 
 while he was examining into the affairs of Araharius and 
 the Quadi. 
 
 13. And when they presented themselves before him, 
 bowing according to their national custom, as they were 
 not able to clear themselves of heavy charges, so, fearing 
 extreme punishment, they gave the hostages which were 
 demanded, though they had never before been compelled 
 to give pledges for their fidelity. 
 
 14. These matters being thus equitably and successfully 
 settled, Usafer was admitted to offer his petition, though 
 Araharius loudly protested against this, and maintained 
 that the peace ratified with him ought to comprehend 
 Usafer also, as an ally of his though of inferior rank, and 
 subject to his command. 
 
 15. But when the question was discussed, the Sarma- 
 tians were pronounced independent of any other power, 
 as having been always vassals of the Roman empire ; and 
 they willingly embraced the proposal of giving hostages as 
 a pledge of the maintenance of tranquillity. 
 
 16. After this there came a vast number of nations 
 and princes, flocking in crowds, when they heard that 
 Araharius had been allowed to depart in safety, imploring 
 us to withdraw the sword which was at their throats ; and
 
 150 AMMIANUS MAKCT:LL:NUS. [BK. XVII.CH. xn. 
 
 they also obtained the peace which they requested on 
 similar terms, and without any delay gave as hostages the 
 sons of their nobles whom they brought from the interior 
 of the country ; and they also surrendered, as we insisted, 
 all their prisoners, from whom they parted as unwillingly 
 as from their own relations. 
 
 17. When these arrangements were completed, the 
 emperor's anxiety was transferred to the Sarmatians, who 
 were objects of pity rather than of anger. It is incredible 
 how much prosperity our connection with their affairs had 
 brought them, so as to give grounds for really believing, 
 what some persons do imagine, that Fate may be either 
 overcome or created at the will of the emperor. 
 
 18. There were formerly many natives of this kingdom, 
 of high birth and great power, but a secret conspiracy 
 armed their slaves against them ; and as among barbarians 
 all right consists in might, they, as they were equal to 
 their masters in ferocity, and superior in number, com- 
 pletely overcame them. 
 
 19. And these native chiefs, losing all their wisdom in 
 their fear, fled to the Victohali, 1 whose settlements were 
 at a great distance, thinking it better in the choice of 
 evils to become subject to their protectors than slaves to 
 their own slaves. But afterwards, when they had obtained 
 pardon from us, and had been received as faithful allies, 
 they deplored their hard fate, and invoked our direct pro- 
 tection. Moved by the undeserved hardship of their lot, 
 the emperor, when they were assembled before him, ad- 
 dressed them with kind words in the presence of his army, 
 and commanded them for the future to own no master but 
 himself and the Eoman generals. 
 
 20. And that the restoration of their liberty might carry 
 with it additional dignity, he made Zizais their king, a 
 man, as the event proved, deserving the rewards of eminent 
 fortune, and faithful. After these glorious transactions, 
 none of the Sarmatians were allowed to depart till all our 
 prisoners had returned, as we had before insisted. 
 
 21. When these matters had been concluded in the 
 territories of the barbarians, the camp was moved to 
 Szoeni, 2 that there also the emperor might, by subjugation 
 
 1 The Victohali were a tribe of Goths. 
 
 2 Szoani, called by Amraianus Bregetio, is near Cormorn.
 
 A.D. 253.] ADVANCE OF THK ROMAN ARMY. 151 
 
 or slaughter, terminate the war with the Quadi, who were 
 keeping that district in a state of agitation. Their prince 
 Vitrodorus, the son of king Viduarius, and Agilimundus, 
 an inferior chieftain, with the other nobles and judges who 
 governed the different tribes, as soon as they saw the im- 
 perial army in the bosom of their kingdom and of their 
 native land, threw themselves at the feet of the soldiers, 
 and having obtained pardon, promised obedience ; and gave 
 their children as hostages for the performance of the con- 
 ditions imposed upon them ; and drawing their swords, 
 which they worship as deities, they swore to remain 
 faithful. 
 
 XIII. 
 
 1. These matters then, as has been related, having been 
 thus successfully terminated, the public interests required 
 that the army should at. once march against the Limigantes, 
 the revolted slaves of the Sarmatians, who had perpetrated 
 many atrocities with impunity. For, as soon as the 
 countrymen of free blood had attacked us, they also, forget- 
 ful of their former condition, thinking to take advantage 
 of a favourable opportunity, burst through the Eoman 
 frontier, in this wickedness alone agreeing with their 
 masters and enemies. 
 
 2. But on deliberation we determined that their offence 
 also should be punished with more moderation than its 
 greatness deserved ; and that vengeance should limit itself 
 to removing them to a distance where they could no longer 
 harass our territories. The consciousness of a long series 
 of crimes made them fearful of danger. 
 
 3. And therefore, suspecting that the weight of war was 
 about to fall upon them, they were prepared, as exigency 
 might require, to resort to stratagem, arms, or entreaties. 
 But at the first sight of our army they became as it were 
 panic-stricken ; and being reduced to despair, they begged 
 their lives, offering a yearly tribute, and a body of their 
 chosen youths for our army, and promising perpetual obedi- 
 ence. But they were prepared to refuse if they were 
 ordered to emigrate (as they showed by their gestures and 
 countenances), trusting to the strength of the place where, 
 after they had expelled their masters, they had fixed their 
 abode.
 
 152 AMMIAXUS MARCELLINUS. [BK.XVII. CH. xin. 
 
 4. For the Parthiscus 1 waters this land, proceeding \vith 
 oblique windings till it falls into the Danube. But while it 
 flows unmixed, it passes through a vast extent of country, 
 which, near its junction with the Danube, it narrows into 
 a very small corner, so that over on the side of the Danube 
 those who live in that district are protected from the 
 attack of the Eomans, and on the side of the Parthiscus 
 they are secured from any irruptions of the barbarians. 
 Since along its course the greater part of the ground is 
 frequently under water from the floods, and always swampy 
 and full of osiers, so as to be quite impassable to strangers ; 
 and besides the mainland there is an island close to the 
 mouth of the river, which the stream itself seems to have 
 separated into its present state. 
 
 5. Accordingly, at the desire of the emperor, they came 
 with native arrogance to our bank of the river, not, as the 
 result showed, with the intention of obeying his commands, 
 but that they might not seem alarmed at the presence of 
 his soldiers. And there they stood, stubbornly showing 
 that they had come bent on resistance. 
 
 6. And as the emperor had foreseen that this might 
 happen, he secretly divided his army into several squadrons, 
 and by the rapidity of their movements hemmed in the 
 barbarians between his own lines. And then, standing on 
 a mound, with a few of his officers and a small body-guard, 
 he gently admonished them .not to give way to ferocity. 
 
 7. But they, wavering and in doubt, were agitated by 
 various feelings, and mingling craft with their fury, they 
 had recourse to arms and to prayers at the same time. 
 And meditating to make a sudden attack on those of our 
 men who were nearest, they threw their shields some 
 distance before them, with the intent that while they 
 made some steps forward to recover them, they might thus 
 steal a little ground without giving any indication of their 
 purpose. 
 
 8. And as it was now nearly evening, and the departing 
 light warned us to avoid further delay, our soldiers raised 
 their standards and fell upon them with a fiery onset. 
 And they, in close order, directed all their force against 
 the mound on which (as has been already said) the em- 
 
 1 The Theiss.
 
 A.D. 358.] DEFEAT OF THE LIMIGANTES. 153 
 
 peror himself was standing, fixing their eyes on him, arid 
 uttering fierce outcries against him. 
 
 9. Our army was indignant at such insane audacity, and 
 forming into a triangle, to which military simplicity has 
 given the name of " the boar's head," with a violent charge 
 they scattered the barbarians now pressing vigorously 
 tvpon the emperor ; on the right our infantry slew their 
 infantry, and on the left our cavalry dashed among their 
 squadrons of light hoi'semen. 
 
 10. The praetorian cohort, carefully guarding the em- 
 peror, spared neither the breasts of those who attacked nor 
 the backs of those who fled, and the barbarians, yielding 
 in their stubbornness to death alone, showed by their 
 horrid cries that they grieved not so much at their own 
 death as at the triumph of our army. And, beside the 
 dead, many lay with their legs cut off, and so deprived of 
 the resource of flight, others had lost their hands ; some 
 who had received no wound were crushed by the weight 
 of those who fell upon them, and bore their torments in 
 profound silence. 
 
 11. Nor, amid all their sufferings, did any one of them 
 ask for mercy, or throw away his sword, or implore a 
 speedy death, but clinging resolutely to their arms, 
 wounded as they were, they thoxight it a lesser evil to 
 be subdued by the strength of another than by their own 
 consciences, and at times they were heard to grumble that 
 what had happened was the work of fortune, not of their 
 deserts. And so this whole battle was brought to an end 
 in half an hour, in which such numbers of barbarians fell 
 that nothing but the fact of our victory proved that there 
 had been any battle at all. 
 
 12. Those in arms had scarcely been routed when the 
 relations of the dead, of every age and sex, were brought 
 forward in crowds, having been dragged from their humble 
 dwellings. And all their former pride being now gone, 
 they descended to the lowest depths of servile obedience, 
 and after a very short time nothing but barrows of the 
 dead and bands of captives were beheld. 
 
 13. So, the heat of strife and the excitement of victory 
 stimulating our men, they rose up to destroy all who had 
 escaped the battle, or who \vere lying hidden in their 
 dwellings. And when, eager for the blood of the bar-
 
 154 AMMIAN'US MAUCELLINCS. [Bs. XVII.CH.xin 
 
 barians, our soldiers had reached the spot, they tore to 
 pieces the slight straw-thatched huts ; nor could even the 
 strongest-built cottages, or the stoutest beams save any 
 one from death. 
 
 14. At last, when everything was set on fire, and when 
 no one could be concealed any longer, since every protec- 
 tion for their lives was destroyed, they either perished 
 obstinately in the flames, or else, if they avoided the fire 
 and sallied out, they only escaped that destruction to fall 
 beneath the sword of their enemies. 
 
 15. Some, however, did escape from the weapons of the 
 enemy and from the spreading flames, and committed 
 themselves to the stream, trusting to their skill in swim- 
 ming to enable them to reach the further bank ; but many 
 of them were drowned, and others were transfixed by our 
 javelins, so that the winding stream of the vast river was 
 discoloured with blood, and thus, by the agency of both 
 elements, did the indignation and valour of the conquerors 
 destroy the Sarinatians. 
 
 16. After these events it was determined to leave 
 the barbarians no hope nor comfort of life ; and after 
 burning their houses and carrying off their families, an 
 order was given to collect boats in order to hunt out 
 those who, being on the opposite bank of the river, had 
 escaped the attack of our men. 
 
 17. And immediately, that the alacrity of our warriors 
 might have no time to cool, some light-armed troops were 
 embarked in boats, and led by secret paths to occupy the 
 retreats of the Sarmatians. The barbarians at first were 
 deceived by seeing only the boats of their own country, 
 and crews with whom they were acquainted. 
 
 18. But when the weapons glittered in the distance, 
 and they perceived that what they feared was upon them, 
 they sought refuge in their accustomed marshes. And our 
 .soldiers pursuing them with great animosity, slew numbers 
 of them, and gained a victory in a place where it had not 
 been supposed that any soldier could find a footing, much 
 less do any bold action. 
 
 19. After the Anicenses l had -thus been routed and 
 almost destroyed, we proceeded at once to attack the 
 Picenses, who are so called from the regions which they 
 
 1 The Anicenses and Picenses were Dacian tribes.
 
 A.D. 358.] SUBMISSION OF THE L1M 1C ANTES. 155 
 
 inhabit, which border on one another ; and these tribes had 
 fancied themselves the more secure from the disasters of 
 their allies, which they had heard of by frequent rumours. 
 To crush them (for it was an arduous task for those who 
 did not know the country to follow men scattered in 
 majjy directions as they were) the aid of Taifali ' and of 
 the free-born Sarmatians was sought. 
 
 20. And as the nature of the ground separated the 
 auxiliary battalions from each other, our own troops took 
 ihe ground nearest Mcesia, the Taifali that nearest to their 
 own settlements, while the free Sarmatians occupied that in 
 front of their original position. 
 
 21. The Limigantes, alarmed at the still fresh examples 
 of nations subdued and crushed by us, for a long time 
 hesitated and wavered whether they should attack us or ask 
 for peace, having arguments of no small weight for either 
 line of conduct. But at last, through the influence of the 
 council of the elders, the idea of surrender prevailed ; and 
 the submission also of those who had dared to attack their 
 free-born masters was added to our numerous victories ; 
 and the rest of them, who had previously despised their 
 masters, thinking them unwarlike and easily subdued, 
 now finding them stronger than themselves, submitted to 
 them. 
 
 22. Accordingly, having received pledges of their safety, 
 and having quitted the defence of their mountains, the 
 greater portion of them came with speed to the Eoman 
 camp, and they spread over a vast extent of ground, 
 bringing with them their parents, their children, their 
 wives, and all the movable treasures which their rapid 
 motions had allowed them to carry off. 
 
 23. And those who it had been supposed would rather 
 lose their lives than quit their country, while they mistook 
 their mad licentiousness for liberty, now submitted to 
 obey our orders, and to take up another abode in peace 
 and good faith, so as to be undisturbed for the future by 
 wars or seditions. And having been thus accepted as 
 subjects, in accordance with their own wish as it was 
 believed, they remained quiet for a time ; but afterwards 
 they broke out in destructive wickedness, as shall be 
 related at the proper time. 
 
 1 The Taifali were a tribe of the Western Goths.
 
 156 AMMIANUS MARCELLINOS. [Bic. XVII.Cn. xm 
 
 24. While our affairs were thus prospering, Illyricum 
 was put in a state of twofold security, since the emperor, 
 in endeavouring by two means to accomplish this object, 
 succeeded in both. He brought back and established in 
 their ancient homes the people who had been banished, 
 whom, although they were objects of suspicion from their 
 natural fickleness, he believed would go on more mode- 
 rately than of old. And to crown this kindness, he set 
 over them as a king, not one of low birth, but the 
 very man whom they themselves had formerly chosen, as 
 eminent for all the virtues of mind and body. 
 
 25. After such a wise action, Constantius, being now 
 raised above all fear, and having received from the una- 
 nimous consent of his soldiers the title of Sarmaticus, from 
 the name of the nation which he had subdued ; and being 
 now about to leave the army, summoned all his cohorts 
 and centuries and maniples, and mounting the tribune, 
 surrounded by the standards and eagles, and by a great 
 number of soldiers of all ranks, he addressed the troops in 
 these words, choosing his topics as usual so as to gain 
 the favour of all. 
 
 26. " The recollection of our glorious exploits, the 
 dearest of all feelings to brave men, encourages me to 
 repeat, though with great moderation, what, in our heaven- 
 granted victories, and before battle, and in the very heat 
 of -the strife, we, the most faithful champions of the Koman 
 state, have conducted to a deservedly prosperous issue. 
 For what can be so honourable or so justly worthy to be 
 handed down to the recollection of posterity as the exult- 
 ation of the soldier in his brave deeds, and of the general 
 in his wise plans ? 
 
 27. "The rage of our enemies, in their arrogant pride 
 thinking to profit by our absence, while we were pro- 
 tecting Italy and Gaul, was overrunning Illyricum, and 
 with continual sallies they were ravaging even the districts 
 beyond our frontiers ; crossing the rivers, sometimes in 
 boats made of hollow trees, sometimes on foot ; not relying 
 on combats, nor on their arms and strength, but being 
 accustomed to secret forays, and having been from the 
 very earliest era of tbeir nation an object of fear to our 
 ancestors, from their cunning and the variety of their 
 manoeuvres, which we indeed, being at a great distance,
 
 A.D. 358.] SPEECH OF CONSTANTIUS. J 57 
 
 bore as long as we could, thinking that the vigour of our 
 generals would be able to protect us from even slight 
 injury. 
 
 28. " But when their licentiousness led them on to 
 bolder attempts, and to inflict great and frequent injury 
 on our provinces, we, having first fortified the passes of 
 the Tyrol, and having secured the safety of the Gauls by 
 watchful care, leaving no danger behind us, have marched 
 into JPannonia, in order, with the favour of the everlasting 
 deity, to strengthen our tottering interests in that country. 
 And after everything was prepared, we set forth, as you 
 know, at the end of the spring, and undertook a great 
 enterprise ; first of all taking care that the countless darts 
 of the enemy should not prevent us from making a bridge. 
 And when, with no great trouble, this had been ac- 
 complished, after we had set our foot upon the enemy's 
 territories, we defeated, with very little loss to ourselves, 
 the Sarmatians, who with obstinate courage set themselves 
 to resist us to the death. And we also crushed the Quadi, 
 who were bringing reinforcements to the Sarmatians, and 
 who with similar courage attacked our noble legions. 
 
 29. "These tribes, after heavy losses sustained in their 
 attacks, and their stubborn and toilsome resistance, have 
 at length learnt the power of our valour, and throwing 
 away their arms, have allowed their hands, prepared for 
 fighting, to be bound behind their backs ; and seeing that 
 their only hope of safety is in prayer, have fallen at the 
 feet of your merciful emperor, whose wars they found 
 are usually successful. Having got rid of these enemies, 
 we with equal coiirage defeated the Limigantes, and after 
 we had put numbers of them to the sword, the rest found 
 their only means of escaping danger lay in fleeing to their 
 hiding-places in the marshes. 
 
 30. " And when these things were successfully ter- 
 minated, it seemed to be a seasonable opportunity for 
 mercy. So we compelled the Limigantes to remove to 
 very distant lands, that they might not be able any more 
 to move to our injury ; and we spared the greatest part of 
 them. And we made Zizais king over the free-born por- 
 tion of them, sure that he would be faithful to us, and 
 thinking it more honour to create a king for the barbarians 
 than to take one from them, the dignity being increased by
 
 158 AMMIANUS MARCELLINUS. [BK. XVII. On. xnr 
 
 this honourable consideration, that the ruler whom we 
 thus gave them had before been elected and accepted by 
 them. 
 
 31. "So we and the republic have in one campaign 
 obtained a fourfold reward : first, vengence on our guilty 
 assailants ; next, abundance of captive slaves from the 
 enemy, for valour is entitled to those rewards which it has 
 earned with its toil and prowess. 
 
 32. " Thirdly, we have ample resources and great 
 treasures of wealth ; our labour and courage having pre- 
 served the patrimony of each of us undiminished. This, 
 in the mind of a good sovereign, is the best fruit of pros- 
 perity. 
 
 33. " Lastly, I myself have the well-won spoil of a 
 surname derived from the enemy the title of Sarmaticus 
 which you unanimously have (if I may say so without 
 arrogance) deservedly conferred on me." 
 
 34. After he had made an end of speaking, the whole 
 assembly, with more alacrity than usual, since its hope of 
 booty and gain was increased, rose up with joyful voices 
 in praise of the emperor ; and, as usual, calling God to 
 witness that Constantius was invincible, returned with joy 
 to their tents. And the emperor was conducted back to 
 his palace, and having rested two days, re-entered Sir- 
 mium with a triumphal procession; and the troops re- 
 turned to their appointed stations. 
 
 XIV. 
 
 1. ABOUT this time Prosper and Spectatus and Eus- 
 tathius, who, as has been mentioned above, had been sent 
 as ambassadors to the Persians, found the Persian king at 
 Ctesiphon, on his return from his campaign, and they 
 delivered the emperor's letters and presents, and requested 
 peace while affairs were still in their existing state. And 
 mindful of what had been enjoined them, they never 
 forgot the interests nor the dignity of the Eoman empire, 
 maintaining that the peace ought to be made on the con- 
 dition that no alteration should be made in the state of 
 Armenia or Mesopotamia. 
 
 2. And having remained for some time, when they saw
 
 A.D. 359.J MISSION OF PROCOPIUS. 159 
 
 that the king was obstinate, and resolute not to admit of 
 peace unless the absolute dominion of those regions was 
 assigned to him, they returned without having completed 
 their business. 
 
 3. After which, Lucillianus, a count, and Procopius, at 
 that time secretary, were sent to obtain the same condi- 
 tions, with equal powers. Procopius being the same man 
 who afterwards, under the pressure of violent necessity, 
 committed himself to a revolutionary movement. 
 
 BOOK XVIII. 
 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 I. The Caesar Julian consults the welfare of the Gauls, and provides 
 for the general observance of justice. II. He repairs the walls of 
 the castles on the Ehine which he had recovered ; crosses the 
 Rhine, and having conquered those of the Alemanni who remained 
 hostile, he compels their kings to sue for peace, and to restore 
 their prisoners. III. Why Barbatio, the commander of the 
 infantry, and his wife, were beheaded by command of Constantius. 
 IV. Sapor, king of Persia, prepares to attack the Romans with 
 all his power. V. Antoninus, the protector, deserts to Sapor, 
 with all his men ; and increases his eagerness to engage in war 
 with the Romans.' VI. Ursicinus, the commander of the legions, 
 being summoned from the East, when he had reached Thrace was 
 sent back to Mesopotamia, and having arrived there he hears from 
 Marcellinus of Sapor's approach. VII. Sapor, with the kings of 
 the Chionitse and Albani, invades Mesopotamia The Romans of 
 their own accord lay waste their lands with fire ; compelled the 
 countrymen to come into the towns, and fortify the western bank 
 of the Euphrates with castles and garrisons. VIII. Seven hundred 
 Illyrian cavalry are surprised by the Persians, and put to flight 
 Ursicinus escapes in one direction, and Marcellinus in another. 
 IX. A description of Amida ; and how many legions and squadrons 
 were there in garrison. X. Sapor receives the surrender of two 
 Roman fortresses. 
 
 I. 
 A.D. 359. 
 
 1. THESE events took place in the different parts of the 
 world in one and the same year. But while the affairs in 
 Gaul were in a better state ; and while titles of consul
 
 160 AMMIANUS MARCELLINUS. [J3 K : XVIJI: CH: n: 
 
 were ennobling the brothers Eusebius and Hypaiins, 
 Julian, illustrious for his uninterrupted successes, now 
 in his winter quarters, being relieved for a while from 
 his warlike anxieties, was devoting equal care to many 
 points connected with the welfare of the provinces. 
 Taking anxious care that no one should be oppressed by 
 the burden of taxation ; that the power of the officers 
 should not be stretched into extortion; that those who 
 increase their property by the public distresses, should 
 have no sanction, and that no judge should violate justice 
 with impunity. 
 
 2. And he found it easy to correct what was wrong 
 on this head, because he himself decided all causes in 
 which the persons concerned were of any great importance ; 
 and showed himself a most impartial discerner of right 
 and wrong. 
 
 3. And although there are many acts of his in deciding 
 these disputes worthy of praise, it will be sufficient to 
 mention one, on the model of which all his other words 
 and actions were framed. 
 
 4. Xumerius, a native of Narbonne, had a little time 
 before been accused before the governor as a thief, and 
 Julian, by an unusual exercise of the censor's power, heard 
 his cause in public ; admitting into the court all who 
 sought entrance. And when Numerius denied all that was 
 charged against him, and could not be convicted on any 
 point, Delphidius the orator, who was assailing him with 
 great bitterness, being enraged at the failure of his charges, 
 exclaimed, " But, great Caesar, will any one ever be found 
 guilty if it be enough to deny the charge?" To whom 
 Julian, with seasonable wisdom, replied, " Can any one be 
 judged innocent if it be enough to make a charge?" And 
 he did many similar actions in his civil capacity. 
 
 II. 
 
 1. BUT when he was about to set out on an important 
 expedition against some tribes of the Allemanni whom he 
 considered hostile, and likely to proceed to acts of atrocious 
 daring if they were not defeated in a way to be an example 
 to the rest, he hesitated in great anxiety, since a report 
 of his intentions had gone before him, what force he couL]
 
 _ _ . 
 
 A.D. 359.J ADVANCE OF JULIAN. 161 
 
 employ, and how he could be quick enough to take them 
 by surprise the first moment that circumstances should 
 afford him an opportunity. 
 
 2. But after he had meditated on many different plans, 
 he decided on trying one, which the result proved to be 
 good, without any one being aware of it. He had sent 
 Hariobaudes, a tribune who at that time had no particular 
 command, a man of honour, loyalty, and courage, under 
 pretext of an embassy, to Hortarius the king who was now 
 in a state of friendship with us ; in order that from his 
 court Hariobaudes might easily proceed to the frontiers of 
 the enemy whom he was proposing to attack ; and so 
 ascertain what they were about, being thoroughly skilled 
 in the language of the barbarians. 
 
 3. And when he had gone boldly on this commission, 
 Julian himself, as it was now a favourable time of the year, 
 assembled his soldiers from all quarters for the expedition, 
 and set out ; thinking it above all things desirable, before 
 the war had got warm, to effect his entrance into the cities 
 which had been destroyed some time before, and having 
 recovered them to put them in a state of defence ; .and 
 also to establish granaries in the place of those which had 
 been burnt, in which to store the corn usually imported 
 from Britain. 
 
 4. Both these objects were accomplished, and that more 
 speedily than could have been looked for. For the store- 
 houses were rapidly built, and abundance of provisions 
 laid up in them ; and seven cities were occupied. The 
 camp of Hercules, Quadriburgium, 1 Kellen, ^Nuys, Bonn, 
 Andernach, and Bin gen. At which last city, by exceedingly 
 good fortune, Florentius the prefect also arrived unex- 
 pectedly, bringing with him a division of soldiers, and. a, 
 supply of provisions sufficient to last a long time. 
 
 5. After this, the next measure of urgent necessity was 
 to repair the walls of the recovered cities, while as yet no 
 one raised any hindrance ; and it is abundantly plain that 
 at that time the barbarians did out of fear what was com- 
 manded them for the public interests, while the Eomans 
 did it for love of their ruler. 
 
 6. According to the treaty made in the preceding year, 
 
 1 It is not known what towns are meant by Castra Herculis and 
 Quadriburgium. 
 
 M
 
 162 AMMIANUS MARCELLINUS. [Bs. XVIII. CH. n. 
 
 the kings sent their own waggons with many articles 
 useful for building. And the auxiliary soldiers who 
 always hold themselves above employments of this kind, 
 being won over by Julian's caresses to diligent obedience, 
 now carried beams fifty feet long and more on their 
 shoulders, and gave the greatest aid to the labours of the 
 architect. 
 
 7. And while all this was being done with diligence and 
 speed, Hariobaudes, having learnt all he wanted, returned 
 and related what he had ascertained. And after his 
 arrival the army marched with all speed, and soon reached 
 Mayence, where, though Florentius and Lupicinus, who 
 succeeded Severus, insisted vehemently that they might 
 cross by the bridge laid down at that town, the Caesar 
 strenuously objected, maintaining that it was not well to 
 trample on the lands of those who were brought into a 
 state of tranquillity and friendship ; lest the treaty made 
 with them should be brought to an abrupt end, as had 
 often happened through the discourtesy of the soldiers ra- 
 vaging everything that came in their way. 
 
 8. But all the Allemanni who were the objects of our 
 attack, seeing the danger now on their borders, with many 
 threats urged Surmarius their king, who by a previous 
 treaty was on friendly terms with us, to prevent the 
 Romans from crossing the river. For their villages were 
 on the eastern bank of the Rhine. But when Surmarius 
 affirmed that he by himself was unable to offer effectual 
 resistance, the barbarian host assembled in a body, and 
 came up to Mayence, intending by main force to prevent 
 our army from crossing the river. 
 
 9. So that Caesar's advice now seemed best in two points, 
 both not to ravage the lands of our friends ; and also, not 
 in the teeth of the opposition of a most warlike people, to 
 risk the loss of many lives in order to make a bridge, even 
 in a spot the most favourable for such a work. 
 
 10. And the enemy, watching his movements with great 
 skill, marched slowly along the opposite bank, and when 
 they saw our men pitching their tents at a distance, they 
 still watched all night, exerting the most sleepless vigi- 
 lance to prevent the passage of the river from being 
 attempted. 
 
 11. But when our men reached the spot intended, they
 
 AJJ. 359.] HE CROSSES THE RHItfE. 163 
 
 surrounded their camp with a rampart and ditch, and took 
 their rest; and the Ctesar, having taken counsel with 
 Lupiciniis, ordered some of the tribunes to get ready thi-ee 
 hundred light-armed soldiers with stakes, without letting 
 them, know what was to be done, or whither they were going. 
 
 12. They being collected, when the night was well 
 advanced, and being all embarked on board of forty light 
 boats, which were all that were at hand, were ordered to 
 
 -go down the stream so silently as not to use even their 
 oars, lest the noise should rouse the barbarians, and 
 then using all activity both of mind and body, to force a 
 landing on the opposite bank, within the frontier of the 
 enemy, while they were still watching the camp-fires of 
 our men. 
 
 13. While these orders were being performed with great 
 promptness, King Hortarius, who had been previously 
 bound to us by treaties, and was without any intention of 
 revolting, kept on friendly terms with the bordering tribes, 
 having invited all their kings, princes, and chieftains to a 
 banquet, detained them to the third watch, the banquet 
 being prolonged so late according to the custom of his 
 nation. And as they were departing, our men chanced to 
 come upon them suddenly, but could neither stay nor 
 capture any of them owing to the darkness of the night 
 and the fleetness of their horses, on which they fled at 
 random in all directions. A number of sutlers and slaves, 
 however, who were following them on foot, our men slew; 
 the few who escaped being likewise protected by the dark- 
 ness, of the hour. 
 
 14. When it became known that the Romans had 
 crossed the river (and they then as well as in all former 
 expeditions accounted it a great relief to their labours 
 when they could find the enemy), the kings and their 
 people, who were watching zealously to prevent the 
 bridge from being made, were alarmed, and being panic- 
 stricken fled in all directions, and their violent fury being 
 thus cooled, they hastened to remove their relations and their 
 treasures to a distance. And as all difficulties were now 
 surmounted, the bridge was at once made, and before the 
 barbarians could expect it, the Roman army appeared in 
 their territories, and passed through the dominions of 
 Hortarius without doing any injury.
 
 164 AMMIANUS MAKCELLINUS. [BK.XVlII.CH.ii. 
 
 15. But when they reached the lands of those kings who 
 were still hostile, they went on invincibly through tho 
 midst of their rebellious country, laying waste with firo 
 and sword, and plundering everything. And after their 
 frail houses were destroyed by fire, and a vast number of 
 men had been slain, and the army, having nothing to 
 face but corpses and suppliants, had arrived in the region 
 called Capellatum, or Palas, where there are boundary 
 stones marking the frontiers of the Allemanni and the 
 Burgundians ; the army pitched its camp, in order that 
 Macrianus and Hariobaudus, brothers, and both kings, might 
 be received by us, and delivered from their fears. Since 
 they, thinking their destruction imminent, were coining 
 with great anxiety to sue for peace. 
 
 16. And immediately after them King Vadomarius also 
 came, whose abode was opposite Augst : and having pro- 
 duced some letters of the Emperor Constantius, in which 
 he was strictly recommended to the protection of the 
 Konians, he was courteously received, as became one who 
 had been admitted by the emperor as a client of the 
 Eoman empire. 
 
 17. And Macrianus and his brother, being admitted 
 among our eagles and standards, marvelled at the imposing 
 appearance of our arms, and various resources which they 
 had never seen before. And they offered up petitions on 
 behalf of their people. But Vadomarius, who had met us 
 before, since he was close to our frontier, admired indeed 
 the appointments of our daring expedition, but remembered 
 that he had often seen such before, ever since his child- 
 hood. 
 
 1 8. At last, after long deliberation, with the unanimous 
 consent of all, peace was granted to Macrianus and Hario- 
 baudus ; but an answer could not be given to Vadomarius, 
 who had come to secure his own safety, and also as an 
 ambassador to intercede for the kings Urius, Ursicinns, 
 and Vestralpus, imploring peace for them also ; lest, as the 
 barbarians are men of wavering faith, they might recover 
 their spirits when our army was withdrawn, and refut<o 
 adherence to conditions procured by the agency of 
 others. 
 
 19. But when they also, after their crops and houses 
 had been burnt, and many of their soldiers had been slain
 
 9.] CONDUCT OF BAHBATIO. 165 
 
 or taken prisoners, sent ambassadors of their own, and 
 .sued for mercy as if they had been guilty of similar vio- 
 lence to our subjects, they obtained peace on similar terms ; 
 of which that most rigorously insisted on was that tkey 
 .should restore all the prisoners which they had taken in 
 their frequent incursions. 
 
 III. 
 
 1. WHILE the god-like wisdom of the Caesar was thus 
 successful in Gaul, great distui'bances arose in the court of 
 the emperoi-, which from slight beginnings increased to 
 grief and lamentations. Some bees swarmed on the house 
 of Barbatio, at that time the commander of the infantry. 
 And when he consulted the interpreters of prodigies on 
 this event, he received for an answer, that it was an omen 
 of great danger ; the answer being founded on the idea 
 that these animals, after they have fixed their abode, and 
 laid up their stores, are usually expelled by smoke and 
 the noisy din of cymbals. 
 
 2. Barbatio's wife was a woman called Assyria, neither 
 silent nor prudent. And when he had gone on an expe- 
 dition which caused her much alarm, she, because of the 
 predictions which she recollected to have been given 
 her, and being full of female vanity, having summoned a 
 handmaid who was skilful in writing, and of whom she 
 hud become possessed by inheritance from her father 
 Silvanus, sent an unseasonable letter to her husband, full 
 of lamentations, and of entreaties that after the approach- 
 ing death of Constantius, if he himself, as she hoped, was 
 admitted to a share in the empire, he would not despise 
 her, and prefer to marry Eusebia, who was Constantius's 
 empress, and who was of a beauty equalled by few 
 women. 
 
 3. She sent this letter as secretly as she could ; but the 
 maid, when the troops had returned from their expedition 
 at the beginning of the night, took a copy of the letter 
 which she had written at the dictation of her mistress, to 
 Arbetio, and being eagerly admitted by him, she gave him 
 the paper. 
 
 4. He, relying on this evidence, being at all times a man 
 eager to bring forward accusations, conveyed it to the
 
 16G AMMIANUS MARCELUNUS. [BK.XVIlI.Cii.nl. 
 
 emperor. As was usual, no delay was allowed, and Bar- 
 batio, who confessed that he had received the letter, ami 
 his wife, who was distinctly proved to have written it, 
 were both beheaded. 
 
 5. After this execution, investigations were carried 
 further, and many persons, innocent as well as guilty, were 
 brought into question. Among whom was Valentinus, 
 who having lately been an officer of the protectores, had 
 been promoted to be a tribune ; and he with many others 
 was put to the torture as having been privy to the aft'air, 
 though he was wholly ignorant of it. But he survived his 
 sufferings ; and as some compensation for the injury done 
 to him, and for his danger, he received the rank of duke of 
 Illyricum. 
 
 6. This same Barbatio was a man of rude and arrogant 
 manners, and very unpopular, because while captain of the 
 protectores of the household, in the time of Gallus Caesar, 
 he was a false and treacherous man ; and after he had 
 attained the higher rank he became so elated that he 
 invented calumnies against the Caesar Julian, and, though 
 all good men hated him, whispered many wicked lies into 
 the ever-ready ears of the emperor. 
 
 7. Being forsooth ignorant of the wise old saying of 
 Aristotle, who when he sent Callisthenes, his pupil and 
 relation, to the king Alexander, warned him to say as 
 little as he could, and that only of a pleasant kind, before 
 a man who carried the power of life and death on the tip 
 of his tongue. 
 
 8. We should not wonder that mankind, whose minds 
 we look upon as akin to those of the gods, can sometimes 
 discern what is likely to be beneficial or hurtful to them, 
 when even animals devoid of reason sometimes secure 
 their own safety by profound silence, of which the follow- 
 ing is a notorious instance : 
 
 9. When the wild geese leave the East because of the 
 heat, and seek a western climate, as soon as they reach 
 Mount Taurus, which is full of eagles, fearing those war- 
 like birds, they stop up their own beaks with stones, that 
 not even the hardest necessity may draw a cry from them ; 
 they fly more rapidly than usual across that range, and 
 when they have passed it they throw aAvay the stones, and 
 then proceed more securely.
 
 A.D. 359.] DESIGNS OF SAPOR. 167 
 
 IV. 
 
 1. WHILE these investigations were being carried on 
 with great diligence at Sirmium, the fortune of the East 
 sounded the terrible trumpet of danger. For the king of 
 Persia, being strengthened by the aid of the fierce nations 
 whom he iiad lately subdued, and being above all men 
 ambitious of extending his territories, began to prepare 
 men and arms and supplies, mingling hellish wisdom 
 with his human counsels, and consulting all kinds of 
 soothsayers about futurity. And when he had collected 
 everything, he proposed to invade our territories at the 
 first opening of the spring. 
 
 2. And when the emperor learnt this, at first by report, 
 but subsequently by certain intelligence, and while all 
 were in suspense from dread of the impending danger, the 
 dependents of the court, hammering on the same anvil day 
 and night (as the saying is), at the prompting of the 
 eunuchs, held up Ursicinus as a Gorgon's head before the 
 suspicious and timid emperor, continually repeating that, 
 because on the death of Silvanus, in a dearth of better men, 
 he had been sent to defend the eastern districts, he had 
 become ambitious of still greater power. 
 
 3. And by this base compliance many tried to purchase 
 the favour of Eusebius, at that time the principal chamber- 
 lain, with whom (if we are to say the real truth) Con- 
 stantius had great influence, and who was now a bitter 
 enemy of the safety of the master of the horse, Ursicinus, 
 on two accounts ; first, because he was the only person 
 w r ho did not need his assistance, as others did ; and secondly, 
 because he would not give up his house at Antioch, which 
 Eusebius greatly coveted. 
 
 4. So this latter, like a snake abounding in poison, and 
 exciting its offsping as soon as they can crawl to do mis- 
 chief, stirred up the other chamberlains, that they, while 
 performing their more private duties about the prince's 
 person, with their thin and boyish voices, might damage 
 the reputation of a brave man by pouring into the too 
 open ears of the emperor accusations of great odium. And 
 they soon did what they were commanded. 
 
 5. Disgust at this and similar events leads one to praise
 
 168 AMMIANUS MARCELLIXU3. [Bar. XViJI. Cir. v. 
 
 Domitian, who al though, by 'the unalterable detestation he 
 incurred, has ever stained the memory of his father and 
 his brother,' still deserved credit for a most excellent law, 
 by which he forbade with severe threats any one to castrate 
 any boy within the limits of the Koman jurisdiction. For 
 if there were no such edict, who could endure the swarms of 
 such creatures as would exist, when it is so difficult to bear 
 even a few of them ? 
 
 6. However, they proceeded with caution, lest, as 
 Eusebius suggested, if Ursicinus were again sent for, he 
 should take alarm and throw everything into confusion ; 
 but it was proposed that on the first casual opportunity 
 he should be put to death. 
 
 7. While they were waiting for this chance, and full of 
 doubt and anxiety ; and while we 2 were tarrying a short 
 time at Samosata, the greatest city of what had formerly 
 been the kingdom of Oommagene, we suddenly received 
 frequent and consistent reports of some new commotions, 
 which I will now proceed to relate. 
 
 V. 
 
 1. A CERTAIN* man named Antoninus, who from having 
 been a wealthy merchant had become superintendent of 
 the accounts of the duke of Mesopotamia, and after that 
 entered the corps of the protectores, a man of experience 
 and wisdom, and very well known in all that country. 
 Being through the avarice of certain persons involved in 
 heavy losses, and perceiving that while defending actions 
 against men of influence he was being sunk lower and 
 lower through injustice, since the judges who had to decide 
 on his affairs sought to gratify people in power, he, not 
 wishing to kick against the pricks, bent himself to ob- 
 sequious caresses ; and confessing that he owed what 
 was claimed of him, the claim, by collusion, was trans- 
 ferred to the treasury. He now, having resolved on a 
 flagitious plan, began secretly to look into the secrets of 
 the whole republic; and being acquainted with both 
 languages, he devoted his attention to the accounts ; re- 
 
 1 Vespasian and Titns. 
 
 2 Ammianus was still in attendance on Ursicinus.
 
 A.D. 359.] TKEACHKRY OF ANTONINUS. 169 
 
 marking the amount, quality, and situation of the different 
 dhisions of the army, and the employment of them on any 
 expeditions ; inquiring also with unwearied diligence intc 
 the extent of the supplies of arms and provisions, and 
 other things likely to be needful in war. 
 
 2. And when he had made himself acquainted with all 
 the internal circumstances of the East, and had learnt that 
 a great portion of the troops and of the money for their 
 -pay was distributed in lllyricum, where the emperor him- 
 self was detained by serious business ; as the day was now 
 approaching which had been fixed for the payment of the 
 money for which he had been constrained by fear to give 
 an acknowledgment of his bond ; and as he saw that he 
 must be overwhelmed by disasters on all sides, since the 
 chief treasurer was devoted to the interests of his adversary ; 
 lie conceived the audacious design of crossing over to the 
 Persians with his wife and children, and his whole nume- 
 rous family of relations. 
 
 3. And to elude the observation of the soldiers at their 
 different stations, he bought for a small price a farm 
 in Hiaspis, a district on the banks of the Tigris. And, 
 relying on this pretext, since no one would venture to ask 
 why a landed proprietor should go to the extreme frontier 
 of the Kornan territory, as many others did the same, by 
 the agency of some trusty friends who were skilful 
 swimmers, he carried on frequent secret negotiations with 
 Tamsapor, who was at that time governing the country on 
 the other side of the river with the rank of duke, and with 
 whom he was already acquainted. And at last, having 
 received from the Persian camp an escort of well-mounted 
 men, he embarked in some boats, and crossed over at night 
 with all his family, in the same manner as Zopyrus, the 
 betrayer of Babylon, had formerly done, only with an 
 opposite object. 
 
 4. While affairs in Mesopotamia were in this state, the 
 hangers-on of the palace, always singing the same song 
 for our destruction, at last found a handle to injure the 
 gallant Ursicinus ; the gang of eunuchs being still the 
 contrivers and promoters of the plot ; since they are 
 alwaj's sour tempered and savage, and having no relations, 
 cling to riches as their dearest kindred. 
 
 5. The design now adopted was to send Sabinianus, a 
 withered old man of great wealth, but infirm and timid,
 
 170 AMMIAXUS MARCELLINUS. [BK. XVIII. CH. v. 
 
 and from the lowness of his birth far removed from any 
 office of command, to govern the districts of the East; 
 while Ursicinus should be recalled to court, to command 
 the infantry, as successor to Barbatio. And then he, this 
 greedy promoter of revolution, as they called him, being 
 within their reach, could easily be attacked by his bitter 
 and formidable enemies. 
 
 6. While these things were going on in the camp 
 of Constantius, as at a festival or a theatre, and while 
 the dispensers of rank which was bought and sold were 
 distributing the price agreed upon among the influential 
 houses, Antoninus, having reached Sapor's winter quarters, 
 was received with gladness ; and being ennobled by the 
 grant of a turban, an honour which gives admission to the 
 royal table, and also that of assisting at and delivering 
 one's opinion in the councils of the Persians, went onwards, 
 not with a punt pole or a tar rope, as the proverb is 
 (that is to say, not by any tedious or circuitous path), but 
 with flowing sails into the conduct of state affairs, and 
 stirring up Sapor, as formerly Maharbal roused the sluggish 
 Hannibal, was always telling him that he knew how to 
 conquer, but not how to use a victory. 
 
 7. For having been bred up in active life, and being a 
 thorough man of business, he got possession of the feelings 
 of his hearers, who like what tickles their ears, and who 
 do not utter their praises aloud, but, like the Phaeacians 
 in Homer, admire in silence, 1 while he recounted the 
 events of the last forty years ; urging that, after all these 
 continual wars, and especially the battles of Hileia and 
 Singara, 2 where that fierce combat by night took place, in 
 which we lost a vast number of our men, as if some fecial 
 had interposed to stop them, the Persians, though victo- 
 rious, had never advanced as far as Edessa or the bridges 
 over the Euphrates. Though with their warlike power 
 
 1 Homer, Od. xiii. 1 ; translated by Pope 
 
 " He ceased, but left, so pleasing on their ear, 
 
 His voice, that listening still they seemed to hear." 
 And imitated by Milton, Paradise Lost, ix. 1 
 " The angel ended, and in Adam's ear 
 So pleasing; left his voice that he awhile 
 Thought him still speaking, still stood fixed to hear." 
 
 2 The battle of Hileia took place A.D. 348 ; that of Singara three 
 years earlier.
 
 A.D. 359.] URSICINUS IS SENT *OK. 171 
 
 and splendid success, they might have pushed their advan- 
 tages, especially at that moment, when in consequence of 
 the protracted troubles of their civil wars the blood of the 
 Kornans was being poured out on all sides. 
 
 8. By these and similar speeches the deserter, pre- 
 serving his sobriety at the banquets, where, after the 
 fashion of the ancient Greeks, the Persians deliberate on 
 war and other important affairs, stimulated the fiery 
 monarch, and persuaded him to rely upon the greatness of 
 his fortune, and to take up arms the moment that the 
 winter was over, and he himself boldly promised his assist- 
 ance in many important matters. 
 
 VI. 
 
 1. ABOUT this time Sabinianus, being elated at the 
 power which he had suddenly acquired, and having arrived 
 in Cilicia, gave his predecessor letters from the emperor, 
 desiring him to hasten to court to be invested with higher 
 dignities. In fact the affairs of Asia were in such a 
 state that, even if Ursicinus had been at Ultima Thule 
 their urgency would have required him to be summoned 
 thence to set them right, since he was a man of the 
 ancient discipline, and from long experience especially 
 skilful in the Persian manner of conducting war. 
 
 2. But when the report of this reached the provinces, 
 all ranks of the citizens and agricultural population, by 
 formal edicts and by unanimous outcries, endeavoured 
 to detain him, almost forcibly, as the public defender o( 
 their country, remembering that though for ten years 
 he had been left to his own resources with a scanty and 
 un warlike force, he had yet inciirred no loss ; and fearing 
 for their safety if at so critical a time he should be 
 removed and a man of utter inactivity assume the rule in 
 his stead. 
 
 3. We believe, and indeed there is no doubt of it, that fame 
 flies on wings through the paths of the air ; and she it was 
 who now gave information of these events to the Persians 
 while deliberating on the entire aspect of affairs. At last, 
 after many arguments pro and con, they determined, on 
 the advice of Antoninus, that as Ursicinus was removed, 
 and as the new governor was contemptible, they might
 
 172 AMMIANUS MARCKLLINUS. [BK. XVIII. OH. vi. 
 
 venture to neglect laying siege to cities, an operation 
 which would cause a mischievous loss of time, and at once 
 cross the Euphrates, and advance further, in order, out- 
 stripping all rumour of their march, to occupy those pro- 
 vinces which, throughout all our wars, had always been 
 safe (except in the time of Gallienus), and which, from 
 their long enjoyment of peace, were very wealthy. And 
 in this enterprise, with the favour of God, Antoninus of- 
 fered himself as a most desirable guide. 
 
 4. His advice, therefore, being unanimously praised and 
 adopted, and the attention of the whole nation being- 
 directed to the speedy collection of those things which 
 were required, supplies, soldiers, arms, and equipments, 
 the preparation of everything for the coming campaign 
 was continued the whole winter. 
 
 5. In the mean time, we, hastening at the emperor's com- 
 mand towards Italy, after having been detained a short 
 time on the western side of Mount Taurus, reached the 
 river Ilebrus, which descends from the mountains of the 
 Odrysae ', and there we received letters from the emperor, 
 ordering us, without the least delay, to return to Meso- 
 potamia, without any officers, and having, indeed, no im- 
 portant duty to discharge, since all the power had been 
 transferred to another. 
 
 fi. And this had been arranged by those mischierous 
 meddlers in the government, in order that if the Persians 
 failed and returned to their own country, our success 
 might be attributed to the valour of the new governor ; 
 while, if our affairs turned out ill, Ursicinus might be 
 impeached as a traitor to the republic. 
 
 7. Accordingly we, being tossed about without any 
 reason, after much time had been lost, returned, and found 
 Sabinianus, a man full of pride, of small stature, and of a 
 petty and narrow mind, scarcely able without fear to 
 encounter the slight noise of a beast, much less to face the 
 crash of battle. 
 
 8. Nevertheless, since our spies brought positive and 
 consistent intelligence that all kind of preparations were 
 going on among the enemy, and since their report was 
 confirmed by that of the deserters, while this manikin 
 was in a state of perplexity, we hastened to Nisibis to 
 
 1 The Maritza, rising in Mount Hsemus, now the Balkan.
 
 A.D. 359.] STATE OF N1SIBIS. 173 
 
 make sucli preparation as seemed requisite, lest the Persians,. 
 while concealing their intention to besiege it, should come 
 upon it by surprise. 
 
 9. And while all things necessary were being pressed 
 forward within the walls, continued tires and columns of 
 smoke being seen on the other side of the Tigris, near 
 the town called the Camp of the Moors, and Sisara, arid 
 the other districts on the Persian frontier, and spreading up 
 to* the city itself, showed that the predatory bands of the 
 enemy had crossed the river, and entered our territories. 
 
 10. And therefore we hastened forwards with a forced 
 march, to prevent the roads from being occupied ; and 
 when we had advanced two miles, we saw a fine boy of 
 about eight years old, as we guessed, wearing a necklace, of 
 noble appearance, standing on the top of a small hillock, 
 and crying out, stating himself to be the son of a man of 
 noble birth, whom his mother, while fleeing in her alarm 
 at the approach of the enemy, had left in her panic in 
 order to be less encumbered. \Ve pitied him, and at the 
 command of our general, I put him on my horse, in front 
 of me, and took him back to the city, while the predatory 
 bands of the enemy, having blockaded the city, were 
 ravaging all around. 
 
 11. And because I was alarmed at the difficulties in 
 which we should be placed by a blockade, I put the child 
 in at a half open postern gate, and hastened back with 
 all speed to my troop. And I was very nearly taken 
 prisoner ; for a tribune named Abdigidus, accompanied 
 by a groom, was fleeing, pursued by a squadron of 
 cavalry, and though the master escaped the servant was 
 taken. And as I was passing by rapidly, they, examining 
 the servant, inquired of him who was the chief who had 
 advanced against them ; and when they heard that Ursi- 
 cinus had a little while before entered the city, and was 
 on his way to Mount Jzala, they put their informant to 
 death, and then, forming into one body, pursued us with 
 ceaseless speed. 
 
 12. But I outstripped them by the speed of my horse, 
 and finding my comrades reposing securely under the walls 
 of a slight fort, called Amndis, with their horses dispersed 
 over the grass, I waved my hand, and raising the hem of 
 my cloak : by this usual signal I gave notice that the
 
 174 AMMIANUS MARCKLLIXUS. [BK. XVIII. CH. vr. 
 
 enemy was at hand, and then joining them we retreated 
 together, though my horse was greatly fatigued. 
 
 13. Our alarm was increased by the brightness of the 
 night, as the moon was full, and by the even level of the 
 plain, which, if our danger should become worse, afforded 
 no possible hiding-place, as having neither trees, nor 
 bushes, nor anything but low herbage. 
 
 14. Accordingly we adopted the following plan : we lit 
 a lamp and fastened it tightly on a horse, which we 
 turned loose without a rider, and let go where it pleased 
 to our left, while we marched towards the high ground on 
 our right, in order that the Persians might fancy the light 
 a torch held before the general as he proceeded slowly 
 forwards, and so keep on in that direction. And unless 
 we had adopted this precaution we should have been cir- 
 cumvented, and have fallen as prisoners into the power of 
 the enemy. 
 
 15. Being delivered from this danger, when we had 
 come to a woody spot, full of vines and fruit-bearing 
 trees, called Meiacarire, a name derived from the cool 
 springs found there, we found that the inhabitants had all 
 fled, and there was only a single soldier remaining behind, 
 concealed in a remote corner. And when he was brought 
 before our general, and through fear told all kinds of 
 different stories, and so became an object of suspicion ; at 
 last, under the compulsion of our threats, he told the real 
 truth, that he was a native of Gaul, and had been born 
 among the Parisii, that he had served in our cavalry, but 
 that fearing punishment for some offence he had deserted 
 to the Persians ; that he had since married a wife of ex- 
 cellent character, and had a family, and that having been 
 frequently sent as a spy to our camp, he had always 
 brought the Persians true intelligence. And now he 
 said he had been sent by the nobles Tamsapor and 
 Nohodares, who were in command of the predatory bands, 
 to bring them such intelligence as he could collect. After 
 telling us this, and also that he knew of the operations 
 of the enemy, he was put to death. 
 
 16. Afterwards, as our anxiety increased, we proceeded 
 from thence with as much speed as we could make to 
 Amida, a city celebrated at a later period for the disaster 
 which befelit. And when our scouts had rejoined us there
 
 A.D. 359.' MESSAGE FROM PROCOPIUS. 175 
 
 we found in one of their scabbards a scrap of parchment 
 written in cipher, which they had been ordered to convey 
 to us by Procopius, whom. I have already spoken of as 
 ambassador to the Persians with the Count Lucillianus ; 
 its terms were purposely obscure, lest if the bearers should 
 be taken prisoners, and the sense of the writing under- 
 stood, materials should be found for fatal mischief. 
 
 17. The purport was, " The ambassadors of the Greeks, 
 Iwkving been rejected, and being perhaps to be put to death, 
 the aged king, not contented with the Hellespont, will 
 throw bridges over the Granicus and the Rhyndacus, and 
 invade Asia Minor with a numerous host, being by his own 
 natural disposition irritable and fierce ; and being now 
 prompted and inflamed by him who was formerly the suc- 
 cessor of the Koman emperor Hadrian, 1 it is all over with 
 the Greeks if they do not take care." 
 
 18. The meaning of this was that the Persian king, 
 having crossed the rivers Anzaba and Tigris, at the 
 prompting of Antoninus was aiming at the sovereignty of 
 the entire East. "When it had been interpreted with diffi- 
 culty, from its great obscurity, a wise plan was decided 
 on. 
 
 19. The satrap of Corduena, a province under the au- 
 thority of the Persians, was a man named Jovinianus, who 
 had grown up to manhood in the Eoman territories, and 
 was secretly friendly to us, becaiise he had been detained 
 as a hostage in Syria, and being now allured by the love of 
 liberal studies, he was exceedingly desirous to return 
 among us. 
 
 20. To this man I, being sent with a faithful centurion, 
 for the purpose of learning with greater certainty what was 
 being done, reached him by travelling over pathless 
 mountains, and dangerous defiles. And when he saw and 
 recognized me, he received me courteously, and I avowed 
 to him alone the reason of my coming ; and having received 
 from hirn a silent guide, well acquainted with the country, 
 I was sent' to some lofty rocks at a distance, from which, 
 if one's eyes did not fail, one could see even the most 
 minute object fifty miles off. 
 
 21. There we remained two whole days ; and on the 
 morning of the third day wo saw all the circuit of the 
 
 1 Antoninus is meant, as Hadrian was succeeded by Antoninus Pius.
 
 176 AMMUNUS MARCKLLINUS. [BK.XVIII.CH.vn. 
 
 earth, which we call the horizon, filled with countless hosts 
 of men, and the king marching before them glittering with 
 the brilliancy of his robes. And next to him on his left 
 hand marched Grumbates, king of the Chionitas, a man of 
 middle age, and wrinkled limbs, but of a grand spirit, 
 and already distinguished for many victories. On hi.s 
 right hand was the king of the Albani, of equal rank and 
 spendour. After them came various generals, renowned 
 for their rank and power, who were followed by a multi- 
 tude of all classes, picked from the flower of the neighbour- 
 ing nations, and trained by long hardship to endure any 
 toil or danger. 
 
 22. How long, mendacious Greece, wilt them tell us 
 of Doriscus, 1 the Thracian town, and of the army counted 
 there in battalions in a fenced space, when we careful, or 
 to speak more truly, cautious historians, exaggerate nothing, 
 and merely record what is established by evidence neither 
 doubtful nor uncertain ! 
 
 VII. 
 
 1. AFTER the kings had passed by Nineveh, an important 
 city of the province of Adiabena, they offered a sacrifice 
 in the middle of the bridge over the Anzaba, and as the 
 omens were favourable, they advanced with great joy : 
 while we, calculating that the rest of their host could 
 hardly pass over in three days, returned with speed to 
 the satrap, and rested, refreshing ourselves by his hospi- 
 table kindness. 
 
 2. And returning from thence through a deserted and 
 solitary country, under the pressure of great necessity, and 
 reaching our army more rapidly than could have been 
 expected, we brought to those who were hesitating tho 
 certain intelligence that the kings had crossed over the 
 river by a bridge of boats, and were marching straight 
 towards us. 
 
 3. Without delay, therefore, horsemen with horses of 
 picked speed were sent to Cassianus, duke of Mesopotamia, 
 and to Euphronius, at that time the governor of the 
 province, to compel the residents in the country to retire 
 
 1 Doriseus was the town where Xerxes reviewed and counted liia 
 arm}-, us is related by Herodotus, vii. 60.
 
 A.D. 359.] WILD BKASTS IN MESOPOTAMIA. 177 
 
 with their families and all their flocks to a safer place ; and 
 to quit at once the town of Came, which was defended 
 by very slight walls ; and further, to burn all the stand- 
 ing crops, that the enemy might get no supplies from the 
 land. 
 
 4. And when these orders had been executed, as they 
 were without delay, and when the fire was kindled, the 
 violence of the raging element so completely destroyed all 
 tfte corn, 1 which was just beginning to swell and turn 
 yellow, and all the young herbage, that from the Euphrates 
 to the Tigris nothing green was to be seen. And many 
 wild beasts were burnt, and especially lions, who infest 
 these districts terribly, but who are often destroyed or 
 blinded in this manner. 
 
 5. They wander in countless droves among the beds of 
 rushes on the banks of the rivers of Mesopotamia, and in 
 the jungles ; and lie quiet all the winter, which is very 
 mild in that country. But when the warm weather 
 returns, as these regions are exposed to great heat, they 
 are forced out by the vapours, and by the size of the 
 gnats, with swarms of which every part of that country 
 is filled. And these winged insects attack the eyes, as 
 being both moist and sparkling, sitting on and biting the 
 eyelids ; the lions, unable to bear the torture, are either 
 drowned in the rivers, to which they flee for refuge, or 
 else by frequent scratchings tear their eyes out themselves 
 with their claws, and then become mad. And if this did 
 
 1 " Ammianus has marked the chronology of this year by three 
 signs which do not perfectly coincide with each other, or with the 
 series of the history : 1. The corn was ripe when Sapor invaded 
 Mesopotamia, 'cum jura stipula flavente turgerent' a circumstance 
 which, in the latitude of Aleppo, would naturally refer us to the 
 month of April or May. 2. The progress of Sapor was checked by the 
 overflowing of the Euphrates, which generally happens in July and 
 August. 3. When Sapor had taken Amida, after a siege of seventy- 
 three days, the autumn was far advanced. ' Autumno praecipiti haedo- 
 rumque improbo sidere exorto.' To reconcile these apparent contra- 
 dictions, we must allow for some delay in the Persian king, some 
 inaccuracy in the historian, and some disorder in the seasons." Gibbon, 
 cap. xix. ; cd. Bohn, vol. ii. 320. " Clinton, F. R., i. 442, sees no such 
 difficulty as Gibbon has here supposed ; he makes Sapor to have passed 
 the Tigris in May, reached the Euphrates July 8th, arrived before 
 Amida July 27th, and stormed the place October 7th." Editor of 
 Bohn's ed.
 
 178 .UOIIAXUS MARCELLINUS. [BK. XVIII. C. in. 
 
 not happen the whole of the East would be overrun with 
 beasts of this kind. 
 
 6. While the plains were thus being laid waste by fire, 
 as 1 have described, the tribunes, who were sent with a 
 body of protectores, fortified all the western bank of the 
 Euphrates with castles and sharp palisades and every 
 kind of defence, fixing also large engines for hurling 
 missiles on those spots where the more tranquil condition 
 of the river made it likely that the enemy might attempt 
 to cross. 
 
 7. While these things were being expeditiously done, 
 Sabinianus, chosen in the hurried moment of general 
 danger as the fittest conductor of an internecine war, was 
 living luxuriously, according to his custom, at the tombs ot 
 Edessa, 1 as if he had established peace with the dead, 
 and had nothing to fear : and he took especial pleasure 
 in breaking the silence of the place with the sounding 
 measures of the martial pyathicari, instead of the usual 
 theatrical exhibitions ; a fancy, considering the place, preg- 
 nant with omens. Since these and similar gloomy scenes 
 foreshow future commotions, as we learn in the progress 
 of time, all good men ought to avoid them. 
 
 8. In the mean time, passing by Nisibis as of no import- 
 ance, while the conflagration increased through the dry- 
 ness of the crops, the kings, dreading a scarcity of food, 
 marched through the grassy valleys at the foot of the 
 mountains. 
 
 9. When they had arrived at a small place called 
 Bebase (from which place to the town of Constantina, 
 which is one hundred miles distant, the whole country is 
 an arid desert, except where a little water is found in 
 some wells), they hesitated for some time, doubting what 
 to do ; and at last resolving to proceed in reliance on the 
 endurance of their men, they learnt from a trusty spy that 
 the Euphrates was swollen by Ihe melting of the snow, and 
 was now extensively inundating the adjacent lands, and 
 so could not possibly be forded. 
 
 10. Therefore they turned to see what opportunities 
 chance might afford them, being now cut off unexpectedly 
 from the hope which they had conceived. And in the 
 
 1 That is, in the suburbs of Edessa, as cemeteries in ancient times 
 were usucillv outside the walls of cities.
 
 A.D. 359 THE AKMY MARCHES TO SAMOSATA. 179 
 
 present emergency a council was held, at which Antoninus 
 was requested to give his advice : and he counselled them 
 to direct their march to the right, so that by a longer circuit 
 they might reach the two strong forts of Barzala and Lau- 
 dias, to which he could guide them through a region fertile 
 in everything, and still undestroyed, since the march of the 
 army was expected to be made in a straight line. And 
 the only river on their road was one small and narrow, to 
 b* passed near its source, before it was increased by any 
 other streams, and easily fordable. 
 
 11. When they had heard this, they praised their 
 adviser, and bidding him lead the way, the whole army 
 turned from its previously appointed line, and followed his 
 guidance. 
 
 VIII. 
 
 1. WHEN our generals received intelligence of this from 
 their spies, we settled to march in haste to Samosata, in 
 order to cross the river at that point, and destroying the 
 bridges at Zeugma and Capersana, to check the invasion of 
 the enemy if we could find a favourable chance for attack- 
 ing them. 
 
 2. But we met with a sad disaster, worthy to be buried 
 in profound silence. For two squadrons of cavalry, of 
 about seven hundred men, who had just been sent from 
 lllyricum to Mesopotamia as a reinforcement, and who 
 were guarding the passes, becoming enervated and timid, 
 and fearing a surprise by night, withdrew from the public 
 causeways in the evening, a time above all others when 
 they most required watching. 
 
 3. And when it was remarked that they were all sunk in 
 wine and sleep, about twenty thousand Persians, under the 
 command of Tamsapor and ISohodares, passed without any 
 one perceiving them, and fully armed as they were, con- 
 cealed themselves behind the high ground in the neigh- 
 bourhood of Amida. 
 
 4. Presently, when (as has been said) we started before 
 daybreak on our march to Samosata, our advanced guard, 
 on reaching a high spot which commanded a more distant 
 view, was suddenly alarmed by the glitter of shining 
 arms ; and cried out in a hurried manner that the enemy
 
 180 AMMIANUS MARCELLINUS. [BK. XVIII. CH. vm. 
 
 were at hand. Upon this the signal for battle was given, 
 and we halted in a solid column, never thinking 'of 
 fleeing, since, indeed, those who would have pursued us 
 were in sight ; nor to engage in battle with an enemy 
 superior to us in numbers, and especially in cavalry ; but 
 seeing the necessity for caution in the danger of certain 
 death which lay before us. 
 
 5. At last, when it seemed clear that a battle could not 
 be avoided, and while we were still hesitating what to do, 
 some of our men rashly advanced as skirmishers, and were 
 slain. And then, as each side pressed onwards, Antoninus, 
 ambitiously marching in front of the enemy, was recognized 
 by Ursicinus, and addressed by him in a tone of reproach, 
 and called a traitor and a scoundrel ; till at last, taking off 
 the tiara which he wore on his head as a badge of honour, 
 he dismounted from his horse, and bending down till his 
 face nearly touched the ground, he saluted the Roman 
 general, calling him patron and master; and holding his 
 hands behind his back, which among the Assyrians is a 
 gesture of supplication, he said, " Pardon me, most noble 
 count, who have been driven to this guilt by necessity, 
 not by my own will. My creditors, as you know, drove 
 me headlong into it : men whose avarice even your high 
 authority, which tried to support me in my distress, could 
 not overcome." Having said this, he withdrew without 
 turning his back upon him, but retiring backwards in a 
 respectful manner, with his face towards him. 
 
 6. And while this was taking place, which did not 
 occupy above half an hour, our second rank, which 
 occupied the higher ground, cried out that another body of 
 cuirassiers appeared behind, and was coming on with great 
 speed. 
 
 7. And then, as is often the case at critical moments, 
 doubting which enemy we ought, or even could resist, and 
 being pressed on all sides by an overwhelming mass, we 
 dispersed in every direction, each fleeing where he could. 
 And while every one was trying to extricate himself from 
 the danger, we were brought, without any order, face to 
 face with the enemy. 
 
 8. And so struggling vigorously while giving up all 
 desire of saving our lives, we were driven back to the 
 high banks of the Tigris. Some of our men, driven into
 
 A.-D. 359.J PERSONAL DANGER OF AMMIANUS. 181 
 
 the water where it was shallow, locked their arms, and so 
 made a stand ; others were carried off by the current and 
 drowned ; some, still fighting with the enemy, met with 
 various fortune, or, panic-stricken at the numbers of the 
 barbarians, sought the nearest defiles of Mount Taurus. 
 Among these was the general himself, who was recognized 
 and surrounded by a vast body of the enemy ; but he 
 escaped with the tribune Aiadalthes and one groom, being 
 s'SVed by the swiftness of his horse. 
 
 9. I myself was separated from my comrades, and 
 while looking round to see what to do, I met with one 
 of the protectores named Verennianus, whose thigh was 
 pierced through by an arrow, and while at his entreaty I 
 was trying to pull it out, I found myself surrounded on all 
 sides by Persians, some of whom had passed beyond me. I 
 therefore hastened back with all speed towards the city, 
 which, being placed on high ground, is only accessible 
 by one very narrow path on the side on which we were 
 attacked ; and that path is made narrower still by escarp- 
 ments of the rocks, and barriers built on purpose to make 
 the approach more difficult. 
 
 10. Here we became mingled with the Persians, who were 
 hastening with a run, racing with us, to make themselves 
 masters of the higher ground : and till the dawn of the 
 next day we stood without moving, so closely packed, that 
 the bodies of those who were slain were so propped up 
 by the mass that they could not find room to fall to the 
 ground ; and a soldier in front of me, whose head was 
 cloven asunder into equal portions by a mighty sword- 
 blow, still stood upright like a log, being pressed upon all 
 sides. 
 
 11. And although javelins were incessantly hurled from 
 the battlements by every kind of engine, yet we were pro- 
 tected from that danger by the proximity of the walls. 
 And at last I got in at the postern gate, Avhich I found 
 thronged by a multitude of both sexes flocking in from the 
 neighbouring districts. For it happened by chance on 
 these very days that it was the time of a great annual fair 
 which was held in the suburbs, and which was visited by 
 multitudes of the country people. 
 
 12. In the mean time all was in disorder with every 
 kind of noise ; some bewailing those whom they had lost;
 
 182 AMMIANUS MARCELLIXUS. [BK. XVIII. Cic. ix. 
 
 others being mortally wounded ; and many calling on their 
 different relations whom the crowd prevented them from 
 discovering. 
 
 IX. 
 
 1. Tins city had formerly been a very small one, till 
 Constantius while Caesar, at the same time that he built 
 another town called Antiiiopolis, surrounded Amida also 
 with strong towers ard stout walls, that the people in the 
 neighboiirhood might have a safe place of refuge. And 
 he placed there a store of mural engines, making it for- 
 midable to the enemy, as he wished it to be called by his 
 own name. 
 
 2. On the southern side it is watered by the Tigris, 
 which passes close to it, making a kind of elbow : on the 
 east it looks towards the plains of Mesopotamia, on the 
 north it is close to the river Nymphaeus, and is over- 
 shadowed by the chain of Mount Taurus, which sepa- 
 rates the nations on the other side of the Tigris from 
 Armenia. On the west it borders on the province of 
 Gumathena, a fertile and well-cultivated district, in which 
 is a village known as Abarne, celebrated for the healing 
 properties of its hot springs. But in the very centre of 
 Amida, under the citadel, there rises a rich spring of water, 
 drinkable indeed, but often tainted with hot vapours. 
 
 3. In the garrison of this town, the fifth or Parthian 
 legion was always located with a considerable squadron 
 of native cavalry. But at that time six legions, by forced 
 marches, had outstripped the Persian host in its advance, 
 and greatly strengthened the garrison : they were the 
 Magnentian and Decentian legions whom, after the end of 
 the civil war, the emperor had sent as mutinous and dis- 
 contented to the East, since there the only danger was 
 from foreign wars : the tenth, and the thirteenth legion 
 called the Fretensian :' and two legions of light infantry 
 called pra3ventores and siiperventores, 2 with ./Elian, who 
 was now a count. Of these latter, when only new recruits, 
 
 1 It is not known what this name is derived from : some read 
 Fortensis, instead of Fretensis, and those who prefer this reading derive 
 it either from Fortis, brave ; or from Fortia, a small town, of Asiatic 
 Sarmatia. 
 
 - Prseventores, or "going before;" superventores, "coming after," 
 as a reserve.
 
 A.D.359.] SURRENDER OF ROMAN FORTS. 183 
 
 we have already 1 spoken, as sallying out from Singara at 
 the instigation of this same .ZElian, then only one of the 
 guard, and slaying a great number of Persians whom they 
 had surprised in their sleep. 
 
 4. There was also the greater part of the force called 
 companion archers, being squadrons of cavalry so named, 
 in which all the freeborn barbarians serve, and who are 
 conspicuous among all others for the splendour of their 
 avras and for their prowess. 
 
 X. 
 
 1. WHILE the first onset of the Persians was by its unex- 
 pected vehemence throwing these troops into disorder, 
 the king, with his native and foreign troops, having after 
 leaving Bebase turned his march to the right, according to 
 ine advice of Antoninus, passed by Horre and Meiacarire 
 and Charcha, as if he meant also to pass by Amida. And 
 when he had come near the Roman forts, one of which is 
 called Keman, and the other Busan, he learnt from some 
 deserters that many persons had removed their treasures 
 there for protection, trusting to their lofty and strong 
 walls ; and it was also added that there was there, with a 
 great many valuables, a woman of exquisite beauty, the 
 wife of a citizen of N isibis named Craugasius, of great con- 
 sideration by birth, character, and influence ; with her little 
 daughter. 
 
 2. Sapor, eager to seize what belonged to another, 
 hastened on, and attacked the castle with force ; and the 
 garrison, being seized with a sudden panic at the variety of 
 arms of the assailants, surrendered themselves, and all who 
 had fled to them for protection ; and at the first summons 
 gave up the keys of the gates. Possession being taken, all 
 that was stored there was ransacked ; women bewildered 
 with fear were dragged forth ; and children clinging to 
 their mothers were taught bitter suffering at the very 
 beginning of their infancy. 
 
 3. And when Sapor, by asking each whose wife she was, 
 had found that of Craugasius trembling with fear of 
 violence, he allowed her to come in safety to him, and 
 when he saw her, veiled as she was with a black veil 
 to her lips, he kindly encouraged her with a promise that 
 
 1 In one of the earlier books which has been lost.
 
 184 AMMIANUS MARCELLIXUS. [BK. XIX. 
 
 she should recover her husband, and that her honour 
 should be preserved inviolate. For hearing that her 
 husband was exceedingly devoted to her, he thought that 
 by this bribe he might win him over to betray Nisibis. 
 
 4. And he also extended his protection to other virgins 
 who, according to Christian rites, had been formally con- 
 secrated to the service of God, ordering that they should 
 be kept uninjured, and be allowed to perform the offices ot 
 religion as they had been accustomed. Affecting clemency 
 for a time, in order that those who were alarmed at his 
 former ferocity and cruelty might now discard their fears, 
 and come to him of their own accord, learning from these 
 recent examples that he tempered the greatness of his suc- 
 cess with humanity and courtesy. 
 
 BOOK XIX. 
 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 1. Sapor, while exhorting the citizens of Amida to surrender, is assailed 
 with arrows and javelins by the garrison And when king Gram- 
 hates makes a similar attempt, his son is slain. II. Amida is 
 blockaded, and within two days is twice assaulted by the Persians. 
 III. Ursicinus makes a vain proposal to sally out by night, and 
 surprise the besiegers, being resisted by Sabinianus, the com- 
 mander of the forces. IV. A pestilence, which breaks out in 
 Amida, is checked within ten days by a little rain A discussion 
 of the causes, and different kinds of pestilences. V. Amida, 
 betrayed by a deserter, is assailed both by assaults on the walls 
 and by underground mines. VI. A sally of the Gallic legions 
 does great harm to the Persians. VII. Towers and other engines 
 are brought close to the walls of the city, but they are burnt by 
 the Komans. VIII. Attempts are made to raise lofty mounrta 
 close to the walls of Amida, and by these means it is entered 
 After the fall of the city, Marcellinus escapes by night, and flees 
 to Antioch. IX. Of the Eoman generals at Amida, some are put 
 to death, and others are kept as prisoners Craugasius of Nisibis 
 deserts to the Persians from love of his wife, who is their prisoner. 
 X. The people of Home, fearing a scarcity, become seditious. 
 XI. The Limigantes of Sarmatia, under pretence of suing for 
 peace, attack Constantius, who is deceived by their trick ; but are 
 driven back with heavy loss. XII. Many are prosecuted for 
 treason, and condemned. XHL Lauricius, of the Isaurians, 
 checks the hordes of banditti.
 
 A.D. 359.] SAPOR SUMJION'S AMIDA TO SURRENDER. 185 
 
 I. 
 
 1. THE king, rejoicing at this our disaster and captivity, 
 and expecting other successes, advanced from t-his castle, 
 and marching slowly, on the third day came to Amida. 
 
 2. And at daybreak, everything, as far as we could see, 
 glittered with shining arms ; and an iron cavalry filled the 
 plains and the hills. 
 
 3. And he himself, mounted on his charger, and being 
 taller than the rest, led his whole army, wearing instead 
 of a crown a golden figure of a ram's head inlaid with 
 jewels ; being also splendid from the retinue of men of high 
 rank and of different nations which followed him. And it 
 was evident that his purpose was merely to try the garrison 
 of the walls with a parley, as, in following out the counsel 
 of Antoninus, he was hastening to another quarter. 
 
 4. But the deity of heaven, mercifully limiting the dis- 
 asters of the empire within the compass of one region, led 
 on this king to such an extravagant degree of elation, that 
 he seemed to believe that the moment he made his appear- 
 ance the besieged would be suddenly panic-stricken, and 
 have recourse to supplication and entreaty. 
 
 5. He rode up to the gates, escorted by the cohort of 
 his royal guard ; and while pushing on more boldly, so 
 that his very features might be plainly recognized, his 
 ornaments made him such a mark for arrows and other 
 missiles, that he would have been slain, if the dust had not 
 hindered the sight of those who were shooting at him ; so 
 that after a part of his robe had been cut off by a blow of 
 a javelin, he escaped to cause vast slaughter at a future 
 time. 
 
 6. After this, raging as if against sacrilegious men who 
 had violated a temple, he cried out that the lord of so many 
 monarchs and nations had been insulted, and resolved to 
 use all his efforts to destroy the city. But at the entreaty 
 of his choicest generals not to break the example of mercy 
 which he had so gloriously set, by indulging in anger, he 
 was pacified, and the next day ordered the garrison to be 
 summoned to surrender. 
 
 7. Therefore, at daybreak, Grumbates, king of the Chi- 
 onitae, went boldly up to the walls to effect that object,
 
 186 AMMIAXUS MARCELLINUS. [BK. XIX. CH. ir. 
 
 with a brave "body of guards ; and when a skilful recon- 
 noitrer had noticed him coming within shot, he let fly his 
 balista, and struck down his son in the flower of his youth, 
 who was at his father's side, piercing through his breast- 
 plate, breast and all ; and he was a prince who in stature 
 and beauty was superior to all his comrades. 
 
 8. At his death all his countrymen took to flight, but 
 presently returning in order to prevent his body from being 
 carried off, and having roused with their dissonant cla- 
 mours various tribes to their aid, a stern conflict arose, the 
 arrows flying on both sides like hail. 
 
 9. The deadly struggle having been continued till the 
 close of day, it was nightfall before the corpse of the 
 young prince, which had been so stubbornly defended, was 
 extricated from the heap of dead and streams of blood, 
 amid the thick darkness ; as formerly at Troy, the armies 
 fought in furious combat for the comrade of the Thessalian 
 chieftain. 1 
 
 10. At his death the count was sad, and all the nobles as 
 well as his father were distressed at his sudden loss ; and 
 a cessation of arms having been ordered, the youth, so 
 noble and beloved, was mourned after the fashion of his 
 nation. He was carried out in the arms he was wont to 
 wear, and placed on a spacious and lofty pile ; around him 
 ten couches were dressed, bearing effigies of dead men, so 
 carefully laid out, that they resembled corpses already 
 buried ; and for seven days all the men in the companies 
 and battalions celebrated a funeral feast, dancing, and sing- 
 ing melancholy kinds of dirges in lamentation for the royal 
 youth. 
 
 11. And the women, with pitiable wailing, deplored with 
 their customary weepings the hope of their nation thus cut 
 off in the early bloom of youth ; as the worshippers of 
 Venus are often seen to do in the solemn festival of Adonis, 
 which the mystical doctrines of religion show to be some 
 sort of image of the ripened fruits of the earth. 
 
 II. 
 
 1. WHEN" the body was burnt and the bones collected in. 
 
 a silver urn, which his father had ordered to be carried 
 
 1 Patroclus, the companion of Achilles.
 
 A.D. 359,1 BLOCKADE OF AMIDA. 187 
 
 back to his native land, to be there buried beneath the 
 earth, Sapor, after taking counsel, determined to propitiate 
 the shade of the deceased prince by making the destroyed 
 city of Amida his monument. Nor indeed was Grumbates 
 willing to move onward while the shade of his only son 
 remained unavenged. 
 
 2. And having given two days to rest, and sent out 
 large bodies of troops to ravage the fertile and well- 
 "cVltivated fields which were as heavy with crops as in the 
 time of peace, the enemy surrounded the city with a line 
 of heavy-armed soldiers five deep ; and at the begin- 
 ning of the third day the brilliant squadrons filled every 
 spot as far as the eye could see in every direction, and the 
 ranks marching slowly, took up the positions appointed to 
 each by lot. 
 
 3. All the Persians were employed in surrounding the 
 walls ; that part which looked eastward, where that youth 
 so fatal to us was slain, fell to the Chionitae. The Vertae 
 were appointed to the south ; the Albani watched the 
 north ; while opposite to the western gate were posted the 
 Segestani, the fiercest warriors of all, with whom were 
 trains of tall elephants, horrid with their wrinkled skins, 
 which marched on slowly, loaded with armed men, terrible 
 beyond the savageness of any other frightful sight, as we 
 have often said. 
 
 4. When we saw these countless hosts thus deliberately 
 collected for the conflagration of the Roman world, and 
 directed to our own immediate destruction, we despaired 
 of safety, and sought only how to end our lives gloriously, 
 as we all desired. 
 
 5. From the rising of the sun to its setting, the enemy's 
 lines stood immovable, as if rooted to the ground, without 
 changing a step or uttering a sound ; nor was even the 
 neigh of a horse heard ; and the men having withdrawn in 
 the same order as they had advanced, after refreshing 
 themselves with food and sleep, even before the dawn, 
 returned, led by the clang of brazen trumpets, to surround 
 the city, as if fated to fall with their terrible ring. 
 
 6. And scarcely had Grumbates, like a Roman fecial, 
 hurled at us a spear stained with blood, according to his 
 native fashion, than the whole army, rattling their arms, 
 mounted up to the walls, and instantly the tumult of
 
 188 AMMIAXUS MARCELLIXtJS. [BK. XIX. CH. i:. 
 
 war grew fierce, while all the squadrons hastened with 
 speed and alacrity to the attack, and our men on their 
 side opposed them with equal fierceness and resolution. 
 
 7. Soon many of the enemy fell with their heads crushed 
 by vast stones hurled from scorpions, some were pierced 
 with arrows, others were transfixed with javelins, and 
 strewed the ground with their bodies ; others, wounded, 
 fled back in haste to their comrades. 
 
 8. Nor was there less grief or less slaughter in the city, 
 where the cloud of arrows obscured the air, and the vast 
 engines, of which the Persians had got possession when 
 they took Singara, scattered wounds everywhere. 
 
 9. For the ganison, collecting all their forces, returning 
 in constant reliefs to the combat, in their eagerness to 
 defend the city, fell wounded, to the hindrance of their 
 comrades, or, being sadly torn as they fell, threw down 
 those who stood near them, or if still alive, sought the 
 aid of those skilful in extracting darts which had become 
 fixed in their bodies. 
 
 10. So slaughter was met by slaughter, and lasted till 
 the close of day, being scarcely stopped by the darkness of 
 evening, so great was the obstinacy with which both sides 
 fought. 
 
 11. And the watches of the night were passed under 
 arms, and the hills resounded with the shouts raised on both 
 sides, while our men extolled the valour of Constantius 
 Caesar as lord of the empire and of the world, and the 
 Persians styled Sapor Saansas and Pyroses, which appella- 
 tions mean king of kings, and conqueror in wars. 
 
 12. The next morning, before daybreak, the trumpet 
 gave the signal, and countless numbers from all sides 
 flocked like birds to a contest of similar violence ; and in 
 overy direction, as far as the eye could reach, nothing 
 could be seen in the plains and valleys but the glittering 
 arms of these savage nations. 
 
 13. And presently a shout was raised, and as the enemy 
 rushed forward all at once, they were met by a dense 
 shower of missiles from the walls ; and as may be con- 
 jectured, none were hurled in vain, fallfng as they did 
 among so dense a crowd. For while so many evils sur- 
 rounded us, we fought as I have said before, with the hope, 
 not of procuring safety, but of dying bravely ; and from
 
 A.D. 359.] VIGILANCE OF AMMIANUS. 189 
 
 dawn to eventide the battle was evenly balanced, both 
 fighting with more ferocity than method, and there arose 
 the shouts of men striking and falling, so that from the 
 eagerness of both parties there was scarcely any one who 
 did not give or receive wounds. 
 
 14. At last, night put an end to the slaughter, and the 
 losses on both sides caused a longer truce. For when the 
 time intended for rest was allowed to us, continual sleep- 
 less toil still exhausted our little remaining strength, in 
 spite of the dread caused by the bloodshed and the pallid 
 faces of the dying, whom the scantiness of our room did 
 not permit us even the last solace of burying ; since with- 
 in the circuit of a moderate city there were seven legions, 
 and a vast promiscuous multitude of citizens and strangers 
 of both sexes, and other soldiers, so that at least twenty 
 thousand men were shut up within the walls. 
 
 15. So each attended to his own wounds as well as he 
 could, availing himself of whatever assistance or remedies 
 came in his way. While some, being severely wounded, 
 died of loss of blood ; and some, pierced through by swords, 
 lay on the ground, and breathed their last in the open air ; 
 others who were pierced through and through the skilful 
 refused to touch, in order not to pain them further by 
 inflicting useless sufferings ; some, seeking the doubtful 
 remedy of extracting the arrows, only incurred agonies 
 worse than death. 
 
 III. 
 
 1. WHILE the war was going on in this manner around 
 Amida, Ursicinus, vexed at being dependent on the will 
 of another, gave continual warning to Sabinianus, who 
 had superior authority over the soldiers, and who still 
 remained in the quarter of the tombs, to collect all his 
 light-armed troops, and hasten by secret paths along the 
 foot of the mountain chain, with the idea that by the aid 
 of this light force, if chance should aid them, they might 
 surprise some of the enemy's outposts, and attack with suc- 
 cess the night watches of the army, which, with its vast cir- 
 cuit, was surrounding the walls, or else by incessant attacks 
 might harass those who clung resolutely to the blockade. 
 2. But Sabinianus rejected this proposal as mischievous.
 
 190 AMMIANUS MARCELLINUS. [Bit. XIX. CH. nr. 
 
 and produced some letters from the emperor, expressly 
 enjoining that all that could be done was to be done with- 
 out exposing the troops to any danger ; but his own secret 
 motive he kept in his own bosom, namely, that he had been 
 constantly recommended while at court to refuse his pre- 
 decessor, who was very eager for glory, every opportunity 
 of acquiring renown, however much it might be for the 
 interest of the republic. 
 
 3. Extreme pains were taken, even to the ruin of the 
 provinces, to prevent the gallant Ursicinus from being 
 spoken of as the author of or partner in any memorable 
 exploit. Therefore, bewildered with these misfortunes, 
 Ursicinus, seeing that, though constantly sending spies to 
 us (although from the strict watch that was set it was not 
 easy for any one to enter the city), and proposing many 
 advantageous plans, he did no good, seemed like a lion, 
 terrible for his size and fierceness, but with his claws cut 
 and his teeth drawn, so that he could not dare to save from 
 danger his cubs entangled in the nets of the hunters. 
 
 IV. 
 
 1. BUT in the city, where the number of the corpses 
 which lay scattered over the streets was too great for any 
 one to perform the funeral rites over them, a pestilence 
 was soon added to the other calamities of the citizens ; the 
 carcases becoming full of worms and corruption, from the 
 evaporation caused by the heat, and the various diseases of 
 the people ; and here I will briefly explain whence diseases 
 of this kind arise. 
 
 2. Both philosophers and skilful physicians agree that 
 excess of cold, or of heat, or of moisture, or of drought, 
 all cause pestilences ; on which account those who dwell 
 in marshy or wet districts are subject to coughs and com- 
 plaints in the eyes, and other similar maladies : on the 
 other hand, those who dwell in hot climates are liable to 
 fevers and inflammations. But since fire is the most power- 
 ful of all elements, so drought is the quickest at killing. 
 
 3. On this account it is that when the Greeks were 
 toiling at the ten years' war, 1 to prevent a foreigner from 
 
 1 Tlie Trojan war. See the account of the pestilence, Homer, 
 n. i. 50.
 
 A.D. 359.] PESTILENCE IN AM1DA. 191 
 
 profiting by his violation of a royal marriage, a pestilence 
 broke out among them, and numbers died by the darts of 
 Apollo, who is the same as the Sun. 
 
 4. Again, as Thucydides relates, that pestilence which 
 at the beginning of the Feloponnesian war harassed the 
 Athenians with a most cruel kind of sickness, came by 
 slow steps from the burning plains of Ethiopia to Attica. 
 
 o. Others maintain that the air and the water, becoming 
 tHrited by the smell of corpses, and similar things, takes 
 away the healthiness of a place, or at all events that the 
 sudden change of temperature brings forth slighter sick- 
 nesses. 
 
 0. Some again affirm that the air becomes heavier by 
 emanations from the earth, and kills some individuals by 
 checking the perspiration of the body, for which reason 
 we learn from Homer, that, besides men, the other living 
 creatures also died ; and we know by many instances, that 
 in such plagues this does occur. 
 
 7. Now the first species of pestilence is called pandemic ; 
 this causes those who live in dry places to bo attacked by 
 frequent heats. The second is called epidemic, which 
 gets gradually more violent, dims the sight of the eyes, 
 and awakens dangerous humours. The third is called 
 Icemodes, 1 which is also temporary, but still often kills 
 with great rapidity. 
 
 8. We were attacked by this deadly pestilence from the 
 excessive heat, which our numbers Aggravated, though >but 
 few died : and at last, on the night after the tenth day 
 from the first attack, the heavy and dense air was softened 
 by a little rain, and the health of the garrison, was restored 
 and preserved. 
 
 V. 
 
 1. Itf the mean time the restless Persians were sur- 
 rounding the city with a fenco of wicker-work, and 
 mounds were commenced ; lofty towers also were con- 
 structed with iron fronts, in the top of each of which 
 a balista was placed, in order to drive down the garri- 
 
 1 i. e., \oifj.(aS-ns, from Xoijubs, pestilence. Pandemic means " alfnck- 
 ing the whole people." Epidemic, "spreading from individual to 
 individual."
 
 192 AMMIANUS MARCELLINUS. [BK. XIX. CH. v. 
 
 son from the battlements ; but during the whole time the 
 shower of missiles from the archers and slingers never 
 ceased for a moment. 
 
 2. We had with us two of the legions which had served 
 under Magneutius, and which, as we have said, had lately 
 been brought from Gaul, composed of brave and active 
 men well adapted for conflicts in the plain ; but not only 
 useless for such a kind of war as that by which we were 
 now pressed, but actually in the way. For as they had no 
 skill either in working the engines, or in constructing 
 works, but were continually making foolish sallies, and 
 fighting bravely, they always returned with diminished 
 numbers ; doing just as much good, as the saying is, as a 
 bucket of water brought by a single hand to a general 
 conflagration. 
 
 3. At last, when the gates were completely blocked, and 
 they were utterly unable to get out, in spite of the entrea- 
 ties of their tribunes, they became furious as wild beasts. 
 But on subsequent occasions their services became con- 
 spicuous, as we shall show. 
 
 4. In a remote part of the walls on the southern side, 
 which looks down on the Tigris, there was a high tower, 
 below which yawned an abrupt precipice, which it was 
 impossible to look over without giddiness. From this 
 by a hollow subterranean passage along the foot of the 
 mountain some steps were cut with great skill, which led 
 up to the level of the city, by which water was secretly 
 obtained from the river, as we have seen to be the case 
 in all the fortresses in that district which are situated on 
 any river. 
 
 5. This passage was dark, and because of the precipitous 
 character of the rock was neglected by the besiegers, till, 
 under the guidance of a deserter who went over to them, 
 seventy Persian archers of the royal battalion, men of emi- 
 nent skill and courage, being protected by the remoteness 
 of the spot which prevented their being heard, climbed up 
 by the steps one by one at midnight, and reached the third 
 story of the tower. There they concealed themselves till 
 daybreak, when they held out a scarlet cloak as a signal for 
 commencing an assault, when they saw that the city was 
 entirely surrounded by the multitude of their comrades ; 
 and then they emptied their quivers and threw them dmvn
 
 A.IJ. 359.] VIGOUR OF THE ENEMY. 193 
 
 at their feet, and with loud cries shot their arrows among 
 the citizens with prodigious skill. 
 
 6. And presently the whole of the mighty host of the 
 enemy assaulted the city with more ferocity than ever. 
 And while we stood hesitating and perplexed to know 
 which danger to oppose first, whether to make head against 
 the foe above us, or against the multitude who were 
 sealing the battlements with ladders, our force was 
 .divided ; and five of the lighter balistae were brought 
 round and placed so as to attack our tower. They shot 
 out heavy wooden javelins with great rapidity, sometimes 
 transfixing two of our men at one blow, so that many 
 of them fell to the ground severely wounded, and some 
 jumped down in haste from fear of the creaking engines, 
 and being terribly lacerated by the fall, died. 
 
 7. But by measures promptly taken, the walls were 
 again secured on that side, and the engines replaced in 
 their former situation. 
 
 8. And since the crime of desertion had increased the 
 labours of our soldiers, they, full of indignation, moved 
 along the battlements as if on level ground, hurling 
 missiles of all kinds, and exerting themselves so strenu- 
 ously that the Virtae, who were attacking on the south 
 side, were repulsed covered by wounds, and retired in 
 consternation to their tents, having to lament the fall of 
 many of their number. 
 
 VI. 
 
 1. THUS fortune showed us a ray of safety, granting us 
 one day in which we suffered but little, while the enemy 
 sustained a heavy loss ; the remainder of the day was given 
 to rest in order to recruit our strength ; and at the dawn of 
 the next morning we saw from the citadel an innumera- 
 ble multitude, which, after the capture of the fort called 
 Ziata, was being led to the enemy's camp. For a promis- 
 cuous multitude had taken refuge in Ziata on account of 
 its size and strength ; it being a place ten furlongs in cir- 
 cumference. 
 
 2. In those days many other fortresses also were stormed 
 and burnt, and many thousands of men and women carried 
 off from them into slavery ; among whom were many men 
 
 o
 
 194 AMMIANUS MARCELLINUS. [BK. XIX. OH. VJ. 
 
 and women, enfeebled by age, who, fainting from different 
 causes, broke down under the length of the journey, gave 
 up all desire of life, and were hamstrung and left behind. 
 
 3. The Gallic soldiers beholding these wretched crowds, 
 demanded by a natural but unseasonable impulse to be led 
 against the forces of the enemy, threatening their tribunes 
 and principal centurions with death if they refused them 
 leave. 
 
 4. And as wild beasts kept in cages, being rendered 
 more savage by the smell of blood, dash themselves against 
 their movable bars in the hope of escaping, so these men 
 smote the gates, which we have already spoken of as being 
 blockaded, with their swords ; being very anxious not to 
 be involved in the destruction of the city till they had 
 done some gallant exploit ; or, if they ultimately escaped 
 from their dangers, not to be spoken of as having done 
 nothing worth speaking of, or worthy of their Gallic 
 courage. Although when they had sallied out before, as 
 they had often done, and had inflicted some loss on the 
 raisers of the mounds, they had always experienced equal 
 loss themselves. 
 
 5. We, at a loss what to do, and not knowing what 
 resistance to oppose to these furious men, at length, having 
 with some difficulty won their consent thereto, decided, 
 since the evil could be endured no longer, to allow them to 
 attack the Persian advanced guard, which was not much 
 beyond bow-shot ; and then, if they could force their line, 
 they might push their advance further. For it was plain 
 that if they succeeded in this, they would cause a great 
 slaughter of the enemy. 
 
 6. And while the preparations for this sally were 
 being made, the walls were still gallantly defended with 
 unmitigated labour and watching, and planting engines 
 for shooting stones and darts in every direction. But 
 two high mounds had been raised by the Persian in- 
 fantry, and the blockade of the city was still pressed 
 forward by gradual operations ; against which our men, 
 exerting themselves still more vigorously, raised also im- 
 mense structures, topping the highest works of the enemy ; 
 and sufficiently strong to support the immense weight of 
 their defenders. 
 
 7. In the mean time the Gallic troops, impatient of delay,
 
 A.D. 359.] COURAGE OK THE GARRISON. 195 
 
 armed with their axes and swords, went forth from the 
 open postern gate, taking advantage of a dark and moonless 
 night. And imploring the Deity to be propitious, and 
 repressing even their breath when they got near the 
 enemy, they advanced with quick step and in close order, 
 slew some of the watch at the outposts, and the outer 
 sentinels of the camp (^who were asleep, fearing no such 
 event), and entertained secret hopes of penetrating even to 
 the king's tent if fortune assisted them. 
 
 8. But some noise, though slight, was made by them in 
 cheir march, and the groans of the slain aroused many from 
 sleep ; and while each separately raised the cry " to arms," 
 our soldiers halted and stood firm, not venturing to move 
 any further forward. For it would not have been prudent, 
 now that those whom they sought to surprise were 
 awakened, to hasten into open danger, while the bands 
 of Persians were now heard to be flocking to battle from all 
 quarters. 
 
 9. Nevertheless the Gallic troops, with tindiminished 
 strength and boldness, continued to hew down their foes 
 with their swords, though some of their own men were also 
 slain, pierced by the arrows which were flying from all 
 quarters ; and they still stood firm, when they saw the whole 
 danger collected into one point, and the bands of the enemy 
 coming on with speed ; yet no one turned his back : and 
 they withdrew, retiring slowly as if in time to music, and 
 gradually fell behind the pales of the camp, being unable 
 to sustain the weight of the battalions pressing close upon 
 them, and being deafened by the clang of the Persian 
 trumpets. 
 
 10. And while many trumpets in turn poured out their 
 clang from the city, the gates were opened to receive our 
 men, if they should be able to reach them : and the engines 
 for missiles creaked, though no javelins were shot from 
 them, in order that the captains of the advanced guard of 
 the Persians, ignorant of the slaughter of their comrades, 
 might be terrified by the noise into falling back, and so 
 allowing our gallant troops to be admitted in safety. 
 
 11. And owing to this manoeuvre, the Gauls about day- 
 break entered the gate although with diminished numbers ; 
 many of them severely and others slightly wounded. 
 They lost four hundred men this night, when if they had
 
 196 AMMIAtfUS MARCELLIXUS. [BK. XIX. CH. vn 
 
 not been hindered by more formidable obstacles, they would 
 have slain in his very tent not Rhesus nor Thracians sleep- 
 ing before the walls of Troy, but the king of Persia, sur- 
 rounded by one hundred thousand armed men. 
 
 12. To their leaders, as champions of valiant actions, the 
 emperor, after the fall of the city, ordered statues in 
 armour to be erected at Edessa in a frequented spot. And 
 those statues are preserved up to the present time unhurt. 
 
 13. When the next day showed the slaughter which had 
 been made, nobles and satraps were found lying amongst 
 the corpses, and all kinds of dissonant cries and tears indi- 
 cated the changed posture of the Persian host : everywhere 
 was heard wailing ; arid great indignation was expressed by 
 the princes, who thought that the Romans had forced their 
 way through the sentries in front of the walls. A truce was 
 made for three days by the common consent of both armies, 
 and we gladly accepted a little respite in which to take 
 breath. 
 
 VII. 
 
 1. Now the nations of the barbarians, being amazed at the 
 novelty of this attempt, and rendered by it more savage 
 than ever, discarding all delay, determined to proceed with 
 their works, since open assaults availed them but little. 
 And with extreme warlike eagerness they all now hastened 
 to die gloriously, or else to propitiate the souls of the dead 
 by the ruin of the city. 
 
 2. And now, the necessary preparations having been 
 completed by the universal alacrity, at the rising of the 
 day-star all kinds of structures and iron towers were 
 brought up to the walls ; on the lofty summits of which 
 balistse were fitted, which beat down the garrison who were 
 placed on lower ground. 
 
 3. And when day broke the iron coverings of the bodies 
 of the foe darkened the whole heaven, and the dense lines 
 advanced without any skirmishers in front, and not in an 
 irregular manner as before, but to the regular and soft 
 music of trumpets ; protected by the roofs of the engines, 
 and holding before them wicker shields. 
 
 4. And when they came within reach of our missiles, the 
 
 1 Ammian alludes to the expedition of Ulj-sses and Diomed. related 
 by Homer, II. viii.
 
 AJ. 359.] DAKGER OF THE GARRISOU. 197 
 
 Persian, infantry, holding their shields in front of them, and 
 even then having difficulty in avoiding the arrows which 
 were shot from the engines on the walls, for scarcely any 
 kind of weapon found an empty space, they broke their 
 line a little ; and even the cuirassiers were checked and 
 began to retreat, which raised the spirits of our men. 
 
 5. Still the balistae of the enemy, placed on their iron 
 towers, and pouring down missiles with great power from 
 
 Hheir high ground on those in a lower position, spread a 
 great deal of slaughter in our ranks. At last, when evening 
 came on, both sides retired to rest, and the greater part of 
 the night was spent by us in considering what device could 
 be adopted to resist the formidable engines of the enemy. 
 
 6. At length, after we had considered many plans, we 
 determined on one which the rapidity with which it .could 
 be executed made the safest to oppose four scorpions to the 
 four balistae ; which were carefully moved (a very difficult 
 operation) from the place in which they were ; but before 
 this work was finished, day arrived, bringing us a mournful 
 sight, inasmuch as it showed \is the formidable battalions 
 of the Persians, with their trains of elephants, the noise and 
 size of which animals are such that nothing more terrible 
 can be presented to the mind of man. 
 
 7. And while we were pressed on all sides with the vast 
 masses of arms, and works, and beasts, still our scorpions 
 were kept at work with their iron slings, hurling huge 
 round stones from the battlements, by which the towers of 
 the enemy were crushed and the balistas and those who 
 worked them were dashed to the ground, so that many were 
 desperately injured, and many crushed by the weight of the 
 falling structures. And the elephants were driven back 
 with violence, and surrounded by the flames which we 
 poured forth against them, the moment that they were 
 wounded retired, and could not be restrained by their 
 riders. The works were all burnt, but still there was no 
 cessation from the conflict. 
 
 8. For the king of the Persians himself, who is never ex- 
 pected to mingle in the fight, being indignant at these dis- 
 asters, adopting a new and unprecedented mode of action, 
 sprang forth like a common soldier among his own dense 
 columns ; and as the very number of his guards made him 
 the more conspicuous to us who looked from afar on the
 
 198 AMMIANCJS MARCELLINUS. [BK. XIX. CH. vm. 
 
 scene, he was assailed by numerous missiles, and was forced 
 to retire after he had lost many of his escort, while his troops 
 fell back by echellons ; and at the end of the day, though 
 frightened neither by the sad sight of the slaughter nor of 
 the wounds, he at length allowed a short period to be given 
 to rest. 
 
 VIII. 
 
 1. Night had put an end to the combat ; and when a 
 slight rest had been procured from sleep, the moment that 
 the dawn, looked for as the harbinger of better fortune, 
 appeared, Sapor, full of rage and indignation, and per- 
 fectly reckless, called forth his people to attack us. And 
 as his works were all burnt, as we have related, and the 
 attack had to be conducted by means of their lofty mounds 
 raised close to our walls, we also from mounds within 
 the walls, as fast as we could raise them, struggled in 
 spite of all our difficulties, with all our might, and with 
 equal courage, against our assailants. 
 
 2. And long did the bloody conflict last, nor was any one 
 of the garrison driven by fear of death from his resolution 
 to defend the city. The conflict was prolonged, till at last, 
 while the fortune of the two sides was still undecided, the 
 structure raised by our men, having been long assailed and 
 shaken, at last fell, as if by an earthquake. 
 
 3. And the whole space which was between the wall 
 and the external mound being made level as if by a cause- 
 way or a bridge, opened a passage to the enemy, which 
 was no longer embarrassed by any obstacles ; and numbers 
 of our men, being crushed or enfeebled by their wounds, 
 gave up the struggle. Still men flocked from all quarters 
 to repel so imminent a danger, but from their eager haste 
 they got in one another's way, while the boldness of the 
 enemy increased with their success. 
 
 4. By the command of the king all his troops now has- 
 tened into action, and a hand-to-hand engagement ensued. 
 Blood ran down from the vast slaughter on both sides : the 
 ditches were filled with corpses, and thus a wider path was 
 opened for the besiegers. And the city, being now filled 
 with the eager crowd which forced its way in, all hope of 
 defence or of escape was cut off, and armed and unarmed
 
 A.D. 359.] ESCAPE OF AMMIANUS. 199 
 
 without any distinction of age or sex were slaughtered like 
 sheep. 
 
 5. It was full evening, when, though fortune had proved 
 adverse, the bulk of our troops was still fighting in good 
 order ; and I, having concealed myself with two com- 
 panions in an obscure corner of the city, now under cover 
 of darkness, made my escape by a postern gate where 
 there was no guard ; and aided by my own knowledge of 
 tie country and by the speed of my companions, I at last 
 reached the tenth milestone from the city. 
 
 6. Here, having lightly refreshed ourselves, I tried to 
 proceed, but found myself, as a noble unaccustomed to 
 such toil, overcome by fatigue of the march. I happened 
 to fall in, however, with what, though a most unsightly 
 object, was to me, completely tired out, a most seasonable 
 relief. 
 
 7. A groom riding a runaway horse, barebacked and 
 without a bridle, in order to prevent his falling had 
 knotted the halter by which he was guiding him tightly 
 to his left hand, and presently, being thrown, and unable 
 to break the knot, he was torn to pieces as he was 
 dragged over the rough ground and through the bushes, 
 till at last the weight of his dead body stopped the tired 
 beast ; 1 caught him, and mounting him, availed myself of 
 his services at a most seasonable moment, and after much 
 suffering arrived with my companions at some sulphur- 
 ous springs of naturally hot water. 
 
 8. On account of the heat we had suffered greatly from 
 thirst, and had been crawling about for some time in 
 search of water ; and now when we came to this well it 
 was so deep that we could not descend into it, nor had 
 we any ropes ; but, taught by extreme necessity, we tore up 
 the linen clothes which we wore into long rags, which we 
 made into one great rope, and fastened to the end of it a 
 cap which one of us wore beneath his helmet ; and letting 
 that down by the rope, and drawing up water in it like 
 a sponge, we easily quenched our thirst. 
 
 y. From hence we proceeded rapidly to the Euphrates, 
 intending to cross to the other side in the boat which 
 long custom had stationed in that quarter, to convey men 
 and cattle across. 
 
 10. When lo ! we see at a distance a Eoman force with
 
 200 AMMIANUS MAKCELLIXUS. fBic. XIX. CH ix. 
 
 cavalry standards, scattered and pursued by a division of 
 Persians, though we did not know from what quarter it 
 had come so suddenly on them in their march. 
 
 11. This example showed us that what men call in- 
 digenous people are not sprung from the bowels of the 
 earth, but merely appear unexpectedly by reason of the 
 speed of their movements : and because they were seen 
 Tinexpectedly in various places, they got the name of 
 Sparti, ' and were believed to have sprang from the ground, 
 antiquity exaggerating their renown in a fabulous manner, 
 as it does that of other things. 
 
 1 2. Roused by this sight, since our only hope of safety 
 lay in our speed, we drew off through the thickets and 
 woods to the high mountains ; and from thence we went 
 to Melitina, a town of the Lesser Armenia, where we found 
 our chief just on the point of setting off, in whose company 
 we went on to Antioch. 
 
 IX. 
 
 1. Ix the mean time Sapor and the Persians began to 
 think of returning home, because they feared to penetrate 
 more inland with their prisoners and booty, now that the 
 autumn was nearly over, and the unhealthy star of the 
 Kids had arisen. 
 
 2. But amid the massacres and plunder of the destroyed 
 city, ^Elianthe count, and the tribunes by whose vigour 
 the walls of Amida had been defended, and the losses of 
 the Persians multiplied, were wickedly crucified ; and 
 Jacobus and Cassias, the treasurers of the commander of 
 the cavalry, and others of the band of protectores, were led 
 a* prisoners, with their hands bound behind their backs ; 
 and the people of the district beyond the Tigris, who were 
 diligently sought for, were all slain without distinction of 
 rank or dignity. 
 
 3. But the wife of Craugasius, who, preserving her 
 chastity inviolate, was treated with the respect due to a 
 high-born matron, was mourning as if she were to be 
 carried to another world without her husband, although 
 
 1 Ammianus is wrong here ; it was only the Thebans who were called 
 Siraprol, from <rireip<a, to sow, because of the fable of the dragon's tei.'tli 
 sown by Cadmus ; the Athenians, who claimed to be earthborn, not 
 called 'S.wa.proi, but avr6x6ovts.
 
 A.D.359.] STORY OF THE WIFE OF CRAUGASIUS. 201 
 
 she had indications afforded her that she might hope for a 
 higher future. 
 
 4. Therefore, thinking of her own interests, and having 
 a wise forecast of the future, she was torn with a twofold 
 anxiety, loathing both widowhood and the marriage she 
 saw before her. Accordingly, she secretly sent off a 
 friend of sure fidelity, and well acquainted with Mesopo- 
 tamia, to pass by Mount Izala, between the two forts 
 -called Maride and Lome, and so to effect his entrance into 
 Msibis, calling upon her husband, with urgent entreaties 
 and the revelation of many secrets of her own private 
 condition, after hearing what the messenger could tell 
 him, to come to Persia and live happily with her there. 
 
 5. The messenger, travelling with great speed through 
 jungle roads and thickets, reached Kisibis, pretending that 
 he had never seen his mistress, and that, as in all likeli- 
 hood she was slain, he had availed himself of an accidental 
 opportunity to make his escape from the enemy's camp. 
 And so, being neglected as one of no importance, he got 
 access to Craugasius, and told him what had happened. 
 And having received from him an assurance that, as soon 
 as he could do so with safety, he would gladly rejoin his 
 wife, he departed, bearing the wished-for intelligence to 
 the lady. She, when she received it, addressed herself, 
 through the medium of Tarn sapor, to the king, entreating 
 him that, if the opportunity offered before he quitted the 
 Roman territories, he would order her husband to be 
 restored to her. 
 
 6. But the fact of this stranger having departed thus 
 unexpectedly, without any one suspecting it, after his 
 secret return, raised suspicions in the mind of Duke Cas- 
 sianus arid the other nobles who had authority in the city, 
 who addressed severe menaces to Craugasius, insisting 
 that the man could, neither have come nor have gone with- 
 out his privity. 
 
 7. And he, fearing the charge of treason, and being very 
 anxious lest the flight of the deserter should cause a sus- 
 picion that his wife was still alive and was well treated by 
 the enemy, feigned to court a marriage with another 
 virgin of high rank. And having gone out to a villa 
 which he had eight miles from the city, as if with the 
 object of making the necessary preparations for the wed-
 
 202 AMMIANUS MARCELL1XUS. [BK. XIX. CH. x. 
 
 ding feast, he mounted a horse, and fled at full speed to a 
 predatory troop of Persians which he had learnt was in 
 the neighbourhood, and being cordially received, when it 
 was seen from what he said who he was, he was delivered 
 over to Tamsapor on the fifth day, and by him he was 
 introduced to the king, and recovered not only his wife, 
 but his family and all his treasures, though he lost his 
 wife only a few months afterwards. And he was esteemed 
 only second to Antoninus, though as a great poet has said, 
 " Longo proximus intervallo.*' l 
 
 8. For Antoninus was eminent both for genius and 
 experience in affairs, and had useful counsels for every 
 enterprise that could be proposed, while Craugasius was 
 of a less subtle nature, though also very celebrated. And 
 all these events took place within a short time after the 
 fall of Amida. 
 
 9. But the king, though showing no marks of anxiety 
 on his countenance, and though he appeared full of exult- 
 ation at the fall of the city, still in the depths of his heart 
 was greatly perplexed, recollecting that in the siege he 
 had frequently sustained severe losses, and that he had lost 
 more men, and those too of more importance than any 
 prisoners whom he had taken from us, or than we had lost 
 in all the battles that had taken place ; as indeed had also 
 been the case at Singara, and at Nisibis. In the seventy- 
 three days during which he had been blockading Amida, 
 he had lost thirty thousand soldiers, as was reckoned a few 
 clays later by Discenes, a tribune and secretary ; the cal- 
 culation being the more easily made because the corpses 
 of our men very soon shrink and lose their colour, so that 
 their faces can never be recognized after four days ; but the 
 bodies of the Persians dry up like the trunks of trees, so 
 that nothing exudes from them, nor do they suffer from any 
 suffusion of blood, which is caused by their more sparing 
 diet, and by the dryness and heat of their native land. 
 
 X. 
 
 1. WHILE these events and troubles were proceeding 
 rapidly in the remote districts of the East, the Eternal 
 
 1 A quotation from the description of the foot-race in Virgil, 2Eu. 
 v 320.
 
 A.D.359.J SCARCITY AT ROME. 203 
 
 City was fearing distress from an impending scarcity of 
 corn ; and the violence of the common people, infuriated 
 by the expectation of that worst of all evils, was vented 
 upon Tertullus, who at that time was prefect of the city. 
 This was unreasonable, since it did not depend upon 
 him that the provisions were embarked in a stormy season 
 in ships which, through the unusually tempestuous state 
 of the sea, and the violence of contrary winds, were 
 driven into any ports they could make, and were unable 
 to reach the port of Augustus, from the greatness of the 
 dangers which threatened them. 
 
 2. Nevertheless, Tertullus was continually troubled by 
 the seditious movements of the people, who worked them- 
 selves up to great rage, being excited by the imminent 
 danger of a famine ; till, having no hope of preserving his 
 own safety, he wisely brought his little boys out to the 
 people, who, though in a state of tumultuous disorder, were 
 often influenced by sudden accidents, and with tears ad- 
 dressed them thus : 
 
 3. "Behold your fellow-citizens, who (may the gods 
 avert the omen), unless fortune should take a more favour- 
 able turn, will be exposed to the same sufferings as your- 
 selves. If then you think that by destroying them you 
 will be saved from all suffering, they are in your power." 
 The people, of their own nature inclined to mercy, were 
 propitiated by this sad address, and made no answer, but 
 awaited their impending fate with resignation. 
 
 4. And soon, by the favour of the deity who has 
 watched over the growth of Eome from its first origin, 
 and who promised that it should last for ever, while 
 Tertullus was at Ostia, sacrificing in the temple of Castor 
 and Pollux, the sea became calm, the wind changed to a 
 gentle south-east breeze, and the ships in full sail entered 
 the port, laden with corn to fill the granaries. 
 
 XI. 
 
 1. WHILE these perplexing transactions were taking place, 
 intelligence full of importance and danger reached Constan- 
 tius who was reposing in winter quarters at Sirmium, in- 
 forming him (as he had already greatly feared) that the 
 Sarmatian Limigantes, who, as we have before related, had
 
 204 AMMIANUS MARCELLINUS. [BK. XIX. CH. xi. 
 
 expelled their masters from their hereditary homes, had 
 learnt to despise the lands which had been generously al- 
 lotted to them in the preceding year, in order to prevent so 
 fickle a class from undertaking any mischievous enterprise, 
 and had seized on the districts over the border ; that they 
 were straggling, according to their national custom, with 
 great licence over the whole country, and would throw 
 everything into disorder if they were not put down. 
 
 2. The emperor, judging that any delay would increase 
 their insolence, collected from all quarters a strong force 
 of veteran soldiers, and before the spring was much ad- 
 vanced, set forth on an expedition against them, being 
 urged to greater activity by two considerations ; first, 
 because the army, having acquired great booty during the 
 last summer, was likely to be encouraged to successful 
 exertion in the hope of similar reward ; and secondly, 
 because, as Anatolius was at that time prefect of Illyricum, 
 everything necessary for such an expedition could be 
 readily provided without recourse to any stringent measures. 
 
 3. For under no other prefect's government (as is agreed 
 by all), up to the present time, had the northern provinces 
 ever been so flourishing in every point of view; all abuses 
 being corrected with a kind and prudent hand, while the 
 people were relieved from the burden of transporting the 
 public stores (which often caused such losses as to ruin 
 many families), and also from the heavy income tax. So 
 that the natives of those districts would have been free 
 from all damage and cause of complaint, if at a later period 
 some detestable collectors had not come among them, 
 extorting money, and exaggerating accusations, in order to 
 build up wealth and influence for themselves, and to 
 procure their own safety and prosperity by draining the 
 natives ; carrying their severities to the proscription and 
 even execution of many of them. 
 
 4. To apply a remedy to this insurrection, the emperor 
 set out, as 1 have said, with a splendid staff, and reached 
 Valeria, which was formerly a part of Pannonia, but which 
 had been established as a separate province, arid received 
 its new name in honour of Valeria, the daughter of Dio- 
 cletian. And having encamped his army on the banks of 
 the Danube, he watched the movements of the barbarians, 
 who, before his arrival, had been proposing, under friendly
 
 A.D. 359.] TREACHERY OF THE L1MIG ANTES. 205 
 
 pretences, to enter Pannonia, meaning to lay it waste 
 during the severity of the winter season, before the snow 
 had been melted by the warmth of spring and the river 
 had become passable, and while our people were unable 
 from the cold to bear bivouacking in the open air. 
 
 5. He at once therefore sent two tribunes, each ac- 
 companied by an interpreter, to the Limigantes, to inquire 
 mildly why they had quitted the homes which at their 
 own request had been assigned to them after the conclusion 
 of the treaty of peace, and why they were now straggling 
 in various directions, and passing their boundaries in con- 
 tempt of his prohibitions. 
 
 (3. They made vain and frivolous excuses, fear compelling 
 them to have recourse to lies, and implored the emperor's 
 pardon, beseeching him to discard his displeasure, and to 
 allow them to cross the river and come to him to explain 
 the hardships under which they were labouring ; alleging 
 their willingness, if required, to retire to remoter lands, 
 only within the Roman frontier, where, enjoying lasting 
 peace and worshipping tranquillity as their tutelary deify, 
 they would submit to the name and discharge the duties of 
 tributary subjects. 
 
 7. When the tribunes returned and related this, the 
 emperor, exulting that an affair which appeared full of 
 inextricable difficulties was likely to be brought to a con- 
 clusion without any trouble, and being eager to add to his 
 acquisitions, admitted them all to his presence. His eager- 
 ness for acquiring territory was fanned by a swarm of 
 flatterers, who were incessantly saying that when all 
 distant districts were at peace, and when tranquillity was 
 established everywhere, he would gain many subjects, and 
 would be able to enlist powerful bodies of recruits, thereby 
 relieving the provinces, which would often rather give 
 money than personal service (though this expectation has 
 more than once proved very mischievous to the state). 
 
 8. Presently he pitched his camp near Acimincum, 1 where 
 a lofty mound was raised to serve for a tribune ; and 
 some boats, loaded with soldiers of the legions, without 
 their baggage, under command of Innocentius, an engineer 
 who had suggested the measure, were sent to watch the 
 
 1 Salankemen, in Hungary.
 
 206 AMMIANUS MAKCELL1NUS. [BK. XIX. CH. xr. 
 
 channel of the river, keeping close under the bank ; so 
 that, if they perceived the barbarians in disorder, they 
 might come upon them and surprise their rear, while 
 their attention was directed elsewhere. 
 
 9. The Limigantes became aware of the measures thus 
 promptly taken, but still employed no other means of 
 defence than humility and entreaty ; though secretly they 
 cherished designs very different from those indicated by 
 their words and gestures. 
 
 10. But when they saw the emperor on his high mound 
 preparing a mild harangue, and about to address them as 
 men who would prove obedient in future, one of them, 
 seized with a sudden fury, hurled his shoe at the tribune, 
 and cried out, " Marha, Marha !" which in their language 
 is a signal of war ; and a disorderly mob following him, 
 suddenly raised their barbaric standard, and with fierce 
 howls rushed upon the emperor himself. 
 
 11. And when he, looking down from his high position, 
 saw the whole place filled with thousands of men running 
 to and fro, and their drawn swords and rapiers threatening 
 him with immediate destruction, he descended, and min- 
 gling both with the barbarians and his own men, without 
 any one perceiving him or knowing whether he was an 
 officer or a common soldier ; and since there was no time 
 for delay or inaction, he mounted a speedy horse, and 
 galloped away, and so escaped. 
 
 12. But his few guards, while endeavouring to keep 
 back the mutineers, who rushed on with the fierceness of 
 fire, were all killed, either by wounds, or by being 
 crushed beneath the weight of others who fell upon them ; 
 and the royal throne, with its golden cushion, was torn to 
 pieces without any one making an effort to save it. 
 
 13. But presently, when it became known that theemperor, 
 after having been in the most imminent danger of his life, 
 was still in peril, the army, feeling it to be the most 
 important of all objects to assist him, for they did not yet 
 think him safe, and confiding in their prowess, though from 
 the suddenness of the attack they were only half formed, 
 threw themselves, with loud and warlike cries upon the 
 bands of the barbarians, fearlessly braving death. 
 
 14. And because in their fiery valour our men were 
 ' resolved to wipe out disgrace by glory, and were full o
 
 A.D. 359.] PROSECUTIONS FOR TREASON*. 207 
 
 anger at the treachery of the foe, they slew every one 
 whom they met without mercy, trampling all tinder foot, 
 living, wounded, and dead alike ; so that heaps of dead 
 were piled up before their hands were weary of the 
 slaughter. For the rebels were completely overwhelmed, 
 some being slain, and others fleeing in fear, many of 
 whom implored their lives with various entreaties, but 
 were slaughtered with repeated wounds. And when, after 
 tfey were all destroyed, the trumpets sounded a retreat, 
 it was found that only a very few of our men were killed, 
 and these had either been trampled down at first, or had 
 perished from the insufficiency of their armour to resist 
 the violence of the enemy. 
 
 15. But the most glorious death was that of Cella, the 
 tribune of the Scutarii, who at the beginning of the 
 uproar set the example of plunging first into the middle of 
 the Sarmatian host. 
 
 16. After these blood-stained transactions, Constantius 
 took what precautions prudence suggested for the security 
 of his frontiers, and then returned to Sirmium, having 
 avenged himself on the perfidity of his enemies. And 
 having there settled everything which the occasion re- 
 quired, he quitted Sirmium and went to Constantinople, 
 that by being nearer to the East, he might remedy the 
 disasters which had been sustained at Amida, and having 
 reinforced his army with new levies, he might check the 
 attempts of the king of Persia with equal vigour ; as it 
 was clear that Sapor, if Providence and some more pressing 
 occupation did not prevent him, would leave Mesopotamia 
 and bring the war over the plains on this side of that 
 country. 
 
 XII. 
 
 1. BUT amid these causes of anxiety, as if in accordance 
 with old-established custom, instead of the signal for civil 
 war, the trumpet sounded groundless charges of treason, 
 and a secretary, whom we shall often have to speak of, 
 named Paulus, was sent to inquire into these charges. He 
 was a man skilful in all the contrivances of cruelty, making 
 gain and profit of tortures and executions, as a master of 
 gladiators does of his fatal games. 
 
 2. For as he was firm and resolute in his purpose of
 
 208 AMMIANUS MAKCELLINUS. [BK. XIX. CH. xn. 
 
 injuring people, he did not abstain even from theft, and 
 invented all kinds of causes for the destruction of innocent 
 men, while engaged in this miserable campaign. 
 
 3. A slight and trivial circumstance afforded infinite 
 material for extending his investigations. There is a town 
 called Abydum in the most remote corner of the Egyptian 
 Thebais, where an oracle of the god, known in that region 
 by the name of Besa, had formerly enjoyed some celebrity 
 for its prophecies, and had sacred rites performed at it 
 with all the ceremonies anciently in use in the neigh- 
 bouring districts. 
 
 4. Some used to go themselves to consult this oracle, 
 some to send by others documents containing their wishes, 
 and with prayers couched in explicit language inquired 
 the will of the deities ; and the paper or parchment on 
 which their wants were written, after the answer had been 
 given, was sometimes left in the temple. 
 
 5. Some of these were spitefully sent to the emperor, 
 and he, narrow minded as he was, though often deaf to 
 other matters of serious consequence, had, as the proverb 
 says, a soft place in his ear for this kind of information ; and 
 being of a suspicious and petty temper, became full of gall 
 and fury ; and immediately ordered Faulus to repair with 
 all speed to the East, giving him authority, as to a chief of 
 great eminence and experience, to try all the causes as he 
 pleased. 
 
 6. And Modestus also, at that time count of the East, a 
 man well suited for such a business, was joined with him 
 in this commission. For Hermogenes of Pontus, at that 
 time prefect of the praetorium, was passed over as of too 
 gentle a disposition. 
 
 7. Paulus proceeded, as he was ordered, full of deadly 
 eagerness and rage ; inviting all kinds of calumnies, so 
 that numbers from every part of the empire were brought 
 before him, noble and low born alike ; some of whom were 
 condemned to imprisonment, others to instant death. 
 
 8. The city which was chosen to witness these fatal 
 scenes was Scythopolis in Palestine, which for two reasons 
 seemed the most suitable of all places ; first, because it 
 was little frequented and secondly, because it was half- 
 way between Antioch and Alexandria, from which city 
 many of those brought before this tribunal came.
 
 A.D. 359.] ]S 7 UMEROUS EXECUTIONS. 209 
 
 9. One of the first persons accused was Simplicius, the 
 son of Philip ; a man who, after having been prefect and 
 consul, was now impeached on the ground that he was 
 said to have consulted the oracle how to obtain the empire. 
 He was sentenced to the torture by the express command 
 of the emperor, who in these cases never erred on the side 
 of mercy ; but by some special fate he was saved from it, 
 and with uninjured body was condemned to distant banish- 
 jent. 
 
 10. The next victim was Parnasius, who had been pre- 
 fect of Egypt, a man of simple manners, but now in danger 
 of being condemned to death, and glad to escape with 
 exile ; because long ago he had been heard to say that 
 when he left Patrae in Achaia, the place of his birth, with 
 the view of procuring some high office, he had in a dream 
 seen himself conducted on his road by several figures in 
 tragic robes. 
 
 11. The next was Andronicus, subsequently celebrated 
 for his liberal accomplishments and his poetry ; he was 
 brought before the court without having given any real 
 ground for suspicion of any kind, and defended himself so 
 vigorously that he was acquitted. 
 
 12. There was also Demetrius, surnamed Chytras, a 
 philosopher, of great age, but still firm in mind and body ; 
 he, when charged with having frequently offered sacrifices 
 in the temple of his oracle, could not deny it ; but affirmed 
 that, for the sake of propitiating the deity, he had con- 
 stantly done so from his early youth, and not with any 
 idea of aiming at any higher fortune by his questions ; nor 
 had he known any one who had aimed at such. And 
 though he was long on the rack he supported it with great 
 constancy, never varying in his statement, till at length 
 he was acquitted and allowed to retire to Alexandria, where 
 he was born. 
 
 13. These and a few others, justice, coming to the aid of 
 truth, delivered from their imminent dangers. But as 
 accusations extended more widely, involving numbers 
 without end in their snares, many perished; some with 
 their bodies mangled on the rack ; others were condemned 
 to death and confiscation of their goods ; while Paulus kept 
 on inventing groundless accusations, as if he had a store 
 of lies on which to draw, and suggesting various pretences 
 
 p
 
 210 AMMIANUS MARCELL1XUS. [BK. XIX. CH. six. 
 
 for injuring people, so that on his nod, it may "be said, 
 the safety of every one in the place depended. 
 
 14. For if any one wore on his neck a charm against the 
 quartan ague or any other disease, or if by any information 
 laid by his ill-wishers he was accused of having passed by 
 a sepulchre at nightfall, and therefore of being a sorcerer, 
 and one who dealt in the horrors of tombs and the vain 
 mockeries of the shades which haunt them, he was found 
 guilty and condemned to death. 
 
 15. And the affairs went on as if people had been con- 
 sulting Glares, or the oaks at Dodona, or the Delphic 
 oracles of old fame, with a view to the destruction of the 
 emperor. 
 
 16. Meantime, the crowd of courtiers, inventing every 
 kind of deceitful flattery, affirmed that he would be free from 
 all common misfortunes, asserting that his fate had always 
 shone forth with vigour and power in destroying all who 
 attempted anything injurious to him. 
 
 17. That indeed strict investigation should be made into 
 such matters, no one in his senses will deny ; nor do Ave 
 question that the safety of our lawful prince, the cham- 
 pion and defender of the good, and on whom the safety of 
 all other people depends, ought to be watched over by the 
 combined zeal of all men ; and for the sake of insuring this 
 more completely, when any treasonable enterprise is dis- 
 covered, the Cornelian laws have provided that no rank 
 shall be exempted even from torture if necessary for the 
 investigation. 
 
 18. But it is not decent to exult unrestrainedly in 
 melancholy events, lest the subjects should seem to be 
 governed by tyranny, not by authority. It is better to 
 imitate Cicero, who, when he had it in his power either to 
 spare or to strike, preferred, as he tells us himself, to seek 
 occasions for pardoning rather than for punishing, which 
 is characteristic of a prudent and wise judge. 
 
 19. At that time a monster, horrible both to see and to 
 describe, was produced at Daphne, a beautiful and cele- 
 brated suburb of Antioch ; namely, an infant with two 
 mouths, two sets of teeth, two heads, four eyes, and only 
 two very short ears. And such a mis-shapen offspring was 
 an omen that the repxiblic would become deformed. 
 
 20. Prodigies of this kind are often produced, presaging
 
 A.D. 359.] AFFAIRS OF THE ISAURIANS. 211 
 
 events of various kinds ; but as they are not now publicly 
 expiated, as they were among the ancients, they are un- 
 heard of and unknown to people in general. 
 
 XIII. 
 
 1. DURING this period the Isaurians, who had been tran- 
 quil for some time after the transactions already mentioned, 
 Snd the attempt to take the city of Seleucia, gradually 
 reviving, as serpents come out of their holes in the 
 warmth of spring, descended from their rocky and path- 
 less jungles, and forming into large troops, harassed their 
 neighbours with predatory incursions ; escaping, from their 
 activity as mountaineers, all attempts of the soldiers to 
 take them, and from long use moving easily over rocks and 
 through thickets. 
 
 2. So Lauricius was sent among them as governor, with 
 the additional title of count, to reduce them to order 
 by fair means or foul. He was a man of sound civil 
 wisdom, correcting things in general by threats rather 
 than by severity, so that while he governed the province, 
 which he did for some time, nothing happened deserving 
 of particular notice. 
 
 BOOK XX. 
 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 I. Lupicinus is sent as Commander-in-chief into Britain with an army 
 to check the incursions of the Picts and Scots. II. Ursicinus, 
 commander of the infantry, is attacked by calumnies, and dis- 
 missed. III. An eclipse of the sun A discussion on the two 
 suns, and on the causes of solar and lunar eclipses, and the various 
 changes and shapes of the moon. IV. The Csesar Julian, against 
 his will, is saluted as emperor at Paris, where he was wintering, 
 by his Gallican soldiers, whom Constantius had ordered to be 
 taken from him, and sent to the East to act against the Persians. 
 V. He harangues his soldiers. VI. Singara is besieged and 
 taken by Sapor : the citizens, with the auxiliary cavalry and two 
 legions in garrison, are carried off to Persia The town is razed to 
 the ground. VII. Sapor storms the town of Bezabde, which is
 
 212 AMMIANUS MARCELLINDS. [Bic. XX. CH. I. 
 
 defended by three legions; repairs it, and places in it a garrison 
 and magazines ; he also attacks the fortress of Victa, without 
 success. VIII. Julian writes to Constantius to inform him of 
 what had taken place at Paris. IX. Constantius desires Julian 
 to be content with the title of Caesar ; but the Gallican legions 
 unanimously refuse to allow him to be so. X. The Emperor 
 Julian unexpectedly attacks a Frank tribe, known as the Attuarii, 
 on the other side of the Rhine ; slays some, takes others prisoners, 
 and grants peace to the rest, on their petition. XI. Constantius 
 attacks Bezabde with his whole force, but fails A discussion on 
 the rainbow. 
 
 I. 
 
 A.D. 360. 
 
 1. THESE were the events which took place in Tllyricum and 
 in the East. But the next year, that of Constantius's tenth 
 and Julian's third consulship, the affairs of Britain became 
 troubled, in consequence of the incursions of the savage 
 nations of Picts and Scots, who breaking the peace to which 
 they had agreed, were plundering the districts on their 
 borders, and keeping in constant alarm the provinces ex- 
 hausted by former disasters, Caesar, who was wintering at 
 Paris, having his mind divided by various cares, feared to 
 go to the aid of his subjects across the channel (as we 
 have related Constans to have done), lest he should. leave 
 the Gauls without a governor, while the Allemanni were 
 still full of fierce and warlike inclinations. 
 
 2. Therefore, to tranquillize these districts by reason or 
 by force, it was decided to send Lupicinus, who was at that 
 time commander of the forces ; a man of talent in war, and 
 especially skilful in all that related to camps, but very 
 haughty, and smelling, as one may say, of the tragic bus- 
 kin, while parts of his conduct made it a question which 
 predominated his avarice or his cruelty. 
 
 3. Accordingly, an auxiliary force of light-armed troops. 
 Heruli and Batavi, with two legions from Moesia, were 
 in the very depth of winter put under the command of this 
 general, with which he marched to Boulogne, and having 
 procured some vessels and embai'ked his soldiers on them, 
 he sailed with a fair wind, and reached Richborough on the 
 opposite coast, from which place he proceeded to London, 
 that he might there deliberate on the aspect of affairs, and 
 take immediate measures for his campaign.
 
 A.D. 360.] CHARGES AGAINST URSIC1NTJS. 213 
 
 II. 
 
 1. IN the mean time, after the fall of Amida, and after 
 Ursicinus had returned as commander of the infantry to 
 the emperor's camp (for we have already mentioned that 
 he had been appointed to succeed Barbatio), he was at 
 once attacked by slanderers, who at first tried to whisper 
 Iris' character away, but presently openly brought forward 
 false charges against him. 
 
 2. And the emperor, listening to them, since he com- 
 monly formed his opinions on vain conjecture, and was 
 always ready to yield his judgment to crafty persons, 
 appointed Arbetio and Florentius, the chief steward, as 
 judges to inquire how it was that the town was destroyed. 
 They rejected the plain and easily proved causes of the 
 disaster, fearing that Eusebius, at that time high cham- 
 berlain, would be offended if they admitted proofs which 
 showed undeniably that what had happened was owing to 
 the obstinate inactivity of Sabinianus ; and so distorting 
 the truth, they examined only some points of no conse- 
 quence, and having no bearing on the transaction. 
 
 3. Ursicinus felt the iniquity of this proceeding; and 
 said, " Although the emperor despises me, still the import- 
 ance of this aft'air is such that it cannot be judged of and 
 punished by any decision lower than that of the emperor. 
 Nevertheless, let him know what I venture to prophesy, 
 that while he is concerning himself about this disaster at 
 Amida, of which he has received a faithful account ; and 
 while he gives himself up to the influence of the eunuchs, 
 he will not in the ensuing spring, 1 even if he himself 
 should come with the entire strength of his army, be able 
 to prevent the dismemberment of Mesopotamia." This 
 speech having been related to the emperor with many 
 additions, and a malignant interpretation, Constantius 
 became enraged beyond measure ; and without allowing 
 
 1 " The minute interval which may be interposed between the hyeme 
 adultd and the primo vere of Ammianus, instead of allowing a sufficient 
 space for a march of three thousand miles, would render the orders of 
 Constantius as extravagant as they were unjust ; the troops of Gaul 
 could not have reached Syria till the end of autumn. The memory of 
 Ammianus must have been inaccurate, and his language incorrect." 
 Gibbon, c. xxii,
 
 214 AJIMIANUS MARCELLINUS. L^ K - *X. CH. m, 
 
 the affair to be discussed, or those things to be explained to 
 him of which he was ignorant, he believed all the calum- 
 nies against Ursicinus, and deposing him from his office, 
 ordered him into retirement ; promoting Agilo, by a vast 
 leap, to take his place, he having been before only a tribune 
 of a native troop of Scutarii. 
 
 III. 
 
 1. AT the same time one day the sky in the east was 
 perceived to be covered with a thick darkness, and from 
 daybreak to noon the stars were visible throughout ; and, 
 as an addition to these terrors, while the light of heaven 
 was thus withdrawn, and the world almost buried in 
 clouds, men, from the length of the eclipse, began to 
 believe that the sun had wholly disappeared. Presently, 
 however, it was seen again like a new moon, then like a 
 half-moon, and at last it was restored entire. 
 
 2. A thing which on other occasions did not happen so 
 visibly except when after several unequal revolutions, the 
 moon returns to exactly the same point at fixed intervals ; 
 that is to say, when the moon is found in the same sign of 
 the zodiac, exactly opposite to the rays of the sun, and stops 
 there a few minutes, which in geometry are called parts of 
 parts. 
 
 3. And although the changes and motions of both sun 
 and moon, as the inquiries into intelligible causes have 
 remarked, perpetually return to ihe same conjunction at 
 the end of each lunar month, still the sun is not always 
 eclipsed on these occasions, but only when the moon, as by 
 a kind of balance, is in the exact centre between the sun 
 and our sight. 
 
 4. In short, the sun is eclipsed, and his brilliancy 
 removed from our sight, when he and the moon, which of 
 all the constellations of heaven is the lowest, proceeding 
 with equal pace in their orbits, are placed in conjunction 
 in spite of the height which separates them (as Ptolemy 
 learnedly explains it), and afterwards return to the dimen- 
 sions which are called ascending or descending points of the 
 ecliptic conjunctions : or, as the Greeks call them, defective 
 conjunctions. And if these great lights find themselves in the 
 neighbourhood of these points or knots, the eclipse is small.
 
 ATI. 360.] CAUSES OF ECLIPSES. 21 5 
 
 5. But if they are exactly in the knots which form the 
 points of intersection between the ascending and descending 
 path of the moon, then the sky will be covered with denser 
 darkness, and the whole atmosphere becomes so thick that 
 we cannot see what is close to us. 
 
 6. Again, the sun is conceived to appear double when a 
 cloud is raised higher than usual, which from its proximity 
 to the eternal fires, shines in such a manner that it forms 
 
 "The brightness of a second orb as from a purer mirror. 
 
 7. Now let us come to the moon. The moon sustains a 
 clear and visible eclipse when, being at the full, and exactly 
 opposite to the sun, she is distant from his orb one hundred 
 and eighty degrees, that is, is in the seventh sign ; and 
 although this happens at every full moon, still there is not 
 always one eclipse. 
 
 8. But since she is always nearest to the earth as it re- 
 volves, and the most distant from the rest of the other stars, 
 and sometimes exposes itself to the light which strikes it, 
 and sometimes also is partially obscured by the interven- 
 tion of the shade of night, which comes over it in the 
 form of a cone ; and then she is involved in thick dark- 
 ness, when the sun, being surrounded by the centre of the 
 lowest sphere, cannot illuminate her with his rays, because 
 the mass of the earth is in the way; for opinions agree 
 that the moon has no light of her own. 
 
 9. And when she returns to the same sign of the zodiac 
 which the sun occupies, she is obscured (as has been said), 
 her brightness being wholly dimmed, and this is called a 
 conjunction of the moon. 
 
 10. Again the moon is said to be new when she has the 
 sun above her with a slight variation from the perpendi- 
 cular, and then she appears very thin to mankind, even 
 when leaving the sun she reaches the second sign. Then, 
 when she has advanced further, and shines brilliantly with 
 a sort of horned figure, she is said to be crescent shaped ; 
 but when she begins to be a long way distant from the sun, 
 and reaches the fourth sign, she gets a greater light, the 
 sun's rays being turned upon her, and then she is of the 
 shape of a semicircle. 
 
 11. As she goes on still further, and reaches the fifth 
 sign, she assumes a convex shape, a sort of hump appear- 
 ing from each side. And when she is exactly opposite the
 
 216 AMMIANUS MARCELL1XCS. [BK.XX.Cn. IT 
 
 sun, she shines with a full light, having arrived at the 
 seventh sign ; and even while she is there, having advanced 
 but a very little further, she begins to diminish, which we 
 call waning; and as she gets older, she resumes the same 
 shapes that she had while increasing. But it is established 
 by unanimous consent that she is never seen to be eclipsed 
 except in the middle of her course. 
 
 12. But when we said that the sun moves sometimes in 
 the ether, sometimes in the lower world, it must be under- 
 stood that the starry bodies, considered in relation to the 
 universe, neither set nor rise ; but only appear to do so to 
 our sight on earth, which is suspended by the motion of 
 some interior spirit, and compared with the immensity of 
 things is but a little point, which causes the stars in their 
 eternal order to appear sometimes fixed in heaven, and at 
 others, from the imperfection of human vision, moving from 
 their places. Let us now return to our original subject. 
 
 IV. 
 
 1. EVEN while he was hastening to lead succours to the 
 East, which, as the concurrent testimony of both spies and 
 deserters assured him, was on the point of being invaded 
 by the Persians, Constantius was greatly disturbed by the 
 virtues of Julian, which were now becoming renowned 
 among all nations, so highly did fame extol his great 
 labours, achievements, and victories, in having conquered 
 several kingdoms of the Allemanni, and recovered several 
 towns in Gaul which had been plundered and destroyed by 
 the barbarians, and having compelled the barbarians them- 
 selves to become subjects and tributaries of the empire. 
 
 2. Influenced by these considerations, and fearing lest 
 Julian's influence should become greater, at the instigation, 
 as it is said, of the prefect Florentius, he sent Decentius, 
 the tribune and secretary, to bring away at once the 
 auxiliary troops of the Heruli and Batavi, and the Celtas, 
 and the legion called Petulantes, 1 and three hundred 
 picked men from the other forces ; enjoining him to make all 
 speed on the plea that their presence was required with the 
 
 1 According to Erdfurt, this legion was so named from its contu- 
 macious and mutinous disposition.
 
 A.D. 360.] PRUDENCE OF JULIAX 217 
 
 army which it was intended to march at the beginning of 
 spring against the Parthians. 
 
 3. Also, Lupicinus was directed to come as commander 
 of these auxiliary troops with the three hundred picked 
 men, and to lose no time, as it was not known that he had 
 crossed over to Britain ; and Sintula, at that time the 
 superintendent of Julian's stables, was ordered to select the 
 best men of the Scutarii and Gentiles, 1 and to bring them 
 afco to join the emperor. 
 
 4. Julian made no remonstrance, but obeyed these 
 orders, yielding in all respects to the will of the emperor. 
 But on one point he could not conceal his feelings nor keep 
 silence : but entreated that those men might be spared from 
 this hardship who had left their homes on the other side of 
 the Ehine, and had joined his army on condition of never 
 being moved into any country beyond the Alps, urging that 
 if this were known, it might be feared that other volunteers 
 of the barbarian nations, who had often enlisted in our ser- 
 vice on similar conditions, would be prevented from doing 
 so in future. But he argued in vain. 
 
 5. For the tribune, disregarding his complaints, carried 
 out the commands of the emperor, and having chosen out a 
 band suited for forced marches, of pre-eminent vigour and 
 activity, set out with them full of hope of promotion. 
 
 6. And as Julian, being in doubt what to do about the 
 rest of the troops whom he was ordered to send, and revolv- 
 ing all kinds of plans in his mind, considered that the 
 matter ought to be managed with great care, as there was 
 on one side the fierceness of the barbarians, and on the 
 other the authority of the orders he had received (his per- 
 plexity being further increased by the absence of the com- 
 mander of the cavalry), he urged the prefect, who had gone 
 some time before to Vienne under the pretence of procuring 
 corn, but in reality to escape from military troubles, to 
 return to him. 
 
 7. For the prefect bore in mind the substance of a report 
 which he was suspected to have sent some time before, and 
 which recommended the withdrawing from the defence of 
 Gaul those troops so renowned for their valour, and already 
 objects of dread to the barbarians. 
 
 1 The Gentiles were body-guards of the emperor, or of the Csesar, of 
 barbarian extraction, whether Scythians, Goths, Franks, Germans, &c.
 
 218 AjnriANUs JIARCELLINUS. [BK. xx. CH. iv. 
 
 8. The prefect, as soon as he had received Julian's 
 letters, informing him of what had happened, and entreat- 
 ing him to come speedily to him to aid the republic with 
 his counsels, positively refused, being alarmed because 
 the letters expressly declared that in any crisis of danger 
 the prefect ought never to be absent from the general. 
 And it was added that if he declined to give his aid, 
 Julian himself would, of his own accord, renounce the 
 emblems of authority, thinking it better to die, if so it was 
 fated, than to have the ruin of the provinces attributed to 
 him. But the obstinacy of the prefect prevailed, and he 
 resolutely refused to comply with the wishes thus reason- 
 ably expressed and enforced. 
 
 9. But during the delay which arose from the absence of 
 Lupicinus and of any military movement on the part of the 
 alarmed prefect, Julian, deprived of all assistance in the 
 way of advice, and being greatly perplexed, thought it best 
 to hasten the departure of all his troops from the stations 
 in which they were passing the winter, and to let them 
 begin their march. 
 
 10. When this was known, some one privily threw down 
 a bitter libel near the standard of the Petulantes legion, 
 which, among other things, contained these words, " We 
 are being driven to the farthest parts of the earth like con- 
 demned criminals, and our relations will become slaves to 
 the Allemanni after we have delivered them from that first 
 captivity by desperate battles." 
 
 11. When this writing was taken to head-quarters and 
 read, Julian, considering the reasonableness of the com- 
 plaint, ordered that their families should go to the East 
 with them, and allowed them the use of the public wagons 
 for the purpose of moving them. And as it was for some 
 time doubted which road they should take, he decided, 
 at the suggestion of the secretary Decentius, that they 
 should go by Paris, where he himself still was, not having 
 moved. 
 
 12. And so it was done. And when they arrived in the 
 suburbs, the prince, according to his custom, met them, 
 praising those whom he recognized, and reminding indi- 
 viduals of their gallant deeds, he congratulated them with 
 courteous words, encouraging them to go cheerfully to join 
 the emperor, as they would reap the most worthy rewards
 
 A.D. 360.] THE SOLDIERS SALUTE JULIAK EMPEROR. 219 
 
 of their exertions where power was the greatest and most 
 extensive. 
 
 13. And to do them the more honour, as they were 
 going to a great distance, he invited their chiefs to a 
 supper, when he bade them ask whatever they desired. 
 And they, having been treated with such liberality, de- 
 parted, anxious and sorrowful on two accounts, because 
 cruel fortune was separating them at once from so kind a 
 ruler and from their native land. And with this sorrowful 
 feeling they retired to their camp. 
 
 14. But when night came on they broke out into open 
 discontent, and their minds being excited, as his own griefs 
 pressed upon each individual, they had recourse to force, 
 and took up arms, and with a great outcry thronged to the 
 palace, and surrounding it so as to prevent any one from 
 escaping, they saluted Julian as emperor with loud vocife- 
 rations, insisting vehemently on his coming forth to them ; 
 and though they were compelled to wait till daylight, still, 
 as they would not depart, at last he did come forth. And 
 when he appeared, they saluted him emperor with re- 
 doubled and unanimous cheers. 
 
 1 5. But he steadily resisted them individually and col- 
 lectively, at one time showing himself indignant, at another 
 holding out his hands and entreating and beseeching them 
 not to sully their numerous victories with anything un- 
 becoming, and not to let unseasonable rashness and pre- 
 cipitation awaken materials for discord. At last he appeased 
 them, and having addressed them mildly, he added 
 
 16. "I beseech you let yoiir anger depart for a while : 
 without any dissension or attempt at revolution what you 
 wish will easily be obtained. Since you are so strongly 
 bound by love of your country, and fear strange lands to 
 which you are unaccustomed, return now to your homes, 
 certain that you shall not cross the Alps, since you dislike 
 it. And I will explain the matter to the full satisfaction 
 of the emperor, who is a man of great wisdom, and will 
 listen to reason." 
 
 17. Nevertheless, after his speech was ended, the cries 
 were repeated with as much vigour and unanimity as ever ; 
 and so vehement was the uproar and zeal, which did not 
 even spare reproaches and threats, that Julian was com- 
 pelled to consent. And being lifted up on the shield of an
 
 220 AMMIANUS MARCELLINUS. [BK. XX. Cn. rv. 
 
 infantry soldier, and raised up in sight of all, he was 
 saluted as Augustus with one universal acclamation, and 
 was ordered to produce a diadem. And when he said that 
 he had never had one, his wife's coronet or necklace was 
 demanded. 
 
 1 8. And 'when he protested that it was not fitting for 
 him at his first accession to be adorned with female orna- 
 ments, the frontlet of a horse was sought for, so that being 
 crowned therewith, he might have some badge, however ob- 
 scure, of supreme power. But when he insisted that that 
 also would be unbecoming, a man named Maurus, after- 
 wards a count, the same who was defeated in the defile 
 of the Succi, but who was then only one of the front- 
 rank men of the Petulantes, tore a chain off his own neck, 
 which he wore in his quality of standard-bearer, and placed 
 it boldly on Julian's head, who, being thus brought under 
 extreme compulsion, and seeing that he could not escape 
 the most imminent danger to his life if he persisted in 
 his resistance, consented to their wishes, and promised a 
 largesse of five pieces of gold and a pound of silver to 
 every man. 
 
 19. After this Julian felt more anxiety than ever ; and 
 keenly alive to the future consequences, neither wore his 
 diadem or appeared in public, nor would he even transact 
 the serious business which pressed upon his attention, 
 but sought retirement, being full of consternation at the 
 strangeness of the recent events. This continued till one 
 of the decurions of the palace (which is an office of dig- 
 nity) came in great haste to the standards of the Petulantes 
 and of the Celtic legion, and in a violent manner exclaimed 
 that it was a monstrous thing that he who had the day 
 before been by their will declared emperor should have 
 been privily assassinated. 
 
 20. When this was heard, the soldiers, as readily excited 
 by what they did not know as by what they did, began 
 to brandish their javelins, and draw their swords, and 
 (as is usual at times of sudden tumult) to flock from every 
 quarter in haste and disorder to the palace. The sentinels 
 were alarmed at the uproar, as were the tribunes and the 
 captain of the guard, and suspecting some treachery from 
 the fickle soldiery, they fled, fearing sudden death to them- 
 selves.
 
 AJ. 360.] THE TROOPS RETURN TO PARIS. 221 
 
 21. When all before them seemed tranquil, the soldiers 
 stood quietly awhile ; and on being asked what was the 
 cause of their sudden and precipitate movement, they at 
 first hesitated, and then avowing their alarm for the safety 
 of the emperor, declared they would not retire till they 
 had been admitted into the council-chamber, and had seen 
 him safe in his imperial robes. 
 
 V. 
 
 1. WHEN the news of these events reached the troops, 
 whom we have spoken of as having already marched under 
 the command of Sintula, they returned with him quietly to 
 Paris. And an order having been isstied that the next 
 morning they should all assemble in the open space in 
 front of the camp, Julian advanced among them, and 
 ascended a tribunal more splendid than usual, surrounded 
 with the eagles, standards, and banners, and guarded by a 
 strong band of armed soldiers. 
 
 2. And after a moment's quiet, while he looked down 
 from his height on the countenances of those before him, 
 and saw them all full of joy and alacrity, he kindled their 
 loyalty with a few simple words, as with a trumpet. 
 
 3. " The difficulty of my situation, brave and faithful 
 champions of myself and of the republic, who have often 
 with me exposed your lives for the welfare of the pro- 
 vinces, requires that, since you have now by your resolute 
 decision raised me, your Caesar, to the highest of all dignities, 
 I should briefly set before you the state of affairs, in order 
 that safe and prudent remedies for their new condition may 
 be devised. 
 
 4. " While little more than a youth, as you well know, I 
 was for form's sake invested with the purple, and by the 
 decision of the emperor was intrusted to your protection. 
 Since that time I have never forgotten my resolution of a 
 virtuous life : I have been seen with you as the partner of 
 all your labours, when, in consequence of the diminution of 
 the confidence felt in us by the barbarians, terrible disas- 
 ters fell upon the empire, our cities being stormed, and 
 countless thousands of men being slain, and even the little 
 that was left to us being in a very tottering condition. I 
 think it superfluous to recapitulate how often, in the depth
 
 222 AMMIANUS MAECELLIXUS. [BK. XX. CH. v. 
 
 of winter, beneath a frozen sky, at a season when there is 
 usually a cessation from war both by land and sea, we 
 have defeated with heavy loss the Allemanni, previously 
 unconquered. 
 
 5. " One circumstance may neither be passed over nor 
 suppressed. On that glorious day which we saw at Stras- 
 burg, which brought perpetual liberty to Gaul, we together, 
 I throwing myself among the thickly falling darts, and you 
 being invincible by your vigour and experience, repelled 
 the enemy who poured upon us like a torrent ; slaying 
 them as we did with the sword, or driving them to be 
 drowned in the river, with very little loss of our own men, 
 whose funerals we celebrated with glorious panegyrics 
 rather than with mourning. 
 
 6. "It is my belief that after such mighty achievements 
 posterity will not be silent respecting your services to the 
 republic, in every country, if you now, in case of any 
 danger or misfortune, vigorously support with your valour 
 and resolution me whom you have raised to the lofty dig- 
 nity of emperor. 
 
 7. "But to maintain things in their due order, so as to 
 preserve to brave men their well-merited rewards and 
 prevent underhand ambition from forestalling your honours, 
 I make this rule in the honourable presence of your counsel, 
 That no civil or military officer shall be promoted from any 
 other consideration than that of his own merits ; and he 
 shall be disgraced who solicits promotion for any one on 
 any other ground." 
 
 8. The lower class of soldiers, who had long been de- 
 prived of rank or reward, were encouraged by this speech 
 to entertain better hopes, and now rising up with a great 
 noise, and beating their shields with their spears, they 
 with unanimous shouts showed their approbation of his 
 language and purpose. 
 
 9. And that no opportunity, however brief, might be 
 afforded to disturb so wise an arrangement, the Petu- 
 lantes and Celtic legion immediately besought him, on 
 behalf of their commissaries, to give them the govern- 
 ment of any provinces he pleased, and when he refusod 
 them, they retired without being either offended or out of 
 humour. 
 
 10. But the very night before the day on which he was
 
 A.D. 360.] ADVANCE OF THE KING OF PERSIA. 223 
 
 thus proclaimed emperor, Julian had mentioned to his 
 most intimate friends that during his slumbers some one 
 had appeared to him in a dream, in the form and habit of 
 the genius of the empire, who uttered these words in a 
 tone of reproach: "For some time, Julian, have I been 
 secretly watching the door of thy palace, wishing to in- 
 crease thy dignity, and I have often retired as one rejected ; 
 bjjt if I am not now admitted, when the opinion of the 
 many is unanimous, I shall retire discouraged and sorrow- 
 ful. But lay this up in the depth of thy heart, that I will 
 dwell with thee no longer." 
 
 VI. 
 
 1. WHILE these transactions were proceeding in Gaul, 
 to the great anxiety of many, the fierce king of Persia (the 
 advice of Antoninus being now seconded by the arrival 
 of Craugasius), burning with eagerness to obtain Meso- 
 potamia, while Constantius with his army was at a dis- 
 tance, crossed the Tigris in due form with a vast army, 
 and laid siege to Singara with a thoroughly equipped force, 
 sufficient for the siege of a town which, in the opinion of 
 the chief commanders of those regions, was abundantly 
 fortified and supplied. 
 
 2. The garrison, as soon as they saw the enemy, while 
 still at a distance, at once closed their gates, and with 
 great spirit thronged to the towers and battlements, collect- 
 ing on them stones and warlike engines. And then, having 
 made all their preparations, they stood prepared to repel 
 the advancing host if they should venture to approach the 
 walls. 
 
 3. Therefore the king, when he arrived and found that, 
 though they would admit some of his nobles near enough 
 to confer with them, he could not, by any conciliatory lan- 
 guage, bend the garrison to his wishes, he gave one entire 
 day to rest, and then, at daybreak, on a signal made by the 
 raising of a scarlet flag, the whole city was surrounded by 
 men carrying ladders, while others began to raise engines ; 
 all being protected by fences and penthouses while seeking 
 a way to assail the foundation of the walls. 
 
 4. Against these attempts the citizens, standing on the 
 lofty battlements, drove back with stones and every kind
 
 22-i AMMIANUS MAKCELLINUS. [BK. XX. CH. vi. 
 
 of missile the assailants who were seeking with great 
 ferocity to find an entrance. 
 
 5. For many days the struggle continued without any 
 decided result, many being wounded and killed on both 
 sides. At last, the struggle growing fiercer, one day on 
 the approach of evening a very heavy battering-ram was 
 brought forward among other engines, which battered a 
 round tower with repeated blows, at a point where we 
 mentioned that the city had been laid open in a former 
 siege. 
 
 6. The citizens at once repaired to this point, and a 
 violent conflict arose in this small space ; torches and fire- 
 brands were brought from all quarters to consume this 
 formidable engine, while arrows and bullets were showered 
 down without cessation on the assailants. But the keen- 
 ness of the ram prevailed over every means of defence, 
 digging through the mortar of the recently cemented stones, 
 which was still moist and unsettled. 
 
 7. And while the contest was thus proceeding with fire 
 and sword, the tower fell, and a path was opened into the 
 city, the place being stripped of its defenders, whom the 
 magnitude of the danger had scattered. The Persian bands 
 raised a wild shout, and without hindrance filled every 
 quarter of the city. A very few of the inhabitants were 
 slain, and all the rest, by command of Sapor, were taken 
 alive and transported to the most distant regions of Persia. 
 
 8. There had been assigned for the protection of this city 
 two legions, the first Flavian and the first Parthian, and a 
 great body of native troops, as well as a division of auxi- 
 liary cavalry which had been shut up in it through the 
 suddenness of the attack made upon it, All of these, as I 
 have said, were taken prisoners, without receiving any 
 assistance from our armies. 
 
 9. For the greater part of our army was in tents taking 
 care of Xisibis, which was at a considerable distance. But 
 even if it had not been so, no one even in ancient times 
 could easily bring aid to Singara when in danger, since the 
 whole country around laboured under a scarcity of water. 
 And although a former generation had placed this fort very 
 advisedly, to check sudden movements of hostility, yet it 
 was a great burden to the state, having been several times 
 taken, and always involving the loss of its garrison
 
 A.&.300.] SAPOR ADVANCES. 225 
 
 VII. 
 
 1. AFTEK Singara had fallen, Sapor prudently avoided 
 Nisibis, recollecting the losses which he had several times 
 sustained before it, and turned to the right by a circuitous 
 path, hoping either to subdue by force or to win by bribes 
 the garrison of Bezabde, which its founders also called 
 Shcenice, and to make himself master of that town, which 
 is an exceedingly strong fortress, placed on a hill of 
 moderate height, and close to the banks of the Tigris, 
 having a double wall, as many places have which from their 
 situation are thought to be especially exposed. For its de- 
 fence three legions had been assigned ; the second Flavian, 
 the second Armenian, and the second Parthian, with a 
 large body of archers of the Zabdiceni, a tribe subject to 
 us, in whose territory this town was situated. 
 
 2. At the beginning of the siege, the king, with an 
 escort of glittering cuirassiers, himself taller than any of 
 them, rode entirely round the camp, coming up boldly to 
 the very edge of the fosse, where he was at once a mark for 
 the unerring bullets of the balistae, and arrows ; but he was 
 so completely covered with thick scale -armour that he 
 retired unhurt. 
 
 3. Then laying aside his anger, he sent some heralds 
 with all due solemnity, courteously inviting the besieged 
 to consult the safety of their lives, and seeing the despe- 
 rateness of their situation, to put an end to the siege by a 
 timely surrender ; to open their gates and come forth, pre- 
 senting themselves as suppliants before the conqueror of 
 nations. 
 
 4. When these messengers approached the walls, the garri- 
 son spared them because they had with them some men of 
 noble birth, who had been made prisoners at Singara, and 
 were well known to the citizens ; and out of pity to them no 
 one shot an arrow, though they would give no reply to the 
 proposal of peace. 
 
 5. Then a truce being made for a day and night, before 
 dawn on the second day the entire force of the Persians 
 attacked the palisade with ferocious threats and cries, 
 coming up boldly to the walls, where a fierce contest 
 ensued, the citizens resisting with great vigour. 
 
 Q
 
 226 AMMIANUS MARCELUNC=. [BK. XX. CH. VIL 
 
 6. So that many of the Parthians l were wounded, 
 because some of them carrying ladders, and others wicker 
 screens, advanced as it were blindfold, and were not spared 
 by our men. For the clouds of arrows flew thickly, 
 piercing the enemy packed in close order. At last, after 
 sunset the two sides separated, having suffered about equal 
 loss : and the next day before dawn the combat was re- 
 newed with greater vehemence than before, the trumpets 
 cheering the men on both sides, and again a terrible 
 slaughter of each took place, both armies struggling with 
 the most determined obstinacy. 
 
 7. But on the following day both armies by common 
 consent rested from their terrible exertions, the defenders 
 of the walls and the Persians being equally dismayed. 
 When a Christian priest made sign by gestures that he 
 desired to go forth, and having received a promise that he 
 should be allowed to return in safety, he advanced to the 
 king's tent. 
 
 8. When he was permitted to speak, he, with gentle 
 language, urged the Persians to depart to their own country, 
 affirming that after the losses each side had sustained they 
 had reason perhaps to fear even greater disasters in future. 
 But these and other similar arguments were uttered to no 
 purpose. The fierce madness of the king robbing them of 
 their effect, as Sapor swore positively that he would never 
 retire till he had destroyed our camp. 
 
 9. Nevertheless a groundless suspicion was whispered 
 against the bishop, wholly false in my opinion, though 
 supported by the assertions of many, that he had secretly 
 informed Sapor what part of the wall to attack, as being 
 internally slight and weak. Though the suspicion derived 
 some corroboration from the fact that afterwards the 
 engines of the enemy were carefully and with great ex- 
 ultation directed against the places which were weakest, 
 or most decayed, as if those who worked them were ac- 
 quainted with what parts were most easily penetrable. 
 
 10. And although the narrowness of the causeway made 
 the approach to the walls hard, and though the battering- 
 rams when equipped were brought forward with great 
 difficulty, from fear of the stones and arrows hurled upon 
 
 1 It may be remarked that Ammianus continually uses the words Per- 
 sian and Parthian as synonymous.
 
 *..D. 360.] SIEGE OF BEZABDE. 227 
 
 the assailants by the besieged, still neither the balistse nor 
 the scorpions rested a moment, the first shooting javelins, 
 and the latter hurling showers of stones, and baskets on 
 fire, smeared with pitch and tar ; and as these were per- 
 petually rolled down, the engines halted as if rooted to 
 the ground, and fiery darts and firebrands well-aimed set 
 them on fire. 
 
 11. Still while this was going on, and numbers were 
 'falling on both sides, the besiegers were the more eager to 
 
 destroy a town, strong both by its natural situation and its 
 powerful defences, before the arrival of winter, thinking it 
 impossible to appease the fury of their king if they should 
 fail. Therefore neither abundant bloodshed nor the sight 
 of numbers of their comrades pierced with deadly wounds 
 could deter the rest from similar audacity. 
 
 12. But for a long time, fighting with absolute desperation, 
 they exposed themselves to imminent danger ; while those 
 who worked the battering-rams were prevented from ad- 
 vancing by the vast weight of millstones, and all kinds of 
 fiery missiles hurled against them. 
 
 13. One battering-ram was higher than the rest, and was 
 covered with bull's hides wetted, and being therefore safer 
 from any accident of fire, or from lighted javelins, it 
 led the way in the attacks on the wall with mighty blows, 
 and with its terrible point it dug into the joints of the 
 stones till it overthrew the tower. The tower fell with a 
 mighty crash, and those in it were thrown down with a 
 sudden jerk, and breaking their limbs, or being buried 
 beneath the ruins, perished by various and unexpected 
 kinds of death ; then, a safer entrance having been thus 
 found, the multitude of the enemy poured in with their 
 arms. 
 
 14. While the wai'-cry of the Persians sounded in the 
 trembling ears of the defeated garrison, a fierce battls 
 within the narrower bounds raged within the walls, while 
 bands of our men and of the enemy fought hand to hand, 
 being jammed together, with swords drawn on both sides, 
 and no quarter given. 
 
 15. At last the besieged, after making head with mighty 
 exertion against the destruction which long seemed 
 doubtful, were overwhelmed with the weight of the 
 countless host which pressed upon them. And the swords
 
 228 AMMIAXUS MARCELLINUS. [Bic. XX. CH. via. 
 
 of the furious foe out down all they could find ; children 
 were torn from their mother's bosom, and the mothers 
 were slain, no one regarding what he did. Among these 
 mournful scenes the Persians, devoted to plunder, loaded 
 with every kind of booty, and driving before them a 
 vast multitude of piisoners, returned in triumph to their 
 tents. 
 
 16. But the king, elated with insolence and triumph, 
 having long been desirous to obtain possession of Phoenice, 
 as a most important fortress, did not retire till he had re- 
 paired in the strongest manner that portion of the walls 
 which had been shaken, and till he had stocked it with 
 ample magazines of provisions, and placed in it a garrison 
 of men noble by birth and eminent for their skill in war. 
 For he feared (what indeed happened) that the Eomans, 
 being indignant at the loss of this their grand camp, would 
 exert themselves with all their might to recover it. 
 
 17. Then, being full of exultation, and cherishing 
 greater hopes than ever of gaining whatever he desired, 
 after taking a few forts of small importance, he prepared to 
 attack Victa, a very ancient fortress, believed to have been 
 founded by Alexander, the Macedonian, situated on the 
 most distant border of Mesopotamia, and surrounded with 
 winding walls full of projecting angles, and so well fur- 
 nished at all points as to be almost unassailable. 
 
 18. And when he had tried every expedient against it, 
 at one time trying to bribe the garrison with promises, at 
 another to terrify them with threats of torture, and em- 
 ploying all kinds of engines such as are used in sieges, 
 after sustaining more injury than he inflicted, he at last 
 retired from his unsuccessful enterprise. 
 
 VIII. 
 
 1. THESE were the events of this year between the Tigris 
 and the Euphrates. And when frequent intelligence of 
 them had reached Constantius, who was in continual dread 
 of Parthian expeditions, and was passing the winter at 
 Constantinople, he devoted greater care than ever to 
 strengthening his frontiers with every kind of warlike 
 equipment, lie collected veterans, and enlisted recruits, 
 and increased the legions with reinforcements of vigorous
 
 A.D. 360.] JULIAN WINTERS AT PARIS. 229 
 
 youths, who had already repeatedly signalized their valour 
 in the battles of the eastern campaigns : and beside these 
 he collected auxiliary forces from among the Scythians by 
 xirgent requests and promises of pay, in order to set out 
 from Thrace in the spring, and at once march to the dis- 
 turbed provinces. 
 
 2. During the same time Julian, who was wintering at 
 fc Paris, alarmed at the prospect of the ultimate issue of the 
 
 events in that district, became full of anxiety, feeling sure, 
 after deep consideration, that Constantius would never 
 give his consent to what had been done in his case, since 
 he had always disdained him as a person of no importance. 
 
 3. Therefore, after much reflection on the somewhat 
 disturbed beginning which the present novel state of 
 affairs showed, he determined to send envoys to him to 
 relate all that had taken place ; and he gave them letters 
 setting forth fully what had been done, and what ought to 
 be done next, supporting his recommendations by proofs. 
 
 4. Although in reality he believed that the emperor 
 was already informed of all, from the report of Decentius, 
 who had returned to him some time before ; and of the 
 chamberlains who had recently gone back from Gaul, 
 after having brought him some formal orders. And 
 all hough he was not in reality vexed at his promotion, 
 still he avoided all arrogant language in his letters, that he 
 might not appear to have suddenly shaken off his authority. 
 Now the following was the purport of his letters. 
 
 5. "I have at all times been of the same mind, and 
 have adhered to my original intentions, not less by my 
 conduct than by my promises, as far as lay in my power, 
 as has been abundantly plain from repeated actions of 
 mine. 
 
 6. " And up to this time, since you created me Caesar, 
 and exposed me to the din of war, contented with the 
 power you conferred on me, as a faithful officer I have 
 sent you continued intelligence of all your affairs proceed- 
 ing according to your wishes ; never speaking of my own 
 dangers ; though it can easily be proved, that, while the 
 Germans have been routed in every direction, I have 
 always been the first in all toils and the last to allow 
 myself any rest. 
 
 7. " But allow me to say, that if any violent change has
 
 230 AMMIANUS MARCELLIXUS. [BK. XX. CH. vm. 
 
 taken place, as you think, the soldier who has been passing 
 his life in many terrible wars without reward, has only 
 completed what he has long had under consideration, 
 being indignant and impatient at being only under a chief 
 of the second class, as knowing that from a Caesar no 
 adequate reward for his continued exertions and frequent 
 victories could possibly be procured. 
 
 8. " And while angry at the feeling that he could 
 neither expect promotion nor annual pay, he had this 
 sudden aggravation to his discontent, that he, a man used 
 to cold climates, was ordered to march to the most remote 
 districts of the East, to be separated from his wife and 
 children, and to be dragged away in want and nakedness. 
 This made him fiercer than usual ; and so the troops one 
 night collected and laid siege to the palace, saluting 
 with loud and incessant outcries Julian as emperor. 
 
 9. " I shuddered at their boldness, I confess, and 
 withdrew myself. And retiring while I could, I sought 
 safety in concealment and disguise and as they would not 
 desist, armed, so to say, with the shield of my own free 
 heart, I came out before them all, thinking that the tumult 
 might be appeased by authority, or by conciliatory language. 
 
 10. " They became wonderfully excited, and proceeded 
 to such lengths that, when I endeavoured to overcome 
 their pertinacity with my entreaties, they came close up 
 to me, threatening me with instant death. At last I was 
 overcome, and arguing with myself that if I were mur- 
 dered by them some one else would willingly accept the 
 dignity of emperor, I consented, hoping thus to pacify 
 their armed violence. 
 
 11. " This is the plain account of what has been done; 
 and I entreat you to listen to it with mildness. Do not 
 believe that anything else is the truth ; and do not listen to 
 malignant men who deal in mischievous whispers, always 
 eager to seek their own gain by causing ill will between 
 princes. Banish flattery, which is the nurse of vice, and 
 listen to the voice of that most excellent of all virtues, 
 justice. And receive with good faith the equitable con- 
 dition which I propose, considering in your mind that 
 such things are for the interest of the Roman state, and of 
 TIS also who are united by affection of blood, and by an 
 equality of superior fortune.
 
 A.D. 360.] LETTER OF JULIAX. 231 
 
 12. "And pardon me. These reasonable requests of mine 
 I am not so anxious to see carried out, as to see them 
 approved by you as expedient and proper ; and I shall 
 with eagerness follow all your instructions. 
 
 13. " What requires to be done I will briefly explain. 
 I will provide you some Spanish draught horses, and some 
 youths to mingle with the Gentiles and Scutarii of the 
 ietian tribe, a race of barbarians on the side of the Ehine ; 
 or else of those people which have come over to our 
 side. And I promise till the end of my life to do all 
 I can to assist you, not only with gratitude, but with 
 eagerness. 
 
 14. " Your clemency will appoint us prefects for our 
 prgetorium of known equity and virtue : the appointment 
 of the ordinary judges, and the promotion of the military 
 officers it is fair should be left to me ; as also the selection 
 of my guard. For it would be unreasonable, when it is 
 possible to be guarded against, that those persons should 
 be placed about an emperor of whose manners and in- 
 clinations he is ignorant. 
 
 15. " These things I can further assure you of positively. 
 The Gauls will neither of their own accord, nor by any 
 amount of compulsion, be brought to send recruits to 
 foreign and distant countries, since they have been long 
 harassed by protracted annoyances and heavy disasters, 
 lest the youth of the nation should be destroyed, and the 
 whole people, while recollecting their past sufferings, 
 j-hould abandon themselves to despair for the future. 
 
 16. " Nor is it fit to seek from hence assistance against 
 the Parthians, when even now the attempts of the bar- 
 barians against this land are not brought to an end, and 
 while, if you will suffer me to tell the truth, these pro- 
 vinces are still exposed to continual dangers on being de- 
 prived of all foreign or adequate assistance. 
 
 17. "In speaking thus, I do think I have written to you 
 in a manner suited to the interests of the state, both in my 
 demanda and my entreaties. For I well know, not to 
 speak in a lofty tone, though such might not misbecome an 
 emperor, what wretched states of affairs, even when utterly 
 desperate and given up, have been before now retrieved 
 and re-established by the agreement of princes, each 
 yielding reciprocally to one another. While it is also
 
 232 ASIMIANUS MARCELLINUS. [BK. XX. CH. vm. 
 
 plain from the example of our ancestors, that rulers who 
 acknowledge and act upon such principles do somehow 
 ever find the means of living prosperously and happily, and 
 leave behind them to the latest posterity an enviable 
 fame." 
 
 18. To these letters he added others of a more secret 
 purport, to be given privily to Constantius, in which he 
 blamed and reproached him ; though their exact tenor was 
 not fit to be known, nor if known, fit to be divulged to the 
 public. 
 
 19. For the office of delivering these letters, men of 
 great dignity were chosen ; namely, Pentadius, the master 
 of the ceremonies, and Eutherius, at that time the principal 
 chamberlain ; who were charged, after they had delivered 
 the letters, to relate what they had seen, without suppress- 
 ing anything ; and to take their own measures boldly on 
 all future emergencies which might arise. 
 
 20. In the mean time the flight of Florentius, the pre- 
 fect, aggravated the envy with which these circumstances 
 were regarded. For he, as if he foresaw the commotion 
 likely to arise, as might be gathered from general conver- 
 sation, from the act of sending for the troops, had departed 
 for Vienne (being also desirous to get out of the way of 
 Julian, whom he had often slandered), pretending to be 
 compelled to this journey for the sake of providing supplies 
 for the army. 
 
 21. Afterwards, when he had heard of Julian's being 
 raised to the dignity of emperor, being greatly alarmed, 
 and giving up almost all hope of saving his life, he availed 
 himself of his distance from Julian to escape from the 
 evils which he suspected ; and leaving behind him all his 
 family, he proceeded by slow journeys to Constantius ; and 
 to prove his own innocence he brought forward many 
 charges of rebellion against Julian. 
 
 22. And after his departure, Julian, adopting wise mea- 
 sures, and wishing it to be known that, even if he had 
 him in his power, he would have spared him, allowed his 
 relations to take with them all their property, and even 
 granted them the use of the public conveyances to retire 
 with safety to the East.
 
 A.D.360.] DISPLEASURE OF CONSTANTIUS. 233 
 
 IX. 
 
 1. THE envoys whom I have mentioned took equal care 
 to discharge their orders ; but while eager to pursue their 
 journey they were Tinjustly detained by some of the 
 superior magistrates on their road ; and having been long 
 and vexatiously delayed in Italy and Illyricum, they at 
 last passed the Bosphorus, and advancing by slow journeys, 
 they found Constantius still staying at Csesarea in Cappa- 
 docia, a town formerly known as Mazaca, admirably situ- 
 ated at the foot of Mount. Argseus, and of high reputation. 
 
 2. Being admitted to the presence, they received permis- 
 sion to present their letters ; but when they were read the 
 emperor became immoderately angry, and looking askance 
 at them so as to make them fear for their lives, he ordered 
 them to be gone without asking them any questions or 
 permitting them to speak. 
 
 3. But in spite of his anger he was greatly perplexed 
 to decide whether to move those troops whom he could 
 trust against the Persians, or against Julian ; and while 
 he was hesitating, and long balancing between the two 
 plans, he yielded to the useful advice of some of his 
 counsellors, and ordered the army to march to the East. 
 
 4. Immediately also he dismissed the envoys, and ordered 
 his quaestor Leonas to go with all speed with letters from 
 him. to Julian ; in which he asserted that he himself would 
 permit no innovators, and recommended Julian, if he had 
 any regard for his own safety or that of his relations, to 
 lay aside his arrogance, and resume the rank of Csesar. 
 
 5. And, in order to alarm him by the magnitude of his 
 preparations, as if he really was possessed of great power, 
 he appointed Nebridius, who was at that time Julian's 
 quaestor, to succeed Florentius as prefect of the prsetorium, 
 and made Felix the secretary, master of the ceremonies, 
 with several other appointments. Guraoharius, the com- 
 mander of the heavy infantry, he had already appointed 
 to succeed Lupicinus, before any of these events were 
 known. 
 
 6. Accordingly Leonas reached Paris, and was there 
 received as an honourable and discreet man ; and the next 
 day, when Julian had proceeded into the plain in front of
 
 234 AMMIAXUS MARCKLLINCJS. [Bs. XX. CH. x, 
 
 the camp with a great multitude of soldiers and common 
 people, which he had ordered to assemble on purpose, he 
 mounted a tribune, in order from that high position to be 
 more conspicuous, and desired Leonas to present his 
 letters ; and when he had opened the edict which had 
 been sent, and began to read it, as soon as he arrived at 
 the passage that Constantius disapproved of all that had 
 been done, and desired Julian to be content with the 
 power of a Caesar, a terrible shout was raised on all sides, 
 
 7. " Julian emperor, as has been decreed by the autho- 
 rity of the province, of the army, and of the republic, 
 which is indeed re-established, but which still dreads the 
 renewed attacks of the barbarians." 
 
 8. Leonas heard this, and, after receiving letters from 
 Julian, stating what had occurred, was dismissed in 
 safety : the only one of the emperor's appointments which 
 was allowed to take effect was that of Xebridius, which 
 Julian in his letters had plainly said would be in accord- 
 ance with his wishes. For he himself had some time 
 before appointed Anatolius to be master of the ceremonies, 
 having been formerly his private secretary ; and he had 
 also made such other appointments as seemed useful and 
 safe. 
 
 9. And since, while matters were going on in this 
 matter, Lupicinus, as being a proud and arrogant man, 
 was an object of fear, though absent and still in Britain ; 
 and since there was a suspicion that if he heard of these 
 occurrences while on the other side of the channel, he 
 might cause disorders in the island, a secretary was sent 
 to Boulogne to take care that no one should be allowed to 
 cross ; and as that was contrived, Lupicinus returned with- 
 out hearing of any of these matters, and so had no oppor- 
 tunity of giving trouble. 
 
 X. 
 
 1 . BUT Julian, being gratified at his increase of rank, 
 and at the confidence of the soldiers in him, not to let 
 his good fortune cool, or to give any colour for charging 
 him with inactivity or indolence, after he had sent his 
 envoys to Constantius, marched to the frontier of the pro- 
 vince of lower Germany ; and having with him all the force
 
 A.D. 360.] JULIAN CROSSES THE RHINE. 235 
 
 which the business in hand demanded, he approached the 
 town of Santon. 1 
 
 2. Then crossing the Rhine, he suddenly entered the 
 district belonging to a Frank tribe, called the Attuarii, 
 men of a turbulent character, who at that very moment 
 were licentiously plundering the districts of Gaul. He 
 attacked them unexpectedly while they were apprehensive 
 of_no hostile measures, but were reposing in fancied se- 
 curity, relying on the ruggedness and difficulty of the 
 roads which led into their country, and which no prince 
 within their recollection had ever penetrated. He, how- 
 ever, easily surmounted all difficulties, and having put 
 many to the sword and taken many prisoners, he granted 
 the survivors peace at their request, thinking such a course 
 best for their neighbours. 
 
 3. Then with equal celerity he repassed the river, and 
 examining carefully the state of the garrisons on the fron- 
 tier, and putting them in a proper state, he marched 
 towards Basle ; and having recovered the places which the 
 barbarians had taken and still retained in their hands, and 
 having carefully strengthened them, he went to Vienne, 
 passing through Besancon, and there took up his winter 
 quarters. 
 
 XI. 
 
 1. THESE were the events which took place in Gaul, and 
 while they were thus conducted with prudence and good 
 fortune, Constantius, having summoned Arsaces, king of 
 Armenia, and having received him with great courtesy, 
 advised and exhorted him to continue friendly and faithful 
 to us. 
 
 2. For he had heard that the king of Persia had often 
 tried by deceits and threats, and all kinds of stratagems, 
 to induce him to forsake the Eoman alliance and join his 
 party. 
 
 3. But he, vowing with many oaths that he would rather 
 lose his life than change his opinion, received ample rewards, 
 and returned to his kingdom with the retinue which he 
 brought with him ; and never ventured at any subsequent 
 time to break any of his promises, being bound by many 
 
 1 Santon is near Cleves.
 
 236 AMMIAXU5 MARCELLINUS. [BK. XX. CH. xi. 
 
 ties of gratitude to Constantius. The strongest tie of all 
 being that the emperor had given him for a wife, Qlympias, 
 the daughter of Abladius, formerly prefect of the prse- 
 torium, who had once been betrothed to his own brother 
 Constans. 
 
 4. And when Arsaces had been dismissed, Constantius 
 left Cappadocia, and going by Melitina, a town of the 
 lesser Armenia, and Lacotene, and Sarnosata, he crossed 
 the Euphrates and arrived at Edessa. Stopping some time 
 in each town, while waiting for divisions of soldiers who 
 were flocking in from all quarters, and for sufficient sup- 
 plies of provisions. And after the autumnal equinox, he 
 proceeded onwards on his way to Amida. 
 
 5. When he approached the walls of that town, and saw 
 everything buried in ashes, he groaned and wept, recollect- 
 ing what sufferings the wretched city had suffered. And 
 Ursulus, the treasurer, who happened to be present, was 
 moved with indignation, and exclaimed, " Behold the 
 courage with which cities are defended by our soldiers ; 
 men for whose pay the whole wealth of the empire is 
 exhausted." This bitter speech the crowd of soldiers after- 
 wards recollected at Chalcedon, when they rose up and 
 destroyed him. 
 
 0. Then proceeding onward in close column, he reached 
 Bezabde, and having fixed his camp there, and fortified it 
 with a rampart and a deep fosse, as he took a long ride 
 round the camp, he satisfied himself, by the account which 
 he received from several persons, that those places in the 
 walls which the carelessness of ancient times had allowed 
 to become decayed, had been repaired so as to be stronger 
 than ever. 
 
 7. And, not to omit anything which was necessary to 
 do before the heat of the contest was renewed, he sent 
 prudent men to the garrison to offer them two conditions ; 
 either to withdraw to their own country, giving up what 
 did not belong to them, without causing bloodshed by 
 resistance, or else to become subjects of the Romans, in 
 which case they should receive rank and rewards. But 
 when they, with native obstinacy, resisted the demands as 
 became men of noble birth, who had been hardened by 
 dangers and labours, everything was prepared for the 
 siege,
 
 A.D. 360.] SIKGE OF BEZABDE. 237 
 
 8. Therefore ilie soldiers with alacrity, in dense order, 
 and cheered by the sound of trumpets, attacked every side 
 of the town ; and the legions, being protected by various 
 kinds of defences, advanced in safety, endeavouring by slow 
 degrees to overthrow the walls ; and because all kinds of 
 missiles were poured down upon them, which disjoined the 
 union of their shields, they fell back, the signal for a 
 rejjeat being given. 
 
 9. Then a truce was agreed upon for one day ; but the 
 day after, having protected themselves more skilfully, they 
 again raised their war-cry, and tried on every side to scale the 
 walls. And although the garrison, having stretched cloths 
 before them not to be distinguished, lay concealed within 
 the walls ; still, as often as necessity required, they boldly 
 put out their aims and hurled down stones and javelins on 
 their assailants below. 
 
 10. And while the wicker penthouses were advanced 
 boldly and brought close to the walls, the besieged dropped 
 upon them heavy casks and millstones, and fragments of 
 pillars, by the overpowering weight of which the assailants 
 were crushed, their defences torn to pieces, and wide open- 
 ings made in them, so that they incurred terrible dangers, 
 and were again forced to retreat. 
 
 11. Therefore, on the tenth day from the beginning of 
 the siege, when the confidence of our men began to fill the 
 town with alarm, we determined on bringing up a vast 
 battering-ram, which, after having destroyed Antioch with 
 it sometime before, the Persians had left at Carrhee ; and 
 as soon as that appeared, and was begun to be skilfully 
 set up, it cowed the spirits of the besieged, so that they 
 were almost on the point of surrendering, when they again 
 plucked up covirage and prepared means for resisting this 
 engine. 
 
 12. From this time neither their courage nor their inge- 
 nuity failed ; for as the ram was old, and it had been taken 
 to pieces for the facility of transporting it, so while it was 
 being put together again, it was attacked with great exer- 
 tions and vigour by the garrison, and defended with equal 
 valour and firmness by the besiegers ; and engines hurling 
 showers of stones, and slings, and missiles of all sorts, slew 
 numbers on each side. Meantime, high mounds rose up 
 with speedy growth ; and the siege grew fiercer and sterner
 
 238 AMMIANUS MARCELLINDS. [BK. XX. CH. xi. 
 
 daily ; many of our men being . slain because, fighting as 
 they were under the eye of the emperor, and eager for 
 reward, they took off their helmets in order to be the 
 more easily recognized, and so with bare heads, were an 
 easy mark for the skilful archers of the enemy. 
 
 13. The days and nights being alike spent in watching, 
 made each side the more careful ; and the Persians, being 
 alarmed at the vast height to which the mounds were now 
 carried, and at the enormous ram, which was accompanied 
 by others of smaller size, made great exertions to burn, 
 them, and kept continually shooting firebrands and incen- 
 diary missiles at them ; but their labour was vain, because 
 the chief part of them was covered with wet skins and 
 cloths, and some parts also had been steeped in alum, so 
 that the fire might fall harmless upon them. 
 
 14. But the Eomans, driving these rams on with great 
 courage, although they had difficulty in defending them- 
 selves, disregarded danger, however imminent, in the hope 
 of making themselves masters of the town. 
 
 15. And on the other hand, when the enormous ram was 
 brought against the tower to which it was applied, as if it 
 could at once throw it down, the garrison, ~by a clever 
 contrivance, entangled its projecting iron head, which in 
 shape was like that of a ram, with long cords on both 
 sides, to prevent its being drawn back and then driven for- 
 ward with great force, and to hinder it from making any 
 serious impression on the walls by repeated blows ; and 
 meanwhile they poured on it burning pitch, and for a long 
 time these engines were fixed at the point to which they 
 had been advanced, and exposed to all the stones and 
 javelins which were hurled from the walls. 
 
 16. By this time the mounds were raised to a consider- 
 able height, and the garrison, thinking that unless they 
 used extraordinary vigilance their destruction must be at 
 hand, resorted to extreme audacity ; and making an un- 
 expected sally from the gates, they attacked our front rank, 
 and with all their might hurled firebrands and iron braziers 
 loaded with fire against the rams. 
 
 17. But after a fierce but undecided conflict, the bulk of 
 them were driven within the walls, without having suc- 
 ceeded in their attempt ; and presently the battlements 
 were attacked from the mounds which the Eomans had
 
 AJ>.360.] SIEGE OF BEZABDE. 239 
 
 raised, with arrows and slings and lighted javelins, which 
 flew over the roofs of the towers, but did no harm, means 
 having been prepared to extinguish any flames. 
 
 18. And as the ranks on both sides became thinner, and 
 the Persians were now reduced to extremities unless 
 some aid could be found, they prepared with redoubled 
 energy a fresh sally from the camp : accordingly, they 
 made a sudden sally, supported by increased numbers, and 
 aTnong the armed men were many bearing torches, and 
 iron baskets full of fire, and faggots ; and all kinds of things 
 best adapted for setting fire to the works of the besiegers 
 were hurled against them. 
 
 19. And because the dense clouds of smoke obscured the 
 ight, when the trumpet gave the signal for battle, the 
 
 legions came up with quick step ; and as the eagerness of 
 the conflict grew hotter, after they had engaged, suddenly 
 all the engines, except the great ram, caught fire from the 
 flames which were hurled at them ; but the ropes which 
 held the chief ram were broken asunder, and that the 
 vigorous efforts of some gallant men saved when it was 
 half burnt. 
 
 20. When the darkness of night terminated the combat, 
 only a short time was allowed to the soldiers for rest; but 
 when they had been refreshed by a little food and sleep, 
 they were awakened by their captains, and ordered to re- 
 move their works away from the walls of the town, and 
 prepare to fight at closer quarters from the lofty mounds 
 which were untouched by the flames, and now commanded 
 the walls. And to drive the defenders from the walls, on 
 the summit of the mounds they stationed two balistae, in 
 fear of which they thought that none of the enemy would 
 venture even to look out. 
 
 21. After having taken these efficacious measures, a 
 triple line of our men, having a more threatening aspect 
 than usual from the nodding cones of their helmets (many 
 of them also bearing ladders), attempted about twilight to 
 scale the walls. Arms clashed and trumpets sounded, and 
 both sides fought with equal boldness and ardour. The 
 Eomans, extending their lines more widely, when they saw 
 the Persians hiding from fear of the engines which had been 
 stationed on the mounds, battered the wall with their ram, 
 and with spades, and axes, and levers, and ladders, pressed
 
 240 AMMIANUS MARCKLUNUS. [Bic. XX. CH. xi. 
 
 fiercely on, while missiles from each side flew without 
 ceasing. 
 
 22. But the Persians were especially pressed by the 
 various missiles shot from the balistte, which, from the 
 artificial mounds, came down upon them in torrents ; and 
 having become desperate, they rushed on, fearless of 
 death, and distributing their force as if at the last ex- 
 tremity, they left some to guard the walls, while the 
 rest, secretly opening a postern gate, rushed forth va- 
 liantly with drawn swords, followed by others who carried 
 concealed fire. 
 
 23. And while the Romans at one moment were pressing 
 on those who retreated, at another receiving the assault of 
 those who attacked them, those who carried the fire crept 
 round by a circuitous path, and pushed the burning coals 
 in among the interstices of one of the mounds, which was 
 made up of branches of trees, and rushes, and bundles of 
 reeds. This soon caught fire and was utterly destroyed, 
 the soldiers themselves having great difficulty in escaping 
 and saving their engines. 
 
 24. But when the approach of evening broke off the 
 conflict, and the two sides separated to snatch a brief 
 repose, the emperor, after due reflection, resolved to change 
 his plans. Although many reasons of great urgency pressed 
 him to force on the destruction of Phoenice, as of a fortress 
 which would prove an impregnable barrier to the inroads 
 of the enemy, yet the lateness of the season was an objec- 
 tion to persevering any longer. He determined, therefore, 
 while he preserved his position, to carry on the siege for 
 the future by slight skirmishes, thinking that the Persians 
 would be forced to surrender from want of provisions, 
 which, however, turned out very different. 
 
 25. For while the conflict was proceeding sharply, 
 the heavens became moist, and watery cloxids appeared 
 with threatening darkness ; and presently the ground got 
 BO wet from continual rain, that the whole country was 
 changed into an adhesive mud (for the soil is naturally 
 rich), and every plan was thrown into confusion ; mean- 
 time, thunder with incessant crashes and ceaseless light- 
 ning filled men's minds with fear. 
 
 26. To these portents were added continual rainbows. 
 A short explanation will serve to show how these appear-
 
 A.D. 360.] NATURE OF THE RAINBOW. 241 
 
 ances are formed. The vapours of the earth becoming 
 warmer, and the watery particles gathering in clouds, and 
 thence being dispersed in spray, and made brilliant by the 
 fusion of rays, turn upwards towards the fiery orb of the 
 sun, and form a rainbow, which sweeps round with a large 
 curve because it is spread over our world, which physical 
 investigations place on the moiety of a sphere. 
 
 27. Its appearance, as far as mortal sight can discern, is, 
 ~"in the first line yellow, in the second tawny, in the third 
 
 scarlet, in the fourth purple, and in the last a mixture of 
 blue and green. 
 
 28. And it is so tempered with this mixed beauty, as 
 mankind believe, because its first portion is discerned in 
 a thin diluted state, of the same colour as the air which 
 surrounds it ; the next line is tawny, that is a somewhat 
 richer colour than yellow ; the third is scarlet, because it 
 is opposite to the bright rays of the sun, and so pumps up 
 and appropriates, if one may so say, the most subtle portion 
 of its beams ; the fourth is purple, because the density of 
 the spray by which the splendour of the sun's rays is 
 quenched shines between, and so it assumes a colour near 
 that of flame ; and as that colour is the more diffused, it 
 shades off into blue and green. 
 
 29. Others think that the rainbow is caused by the rays 
 of the sun becoming infused into some dense cloud, and 
 pouring into it a liquid light, which, as it can find no 
 exit, falls back upon itself, and shines the more brilliantly 
 because of a kind of attrition ; and receives those hues 
 which are most akin to white from the sun above ; its 
 green hues from the cloud under which it lies, as often 
 happens in the sea, where the waters which beat upon the 
 shore are white, and those farther from the land, which, 
 as being so, are more free from any admixture, are blue. 
 
 30. And since it is an indication of a change in the 
 atmosphere (as we have already said), when in a clear sky 
 sudden masses of clouds appear, or on the other hand, when 
 the sky changed from a gloomy look to a joyful serenity, 
 therefore we often read in the poets that Iris is sent from 
 heaven when a change is required in the condition of any 
 present affairs. There are various other opinions which it 
 would be superfluous now to enumerate, since my narration 
 must hasten back to the point from which it digressed.
 
 242 AMMIANUS MARCKLLIXUS. [BK. XXI. 
 
 31. By these and similar events the emperor was kept 
 wavering between hope and fear, as the severity of 
 winter was increasing, and he suspected ambuscades in the 
 country, which was destitute of roads ; fearing also, among 
 other things, the discontent of the exasperated soldiers. 
 And it further goaded his unquiet spirit to return balked 
 of his purpose, after, as it were, the door of the rich mansion 
 was opened to him. 
 
 32. However, giving up his enterprise as fruitless, he 
 returned into the unwelcome Syria, to winter at Antioch, 
 after having suffered a succession of melancholy disasters. 
 For, as if some unfriendly constellation so governed 
 events, Constantius himself, while warring with the Per- 
 sians, was always attended by adverse fortune ; on which 
 account he hoped at least to gain victories by means 
 of his generals ; and this, as we remember, usually hap- 
 pened. 
 
 BOOK XXL 
 
 ARGUMF.XT. 
 
 I. The Emperor Julian at Vienne learns that Constantius is about to 
 die How he knew it An essay on the different arts of learning 
 the future. II. Julian at Vienne feigns to be a Christian in order 
 to conciliate the multitude, and on a day of festival worships Go<l 
 among the Christians. III. Vadomarius, king of the Allemanni, 
 breaking his treaty, lays waste our frontier, and slays Count 
 Libino, with a few of his men. IV. Julian having intercepted 
 letters of Vadomarius to the Emperor Constantius, contrives to 
 have him seized at a banquet ; and having slain some of the Alle- 
 manni, and compelled others to surrender, grants the rest peace 
 at their entreaty. Julian harangues his soldiers, and makes them 
 all promise obedience to him, intending to make war upon the 
 Emperor Constantius. VI. Constantius marries Faustina In- 
 creases his army by fresh levies ; gains over the kings of Armenia 
 and Hiberia by gifts. VII. Constantius, at that time at Antioch, 
 retains Africa in his power by means of his- secretary Gaudentius ; 
 crosses the Euphrates, and moves with his army upon Edessa. 
 VIII. After settling the affairs of Gaul, Julian marches to the 
 Danube, sending on before a part of his army through Italy aud
 
 A.D. 360.] PLAXS OF jrjLIAX. 243 
 
 the Tyrol. IX. Taurus arid Florentius, consuls, and prefects of 
 the prajtorium, fly at the approach of Julian, the one through 
 Illyricum, the other through Italy Lucillianus, the com- 
 mander of the cavalry, who was preparing to resist Julian, is 
 crushed by him. X. Julian receives the allegiance of Sirmium, 
 the capital of Western Illyricum, and of its garrison Occupies 
 the country of the Sacci, and writes to the senate letters of com- 
 plaint against Constantius. XI. Two of the legions of Constantius 
 which at Sirmium had passed over to Julian are sent by him into 
 - . Gaul, and occupy Aquileia, with the consent of the citizens, 
 who, however, shut their gates against the troops of Julian. 
 
 XII. Aquileia takes the part of Constantius, and is besieged, but 
 presently, when news of his death arrives, surrenders to Julian. 
 
 XIII. Sapor leads back his army home, because the auspices forbid 
 war Constantius, intending to march against Julian, harangues 
 his soldiers. XIV. Omens of the death of Constantius. 
 XV. Constantius dies at Mopsucrensa in Ciiicia. XVI. His vir- 
 tues and vices. 
 
 I. 
 
 A.D. 360. 
 
 1. WHILE Constantius was detained by this perplexing 
 war beyond the Euphrates, Julian at Vienne devoted his 
 days and nights to forming plans for the future, as far as 
 his limited resources would allow ; being in great suspense, 
 and continually doubting whether to try every expedient 
 to win Constantius over to friendship, or to anticipate his 
 attack, with the view of alarming him. 
 
 2. And while anxiously considering these points he 
 feared him, as likely to be in the one case a cruel friend, 
 while in the other case he recollected that he had always 
 been successful in civil disturbances. Above all things 
 his anxiety was increased by the example of his brother 
 Gallus, who had been betrayed by his own want of caution 
 and the perjured deceit of certain individxials. 
 
 3. Nevertheless he often raised himself to ideas of 
 energetic action, thinking it safest to show himself as an 
 avowed enemy to him whose movements he could, as a pru- 
 dent man, judge of only from his past actions, in order nut 
 to be entrapped by secret snares founded on pretended 
 friendship. 
 
 4. Therefore, paying little attention to the letters which 
 Constantius had sent by Leonas, and admitting none of his 
 appointments with the exception of that of Nebridius, he
 
 244 AMMIANUS MARCELLINUS. [BK. XXI. CH. r. 
 
 now celebrated the Quinquennalia 1 as emperor, and wore a 
 splendid diadem inlaid with precious stones, though when 
 first entering on that power he had worn but a paltry- 
 looking crown like that of a president of the public 
 games. 
 
 5. At this time also he sent the body of his wife Helen, 
 recently deceased, to Eonie, to be buried in the suburb on 
 the road to Nornentum, where also Constantina, his sister- 
 in-law, the wife of Callus, had been buried. 
 
 6. His desire to march against Constantius, now that 
 Gaul was tranquillized, was inflamed by the belief which 
 he bad adopted from many omens (in the interpretation of 
 which he had great skill), and from dreams that the 
 emperor would soon die. 
 
 7. And since malignant people have attributed to this 
 prince, so erudite and so eager to acquire all knowledge, 
 wicked practices for the purpose of learning future events, 
 we may here briefly point out how this important branch 
 of learning may be acquired by a wise man. 
 
 8. The spirit which directs all the elements, and which 
 at all times and throughout all places exercises its activity 
 by the movement of these eternal bodies, can communicate 
 to us the capacity of foreseeing the future by the sciences 
 which we attain through various kinds of discipline. And 
 the ruling powers, when properly propitiated, as from 
 everlasting springs, supply mankind with words of pro- 
 phecy, over which the deity of Themis is said to preside, 
 and which, because she teaches men to know what has been 
 settled for the future by the law of Fate, has received that 
 name from the Greek word redei/mtva ("fixed"), and has 
 been placed by ancient theologians in the bed and on the 
 throne of Jupiter, who gives life to all the world. 
 
 9. Auguries and auspices are not collected from the will 
 of birds who are themselves ignorant of the future (for 
 there is no one so silly as to say they understand it) ; but 
 God directs the flight of birds, so that the sound of their 
 beaks, or the motion of their feathers, whether quiet or 
 disturbed, indicates the character of the future. For the 
 
 1 The Quinquennalia (games under which title had been previously 
 instituted in honour of Julius Caesar and Augustus) were revived by 
 Nero, A.D. 60, again fell into disuse, and were again revived by Do- 
 mitian. Of. Tacit. An. xiv. 20.
 
 A.P. 360.] MODES OF AUGURY. 245 
 
 kindness of the deity, whether it be that men deserve it, 
 or that he is touched by affection for them, likes by these 
 acts to give information of what is impending. 
 
 10. Again, those who attend to the prophetic entrails of 
 cattle, which often take all kinds of shapes, learn from 
 them what happens. Of this practice a man called Tages 
 was the inventor, who, as is reported, was certainly seen 
 p f rise up out of the earth in the district of Etruria. 
 
 11. Men too, when their hearts are in a state of excite- 
 ment, foretell the future, but then they are speaking under 
 divine inspiration. For the sun, which is, as natural 
 philosophers say, the mind of the world, and which scatters 
 our minds among us as sparks proceeding from itself, when 
 it has inflamed them with more than usual vehemence, 
 renders them conscious of the future. From which the 
 Sibyls often say they are burning and fired by a vast 
 power of flames ; and with reference to these cases the sound 
 of voices, various signs, thunder, lightning, thunderbolts, 
 and falling- stars, have a great significance. 
 
 12. But the belief in dreams would be strong and un- 
 doubted if the interpreters of them were never deceived ; 
 and sometimes, as Aristotle asserts, they are fixed and 
 stable when the eye of the person, being soundly asleep, 
 turns neither way, but looks straight forward. 
 
 13. And because the ignorance of the vulgar often talks 
 loudly, though ignorantly, against these ideas, asking why, 
 if there were any faculty of foreseeing the future, one man 
 should be ignorant that he would be killed in battle, or 
 another that he would meet with some misfortune, and so 
 on ; it will be enough to reply that sometimes a gram- 
 marian has spoken incorrectly, or a musician has sung out 
 of tune, or a physician been ignorant of the proper remedy 
 for a disease ; but these facts do not disprove the existence 
 of the sciences of grammar, music, or medicine. 
 
 14. So that Tully is right in this as well as other sayings 
 of his, when he says, " Signs of future events are shown 
 by the gods ; if any one mistakes them he errs, not 
 because of the nature of the gods, but because of the con- 
 jectures of men." But lest this discussion, running on this 
 point beyond the goal, as the proverb is, should disgust 
 the reader, we will now return to relate what follows.
 
 246 AilMIAXUS MARCELLIXUS. [BK. XXI. CH. in. 
 
 II. 
 
 1. WHILE Julian, still with the rank of Caesar only, was 
 at Paris one day, exercising himself in the camp-field, and 
 moving his shield in various directions, the joints by which 
 it was fastened gave way, and the handle alone remained 
 in his hand, which he still held firmly, and when those 
 present were alarmed, thinking it a bad omen, he said, 
 " Let no one be alarmed, I still hold firmly what I had 
 before." 
 
 2. And again, when one day after a slight dinner, he 
 was sleeping at Vienne, in the middle of the darkness of 
 the night a figure of unusual splendour appeared to him, 
 a,nd when he was all but awake, repeated to him the follow- 
 ing heroic verses, reciting them over and over again ; 
 which he believed, so that he felt sure that no ill fortune 
 remained for him : 
 
 " When Jove has passed the water-carrier's sign, 
 And Saturn's light, for fi ve-and-twenty days 
 Has lightened up the maid ; the king divin? 
 Of Asia's land shall enter on the ways 
 That painful lead to death and Styx's gloomy maze." 
 
 3. Therefore in the mean time he made no change in the 
 existing condition of affairs, but arranged everything that 
 occurred with a quiet and easy mind, gradually strengthen- 
 ing himself, in order to make the increase of his power 
 correspond with the increase of his dignity. 
 
 4. And in order, without any hindrance, to conciliate the 
 goodwill of all men, he pretended to adhere to the Christian 
 religion, which in fact he had long since secretly aban- 
 doned, though very few were aware of his private opinions, 
 giving up his whole attention to soothsaying and divina- 
 tion, and the other arts which have always been practised 
 by the worshippers of the gods. 
 
 5. But to conceal this for a while, on the day of the 
 festival at the beginning of January, which the Christians 
 call Epiphany, he went into their church, and offered 
 solemn public prayer to their God. 
 
 III. 
 
 1. WHILE these evsnts were proceeding, and spring was 
 coming on, Julian was suddenly smitten with grief and 
 sorrow by unexpected intelligence. For he learnt that
 
 A.D. 360.] MEASURES OF JULIAN. 247 
 
 the Allemanni had poured forth from the district of Vado- 
 niarius, in which quarter, after the treaty which had been 
 made with him, no troubles had been anticipated, and were 
 laying waste the borders of the Tyrol, pouring their pre- 
 datory bands over the whole frontier, and leaving nothing 
 imravaged. 
 
 2. He feared that if this were passed over it might 
 
 rekindle the flames of war ; and so at once sent a count 
 
 "named Libino, with the Celtic and Petulantes legions, 
 
 who were in winter quarters with him, to put a decided and 
 
 immediate end to this affair. 
 
 tt. Libino inarched with speed, and arrived at Seckingen ; 
 but was seen while at a distance by the barbarians, who 
 had already hidden themselves in the vallej's with the 
 intention of giving him battle. His soldiers were inferior 
 in number, but very eager for battle ; and he, after 
 haranguing them, rashly attacked the Germans, and at the 
 very beginning of the fight was slain among the first. At 
 his death the confidence of the barbarians increased, while 
 the liomans were excited to avenge their general ; and so 
 the conflict proceeded with great obstinacy, but our men 
 were overpowered by numbers, though their loss in killed 
 and wounded was but small. 
 
 4. Constantius, as has been related, had made peace 
 with this Vadomarius, and his brother Gundomadus, who 
 was also a king. And when afterwards Gundomadus died, 
 thinking that Vadomarius would be faithful to him, and a 
 silent and vigorous executor of his secret orders (if one 
 may believe what is only report), he gave him directions 
 by letter to harass the countries on his borders, as if he 
 had broken off the treaty of peace, in order to keep Julian, 
 through his fears of him, from ever abandoning the protec- 
 tion of Gaul. 
 
 5. In obedience to these directions, it is fair to believe 
 that Vadomarius committed this and other similar actions ; 
 being a man from his earliest youth marvellously skilled 
 in artifice and deceit, as he afterwards showed when he 
 enjoyed the dukedom of Phoenice. 1 
 
 6. But now, being discovered, he desisted from his hos- 
 tilities. For one of his .secretaries, whom he had sent to 
 Constantius, was taken prisoner by Julian's outposts, and 
 
 1 V. infra, Leo xxvi. c. 8.
 
 248 AMMIANUS MARCELLINUS. [Bit. XXI. CH. nr. 
 
 when he was searched to see if he was the bearer of any- 
 thing, a letter was found on him, which contained these 
 words among others, " Your Caesar is not submissive." 
 But when he wrote to Julian he always addressed him as 
 lord, and emperor, and god. 
 
 IV. 
 
 1. THESE affairs were full of danger and doubt ; and Julian 
 considering them likely to lead to absolute destruction, 
 bent all his mind to the one object of seizing Vadomarius 
 unawares, through the rapidity of his movements, in order 
 to secure his own safety and that of the provinces. And 
 the plan which he decided on was this. 
 
 2. He sent to those districts Philagrius, one of his 
 secretaries, afterwards count of the East, in whose proved 
 prudence and fidelity he could thoroughly rely ; and 
 besides a general authority to act as he could upon emer- 
 gencies, he gave him also a paper signed by himself, which 
 he bade him not to open nor read unless Vadomarius 
 appeared on the western side of the Ehine. 
 
 3. Philagrius went as he was ordered, and while he was 
 in that district busying himself with various arrangements, 
 Vadomarius crossed the river, as if he had nothing to fear, 
 in a time of profound peace, and pretending to know of 
 nothing having been done contrary to treaty, when he saw 
 the commander of the troops who were stationed there, 
 made him a short customary speech, and to remove all 
 suspicion, of his own accord promised to come to a ban- 
 quet to which Philagrius also had been invited. 
 
 4. As soon as Philagrius arrived, when he saw the king, 
 he recollected Julian's words, and pretending some serious 
 and urgent business, returned to his lodging, where having 
 read the paper intrusted to him, and learnt what he was to 
 do, he immediately returned and took his seat among the 
 rest. 
 
 5. But when the banquet was over he boldly arrested 
 Vadomarius, and gave him to the commander of the farces, 
 to be kept in strict custody in the camp, reading to him 
 the commands he had received ; but as nothing was men- 
 tioned about Vadomarius' s retinue, he ordered them, to 
 return to their own country.
 
 A.D. 360.] HE DEFEATS THE BARBARIANS. 249 
 
 6. But the king was afterwards conducted to Julian's 
 camp, and despaired of pardon when he heard that his 
 secretary had been taken, and the letters which he had 
 written to Constantius read ; he was however not even 
 reproached by Julian, but merely sent off to Spain, as it 
 was an object of great importance that, while Julian was 
 absent from Gaul, this ferocious man should not be able to 
 throw into confusion the provinces which had been tran- 
 quillized with such great difficulty. 
 
 7. Julian, being much elated at this occurrence, since the 
 king, whom he feared to leave behind him while at a dis- 
 tance, had been caught more quickly than he expected, 
 without delay prepared to attack the barbarians who, as 
 we have just related, had slain Count Libino and some of 
 his soldiers in battle. 
 
 8. And to prevent any rumour of his approach giving 
 them warning to retire to remoter districts, he passed the 
 Ehine by night with great silence, with some of the most 
 rapid of his auxiliary bands ; and so came upon them while 
 fearing nothing of the sort. And he at once attacked them 
 the moment they were first roused by the sound of enemies, 
 and while still examining their swords and javelins ; some 
 he slew, some he took prisoners, who sued for mercy and 
 offered to surrender their booty ; to the rest who remained 
 and implored peace, and promised to be quiet for the 
 future, he granted peace. 
 
 V. 
 
 1. WHILE these transactions were carried on in this 
 spirited manner, Julian, considering to what great internal 
 divisions his conduct had given rise, and that nothing is so 
 advantageous for the success of sudden enterprise as 
 celerity of action, saw with his usual sagacity that if he 
 openly avowed his revolt from the emperor, he should be 
 safer ; and feeling uncertain of the fidelity of the soldiers, 
 having offered secret propitiatory sacrifices to Bellona, he 
 summoned the army by sound of trumpet to an assembly, 
 and standing on a tribune built of stone, with every 
 appearance of confidence in his manner, he spoke thus 
 with a voice unusually loud : 
 
 2. " I imagine that you, my gallant comrades, exalted 
 by the greatness of your own achievements, have long been
 
 250 AMMIAXUS MARCELLIXUS. {.Bn. XXI. CH. v. 
 
 silently expecting this meeting, in order to form a previous 
 judgment of, and to take wise measures against the events 
 which may be expected. For soldiers united by glorious 
 actions ought to hear rather than speak ; nor ought a com- 
 mander of proved justice to think anything but what is 
 worthy of praise and approbation. That therefore I may 
 explain to you what 1 propose, I entreat you to listen 
 favourably to what I will briefly set before you. 
 
 3. " From my earliest year, by the will of God, I have 
 been placed among you, with whom I have crushed the 
 incessant inroads of the Franks and Allemanni, and checked 
 the endless licentiousness of their ravages ; by our united 
 vigour we have opened theKhine to the Koman armies, when- 
 ever they choose to cross it ; standing immovable against 
 reports, as well as against the violent attacks of powerful 
 nations, because I trusted to the invincibility of your valour. 
 
 4. " Gaul, which has beheld our labours, and which, after 
 much slaughter and many periods of protracted and severe 
 disasters, is at last replaced in a healthy state, will for ever 
 bear witness to posterity of our achievements. 
 
 5. " But now since, constrained both by the authority of 
 your judgment, and also by the necessity of the case, I 
 have been raised to the rank of emperor, under the favour 
 of God and of you, I aim at still greater things, if fortune 
 should smile on my undertakings. Boasting at least that I 
 have secured to the army, whose equity and mighty ex- 
 ploits are so renowned, a moderate and merciful chief in 
 time of peace, and in war a prudent and wary leader 
 against the combined forces of the barbarians. 
 
 6. " In order therefore that by the cordial unanimity of 
 our opinions we may prevent ill fortune by anticipating it, 
 I beg you to follow my counsel, salutary, as I think it, 
 since the state of our affairs corresponds to the purity of my 
 intentions and wishes. And while the legions of Illyricum 
 are occupied by no greater force than usual, let us occupy 
 the further frontier of Dacia ; and then take counsel from 
 our success what is to be done next. 
 
 7. " But as brave generals, I entreat you to promise 
 with an oath that you will adhere to me with unanimity 
 and fidelity ; while I will give my customary careful 
 attention to prevent anything from being done rashly or 
 carelessly ; and if any one requires it, will pledge my
 
 A.D. SOD.] JULIAN'S SPEECH TO HIS SOLDIERS. 251 
 
 own unsullied honour that I will never attempt ncr think 
 of anything but what is for the common good. 
 
 8. " This especially I request and beseech you to observe, 
 that none of you let any impulse of sudden ardour lead 
 you to inflict injury on any private individual ; recollecting 
 that our greatest renown is not derived so much from the 
 numberless defeats of the enemy as from the safety of the 
 provinces, and their freedom from injury, which is cele- 
 brated as an eminent example of our virtue." 
 
 9. The emperor's speech was approved as though it had 
 been the voice of an oracle, and the whole assembly was 
 greatly excited, and being eager for a change, they all with 
 one consent raised a tremendous shout, and beat their 
 shields with a violent crash, calling him a great and noble 
 general, and, as had been proved, a fortunate conqiieror 
 and king. 
 
 10. And being all ordered solemnly to swear fidelity to 
 him, they put their swords to their throats with terrible 
 curses, and took the oath in the prescribed form, that for 
 him. they would undergo every kind of suffering, and even 
 death itself, if necessity should require it ; and their officers 
 and all the friends of the prince gave a similar pledge with 
 the same forms. 
 
 11. Kebridius the prefect alone, boldly and unshakenly 
 refused, declaring that he could not possibly bind himself 
 by an oath hostile to Constantius, from whom he had 
 received many and great obligations. 
 
 12. When these words of his were heard, the soldiers 
 who were nearest to him were greatly enraged, and wished 
 to kill him; but he threw himself at the feet of Julian, 
 who shielded him with his cloak. Presently, when he 
 returned to the palace, Kebridius appeared before him, 
 threw himself at his feet as a suppliant, and entreated 
 him to relieve his fears by giving him his right hand. 
 Julian replied, "Will there be any conspicuous favour 
 reserved for my own friends if you are allowed to touch 
 my hand? However, depart in peace as you will." On 
 receiving this answer, Isebridius retired in safety to his 
 uwn house in Tuscany. 
 
 13. By these preliminary measures, Julian having learnt, 
 as the importance of the affair required, what great in- 
 fluence promptness and being beforehand has in a tumultu-
 
 252 AMMIANC3 MARCELLINUS. [BK. XXI. CH. vi 
 
 ous state of affairs, gave the signal to march towards 
 Pannonia, and advancing his standard and his camp, boldly 
 committed himself to fickle fortune. 
 
 VI. 
 
 A.D. 361. 
 
 1. IT is fitting now to retrace our steps and to relate 
 briefly what (while these events just related were taking 
 place in Gaul) Constantius, who passed the winter at 
 Antioch, did, whether in peace or war. 
 
 2. Besides many others of high rank, some of the most 
 distinguished tribunes generally come to salute an emperor 
 on his arrival from distant lands. And accordingly, when 
 Constantius, on his return from Mesopotamia, received 
 this compliment, a Paphlagonian named Amphilochius, 
 who had been a tribune, and whom suspicion, not very 
 far removed from the truth, hinted at as having, while 
 serving formerly under Constans, sown the seeds of discord 
 between him and his brother, now ventured, with no little 
 audacity, to come forward as if he were to be admitted to 
 pay his duty in this way, but was recognized and refused 
 admittance. Many also raised an outcry against him, 
 crying out that he, as a stubborn rebel, ought not to be 
 permitted to see another day. But Constantius, on this 
 occasion more merciful than usual, said, " Cease to press 
 upon a man who, indeed, as I believe, is guilty, but who 
 has not been convictod. And remember that if he has done 
 anything of the kind, he, as long as he is in my sight, will 
 be punished by the judgment of his own conscience, which 
 he will not be able to escape." And so he departed. 
 
 3. The next day, at the Circensian games, the same 
 man was present as a spectator, just opposite the usual 
 seat of the emperor, when a sudden shout was raised at the 
 moment of the commencement of the expected contest ; 
 the barriers, on which he with many others was leaning, 
 were broken, and the whole crowd as well as he were 
 thrown forward into the empty space ; and though a few 
 were slightly hurt, he alone was found to be killed, having 
 received some internal injury. At which Constantius re- 
 joiced, prognosticating from this omen protection from his 
 other enemies.
 
 A.D. 361.] CONSTANTIUS MARRIES FAUSTINA. 253 
 
 4. About the same time (his wife Eusebia having died 
 some time before) he took another wife, named Faustina. 
 Eusebia's brothers were two men of consular rank, Hypatius 
 and Eusebius. She had been a woman of pre-eminent 
 beauty both of person and character, and for one of her 
 high rank most courteous and humane. And to her favoul 
 and justice it was owing, as we have already mentioned, 
 tjjat Julian was saved from danger and declared Caesar. 
 
 5. About the same time Florentius also was rewarded, 
 who had quitted Gaul from fear of a revolution. He was 
 now appointed to succeed Anatolius, the prefect of the 
 praetorium in Illyricum, who had lately died. And in 
 conjunction with Taurus, who was appointed to the same 
 office in Italy, he received the ensigns of this most honour- 
 able dignity. 
 
 6. ^Nevertheless, the preparations for both foreign and 
 civil wars went on, the number of the squadrons of cavalry 
 was augmented, and reinforcements for the legions were 
 enlisted with equal zeal, recruits being collected all over 
 the provinces. Also every class and profession was ex- 
 posed to annoyances, being called upon to furnish arms, 
 clothes, military engines, and even gold and silver 
 and abundant stores of provisions, and various kinds of 
 animals. 
 
 7. And because, as the king of Persia had been com- 
 pelled unwillingly to fall back on account of the difficulties 
 of the winter, it was feared that as soon as the weather 
 became open he would return with greater impetuosity 
 than ever, ambassadors were sent to the kings and satraps 
 across the Tigris, with splendid presents, to advise and 
 entreat them all to join us, and abstain from all designs or 
 plots against us. 
 
 8. But the most important object of all was to win over 
 Arsaces and Meribanes, the kings of Armenia and Hiberia, 
 who were conciliated by the gift of magnificent and honour- 
 able robes and by presents of all kinds, and who could 
 have done great harm to the Roman interests if at such a 
 crisis they had gone over to the Persians. 
 
 9. At this important time, Hermogenes died, and was 
 succeeded in his prefecture by Helpidius, a native of 
 Paphlagonia, a man of mean appearance and no eloquence, 
 but of a frank and truthful disposition, humane and merci-
 
 25-i AMMIAXUS MARCHLL1XUS. [I3K. XXI. CH. vrr. 
 
 ful. So much so that once when Constantins ordered an 
 innocent man to be put to the torture before him, he calmly 
 requested to be deprived of his office, and that such com- 
 missions might be given to others who would discharge 
 them in a manner more in accordance with the emperor's 
 sentence. 
 
 VII. 
 
 1. COXSTAXTIUS was perplexed at the danger of the crisis 
 before him, and doubted what to do, being for some time 
 in deep anxiety whether to march against Julian, who 
 was still at a distance, or to drive back the Persians, who 
 were already threatening to cross the Euphrates. And 
 while he was hesitating, and often taking counsel with 
 his generals, he at last decided that he would first fini.vh, 
 or at all events take the edge off, the war which was 
 nearest, so as to leave nothing formidable behind him, 
 and then penetrate through lllyricum and Italy, thinking 
 to catch Julian at the very outset of his enterprise, as he 
 might catch a deer with hounds. For so he used to boast, 
 to appease the fears of those about him. 
 
 2. But that his purpose might not appear to cool, and 
 that he might not seem to have neglected any side of the 
 war, he spread formidable rumours of his approach in every 
 direction. And fearing that Africa, which on all occasions 
 seemed to invite usurpers, might be invaded during his 
 absence, as if he had already quitted the eastern frontier, 
 he sent by sea to that country his secretary Gaudentius. 
 whom we have already mentioned as a spy upon the 
 actions of Julian in Gaul. 
 
 3. He had two reasons for thinking that this man woulo 
 be able with prompt obedience to do all that he desired, 
 both because he feared the other side, which he had 
 offended, and also because he was anxious to take this 
 opportunity to gain the favour of Constantius, whom he 
 expected beyond a doubt to see victorious. Indeed no one 
 at that time had any other opinion. 
 
 4. When Gaudentius arrived in Africa, recollecting the 
 emperor's orders, he sent letters to Count Cretio, and to the 
 other officers, to instruct them what his object was ; and 
 having collected a formidable force from all quarters, and 
 having brought over a light division of skirmishers from
 
 A.D. 301.] CONSTANTIUS CROSSES THE EUPHRATES. ZOO 
 
 the two Mauritanias, he watched the coasts opposite to 
 Italy and Gaul with great strictness. 
 
 5. Xor was Constantius deceived in the wisdom of this 
 measure. For as long as Gaudentius lived none of the 
 adverse party ever reached that country, although a vast 
 multitude in arms was watching the Sicilian coast between 
 Cape Boeo and Cape Passaro, and ready to cross in a 
 moment if they could find an opportunity. 
 
 6. Having made these arrangements as well as the case 
 admitted, in such a way as he thought most for his advan- 
 tage, and having settled other things also of smaller im- 
 portance, Constantius was warned by messengers and 
 letters from his generals that the Persian army, in one solid 
 body, and led by its haughty king, was now marching 
 close to the banks of the Tigris, though it was as yet 
 uncertain at what point they meant to cross the frontier. 
 
 7. And he, feeling the importance of this intelligence, 
 in order, by being near them, to anticipate their intended 
 enterprises, quitted his winter quarters in haste, having 
 
 " called in the infantry and cavalry on which he could rely 
 from all quarters, crossed the Euphrates by a bridge of 
 boats at Capessana, and marched towards Edessa, which 
 was well provisioned and strongly fortified, intending to 
 wait there a short time till he could receive from spies or 
 deserters certain information of the enemy's motions. 
 
 VIII. 
 
 1. Ix the mean time, Julian leaving the district of Basle, 
 and having taken all the steps which we have already 
 mentioned, sent Sallustius, whom he had promoted to be a 
 prefect, into Gaul, and appointed Germanianus to siicceed 
 Nebridius. At the same time he gave Kevitta the com- 
 mand of the heavy cavalry, being afraid of the old traitor 
 Gumoarius, who, when he was commander of the Scutarii, 
 he heard had secretly betrayed his chief officer, Vetranio. 
 The quaestorship he gave to Jovius, of whom we have 
 spoken when relating the acts of Magnentius, and the 
 treasury he allotted to Mamertinus. Dagalaiphus also 
 was made captain of the household guard, and many others, 
 with whose merits and fidelity he was acquainted, received 
 different commands at his discretion.
 
 256 AMMIANUS MARCELLIXUS. [Bit. XXI. Cn. ix. 
 
 2. Being now about to march through the Black Forest, 
 and the country lying on the banks of the Danube, he 
 on a sudden conceived great doubt and fear whether the 
 smallness of his force might not breed contempt, and en- 
 courage the numerous population of the district to resist 
 his advance. 
 
 3. To prevent this, he took prudent precautions, and 
 distributing his army into divisions, he sent some under 
 Jovenius and Jovius to advance with all speed by the well- 
 trodden roads of Italy; others under the command of 
 Kevitta, the commander of the cavalry, were to take the 
 inland road of the Tyrol. So that his army, by being 
 scattered over various countries, might cause a belief that 
 its numbers were immense, and might fill all nations with 
 fear. Alexander the Great, and many other skilful generals, 
 had done the same thing when their affairs required it. 
 
 4. But he charged them, when they set forth, to march 
 with all speed, as if likely to meet at any moment with 
 an enemy, and carefully to post watches and sentries and 
 outposts at night, so as to be free from the danger of any 
 sudden attack. 
 
 1. THESE things having been arranged according to the 
 best of his judgment, Julian adhering to the maxim by 
 which he had often forced his way through the countries 
 of the barbarians, and trusting in his continued successes, 
 proceeded in his advance. 
 
 2. And when he had reached the spot at which he had 
 been informed that the river was navigable, he embarked 
 on board some boats which good fortune had brought 
 thither in numbers, and passed as secretly as he could 
 down the stream, escaping notice the more because his 
 habits of endurance and fortitude had made him indifferent 
 to delicate food ; so that, being contented with meagre and 
 poor fare, he did not care to approach their towns or 
 camps, forming his conduct in this respect according to 
 the celebrated saying of the ancient Cyrus, who, when he 
 was introduced to a host who asked him what he wished 
 to have got ready for supper, answered, " Nothing beyond 
 bread, for that he hoped he should sup bv the side of a 
 river."
 
 A.B. 361.] THE ADVANCE OF JULIAN. 257 
 
 3. But Fame, which, as they say, having a thousand 
 tongues, always exaggerates the truth, at this time spread 
 abroad a report among all the tribes of Illyricum that 
 Julian, having overthrown a number of kings and nations 
 in Gaul, was coming on flushed with success and with a 
 numerous army. 
 
 4. Jovinus, the prefect of the praetorium, being alarmed 
 at this rumour, fled in haste, as if from a foreign enemy ; 
 ad going by the public conveyances with frequent relays, 
 he crossed the Julian Alps, taking with him also Florentius 
 the prefect. 
 
 5. But Count Lucillianus, who at that time had the 
 command of the army in these districts, being at Sirmium, 
 and having received some slight intelligence of Julian's 
 movements, collected the soldiers whom the emergency 
 gave time for being quickly called from their several sta- 
 tions, and proposed to resist his advance. 
 
 6. Julian, however, like a firebrand or torch once kindled, 
 hastened quickly to his object ; and when, at the waning of 
 the moon, he had reached Bonmunster, which is about nine- 
 teen miles from Sirmium, 1 and when, therefore, the main 
 part of the night was dark, he unexpectedly quitted his 
 boats, and at once sent forward Dagalaiphus with his light 
 troops to summon Lucillianus to his presence, and to drag 
 him before him if he resisted. 
 
 7. He was asleep, and when he was awakened by the 
 violence of this uproar, and saw himself surrounded by a 
 crowd of strangers, perceiving the state of the case, and 
 being filled with awe at the name of the emperor, he 
 obeyed his orders, though sadly against his will. And 
 though commander of the cavalry, a little while before 
 proud and fierce, he now obeyed the will of another, and 
 mounting a horse which was brought him on a sudden, he 
 was led before Julian as an ignoble prisoner, and from 
 fear was hardly able to collect his senses. 
 
 8. But as soon as he saw the emperor, and was relieved 
 by receiving permission to offer his salutations to his purple 
 robe, he recovered his courage, and feeling safe said, "You 
 have been incautious and rash, emperor, to trust yourself 
 with but a few troops in the country of another." But 
 Julian, with a sarcastic smile, replied, " Keep these prudent 
 
 1 Sirmium was very near the existing town of Peterwaradin. 
 
 S
 
 258 AMMIAXUS MARCELLINUS. [BK. XXI. CH. x. 
 
 speeches for Constantius. I offered you the ensign of my 
 royal rank to ease you of your fears, and not to take you 
 for my counsellor." 
 
 X. 
 
 1. So after he had got rid of Lucillianus, thinking no 
 further delay or hesitation admissible, being bold and con- 
 fident in all emergencies, and on the way, as he presumed, 
 to a city inclined to surrender, he marched on with great 
 speed. When he came near the suburbs, which are very 
 large and much extended, a vast crowd of soldiers and of 
 every class of the population came forth to meet him 
 with lights and flowers and auspicious prayers, and after 
 saluting him as emperor and lord, conducted him to the 
 palace. 
 
 2. He, pleased at these favourable omens, and conceiving 
 therefrom a sanguine hope of future success, concluded 
 that the example of so populous and illustrious a metro- 
 polis would be followed as a guiding-star by other cities 
 also, and therefore on the very next day exhibited a 
 chariot race, to the great joy of the people. On the third 
 day, unable to brook any delay, he proceeded by the public 
 roads, and without any resistance seized upon Succi, and 
 appointed Nevitta governor of the place, as one whom he 
 could trust. It is fitting that I should now explain the 
 situation of this place Succi. 
 
 3. The summits of the mountain chains of Haemus * and 
 Ehodope, the first of which rises up from the very banks of 
 the Danube, and the other from the southern bank of the 
 river Axius, ending with swelling ridges at one narrow 
 point, separate the Illyrians and the Thracians, being on 
 the one side near the inland Dacians and Serdica, on the 
 other looking towards Thrace and the rich and noble city 
 of Philippopolis. And, as if Xature had provided for bring- 
 ing the surrounding nations under the dominion of the 
 Eomans, they are of such a form as to lead to this end. 
 Affording at first only a single exit through narrow defiles, 
 but at a later period they were opened out with roads of 
 such size and beauty as to be passable even for waggons. 
 Though still, when the passes have been blocked up, they 
 
 1 Now the Balkan.
 
 .361.] JULIAN'S LETTER TO THE SENATE. 259 
 
 ive often repelled the attacks of great generals and 
 miglfty armies. 
 
 4. The part which looks to Illyricuin is of a more 
 gentle ascent, so as to be climbed almost imperceptibly ; 
 but the side opposite to Thrace is very steep and preci- 
 pitous, in some places absolutely impassable, and in others 
 hard to climb even where no one seeks to prevent it. 
 Beneath this lofty chain a spacious level plain extends in 
 every direction, the upper portion of it reaching even to 
 the Julian Alps, while the lower portion of it is so open 
 and level as to present no obstacles all the way to the 
 straits and sea of Marmora. 
 
 5. Having arranged these matters as well as the occasion 
 permitted, and having left there the commander of the 
 cavalry, the emperor returned to Nissa, a considerable town, 
 in order, without any hindrance, to settle everything in 
 the way most suited to his interests. 
 
 6. While there he appointed Victor, an historical writer, 
 whom he had seen at Sirmium, and whom he ordered to 
 follow him from that city, to be consular governor of the 
 second Pannonia ; and he erected in his honour a brazen 
 statue, as a man to be imitated for his temperance ; and 
 some time after he was appointed prefect of Rome. 
 
 7. And now, giving the rein to loftier ideas, and believing 
 it to be impossible to bring Constantius to terms, he wrote 
 a speech full of bitter invectives to the senate, setting forth 
 many charges of disgrace and vice against him. And when 
 this harangue, Tertullus still being prefect of the city, was 
 read in the senate, the gratitude of the nobles, as well as 
 their splendid boldness, was very conspicuous ; for they all 
 cried out with one unanimous feeling, " We expect that you 
 should show reverence to the author of your own great- 
 ness." 
 
 8. Then he assailed the memory of Constantino also as 
 an innovator and a disturber of established laws and of 
 customs received from ancient times, accusing him of 
 having been the first to promote barbarians to the fasces 
 and robe of the consul. But in this respect he spoke with 
 folly and levity, since, in the face of what he so bitterly 
 reproved, he a very short time afterwards added to Ma- 
 mertinus, as his colleague in the consulship, Nevitta, a 
 man neither in rank, experience, or reputation at all equal
 
 260 AMMIANUS MARCELLIXUS. [BK. XXI. CH. xi. 
 
 to those on whom Constantine had conferred that illus- 
 trous magistracy, but who, on the contrary, was desti- 
 tute of accomplishments and somewhat rude ; and what 
 was less easy to be endured, made a cruel use of his high 
 power. 
 
 XI. 
 
 1. WHILE Julian was occupied with these and similar 
 thoughts, and was anxious about great and important 
 affairs, a messenger came with terrible and unexpected 
 news of the monstrous attempts of some persons which 
 were likely to hinder his fiery progress, unless by prompt 
 vigilance he could crush them before they came to a head. 
 I will briefly relate what they were. 
 
 2. Under pretence of urgent necessity, but in reality 
 because he still suspected their fidelity to him, he had sent 
 into Gaul two legions belonging to the army of Constantius, 
 with a troop of archers which he had found at Sirmium. 
 They, moving slowly, and dreading the length of the 
 journey and the fierce and continual attacks of the hostile 
 Germans, planned a mutiny, being prompted and en- 
 couraged by Nigrinus, a tribune of a squadron of cavalry, 
 a native of Mesopotamia. And having arranged the matter 
 in secret conferences, and kept it close in profound silence, 
 when they arrived at Aquileia, a city important from its 
 situation and wealth, and fortified with strong walls, they 
 suddenly closed the gates in a hostile manner, the native 
 population, by whom the name of Constantius was still 
 beloved, increasing the confusion and the terror. And 
 having blockaded all the approaches, and armed the towers 
 and battlements, they prepared measures to encounter the 
 impending struggle, being in the mean time free and un- 
 restrained. By this daring conduct they roused the Italian 
 natives of the district to espouse the side of Coustantius, 
 who was still alive. 
 
 1, WHEX Julian heard of this transaction, being then at 
 Kissa, as he feared nothing unfriendly in his rear, and 
 had read and hoard that this city, though often besieged,
 
 A.D. 361.] SIEGE OF AQUILEIA. 261 
 
 had never been destroyed or taken, hastened the more 
 eagerly to gain it, either by stratagem, or by some kind of 
 flattery or other, before any more formidable event should 
 arise. 
 
 2. Therefore he ordered Jovinus, the captain of his 
 cavalry, who was marching over the Alps, and had entered 
 Noricum, to return with all speed, to remedy by some 
 me&ns or other, the evil which had burst out. And, that 
 nothing might be wanting, he bade him retain all the 
 soldiers who were marching after his court or his standards 
 and passing through that town, and to avail himself of 
 their help to the utmost. 
 
 3. When he had made these arrangements, having soon 
 afterwards heard of the death of Constantius, he crossed 
 through Thrace, and entered Constantinople : and having 
 been often assured that the siege would be protracted 
 rather than formidable, he sent Immo with some other 
 counts to conduct it ; and removed Jovinus to employ him 
 
 __ in other matters of greater importance. 
 
 4. Therefore, having surrounded Aquileia with a double 
 line of heavy infantry, the generals all agreed upon trying 
 to induce the garrison to surrender, using alternately 
 threats and caresses ; but after many proposals and replies 
 had been interchanged, their obstinacy only increased, and 
 the conferences were abandoned, having proved wholly 
 ineffectual. 
 
 5. And because there was now no prospect but that of a 
 battle, both sides refreshed themselves with sleep and 
 food ; and at daybreak the trumpets sounded, and the two 
 armies, arrayed for reciprocal slaughter, attacked one 
 another with loud shouts, but with more ferocity than 
 skill. 
 
 6. Therefore the besiegers, bearing wooden penthouses 
 over them, and closely woven wicker defences, marched on 
 slowly and cautiously, and attempted to xindermine the 
 walls with iron tools : many also bore ladders which had 
 been made of the height of the walls, and came up close 
 to them : when some were dashed down by stones hurled 
 on their heads, others were transfixed by whizzing jave- 
 lins, and falling back, dragged with them those who were 
 in their rear ; and others, from fear of similar mischances, 
 shrank from the attack.
 
 262 AMMIANUS MARCELLIXUS. [BK. XXI. CH. XII. 
 
 7. The besieged being encouraged by the issue of this 
 first conflict, and hoping for still better success, disregarded 
 the rest of the attacks made on them; and with resolute 
 minds they stationed engines in suitable positions, and 
 with unwearied toil discharged the duties of watching and 
 of whatever else could tend to their safety. 
 
 8. On the other hand, the besiegers, though fearing an- 
 other combat, and full of anxiety, still out of shame would 
 not appear lazy or cowardly, and as they could make no 
 way by open attacks, they also applied themselves to the 
 various manoeuvres employed in sieges. And because 
 there was no ground favourable for working battering-rams 
 or other engines, nor for making mines, since the river 
 Natiso passed under the walls of the city, they contrived 
 a plan worthy to be compared with any effort of ancient 
 skill. 
 
 9. With great rapidity they built some wooden towers, 
 higher than the battlements of the enemy, and then fasten- 
 ing their boats together, they placed these towers on them. 
 In them they stationed soldiers, who, with undaunted reso- 
 lution, laboured to drive down the garrison from the walls ; 
 while under them were bodies of light infantry wholly 
 unencumbered, who going forth from the hollow parts of 
 the towers below, threw drawbridges across, which they 
 had put together beforehand, and so tried to cross over to the 
 bottom of the wall while the attention of the garrison was 
 diverted from them ; so that while those above them were 
 attacking one another with darts and stones, those who 
 crossed over on the drawbridges might be able without 
 interruption to break down a portion of the wall and so 
 effect an entrance. 
 
 10. But once more a clever design failed in its result. 
 For when the towers came close to the walls, they were 
 assailed with brands steeped in pitch, and reeds, and 
 faggots, and every kind of food for flames, all kindled. 
 The towers quickly caught fire, and yielding under the 
 weight of the men who were mounted on them, fell into 
 the river, while some of the soldiers on their summits, 
 even before they fell, had been pierced with javelins hurled 
 from the engines on the walls, and so died. 
 
 11. Meanwhile the soldiers at the foot of the wall, being 
 cut off by the destruction of their comrades in the boats,
 
 A.D. 361.] SIEGE OF AyUILEIA. 263 
 
 were crushed with huge stones, with the exception of a 
 few, who, in spite of the difficult ground over which 
 their flight lay, escaped by their swiftness of foot. At 
 last, when the contest had been protracted till even- 
 ing, the usual signal for retreat was given, and the 
 combatants parted to pass the night with very different 
 feelings. 
 
 12. The losses of the besiegers, who had suffered greatly, 
 encouraged the defenders of the town with hopes of vic- 
 tory, though they also had to mourn the deaths of some 
 few of their number. Nevertheless, the preparations went 
 on rapidly. Eest and food refreshed their bodies during 
 the night ; and at dawn of day the conflict was renewed 
 at the trumpet's signal. 
 
 13. Some, holding their shields over their heads, in 
 order to fight with more activity ; others, in front, bore 
 ladders on their shoulders, and rushed on with eager vehe- 
 mence, exposing their breasts to wounds from every kind 
 .of weapon. Some endeavoured to break down the iron 
 bars of the gates ; but were attacked with fire, or crushed 
 under stones hurled from the walls. Some boldly strove 
 t6 cross the fosses, but fell beneath the sudden sallies of 
 soldiers rushing out from postern gates, or were driven 
 back with severe wounds. For those who sallied forth 
 had an easy retreat within the walls, and the rampart in 
 front of the walls, strengthened with turf, saved those who 
 lay in wait behind it from all danger. 
 
 14. Although the garrison excelled in endurance and in 
 the arts of war, without any other aid than that of their 
 walls, still our soldiers, being attacked as they were from a 
 more numerous force, became impatient of the long delay, 
 and moved round and round the suburbs, seeking diligently 
 to discover by what force or what engines they could make 
 their way out of the city. 
 
 15. But as, through the greatness of the difficulties in 
 their way, they could not accomplish this, they began to 
 slacken their exertions as to the siege itself, and leaving a 
 few watches and outposts, ravaged the adjacent country, 
 and thus obtained all kinds of supplies, dividing their 
 booty with their comrades. The consequence was, that 
 excessive eating and drinking proved injurious to their 
 health.
 
 264 AMMIANUS MARCELLINUS. [BK.XXLCn.xii. 
 
 16. When, however, Immo and his colleagues reported 
 this to Julian, who was passing the winter at Constan- 
 tinople, he applied a wise remedy to such a disorder, and 
 sent thither Agilo, the commander of his infantry, an 
 officer in great esteem, that when a man of his rank and 
 reputation appeared there and took the intelligence of the 
 death of Constantius to the army, the siege might be ter- 
 minated in that way. 
 
 17. In the mean while, not to abandon the siege of 
 Aquileia, as all other attempts had proved futile, the 
 generals endeavoured to compel the citizens to surrender 
 by want of water. So they cut the aqueducts ; but as the 
 garrison still resisted with undiminished courage, they, 
 with vast valour, diverted the stream of the river. But 
 this again was done in vain ; for they reduced the allow- 
 ance of water to each man ; and contented themselves with 
 the scanty supply they could procure from wells. 
 
 18. While these affairs were proceeding thus, Agilo 
 arrived, as he had been commanded ; and, being protected 
 by a strong body of heavy infantry, came up boldly close 
 to the walls ; and in a long and veracious speech, told the 
 citizens of the death of Constantius, and the confirmation 
 of Julian's power ; but was reviled and treated as a liar. 
 Nor would any one believe his statement of what had 
 occurred, till on promise of safety he was admitted by 
 himself to the edge of the defences ; where, with a solemn 
 oath, he repeated what he had before related. 
 
 19. When his story was heard, they all, eager to be 
 released from their protracted sufferings, threw open the 
 gates and rushed out, admitting him in the joy as a captain 
 who brought them peace ; and excusing themselves, they 
 gave up Nigrinus as the author of their mad resistance, 
 and a few others ; demanding that their punishment should 
 be taken as an atonement for the treason and sufferings of 
 the city. 
 
 20. Accordingly, a few days later, the affair was rigor- 
 ously investigated ; Mamertinus, the prefect of the pree- 
 torium, sitting as judge ; and Jsigrinus, as the cause of the 
 war, was burnt alive. After him, Romulus and Sabostius, 
 men who had held high office, being convicted of having 
 sown discord in the empire without any regard to the con- 
 sequences, were beheaded; and all the rest escaped un-
 
 .361.] SIEGE OF AQDILEIA. 265 
 
 j)unished, as men who had been driven to hostilities by 
 necessity, and not by their own inclination ; this being 
 the decision of the merciful and clement emperor, after a 
 full consideration of justice. These things, however, hap- 
 pened some time afterwards. 
 
 21. But Julian, who was still at Nissa, was occupied in 
 the graver cases, being full of fears on both sides. For he 
 Wa's apprehensive lest the defiles of the Julian Alps might 
 be seized and barred against him by some sudden onset of 
 the troops who had been shut up in Aquileia; by which 
 he might lose the provinces beyond, and the supplies 
 which he was daily expecting from that quarter. 
 
 22. And he also greatly feared the power of the East ; 
 hearing that the soldiers who were scattered over Thrace 
 had been suddenly collected together to act against him, 
 and were advancing towards the frontiers of the Succi, under 
 command of Count Marcianus. But, devising measures suit- 
 able to this mass of pressing anxieties, he quickly assembled 
 his Illyrian army, long inured to war, and eager to renew 
 its martial labours under a warlike chief. 
 
 23. Nor even at this critical moment did he forget the 
 interests of individuals ; but devoted some time to hearing 
 contested causes, especially those concerning municipal 
 bodies, in whose favour he was too partial, so that he raised 
 several persons who did not deserve such honour to 
 public offices. 
 
 24. It was here that he found Symmachus and Maximus, 
 two eminent senators, who had been sent by the nobles as 
 envoys to Constantius, and had returned again. He pro- 
 moted them with great honour ; so that, preferring them 
 to others more deserving, he made Maximus prefect of 
 the eternal city, in order to gratify Enfinus Vulcatius, 
 whose nephew he was. Under his administration the city 
 enjoyed great plenty, and there was an end to the com- 
 plaints of the common people, which had been so frequent. 
 
 25. Afterwards, in order to add security to those of his 
 affairs which were still unsettled, and encourage the con- 
 fidence of the loyal, he raised Mamertinus, the prefect 
 of the prrctorium in Illy ri cum, and Nevitta to the consul- 
 ship ; though he had so lately assailed the memory of 
 Constantino as the person who had set the example of thus 
 promoting low-born barbarians.
 
 266 AMMIAXUS MARCELLINUS. [BK. XXI. CH. xm. 
 
 XIII. 
 
 1. WHILE Julian was thus carrying out new projects, and 
 alternating between hope and fear, Constantius at Edessa, 
 being made anxious by the various accounts brought him 
 by his spies, was full of perplexity. At one time collecting 
 his army for battle ; at another, wishing to lay siege to 
 Bezabde on two sides, if he could find an opportunity ; 
 taking at the same time prudent precautions not to leave 
 Mesopotamia unprotected, while about to march into the 
 districts of Armenia. 
 
 2. But while still undecided, he was detained by various 
 causes. Sapor also remained on the other side of the 
 Tigris till the sacrifices should become propitious to his 
 moving. For if after crossing the river he found no re- 
 sistance, he might without difficulty penetrate to the 
 Euphrates. On the other hand, if he wished to keep his 
 soldiers for the civil war, he feared to expose them to the 
 dangers of a siege ; having already experienced the strength 
 of the walls and the vigour of the garrison. 
 
 3. However, not to lose time, and to avoid inactivity, he 
 sent Arbetio and Agilo, the captains of his infantry and 
 cavalry, with very large forces, to march with all speed ; 
 not to provoke the Persians to battle, but to establish 
 forts on the nearest bank of the Tigris, which might be 
 able to reconnoitre, and see in what direction the furious 
 monarch broke forth ; and with many counsels given both 
 verbally and in writing, he charged them to retreat with 
 celerity the moment the enemy's army began to cross the 
 river. 
 
 4. While these generals were watching the frontier as 
 they were ordered, and spying out the secret designs of 
 their most crafty enemy, he himself, with the main body 
 of his army, made head against his most pressing foes, as if 
 prepared for battle ; and defended the adjacent towns by 
 rapid movements. Meantime spies and deserters con- 
 tinually coming in, related to him opposite stories ; being 
 in fact ignorant of what was intended, because among the 
 Persians no one knows what is decided on except a few 
 taciturn and trusty nobles, by whom the god Silence ia 
 worshipped. 
 
 5. But the emperor was continually sent for by the
 
 
 Aj). SGI.] JULIAN'S MARCH THROUGH THRACE. 267 
 
 generals whom I have mentioned, who implored him to 
 send them aid. For they protested that unless the whole 
 strength of the army was collected together, it would be 
 impossible to withstand the onset of the furious Sapor. 
 
 6. And while things in this quarter were thus full of 
 anxiety, other messengers arrived in numbers, by whose 
 accurate statements he learnt that Julian had traversed 
 Italy and Illyricum with great rapidity, had occupied the 
 defiles of the Succi, and called in auxiliaries from all 
 quarters, and was now marching through Thrace with a 
 very large force. 
 
 7. Constantius, learning this, was overwhelmed with 
 grief, but supported by one comfort, that he had always 
 triumphed over internal commotions. Nevertheless, though 
 the affair made it very difficult for him to decide on a line 
 of action, he chose the best ; and sent a body of troops on 
 by public conveyances, in order as quickly as possible to 
 make head against the impending danger. 
 
 8. And as that plan was universally approved, the troops 
 went as they were commanded, in the lightest marching 
 order. But the next day, while he was finally arranging 
 these matters, he received intelligence that Sapor, with his 
 whole army, had returned to his own country, because the 
 auspices were unfavourable. So, his fears being removed, 
 he called in all the troops except those who as usual 
 were assigned for the protection of Mesopotamia, and 
 returned to Hierapolis. 
 
 9. And still doubting what would be the final result of 
 all his difficulties, when he had collected his army together 
 he convened all the centuries and companies and squadrons 
 by sound of trumpet ; and the whole plain being filled with 
 the host, he, standing on a lofty tribune, in order to 
 encourage them the more readily to execute what he 
 should direct, and being surrounded by a numerous retinue, 
 spoke thus with great appearance of calmness and a 
 studied look of confidence. 
 
 10. " Being always anxioiis never to do or say anything 
 inconsistent with incorruptible honour, like a cautious 
 pilot, who turns his helm this way or that way according 
 to the movement of the waves, I am now constrained, my 
 most affectionate subjects, to confess my errors to you, 
 or rather, if I were to say the plain truth, rny humanity,
 
 268 AMMIAMJS MARCELLINUS. [BK. XXI. CH. xm. 
 
 which. I did think would be beneficial to our common in- 
 terests. So now that you may the better understand 
 what is the object of convoking this assembly, listen, I 
 pray you, with impartiality and kindness. 
 
 11. " At the time when Magnentius, whom your bravery 
 overcome, was obstinately labouring to throw all things 
 into confusion, I sent Gallus my cousin, who had been 
 lately raised to the rank of Csesar, to guard the East. 
 But he, having by many wicked and shameful arts departed 
 from justice, was punished by a legal sentence. 
 
 12. " Would that Envy had then been contented, that 
 most bitter exciter of troubles ! And that we had nothing 
 to grieve us but the single recollection of past sorrows, 
 unaccompanied by any idea of present danger ! But now 
 a new circumstance, more gi-ievous than any former one I 
 will venture to say, has taken place, which the gods who 
 aid us will put an end to by means of your innate valour. 
 
 13. " Julian, whom, while you were combating the 
 nations which threaten Illyricum on all sides, I appointed 
 to protect Gaul, presuming on the issue of some trifling 
 battles which he has fought against the half-armed 
 Germans, and full of silly elation, has taken a few 
 auxiliarjr battalions into his noble alliance, men from their 
 natural ferocity and the desperateness of their situation 
 ready for acts of the most mischievous audacity, and has 
 conspired against the public safety, trampling down 
 justice, the parent and nurse of the Roman world. That 
 power I believe, both because I myself have experienced 
 it, and because all antiquity assures me of its might, \vill, 
 as an avenger of wickedness, soon trample down their pride 
 like so many ashes. 
 
 14. " What then remains, except to hasten to encounter 
 the whirlwind thus raised against us ? so as by prompti- 
 tude to crush the fury of this rising war before it comes 
 to maturity and strength ? Nor can it be questioned 
 that, with the favour of the supreme deity, by whose 
 everlasting sentence ungrateful men are condemned, the 
 sword which they have wickedly drawn will be turned 
 to their own destruction. Since never having received 
 any provocation, but rather after having been loaded with 
 benefits, they have risen up to threaten innocent men with 
 danger.
 
 A.D. 3G1.] SPEECH OF CONSTANTIUS. 269 
 
 15. " For as my mind augurs, and as justice, which will 
 aid upright counsels, promises, I feel sure that when once 
 we come to close quarters, they will be so benumbed with 
 fear as neither to be able to stand the fire of your glanc- 
 ing eyes nor the sound of your battle cry." This 
 speech harmonized well with the feelings of the soldiers. 
 In their rage they brandished their shields, and after 
 answering him in terms of eager goodwill, demanded 
 to be led at once against the rebels. Their cordiality 
 changed the emperor's fear into joy ; and having dismissed 
 the assembly, as he knew by past experience that Arbetio 
 was most eminently successful in putting an end to intestine 
 wars, he ordered him to advance first by the road which 
 he himself designed to take, with the spearmen and the 
 legion of Mattium, 1 and several battalions of light troops ; 
 he also ordered Gomoarius to take with him the Leti, to 
 check the enemy on their arrival among the defiles of the 
 Succi ; he was selected for this service because he was 
 unfriendly to Julian on account of some slight he had 
 received from him in Gaul. 
 
 XIV. 
 
 1. WHILE the fortune of Constantius was now wavering 
 and tottering in this tumult of adverse circumstances, it 
 showed plainly by signs which almost spoke that a very 
 critical moment of his life was at hand. For he was 
 terrified by nocturnal visions, and before he was thoroughly 
 asleep he had seen the shade of his father bringing him a 
 beautiful child ; and when he received it and placed it in 
 his bosom, it struck a globe which he had in his right hand 
 to a distance. Now this indicated a change of circum- 
 stances, although those who interpreted it gave favourable 
 answers when consulted. 
 
 2. After this he confessed to his most intimate friends 
 that, as if he were wholly forsaken, he had ceased to see a 
 secret vision which sometimes he had fancied appeared to 
 him in mournful guise ; and he believed that the genius 
 who had been appointed to watch over his safety had 
 abandoned him, as one who was soon to leave the world. 
 
 1 It is believed that Mattium is the same as Marburg; it is no* 
 quite certain.
 
 270 AMMIANUS MARCELLINUS. [BK. XXI. CH. xv. 
 
 3. For the opinion of theologians is, that all men when 
 they are born (without prejudice to the power of destiny) 
 are connected with a superior power of this kind, who, as 
 it were, guides their actions ; but who is seen by very 
 few, and only by those who are endued with great and 
 various virtues. 
 
 4. This may be collected both from oracles and from 
 eminent writers. Among whom is the comic poet Menan- 
 der, in whose works these two verses are found : 
 
 " A spirit is assigned to every man 
 When born to guide him hi the path of life." 
 
 5. It may also be gathered from the immortal poetry of 
 Homer, that they were not really the gods of heaven who 
 conversed with his heroes, or stood by them and aided 
 them in their combats; but the familiar genii who be- 
 longed to them ; to whom also, as their principal support, 
 Pythagoras owes his eminence, and Socrates and iSuma 
 Pompilius and the elder Scipio. And, as some fancy, 
 Marius, and Octavianus the first, who took the name of 
 Augustus. And Hermes Trismegistus, and Apollonius of 
 Tyana, and Plotimis, who ventured upon some very 
 mystical discussions of this point ; and endeavoured to 
 show by profound reasoning what is the original cause 
 why these genii, being thus connected with the souls of 
 mortals, protect them as if they had been nursed in their 
 own bosoms, as far as they are permitted; and, if they 
 find them pure, preserving the body untainted by any 
 connection with vice, and free from all taint of sin, instruct 
 them in loftier mysteries. 
 
 XV. 
 
 1. Constantius therefore, having hastened to Antioch, 
 according to his wont, at the first movement of a civil war 
 which he was eager to encounter, as soon as he had made 
 all his preparations, was in amazing haste to march, though 
 many of his court were so unwilling as even to proceed to 
 murmurs. For no one dare openly to remonstrate or 
 object to his plan. 
 
 2. He set forth towards the end of autumn ; and when 
 ho reached the suburb called Hippocephalus, which is 
 about three miles from the town, as soon as it was daylight
 
 A.D. 361.j DEATH OF CONSTANTIUS. 271 
 
 he saw on his right the corpse of a man who had been 
 murdered, lying with his head torn off from the body, 
 stretched out towards the west and though alarmed at the 
 omen, which seemed as if the Fates were preparing his end, 
 he went on more resolutely, and came to Tarsus, where he 
 caught a slight fever ; and thinking that the motion of his 
 journey would remove the distemper, he went on by bad 
 -roads ; directing his course by Mopsucrense, the farthest 
 station in Cilicia for those who travel from hence, at the 
 foot of Mount Taurus. 
 
 3. But when he attempted to proceed the next day he 
 was prevented by the increasing violence of his disorder, 
 and the fever began gradually to inflame his veins, so that 
 his body felt like a little fire, and could scarcely be touched ; 
 and as all remedies failed, he began in the last extremity 
 to bewail his death ; and while his mental faculties were 
 still entire, he is said to have indicated Julian as the suc- 
 cessor to his power. Presently the last struggle of death 
 came on, and he lost the power of speech. And after long 
 and painful agony he died on the fifth of October, having 
 lived and reigned forty years and a few months. 
 
 4. After bewailing his death with groans, lament- 
 ations, and mourning, those of the highest rank in the 
 royal palace deliberated what to do or to attempt; and 
 having secretly consulted a few persons about the election 
 of an emperor, at the instigation, as it is said, of Eusebius, 
 who was stimulated by his consciousness of guilt (since 
 Julian was approaching who was prepared to oppose his 
 attempts at innovation), they sent Theolaiphus and Aligil- 
 dus, who at that time were counts, to him, to announce 
 the death of his kinsman ; and to entreat him to lay aside 
 all delay and hasten to take possession of the East, which 
 was prepared to obey him. 
 
 5. But fame and an uncertain report whispered that 
 Constantius had left a will, in which, as we have already 
 mentioned, he had named Julian as his heir; and had 
 given commissions and legacies to his friends. But he left 
 his wife in the family way, who subsequently had a 
 daughter, who received the same name, and was afterwards 
 married to Gratianus.
 
 272 AMMIAXUS MARCELLIXUS. [BK. XXI. CH. xvr. 
 
 XVI. 
 
 1. Iii accurately distinguishing the virtues and vices of 
 Constantius, it will be well to take the virtues first. 
 Always preserving the dignity of the imperial authority, 
 lie proudly and magnanimously disdained popularity. In 
 conferring the higher dignities he was very sparing, and 
 allowed very few changes to be made in the administration 
 of the finances. Nor did he ever encourage the arrogance 
 of the soldiers. 
 
 2. Nor under him was any general promoted to the 
 title of most illustrious. 1 For there was also, as we have 
 already mentioned, the title of most perfect. 2 Nor had the 
 governor of a province occasion to court a commander of 
 cavalry ; as Constantius never allowed those officers to 
 meddle with civil affairs. But all officers, both military 
 and civil, were according to the respectful usages of old, 
 inferior to that of the prefect of the praetorium, which was 
 the most honourable of nil. 
 
 3. In taking care of the soldiers he was very cautious : 
 an examiner into their merits, sometimes over-scrupulous, 
 giving dignities about the palace as if with scales. Under 
 him no one who was not well known to him, or who was 
 favoured merely by some sudden impulse, ever received 
 any high appointment in the palace. But only such as 
 had served ten years in some capacity or other could look 
 for such appointments as master of the ceremonies or trea- 
 surer. The successful candidates could always be known 
 beforehand ; and it veiy seldom happened that any military 
 officer was transferred to a civil office ; while on the other 
 hand none but veteran soldiers were appointed to com- 
 mand troops. 
 
 1 These and other titles, such as " respectable " (spectabiles), " illus- 
 trious " (egregrie, illustres), were invented by the emperors of this 
 century. They none of them appear to have conferred any substantive 
 power. 
 
 2 This office had been first established by Augustus, who created 
 two prefects of the praetorian cohorts, under whose command also all 
 the soldiers in Italy were placed. Commodus raised the number to 
 three, and Constantino to four, whom (when he abolished the prastorian 
 cohort), he made, in fact, governors of provinces. There was one 
 prsetectus prsetorio for Gaul, one for Italy, one for Illyricum, and one 
 lor the East.
 
 A.D. 361/| CHARACTER OF CONSTANTIUS. 273 
 
 4. He was a diligent cultivator of learning, but, as his 
 blunted talent was not suited to rhetoric, he devoted 
 himself to versification ; in which, however, he did nothing 
 worth speaking of. 
 
 5. In his way of life he was economical and temperate, 
 and by moderation in eating and drinking he preserved 
 such robust health that he was rarely ill, though when ill 
 dangerously so. For repeated experience and proof has 
 sTiown that this is the case with persons who avoid licen- 
 tiousness and luxury. 
 
 6. He was contented with very little sleep, which he 
 took when time and season allowed ; and throughout his 
 long life he was so extremely chaste that no suspicion was 
 ever cast on him in this respect, though it is a charge 
 which, even when it can find no ground, malignity is apt 
 to fasten on princes. 
 
 7. In riding and throwing the javelin, in shooting with 
 the bow, and in all the accomplishments of military exer- 
 cises, he was admirably skilful. That he ne.ver blew his 
 nose in public, never spat, never was seen to change coun- 
 tenance, and that he never in all his life ate any fruit I 
 pass over, as what has been often related before. 
 
 8. Having now briefly enumerated his good qualities 
 with which we have been able to become acquainted, let 
 us now proceed to speak of his vices. In other respects 
 he was equal to average princes, but if he had the slightest 
 reason (even if founded on wholly false information) for 
 suspecting any one of aiming at supreme power, he would 
 at once institute the most rigorous inquiry, trampling 
 down right and wrong alike, and outdo the cruelty of 
 Caligula, Domitian, or Commodus, whose barbarity he 
 rivalled at the very beginning of his reign, when he 
 shamefully put to death his own connections and relations. 
 
 9. And his cruelty and morose suspicions, which were 
 directed against everything of the kind, were a cruel addi- 
 tion to the sufferings of the unhappy persons who were 
 accused of sedition or treason. 
 
 10. And if anything of the kind got wind, he instituted 
 investigations of a more terrible nature than the law sanc- 
 tioned, appointing men of known cruelty as judges in such 
 cases ; and in punishing offenders he endeavoured to pro- 
 tract their deaths as long as nature would allow, being in 
 
 T
 
 274 AMM1ANUS MARCELLINUS. [Bit. XXI. CH. xvi. 
 
 such cases more savage than even Gallienus. For he, 
 though assailed by incessant and real plots of rebels, such 
 as Aureohis, Posthumus, Ingenuus, and Valens who was 
 surnamed the Thessalonian, and many others, often miti- 
 gated the penalty of crimes liable to sentence of death ; 
 while Constantius caused facts which were really unques- 
 tionable to be looked upon as doubtful by the excessive 
 inhumanity of his tortures. 
 
 11. In such cases he had a mortal hatred of justice, even 
 though his great object was to be accounted just and mer- 
 ciful : and as sparks flying from a dry wood, by a mere 
 breath of wind are sometimes carried on with unrestrained 
 course to the danger of the country villages around, so he 
 also from the most trivial causes kindled heaps of evik , 
 being very unlike that wise emperor Marcus Aurelius, 
 who, when Cassius in Syria aspired to the supreme power, 
 and when a bundle of letters which he had written to his 
 accomplices, was taken with their bearer, and brought to 
 him, ordered them at once to be burned, while he was still 
 in Illyricum, in order that he might not know who had 
 plotted against him, and so against his will be obliged to 
 consider some persons as his enemies. 
 
 12. And, as some right-thinking people are of opinion, 
 it was rather an indication of great virtue in Constantius 
 to have quelled the empire without shedding more blood, 
 than to have revenged himself with such cruelty. 
 
 13. As Cicero also teaches us, when in one of his letters 
 to Nepos he accuses Cassar of cruelty, " For," says he, 
 " felicity is nothing else but success in what is honour- 
 able ;" or to define it in another way, " Felicity is fortune 
 assisting good counsels, and he who is not guided by such 
 cannot be happy. Therefore in wicked and impious de- 
 signs such as those of Caesar there could be no felicity ; 
 and in rny judgment Camillus when in exile was happier 
 than Manlius at the same time, even if Manlius had been 
 able to make himself king, as he wished. 1 ' 
 
 14. The same is the language of Heraclitus of Ephesus, 
 when he remarks that men of eminent capacity and virtue, 
 through the caprice of fortune, have often been overcome 
 by men destitute of either talent or energy. But that that 
 glory is the best when power, existing with high rank, 
 forces, as it were, its inclinations to be angry and cruel,
 
 A.D. 361.] CHARACTER OF CONSTANTIUS. 275 
 
 and oppressive under the yoke, and so erects a glorious 
 trophy in the citadel of its victorious mind. 
 
 15. But as in his foreign wars this emperor was unsuc- 
 cessful and unfortunate, on the other hand in his civil 
 contests he was successful ; and in all those domestic cala- 
 mities he covered himself with the horrid blood of the 
 enemies of the republic and of himself; and yielding to 
 Ijs elation at these triumphs in a way neither right nor 
 usual, he erected at a vast expense triumphal arches in 
 Gaul and the two Pannonias, to record his triumphs over 
 his own provinces; engraving on them the titles of his 
 exploits ... as long as they should last, to those who 
 read the inscriptions. 
 
 16. He was preposterously addicted to listening to his 
 wives, and to the thin voices of his eunuchs, and some of 
 his courtiers, who applauded all his words, and watched 
 everything he said, whether in approval or disapproval, in 
 order to agree with it. 
 
 17. The misery of these times was further increased by 
 the insatiable covetousness of his tax-collectors, who 
 brought him more odium than money ; and to many 
 persons this seemed the more intolerable, because he 
 never listened to any excuse, never took any measures for 
 relief of the provinces when oppressed by the multiplicity of 
 taxes and imposts ; and in addition to all this he was very 
 apt to take back any exemptions which he had granted. 
 
 18. He confused the Christian religion, which is plain 
 and simple, with old women's superstitions ; in investi- 
 gating which he preferred perplexing himself to settling 
 its questions with dignity, so that he excited much dissen- 
 sion ; which he further encouraged by diffuse wordy 
 explanations : he ruined the establishment of public con- 
 veyances by devoting them to the service of crowds of 
 priests, who went to and fro to different synods, as they 
 call the meetings at which they endeavour to settle every- 
 thing according to their own fancy. 
 
 19. As to his personal appearance and stature, he was 
 of a dark complexion with prominent eyes ; of keen sight, 
 soft hair, with his cheeks carefully shaved, and bright 
 looking. From his waist to his neck he was rather long, 
 his legs were very short and crooked, which made him a 
 good leaper and runner.
 
 276 AMMIANUS MARCELLINUS. [BK. XXII. 
 
 20. When the body of the deceased emperor had been 
 laid out, and placed in a coffin, Joviarms, at that time the 
 chief officer of the guard, was ordered to attend it with 
 royal pomp to Constantinople, to be buried among his 
 relations. 
 
 2 1 . While he was proceeding on the vehicle which bore 
 the remains, samples of the military provisions were 
 brought to him as an offering, as is xisual in the case of 
 princes; and the public animals were paraded before 
 him ; and a concourse of people came out to meet him as 
 was usual; which, with other similar demonstrations, 
 seemed to portend to Jovianus, as the superintendent of his 
 funeral, the attainment of the empire, but an authority 
 only curtailed and shadowy. 
 
 BOOK XXII. 
 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 I. From fear of Constantius Julian halts in Dacia, and secretly con- 
 sults the augurs and soothsayers. II. When he hears of Con- 
 stantius's death he passes through Thrace, and enters Constan- 
 tinople, which he finds quiet ; and without a battle becomes sole 
 master of the Koman empire. III. Some of the adherents of 
 Constantius are condemned, some deservedly, some wrongfully. 
 IV. Julian expels from the palace all the eunuchs, barbers, and 
 cooks A statement of the vices of the eunuchs about the palace, 
 and the corrupt state of military discipline. V. Julian openly 
 professes Ms adherence to the pagan worship, which he had 
 hitherto concealed ; and lets the Christian bishops dispute with 
 one another. VI. How he compelled some Egyptian litigants, 
 who modestly sought his intervention, to return home. VII. At 
 Constantinople he often administers justice in the senate-house ; 
 he arranges the affairs of Thrace, and receives anxious embassies 
 from foreign nations. VIH. A description of Thrace, and of the Sea 
 of Marmora, and of the regions and nations contiguous to the 
 Black Sea. IX. Having enlarged and beautified Constantinople, 
 Julian goes to Antioch; on his road he joins the citizens of 
 Nicomedia moving to restore their city ; and at Ancyra presides 
 in the court of justice. X. He winters at Antioch, and presides 
 in the court of justice ; and oppresses no one on account of his 
 religion. XI. George, bishop of Alexandria, with two others, is 
 dragged through the streets by the Gentiles of Alexandria, and
 
 A.D. 361.] PROCEEDINGS OP JULIAN. 277 
 
 torn to pieces and burnt, -without any one being punished for 
 this action. XII. Julian prepares an expedition against the Per- 
 sians, and, in order to know beforehand the result of the war, he 
 consults the oracles ; and sacrifices innumerable victims, devoting 
 himself wholly to soothsaying and augury. XIH. He unjustly 
 attributes the burning of the temple of Apollo at Daphne to the 
 Christians, and orders the great church at Antioch to be shut up. 
 XIV. He sacrifices to Jupiter on Mount Casius Why he writes 
 the Misopogon in his anger against the citizens of Antioch. 
 ' " XV. A description of Egypt ; mention of the Nile, the crocodile, 
 the ibis, and the pyramids. XVI. Description of the five pro- 
 vinces of Egypt, and of their famous cities. 
 
 I. 
 
 A.D. 361. 
 
 1. WHILE the variable events of fortune were bringing to 
 pass these events in different parts of the world, Julian, 
 amid the many plans which he was revolving while in 
 Illyricum, was continually consulting the entrails of vic- 
 tims and watching the flight of birds in his eagerness to 
 know the result of what was about to happen. 
 
 2. Aprunculus Gallus, an orator and a man of skill as a 
 soothsayer, who was afterwards promoted to be governor 
 of Narbonne, announced these results to him, being taught 
 beforehand by the inspection of a liver, as he affirmed, 
 which he had seen covered with a double skin. And 
 while Julian was fearing that he was inventing stories to 
 correspond with his desires, and was on that account out 
 of humour, he himself beheld a far more favourable omen, 
 which clearly predicted the death of Constantius. For at 
 the same moment that that prince died in Cilicia, the 
 soldier who, as he was going to mount his horse, had 
 supported him with his right hand, fell down, on which 
 Julian at once exclaimed, in the hearing of many persons, 
 that he who had raised him to the summit had fallen. 
 
 3. But he did not change his plans, but remained within 
 the border of Dacia, still being harassed with many 
 fears. Nor did he think it prudent to trust to conjectures, 
 which might perhaps turn out contrary to his expect- 
 ations. 
 
 II. 
 
 1. BUT while he was thus in suspense, the ambassadors, 
 Theolaiphus and Aligildus, who had been despatched to
 
 278 AMMIANUS MAKCELLI^US. [BK.XXII.CH.it. 
 
 him to announce the death of Constantius, suddenly ar- 
 rived, adding that that prince with his last words had 
 named him as his successor in his dignity. 
 
 2. As soon as he learnt this, being delighted at his deli- 
 verance from the turmoils of war and its consequent dis- 
 orders, and fully relying on the prophecies he had received, 
 having besides often experienced the advantages of celerity 
 of action, he issued orders to march to Thrace. Therefore 
 speedily advancing his standards, he passed over the high 
 ground occupied by the Succi, and marched towards the 
 ancient city of Eumolpias, now called Philippopolis, all 
 his army following him with alacrity. 
 
 3. For they now saw that the imperial power which 
 they were on their way to seize, in the face of imminent 
 danger, was in a measure beyond their hopes put into their 
 hands by the course of nature. And as report is wont 
 marvellously to exaggerate events, a rumour got abroad 
 that Julian, formidable both by sea and land, had entered 
 Heraclea, called also Perinthus, borne over its unresisting 
 walls on the chariot of Triptolemus, which from its rapid 
 movements the ancients, who loved fables, had stated to 
 be drawn by flying serpents and dragons. 
 
 4. When he arrived at Constantinople, people of every 
 age and sex poured forth to meet him, as though he were 
 some one dropped from heaven. On the eleventh of De- 
 cember he was received with respectful duty by the senate, 
 and by the unanimous applause of the citizens, and was 
 escorted into the city by vast troops of soldiers and civi- 
 lians, marshalled like an army, while all eyes were turned 
 on him, not only with the gaze of curiosity, but with great 
 admiration. 
 
 5. For it seemed to them like a dream, that a youth in 
 the flower of his age, of slight body, but renowned for 
 great exploits, after many victories over barbarian kings 
 and nations, having passed from city to city with un- 
 paralleled speed, should now, by an accession of wealth 
 and power as rapid as the spread of fire, have become the 
 unresisted master of the world ; and the will of God itself 
 having given him the empire, should thus have obtained 
 it without any injury to the state.
 
 A.D.361.J SEVERITIES OF JULIAN. 279 
 
 III. 
 
 1. His first step was to give to Secundus Sallustius, 
 whom he promoted to be prefect of the prsetorium, being 
 well assured of his loyalty, a commission to conduct some 
 important investigations, joining with him as colleagues 
 Mamertinus, Arbetio, Agilo, and Nevitta, and also Jovinus, 
 whom he had recently promoted to the command of the 
 cavalry in Illyricum. 
 
 2. They all went to Chalcedon, and in the presence of 
 the chiefs and tribunes, the Jovian and Herculian legions, 
 they tried several causes with too much rigour, though 
 there were some in which it was undeniable that the 
 accused were really guilty. 
 
 3. They banished Palladius, the master of the ceremonies, 
 to Britain, though there was but a suspicion that he had 
 prejudiced Constantius against Gallus, while he was master 
 of the ceremonies under that prince as Cassar. 
 
 < 4. They banished Taurus, who had been prefect of the 
 prsetorium, to Vercelli, who, to all persons capable of dis- 
 tinguishing between right and wrong, will appear very 
 excusable in respect to the act for which he was con- 
 demned. For his offence was only that, fearing a violent 
 disturbance which had arisen, he fled to the protection of 
 his prince. And the treatment inflicted on him could not 
 be read without great horror, when the preamble of the 
 public accusation began thus : " In the consulship of 
 Taurus and Florentius, Taurus being brought before the 
 criers " 
 
 5. Pentadius also was destined for a similar sentence ; 
 the charge against him being that, having been sent on 
 a mission by Constantius, he had made notes of the replies 
 given by Gallus when he was examined on several sub- 
 jects before he was put to death. But as he defended 
 himself with justice, he was at last discharged. 
 
 6. With similar iniquity, Florentius, at that time master 
 of the ceremonies, the son of Nigrinianus, was banished to 
 Boae, an island on the coast of Dalmatia. The other 
 Florentius, who had been prefect of the prsetoriiim, and 
 was then consul, being alarmed at the sudden change in 
 the aspect of affairs, in order to save himself from danger,
 
 280 AMMIAXUS MARCELLINUS. [BK. XXII. CH. lit 
 
 hid himself and his wife for some time, and never returned 
 during Julian's life ; still he was, though absent, con- 
 demned to death. 
 
 7. In the same way, Evagrius, the comptroller of the 
 private demesnes of the emperor, and Saturninus, late 
 superintendent of the palace, and Cyrinus, late secretary, 
 were all banished. But Justice herself seems to have 
 mourned over the death of Ursulus, the treasurer, and 
 to accuse Julian of ingratitude to him. For when, as 
 Caesar, he was sent to the west, with the intent that he 
 was to be kept in great poverty, and without any power of 
 making presents to any of his soldiers, in order to make 
 them less inclined to favour any enterprise which he 
 might conceive, this same Ursulus gave him letters to 
 the superintendent of the Gallic treasury, desiring him 
 to give the Caesar whatever he might require. 
 
 8. After his death, Julian, feeling that he was exposed 
 to general reproach and execration, thinking that an un- 
 pardonable crime could be excused, affirmed that the man 
 had been put to death without his being aware of it, 
 pretending that he had been massacred by the fury of the 
 soldiers, who recollected what he had said (as we men- 
 tioned before) when he saw the destruction of Amida. 
 
 9. And therefore it seemed to be through fear, or else 
 from a want of understanding what was proper, that he 
 appointed Arbetio, a man always vacillating and arrogant, 
 to preside over these investigations, with others of the 
 chief officers of the legions present for the look of the 
 thing, when he knew that he had been one of the chief 
 enemies to his safety, as was natural in one who had borne 
 a distinguished share in the successes of the civil war. 
 
 10. And though these transactions which I have men- 
 tioned vexed those who wished him well, those which 
 came afterwards were carried out with a proper vigour 
 and severity. 
 
 1 1 . It was only a deserved destiny which befel Apode- 
 mius, who had been the chief steward, and whose cruel 
 machinations with respect to the deaths of Silvanus and 
 Gallus we have already mentioned, and Paulus, the secre- 
 tary, surnamed " The Chain," men who are never spoken 
 of without general horror, and who were now sentenced to 
 be burnt alive.
 
 A.D.361.] SEVERITIES OF JULIAN. 281 
 
 12. They also sentenced to death Eusebius, the chief 
 chamberlain of Constantius, a man equally full of am- 
 bition and cruelty, who from the lowest rank had been 
 raised so high as even almost to lord it over the emperor, 
 and who had thus become wholly intolerable ; and whom 
 Nemesis, who beholds all human affairs, having often, as 
 the saying is, plucked him by the ear, and warned to con- 
 duct himself with more moderation, now, in spite of his 
 struggles, hurled headlong from his high position. 
 
 IV. 
 
 1. AFTER this Julian directed his whole favour and affec- 
 tion to people of every description about the palace ; not 
 acting in this like a philosopher anxious for the discovery 
 of truth. 
 
 2. For he might have been praised if he had re- 
 tained a few who were moderate in their disposition, and 
 of proved honesty and respectability. We must, indeed, 
 confess that the greater part of them had nourished as it 
 were such a seed-bed of all vices, which they spread abroad 
 so as to infect the whole republic with evil desires, and 
 did even more injury by their example than by the im- 
 punity which they granted to crimes. 
 
 3. Some of them had been fed on the spoils of temples, 
 had smelt out gain on every occasion, and having raised 
 themselves from the lowest poverty to vast riches, had set 
 no bounds to their bribery, their plunder, or their ex- 
 travagance, being at all times accustomed to seize what 
 belonged to others. 
 
 4. From which habit the beginnings of licentious life 
 sprang up, with perjuries, contempt of public opinion, and 
 an insane arrogance, sacrificing good faith to infamous 
 gains. 
 
 5. Among which vices, debauchery and unrestrained 
 gluttony grew to a head, and costly banquets superseded 
 triumphs for victories. The common use of silken robes 
 prevailed, the textile arts were encouraged, and above 
 all was the anxious care about the kitchen. Vast spaces 
 were sought out for ostentatious houses, so vast that if the 
 consul Cincinnatus had possessed as much land, he would 
 have lost the glory of poverty after his dictatorship.
 
 282 AMMIANUS MARCELLINUS. [BK. XXII. CH. v. 
 
 6. To these shameful vices was added the loss of mili- 
 tary discipline ; the soldier practised songs instead of his 
 battle-cry, and a stone would no longer serve him for a 
 bed, as formerly, but he wanted feathers and yielding 
 mattresses, and goblets heavier than his sword, for he was 
 now ashamed to drink out of earthenware ; and he 
 reqiiired marble houses, though it is recorded in ancient 
 histories that a Spartan soldier was severely punished for 
 venturing to appear under a roof at all dtiring a campaign. 
 
 7. But now the soldier was fierce and rapacious towards 
 his own countrymen, but towards the enemy he was 
 inactive and timid, by courting different parties, and in 
 times of peace he had acquired riches, and was now a 
 judge of gold and precious stones, in a manner wholly 
 contrary to the recollection of very recent times. 
 
 8. For it is well known that when, in the time of the 
 Caesar Maximian, the camp of the king of Persia was plun- 
 dered ; a common soldier, after finding a Persian bag full 
 of pearls, threw the gems away in ignorance of their value, 
 and went away contented with the mere beauty of his 
 bit of dressed leather. 
 
 9. In those days it also happened that a barber who had 
 been sent for to cut the emperor's hair, came handsomely 
 dressed ; and when Julian saw him, he was amazed, and 
 said, " I did not send for a superintendent, but for a 
 barber." And when he was asked what he made by his 
 business, he answered that he every day made enough to 
 keep twenty persons, and as many horses, and also a large 
 annual income, besides many sources of accidental gain. 
 
 10. And Julian, angry at this, expelled all the men of 
 this trade, and the cooks, and all who made similar profits, 
 as of no use to him, telling them, however, to go where 
 they pleased. 
 
 V. 
 
 1. AND although from his earliest childhood he was in- 
 clined to the worship of the gods, 1 and gradually, as he 
 grew up, became more attached to it, yet he was influenced 
 by many apprehensions which made him act in things 
 relating to that subject as secretly as he could. 
 
 1 Ammiauus uses the phrase "worship of the gods," in opposition 
 to Christianity.
 
 A.D.361.J HIS CONDUCT RESPECTING RELIGION. 283 
 
 2. But when his fears were terminated, and he found 
 himself at liberty to do what he pleased, he then showed 
 his secret inclinations, and by plain and positive decrees 
 ordered the temples to be opened, and victims to be 
 brought to the altars for the worship of the gods. 
 
 3. And in order to give more eifect to his intentions, he 
 ordered the priests of the different Christian sects, with 
 the adherents of each sect, to be admitted into the palace, 
 and in a constitutional spirit expressed his wish that their 
 dissensions being appeased, each without any hindrance 
 might fearlessly follow the religion he preferred. 
 
 4. He did this the more resolutely because, as long 
 licence increased their dissensions, he thought he should 
 never have to fear the unanimity of the common people, 
 having found by experience that no wild beasts are so 
 hostile to men as Christian sects in general are to one 
 another. And he often used to say, " Listen to me, to 
 whom the Allemanni and Franks have listened ;" imitating 
 in this an expression of the ancient emperor Marcus 
 Aurelius. But he omitted to notice that there was a great 
 difference between himself and his predecessor. 
 
 5. For when Marcus was passing through Palestine, on 
 his road to Egypt, he is said, when wearied by the dirt 
 and rebellious spirit of the Jews, to have often exclaimed 
 with sorrow, " O Marcomanni, Quadi, Sarmatians, I 
 have at last found others worse than you !" 
 
 VI. 
 
 1. ABOUT the same time many Egyptians, excited by 
 various rumours, arrived at Constantinople ; a race given 
 to controversy, and extremely addicted to habits of litiga- 
 tion, covetous, and apt to ask payment of debts due to 
 them over and over again ; and also, by way of escaping 
 from making the payments due to them, to accuse the rich 
 of embezzlement, and the tax-gatherers of extortion. 
 
 2. These men, collecting into one body, came screeching 
 like so many jackdaws, claiming in a rude manner the atten- 
 tion of the emperor himself, and of the prefects of the prae- 
 torium, and demanding the restoration of the contributions 
 which they had been compelled to furnish, justly or un- 
 justly, for the last seventy years.
 
 284 AMMIAXUS MARCELLIXUS. f^K. XXII. CH. VIL 
 
 3. And as they hindered the transaction of any other 
 business, Julian issued an edict in which he ordered them 
 all to go to Chalcedon, promising that he himself also 
 would soon come there, and settle all their business. 
 
 4. And when they had gone, an order was given to all 
 the captains of ships which go to and fro, that none of 
 them should venture to take an Egyptian for a passenger. 
 And as this command was carefully observed, their ob- 
 stinacy in bringing false accusations came to an end, and 
 they all, being disappointed in their object, returned 
 home. 
 
 5. After which, as if at the dictation of justice herself, 
 a law was published forbidding any one to exact from, any 
 officer the restitution of things which that officer had 
 legally received. 
 
 VII. 
 
 A.D. 362. 
 
 1. AT the beginning of the new year, when the consular 
 records had received the names of Mamertinus and Nevitta, 
 the prince humbled himself by walking in their train with 
 other men of high rank ; an act which some praised, 
 while others blame it as full of affectation, and mean. 
 
 2. Afterwards, when Mamertinus was celebrating the 
 Circensian games, Julian, following an ancient fashion, 
 manumitted some slaves, who were introduced by the 
 consul's officer ; but afterwards, being informed that on 
 that day the supreme jurisdiction belonged to another, he 
 fined himself ten pounds of gold as an offender. 
 
 3. At the same time he was a continual attendant in 
 the court of justice, settling many actions which were 
 brought in all kinds of cases. One day while he was 
 sitting as judge, the arrival of a certain philosopher from 
 Asia named Maximus, was announced, on which he leapt 
 down from the judgment seat in an unseemly manner, and 
 forgetting himself so far as to run at full speed from the 
 hall, he kissed him, and received him with great reverence, 
 and led him into the palace, appearing by this unseasonable 
 ostentation a seeker of empty glory, and forgetful of those 
 admirable words of Cicero, which describe people like him. 
 
 4. " Those very philosophers inscribe their names on the 
 identical books which they write about the contempt of,
 
 l.D. 362.] HIS CONDUCT TOWARDS THE ARMY. 285 
 
 jjlory, in order that they may be named and extolled in 
 that very thing in which they proclaim their contempt for 
 mention and for praise." l 
 
 5. Not long afterwards, two of the secretaries who had 
 been banished came to him, boldly promising to point 
 out the hiding-place of Florentiiis if he would restore 
 them to their rank in the army : but he abused them, and 
 cabled them informers ; adding that it did not become an 
 emperor to be led by underhand information to bring back 
 a man who had concealed himself out of fear of death, and 
 who perhaps would not long be left in his retreat un- 
 pardoned. 
 
 6. On all these occasions Preetextatus was present, a 
 senator of a noble disposition and of old-fashioned dignity ; 
 who at that time had come to Constantinople on his own 
 private affairs, and whom Julian by his own choice selected 
 as governor of Achaia with the rank of proconsul. 
 
 7. Still, while thus diligent in correcting civil evils, 
 Julian did not omit the affairs of the army : continually 
 appointing over the soldiers officers of long-tried worth ; 
 repairing the exterior defences of all the cities throughout 
 Thrace, and taking great care that the soldiers on the 
 banks of the Danube, who were exposed to the attacks of 
 the barbarians, and who, as ho heard were doing their 
 duty with vigilance and courage, should never be in want 
 of arms, clothes, pay, or provisions. 
 
 8. And while superintending these matters he allowed 
 nothing to be done carelessly : and when those about him 
 advised him to attack the Gauls as neighbours who were 
 always deceitful and perfidious, he said he wished for more 
 formidable foes ; for that the Gallic merchants were enough 
 for them, who sold them at all times without any distinc- 
 tion of rank. 
 
 9. While he gave his attention to these and similar 
 matters, his fame was spreading among foreign nations for 
 courage, temperance, skill in war, and eminent endow- 
 ments of every kind of virtue, so that he gradually became 
 renowned throughout the whole world. 
 
 10. And as the fear of his approach pervaded both 
 neighbouring and distant countries, embassies hastened to 
 him with unusual speed from all quarters at one time ; the 
 
 1 Pro Archiaa Poeta, cap. xxii.
 
 286 AMMUNUS MARCELL1NUS. [BK. XXII. CH. vm. 
 
 people beyond the Tigris and the Armenians sued for 
 peace. At another the Indian tribes vied with each other, 
 sending nobles loaded with gifts even from the Mai dive 
 Islands and Ceylon ; from the south the Moors offered 
 themselves as subjects of the Eoman empire ; from the 
 north, and also from those hot climates through which the 
 Phasis passes on its way to the sea, and from the people of 
 the Bosphorus, and from other unknown tribes came 
 ambassadors entreating that on the payment of annual 
 duties they might be allowed to live in peace within their 
 native countries. 
 
 VIII. 
 
 1. THE time is now appropriate, in my opinion, since in 
 treating of this mighty prince we are come to speak of 
 these districts, to explain perspicuously what we have 
 learnt by our own eyesight or by reading, about the 
 frontiers of Thrace and the situation of the Black Sea. 
 
 2. The lofty mountains of Athos in Macedonia, once 
 made passable for ships by the Persians, and the Euboean 
 rocky promontory of Caphareus, where Nauplius the 
 father of Palamedes wrecked the Grecian fleet, though 
 far distant from one another, separate the .^Egean from the 
 Thessalian Sea, which, extending as it proceeds, on the 
 right, where it is widest, is full of the Sporades and 
 Cyclades islands, which latter are so called because they 
 lie round Delos, an island celebrated as the birthplace of 
 the gods ; on the left it washes Imbros, Tenedos, Lemnos, 
 and Thasos ; and when agitated by any gale it beats 
 violently on Lesbos. 
 
 3. From thence, with a receding current, it flows past 
 the temple of Apollo Sminthius, and Troas, and Troy, 
 renowned for the adventures of heroes ; and on the west it 
 forms the Gulf of Mel as, near the head of which is seen 
 Abdera, the abode of Protagoras and Democritus ; and the 
 blood-stained seat of the Thracian Diomede ; and the 
 valleys through which the Maritza flows on its way to its 
 waves ; and Maronea, and JEnus, founded under sad 
 auspices and soon deserted by ^Eneas, when under the 
 guidance of the gods he hastened onwards to ancient Italy. 
 
 4. After this it narrows gradually, and, as if by a kind 
 of natural wish to mingle with its waters, it rushes
 
 A.D. 362.] CHARACTER OF THRACE. 287 
 
 towards the Black Sea ; and taking a portion of it forms a 
 figure like the Greek 3>. Then separating the Hellespont 
 from Mount Ehodope, it passes by Cynossema, 1 where 
 Hecuba is supposed to be buried, and Csela, and Sestos, 
 and Callipolis, and passing by the tombs of Ajax and 
 Achilles, it touches Dardanus and Abydos (where Xerxes, 
 throwing a bridge across, passed over the waters on foot), 
 and Lampsacus, given to Themistocles by the king of 
 Persia ; and Parion, founded by Parius the son of Jason. 
 
 5. Then curving round in a semicircle and separating 
 the opposite lands more widely in the round gulf of the 
 sea of Marmora, it washes on the east Cyzicus, and 
 Dindyma, the holy seat of the mighty mother Cybele, and 
 Apamia, and Cius, and Astacus afterwarda called Nicomedia 
 from the King Nicomedes. 
 
 6. On the west it beats against the Chersonese, JBgospo- 
 tami where Anaxagoras predicted that stones would fall 
 from heaven, and Lysimachia, and the city which Hercules 
 founded and consecrated to the memory of his comrade 
 Perinthus. And in order to preserve the full and complete 
 figure of the letter $, in the very centre of the circular gulf 
 lies the oblong island of Proconnesus, and also Besbicus. 
 
 7. Beyond the upper end of this island the sea again 
 becomes very narrow where it separates Bithynia from 
 Europe, passing by Chalcedon and Chrysopolis, and some 
 other places of no importance. 
 
 8. Its left shore is looked down upon by Port Athyras 
 and Selymbria, and Constantinople, formerly called Byzan- 
 tium, a colony of the Athenians, and Cape Ceras, having 
 at its extremity a lofty tower to serve as a lighthouse 
 to ships from which cape also a very cold wind which 
 often arises from that point is called Ceratas. 
 
 9. The sea thus broken, and terminated by mingling 
 with the seas at each end, and now becoming very calm, 
 spreads out into wider waters, as far as the eye can reach 
 both in length and breadth. Its entire circuit, if one 
 should measure it as one would measure an island, sailing 
 along its shores, is 23,000 furlongs according to Eratos- 
 thenes, Hecataeus, and Ptolemy, and other accurate inves- 
 tigators of subjects of this kind, resembling, by the consent 
 
 1 The fable was that Hecuba was turned into a bitch, from which 
 thia place was called KOVOS arma, a dog's tomb.
 
 288 AMMIAXUS MARCELLINUS. [BK. XXIL CH. vm. 
 
 of all geographers, a Scythian bow, lield at both ends by 
 its string. 
 
 10. When the sun rises from the eastern ocean, it is 
 shut in by the marshes of the Sea of Azov. On the west 
 it is bounded by the Eoman provinces. On the north lie 
 many tribes differing in language and manners; its southern 
 side describes a gentle curve. 
 
 1 1 . Over this extended space are dispersed many Greek 
 cities, which have for the most part been founded by the 
 people of Miletus, an Athenian colony, long since esta- 
 blished in Asia among the other lonians by N ileus, the son 
 of the famous Codrus, who is said to have devoted himself 
 to his country in the Doric war. 
 
 12. The thin extremities of the bow at each end are 
 commanded by the two Bospori, the Thracian and 
 Cimmerian, placed opposite to one another; and they are 
 called Bospori because through them the daughter of 
 Inachus, 1 who was changed (as the poets relate) into a 
 cow, passed into the Ionian sea. 
 
 13. The right curve of the Thracian Bosphorus is covered 
 by a side of Bithynia, formerly called Mygdonia, of which 
 province Thynia and Mariandena are districts; as also is 
 Bebrycia, the inhabitants of which were delivered from the 
 cruelty of Amyous by the valour of Pollux ; and also the 
 remote spot in which the soothsayer Phineus was terrified 
 by the threatening flight of the Harpies. 
 
 14. The shores are curved into several long bays, into 
 which fall the rivers Sangarius, and Phyllis, and Bizes, 
 and Eebas ; and opposite to them at the lower end are the 
 Symplegades, two rocks which rise into abrupt peaks, and 
 which in former times were accustomed to dash against one 
 another with a fearful crash, and then rebounding with a 
 sharp spring, to recoil once more against the object already 
 struck. Even a bird could by no speed of its wings pass 
 between these rocks as they pass and meet again without 
 being crushed to death. 
 
 15. These rocks, when the Argo, the first of all 
 ships, hastening to Colchis to carry off the golden fleece, 
 had passed, unhurt by them, stood immovable for the 
 future, the power of the whirlwind which used to agitate 
 
 1 To the name B6ffiropos is derived from /Sobs ir6fos, the passage of 
 the Cow.
 
 A.D. 362.] DESCRIPTION OF ASIA MINOR. 289 
 
 them being broken ; and are now so firmly united that no one 
 who saw them now would believe that they had ever been 
 separated ; if all the poems of the ancients did not agree on 
 the point. 
 
 16. After this portion of Bithynia, the next provinces are 
 Pontus and Paphlagonia, in which are the noble cities 
 of Heraclea, and Sinope, and Polemonium, and Amisus, and 
 Tics, and Amastris, all originally founded by the energy of 
 the Greeks ; and Cerasus, from which Lucullus brought the 
 cherry, and two lofty islands which contain the famous 
 cities of Trapezus and Pityus. 
 
 17. Beyond these places is the Acherusian cave, which 
 the natives call MVXOTTOVTIOV ; and the harbour of Acone, and 
 several rivers, the Acheron, the Arcadius, the Iris, the 
 Tibris, and near to that the Parthenius, all of which pro- 
 ceed with a rapid stream into the sea. Close to them is 
 the Thermodon, which rises in Mount Armonius, and flows 
 through the forest of Themiscyra, to which necessity for- 
 
 , merly compelled the Amazons to migrate. 
 
 18. The Amazons, as may be here explained, after having 
 ravaged their neighbours by bloody inroads, and over- 
 powered them by repeated defeats, began to entertain 
 greater projects ; and perceiving their own strength to be 
 superior to their neighbours', and being continually cove- 
 tous of their possessions, they forced their way through 
 many nations, and attacked the Athenians. But they were 
 routed in a fierce battle, and their flanks being uncovered 
 by cavalry, they all perished. 
 
 19. When their destruction became known, the rest, who 
 had been left at home as unwarlike, were reduced to the 
 last extremities ; and fearing the attacks of their neigh- 
 bours, who would now retaliate on them, they removed 
 to the more quiet district of the Thermodon. And after a 
 long time, their posterity again becoming numerous, re- 
 turned in great force to their native regions, and became 
 in later ages formidable to the people of many nations. 
 
 20. Not far from hence is the gentle hill Carambis, on 
 the north, opposite to which, at a distance of 2,500 furlongs, 
 is the Criu-Metopon, a promontory of Taurica. From 
 this spot the whole of the sea-coast, beginning at the 
 river Halys, is like the chord of an arc fastened at both 
 ends.
 
 200 AHMIANUS MARCELLINUS. [BK. XXII. CH. VIH. 
 
 21. On the frontiers of this district are the Dahee, 1 the 
 fiercest of all warriors ; and the Chalybes, the first people 
 who dug up iron, and wrought it to the use of man. 
 Next to them lies a large plain occupied by the Byzares, 
 the Saqires, the Tibareni, the Mosynaaci, the Macrones 
 and the Philyres, tribes with which we have no inter- 
 course. 
 
 22. And at a small distance from them are some monu- 
 ments of heroes, where Sthenelus, Idmon, and Tiphys are 
 buried, the first being that one of Hercules's comrades who 
 was mortally wounded in the war with the Amazons ; the 
 second the soothsayer of the Argonauts; the third the 
 skilful pilot of the crew. 
 
 23. After passing by the aforesaid districts, we come to 
 the cave Aulon, and the river of Callichorus, which 
 derives its name from the fact that when Bacchus, having 
 subdued the nations of India in a three years' war, came 
 into those countries, he chose the green and shady banks 
 of this river fur the re-establishment of his ancient orgies 
 and dances ; and some think that such festivals as these 
 were those called Trieterica.* 
 
 24. Next to these frontiers come the famous cantons of 
 the Camaritae, and the Phasis, which with its roaring 
 streams reaches the Colchi, a race descended from the 
 Egyptians ; among whom, besides other cities, is one called 
 Phasis from the name of the river ; and Dioscurias, 3 still 
 famous, which is said to have been founded by the Spartans 
 Amphitus and Cercius, the charioteers of Castor and Pollux ; 
 from whom the nation of Heniochi * derives its origin. 
 
 25. At a little distance from these are the Achsei, who 
 after some earlier Trojan war, and not that which began 
 about Helen, as some authors have affirmed, Avere driven 
 into Pontus by foul winds, and, as all around was hostile, 
 so that they could nowhere find a settled abode, they 
 always stationed themselves on the tops of snowy moun- 
 tuins ; and, under the pressure of an unfavourable climate 
 they contracted a habit of living on plunder in contempt 
 
 1 So Virgil calls themlndoniitique Dahse. In the Georgics, also, he 
 speaks of the Chalybes as producers of iron. At Chalybes nudi ferrum. 
 '-' Or triennial, from rpt'is, three ; and tros, a year. 
 
 From Aii'inKovpoi, the sons of Jupiter, i. e., Castor and Pollux. 
 4 From rjvloxos, a charioteer.
 
 A.D. 362.] THE TRIBES OF THE CASPIAN. 291 
 
 of all danger ; and thus became the most ferocious of all 
 nations. Of the Cercetae, who lie next to them, nothing is 
 known worth speaking of. 
 
 26. Behind them lie the inhabitants of the Cimmerian 
 Bosphorus, living in cities founded by the Milesiani, the 
 chief of which is Panticapaeum, which is on the Bog a 
 river of great size, both from its natural waters and the 
 streams which fall into it. 
 
 27. Then for a great distance the Amazons stretch as 
 far as the Caspian sea ; occupying the banks of the Don, 
 which rises in Mount Caucasus, and proceeds in a winding 
 course, separating Asia from Europe, and falls into the 
 swampy sea of Azov. 
 
 28. Near to thi;J is the Rha, on the banks of which 
 grows a vegetable of the same name, which is useful as a 
 remedy for many diseases. 
 
 29. Beyond the Don, taking the plain in its width, lie the 
 Sauromatge, whose land is watered by the never-failing 
 "rivers Manecus, Rhombites, Theophanes, and Totordanes. 
 And there is at a vast distance another nation also known 
 as Sauromatse, touching the shore at the point where the 
 river Corax falls into the sea. 
 
 30. Near to this is the sea of Azov, of great extent, 
 from the abundant sources of which a great body of 
 water pours through the straits of Patares, near the Black 
 Sea; on the right are the islands Phanagoras and Her- 
 monassa, which have been settled by the industry of the 
 Greeks. 
 
 31. Round the furthest extremity of this gulf dwell 
 many tribes differing from one another in language and 
 habits ; the Jaxamatae, the Mseotae, the Jazyges, the Eox- 
 olani, the Alani, the Melanchlsenae, the Geloni, and the 
 Agathyrsi, whose land abounds in adamant. 
 
 32. And there are others beyond, who are the most re- 
 mote people of the whole world. On the left side of this 
 gulf lies the Crimea, full of Greek colonies; the people of 
 which are quiet and steady : they practise agriculture, and 
 live on the produce of the land. 
 
 33. From them the Tauri, though at no great distance, 
 are separated by several kingdoms, among which are the 
 Arinchi, a most savage tribe, the Sinchi, and the Napaei, 
 whose cruelty, being aggravated by continual licence, is
 
 292 AMMIANDS MAECELLINUS. [BK. XXII. Cii. via 
 
 the reason why the sea is called the Inhospitable, 1 from 
 which by the rule of contrary it gets the name of the 
 Euxine, just as the Greeks call a fool eviyfljje, and night 
 eiiOpovr), and the furies, the Ev^e^/Ste. 
 
 34. For they propitiated the gods with human victims, 
 sacrificing strangers to Diana, whom they call Oreiloche, 
 and fix the heads of the slain on the walls of their temples, 
 as perpetual monuments of their deeds. 
 
 35. In this kingdom of the Tauri lies the uninhabited 
 island of Leuce, which is consecrated to Achilles ; and if 
 any ever visit it, as soon as they have examined the traces 
 of antiquity, and the temple and offerings dedicated to 
 the hero, they return the same evening to their ships, as 
 it is said that no one can pass the night there without 
 danger to hiss life. 
 
 36. There is water there, and white birds like king- 
 fishers, the origin of which, and the battles of the Helle- 
 spont, we will discuss at a proper time. And there are 
 some cities in this region of which the most eminent are 
 Eupatoria, Danclaca, and Theodosia, and several others 
 which are free from the wickedness of human sacrifices. 
 
 37. Up to this we reckon that one of the extremities of 
 the arc extends. We will now follow, as order suggests, 
 the rest of the curve which extends towards the north, 
 along the left side of the Thracian Bosphorus, just remind- 
 ing the reader that while the bows of all other nations 
 bend along the whole of their material, those of the 
 Scythians and Parthians have a straight rounded line in the 
 centre, from which they curve their spreading horns so as 
 to present the figure of the waning moon. 
 
 38. At the very beginning then of this district, where 
 the Rhipaean mountains end, lie the Arimphaei, a just 
 people known for their quiet character, whose land is 
 watered by the rivers Chronius and Bisula ; and next to 
 them are the Massagetas, the Alani, and the Sargetse, and 
 several other tribes of little note, of whom we know 
 neither the names nor the customs. 
 
 39. Then, a long way off, is the bay Carcinites, and a 
 
 :1 The old name was y A|e/os, inhospitable ; turned into eti^eivos, 
 friendly to strangers fvr]6r)s, according to etymology, would mean 
 "of a good disposition:" tu((>p6vTi, "the time when people have happy 
 thoughts ;" E.v/j.ei'iSfs, " deities of propitious mi^ht."
 
 A.B. 362.] DESCRIPTION OF THE DANUBE. 293 
 
 river of the same name, and a grove of Diana, frequented 
 by many votaries in those countries. 
 
 40. After that we come to the Dnieper (Borysthenes), 
 which rises in the mountains of the Neuri ; a river very 
 large at its first beginning, aud which increases by the 
 influx of many other streams, till it falls into the sea with 
 great violence ; on its woody banks is th town of Borys- 
 thnes, and Cephalonesus, and some altars consecrated to 
 Alexander the Great and Augustus Caesar. 
 
 41. Next, at a great distance, is an island inhabited by 
 the Sindi, a tribe of low-born persons, who upon the over- 
 throw of their lords and masters in Asia, took possession of 
 their wives and properties. Below them is a narrow strip of 
 coast called by the natives the Course of Achilles, having 
 been made memorable in olden time by the exercises of the 
 Thessalian chief, and next to that is the city of Tyros, a 
 colony of the Phoenicians, watered by the river Dniester. 
 
 42. But in the middle of the arc which we have de- 
 , scribed as being of an extended roundness, and which 
 
 takes an active traveller fifteen days to traverse, are the 
 European Alani, the Costoboci, and the countless tribes 
 of the Scythians, who extend over territories which have 
 no ascertained limit ; a small part of whom live on grain. 
 But the rest wander over vast deserts, knowing neither 
 ploughtime nor seedtime ; but living in cold and frost, and 
 feeding like great beasts. They place their relations, 
 their homes, and their wretched furniture on waggons 
 covered with bark, and, whenever they choose, they 
 migrate without hindrance, driving off these waggons 
 wherever they like. 
 
 43. When one arrives at another point of the circuit 
 where there is a harbour, which bounds the figure of the 
 arc at that extremity, the island Peuce is conspicuous, 
 inhabited by the Troglodytse, and Peuci, and other inferior 
 tribes, and we come also to Histros, formerly a city of 
 great power, and to Tomi, Apollonia, Anchialos, Odissos, 
 and many others on the Thracian coast. 
 
 44. But the Danube, rising near Basle on the borders of 
 the Tyrol, extending over a wider space, and receiving 
 on his way nearly sixty navigable rivers, pours through 
 the Scythian territory by seven mouths into the Black 
 Sea.
 
 294 AMMIAXUS MARCELLINUS. [BK. XXII. CH. vnr. 
 
 45. The first mouth (according to the Greek interpreta- 
 tion of the names) is at the island of Peuce, which we have 
 mentioned; the second is at Naracustoma, the third at 
 Calonstoma, the fourth at Pseudostoma. The Boreonstoma 
 and the Sthenostoma, are much smaller, and the seventh is 
 large and black-looking like a bog. 
 
 4(5. But the whole sea, all around, is full of mists and 
 shoals, and is sweeter than seas in general, because by the 
 evaporation of moisture the air is often thick and dense, 
 and its waters are tempered by the immensity of the rivers 
 which fall into it ; and it is full of shifting shallows, 
 because the number of the streams which surround it pour 
 in mud and lumps of soil. 
 
 47. And it is well known that fish flock in large shoals 
 to its most remote extremities that they may spawn and 
 rear their young more healthfully, in consequence of the 
 salubrity of the water ; while the hollow caverns, which 
 are very numerous there, protect them from voracious mon- 
 sters. For nothing of the kind is ever seen in this sea, 
 except some small dolphins, and they do no harm. 
 
 48. Now the portions of the Black Sea which are 
 exposed to the north wind are so thoroughly frozen that, 
 while the rivers, as it is believed, cannot continue their 
 course beneath the ice, yet neither can the foot of beast or 
 man proceed firmly over the treacherous and shifting 
 ground ; a fault which is never found in a pure sea, but 
 only in one of which the waters are mingled with those of 
 rivers. We have digressed more than we had intended, 
 so now let us turn back to what remains to be told. 
 
 49. Another circumstance came to raise Julian's present 
 joy, one which indeed had been long expected, but which 
 had been deferred by all manner of delays. For intel- 
 ligence was brought by Agilo and Jovius, who was after- 
 wards qua3stor, that the garrison of Aquileia, weary of the 
 length of the siege, and having heard of the death of Con- 
 stantius, had opened their gates and come forth, delivering 
 up the authors of the revolt ; and that, after they had been 
 burnt alive, as has been related, the rest had obtained 
 pardon for their offences.
 
 A.D. 362.] ELATION OF JULIAN. 295 
 
 IX. 
 
 1. BUT Julian, elated at his prosperity, began to aspire to 
 greatness beyond what is granted to man : amid continual 
 dangers he had learnt by experience that propitious 
 fortune held out to him, thus peacefully governing the 
 KSman world, a cornucopia as it were of human blessings 
 and all kinds of glory and success : adding this also to his 
 former titles of victory, that while he alone held the reins 
 of empire he was neither disturbed by intestine commo- 
 tions, nor did any barbarians venture to cross his frontiers ; 
 but all nations, eager at all times to find fault with what is 
 past, as mischievous and unjust, were with marvellous 
 unanimity agreed in his praises. 
 
 2. Having therefore arranged with profound delibera- 
 tion all the matters which were required either by the cir- 
 cumstances of the state or by the time, and having 
 encouraged the soldiers by repeated harangues and by 
 adequate pay to be active in accomplishing all that was to 
 be done, Julian, being in great favour with all men, set 
 out for Antioeh, leaving Constantinople, which he had 
 greatly strengthened and enriched ; for he had been born 
 there, and loved and protected it as his native city. 
 
 3. Then crossing the straits, and passing by Chalcedon 
 and Libyssa, where Hannibal the Carthaginian is buried, 
 he came to Nicomedia ; a city of ancient renown, and so 
 adorned at the great expense of former emperors, that 
 from the multitude of its public and private buildings 
 good judges look on it as a quarter, as it were, of the 
 eternal city. 
 
 4. When Julian beheld its walls buried in miserable 
 ashes, he showed the anguish of his mind by silent tears, 
 and went slowly on towards the palace ; especially lament- 
 ing its misfortunes, because the senators who came out to 
 meet him were in poor-looking condition, as well as the 
 people who had formerly been most prosperous ; some of 
 them he recognized having been brought up there by the 
 bishop Eusebius, of whom he was a distant relation. 
 
 5. Having here made many arrangements for repairing 
 the damage done by an earthquake, he passed through 
 Kisasa to the frontier of Gallograecia, and then turning to
 
 296 AMMIANUS MARCELLINUS. [Bit. XXII. CH. ix. 
 
 the right, he went to Pessirms, to see the ancient temple of 
 Cybele ; from which town in the second Punic war, in ac- 
 cordance with the warning of the Sibylline verses, the image 
 of the goddess was removed to Borne by Scipio Nasica. 
 
 6. Of its arrival in Italy, with many other matters con- 
 nected with it, we made mention in recording the acts of 
 the emperor Commodus ; but as to what the reason was 
 for the town receiving this name writers differ. 
 
 7. For some have declared that the city was so called 
 aVo TOV Tretre~it', from falling ; inventing a tale that the statue 
 fell from heaven ; others affirm that llus, the son of Tros, 
 king of Dardania, gave the place this name, which Theo- 
 pompus says it received not from this, but from Midas, 
 formerly a most powerful king of Phrygia. 
 
 8. Accordingly, having paid his worship to the goddess, 
 and propitiated her with sacrifices and prayers, he returned 
 to Ancyra ; and as he was ' proceeding on this way from 
 thence he was disturbed by a multitude ; some violently 
 demanding the restoration of what had been taken from 
 them, others complaining that they had been unjustly 
 attached to different courts ; some, regardless of the risk 
 they ran, tried to enrage him against their adversaries, by 
 charging them with treason. 
 
 9. But he, a sterner judge than Cassius or Lycurgus, 
 weighed the charges with justice, and gave each his due ; 
 never being swayed from the truth, but very severe 
 to calumniators, whom he hated, because he himself, while 
 still a private individual and of low estate, had often 
 experienced the petulant frenzy of many in a way which 
 placed him in great danger. 
 
 10. And though there are many other examples of his 
 patience in such matters, it will suffice to relate one here. 
 A certain man laid an information against his enemy, with 
 whom he had a most bitter quarrel, affirming that he had 
 been guilty of outrage and sedition ; and when the emperor 
 concealed his own opinion, he renewed the charge for 
 several days, and when at last he was asked who the man 
 was whom he was accusing, he replied, a rich citizen. 
 IV hen the emperor heard this he smiled and said, " What 
 proof led you to the discovery of this conduct of his ?" He 
 re plied, " The man has had made for himself a purple silk 
 robe."
 
 AJ>. 362.] VISIT TO ANT10CH. 297 
 
 11. And on this, being ordered to depart in silence, and 
 though unpunished as a low fellow who was accusing one 
 of his own class of too difficult an enterprise to be believed, 
 he nevertheless insisted on the truth of the accusation, till 
 Julian, being wearied by his pertinacity, said to the 
 treasurer, whom he saw near him, " Bid them give this 
 dangerous chatterer some purple shoes to take to his 
 enemy, who, as he gives me to understood, has made him- 
 self a robe of that colour ; that so he may know how little 
 a worthless piece of cloth can help a man, without the 
 greatest strength." 
 
 12. But as such conduct as this is praiseworthy and 
 deserving the imitation of virtuous rulers, so it was a sad 
 thing and deserving of censure, that in his time it was 
 very hard for any one who was accused by any magistrate 
 to obtain justice, however fortified he might be by pri- 
 vileges, or the number of his campaigns, or by a host of 
 friends. So that many persons being alarmed bought off 
 
 'all such annoyances by secret bribes. 
 
 13. Therefore, when after a long journey he had reached 
 Pylse, a place on the frontiers of Cappadocia and Cilicia, 
 he received the ruler of the province, Celsus, already 
 known to him by his Attic studies, with a kiss, and taking 
 him up into his chariot conducted him with him into 
 Tarsus. 
 
 14. From hence, desiring to see Antioch, the splendid 
 metropolis of the East, he went thither by the usual stages, 
 and when he came near the city he was received as if he 
 had been a god, with public prayers, so that he marvelled 
 at the voices of the vast multitude, who cried out that he 
 had come to shine like a star on the Eastern regions. 
 
 15. It happened that just at that time, the annual period 
 for the celebration of the festival of Adonis, according to 
 the old fashion, came round ; the story being, as the poets 
 relate, that Adonis had been loved by Venus, and slain by 
 a boar's tusk, which is an emblem of the fruits of the 
 earth being cut down in their prime. And it appeared a 
 sad thing that when the emperor was now for the first 
 time making his entrance into a splendid city, the abode 
 of princes, wailing lamentations and sounds of mourning 
 should be heard in every direction. 
 
 16. And here was seen a proof of his gentle disposition,
 
 298 AMMIANUS MARCELLINUS. [BK. XXII. CH. x. 
 
 shown indeed in a trifling, Tout very remarkable instance. 
 He had long hated a man named Thalassius, an officer in 
 one of the law courts, as having been concerned in plots 
 against his brother Gallus. He prohibited him from pay- 
 ing his salutations to him and presenting himself among the 
 men of rank ; which encouraged his enemies against whom 
 he had actions in the courts of law, the next day, when a 
 great crowd was collected in the presence of the emperor, 
 to cry out, " Thalassius, the enemy of your clemency, has 
 violently deprived us of our rights ;" and Julian, thinking 
 that this was an opportunity for crushing him, replied, 
 " I acknowledge that I am justly offended with the man 
 whom you mention, and so you ought to keep silence till 
 he has made satisfaction to me who am his principal 
 enemy." And he commanded the prefect who was sitting 
 by him not to hear their business till he himself was 
 recognized by Thalassius, which happened soon afterwards. 
 
 X. 
 
 1. WHILE wintering at Antioch, according to his wish, he 
 yielded to none of the allurements of pleasure in which 
 all Syria abounds ; but under pretence of repose, he 
 devoted himself to judicial affairs, which are not less diffi- 
 cult than those of war, and in which he expended exceed- 
 ing care, showing exquisite willingness to receive informa- 
 tion, and carefully balancing how to assign to every one 
 his due. And by his just sentence the wicked were 
 chastised with moderate punishments, and the innocent 
 were maintained in the undiminished possession of their 
 fortunes. 
 
 2. And although in the discussion of causes he was 
 often unreasonable, asking at unsuitable times to what 
 religion each of the litigants adhered, yet none of his 
 decisions were found inconsistent with equity, nor could 
 he ever be accused, either from considerations of religion 
 or of anything else, of having deviated from the strict 
 path of justice. 
 
 3. For that is a desirable and right judgment which pro- 
 ceeds from repeated examinations of what is just and un- 
 just. Julian feared anything which might lead him away 
 from such, as a sailor fears dangerous rocks ; and he was
 
 A.D. S62.1 JULIAN'S CLEMENCY. 299 
 
 the better able to attain to correctness, because, knowing 
 the levity of his own impetuous disposition, lie used to 
 permit the prefects and his chosen counsellors to check, 
 by timely admonition, his own impulses when they were 
 inclined to stray ; and he continually showed that he was 
 vexed if he committed errors, and was desirous of being 
 corrected. 
 
 - 4:. And when the advocates in some actions were once 
 applauding him greatly as one who had attained to per- 
 fect wisdom, he is said to have exclaimed with much 
 emotion, " I was glad and made it my pride to be praised 
 by those whom I knew to be competent to find fault with 
 me, if I had said or done anything wrong." 
 
 5. But it will be sufficient out of the many instances of 
 his clemency which he aiforded in judging causes to men- 
 tion this one, which is not irrelevant to our subject or in- 
 significant. A certain woman being brought before the 
 court, saw that her adversary, formerly one of the officers of 
 the palace, but who had been displaced, was now, contrary 
 to her expectation, re-established and girt in his official 
 dress, complained in a violent manner of this circum- 
 stance ; and the emperor replied, " Proceed, O woman, if 
 you think that you have been injured in any respect ; he 
 is girt as you see in order to go more quickly through the 
 mire ; your cause will not suffer from it." 
 
 6. And these and similar actions led to the belief, as he 
 was constantly saying, that that ancient justice which 
 Aratus states to have fled to heaven in disgust at the vices 
 of mankind, had returned to earth ; only that sometimes 
 he acted according to his own will rather than according 
 to law, making mistakes which somewhat darkened the 
 glorious course of his renown. 
 
 7. After many trials he corrected numerous abuses in 
 the laws, cutting away circuitous proceedings, and mak- 
 ing the enactments show more plainly what they com- 
 manded or forbade. But his forbidding masters of rhetoric 
 and grammar to instruct Christians was a cruel action, and 
 one deserving to be buried in everlasting silence. 

 
 300 A.M.MIANUS MARCELL1NUS. [Bi. XXII. CH. xi. 
 
 XI. 
 
 1. AT this time, Gaudentius the secretary, whom I have 
 mentioned above as having been sent by Constantius to 
 oppose Julian in Africa, and a man of the name of Julian, 
 who had been a deputy governor, and who was an intem- 
 perate partisan of the late emperor, were brought back as 
 prisoners, and put to death. 
 
 2. And at the same time, Artemius, who had been Duke 
 of Egypt, and against whom the citizens of Alexandria 
 brought a great mass of heavy accusations, was also put to 
 death, and the son of Marcellus too, who had been com- 
 mander both of the infantry and of the cavalry, was pub- 
 licly executed as one who had aspired to the empire by 
 force of arms. Eomanus, too, and Vincentius, the tribunes 
 of the first and second battalion of the Scutarii, being 
 convicted of aiming at things beyond their due, were 
 banished. 
 
 3. And after a short time, when the death of Artemius 
 was known, the citizens of Alexandria who had feared his 
 return, lest, as he threatened, he should come back among 
 them with power, and avenge himself on many of them for 
 the offences which he had received, now turned all their 
 anger against George, the bishop, by whom they had, so 
 to say, been often attacked with poisonous bites. 
 
 4. George having been born in a fuller's shop, as was 
 reported, in Epiphania, a town of Cilicia, and having caused 
 the ruin of many individuals, was, contrary both to his own 
 interest and to that of the commonwealth, ordained bishop 
 of Alexandria, a city which from its own impulses, and 
 without any special cause, is continually agitated by 
 seditious tumults, as the oracles also show. 
 
 5. Men of this irritable disposition were readily in- 
 censed by George, who accused numbers to the willing 
 ears of Constantius, as being opposed to his authority ; and, 
 forgetting his profession, which ought to give no counsel 
 but what is just and merciful, he adopted all the wicked 
 acts of informers. 
 
 6. And among other things he was reported to have 
 maliciously informed Constantius that in that city all the 
 edifices which had been built by Alexander, its founder,
 
 A.D. 362.] DEATH OF GKORGE. 301 
 
 at vast public expense, ought properly to be a source of 
 emolument to the treasury. 
 
 7. To these wicked suggestions he added this also, which 
 soon afterwards led to his destruction. As he was return- 
 ing from court, and passing by the superb temple of the 
 Genius, escorted by a large train, as was his custom, he 
 turned his eyes towards the temple, and said, " How long 
 "Shall this sepulchre stand ?" And the multitude, hearing 
 this, was thunderstruck, and fearing that he would seek 
 to destroy this also, laboured to the utmost of their power 
 to effect his ruin by secret plots. 
 
 8. When suddenly there came the joyful news that Arte- 
 mius was dead ; on which all the populace, triumphing with 
 unexpected joy, gnashed their teeth, and with horrid out- 
 cries set upon George, tramplirig upon him and kicking 
 him, and tearing him to pieces with every kind of muti- 
 lation. 
 
 9. With him also, Dracontius, the master of the mint, 
 and a count named Diodorus, were put to death, and 
 dragged with ropes tied to their legs through the street ; 
 the one because he had overthrown the altar lately set up 
 in the mint, of which he was governor ; the other because 
 while superintending the building of a church, he insolently 
 cut off the curls of the boys, thinking thus to affect the 
 worship of the gods. 
 
 10. But the savage populace were not content with this ; 
 but having mutilated their bodies, put them on camels 
 and conveyed them to the shore, where they burnt them 
 and threw the ashes into the sea ; fearing, as they ex- 
 claimed, lest their remains should be collected and a temple 
 raised over them, as the relics of men who, being urged 
 to forsake their religion, had preferred to endure torturing 
 punishments even to a glorious death, and so, by keeping 
 their faith inviolate, earning the appellation of martyrs. 
 In truth the wretched men who underwent such cruel 
 punishment might have been protected by the aid of the 
 Christians, if both parties had not been equally exasperated 
 by hatred of George. 
 
 11. When this event reached the emperor's ears, he 
 roused himself to avenge the impious deed ; but when 
 about to inflict the extremity of punishment on the guilty, 
 he was appeased by the intercession of those about him,
 
 302 AMMIANUS MARCEIXIXUS. [BK. XXII. CH. xn. 
 
 and contented himself with issuing an edict in which he 
 condemned the crime which had been committed in .stern 
 language, and threatening all with the severest vengeance 
 if anything should be attempted for the future contrary to 
 the principles of justice and law. 
 
 XII. 
 
 1. Ix the mean time, while preparing the expedition against 
 the Persians, which he had long been meditating with all 
 the vigour of his mind, he resolved firmly to avenge their 
 past victories ; hearing from others, and knowing by his 
 own experience, that for nearly sixty years that most fero- 
 cious people had stamped upon the East bloody records of 
 massacre and ravage, many of our armies having often been 
 entirely destroyed by them. 
 
 2. And he was inflamed with a desire for the war on two 
 grounds : first, because he was weary of peace, and dream- 
 ing always of trumpets and battles ; and secondly, because, 
 having been in his youth exposed to the attacks of savage 
 nations, the wishes of whose kings and princes were already 
 turning against us, and whom, as was believed, it would be 
 easier to conquer than to reduce to the condition of sup- 
 pliants, he was eager to add to his other glories the sur- 
 name of Parthicus. 
 
 3. But when his inactive and malicious detractors saw 
 that these preparations were being pressed forward with 
 great speed and energy, they cried out that it was an un- 
 worthy and shameful thing for such unseasonable troubles 
 to be caused by the change of a single prince, and laboured 
 with all their zeal to postpone the campaign; and they 
 were in the habit of saying, in the presence of those whom 
 they thought likely to report their words to the emperor, 
 that, unless he conducted himself with moderation during 
 his excess of prosperity, he, like an over-luxuriant crop, 
 would soon be destroyed by his own fertility. 
 
 4. And they were continually propagating sayings of 
 this kind, barking in vain at the inflexible prince with 
 secret attacks, as the Pygmies or the clown Thiodamas of 
 Lindus assailed Hercules. 
 
 5. But he, as more magnanimous, allowed no delay to 
 take place, nor any diminution in the magnitude of his
 
 A.D. 362.] PROCEEDINGS OK JULIAN. 303 
 
 expedition, but devoted the most energetic care to prepare 
 everything suitable for such an enterprise. 
 
 6. He offered repeated victims on the altars of the gods ; 
 sometimes sacrificing one hundred bulls, and countless 
 flocks of animals of all kinds, and white birds, which he 
 sought for everywhere by land and sea ; so that every day 
 individual soldiers who had stuffed themselves like boors 
 with too much meat, or who were senseless from the eager- 
 ness with which they had drunk, were placed on the 
 shoulders of passers-by, and carried to their homes through 
 the streets from the public temples where they had 
 indulged in feasts which deserved punishment rather than 
 indulgence. Especially the Petulantes and the Celtic 
 legion, whose audacity at this time had increased to a mar- 
 vellous degree. 
 
 7. And rites and ceremonies were marvellously multi- 
 plied with a vastness of expense hitherto unprecedented ; 
 and, as it was now allowed without hindrance, every one 
 
 -professed himself skilful in divination, and all, whether 
 illilerate or learned, without any limit or any prescribed 
 order, were permitted to consult the oracles, and to inspect 
 the entrails of victims; and omens from the voice of birds, 
 and every kind of sign of the future, was sought for with an 
 ostentatious variety of proceeding. 
 
 8. And while this was going on, as if it were a time of 
 profound peace, Julian, being curious in all such branches 
 of learning, entered on a new path of divination. He pro- 
 posed to reopen the prophetic springs of the fountain of 
 Castalia, which Hadrian was said to have blocked up with 
 a huge mass of stones, fearing lest, as he himself had 
 attained the sovereignty through obedience to the pre- 
 dictions of these waters, others might learn a similar 
 lesson ; and Julian immediately ordered the bodies which 
 had been buried around it to be removed with the same 
 ceremonies as those with which the Athenians had purified 
 the island of Delos. 
 
 XIII. 
 
 1. ABOUT the same time, on the 22nd of October, the 
 t-plendid temple of Apollo, at Daphne, which that furious 
 and cruel king Antiochus Epiphanes had built with the
 
 304 AMMIANUS MARCELLINUS. [BK. XXII. CH. xrv. 
 
 statue of the god, equal in size to that of Olympian Jupiter, 
 was suddenly burnt down. 
 
 2. This terrible accident inflamed the emperor with 
 such anger, that he instantly ordered investigations of 
 unprecedented severity to be instituted, and the chief 
 church of Antioch to be shut up. For he suspected that 
 the Christians had done it out of envy, not being able to 
 bear the sight of the magnificent colonnade which sur- 
 rounded the temple. 
 
 3. But it was reported, though the rumour was most 
 vague, that the temple had been burnt by means of Ascle- 
 piades the philosopher, of whom we have made mention 
 while relating the actions of Magnentius. He is said to 
 have come to the suburb in which the temple stood to pay 
 a visit to Julian, and being accustomed to cany with him 
 wherever he went a small silver statue of the Heavenly 
 Venus, he placed it at the feet of the image of Apollo, and 
 then, according to his custom, having lighted wax tapers 
 in front of it, he went away. At midnight, when no one 
 was there to give any assistance, some sparks flying about 
 stuck to the aged timbers ; and from that dry fuel a fire 
 was kindled which burnt everything it could reach, how- 
 ever separated from it by the height of the building. 
 
 4. The same year also, just as winter was approaching, 
 there was a fearful scarcity of water, so that some rivers 
 were dried up, and fountains too, which had hitherto 
 abounded with copious springs. But afterwards they all 
 were fully restored. 
 
 5. And on the second of December, as evening was coming 
 on, all that remained of Nicomedia was destroyed by an 
 earthquake, and no small portion of Kicaea. 
 
 XIV. 
 
 1. THESE events caused great concern to the emperor ; 
 but still he did not neglect other affairs of urgency, till 
 the time of entering on his intended campaign should arrive. 
 But in the midst of his important and serious concerns, 
 it appeared superfluous that, without any plausible reason, 
 and out of a mere thirst for popularity, he took measures 
 for producing cheapness ; a thing which often proves con- 
 trary to expectation and produces scarcity and famine.
 
 A.D. 362.] THE MISOPOGON. 305 
 
 2. And when the magistrates of Antioch plainly proved 
 to him that his orders could not be executed, he would not 
 depart from his purpose, being as obstinate as his brother 
 Gallus, but not bloodthirsty. On which account, becoming 
 furious against them, as slanderous and obstinate, he com- 
 posed a volume of invectives which he called " The 
 Anjiochean," or " Misopogon," enumerating in a bitter 
 spirit all the vices of the city, and adding others be- 
 yond the truth ; and when on this he found that many 
 witticisms were uttered at his expense, he, felt compelled 
 to conceal his feelings for a time ; but was full of internal 
 rage. 
 
 3. For he was ridiculed as a Cercops; 1 again, as a 
 dwarf spreading out his narrow shoulders, wearing a beard 
 like that of a goat, and taking huge strides, as if he had 
 been the brother of Otxis and Ephialtes, 2 whose height 
 Horace speaks of as enormous. At another time he was 
 " the victim-killer," instead of the worshipper, in allusion 
 
 *to the numbers of his victims ; and this piece of ridicule 
 was seasonable and deserved, as once out of ostentation 
 he was fond of carrying the sacred vessels before the priests, 
 attended by a train of girls. And although these and 
 similar jests made him very indignant, he nevertheless 
 kept silence, and concealed his emotions, and continued to 
 celebrate the solemn festivals. 
 
 4. At last, on the day appointed for the holiday, he 
 ascended Mount Casius, a mountain covered with trees, 
 very lofty, and of a round form ; from which at the second 
 crowing of the cock 8 we can see the sun rise. And while 
 he was sacrificing to Jupiter, on a sudden he perceived 
 some one lying on the ground, who, with the voice of a 
 suppliant, implored pardon and his life ; and when Julian 
 asked him who he was, he replied, that he was Theodotus, 
 formerly the chief magistrate of Hierapolis, who, when 
 Constantius quitted that city, had escorted him with other 
 men of rank on his way ; basely flattering him as sure to 
 be victorious ; and he had entreated him with feigned 
 tears and lamentations to send them the head of Julian as 
 
 1 A people living in one of the islands near Sicily, and changed by 
 Jupiter as related, Ov. Met. xiv., into monkeys. 
 
 2 Two of the chief giants, Horn. Od. xi. 
 
 8 A time spoken of by Pliny as before the fourth watch. 
 
 X
 
 306 AMMIANUS MARCELLINUS. [BK. XXII. CH. xnr 
 
 tliat of an ungrateful rebel, in the same way as he recol- 
 lected the head of Magnentius had been exhibited. 
 
 5. When Julian heard this, he said, " I have heard of 
 this before, from the relation of several persons. But go 
 thou home in security, being relieved of all fear by the 
 mercy of the emperor, who, like a wise man. has resolved 
 to diminish the number of his enemies, and is eager to in- 
 crease that of his friends." 
 
 6. When he departed, having fully accomplished the 
 sacrifices, letters were brought to him from the governor 
 of Egypt, who informed him that after a long time he had 
 succeeded in finding a bull Apis, which he had been seek- 
 ing with great labour, a circumstance which, in the opinion 
 of the inhabitants of those regions, indicates prosperity, 
 abundant crops, and several other kinds of good fortune. 
 
 7. On this subject it seems desirable to say a few words. 
 Among the animals which have been consecrated by the 
 reverence of the ancients, Mnevis and Apis are the most 
 eminent. Mnevis, concerning whom there is nothing re- 
 markable related, is consecrated to the sun, Apis to the 
 moon. But the bull Apis is distinguished by several 
 natural marks ; and especially by a crescent-shaped figure, 
 like that of a new moon, on his right side. After living 
 his appointed time, he is drowned in the sacred fountain 
 (for he is not allowed to live beyond the time fixed by the 
 sacred authority of their mystical books : nor is a cow 
 brought to him more than once a year, who also must be 
 distinguished with particular marks) ; then another is 
 sought amid great public mourning ; and if one can be 
 found distinguished by all the required marks, he is led to 
 Memphis, a city of great renown, and especially celebrated 
 for the patronage of the god ^sculapius. 
 
 8. And after he has been led into the city by one hundred 
 priests, and conducted into a chamber, he is looked upon as 
 consecrated, and is said to point out by evident means the 
 signs of future events. Some also of those who come to 
 him he repels by unfavourable signs ; as it is reported he 
 formally rejected Caasar Germanicus when he offered him 
 food ; thus portending what shortly happened.
 
 A.D. 362.] THE AFFAIRS OF EGYPT. 307 
 
 XV. 
 
 1. LET us then, since the occasion seems to require it, 
 touch briefly on the affairs of Egypt, of which we have 
 already made some mention in our account of the emperors 
 Hadrian and Severus, where we related several things which 
 we had seen. 1 
 
 -* 2. The Egyptian is the most ancient of all nations, 
 except indeed that its superior antiquity is contested by 
 the Scythians : their country is bounded on the south * by 
 the greater Syrtes, Cape Eas, and Cape Borion, the 
 Garamantes, and other nations ; on the east, by Elephan- 
 tine, and Meroe, cities of the Ethiopians, the Catadupi, 
 the Eed Sea, and the Scenite Arabs, whom we now call 
 Saracens. On the north it joins a vast track of land, 
 where Asia and the Syrian provinces begin ; on the west 
 it is bounded by the Sea of Issus, which some call the Par- 
 thenian Sea. 
 
 3. We will also say a few words concerning that most 
 useful of all rivers, the Nile, which Homer calls the 
 ./Egyptus ; and after that we will enumerate other things 
 worthy of admiration in these regions. 
 
 4. The sources of the Nile, in my opinion, will be as 
 unknown to posterity as they are now. But since poets, 
 who relate fully, and geographers who differ from one 
 another, give various accounts of this hidden matter, I will 
 in a few words set forth such of their opinions as seem 
 to me to border on the truth. 
 
 5. Some natural philosophers affirm that in the districts 
 beneath the North Pole, when the severe winters bind vip 
 everything, the vast masses of snow congeal ; and after- 
 wards, melted by the warmth of the summer, they make 
 the clouds heavy with liquid moisture, which, being driven 
 to the south by the Etesian winds, and dissolved into rain 
 
 1 These books are lost. 
 
 2 We must remark here Ammiarras's complete ignorance of compara- 
 tive geography and the hearings of the different countries of which he 
 speaks. The Syrtes and Cape Ras are due west, not south of Egypt. 
 The Ethiopians and Catadupi are on the north ; while the Arabs, whom 
 he places in the same line, are on the south-east. The Sea of Issus, on 
 the Levant, which he places on the west, is on the north.
 
 308 AMMIANUS MARCELLINUS. [BK. XXII. CH. xr. 
 
 by the heat of the sun, furnish abundant increase to the 
 Nile. 
 
 6. Some, again, assert that the inundations of the river 
 at fixed times are caused by the rains in Ethiopia, which 
 fall in great abundance in that country during the hot 
 season ; but both these theories seem inconsistent with the 
 truth for rain never falls in Ethiopia, or at least only at 
 rare intervals. 
 
 7. A more common opinion is, that during the continu- 
 ance of the wind from the north, called the Precursor, and 
 of the Etesian gales, which last forty-five days without 
 interruption, they drive back the stream and check its 
 speed, so that it becomes swollen with its waves thus dammed 
 back ; then, when the wind changes, the force of the breeze 
 drives the waters to and fro, and the river growing rapidly 
 greater, its perennial sources driving it forward, it rises as 
 it advances, and covers everything, spreading over the 
 level plains till it resembles the sea. 
 
 8. But King Juba, relying on the text of the Carthaginian 
 books, affirms that the river rises in a mountain situated 
 in Mauritania, which looks on the Atlantic Ocean , and he 
 says, too, that this is proved by the fact that fishes, and 
 herbs, and animals resembling those of the Nile are found 
 in the marshes where the river rises. 
 
 9. But the Nile, passing through the districts of Ethiopia, 
 and many different countries which give it their own 
 names, swells its fertilizing stream till it comes to the 
 cataracts. These are abrupt rocks, from which in its pre- 
 cipitous course it falls with such a crash, that the Ati, 
 who used to live in that district, having lost their hearing 
 from the incessant roar, were compelled to migrate to a 
 more quiet region. 
 
 10. Then proceeding more gently, and receiving no 
 accession of waters in Egypt, it falls into the sea through 
 seven mouths, each of which is as serviceable as, and re- 
 sembles, a separate river. And besides the several streams 
 which are derived from its channel, and which fall with 
 others like themselves, there are seven navigable with large 
 waves ; named by the ancients the Heracleotic, the Seb- 
 ennitic, the Bolbitic, the Phatnitic, the Mendesian, the 
 Tanitic, and the Pelusian mouths. 
 
 11. This river, rising as I have said, is driven on from
 
 A.D. 362.] THE ISLANDS OF THE XILE. 300 
 
 the marshes to the cataracts, and forms several islands ; 
 some of which are said to be of such extent that the stream 
 is three days in passing them. 
 
 12. Among these are two of especial celebrity, Meroe and 
 Delta. The latter derives its name from its triangular 
 form like the Greek letter; but when the sun begins to 
 pass through the sign of Cancer, the river keeps increasing 
 till it passes into Libra ; and then, after flowing at a great 
 height for one hundred days, it falls again, and its waters 
 BSing diminished it exhibits, in a state fit for riding on, 
 fields which just before could only be passed over in boats. 
 
 13. If the inundation be too abundant it is mischievous, 
 just as it is unproductive if it be too sparing ; for if the 
 flood be excessive, it keeps the ground wet too long, 
 and so delays cultivation ; while if it be deficient, it 
 threatens the land with barrenness. No landowner wishes 
 it to rise more than sixteen cubits. If the flood be mo- 
 derate, then the seed sown in favourable ground sometimes 
 returns seventy fold. The Nile, too, is the only river 
 which does not cause a breeze. 
 
 14. Egypt also produces many animals both terrestrial 
 and aquatic, and some which live both on the earth and in 
 the water, and are therefore called amphibious. In the 
 dry districts antelopes and buffaloes are found, and sphinxes, 
 animals of an absurd-looking deformity, and other monsters 
 which it is not worth while to enumerate. 
 
 15. Of the terrestrial animals, the crocodile is abundant 
 in every part of the country. This is a most destructive 
 quadruped, accustomed to both elements, having no tongue, 
 and moving only the upper jaw, with teeth like a comb, 
 which obstinately fasten into everything he can reach. 
 He propagates his species by eggs like those of a goose. 
 
 1 6. And as he is armed with claws, if he had only thumbs 
 his enormous strength would suffice to upset large vessels, 
 for he is sometimes ten cubits long. At night he sleeps 
 under water ; in the day he feeds in the fields, trusting to 
 the stoutness of his skin, which is so thick that missiles 
 from military engines will scarcely pierce the mail of his 
 back. 
 
 17. Savage as these monsters are at all other times, yet 
 as if they had concluded an armistice, they are always 
 quiet, laying aside all their ferocity, during the seven days
 
 310 AMJIIANUS MARCELL1NUS. [BK. XXII. CH. xv 
 
 of festival on which the priests at Memphis celebrate the 
 birthday of Apis. 
 
 18. Besides those which die accidentally, some are killed 
 by wounds which they receive in their bellies from the 
 dorsal fius of some fish resembling dolphins, which this 
 river also produces. 
 
 19. Some also are killed by means of a little bird called 
 the trochilus, which, while seeking for some picking of 
 small food, and flying gently about the beast while asleep, 
 tickles its cheeks till it comes to the neighbourhood of its 
 throat. And when the hydrus, which is a kind of ich 
 neumon, perceives this, it penetrates into its mouth, which 
 the bird has caused to open, and descends into its sto- 
 mach, where it devours its entrails, and then comes forth 
 again. 
 
 20. But the crocodile, though a bold beast towards those 
 who flee, is very timid when it finds a brave enemy. It 
 has a most acute sight, and for the four months of winter 
 is said to do without food. 
 
 21. The hippopotamus, also, is produced in this country ; 
 the most sagacious of all animals destitute of reason. He 
 is like a horse, with cloven hoofs, and a short tail. Of his 
 sagacity it will be sufficient to produce two instances. 
 
 22. The animal makes his lair among dense beds of reeds 
 of great height, and while keeping quiet watches vigilantly 
 for every opportunity of sallying out to feed on the crops. 
 And when he has gorged himself, and is ready to return, he 
 walks backwards, and makes many tracks, to prevent any 
 enemies from following the straight road and so finding 
 and easily killing him. 
 
 23. Again, when he feels lazy from having his stomach 
 swollen by excessive eating, it rolls its thighs and legs on 
 freshly-cut reeds, in order that the blood which is dis- 
 charged through the wounds thus made may relieve his 
 fat. And then he smears his wounded flesh with clay till 
 the wounds get scarred over. 
 
 24. This monster was very rare till it was first exhibited 
 to the Eoman people in the sedileship of Scaurus, the 
 father of that Scaurus whom Cicero defended, when he 
 charged the Sardinians to cherish the same opinion as the 
 rest of the world of the authority of that noble family. 
 Since that time, at different periods, many specimens have
 
 A.l>. 362.] THE IBIS. 31 1 
 
 been brought to Rome, and now they are not to be found 
 in Egypt, having been driven, according to the conjecture 
 of the inhabitants, up to the Blemmyae l by being inces- 
 santly pursued by the people. 
 
 25. Among the birds of Egypt, the variety of which is 
 countless, is the ibis, a sacred and amiable bird, also 
 valuable, because by heaping up the eggs of serpents in 
 its nest for food it causes these fatal pests to diminish. 
 ^ 2t>. They also sometimes encounter flocks of winged 
 snakes, which come laden with poison from the marshes of 
 Arabia. These, before they can quit their own region, 
 they overcome in the air, and then devour them. This 
 bird, we are told, produces its young through its mouth. 
 
 27. Egypt also produces innumerable quantities of 
 serpents, destructive beyond all other creatures. Basilisks, 
 amphisbaenas, 2 scytalge, acontiae, dipsades, vipers, and many 
 others. The asp is the largest and most beautiful of all ; 
 but that never, of its own accord, quits the Nile. 
 
 28. There are also in this country many things exceed- 
 ingly worthy of observation, of which it is a good time now 
 to mention a few. Everywhere there are temples of great 
 size. There are seven marvellous pyramids, the difficulty 
 of building which, and the length of time consumed in the 
 work, are recorded by Herodotus. They exceed in height 
 anything ever constructed by human labour, being towers 
 of vast width at the bottom and ending in sharp points. 
 
 29. And their shape received this name from the geo- 
 metricians because they rise in a cone like fire (vvp). And 
 huge as they are, as they taper oft' gradually, they throw 
 no shadow, in accordance with a principle of mechanics. 
 
 30. There are also subterranean passages, and winding 
 retreats, which, it is said, men skilful in the ancient 
 mysteries, by means of which they divined the coming of 
 a flood, constructed in different places lest the memory of 
 all their sacred ceremonies should be lost. On the walls, 
 as they cut them out, they have sculptured several kinds 
 
 1 The Blemmyse were an Ethiopian tribe to the south of Egypt. 
 
 2 These names seem derived from the real or fancied shape of the 
 enakes mentioned : the amphisbsena, from d/*<l and Paivca, to go both 
 ways, as it was believed to have a head at each end. The scytalas 
 was like "a staff;" the acontias, like "a javelin;" the dipsas was a 
 thirsty snake.
 
 312 AMMIANUS MARCELLINUS. [BE. XXII. CH. xvi. 
 
 of birds and beasts, and countless other figures of animals, 
 which they call hieroglyphics. 
 
 31. There is also Syene, where at the time of the summer 
 solstice the rays surrounding upright objects do not allow 
 the shadows to extend beyond the bodies. And if any one 
 fixes a post upright in the ground, or sees a man or a tree 
 standing erect, he will perceive that their shadow is con- 
 sumed at the extremities of their outlines. This also 
 happens at Meroe, which is the spot in Ethiopia nearest 
 to the equinoctial circle, and where for ninety days the 
 shadows fall in a way just opposite to ours, on account of 
 which the natives of that district are called Antiscii. 1 
 
 32. But as there are many other wonders which would 
 go beyond the plan of our little work, we must lead these 
 to men of lofty genius, and content ourselves with re- 
 lating a few things about the provinces. 
 
 XVI. 
 
 1 . IN former times Egypt is said to have been divided 
 into three provinces : Egypt proper, the Thebais, and Libya, 
 to which in later times two more have been added, Augus- 
 tamnica, which has been cut off from Egypt proper, and 
 Pentapolis, which has been detached from Libya. 
 
 2. Thebais, among many other cities, can boast especially 
 of Hermopolis, Coptos, and Antinous, which Hadrian built 
 in honour of his friend Antinous. As to Thebes, with its 
 hundred gates, there is no one ignorant of its renown. 
 
 3. In Augustamnica, among others, there is the noble 
 city of Pelusium, which is said to have been founded by 
 Peleus, the father of Achilles, who by command of the 
 gods was ordered to purify himself in the lake adjacent to 
 the walls of the city, when, after having slain his brother 
 Thocus, he was driven about by horrid images of the Furies ; 
 and Cassium, where the tomb of the great Pompey is, and 
 Ostracine, and Khinocolura. 
 
 4. In Libya Pentapolis is Gyrene, a city of great an- 
 tiquity, but now deserted, founded by Battus the Spartan, 
 and Ptolemais, and Arsinoe, known also as Teuchira, and 
 Daruis, and Berenice, called also Hesperides. 
 
 1 From avr}, opposite ; and ffKia, shadow.
 
 A.D. 362.] ALEXANDRIA. 313 
 
 5. And in the dry Libya, besides a few other insignifi- 
 cant towns, there are Parsetonium, Chserecla, and Neapolis. 
 
 6. Egypt proper, which ever since it has been united to 
 the Roman empire has been under the government of a 
 prefect, besides some other towns of smaller importance, is 
 distinguished by Athribis, and Oxyrynchus, and Thmuis, 
 and Memphis. 
 
 7. But the greatest of all the cities is Alexandria, en- 
 jjobled by many circumstances, and especially by the 
 
 grandeur of its great founder, and the skill of its architect 
 Dinocrates, who, when he was laying the foundation of its 
 extensive and beautiful walls, for want of mortar, which 
 could not be procured at the moment, is said to have 
 marked out its outline with flour ; an incident which fore- 
 showed that the city should hereafter abound in supplies 
 of provisions. 
 
 8. At Inibis the air is wholesome, the sky pure and 
 undisturbed ; and, as the experience of a long series of 
 ages proves, there is scarcely ever a day on which the 
 inhabitants of this city do not see the sun. 
 
 9. The shore is shifty and dangerous ; and as in former 
 times it exposed sailors to many dangers, Cleopatra erected 
 a lofty tower in the harbour, which was named Pharos, 
 from the spot on which it was built, and which afforded 
 light to vessels by night when 'coming from the Levant or 
 the Libyan sea along the plain and level coast, without 
 any signs of mountains or towns or eminences to direct 
 them, they were previously often wrecked by striking into 
 the soft and adhesive sand. 
 
 10. The same queen, for a well-known and necessary 
 reason, made a causeway seven furlongs in extent, admirable 
 for its size and for the almost incredible rapidity with 
 which it was made. The island of Pharos, where Homer 
 in sublime language relates that Proteus used to amues 
 himself with his herds of seals, is almost a thousand yards 
 from the shore on which the city stands, and was liable to 
 pay tribute to the Ehodians. 
 
 11. And when on one occasion the farmers of this re- 
 venue came to make exorbitant demands, she, being a wily 
 woman, on a pretext of it being the season of solemn holi- 
 days, led them into the suburbs, and ordered the work to 
 be carried on without ceasing. And so seven furlongs were
 
 314 AMMIA.NUS MARCELLINUS. [BK. XXII. CH. XVL 
 
 completed in seven days, being raised with the soil of the 
 adjacent shore. Then the queen, driving over it in her 
 chariot, said that the Ehodians were making a bl tinder in 
 demanding port dues for what was not an island but part 
 of the mainland. 
 
 12. Besides this there are many lofty temples, and 
 especially one to Serapis, which, although no words can 
 adequately describe it, we may yet say, from its splendid 
 halls supported by pillars, and its beautiful statues and 
 other embellishments, is so superbly decorated, that next to 
 the Capitol, of which the ever-venerable Rome boasts, the 
 whole world has nothing worthier of admiration. 
 
 13. In it were libraries of inestimable value ; and the 
 concurrent testimony of ancient records affirm that 70,000 
 volumes, which had been collected by the anxious care of 
 the Ptolemies, were burnt in the Alexandrian war when 
 the city was sacked in the time of Csesar the Dictator. 
 
 14. Twelve miles from this city is Canopus, which, 
 according to ancient tradition, received its name from 
 the prophet of Menelaus, who was buried there. It is 
 a place exceedingly well supplied with good inns, of a 
 most wholesome climate, with refreshing breezes ; so that 
 any one who resides in that district might think himself 
 out of our world while he hears the breezes murmuring 
 through the sunny atmosphere. 
 
 15. Alexandria itself was not, like other cities, gradually 
 embellished, but at its very outset it was adorned with 
 spacious roads. But after having been long torn by violent 
 seditions, at last, when Aurelian was emperor, and when 
 the intestine quarrels of its citizens had proceeded to 
 deadly strife, its walls were destroyed, and it lost the 
 largest half of its territory, which was called Bruchion, and 
 ha>l long been the abode of eminent men. 
 
 16. There had lived Aristarchus, that illustrious gram- 
 marian ; and Herodianus, that accurate inquirer into 
 the fine arts ; and Saccas Ammonius, the master of Plotinus, 
 and many other writers in various useful branches of 
 literature, among whom Didymus, surnamed Chalcenterus, 
 a man celebrated for his writings on many subjects of 
 science, deserves especial mention ; who, in the six books 
 in which he, sometimes incorrectly, attacks Cicero, imi- 
 tating those malignant farce- writers, is justly blamed by
 
 A.D. 362.] EMINENCE OF ITS SCHOOLS. 315 
 
 the learned as a puppy barking from a distance with puny 
 voice against the mighty roar of the lion. 
 
 17. And although, besides those I have mentioned, there 
 were many other men of eminence in ancient times, yet 
 even now there is much learning in the same city; for 
 teachers of various sects flourish, and many kinds of secret 
 knowledge are explained by geometrical science. Is or is 
 music dead among them, nor harmony. And by a few, 
 observations of the motion of the world and of the stars 
 
 "are still cultivated ; while of learned arithmeticians the 
 number is considerable ; and besides them there are many 
 skilled in divination. 
 
 18. Again, of medicine, the aid of which in our present 
 extravagant and luxurious way of life is incessantly re- 
 quired, the study is carried on with daily increasing eager- 
 ness ; so that while the employment be of itself creditable, 
 it is sufficient as a recommendation for any medical man 
 to be able to say that he was educated at Alexandria. And 
 this is enough to say on this subject. 
 
 19. But if any one in the earnestness of his intellect 
 wishes to apply himself to the various branches of divine 
 knowledge, or to the examination of metaphysics, he will 
 find that the whole world owes this kind of learning to 
 Egypt. 
 
 20. Here first, far earlier than in any other country, men 
 arrived at the various cradles (if I may so say) of different 
 religions. Here they still carefully preserve the elements 
 of sacred rites as handed down in their secret volumes. 
 
 21. It was in learning derived from Egypt that Pytha- 
 goras was educated, which taught him to worship the 
 gods in secret, to establish the principle that in whatever 
 he said or ordered his authority was final, to exhibit his 
 golden thigh at Olympia, and to be continually seen in 
 conversation with an eagle. 
 
 22. Here it was that Anaxagoras derived the knowledge 
 which enabled him to predict that stones would fall from 
 heaven, and from the feeling of the mud in a well to foretell 
 impending earthquakes. Solon too derived aid from the 
 apophthegms of the priests of Egypt in the enactment of 
 his just and moderate laws, by which he gave great con- 
 firmation to the Roman jurisprudence. From this soure 
 too Plato, soaring amid sublime ideas, rivalling Jupiter
 
 316 AMMIANUS MARCELLINUS. [Bz. XXIII. 
 
 himself in the magnificence of his voice, acquired his 
 glorious wisdom by a visit to Egypt. 
 
 23. The inhabitants of Egypt are generally swarthy and 
 dark complexioned, and of a rather melancholy cast of 
 countenance, thin and dry looking, quick in every motion, 
 fond of controversy, and bitter exactors of their rights. 
 Among them a man is ashamed who has not resisted the 
 payment of tribute, and who does not carry about him 
 wheals which he has received before he could be compelled 
 to pay it. Nor have any tortures been found sufficiently 
 powerful to make the hardened robbers of this country 
 disclose their names unless they do so voluntarily. 
 
 24. It is well known, as the ancient annals prove, that 
 all Egypt was formerly under kings who were friendly to 
 us. But after Antony and Cleopatra were defeated in the 
 naval battle at Actium, it became a province under the 
 dominion of Octavianus Augustus. We became masters of 
 the dry Libya by the last will of king Apion. Gyrene 
 and the other cities of Libya Pentapolis we owe to the 
 liberality of Ptolemy. After this long digression, I will 
 now return to my original subject. 
 
 BOOK XXIIL 
 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 I. Julian in vain attempts to restore the temple at Jerusalem, which 
 had been destroyed long before. II. He orders Arsaces, Icing of 
 Armenia, to prepare for the war with Persia, and with an army 
 and auxiliary troops of the Scythians crosses the Euphrates. 
 III. As he marches through Mesopotamia, the princes of the 
 Saracenic tribes of their own accord offer him a golden crown and 
 auxiliary troops A Roman fleet of eleven hundred ships arrives, 
 and bridges over the Euphrates. IV. A description of several 
 engines, balistae, scorpions, or wild-asses, battering-rams, helepoles, 
 and fire-machines. V. Julian, with all his army, crosses the river 
 Aboras by a bridge of boats at Circesium He harangues his 
 soldiers. VI. A description of the eighteen principal provinces 
 of Persia, their cities, and the customs of their inhabitants.
 
 AD. 363.] THE TEMPLE. OF JERUSALEM. 317 
 
 I. 
 
 A.D. 363. 
 
 1. To pass over minute details, these were the principal 
 events of the year. But Julian, who in his third consul- 
 ship had taken as his colleague Sallustius, the prefect of 
 Gaul, now entered on his fourth year, and by a novel 
 -arrangement took as his colleague a private individual ; an 
 act of which no one recollected an instance since that of 
 Diocletian and Aristobulus. 
 
 2. And although, foreseeing in his anxious mind the 
 various accidents that might happen, he urged on with 
 great diligence all the endless preparations necessary for 
 his expedition, yet distributing his diligence everywhere ; 
 and being eager to extend the recollection of his reign by 
 the greatness of his exploits, he proposed to rebuild at a 
 vast expense the once magnificent temple of Jerusalem, 
 which after many deadly contests was with difficulty taken 
 by Vespasian and Titus, who succeeded his father in the 
 conduct of the siege. And he assigned the task to Alypius 
 of Antioch, who had formerly been proprefect of Britain. 
 
 3. But though Alypius applied himself vigorously to the 
 work, and though the governor of the province co-operated 
 with him, fearful balls of fire burst forth with continual 
 eruptions close to the foundations, burning several of the 
 workmen and making the spot altogether inaccessible. 
 And thus the very elements, as if by some fate, repelling 
 the attempt, it was laid aside. 
 
 4. About the same time the emperor conferred various 
 honours on the ambassadors who were sent to him from the 
 Eternal City, being men of high rank and established ex- 
 cellence of character. He appointed Apronianus to be 
 prefect of Eome, Octavianus to be proconsul of Africa, 
 Venustus to be viceroy of Spain, and promoted Rufinus 
 Aradius to be count of the East in the room of his uncle 
 Julian, lately deceased. 
 
 5. When all this had been carried out as he arranged, 
 he was alarmed by an omen which, as the result showed, 
 indicated an event immediately at hand. Felix, the prin- 
 cipal treasurer, having died suddenly of a hemorrhage, 
 and Count Julian having followed him, the populace, look-
 
 318 AMMIANUS MARCELLINUS. [BK. XXIII. CH. 11. 
 
 ing on their public titles, hailed Julian as Felix and 
 Augustus. 
 
 6. Another bad oinen had preceded this, for, on the very 
 first day of the year, as the emperor was mounting the 
 steps of the temple of the Genius, one of the priests, 
 the eldest of all, fell without any one striking him, 
 and suddenly expired ; an event which the bystanders, 
 either out of ignorance or a desire to flatter, affirmed was 
 an omen aifecting Sallustius, as the elder consul ; but it 
 was soon seen that the death it portended was not to the 
 elder man, but to the higher authority. 
 
 7. Besides these several other lesser signs from time to 
 time indicated what was about to happen ; for, at the very 
 beginning of the arrangements for the Parthian campaign, 
 news came that there had been an earthquake at Constan- 
 tinople, which those skilful in divination declared to be 
 an unfavourable omen to a ruler about to invade a foreign 
 country ; and therefore advised Julian to abandon his 
 unreasonable enterprise, affirming that these and similar 
 signs can only be disregarded with propriety when one's 
 country is invaded by foreign armies, as then there is one 
 everlasting and invariable law, to defend its safety by 
 every possible means, allowing no relaxation nor delay. 
 News also came by letter that at Eome the Sibylline 
 volumes had been consulted on the subject of the war by 
 Julian's order, and that they had in plain terms warned 
 him not to quit his own territories that year. 
 
 II. 
 
 1. BUT in the mean time embassies arrived from several 
 nations promising aid, and they were liberally received 
 and dismissed ; the emperor with plausible confidence re- 
 plying that it by no means became the power of Koine 
 to rely on foreign aid to avenge itself, as it was rather 
 fitting that Eome should give support to its friends and 
 allies if necessity drove them to ask it. 
 
 2. He only warned Arsaces, king of Armenia, to collect 
 a strong force, and wait for his orders, as he should soon 
 know which way to march, and what to do. Then, as 
 soon as prudence afforded him an opportunity, hastening 
 to anticipate every rumour of his approach by the occupa-
 
 A.l>. 303.] JULIAN CROSSES THE EUPHRATES. 319 
 
 tion of the enemy's country, before spring bad well set in, 
 he sent the signal for the advance to all his troops, com- 
 manding them to cross the Euphrates. 
 
 3. As soon as the order reached them, they hastened to 
 quit their winter quarters ; and having crossed the river, 
 according to their orders, they dispersed into their various 
 stations, and awaited the arrival of the emperor. But he, 
 being about to quit Antioch, appointed a citizen of Helio- 
 pelis, named Alexander, a man of turbulent and ferocious 
 character, to govern Syria, saying that he indeed had not 
 deserved such a post, but that the Antiochians, being 
 covetous and insolent, required a judge of that kind. 
 
 4. When he was about to set forth, escorted by a pro- 
 miscuous multitude who wished him a fortunate march 
 and a glorious return, praying that he would be merciful 
 and kinder than he had been, he (for the anger which 
 their addresses and reproaches had excited in his breast 
 was not yet appeased) spoke with severity to them, and 
 declared that he would never see them again. 
 
 5. For he said that he had determined, after his campaign 
 was over, to return by a shorter road to Tarsus in Cilicia, 
 to winter there : and that he had written to Memorius, the 
 governor of the city, to prepare everything that he might 
 require in that city. This happened not long afterwards ; 
 for his body was brought back thither and buried in the 
 suburbs with a very plain funeral, as he himself had com- 
 manded. 
 
 6. As the weather was now getting warm he set out 
 on the fifth of March, and by the usual stages arrived 
 at Hieropolis ; and as he entered the gates of that large 
 city a portico on the left suddenly fell down, and as fifty 
 soldiers were passing under it at that moment it wounded 
 many, crushing them beneath the vast weight of the beams 
 and tiles. 
 
 7. Having collected all his troops from thence, he 
 marched with such speed towards Mesopotamia, that before 
 any intelligence of his march could arrive (an object about 
 which he was especially solicitous) he came upon the 
 Assyrians quite unexpectedly. Then having led his whole 
 anny and the Scythian auxiliaries across the Euphrates 
 by a bridge of boats, he arrived at Batnse, a town of 
 Osdroene, and there again a sad omen met him.
 
 320 AMMIANUS MARCELLINUS. [BK.XXIII.CH.nl. 
 
 8. For when a great crowd of grooms was standing near 
 an enormously high haystack, in order to receive their 
 forage (for in this way those supplies used to be stored 
 in that country), the mass was shaken by the numbers 
 who sought to strip it, and falling down, overwhelmed 
 fifty men. 
 
 III. 
 
 1. LEAVING this place with a heavy heart, he marched 
 with great speed, and arrived at Carrhae, an ancient town 
 notorious for the disasters of Crassus and the Roman army. 
 From this town two royal roads branch oif, both leading 
 into Persia ; that on the left hand through Adiabena and 
 along the Tigris, that on the right through the Assyrians 
 and along the Euphrates. 
 
 2. There he stayed some days, preparing necessary 
 supplies ; and according to the custom of the district he 
 offered sacrifices to the moon, which is religiously wor- 
 shipped in that region ; and it is said that while before 
 the altar, no witness to the action being admitted, he 
 secretly gave his own purple robe to Procopius, and bade 
 him boldly assume the sovereignty if he should hear that 
 he had died among the Parthians. 
 
 3. Here while asleep his mind was agitated with dreams, 
 and foresaw some sad event about to happen ; on which 
 account he and the interpreters of dreams consider- 
 ing the omens which presented themselves, pronounced 
 that the next day, which was the nineteenth of March, 
 ought to be solemnly observed. But, as was ascertained 
 subsequently, that very same night, while Aproiiianus 
 was prefect of Home, the temple of the Palatine Apollo 
 was burnt in the Eternal City ; and if aid from all quar- 
 ters had not come to the rescue the violence of the confla- 
 gration would have destroyed even the prophetic volumes 
 of the Sibyl. 
 
 4. After these things had happened in this manner, 
 and while Julian was settling his line of march, and 
 making arrangements for supplies of all kinds, his scouts 
 come panting in, and bring him word that some squadrons of 
 the enemy's cavalry have suddenly passed the frontier in
 
 A.D 36?.] ADVANCE UF JULIAN. 321 
 
 the neighbourhood of the camp, and have driven off a 
 large booty. 
 
 5. Indignant at such atrocity and at such an insult, ho 
 immediately (as indeed he had previously contemplated) 
 put thirty thousand chosen men under the orders of Pro- 
 copius, who has been already mentioned, uniting with 
 him in this command Count Sebastian, formerly Duke of 
 Egypt; and he ordered them to act on this side of the 
 'Sgris, observing everything vigilantly, so that no danger 
 might arise on any side where it was not expected, for 
 such things had frequently happened. He charged them 
 further, if it could be done, to join King Arsaces ; and 
 march with him suddenly through Corduena and Moxoene, 
 ravaging Chiliocomus, a very fertile district of Media, and. 
 other places ; and then to rejoin him while still in Assyria, 
 in order to assist him as he might require. 
 
 6. Having taken these measures, Julian himself, pre- 
 tending to march by the line of the Tigris, on which road 
 he had purposely commanded magazines of provisions to 
 be prepared, turned towards the right, and after a quiet 
 night, asked in the morning for the horse which he was 
 accustomed to ride : his name was Babylonius. And when 
 he was brought, being suddenly griped and starting at the 
 pain, he fell down, and rolling about scattered the gold 
 and jewels with which his trappings were decked. Julian, 
 in joy at this omen, cried out, amid the applause of those 
 around, that " Babylon had fallen, and was stripped of 
 all her ornaments." 
 
 7. Having delayed a little that he might confirm the 
 omen by the sacrifice of some victims, he advanced to 
 Davana, where he had a garrison-fortress, and where the 
 river Belias rises which falls into the Euphrates. Here 
 he refreshed his men with food and sleep, and the next 
 day reached Callinicus, a strong fortress, and also a great 
 commercial mart, where, on the 27th of March (the 
 day on which at Rome the annual festival in honour of 
 Cybele is celebrated, and the car in which her image is 
 borne is, as it is said, washed in the waters of the Almo), 
 he kept the same feast according to the manner of the 
 ancients, and then, retiring to rest, passed a triumphant 
 and joyful night. 
 
 8. The next day he proceeded along the bank of the
 
 322 AMMIAXUS MAECELLIN'US. [BK. XXIII. CH. iv. 
 
 river, which other streams began to augment, marching 
 with an armed escort ; and at night he rested in a tent, 
 where some princes of the Saracenic tribes came as sup- 
 pliants, bringing him. a golden crown, and adoring him as 
 the master of the world and of their own nations : he 
 received them graciously, as people well adapted for sur- 
 prises in war. 
 
 9. And while addressing them a fleet arrived equal to 
 that of the mighty sovereign Xerxes, under the command 
 of the tribune Constantianus, and Count Lucillianus ; they 
 threw a bridge over the broadest part of the Euphrates : 
 the fleet consisted of one thousand transports, of various 
 sorts and sizes, bringing large supplies of provisions, and 
 arms, and engines for sieges, and fifty ships of war, and as 
 many more suitable for the construction of bridges. 
 
 IV. 
 
 1. I AM reminded by the circumstances to explain instru- 
 ments of this kind briefly, as far as my moderate talent 
 may enable me to do, and first I will set forth the figure of 
 the balista. 
 
 2. Between two axletrees a strong large iron bar is 
 fastened, like a great rule, round, smooth, and polished ; 
 from its centre a square pin projects for some distance, 
 hollowed out into a narrow channel down its middle. 
 This is bound by many ligatures of twisted cords : to it 
 two wooden nuts are accurately fitted, by one of which 
 stands a skilful man who works it, and who fits neatly into 
 the hollow of the pin or pole a wooden arrow with a large 
 point ; and as soon as this is done, some strong young men 
 rapidly turn a wheel. 
 
 3. When the tip of the ai*row's point has reached the 
 extremity of the cords, the arrow is struck by a blow from 
 the balista, and flies out of sight ; sometimes even gi-ving 
 forth sparks by its great velocity, and it often happens 
 that before the arrow is seen, it has given a fatal wound. 
 
 4. The scorpion, which they now call the wild-ass, is in 
 the following form. Two axletrees of oak or box are cut 
 out and slightly curved, so as to project in small humps, 
 and they are fastened together like a sawing machine, being 
 perforated with lai'ge holes on each side ; and between
 
 A.D. 363.] WARLIKE ENGINES. 323 
 
 them, through the holes, strong ropes are fastened to hold 
 the two parts together, and prevent them from starting 
 asunder. 
 
 5. From these ropes thus placed a wooden pin rises in 
 an oblique direction, like the pole of a chariot, and it is 
 so fastened by knotted cords as to be raised or depressed 
 at pleasure. To its top, iron hooks are fastened, from 
 which a sling hangs, made of either cord or iron. Below 
 ike pin is a large sack filled with shreds of cloth, fastened 
 by strong ties, and resting on heaped-up turves or mounds 
 of brick. For an engine of this kind, if placed on a stone 
 wall, would destroy whatever was beneath it, not by its 
 weight, but by the violence of its concussion. 
 
 6. Then when a conflict begins, a round stone is placed 
 on the sling, and four youths on each side, loosening the 
 bar to which the cords are attached, bend the pin back till 
 it points almost upright into the air ; then the worker of 
 the engine, standing by on high ground, frees by a blow 
 with the heavy hammer the bolt which keeps down the 
 whole engine ; and the pin being set free by the stroke, 
 and striking against the mass of cloth shreds, hurls forth 
 the stone with such force as to crush whatever it strikes. 
 
 7. This engine is called a tormentum, because all its parts 
 are twisted (torquetur) or a scorpion, because it has an 
 erect sting ; but modern times have given it the name of 
 the wild-ass, because when wild asses are hunted, they 
 throw the stones behind them by their kicks so as to 
 pierce the chests of those who pursue them, or to fracture 
 their skulls. 
 
 8. Now let us come to the battering ram. A lofty 
 pine or ash is chosen, the top of which is armed with a 
 long and hard head of iron, resembling a ram, which form 
 has given the name to the engine. It is suspended from 
 iron beams running across on each side, like the top of a 
 pair of scales, and is kept in its place by ropes hanging 
 from a third beam. A number of men draw it back as far 
 as there is room, and then again drive it forward to 
 break down whatever opposes it by mighty blows, like a 
 ram which rises up and butts. 
 
 9. By the frequent blows of this rebounding thunder- 
 bolt, buildings are torn asunder and walls are loosened 
 and thrown down. By this kind of engine, if worked with 
 proper vigour, garrisons are deprived of their defences, and
 
 324 AMMIANUS MARCELUXUS. [B*. XXIII. Cn. v 
 
 the strongest cities are laid open and sieges rapidly brought 
 to a conclusion. 
 
 10. Instead of these rams, whickfrom their common use 
 came to be despised, a machine was framed called in 
 Greek the helepolis, by the frequent use of which Deme- 
 trius, the son of king Antigonus, took Ehodes and other 
 cities, and earned the surname of Poliorcetes. 
 
 11. It is constructed in this manner. A vast, testudo 
 is put together, strengthened with long beams and fastened 
 wirh iron nails : it is covered with bullocks' hides and 
 wickerwork made of freshly cut twigs, and its top is 
 smeared over with clay to keep off missiles and fiery darts. 
 
 12. Along its front very sharp spears with three points 
 are fastened, heavy with iron, like the thunderbolts repre- 
 sented by painters or sculptors, and strong enough with 
 the projecting points to tear to pieces whatever it strikes. 
 
 13. A number of soldiers within guide this vast mast 
 with wheels and ropes, urging with vehement impulse 
 against the weaker parts of the wall, so that, unless re- 
 pelled by the strength of the garrison above, it breaks 
 down the wall and lays open a great breach. 
 
 14. The firebolts, which are a kind of missile, are made 
 thus. They take an arrow of cane, joined together be- 
 tween the point and the reed with jagged iron, and 
 
 in the shape of a woman's spindle, with which linen 11; 
 are spun ; this is cunningly hollowed out in the belly and 
 made with several openings, and in the cavity fire and fuel 
 of some kind is placed. 
 
 15. Then if it be shot slowly from a slack bow (for if it 
 be shot with too much speed the fire is extinguished), so 
 us to stick anywhere, it burns obstinately, and if sprinkled 
 with water it creates a still fiercer fire, nor will anything 
 but throwing dust upon it quench it. This is enough to 
 say of mural engines ; let us now return to our original 
 subject. 
 
 V. 
 
 1. HAVING received the reinforcements of the Saracens 
 which they so cheerfully offered, the emperor advanced 
 with speed, and at the beginning of April entered Cir- 
 cesium, a very secure fortress, and skilfully built : it is 
 surrounded by the two rivers Aboras (or Chaboras) and 
 Euphrates, which make it as it were an island.
 
 CIRCES1UM. 325 
 
 2. It had formerly been small and insecure, till Diocletian 
 surrounded it with lofty towers and walls when he was 
 strengthening his inner frontier within the very territories 
 of the barbarians, in order to prevent the Persians from 
 overrunning Syria, as had happened a few years before 
 to the great injury of the province. 
 
 3. For it happened one day at Antioch, when the city 
 was in perfect tranquillity, a comic actor being on the stage 
 
 -with his wife, acting some common play, while the people 
 were delighted with his acting, the wife suddenly ex- 
 claimed, " Unless I am dreaming, here are the Persians ;" 
 and immediately the populace turning round, were put to 
 flight, and driven about in every direction while seeking 
 to escape the darts which were showered upon them ; and 
 so the city being burnt and numbers of the citizens slain, 
 who, as is usual in time of peace, were strolling about care- 
 lessly, and all the places in the neighbourhood being burnt 
 and laid waste, the enemy loaded with booty returned in 
 safety to their own country after having burnt Mareades 
 alive, who had wickedly guided them to the destruction of 
 his fellow-citizens. This event took place in the time of 
 Gallienus. 
 
 4. But Julian, while remaining at Circesium to give 
 time for his army and all its followers to cross the bridge 
 of boats over the Aboras, received letters with bad news 
 from Sallust, the prefect of Gaul, entreating him to suspend 
 his expedition against the Parthians, and imploring him 
 not in such an unseasonable manner to rush on irrevocable 
 destruction before propitiating the gods. 
 
 5. But Julian disregarded his prudent adviser, and 
 advanced boldly ; since no human power or virtue can ever 
 avail to prevent events prescribed by the order of the Fates. 
 And immediately, having crossed the river, he ordered 
 the bridge to be taken to pieces, that the soldiers might 
 have no hope of safety by quitting their ranks and 
 returning. 
 
 6. Here also a bad omen was seen ; the corpse of an 
 officer who had been put to death by the executioner, 
 whom Sallust, the prefect, while in this country had con- 
 demned to death, because, after having promised to deliver 
 
 an additional supply of provisions by an appointed day, he 
 disappointed him through some hindrance. But after the 
 unhappy man had been executed, the very next day there
 
 320 AMMIAXUS 3IA11CKLUNUS. [Bit. XX1I1. On. v. 
 
 arrived, as he had promised, another fleet heavily laden 
 with com. 
 
 7. Leaving Circesium, we came to Zaitha, the name of 
 the place meaning an olive-tree. Here we saw the tomb 
 of the emperor Gordian, which is visible a long way off, 
 whose actions from his earliest youth, and whose most for- 
 tunate campaigns and treacherous murder we related at the 
 proper time, 1 and when, in accordance with his innate 
 piety he had offered due honours to this deified emperor, 
 and was on his way to Dura, a town now deserted, he stood 
 without moving on beholding a large body of soldiers. 
 
 8. And as he was doubting what their object was, they 
 brought him an enormous lion which had attacked their 
 ranks and had. been slain by their javelins. He, elated at 
 this circumstance, which he looked on as an omen of suc- 
 cess in his enterprise, advanced with increased exultation ; 
 but so uncertain is fortune, the event was quite contrary 
 to his expectation. The death of a king was certainly fore- 
 shown, but who was the king was uncertain. 
 
 9. For we often read of ambiguous oracles, never under- 
 stood till the results interpreted them : as, for instance, 
 the Delphic prophecy, which foretold that after crossing 
 the Halys, Croesus would overthrow a mighty kingdom ; and 
 another, which by hints pointed out the sea to the Athe- 
 nians as the field of combat against the Medes ; and another, 
 later than these, but not less ambiguous : 
 
 " son of jEacus, 
 I say that you the Romans can subdue." 
 
 10. The Etrurian soothsayers who accompanied him, 
 being men skilful in portents, had often warned him against 
 this campaign, but got no credit; so now they produced 
 their books of such signs, and showed that this was an 
 omen of a forbidding character, and unfavourable to a prince 
 who should invade the country of another sovereign how- 
 ever justly. 
 
 11. But he spurned the opposition of philosophers, 
 whose authority he ought to have reverenced, though at 
 times they were mistaken, and though they were some- 
 times obstinate in cases which they did not thoroughly 
 understand. In truth, they brought forward as a plausible 
 argument to secure credit to their knowledge, that in time 
 
 1 The book containing this account is lost.
 
 A.D. 363.] OMENS. 327 
 
 past, when Ceesar Maximiamis was about to fight Narses, 
 king of the Persians, a lion and a huge boar which had 
 been slain were at the same time brought to him, and 
 after subduing that nation he returned in safety ; forget- 
 ting that the destruction which was now portended was 
 to him who invaded the dominions of another, and that 
 Narses had given the offence by being the first to make 
 an inroad into Armenia, a country under the Eoman juris- 
 diction. 
 
 12. On the next day, which was the 7th of April, as the 
 sun was setting, suddenly the air became darkened, and 
 all light wholly disappeared, and after repeated claps of 
 thunder and flashes of lightning, a soldier named Jovianus 
 was struck by the lightning and killed, with two horses 
 which he was leading back from the river to which he had 
 taken them to drink. 
 
 13. When this was seen, the interpreters of such things 
 were sent for and questioned, and they with increased 
 boldness affirmed that this event forbade the campaign, 
 demonstrating it to be a monitory lightning (for this 
 term is applied to signs which advise or discourage any 
 line of action). And this, as they said, was to be the more 
 guarded against, because it had killed a soldier of rank, 
 with war-horses ; and the books which explain lightnings 
 pronounce that places struck in this manner should not be 
 trodden on, nor even looked upon. 
 
 14. On the other hand, the philosophers declared that 
 the brilliancy of this sacred fire thus suddenly presented 
 to the eye had no special meaning, but was merely the 
 course of a fiercer breath descending by some singular 
 power from the sky to the lower parts of the world ; and 
 that if any foreknowledge were to be derived from such a 
 circumstance, it was rather an increase of renown which 
 was portended to the emperor now engaged in a glorious 
 enterprise ; since it is notorious that flame, if it meet with 
 no obstacle, does of its own nature fly upwards. 
 
 15. The bridge then, as has been narrated, having been 
 finished, and all the troops having crossed it, the emperor 
 thought it the most important of all things to address his 
 soldiers who were advancing resolutely, in full reliance 
 on their leader and on themselves. Accordingly, a signal 
 having been given by the trumpets, the centurions, cohorts, 
 and maniples assembled, and he, standing on a mound of
 
 AMMIAXU3 MARCELLLVJS. [B K . XXIII. CH. v. 
 
 earth, and surrounded by a ring of officers of high rank, 
 spoke thus with a cheerful face, being favourably heard 
 with the unanimous good will of all present. 
 
 16. " Seeing, my brave soldiers, that you are full of great 
 vigour and alacrity, I have determined to address you, to 
 prove to you by several arguments that the Komans are 
 not, as spiteful grumblers assert, now for the first time 
 invading the kingdom of Persia. For, to say nothing of 
 Lucullus or of Pompey, who, having forced his way 
 through the Albani and Massagetas, whom we call Alani, 
 penetrated through this nation also so as to reach the 
 Caspian lake ; we know that Ventidius, the lieutenant of 
 Antony, gained many victories in these regions. 
 
 17. " But to leave those ancient times, I will enumerate 
 other exploits of more recent memory. Trajan, and Yerus, 
 and Severus have all gained victories and trophies in this 
 country ; and the younger Gordian, whose monument we 
 have just been honouring, would have reaped similar glory, 
 having conquered and routed the king of Persia at Kesaina, 
 if he had not been . wickedly murdered in this very place 
 by the faction of Philip, the prefect of the praetorium, with 
 the assistance of a few other impious men. 
 
 18. " But his shade was not long left to wander un- 
 avenged, since, as if Justice herself had laboured in the 
 
 . all those who conspired against him have been put 
 to death with torture. Those men, indeed, ambition 
 prompted to the atrocious deed ; but we are exhorted by 
 the miserable fate of cities recently taken, by the unavenged 
 shades of our slaughtered armies, by the heaviness of our 
 
 I, and the loss of many camps and fortresses, to the 
 enterprise which we have undertaken. All men uniting 
 in their wishes that we may remedy past evils, and having 
 secured the honour and safety of the republic on this side, 
 may leave posterity reason to speak nobly of us. 
 
 19. " By the assistance of the eternal deity, I, your 
 emperor, will be always among you as a leader and a com- 
 rade, relying, as I well believe, on favourable omens. But 
 if variable fortune shall defeat me in battle, it will still be 
 sufficient for me to have devoted myself for the welfare of 
 the Eoman world, like ancient Curtii and Mucii, and the 
 illustrious family of the Decii. We have to abolish a 
 most pernicious nation, on whose swords the blood of our 
 kindred is not yet dry.
 
 A.D. 363.] SPEECH OF JULIAN. 329 
 
 20. " Our ancestors have before now devoted ages to 
 cause the destruction of enemies who harassed them. 
 Carthage was overthrown after a long and distressing war ; 
 and ita great conqueror feared to let it survive his victory. 
 After a long and often disastrous siege, Scipio xitterly 
 destroyed I'sumantia. Eome destroyed Fidenas, that it 
 might not grow up as a rival to the empire ; and so 
 entirely laid waste Falisci and Veii, that it is not easy to 
 attach so much faith to ancient records as to believe that 
 those cities ever were powerful. 
 
 21. " These transactions I have related to you as one 
 acquainted with ancient history. It follows that all 
 should lay aside, as unworthy of him, the love of plunder, 
 v.-hich has often been the insidious bane of the Roman 
 soldier, and that every one should keep steadily to his own 
 troop and his own standard, when the necessity for fighting 
 arises, knowing that should he loiter anywhere he will 
 be hamstrung and left to his fate. I fear nothing of our 
 over-crafty enemies but their tricks and perfidy. 
 
 22. " Finally, I promise you all, that when our affairs 
 have met with success, without entrenching myself behind 
 my imperial prerogative, so as to consider all my own 
 decisions and opinions irrefragably just and reasonable 
 because of my authority, I will give, if required, a full 
 explanation of all that I have done, that you may be able 
 to judge whether it has been wise or not. 
 
 23. " Therefore, I entreat you, now summon all your 
 courage, in full reliance on your good fortune, sure at all 
 events that I will share all dangers equally with you, and 
 believing that victory ever accompanies justice." 
 
 24. \Vhen he had ended his harangue with this pleasant 
 peroration, the soldiers, exulting in the glory of their chief, 
 and elated with the hopes of success, lifted up their 
 shields on high, and cried out that they should think 
 nothing dangerous nor difficult under an emperor who 
 imposed more toil on himself than on his common soldiers. 
 
 -25. And above all the rest his Gallic troops showed 
 this feeling with triumphant shouts, remembering how 
 often while he as their leader was marshalling their 
 ranks, they had seen some nations defeated and others 
 compelled to sue for mercy and peace.
 
 Jic50 A1DIIAXUS MARCELLINUS. [BK.XXIiI.Cn.vi. 
 
 VI. 
 
 1. OUR history here leads us to a digression explana- 
 tory of the situation of Persia. It has been already dilated 
 upon by those who describe different nations, though but 
 few of them have given a correct account ; if my story 
 should be a little longer, it will contribute to a better 
 knowledge of the country. For whoever affects excessive 
 conciseness while speaking of things but little known, does 
 not so much consider how to explain matters intelligibly, 
 as how much he may omit. 
 
 2. This kingdom, formerly but small, and one which had 
 been known by several names, from causes which we have 
 often mentioned, after the death of Alexander at' Babylon 
 received the name of Farthia from Arsaces, a youth of 
 obscure birth, who in his early youth was a leader of 
 banditti, but who gradually improved his condition, and 
 rose to high renown from his illustrious actions. 
 
 3. After many splendid and gallant exploits he defeated 
 Nicator Seleucus, the successor of the above-named Alex- 
 ander, who had received the surname of Nicator l from his 
 repeated victories ; and having expelled the Macedonian 
 garrisons, he lived for the remainder of his life in peace, 
 like a merciful ruler of willing subjects. 
 
 4. At last, after all the neighbouring districts had been 
 brought under his power, either by force or by fear, or by 
 his reputation for justice, he died a peaceful death in 
 middle age, after he had filled all Persia with nourishing 
 cities and well-fortified camps and fortresses, and had 
 made it an object of terror to its neighbours whom pre- 
 viously it used to fear. And he was the first of these 
 kings who had by the imanirnous consent of all his coun- 
 trymen of all ranks, in accordance with the tenets of their 
 religion, had his memory consecrated as one now placed 
 among the stars. 
 
 5. And it is from his era that the arrogant sovereigns 
 of that nation have allowed themselves to be entitled bro- 
 thers of the sun and moon. And, as the title of Augustus 
 is sought for and desired by our emperors, so now the 
 additional dignities first earned by the fortunate auspices 
 
 1 From viKato, to conquer.
 
 A.D. 363.] GLORY OF ARSACES. 331 
 
 of Arsaces are claimed by all the Parthian kings, who were 
 formerly abject and inconsiderable. 
 
 6. So that they still worship and honour Arsaces as a 
 god, and down to our day have giyen him so much honour 
 that, in conferring the royal power, one of his race has 
 been always preferred to any one else. And also in 
 intestine quarrels, such as are common in that nation, every 
 one avoids as sacrilege wounding any descendant of 
 Arsaces, whether in arms or living as a private individual. 
 
 7. It is well known that this nation, after subduing 
 many others by force, extended its dominions as far as the 
 Propontis and Thrace ; but that it subsequently became 
 diminished and suffered great disasters, owing to the 
 arrogance of its ambitious monarchs, who carried their 
 licentious inroads into distant countries. First, in conse- 
 quence of the conduct of Cyrus, who crossed theBosphorus 
 with a fabulous host, but was wholly destroyed by Tomyris, 
 queen of the Scythians, who thus terribly avenged her sons. 
 
 8. After him, when Darius, and subsequently Xerxes, 
 changed the use ' of the elements and invaded Greece, they 
 had nearly all their forces destroyed by land and sea, and 
 could scarcely escape in safety themselves. I say nothing 
 of the wars of Alexander, and of his leaving the sovereignty 
 over the whole nation by will to his successor. 
 
 9. Then, a long time after these events, while our re- 
 public was under consuls, and was afterwards brought 
 under the power of the Csesars, that nation was constantly 
 warring with us, sometimes with equal fortune ; being at 
 one time defeated, and at another victorious. 
 
 10. Now I will in a few words describe the situation 
 and position of the country as well as I can. It is a 
 region of great extent both in length and breadth, entirely 
 .surrounding on all sides the famous Persian gulf with its 
 many islands. The mouth of this gulf is so narrow, that 
 
 1 As the Greek epigram lias it 
 
 Tbv -yanjj Kal TTOVTOV a/j.ti<p6ftffaiffi Ke\ev6ols 
 
 NavTTji/ ijirfipov, TTf^Tropov ire\dyovs. 
 Thus translated in Bohris ' Greek Anthology,' p. 25 : 
 Him, who reversed the laws great Nature gave, 
 Sail'd o'er the continent and walk'd the wave, 
 Three hundred spears from Sparta's iron plain 
 Have stopp'd. Oh blush, ye mountains and thou main !
 
 332 AMMIAXUS MAKCKLLINUS. L BK - XXIII. On. vi. 
 
 from Harmozon, the promontory of Carmania, tlie opposite 
 headland, which the natives call Maces, is easily seen. 
 
 11. When the strait between these capes is passed, and 
 the water becomes wider, they are navigable up to the city 
 Teredon, where, after having suffered a great diminution 
 of its waters, the Euphrates falls into the sea. The entire 
 gulf, if measured round the shore, is 20,000 furlongs, being 
 of a circular form as if turned in a lathe. And all round 
 its coasts are towns and villages in great numbers ; and 
 the vessels which navigate its waters are likewise very 
 numerous. 
 
 12. Having then passed through this strait we come to 
 the gulf of Armenia on the east, the gulf of Cantichus on 
 the south, and on the west to a third, which they call 
 Chalites. 1 These gulfs, after washing many islands, of 
 which but few are known, join the great Indian Ocean, 
 which is the first to receive the glowing rising of the sun, 
 and is itself of an excessive heat. 
 
 13. As the pens of geographers delineate it, the whole 
 of the region which we have been speaking of is thus 
 divided. From the north to the Caspian gates it borders 
 on the Cadusii, and on many Scythian tribes, and on the 
 Arirnaspi, a fierce one-eyed people. On the west it is 
 bounded by the Armenians, and Mount Niphates, the 
 Asiatic Albani, the Ked Sea, and the Scenite Arabs, whom 
 later times have called the Saracens. To the south it looks 
 towards Mesopotamia, on the east it reaches to the Ganges, 
 which falls into the Southern Ocean after intersecting the 
 countries of the Indians. 
 
 1 4. The principal districts of Persia, under command of 
 the Vitax*, that is to say of the generals of the cavalry, 
 and of the king's Satraps, for the many inferior provinces 
 it would be difficult and superfluous to enumerate, are 
 Assyria, Susiana, Media, Persia, Parthia, the greater 
 Carmania, Hyrcania, Margiana, the Bactrians, the Sogdians, 
 the Sacaa, Scythia beyond Mount Emodes, Serica, Aria, 
 the Paropanisadae, Drangiana, Arachosia, and Gedrosia. 
 
 1 The probability is that all these names are corrupt. Aramianus's 
 ignorance of the relative bearings of countries makes it difficult tu 
 decide what they ought to be. If the proper reading of the last name 
 be, as Valesius thinks, Sarbaletes, that is the name given by Ptolemy 
 to a part of the Red Sea. A French translator of the last century 
 considers the Gulf of Armenia a portion of the Caspian Sea.
 
 A.D. 333. j ASSYRIA. 333 
 
 15. Superior to all the rest is that which is the nearest 
 to us, Assyria, both in renown, and extent, and its varied 
 riches and fertility. It was formerly divided among 
 several peoples and tribes, but is now known tinder one 
 common name as Assyria. It is in that country that amid 
 its abundance of fruits and ordinary crops, there is a lake 
 named Sosingites, near which bitumen is found. In this 
 lake the Tigris is for a while absorbed, flowing beneath its 
 bed, till, at a great distance, it emerges again. 
 
 16. Here also is produced naphtha, an article of a pitchy 
 and glutinous character, resembling bitumen : on which if 
 ever so small a bird perches, it finds its flight impeded and 
 speedily dies. It is a species of liquid, and when once it 
 has taken fire, human ingenuity can find nc means of ex- 
 tinguishing it except that of heaping dust on it. 
 
 17. In the same district is seen an opening in the earth 
 from which a deadly vapour arises, which by its foul 
 odour destroys any animal which comes near it. The 
 evil arises from a deep well, and if that odour spread 
 beyond its wide mouth before it rose higher, it would 
 make all the country around uninhabitable by its fetid 
 effect. 
 
 18. There used, as some affirm, to be a similar chasm 
 near Hierapolis in Phrygia ; from which a noxious vapour 
 rose in like manner with a fetid smell which never ceased, 
 and destroyed everything within the reach of its influence, 
 except eunuchs ; to what this was owing we leave natural 
 philosophers to determine. 
 
 19. Also near the temple of the Asbameean Jupiter, in 
 Cappadocia (in which district that eminent philosopher 
 Apollonius is said to have been born near the town of 
 Tyana), a spring rises from a marsh, which, however 
 swollen with its rising floods, never overflows its banks. 
 
 20. Within this circuit is Adiabene, which was formerly 
 called Assyria, but by long custom has received its present 
 name from the circumstance, that being placed between 
 the two navigable rivers the Ona and the Tigris, it 
 can never be approached by fording ; for in Greek we 
 use luafiaiveiv for to " cross :" this was the belief of the 
 ancients. 
 
 21. But we say that in this country there are two rivers 
 which never fail, which we ourselves have crossed, the
 
 334 AMMIAXUS MARCELLIXUS. [Bs. XXIII. CH. vr. 
 
 Diabas, and the Adiabas : both having bridges of boats 
 over them ; and that Adiabene has received its name 
 from this last, as Homer tells us Egypt received its name 
 from its great river, and India also, and Commagena 
 which was formerly called Euphratensis, as did the 
 country now called Spain, which was formerly called 
 Iberia from the Iberus. 1 And the great Spanish province 
 of Bcetica from the river Bcetis. 
 
 22. In this district of Adiabene is the city of Nineveh, 
 named after Xinus, a most mighty sovereign of former 
 times, and the husband of Semirarnis, who was formerly 
 queen of Persia, and also the cities of Ecbatana, Arbela, 
 and Gaugamela, where Alexander, after several other 
 battles, gave the crowning defeat to Darius. 
 
 23. In Assyria there are many cities, among which one 
 of the most eminent is Apamia, surnamed Mesene, and 
 Teredon, and Apollonia, and Yologesia, and many others of 
 equal importance. But the most splendid and celebrated 
 are these three, Babylon, the walls of which Semiramis 
 cemented with pitch ; for its citadel indeed was founded 
 by that most eminent monarch Belus. And Ctesiphon 
 which Vardanes built long ago, "and which subsequently 
 KingPacorus enlarged by an immigration of many citizens, 
 fortifying it also with walls, and giving it a name, made 
 it the most splendid place in Persia next to it Seleucia, 
 the splendid work of Seleucus Nicator. 
 
 24. This, however, as we have already related, was 
 stonned by the generals of Yerus Caesar, who carried the 
 image of the Cumsean Apollo to Rome, and placed it in the 
 temple of the Palatine Apollo, where it Avas formally 
 dedicated to that god by his priests. Cut it is said that 
 after this statue was carried off, and the city was burnt, 
 the soldiers, searching the temple, found a narrow hole, 
 and when this was opened in the hope of finding some- 
 thing of value in it, from some deep gulf which the secret 
 science of the Chaldeeans had closed up, issued a pestilence, 
 loaded with the force of incurable disease, which in the 
 time of Yerus and Marcus Antoninus polluted the whole 
 world from the borders of Persia to the Rhine and Gaul 
 with contagion and death. 
 
 1 The Ebro. - The Guadalquivir.
 
 A.D.363.] CHALD.EA. 335 
 
 25. Near to this is the region of the Chaldseans, the 
 nurse of the ancient philosophy, as the Chaldaeans them- 
 selves affirm ; and where the art of true divination has 
 most especially been conspicuous. This district is watered 
 by the noble rivers already mentioned, by the Marses, 
 by the Eoyal river, and by that best of all, the Euphrates, 
 which divides into three branches, and is navigable in 
 them all, having many islands, and irrigating the fields 
 a*omid in a manner superior to any industry of cultivators, 
 making them fit both for the plough and for the production 
 of trees. 
 
 26. Next to these come the Susians, in whose province 
 there are not many towns ; though Susa itself is celebrated 
 as a city which has often been the home of kings, and 
 Arsiana, and Sele, and Aracha. The other towns in this 
 district are unimportant and obscure. Many rivers flow 
 through this region, the chief of which are the Oroates, 
 the Harax, and the Meseus, passing through the narrow 
 sandy plain which separates the Caspian from the Eed Sea, 
 and then fall into the sea. 
 
 27. On the left, Media is bounded by the Hyrcanian 
 Sea ; l a country which, before the reign of the elder Cyrus 
 and the rise of Persia, we read was the supreme mistress 
 of all Asia after the Assyrians had been conquered ; the 
 greater part of whose cantons had their name changed 
 into one general appellation of Acrapatena, and fell by 
 right of war under the power of the Medes. 
 
 28. They are a warlike nation, and the most formidable 
 of all the eastern tribes, next to the Parthians, by whom 
 alone they are conquered. The region which they inhabit 
 is in the form of a sqiiare. All the inhabitants of these 
 districts extend over great breadth of country, reaching to 
 the foot of a lofty chain of mountains known by the names 
 of Zagrus, Orontes, and Jasonium. 
 
 29. There is another very lofty mountain called 
 Coronus : and those who dwell on its western side abound 
 in com land and vineyards, being blessed with a most 
 fertile soil, and one enriched by rivers and fountains. 
 
 30. They have also green meadows, and breeds of noble 
 horses, on which (as ancient writers relate, and as we 
 
 1 Ammianus seems to distinguish between the Hyrcanian and Caspian 
 Sea, which are only different names for the same sea or inland lake.
 
 836 AMMIASUS MAKCELLIXUS. [Bii XXIII. Cn. vi. 
 
 ourselves have witnessed) their men when going to battle 
 mount with great exultation. They call them Js'esEei. 1 
 
 31. They have also as many cities as Media, and villages 
 as strongly built as towns in other countries, inhabited by 
 large bodies of citizens. In short, it is the richest quarter 
 of the kingdom. 
 
 32. In these districts the lands of the Magi are fertile : 
 and it may be as well to give a short account of that sect and 
 their studies, since we have occasion to mention their name. 
 Plato, that most learned deliverer of wise opinions, teaches 
 us that Magias is by a mystic name Machagistia, 2 that is to 
 say, the purest worship of divine beings ; of which know- 
 ledge in olden times the Bactfian Zoroaster derived much 
 from the secret rites of the Chaldgeans ; and after him 
 Hystaspes, a very wise monarch, the father of Darius. 
 
 33. Who while boldly penetrating into the remoter dis- 
 tricts of upper India, came to a certain woody retreat, of 
 which with its tranquil silence the Brahmans, men of sub- 
 lime genius, were the possessors. From their teaching he 
 learnt the principles of the motion of the world and of the 
 stars, and the pure rites of sacrifice, as far as he could ; and 
 of what he learnt he infused some portion into the minds 
 of the Magi, which they have handed down by tradition to 
 later ages, each instructing his own children, and adding 
 to it their own system of divination. 
 
 34. From his time, though many ages to the present era, 
 a number of priests of one and the same race has arisen, 
 dedicated to the worship of the gods. And they say, if it 
 can be believed, that they even keep alive in everlasting 
 fires a flame which descended from heaven among them ; 
 a small portion of which, as a favourable omen, used to 
 be borne before the kings of Asia. 
 
 35. Of this class the number among the ancients wn 
 small, and the Persian sovereigns employed their ministry 
 in the solemn performance of divine sacrifices, and it was 
 profanation to approach the altars, or to touch a victim 
 before a Magus with solemn prayers had poured over it a 
 preliminary libation. But becoming gradually m >re 
 
 1 A name not very unlike Nejid, to this day the most celebrated 
 Av;;b breed. 
 
 - Thore is evidently some corruption here ; there is no such Greek 
 word us Machagistia.
 
 A.D. 363.] RIVERS OF PERSIA. 337 
 
 numerous they arrived at the dignity and reputation of a 
 substantial race ; inhabiting towns protected by no fortifi- 
 cations, allowed to live by their own laws, and honoured 
 from the regard borne to their religion. 
 
 36. It was of this race of Magi that the ancient volumes 
 relate that after the death of Cambyses, seven men seized on 
 the kingdom of Persia, who were put down by Darius, after 
 he obtained the kingdom through the neighing of his horse. 
 37. In this district a medical oil is prepared with which 
 if an arrow be smeared, and it be shot gently from a loose 
 bow (for it loses its effect in a rapid flight), wherever it 
 sticks it burns steadily, and if any one attempts to quench 
 it with water it only burns more fiercely, nor can it be 
 put out by any means except by throwing dust on it. 
 
 38. It is made in this manner. Those skilful in such 
 arts mix common oil with a certain herb, keep it a long 
 time, and when the mixture is completed they thicken it 
 with a material derived from some natural source, like a 
 thicker oil. The material being a liquor produced in 
 Persia, and called, as I have already said, naphtha in their 
 native language. 
 
 39. In this district there are many cities, the most cele- 
 brated of which are Zombis, Patigran, and Gazaca ; but the 
 richest and most strongly fortified are Heraclia, Arsacia, 
 Europos, Cyropolis, and Ecbatana, all of which are situated 
 in the Syromedian region at the foot of Mount Jasonius. 
 
 40. There are many rivers in this country, the principal 
 of which are the Choaspes, the Gyndes, the Amardus, the 
 Charinda, the Cambyses, and the Cyrus, to which, on account 
 of its size and beauty, the elder Cyrus, that amiable king, 
 gave its present name, abolishing that which it used to 
 bear, when he was proceeding on his expedition against 
 Scythia; his reason being that it was strong, as he ac- 
 counted himself to be, and that making its way with great 
 violence, as he proposed to do, it falls into the Caspian Sea. 
 
 41. Beyond this frontier ancient Persia, stretching to- 
 wards the south, extends as far as the sea, and is very 
 thickly peopled, being also rich in grain and date-trees, 
 and well supplied with excellent water. Many of its 
 rivers fall into the gulf already mentioned, the chief of 
 which are the Vatrachites, the Eogomanis, the Brisoana, 
 and the Bagrada. 
 
 z
 
 338 AMMIANUS MARCELLINUS. [BK. XXIU. Cn. vr 
 
 42. Its inland towns are very considerable ; it is uncer- 
 tain why they built nothing remarkable on the sea-coast. 
 Those of most note are Persepolis, Ardea, Obroatis, and 
 Tragonice. The only islands visible from that coast are 
 these : Tabiana, Fara, and Alexandria. 
 
 43. On the borders of this ancient Persia towards the 
 north is Parthia, a country subject to snow and frost ; the 
 principal river which intersects that region is the Choatres ; 
 the chief towns are Genonia, Moesia, Charax, Apainia, 
 Artacana, and Hecatompylos ; from its frontier along the 
 shores of the Caspian Sea4o the Caspian gates is a distance 
 of 1040 furlongs. 
 
 44. The inhabitants of all the countries in that district 
 are fierce and warlike, and they are so fond of war and 
 battle that he who is slain in battle is accounted the hap- 
 piest of men, while those who die a natural death are re- 
 proached as degenerate and cowardly. 
 
 45. These tribes are bounded on the east and the south 
 by Arabia Felix, so called because it abounds equally in 
 corn, cattle, vines, and every kind of spice : a great portion 
 of that country reaches on the right down to the Pied Sea, 
 and on its left extends to the Persian Gulf; so that the 
 inhabitants reap the benefits of both. 
 
 46. There are in that country many havens and secure 
 harbours, and well-frequented marts; many spacious and 
 splendid abodes for their kings, and wholesome springs of 
 water naturally warm, and a great number of rivers and 
 streams ; the climate is temperate and healthy, so that if 
 one considers the matter rightly, the natives seem to want 
 nothing to perfect their happiness. 
 
 47. There are in it very many cities both on the coast 
 and inland ; many fertile hills and valleys. The chief 
 cities are Geapolis, Nascon, Baraba, Kagara, Mephra, 
 Taphra, and Dioscurias. And in both seas it possesses 
 several islands lying otf the coast, which it is not worth 
 while to enumerate. But the most important of them is 
 Turgana, in which there is said to be a magnificent temple 
 of Serapis. 
 
 48. Beyond the frontier of this nation is the greater 
 Carmania, lying on high ground, and stretching to the. 
 Indian Sea ; fertile in fruit arid timber trees, but neither 
 so productive nor so extensive as Arabia. With rivers it
 
 A.D. 363.] THE HYRCANI. 339 
 
 is as well supplied, and in grass and herbage scarcely 
 inferior. 
 
 49. The most important rivers are the Sagareus, the 
 Saganis, and the Hydriacus. The cities are not numerous, 
 but admirably supplied with all the necessaries and luxuries 
 of life ; the most celebrated of them all are Carmania the 
 metropolis, Portospana, Alexandria, and Hermopolis. 
 
 50. Proceeding inland, we next come to the Hyrcanians, 
 Aho live on the coast of the sea of that name. Here the 
 land is so poor that it kills the seed crops, so that agricul- 
 ture is not much attended to ; but they live by hunting, 
 taking wonderful pleasure in every kind of sport. Thou- 
 sands of tigers are found among them, and all kinds of wild 
 beasts ; we have already mentioned the various devices by 
 which they are caught. 
 
 51. Not indeed that they are ignorant of the art of 
 ploughing, and some districts where the soil is fertile are 
 regularly sown ; nor are trees wanting to plant in suitable 
 spots: many of the people too support themselves by 
 commerce. 
 
 52. In this province are two rivers of universal celebrity 
 the Oxus and the Maxera, which tigers sometimes, when 
 urged by hunger, cross by swimming, and unexpectedly 
 ravage the neighbouring districts. It has also besides 
 other smaller towns some strong cities, two on the sea- 
 shore named Socunda and Saramanna ; and some inland, 
 such as Azmorna and Sole, and Hyrcana, of higher reputa- 
 tion than either. 
 
 53. Opposite to this tribe, towards the north, live the 
 Abii, a very devout nation, accustomed to trample under 
 foot all worldly things, and whom, as Homer somewhat 
 fabulously says, Jupiter keeps in view from Mount Ida. 
 
 54. The regions next to the Hyrcaneans are possessed 
 by the Margiani, whose district is almost wholly sur- 
 rounded by high hills, by which they are separated from 
 the sea ; and although the greater part of this province is 
 deserted from want of water, still there are some towns in 
 it ; the best known of which are Jasonium.Antiochia, and 
 Nisaea. 
 
 55. Next to them are the Bactrians, a nation formerly 
 very warlike and powerful, and always hostile to the 
 Persians, till they drew all the nations around under their
 
 340 AMMIAXUS MARCELLINUS. [BK. XXIII. CH. vr. 
 
 dominion, and united them under their own name ; and in 
 old time the Bactrian kings were formidable even to Arsaces. 
 
 56. The greater part of their country, like that of 
 the Margiani, is situated far from the sea-shore, but its 
 soil is fertile, and the cattle which feed both on the plains 
 and on the mountains in that district are very large and 
 powerful ; of this the camels which Mithridates brought 
 from thence, and which were first seen by the Romans at 
 the siege of Cyzicus, are a proof. 
 
 57. Many tribes are subject to -the Bactrians, the most 
 considerable of which are the Tochari : their country is 
 like Italy in the number of its rivers, some of which are 
 the Artemis and the Zariaspes, which were formerly 
 joined, and the Ochus and Orchomanes, which also unite 
 and afterwards fall into the Oxus, and increase that large 
 river with their streams. 
 
 58. There are also cities in that country, many of them on 
 the border of different rivers, the best of which are Chatra, 
 Charte, Alicodra, Astacea, Menapila, and Bactra itself, 
 which has given its name both to the region and to the 
 people. 
 
 59. At the foot of the mountains lie a people called the 
 Sogdians, in whose country are two rivers navigable for 
 large vessels, the Araxates and the Dymas, which, flowing 
 among the hills and through the valleys into the open plain, 
 form the extensive Oxian marsh. In this district the most 
 celebrated towns are Alexandria, Cyreschata, and Drepsa 
 the metropolis. 
 
 60. Bordering on these are the Sacae, a fierce nation 
 dwelling in a gloomy-looking district, only fit for cattle, 
 and on that account destitute of cities. They are at the 
 foot of Mount Ascanimia and Mount Comedus, along the 
 bottom of which, and by a town called the Stone Tower, 
 is the long road much frequented by merchants which 
 leads to China. 
 
 61. Around the glens at the bottom of the Imauian and 
 Tapurian mountains, and within the Persian frontier, is a 
 tribe of Scythians, bordering on the Asiatic Sarmatians, 
 and touching the furthest side of the Allemanni, who, like 
 dwellers in a secluded spot, and made for solitude, are 
 scattered over the regions at long distances from one 
 another, and live on hard and poor food.
 
 A.D. 363.] SCYTHIA. 341 
 
 62. And various tribes inhabit these districts, which, as 
 I am hastening to other topics, I think superfluous to 
 enumerate. But this is worth knowing, that among these 
 tribes, which are almost unapproachable on account of their 
 excessive ferocity, there are some races of gentle and 
 devout men, as the Jaxartse and the Galactophagi, whom 
 Homer mentions in his verses : 
 
 r\aKTo<pdycav, 'AB'tcavrf, SinaioraTcav avQptairtav. 1 
 
 63. Among the many rivers which flow through this 
 land, either uniting at last with larger streams, or proceed- 
 ing straight to the sea, the most celebrated are the Boeni- 
 nus, the Jaxartes, and the Talicus. There are but three 
 cities there of any note, Aspabota, Chauriana, and Saga. 
 
 04. Beyond the districts of the two Scythias, on the 
 eastern side, is a ring of mountains which surround Serica, 
 a country considerable both for its extent and the fertility 
 of its soil. This tribe on their western side border on 
 the Scythians, on the north and the east they look towards 
 snowy deserts ; towards the south they extend as far as 
 India and the Ganges. The best known of its mountains 
 aie Annib, Nazavicium, Asmira, Emodon, and Opurocarra. 
 
 65. The plain, which descends very suddenly from the 
 hills, and is of considerable extent, is watered by two 
 famous rivers, the (Echardes and the Bautis, which is 
 less rapid than the other. The character too of the dif- 
 ferent districts is very varied. One is extensive and level, 
 the other is on a gentle slope, and therefore very fertile in 
 corn, and cattle, and trees. 
 
 GO. The most fertile part of the country is inhabited by 
 various tribes, of which the Alitrophagi, the Annibi, the 
 Sisyges, and the Chardi lie to the north, exposed to the 
 frost ; towards the east are the Eabannee, the Asmiras, and 
 the Essedones, the most powerful of all, who are joined on 
 the west by the Athagoraa, and the Aspacarse ; and on the 
 south by the Betse, who live on the highest slopes of the 
 mountains. Though they have not mamj cities they have 
 some of great size and wealth ; the most beautiful and re- 
 nowned of which are Asmira, Essedon, Asparata, and Sera. 
 
 07. The Seres themselves live quietly, always avoid-
 
 342 AMM1ANUS MARCELLINUS. [BK. XXIII. CH. vi. 
 
 ing arms and battles ; and as ease is pleasant to moderate 
 and quiet men, they give trouble to none of their neigh- 
 bours. Their climate is agreeable and healthy ; the sky 
 serene, the breezes gentle and delicious. They have 
 numbers of shining groves, the trees of which through 
 continued watering produce a crop like the fleece of a 
 sheep, which the natives make into a delicate wool, and 
 spin into a kind of fine cloth, formerly confined to the use 
 of the nobles, but now procurable by the lowest of the people 
 without distinction. 
 
 68. The natives themselves are the most frugal of men, 
 cultivating a peaceful life, and shunning the society of 
 other men. And when strangers cross their river to buy 
 their cloth, or any other of their merchandise, they inter- 
 change no conversation, but settle the price of the articles 
 wanted by nods and signs ; and they are so moderate that, 
 while selling their own produce, they never buy any 
 foreign wares. 
 
 69. Beyond the Seres, towards the north, live the 
 Ariarii ; their land is intersected by a navigable river called 
 the Arias, which forms a huge lake known by the same 
 name. This district of Asia is full of towns, the ' most 
 illustrious of which are Bitaxa, Sarmatina, Sotera, Nisibis, 
 and Alexandria, from which last down the river to the 
 Caspian Sea is a distance of fifteen hundred furlongs. 
 
 70. Close to their border, living on the slopes of the 
 mountains, are the Paropanisatse, looking on the east to- 
 wards India, and on the west towards Mount Caucasus. 
 Their principal river is Ortogordomaris, which rises in 
 Bactiia. They have some cities, the principal being Agazaca, 
 Naulibus, and Ortopana, from which if you coast along the 
 shore to the borders of Media which are nearest to the 
 Caspian gates, the distance is two thousand two hundred 
 furlongs. 
 
 71. Next to them, among the hills, are the Drangiani, 
 whose chief river is the Arabis, so called because it rises 
 in Arabia ; and their two principal towns are Prophthasia 
 and Aniaspe, both wealthy and well known. 
 
 72. Next to them is Arachosia, which on the right 
 extends as far as India. It is abundantly watered by a 
 river much smaller than the Indus, that greatest of rivers, 
 which gives its name to the surrounding regions ; in fact
 
 I.D. 363.J THE RACES OF MEN. 343 
 
 their river flows out of the Indus, and passes on till it 
 forms the marsh known as Arachotoscrene. Its leading 
 cities are Alexandria, Arbaca, and Choaspa. 
 
 73. In the most inland districts of Persia is Gedrosia ; 
 which on its right touches the frontier of India, and is 
 fertilized by several rivers, of which the greatest is the 
 Artabius. There the Barbitani mountains end, and from 
 their lowest parts rise several rivers which fall into the 
 Iwdus, losing their own names in the greatness of that 
 superior stream. They have several islands, and their 
 principal cities are Sedratyra and Gynsecon. 
 
 74. We need not detail -minutely every portion of the sea- 
 coast on the extremity of Persia, as it would lead us into 
 too long a digression. It will suffice to say that the sea 
 which stretches from the Caspian mountains along the 
 northern side to the straits above mentioned, is nine thou- 
 sand furlongs in extent ; the southern frontier, from the 
 mouth of the Nile to the beginning of Carmania, is four- 
 teen thousand furlongs. 
 
 75. In these varied districts of different languages, the 
 races of men are as different as the places. But to describe 
 their persons and customs in general terms, they are nearly 
 all slight in figure, swarthy or rather of a pale livid com- 
 plexion ; fierce-looking, with goat-like eyes, and eyebrows 
 arched in a semicircle and joined, with handsome beards, 
 and long hair. They at all times, even at banquets and 
 festivals, wear swords; a custom which that excellent 
 author Thucydides tells us the Athenians were the first of 
 the Greeks to lay aside. 
 
 76. They are generally amazingly addicted to amatory 
 pleastires ; each man scarcely contenting himself with a 
 multitude of concubines : from unnatural vices they are 
 free. Each man marries many or few wives, as he can 
 afford them, so that natural affection is lost among them 
 because of the numerous objects of their licence. They 
 are frugal in their banquets, avoiding immoderate indulg-- 
 ence and especially hard drinking, as they would the plague. 
 
 77. Nor, except at the king's table, have they any 
 settled time for dining, but each man's stomach serves as 
 his sun-dial ; nor does any one eat after he is satisfied. 
 
 78. They are marvellously temperate and cautious, so 
 that when sometimes marching among the gardens and
 
 3-i-i AMMIANUS MARCELLINUS. [BK.XXUI.CH.vi. 
 
 vineyards of enemies, they neither desire nor touch any- 
 thing, from fear of poison or witchcraft. 
 
 79. They perform all the secret functions of nature with 
 the most scrupulous secrecy and modesty. 
 
 80. But they are so loose in their gail, and move with 
 such correct ease and freedom, that you would think them 
 effeminate, though they are most vigorous warriors ; still 
 they are rather crafty than bold, and are most formi- 
 dable at a distance. They abound in empty words, and 
 speak wildly and fiercely ; they talk big, are proud, un- 
 manageable, and threatening alike in prosperity and adver- 
 sity ; they are cunning, arrogant, and cruel, exercising the 
 power of life and death over their slaves, and all low-born 
 plebeians. They flay men alive, both piecemeal, and by 
 stripping off the whole skin. No servant while waiting 
 on them, or standing at their table, may gape, speak, or 
 spit, so that their mouths are completely shut. 
 
 81. Their laws are remarkably severe ; the most stringent 
 are against ingratitude and against deserters ; some too 
 are abominable, inasmuch as for the crime of one man they 
 condemn all his relations. 
 
 82. But as those only are appointed judges who are 
 men of proved experience and uprightness, and of such 
 wisdom as to stand in no need of advice, they laugh at 
 our custom of sometimes appointing men of eloquence 
 and skill in public jurisprudence as guides to ignorant 
 judges. The story that one judge was compelled to sit 
 on the skin of another, who had been condemned for his 
 injustice, is either an ancient fable, or else, if ever there 
 was such a custom, it has become obsolete. 
 
 83. In military system and discipline, by continual ex- 
 ercises in the business of the camp, and the adoption of 
 the various manoeuvres which they have learnt from us, 
 they have become formidable even to the greatest armies ; 
 they trust chiefly to the valour of their cavalry, in which 
 all their nobles and rich men serve. Their infantry are 
 armed like mirmillos, 1 and are as obedient as grooms ; and 
 they always follow the cavalry like a band condemned to 
 everlasting slavery, never receiving either pay or gratuity. 
 This nation, besides those whom it has permanently sub- 
 
 1 A kind of gladiator.
 
 AJJ 363.] THEIR CUSTOMS. 345 
 
 lued, has also compelled many others to go tinder the 
 yoke ; so brave is it and so skilful in all warlike exercises, 
 that it -would be invincible were it not continually weak- 
 ened by civil aud by foreign wars. 
 
 84. Most of them wear garments brilliant with various 
 colours, so completely enveloping the body that even 
 though they leave the bosoms and sides of their robes 
 open so as to flutter in the wind, still from their shoes to 
 tkeir head no part of their person is exposed. After con- 
 quering Croesus and subduing Lydia, they learnt also to 
 wear golden armlets and necklaces, and jewels, especially 
 pearls, of which they had great quantities. 
 
 85. It only remains for me to say a few words about the 
 origin of this stone. Among the Indians and Persians 
 pearls are found in strong white sea-shells, being created 
 at a regular time by the admixture of dew. For the shells, 
 desiring as it were a kind of copulation, open so as to 
 receive moisture from the nocturnal aspersion. Then 
 becoming big they produce little pearls in triplets, or 
 pairs, or unions, which are so called because the shells 
 when scaled often produce only single pearls, which then 
 are larger. 
 
 86. And a proof that this produce arises from and is 
 nourished by some aerial derivation rather than by any 
 fattening power in the sea, is that the drops of morning 
 dew when infused into them make the stones bright and 
 round ; while the evening dew makes them crooked and 
 red, and sometimes spotted. They become either small or 
 large in proportion to the quality of the moisture which 
 they imbibe, and other circumstances. When they are 
 shaken, as is often the case by thunder, the shells either 
 become empty, or produce only weak pearls, or such as 
 never come to maturity. 
 
 87. Fishing for them is difficult and dangerous, and 
 this circumstance increases their value ; because, on account 
 of the snares of the fishermen they are said to avoid the 
 shores most frequented by them, and hide around rocks 
 which are difficult of access and the hiding places of 
 sharks. 
 
 88. We are not ignorant that the same species of jewel 
 is also produced and collected in the remote parts of the 
 British sea ; though of an inferior value.
 
 346 AMMIA.NUS MARCELLIXUS. [BK. XXIV. CJi. I. 
 
 BOOK XXIV. 
 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 I. Julian invades Assyria with his army; receives the surrender of 
 Anatha, a fort on the Euphrates, and burns it. II. Having made 
 attempts on other fortresses and towns, he hums some which were 
 deserted, and receives the surrender of Pirisabora, and burns it. 
 III. On account of his successes, he promises his soldiera one 
 hundred denarii a man ; and as they disdain so small a donation, 
 he in a modest oration recalls them to a proper feeling. IV. The 
 town of Maogamalcha is stormed by the Romans, and rased to the 
 ground. V. The Romans storm a fort of great strength, both in 
 its situation and fortifications, and bum it. VI. Julian defeats 
 the Persians, slays two thousand five hundred of them, with the 
 loss of hardly seventy of his own men ; and in a public assembly 
 presents many of his soldiers with crowns. VII. Being deterred 
 from laying siege to Ctesiphon, he rashly orders all his boats to 
 be burnt, and retreats from the river. VIII. As he was neither 
 able to make bridges, nor to be joined by a portion of his forces, 
 he determines to return by Oorduena. 
 
 A.D. 363. 
 
 1. AFTER having ascertained the alacrity of his army, 
 which with ardour and unanimity declared with their 
 customary shout that their fortunate emperor was invin- 
 cible, Julian thinking it well to put an early end to his 
 enterprise, after a quiet night ordered the trumpets to 
 sound a march ; and everything being prepared which the 
 arduous difficulties of the war required, he at daybreak 
 entered the Assyrian territory in high spirits, riding in 
 front of his ranks, and exciting all to discharge the duties 
 of brave men in emulation of his own courage. 
 
 2. And as a leader of experience and skill, fearing lest 
 his ignorance of the country might lead to his being sur- 
 prised by secret ambuscades, he began his march in line 
 of battle. He ordered fifteen hundred skirmishers to 
 precede him a short distance, who were to march slowly 
 looking out on each side and also in front, to prevent any 
 sudden attack. The infantry in the centre were under 
 his own command, they being the flower and chief strength
 
 363.] JULIAN INVADES ASSYRIA. 347 
 
 of the whole ariny, while on the right were some legions 
 under Nevitta, who was ordered to march along the banks 
 of the Euphrates. The left wing with the cavalry he 
 gave to Arinthaeus and Hormisdas, with orders to lead 
 them in close order through the level and easy country 
 of the plain. The rear was brought up by Dagalaiphus 
 and Victor, and the last of all was Secundinus, Duke of 
 Osdruena. 
 
 -s3. Then in order to alarm the enemy by the idea of his 
 superior numbers, should they attack him anywhere, or 
 perceive him from a distance, he opened his ranks so as 
 to spread both horses and men over a larger space, in such 
 a way that the rear was distant from the van nearly ten 
 miles ; a manoeuvre of great skill which Pyrrhus of Epirus 
 is said to have often put in practice, extending his camp, 
 or his lines, and sometimes on the other hand compressing 
 them all, so as to present an appearance of greater or lesser 
 numbers than the reality, according to the circumstances of 
 the moment. 
 
 4. The baggage, the sutlers, all the camp-followers, and 
 every kind of equipment, he placed between the two flanks 
 of troops as they marched, so as not to leave them unpro- 
 tected and liable to be carried off by any sudden attack, as 
 has often happened. The fleet, although the river was 
 exceedingly winding, was not allowed either to fall behind 
 or to advance before the army. 
 
 5. After two days' march we came near a deserted 
 town called Dura, on the bank of the river, where many 
 herds of deer were found, some of which were slain by 
 arrows, and others knocked down with the heavy oars, so 
 that soldiers and sailors all had plenty of food ; though the 
 greater part of the animals, being used to swimming, 
 plunged into the rapid stream and could not be stopped 
 till they had reached their well known haunts. 
 
 6. Then after an easy march of four days, as evening 
 came on, he embarked a thousand light-armed troops on 
 board his boats, and sent the Count Lucillianus to storm 
 the fortress of Anatha, which, like many other forts in that 
 country, is surrounded by the waters of the Euphrates ; 
 Lucillianus having, as he was ordered, placed his ships in 
 suitable places, besieged the island, a cloudy night favour- 
 ing a secret assault.
 
 348 AMMIANUS MAECELLIXUS. [B K . XXIV. CH. r. 
 
 7. But as soon as it became light, one of the garrison 
 going out to get water, saw the enemy, and inimediately 
 raised an outcry, which roused the awakened garrison to 
 arm in their defence. And presently, from a high watch- 
 tower, the emperor examined the situation of the fort, and 
 came up with all speed escorted by two vessels, and fol- 
 lowed by a considerable squadron laden with engines for 
 the siege. 
 
 8. And as he approached the walls, and considered that 
 the contest could not be carried on without great risk, he 
 tried both by conciliatory and threatening language to in- 
 duce the garrison to surrender ; and they, having invited 
 Hormisdas to a conference, were won over by his promises 
 and oaths to rely on the mercy of the Romans. 
 
 9. At last, driving before them a crowned ox, which 
 among them is a sign of peace, they descended from the 
 fort as suppliants : the fort was burnt, and Pusams, its 
 commander, who w r as afterwards Duke of Egypt, was 
 appointed to the rank of tribune. The rest of the garrison 
 with their families and property were conducted with all 
 kindness to the Syrian city of Chalcis. 
 
 10. Among them was found a certain soldier, who 
 formerly, when Maximian invaded Persia, had been left in 
 this district as an invalid, though a very young man, but 
 who was now bent with age, and according to his own 
 account had several wives, as is the custom of that country, 
 and a numerous offspring. He now full of joy, professing 
 to have been a principal cause of the surrender, was led to 
 our camp, calling many of his comrades to witness that he 
 had long foreseen and often foretold that, though nearly a 
 hundred years' old, he should be buried in Eoman ground. 
 After this event, the Saracens brought in some skirmishers 
 of the enemy whom they had taken ; these were received 
 with joy by the emperor, the Saracens rewarded, and sent 
 back to achieve similar exploits. 
 
 11. The next day another disaster took place ; a whirl wind 
 arose, and made haA T oc in many places, throwing down many 
 buildings, tearing in pieces the tents, and throwing the 
 soldiers on their backs or on their faces, the violence of the 
 wind overpowering their steadiness of foot. And the same 
 day another equally perilous occurrence took place. For the. 
 river suddenly overflowed its banks, and some of the ships
 
 A.I). 363.] TAKES THE CHIEF CITY. 349 
 
 laden with provisions were wrecked, the piers and dams 
 which had been constructed of stone to check and repress 
 the waters being swept away ; and whether that was done 
 by treachery or through the weight of the waters could not 
 be known. 
 
 12. After having stormed and burnt the chief city, and 
 sent away the prisoners, the army with increased confi- 
 dence raised triumphant shouts in honour of the emperor, 
 thinking that the gods were evidently making him the 
 object of their peculiar care. 
 
 13. And because in these unknown districts they were 
 forced to be on unusual guard against hidden dangers, the 
 troops especially feared the craft and exceeding deceitful- 
 ness of the enemy ; and therefore the emperor was every- 
 where, sometimes in front, sometimes with his light- 
 armed battalions protecting the rear, in order to see that 
 no concealed danger threatened it, reconnoitring the dense 
 jungles and valleys, and restraining the distant sallies of 
 his. soldiers, sometimes with his natural gentleness, and 
 sometimes with threats. 
 
 14. But he allowed the fields of the enemy which were 
 loaded with eveiy kind of produce to be burnt with their 
 crops and cottages, after his men had collected all that they 
 could themselves make use of. And in this way the enemy 
 were terribly injured before they were aware of it ; for 
 the soldiers freely used what they had acquired with their 
 own hands, thinking that they had found a fresh field for 
 their valour ; and joyful at the abundance of their supplies, 
 they saved what they had in their own boats. 
 
 15. But one rash soldier, being intoxicated, and having 
 crossed over to the opposite bank of the river, was taken 
 prisoner before our eyes by the enemy, and was put to 
 death. 
 
 II. 
 
 1. AFTER this we arrived at a fort called Thilutha, situated 
 in the middle of the river on a very high piece of ground, 
 and fortified by nature as if by the art of man. The inha- 
 bitants were invited gently, as was best, to surrender, 
 since the height of their fort made it impregnable ; but 
 they refused all terms as yet, though they answered that 
 when the Romans had advanced further so as to occupy the
 
 350 AMMIANUS MARCELLINUS. [B K . XXIV. CH. n. 
 
 interior of the country, they also as an appendage would 
 conie over to the conqueror. 
 
 2. Having made this reply they quietly looked down upon 
 our boats as they passed under the very walls without 
 attempting to molest them. When that fort was passed we 
 caine to another called Achaiacala, also defended by the 
 river flowing round it, and difficult to scale, where we 
 received a similar answer, and so passed on. The next 
 day we came to another fort which had been deserted 
 because its walls were weak ; and we burnt it and pro- 
 ceeded. 
 
 3. In the two next days we marched two hundred fur- 
 longs, and arrived at a place called Paraxmalcha. \Ye 
 then crossed the river, and seven miles further on we 
 entered the city of Diacira, which we found empty of 
 inhabitants but full of corn and excellent salt, and here we 
 saw a temple placed on the summit of a lofty height, ^"e 
 burnt the city and put a few women to death whom we 
 found there, and having passed a bituminous spring, we 
 entered the town of Ozogardana, which its inhabitants had 
 deserted for fear of our approaching army ; in that town is 
 shown a tribunal of the emperor Trajan. 
 
 4. This town also we burnt after we had rested there 
 two days to refresh our bodies. On the second day just 
 at nightfall, the Surena (who is the officer next in rank to 
 the king among the Persians), and a man named Malechus 
 Podosaces, the chief of the Assanite Saracens, who had long- 
 ravaged our frontiers with great ferocity, laid a snare for 
 Hormisdas, whom by some means or other they had learnt 
 was about to go forth on a reconnoitring expedition, and 
 only failed because the river being very narrow at that 
 point, was so deep as to be unfordable. 
 
 5. And so at daybreak, when the enemy were now in 
 sight, the moment that they were discovered by their 
 glittering helmets and bristling armour, our men sprang 
 up vigorously to the conflict, and dashed at them with 
 great courage ; and although the enemy wielded their huge 
 bows with great strength, and the glistening of their' 
 weapons increased the alarm of our soldiers, yet their rage, 
 and the compactness of their ranks, kept alive and added 
 fuel to their courage. 
 
 6. Animated by their first success, our army advanced
 
 A.D.363.] CROSSES THE RIVER. 351 
 
 to the village of Macepracta, where were seen vestiges 
 of walls half destroyed, which had once been of great 
 extent, and had served to protect Assyria from foreign 
 invasion. 
 
 7. At this point a portion of the river is drawn off in 
 large canals which convey it to the interior districts of 
 Babylonia, for the service of the surrounding country and 
 citiefe. Another branch of the river known as the Isaha- 
 uaalca, which means "the river of kings," passes by Ctesi- 
 phon : at the beginning of this stream there is a lofty 
 tower like a lighthouse, by which our infantry passed on 
 a carefully constructed bridge. 
 
 8. The cavalry and cattle then took the stream where 
 it was less violent, and swam across obliquely; another 
 body was suddenly attacked by the enemy with a storm of 
 arrows and javelins, but our light-armed auxiliaries as 
 soon as they reached the other side, supported them, and 
 put the enemy to flight, cutting them to pieces as they fled. 
 
 9. After having successfully accomplished this exploit, 
 we arrived at the city of Pirisabora, of great size and 
 populousness, and also surrounded with water. But the 
 emperor having ridden all round the walls and recon- 
 noitred its position, began to lay siege to it with great 
 caution, as if he would make the townsmen abandpn its 
 defence from mere terror. But after several negotiations 
 and conferences with them, as they would yield neither to 
 promises nor to threats, he set about the siege in earnest, 
 and surrounded the walls with three lines of soldiers. The 
 whole of the first day the combat was carried on with 
 missiles till nightfall. 
 
 10. But the garrison, full of courage and vigour, spread- 
 ing cloths loose everywhere over the battlements to weaken 
 the attacks of our weapons, and protected by shields strongly 
 woven of osier, made a brave resistance, looking like figures 
 of iron, since they had plates of iron closely fitting over 
 every limb, which covered their whole person with a safe 
 defence. 
 
 11. Sometimes also they earnestly invited Hormisdas as 
 a countryman and a prince of royal blood to a conference ; 
 but when he came they reviled him with abuse and 
 reproaches as a traitor and deserter ; and after a great part 
 of the day had been consumed in this slow disputing, at the
 
 352 AMMIANUS MARCELLINUS. [BK. XXIV. CH. H. 
 
 beginning of night many kinds of engines were brought 
 against the walls, and we began to fill up the ditches. 
 
 12. But before it was quite dawn, the garrison perceived 
 what was being done, with the addition that a violent 
 stroke of a battering-ram had broken down a tower at one 
 corner ; so they abandoned the double city wall T and occu- 
 pied a citadel close to the wall, erected on the level summit 
 of a ragged hill, of which the centre, rising up to a great 
 height in its round circle, resembled an Argive shield, 
 except that in the north it was not quite round, but at 
 that point it was protected by a precipice which ran sheer 
 down into 1he Euphrates ; the walls were built of baked 
 bricks and bitumen, a combination which is well known 
 to be the strongest of all materials. 
 
 13. And now the savage soldiery, having traversed the 
 city, which they found empty, were fighting fiercely with 
 the defenders who poured all kinds of missiles on them from 
 the citadel. Being hard pressed by the catapults and 
 balistae of our men, they also raised on the height huge 
 bows of great power, the extremities of which, rising high 
 on each side, could only be bent slowly ; but the string, 
 when loosed by violent exertion of the fingers, sent forth 
 iron-tipped arrows with such force as to inflict fatal wounds 
 on any one whom they struck. 
 
 14. Nevertheless, the fight was maintained on both sides 
 with showers of stones thrown by the hand, and as neither 
 gained any ground a fierce contest was protracted from 
 daybreak to nightfall with great obstinacy ; and at last 
 they parted without any advantage to either side. The 
 next day the fight was renewed with great violence, and 
 numbers were slain on each side, and still the result was 
 even ; when the emperor, being eager amid this reciprocal 
 slaughter to try every chance, being guarded by a solid 
 column, and defended from the arrows of the enemy by 
 their closely packed shields, rushed forward with a rapid 
 charge up to the enemy's gates, which were faced with 
 stout iron. 
 
 15. And although he was still in some danger, being 
 hard pressed with stones and bullets and other weapons, 
 still he cheered on his men with frequent war-cries while 
 they were preparing to force in the gates in order to effect 
 an entrance, and did not retreat till he found himself on
 
 A.D. 363.] HIS EMULATION OF SCiPIO. 353 
 
 the point of being entirely overwhelmed by the mass of 
 missiles which were poured down on him. 
 
 16. However, he came off safe with only a few of his 
 men slightly wounded ; not without feeling some modest 
 shame at being repulsed. For he had read that Scipio 
 ./Emilianus, with the historian Polybius, a citizen of Mega- 
 lopolis in Arcadia, and thirty thousand soldiers, had, by a 
 similar attack, forced the gate of Carthage. 
 17. But the account given by the old writers may serve 
 to defend this modern attempt ; for ^Emilianus approached 
 a gate protected by a stone-covered testudo, under which 
 he safely forced his way into the city while the garrison 
 was occupied in demolishing this stone roof. But Julian 
 attacked a place completely exposed, while the whole face 
 of heaven was darkened by the fragments of rock and 
 weapons which were showered upon him, and was even 
 then with great difficulty repulsed and forced to retire. 
 
 18. After this hasty and tumultuous assault, as the vast 
 preparations of sheds and mounds which were carried on 
 were attended with much difficulty, through the hindrances 
 offered by the garrison, Julian ordered an engine called 
 helepolis to be constructed with all speed ; which, as we 
 have already mentioned, King Demetrius used, and earned 
 the title of Poliorcetes by the number of cities which he took. 
 
 19. The garrison, anxiously viewing this engine, which 
 was to exceed the height of their lofty towers, and consi- 
 dering at the same time the determination of the besiegers, 
 suddenly betook themselves to supplications, and spreading 
 over the towers and walls, imploring the pardon and pro- 
 tection of the Eomans with outstretched hands. 
 
 20. And when they saw that the works of the Eomans 
 were suspended, and that those who were constructing 
 them were doing nothing, which seemed a sure token of 
 peace, they requested an opportunity of conferring with 
 Hormisdas. 
 
 21. And when this was granted, Mamersides, the com- 
 mander of the garrison, was let down by a rope, and con- 
 ducted to the emperor as he desired ; and having received 
 a promise of his own life, and of impunity to all his com- 
 rades, he was allowed to return to the city. And when 
 he related what had been done, the citizens unanimously 
 agreed to follow his advice and accept the terms ; and 
 
 2 A
 
 354 AMMIAXU3 MARCEIJ.IXUS. [BK. XXIV. CH. in. 
 
 peace was solemnly made with all the sanctions of religion, 
 the gates were thrown open, and the whole population 
 went forth proclaiming that a protecting genius had shone 
 upon them in the person of the great and merciful Caesar. 
 
 22. The number of those who surrendered was two 
 thousand five hundred, for the rest of the citizens, expect- 
 ing the siege beforehand, had crossed the river in small 
 boats and abandoned the city. In the citadel a great store 
 of arms and provisions was found ; and after they had 
 taken what they required, the conquerors burnt the rest as 
 well as the place itself. 
 
 III. 
 
 1. THE day after these transactions, serious news reached 
 the emperor as he was quietly taking his dinner, that the 
 Surena, the Persian general, had surprised three squadrons 
 of our advanced guard, and slain a few, among whom was 
 one tribune ; and had also taken a standard. 
 
 2. Immediately Julian became violently exasperated, 
 and flew to the spot with an armed band, placing much 
 hope of success in the rapidity of his movements : he 
 routed the assailants disgracefully, cashiered the other 
 two tribunes as blunderers and cowards, and in imitation 
 of the ancient laws of Rome disbanded ten of the soldiers 
 who had fled, and then condemned them to death. 
 
 3. Then, having burnt the city as I have already 
 mentioned, he mounted a tribunal which he had caused to 
 be erected, and having convoked his army, he thanked 
 them, and counted upon their achieving other similar ex- 
 ploits. He also promised them each a hundred pieces of 
 silver ; but seeing that they were inclined to murmur, as 
 being disappointed at the smallness of the sum, he became 
 most indignant and said : 
 
 4. " Behold the Persians who abound in wealth of 
 every kind ; their riches may enrich you if we only 
 behave gallantly with one unanimous spirit of resolution. 
 But after having been very rich, I assure you that the 
 republic is at this moment in great want, through the 
 conduct of those men who, to increase their own wealth, 
 taught former emperors to return home after buying peace 
 of the barbarians with gold. 
 
 o. " The treasury is empty, the cities are exhausted,
 
 A.D. 363.] HIS SPEECH TO HIS SOLDIERS. 355 
 
 the finances are stripped bare. I myself have neither 
 treasures, nor, noble as I am by birth, do I inherit any- 
 thing from my family but a heart free from all fear. Nor 
 shall I be ashamed to place all my happiness in the cul- 
 tivation of my mind, while preferring an honourable 
 poverty. For the Fabricii also conducted great wars 
 while poor in estate and rich only in glory. 
 
 6. " Of all these things you may have plenty, if, dis- 
 carding all fear, you act with moderation, obeying the 
 cautious guidance of God and myself, as far as human 
 reason can lead you safely ; but if you disobey, and choose 
 to return to your former shameful mutinies, proceed. 
 
 7. As an emperor should do, I by myself, having per- 
 formed the important duties which belong to me, will die 
 standing, despising a life which any fever may take from 
 me : or else I will abdicate my power, for I have not lived 
 so as to be unable to descend to a private station. I 
 rejoice in, and feel proud of the fact that there are with 
 me many leaders of proved skill and courage, perfect in 
 every kind of military knowledge." 
 
 8. By this modest speech of their emperor, thus un- 
 moved alike by prosperity and adversity, the soldiers 
 were for a time appeased, regaining confidence with an 
 expectation of better success ; and unanimously promised 
 to be docile and obedient, at the same time extolling 
 Julian's authority and magnanimity to the skies ; and, as 
 is their wont when their feelings are genuine and cordial, 
 they showed them by a gentle rattling of their arms. 
 
 9. Then they returned to their tents, and refreshed 
 themselves with food, for which they had abundant 
 means, and with sleep during the night. Exit Julian 
 encouraged his army not by the idea of their families, but 
 by the thoughts of the greatness of the enterprises in 
 which they were embarked : continually making vows 
 " So might he be able to make the Persians pass under 
 the yoke." " So might he restore the Eoman power which 
 had been shaken in those regions," in imitation of Trajan, 
 who was accustomed frequently to confirm anything he 
 had said by the imprecations " So may I see Dacia re- 
 duced to the condition of a province ; so may I bridge over 
 the Danube and Euphrates," using many similar f ims 
 of attestation.
 
 356 AMMIAXU3 MARCKLLINUS. [Bs. XXIV. CH. m. 
 
 10. Then after proceeding fourteen miles further we 
 came to a certain spot where the soil is fertilized by the 
 abundance of water. But as the Persians had learnt that 
 we should advance by this road, they removed the dams, 
 and allowed the waters to flood the country. 
 
 11. The ground being thereby, for a great distance, re- 
 duced to the state of a marsh, the emperor gave the soldiers 
 the next day for rest, and advancing in front himself, con- 
 structed a number of little bridges of bladders, and 
 coracles 1 made of skins, and rafts of palm-tree timber, and 
 thus led his army across, though not without difficulty. 
 
 12. In this region many of the fields are planted with 
 vineyards and various kinds of fruit trees ; and palm-trees 
 grow there over a great extent of country, reaching as far 
 as Mesene and the ocean, forming great groves. And 
 wherever any one goes he sees continual stocks and 
 suckers of palms, from the fruit of which abundance of 
 honey and wine is made, and the palms themselves are 
 said to be divided into male and female, and it is added 
 that the two sexes can be easily distinguished. 
 
 13. They say further that the female trees produce fruit 
 when impregnated by the seeds of the male trees, and 
 even that they feel delight in their mutual love : and that 
 this is clearly shown by the fact that they lean towards 
 one another, and cannot be bent back even by strong 
 winds and if by any unusual accident a female tree is not 
 impregnated by the male seed, it produces nothing but 
 imperfect fruit, and if they cannot find out with what 
 male tree any female tree is in love, they smear the trunk 
 of some tree with the oil which proceeds from her, and 
 then some other tree naturally conceives a fondness for the 
 odour ; and these proofs create some belief in the story of 
 their copulation. 
 
 14. The army then, having sated itself with these fruits, 
 passed by several islands, and instead of the scarcity which 
 they apprehended, the fear arose that they would become 
 too fat. At last, after having been attacked by an am- 
 buscade of the enemy's archers, but having avenged them- 
 selves well, they came to a spot where the larger portion 
 of the Euphrates is divided into a number of small streams. 
 
 1 Small boats made of wickor and covered with hide ; still used in 
 Wales, where they are also called thorricle, truckle, or cobble.
 
 i.D. 363.] HIS DANGER. 
 
 IV. 
 
 1. IN this district a city, which on account of the lowness 
 of its walls, had been deserted by its Jewish inhabitants, 
 was burnt by our angry soldiers. And afterwards the 
 emperor proceeded further on, being elated at the manifest 
 protection, as he deemed it, of the Deity. 
 ~*&. And when he had reached Maogamalcha, a city of 
 great size and surrounded with strong walls, he pitched 
 his tent, and took anxious care that his camp should not 
 be surprised by any sudden attack of the Persian cavalry ; 
 whose courage in the open plains is marvellously dreaded 
 by the surrounding nations. 
 
 3. And when he had made his arrangements, he himself, 
 with an escort of a few light troops, went forth on foot to 
 reconnoitre the position of a city by a close personal 
 examination ; but he fell into a dangerous snare from 
 which he with difficulty escaped with his life. 
 
 4. For ten armed Persians stole out by a gate of the 
 town of which he was not aware, and crawled on their 
 hands and knees along the bottom of the hill, till they got 
 within reach so as to fall silently upon our men, and two 
 of them distinguishing the emperor by his superior appear- 
 ance, made at him with drawn swords; but he encountered 
 them with his shield raised, and protecting himself with 
 that, and fighting w r ith great and noble courage, he ran 
 one of them through the body, while his guards killed the 
 other with repeated blows. The rest, of whom some were 
 wounded, were put to flight, and the two who were slain 
 were stripped of their arms, and the emperor led back his 
 comrades in safety, laden with their spoils, into the camp, 
 where he was received with universal joy. 
 
 5. Torquatus took a golden necklace from one of the 
 enemy whom he had slain. Valerius by the aid of a crow 
 defeated a haughty Gaul and earned the stirname of Cor- 
 vinus, and by this glory these heroes were recommended 
 to posterity. We do not envy them, but let this gallant 
 exploit be added to those ancient memorials. 
 
 6. The next day a bridge was laid across the river, and 
 the army passed over it, and pitched their camp in a fresh 
 and more healthy place, fortifying it with a double
 
 358 AMMIANUS MARCELLIXUS. [BK. XXIV. CH. iv. 
 
 rampart, since, as we have said, the open plains were 
 regarded with apprehension. And then he undertook the 
 siege of the town, thinking it too dangerous to march 
 forward while leaving formidable enemies in his rear. 
 
 7. AYhile he was making great exertions to complete 
 his preparations, the Surena, the enemy's genei-al, fell 
 upon the cattle which were feeding in the palm groves, but 
 was repulsed by those of our squadrons who were ap- 
 pointed to that service, and, having lost a few men, he 
 retired. 
 
 8. And the inhabitants of two cities which are made 
 islands by the rivers which surround them, fearing to trust 
 in their means of defence, fled for refuge to Ctesiphon, 
 some fleeing through the thick woods, others crossing the 
 neighbouring marshes on canoes formed out of hollowed 
 trees, and thus made a long journey to the principal or 
 indeed the only shelter which existed for them, intending 
 to proceed to still more distant regions. 
 
 9. Some of them were overtaken, and on their resist- 
 ance were put to death by our soldiers, who, traversing 
 various districts in barks and small boats, brought in from 
 time to time many prisoners. For it had been cleverly 
 arranged that, while the infantry was besieging the town, 
 the squadrons of cavalry should scour the country in small 
 bands in order to bring in booty. And by this system, 
 without doing any injury to the inhabitants of the pro- 
 vinces, the soldiers fed on the bowels of the enemy. 
 
 10. And by this time the emperor was besieging with 
 all his might and with a triple line of heavily armed 
 soldiers this town which was fortified with a double wall ; 
 and he had great hope of succeeding in his enterprise. 
 But if the attempt was indispensable, the execution was 
 very difficult. For the approach to the town lay every- 
 where over rocks of great height and abruptness ; across 
 which there was no straight road : and dangers of two 
 kinds seemed to render the place inaccessible. In the first 
 place there were towers formidable both for their height 
 and for the number of their garrison ; equalling in height 
 the natural mountain on which the citadel was built ; and 
 secondly, a sloping plain reached down to the river, which 
 again was protected by stout ramparts. 
 
 11. Thei e was a third difficulty not less formidable that
 
 A.D. 363.] GALLANTRY OF THE ASSAILANTS. 359 
 
 the numerous garrison of picked men which defended the 
 place could not be won over by any caresses to surrender, 
 but resisted the enemy as if resolved either to conquer or 
 to perish amid the ashes of their country. The soldiers, 
 who desired to attack at once, and also insisted upon a 
 pitched battle in a fair field, could hardly be restrained, 
 and when the retreat was sounded they burnt with indig- 
 "nation, being eager to make courageous onsets on the 
 enemy. 
 
 12. But the wisdom of our leaders overcame the eager- 
 ness of mere courage ; and the work being distributed, 
 every one set about his allotted task with great alacrity. 
 For on one side high mounds were raised ; on another 
 other parties were raising the deep ditches to the level of 
 the ground ; in other quarters hollow pitfalls were covered 
 over with long planks ; artisans also were placing mural 
 engines soon intended to burst forth with fatal roars. 
 
 13. Nevitta and Dagalaiphus superintended the miners 
 and the erection of the vinese, or penthouses ; but the begin- 
 ning of the actual conflict, and the defence of the machines 
 from fire or from sallies of the garrison, the emperor took 
 to himself. And when all the preparations for taking the 
 city had been completed by this variety of labour, and the 
 soldiers demanded to be led to the assault, a captain named 
 Victor returned, who had explored all the roads as far as 
 Ctesiphon, and now brought word that he had met with no 
 obstacles. 
 
 14. At this news all the soldiers became wild with joy, 
 and being more elated and eager for the contest than ever, 
 they waited under arms for the signal. 
 
 15. And now on both sides the trumpets sounded with 
 martial clang, and the Roman vanguard, with incessant 
 attacks and threatening cries, assailed the enemy, who 
 were covered from head to foot with thin plates of iron 
 like the feathers of a bird, and who had full confidence 
 that any weapons that fell on this hard iron would recoil ; 
 while our close-packed shields with which our men 
 covered themselves as with a testudo, opened loosely so 
 as to adapt themselves to their continual motion. On the 
 other hand the Persians, obstinately clinging to their walls, 
 laboured with all their might to avoid and frustrate our 
 deadly attacks.
 
 360 A:.IMIANUS MARCELLIXUS. [BK. xxiv. CH. nr 
 
 16. But when the assailants, pushing the osier fences 
 before them, passed up to the walls, the archers, slingera 
 and others, rolling down huge stones, with firebrands and 
 fire-pots, repelled them to a distance. Then the balistae, 
 armed with wooden arrows, were bent and loosened with a 
 horrid creak, and poured forth incessant storms of darts. 
 And the scorpions hurled forth round stones under the 
 guidance of the skilful hands of their workers. 
 
 17. The combat was repeated and redoubled in violence, 
 till the heat increasing up to midday, and the sun burning 
 up everything with its evaporation, recalled from the 
 battle the combatants on both sides, equally intent as they 
 were on the works and on the fray, but thoroughly ex- 
 hausted by fatigue and dripping with sweat. 
 
 18. The same plan was followed the next day, the two 
 parties contending resolutely in various modes of fight- 
 ing, and again they parted with equal valour, and equal 
 fortune. But in every danger the emperor was foremost 
 among the armed combatants, urging on the destruction of 
 the city lest, by being detained too long before its walls, he 
 should be forced to abandon other objects which he had 
 at heart. 
 
 19. But in times of emergency nothing is so unim- 
 portant as not occasionally to influence great aifairs, even 
 contrary to all expectation. For when, as had often 
 happened, the two sides were fighting slackly, and on the 
 point of giving over, a battering-ram which had just been 
 brought up, being pushed forward awkwardly, struck down 
 a tower which was higher than any of the others, and was 
 ve7y strongly built of baked brick, and its fall brought 
 down all the adjacent portion of the wall with a mighty 
 crash. 
 
 20. Then in the variety of incidents which arose, the 
 exertions of the besiegers and the gallantry of the besieged 
 were equally conspicuous with noble exploits. For to our 
 soldiers, inflamed with anger and indignation, nothing 
 appeared difficult. To the garrison, fighting for their safety, 
 nothing seemed dangerous or formidable. At last, when 
 the fierce contest had raged a long time and was still 
 undecided, great slaughter having been made on both 
 sides, the close of day broke it off, and both armies yielded 
 to fatigue.
 
 A.D. 363.] LABOURS OF THE MINERS. 361 
 
 21. "While these matters were thus going on in broad 
 daylight, news was brought to the emperor, who was full 
 of watchful care, that the legionary soldiers to whom the 
 digging of the mines had been intrusted, having hollowed 
 out their subterranean paths and supported them with 
 stout stakes, had now reached the bottom of the founda- 
 tions of the walls, and were ready to issue forth if he 
 thought fit. 
 
 22. When therefore a, great part of the night was passed, 
 the brazen trumpets sounded the signal for advancing to 
 battle, and the troops ran to arms ; and as had been 
 planned, the wall was attacked on both its faces, in order 
 that while the garrison were running to and fro to repel 
 the danger, and while the uoise of the iron tools of the 
 miners digging at the foundations was overpowered by the 
 din of battle, the miners should come forth on a sudden 
 without any one being at the mouth of the mine to resist 
 them. 
 
 23. When these plans had all been arranged, and the 
 garrison was fully occupied, the mine was opened, and 
 Exsuperius, a soldier of the Victorian legion, sprung out, 
 followed by a tribune named Magnus, and Jovianus, a 
 secretary, and an intrepid bcdy of common soldiers, who, 
 after slaughtering all the men found in the temple into 
 which the mine opened, went cautiously forward and slew 
 the sentinels, who were occupying themselves after the 
 fashion of their country in singing the praises, the justice, 
 and good fortune of their king. 
 
 24. It was believed that Mars himself (if indeed the 
 gods are permitted to mingle with men) aided Luscinus 
 when he forced the camp of the Lucanians. And it was 
 the more believed because in the height of the conflict 
 there was seen an armed figure of enormous size carrying 
 ladders, who the next day, when the roll was called over, 
 though sought for very carefully, could not be found any- 
 where ; when if he had really been a soldier he would have 
 come forward of his own accord from a consciousness of 
 his gallant action. But though on that occasion it was 
 never known who performed that splendid achievement, 
 yet those who now behaved bravely were not unknown, 
 but received obsidional crowns, and were publicly praised 
 according to the ancient fashion.
 
 362 AMMIANUS MARCELLINUS. [BK..XXIV. CH. iv. 
 
 25. At last the fated city, its numerous entrances being 
 laid open, was entered by the Eomans, and the furious 
 troops destroyed all whom they found, without regard to 
 age or sex. Some of the citizens, from dread of impending 
 destruction, threatened on one side with fire, on the other 
 with the sword, weeping threw themselves headlong over 
 the walls, and being crippled in all their limbs, led for a 
 few hours or days a life more miserable than any death, 
 till they were finally killed. 
 
 26. But Nabdates, the captain of the garrison, was 
 taken alive with eighty of his guards ; and when he was 
 brought before the emperor, that magnanimous and merciful 
 prince ordered him to be kept in safety. The booty was 
 divided according to a fair estimate of the merits and 
 labours of the troops. The emperor, who was contented 
 with very little, took for his own share of the victory he 
 had thus gained three pieces of gold and a dumb child who 
 was brought to him, and who by elegant signs and gesticu- 
 lations explained all he knew, and considered that an 
 acceptable and sufficient prize. 
 
 27. But of the virgins who were taken prisoners, and 
 who, as was likely in Persia, where female beauty is re- 
 markable, were exceedingly beautiful, he would neither 
 touch nor even see one ; imitating Alexander and Scipio, 
 who refused similar opportunities, in order, after having 
 proved themselves unconquered by toil, not to show them- 
 selves the victims of desire. 
 
 28. \Vhile the battle was going on, an engineer on our 
 side, whose name I do not know, who happened to be 
 standing just behind a scorpion, was knocked down and 
 killed by the recoil of a stone, which the worker of the 
 engine had fitted to the sling carelessly, his whole body 
 being so dislocated and battered that he could not even be 
 recognized. 
 
 29. After the town was taken intelligence was brought 
 to the emperor that a troop was lying in ambuscade in 
 some concealed pits around the walls of the town just 
 taken (of which pits there are many in those districts), 
 with the intention of surprising the rear of our army by 
 a sudden attack. 
 
 30. A body of picked infantry of tried courage was there- 
 fore sent to take the troop prisoners. But as they could
 
 A.D. 363.] THE ROMANS ADVANCE. 363 
 
 neither force their way into the pits, nor induce those con- 
 cealed in them to come forth to fight, they collected some 
 straw and faggots, and piled them tip before the mouths of 
 the caves, and then set them on fire, from which the smoke 
 penetrated into the caverns through the narrow crevice, 
 being the more dense because of the small space through 
 which it was forced, and so suffocated some of them ; others 
 tn*e fire compelled to come forth to instant destruction ; 
 and in this manner they were destroyed by sword or by 
 fire, arid our men returned with speed to their camp. Thus 
 was this large and populous city, with its powerful garrison, 
 stormed by the Romans, and the city itself reduced to 
 ruins. 
 
 31. After this glorious exploit the bridges which led 
 over several livers "were crossed in succession, and we 
 reached two forts, constructed with great strength and 
 skill, where the son of the king endeavoured to prevent 
 Count Victor, who was marching in the van of the army, 
 from crossing the river, having advanced for that, purpose 
 from Ctesiphon with a large body of nobles and a con- 
 siderable armed force ; but when he saw the numbers 
 which were following Victor, he retreated. 
 
 V. 
 
 1 . So we advanced and came to some groves, and also to 
 some fields fertile with a great variety of crops, where we 
 found a palace built in the Roman fashion, which, so 
 pleased were we with the circumstance, we left unhurt. 
 
 2. There was also in this same place a large round space, 
 enclosed, containing wild beasts, intended for the king's 
 amusement ; lions with shaggy manes, tusked boars, and 
 bears of amazing ferocity (as the Persian bears are), and 
 other chosen beasts of vast size. Our cavalry, however, 
 forced the gates of this enclosure, and killed all the beasts 
 with hunting-spears and clouds of arrows. 
 
 3. This district is rich and well cultivated : not far off 
 is Coche, which is also called Seleucia ; where we fortified 
 a camp with great celerity, and rested there two days to 
 refresh the army with timely supplies of water and pro- 
 visions. The emperor himself in the meanwhile proceeded 
 with his advanced guard and reconnoitred a deserted city 
 which had been formerly destroyed by the Emperor Verus,
 
 364 AMMIANUS MARCELLIMJS. [ BK - XXIV. CH. v. 
 
 where an everlasting spring forms a large tube which com- 
 municates with the Tigris. Here we saw, hanging on 
 gallows, many bodies of the relations of the man whom we 
 have spoken of above as having betrayed Piri.sabora. 
 
 4. Here also Nabdates was burnt alive, he whom I have 
 mentioned above as having been taken with eighty of his 
 garrison while hiding among the ruins of the city which 
 we had taken ; because at the beginning of the siege he 
 had secretly promised to betray it, but afterwards had re- 
 sisted us vigorously, and after having been unexpectedly 
 pardoned had risen to such a pitch of violence as to launch 
 all kinds of abuse against Hormisdas. 
 
 5. Then after advancing some distance we heard of a 
 sad disaster : for while three cohorts of the advanced 
 guard, who were in light marching order, were fighting 
 with a Persian division which had made a sally out of the 
 city gates, another body of the enemy cut off and slew our 
 cattle, which were following us on the other side of the 
 river, with a few of our foragers who were straggling 
 about. in no great order. 
 
 6. The emperor was enraged and indignant at this ; he 
 was now near the district of Ctesiphon, and had just 
 reached a lofty and well-fortified castle. He went himself 
 to reconnoitre it, being, as he fancied, concealed, as he 
 rode with a small escort close to the walls ; but as from 
 too much eagerness he got within bowshot, he was soon 
 noticed, and was immediately assailed by every kind of 
 missile, and would have been killed by an arrow shot from 
 an engine on the walls, if it had not struck his armour- 
 bearer, who kept close by his side, and he himself, being 
 protected by the closely-packed shields of his guards, fell 
 back, after having been exposed to great danger. 
 
 7. At this he was greatly enraged, and determined to 
 lay siege to the fort ; but the garrison was very resolute to 
 defend it, believing the place to be nearly inaccessible, and 
 that the king, who was advancing with great speed at the 
 head of a large army, would soon arrive to their assistance. 
 
 8. And now, the vinese and everything else required 
 for the siege being prepared, at the second watch, when 
 the night, which happened to be one of very bright 
 moonlight, made everything visible to the defenders on 
 the battlements, suddenly the whole multitude of the
 
 A.D. 363.] ENERGY OF JULIAN. 365 
 
 garrison formed into one body, threw open ihe gates and 
 sallied out, and attacking a division of our men who were 
 not expecting them, slew numbers, among whom one 
 tribune was killed as he was endeavouring to repel the 
 attack. 
 
 9. And while this was going on, the Persians, having 
 attacked a portion of our men in the same manner as 
 before from the opposite side of the river, slew some and 
 took others prisoners. And our men, in alarm, and because 
 they believed the enemy had come into the field in very 
 superior numbers, behaved at first with but little spirit ; 
 but presently, when they recovered their courage, they 
 flew again to arms, and being roused by the sound of the 
 trumpets, they hastened to the charge with threatening 
 cries, upon which the Persians retired to the garrison 
 without further contest. 
 
 10. And the emperor, being terribly angry, reduced 
 those of the cavalry who had shown a want of courage 
 when attacked to serve in the infantry, which is a severer 
 service and one of less honour. 
 
 11. Then, being veiy eager to take a castle where he had 
 incurred so much danger, he devoted all his own labour 
 and care to that end, never himself retiring from the front 
 ranks of his men, in order that by fighting in the van 
 he might, be an example of gallantry to his soldiers, and 
 might be also sure to see, and therefore able to reward, 
 every gallant action. And when he had exposed himself 
 a long time to imminent danger, the castle, having been 
 assailed by every kind of manoeuvre, weapon, and engine, 
 and by great valour on the part of the besiegers, was at 
 length taken and burnt. 
 
 12. After this, in consideration of the great labour of 
 the exploits which they had performed, and which were 
 before them, he granted rest to his army, exhausted with 
 its excessive toil, arid distributed among them provisions 
 in abundance. Then a rampart was raised round the camp, 
 with dense rows of palisades, and a deep fosse, as sudden 
 sallies and various formidable manoeuvres were dreaded, 
 since they were very near Ctesiphon.
 
 366 AMMIANUS MARCELLINUS. [BK. XXIV. CH. vi. 
 
 VI. 
 
 1. FROM this place they advanced to a canal known as 
 Naharmalcha, a name which means " The Kiver of Kings." 
 It was then dry. Long ago Trajan, and after him Severus, 
 had caused the soil to be dug out, and had given great 
 attention to constructing this as a canal of great size, so 
 that, being filled with water from the Euphrates, it might 
 enable vessels to pass into the Tigris. 
 
 2. And for every object in view it appeared best that 
 this should now be cleaned out, as the Persians, fearing 
 such an operation, had blocked it up with a mass of stones. 
 After it had been cleared and the dams removed, a large 
 body of water was let in, so that our fleet, after a safe 
 voyage of thirty furlongs, passed into the Tigris. There 
 the army at once threw bridges across the river, and 
 passing over to the other side, marched upon Coche. 
 
 3. And that after our fatigue we might enjoy seasonable 
 rest, we encamped in an open plain, rich with trees, vines, 
 and cypresses, in the middle of which was a shady and 
 delicious pavilion, having all over it, according to the 
 fashion of the country, pictures of the king slaying wild 
 beasts in the chase ; for they never paint or in any way 
 represent anything except different kinds of slaughter and 
 war. 
 
 4. Having now finished everything according to his 
 wish, the emperor, rising higher in spirit as his difficulties 
 increased, and building such hopes on Fortune, which had 
 not yet proved unfavourable to him, that he often pushed 
 his boldness to the verge of temerity, unloaded some of the 
 strongest of the vessels which were carrying provisions 
 and warlike engines, and put on board of them eight hun- 
 dred armed men ; and keeping the main part of the fleet 
 with him, which he divided into three squadrons, be 
 settled that one under the command of Count Victor should 
 start at nightfall, in order to cross the river with speed, 
 and so seize on the bank in possession of the enemy. 
 
 5. The generals were greatly alarmed at this plan, and 
 unanimously entreated him to forego it ; but as they could 
 not prevail, the signal for sailing was raised, as he com- 
 manded, and at once five ships hastened onwards out of 
 sight; and when they drew near to the bank they were
 
 A.D. 363.] COURAGE OF JULIAN. 367 
 
 attacked with an incessant storm of fire-pots and every 
 kind of contrivance to handle flames, and they would have 
 been burnt soldiers and all if the emperor, being roused, 
 had not with great energy hastened to the spot, shouting 
 out that our men, as they were ordered, had made him a 
 signal that they were now masters of the bank of the river, 
 and ordering the whole fleet to hasten forward with all speed. 
 
 6. In consequence of which vigour the ships were saved, 
 and the soldiers, though harassed by the enemy from their 
 commanding ground with stones and every kind of missile, 
 nevertheless after a fierce conflict made good their footing 
 on the high bank of the river, and established themselves 
 immovably. 
 
 7. History marvels that Sertorius swam across the 
 Rhone with his arms and his breastplate ; but on this 
 occasion, some soldiers, though disordered, fearing to re- 
 main behind after the signal for battle was raised, clinging 
 firmly to their shields, which are broad and concave, and 
 guiding them, though without much skill, kept pace with 
 the speed of the vessels through a river full of currents. 
 
 8. The Persians resisted this attack with squadrons of 
 cuirassier cavalry in such close order that their bodies 
 dazzled the eye, fitting together, as it seemed, with their 
 brilliant armour ; while their horses were all protected 
 with a covering of stout leather. As a reserve to support 
 them several maniples of infantry were stationed, protected 
 by crooked, oblong shields, made of wicker-work and raw 
 hides, behind which they moved in compact order. Behind 
 them were elephants, like so many walking hills, which by 
 every motion of their huge bodies threatened destruction 
 to all who came near them, and our men had been taught 
 to fear them by past experience. 
 
 9. On this the emperor, according to the arrangement of 
 the Greek army as mentioned by Homer, 1 allotted the 
 
 1 See II. iv. 297 : 
 
 'iTTinjas ftiv irpSnra avv 'liriroiffiv Kal ox efft t >tv 
 ire^ovs 5' t^-mOtf a-r-ricrtv iroKfas re Kal f<r6\ovs 
 epKos e/jLev iro\ffj.oto, KO.KOVS 5'e /j.fa'o'ov i\afffffi>, 
 Thus translated by Pope : 
 
 " The horse and chariots to the front assigned. 
 The foot (the strength of war) he placed behind : 
 The middle space suspected troops supply, 
 Enclosed by both, nor left the power to fly. "
 
 368 AMMIANUS MAECELLINUS. [BK.XXJV.CH.vr. 
 
 centre space between his two lines to his weakest infantry, 
 lest if they were placed in the front rank, and should then 
 misbehave, they should disorder the whole of his line ; or 
 lest, on the other hand, if posted in the rear, behind all the 
 other centuries, they should flee without shame, since there 
 would be no one to check them : he with his light-armed 
 auxiliaries moving as might be required between the li 
 
 10. Therefore when the two armies beheld each other, 
 the Romans glittering with their crested helmets, and 
 brandishing their shields, proceeded slowly, their bands 
 playing an anapasstic measure ; and after a preliminary 
 skirmish, carried on by the missiles of the front rank, they 
 rushed to battle with such vehemence that the earth 
 trembled beneath them. 
 
 11. The battle-shout was raised on all sides, as was 
 usual, the braying trumpets encouraged the eagerness of 
 the men : all fought in close combat with spears and drawn 
 swords, so that the soldiers were free from all danger of 
 arrows the more rapidly they pressed onwards. Mean- 
 while, Julian, like a gallant comrade, at the same time 
 that he was a skilful general, hasten to support his hardly- 
 pressed battalions with reserves, and to cheer on the 
 laggards. 
 
 12. So the front line of the Persians wavered, having 
 been never very fierce ; and at last, no longer able to 
 support the heat of their armour, they retreated in haste 
 to their city, which was near : they were pursued by 
 our soldiers, weary as they were with having fought in 
 those torrid plains from daybreak to sunset ; and we, 
 pressing close on their heels, drove them, with their 
 choicest generals, Pigranes, the Surena, and N arses, right 
 up to the walls of Ctesiphon, inflicting many wounds on 
 their legs and backs. 
 
 13. And we should have forced our entrance into the 
 city if a general named Victor had not, by lifting up his 
 hands and his voice, checked us, being himself pierced 
 through the shoulder with an arrow, and fearing lest if the 
 soldiers allowed themselves to be hurried within the walls 
 without any order, and could then find no means of re- 
 turning, they might be overwhelmed by the mass of their 
 enemies. 
 
 14. Let the poets celebrate the ancient battles of Hector,
 
 A.D. 363.] SACRIFICE TO MAES. 369 
 
 or extol the valour of the Thessalian Achilles ; let past ages 
 tell the praises of Sophanes, and Arninias, and Callimachus, 
 and Cynasgirus, those thunderbolts of war in the struggles 
 of the Greeks against Persia ; but it is evident by the con- 
 fession of all men that the gallantry displayed by some of 
 our troops on that day was equal to any of their exploits. 
 
 -45. After having laid aside their fears, and trampled on 
 the carcases of their enemies, the soldiers, still stained 
 with the blood so justly shed, collected round the tent 
 of the emperor, loading him with praises and thanks, 
 because, while behaving with such bravery that it was 
 hard to say whether he had been more a general or a 
 soldier, he had conducted the affair with such success 
 that not above seventy of our men had fallen, while nearly 
 two thousand five hundred of the Persians had been slain. 
 And he in his turn addressed by name most of those 
 whose steady courage and gallant actions he had wit- 
 nessed, presenting them with naval, civic, and military 
 crowns. 
 
 16. Thinking that this achievement would surely be 
 followed by other similar successes, he prepared a large 
 sacrifice to Mars the Avenger. Ten most beautiful bulls 
 were brought for the purpose, nine of which, even before 
 they reached the altars, lay down of their own accord with 
 mournful countenances, but the tenth broke his bonds and 
 escaped, and was with difficulty brought back at all ; and 
 when sacrificed displayed very unfavourable omens ; 
 but when he saw this, Julian became very indignant, and 
 exclaimed, calling Jupiter to witness, that henceforth he 
 would offer no sacrifices to Mars. Nor did he recall his 
 vow, being cut off by a speedy death. 
 
 VII. 
 
 1. JULIAN, having discussed with his chief officers the 
 plan for the siege of Ctesiphon, it appeared to some of 
 them that it would be an act of unseasonable temerity to 
 attack that city, both because its situation made it almost 
 impregnable, and also because King Sapor was believed to 
 be hastening to its protection with a formidable army. 
 
 2. The better opinion prevailed ; and the sagacious em- 
 peror being convinced of its wisdom, sent Arinthaaus with 
 
 2 B
 
 370 AMM1AXUS MARCELL1NUS. [BE. XXIV. CH. v. 
 
 a division of light infantry, to lay waste the surrounding 
 districts, which were rich both in herds and in crops, with 
 orders also to pursue the enemy with equal energy, for 
 many of them were wandering about, concealed amid over- 
 grown by-ways, and lurking-places known only to them- 
 selves. The booty was abundant. 
 
 3. But Julian himself, being always eager to extend his 
 conquests, disregarded the advice of those who remon- 
 strated against his advance ; and reproaching his chiefs, as 
 men who out of mere laziness and a love of ease advised 
 him to let go the kingdom of Persia when he had almost 
 made himself master of it, left the river on his left hand, 
 and led by unlucky guides, determined to proceed towards 
 the inland parts of the country by forced marches. 
 
 4. And he ordered all his ships to be burnt, as if with 
 the fatal torch of Bellona herself, except twelve of the 
 smaller vessels, which he arranged should be carried on 
 waggons, as likely to be of use for building bridges. And 
 he thought this a most excellently conceived plan, to prevent 
 his fleet if left behind from being of any use to the enemy, 
 or on the other hand to prevent what happened at the out- 
 set of the expedition, nearly twenty thousand men being 
 occupied in moving and managing the vessels. 
 
 5. Then, as the men began in their alarm to grumble to 
 themselves (as indeed manifest truth pointed out), that the 
 soldiers if hindered from advancing by the height of the 
 mountains or the dryness of the country, would have no 
 means of returning to get water, and when the deserters, 
 on being put to the torture openly confessed that they had 
 made a false report, he ordered all hands to labour to extin- 
 guish the flames. But the fire, having got to a great 
 head, had consumed most of them, so that only the twelve 
 could be preserved unhurt, which were set apart to be 
 taken care of. 
 
 6. In this way the fleet being unseasonably destroyed, 
 Julian, relying on his army which was now all united, 
 having none of its divisions diverted to other occupations, 
 and so being strong in numbers, advanced inland, the rich 
 district through which he marched supplying him with an 
 abundance of provisions. 
 
 7. When this was known, the enemy, with a view to 
 distressing us by want of supplies, burnt up all the grass
 
 A.D.363.] THE PERSIANS BURN THE CROPS. 371 
 
 and the nearly ripe crops ; and we, being unable to ad- 
 vance by reason of the conflagration, remained stationary 
 in our camp till the fire was exhausted. And the Persians, 
 insulting us from a distance, sometimes spread themselves 
 widely on purpose, sometimes offered us resistance in a 
 compact body ; so that to us who beheld them from a dis- 
 tance it might seem that the reinforcements of the king 
 Had come up, and we might imagine that it was on that 
 account that they had ventured on their audacious sallies 
 and unwonted enterprises. 
 
 8. Both the emperor and the troops were greatly vexed 
 at this, because they had no means of constructing a bridge, 
 since the ships had been inconsiderately destroyed, nor 
 could any check be offered to the movements of the 
 strange enemy, whom the glistening brilliancy of their 
 arms showed to be close at hand; this armour of theirs 
 being singularly adapted to all the inflections of their body. 
 There was another evil of no small weight, that the rein- 
 forcements which we were expecting to arrive under the 
 command of Arsaces and some of our own generals, did 
 not make their appearance, being detained by the causes 
 already mentioned. 
 
 VIII. 
 
 1. THE emperor, to comfort his soldiers who were made 
 anxious by these events, ordered the prisoners who were 
 of slender make, as the Persians usually are, and who were 
 now more than ivually emaciated, to be brought before 
 the army ; and looking at our men he said, " Behold what 
 those warlike spirits consider men, little ugly dirty goats ; 
 and creatures who, as many events have shown, throw 
 away their arms and take to flight before they can come to 
 blows." 
 
 2. And when he had said this, and had ordered the 
 prisoners to be removed, he held a consultation on what was 
 to be done ; and after many opinions of different kinds had 
 been delivered, the common soldiers inconsiderately crying 
 out that it was best to return by the same way they had 
 advanced, the emperor steadily opposed this idea, and was 
 joined by several officers who contended that this could 
 not be done, since all the forage and crops had been 
 destroyed throughout the plain, and the remains of the
 
 372 AJIMIAXLTS MARCELLIXUS. [BK. XXIV. CH. v. 
 
 villages which had been burnt were all in complete desti- 
 tution, and could afford no supplies ; because also the whole 
 soil was soaked everywhere from the snows of winter, and 
 the rivers had overflowed their banks and were now for- 
 midable torrents. 
 
 3. There was this further difficulty, that in those dis- 
 tricts where the heat and evaporation are great, every place 
 is infested with swarms of flies and gnats, and in such 
 numbers that the light of the sun and of the stars is com- 
 pletely hidden by them. 
 
 4. And as human sagacity was of no avail in such a 
 state of affairs, we were long in doubt and perplexity ; and 
 raising altars and sacrificing victims we consulted the will 
 of the gods ; inquiring whether it was their will that we 
 should return through Assyria, or advancing slowly along 
 the foot of the mountain chain, should surprise and plunder 
 Chiliocomum near Corduena ; but neither of these plans 
 was conformable to the omens presented by an inspection 
 of the sacrifices. 
 
 5. However it was decided, that since there was no 
 better prospect before us, to seize on Corduena ; and on 
 the 16th June we struck our camp, and at daybreak the 
 emperor set forth, when suddenly was seen either smoke 
 or a great cloud of dust ; so that many thought it wa.s 
 caused by herds of wild asses, of which there are countless 
 numbers in those regions, and who were now moving in a 
 troop, in order by their compactness to ward otf the fero- 
 cious attacks of lions. 
 
 6. Some, however, fancied that it was caused by the 
 approach of the Saracen chieftains, our allies, who had 
 heard that the emperor was besieging Ctesiphon in great 
 force : some again affirmed that the Persians were lying in 
 wait for us on our march. 
 
 7. Therefore amid all these doubtful opinions, the trum- 
 pets sounded a halt, in order to guard against any re- 
 verse, and we halted in a grassy valley near a stream, 
 where, packing our shields in close order and in a circular 
 figure, we pitched our camp and rested in safety. Nor, so 
 dark did it continue till evening, could we distinguish what 
 it was that had so long obscured the view.
 
 A.D. 363.] 373 
 
 BOOK XXV. 
 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 I. The Persians attack the Romans on their march, but are gallantly 
 repelled. II. The army is distressed by want of corn and forage ; 
 * Julian is alarmed by prodigies. III. The emperor, while, in order 
 to repulse the Persians, who pressed him on all quarters, he 
 rashly rushes into battle without his breastplate, is wounded by 
 a spear, and is borne back to his tent, where he addresses those 
 around him, and, after drinking some cold water, dies. IV. His 
 virtues and vices ; his personal appearance. ^V. Jovian, the 
 captain l of the imperial guards, is tumultuously elected em- 
 peror. VI. The Romans hasten to retreat from Persia, and on 
 their march are continually attacked by the Persians and Sara- 
 cens, whom, however, they repulse with great loss. VII. The 
 emperor Jovian, being influenced by the scarcity and distress with 
 which his army is oppressed, makes a necessary but disgraceful 
 peace with Sapor ; abandoning five provinces, with the cities of 
 Nisibis and Sirigara. VIII. The Romans having crossed the 
 Tigris, after a very long and terrible scarcity of provisions, which 
 they endured with great courage, at length reach Mesopotamia 
 Jovian arranges the affairs of Illyricum and Gaul to the best of his 
 power. IX. Bineses, a noble Persian, acting for Sapor, receives 
 from Jovian the impregnable city of Nisibis; the citizens are 
 unwilling to quit their country, but are compelled to migrate to 
 Amida Five provinces, with the city of Singara, and sixteen 
 fortresses, are, according to the terms of the treaty, handed over 
 to the Persian nobles. X. Jovian, fearing a revolution, marches 
 with great speed through Syria, Cilicia, Cappadocia, and Galatia, 
 and .at Ancyra enters on the consulship, with his infant son Varro- 
 nianus, and soon afterwards dies suddenly at Dadastana. 
 
 I. 
 
 A.D. 363. 
 
 1. THE niglit was dark and starless, and passed by us as 
 nights are passed in times of difficulty and perplexity ; no 
 one out of fear daring to sit down, or to close his eyes. 
 But as soon as day broke, brilliant breastplates sur- 
 rounded with steel fringes, and glittering cuirasses, were 
 seen at a distance, and showed that the king's army was 
 at hand. 
 
 1 Primicerius : he was the third officer of the guard ; the first being 
 the lower ; the second, the tribune answering, as one might say, to 
 our major.
 
 374 AMMIAXUS MARCELLINUS. [BK. XXV. CH. I. 
 
 2. The soldiers were roused at this sight, and hastened 
 to engage, since only a small stream separated them from 
 the Persians, but were checked by the emperor ; a sharp 
 skirmish did indeed take place between our outposts and 
 the Persians, close to the rampart of our camp, in 
 which Machameeus, the captain of one of our squadrons, 
 was stricken down : his brother Maurus, afterwards Duke 
 of Phoenicia, flew to his support, and slew the man who 
 had killed Machamaeus, and crushed all who came in his 
 way, till he himself was wounded in the shoulder by a 
 javelin ; but he still was able by great exertions to 
 bring off his brother, who was now pale with approaching 
 death. 
 
 3. Both sides were nearly exhausted with the intolerable 
 violence of the heat and the repeated conflicts, but at 
 last the hostile battalions were driven back in great dis- 
 order. Then while we fell back to a greater distance, the 
 Saracens were also compelled to retreat from fear of onr 
 infantry, but presently afterwards joining themselves to 
 the Persian host, they attacked us again, with more safety 
 to themselves for the purpose of carrying off the Eoman 
 baggage. But when they saw the emperor they again 
 retreated upon their reserve. 
 
 4. After leaving this district we reached a village called 
 Hucumbra, where we rested two days, procuring all kinds 
 of provisions and abundance of corn, so that we moved on 
 again after being refreshed beyond our hopes ; all that the 
 time would not allow us to take away we burnt. 
 
 5. The next day the army was advancing more quietly,, 
 when the Persians unexpectedly fell upon our last division, 
 to whom that day the duty fell of bringing up the rear, and, 
 would easily have slain all the men, had not our cavalry, 
 which happened to be at hand, the moment that they 
 heard what was going on, hastened up, though scattered 
 over the wide valley, and repulsed this dangerous attack, 
 wounding all who had thus surprised them. 
 
 6. In this skirmish fell Adaces, a noble satrap, who had 
 formerly been sent as ambassador to the emperor Constan- 
 tius, and had been kindly received by him. The soldier 
 who slew him brought his arms to Julian, and received 
 the reward he deserved. 
 
 7. The same day one of our corps of cavalry, known as/
 
 A.D. 363.] COWARDICE OF ONE CORPS. 375 
 
 the third legion, was accused of having gradually given 
 way, so that when the legions were on the point of break- 
 ing the enemy's line, they nearly broke the spirit of the 
 whole army. 
 
 8. And Julian, being justly indignant at this, de- 
 prived them of their standards, broke their spears, and 
 condemned all those who were convicted of having mis- 
 B&haved of marching among the baggage and prisoners ; 
 while their captain, the only one of their number who had 
 behaved well, was appointed to the command of another 
 squadron, the tribune of which was convicted of having 
 shamefully left the field. 
 
 9. And four other tribunes of companies were also 
 cashiered for similar misconduct ; for the emperor was 
 contented with this moderate degree of punishment out of 
 consideration for his impending difficulties. 
 
 1 0. Accordingly, having advanced seventy furlongs with 
 very scanty supplies, the herbage and the corn being all 
 burnt, each man saved for himself just as much of the 
 grain or forage as he could snatch from the flames and 
 carry. 
 
 11. And having left this spot, when the army had 
 arrived at the district called Maranx, near daybreak an 
 immense multitude of Persians appeared, with Merenes, 
 the captain of their cavalry, and two sons of the king, and 
 many nobles. 
 
 12. All the troops were clothed in steel, in such a 
 way that their bodies were covered with strong plates, so 
 that the hard joints of the armour fitted every limb of 
 their bodies ; and on their heads were effigies of human 
 faces so accurately fitted, that their whole persons being 
 covered with metal, the only place where any missiles 
 which fell upon them could stick, was either where there 
 were minute openings to allow of the sight of the eyes 
 penetrating, or where holes for breathing were left at the 
 extremities of the nostrils. 
 
 13. Part of them who were prepared to fight with pikes 
 stood immovable, so that you might have fancied they were 
 held in their places by fastenings of brass ; and next to 
 them the archers (in which art that nation has always 
 been most skilful from the cradle) bent their supple bows 
 with widely extended arms, so that the strings touched
 
 376 AMMIANUS MARCELLIXDS. [BK. XXV. CH. r. 
 
 their right breasts, while the arrows lay just upon their 
 left hands ; and the whistling arrows flew, let loose with 
 great skill of finger, bearing deadly wounds. 
 
 14. Behind them stood the glittering elephants in for- 
 midable array, whose grim looks our terrified men could 
 hardly endure ; while the horses were still more alarmed 
 at their growl, odour, and unwonted aspect. 
 
 15. Their drivers rode on them, and bore knives with 
 handles fastened to their right hands, remembering the 
 disaster which they had experienced at Nisibis ; and if the 
 ferocious animal overpowered his overseer, they pierced 
 the spine where the head is joined to the neck with a 
 vigorous blow, that the beast might not recoil upon their 
 own ranks, as had happened on that occasion, and trample 
 down their own people ; for it was found out by Hasdrubal, 
 the brother of Hannibal, that in this way these animals 
 might be very easily deprived of life. 
 
 16. The sight of these beasts caused great alarm; and so 
 this most intrepid emperor, attended with a strong body 
 of his armed cohorts and many of his chief officers, as the 
 crisis and the siiperior numbers of the enemy required, 
 marshalled his troops in the form of a crescent with the 
 wings bending inwards to encounter the enemy. 
 
 17. And to hinder the onset of the archers from dis- 
 ordering our columns, by advancing with great speed he 
 baffled the aim of their arrows ; and after he had given the 
 formal signal for fighting, the Eoman infantiy, in close 
 order, beat back the front of the enemy with a vigorous 
 effort. 
 
 18. The struggle was fierce, and the clashing of the 
 shields, the din of the men, and the doleful whistle of the 
 javelins, which continued without intermission, covered the 
 plains with blood and corpses, the Persians falling in every 
 direction ; and though they were often slack in fighting, 
 being accustomed chiefly to combat at a distance by means 
 of missiles, still now foot to foot they made a stout resist- 
 ance ; and when they found any of their divisions giving 
 way, they retreated like rain before the wind, still with 
 showers of arrows seeking to deter their foes from pur- 
 suing them. So the Parthians were defeated by prodigious 
 efforts, till our soldiers, exhausted by the heat of the 
 day, on the signal for retreat being sounded, returned to
 
 A.D. 363.] SELF-DENIAL OF JULIAN. 377 
 
 their camp, encouraged for the future to greater deeds of 
 daring. 
 
 19. In this battle, as I have said, the loss of the Persians 
 was very great ours was very slight. But the most im- 
 portant death in our ranks was that of Vetranio, a gallant 
 soldier who commanded the legion of Zianni. 1 
 
 II. 
 
 1. AFTER this there was an armistice for three days, while 
 the men attended to their own wounds or those of their 
 friends, during which we were destitute of supplies, and 
 distressed by intolerable hunger ; and since, as all the corn 
 and forage was burnt, both men and cattle were in extreme 
 danger of starvation, a portion of the food which the 
 horses of the tribunes and superior officers were carrying 
 was distributed among the lower classes of the soldiers, 
 who were in extreme want. 
 
 2. And the emperor, who had no royal dainties pre- 
 pared for himself, but who was intending to sup under the 
 props of a small tent on a scanty portion of pulse, such as 
 would often have been despised by a prosperous common 
 soldier, indifferent to his own comfort, distributed what was 
 prepared for him among the poorest of his comrades. 
 
 3. He gave a short time to anxious and troubled sleep ; 
 and when he awoke, and, as was his custom, began to 
 write something in his tent, in imitation of Julius Cassar, 
 while the night was still dark, being occupied with the 
 consideration of the writings of some philosophers, he saw, 
 as he told his friends, in mournful guise, the vision of the 
 Genius of the Empire, whom, when he first became em- 
 peror, he had seen in Gaul, sorrowfully departing through 
 the curtains of his tent with the cornucopia, which he 
 bore in his hand veiled, as well as his head. 
 
 4. And although for a moment he stood stupefied, yet 
 being above all fear, he commended the future to the will 
 of heaven ; and leaving his bed, which was made on the 
 ground, he rose, while it was still but little past mid- 
 night, and supplicating the deities with sacred rites to 
 avert misfortune, he thought he saw a bright torch, falling, 
 
 1 The Zianni were an Armenian tribe. The legion belonged to the 
 Tliracian establishment.
 
 378 A?,IMIANUS MARCELLINUS. [BK. XXV. Cir. n. 
 
 cut a passage through the air and vanish from his sight ; 
 and then he was horror-stricken, fearing that the star of 
 Mars had appeared openly threatening him. 
 
 5. For this brightness was of the kind which we call 
 Siaiffffovra, not falling down or reaching the ground. 
 Indeed, he who thinks that solid substances can fall from 
 heaven is rightly accounted profane and mad. But these 
 occurrences take place in many ways, of which it will be 
 enough to enumerate a few. 
 
 6. Some think that sparks falling off from the ethereal 
 fire, as they are able to proceed but a short distance, soon 
 become extinguished ; or, perhaps, that rays of fire coming 
 against the dense clouds, sparkle from the suddenness of 
 the contact ; or that some light attaches itself to a cloud, 
 and taking the form of a star, runs on as long as it is sup- 
 ported by the power of the fire ; but being presently ex- 
 hausted by the magnitude of the space which it traverses, 
 it becomes dissolved into air, passing into that substance 
 from the excessive attrition of which it originally derived 
 its heat. 
 
 7. Therefore, without loss of time, before daybreak, he 
 sent for the Etruscan soothsayers, and consulted them 
 what this new kind of star portended ; who replied, that 
 he must cautiously avoid attempting any new enterprise at 
 present, showing that it was laid down in the works of 
 Tarquitius, 1 " on divine affairs," that when a light of this 
 kind is seen in heaven, no battle ought to be engaged in, 
 or any similar measure be undertaken. 
 
 8. But as he despised this and many other similar warn- 
 ings, the diviners at least entreated him to delay his march 
 for some hours ; but they could not prevail even to this 
 extent, as the emperor was always opposed to the whole 
 science of divination. So at break of day the camp was 
 struck. 
 
 III. 
 
 1. WHEN we set forward, the Persians, who had learnt 
 by their frequent defeats to shun pitched battles, laid 
 secret ambuscades on our road, and, occupying the hills on 
 each side, continually reconnoitred our battalions as they 
 
 1 Tarquitius was an ancient Etruscan soothsayer, who had written on 
 the subject of his art.
 
 A.D. 363.] JULIAN IS WOUNDED. 379 
 
 marched, so that our soldiers, being kept all day on the 
 watch, could neither find time to erect ramparts round 
 their camp, or to fortify themselves with palisades. 
 
 2. And while our flanks were strongly guarded, and the 
 army proceeded onward in as good order as the nature of 
 the ground would allow, being formed in squares, though 
 not quite closed up, suddenly news was brought to the 
 emperor, who had gone on unarmed to reconnoitre the 
 ground in front, that our rear was attacked. 
 
 3. He, roused to anger by this mishap, without stop- 
 ping to put on his breastplate, snatched up his shield in a 
 hurry, and while hastening to support his rear, was re- 
 called by fresh news that the van which he had quitted 
 was now exposed to a similar attack. 
 
 4. Without a thought of personal danger, he now 
 hastened to strengthen this division, and then, on another 
 side, a troop of Persian cuirassiers attacked his centre, and 
 pouring down with vehemence on his left wing, which 
 began to give way, as our men could hardly bear up 
 against the foul smell and horrid cries of the elephants, 
 they pressed us hard with spears and clouds of arrows. 
 
 o. The emperor flew to every part of the field where the 
 danger was hottest ; and our light-armed troops dashing 
 out wounded the backs of the Persians, and the hocks of 
 the animals, which were turned the other way. 
 
 6. Julian, disregarding all care for his own safety, made 
 signs by waving his hands, and shouted out that the 
 enemy were fleeing in consternation ; and cheering on his 
 men to the pursuit, threw himself eagerly into the con- 
 flict. His guards called out to him from all sides to be- 
 ware of the mass of fugitives who were scattered in con- 
 sternation, as he would beware of the fall of an ill-built 
 roof, when suddenly a cavalry spear, grazing the skin of 
 his arm, pierced his side, and fixed itself in the bottom of 
 his liver. 
 
 7. He tried to pull it out with his right hand, and cut 
 the sinews of his fingers with the double-edged point of 
 the weapon ; and, falling from his horse, he was borne 
 with speed by the men around him to his tent ; and the 
 physician tried to relieve him. 
 
 8. Presently, when his pain was somewhat mitigated, so 
 that his apprehensions were relieved, contending against
 
 380 AMMIANUS MARCKLL1XCS. [B K . XXV. Cn. 111. 
 
 death with great energy, he asked for arms and a horse, 
 in order that, by revisiting his troops, who were still 
 engaged, he might restore their confidence, and appear 
 so secure of his own recovery as to have room for 
 anxiety for the safety of others ; with the same energy, 
 though with a different object, with which the celebrated 
 leader, Epaminondas, when he was mortally wounded at 
 Mantinea, and had been borne out of the battle, asked 
 anxiously for his shield ; and when he saw it he died of 
 his wound cheerfully, having been in fear for the loss of 
 his shield, while quite fearless about the loss of his 
 life. 
 
 9. But as Julian's strength was inferior to his firmness, 
 and as he was weakened by the loss of blood, he remained 
 without moving : and presently he gave up all hope of 
 life ; because, on inquiry, he found that the place where 
 he had fallen was called Phrygia ; for he had been assured 
 by an oracle that he was destined to die in Phrygia. 
 
 10. "When he was brought back to his tent, it was mar- 
 vellous with what eagerness the soldiers flew to avenge 
 him, agitated with anger and sorrow ; and striking their 
 spears against their shields, determined to die if Fate 
 so willed it. And although vast clouds of dust obscured 
 their sight, and the burning heat hindered the activity of 
 their movements, still, as if they were released from all 
 military discipline by the loss of their chief, they rushed 
 unshrinkingly on the enemy's swords. 
 
 11. On the other hand the Persians, fighting with in- 
 creased spirit, shot forth such clouds of arrows, that we 
 could hardly see the shooters through them ; while the 
 elephants, slowly marching in front, by the vast size of 
 their bodies, and the formidable appearance of their crests, 
 terrified alike our horses and our men. 
 
 12. And far off was heard the clashing of armed men, 
 the groans of the dying, the snorting of the horses, and the 
 clang of swords, till both sides were weary of inflicting 
 wounds, and the darkness of night put an end to the con- 
 test. 
 
 13. Fifty nobles and satraps of the Persians, with a vast 
 number of the common soldiers, were slain ; and among 
 them, two of their principal generals, Merena and Xoho- 
 dares. Let the grandiloquence of antiquity marvel at the
 
 A.D. 363.] JULIAN'S DYING SPEECH. 38 1 
 
 twenty battles fought by Marcellus in different places ; let 
 it add Sicinius Dentatus, adorned with his mass of military 
 crowns ; let it further extol Sergius, who is said to have 
 received twenty-three wounds in his different battles, 
 among whose posterity was that last Catiline, who tar- 
 nished the glories of his distinguished family by everlasting 
 infamy. 
 
 14. But sorrow now overpowered the joy at this success. 
 While the conflict was thus carried on after the withdrawal 
 of the emperor, the right wing of the army was exhausted 
 by its exertions ; and Anatolius, at that time the master 
 of the offices, was killed ; Sallust the prefect was in 
 imminent danger, and was saved only by the exertions of 
 his attendant, so that at last he escaped, while Sophorius 
 his counsellor was killed; and certain soldiers, who, after 
 great danger, had thrown themselves into a neighbouring 
 fort, were unable to rejoin the main army till three days 
 afterwards. 
 
 15. And while these events were taking place, Julian, 
 lying in his tent, thus addressed those who stood around 
 him sorrowing and mourning : "The seasonable moment 
 for my surrendering this life, O comrades, has now ar- 
 rived, and, like an honest debtor, I exult in preparing 
 to restore what nature reclaims ; not in affliction and 
 sorrow, since I have learnt, from the general teaching of 
 philosophers, how much more capable of happiness the 
 mind is than the body ; and considering that when the 
 better part is separated from the worse, it is a subject of 
 joy rather than of mourning. Keflecting, also, that there 
 have been instances in which even the gods have given to 
 some persons of extreme piety, death as the best of all 
 rewards. 
 
 16. " And I well know that it is intended as a gift of 
 kindness to me, to save me from yielding to arduous diffi- 
 culties, and from forgetting or losing myself ; knowing by 
 experience that all sorrows, while they triumph over the 
 weak, flee before those who endure them manfully. 
 
 17. "Nor have I to repent of any actions; nor am I 
 oppressed by the recollection of any grave crime, either 
 when I was kept in the shade, and, as it were, in a corner, 
 or after I arrived at the empire, which, as an honour con- 
 ferred on me by the gods, I have preserved, as I believe,
 
 382 AMMIANUS MARCELL1XUS. [BK. XXV. Cn. in. 
 
 unstained. In civil affairs I have ruled with moderation, 
 and, whether carrying on offensive or defensive war, have 
 always been under the influence of deliberate reason ; 
 prosperity, however, does not always correspond to the 
 wisdom of man's counsels, since the powers above reserve 
 to themselves the regulation of results. 
 
 18. " But always keeping in mind that the aim of a just 
 sovereign is the advantage and safety of his subjects, I have 
 been always, as you know, inclined to peace, eradicating 
 all licentiousness that great corruptress of things and 
 manners by every part of my own conduct ; and I am 
 glad to feel that in whatever instances the republic, like 
 an imperious mother, has exposed me deliberately to 
 danger, I have stood firm, inured to brave all fortuitous 
 disturbing events. 
 
 19. "Nor am I ashamed to confess that I have long 
 known, from prophecy, that I should fall by the sword. 
 And therefore do I venerate the everlasting God that I 
 now die, not by any secret treachery, nor by a long or 
 severe disease, or like a condemned criminal, but I quit 
 the world with honour, fairly earned, in the midst of a 
 career of flourishing glory. For, to any impartial judge, 
 that man is base and cowardly who seeks to die when 
 he ought not, or who avoids death when it is seasonable 
 for him. 
 
 20. " This is enough for me to say, since my strength is 
 failing me ; but I designedly forbear to speak of creating a 
 ne\v emperor, lest I should unintentionally pass over some 
 worthy man ; or, on the other hand, if I .should name one 
 whom I think proper, I should expose him to danger in 
 the event of some one else being preferred. But, as an 
 honest child of the republic, I hope that a good sovereign 
 will be found to succeed me." 
 
 21. After having spoken quietly to this effect, he, as 
 it were with the last effort of his pen, distributed his 
 private property among his dearest friends, asking for 
 Anatolius, the master of the offices. And when the prefect 
 Sallust replied that he was now happy, he understood that 
 he was slain, and bitterly bewailed the death of his friend, 
 though he had so proudly disregarded his own. 
 
 22. And as all around were weeping, he reproved them 
 with still undiminished authority, saying that it was a
 
 9.363.] JULIANS CHARACTER. 383 
 
 lumiliating thing to mourn for an emperor who was just 
 united to heaven and the stars. 
 
 23. And as they then became silent, he entered into an 
 intricate discussion with the philosophers Maximus and 
 Priscus on the sublime nature of the soul, while the wound 
 of his pierced side was gaping wide. At last the swelling 
 o-his veins began to choke his breath, and having drank 
 some cold water, which he had asked for, he expired quietly 
 about midnight, in the thirty-first year of his age. He 
 was born at Constantinople, and in his childhood lost 
 his father, Constantius, who, after the death of his 
 brother Constantine, perished amid the crowd of competi- 
 tors for the vacant crown. And at the sanie early age he 
 lost his mother, Basilina, a woman descended from a long 
 line of noble ancestors. 
 
 IV. 
 
 1. JULIAN was a man to be classed with heroic characters, 
 and conspicuous for the brilliancy of his exploits and his 
 innate majesty. For since, as wise men lay it down, there 
 are four cardinal virtues, temperance, prudence, justice, 
 and fortitude, with corresponding external accessaries, 
 such as military skill, authority, prosperity, and liberality, 
 he eagerty cultivated them all as if they had been but one. 
 
 2. And in the first place, he was of a chastity so inviolate 
 that, after the loss of his wife he never indulged in any 
 sexual pleasures, recollecting what is told in Plato of 
 Sophocles the tragedian, that being asked when he was a 
 very old man whether he still had any commerce with 
 women, he said " No," with this further addition, that " he 
 was glad to say that he had at all times avoided such 
 indulgence as a tyrannous and cruel master." 
 
 3. And to strengthen this resolution he often called to 
 mind the words of the lyric poet Bacchylides, whom he 
 used to read with pleasure, and who said that as a fine 
 painter makes a handsome face, so chastity adorns a life 
 that aims at greatness. And even when in. the prime of 
 life he so carefully avoided this taint that there was never 
 the least suspicion of his becoming enamoured even of 
 any of his household, as has often happened. 
 
 4. And this kind of temperance increased in him, being 
 strengthened by a sparing indulgence in eating and sleep-
 
 384 AMMIANUS MARCELL1NDS. [BK. XXV. CH. iv. 
 
 ing, to which he rigidly adhered whether abroad or at 
 home. For in time of peace his frugal allowance of food 
 was a marvel to all who knew him, as resembling that of a 
 man always wishing to resume the philosopher's cloak. 
 And in his various campaigns he used commonly only to 
 take a little plain food while standing, as is the custom of 
 soldiers. 
 
 5. And when after being fatigued by labour he had 
 refreshed his body with a short rest, as soon as he awoke he 
 would go by himself round all the sentries and outposts ; 
 after which he retired to his serious studies. 
 
 6. And if any voice could bear witness to his use of the 
 nocturnal lamp, by which he pursued his lucubrations, 
 it would show that there was a vast difference between 
 some emperors and him, who did not even indulge himself 
 in those pleasures permitted by the necessities of human 
 nature. 
 
 7. Of his prudence there were also many proofs, of 
 which it will be sufficient to recount a few. He was pro- 
 foundly skilled in war, and also in the arts of peace. He 
 was very attentive to courtesy, claiming just so much 
 respect as he considered sufficient to mark the difference 
 between contempt and insolence. He was older in virtue 
 than in years, being eager to acquire all kinds of know- 
 ledge. He was a most incorruptible judge, a rigid censor 
 of morals and manners, mild, a despiser of riches, and 
 indeed of all mortal things. Lastly, it was a common 
 saying of his, " That it was beneath a wise man, since he 
 had a soul, to aim at acquiring praise by his body." 
 
 8. Of his justice there are many conspicuoxis proofs : 
 first, because, with all proper regard to circumstances and 
 persons, he inspired awe without being cruel ; secondly, 
 because he repressed vice by making examples of a few, 
 and also because he threatened severe punishment more 
 frequently than he employed it. 
 
 9. Lastly, to pass over many circumstances, it is certain 
 that he treated with extreme moderation some Avho were 
 openly convicted of plotting against him, and mitigaled 
 the rigour of the punishment to which they were sentenced 
 with genuine humanity. 
 
 10. His many battles and constant wars displayed his 
 fortitude, as did his endurance of extreme cold and heat.
 
 A.D. 363.] HIS MILITARY SKILL. 385 
 
 From a common soldier we require the services of the 
 body, from an emperor those of the mind. But having 
 boldly thrown himself into battle, he would slay a ferocious 
 foe at a single blow ; and more than once he by himself 
 checked the retreat of our men at his own personal risk. 
 And when he was putting down the rule of the furious 
 Germans, and also in the scorching sands of Persia, he en- 
 couraged his men by fighting in the front ranks of his army. 
 
 11. Many well-known facts attest his skill in all that 
 concerns a camp ; his storming of cities and castles amid 
 the most formidable dangers ; the variety of his tactics for 
 battles, the skill he showed in choosing healthy spots 
 for his camps, the safe principles on which his lines of 
 defence and outposts were managed. 
 
 12. So great was his authority, that while he was feared 
 he was also greatly loved as his men's comrade in their 
 perils and dangers. And in the hottest struggles he took 
 notice of cowards for pxinishrnent. And while he was yet 
 only Csesar, he kept his soldiers in order while confront- 
 ing the barbarians, and destitute of pay as I have men- 
 tioned before. And haranguing his discontented troops, 
 the threat which he used was that he would retire into 
 private life if they continued mutinous. 
 
 13. Lastly, this single instance will do as well as many, 
 by haranguing the Gallic legions, who were accustomed 
 to tho frozen Ehine, in a simple address, he persuaded 
 them to traverse vast regions and to march through the 
 warm plains of Assyria to the borders of Media. 
 
 14. His good fortune was so conspicuous that, riding as 
 it were on the shoulders of Fortune, who was long his 
 faithful guide, he overcame enormous difficulties in his 
 victorious career. And after he quitted the regions of the 
 west, they all remained quiet during his life-time, as if 
 under the influence of a wand powerful enough to tran- 
 quillize the world. 
 
 15. Of his liberality there are many and undoubted 
 proofs. Among which are his light exactions of tribute, 
 his remission of the tribute of crowns, and of debts long 
 due, his putting the rights of individuals on an eqiial 
 footing with those of the treasury, his restoration of their 
 revenues and their lands to different cities, with the ex- 
 ception of such as had been lawfully sold by former 
 
 2 c
 
 386 AMMIANCTS MARCELLINUS. [B K . XXV. CH. nr. 
 
 princes ; and also the fact that he was never covetous of 
 money, which he thought was better kept by its owners, 
 often quoting the saying, " that Alexander the Great, when 
 he was asked where he kept his treasures, kindly answered 
 ' Among my friends.' " 
 
 16. Having discussed those of his good qualities which 
 have come within our knowledge, let us now proceed to 
 unfold his faults, though they have been already .slightly 
 noticed. He was of an unsteady disposition ; but this 
 fault he corrected by an excellent plan, allowing people 
 to set him right when guilty of indiscretion. 
 
 17. He was a frequent talker, rarely silent. Too much 
 devoted to divination, so much so as in this particular to 
 equal the emperor Adrian. He was rather a superstitious 
 than a legitimate observer of sacred rites, sacrificing count- 
 less numbers of victims ; so that it was reckoned that if he 
 had returned from the Parthians there would have been, 
 a scarcity of cattle. Like the celebrated case of Marcus 
 Caesar, 1 about whom it was written, as it is said, " The 
 white cattle to Marcus Csesar, greeting. If you conquer 
 there is an end of us." 
 
 18. He was very fond of the applause of the common 
 people, and an immoderate seeker after praise even in the 
 most trifling matters ; often, from a desire of popularity, 
 indulging in conversation with unworthy persons. 
 
 19. But in spite of all this he deserved, as he used to 
 say himself, to have it thought that that ancient Justice, 
 whom Aratus says fled to heaven from disgust with the 
 vices of men, had in his reign returned again to the earth ; 
 only that sometimes he acted arbitrarily and inconsistently. 
 
 20. For he made some laws which, with but few excep- 
 tions, were not offensive, though they very positively en- 
 forced or forbade certain actions. Among the exceptions 
 was that cruel one which forbade Christian masters of 
 rhetoric and grammar to teach unless they came over to 
 the worship of the heathen gods. 
 
 21. And this other ordinance was equally intolerable, 
 namely one which allowed some persons to be unjustly 
 enrolled in the companies of the municipal guilds, though 
 they were foreigners, or by privilege or birth wholly 
 unconnected with such companies. 
 
 1 That is Marcus Aurelius.
 
 A.D. 363.] HIS PERSONAL APPEARANCE. 387 
 
 22. As to his personal appearance it was this. He was 
 of moderate stature, with soft hair, as if he had carefully 
 dressed it, with a rough beard ending in a point, with 
 beautiful brilliant eyes, which displayed the subtlety of 
 his mind, with handsome eyebrows and a straight nose, a 
 Jiither large mouth, with a drooping lower lip, a thick and 
 
 stooping neck, large and broad shoulders. From head to 
 foot he was straight and well proportioned, which made 
 him strong and a good runner. 
 
 23. And since his detractors have accused him of provok- 
 ing new wars, to the injury of the commonwealth, let them 
 know the unquestionable truth, that it was not Julian but 
 Constantius who occasioned the hostility of the Parthians 
 by greedily acquiescing in the falsehoods of Metrodorus, 
 as we have already set forth. 
 
 24. In consequence of this conduct our armies were 
 slain, numbers of our soldiers were taken prisoners, cities 
 were rased, fortresses were stormed and destroyed, pro- 
 vinces were exhausted by heavy expenses, and in short the 
 Persians, putting their threats into effect, were led to seek 
 to become masters of everything up to Bithynia and the 
 shores of the Propontis. 
 
 25. "While the Gallic wars grew more and more violent, 
 the Germans overrunning our territories, and being on the 
 point of forcing the passes of the Alps in order to invade 
 Italy, there was nothing to be seen but tears and consterna- 
 tion, the recollection of the past being bitter, the expecta- 
 tion of the future still more woeful. All these miseries, 
 this youth, being sent into the West with the rank of Caesar, 
 put an end to with marvellous celerity, treating the kings 
 of those countries as base-born slaves. 
 
 26. Then in order to re-establish the prosperity of the 
 east, with similar energy he attacked the Persians, and 
 would have gained in that country both a triumph and a 
 surname, if the will of heaven had been in accordance with 
 his glorious plans and actions. 
 
 27. And as we know by experience that some men are 
 so rash and hasty that if conquered they return to battle, 
 if shipwrecked, to the sea, in short, each to the difficulties 
 by which he has been frequently overcome, so some find 
 fault with this emperor for returning to similar exploits 
 after having been repeatedly victorious.
 
 388 ASIMIAXUS MARCELLIXUS. [BK. XXV. CH. v. 
 
 V. 
 
 1 . AFTER these events there was no time for lamentation 
 or weeping. For after he had "been laid out as well as the 
 circumstances and time permitted, that he might be buried 
 where he himself had formerly proposed, at daybreak the 
 next morning, which was on the 27th of June, while the 
 enemy surrounded us on every side, the generals of the 
 army assembled, and having convened the chief officers of 
 the cavalry and of the legions, deliberated about the election 
 of an emperor. 
 
 2. There were great and noisy divisions. Arinthaeus 
 and Victor, and the rest of those who had been attached to 
 the court of (Jonstantius, sought for a fit man of their own 
 party. On the other hand, Nevitta and Dagalaiphu^. und 
 the nobles of the Gauls, sought for a man among their own 
 ranks. 
 
 3. While the matter was thus in dispute, they all unani- 
 mously agreed upon Sallustius. And when he pleaded ill 
 health and old age, one of the soldiers of rank observing 
 his real and fixed reluctance said, " And what would you do 
 if the emperor while absent himself, as has often happened, 
 had intrusted you with the conduct of this war? Would 
 you not have postponed all other considerations and applied 
 yourself to extricating the soldiers at once from the 
 difficulties which press on them ? Do so now : and then, 
 if we are allowed to reach Mesopotamia, it will be time 
 enough for the united suffrages of both armies to declare a 
 lawful emperor." 
 
 4. Amid these little delays in so important a matter, 
 before opinions were justly weighed, a few made an uproar, 
 as often happens in critical circumstances, and Jovian was 
 elected emperor, being the chief officer of the guard- 
 
 a man of fair reputation in respect of his father's services. 
 For he was the son of Varronianus, a distinguished count, 1 
 who had not long since retired from military service to lead 
 a private life. 
 
 5. And immediately he was clothed in the imperial 
 robes, and was suddenly led forth out of the tent and 
 
 1 It must be remembered that throughout Ammianus's history a 
 count is always spoken of as of higher rank than a duke.
 
 A.D. 363.] JOVIAN IS CHOSEN EMPEROR. 389 
 
 passed at a quick pace through the army as it was pre- 
 paring to march. 
 
 6. And as the line extended four miles, those in the van 
 hearing some persons salute Jovian as Augustus, raised the 
 same cry still more loudly, for they were caught by the 
 relationship, so to say, of the name, which differed only by 
 
 "o*ne letter from that of Julian, and so they thought that 
 Julian was recovered and was being led forth with great 
 acclamations as had often been the case. But when the 
 new emperor, who was both taller and less upright, was 
 seen, they suspected what had happened, and gave vent 
 to tears and lamentations. 
 
 7. And if any lover of justice should find fault with 
 what was done at this extreme crisis as imprudent, he 
 might still more justly blame sailors who, having lost a 
 skilful pilot when both winds and waves are agitated by 
 a storm, commit the helm of their vessel to some one of 
 their comrades. 
 
 8. This affair having been thus settled by a blind sort of- 
 decision of Fortune, the standard-bearer of the Jovian 
 legion, which Varronianus had formerly commanded, having 
 had a quarrel with the new emperor while he was a private 
 individual, because he had been a violent disparager of his 
 father, now fearing danger at his hand, since he had risen 
 to a height exceeding any ordinary fortune, fled to the 
 Persians. And having been allowed to tell what he knew, 
 he informed Sapor, who was at hand, that the prince whom 
 he dreaded was dead, and that Jovian, who had hitherto 
 been only an officer of the guards, a man of neither energy 
 nor courage, had been raised by a mob of camp drudges 
 to a kind of shadow of the imperial authority. 
 
 9. Sapor hearing this news, which he had always 
 anxiously prayed for, and being elated by this unexpected 
 good fortune, having reinforced the troops who had fought 
 against us with a strong body of the royal cavalry, sent 
 them forward with speed to attack the rear of our army. 
 
 VI. 
 
 1. AXD while these arrangements were being made, the 
 victims and entrails were inspected on behalf of Jovian, 
 and it was pronounced that ho would ruin everything if he
 
 390 AMMIANUS MARCELL1NUS. [BK. XXV. CH. vi. 
 
 remained in the camp, as lie proposed, but that if he quitted 
 it he would have the advantage. 
 
 2. And just as we were beginning our march, the 
 Persians attacked us, preceded by their elephants. Both 
 our horses and men were at first disordered by their roaring 
 and formidable onset ; but the Jovian and Herculean le- 
 gions slew a few of the monsters, and made a gallant re- 
 sistance to the mounted cuii'assiers. 
 
 3. Then the legions of the Jovii and Victores coming up 
 to aid their comrades, who were in distress, also slew two 
 elephants and a great number of the enemy's troops. And 
 on our left wing three most gallant men were slain, Julian, 
 Macrobius, and Maximus, all tribunes of the legions which 
 were then the chief of the whole army. 
 
 4. AVhen they were buried as well as circumstances 
 permitted, as night was drawing on, and as we were press- 
 ing forward with all speed towards a fort called Sumere, 
 the dead body of Anatolius was recognized and buried with 
 a hurried funeral. Here also we were rejoined by sixty 
 soldiers and a party of the guards of the palace, whom Ave 
 have mentioned as having taken refuge in a fort called 
 Vaccatum. 
 
 5. Then on the following day we pitched our camp in a 
 valley in as favourable a spot as the nature of the ground 
 permitted, surrounding it with a rampart like a wall, with 
 sharp stakes fixed all round like so many swords, with the 
 exception of one wide entrance. 
 
 6. And when the enemy saw this they attacked us with 
 all kinds of missiles from their thickets, reproaching us 
 also as traitors and murderers of an excellent prince. For 
 they had heard by the vague report of some deserters that 
 Julian had fallen by the weapon of a Eoman. 
 
 7. And presently, while this was going on, a body of 
 cavalry ventured to force their way in by the Praetorian 
 gate, and to advance almost up to the emperor's tent. But 
 they were vigorously repulsed with the loss of many of 
 their men killed and wounded. 
 
 8. Quitting this camp, the next night we reached a place 
 called Charcha, where we were safe, because the artificial, 
 mounds of the river had been broken to prevent the Saracens 
 from overrunning Armenia, so that no one was able to 
 harass our lines as they had done before.
 
 A.D. 363.] ATTACKS OF THE SARACENS. 391 
 
 9. Then on the 1st of July we inarched thirty furlongs 
 more, and came to a city called Dura, where our baggage- 
 horses were so jaded, that their drivers, being mostly re- 
 cruits, marched on foot till they were hemmed in by a 
 troop of Saracens ; and they would all have been killed if 
 some squadrons of our light cavalry had not gone to their 
 assistance in their distress. 
 
 10. We were exposed to the hostility of these Saracens 
 because Julian had forbidden that the presents and gra- 
 tuities, to which they had been accustomed, should be 
 given to them ; and when they complained to him, they 
 were only told that a warlike and vigilant emperor had 
 iron, not gold. 
 
 11. Here, owing to the obstinate hostility of the Persians, 
 we lost four days. For when we advanced they followed 
 us, compelling us to retrace our steps by their incessant 
 attacks. When we halted gradually to fight, they retired, 
 tormenting us by their long delay. And now (for when 
 men are in great fear even falsehoods please them) a report 
 being spread that we were at no great distance from our 
 own frontier, the army raised an impatient shout, and 
 demanded to be at once led across the Tigris. 
 
 12. But the emperor and his officers opposed this de- 
 mand, and showed them that the river, now just at the 
 time of the rising of the Dogstar, was much flooded, en- 
 treated them not to trust themselves to its dangerous 
 currents, reminding them that most of them could not 
 swim, and adding likewise that the enemy had occupied 
 the banks of the river, swoln as it was at many parts. 
 
 13. But when the demand was repeated over and over 
 again in the camp, and the soldiers with shouts and great 
 eagerness began to threaten violence, the order was given 
 very unwillingly that the^Gauls, mingled with the northern 
 Germans, should lead the way into the river, in order that 
 if they were carried away by the violence of the stream 
 the obstinacy of the rest might be shaken ; or on the other 
 hand, if they accomplished the passage in safety the rest 
 might attempt it with more confidence. 
 
 14. And men were selected suited to such an enterprise, 
 who from their childhood had been accustomed in their 
 native land to cross the greatest rivers. And when the 
 darkness of night presented an opportunity for making the
 
 AMMIAXU5 ilARCELLINUS. [Bit. XXV. Cn. vn. 
 
 attempt unperceived, as if they had just escaped from a 
 on, they reached the opposite bank sooner than cou.d 
 have been expected; and having beaten down and slain, 
 numbers of the Persians whom, though they had been 
 placed there to guard the passage, their fancied security* 
 had lulled into a gentle slumber, they held up their hands, 
 and shook their cloaks so as to give the concerted signal 
 that their bold attempt had succeeded. 
 
 15. And when the signal was seen, the soldiers became 
 eager to cross, and could only be restrained by the promise 
 of the engineers to make them bridges by means of bladders 
 and the hides of slaughtered animals. 
 
 VII. 
 
 1. WHILE these vain attempts were going on, king Sapor, 
 both while at a distance, and also when he approached, 
 received from his scouts and from our deserters a true 
 account of the gallant exploits of our men, of the disgraceful 
 slaughter of his own troops, and also of his elephants in 
 greater numbers than he ever remembered to have lost 
 before. And he heard also that the Kornan army, being 
 hardened by its continual labours since the death of its 
 glorious chief, did not now think so much, as they said, of 
 safety as of revenge ; and were resolved to extricate them- 
 selves from their difficulties either by a complete victory 
 or by a glorious death. 
 
 2. He looked on this news as formidable, being aware by 
 experience that our troops who were scattered over these 
 provinces coiild easily be assembled, and knowing also that 
 his own troops after their heavy losses were in a state of 
 the greatest alarm ; he also heard that we had in Meso- 
 potamia an army little inferior in numbers to that before 
 him. 
 
 -nd besides all this, his courage was damped by the 
 fact of five hundred men having crossed that swollen river 
 by .swimming in perfect safety, and having slain his guards, 
 and so emboldening the rest of their comrades to similar 
 hardihood. 
 
 4. In the mean time, as the violence of the stream pre- 
 vented any bridges from being constructed, and as every- 
 thing which could be eaten was consumed, we passed two
 
 A.D. 363.] DISTRESS OF THE AIIMY. 393 
 
 days in great misery, and the starving soldiers "began to be 
 furious with rage, thinking it better to perish by the sword 
 than by hunger, that most degrading death. 
 
 5. But the eternal providence of God was on our side, 
 arid beyond our hopes the Persians made the first overtures, 
 sending the Surena and another noble as ambassadors to 
 
 -treat for peace, and they themselves being in a state of 
 despondency, as the Romans, having proved superior in 
 almost every battle, weakened them daily. 
 
 6. But the conditions which they proposed were difficult 
 and intricate, since they pretended that, out of regard for 
 humanity, their merciful monarch was willing to permit 
 the remains of our army to return home, provided the 
 Otesar, with his officers, would satisfy his demands. 
 
 7. In reply, we sent as ambassadors on our part, Arin- 
 thteus and Sallustius ; and while the proper terms were 
 being discussed with great deliberation, we passed four 
 mure days in great suffering from want of provisions, more 
 painful than any kind of torture. 
 
 8. And in this truce, if before the ambassadors were sent, 
 the emperor, being disabused, had retired slowly from the 
 territories of the enemy, he would have reached the forts 
 of Gorduena, a rich region belonging to us, only one hun- 
 died miles from the spot where these transactions were 
 being carried on. 
 
 9. But Sapor obstinately demanded (to use his own 
 language) the restoration of those territories which had 
 been taken from him by Maximian ; but as was seen in 
 the progress of the negotiation, he in reality required, as 
 the price of our redemption, five provinces on the other 
 side of the Tigris,' Arzanena, Moxoana, Zabdicena, Eehe- 
 inena, and Corduena, with fifteen fortresses, besides Nisibis, 
 and Singara, and the important fortress called the camp of 
 the Moors. 
 
 10. And though it would have been better to fight ten 
 battles than to give up one of them, still a set of flatterers 
 harassed our pusillanimous emperor with harping on the 
 dreaded name of Procopius, and affirmed that unless wo 
 quickly recrossed the riyer, that chieftain, as soon as he 
 heard of the death of Julian, would easily bring about a 
 revolution which no one could resist, by means of the 
 fre.->h troops which he had under his command.
 
 394 AMMIAXUS MARCELLIXUS. [BK. XXV. CH. vm. 
 
 11. Jovian, being wrought upon by the constant reite- 
 ration of these evil counsels, without further delay gave 
 up everything that was demanded, with this abatement, 
 which he obtained with difficulty, that the inhabitants of 
 Nisibis and Singara should not be given up to the Persians 
 as well as the cities themselves.; and that the Eoman gar- 
 risons in the forts about to be surrendered should be 
 permitted to retire to fortresses of our own. 
 
 12. To which another mischievous and unfair condition 
 was added, that after this treaty was concluded we were 
 not to be at liberty to assist Arsaces against the Persians, 
 if he implored our aid, though he had always been our 
 friend and trusty ally. And this was insisted on by Sapor 
 for two reasons, in order that the man might be punished 
 who had laid waste Chili ocomum at the emperor's com- 
 mand, and also that facility might be given for invading 
 Armenia without a check. In consequence of this it fell 
 out subsequently that Arsaces was taken prisoner, and 
 that, amid different dissensions and disturbances, the 
 Parthians laid violent hands on the greater portion of 
 Armenia, where it borders on Media, and on the town of 
 Artaxata. 
 
 13. This ignoble treaty being made, that nothing might 
 be done during the armistice, in contravention of its terms, 
 some men of rank were given as hostages on each side : 
 on ours, Eemora, Victor, and Bellovaedius, tribunes of dis- 
 tinguished legions : and on that of the enemy, one of their 
 chief nobles named Bineses, and three other satraps of 
 note. 
 
 14. So peace was made for thirty years, and ratified by 
 solemn oaths ; and we, returning by another line of march, 
 because the parts near the river were rugged and difficult, 
 suffered severely for want of water and provisions. 
 
 VIII. 
 
 1. THE peace which had been granted on pretence of 
 humanity was turned to the ruin of many who were so 
 exhausted by want of food as to be at the last gasp, and 
 who in consequence could only creep along, and were 
 either carried away by the current of the river from not 
 being able to swim, or if able to overcome the force of the
 
 A.D. 363.] THE ARMY ADVANCE TO HATRA. 395 
 
 stream so far as to reach the bank, were either slain like 
 sheep by the Saracens or Persians (because, as we stated 
 some time back, the Germans had driven them out), or sent 
 to a distance to be sold for slaves. 
 
 2. But when the trumpets openly gave the signal for 
 crossing the river, it was dreadful to see with what ardour 
 every individual hastened to rush into this danger, pre- 
 ferring himself to all his comrades, in the desire of avoid- 
 ing the many dangers and distresses behind him. Some 
 tried to guide the beasts who were swimming about at 
 random, with rmrdles hurriedly put together ; others, seated 
 on bladders, and others, being driven by necessity to all 
 kinds of expedients, sought to pass through the opposing 
 waves by crossing them obliquely. 
 
 3. The emperor himself with a few others crossed over 
 in the small boats, which we said were saved when the 
 fleet was burnt, and then sent the same vessels backwards 
 and forwards till our whole body was brought across. 
 And at length all of us, except such as were drowned, 
 reached the opposite bank of the river, being saved amid 
 our difficulties by the favour of the Supreme Deity. 
 
 4. While we were still oppressed with the fear of im- 
 pending disasters, we learnt from, information brought in 
 by our outposts that the Persians were throwing a bridge 
 over the river some way off, at a point out of our sight, in 
 order that while all ideas of war were put an end to on our 
 side by the ratification of the treaty of peace, they might 
 come upon our invalids as they proceeded carelessly 
 onwards, and on the animals exhausted with fatigue. But 
 when they found their purpose discovered, they relin- 
 quished their base design. 
 
 5. Being now relieved from this suspicion, we hastened 
 on by rapid marches, and approached Hatra, an ancient 
 town in the middle of a desert, which had been long since 
 abandoned, though at different times those warlike em- 
 perors, Trajan and Severus, had attacked it with a view 
 to its destruction, but had been almost destroyed with 
 their armies, as we have related in. our history of their 
 exploits. 
 
 6. And as we now learnt that over the vast plain before 
 us for seventy miles in that arid region no water could be 
 found but such as was brackish and fetid, and no kind of
 
 396 AJI.AIIAXUS MARCELUXU3. [BK. XXV. CH. vin. 
 
 food but southernwood, wormwood, dracontium, and other 
 bitter herbs, we filled the vessels which we had with 
 sweet water, and having slain the camels and the rest of 
 the beasts of burden, we thus sought to insure some kind 
 of supplies, though not very wholesome. 
 
 7. For six days the army marched, till at last even g 
 the last comfort of extreme necessity, could not be found ; 
 when Cassianus, Duke of Mesopotamia, and the tribune 
 Mauricius, who had been sent forward with this object, 
 came to a fort called Ur, and brought some food from the 
 supplies which the army under Procopius and Sebastian, 
 by living sparingly, had managed to preserve. 
 
 8. From this place another person of the name of Proco- 
 pius, a secretary, and Memoridus, a military tribune, was 
 sent forward to Illyricum and Gaul to announce the death 
 of Julian, and the subsequent promotion of Jovian to the 
 rank of emperor. 
 
 9. And Jovian deputed them to present his father-in- 
 law Lucillianus (who, after giving up military service, 
 had retired to the tranquillity of private life, and who was 
 at that time dwelling at Sirmium) with a commission as 
 captain of the forces of cavalry and infantry, and to urge 
 him at the same time to hasten to Milan, to' support bim 
 there in any difficulties which might arise, or (what he 
 feared most) to oppose any attempts which might be made 
 to bring about a revolution. 
 
 10. And he also gave them still more secret letters, in 
 which he warned Lucillianus to bring him some picked 
 men of tried energy and fidelity, of whose aid he might 
 avail himself according as affairs should turn out. 
 
 11. He also made a wise choice, and selected Malarichus, 
 who was at that time in Italy on his own private affairs, 
 sending him the ensigns of office that he might succeed 
 Jovinus as commander of the forces in Gaul, in which 
 appointment he had an eye on two important objects ; 
 first, to remove a general of especial merit who was an 
 object of suspicion on that very account, and also by the' 
 promotion to so high a position of a man whose hopes were 
 not set on anything so lofty to bind him to exert all his 
 zeal in supporting the doubtful position of the maker of 
 his fortunes. 
 
 12. And the officers who went to perform these com-
 
 A.D. 363.] IMPORTANCE OF NISIBIS. 397 
 
 mancls were also enjoined to extol the emperor's con- 
 duct, and wherever they went to agree in reporting that 
 the Parthian campaign had been brought to an honourable 
 termination; they were also charged to prosecute their 
 journey with all speed by night and day, delivering as they 
 went letters from the new emperor to all the governors of 
 provinces and commanders of the forces on their road ; 
 and when they had secretly learnt the opinions of them all, 
 to return to him with all speed, in order that when he 
 knew what was being done in the distant provinces, he might 
 be able to frame well-digested and wise plans for strength- 
 ening himself in his government. 
 
 13. But Fame (being alway the most rapid bearer of bad 
 news), outstripping these couriers, flew through the differ- 
 ent provinces and nations ; and above all others struck the 
 citizens of Nisibis with bitter sorrow when they heard that 
 their city was surrendered to Sapor, whose anger and 
 enmity they dreaded, from recollecting the havoc and 
 slaughter which he had made in his frequent attempts to 
 take the place. 
 
 14. For it was clear that the whole eastern empire would 
 have fallen under the power of Persia long before if it had 
 not been for the resistance which this city, strong in its 
 admirable position and its mighty walls, had been able to 
 offer. But miserable as they now were, and although they 
 were filled with a still greater fear of what might befall 
 them hereafter, they were supported by this slender hope, 
 that, either from his own inclination or from being won 
 over by their prayers, the emperor might consent to keep 
 their city in its existing state, as the strongest bulwark of 
 the east. 
 
 15. While different reports were flying about of what 
 had taken place, the scanty supplies which I have spoken 
 of as having been brought, were consumed, and necessity 
 might have driven the men to eat one another, if the flesh 
 of the animals slain had not lasted them a little longer ; 
 but the consequence of our destitute condition was, that 
 the arms and baggage were thrown away ; for we were 
 so worn out with this terrible famine, that whenever a 
 single bushel of corn was found (which seldom happened), 
 it was sold for ten pieces of gold at the least. 
 
 16. Marching on from thence, we come to Thilsaphata
 
 398 AMMIANUS MARCELLINUS. [BK. XXV. CH. ix. 
 
 where Sebastian and Procopius, with the tribunes and chief 
 officers of the legions which had been placed under their 
 command for the protection of Mesopotamia, came to meet 
 the emperor as the solemn occasion required, and being 
 kindly received, accompanied us on our march. 
 
 17. After this, proceeding with all possible speed, we 
 rejoiced when we saw Kisibis, where the emperor pitched 
 a standing camp outside the walls ; and being most 
 earnestly entreated by the whole population to come to 
 lodge in the palace according to the custom of his prede- 
 cessors, he positively refused, being ashamed that an im- 
 pregnable city should be surrendered to an enraged enemy 
 while he was within its walls. 
 
 1 8. But as the evening was getting dark, Jovian, the chief 
 secretary, was seized while at supper, the man who at the 
 siege of the city Maogamalcha we have spoken of as escaping 
 with others by a subterranean passage, and being led to an 
 out-of-the-way place, was thrown headlong down a dry well, 
 and overwhelmed with a heap of stones which were thrown 
 down upon him, because after the death of Julian he also 
 had been named by a few persons as fit to be made emperor ; 
 and after the election of his namesake had not behaved 
 with any modesty, but had been heard to utter secret 
 whispers concerning the business, and had from time to 
 time invited some of the leading soldiers to entertainments. 
 
 IX. 
 
 1. THE next day Bineses, one of the Persians of whom 
 we have spoken as the most distinguished among them, 
 hastening to execute the commission of his king, demanded 
 from Jovian the immediate performance of his promise ; 
 and by his permission he entered the city of Nisibis, and 
 raised the standard of his nation on the citadel, announcing 
 to the citizens a miserable emigration from their native 
 place. 
 
 2. Immediately they were all commanded to expatriate 
 themselves, in vain stretching forth their hands in entreaty 
 not to be compelled to depart, affirming that they by them- 
 selves, without di-awing on the public resources for either 
 provisions or soldiers, were sufficient to defend their own 
 home in full confidence that Justice would be on their side
 
 A.D. M 63.] SEVERITY OF JOVIAN. 399 
 
 while fighting for the place of their birth, as they had often 
 found her to be before. Both nobles and common people 
 joined in this supplication ; but they spoke in vain as to the 
 winds, the emperor fearing the crime of perjury, as he 
 pretended, though in reality the object of his fear was 
 very different. 
 
 ~~ 3. Then a man of the name of Sabinus, eminent among 
 his fellow-citizens both for his fortune and birth, replied 
 with great fluency that Constantius too was at one time 
 defeated by the Persians in the terrible strife of fierce war, 
 that afterwards he fled with a small body of comrades to 
 the unguarded station of Hibita, where he lived on a scanty 
 and uncertain supply of bread which was brought him by 
 an old woman from the country ; and yet that to the end 
 of his life he lost no territory ; while Jovian, at the very- 
 beginning of his reign, was yielding up the wall of his 
 provinces, by the protection of which barrier they had 
 hitherto remained safe from the earliest ages. 
 
 4. But as he could not prevail on the emperor, who per- 
 sisted obstinately in alleging the obligation of his oath, pre- 
 sently, when Jovian, who had for some time refused the 
 crown which was offered to him, accepted it under a show 
 of compulsion, an advocate, named Silvanus, exclaimed 
 boldly, "May you, emperor, be so crowned in the rest 
 of your cities." But Jovian was offended at his words, 
 and ordered the whole body of citizens to quit the city 
 \vithin three days, in despair as they were at the existing 
 state of affairs. 
 
 5. Accordingly, men were appointed to compel obedience 
 to this order, with threats of death to every one who de- 
 layed his departure ; and the whole city was a scene of 
 mourning and lamentation, and in every quarter nothing 
 was heard biit one universal wail, matrons tearing their 
 hair when about to be driven from their homes, in which 
 they had been born and brought up, the mother who had 
 lost her children, or the wife her Imsband, about to be torn 
 from the place rendered sacred by their shades, clinging to 
 their doorposts, embracing their thresholds, and pouring 
 forth floods of tears. 
 
 6. Every road was crowded, each person straggling 
 away as he could. Many, too, loaded themselves with as 
 much of their property as they thought they could carry,
 
 400 AiOIIAXUS MARCELLINUS. [Bs. XXV. CH. ix. 
 
 while leaving behind them abundant and costly firrnitmv. 
 for this they could not remove for want of beasts of 
 burden. 
 
 7. Thou in this place, O fortune of the Eoman world, 
 art justly an object of accusation, who, while storms were 
 agitating the republic, didst strike the helm from the 
 hand of a wise sovereign, to intrust it to an inexperienced 
 youth, whom, as he was not previously known for any re- 
 markable actions in his previous life, it is not fair either to 
 blame or praise. 
 
 8. But it sunk into the heart of all good citizens, that 
 while, out of fear of a rival claimant of his power, and 
 constantly fancying some one in Gaul or in Illyricum 
 might have formed ambitious designs, he was hastening to 
 outstrip the intelligence of his approach, he should have 
 committed, under pretence of reverence for an oath, an 
 act so unworthy of his imperial power as to abandon 
 Xisibis, which ever since the time of Mithridates had been 
 the chief hindrance to the encroachments of the Persians 
 in the East. 
 
 9. For never before since the foundation of Eome, if 
 one consults all its annals, I believe has any portion of our 
 territories been surrendered by emperor or consul to an 
 enemy. Nor is there an instance of a triumph having been 
 celebrated for the recovery of anything that had been lost, 
 but only for the increase of our dominions. 
 
 10. On this principle, a triumph was refused to Publius 
 Scipio for the recovery of Spain, to Fulvius for the acqui- 
 sition of Capua after a long struggle, and to Opimius after 
 many battles with various results, because the people of 
 Fregellse, who at that time were our implacable enemies, 
 had been compelled to surrender. 
 
 11. For ancient records teach us that disgraceful treaties, 
 made under the pressure of extreme necessity, even after 
 the parties to them have sworn to their observance in set 
 terms, have nevertheless been soon dissolved by the renewal 
 of war ; as in the olden time, after the legions had been 
 made to pass under the yoke at the Caudine Forks, in Sain- 
 nium ; and also when an infamous peace was contemplated 
 by Albinus in Xumiclia ; and when Mancinus, the author of a 
 peace which was concluded in disgraceful haste, was sur- 
 rendered to the people of Numantia.
 
 'A.D. 363.] THE ARMY AT ANTIOCH. 401 
 
 12. Accordingly, when the citizens had been with- 
 drawn, the city surrendered, and the tribune Constantiu-i 
 had been sent to deliver up to the Persian nobles the for- 
 tresses and districts agreed upon, Procopius was sent 
 forward with the remains of Julian, to bury them in the 
 suburbs of Tarsus, according to his directions while alive. 
 He departed, I say, to fulfil this commission, and as soon 
 as the body was buried, he quitted Tarsus, and though 
 sought for with great diligence, he could not be found 
 anywhere, till long afterwards he was suddenly seen at 
 Constantinople invested with the purple. 
 
 X. 
 
 1. THESE transactions having been thus concluded, after 
 a long march we arrived at Antioch, where for several 
 days in succession many terrible omens were seen, as if 
 the gods were offended, since those who were skilled in 
 the interpretation of prodigies foretold that impending 
 events would be melancholy. 
 
 2. For the statue of Maximian Csesar, which was placed 
 in the vestibule of the palace, suddenly lost the brazen 
 globe, formed after the figure of the heavens, which it 
 bore in its hand. Also the beams in the council chamber 
 sounded with an ominous creak ; comets were seen in the 
 daytime, respecting the nature of which natural philo- 
 sophers differ. 
 
 3. For some think they have received the name because 
 they scatter fire wreathed like hair l by a number of stars 
 being collected into one mass ; others think that they 
 derive their fire from the dry evaporation of the earth 
 rising gradually to a greater height ; some fancy that the 
 sunbeams as they rapidly pass, being prevented by dense 
 clouds from descending lower, by infusing their brilliancy 
 into a dense body show a light which, as it were, seems 
 spotted with stars to the eyes of mortals. Some again 
 have a fixed opinion that this kind of light is visible when 
 some cloud, rising {o a greater height than usual, becomes 
 illuminated by its proximity to -the eternal fires ; or, that 
 at all events there are some stars like the rest, of which 
 the special times of their rising and setting are not under- 
 
 1 From KUU.YI, hair. 
 
 2D
 
 402 AMMIANUS MARCELLIN'US. [Bn. XXV. CH. x. 
 
 stood by man. There are many other suggestions about 
 comets which have been put forth by men skilled in mun- 
 dane philosophy, but I must pass over them, as my subject 
 calls me in another direction. 
 
 4. The emperor remained a short time at Antioch, dis- 
 tracted by many important cares, but desirous above all 
 things to proceed. And so, sparing neither man nor beast, 
 lie started from that city in the depth of winter, though, 
 as I have stated, many omens warned him from such a 
 course, and made his entrance into Tarsus, a noble city 
 of Cilicia, the origin of which I have already related. 
 
 5. Being in excessive haste to depart from thence, he 
 ordered decorations for the tomb of Julian, which was 
 placed in the suburb, in the road leading to the defiles of 
 Mount Taurus. Though a sound judgment would have 
 decided that the ashes of such a prince ought not to lie 
 within sight of the Cydnus, however beautiful and clear 
 that river is, but, to perpetuate the glory of his achieve- 
 ments, ought rather to be placed where they might be 
 washed by the Tiber as it passes through the Eternal 
 City and winds round the monuments of the ancient gods. 
 
 6. Then quitting Tarsus, he reached by forced marches 
 Tyana, a town of Cappadocia, where Procopius the secre- 
 tary and Memoridus the tribune met him on their return, 
 and related to him all that occurred ; beginning, as the 
 order of events required, at the moment when Lucillianus 
 (who had entered Milan with the tribunes Seniauchus and 
 Valentinian, whom he had brought with him, as soon as it 
 was known that Malarichus had refused to accept the post 
 which was offered to him) hastened on with all speed to 
 Eheirns. 
 
 7. There, as if it had been a time of profound tranquil- 
 lity, he went quite beside the mark, as we say, and while 
 things were still in a very unsettled state, he most unsea- 
 sonably devoted his attention to scrutinizing the accounts 
 of the commissary, who, being conscious of fraud and guilt, 
 fled to the standards of the soldiers, and pretended that 
 while Julian was still alive some one of the common 
 people had attempted a revolution. By this false report 
 the army became so greatly excited that they put Lucil- 
 lianus and Seniauchus to death. For Valentinian, who 
 soon afterwards became emperor, had been concealed by
 
 A.D. 364.] THE GALLIC ARMY EMBRACES THE CAUSE OF JOVIAN. 403 
 
 his host Priruitivus in a safe place, overwhelmed with fear 
 and not knowing which way to flee. 
 
 8. This disastrous intelligence was accompanied by one 
 piece of favourable news, that the soldiers who had been 
 sent by Jovian were approaching (men known in the camp 
 as the heads of the classes), who brought word that the 
 fallic army had cordially embraced the cause of Jovian. 
 
 9. When this was known, the command of the second 
 class of the Scutarii was given to Valentinian, who had 
 returned with those men ; and Vitalianus, who had been 
 a soldier of the Heruli, was placed among the body- 
 guards, and afterwards, when raised to the rank of count, 
 met with very ill success in Illyricum. And at the same 
 time Arinthaeus was despatched into Gaul with letters for 
 Jovinus, with an injunction to maintain his ground and 
 act with resolution arid constancy ; and he was further 
 charged to make an example of the author of the disturb- 
 ance which had taken place, and to send the ringleaders of 
 the sedition as pi'isoners to the court. 
 
 10. When these matters had been arranged as seemed 
 most expedient, the Gallic soldiers obtained an audience 
 of the emperor at Aspuna, a small town of Galatia, and 
 having been admitted into the council chamber, after 
 the message which they brought had been listened to with 
 approval, they received rewards and were ordered to re- 
 turn to their standards. 
 
 A.D. 364. 
 
 11. When the emperor had made his entry into Ancyra, 
 everything necessary for his procession having been pre- 
 pared as well as the time permitted, Jovian entered on 
 the consulship, and took as his colleague his son Varroni- 
 anus, who was as yet quite a child, and whose cries as he 
 obstinately resisted being borne in the curule chair, ac- 
 cording to the ancient fashion, was an omen of what shortly 
 happened. 
 
 12. Here also the appointed termination of life carried 
 off Jovian with rapidity. For when he had reached Dadas- 
 tana, a place on the borders of Bithynia and Galatia, he 
 was found dead in the night ; and many uncertain reports 
 were spread concerning his death. 
 
 13. It was said that he had been unable to bear the
 
 404 AMMIANUS MARCELLINUS. [Bic. XXV. CH. x 
 
 unwholesome smell of the fresh mortar with which his 
 bedchamber had been plastered. Also that his head had 
 swollen in consequence of a great fire of coals, and that 
 this had been the cause of his death ; others said that he 
 had died of a surfeit from over, eating. He was in the 
 thirty-third year of his age. And though he and Scipio 
 ^Emilianus both died in the same manner, we have not 
 found ovit that any investigation into the death of either 
 ever took place. 
 
 14. Jovian was slow in his movements, of a cheerful 
 countenance, with blue eyes ; very tall, so much so that 
 it was long before any of the royal robes could be found to 
 fit him. He w r as anxious to imitate Constantius, often oc.- 
 cupying himself with serious business till after midday, 
 and being fond of jesting with his friends in public. 
 
 15. He was given to the study of the Christian law, 
 sometimes doing it marked honour ; he was tolerably 
 learned in it, very well inclined to its professors, and 
 disposed to promote them to be judges, as was seen in 
 some of his appointments^ He was fond of eating, ad- 
 dicted to wine and women, though he would perhaps have 
 corrected these propensities from a sense of what was due 
 to the imperial dignity. 
 
 16. It was said that his father, Varronianus, through the 
 warning of a dream, had long since foreseen what hap- 
 pened, and had foretold it to two of his most faithful 
 friends, with the addition that he himself also should 
 become consul. But though part of his prophecy became 
 true, he could not procure the fulfilment of the rest. For 
 though he heard of his son's high fortune, he died before 
 he could see him. 
 
 17. And because the old man had it foretold to him 
 in his sleep that the highest office was destined for his 
 name, his grandson Varronianus, while still an infant, was 
 made consul with his father Jovian^ as we have related 
 above.
 
 t-D. 364.] 405 
 
 BOOK XXVI. 
 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 I. Valentinian, the tribune of the second school of the Scutarii, by the 
 unanimoiis consent of both the civil and military officers, is elected 
 emperor at Nicsea, in his absence A dissertation on leap-year. 
 II. Valentinian, being summoned from Ancyra, comes with 
 speed to Nicsea, and is again unanimously elected emperor, and 
 having been clothed in the purple, and saluted as Augustus, 
 harangues the army. III. Concerning the prefecture of Koine, as 
 administered by Apronianus. IV. Valentinian at Nicomedia 
 makes Valens, his brother, who was master of the horse, his 
 colleague in the empire, and repeats his appointment at Constan- 
 tinople, with the consent of the army. V. The two emperors 
 divide the counts and the army between them, and soon afterwards 
 enter on their first consulship, the one at Milan, the other at 
 Constantinople The Allenyvnni lay waste Gaul Procopius 
 attempts a revolt in the East. VI. The country, family, habits, 
 and rank of Procopius ; his obscurity in the time of Jovian, and 
 how he came to be saluted emperor at Constantinople. VII. Pro- 
 copius, without bloodshed, reduces Thrace to acknowledge his 
 authority ; and by promises prevails on the cavalry and in- 
 fantry, who were marching through that country, to take the 
 oath of fidelity to him ; he also by a speech wins over the Jovian 
 and Victorian legions, which were sent against him by Valens. 
 VIII. Nicaea and Chalcedon being delivered from their blockades, 
 Bithynia acknowledges the sovereignty of Procopius ; as presently, 
 after Cyzicus is stormed, the Hellespont does likewise. IX. Pro- 
 copius is deserted by his troops in Bithynia, Lycia, and Phrygia, 
 is delivered alive to Valens, and beheaded. X. Marcellus, a 
 captain of the guard, his kinsman, and many of his partisans are 
 put to death. 
 
 I. 
 
 A.D. 364. 
 
 1. HAVING narrated with exceeding care the series of 
 transactions in my own immediate recollection, it is 
 necessary now to quit the track of notorious events, in 
 order to avoid the dangers often found in connection with 
 truth ; and also to avoid exposing ourselves to unreason- 
 able critics of our work, who would make an outcry as if 
 they had been personally injured, if anything should be 
 passed over which the emperor has said at dinner, if any 
 cause should be overlooked for which the common soldiers
 
 406 AMMIANUS MARCELLISUS. [BK. XXVI. CH. I. 
 
 were assembled round their standards, or if there were 
 not inserted a mention of every insignificant fort, however 
 little such Uiings ought to have room in a varied descrip- 
 tion of different districts. Or if the name of every one 
 who filled the office of urban praetor be not given, and 
 many other things quite impertinent to the proper idea 
 of a history, which duly touches on prominent occur- 
 rences, and does not stoop to investigate petty details or 
 secret motives, which any one who wishes to know may 
 as well hope to be able to count those little indivisible 
 bodies flying through space, which we call atoms. 
 
 2. Some of the ancients, fearing this kind of criticism, 
 though they composed accounts of various actions in a 
 beautiful style, forbore to publish them, as Tully, a wit- 
 ness of authority, mentions in a letter to Cornelius Nepos. 
 However, let us, despising the ignorance of people in 
 general, proceed with the remainder of our narrative. 
 
 3. The course of events being terminated so mournfully, 
 by the death of two emperors at such brief intervals, 
 the army, having paid the last honours to the dead body 
 which was sent to Constantinople to be interred among 
 the other emperors, advanced towards Nicsea, which is 
 the metropolis of Bithynia, where the chief civil and 
 military authorities applied themselves to an anxious con- 
 sideration of the state of affairs, and as some of them 
 were full of vain hopes, they sought for a ruler of dignity 
 and proved wisdom. 
 
 4. In reports, and the concealed whispers of a few 
 persons, the name of Equitius was ventilated, who was at 
 that time tribune of the first class of the Scutarii ; but he 
 was disapproved by the most influential leaders as being 
 rough and boorish ; and their inclinations rather tended 
 towards Januarius, a kinsman of Julian, who was the chief 
 commissary of the camp in Illyricum. 
 
 5. However, he also was rejected because he was at a 
 distance ; and, as a man well qualified and at hand, Va- 
 lentinian was elected by the unanimous consent of all 
 men, and the manifest favour of the Deity. He was the 
 tribune of the second class of the Scutarii. and had been 
 left at Ancyra, it having been arranged that he should 
 follow afterwards. And, because no one denied that this 
 was for the advantage of the republic, messengers were sent
 
 A.D. 364.] CONDUCT OF VALENTIN1AN. 407 
 
 to beg him to come with, all speed ; and for ten days the 
 empire was without a ruler, which the soothsayer Marcus, 
 by an inspection of entrails at Home, announced to be the 
 case at that moment in Asia. 
 
 6. But in the meanwhile, to prevent any attempt to 
 overturn what had been thus settled, or any movement on 
 'the part of the fickle soldiers to set aside the election in 
 favour of some one on the spot, Equitius and Leo, who 
 was acting as commissary under Bagalaiphus the com- 
 mander of the cavalry, and who afterwards incurred great 
 odium as master of the offices, 1 strove with great prudence 
 and vigilance to establish, to the best of their power, what 
 hud been the decision of the whole army, they being also 
 natives of Pannonia, and partisans of the emperor elect. 
 
 7. When Yalentinian arrived in answer to the summons 
 he had received, either in obedience to omens which 
 guided him in the prosecution of the affair, as was gene- 
 rally thought, or to repeated warnings conveyed in dreams, 
 he would not come into public or be seen by any one for 
 two days, because he wished to avoid the bissextile day of 
 February which came at that time, and which he knew to 
 have been often an unfortunate day for the Boman empire : 
 of this day I will here give a plain explanation. 
 
 8. The ancients who were skilled in the motions of the 
 world and the stars, among whom the most eminent are 
 Meton, Euctemon, Hipparchus, and Archimedes, define it 
 as the period of the revolving year when the sun, in accord- 
 ance with the laws which regulate the heavens, having 
 gone through the zodiac, in three hundred and sixty-five 
 days and nights, returns to the same point : as, for instance, 
 when, after having moved on from the second degree of 
 the Earn, it returns again to it after having completed its 
 circuit. 
 
 9. But the exact period of a year extends over the num- 
 ber of days above mentioned and six hours more. And 
 so the correct commencement of the next year will not 
 begin till after midday and ends in the evening. The 
 third year begins at the first watch, and lasts till the sixth 
 hour of the night. The fourth begins at daybreak. 
 
 10. Now as the beginning of each year varies, one com- 
 mencing at the sixth hour of the day, another at the same 
 
 1 Master of the Offices v. Bohn's ' Gibbon,' ii., 223.
 
 408 AMMIANUS MARCELLIXUS. [Us. XXVI. CH. 11. 
 
 hour of the night, to prevent the calculation from throwing 
 all science into confusion by its perplexing 'diversity, and 
 the months of autumn from sometimes being found to come 
 in the spring, it has been settled that those six hours 
 which in a period of four years amount to twenty-four 
 shall be put together so as to make one day and night. 
 
 11. And after much consideration it has been so arranged 
 with the concurrence of many learned men, that thus the 
 revolutions of the year may come to one regular end, 
 removed from all vagueness and uncertainty, so that the 
 theory of the heavens may not be clouded by any error, 
 and that the months may retain their appointed position. 
 
 12. Before their dominions had reached any wide extent, 
 the Eomans were for a long time ignorant of this fact, and 
 having been for many years involved in obscure difficulties, 
 they were in deeper darkness and error than ever, when 
 they gave the priests the power of intercalating, which 
 they, in profligate subservience to the interests of the far- 
 mers of the revenue, or people engaged in lawsuits, effected 
 by making additions or subtractions at their own pleasure. 
 
 13. And from this mode of proceeding many other expe- 
 dients were adopted, all of which were fallacious, and which 
 I think it superfluous now to enumerate. But when they 
 were given up, Octavianus Augustus, in imitation of the 
 Greeks, corrected these disorderly arrangements and put 
 an end to these fluctuations, after great deliberation fixing 
 the duration of the year at twelve months and six hours, 
 during which the sun with its perpetual movement runs 
 through the whole twelve signs, and concludes the period 
 of a whole year. 
 
 14. This rule of the bissextile year, Eome, which is 
 destined to endure to the end of time, established with the 
 aid of the heavenly Deity. Now let us return to our 
 history. 
 
 II. 
 
 1. WHEN this day, so little fit in the opinion of many for 
 beginning any great affair, had passed, at the approach of 
 evening, by the advice of the prefect Sallust, an order was 
 issued by general consent, and with the penalty of death 
 attached to any neglect of it, that no one of higher autho-
 
 A.D. 364.] VALENTINIAN IS SALUTED AS AUGUSTUS. 409 
 
 rity, or suspected of aiming at any objects of ambition, 
 should appear in public the next morning. 
 
 2. And when, while the numbers who allowed their 
 own empty wishes to torment them were weary of the 
 slowness of time, the night ended at last, and daylight 
 appeared, the soldiers were all assembled in one body, 
 
 -*od Valentinian advanced into the open space, and 
 mounting a tribunal of some height which had been 
 erected on purpose, he was declared ruler of the empire 
 as a man of due wisdom by this assembly, bearing the 
 likeness of a comitia, with the unanimous acclamations of 
 all present. 
 
 3. Presently he was clothed with the imperial robe, 
 and crowned, and saluted as Augustus with all the delight 
 which the pleasure of this novelty could engender; and 
 then he began to harangue the multitude in a premeditated 
 speech. But as he put forth his arm to speak more freely, 
 a great murmur arose, the centuries and maniples be- 
 ginning to raise an uproar, and the whole mass of the 
 cohorts presently urging that a second emperor should be 
 at once elected. 
 
 4. And though some people fancied that this cry was 
 raised by a few corrupt men in order to gain the favour of 
 those who had been passed over, it appeared that that was 
 a mistake, for the cry that was raised did not resemble 
 a purchased clamour, but rather the unanimous voice 
 of the whole multitude all animated with the same wish, 
 because recent examples had taught them to fear the 
 instability of this high fortune. Presently the murmurs of 
 the furious and uproarious army appeared likely to give 
 rise to a complete tumult, and men began to fear that 
 the audacity of the soldiers might break out into some 
 atrocious act. 
 
 5. And as Valentinian feared this above everything, he 
 raised his hand firmly with the vigour of an emperor full 
 of confidence, and venturing to rebuke some as obstinate 
 and seditious, he delivered the speech he had intended 
 without interruption. 
 
 6. " I exult, ye gallant defenders of our provinces, 
 and boast and always shall boast that your valour has con- 
 ferred on me, who neither expected nor desired such an 
 honour, the government of the Roman empire, as the fittest
 
 410 AMMIANUS MARCELLINUS. [BK. XXVI. CH. n. 
 
 man to discharge its duties. That which was in your 
 hands before an emperor was elected, you have completed 
 beneficially and gloriously, by raising to this summit of 
 honour a man \vhom you know by experience to have 
 lived from his earliest youth to his present age with 
 honour and integrity. Kow then I entreat you to listen 
 with quietness to a few plain observations which I think 
 will be for the public advantage. 
 
 7. "So numerous are the matters for the consideration 
 of an emperor, that I neither deny nor even doubt that it is 
 a desirable thing that he should have a colleague of equal 
 power to deal with every contingency. And I myself, as 
 a man, do also fear the great accumulation of cares which 
 must be mine, and the various changes of events. But 
 still we must use every exertion to insure concord, by 
 which even the smallest affairs give strength. And that 
 is easily secured if, your patience concurring with your 
 equity, you willingly grant me what belongs to me in 
 this matter. For Fortune, the ally of all good coun- 
 sels, will I trust aid me, while to the very utmost of 
 my ability and power, I diligently search for a wise and 
 temperate partner. For as wise men lay it down, not 
 only in the case of empire where the dangers are frequent 
 and vast, but also in matters of private and everyday life, 
 a man ought rather to take a stranger into his friendship 
 after he has had opportunities of judging him to be wise, 
 than to ascertain his wisdom after he has made him his 
 friend. 
 
 8. " This, in hopes of a happier fortune, I promise. Do 
 you, retaining your steadiness of conduct and loyalty, 
 recruit the vigour of your minds and bodies while rest 
 in yotir winter quarters allows you to do so. And you 
 shall soon receive what is your due on my nomination 
 as emperor." 
 
 9. Having finished this speech, to which his unexpected 
 authority gave weight, the emperor by it brought all over 
 to his opinion. And even those who a few minutes before 
 with loud voices demanded something different, now, fol- 
 lowing his advice, surrounded him with the eagles and 
 standards, and, forming a splendid and formidable escort 
 of all classes and r.anks of the army, conducted him to the 
 palace.
 
 A.D. 364.] ENERGY OF APRONIANUS. 411 
 
 III. 
 
 1 . WHILE the decisions of Fate were rapidly bringing these 
 events to pass in the East, Apronianus, the governor of 
 Rome, an upright and severe judge, among the grave cases 
 by which that prefecture is continually oppressed, was 
 labouring with most particular solicitude to suppress the 
 magicians, who were now getting scarce, and who, having 
 been taken prisoners, had been, after being put to the 
 question, manifestly convicted by the evidence of their 
 accomplices of having injured some persons. These he 
 put to death, hoping thus, by the punishment of a few, to 
 drive the rest, if any were still concealed, out of the city 
 through fear of similar treatment. 
 
 2. And he is said to have acted thus energetically 
 because having been promoted by Julian while he was still 
 in Syria, he had lost one eye on his journey to take pos- 
 session of his office, and he suspected that this was owing 
 to his having been the object of some nefarious practices ; 
 therefore with just but unusual indignation he exerted 
 great industry in searching out these and similar crimes. 
 This made him appear cruel to some persons, because the 
 populace were continually pouring in crowds into the 
 amphitheatre while he was conducting the examination of 
 some of the greatest criminals. 
 
 3. At last, after many punishments of this kind had 
 been inflicted, he condemned to death the charioteer Hila- 
 rinus, who was convicted on his own confession of having 
 intrusted his son, who was but a very young boy, to a 
 sorcerer to be taught some secret mysteries forbidden by 
 the laws, in order that he might avail himself of unlawful 
 assistance without the privity of any one. But, as the 
 executioner held him but loosely he suddenly escaped and 
 fled to a Christian altar, and had to be dragged from it, 
 when he was immediately beheaded. 
 
 4. But soon ample precautions were taken against the 
 recurrence of this and similar offences, and there were 
 none or very few who ventured afterwards to insult the 
 rigour of the public law by practising these iniquities. But 
 at a later period long impunity nourished atrocious crimes ; 
 and licentiousness increased to such a pitch that a certain
 
 412 AMMIAXUS MARCELLIXUS. [B K . XXVI. CH. nr. 
 
 senator followed the example of Hilarimis, and was con- 
 victed of having almost articled by a regular contract one 
 of his slaves to a teacher of the black art, to be instructed 
 in his impious mysteries, though he escaped punishment 
 by an enormous bribe, as common report went. 
 
 5. And, as it was said, having thus procured an ac- 
 quittal, though he ought to have been ashamed even to have 
 such an accusation, he took no pains to efface the stain, 
 but as if, among a lot of infamous persons, he were the 
 only one absolutely innocent, he used to ride on a hand- 
 somely caparisoned horse through the streets, and is still 
 always attended by a troop of slaves, as if by a new and 
 curious fashion lie were desirous to attract particular ob- 
 servation, just asDuilius in ancient times after his glorious* 
 naval victory became so arrogant as to cause a flute-player 
 to precede him with soft airs when he returned to his 
 house after any dinner-party. 
 
 6. Under this same Apronianus all necessaries were so 
 abundant in Eome that not the slightest murmur because 
 of any scarcity of supplies was ever heard, which is very 
 common at Eome. 
 
 IV. 
 
 1. BUT in Bithynia, Valentinian, as we have already 
 mentioned, having been declared emperor, having fixed the 
 next day but one for beginning his march, assembled his 
 chief officers, and, as if the course which he preferred was 
 to follow their advice, inquired whom they recommended 
 him to take for his colleague ; and when no one made him 
 any answer, Dagalaiphus, who at that time was commander 
 of the cavalry, boldly answered " If, O excellent emperor, 
 you love your own kindred, you have a brother; if you 
 love the republic, then seek the fittest man to invest." 
 
 2. Valentinian was offended with this speech, but kept 
 silence, and dissembled his displeasure and his intentions. 
 And having'made a rapid journey he reached Kicomedia on 
 the first of March, where he appointed his brother Valens 
 master of the horse with the rank of tiibune. 
 
 3. And after that, when he reached Constantinople, 
 revolving many considerations in his mind, and considering 
 that he himself was already overwhelmed with the mag-;
 
 A.D. 364.] INROADS OF THE BARBARIANS. 413 
 
 nitiule of pressing business, he thought that the emergency 
 would admit of no delay ; and on the 28th of March he led 
 Valens into the suburbs, where, with the consent of all 
 men (and indeed no one dared to object), he declared him 
 emperor, had him clothed in the imperial robes, and 
 crowned with a diadem, and then brought him back in the 
 name carriage with himself as the legitimate partner of his 
 power, though in fact he was to be more like an obedient 
 servant, as the remainder of my narrative will show. 
 
 4. After these matters had been thus settled without 
 any interruption, the two emperors suffered a long time 
 from a violent fever ; but when out of danger (as they 
 were more active in the investigation of evils than in 
 removing them) they intrusted the commission to in- 
 vestigate the secret causes of this malady to Ursatius the 
 master of the offices, a fierce Dalmatian, and to Juventius 
 Siscianus the quasstor, their real motive, as was constantly 
 reported, being to bring the memory of Julian and that 
 of his friends into odium, as if their illness had been owing 
 to their secret malpractices. But this insinuation was 
 easily disposed of, since not a word could be adduced to 
 justify any imputation of such treason. 
 
 5. At this time the trumpet as it were gave signal for 
 war throughout the whole Roman world ; and the bar- 
 barian tribes on our frontier were moved to make incur- 
 sion on those territories which lay nearest to them. The 
 Allemanni laid waste Gaul and Rhaatia at the same time. 
 The Sarmatians and Quadi ravaged Pannonia. The Picts, 
 Scots, Saxons, and Atacotti harassed the Britons with in- 
 cessant invasions ; the Austoriani and other Moorish tribes 
 attacked Africa with more than usual violence. Predatory 
 bands of the Goths plundered Thrace. 
 
 6. The king of the Persians poured troops into Armenia, 
 exerting all his power to reduce that people again into 
 subjection to his authority ; without any just cause, 
 arguing, that after the death of Julian, with whom he 
 had made a treaty of peace, there was nothing that ought 
 to hinder him from recovering those lands which he could 
 prove to have belonged in former times to his ancestors.
 
 414 AMMIANUS MARCELLINUS. [B*. XXVJ. CH vr. 
 
 V. 
 
 A.D. 365. 
 
 1. So after the winter had passed off quietly, the two 
 emperors in perfect harmony, one having been formally 
 elected, and the other having been admitted to share that 
 honour, though chiefly in appearance, having traversed 
 Thrace, arrived at ISissa, where in the suburb which is 
 known as Mediana, and is three miles from the city, they 
 divided the counts between them as if they were going to 
 separate. 
 
 2. To the share of Valentinian, by whose will every- 
 thing was settled, there fell Jovinus, who had lately been 
 promoted by Julian to be the commander of the forces in 
 Gaul, and JDagalaiphus, on whom Jovian had conferred a 
 similar rank ; while Victor was appointed to follow Valens 
 to the east : and he also had originally been promoted by 
 the decision of Julian ; and to him was given Ariathgeus 
 as a colleague. For Lupicinus, who in like manner had 
 sometime before been appointed by Jovian to command 
 the cavalry, was defending the eastern districts. 
 
 3. At the same time Equitius received the command 
 of the army of Illyricum, with the rank not of general but 
 of count ; and Serenianus, who sometime before had re- 
 tired from the service, now, being a citizen of Fannonia, 
 returned to it, and joined Valens as commander of the 
 cohort of his guards. This was the way in which these 
 affairs were settled, and in which the troops were divided. 
 
 4. After this, when the two brothers entered Sirmium, 
 they divided theircourts also, and Valentinian as the chief 
 took Milan, while Valens retired to Constantinople. 
 
 5. Sallust, with the authority of prefect, governed the 
 East, Mamertinus Italy with Africa and Illyricum, and 
 Germanianus the provinces of Gaul. 
 
 6. It was in the cities of Milan and Constantinople that 
 the emperors first assumed the consular robes. But the 
 whole year was one of heavy disaster to the Boman state. 
 
 7. For the Allemanni burst through the limits of Ger- 
 many, and the caiise of their unusual ferocity was this. 
 They had sent ambassadors to the court, and according to
 
 A.D. 3651 ATTEMPTS OF PROCOPIUS. 415 
 
 custom they were entitled to regular fixed presents, but 
 received gifts of inferior value ; which, in great indigna- 
 tion, they threw away as utterly beneath them. For this 
 they were roughly treated by Ursatius, a man of a pas- 
 sionate and cruel temper, who at that time was master of 
 the offices ; and when they returned and related, with con- 
 siderable exaggeration, how they had been treated, they 
 roused the anger of their savage countrymen as if they had 
 been despised and insulted in their persons. 
 
 8. About the same time, or not much later, Procopius 
 attempted a revolution in the east ; and both these occur- 
 rences were announced to Valentinian on the same day, 
 the 1st of November, as he was on the point of making 
 his entry into Paris. 
 
 9. He instantly sent Dagalaiphus to make head against 
 the Allemanni, who, when they had laid waste the land 
 nearest to them, had departed to a distance without blood- 
 shed. But with respect to the measures necessary to 
 crush the attempt of Procopius before it gained any 
 strength, he was greatly perplexed, being made especially 
 anxious by his ignorance whether Valens were alive or 
 dead, that Procopius thus attempted to make himself master 
 of the empire. 
 
 10. For Equitius, as soon as he heard the account of the 
 tribune Antonius, who was in command of the army in the 
 interior of Dacia, before he was able to ascertain the real 
 truth of everything, brought the emperor a plain state- 
 ment of what had taken place. 
 
 11. On this Valentinian promoted Equitius to the com- 
 mand of a division, and resolved on retiring to Illyricuin 
 to prevent a rebel who was already formidable from over- 
 running Thrace and then carrying an hostile invasion into 
 Pannonia. For he was greatly terrified by recollecting 
 recent events, considering how, not long before, Julian, 
 despising an emperor who had been invariably successful 
 in every civil war, before he was expected or looked for, 
 passed on from city to city with incredible rapidity. 
 
 12. But his eager desire to return was cooled by the 
 advice of those about him, who counselled and implored 
 him not to expose Gaul to the barbarians, who wei'e 
 threatening it ; nor to abandon on such a pretence pro- 
 vinces which were in need of great support. And then
 
 416 AMMIANUS MARCELUNUS. [BK. XXVI. CH. VI. 
 
 prayers were seconded by embassies from several important 
 cities which entreated him not in a doubtful and disastrous 
 crisis to leave them wholly undefended, when by his pre- 
 sence he might at once deliver them from the greatest 
 dangers, by the mere terror which his mighty name would 
 strike into the Germans. 
 
 13. At last, having given much deliberation to what 
 might be most advisable, he adopted the opinion of the 
 majority, and replied that Procopius was the foe only of 
 himself and his brother, but the Allemanni were the 
 enemies of the whole Eoman world ; and so he determined 
 in the mean time not to move beyond the frontier of 
 Gaul. 
 
 14. And advancing to Eheims, being also anxious that 
 Africa should not be suddenly invaded, he appointed 
 Neotherius, who at that time was only a secretary, but who 
 afterwards became a consul, to go to the protection of that 
 country ; and with him Masaucio, an officer of the domestic 
 guard, being induced to add him by the consideration that 
 he was well acquainted with the disturbed parts, since he 
 had been brought up there under his father Cretion, who 
 was formerly Count of Africa ; he added further, Gauden- 
 tius, a commander of the Scutarii, a man whom he had 
 long known, and on whose fidelity he placed entire con- 
 fidence. 
 
 15. Because therefore these sad disturbances arose on 
 both sides at one and the same time, we will here arrange 
 our account of each separately in suitable order ; relating 
 first what took place in the East, and afterwards the war 
 with the barbarians ; since the chief events both in the 
 West and the East occurred in the same months ; lest, by 
 any other plan, if we skipped over in haste from place to 
 place, we should present only a confused account of every- 
 thing, and so involve our whole narrative in perplexity and 
 disorder. 
 
 VI. 
 
 1. PROCOPIUS was born and bred in Cilicia, of a noble 
 family, and occupied an advantageous position from his 
 youth, as being a relation of Julian who afterwards became 
 emperor. He was very strict in his way of life and morals, 
 reserved and silent ; but both as secretary, and afterwards as
 
 A.D. 365.] FORMER CAREER OF PROCOP1US. 417 
 
 tribune distinguishing himself by his services in war, and 
 rising gradually to the highest rank. After the death of 
 Constantius, in the changes that ensued, he, being a kins- 
 man of the emperor, began to entertain higher aims, 
 especially after he was admitted to the order of counts ; 
 and it became evident that if ever he were sufficiently 
 powerful, he would be a disturber of the public peace. 
 
 2. When Julian invaded Persia he left him in Mesopo- 
 tamia, in command of a strong division of troops, giving 
 him Sebastian for his colleague with equal power; and 
 he was enjoined (as an uncertain rumour whispered, for 
 no certain authority for the statement could be produced) 
 to be guided by the course of events, and if he should find 
 the republic in a languid state, and in need of further aid, 
 to cause himself without delay to be saluted as emperor. 
 
 3. Procopius executed his commission in a courteous 
 and prudent manner; and soon afterwards heard of the 
 mortal wound and death of Julian, and of the elevation of 
 Jovian to the supreme authority ; while at the same time 
 an ungrounded report had got abroad that Julian with his 
 last breath had declared that it was his will that the helm 
 of the state should be intrusted to Procopius. He therefore, 
 fearing that in consequence of this report he might be put 
 to death uncondemned, withdrew from public observation ; 
 being especially alarmed after the execution of Jovian, 
 the principal secretary, who, as he heard, had been cruelly 
 put to death with torture, because after the death of 
 Julian he had been named by a few soldiers as one worthy 
 to succeed to the sovereignty, and on that account was 
 suspected of meditating a revolution. 
 
 4. And because he was aware that he was sought for 
 with great care, he withdrew into a most remote and 
 secret district, seeking to avoid giving offence to any oue. 
 Then, finding that his hiding-place was still sought out 
 by Jovian with increased diligence, he grew weary of 
 living like a wild beast (since he was not only driven 
 from high rank to a low station, but was often in distress 
 even for food, and deprived of all human society) ; so at 
 last, under the pressure of extreme necessity, he returned 
 by secret roads into the district of Chalcedon. 
 
 5. Where, since that appeared a safer retreat, he con- 
 cealed himself in the house of a trusty friend, a man of 
 
 2 K
 
 418 AMMIANUS MARCELLINUS. [Us. XXVI. CH. vr. 
 
 the name of Strategius, who from being an officer about 
 the palace had risen to be a senator ; crossing over at times 
 to Constantinople whenever he could do so without being 
 perceived ; as was subsequently learnt from the evidence 
 of this same Strategius after repeated investigations had 
 been made into the conduct of all who were accomplices in 
 his enterprise. 
 
 6. Accordingly, like a skilful scout, since hardship and 
 want had so altered his countenance that no one knew 
 him, he collected the reports that were flying about, spread 
 by many who, as the present is always grievous, accused 
 Valens of being inflamed with a passion for seizing what 
 belonged to others. 
 
 7. An additional stimulus to his ferocity was the em- 
 peror's father-in-law, Petronius, who, from the command 
 of the Martensian cohort, had been suddenly promoted to 
 be a patrician. He was a man deformed both in mind 
 and appearance, and cruelly eager to plunder every person 
 without distinction ; torturing all, guilty and innocent, 
 and then binding them with fourfold bonds ; exacting debts 
 due as far back as the time of the emperor Aurelian, and 
 grieving if any one escaped without loss. 
 
 8. And his natural cruelty was inflamed by this addi- 
 tional incentive, that as he was enriched by the sufferings 
 of others, he was inexorable, cruel, hard hearted, and un- 
 feeling, incapable either of doing justice or of listening to 
 reason. He was more hated than even Oleander, who, as 
 we read, while prefect in the time of Commodus, oppressed 
 people of all ranks with his foolish arrogance; and more 
 tyrannical than Plautian, who was prefect under Severus, 
 and who with more than mortal pride would have thrown 
 everything into confusion, if he had not been murdered 
 out of revenge. 
 
 9. The cruelties which in the time of Valens, who acted 
 under the influence of Petronius, closed many houses both 
 of poor men and nobles, and the fear of still worse im- 
 pending, sank deep into the hearts of both the provincials 
 and soldiers, who groaned under the same burdens ; and 
 though the prayers breathed were silent and secret, yet 
 some change of the existing state of things by the inter- 
 position of the supreme Deity was unanimously prayed for. 
 
 1 0. This state of affairs came home to the knowledge of
 
 A.D-365.] ATTEMPTS OF PROCOPIUS. 419 
 
 Procopius, and he, thinking that if Fate were at all propi- 
 tious, he might easily rise to the highest power, lay in 
 wait like a wild beast whicli prepares to make its spring 
 the moment it sees anything to seize. 
 
 11. And while he was eagerly maturing his plans, the 
 following chance gave him an opportunity which proved 
 
 ""most seasonable. After the winter was past, Valens has- 
 tened into Syria ; and when he had reached the borders 
 of Bithynia he learnt from the accounts of the generals 
 that the nation of the Goths, who up to that time had never 
 come into collision with us, and who were therefore very 
 fierce and untractable, were all with one consent preparing 
 for an invasion of our Thracian frontier. When he heard 
 this, in order to proceed on his own journey without hin- 
 drance, he ordered a sufficient force of cavalry and infantry 
 to be sent into the districts in which the inroads of these 
 barbarians were apprehended. 
 
 12. Therefore, as the emperor was now at a distance, 
 Procopius, being wearied by his protracted sufferings, and 
 thinking even a cruel death preferable to a longer endur- 
 ance of them, precipitately plunged into danger ; and not 
 fearing the last extremities, but being wrought up almost 
 to madness, he undertook a most audacious enterprise. His 
 desire was to win over the legions known as the Divi- 
 tenses and the younger Tungricani, who were under orders 
 to march through Thrace for the coming campaign, and, 
 according to custom, would stop two days at Constan- 
 tinople on their way ; and for this object he intended to 
 employ some of them whom he knew, thinking it safer 
 to rely on the fidelity of a few, and dangerous and difficult 
 to harangue the whole body. 
 
 13. Those whom he selected as emissaries, being secured 
 by the hope of great rewards, promised with a solemn oath 
 to do everything he desired ; and undertook also for the 
 goodwill of their comrades, among whom they had great 
 influence from their long and distinguished service. 
 
 14. As was settled between them, when day broke, 
 Procopius, agitated by all kinds of thoughts and plans, 
 repaired to the Baths of Anastasia, so called from the sister 
 of Constantine, where he knew these legions were sta- 
 tioned ; and being assured by his emissaries that in an 
 assembly which had been held during the preceding night
 
 420 AMMIANUS MARCELL1NUS. [BK. XXVI. CH. vi. 
 
 all the men had declared their adherence to his party, he 
 received from them a promise of safety, and was gladly 
 admitted to their assembly ; where, however, though treated 
 with all honour hy the throng of mercenary soldiers, he 
 found himself detained almost as a hostage ; for they, like 
 the praetorians who after the death of Pertinax had ac- 
 cepted Julian as their emperor because he bid highest, 
 now undertook the cause of Procopius in the hope of 
 great gain to themselves from tiie unlucky reign he was 
 planning. 
 
 15. Procopius therefore stood among them, looking 
 pale and ghost-like ; and as a proper royal robe could not 
 be found, he wore a tunic spangled with gold, like that of 
 an officer of the palace, and the lower part of his dress like 
 that of a boy at school ; and purple shoes ; he also bore 
 a spear, and carried a small piece of purple cloth in his 
 right hand, so that one might fancy that some theatrical 
 figure or dramatic personification had suddenly come upon 
 the stage. 
 
 16. Being thus ridiculously put forward as if in mockery 
 of all honours, he addressed the authors of his elevation 
 with servile flattery, promising them vast riches and high 
 rank as the first-fruits of his promotion ; and then he 
 advanced into the streets, escorted by a multitude of 
 armed men ; and with raised standards he prepared to pro- 
 ceed, surrounded by a horrid din of shields clashing with a 
 mournful clang, as the soldiers, fearing lest they might be 
 injured by stones or tiles from the housetops, joined them 
 together above their heads in close order. 
 
 17. As he thus advanced boldly the people showed 
 him neither aversion nor favour ; but he was encou- 
 raged by the love of sudden novelty, which is implanted 
 in the minds of most of the common people, and was 
 further excited by the knowledge that all men unani- 
 mously detested Petronius, who, as I have said before, was 
 accumulating riches by all kinds of violence, reviving 
 actions that had long been buried, and oppressing all ranks 
 with the exaction of forgotten debts. 
 
 18. Therefore when Procopius ascended the tribunal, 
 and when, as all seemed thunderstruck and bewildered, 
 even the gloomy silence was terrible, thinking (or, indeed, 
 expecting) that he had only found a shorter way to death,
 
 A.D. 365.] PROCOPIUS SALUTED EMPEROR. 421 
 
 trembling so as to be unable to speak, he stood for some 
 time in silence. Presently when he began, with a broken 
 and languid voice, to say a few words, in which he spoke 
 of his relationship to the imperial family, he was met at 
 first with but a faint murmur of applause from those whom 
 he had bribed ; but presently he was hailed by the tumul- 
 tuous clamours of the populace-in general as emperor, and 
 hurried oft' to the senate-house, where he found none of the 
 nobles, but only a small number of the rabble of the city ; 
 and so he went on with speed, but in an ignoble style, to 
 the palace. 
 
 19. One might marvel that this ridiculous beginning, so 
 improvidently and rashly engaged in, should have led to 
 melancholy disasters for the republic, if one were ignorant 
 of previous history, and imagined that this was the first 
 time any such thing had happened. But, in tiuth, it 
 was in a similar manner that Andriscus of Adramyttium, 
 a man of the very lowest class, assuming the name of 
 Philip, added a third calamitous war to the previous 
 Macedonian wars. Again, while the emperor Macrinus 
 was at Antioch, it was then that Antoninus Heliogabalus 
 issued forth from Emessa. Thus also Alexander, and his 
 mother Mamasa, were put to death by the unexpected 
 enterprise of Maximinus. And in Africa the elder Gor- 
 dian was raised to the imperial authority, till, being over- 
 whelmed with agony at the dangers which threatened him, 
 he put an end to his life by hanging himself. 
 
 VII. 
 
 1. So the dealers in cheap luxuries, and those who were 
 about the palace, or who had ceased to serve, and all 
 who, having been in the ranks of the army, had retired 
 to a more tranquil life, now embarked in this, unusual and 
 doubtful enterprise, some against their will, and others 
 willingly. Some, however, thinking anything better than 
 the present state of affairs, escaped secretly from the city, 
 and hastened with all speed to the emperor's camp. 
 
 2. They were all outstripped by the amazing celerity 
 of Sophronius, at that time a secretary, afterwards prefect 
 of Constantinople, who reached Valens as he was just 
 about to set out from Caesarea in Cappadocia, in order,
 
 422 AMMIANCJS MARCELLINUS. [BK. XXVI. CH. vn. 
 
 now that the hot weather of Cilicia was over, to go to 
 Antioch ; and having related to him all that had taken 
 place, brought him, though wholly amazed and bewildered 
 at so doubtful and perplexing a crisis, back into Galatia to 
 encounter the danger before it had risen to a head. 
 
 3. While Valens was pushing forward with all speed, 
 Procopius was using all his energy day and night, pro- 
 ducing different persons who with cunning boldness 
 pretended that they had arrived, some from the east, 
 some from Gaul, and who reported that Valentinian was 
 dead, and that everything was easy for the new and 
 favoured emperor. 
 
 4. And because enterprises suddenly and wantonly 
 attempted are often strengthened by promptness of action, 
 and in order to neglect nothing, Nebridius, who had been 
 recently promoted through the influence of Petronius to 
 be prefect of the prsetorium in the place of Sallust, and 
 Cassarius, the prefect of Constantinople, were at once 
 thrown into prison ; and Phronemius was intrusted with 
 the government of the city, with the customary powers ; 
 and Euphrasius was made master of the offices, both 
 being Gauls, and men of known accomplishments and 
 good character. The government of the camp was in- 
 trusted to Gomoarius and Agilo, who were recalled to 
 military service with that object a very ill-judged ap- 
 pointment, as was seen by the result. 
 
 5. Now because Count Julius, who was commanding 
 the forces in Thrace, was feared as likely to employ the 
 troops at the nearest stations to crush the rebels if he 
 received information of what was being done, a vigorous 
 measure was adopted ; and he was summoned to Constan- 
 tinople by letter, which Xebridius, while still in prison, 
 was compelled to write, as if he had been appointed by 
 Yalens to conduct some serious measures in connection 
 with the movements of the barbarians ; and as soon as he 
 arrived he was seized and kept in close custody. By this 
 cunning artifice the warlike tribes of Thrace were brought 
 over without bloodshed, and proved a great assistance to 
 this disorderly enterprise. 
 
 6. After this success, Araxius, by a court intrigue, was 
 made prefect of the prsetorium, as if at the recommenda- 
 tion of Agilo, his son-in-law. Many others were admitted
 
 A..D. 365.] MEASURES TAKEN BY PROCOPIU3. 423 
 
 to various posts in the palace, and to the government of 
 provinces ; some against their will, others voluntarily, and 
 even giving bribes for their promotion. 
 
 7. And, as often happens in times of intestine commo- 
 tion, some men, from the very dregs of the populace, rose 
 to a high position, led by desperate boldness and insane 
 
 expectations ; while, on the contrary, others of noble 
 birth fell from the highest elevation down to exile and 
 death. 
 
 8. When by these and similar acts the party of Pro- 
 copius seemed firmly established, the next thing was to 
 assemble a sufficient military force ; and that was easily 
 managed, though sometimes, in times of public disorder, 
 a failure here has hindered great enterprises, and even 
 some which had a lawful origin. 
 
 9. The divisions of cavalry and infantry which were 
 passing through Thrace were easily gained over, and 
 being kindly and liberally treated, were collected into one 
 body, and at once presented the appearance of an army ; 
 and being excited by magnificent promises, they swore 
 with solemn oaths fidelity to Procopius, promising to 
 defend him with unswerving loyalty. 
 
 10. For a most seasonable opportunity of gaining them 
 over was found ; because he carried in his arms the little 
 daughter of Constantius, whose memory was still held in 
 reverence, himself also claiming relationship with Julian. 
 He also availed himself of another seasonable incident, 
 namely, that it was while Faustina, the mother of the 
 child, was present that he had received the insignia of the 
 imperial rites. 
 
 11. He employed also another expedient (though it re- 
 quired great promptitude) ; he chose some persons, as 
 stupid as they were rash, whom he sent to Illyricum, 
 relying on no support except their own impudence ; but 
 also well furnished with pieces of gold stamped with the 
 head of the new emperor, and with other means suited to 
 win over the multitude. But these men were arrested by 
 Equitius, who was the commander of the forces in that 
 country, and were put to death by various methods. 
 
 12. And then, fearing similar attempts by Procopius, he 
 blocked up the three narrowest entrances into the noi'theru 
 province ; one through Dacia, along the course of the dif-
 
 424 AMMIAXUS MARCELLINUS. [Bx. XXVI. CH. vn. 
 
 ferent rivers ; another, and that the most frequented, 
 through the Succi ; and the third through Macedonia, 
 which is known as the Acontisma. And in consequence 
 cf -these precautions the usurper was deprived of all hope 
 of becoming master of Illyricum, and lost one great re- 
 source for carrying on the war. 
 
 J3. In the mean time Valens, overwhelmed with the 
 strange nature of this intelligence, and being already on 
 his return through Gallo-Greecia, after he had heard what 
 had happened at Constantinople, advanced with great 
 diffidence and alarm ; and as his sudden fears deprived 
 him of his usual prudence, he fell into such despondency 
 that he thought of laying aside his imperial robes as too 
 heavy a burden ; and in truth he would have done so 
 if those about him had not hindered him from adopting so 
 dishonourable a resolution. So, being encouraged by the 
 opinions of braver men, he ordered two legions, known as 
 the Jovian and the Victorian, to advance in front to 
 storm the rebel camp. 
 
 14. And when they approached, Procopius, who had 
 returned from Nicsea, to which city he had lately gone 
 with the legion of Divitenses and a promiscuous body of 
 deserters, which he had collected in a few days, hastened 
 to Mygdus on the Sangarius. 
 
 15. And when the legions, being now prepared for 
 battle, assembled there, and while both sides were ex- 
 changing missiles as if wishing to provoke an attack, 
 Procopius advanced by himself into the middle, and under 
 the guidance of favourable fortune, he remarked in the 
 opposite ranks a man named Vitalianus (it is uncertain 
 whether he had known him before), and having given him 
 his hand and embraced him, he said, while both armies 
 were equally astonished. 
 
 16. " And is this the end of the ancient fidelity of the 
 Pioman armies, and of the oaths taken under the strictest 
 obligations of religion ! Have you decided, gallant men, 
 to use your swords in defence of strangers, and that a 
 degenerate Pannonian should undermine and upset every- 
 thing, and so enjoy a sovereign power which he never 
 even ventured to picture to himself in his prayers, while 
 we lament over your ill-fortune and our own. Follow 
 rather the race of your own noble princes which is now
 
 SIKGE OF CHALCEDON AND NIC^A RAISED. 425 
 
 in arms, not with the view of seizing what does not belong 
 to it, but with the hope of recovering its ancestral posses- 
 sions and hereditary dignities." 
 
 17. All were propitiated by this conciliatory speech, 
 and those who had come with the intention of fighting 
 now readily lowered their standards and eagles, and of 
 their own accord came over to him; instead of uttering 
 their fearful yells, they unanimously saluted Procopius 
 emperor, and escorted him to his camp, calling Jupiter 
 to witness, after their military fashion, that Procopius 
 should prove invincible. 
 
 VIII. 
 
 1. AXOTHER fortunate circumstance occurred to swell the 
 prosperity of the rebels. A tribune named Rumitalca, 
 who had joined the partisans of Procopius, having been 
 intrusted with the guard of the palace, digested a plan, 
 and after mingling with the soldiers, passed over by sea 
 to the town formerly known as Drepanum, but now as 
 Helenopolis, and thence marched upon Nicasa, and made 
 himself master of it before an}^ one dreamt of such a step. 
 
 2 ; Valens sent Vadomarius, who had formerly been 
 duke and king of the Allemanni, with a body of troops 
 experienced in that kind of work, to besiege JS'icaea, and 
 proceeded himself to Nicomedia ; and passing on from that 
 city, he pressed the siege of Chalcedon with all his might ; 
 but the citizens poured reproaches on him from the walls, 
 calling him Sabaiarius, or beer-drinker. Now Sabai is a 
 drink made of barley or other grain, and is used only by 
 poor people in Illyricum. 
 
 3. At last, being worn out by the scarcity of supplies 
 and the exceeding obstinacy of the garrison, he was pre- 
 paring to raise the siege, when the garrison who were 
 shut up in Isicaea suddenly opened the gates and issued 
 forth, destroying a great portion of the works of the be- 
 siegers, and under the command of the faithful Kumitalca 
 hastened on eagerly in the hope of cutting off Valens, who 
 had not yet quitted the suburb of Chalcedon. And they 
 would have succeeded in their attempt if he had not 
 learnt the imminence of his danger from some rumour, 
 and eluded the enemy who were pressing on his track,
 
 426 AMMIANUS MARCELLIXUS. [BK. XXVII. CH. viii. 
 
 by departing with all speed by a road lying between the 
 lake Sunon and the winding course of the river Gallns. 
 And through this circumstance Bithynia also fell into the 
 hands of Procopius. 
 
 4. When Valens had returned by forced inarches from 
 this city to Ancyra, and had learnt that Lupicinus was 
 approaching with no inconsiderable force from the East, 
 he began to entertain better hopes, and sent Arinthasus 
 as his most approved general to encounter the enemy. 
 
 5. And when Arinthasus reached Dadastana, where we 
 have mentioned that Jovian died, he suddenly saw in his 
 front, Hyperechius, who had previously been only a su- 
 baltern, but who now, as a trusty friend, had received 
 from Procopius the command of the auxiliary forces. And 
 thinking it no credit to defeat in battle a man of no 
 renown, relying on his authority and on his lofty personal 
 stature, he shouted out a command to the enemy them- 
 selves to take and bind their commander ; they obeyed, 
 and so this mere shadow of a general was arrested by the 
 hands of his own men. 
 
 6. In the interim, a man of the name of Venustus, who 
 had been an officer of the treasury under Valens, and who 
 had some time before been sent to Nicomedia, to distribute 
 pay to the soldiers who were scattered over the East, 
 when he heard of this disaster, perceived that the time 
 was unfavourable for the execution of his commission, and 
 repaired in haste to Cyzicus with the money which he had 
 with him. 
 
 7. There, as it happened, he met Serenianus, who was 
 at that time the count of the guards, and who had been 
 sent to protect the treasury, and who now, with a garrison 
 collected in a hurry, had undertaken the defence of the 
 city, which was impregnable in its walls, and celebrated 
 also for many ancient monuments, though Procopius, in 
 order, now that he had got possession of Bithynia, to make 
 himself master of the Hellespont, had sent a strong force 
 to besiege it. 
 
 8. The siege went on slowly ; often numbers of the 
 besiegers were wounded by arrows and bullets, and other 
 missiles ; and by the skill of the garrison a barrier of the 
 strongest iron chain was thrown across the mouth of the 
 harbour, fastened strongly to the land on each si'
 
 A.D. 365.] FALL OF CYZICUS. 427 
 
 prevent the ships of the enemy, which were armed with 
 beaks, from forcing their way in. 
 
 9. This boom, however, after great exertions on the part 
 of both soldiers and generals, who were all exhausted by 
 the fierce nature of the struggle, a tribune of the name of 
 Aliso, an experienced and skilful warrior, cut through in 
 tfee following manner : He fastened together three vessels, 
 and placed upon them a kind of testudo, thus, on the 
 benches stood a body of armed men, united together by 
 their shields, which joined above their heads ; behind them 
 was another row, who stooped, so as to be lower ; a third 
 rank bent lower still, so as to form a regular gradation ; so 
 that the last row of all, resting on their haunches, gave the 
 whole formation the appearance of an arch. This kind of 
 machine is employed in contests under the walls of towns, 
 in order that while the blows of missiles and stones fall on 
 the slippery descent they may pass oif like so much rain. 
 
 10. Aliso then, being for a while defended from the 
 shower of missiles, by his own vast strength held a log 
 under this chain, while with a mighty blow of his axe 
 he cut it through, so that being driven asunder, it left the 
 broad entrance open, and thus the city was laid open un- 
 protected to the assault of the enemy. And on this 
 account, when, after the death of the originator of all this 
 confusion, cruel vengeance was taken on the members of 
 his party, the same tribune, from a recollection of his 
 gallant action, was granted his life and allowed to retain 
 his commission, and a long time afterwards fell in Isauria 
 in a conflict with a band of ravagers. 
 
 11. When Cyzicus was thus opened to him, Procopius 
 hastened thither, and pardoned all who had opposed him, 
 except Serenianus, whom be put in irons, and sent to 
 Nicasa, to be kept in close confinement. 
 
 12. And immediately he appointed the young Hormisdas 
 (the son of the former Prince Hormisdas) proconsul 
 intrusting him in the ancient fashion with the command 
 both in civil and military affairs. He conducted himself, 
 as his natural disposition prompted him, with moderation, 
 but was almost seized by the soldiers whom Valens had 
 sent by the difficult passes of Phrygia ; he saved himself, 
 however, by great energy, embarking on board a vessel 
 which he kept in readiness for any emergency, carrying
 
 428 AMMIANUS MARCELL1NUS. [Bit. XXVI. CH. ix. 
 
 off also his wife, who followed him, and was nearly taken 
 prisoner, had he not protected her under a shower of 
 arrows. She was a lady of high family and great wealth, 
 whose modesty and the glorious destiny reserved for her 
 subsequently saved her husband from great dangers. 
 
 13. In consequence of this victory Procopius was elated 
 beyond measure, and not knowing that a man, however 
 happy, if Fortune turns her wheel may become most 
 miserable before evening, he ordered the house of Arbetio, 
 which he had previously spared as that of one of his own 
 partisans, to be rifled, and it was full of furniture of 
 countless value. The reason of his indignation against 
 Arbetio was, that though he had summoned him several 
 times to come to him, he had deferred his audience, 
 pleading old age and sickness. 
 
 14. And this presumptuous man might, from the uncer- 
 tainty in human affairs, have feared some great change ; 
 but though without any resistance he could have overrun 
 the provinces of the East with the willing consent of the 
 natives themselves, who, from weariness of the severe rule 
 under which they then were, were eager for any change 
 whatever, he indolently lingered, hoping to gain over some 
 cities of Asia Minor, and to collect some men who were 
 skilful in procuring gold, and who would be of use to him 
 in future battles, which he expected would be both nume- 
 rous and severe. 
 
 15. Thus he was allowing himself to grow blunt, like 
 a rusty sword ; just as formerly Pescennius Niger, when 
 repeatedly urged by the Roman people to come to their 
 aid at a time of great extremity, lost a great deal of time 
 in Syria, and at last was defeated by Severus in the Gulf 
 of Issus (which is a town in Cilicia, where Alexander 
 conquered Darius), and was put to death by a common 
 soldier in a suburb of Antioch. 
 
 IX. 
 
 A.D. 366. 
 
 1. THESE events took place in the depth of winter, in 
 the consulship of Valentinian and Valens. But this high 
 office of consul was transferred to Gratian, who was as yet 
 only a private individual, and to Dagalaiphus. And then,
 
 A.D. 366.] MEASURES TAKEN BY VALENS. 429 
 
 having collected his forces at the approach of spring, 
 Valens, having united Lupicirms's troops, which were a 
 numerous body, to his own, marched with all speed to- 
 wards Pessinus, which was formerly reckoned a town of 
 Phrygia, but was now considered to belong to Galatia. 
 
 2. Having speedily secured it with a garrison, to pre- 
 vent any unforeseen danger from arising in that district, he 
 proceeded along the foot of Mount Olympus by very diffi- 
 cult passes to Lycia, intending to attack Gomoarius, who 
 was loitering in that province. 
 
 3. Many vehemently opposed this project from this con- 
 sideration, that his enemy, as has been already mentioned, 
 always bore with him on a litter the little daughter of 
 (,'onstantius, with her mother Faustina, both when march- 
 ing and when preparing for battle, thus exciting the 
 soldiers to fight more resolutely for the imperial family, 
 with which, as he told them, he himself was connected. 
 So formerly, when the Macedonians were on the point of 
 engaging in battle with the Illyrians, they placed their 
 king, who was still an infant, 1 in his cradle behind the 
 line of battle, and the fear lest he should be taken prisoner 
 made them exert themselves the more so as to defeat their 
 enemies. 
 
 4. To counteract this crafty manoeuvre the emperor, in 
 the critical state of his aifairs, devised a sagacious remedy, 
 and summoned Arbetio, formerly consul, but who was now 
 living in privacy, to join him, in order that the fierce 
 minds of the soldiers might be awed by the presence of 
 a general who had served under Constantino. And it 
 happened as he expected. 
 
 5. For when that officer, who was older in years than all 
 around him, and superior in rank, showed his venerable 
 gray hairs to the mimbers who were inclined to violate 
 their oaths, and accused Procopius as a public robber, and 
 addressing the soldiers who followed his guilty leadership 
 as his own sons and the partners of his former toils, en- 
 treated them rather to follow him as a parent known to 
 them before as a successful leader than obey a profligate 
 spendthrift who ought to be abandoned, and who would 
 soon fall. 
 
 6. And when Gomoarius heard this, though he might 
 1 The young king's name was Eropua, v. Justin, vii. 122.
 
 430 AM11IANUS MARCELLINUS. [B K . XXVL CH. ix. 
 
 have escaped from the enemy and returned in safety to the 
 place from whence he came, yet, availing himself of the 
 proximity of the emperor's camp, he passed over under 
 the guise of a prisoner, as if he had been surrounded by the 
 sudden advance of a superior force.. 
 
 7. Encouraged by this, Valens quickly moved his camp 
 to Phrygia, and engaged the enemy near Nacolia, and the 
 battle .was doubtful till Agilo, the leader of Procopius's 
 forces, betrayed his side by a sudden desertion of his ranks ; 
 and he was followed by many who, brandishing their 
 javelins and their swords, crossed over to the emperor, 
 bearing their standards and their shields reversed, which is 
 the most manifest sign of defection. 
 
 8. When this unexpected event took place, Procopius 
 abandoning all hope of safety, dismounted, and sought a 
 hiding-place on foot in the groves and hills. He was 
 followed by Florentius and the tribune Barchalbas, who 
 having been known ever since the time of Constantine in 
 all the terrible wars which had taken place, was now 
 driven into treason by necessity not by inclination. 
 
 9. So when the greater part of the night was passed, as 
 the moon, which had risen in the evening, by continuing 
 her light till dawn increased their fear, Procopius, finding it 
 impossible to escape, and having no resources, as is often 
 the case in moments of extreme danger, began to blame his 
 mournful and disastrous fortune. And being overwhelmed 
 with care, he was on a sudden taken and bound by his own 
 comrades, and at daybreak led to the camp, and brought, 
 silent and downcast, before the emperor. He was imme- 
 diately beheaded ; and his death put an end to the increas- 
 ing disturbances of civil war. His fate resembled that of 
 Perpenna of old, who, after Sertorius had been slain at a 
 banquet, enjoyed the power for a short time, but was 
 dragged out of the thicket where he was concealed, and 
 brought to Pompey, by whose orders he was put to death. 
 
 10. Giving way to equal indignation against Florentius 
 and Barchalbas, though they delivered up Procopius, he 
 instantly ordered them also to be slain, without listening 
 to reason. For if they had betrayed their legitimate 
 prince, Justice herself would pronounce them justly slain ; 
 but if he whom they betrayed was a rebel and an enemy to 
 the tranquillity of the state, as was alleged, then they ought
 
 A.D. 366.] MOVEMENTS OF MARCELLUS. 431 
 
 to have received an ample reward for so memorable an 
 action. 
 
 1 1 . Procopius perished at the age of forty years and ten 
 months. He was of a goodly appearance, tall, inclined to 
 stoop, always looking on the ground as he walked, and in 
 his reserved and melancholy manners like Crassus, whom 
 Eucillius and Cicero record never to have smiled but once 
 in his life ; and what is very remarkable, as long as he lived 
 he never shed blood. 
 
 X. 
 
 1. ABOUT the same time, his kinsman Marcellus, an officer 
 of the guard, who commanded the garrison of Nicsea, hear- 
 ing of the treachery of the soldiers and the death of 
 Procopius, attacked Serenianus, who was confined in the 
 palace, unexpectedly at midnight, and put him to death. 
 And his death was the safety of many. 
 
 2. For if he, a man of rude manners, bitter temper, and 
 a love of injuring people, had survived Valens's victory, 
 having also great influence with Valens from the similarity 
 of his disposition and the proximity of their birthplaces, 
 he would have studied the secret inclinations of a prince 
 always inclined to cmelty, and would have shed the blood 
 of many innocent persons. 
 
 3. Having killed him, Marcellus by a rapid march 
 seized on Chalcedon, and with the aid of a few people, 
 whom the lowness of their condition and despair urged 
 to crime, obtained a shadow of authority which proved 
 fatal to him, being deceived by two circumstances, because 
 he thought that the three thousand Goths who, after their 
 kings had been conciliated, had been sent to aid Procopius, 
 who had prevailed on them to support him by pleading his 
 relationship to Constantino, would at a small cost be easily 
 won over to support him, and also because he was igno- 
 rant of what had happened in Illyricum. 
 
 4. While these alarming events were taking place, Equi- 
 tius, having learnt by trustworthy reports from his scouts 
 that the whole stress of the war was now to be found 
 in Asia, passed through the Succi, and made a vigorous 
 attempt to take Philippopolis, the ancient Eumolpias,' 
 
 1 Called also Trinumtiurn, from standing on three hills ; the modem 
 name is Philippopoli. See Smith's ' Anc. Geography,' p. 333.
 
 432 AMMIANUS MARCELLINUS. QBK. XXVI. CH. x. 
 
 which was occupied by a garrison of the enemy. It was 
 a city in a most favourable position, and likely to prove an 
 obstacle to his approach if left in his rear, and if he, while 
 conducting reinforcements to Valens (for he was not yet 
 acquainted with what had happened at Nacolia), should be 
 compelled to hasten to the district around Mount Hsemus. 
 
 5. But when, a few days later, he heard of the foolish 
 usurpation of Marcellus, he sent against him a body of 
 bold and active troops, who seized him as a mischievous 
 slave, and threw him into prison. From which, some days 
 afterwards, he was brought forth, scourged severely with 
 his accomplices, and put to death, having deserved favour 
 by no action of his life except that he had slain Serenianus, 
 a man as cruel as Phalaris, and faithful only in barbarity, 
 which he displayed on the slightest pretext. 
 
 6. The war being now at an end by the death of the 1 eader, 
 many were treated with much greater severity than their 
 errors or faults required, especially the defenders of Philip- 
 popolis, who would not surrender the city or themselves 
 till they saw the head of Procopius, which was conveyed to 
 Gaul. 
 
 7. Some, however, by the influence of intercessors, re- 
 ceived mercy, the most eminent of whom was Araxius, 
 who, when the crisis was at its height, had applied for and 
 obtained the office of prefect. He, by the intercession of 
 his son-in-law Agilo, was punished only by banishment to 
 an island, from which he soon afterwards escaped. 
 
 8. But Euphrasius and Phronemius were sent to the 
 west to be at the disposal of Valentinian. Euphrasius was 
 acquitted, but Phronemius was transported to the Cher- 
 soriesus, being punished more severely than the other, 
 though their case was the same, because he had been a 
 favourite with the late emperor Julian, whose memorable 
 virtues the two brothers now on the throne joined in 
 disparaging, though they were neither like nor equal to 
 him. 
 
 9. To these severities other grievances of greater im- 
 portance, arid more to be dreaded than any sufferings in 
 battle, were added. For the executioner, and the rack, and 
 bloody modes of torture, now attacked men of every rank, 
 class, or fortune, without distinction. Peace seemed as a 
 pretext for establishing a detestable tribunal, while all men
 
 A.B. 366.] CRUELTY OF THE EMPEROR. 433 
 
 cursed the ill-omened victory that had been gained as 
 worse than the most deadly war. 
 
 10. For amid arms and trumpets the equality of every 
 one's chance makes danger seem lighter; and often the 
 might of martial valour obtains what it aims at ; or else 
 a^sudden death, if it befalls a man, is attended by no feel- 
 ing of ignominy, but brings an end to life and to suffering 
 at the same time. When, however, laws and statutes are 
 put forth as pretexts for wicked counsels, and judges, affect- 
 ing the equity of Cato or Cassius, sit on the bench, though 
 in fact everything is done at the discretion of over-arrogant 
 power, on the whim of which every man's life or death 
 depends, the mischief is fatal and incurable. 
 
 11. For at this time any one might go to the palace on 
 any pretext, and if he were inflamed with a desire of 
 appropriating the goods of others, though the person he 
 accused might be notoriously innocent, he was received by 
 the emperor as a friend to be trusted and deserving to be 
 enriched at the expense of others. 
 
 12. For the emperor was quick to inflict injury, always 
 ready to listen to informers, admitting the most deadly 
 accusations, and exulting unrestrainedly in the diversity of 
 punishments devised ; ignorant of the expression of Tully, 
 which teaches us that those men are unhappy who think 
 themselves privileged to do everything. 
 
 13. This implacability, unworthy of a just cause, and 
 disgracing his victory, exposed many innocent men to the 
 torturers, crushing them beneath the rack, or slaying them 
 by the stroke of the fierce executioner. Men who, if nature 
 had permitted, would rather have lost ten lives in battle 
 than be thus tortured while guiltless of all crime, having 
 their estates confiscated, as if guilty of treason, and their 
 bodies mutilated before death, which is the most bitter 
 kind of death. 
 
 14. At last, when his ferocity was exhausted by his 
 cruelties, men of the highest rank were still exposed to 
 pi-oscription, banishment, and other punishments which, 
 though severe, appear lighter to some people. And in order 
 to enrich some one else, men of noble birth, and perhaps 
 still more richly endowed with virtues, were stripped of 
 their patrimony and driven into exile, where they were 
 exhausted with misery, perhaps being even reduced to 
 
 2 F
 
 434 AMMIAXUS MARCELLINU3. [BK. XXVL CK. x. 
 
 subsist by beggary. Nor was any limit put to the cruelties 
 which were inflicted till both the prince and those about 
 him were satiated with plunder and bloodshed. 
 
 15. While the usurper, whose various acts and death we 
 have been relating, was still alive, on the 21st of July, in 
 the first consulship of Valentinian and his brother, fearful 
 dangers suddenly overspread the whole world, such as are 
 related in no ancient fables or histories. 
 
 16. For a little before sunrise there was a terrible earth- 
 quake, preceded by incessant and furious lightning. The 
 sea was driven backwards, so as to recede from the land, 
 and the very depths were uncovered, so that many marine 
 animals were left sticking in the mud. And the depths of 
 its valleys and the recesses of the hills, which from the 
 very first origin of all things had been lying beneath the 
 boundless waters, now beheld the beams of the sun. 
 
 17. Many ships were stranded on the dry shore, while 
 people straggling about the shoal water picked up fishes 
 and things of that kind in their hands. In another quarter 
 the waves, as if raging against the violence with which 
 they had been driven back, rose, and swelling over the 
 boiling shallows, beat upon the islands and the extended 
 coasts of the mainland, levelling cities and houses wherever 
 they encountered them. All the elements were in furious 
 discord, and the whole face of the world seemed turned 
 upside down, revealing the most extraordinary sights. 
 
 18. For the vast waves subsided when it was least ex- 
 pected, and thus drowned many thousand men. Even 
 ships were swallowed up in the furious currents of the 
 returning tide, and were seen to sink when the fury of the 
 sea was exhausted ; and the bodies of those who perished 
 by shipwreck floated about on their backs or faces. 
 
 19. Other vessels of great size were driven on shore by 
 the violence of the wind, and cast upon the housetops, as 
 happened at Alexandria ; and some were even driven two 
 miles inland, of which we ourselves saw one in Laconia, 
 near the town of Mothone, which was lying and rotting 
 where it had been driven.
 
 AJ>. 367.] 435 
 
 BOOK XXVII. 
 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 I. The Allemanni having defeated the Romans, put the counts Chari- 
 etto and Severianus to death. II. Jovinus, the commander of the 
 cavalry in Gaul, surprises and routs two divisions of the Allemanni ; 
 defeats a third army in the country of the Catalauni, the enemy 
 losing six thousand killed and four thousand wounded. 
 III. About the three prefects of the city, Symmachus, Lampadius, 
 and Juventius The quarrels of Damasus and Ursinus about the 
 bishopric of Home. IV. The people and the six provinces of 
 Thrace are described, and the chief cities in each province. 
 V. The emperor Valens attacks the Goths, who had sent Procopius' 
 auxiliary troops to be employed against him, and after three years 
 makes peace with them. VI. Valentinian, with the consent of 
 the army, makes his son Gratian emperor ; and, after investing the 
 boy with the purple, exhorts him to behave bravely, and recom- 
 mends him to the soldiers. VII. The passionate temper, ferocity, 
 and cruelty of the emperor Valentinian. VIII. Count Theodosiua 
 defeats the Picts, Attacotti, and Scots, who were ravaging Britain 
 with impunity, after having slain the duke and count of that 
 province, and makes them restore their plunder. IX. The 
 Moorish tribes ravage Africa Valens checks the predatory incur- 
 sions of the Isaurians Concerning the office of city prefect. 
 
 X. The emperor Valentiuiau crosses the Rhine, and in a battle, 
 attended with heavy loss to both sides, defeats and routs the 
 Allemanni, who had taken refuge in their highest mountains. 
 
 XI. On the high family, wealth, dignity, and character of Probus. 
 XII. The Romans and Persians quarrel about the possession of 
 Armenia and Iberia. 
 
 I. 
 
 A.D. 367. 
 
 1. WHILE these events which we have related were taking 
 place with various consequences in the east, the Allemanni, 
 after the many disasters and defeats which they had received 
 in their frequent contests with the emperor Julian, at 
 length, having recruited their strength, though not to a 
 degree equal to their former condition, for the reason which 
 has been already set forth, crossed the frontier of Gaul in 
 formidable numbers. And immediately after the beginning 
 of the year, while winter was still in its greatest severity 
 in those frozen districts, a vast multitude poured forth in a 
 solid column, plundering all the places around in the most 
 licentious manner.
 
 436 AMMIAXUS MARCELLIXCS. [I5iv.XXVII.Cn.il. 
 
 2. Their first division was met by Charietto, who at 
 that time had the authority of count in both the Geriijan. 
 provinces, and who marched against them with his most 
 active troops, having with him as a colleague count Severi- 
 anus, a man of great age and feeble health, who had the 
 legions Divitensis and Tungricana under his command, 
 near Cabillonum (Chalons). 1 
 
 3. Then having formed the whole force into one solid 
 body, and having with great rapidity thrown a bridge over 
 a small stream, the Romans assailed the barbarians from a 
 distance with arrows and light javelins, which they shot 
 back at us with great vigour. 
 
 4. But when the battalions met and fought with drawn 
 swords, our line was shaken by the vehement onset of the 
 enemy, and could neither resist nor do any valorous deeds 
 by wa} r of attack, but were all put to flight as soon as they 
 saw Severianus struck down from his horse and severely 
 wounded by an arrow. 
 
 5. Charietto, too, while labouring by the exposure of his 
 own person, and with bitter reproaches, to encourage his 
 men, who were giving way, and while by the gallantry 
 with which he maintained his own position he strove to 
 efface the disgrace they were incurring, was slain by a 
 mortal wound from a javelin. 
 
 6. And after his death the standard of the Eruli and of 
 the Batavi was lost, and the barbarians raised it on high, 
 insulting it, dancing round it, but after a fierce struggle 
 it was recovered. 
 
 II. 
 
 A.D. 367. 
 
 1. THE news of this disaster was received with great 
 sorrow, and Dagalaiphus was sent from Paris to restore 
 affairs to order. But as he delayed some time, and made 
 excuses, alleging that he was unable to attack the bar- 
 barians, who were dispersed over various districts, and as 
 he was soon after sent for to receive the consulship with 
 Gratian, who was still only a private individual, Jovinus 
 was appointed commander of the cavalry ; and he being well 
 provided and fully prepared, attacked the fortress of Chur- 
 
 1 Cabillonum is Chalons-sur-Soane, in Burgundy ; Catalauni is Cha- 
 lons-sur-Marne, in Champagne.
 
 A.t>. 367.] VIGOUR OF JOVISUS. 437 
 
 peigne, protecting both his wings and flanks with great 
 care. And at this place he fell on the barbarians un- 
 expectedly, before they could arm themselves, and in a 
 very short time utterly destroyed them. 
 
 2. Then leading on the soldiers while exulting in the 
 glory of this easy victory, to defeat the other divisions, 
 
 ""and advancing slowly, he learnt from the faithful report of 
 his scouts that a band of ravagers, after having plundered 
 the villages around, were resting on the bank of the river. 
 And as he approached, while his army was concealed by 
 the lowness of the ground and the thickness of the trees, 
 he saw some of them bathing, some adorning their hair 
 after their fashion, and some carousing. 
 
 3. And seizing this favourable opportunity, he sud- 
 denly bade the trumpet give the signal, and burst into the 
 camp of the marauders. On the other hand, the Germans 
 could do nothing but pour forth useless threats and shouts, 
 not being allowed time to collect their scattered arms, 
 or to form in any strength, so vigorously were they 
 pressed by the conquerors. Thus numbers of them fell 
 pierced with javelins and swords, and many took to flight, 
 and were saved by the winding and narrow paths. 
 
 4. After this success, which was won by valour and good 
 fortune, Jovinus struck his camp without delay, and led 
 on his soldiers with increased confidence (sending out a 
 body of careful scouts in advance) against the third division. 
 And arriving at Chalons by forced marches, he there formed 
 the whole body ready for battle. 
 
 5. And having constructed a rampart with seasonable 
 haste, and refreshed his men with food and sleep as well 
 as the time permitted, at daybreak he arranged his army 
 in an open plain, extending his line with admirable 
 skill, in order that by occupying an extensive space of 
 ground the Romans might appear to be equal in number to 
 the enemy : being in fact inferior in that respect though 
 equal in strength. 
 
 6. Accordingly, when the trumpet gave the signal and 
 the battle began to rage at close quarters, the Germans 
 stood amazed, alarmed at the well-known appearance of 
 the shining standards. But though they were checked for 
 a moment, they presently recovered themselves, and the 
 conflict was protracted till the close of the day, when our
 
 438 AMMIANUS MARCELL1NUS. [BK. XXVII. CH. n. 
 
 valorous troops would have reaped the fruit of their 
 gallantry without any loss if it had not been for Balcho- 
 baudes, a tribune of the legions, who being as sluggish as 
 he was boastful, at the approach of evening retreated in 
 disorder to the camp. And if the rest of the cohorts had 
 followed his example and had also retired, the affair would 
 have turned out so ruinous that not one of our men would 
 have been left alive to tell what had happened. 
 
 7. But our soldiers, persisting with energy and courage, 
 showed such a superiority in personal strength that they 
 wounded four thousand of the enemy and slew six thousand, 
 while they did not themselves lose more than twelve hun- 
 dred killed and two hundred wounded. 
 
 8. At the approach of night the battle terminated, and 
 our weary men having recruited their strength, a little 
 before dawn our skilful general led forth his army in a 
 square, and found that the barbarians had availed them- 
 selves of the darkness to escape. And having no fear there 
 of ambuscade, he pursued them over the open plain, tramp- 
 ling on the dying and the dead, many of whom had perished 
 from the effect of the severity of the cold on their wounds. 
 
 9. After he had advanced some way further, without 
 finding any of the enemy he returned, and then he learnt 
 that the king of the hostile army had been taken prisoner, 
 with a few followers, by the Ascarii, 1 whom he himself had 
 sent by another road to plunder the tents of the Allemanni, 
 and they had hanged him. But the general being angry 
 at this, ordered the punishment of the tribune who had 
 ventured on such an act without consulting his superior 
 officer, and he would have condemned him if he had not 
 been able to establish by manifest proof that the atrocious 
 act had been committed by the violent impulse of the 
 soldiers. 
 
 10. After this, when he returned to Paris with the glory 
 of this success, the emperor met him with joy, and appointed 
 him to be consul the next year, being additionally rejoiced 
 because at the very same time he received the head of 
 Procopius, which had been sent to him by Valens. 
 
 11. Besides these events, many other battles of inferior 
 
 1 These seem to have been a tribe of the Batavi ; but some editors 
 give, as a various reading, Hastarii, which may be translated, a detach- 
 ment of lancers.
 
 AD. 367.] CHARACTER OF SYMMACHUS. 439 
 
 interest and importance took place in Gaul, which it would 
 be superfluous to recount, since they brought no results 
 worth mentioning, and it is not fit to spin out history with 
 petty details. 
 
 III. 
 
 1. AT this time, or a little before, a new kind of prodigy 
 appeared in the corn district of Tuscany ; those who were 
 skilful in interpreting such things being wholly ignorant 
 of what it portended. For in the town of Pistoja, at 
 about the third hour of the day, in the sight of many 
 persons, an ass mounted the tribunal, where he was heard 
 to bray loudly. All the bystanders were amazed, as were 
 all those who heard of the occurrence from the report of 
 others, as no one could conjecture what was to happen. 
 
 2. But soon afterwards the events showed what was por- 
 tended, for a man of the name of Terence, a person of low 
 birth and a baker by trade, as a reward for having given 
 information against Orsitus, who had formerly been pre- 
 fect, which led to his being convicted of peculation, was 
 intrusted with the government of this same province. And 
 becoming elated and confident, he threw aftairs into great 
 disorder, till he was convicted of fraud on transactions 
 relating to some ship-masters, as was reported, and was 
 executed while Claudius was prefect of Rome. 
 
 3. But some time before this happened Symmachus 
 succeeded Apronianus ; a man deserving to be named 
 among the most eminent examples of learning and mo- 
 deration; under whose government the most sacred city 
 enjoyed peace and plenty in an unusual degree ; being 
 also adorned with a magnificent and solid bridge which he 
 constructed, and opened amid the great joy of his un- 
 grateful fellow-citizens, as the result very plainly showed. 
 
 4. For they some years afterwards burnt his beautiful 
 house on the other side of the Tiber, being enraged 
 because some worthless plebeian had invented a story, 
 which there was no evidence or witness to support, that 
 he had said that he would prefer putting out the limekilns 
 with his own wine, to selling the lime at the price expected 
 of him.
 
 440 AilMIAXUS MARCELL1NUS. [BK. XXVII. CH. in. 
 
 5. After him the prefect of the city was Lampadius, who 
 had been prefect of the praetoriuin, a man of such bound- 
 less arrogance, that he grew very indignant if he were not 
 praised even when he spat, as if he did that with more 
 grace than any one else ; but still a man of justice, virtue, 
 and economy. 
 
 6. When as praetor he was celebrating some splendid 
 games, and giving abundant largesses, being unable to 
 bear the tumult of the populace, which was often urgent 
 to have gifts distributed to those who were unworthy, in 
 order to show his liberality and his contempt for the 
 multitude, he sent for a crowd of beggars from the Vatican, 
 and enriched them with great presents. 
 
 7. But, not to digress too much, it will be sufficient to 
 record one instance of his vanity, which, though of no 
 great importance, may serve as a warning to judges. In 
 every quarter of the city which had been adorned at the 
 expense of different emperors he inscribed his own name, 
 and that, not as if he were the restorer of old works, but 
 their founder. This same fault is said to have characterized 
 the emperor Trajan, from which the people in jest named 
 him " The Pellitory of the wall." 
 
 8. While he was prefect he was disturbed by frequent 
 commotions, the most formidable being when a vast mob 
 of the lowest of the people collected, and with firebrands 
 and torches would have burnt his house near the baths of 
 Constantino, if they had not been driven away by the 
 prompt assistance of his friends and neighbours, who 
 pelted them with stones and tiles from the tops of the 
 houses. 
 
 9. And he himself, being alarmed at a sedition, which 
 on this occasion had become so violent, retired to the 
 Mulvian bridge (which the elder Scaurus is said to have 
 built), and waited there till the discontent subsided, which 
 indeed had been excited by a substantial grievance. 
 
 10. For when he began to construct some new buildings, 
 he ordered the cost to be defrayed, not from the customary 
 sources of revenue, but if iron, or lead, or copper, or any- 
 thing of that kind was required, he sent officers who, pre- 
 tending to try the different articles, did in fact seize them 
 without paying any price for them. This so enraged the 
 poor, since they suffered repeated losses from such a prac-
 
 A.D. 367.] CONDITION OF HOME. 441 
 
 tice, that it was all lie could do to escape from them by a 
 rapid retreat. 
 
 11. His successor had formerly been a quaestor of the 
 palace, his name was Juventius, a man of integrity and 
 prudence, a Pannonian by birth. His administration was 
 tranquil and undisturbed, and the people enjoyed plenty 
 Under it. Yet he also was alarmed by fierce seditions 
 raised by the discontented populace, which arose from the 
 following occurrence. 
 
 1 2. Damasus and Ursinus, being both immoderately eager 
 to obtain the bishopric, formed parties and carried on the 
 conflict with great asperity, the partisans of each carrying 
 their violence to actual battle, in which men were wounded 
 and killed. And as Juventius was unable to put an end 
 to, or even to soften these disorders, he was at last by their 
 violence compelled to withdraw to the suburbs. 
 
 13. Ultimately Damasus got the best of the strife by the 
 strenuous efforts of his partisans. It is certain that on one 
 day one hundred and thirty-seven dead bodies were found 
 in the Basilica of Sicininus, which is a Christian church. 1 
 And the populace who had been thus roused to a state of 
 ferocity were with great difficulty restored to order. 
 
 14. 1 do not deny, when I consider the ostentation that 
 reigns at Rome, that those who desire such rank and 
 power may be justified in labouring with all possible exer- 
 tion and vehemence to obtain their wishes ; since after they 
 have succeeded, they will be secure for the future, being 
 enriched by offerings from matrons, riding in carriages, 
 dressing splendidly, and feasting luxuriously, so that their 
 entertainments surpass even royal banquets. 
 
 1 5. And they might be really happy if, despising the 
 vastuess of the city, which they excite against themselves 
 by their vices, they were to live in imitation of some of 
 the priests in the provinces, whom the most rigid absti- 
 nence in eating and drinking, and plainness of apparel, 
 and eyes always east on the ground, recommend to the 
 everlasting Deity and his true worshippers as pure and 
 sober-mirfded men. This is a sufficient digression on this 
 subject : let us now return to our narrative. 
 
 1 Probably the church of Santa Maria Maggiore ; but see note in 
 Gibbon, ch. xxv. (vol. iii. p. 91, Bohn).
 
 442 AMMIANUS MARCELLINUS. [BE. xxvii. CH. 
 
 IV. 
 
 1. WHILE the events above mentioned were taking place 
 in Gaul and Italy, a new campaign was being prepared in 
 Thrace. For Valens, acting on the decision of his brother, 
 by whose will he was entirely governed, marched against 
 the Goths, having a just cause of complaint against them, 
 because at the beginning of the late civil war they had 
 sent assistance to Procopius. It will here be desirable to 
 say a few words of the origin of this people, and the situation 
 of their country. 
 
 2. The description of Thrace would be easy if the pens 
 of ancient authors agreed on the subject ; but as the 
 obscurity and variety of their accounts is of but little 
 assistance to a work which professes to tell the truth, it 
 will be sufficient for us to record what we remember to 
 have seen ourselves. 
 
 3. The undying authority of Homer informs us that 
 these countries were formerly extended over an immense 
 space of tranquil plains and high rising grounds ; since 
 that poet represents both the north and the west wind as 
 blowing from thence ; l a statement which is either fabu- 
 lous, or else which shows that the extensive district in- 
 habited by all those savage tribes was formerly included 
 tinder the single name of Thrace. 
 
 4. Part of this region was inhabited by the Scordisci, 
 who now live at a great distance from these provinces ; a 
 race formerly savage and uncivilized, as ancient history 
 proves, sacrificing their prisoners to Bellona and Mars, 
 and drinking with eagerness human blood out of skulls. 
 Their ferocity engaged the Roman republic in many wars ; 
 
 1 See Iliad, ix. 5 : 
 
 Bope'rjj Ka.1 e<f>vpos Ttare pi]Kri6fi> &TJTOV 
 EA6o>'T ! f<miin)s. 
 
 Thus translated by Pope : 
 
 " As from its cloudy dungeon, issuing forth 
 A double tempest of the west and north 
 Swells o'er the sea from Thracia's frozen shore, 
 Heaps waves on waves, aud bids th' ^Egean roar."
 
 A - D - 367 -] DESCRIPTION OF THRACE. 443 
 
 and on one occasion led to the destruction of an entire army 
 with its general. 1 
 
 5. But we see that the country now, the district being in 
 the form of a crescent, resembles a splendid theatre ; it is 
 bounded on the west by mountains, on the abrupt summit 
 of which are the thickly wooded passes of the Succi, which 
 separate Thrace from Dacia. 
 
 6. On the left, or northern side, the heights of the 
 Balkan form the boundary, as in one part does the Danube 
 also, where it touches the Eoman territory : a river with 
 many cities, fortresses, and castles on its banks. 
 
 7. On the right, or southern side, lies Mount Ehodope ; 
 on the east, the country is bounded by a strait, which 
 becomes more rapid from being swollen by the waters of 
 the Euxine sea, and proceeds onwards with its tides 
 towards the ^Egean, separating the continents of Europe 
 and Asia by a narrow space. 
 
 8. At a confined corner on the eastward it joins the 
 frontier of Macedonia by a strait and precipitous defile 
 named Acontisma ; near to which are the valley and 
 station of Arethusa, where one may see the tomb of 
 Euripides, illustrious for his sublime tragedies; and Stagira, 
 where we are told that Aristotle, who as Cicero says pours 
 from his mouth a golden stream, was born. 
 
 9. In ancient times, tribes of barbarians occupied these 
 countries, differing from each other in customs and 
 language. The most formidable of which, from their 
 exceeding ferocity, were the Odrysseans, men so accustomed 
 to shed human blood, that when they could not find enemies 
 enough, they would, at their feasts, when they had eaten 
 and drunk to satiety, stab their own bodies as if they be- 
 longed to others. 
 
 10. But as the republic grew in strength while the 
 authority of the consular form of government prevailed, 
 Marcus Didius, with great perseverance, attacked these 
 tribes which had previously been deemed invincible, and 
 had roved about without any regard either to divine or 
 human laws. Drusus compelled them to confine themselves 
 
 1 The contents of the sixty-third book of Livy record that C. Porcius 
 Cato lost his whole army in a campaign against the Scordici, who were 
 Pannoniaii tribe ; but neither Livy nor any other writer, except 
 Ammianus, mentions that Cato himself was killed.
 
 444 AM.MIANUS MARCELLINUS. [En. XXVII. Cii. iv 
 
 to their own territories ; Minucius defeated them in a 
 great battle on the river Maritza, which flows down from 
 the lofty mountains of the Odrysaeans ; and after those 
 exploits, the rest of the tribes were almost destroyed in a 
 terrible battle by Appius Claudius the proconsul. And 
 the Eoman fleets made themselves masters of the towns on 
 the Bosporus, and on the coast of the Sea of Marmora. 
 
 11. After these generals came Lucullus ; who was the 
 first of all our commanders who fought with the warlike 
 nation of the Bessi : and with similar vigour he crushed 
 the mountaineers of the district of the Balkan, in spit<- of 
 their obstinate resistance. And while he was in that 
 country the whole of Thrace was brought under the power 
 of our ancestors, and in this way, after many doubtful 
 campaigns, six provinces were added to the republic. 
 
 12. Of these provinces the first one comes to, that which 
 borders on the lllyrians, is called by the especial name of 
 Thrace ; its chief cities are Philippopolis, the ancient Eu- 
 molpias, and Beraea ; both splendid cities. Next to this 
 the province of the Balkan boasts of Hadrianople, which 
 used to be called Uscudama, and Anchialos, both great 
 cities. Next comes Mysia, in which is Marcianopolis, so 
 named from the sister of the emperor Trajan, also Doros- 
 torus, and Nicopolis, Odyssus. 
 
 13. Next comes Scythia, in which the chief towns are 
 Dionysiopolis, Tomis, and Calatis. The last of all is 
 Europa ; which besides many municipal towns has two 
 principal cities, Apri and Perinthus, which in later times 
 has received the name of Heraclea. Beyond this is Eho- 
 dope, in which are the cities of Maximianopolis, Maronea, 
 and ^Enus, after founding and leaving which, it was 
 thought ./Eneas proceeded onwards to Italy, of which, 
 after long wanderings, he became master, expecting by 
 the auspices to enjoy there perpetual prosperity. 
 
 14. But it is certain, as the invariable accounts of all 
 writers represent, that these tribes were nearly all agri- 
 cultural, and, that living on the high mountains in these 
 regions above mentioned, they are superior to us in health, 
 vigour, and length of life ; and they believe that this 
 superiority arises from the fact, that in their food they for 
 the most part abstain from all that is hot ; also that the 
 constant dews besprinkle their persons with a cold and
 
 SEVERITY OF VOLENS. 445 
 
 bracing moisture, and that they enjoy the freshness of a 
 purer atmosphere ; and that they are the first of all tribes 
 to feel the rays of the morning sun, which are instinct with 
 life, before they become tainted with any of the foulness 
 arising from human things. Having discussed this matter 
 let us now return to our original narrative. 
 
 V. 
 
 1. After Procopius had been overpowered in Phrygia, and 
 all material for domestic discords had thus been removed, 
 Victor, the commander of the cavalry, was sent to the Goths 
 to inquire, without disguise, why a nation friendly to the 
 Komans, and bound to it by treaties of equitable peace, 
 had given the support of its arms to a man who was 
 waging war against their lawful emperor. And they, 
 to excuse their conduct by a valid defence, produced 
 the letters from the above-mentioned Procopius, in which 
 he alleged that he had assumed the sovereignty as his due, 
 as the nearest relation to Constantino's family ; and they 
 asserted that this was a fair excuse for their error. 
 
 2. When Victor reported this allegation of theirs, 
 Valens disregarding it as a frivolous excuse, marched 
 against them, they having already got information of his 
 approach. And at the beginning of spring he assembled 
 his army in a great body, and pitched his camp near a for- 
 tress named Daphne, where having made a bridge of boats 
 he crossed the Danube without meeting any resistance. 
 
 3. And being now full of elation and confidence, as 
 while traversing the country in every direction he met 
 with no enemy to be either defeated or even alarmed by 
 his advance ; they having all been so terrified at the 
 approach of so formidable a host, that they had fled to the 
 high mountains of the Serri, which were inaccessible to all 
 except those who knew the country. 
 
 4. Therefore, that he might not waste the whole summer, 
 and return without having effected anything, he sent 
 forward Arinthaeus, the captain of the infantry, with some 
 light forces, who seized- on a portion of their families, 
 which were overtaken as they were wandering over the 
 plains before coming to the steep and winding defiles of 
 the mountains. And having obtained this advantage, which 
 chance put in his way, he returned with his men without
 
 446 AMMIANUS MARCELLJNUS. [BK. XXVII. CH. v. 
 
 having suffered any loss, and indeed without having in- 
 flicted any. 
 
 5. The next year he attempted with equal vigour again 
 to invade the country of the enemy ; but being checked in 
 his advance by the inundations of the Danube, which 
 covered a wide extent of country, he remained near the 
 town of Capri, where he pitched a camp in which he re- 
 mained till the autumn. And from thence, as he was pre- 
 vented from undertaking any operations on account of the 
 magnitude of the floods, he retired to Marcianopolis into 
 winter quarters. 
 
 6. With similar perseverance he again invaded the land 
 of the barbarians a third year, having crossed the river by 
 a bridge of boats at Nivors ; and by a rapid march ho 
 attacked the Gruthungi, a warlike and very remote tribe, 
 and after some trivial skirmishes, he defeated Athanaric, 
 at that time the most powerful man of the tribe, who 
 dared to resist him with what he fancied an adequate 
 force, but was compelled to flee for his life. And then 
 he returned himself with his army to Marcianopolis to 
 spend the winter there, as the cold was but slight in that 
 district. 
 
 7. After many various events in the campaigns of three 
 years, there arose at last some very strong reasons in the 
 minds of the barbarians for terminating the war. In the 
 first place, because the fear of the enemy was increased by 
 the continued stay made by the emperor in that country. 
 Secondly, because as all their commerce was cut off they 
 began to feel great want of necessaries. So that they sent 
 several embassies with submissive entreaties for pardon 
 and peace. 
 
 8. The emperor was as yet inexperienced, but still he 
 was a very just observer of events, till having been cap- 
 tivated by the pernicious allurements of flattery, he subse- 
 quently involved the republic in an ever-to-be-lamented 
 disaster ; and now taking counsel for the common good, he 
 determined that it was right to grant them peace. 
 
 9. And in his turn he sent to them Victor and Arinthaeus, 
 who at that time were the commanders of his infantry and 
 cavalry ; and when they sent him letters truly stating that 
 the Goths were willing to agree to the conditions which 
 they had proposed, he appointed a suitable place for finally
 
 A.D. 36T.] ILLNESS OF VALENTINIA3T. 447 
 
 settling the terms of the peace. And since Athanaric 
 alleged that he was bound by a most dreadful oath, and 
 also forbidden by the strict commands of his father ever to 
 set foot on the Roman territory, and as he could not be 
 brought to do so, while, on the other hand, it would be 
 unbecoming and degrading for the emperor to cross over 
 to him, it was decided by negotiation that some boats 
 should be rowed into the middle of the river, on which the 
 emperor should embark with an armed guard, and that 
 there also the chief of the enemy should meet him with 
 his people, and conclude a peace as had been arranged. 
 
 10. When this had been arranged, and hostages had 
 been given, Valens returned to Constantinople, whither 
 afterwards Athanaric fled, when he was driven from his 
 native land by a faction among his kinsmen ; and he died 
 in that city, and was buried with splendid ceremony ac- 
 cording to the Eoman fashion. 
 
 VI. 
 
 1. In the mean time, Valentinian being attacked with a 
 violent sickness and at the point of death, at a secret 
 entertainment of the Gauls who were present in the 
 emperor's army, Eusticus Julianus, at that time master 
 of the records, was proposed as the future emperor ; a man 
 as gveody of human blood as a wild beast, seeming to be 
 smitten with some frenzy, as had been shown while govern- 
 ing Africa as proconsul. 
 
 2. For in his prefecture of the city, a post which he was 
 filling when he died, fearing a change in the tyranny 
 through the exercise of which he, as if in a dearth of worthy 
 men, had been raised to that dignity, he was compelled to 
 appear more gentle and merciful. 
 
 3. Against his partisans others with higher aims were 
 exerting themselves in favour of Severus, who at that time 
 was captain of the infantry, as a man very fit for such a 
 dignity, who, although rough and unpopular, seemed yet 
 more tolerable than the other, and worthy of being pre- 
 ferred to him by any means that could be devised. 
 
 4. But all these plans were formed to no purpose ; for in 
 the mean time, the emperor, through the variety of remedies 
 applied, recovered, and would scarcely believe that his
 
 448 AMMIANUS MARCELLINUS. [BK. XXVII. CH. vi. 
 
 life liad been saved with difficulty. And he proposed 
 to invest his son Gratian, who was now on the point 
 of arriving at manhood, with the ensigns of the imperial 
 authority. 
 
 5. And when everything was prepared, and the consent 
 of the soldiers secured, in order that all men might willingly 
 accept the new emperor, immediately upon the arrival of 
 Gratian, Valentinian advancing into the open space, mounted 
 the tribune, and surrounded by a splendid circle of nobles 
 and princes, and holding the boy by his right hand, showed 
 him to them all, and in the following formal harangue re- 
 commended their intended sovereign to the army. 
 
 6. " This imperial robe which 1 wear is a happy indica- 
 tion of your good will towards me when you adjudged me 
 superior to many illustrious men. Now, Avith you as the 
 partners of my counsels and the favourers of my wishes, I 
 will proceed to a seasonable work of affection, relying on 
 the protecting promises of God, to whose eternal assistance 
 it is owing that the Roman state stands and ever shall stand 
 unshaken. 
 
 7. " Listen, I beseech you, most gallant men, with 
 willing minds to my desire, recollecting that these 
 things which the laws of natural affection sanction, we 
 have in this instance not only wished to accomplish with 
 your perfect cognizance, but we have also desired to have 
 them confirmed by you as what is proper for us and likely 
 to prove beneficial. 
 
 8. This, my grown-up son Gratian, to whom all of yoii 
 bear affection as a common pledge, who has long lived 
 among your own children, I am, for the sake of securing 
 the public tranquillity on all sides, about to take as my 
 colleague in the imperial authority, if the propitious will 
 of the ruler of heaven and of your dignity, shall co-operate 
 with a parent's affection. He has not been trained by a 
 rigid education from his very cradle as we ourselves have ; 
 nor has he been equally taught to endure hardships ; nor is 
 he as yet, as you see, able to endure the toils of war; bnt 
 in his disposition he is not unworthy of the glorious repu- 
 tation of his family, or the mighty deeds of his ancestors, 
 and, I venture to say, he is likely to grow up equal to still 
 greater actions. 
 
 9. " For as I often think when contemplating, as I a:n
 
 A.D. 367.J SPEECH OF VALENTINIAN. 449 
 
 wont to do, his manners and passions though not yet come 
 to maturity, he is so furnished with the liberal sciences, 
 and in all accomplishments and graces, that even now, 
 while only entering on manhood, he will be able to form 
 an accurate judgment of virtuous and vicious actions. He 
 will so conduct himself that virtuous men may see that 
 tfiey are appreciated ; he will be eager in the performance 
 of noble actions ; he will never desert the military standards 
 and eagles ; he will cheerfully bear heat, snow, frost, and 
 thirst ; he will, if necessity should arise, never shrink from 
 fighting in defence of his country ; he will expose his life to 
 save his comrades from danger, and (and this is the highest 
 and greatest work of piety) he will love the republic as his 
 own paternal and ancestral home." 
 
 10. Before he had finished his speech, every soldier 
 hastened to anticipate his comrades as well as his position 
 permitted him, in showing that these words of the em- 
 peror met with their cheerful assent. And so, as par- 
 takers in his joy, and as convinced of the advantage of 
 his proposal, they declared Gratian emperor, mingling the 
 propitious clashing of their arms with the loud roar of the 
 trumpets. 
 
 11. When Valentinian saw this, his confidence increased ; 
 he adorned his son with a crown and with the robes befitting 
 his now supreme rank, and kissed him ; and then thus 
 addressed him, brilliant as he appeared, and giving careful 
 attention to all his words : 
 
 12. " You wear now," said he, " my Gratian, the impe- 
 rial robe, as we have all desired, which has been conferred 
 on you with favourable auspices by my will and that of 
 our comrades. Therefore now, considering the weight of 
 the affairs which press upon us, gird yourself up as the 
 colleague of your father and your uncle ; and accustom 
 yourself to pass fearlessly with the infantry over the Danube 
 and the Ehine, which are made passable by the frost, to 
 keep close to your soldiers, to devote your blood and your 
 very life with all skill and deliberation for the safety of 
 those under your command ; to think nothing unworthy of 
 your attention which concerns any portion of the Eoman 
 empire. 
 
 13. " This is enough by way of admonition to you at 
 the present moment, at other times I will not fail to give 
 
 2o
 
 450 AMMIANUS MAECELLINUS. [BK. XXVU. Cn. vi. 
 
 further advice. Now you who remain, the defenders of the 
 state, I entreat, I beseech you to preserve with a steady 
 affection and loyalty your youthful emperor thus intrusted 
 to your fidelity." 
 
 14. These words of the emperor were accepted and 
 ratified with all possible solemnity ; Eupraxius, a native 
 of Mauritania Caesariensis, at that time master of the 
 records, led the way by the exclamation, " The family of 
 Gratian deserves this." And being at once promoted to 
 be quaestor, he set an example of judicious confidence 
 worthy of being imitated by all wise men ; especially as 
 he in no wise departed from the habits of his fearless 
 nature, but was at all times a man of consistency and 
 obedient to the laws, which, as we have remarked, speak 
 to all men with one and the same voice under the most 
 varied circumstances. He at this time was the more steady 
 in adhering to the side of justice which he always es- 
 poused, because on one occasion when he had given good 
 advice, the emperor had attacked him with violence and 
 threats. 
 
 15. After this, the whole assembly broke out into praises 
 of both emperors, the elder and the new one ; and especially 
 of the boy, whose brilliant eyes, engaging countenance 
 and person, and apparent sweetness of disposition, recom- 
 mended him to their favour. And these qualities would 
 have rendered him an emperor worthy to be compared to 
 the most excellent princes of former times, if fate had 
 permitted, and his relations who even then began to over- 
 shadow his virtue, before it was firmly rooted, with their 
 own wicked actions. 
 
 16. But in this affair, Valentinian went beyond the 
 custom which had been established for several generations, 
 in making his brother and his son, not Caesar, but emperors ; 
 acting indeed in this respect with great kindness. Nor 
 had any one yet ever created a colleague with powers equal 
 to his own, except the emperor Marcus Aurelius, who 
 made his adopted brother Verus his colleague in the empire 
 without any inferiority of power.
 
 A.D.368.] VIRTUES OF RUFIKUS 451 
 
 VII. 
 
 A.D. 368. 
 
 1 . AFTER these transactions had been thus settled to the 
 delight both of the prince and of the soldiers, but a few 
 days intervened ; and then Avitianus, who had been 
 deputy, accused Mamertinus, the prefect of the prgetorium, 
 of peculation, on his return from the city whither he had 
 gone to correct some abuses. 
 
 2. And in consequence of this accusation he was 
 replaced by Rufinus, a man accomplished in every respect, 
 who had attained the dignity of an honourable old 
 age, though it is true that he never let slip any oppor- 
 tunity of making money when he thought he could do so 
 secretly. 
 
 3. He now availed himself of his access to the emperor 
 to obtain permission for Orfitus, who had been prefect of 
 the city, but who was now banished, to receive back his 
 property which had been confiscated, and return home. 
 
 4. And although Valentinian was a man of undisguised 
 ferocity, he nevertheless, at the beginning of his reign, 
 in order to lessen the opinion of his cruelty, took all 
 possible pains to restrain the fierce impetuosity of his 
 disposition. But this defect increasing gradually, from 
 having been checked for some time, presently broke out 
 more unrestrained to the ruin of many persons ; and his 
 severity was increased by the vehemence of his anger. For 
 wise men define passion as a lasting ulcer of the mind, and 
 sometimes an incurable one, usually engendered from a 
 weakness of the intellect ; and they have a plausible argu- 
 ment for asserting this in the fact that people in bad health 
 are more passionate than those who are well ; women, than 
 men; old men, than youths; and people in bad circum- 
 stances than the prosperous. 
 
 5. About this time, among the deaths of many persons 
 of low degree, that of Diocles, who had previously been 
 a treasurer of Illyricum, was especially remarked ; the 
 emperor having had him burnt alive for some very slight 
 offence, as was also the execution of Diodorus, who had 
 previously had an honourable employment in the pro- 
 vinces, and also that of three officers of the vicar prefect
 
 452 AMMIANUS MARCELLINUS. [BK.XXV1I.CH.VH- 
 
 of Italy, who were all put to death with great cruelty 
 because the count of Italy had complained to the emperor 
 that Diodorus had, though in a constitutional manner, 
 implored the aid of the law against him; and that the 
 officers, by command of the judge, served a summons on 
 him as he was setting out on a journey, commanding him 
 to answer to the action according to law. And the 
 Christians at Milan to this day cherish their memory, and 
 call the place where they were buried, the tomb of the 
 innocents. 
 
 6. Afterwards, in the affair of a certain Pannonian, 
 named Maxentius, on account of the execution of a sen- 
 tence very properly commanded by the judge to be carried 
 out immediately, he ordered all the magistrates of these 
 towns to be put to death, when Eupraxius, who at that 
 time was qugestor, interposed, saying, " Be more sparing, 
 O most pious of emperors, for those whom you command to 
 be put to death as criminals, the Christian religion honours 
 as martyrs, that is as persons acceptable to the deity." 
 
 7. And the prefect Florentius, imitating the salutary 
 boldness of Eupraxius, when he heard that the emperor 
 was in a similar manner very angry about some trifling and 
 pardonable matter, and that he had ordered the execution 
 of three of the magistrates in each of several cities, said 
 to him, " And what is to be done if any town has not got 
 so many magistrates? It will be necessary to suspend 
 the execution there till there are a sufficient number for 
 the purpose." 
 
 8. And besides this cruel conduct there was another cir- 
 cumstance horrible even to speak of, that if any one came 
 before him protesting against being judged by a powerful 
 enemy, and requiring that some other judge might hear his 
 case, he always refused it ; and however just the arguments 
 of the man might be, he remitted his cause to the decision 
 of the very judge whom he feared. And there was another 
 very bad thing much spoken of ; namely, that when it was 
 urged that any debtor was in such absolute want as to be 
 unable to pay anything, he used to pronounce sentence 
 of death on him. 
 
 9. But some princes do these and other similar actions 
 with the more lofty arrogance, because they never allow 
 their friends any opportunity of setting them right in any
 
 A.B. 368.J DISTRESS OF BRITAIN. 453 
 
 mistake they make, either in a plan or in its execution ; 
 while they terrify their enemies by the greatness of their 
 power. There can be no question of mistake or error 
 raised before men who consider whatever they choose to do 
 to be in itself the greatest of virtues. 
 
 VIII. 
 
 1. VALENTUSTIAN having left Amiens, and being on his 
 way to Treves in great haste, received the disastrous in- 
 telligence that Britain was reduced by the ravages of the 
 united barbarians to the lowest extremity of distress ; that 
 Nectaridus, the count of the sea-coast, had been slain in 
 battle, and the duke Fullofaudes had been taken prisoner 
 by the enemy in an ambuscade. 
 
 2. This news struck him with great consternation, and 
 he immediately sent Severus, the count of the domestic 
 guards, to put an end to all these disasters if he could find 
 a desirable opportunity. Severus was soon recalled, and 
 Jovinus, who then went to that country, sent forward Pro- 
 vertuides with great expedition to ask for the aid of a 
 powerful army ; for they both affirmed that the imminence 
 of the danger required such a reinforcement. 
 
 3. Last of all, on account of the many formidable reports 
 which a continual stream of messengers brought from that 
 island, Theodosius was appointed to proceed thither, and 
 ordered to make great haste. He was an officer already 
 distinguished for his prowess in war, and having collected 
 a numerous force of cavalry and infantry, he proceeded to 
 assume the command in full confidence. 
 
 4. And since when I was compiling my account of 
 the acts of the emperor Constantine, 1 explained as well 
 as I could the movement of the sea in those parts at its 
 ebb and flow, and the situation of Britain, I look upon it 
 as superfluous to return to what has been once described ; 
 as the Ulysses of Homer when among the Phaeacians hesi- 
 tated to repeat his adventures by reason of the sufferings 
 they brought to mind. 
 
 5. It will be sufficient here to mention that at that time 
 the Picts, who were divided into two nations, the Dicali- 
 dones and the Vecturiones, and likewise the Attacotti, a 
 very warlike people, and the Scots were all roving over
 
 454 AMMIA.NUS MARCELL1XUS. [BK.XXVII.CH.vnr. 
 
 different parts of the country and committing great ravages. 
 While the Franks and the Saxons who are on the frontiers 
 of the Gauls were ravaging their country wherever they 
 could effect an entrance by sea or land, plundering and 
 burning, and murdering all the prisoners they could take. 
 
 6. To put a stop to these evils, if a favourable fortune 
 should afford an opportunity, the new and energetic general 
 repaired to that island situated at the extreme corner of 
 the earth ; and when he had reached the coast of Boulogne, 
 which is separated from the opposite coast by a very narrow 
 strait of the sea, which there rises and falls in a strange 
 manner, being raised by violent tides, and then again 
 sinking to a perfect level like a plain, without doing any 
 injury to the sailors. From Boulogne he crossed the strait 
 in a leisurely manner, and reached Richborough, a very 
 tranquil station on the opposite coast. 
 
 7. And when the Batavi, and Heruli, and the Jovian 
 and Victorian legions who followed from the same place, 
 had also arrived, he then, relying on their number and 
 power, landed and marched towards Londinium, an ancient 
 town which has since been named Augusta ; and dividing 
 his army into several detachments, he attacked the preda- 
 tory and straggling bands of the enemy who were loaded 
 with the weight of their plunder, and having speedily 
 routed them while driving prisoners in chains and cattle 
 before them, he deprived them of their booty which they 
 had carried off from these miserable tributaries of Rome. 
 
 8. To whom he restored the whole except a small portion 
 which he allotted to his own weary soldiers ; and then 
 joyful and triumphant he made his entry into the city 
 which had just before been overwhelmed by disasters, but 
 was now suddenly re-established almost before it could 
 have hoped for deliverance. 
 
 9. This success encoiiraged him to deeds of greater 
 daring, and alter considering what counsels might be 
 the safest, he hesitated, being full of doiibts as to the 
 future, and convinced by the confession of his prisoners 
 and the information given him by deserters, that so vast 
 a multitude, composed of various nations, all incredibly 
 savage, could only be vanquished by secret stratagems and 
 unexpected attacks. 
 
 10. Then, by the publication of several edicts, in which
 
 A.D.368.] THE BARBARIANS OVERRUK AFRICA. 455 
 
 he promised them impunity, he invited deserters and 
 others who were straggling about the country on furlough, 
 to repair to his camp. At this summons numbers came 
 in, and he, though eager to advance, being detained by 
 anxious cares, requested to have Civilis sent to him, 
 to^ govern Britain, with the rank of pro-prefect, a man of 
 quick temper, but just and upright ; and he asked at the 
 same time for Dulcitius, a general eminent for his military 
 skill. 
 
 IX. 
 
 1. THESE were the events which occurred in Britain. 
 But in another quarter, from the very beginning of Valen- 
 tinian's reign, Africa had been overrun by the fuiy of the 
 barbarians, intent on bloodshed and rapine, which they 
 sought to carry on by audacious incursions. Their licen- 
 tiousness was encouraged by the indolence and general 
 covetousness of the soldiers, and especially by the conduct 
 of Count Eomanus. 
 
 2. Who, foreseeing what was likely to happen, and being 
 very skilful in transferring to others the odium which he 
 himself deserved, was detested by men in general for the 
 savageness of his temper, and also because it seemed as if 
 tiis object was to outrun even our enemies in ravaging 
 the provinces. He greatly relied on his relationship to 
 Eemigius, at that time master of the offices, who sent all 
 kinds of false and confused statements of the condition of 
 the country, so that the emperor, cautious and wary as he 
 plumed himself on being, was long kept in ignorance of 
 the terrible sufferings of the Africans. 
 
 3. I will explain with great diligence the complete 
 series of all the transactions which took place in those 
 regions, the death of Euricius the governor, and of his 
 lieutenants, and all the other mournful events which took 
 place, when the proper opportunity arrives. 
 
 4. And since we are able here to speak freely, let us 
 openly say what we think, that this emperor was the first 
 of all our princes who raised the arrogance of the soldiers 
 to so great a height, to the great injury of the state, 
 by increasing their rank, dignity, and riches. And 
 (which was a lamentable thing, both on public and private
 
 456 AMMIANUS HARCELLINUS. [BK. XXVII. CH. ix. 
 
 accounts) while he punished the errors of the common 
 soldiers with unrelenting severity, he spared the officers, 
 who, as if complete licence were given to their misconduct, 
 proceeded to all possible lengths of rapacity and cruelty 
 for the acquisition of riches, and acting as if they thought 
 that the fortunes of all persons depended directly on 
 their nod. 
 
 5. The framers of our ancient laws had sought to repress 
 their pride and power, sometimes even condemning the 
 innocent to death, as is often done in cases when, from the 
 multitude concerned in some atrocity, some innocent men, 
 owing to their ill luck, suifer for the whole. And this 
 has occasionally extended even to the case of private 
 persons. 
 
 6. But in Isauria the banditti formed into bodies and 
 roamed through the villages, laying waste and plundering 
 the towns and wealthy country houses ; and by the mag- 
 nitude of their ravages they also greatly distressed Pam- 
 phylia and Cilicia. And when Musonius, who at that 
 time was the deputy of Asia Minor, having previously 
 been a master of rhetoric at Athens, had heard that they 
 were spreading massacre and rapine in every direction, 
 being filled with grief at the evil of which he had just 
 heard, and perceiving that the soldiers were rusting 
 in luxury and inactivity, he took with him a few light- 
 armed troops, called Diogmitse, and resolved to attack the 
 first body of plunderers he could find. His way led 
 through a narrow and most difficult defile, and thus he 
 fell into an ambuscade, which he had no chance of 
 escaping, and was slain, with all the men under his 
 command. 
 
 7. The robber bands became elated at this advantage, 
 and roamed over the whole country with increased boldness, 
 slaying many, till at last our army was aroused, and drove 
 them to take refuge amid the recesses of the rocks and 
 mountains they inhabit. And then, as they were not 
 allowed to rest, and were cut off from all means of ob- 
 taining necessary supplies, they at last begged for a truce, 
 as a prelude to peace, being led to this step by the advice 
 of the people of Germanicopolis, whose opinions always 
 had as much weight with them as standard-bearers have 
 with an army. And after giving hostages as they were
 
 -D. 368.J MAYENCE IS STORMED. 457 
 
 desired, they remained for a long time quiet, without ven- 
 turing on any hostilities. 
 
 8. While these events were taking place Prsetextatus 
 was administering the prefecture of the city in a noble 
 manner, exhibiting numerous instances of integrity and 
 probity, virtues for which he had been eminent from his 
 earliest youth ; and thus he obtained what rarely happens 
 to any one, that while he was feared, he did not at the 
 same time lose the affection of his fellow-citizens, which 
 is seldom strongly felt for those whom they fear as 
 judges. 
 
 9. By his authority, impartiality, and just decisions, 
 a tumult was appeased, which the quarrels of 'the Chris- 
 tians had excited, and after Ursinus was expelled complete 
 tranquillity was restored, which best corresponded to the 
 wishes of the Eoman people ; while the glory of their 
 illustrious governor, who performed so many useful actions, 
 continually increased. 
 
 10. For he also removed all the balconies, which the 
 ancient laws of Eome had forbidden to be constructed, and 
 separated from the sacred temples the walls of private 
 houses which had been improperly joined to them ; and 
 established one uniform and proper weight in every 
 quarter, for by no other means could he check the covetous- 
 ness of those who made their scales after their own plea- 
 sure. And in the adjudication of lawsuits he exceeded all 
 men in obtaining that praise which Cicero mentions in his 
 panegyric of Brutus, that while he did nothing with a 
 view to please anybody, everything which he did pleased 
 everybody. 
 
 X. 
 
 1. ABOUT the same time, when Valentinian had gone 
 forth on an expedition very cautiously as he fancied, a 
 prince of the Allemanni, by name Rando, who had been for 
 some time preparing for the execution of a plan which he 
 had conceived, with a body of light-armed troops equipped 
 only for a predatory expedition, surprised and stormed 
 Mayence, which was wholly destitute of a garrison. 
 
 2. And as he arrived at the time when a great solemnity 
 of the Christian religion was being celebrated, he found
 
 458 AMMIANUS MARCELLINUS. [BK. XXVII. CH. x. 
 
 no obstacle whatever to carrying off a vast multitude of 
 both men and women as prisoners, with no small quantity 
 of goods as booty. 
 
 3. After this, for a short interval a sudden hope of 
 brighter fortune shone upon the affairs of Eome. For as 
 king Vithicabius, the son of Vadomarius, a bold and 
 warlike man, though in appearance effeminate and diseased, 
 was continually raising up the troubles of war against 
 us, great pains were taken to have him removed by some 
 means or other. 
 
 4. And because after many attempts it was found im- 
 possible to defeat him or to procure his betrayal, his most 
 confidential servant was tampered with by one of our men, 
 and by his hand he lost his life ; and after his death, 
 all hostile attacks upon us were laid aside for a while. 
 But his murderer, fearing punishment if the truth should 
 get abroad, without delay took refuge in the Roman 
 territory. 
 
 5. After this an expedition on a larger scale than usual 
 was projected with great care and diligence against the 
 Allemanni, to consist of a great variety of troops : the 
 public safety imperatively required such a measure, since 
 the treacherous movements of that easily recruited nation 
 were regarded with continual apprehension, while our 
 soldiers were the more irritated because, on account of the 
 constant suspicion which their character awakened, at one 
 time abject and suppliant, at another arrogant and threat- 
 ening, they were never allowed to rest in peace. 
 
 6. Accordingly, a vast force was collected from all 
 quarters, well furnished with arms and supplies of pro- 
 visions, and the count Sebastian having been sent for 
 with the Illyrian and Italian legions which he com- 
 manded, as soon as the weather got warm, Valentinian, 
 accompanied by Gratiari, crossed the Ehine without re- 
 sistance. Having divided the whole army into four divi- 
 sions, he himself marched with the centre, while Jovinus 
 and Severus, the two captains of the camp, commanded the 
 divisions on each side, thus protecting the army from any 
 sudden attack. 
 
 7. And immediately under the guidance of men who 
 knew the roads, all the approaches having been recon- 
 noitered, the army advanced slowly through a most exten-
 
 ADVANCE OF THE EMPEROR. 459 
 
 sive district, the soldiers by the slowness of their march 
 being all the more excited to wish for battle, and gnash- 
 ing their teeth in a threatening manner, as if they had 
 already found the barbarians. And as, after many days 
 had passed, no one could be found who offered any re- 
 sistance, the troops applied the devouring flame to all the 
 houses and all the crops which were standing, with the 
 exception of such supplies for their own magazines as 
 the doubtful events of war compelled them to collect and 
 store up. 
 
 8. After this the emperor advanced further, with no 
 great speed, till he arrived at a place called Solicinium, 
 where he halted, as if he had suddenly come upon some 
 barrier, being informed by the accurate report of his 
 advanced guard that the barbarians were seen at a dis- 
 tance. 
 
 9. They, seeing no way of preserving their safety unless 
 they defended themselves by a speedy battle, trusting in 
 their acquaintance with the country, with one consent 
 occupied a lofty hill, abrupt and inaccessible in its rugged 
 heights on every side except the north, where the ascent 
 was gentle and easy. Our standards were fixed in the 
 usual manner, and the cry, " To arms !" was raised ; and 
 the soldiers, by the command of the emperor and his 
 generals, rested in quiet obedience, waiting for the raising 
 of the emperor's banner as the signal for engaging in 
 battle. 
 
 10. And because little or no time could be spared for 
 deliberation, since on one side the impatience of the 
 soldiers was formidable, and on the other the Allemanni 
 were shouting out their horrid yells all around, the ne- 
 cessity for rapid operations led to the plan that Sebastian 
 with his division should seize the northern side of the 
 hill, where we have said the ascent was gentle, in which 
 position it was expected that, if fortune favoured him, 
 he would be able easily to destroy the flying barbarians. 
 And when he, as had been arranged, had moved forward 
 first, while Gratian was kept behind with the Jovian 
 legion, that young prince being as yet of an age unfit 
 for battle or for hard toil, Valeiitinian, like a deliberate 
 and prudent general, took off his helmet, and reviewed 
 his centuries and maniples, and not having informed any
 
 4(iO AMMIANUS MARCELLINUS. [BK. XXVlI.Cii. x. 
 
 of the nobles of his secret intentions, and having sent 
 back his numerous body of guards, went forward himself 
 with a very small escort, whose courage and fidelity 
 he could trust, to reconnoitre the foot of the hill, de- 
 claring (as he was always apt to think highly of his own 
 skill) that it must be possible to find another path which 
 led to the summit besides that which the advanced guard 
 had reported. 
 
 11. He then, as he advanced by a devious track over 
 ground strange to him, and across pathless swamps, was 
 very nearly being killed by the sudden attack of a band 
 placed in an ambuscade on his flank, and being driven 
 to extremities, only escaped by spurring his horse to a 
 gallop in a different direction over a deep swamp, so at 
 last, after being in the most imminent danger, he rejoined 
 his legions. But so great had been his peril that his 
 chamberlain, who was carrying his helmet, which was 
 adorned with gold and precious stones, disappeared, 
 helmet and all, while the man's body could never be 
 found, so that it could be known positively whether he 
 were alive or dead. 
 
 12. Then, when the men had been refreshed by rest, 
 and the signal for battle was raised, and the clang of 
 warlike trumpets roused their courage, two youths of 
 prominent valour, eager to be the first to encounter the 
 danger, dashed on with fearless impetuosity before the 
 line of their comrades. One was of the band of Scutarii, 
 by name Salvitis, the other, Lupicinus, belonging to the 
 Gentiles. They raised a terrible shout, brandished their 
 spears, and when they reached the foot of the rocks, 
 in spite of the efforts of the Allemanni to repel them, 
 pushed steadily on to the higher ground ; while behind 
 them came the main body of the army, which following 
 their lead over places rough with brambles and rugged, at 
 last, after vast exertions, reached the very summit of 
 the heights. 
 
 13. Then again, with great spirit on both sides, the 
 conflict raged with spears and swords. On our side the 
 soldiers were more skilful in the art of war ; on the other 
 side the barbarians, ferocious but incautious, closed with 
 them in the mighty fray ; while our army extending itself, 
 outflanked them on both sides with its overlapping
 
 A.D. 3G3.] VICTORY OF THE ROMANS. 461 
 
 wings, the enemy's alarm being increased by our shouts, 
 the neighing of the horses, and the clang of trumpets. 
 
 14. Nevertheless they resisted with indomitable courage, 
 and the battle was for some time undecided; both sides 
 exerted themselves to the utmost, and death was scattered 
 almost equally. 
 
 15. At last the barbarians were beaten down by the 
 ardour of the Eomans, and being disordered and broken, 
 were thrown into complete confusion ; and as they began 
 to retreat they were assailed with great effect by the spears 
 and javelins of their enemies. Soon the retreat became 
 a flight, and panting and exhausted, they exposed their 
 backs and the back sinews of their legs and thighs to 
 their pursuers. After many had been slain, those who 
 fled fell into the ambuscade laid for them by Sebastian, 
 who was posted with his reserve at the back of the moun- 
 tain, and who now fell unexpectedly on their flank, and 
 slew numbers of them, while the rest who escaped con- 
 cealed themselves in the recesses of the woods. 
 
 16. In this battle we also suffered no inconsiderable 
 loss. Among those who fell was Valerian, the first officer 
 of the domestic guards, and one of the Scutarii, named 
 Natuspardo, a warrior of such pre-eminent courage that he 
 might be compared to the ancient Sicinius or Sergius. 
 
 17. After these transactions, accompanied with this diver- 
 sity of fortune, the army went into winter quarters, and 
 the emperor returned to Treves. 
 
 XI. 
 
 1. ABOUT this time, Vulcatius Rufinus died, while filling 
 the office of prefect of the praetorium, and Probus was sum- 
 moned from Kome to succeed him, a man well known to 
 the whole Eoman world for the eminence of his family, and 
 his influence, as well as for his vast riches, for he possessed 
 a patrimonial inheritance which was scattered over the 
 whole empire ; whether acquired justly or unjustly it is 
 not for us to decide. 
 
 2. A certain good fortune, as the poets would represent 
 it, attended him from his birth, and bore him on her rapid 
 wings, exhibiting him sometimes as a man of beneficent
 
 462 AMMIAXUS MARCELLIXUS. [BK. XXVII. CH. xi. 
 
 character, promoting the interests of his friends, though 
 often also a formidable intriguer, and cruel and mischievous 
 in the gratification of his enmities. As long as he lived 
 he had great power, owing to the magnificence of his gifts 
 and to his frequent possession of office, and yet he was at 
 times timid towards the bold, though domineering over the 
 timid ; so that when full of self-confidence he appeared to 
 be spouting in the tragic buskin, and when he was afraid 
 he seemed more abased than the most abject charactei 
 in comedy. 
 
 3. And as fishes, when removed from their natural 
 element, cannot live long on the land, so he began to 
 pine when not in some post of authority which he was 
 driven to be solicitous for by the squabbles of hi.s troops 
 of clients, whose boundless cupidity prevented their ever 
 being innocent, and who thrust their patron forward into 
 affairs of state in order to be able to perpetrate all sorts of 
 crimes with impunity. 
 
 4. For it must be confessed that though he was a man 
 of such magnanimity that he never desired any dependent 
 or servant of his to do an unlawful thing, yet if he found 
 that any one of them had committed a crime, he laid aside 
 all consideration of justice, would not allow the case to be 
 inquired into, but defended the man without the slightest 
 regard for right or wrong. JS'ow this is a fault expressly 
 condemned by Cicero, who thus speaks : " For what differ- 
 ence is there between one who has advised an action, and 
 one who approves of it after it is performed ? or what 
 difference does it make whether I wished it be done, or 
 am glad that it is done ?" 
 
 5. He was a man of a suspicious temper, self-relying, 
 often wearing a bitter smile, and sometimes caressing a 
 man the more effectually to injure him. 
 
 6. This vice is a very conspicuous one in dispositions of 
 that kind, and mostly so when it is thought possible 
 to conceal it. He was also so implacable and obstinate 
 in his enmities, that if he ever resolved to injure any 
 one he would never be diverted from his purpose by 
 any entreaties, nor be led to pardon any faults, so that 
 his ears seemed to be stopped not with wax but with 
 lead. 
 
 7. Even when at the veiy summit of wealth and dignity
 
 A.D. 368.] TREACHERY OF SAPOR. 463 
 
 he was always anxious and watchful, and therefore he was 
 continually subject to trifling illnesses. 
 
 8. Such was the course of events which took place in 
 the western provinces of the empire. 
 
 XII. 
 
 1. THE King of Persia, the aged Sapor, who from the 
 ~^sery commencement of his reign had been addicted to the 
 love of plunder, after the death of the Emperor Julian, 
 and the disgraceful treaty of peace subsequently made, 
 for a short time seemed with his people to be friendly to 
 us ; but presently he trampled under foot the agreement 
 which he had made with Jovian, and poured a body of 
 troops into Armenia to annex that country to his own 
 dominions, as if the whole of the former arrangements had 
 been abolished. 
 
 2. At first he contented himself with various tricks, 
 intrigues, and deceits, inflicting some trifling injuries on 
 the nation which unanimously resisted him, tampering 
 with some of the nobles and satraps, and making sudden 
 inroads into the districts belonging to others. 
 
 3. Afterwards by a system of artful cajolery fortified by 
 perjury, he got their king Arsaces into his hands, having 
 invited him to a banquet, when he ordered him to be 
 seized and conducted to a secret chamber behind, where 
 his eyes were put out, and he was loaded with silver 
 chains, which in that country is looked upon as a solace 
 under punishment for men of rank, trifling though it be ; 
 then he removed him from his country to a fortress called 
 Agabana, where he applied to him the torture, and finally 
 put him to death. 
 
 4. After this, in order that his perfidy might leave 
 nothing unpolluted, having expelled Sauromaces, whom 
 the authority of the Kornans had made governor of Hiberia, 
 he conferred the government of that district on a man of 
 the name of Aspacuras, even giving him a diadem, to 
 mark the insult offered to the decision of our emperors. 
 
 5. And after these infamous actions he committed the 
 charge of Armenia to an eunuch named Cylaces, and to 
 Artabannes, a couple of deserters whom he had received 
 some time before (one of them having been prefect of that
 
 464 AMMIANUS MARCELLINUS. [BK.XXVTLCH.xir. 
 
 nation, and the other command er-in-chief) ; and he enjoined 
 them to use every exertion to destroy the town of Artoge- 
 rassa, a place defended by strong walls and a sufficient 
 garrison, in which were the treasures, and the wife and 
 son of Arsaces. 
 
 6. These generals commenced the siege as they were 
 ordered. And as it is a fortress placed on a very rugged 
 mountain height, it was inaccessible at that time, while 
 the ground was covered with snow and frost : and so Cylaces 
 being an eunuch, and, as such, suited to feminine manoeu- 
 vres, taking Artabannes with him, approached the walls ; 
 after having received a promise of safety, and he and his 
 companion had been admitted into the city, he sought by a 
 mixture of advice and threats to persuade the garrison and 
 the queen to pacify the wrath of the implacable Sapor by 
 a speedy surrender. 
 
 7. And after many arguments had been urged on both 
 sides, the woman bewailing the sad fortune of her husband, 
 these men, who had been most active in wishing to com- 
 pel her to surrender, pitying her distress, changed their 
 views ; and conceiving a hope of higher preferment, they 
 in secret conferences arranged that at an appointed hour of 
 the night the gates should be suddenly thrown open, and 
 a strong detachment should sally forth and fall upon the 
 ramparts of the enemy's camp, surprising it with sudden 
 slaughter ; the traitors promising that, to prevent any 
 knowledge of what was going on, they would come forward 
 to meet them. 
 
 8. Having ratified this agreement with an oath, they 
 quitted the town, and led the besiegers to acquiesce in 
 inaction by representing that the besieged had required 
 two days to deliberate on what course they ought to pur- 
 sue. Then in the middle of the night, when they were all 
 soundly asleep in fancied security, the gates of the city were 
 throw open, and a strong body of young men poured forth 
 with great speed, creeping on with noiseless steps and 
 drawn swords, till they entered the camp of the unsuspect- 
 ing enemy, where they slew numbers of sleeping men, 
 without meeting with any resistance. 
 
 9. This unexpected treachery of his officers, and the loss 
 tlms inflicted on the Persians, caused a terrible quarrel 
 between us and Sapor ; and another cause for his anger
 
 A.D. 368.J SAPOK INVADES ARMENIA. 465 
 
 was added, as the Emperor Valens received Para, the son 
 of Arsaces, who at his mother's instigation had quitted the 
 fortress with a small escort, and had desired him to stay at 
 Neo-Ceesarea, a most celebrated city on the Black Sea, 
 where he was treated with great liberality and high respect. 
 Cylaces and Artabannes, being allured by this humanity of 
 Valens, sent envoys to him to ask for assistance, and to 
 jequest that Para might be given them for their king. 
 
 10. However, for the moment assistance was refused 
 them ; but Para was conducted by the general Terentius 
 back to Armenia, where he was to rule that nation without 
 any of the insignia of royalty ; which was a very wise 
 regulation, in order that we might not be accused of break- 
 ing our treaty of peace. 
 
 11. When this arrangement became known, Sapor was 
 enraged beyond all bounds, and collecting a vast army, 
 entered Armenia and ravaged it with the most ferocious 
 devastation. Para was terrified at his approach, as were 
 also Cylaces and Artabannes, and, as they saw no other 
 resource, fled into the recesses of the lofty mountains 
 which separate our frontiers from Lazica ; where they hid 
 in the depths of the woods and among the defiles of the 
 hills for five months, eluding the various attempts of the 
 king to discover them. 
 
 12. And Sapor, when he saw that he was losing his 
 labour in the middle of winter, burnt all the fruit trees, 
 and all the fortified castles and camps, of which he had 
 become master by force or treachery, and also burnt 
 Artogerassa, which had long been blockaded by his whole 
 army, and after many battles was taken through the ex- 
 haustion of the garrison ; and he carried off from thence 
 the wife of Arsaces and all his treasures. 
 
 13. For these reasons, Arinthseus was sent into these dis- 
 tricts with the rank of count, to aid the Armenians if the 
 Persians should attempt to harass them by a second cam- 
 paign. 
 
 14. At the same time, Sapor, with extraordinary cun- 
 ning, being either humble or arrogant as best suited him, 
 under pretence of an intended alliance, sent secret mes- 
 sengers to Para to reproach him as neglectful of his own 
 dignity, since, with the appearance of royal majesty, he was 
 really the slave of Cylaces and Artabannes. On which 
 
 2 H
 
 466 AMMIANUS MARCELLINUS. [BK. XXVII. CH. xn. 
 
 Para, with great precipitation, cajoled them with caresses 
 till he got them in his power, and slew them, sending their 
 heads to Sapor in proof of his obedience. 
 
 15. When the death of these men became generally 
 known, it caused such dismay that Armenia would have 
 been ruined without striking a blow in its own defence, if 
 the Persians had not been so alarmed at the approach of 
 Arinthaeus that they forbore to invade it again, contenting 
 themselves with sending ambassadors to the emperor, 
 demanding of him not to defend that nation, according to 
 the agreement made between them and Jovian. 
 
 16. Their ambassadors were rejected, and Sauromaces, 
 who, as we have said before, had been expelled from the 
 kingdom of Hiberia, was sent back with twelve legions 
 under the command of Terentius ; and when he reached the 
 river C} 7 rus, Aspacuras entreated him that they might both 
 reign as partners, being cousins ; alleging that he could 
 not withdraw nor cross over to the side of the Eomans, 
 because his son Ultra was as a hostage in the hands of the 
 Persians. 
 
 17. The emperor learning this, in order by wisdom and 
 prudence to put an end to the difficulties arising out of 
 this affair, acquiesced in the division of Hiberia, allowing 
 the Cyrus to be the boundary of the two divisions : Sauro- 
 maces to have the portion next to the Armenians and 
 Lazians, and Aspacuras the districts which border on 
 Albania and Persia. 
 
 18. Sapor, indignant at this, exclaimed that he was un- 
 worthily treated, because we had assisted Armenia con- 
 trary to our treaty, and because the embassy had failed 
 which he had sent to procure redress, and because the 
 kingdom of Hiberia was divided without his consent or 
 privity ; and so, shutting as it were, the gates of friend- 
 ship, he sought assistance among the neighbouring nations, 
 and prepared his own army in order, with the return 
 of fine weather, to overturn all the arrangements which 
 the Eomans had made with a view to their own interests.
 
 A.D. 368.] 467 
 
 BOOK XXVIII. 
 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 I. Many persons, even senators and women of senatorial family, are 
 accused at Rome of poisonings, adultery, and debauchery, and are 
 punished. II. The Emperor Valentinian fortifies the whole Gallic 
 bank of the Rhine with forts, castles, and towers ; the Allemanni 
 slay the Romans who are constructing a fortification on the other 
 side of the Rhine. The Marathocrupeni, who are ravaging Syria, 
 are, by the command of Valens, destroyed with their children and 
 their town. EH. Theodosius restores the cities of Britain which 
 had been laid waste by the barbarians, repairs the fortresses, and 
 recovers the province of the island which is called Valentia. 
 IV. Concerning the administration of Olybrius and Ampelius as 
 prefects of the city : and concerning the vices of the Roman 
 senate and people. V. The Saxons, after a time, are circumvented 
 in Gaul by the manoeuvres of the Romans. Valentinian having 
 promised to unite his forces with them, sends the Burgundians to 
 invade Germany ; but they, finding themselves tricked and de- 
 ceived, put all their prisoners to the sword, and return home. 
 VI. The ravages inflicted in the province of Tripoli, and on the 
 people of Leptis and CEa, by the Asturians, are concealed from 
 Valentinian by the bad faith of the Roman count ; and so are not 
 properly avenged. 
 
 I. 
 
 A.D. 368. 
 
 1. WHILE the perfidy of the king was exciting these un- 
 expected troubles in Persia, as we have related above, and 
 while war was reviving in the east, sixteen years and rather 
 more after the death of Nepotianus, Bellona, raging through 
 the eternal city, destroyed everything, proceeding from 
 trifling beginnings to the most lamentable disasters. 
 Would that they could be buried in everlasting silence, 
 lest perhaps similar things may some day be again 
 attempted, which will do more harm by the general 
 example thus set than even by the misery they occasion. 
 
 2. And although after a careful consideration of diiferent 
 circumstances, a reasonable fear would restrain me from 
 giving a minute account of the bloody deeds now perpe- 
 trated, yet, relying on the moderation of the present age,
 
 468 AMJIIANUS MAUCELLIXUS. r Bn. XXVIII. CB. I. 
 
 I will briefly touch upon the things most deserving of 
 record, nor shall I regret giving a concise account of the 
 fears which the events that happened at a former period 
 caused me. 
 
 3. In the first Median war, when the Persians had 
 ravaged Asia, they laid siege to Miletus with a vast host, 
 threatening the garrison with torture and death, and at 
 last reduced the citizens to such straits, that they all, being 
 overwhelmed with the magnitude of their distresses, 
 slew their nearest relations, cast all their furniture and 
 movables into the fire, and then threw themselves in 
 rivalry with one another on the common funeral pile of 
 their perishing country. 
 
 4. A short time afterwards, Phrynichus made this event 
 the subject of a tragedy which he exhibited on the stage at 
 Athens ; and after he had been for a short time listened to 
 with complacency, when amid all its fine language the 
 tragedy became more and more distressing, it was con- 
 demned by the indignation of the people, who thought that 
 it was insulting to produce this as the subject of a 
 dramatic poem, and that it had been prompted not by a 
 wish to console, but only to remind them to their own 
 disgrace of the sufferings which that beautiful city had 
 endured without receiving any aid from its founder and 
 parent. For Miletus was a colony of the Athenians, and 
 had been established there among the other Ionian states 
 by Xeleus, the son of that Codrus who is said to have 
 devoted himself for his country in the Dorian war. 
 
 5. Let us now return to our subject. Maximinus, 
 formerly deputy prefect of Rome, was born in a very 
 obscure rank of life at Sopianae, a town of Valeria ; his 
 father being only a clerk in the president's office, descended 
 from the posterity of those Carpi whom Diocletian re- 
 moved from their ancient homes and transferred to 
 Pannonia. 
 
 6. After a slight study of the liberal sciences, and 
 some small practice at the bar, he was promoted to be 
 governor of Corsica, then of Sardinia, and ' at last of 
 Tuscany. From hence, as his successor loitered a long 
 while on his road, he proceeded to superintend the supply- 
 ing of the eternal city with provisions, still retaining 
 the government of the province ; and three different con-
 
 A.o. 368.] FEROCITY OF MAX1MIN. 469 
 
 siderations rendered him cautious on his first entrance into 
 office, namely : 
 
 7. In the first place, because he bore in mind the pre- 
 diction of his father, a man pre-eminently skilful in inter- 
 preting what was portended by birds from whom auguries 
 were taken, or by the note of such birds as spoke. And he 
 had warned him that though he would rise to supreme 
 authority, he would perish by the axe of the executioner ; 
 -secondly, because he had fallen in with a Sardinian (whom 
 he himself subsequently put to death by treacheiy, as 
 report generally affirmed) who was a man skilled in raising 
 up evil spirits, and in gathering presages from ghosts ; and 
 as long as that Sardinian lived, he, fearing to be betrayed, 
 was more tractable and mild ; lastly, because while he 
 was slowly making his way through inferior appointments, 
 like a serpent that glides underground, he was not yet of 
 power sufficient to perpetrate any extensive destruction or 
 executions. 
 
 8. But the origin of his arriving at more extensive 
 power lay in the following transaction : Chilo, who had 
 been deputy, and his wife, named Maxima, complained to 
 Olybrius, at that time prefect of the city, asserting that 
 their lives had been attacked by poison, and with such 
 earnestness that the men whom they suspected were at 
 once arrested and thrown into prison. These were Sericus, 
 a musician, Asbolius, a wrestling master, and Campensis, 
 a soothsayer. 
 
 9. But as the affair began to cool on account of the long- 
 continued violence of some illness with which Olybrius 
 was attacked, the persons who had laid the complaint, 
 becoming impatient of delay, presented a petition in 
 which they asked to have the investigation of their charge 
 referred to the superintendent of the corn-market ; and, 
 from a desire for a speedy decision, this request was 
 granted. 
 
 10. Now, therefore, that he had an opporttinity of doing 
 injury, Maximin displayed the innate ferocity which 
 was implanted in his cruel heart, just as wild beasts 
 exhibited in the amphitheatre often do when at length 
 released from their cages. And, as this affair was repre- 
 sented first in various ways, as if in a kind of prelude, and 
 
 persons with their sides lacerated named certain
 
 470 AMMIANUS MARCELLINUS. [BK. XXVIII. Cn. I. 
 
 nobles, as if by means of their clients and other low-born 
 persons known as criminals and informers, they had em- 
 ployed various artifices for injuring them. This infernal 
 delegate, carrying his investigations to an extravagant 
 length, presented a malicious report to the emperor, in 
 which he told him that such atrocious crimes as many 
 people had committed at Rome could not be investigated 
 nor punished without the severest penalties. 
 
 11. When the emperor learnt this he was exasperated 
 beyond measure, being rather a furious than a rigorous 
 enemy to vice ; and accordingly, by one single edict 
 applying to causes of this kind, which in his arrogance he 
 treated as if they partook of treason, he commanded that 
 all those whom the equity of the ancient law and the 
 judgment of the gods had exempted from examination by 
 torture, should, if the case seemed to require it, be put to 
 the rack. 
 
 12. And in order that the authority to be established, 
 by being doubled and raised to greater distinction, might 
 be able to heap up greater calamities, he appointed Maximin 
 pro-prefect at Rome, and gave him as colleague in the 
 prosecution of these inquiries, which were being prepared 
 for the ruin of many persons, a secretary named Leo, 
 who was afterwards master of the ceremonies. He was 
 by birth a Pannonian, and by occupation originally a 
 brigand, as savage as a wild beast, and insatiable of 
 human blood. 
 
 ] 3. The accession of a colleague so much like himself, 
 inflamed the cruel and malignant disposition of Maximin, 
 which was further encouraged by the commission which 
 conferred this dignity on them ; so that, flinging himself 
 about in his exultation, he seemed rather to dance than 
 to walk, while he studied to imitate the Brachmans who, 
 according to some accounts, move in the air amid the 
 altars. 
 
 14. And now the trumpets of intestine discords sounded, 
 while all men stood amazed at the atrocity of the things 
 which were done. Among which, besides many other cruel 
 and inhuman actions so various and so numerous that it is 
 impossible for me to relate them all, the death of Marinus, 
 the celebrated advocate, was especially remarkable. He 
 was condemned to death on a charge which was not even
 
 A.D. 368.] FEROCITY OF MAXIMIN. 471 
 
 attempted to be supported by evidence, of having en- 
 deavoured by wicked acts to compass a marriage with 
 Hispanilla. 
 
 15. And since I think that perhaps some persons may 
 read this history who, after careful investigation, will 
 object to it that such and such a thing was done before 
 another ; or again that this or that circumstance has been 
 omitted, I consider that I have inserted enough, because it 
 -is not every event which has been brought about by base 
 
 people that is worth recording ; nor, if it were neces- 
 sary to relate them all, would there be materials for such 
 an account, not even if the public records themselves were 
 examined, when so many atrocious deeds were common, 
 and when this new frenzy was throwing everything into 
 confusion without the slightest restraint ; and when what 
 was feared was evidently not a judicial trial but a total 
 cessation of all justice. 
 
 16. At this time, Cethegus, a senator, who was accused of 
 adultery, was beheaded, and a young man of noble birth, 
 named Alypius, who had been banished for some trivial 
 misconduct, with some other persons of low descent, were 
 all publicly executed ; while every one appeared in their 
 sufferings to see a representation of what they themselves 
 might expect, and dreamt of nothing but tortures, prisons, 
 and dark dungeons. 
 
 17. At the same time also, the aifair of Hymetius, a man 
 of very eminent character, took place, of which the circum- 
 stances were as follows. "When he was governing Africa as 
 pro-consul, and the Carthaginians were in extreme distress 
 for want of food, he supplied them with corn out of the 
 granaries destined for the Eoman people ; and shortly after- 
 wards, when there was a fine harvest, he without delay 
 fully replaced what he had thus consumed. 
 
 1 8. But as at the time of the scarcity ten bushels 
 had been sold to those who were in want for a piece of 
 gold, while he now bought thirty for the same sum, he 
 sent the profit derived from the difference in price to the 
 emperor's treasury. Therefore, Valentinian, suspecting 
 that there was not as much sent as there ought to have 
 been as the proceeds of this traffic, confiscated a portion of 
 his property. 
 
 19. And to aggravate the severity of this infliction,
 
 472 AMMIAXUS MARCELTJNUS. [Bif, XXVIII. CH. I. 
 
 another circumstance happened about the same time which 
 equally tended to his ruin. Amantius was a soothsayer 
 of pre-eminent celebrity at that period, arid having been 
 accused by some secret informer of being employed by this 
 same Hymetius to offer a sacrifice for some evil purpose, 
 he was brought before a court of justice and put to the 
 rack ; but in spite of all his tortures, he denied the charge 
 with steadfast resolution. 
 
 20. And as he denied it, some secret papers were brought 
 from his house, among which was found a letter in the 
 handwriting of Hymetius, in which he asked Amantius to 
 propitiate the gods by some solemn sacrifices to engage 
 them to make the disposition of the emperor favourable 
 to him; and at the end of the letter were found some 
 reproachful terms applied to the emperor as avaricious 
 and cruel. 
 
 21. Valentinian learnt these facts from the report of 
 some informers, who exaggerated the offence given, and with 
 very unnecessary vigour ordered an inquiry to be made 
 into the affair; and because Frontinus, the assessor of 
 Hymetius, was accused of having been the instrument of 
 drawing up this letter, he was scourged with rods till he 
 confessed, and then he was condemned to exile in Britain. 
 But Amantius was subsequently convicted of some capital 
 crimes and was executed. 
 
 22. After these transactions, Hymetius was conducted 
 to the town of Otricoli, to be examined by Ampelius, the 
 prefect of the city, and deputy of Maximin ; and when 
 he was on the point of being condemned, as was manifest 
 to every one, he judiciously seized an opportunity that 
 was afforded to him of appealing to the protection of the 
 emperor, and being protected by his name, he came off for 
 the time in safety. 
 
 23. The emperor, however, when he was consulted on 
 the matter, remitted it to the senate, who examined into 
 the whole affair with justice, and banished him to Boa3, a 
 village in Dalmatia, for which they were visited with 
 the wrath of tke emperor, who was exceedingly enraged 
 when he heard that a man whom in his own mind he 
 had condemned to death had been let off with a milder 
 punishment. 
 
 24. These and similar transactions led every one to fear
 
 A.D. 368.] CONDUCT OF MAXIMIN. 473 
 
 that the treatment thus experienced by a few was intended 
 for all : and that these evils should not, by being con- 
 cealed, grow greater and greater till they reached an 
 intolerable height, the nobles sent a deputation consisting 
 of Prsetextatus, formerly a prefect of the city, Venustus, 
 formerly deputy, and Minervius, who had been a consular 
 governor, to entreat the emperor not to allow the punish- 
 ments to exceed the offences, and not to permit any 
 enator to be exposed to the torture in an unprecedented 
 and unlawful manner. 
 
 25. But when these envoys were admitted into the 
 council chamber, Valentinian denied that he had ever given 
 such orders, and insisted that the charges made against him 
 were calumnies. He was, however, refuted with great 
 moderation by the praetor Eupraxius ; and in consequence 
 of this freedom, the cruel injunction that had been issued, 
 and which had surpassed all previous examples of cruelty, 
 was amended. 
 
 26. About the same time, Lollianus, a youth of tender 
 age, the son of Lampadius, who had been prefect, being 
 accused before Maximin, who investigated his case with 
 great care, and being convicted of having copied out a 
 book on the subject of the unlawful acts (though, as his 
 age made it likely, without any definite plan of using it), 
 was, it seemed, on the point of being sentenced to banish- 
 ment, when, at the suggestion of his father, he appealed 
 to the emperor ; and being by his order brought to court, 
 it appeared that he had, as the proverb has it, gone from 
 the frying-pan into the fire, as he was now handed over to 
 Phalangius, the consular governor of Baetica, and put to 
 death by the hand of the executioner. 
 
 27. There were also Tarratius Bassus, who afterwards 
 became prefect of the city, his brother Camenius, a man of 
 the name of Marcian, and Eusapius, all men of great 
 eminence, who were prosecuted on the ground of having 
 protected the charioteer Auchenius, and being his accom- 
 plices in the act of poisoning. The evidence was very 
 doubtful, and they were acquitted by the decision of 
 Victorinus, as general report asserted ; Victorinus being a 
 most intimate friend of Maximin. 
 
 28. Women too were equally exposed to similar treat- 
 ment. For many of this sex also, and of noble birth, were
 
 474 AMMIANUS MARCELLINUS. [BK. XXVIII. Cir. I. 
 
 put to death on being convicted of adultery or unchastity, 
 The most notorious cases were those of Claritas and 
 Flaviana; the first of whom, when conducted to death, 
 was stripped of the clothes which she wore, not even 
 being permitted to retain enough to cover her with bare 
 decency ; and for this the executioner also was con- 
 victed of having committed a great crime, and burnt to 
 death. 
 
 29. Paphius and Cornelius, both senators, confessed that 
 they had polluted themselves by the wicked practice of 
 poisoning, and were put to death by the sentence of Maxi- 
 min ; and by a similar sentence the master of the mint was 
 executed. He also condemned Sericus and Asbolius, who 
 have been mentioned before ; and because while exhorting 
 them to name any others who occurred to them, he had 
 promised them with an oath that they should not them- 
 selves be punished either by fire or sword, he had them 
 slain by violent blows from balls of lead. After this he also 
 burnt alive Campensis the soothsayer, not having in his 
 case bound himself by any oath or promise. 
 
 30. Here it is in my opinion convenient to explain the 
 cause which brought Aginatius headlong to destruction, a 
 man ennobled by a long race of ancestors, as unvarying 
 tradition affirms, though no proof of his ancestral renown 
 was ever substantiated. 
 
 31. Maximin, full of pride and arrogance, and being 
 then also prefect of the corn-market, and having many en- 
 couragements to audacity, proceeded so far as to show his 
 contempt for Probus, the most illustrious of all the nobles, 
 and who was governing the provinces with the authority 
 of prefect of the prajtorium. 
 
 32. Aginatius, being indignant at this, and feeling it a 
 hardship that in the trial of causes Olybrius had preferred 
 Maximin to himself, while he was actually deputy at liome, 
 secretly informed Probus in private letters that the arro- 
 gant and foolish man who had thus set himself against his 
 loft}' merits, might easily be put down if he thought fit. 
 
 33. These letters, as some affirm, Probus sent to 
 Maximin, hardened as he was in wickedness, because he 
 feared his influence with the emperor ; letting none but 
 the bearer know the business. And when he had read 
 them, the cruel Maximin became furious, and henceforth
 
 A.D. 363.] CONDUCT OF MAXIMIN. 475 
 
 set all his engines at work to destroy Aginatius, like a 
 serpent that had been bruised by some one whom it 
 knew. 
 
 34. There was another still more powerful cause for in- 
 triguing against him, which ultimately became his destruc- 
 tion. For he charged Victorinus, who was dead, and from 
 whom he had received a very considerable legacy, with 
 having while alive made money of the decrees of Maximin ; 
 and with similar maliciousness he had also threatened his 
 wife Anepsia with a lawsuit. 
 
 35. Anepsia, alarmed at this, and to support herself 
 by the aid of Maximin, pretended that her husband in a 
 will which he had recently made, had left him three 
 thousand pounds weight of silver. He, full of covetous- 
 ness, for this too was one of his vices, demanded half the 
 inheritance, and afterwards, not being contented with that, 
 as if it were hardly sufficient, he contrived another device 
 which he looked upon as both honourable and safe ; and 
 not to lose his hold of the handle thus put in his way 
 for obtaining a large estate, he demanded the daughter of 
 Anepsia, who was the stepdaughter of Victorinus, as a wife 
 for his son ; and this marriage was quickly arranged with 
 the consent of the woman. 
 
 36. Through these and other atrocities equally lamentable, 
 which threw a gloom over the whole of the eternal city, 
 this man, never to be named without a groan, grew by the 
 ruin of numerous other persons, and began to stretch out 
 his hands beyond the limits of lawsuits and trials : for it is 
 said that he had a small cord always suspended from a 
 remote window of the praetorium, the end of which had a 
 loop which was easily drawn tight, by means of which he 
 received secret informations supported by no evidence or 
 testimony, but capable of being used to the ruin of many 
 innocent persons. And he used often to send his officers, 
 Mucianus and Barbarus, men fit for any deceit or treachery, 
 secretly out of his house. 
 
 37. Who then, as if bewailing some hardship which as 
 they pretended had fallen upon them, and exaggerating 
 the cruelty of the judge, with constant repetition assured 
 those who really lay under execution that there was no 
 remedy by which they could save themselves except that 
 of advancing heavy accusation against men of high rank ;
 
 476 AMMIANUS MARCELLINUS. [Bit. XXVIII. CH. i. 
 
 because if such men were involved in such accusations, 
 they themselves would easily procure an acquittal. 
 
 38. In this way, Maximin's implacable temper over- 
 whelmed those yet in his power ; numbers were thrown 
 into prison, and persons of the highest rank were seen with 
 anxious faces and in mourning attire. Nor ought any one 
 of them to be blamed for bowing down to the ground in 
 saluting this monster, when they heard him vociferating 
 with the tone of a wild beast, that no one could ever be 
 acquitted unless he choose. 
 
 39. For sayings like that, when instantly followed by 
 their natural result, would have terrified even men like 
 Numa, Pompilius, or Cato. In fact things went on in such a 
 way that some persons never had their eyes dried of the 
 tears caused by the misfortunes of others, as often happens 
 in such unsettled and dangerous times. 
 
 40. And the iron- hearted judge, continually disregarding 
 all law and justice, had but one thing about him which 
 made him endurable ; for sometimes he was prevailed upon 
 by entreaties to spare some one, though this too is affirmed 
 to be nearly a vice in the following passage of Cicero. 
 " If anger be implacable, it is the extreme of seve- 
 rity ; if it yield to entreaties, it is the extreme of levity ; 
 though in times of misfortune even levity is to be preferred 
 to crueltjr." 
 
 41. After these events, Leo arrived, and was received as 
 his successor, and Maximin was summoned to the emperor's 
 court and promoted to the office of prefect of the prsetorium, 
 where he was as cruel as ever, having indeed greater power 
 of inflicting injury, like a basilisk serpent. 
 
 42. Just at this time, or not long before, the brooms with 
 which the senate-house of the robles was swept out were 
 seen to flower, and this portended that some persons of the 
 very lowest class would be raised to high rank and power. 
 
 43. Though it is now time to return to the course of our 
 regular history, yet without neglecting the proper order of 
 time, we must dwell on a few incidents, which through 
 the iniquity of the deptity prefects of the city, were done 
 most unjustly, being in fact done at the word and will of 
 Maximin by those same officers, who seemed to look on 
 themselves as the mere servants of his pleasure. 
 
 44. After him came Ursicinus, a man of a more merciful
 
 A.1X3B8.] CRUELTY OF SIMPLICIUS. 477 
 
 disposition, who, wishing to act cautiously and in confor- 
 mity to the constitution, confronted a man named Esaias 
 with some others who were in prison on a charge of 
 adultery with Eufina ; who had attempted to establish a 
 charge of treason against Marcellus her husband, formerly 
 in a situation of high trust. But this act led to his being 
 despised as a dawdler, and a person little tit to carry out 
 such designs with proper resolution, and so he was removed 
 ~Trom his place of deputy. 
 
 45. He was succeeded by Simplicius of Emona, who had 
 been a schoolmaster, but was now the assessor of Maximin. 
 After receiving this appointment, he did not grow more 
 proud or arrogant, but assumed a supercilious look, which 
 gave a repulsive expression to his countenance. His 
 language was studiously moderate, while he meditated the 
 most rigorous proceedings against many persons. And 
 first of all he put Eufina to death with all the partners of 
 her adultery, and all who were privy to it, concerning 
 whom Ursicinus, as we have related, had already made a 
 report. Then he put numbers of others to death, without 
 any distinction between the innocent and the guilty, 
 
 46. Eunning a race of bloodshed with Maximin, as if he 
 had, as it were, been his leader, he sought to surpass him 
 in destroying the noblest families, imitating Busiris and 
 Antaeus of old, and Phalaris, so that he seemed to want 
 nothing but the bull of Agrigentum. 
 
 47. After these and other similar transactions had taken 
 place, a certain matron named Hesychia, who was accused 
 of having attempted some crime, becoming greatly alarmed, 
 and being of a fierce and resolute disposition, killed herself 
 in the house of the officer to whom she was given in 
 custody, by muffling her face in a bed of feathers, and 
 stopping up her nostrils and so becoming suffocated. 
 
 48. To all these calamities another of no less severity 
 was added. For Eumenius and Abienus, two men of the 
 highest class, having been accused, during Maximin's term 
 of office, of adultery with Fausiana, a woman of rank, after 
 the death of Victorinus, under whose protection they were 
 safe, being alarmed at the arrival of Simplicius, who was 
 as full of audacity and threats as Maximin, withdrew to 
 some secret hiding-place.
 
 478 AMMIANUS MARCELLINUS. [B K . XXVIII. Cn. I. 
 
 49. But after Fausiana had been condemned they were 
 recorded among the accused, and were summoned by 
 public edict to appear, but they only hid themselves 
 the more carefully. And Abrenus was for a very long 
 time concealed in the house of Anepsia. But as it con- 
 tinually happens that unexpected accidents come to aggra- 
 vate the distresses of those who are already miserable, a 
 slave of Anepsia named Apaudulus, being angry because 
 his wife had been flogged, went by night to Simplicius, 
 and gave information of the whole aifair, and officers 
 were sent to drag them both from their place of conceal- 
 ment. 
 
 50. The charge against Abrenus wag strengthened by 
 another charge which was brought against him, of having 
 seduced Anepsia, and he was condemned to death. But 
 Anepsia herself, to get some hope of saving her life by at 
 least procuring the delay of her execution, affirmed that 
 she had been assailed by unlawful arts, and had been 
 ravished in the house of Aginatius. 
 
 51. Simplicius with loud indignation reported to the 
 emperor all that had taken place, and as Maximin, 
 who was now at court, hated Aginatius for the reason 
 which we have already explained, and having his rage 
 increased against him at the same time that his power was 
 augmented, entreated with great urgency that he might be 
 sentenced to death ; and such a favour was readily granted 
 to this furious and influential exciter of the emperor's 
 severity. 
 
 52. Then fearing the exceeding unpopularity which 
 would fall upon him if a man of patrician family should 
 perish by the sentence of Simplicius, who was his new 
 assessor and friend, he kept the imperial edict for the 
 execution by him for a short time, wavering and doubting 
 whom to pitch upon as a trusty and efficient perpetrator of 
 so atrocious a deed. 
 
 53. At length, as like usually finds like, a certain 
 Gaul of the name of Doryphorianus was discovered, a 
 man daring even to madness ; and as he promised to 
 accomplish the matter in a short time, he obtained for him 
 the post of deputy, and gave him the emperor's letter with 
 an additional rescript; instructing the man, who though
 
 A.i>. 368.] CONDUCT OP DORYPHORIANtJS. 479 
 
 savage had no experience in such matters, how, if he used 
 sufficient speed, he would meet with no obstacle to his slay- 
 ing Aginatius ; though, if there were any delay, he would 
 be very likely to escape. 
 
 54. Doryphorianus, as he was commanded, hastened to 
 Koine by rapid journeys ; and while beginning to discharge 
 the duties of his new office, he exerted great industry to 
 discover how he could put a senator of eminent family to 
 
 Heath without any assistance. And when he learnt that 
 he had been some time before found in his own house 
 where he was still kept in custody, he determined to have 
 him brought before him as the chief of all the criminals, 
 with Anepsia, in the middle of the night; an hour at 
 which men's minds are especially apt to be bewildered by 
 terror ; as, among many other instances, the Ajax of 
 Homer 1 shows us, when he expresses a wish rather to die 
 by daylight, than to suffer the additional terrors of the 
 night. 
 
 55. And as the judge, I should rather call him the 
 infamous robber, intent only on the service he had pro- 
 mised to perform, carried everything to excess, having 
 ordered Aginatius to be brought in, he also commanded the 
 introduction of a troop of executioners ; and while the 
 chains rattled with a mournful sound, he torttired the slaves 
 who were already exhausted by their long confinement, till 
 they died, in order to extract from them matter affecting 
 the life of their master ; a proceeding which in a trial for 
 adultery our merciful laws expressly forbids. 
 
 56. At last, when the tortures which were all but mortal 
 had wrung some hints from the maid-servant, without any 
 careful examination of the truth of her words, Aginatius 
 was at once sentenced to be led to execution, and without 
 being allowed to say a word in his defence, though with 
 
 1 See the Iliad, XVIII. 1. 645, where Ajax prays : 
 
 " Lord of earth and air, 
 King ! Father, hear my humble prayer ! 
 Dispel this cloud, the light of heaven restore ; 
 Give me to see, and Ajax asks no more ! 
 If Greece must perish, we thy will obey, 
 But let us perish in the face of day." 
 
 POPE'S Trans., 1. 727, etc.
 
 480 AMM1ANUS MARCELLINUS. [BK.XXVIII.CH.il 
 
 loud outcries he appealed to and invoked the names of the 
 emperors, he was earned off and put to death, and Anepsia 
 was executed by a similar sentence. The eternal city was 
 filled with mourning for these executions which were per- 
 petrated either by Maximin himself when he was present 
 in the city, or by his emissaries when he was at a dis- 
 tance. 
 
 57. But the avenging Furies of those who had been 
 murdered were preparing retribution. For, as I will after- 
 wards relate at the proper season, this same Maximin 
 giving way to his intolerable pride when Gratian was 
 emperor, was put to death by the sword of the executioner ; 
 and Simplicius also was beheaded in Illyricum. Dorypho- 
 rianus too was condemned to death, and thrown into the 
 Tullian prison, but was taken from thence by the emperor 
 at his mother's suggestion, and when he was brought 
 back to his own country was put to death with terrible 
 torments. Let us now return to the point at which we 
 left our history. Such, however, was the state of affairs in 
 the city of Rome. 
 
 II. 
 
 A.D. 369. 
 
 1. VALENTINIAN having several great and useful pro- 
 jects in his head, began to fortify the entire banks of the 
 Rhine, from its beginning in the Tyrol to the straits of 
 the ocean, 1 with vast works ; raising lofty castles and 
 fortresses, and a perfect range of towers in every 
 suitable place, so as to protect the whole frontier of Gaul ; 
 and sometimes, by constructing works on the other side 
 of the river, he almost trenched upon the territories of the 
 enemy. 
 
 2. At last considering that one fortress, of which he 
 himself had laid the very foundations, though tmfficiently 
 high and safe, yet, being built on the very edge of the 
 river Neckar, was liable to be gradually undermined by 
 the violent beating of its waters, he formed a plan to 
 divert the river itself into another channel ; and, having 
 sought out some workmen who were skilful in such works 
 
 1 See Gibbon, vol. III. p. 97 (Bolms edition).
 
 A.:\ 369.1 PROGRESS OF THE ROMANS. 481 
 
 and collected a strong military force, lie began that arduous 
 labour. 
 
 3. Day after day large masses of oaken beams were 
 fastened together, and thrown into the channel, and by 
 them huge piles were continually fixed and unfixed, being all 
 thrown into disorder by the rising of the stream, and after- 
 wards they were broken and carried away by the current. 
 
 4. However, the resolute diligence of the emperor and 
 the labour of the obedient soldiery prevailed ; though the 
 troops were often up to their chins in the water while 
 at work ; and at last, though not without considerable 
 risk, the fixed camp was protected against all danger from 
 the violence of the current, and is still safe and strong. 
 
 5. Joyful and exulting in this success, the emperor, per- 
 ceiving that the weather and the season of the year did 
 not allow him any other occupation, like a good and active 
 prince began to apply his attention to the general affairs 
 of the republic. And thinking the time very proper for 
 completing one work which he had been meditating, he 
 began with all speed to raise a fortification on the other 
 side of the Ehine, on Mount Piri, a spot which belongs to 
 the barbarians. And as rapidity of action was one great 
 means of executing 'this design with safety, he sent orders 
 to the Duke Arator, through Syagrius, who was then a 
 secretary, but who afterwards became prefect and consul, 
 to attempt to make himself master of this height in the 
 dead of the night. 
 
 6. The duke at once crossed over with the secretary, as 
 he was commanded ; and was beginning to employ the 
 soldiers whom he had brought with him to dig out the 
 foundations, when he received a successor, Hermogenes. 
 At the very same moment there arrived some nobles of the 
 Alleinanni, fathers of the hostages, whom, in accordance 
 with our treaty, we were detaining as important pledges 
 for the long continuance of the peace. 
 
 7. And they, with bended knees entreated him not to 
 let the Romans, with an improvident disregard of all 
 safety (they whose fortune their everlasting good faith 
 had raised to the skies), now be misled by a base error to 
 trample all former agreements under foot, and attempt an 
 act unworthy of them. 
 
 8. But since it was to no piirpose that they used these 
 
 2 i
 
 482 AMMIANUS MARCELUXUS. [BK.XXVIH.Cn.il. 
 
 and similar arguments, as they were not listened to, arid 
 finding that they had no chance of a conciliatory answer, 
 they reluctantly returned, bewailing the loss of their sons ; 
 and when they were gone, from a secret hiding-place 
 in a neighbouring hill a troop of barbarians sprang forth, 
 waiting, as far as was understood, for the answer which 
 was to be given to the nobles ; and attacking our half- 
 naked soldiers, who were carrying loads of earth, drew 
 their swords and quickly slew them, and with them the 
 two generals. 
 
 9. Nor was any one left to relate what had happened, 
 except Syagrius, who, after they were all destroyed returned 
 to the court, where by the sentence of his offended emperor 
 he was dismissed the service ; on which he retired to his 
 own home; being judged by the severe decision of the 
 prince to have deserved this sentence because he was the 
 only one who escaped. 
 
 10. Meanwhile the wicked fury of bands of robbers 
 raged through Gaul to the injury of many persons ; since 
 they occupied the most frequented roads, and without any 
 hesitation seized upon everything valuable which came in 
 their way. Besides many other persons who were the 
 victims of these treacherous attacks, Constantianus, the 
 tribune of the stable, was attacked by a secret ambus- 
 cade and slain ; he was a relation of Valentinian, and the 
 brother of Cerealis and Justina. 
 
 11. In other countries, as if the Furies were stirring up 
 -similiar evils to afflict us on every side, the Maratocupreni, 
 
 those most cruel banditti, spread their ravages in every 
 direction. They were the natives of a town of the same 
 name in Syria, near Apamea; very numerous, mar- 
 vellously skilful in every kind of deceit, and an object of 
 universal fear, because, under the character of merchants 
 or soldiers of high rank, they spread themselves quietly 
 over the country, and then pillaged all the wealthy houses, 
 villages, and towns which came in their way. 
 
 12. Nor could any one guard against their unexpected 
 attacks ; since they fell not upon any previously selected 
 victim, but in places in various parts, and at great dis- 
 tances, and carried their devastations wherever the wind 
 led them. For which reason the Saxons were feared 
 beyond all other enemies, because of the suddenness of
 
 *.i>. 369.] MEASURES OF THEODOSIUS. 483 
 
 their attacks. They then, in bands of sworn comrades, 
 destroyed the riches of many persons ; and being under the 
 impulse of absolute fury, they committed the most mournful 
 slaughters, being not less greedy of blood than of booty. 
 Nevertheless, that I may not, by entering into too minute 
 details, impede the progress of my history, it will be suffi- 
 cient to relate one destructive device of theirs. 
 
 13. A body of these wicked men assembled in one place, 
 pretending to be the retinue of a receiver of the revenue, or 
 of the governor of the province. In the darkness of the 
 evening they entered the city, while the crier made a 
 mournful proclamation, and attacked with swords the house 
 of one of the nobles, as if he had been proscribed and 
 sentenced to death. They seized all his valuable furni- 
 ture, because his servants, being utterly bewildered by the 
 suddenness of the danger, did not defend the house ; they 
 slew several of them, and then before the return of day- 
 light withdrew with great speed. 
 
 14. But being loaded with a great quantity of plunder, 
 since from their love of booty they had left nothing 
 behind, they were intercepted by a movement of the em- 
 peror's troop, and were cut oif and all slain to a man. 
 And their children, who were at the time very young, 
 were also destroyed to prevent their growing up in 
 the likeness of their fathers ; and their houses which 
 they had built with great splendour at the expense of 
 the misery of others, were all pulled down. These 
 things happened in the order in which they have been 
 related. 
 
 III. 
 
 1 . BUT Theodosius, a general of very famous reputation, 
 departed in high spirits from Augusta, which the ancients 
 used to call Londinium, with an army which he had col- 
 lected with great energy and skill ; bringing a mighty aid 
 to the embarrassed and disturbed fortunes of the Britons. 
 His plan was to seek everywhere favourable situations for 
 laying ambuscades for the barbarians ; and to impose no 
 duties on his troops of the performance of which he did not 
 himself cheerfully set the example. 
 
 2. And in this way, while he performed the duties of a
 
 484 AMJIIANUS MARCELL1SUS. [BK.XXVIII.CH.nl. 
 
 gallant soldier, and showed at the same time the prudence 
 of an illustrious general, be routed and vanquished the 
 various tribes in whom their past security had engendered 
 an insolence which led them to attack the Eoman terri- 
 tories ; and he entirely restored the cities and the fortresses 
 which through the manifold disasters of the time had been 
 injured or destroyed, though they had been originally 
 founded to secure the tranquillity of the country. 
 
 3. But while he was pursuing this career, a great crime 
 was planned which was likely to have resulted in serious 
 danger, if it had not been crushed at the very beginning. 
 
 4. A certain man named Valentine, in Valeria of 
 Fannonia, a man of a proud spirit, the brother-in-law of 
 Maximin, that wicked and cruel deputy, who afterwards 
 became prefect, having been banished to Britain for some 
 grave crime, and being a restless and mischievous beast, 
 was eager for any kind of revolution or mischief, began to 
 plot with great insolence against Theodosius, whom he 
 looked upon as the only person with power to resist his 
 wicked enterprise. 
 
 5. But while both openly and privily taking many pre- 
 cautions, as his pride and covetousness increased, he began 
 to tamper with the exiles and the soldiers, promising them 
 rewards sufficient to tempt them as far at least as the cir- 
 cumstances and his enterprise would permit. 
 
 G. But when the time for putting his attempt into 
 execution drew near, the duke, who had received from 
 some trustworthy quarter information of what was going 
 on, being always a man inclined to a bold line of conduct, 
 and resolutely bent on chastising crimes when detected, 
 seized Valentine with a few of his accomplices who were 
 most deeply implicated, and handed them over to the general 
 Dulcitius to be put to death. But at the same time con- 
 jecturing the future, through that knowledge of the soldiers 
 in which he surpassed other men, he forbade the institution 
 of any examination into the conspiracy generally, lest if 
 the fear of such an investigation should afi'ect many, fresh 
 troubles might revive in the province. 
 
 7. After this he turned his attention to make many 
 necessary amendments, feeling wholly free from any 
 danger in such attempts, since it was plain that all his 
 enterprises were attended by a propitious fortune. So
 
 A.D. 369.] SUCCESS OF THEODOSIUS. 485 
 
 he restored cities and fortresses, as we have already men- 
 tioned, and established stations and outposts on our fron- 
 tiers ; and ho so completely recovered the province which 
 had yielded subjection to the enemy, that through his 
 agency it was again brought under the authority of its 
 legitimate ruler, and from that time forth was called 
 Valentia, by desire of the emperor, as a memorial of his 
 success. 
 
 ~* "8. The Areans, a class of men instituted in former 
 times, and of whom we have already made some mention 
 in recording the acts of Constans, had now gradually fallen 
 into bad practices, for which he removed them from their 
 stations ; in fact they had been undeniably convicted of 
 yielding to the temptation of the great rewards which 
 were given and promised to them, so as to have con- 
 tinually betrayed to the barbarians what was done among 
 us. For their business was to traverse vast districts, and 
 report to our generals the warlike movements of the 
 neighbouring nations. 
 
 9. In this manner the affairs which I have already 
 mentioned, and others like them, having been settled, he 
 was summoned to the court, and leaving the provinces in 
 a state of exultation, like another Furius Camillus or 
 Papirius Cursor, he was celebrated everywhere for his 
 numerous and important victories. He was accompanied 
 by a large crowd of well-wishers to the coast, and crossing 
 over with a fair wind, arrived at the emperor's camp, 
 where he was received with joy and high praise, and 
 appointed to succeed Valens Jovinus, who was commander 
 of the cavalry. 
 
 IV. 
 
 1. I HAVE thus made a long and extensive digression 
 from the affairs of the city, being constrained by the 
 abundance of events which took place abroad ; and now I 
 will return to give a cursory sketch of them, beginning 
 with the tranquil and moderate exercise of the prefect's 
 authority by Olybrius, who never forgot the rights of 
 humanity, but was continually anxious and careful that no 
 word or deed of his should ever be harsh or cruel. He 
 was a merciless punisher of calumnies ; he restrained the 
 exactions of the treasury wherever he could; he was a
 
 486 A^JMIANCS MARCELLIXUS. [BK. XXVIII. CH. iv. 
 
 careful discriminator of right and wrong ; an equitaLle 
 judge, and very gentle towards those placed under his 
 authority. 
 
 2. But all these good qualities were clouded by one 
 vice which, though not injurious to the commonwealth, 
 was very discreditable to a judge of high rank ; namely, 
 that his private life was one of great luxury, devoted 
 to theatrical exhibitions, and to amours, though not such 
 as were either infamous or incestuous. 
 
 3. After him Ampelius succeeded to the government 
 of the city; he also was a man addicted to pleasiire, a 
 native of Antioch, and one who from having been master 
 of the offices was twice promoted to a proconsulship, 
 and sometime afterwards to that supreme rank, the prefec- 
 ture. In other respects he was a cheerful man, and one 
 admirably suited to win the favour of the people ; though 
 sometimes over-severe, without being as firm in his pur- 
 poses as might have been wished. Had he been, he would 
 have corrected, though perhaps not effectually, the glut- 
 tonous and debauched habits which prevailed ; but, as it 
 was, by his laxity of conduct, he lost a glory which other- 
 wise might have been enduring. 
 
 4. For he had determined that no wine-shop should be 
 opened before the fourth hour of the day ; and that none 
 of the common people, before a certain fixed hour, should 
 either warm water or expose dressed meat for sale ; and 
 that no one of respectable rank should be seen eating in 
 public. 
 
 o. Since these unseemly practices, and others still 
 worse, owing to long neglect and connivance, had grown 
 so frequent that even Epimenides of Crete, if, according to 
 the fabulous story, he could have risen from the dead and 
 returned to our times, would have been unable by himself 
 to purify Home ; such deep stains of incurable vices over- 
 whelmed it. 
 
 6. And in the first place we will speak of the faults of 
 the nobles, as we have already repeatedly done as far as 
 our space permitted ; and then we will proceed to the 
 faults of the common people, touching, however, only 
 briefly and rapidly on either. 
 
 7. Some men, conspicuous for the illustriousness of their 
 ancestry as they think, gave themselves immoderate
 
 A.B. 369.J FAULTS OF THE KOBLES. 487 
 
 airs, and call themselves Reburri, and Fabunii, and 
 Pagonii, and Geriones, Dalii, Tarracii, or Perrasii, and 
 other finely-sounding appellations, indicating the antiquity 
 of their family. 
 
 8. Some also are magnificent in silken robes, as if they 
 were being led to execution, or, to speak without words 
 of so unfavourable an omen, as if after the army had 
 passed they were bringing up the rear, and are followed 
 oy a vast troop of servants, with a din like that of a com- 
 pany of soldiers. 
 
 9. Such men when, while followed by fifty servants- 
 apiece, they have entered the baths, cry out with threaten- 
 ing voice, " Where are my people V" And if they sud- 
 denly find out that any unknown female slave has appeared, 
 or any worn-out courtesan who has long been subservient 
 to the pleasures of the townspeople, they run up, as if to 
 win a race, and patting and caressing her with dis- 
 gusting and unseemly blandishments, they extol her, as 
 the Parthians might praise Semiramis, Egypt her Cleo- 
 patra, the Carians Artemisia, or the Palmyrene citizens 
 Zenobia. And men do this, whose ancestor, even though 
 a senator, would have been branded with a mark of infamy 
 because he dared, at an unbecoming time, to kiss his wife 
 in the presence of their common daughter. 
 
 10. Some of these, when any one meets and begins to 
 salute them, toss their heads like bulls preparing to butt, 
 offering their flatterers their knees or hands to kiss, think- 
 ing that quite enough for their perfect happiness; while 
 they deem it sufficient attention and civility to a stranger 
 who may happen to have laid them under some obligation 
 to ask him what warm or cold bath he frequents, or what 
 house he lives in. 
 
 11. And while they are so solemn, looking upon them- 
 selves as especial cultivators of virtue, if they learn that 
 any one has brought intelligence that any tine horses or 
 skilful coachmen are coming from any place, they rush 
 with as much haste to see them, examine them, and put 
 questions concerning them, as their ancestors showed on 
 beholding the twin-brothers Tyndaridse, 1 when they filled 
 
 1 This is an allusion to the story of Castor and Pollux bringing nevra 
 of the victory gained at the battle of Eegillus to Domitius (B.C. 496). 
 The legend adds that they stroked his black beard, which immediately
 
 488 AMMIAXU3 JIARCELL1XUS. [BK. XXVIII. CH. iv 
 
 the whole city with joy by the announcement of that an- 
 cieiit victory. 
 
 12. A number of idle chatterers frequent their houses, 
 and, with various pretended modes of adulation, applaud 
 every word uttered by men of sucli high fortune ; resem- 
 bling the parasites in a comedy, for as they puff up bragging 
 soldiers, attributing to them, as rivals of the heroes of old, 
 sieges of cities, and battles, and the death of thousands of 
 enemies, so these men admire the construction of the lofty 
 pillars, and the walls inlaid with stones of carefully ch< 
 colours, and extol these grandees with superhuman praises. 
 
 13. Sometimes scales are sent for at their entertain- 
 ments to weigh the fish, or the birds, or the dormice 
 which are set on the table ; and then the size of them is 
 dwelt on over and over again, to the great weariness of 
 those present, as something never seen before ; especially 
 when near thirty secretaries stand by, with tablets and 
 memorandum books, to record all these circumstances ; so 
 that nothing seems to be wanting but a schoolmaster. 
 
 14. Some of them, hating learning as they hate poison, 
 read Juvenal and Marius Maximus 1 with tolerably careful 
 study ; though, in their profound laziness, they never touch 
 any other volumes ; why, it does not belong to my poor 
 judgment to decide. 
 
 15. For, in consideration of their great glories and long 
 pedigrees, they ought to read a great variety of book;-; ; 
 in which, for instance, they might learn that Socrates, 
 when condemned to death and thrown into prison, a.sked 
 some one who was playing a song of the Greek poet 
 Ste.sichorus with great skill, to teach him also to do that, 
 while it was still in his power ; and when the musician 
 asked him of what use this skill could be to him, as he 
 was to die the next day, he answered, " that I may know 
 something more before I die." 
 
 16. And there are among them some who are such severe 
 judges of offences, that if a slave is too long in bringing 
 them hot water, they will order him to be scourged with 
 three hundred stripes ; but should he intentionally L 
 
 became red ; from which he and his posterity derived the surname of 
 ^Eaobarbus. See Dion. H;il. vi. 13. 
 
 1 Marius Maximus was an author who wrote an account of the lives 
 of the Cifisurs.
 
 A-D. 369.] PRIDE OF THE NOBLES. 489 
 
 killed a man, while numbers insist that he ought to be 
 unhesitatingly condemned as guilty, his master will exclaim, 
 " What can the poor wretch do ? what can one expect 
 from a good-for-nothing fellow like that?" But should 
 any one else venture to do anything of the kind, he 
 would be corrected. 
 
 17. Their ideas of civility are such that a stranger had 
 better kill a man's brother than send an excuse to them if he 
 tfc asked to dinner ; for a senator fancies that he has suffered 
 a terrible grievance, equal to the loss of his entire patri- 
 mony, if any guest be absent, whom, after repeated deli- 
 berations, he has once invited. 
 
 18. Some of them, if they have gone any distance to see 
 their estates in the country, or to hunt at a meeting col- 
 lected for their amusement by others, think they have 
 equalled the marches of Alexander the Great, or of Caesar ; 
 or if they have gone in some painted boats from Lake 
 Avemus to Pozzuoli or Cajeta, especially if they have 
 ventured on such an exploit in warm weather, Where 
 if, amid their golden fans, a fly should perch on the silken 
 fringes, or if a slender ray of the sun should have pierced 
 through a hole in their awning, they complain that they 
 were not born among the Cimmerians. 
 
 19. Then, when they come from the bath of Silvanus, or 
 the waters of Mamaea, which are so good for the health, 
 after they come out of the water, and have wiped themselves 
 with cloths of the finest linen, they open the presses, and 
 take out of them robes so delicate as to be transparent, 
 selecting them with care, till they have got enough to 
 clothe eleven persons ; and at length, after they have 
 picked out all they choose, they wrap themselves up in them, 
 and take the rings which they had given to their attendants 
 to hold, that they might not be injured by the damp ; and 
 then they depart when their fingers are properly cooled. 
 
 20. Again, if any one having lately quitted the military 
 service of the emperor, has retired to his home. 1 . . . 
 
 21. Some of them, though not many, wish to avoid the 
 name of gamblerl, and prefer to be called dice-players; 
 the difference being much the same as that between a thief 
 and a robber. But this must be confessed that, while all 
 
 1 20 is mutilated, so that no sense can be extracted from the re- 
 mainder of it.
 
 490 AMMIAXUS MARCELLINUS. [BK.XX.VIJI.Cn.lv. 
 
 friendships at Borne are rather cool, those alone which 
 are engendered by dice are sociable and intimate, a.s if 
 they had been formed amid glorious exertions, and were 
 firmly cemented by exceeding affection ; to which it is 
 owing that some of this class of gamblers live in such har- 
 mony that you might think them the brothers Quintilii. 1 
 And so you may sometimes see a man of base extraction, 
 who knows all the secrets of the dice, as grave as Porcius 
 Cato when he met with a repulse which he had never 
 expected nor dreamt of, when a candidate for the prsetorship, 
 with affected solemnity and a serious face, because at some 
 grand entertainment or assembly some man of proconsular 
 rank has been preferred to himself. 
 
 22. Some lay siege to wealthy men, whether old or 
 young, childless or unmarried, or even with wives and 
 children (for with such an object no distinction is ever 
 regarded by them), seeking by most marvellous tricks to 
 allure them to make their wills ; and then if, after observing 
 all the forms of law, they bequeath to these persons what 
 they have to leave, being won over by them to this com- 
 pliance, they speedily die. 2 
 
 23. Another person, perhaps only in some subordinate 
 office, struts along with his head up, looking with so slight 
 and passing a glance upon those with whom he was pre- 
 viously acquainted, that you might fancy it must be Marcus 
 Harcellus just returned from the capture of Syracuse. 
 
 24. Many among them deny the existence of a superior 
 Power in heaven, and yet neither appear in public, nor 
 dine, nor think that they can bathe with any prudence, 
 before they have carefully consulted an almanac, and 
 learnt where (for example) the planet Mercury is, or in 
 what portion of Cancer the moon is as she passes through 
 the heavens. 
 
 25. Another man, if he perceives his creditor to be 
 importunate in demanding a debt, flies to a charioteer 
 who is bold enough to venture on any audacious enterprise, 
 and takes care that he shall be harassed with dread of 
 persecution as a poisoner; from which he cannot be released 
 without giving bail and incurring a very heavy expense. 
 
 1 Two brothers who had been colleagues in several important 
 offices, and who were at last put to death together by Cornmodus. 
 
 2 The end of 22 is also mutilated.
 
 AJ). 369.] MEANNESS OF THE NOBLES. 491 
 
 One may add to this, that he includes under this head a 
 debtor who is only so through the engagements into which 
 he has entered to avoid a prosecution, as if he were a real 
 debtor, and that he never lets him go till he has obtained 
 the discharge of the debt. 
 
 26. On the other side, a wife, who, as the old proverb 
 has it, hammers on the same anvil day and night, to compel 
 her husband to' make his will, and then the husband is 
 equally urgent that his wife shall do the same. And men 
 learned in the law are procured on each side, the one in 
 the bedchamber, and his opponent in the dining-room, 
 to draw up counter-documents. And under their employ 
 are placed ambiguous interpreters of the contracts of 
 their victims, who, on the one side, promise with great 
 liberality high offices, and the funerals of wealthy matrons ; 
 and from these they proceed to the obsequies of the hus- 
 bands, giving hints that everything necessary ought to be 
 prepared ; and 1 .... as Cicero says, " Nor in the 
 affairs of men do they understand anything good, except 
 what is profitable ; and they love those friends most (as 
 they would prefer sheep) from whom they expect to derive 
 The greatest advantage." 2 
 
 27. And when they borrow anything, they are so 
 humble and cringing, you would think you were at a 
 comedy, and seeing Micon or Laches ; when they are con- 
 strained to repay what they have borrowed, they become 
 so turgid and bombastic that you would take them for those 
 descendants of Hercules, Oresphontes and Temenus. This 
 is enough to say of the senatorial order. 
 
 28. And let us come to the idle and lazy common 
 people, among whom some, who have not even got shoes, 
 boast of high-sounding names ; calling themselves Cimes- 
 sores, Statarii, Semicupae, Serapina, or Cicimbricus, or 
 Gluturiorus, Trulla, Lucanicus, Pordaca, or Salsula/ 
 with numbers of other similar appellations. These 
 men spend their whole lives in drinking, and gam- 
 bling, and brothels, and pleasures^ and public spectacles ; 
 and to them the Circus Maximus is their temple, their 
 
 1 This passage, again, seems hopelessly mutilated. 
 4 Cicero, de Amioitia, c. xxi. 
 
 3 These are not in reality noble names, but names derived from 
 low occupations. Trulla is a dish ; Salsula, belonging to pickles, &c.
 
 492 AMMIAXUS MARCELLINUS. [UK. XXVIII. CH. m 
 
 home, their public assembly ; in fact, their whole hope 
 and desire. 1 
 
 29. And you may see in the forum, and roads, and streets, 
 and places of meeting, knots of people collected, quarrel- 
 ling violently with one another, and objecting to one 
 another, and splitting themselves into violent parties. 
 
 30. Among whom those who have lived long, having 
 influence by reason of their age, their gray hairs and 
 wrinkles, are continually crying out that the republic 
 cannot stand, if in the contest which is about to take place, 
 the skilful charioteer, whom some individual backs, is not 
 foremost in the race, and does not dextrously shave the 
 turning-post with the trace-horses. 
 
 31 . And when there is so much ruinous carelessness, when 
 the wished-for day of the equestrian games dawns, before 
 the sun has visibly risen, they all rush out with headlong 
 haste, as if with their speed they would outstrip the very 
 chariots which are going to race ; while as to the event of 
 the contest they are all torn asunder by opposite wishes, 
 and the greater part of them, through their anxiety, pass 
 sleepless nights. 
 
 32. From hence, if you go to some cheap theatre, the 
 actors on the stage are driven off by hisses, if they have 
 not taken the precaution to conciliate the lowest of the 
 people by gifts of money. And if there should be no 
 noise, then, in imitation of the people in the Taurio 
 Chersonese, they raise an outcry that the strangers ought 
 to be expelled (on whose assistance they have always 
 relied for their principal support), using foul and ridiculous 
 expressions ; such as are greatly at variance with the 
 pursuits and inclinations of that populace of old, whose 
 many facetious and elegant expressions are recorded by 
 tradition and by history. 
 
 33. For these clever gentlemen have now devised a new 
 method of expressing applause, which is, at every spectacle 
 to ciy out to those who appear at the end, whether they 
 are couriers, huntsmen, or charioteers in short, to the 
 whole body of actors, and to the magistrates, whether of 
 great or small importance, and even to nations, " It is to 
 
 1 Compare Juvenal's description of the circumspect in his time : 
 " Atque dims tantum resarexius optat 
 Panem et Circeuses."
 
 A.D. 369.] INCURSIONS OF THE SAXONS. 41)3 
 
 your school that he ought to go." But what he is to learn 
 there no one can explain. 
 
 34. Among these men are many chiefly addicted to fat- 
 tening themselves up by gluttony, who, following the 
 scent of any delicate food, and the shrill voices of the 
 women who, from cockcrow, cry out with a shrill scream, 
 like so many peacocks, and gliding over the ground on 
 tiptoe, get an entrance into the halls, biting their nails 
 while the dishes are getting cool. Others fix their eyes 
 intently on the tainted meat which is being cooked, that 
 you might fancy Democritus, with a number of anatomists, 
 was gazing into the entrails of sacrificed victims, in order 
 to teach posterity how best to relieve internal pains. 
 
 35. For the present this is enough to say of the affairs of 
 the city ; now let us retxirn to other events which various 
 circumstances brought to pass in the provinces. 
 
 V. 
 
 1. IN the third consulship of the emperors a vast multi- 
 tude of Saxons burst forth, and having crossed the difficult 
 passage of the ocean, made towards tho Koman frontier by 
 rapid marches, having before often battened on the slaughter 
 of our men. The first storm of this invasion fell upon the 
 count Nannenus, who was in command in that district, 
 being a veteran general of great merit and experience. 
 
 2. He now engaged in battle with a host which 
 fought as if resolved on death ; but when he found that 
 he had lost many of his men, and that he himself, having 
 been wounded, would be unequal to a succession of battles, 
 he sent word to the emperor of what was necessary, and 
 prevailed on him to send Severus, the commander of 
 the infantry, to aid him at this crisis. 
 
 3. That general brought with him a sufficient body of 
 troops, and when he arrived in the country he so arrayed 
 his men that he terrified the barbarians, and threw them 
 into such disorder, even before any battle took place, that 
 they did not venture to engage him, but, panic-stricken at 
 the brilliant appearance of the standards and eagles, they 
 implored pardon and peace. 
 
 4. The question of granting it to them was long dis- 
 cussed, with variety of opinion, between the Eoniau com-
 
 494 AMMIAXUS MARCELLINUS. [En. XXVIII. CH. v 
 
 manders ; but at last, as it seemed for the advantage of the 
 republic, a truce was granted, and after they had agreed 
 to the conditions proposed, one of which was that they 
 should furnish a number of young men suitable for military 
 service, the Saxons were permited to withdraw, but without 
 their baggage, and to return to their own country. 
 
 5. But when they, being now freed from all fear, were 
 preparing to return, some of our infantry were sent for- 
 ward, who secretly laid an ambuscade in a certain hidden 
 defile, from which they would easily be able to attack 
 them as they passed. But the matter turned out very 
 differently from what was expected. 
 
 6. For some of our men being roused by the noise of the 
 Saxons, sprang from their ambush unseasonably ; and 
 being suddenly seen, while they were hastening to esta- 
 blish themselves, the barbarians, with a terrible yell, put 
 them to flight. Presently, however, they halted in a 
 solid body, and being now driven to extremities, were 
 compelled to fight, though their strength was far from 
 great. The slaughter was great, and they would have 
 been all cut off to a man, had not a column of cuirassier 
 cavalry, which had been similarly placed in ambuscade at 
 a place where the road divided, in order there also to 
 attack the barbarians in their passage, been roused by the 
 uproar, and come up suddenly. 
 
 7. Then the battle raged more fiercely, and with daunt- 
 less breasts the Romans pressed forward on all sides, and 
 with drawn swords hemmed in their enemies, and slew 
 them ; nor did any of them ever return home, for not 
 one survived the slaughter. And although an impartial 
 judge will blame the action as treacherous and dis- 
 graceful, still if he weighs all the circumstances, he 
 will not regret that a mischievous band of robbers was 
 at length destroyed when such an opportunity presented 
 itself. 
 
 8. After these affairs had been consummated thus suc- 
 cessfully, Valentinian revolving in his mind a great variety 
 of opinions, was filled with anxious solicitude, considering 
 and contemplating different measures for breaking the 
 pride of the Allemanni and their king Macrianus, who 
 were incessantly and furiously disturbing the republic 
 with their restless movements.
 
 A.D. 370.] OVERTURES TO THE BURGUNDIANS. 495 
 
 9. For that ferocious nation, though from its earliest 
 origin diminished by various disasters, yet continually 
 revives, so that it might be considered as having been free 
 from attacks for many ages. At last, after the emperor 
 had considered and approved of one plan after another, it 
 was finally determined to excite the Burgundians to attack 
 them, the Burgundians being a warlike people, with an 
 immense population of active youths, and therefore for- 
 midable to all their neighbours. 
 
 10. And the emperor sent repeated letters to their 
 chiefs by some silent and trustworthy messengers, to urge 
 them to attack the Allemanni at a certain fixed time, and 
 promising that he likewise would cross the Ehine with the 
 Boman legions, and attack their forces when in disorder, 
 and seeking to escape the unexpected attack of the Bur- 
 gundians. 
 
 11. The letters of the emperor were received with joy, 
 for two reasons : first, because for many ages the Burgun- 
 dians had looked upon themselves as descended from the 
 Romans; and secondly, because they had continual quarrels 
 with the Allemanni about their salt-pits and their borders. 
 So they sent against them some picked battalions, which, 
 before the Eoman soldiers could be collected, advanced 
 as far as the banks of the Ehine, and, while the emperor 
 was engaged in the construction of some fortresses, caused 
 the greatest alarm to our people. 
 
 12. Therefore, after waiting for some time, Valentinian 
 having failed to come on the appointed day as promised, 
 and finding that none of his engagements were performed, 
 they sent ambassadors to the court, requesting assistance 
 to enable them to return in safety to their own land, and to 
 save them from exposing their rear unprotected to their 
 enemies. 
 
 13. But when they perceived that their request was 
 virtually refused by the excuses and pleas for delay with 
 which it was received, they departed from the court in 
 sorrow and indignation ; and when the chiefs of the Bur- 
 gundians received their report, they were very furious, 
 thinking they had been mocked ; and so they slew all 
 their prisoners and returned to their native land. 
 
 14. Among them their king is called by one general name 
 of " Hendinos," and according to a very ancient custom
 
 406 AMMIANU3 MARCELLIXUS. [BK.XXVllI.CH.vi 
 
 of theirs, is deposed from his authority if under his go- 
 vernment the state meets with any disaster iri war ; or if 
 the earth fails to produce a good crop ; in the same way as 
 the Egyptians are accustomed to attribute calamities of 
 that kind to their rulers. The chief priest among the 
 Burguiidians is called " the Sinistus." But ho is irre- 
 movable and not exposed to any such dangers as the 
 kings. 
 
 15. Taking advantage of this favourable opportunity, 
 Theodosius, the commander of the cavalry, passed through 
 the Tyrol and attacked the Allernanui, who, out of fear 
 of the Burgundians, had dispersed into their villages. 
 He slew a great number, and took some prisoners, whom 
 by the emperor's command he sent to Italy, where some 
 fertile districts around the Po were assigned to them, which 
 they still inhabit as tributaries. 
 
 VI. 
 
 1. LET us now migrate, as it were, to another quarter of 
 the world, and proceed to relate the distresses of Tripoli, 
 a province of Africa ; distresses which, in my opinion, 
 even Justice herself must have lamented, and which burst 
 out rapidly like flames. I will now give an account both 
 of them and of their causes. 
 
 2. The Asturians are barbarians lying on the frontier of 
 this province, a people always in readiness for rapid in- 
 vasions, accustomed to live on plunder and bloodshed ; 
 and who, after having been quiet for a while, now relapsed 
 into their natural state of disquiet, alleging the following 
 as the serious cause for their movements. 
 
 3. One of their countrymen, by name Stachao, while 
 freely traversing our territories, as in time of peace, did 
 some things forbidden by the laws ; the most flagrant 
 of his illegal acts being that he endeavoured, by every 
 kind of deceit and intrigue, to betray the province, as 
 was shown by the most undeniable evidence, for which 
 crime he was burnt to death. 
 
 4. To avenge his death, the Asturians, claiming him 
 as their clansman, and affirming that he had been un- 
 justly condemned, burst forth from their own territory 
 like so many mad wild beasts during the reign of Jovian,
 
 A.D. 370.] DISTRESS OF LEPTIS. 497 
 
 but fearing to approach close to Leptis, which was a city 
 with a numerous population, and fortified by strong walls, 
 they occupied the district around it, which is very fertile, 
 for three days : and having slain the agricultural popula- 
 tion on it, whom terror at their sudden inroad had deprived 
 of all spirit, or had driven to take refuge in caves, and 
 burnt a great quantity of furniture which could not be 
 carried off, they returned home, loaded with vast plunder, 
 faliing with them as prisoner a man named Silva, the 
 principal noble of Leptis, whom they found with his 
 family at his country house. 
 
 5. The people of Leptis being terrified at this sudden 
 disaster, not wishing to incur the further calamities with 
 which the arrogance of the barbarians threatened them, 
 implored the protection of Count Komanus, who had 
 recently been promoted to the government of Africa. 
 But when he came at the head of an army, and received 
 their request to come to their immediate assistance in 
 their distress, he declared that he would not move a step 
 further unless abundant magazines and four thousand 
 camels were provided for his troops. 
 
 6. At this answer the wretched citizens were stupefied, 
 and declared to him, that after the devastations and con- 
 flagrations to which they had been exposed, it was im- 
 possible for them to make such exertions, even for th 
 reparation of the cruel disasters which the}' had suffered ; 
 and, after waiting forty days there with vain pretences 
 and excuses, the count retired without attempting any 
 enterprise. 
 
 7. The people of Tripoli, disappointed in their hopes, 
 and dreading the worst extremities, at their next council 
 day, appointed Severus and Flaccianus ambassadors to 
 carry to Valentinian some golden images of victory in 
 honour of his accession to the empire, and to state fully 
 and boldly to him the miserable distress of the province. 
 
 8. When this step became known, Komanus sent a swift 
 horseman as a messenger to the master of the offices, 
 Remigius, his own kinsman and his partner in plunder, 
 bidding him take care, that by the emperor's decision, the 
 investigation into this matter should be committed to the 
 deputy and himself. 
 
 9. The ambassadors arrived at the court, and having 
 
 2 K
 
 493 AMMIA.XUS MARCELLINUS. [BK. XXVIII. CH. vr. 
 
 obtained access to the emperor, they, in a set speech, laid 
 all their distresses before him, and presented him with a 
 decree of their council in which the whole affair was fully 
 set forth. When the emperor had read it, he neither 
 trusted the report of the master of the offices, framed 
 to defend the misconduct of the count, nor, on the other 
 hand, did he place confidence in these men who made a 
 contrary report ; but promised a full investigation into the 
 affair, which however was deferred in the manner in which 
 high authorities are wont to let such matters give place to 
 their more pleasant occupations and amusements. 
 
 10. While waiting in suspense and protracted anxiety 
 for some relief from the emperor's camp, the citizens of 
 Tripoli were again attacked by troops of the same bar- 
 barians, now elated with additional confidence by their 
 past successes. They ravaged the whole territory of 
 Leptis and also that of OEa, spreading total ruin and 
 desolation everywhere, and, at last, retired loaded with 
 an enormous quantity of spoil, and having slain many 
 of our officers, the most distinguished of whom were Kus- 
 ticianus, one of the priests, and the aedile, Kicasius. 
 
 11. This invasion was prevented from being repelled 
 by the fact, that at the entreaty of the ambassadors, the 
 conduct of the military affairs, which had at first been in- 
 trusted to Euricius, the president, had been subsequently 
 transferred to Count Eomanus. 
 
 12. So now a new messenger was sent to Gaul with an 
 account of this fresh disaster ; and his intelligence roused 
 the emperor to great anger. So Palladius, his secretary, 
 who had also the rank of tribune, was sent at once to 
 liquidate the pay due to the soldiers, who were dispersed 
 over Africa, and to examine into all that had taken place in 
 Tripoli, he being an officer whose report could be trusted. 
 
 1:-]. But while all these delays took place from the con- 
 tinual deliberations held on the case, and while the people 
 of Tripoli were still waiting for the answer, the Asturians, 
 now still more insolent after their double success, like 
 birds of prey whose ferocity has been sharpened by the 
 taste of blood, flew once more to attack them ; and having 
 slain every one who did not flee from the danger, they 
 carried off all the spoil which they had previously left 
 behind, cutting down all the trees and vines.
 
 A.D.3TO.] THE CITIZENS IMPLORE THE EMPEROR'S AID. 499 
 
 14. Then a certain citizen named Mychon, a man of high 
 station and great influence, was taken prisoner in the 
 district outside of the city ; but before they could bind 
 him he gave them the slip, and because an attack of gout 
 rendered him unable to effect his escape, he threw himself 
 down a dry well, from which he was drawn tip by the 
 barbarians with his ribs broken, and was conducted near 
 
 Jto the gates of the city, where he was ransomed by the 
 affection of his wife, and was drawn up to the battle- 
 ments of the wall by a rope ; but two days afterwards he 
 died. 
 
 15. These events encouraged the pertinacity of the in- 
 vaders, so that they advanced and attacked the very walls 
 of Leptis, which resounded with the mournful wailings of 
 the women, who were terrified in an extraordinary manner 
 and quite bewildered, because they had never before 
 been blockaded by an enemy. And after the city had 
 been besieged for eight days continuously, during which 
 many of the besiegers were wounded, while they made 
 no progress, they retired much discouraged to their own 
 country. 
 
 16. In consequence of these events, the citizens, being 
 still doubtful of their safety, and desirous of trying every 
 possible resource, before the ambassadors who had been 
 first sent had returned, sent Jovinus and Pancratius to lay 
 before the emperor a faithful account of the sufferings 
 which they had endured, and which they themselves 
 had seen : these envoys found the former ambassadors, 
 Severus and Flaccianus, at Carthage ; and on asking them 
 what they had done, they learnt that they had been re- 
 ferred for a hearing to the deputy and the count. And 
 immediately after this Severus was attacked by a danger- 
 ous illness and died ; but notwithstanding what they had 
 heard, the new ambassadors proceeded on their journey to 
 the court. 
 
 17. After this, when Palladius arrived in Africa, the 
 count, who knew on what account he had come, and who 
 had been warned before to take measures for his own 
 safety, sent orders to the principal officers of the army by 
 certain persons who were in his secrets, to pay over to 
 him, as being a person of great influence, and being the 
 person most nearly connected with the principal nobles of
 
 500 AMMIAXUS MARCELLIXUS. [BK. XXVIIi. < 
 
 the palace, the chief part of the money for the soldiers' 
 pay which he had brought over, and they obeyed him. 
 
 18. So he, having been thus suddenly enriched, reached 
 Leptis ; and that he might arrive at a knowledge of the 
 truth, he took with him to the districts that had been laid 
 waste, Erecthius and Aristomenes, two citizens of great 
 eloquence and reputation, who freely unfolded to him the 
 distress which their fellow-citizens and the inhabitants 
 of the adjacent districts had suffered. They showed him 
 everything openly ; and so he returned after seeing the 
 lamentable desolation of the province : and reproaching 
 Roman us for his inactivity, he threatened to report to 
 the emperor an accurate statement of everything which 
 he had seen. 
 
 19. He, inflamed with anger and indignation, retorted 
 that he also should soon make a report, that the man 
 who had been sent as an incorruptible secretary had con- 
 verted to his own uses all the money which had been 
 sent out as a donation to the soldiers. 
 
 20. The consequence was that Palladius, being hampered 
 by the consciousness of his flagitious conduct, proceeded 
 from henceforth in harmony with Romanus, and when he 
 returned to court, he deceived Valentinian with atrocious 
 falsehoods, affirming that the citizens of Tripoli complained 
 without reason. Therefore he was sent back to Africa a 
 second time with Jovinus, the last of all the ambassadors 
 (for Pancratius had died at Treves), in order that he, in 
 conjunction with the deputy, might inquire into every- 
 thing connected with the second embassy. And besides 
 this, the emperor ordered the tongues of Erecthius and 
 Aristomenes to be cut out, because this same Palladius 
 had intimated that they made some malignant and disloyal 
 statements. 
 
 21. The secretary, following the deputy, as had been 
 arranged, came to Tripoli. When his arrival was known, 
 Romanus sent one of his servants thither with all speed, 
 and Caecilius, his assessor, who was a native of the pro- 
 vince ; and by their agency (whether they employed 
 bribery or deceit is doubtful) all the citizens were won 
 over to accuse Jovinus, vigorously asserting that he had 
 never issued any of the commands which he had reported 
 to the emperor ; carrying their iniquity to such a pitch,
 
 A.D. 3?0.] EXECUTION OF JOVINUS. 501 
 
 that Jovinus himself was compelled by them to confess, to 
 his own great danger, that he had made a false report to 
 the emperor. 
 
 22. When these events were learnt from Palladius on 
 his return, Valentinian, being always inclined to severe 
 measures, commanded the execution of Jovinus as the 
 author of such a report, and of Cselestinus, Concordius, 
 
 -and Lucius, as privy to it, and partners in it. He also 
 commanded Euricius, the president, to be put to death for 
 falsehood ; the charge against him being aggravated by the 
 circumstance that his report contained some violent and 
 intemperate expressions. 
 
 23. Euricius was executed at Sitifis ; the rest were con- 
 demned at Utica by the sentence of the deputy Crescens. 
 But before the death of the ambassadors, Flaccianus, while 
 being examined by the deputy and the count, and while re- 
 solutely defending his own safety, was assailed with abuse, 
 and then attacked with loud outcries and violence by the 
 angry soldiers, and was nearly killed ; the charge which 
 they made against him being that the cause which had 
 prevented the people of Tripoli from being defended was, 
 that they had refused to furnish necessaries for the use of 
 any expedition. 
 
 24. On this account he was thrown into prison, till the 
 emperor could be consulted on his case, and should decide 
 what ought to be done ; but his gaolers were tampered 
 with, as was believed, and he escaped from prison and fled 
 to Eome, where he concealed himself for some time, till his 
 death. 
 
 2."). In consequence of this memorable catastrophe, Tri- 
 poli, which had been often harassed by external and do- 
 mestic calamities, brought forward no further accusations 
 against those who had left it undefended, knowing that the 
 eternal eye of justice was awake, as well as the avenging 
 furies of the ambassadors and the president. And a long 
 time afterwards the following event took place : Falladius, 
 having been dismissed from the military service, and 
 stript of all that nourished his pride, retired into private 
 life. 
 
 26. And when Theodosius, that magnificent commander 
 of armies, came into Africa to put down Firmus, who 
 was entertaining some pernicious designs, and, as he
 
 502 AMMIANUS MARCELLINTJS. :[BK. XXVIII. CH. vi. 
 
 was ordered, began to examine the moveable effects of 
 Romanus, he found among his papers a letter of a certain 
 person named Meterius, containing this passage : " Mete- 
 rius, to his lord and patron, Romanus ;' : and at the end of 
 the letter many expressions unconnected with its general 
 subject. " Palladius, who has been cashiered, salutes you. 
 He who says he was cashiered for no other reason than that 
 in the case of the people of Tripoli he made a false report 
 to the sacred ears." 
 
 27. When this letter was sent to the court and read, 
 Meterius was arrested by order of Valentinian, and con- 
 fessed that the letter was his writing. Therefore Palladius 
 also was ordered to appear, and reflecting on all the crimes 
 he had committed, while at a halting place on" the road, 
 he watched an opportunity afforded him by the absence 
 of his guards, as soon as it got dark (for, as it was a fes- 
 tival of the Christian religion, they passed the whole night 
 in the church), and hanged himself. 
 
 28. The news of this propitious event the death of 
 the principal cause of their sad troubles being known, 
 Erecthius and Aristomenes, who when they first heard that 
 their tongues were ordered to be cut out for sedition, 
 had escaped, now issued from their hiding-places. And 
 when the emperor Gratian was infonned of the wicked 
 deceit that had been practised (for by this time Valen- 
 tinian was dead), their fears vanished, and they were sent 
 to have their cause heard before Hesperus the proconsul 
 and Flavian the deputy, men whose justice was supported 
 by the righteous authority of the emperor, and who, after 
 putting Cascilius to the torture, learnt from his clear con- 
 fession that he himself had persuaded the citizens to bring 
 false accusations against the ambassadors. These actions 
 were followed by a report which gave the fullest possible 
 account of all that had taken place, to which no answer 
 was given. 
 
 29. And that the whole story might want nothing of 
 tragic interest, the following occurrence also took place 
 after the curtain had fallen. Romanus went to court, 
 taking with him Csecilius, with the intent to accuse the 
 judges as having been unduly biassed in favour of the 
 province ; and being received graciously by Merobaudes, 
 he demanded that some more necessary witnesses should
 
 A.D.371.] AGGRESSION OF SAPOR. 503 
 
 be summoned. And when they had come to Milan, and 
 had shown by proofs which seemed correct, though these 
 were false, that they had been falsely accused, they were 
 acquitted, and returned home. Valentinian was still 
 alive, when after these events which we have related, 
 Eemigius also retired from public life, and afterwards 
 hanged himself, as we shall relate in the proper plaoe. 
 
 BOOK XXIX. 
 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 I. Theodoras, the secretary, aims at the imperial authority, and being 
 accused of treason before Valens at Antioch, and convicted, is 
 executed, -with many of his accomplices. II. In the East many 
 persons are informed against as guilty of poisoning and other 
 crimes ; and being condemned (some rightly, some wrongfully), 
 are executed. III. In the West many instances occur of the ferocity 
 and insane cruelty of the emperor Valentinian. IV. Valentinian 
 crosses the Ehine on a bridge of boats, but, through the fault of a 
 soldier, fails in an attempt to surprise Macriauus, the king of the 
 Allemanni. V. Theodosius, the commander of the cavalry in 
 Gaul, in several battles defeats Formus Maorus, the son of 
 Nubelis Eegulus, who had revolted from Valentinian ; and, after 
 having driven him to kill himself, restores peace to Africa. 
 VI. The Quadi, being provoked by the wicked murder of their 
 king Galerius, in conjunction with the Sarmatians, lay waste both 
 the Pannonias and Valeria with fire and sword, and destroy almost 
 the whole of two legions A dissertation on the city prefecture of 
 Claudius^ 
 
 I. 
 
 A.D. 371. 
 
 1. AT the conclusion of the winter, Sapor, king of Persia, 
 being full of cruelty and arrogance from the confidence 
 engendered by his former battles, having completed bis 
 army to its full number, and greatly strengthened it, sent 
 out a force of cuirassiers, archers, and mercenary troops, 
 to make an invasion of our territories. 
 
 2. Against this force, Count Trajan and Vadomarius, the 
 ex-king of the Allemanni, advanced with a mighty army, 
 having been enjoined by the emperor to remember his 
 orders to act on the defensive rather than on the offensive 
 against the Persians.
 
 504 AMMIANUS MARCELLIXUS. [Bic. XXIX. Cn. I. 
 
 '<. \\hen they arrived at Yagabanta, a place well suited 
 for the manoeuvres of the legions, they supported against 
 their will a rapid charge which was made upon them by 
 1he squadrons of the enemy, and retreated with the design 
 not to be the first to slay any of the hostile soldiers, and 
 n otto be looked upon as guilty of having broken the treaty. 
 At last, under the pressure of extreme necessity, they came 
 to an engagement with the barbarians, and after having 
 slain a great number of them, were victorious. 
 
 4. During the cessation of regular operations which 
 ensued, several slight skirmishes occurred through the 
 impatience of both armies, which ended with different 
 results ; and at last the summer ended, and a truce was 
 agreed to by common consent, and the two armies se- 
 parated, though the generals were violently inflamed 
 against each other. Tbe king of Parthia, intending to 
 pass the winter at Ctesiphon, returned to his own home, 
 and the Eoman emperor went to Antioch ; and while he 
 tarried there, in complete security from foreign enemies, 
 he had very nearly perished through domestic treachery, 
 as shall be related in the coming narrative. 
 
 5. A certain Procopius, a restless man, at all times 
 covetous and fond of disturbances, had persuaded Anato- 
 lius and Spudasius, officers about the palace, who had 
 been ordered to restore what they had appropriated from 
 the treasury, to bring a plot against the Count Fortuna- 
 tianus, who was especially obnoxious as being represented 
 to be the principal demander of this restitution. He, 
 being a man of naturally harsh temper, was thereupon 
 inflamed almost to insanity, and exercising the authority 
 of the office which he filled, he delivered up to trial before 
 the tribunal of the prefect a person of the lowest birth, 
 named Palladius, for being a poisoner in the train of 
 Anatolius and Spudasius ; Helidorus, also an interpreter 
 of the Fates from the events which happened at any one's 
 birth ; with the intent that they should be compelled by 
 torture to relate all that they knew. 
 
 6. And when they came with rigid scrutiny to inquire 
 into what had been done or attempted, Palladius boldly 
 exclaimed, that the matters now under investigation were 
 trivial, and such as might well be passed over ; that he 
 himself, if he might be allowed to speak, could bring
 
 A.D. 371.] ARREST OF FIDUSTIUS. 505 
 
 forward some circumstances both formidable and more 
 important, which, having been prepared with great exer- 
 tion, would throw everything into confusion, if they 
 were not provided against beforehand. Being ordered 
 to explain without fear all he knew, he made a deposition 
 at great length, affirming that Fidustius the president, and 
 Pergamius and Irenams, had secretly learnt, by the detest- 
 -able arts of magic, the name of the person who should 
 become emperor after Valens. 
 
 7. Fidustius was at once arrested (for he happened by 
 chance be on the spot), and being brought secretly before 
 the emperor, when confronted with the informer, he did 
 not attempt by any denial to throw a doubt on what was 
 already revealed, but laid open the whole of this wretched 
 plot ; confessing in plain words, that he himself, with 
 Hilarius and Patricius, men skilled in the art of sooth- 
 saying, of whom Hilarius had filled high offices in the 
 palace, had held consultations about the future possessors 
 of the empire ; that by secret arts they had searched into the 
 Fates, which had revealed to them the name of an excellent 
 emperor, admonishing them at the same time that a mise- 
 rable end awaited the investigators of these omens. 1 
 
 8. And while they were hesitating, unable ft decide 
 who at that moment was superior to all other men in 
 vigour of mind, Theodoras appeared to excel all the 
 rest, a man who had already arrived at the second class of 
 secretaries. And in truth he deserved the opinion which 
 they entertained of him ; for he was descended from an 
 ancient and illustrious family in Gaul ; he had been 
 liberally educated from his earliest childhood; he was 
 eminent for modesty, prudence, humanity, courtesy, and 
 literature. He always appeared superior to the post or 
 place which he was filling, and was equally popular 
 among high and low, and he was nearly the only man 
 whose tongue was never unbridled, but who always re- 
 flected on what he was going to say, yet without ever 
 being restrained by any fear of danger. 
 
 9. Fidustius, who had been tortured so severely that he 
 was at the point of death, added further, that all that 
 
 1 For an account of this incantation, see Gibbon, Bolm's edition, 
 vol. iii., p. 75, note.
 
 506 AMMIANUS MARCELLINUS. [BK. XXIX. CH. I 
 
 he had now stated he had communicated to Theodoras by 
 the intervention of Eucaerius, a man of great literary 
 accomplishments, and of very high reputation ; indeed, he 
 had a little time before governed Asia with the title of 
 proprefect. 
 
 1 0. Eucserius was now thrown into prison ; and when 
 a report of all that had taken place was, as usual, laid 
 before the emperor, his amazing ferocity burst out more 
 unrestrainedly than ever, like a burning firebrand, being 
 fed by the base adulation of many persons, and especially 
 of Modestus, at that time prefect of the prastorium. 
 
 11. He, being every day alarmed at the prospect of a 
 successor, addressed himself to the task of conciliating 
 Valens, who was of a rustic and rather simple character, 
 by tickling him with all kinds of disguised flattery and 
 caresses, calling his uncouth language and rude expres- 
 sions " flowers of Ciceronian eloquence." Indeed, to raise 
 his vanity higher, he would have promised to rai.se him 
 up to the stars if he had desired it. 
 
 12. So Theodorus also was ordered to be arrested with 
 all speed at Constantinople, to which city he had repaired 
 on some private business, and to be brought to the court. 
 A.nd while he was on his way back, in consequence of 
 various informations and trials which were carried on 
 day and night, numbers of people were dragged away 
 from the most widely separated countries men eminent 
 for their birth and high authority. 
 
 13. The public prisons, being now completely filled, 
 could no longer contain the crowds which were confined 
 in them, while private houses were equally crammed to 
 suffocation, for nearly every one was a prisoner, and every 
 man shuddered to think when it might be his turn or 
 that of his nearest relations. 
 
 14. At last Theodorus himself arrived, in deep mourn- 
 ing, and half dead through fear. And while he was kept 
 concealed in some obscure place in the vicinity, and all 
 things were being got ready for his intended examina- 
 tion, the trumpet of civil discord suddenly sounded. 
 
 15. And because that man who knowingly passes over 
 facts appears to be an equally unfaithful historian with 
 him who invents circumstances which never happened, 
 we do not deny (what, in fact, is quite undoubted) that the
 
 A.D. 3?!.] SUSPICIOUS CHARACTER OF VALEXS. 507 
 
 safety of Valens had often before been attacked by secret 
 machinations, and was now in the greatest possible danger. 
 And that a sword, as one may say, was presented to his 
 throat by the officers of the army, and only averted by 
 Fate, which was reserving him for lamentable misfortunes 
 in Thrace. 
 
 16. For one day as he was taking a gentle nap in the 
 afternoon, in a shady spot between Antioch and Seleucia, 
 he was attacked by Sallust, at that time an officer of the 
 Scutarii ; and on various other occasions he was plotted 
 against by many other persons, from whose treacherous 
 designs he only escaped because the precise moment of 
 his death had been determined at his birth by Destiny. 
 
 17. As sometimes happened in the times of the em- 
 perors Commodus and Severus, whose safety was con- 
 tinually assailed with extreme violence, so that after many 
 various dangers at the hands of their countrymen, the one 
 was dangerously wounded by a dagger in the amphi- 
 theatre, as he entered it for the purpose of witnessing 
 an entertainment, by a senator named Quintianus, a man 
 of wicked ambition. The other, when extremely ojd, was 
 assailed as he was lying in his bed-chamber, by a cen- 
 turion of the name of Saturninus, who was instigated to 
 the act by Plautian the prefect, and would have been 
 killed if his youthful son had not come to his assistance. 
 
 18. Valens, therefore, was to be excused for taking 
 every precaution to defend his life, which traitors were 
 endeavouring to take. But it was an unpardonable faiilt in 
 him that, through tyrannical pride, he, with haste and with 
 inconsiderate and malicious persecution, inflicted the same 
 severities on the innocent as on the guilty, making no 
 distinction between their deserts ; so that while the judges 
 were still doubting about their guilt, the emperor had 
 made up his mind about their punishment, and men learnt 
 that they were condemned before they knew that they 
 were suspected. 
 
 19. But his obstinate resolution was strengthened since 
 it received a spur from his own avarice, and that also of 
 those who at that time were about the palace, and were 
 constantly seeking new sources of gain ; while if on any 
 rare occasion any mention was made of humanity, they 
 styled it slackness ; and by their bloodthirsty flatteries
 
 503 A1IMIAXUS MARCKUJXUS. [BK. XXIX. CH. i. 
 
 perverted the resolution of a man who bore men's lives 
 on the tip of his tongue, guiding it in the worst direction, 
 and assailing everything with unseemly confusion, Avhile 
 seeking to accomplish the total ruin of the most opulent 
 houses. 
 
 20. For Yalens was a man who was especially exposed 
 and open to the approaches of treacherous advisers, being 
 tainted with two vices of a most mischievous character : 
 one, that when he was ashamed of being angry, that very 
 shame only rendered him the more intolerably furious ; 
 and secondly, that the stories which, with the easiness of 
 access of a private individual, he heard in secret whispers, 
 he took at once to be true and certain, because his haughty 
 idea of the imperial dignity did not permit him to examine 
 whether they were true or not. 
 
 21. The consequence was that, under an appearance of 
 clemency, numbers of innocent men were driven from their 
 homes, and sent into exile : and their property was con- 
 fiscated to the public treasury, and then seized by himself 
 for his private uses ; so that the owners, after their con- 
 demnation, had no means of subsistence but such as they 
 could beg ; and were worn out with the distresses of the 
 most miserable poverty. For fear of which that wise old 
 poet Theognis advises a man to rush even into the sea.' 
 
 22. And even if any one should grant that these sen- 
 tences were in some instances right, yet it surely was an 
 odious severity ; and from this conduct of his it was re- 
 marked that the maxim was sound which says, " that 
 there is no sentence more cruel than that which, while 
 seeming to spare, is still harsh." 
 
 23. Therefore all the chief magistrates and the prefect 
 of the prsetorium, to whom the conduct of these investiga- 
 tions was committed, having been assembled together, the 
 
 1 The lines of Theognis are 
 
 " ""AvSp" dyaQov Trtvir] irivrtav Sa/wrjfn juaA.TTO 
 
 Kal yhptos iro\tov, Kvpve, Kal T}iri6.Xov 
 *Hv 8'); xp^l <t>fvyovTa Kal ts jue-ya/o'/rea TTOVTOV 
 'Piirrftv, Kal irtrpSw Rvpve, KOT' ^A.i/3aT&.'i/. ' 
 Which may be thus translated : 
 
 " Want crushes a brave man far worse than age, 
 O Cyrnus ! or than fever's fiery rage ; 
 Flee, should thy flight beneath the greedy wave, 
 Or from steep rocks but ope a milder grave."
 
 A.D. 371.] DEATH OF SALIA. 509 
 
 racks were got ready, and the weights, and lead, and 
 scourges, and other engines of torture. And all places re- 
 sounded with the horrors of the cruel voice of the execu- 
 tioners, and the cries uttered arnid the clanking of chains : 
 " Hold him !" " Shut him up !" " Squeeze him!" " Hide 
 him!" and other yells uttered by the ministers of tho^e 
 hateful duties. 
 
 --24. And since we saw numbers condemned to death after 
 having endured cruel torture, everything being thrown 
 into complete confusion as if in perfect darkness, because 
 the complete recollection of everything which then took 
 place has in some degree escaped me, I will mention 
 briefly what I do remember. 
 
 25. Among the first who were summoned before the 
 bench, was Pergamius, who, as we have already mentioned, 
 was betrayed by Palladius, who accused him of having 
 arrived at a foreknowledge of certain events through 
 wicked incantations. As he was a man of exceeding elo- 
 quence, and very likely to say dangerous things, and after 
 some very trivial interrogatories had been put to him, 
 seeing that the judges were hesitating what questions to 
 put first and what last, he began himself to harangue them 
 boldly, and shoxiting out the names with a loud voice and 
 without any cessation, he named several thousand persons 
 as accomplices with himself, demanding that people should 
 be brought forward to be accused 6f great crimes from 
 every part of the empire, up to the very shores of the great 
 Atlantic. The task that he thus seemed to be putting 
 together for them was too arduous ; so they comdemned 
 him to death ; and afterwards put whole troops of others to 
 death, till they came to the case of Theodorus, which 
 was regarded, after the manner of the Olympian games, as 
 a crowning of the whole. 
 
 26. The same day, among other circumstances, this 
 melancholy event took place, that Salia, who a little while 
 before had been the chief treasurer in Thrace, when he 
 was about to be brought out of his prison to have his cause 
 heard, and was putting on his shoes, as if suddenly over- 
 whelmed by the dread of his impending destruction, died 
 in the hands of his gaolers. 
 
 27. So when the court was opened, and when the judges 
 exhibited the decrees of the law, though, in accordance
 
 510 AMMIANUS MAUCELLINUS. [BK. XXIX. CH. i. 
 
 with the desire of the emperor, they moderated the severity 
 of the charges brought before them, one general alarm 
 seized all people. For Valens had now so wholly departed 
 from justice, and had become so accomplished in the inflic- 
 tion of injury, that he was like a wild beast in an amphi- 
 theatre ; and if any one who had been brought before the 
 court escaped, he grew furious beyond all restraint. 
 
 28. Presently Patricius and Hilarius were brought 
 before the court, and were ordered to enumerate the whole 
 series of their actions : and as they differed a little at the 
 beginning of their statement, they were both put to the 
 torture, and presently the tripod which they had used was 
 brought in j 1 and they, being reduced now to the greatest 
 extremity, gave a true account of the whole affair from 
 the very beginning. And first Hilarius spoke as follows : 
 
 29. " We did construct, most noble judges, under most 
 unhappy auspices, this little unfortunate tripod which you 
 see, in the likeness of that at Delphi, making it of laurel 
 twigs : and having consecrated it with imprecations of 
 mysterious verses, and with many decorations and repeated 
 ceremonies, in all proper order, we at last moved it ; and the 
 manner in which we moved it as often as we consulted it 
 upon any secret affair, was as follows : 
 
 30. " It was placed in the middle of a building, carefully 
 purified on all sides by Arabian perfumes ; and a plain 
 round dish was placc'd upon it, made of different metals. 
 On the outer side of which the four-and-twenty letters of 
 the alphabet were engraved with great skill, being sepa- 
 rated from one another by distances measured with great 
 precision. 
 
 31. " Then a person clothed in linen garments, and shod 
 with slippers of linen, with a small linen cap on his head, 
 bearing in his hand sprigs of vervain as a plant of good 
 omen, in set verses, propitiated the deity who presides 
 over foreknowledge, arid thus took his station by this dish, 
 according to all the rules of the ceremony. Then over the 
 tripod he balanced a ring which he held suspended by a 
 flaxen thread of extreme fineness, and which had also 
 been consecrated with mystic ceremonies. And as this 
 ring touched and bounded off from the different letters 
 which still preserved their distances distinct, he made 
 
 1 For the purposes of divination.
 
 A.D 371.J ANSWER OF THE ORACLE. 511 
 
 with, these letters, by the order in which he touched them, 
 verses in the heroic metre, corresponding to the questions 
 which we had asked ; the verses being also perfect in 
 metre and rhythm ; like the answers of the Pythia which 
 are so celebrated, or those given by the oracles of the 
 Branchidae. 
 
 32. " Then, when we asked who should succeed the 
 present emperor, since it was said that it would be a person 
 of universal accomplishments, the ring bounded up, and 
 touched the two syllables 0EO; and then as it added 
 another letter, some one of the bystanders exclaimed that 
 Theodorus was pointed out by the inevitable decrees of 
 Fate. We asked no further questions concerning the 
 matter : for it seemed quite plain to us that he was the 
 man who was intended." 
 
 33. And when he had with this exactness laid the know- 
 ledge of this affair open to the eyes of the judges, he added 
 with great benevolence, that Theodorus knew nothing of 
 the matter. When after this they were asked whether the 
 oracles which they had consulted had given them any fore- 
 knowledge of their present sufferings, they repeated these 
 well-known verses which clearly pronounce that this em- 
 ployment of investigating those high secrets would cost 
 them their lives. Nevertheless, they added, that the Furies 
 equally threatened the judges themselves, and also the 
 emperor, breathing only slaughter and conflagration against 
 them. It will be enough to quote the three final verses. 
 
 " Ou pay vrjTroivi'yf ffbv fcrfffrai oljua, /cal 
 Tiari(t>6vr] /Sapu/uTjvis t<j>oir\ifi Kavibv oirov 
 "Ev ire8ion Mfyicwros oAaAe/ueVoierip &pria." 
 " Thy blood shall not fall unaveng'd on earth ; 
 The fierce Tisiphone still keeps her eye 
 Fixed on thy slayers ; arming evil fate 
 Against them when arrayed on Mima's plain 
 They seek to stem the tide of horrid war." 
 
 W T hen he had read these verses they were both tortured 
 with great severity, and carried away dead. 
 
 34. Afterwards, that the whole workshop where the 
 wickedness had been wrought might be disclosed to the 
 world, a great number of men of rank were brought in, 
 among whom were some of the original promoters of the 
 whole business. And when each, regarding nothing but
 
 512 A1IMIANUS MARCELLINUS. IBic. XXIX. CH. i. 
 
 his own personal safety, sought to turn the destruction 
 which menaced himself in some other quarter, by the per- 
 mission of the judges, Theodoras began to address them. 
 First of all, he humbled himself with entreaties for pardon ; 
 then being compelled to answer more precisely to the 
 charges alleged, he proved that he, after having been in- 
 formed of the whole affair by Eucaerius, was prevented by 
 him from repeating it to the emperor, as he had often 
 attempted to do : since Eucagrius affirmed that what did not 
 spring from a lawless desire of reigning, but from some 
 fixed law of inevitable fate, would surely come to pass. 
 
 35. Eucaarius, when cruelly tortured, confirmed this 
 statement by his own confession. His own letters were 
 employed to convict Theodorus, letters which he had 
 written to Hilarius full of indirect hints, which showed that 
 he had conceived a sure hope of such events from the pro- 
 phecies of the soothsayers ; and was not inclined to delay, 
 but was looking for an opportunity of attaining the object 
 of his desires. 
 
 36. After the establishment of these facts, the prisoners 
 were removed; and Eutropius, who at that time was 
 governing Asia with the rank of proconsul, having been 
 involved in the accusation as having been a partisan of 
 theirs, was nevertheless acquitted ; being exculpated by 
 Pasiphilus the philosopher, who, though cruelly tortured 
 to make him implicate Eutropius by a wicked lie, could 
 not be moved from his vigorous resolution and fortitude. 
 
 37. To that was added the philosopher Simonides, a 
 young man, but the most rigidly virtuous of all men in 
 our time. An information had been laid against him as 
 having been made aware of what was going on by Fi- 
 dustius, as he saw that his cause depended, not on its 
 truth, but on the will of one man, avowed that he had 
 known all that was alleged, but had forborne to mention it 
 out of regard for his character for constancy. 
 
 38. When all these matters had been minutely inquired 
 into, the emperor, in answer to the question addressed 
 to him by the judges, ordered them all to be condemned 
 and at once executed : and it was not without shuddering 
 that the vast populace beheld the mournful spectacle ; 
 filling the whole air with lamentations (since they looked 
 on the misery of each individual as threatening the whole
 
 A.D. 371.] SniONIDES AND MAXIMUS. 513 
 
 community with a similar fate) when the whole number 
 of accused persons, except Simonides, were executed in a 
 melancholy manner. Simonides being reserved to be 
 burnt alive by the express command of the savage judge, 
 who was enraged at his dignified constancy. 
 
 39. And he, abandoning life as an imperious mistress, 
 and defying the sudden destruction thus coming on him, was 
 buTnt without giving any sign of shrinking ; imitating, in 
 his death, the philosopher Peregrinus, surnained Proteus, 
 who having determined to quit the world, at the quin- 
 quennial games of Olympia, in the sight of all Greece, 
 mounted a funeral pile which he had built himself, and 
 was there burnt alive. 
 
 40. After his death, on the ensuing days a vast multi- 
 tude of almost all ranks, whose names it would be too 
 arduous a task to enumerate, being convicted by calumnious 
 accusations, were despatched by the executioners, after 
 having been first exhausted by every description of torture. 
 Some were put to death without a moment's breathing-time 
 or delay, while the question was still being asked whether 
 they deserved to be punished at all ; in fact, men were 
 slaughtered like sheep in all directions. 
 
 41. After this, innumerable quantities of papers, and 
 many heaps of volumes were collected, and burnt under 
 the eyes of the judges, having been taken out of various 
 houses as unlawful books ; in order to lessen the unpo- 
 pularity arising from so many executions, though in fact, 
 the greater part of them were books teaching various kinds 
 of liberal accomplishments, or books of law. 
 
 42. Xot long afterwards, Maximus, the celebrated phi- 
 losopher, a man of vast reputation for learning, from 
 whose eloquent discourses the emperor Julian derived his 
 great learning and wisdom, being accused of having been 
 acquainted with the verses of the oracle mentioned above, 
 and confessing that he had known something of them, but 
 that he had not divulged what he knew, as being bound to 
 keep silence out of consideration for his promise ; but 
 adding that he had of his own accord predicted that those 
 who had consulted the oracle would perish by public exe- 
 cution, was conducted to Ephesus, his native place, and 
 there beheaded. And thus by his own forfeiture of life, he 
 found that the injustice of a judge is the worst of all crimes. 
 
 2L
 
 514 AMMIANUS MARCELL1XU3. [BK.XXIX.Cri.it. 
 
 43. Diogenes, too, a man of noble family, great forensic 
 eloquence and pre-eminent courtesy, who had some time 
 before been governor of Bithynia, being entangled in the 
 toils of wicked falsehood, was put to death in order to 
 afford a pretext for seizing on his ample patrimony. 
 
 44. Alypius also, who had been governor of Britain, 
 a man of most delightful mildness of temper, and who 
 had lived a tranquil and retired life (since even against 
 such as him did Injustice stretch forth her hands), was 
 involved in the greatest misfortune ; and was accused, 
 with Hierocles his son, a youth of most amiable disposition, 
 of having been guilty of poisoning, on the unsupported 
 information of a low fellow named Diogenes, who had 
 been tortured with extreme severity to force him to 
 make confessions which might please the emperor, or 
 rather, which might please his accuser. When his limbs 
 could no longer endure their punishment, he was burnt 
 alive ; and Alypius, after having had his property confis- 
 cated, was condemned to banishment, though by an extra- 
 ordinary piece of good fortune he received back his son 
 after he had been condemned, and had actually been led 
 out to suffer a miserable death. 
 
 II. 
 
 1. DURING all this time, Palladius, the original cause of 
 these miseries, whom we have already spoken of as 
 having been arrested by Fortunatianus, being, from the 
 lowness of his original condition, a man ready to fall into 
 every kind of wickedness, by heaping one murder on 
 another diffused mourning and lamentation over the whole 
 empire. 
 
 2. For being allowed to name any persons he chose, 
 without distinction of rank, as men contaminated by the 
 practice of forbidden arts, like a huntsman who has 
 learnt to mark the secret tracks of wild beasts, he en- 
 closed many victims within his wretched toils, some as 
 being polluted with a knowledge of poisonings, others as 
 accomplices of those who were guilty of treason. 
 
 3. And that wives too might not have leisure to weep over 
 the miseries of their husbands, officers were sent at once to
 
 A.D. 371.] HELIODORUS THE COLLEAGUE OF PALLADIUS. 515 
 
 seal up the house of any one who was condemned, and 
 who, while examining all the furniture, slipped in among 
 it old women's incantations, or ridiculous love-tokens, con- 
 trived to bring destruction on the innocent ; and then, 
 when these things were mentioned before the bench, 
 where neither law, nor religion, nor equity were present 
 to separate truth from falsehood, those whom they thus 
 accused, though utterly void of offence, without any distinc- 
 tion, youths, and decrepit old men, without being heard 
 in their defence, found their property confiscated, and were 
 hurried off to execution in litters. 
 
 4. One of the consequences in the eastern provinces was, 
 that from fear of similar treatment, people burnt all their 
 libraries ; so great was the terror which seized upon all 
 ranks. For, to cut my story short, at that time all of us 
 crawled about as if in Cimmerian darkness, in the same 
 kind of dread as the guest of Dionysius of Sicily ; who, 
 while feasting at a banquet more irksome than famine 
 itself, saw a sword suspended over his head by a single 
 horsehair. 
 
 5. There was a man named Bassianus, of most noble 
 family, a secretary, and eminently distinguished for his 
 military services, who, on a charge of having entertained 
 ambitious projects, and of having sought oracles concern- 
 ing their issue, though he declared he had only consulted 
 the oracles to know the sex of his next child, was saved 
 indeed from death by the great interest made for him by 
 his relations who protected him ; but he was stripped of 
 all his splendid inheritance. 
 
 6. Amid all this destruction and ruin, Heliodorus, that 
 hellish colleague of Palladius in bringing about these 
 miseries (being what the common people call a mathema- 
 tician), having been admitted into the secret conferences 
 of the imperial palace, and been tempted by every kind 
 of caress and cajolery to relate all he knew or could 
 invent, was putting forth his fatal stings. 
 
 7. For he was carefully feasted on the most delicate 
 food, and furnished with large sums of money to give to 
 his concubines ; and he strutted about in every direction 
 with a pompous, haughty countenance, and was universally 
 dreaded. Being the more confident and arrogant, because 
 as he was high chamberlain, he could go constantly and
 
 516 AMMIANUS JIARCELLIXUS. [Bx.XXIX.CH.il. 
 
 openly to the brothels, in which, as he desired, he was 
 freely entertained, while revealing the edicts of the 
 " parental guardian of the state," which were destined to 
 be disastrous to many. 
 
 8. And through his means, as an advocate at the bar, 
 Valens was instructed beforehand in what would most 
 contribute to success what to place in the first part of his 
 speech, and with what figures, and what inventions to work 
 up splendid passages. 
 
 9. And as it w r ould take a long time to enumerate all 
 the devices of that villain, I will mention this one only, 
 which, in its rash boldness, assailed the very pillars of the 
 patrician dignity. As I have said before, he was raised to 
 exceeding arroganee by being admitted to the secret con- 
 ferences of the princes ; and being, from the lowness of 
 his birth, a man ready for any wickedness, he laid an in- 
 formation against that illustrious pair of consuls, the 
 brothers Eusebius and Hypatius, relations of the former 
 emperor Constantius, as having conceived desires of a 
 higher fortune, and formed projects and entered into enter- 
 prises for the attainment of supreme power. Adding, 
 in order to procure additional credit for this falsehood, 
 that Eusebius had had a set of imperial robes prepared 
 for him. 
 
 10. And when the story had been swallowed willingly, 
 Valens raging and threatening, a prince who never ought 
 to have had any power at all, because he thought that every- 
 thing, 'even injustice, was in his power, was incessantly 
 active in causing the production, even from the most dis- 
 tant countries, of all those whom the lawless accuser in 
 profound securitj r had insisted ought to be produced ; and 
 further commanded a prosecution to be instituted on the 
 criminal charge. 
 
 11. And when equity had long been tossed to and 
 fro by knotty difficulties, while that abandoned profligate 
 persisted with unyielding obstinacy in maintaining the 
 truth of his assertions, while the severest tortures were un- 
 able to wring any confession from the prisoners, and when 
 every circumstance proved that those eminent men were 
 free from all consciousness of anything of the kind, still the 
 false accuser was treated with the same respect as he had 
 previously received. But though the prisoners were scu-
 
 A.D. 371.] DEATH AND FUNERAL OF HELIODORUS. 517 
 
 tenced to exile and a heavy fine, a short time afterwards 
 they were recalled from banishment, restored to their 
 former rank and dignity, and their fine repaid. 
 
 12. Still after all these shameful transactions, the prince 
 did not proceed with any more moderation or decency than 
 before ; never considering that in a wise government it is 
 well not to be too keen in hunting out offences, even as a 
 means of inflicting distress upon one's enemies ; and that 
 nothing is so unbecoming as to displaj 7 ' a bitterness of dis- 
 position in connection with supreme authority. 
 
 13. But when Heliodorus died, whether of sickness or 
 through some deliberate violence is uncertain (I should not 
 like to say, and I wish that the facts themselves were equally 
 silent) , many men of rank in mourning robes, among whom 
 were these two brothers of consular rank, by the express 
 command of the emperor, attended his funeral when he was 
 borne to his grave by the undertakers. 
 
 14. At that time, and in that place, the whole vile- 
 ness and stupidity of the ruler of the empire was publicly 
 displayed. When he was entreated to abstain from 
 abandoning himself to inconsolable grief, he remained 
 obstinately inflexible, as if he had stopped his ears with 
 wax to pass the rocks of the Sirens. 
 
 15. But at last, being overcome by the pertinacious 
 entreaties of his court, he ordered some persons to go on 
 foot, bareheaded, and with their hands folded, to the burial- 
 place of this wretched gladiator to do him honour. One 
 shudders now to recollect the decree by which so many men 
 of high rank were humiliated, especially some of consular 
 dignity, after all their truncheons and robes of honour, and 
 all the worldly parade of having their names recorded in 
 the annals of their nation. 
 
 16. Among them all, our friend Hypatius was most con- 
 spicuous, recommended as he was to every one by the 
 beauty of the virtues which he had practised from his 
 youth ; being a man of quiet and gentle wisdom, preserv- 
 ing an undeviating honesty combined with the greatest 
 courtesy of manner, so that he conferred a fresh lustre on 
 the glory of his ancestors, and was an ornament to his 
 posterity, by the memorable actions which he performed 
 in the office of prefect, to which he was twice appointed. 
 
 17. At the same time, this circumstance came to crown
 
 518 AMMIAXL'S MARCKLLIXUS. [BK. XXIX. CH. n. 
 
 the other splendid actions of Valens, that, while in the 
 case of others he gave way to such furious violence, that he 
 was even vexed when the severity of their punishment was 
 terminated by death, yet he pardoned Pollentianus, the 
 tribune, a man stained with such enormous wickedness, 
 that at that very time he was convicted on his own con- 
 fession of having cut out the womb of a living woman and 
 taken from it her child, in order to summon forth spirits 
 from the shades below, and to consult them about a change 
 in the empire. He looked on this wretch with the eye of 
 friendship, in spite of the murmurs of the whole bench of 
 senators, and discharged him in safety, suifering him to 
 retain not only his life, but his vast riches and full rank in 
 the army. 
 
 18. most glorious learning, granted by the express 
 gift of heaven to happy mortals, thou who hast often re- 
 fined even vicious natures ! How many faults in the 
 darkness of that age wouldst thou have corrected if Valens 
 had ever been taught by thee that, according to the defi- 
 nition of wise men, empire is nothing else but the care of the 
 safety of others ; and that it is the duty of a good emperor 
 to restrain power, to resist any desire to possess all things, 
 and all implacability of passion, and to know, as the dic- 
 tator Caesar used to say, " That the recollection of cruelty 
 was an instrument to make old age miserable !" And there- 
 fore that it behoves any one who is about to pass a sentence 
 affecting the life and existence of a man, who is a portion 
 of the world, and makes up the complement of living crea- 
 tures, to hesitate long and much, and never to give way TO 
 intemperate haste in a case in which what is done is irre- 
 vocable. According to that example well known to all 
 antiquity. 
 
 19. When Dolabella was proconsul in Asia, a matron 
 at Smyrna confessed that she had poisoned her son and 
 her husband, because she had discovered that they had 
 murdered a son whom she had had by a former husband. 
 Her case was adjourned the council to whom it had 
 been referred being in doiibt how to draw a line between 
 just revenge and \inprovoked crime ; and so she was re- 
 mitted to the judgment of the Areopagus, those severe 
 Athenian judges, who are said to have decided disputes 
 even among the gods. They, when they had heard the
 
 A.D. 371.] FESTUS GOVERNOR OF SYRIA. 519 
 
 case, ordered the woman and her accuser to appear before 
 them again in a hundred years, to avoid either acquitting 
 a poisoner, or punishing one who had been the avenger 
 of her kindred. So that is never to be thought too slow 
 which is the last of all things. 
 
 20. After all the acts of various iniquity already men- 
 tioned, and after even the free persons who were allowed to 
 survive had been thus shamefully branded, the eye of Jus- 
 tice which never sleeps, that unceasing witness and avenger 
 of events, became more attentive and vigilant. For the 
 avenging Furies of those who had been put to death, work- 
 ing on the everlasting deity with their just complaints, 
 kindled the torches of war, to confirm the truth of the 
 oracle, which had given warning that no crime can be per- 
 petrated with impunity. 
 
 21. While the affairs thus narrated were taking place, 
 Antioch was exposed to great distress through domestic 
 dissension, though not molested by any attacks on the 
 side of Parthia. But the horrid troop of Furies, which 
 after having caused all sorts of miseries there, had quitted 
 that city, now settled on the neck of the whole of Asia, 
 as will be seen in what follows. 
 
 22. A certain native of Trent, by name Festus, a man 
 of the lowest obscurity of birth, being a relation of 
 Maximin, and one who had assumed the manly robe at the 
 same time with himself, was cherished by him as a com- 
 panion, and by the will of the Fates had now crossed over 
 to the east, and having there become governor of Syria, 
 and master of the records, he set a very good and respect- 
 able example of lenity. From this he was promoted to 
 govern Asia with the rank of proconsul, being thus, as the 
 saying is, borne on with a fair wind to glory. 
 
 23. And hearing that Maximin caused the destruction of 
 every virtuous man, he began from this time to denounce his 
 actions as mischievous and disgraceful. But when he saw 
 that, in consequence of the removal of those persons whom 
 he had impiously put to death, that wicked man had 
 arrived at the dignity of prefect, he began to be excited to 
 similar conduct and similar hopes. And suddenly chang- 
 ing his character like an actor, he applied himself to the 
 study of doing injury, and went about with fixed and 
 severe eyes, trusting that he also should soon become a
 
 520 AMMIANUS MARCELLINUS. [BK. XXIX. Cn. n. 
 
 prefect, if lie only polluted himself with the blood of 
 innocent men. 
 
 24. And although there are many and various instances 
 in which, to put the best construction on them, he acted 
 with great harshness, still it will be sufficient to enumerate 
 a few, which are notorious and commonly spoken of, seem- 
 ing to be done in rivalry of the deeds which were com- 
 mitted at Eome ; for the principle of good and bad actions 
 is the same everywhere, even if the importance of the cir- 
 cumstances be unequal. 
 
 25. There was a philosopher named Cseranius, a man of 
 no inconsiderable merit, whom he put to death with the 
 most cruel tortures, and without any one coming forward 
 to avenge him, because, when writing familiarly to his 
 wife, he had put a postscript in Greek, " <ru 2c voti, KUI 
 rTT<f)E TTIV TrvXyv." " Do you take care and adorn the gate," 
 which is a common expression to let the hearer know that 
 something of importance is to be done. 
 
 26. There was a certain simple old woman who was wont 
 to cure intermittent fever by a gentle incantation, whom he 
 put to death as a witch, after she had been summoned, with 
 his consent, to his daughter, and had cured her. 
 
 27. There was a certain citizen of high respectability, 
 among whose papers, when they were searched by the 
 officers on some business or other, was found the nativity 
 of some one of the name of Valens. He, when asked on 
 what account he had troubled himself about the star of the 
 emperor, had repelled the accusation by declaring that it 
 was his own brother Valens whose nativity was thus found, 
 and when he promised to bring abundant proof that he had 
 long been dead, the judges would not wait for evidence of 
 the truth of his assertion, but put him to the torture and 
 cruelly slew him. 
 
 28. A young man was seen in the bath to put the fingers 
 of each hand alternately against the marble and against his 
 own chest, and then to repeat the names of the seven 
 vowels, fancying that a remedy for a pain in the stomach. 
 For this he was brought before the court, put to the tor- 
 Ivure, and then beheaded.
 
 371.] CRUELTIES OF VALENTIXIAX. 521 
 
 III. 
 
 1. THESE events, and the account of Gaul to which I am 
 now about to proceed, will cause some interruption to 
 the narration of occurrences in the metropolis. Among 
 n^aiiy terrible circumstances, I find that Maximin was still 
 prefect, who by the wide extent of his power was a cruel 
 prompter to the emperor, who combined the most un- 
 restrained licence with unbounded power. \\hoever, 
 therefore, considers what I have related, must also reflect 
 on the other facts which have been passed over, and, like a 
 prudent man, he will pardon me if I do not record every- 
 thing which the wickedness of certain counsels has occa- 
 sioned by exaggerating every accusation ? 
 
 2. For while severity, the foe of all right principles, in- 
 creased, Valentinian, being a man of a naturally ferocious 
 disposition, when Maximin arrived, having no one to give 
 him good advice or to restrain him, proceeded, as if 
 hurried on by a storm of winds and waves, to all kinds of 
 cruel actions ; so that when angry, his voice, his counte- 
 nance, his gait, and his complexion, were continually 
 changing. And of this passionate intemperance there are 
 many undoubted instances, of which it will be sufficient to 
 recount a few. 
 
 3. A certain grown-up youth, of those called pages, 
 having been appointed to take care of a Spartan hound 
 which had been brought out for hunting, let him loose 
 before the appointed moment, because the animal, in its 
 efforts to escape, leaped upon him and bit him ; and for 
 this he was beaten to death and buried the same day. 
 
 4. The master of a workshop, who had brought the 
 emperor an offering of a breastplate most exquisitely 
 polished, and who was therefore in expectation of a 
 reward, was ordered by him to be put to death because 
 the steel was of less weight than he considered requisite. 
 
 . . . . There was a certain native, of Epirus, a 
 priest of the Christian religion. 1 .... 
 
 1 This sentence is so mutilated as to be unintelligible, but is filled 
 up by conjecture, founded on a knowledge of the facte, thus : " who was 
 executed because he had not given up Octavian, who had been 
 formerly proconsul of Africa, and who had taken refuge in his house 
 when accused of some crime."
 
 522 AMMIAXUS MARCELL1XUS. [BK. XXIX. CH. in. 
 
 5. Constantianus, the master of the stables, having 
 ventured to change a few of the horses, to select which 
 he had been despatched to Sardinia, was, by his order, 
 stoned to death. Athanasius, a very popular character, 
 being suspected by him of some levity in the language 
 he held among the common people, was sentenced to 
 be burnt alive if he ever did anything of the kind again ; 
 and not long afterwards, being accused of having practised 
 magic, he was actually burnt, no pardon being given even 
 to one whose devices had often afforded the emperor great 
 amusement. 
 
 6. Africanus was an advocate of great diligence, residing 
 in Rome ; he had had the government of one province, and 
 aspired to that of another. But when Theodosius, the 
 commander of the cavalry, supported his petition for such 
 an office, the emperor answered him somewhat rudely, 
 " Away with you, count, and change the head of the 
 man who wishes to have his province changed." And 
 by this sentence a man of great eloquence perished, only 
 because, like many others, he wished for higher preferment. 
 
 7. Claudian and Sallust were officers of the Jovian legion, 
 who had gradually risen to the rank of tribunes ; but they 
 were accused by some man of the most despicable baseness 
 of having said something in favour of Frocopius when he 
 aimed at the imperial power. And when a diligent in- 
 vestigation into this charge had proved ineffectual, the 
 emperor gave orders to the captains of the cavalry who 
 had been employed in it, to condemn Claudian to banish- 
 ment, and to pass sentence of death upon Sallust, promising 
 that he would reprieve him as he was being led to execu- 
 tion. The sentence was passed, as he commanded; but 
 Sallust was not reprieved, nor was Claudian recalled from 
 exile till after the death of Valentinian. 1 . . . After 
 they had been exposed to frequent tortures. 
 
 8. Nevertheless after so many persons had been put to the 
 question, some of whom had even expired under the se- 
 verity of their tortures, still no traces of the alleged crimes 
 could be discovered. In this affair some of the body- 
 guards, who had been sent to arrest certain persons, were, 
 in a most unusual manner, beaten to death. 
 
 9. The mind shudders at the idea of recapitulating all 
 that took place, and, indeed, dreads to do so, lest we should
 
 A.D. 371.] WAR AGAINST MACRIANUS, 523 
 
 appear to make a business of pointing out the vices of an 
 emperor who, in other respects, had many good qualities. 
 But this one circumstance may not be passed over in 
 silence nor suppressed, that he kept two ferocious she-bears 
 who were used to eat men ; and they had names, Golden 
 Camel and Innocence, and these beasts he took such care 
 ^>f that he had their dens close to his bedchamber ; and 
 appointed over them trusty keepers who were bound to take 
 especial care that the odious fury of these monsters should 
 never be checked. At last he had Innocence set free, after 
 he had seen the burial of many corpses which she had torn 
 to pieces, giving her the range of the forests as a reward 
 for her services. 1 
 
 IV. 
 
 1. THESE actions are the most undeniable proof of his 
 habits and real character; but even the most obstinate 
 disparager of his disposition cannot deny him the praise of 
 great ability, which never forgot the interests of the state ; 
 especially when it is recollected, that perhaps it is a greater 
 and more beneficial, as well as difficult, task to control the 
 barbarians by means of an army, than to repulse them. 
 And when ... If any one of the enemy moved, he was 
 seen from the watch-towers and immediately overwhelmed. 
 
 2. But among many other subjects of anxiety, the first 
 and most important thing of all which was agitated, was 
 to seize alive, either by force or by trickery, as Julian had 
 formerly taken Vadomarius, Macrianus, the king, who, 
 through all the changes which had taken place, had ob- 
 tained a considerable increase of power, and was rising up 
 against our people with full-grown strength : and after all 
 the measures had been taken which seemed required by 
 the affair itself and the time, and when it had been learnt 
 by information collected from deserters when the aforesaid 
 monarch could be seized before he expected anything of 
 the kind, the emperor threw a bridge of boats across the 
 Bhine with as much secrecy as was possible, lest any one 
 should interpose any obstacle to such a work. 
 
 3. Severus, who was the commander of the infantry, led 
 
 1 The end of this chapter also is lost, as are one or two passages in 
 the beginning of Chapter IV.
 
 AMMIAXUS MARCELLINUS. [Bu. XXIX. CH. iv. 
 
 the van of the army towards Wiesbaden ; and then, reflect- 
 ing on his scanty numbers, halted in consternation ; being 
 afraid lest, as he should be quite unequal to resist them, 
 he should be overwhelmed by the mass of the hostile army 
 if it attacked him. 
 
 4. And because he suspected that the dealers who 
 brought slaves for sale, whom he found at that place by 
 chance, would be likely to repair with speed to the king to 
 tell him what they had seen, he stripped them of all their 
 merchandise, and then put them all to death. 
 
 5. Our generals were now encouraged by the arrival of 
 more troops ; and speedily contrived a temporary camp, 
 because none of the baggage-beasts had arrived, nor had 
 any one a proper tent, except the emperor, for whom one 
 was constructed of carpets and tapestry. Then waiting a 
 short time on account of the darkness of the night, at day- 
 break the army quitted the camp and proceeded onwards ; 
 being led by guides well acquainted with the country. 
 The cavalry, under Theodosius, its captain, was appointed 
 to lead the way . . . was inconvenienced by the great 
 noise made by his men ; whom his repeated commands 
 could not restrain from rapine and incendiarism. For the 
 guards of the enemy being roused by the crackling of the 
 flames, and suspecting what had happened, put the king 
 on a light carriage and carrying him off with great speed, 
 hid him among the defiles of the neighbouring mountains. 
 
 6. Valentinian being defrauded of the glory of taking 
 him, and that neither through any fault of his own or of 
 his generals, but through the insubordination of his soldiers, 
 which was often the cause of great misfortunes to the 
 Boinan state, laid waste all the enemy's country for fifty 
 miles with fire and sword ; and then returned dejected to 
 Treves. 
 
 7. Where like a lion raging for the loss of a deer or a 
 goat and champing with empty jaws, while fear was 
 breaking and dividing the enemy, he proceeded to com- 
 mand the Bucenobantes, who are a tribe of the Allemanni 
 opposite to Mayence, to elect Fraornarius as their king in 
 place of Macrianus. And, shortly afterwards, when a 
 fresh invasion had entirely desolated that canton, he 
 removed him to Britain, where he gave him the authority 
 of a tribune, and placed a number of the Allemanni under
 
 A.D.371.] FIRMUS THE MAURITANIA^. 525 
 
 his command, forming for him a division strong both in 
 its numbers and the excellence of its appointments. He 
 also gave two other nobles of the same nation, by name 
 Bitheridus and Hortarius, commands in his army; of 
 whom Hortarius, being betrayed by the information of 
 Florentius, Duke of Germany, who accused him of having 
 "written letters to Macrianus and the chieftains of the 
 barbarians, containing language unfavourable to the re- 
 public, was put to the torture, and having been compelled 
 to confess the truth, was condemned to be burnt alive. 
 
 V. 
 
 1. AFTER this ... it seems best to relate these 
 matters in one connected narrative, lest the introduction 
 of other affairs wholly unconnected with them, and which 
 took place at a distance, should lead to confusion, and 
 prevent the reader from acquiring a correct knowledge of 
 these numerous and intricate affairs. 
 
 2. Nubel, who had been the most powerful chieftain 
 among the Mauri taui an nations, died, and left several 
 sons, some legitimate, others born of concubines, of whom 
 Zamma, a great favourite of the Count Romanus, was slain 
 by his brother Firmus ; and this deed gave rise to civil 
 discords, and wars. For the count being exceedingly eager 
 to avenge his death, made formidable preparations for the 
 destruction of his treacherous enemy. And as continual 
 reports declared, most exceeding pains were taken in the 
 palace, that the despatches of Komanus, which contained 
 many most unfavourable statements respecting Firmus, 
 should be received and read by the prince; while many 
 circumstances strengthened their credibility. And, on the 
 other hand, that those documents which Firmus frequently, 
 for the sake of his own safety, endeavoured to lay before 
 the emperor by the agency of his friends, should be kept 
 from his sight as long as possible, Eemigius, a friend 
 and relation of Eomanus, and who was at that time 
 master of the offices, availed himself of other more im- 
 portant affairs which claimed the emperor's attention to 
 declare that Firmus's papers were all unimportant and 
 superfluous, only to be read at a perfectly favourable 
 opportunity.
 
 526 AMMIAXUS MARCELL1NUS. [BK. XXIX. CH. v. 
 
 3. But when Firmus perceived that these intrigues were 
 going on to keep his defence out of sight, trembling for 
 fear of the worst if all his excuses should be passed over, and 
 he himself be condemned as disaifected and mischievous, 
 and so be put to death, he revolted from the emperor's 
 authority, and aided ... in devastation. 1 
 
 4. Therefore, to prevent an implacable enemy from 
 gaining strength by such an increase of force, Theodosius, 
 the commander of the cavalry, was sent with a small body 
 of the emperor's guards to crush him at once. Theodosius 
 was an officer whose virtues and successes were at that 
 time conspicuous above those of all other men : he re- 
 sembled those ancient heroes, Domitius Corbulo, and 
 Lusius ; the first of whom was distinguished by a great 
 number of gallant achievements in the time of Nero, and 
 the latter of equal reputation under Trajan. 
 
 5. Theodosius marched from Aries with favourable 
 auspices, and having crossed the sea with the fleet under 
 his command so rapidly that no report of his approach 
 could arrive before himself, he reached the coast of Mauri- 
 tania Sitifensis ; that portion of the coast being called, by 
 the natives, Igilgitanum. There, by accident, he met 
 Romanus, and addressing him kindly, sent him to arrange 
 the stations of the sentries and the outposts, without 
 reproaching him for any of the matters for which he was 
 liable to blame. 
 
 6. And when he had gone to the other province, Mauri- 
 tania Csesariensis, he sent Gildo, the brother of Firinus 
 and Maximus, to assist Vincentius, who, as the deputy of 
 Komanus, was the partner of his disloyal schemes and 
 thefts. 
 
 7. Accordingly, as soon as his soldiers arrived, who had 
 been delayed by the length of the sea voyage, he hastened 
 to Sitifis ; and gave orders to the body-guards to keep 
 Eomanus and his attendants under surveillance. He 
 himself remained in the city, full of embarrassment and 
 anxiety, working many plans in his mind, while devising 
 by what means or contrivances he could conduct his 
 soldiers who were accustomed to a cold climate through a 
 country parched up with heat ; or how he could catch an 
 
 1 Manuscript imperfect.
 
 A.D. 3?!.] MOVEMENTS OF THEODORUS. 527 
 
 enemy always on the alert and appearing when least ex- 
 pected, and who relied more on surprises and ambuscades 
 than a pitched battle. 
 
 8. When news of these facts reached Firmus, first 
 through vague reports, and subsequently by precise in- 
 formation, he, terrified at the approach of a general of 
 
 tried valour, sent envoys and letters to him, confessing 
 all he had done, and imploring pardon ; asserting that 
 it was not of his own accord that he had been driven on 
 to an action which he knew to be criminal, but that he had 
 been goaded on by unjust treatment of a flagitious cha- 
 racter, as he undertook to show. 
 
 9. When his letters had been read, and when peace was 
 promised him, and hostages received from him, Theodosius 
 proceeded to the Pancharian station to review the legions 
 to which the protection of Africa was intrusted, and who 
 had been ordered to assemble to meet him at that place. 
 There he encouraged the hopes of them all by confident 
 yet prudent language ; and then returned to Sitifis, having 
 reinforced his troops with some native soldiers ; and, not 
 being inclined to admit of any delay, he hastened to 
 regain his camp. 
 
 10. Among many other admirable qualities which he 
 displayed, his popularity was immensely increased by an 
 order which he issued, forbidding the army to demand 
 supplies from the inhabitants of the province ; and assert- 
 ing, with a captivating confidence, that the harvests and 
 granaries of the enemy were the magazines of the valour 
 of our soldiers. 
 
 11. Having arranged these matters in a way which 
 caused great joy to the landowners, he advanced to Tubu- 
 suptum, a town near Mons Ferratus, where he rejected a 
 second embassy of Firmus, because it had not brought 
 with it the hostages, as had been provided before. From 
 this place, having made as careful an examination of every- 
 thing as the time and place permitted, he proceeded by 
 rapid marches to the Tyndenses and Massisenses ; tribes 
 equipped with light arms, under the command of Mascizel 
 and Dius, brothers of Firmus. 
 
 12. W T hen the enemy, being quick and active in all 
 their movements, came in sight, after a fierce skirmish 
 by a rapid interchange of missiles, both sides engaged
 
 528 AMMIANU3 MARCELLINUS. [BK. XXIX. CH. v 
 
 in a furious contest ; and amid the groans of the wounded 
 and dying were heard also the wailing and lamentations 
 of barbarian prisoners. When the battle was over, the 
 territory for a great distance was ravaged and wasted by 
 fire. 
 
 13. Among the havoc thus caused, the destruction of 
 the farm of Petra, which was razed to the ground, and 
 which had been originally built by Salmaces, its owner, 
 a brother of Firmus, in such a manner as to resemble a 
 town, was especially remarkable. The conqueror was 
 elated at this success, and with incredible speed proceeded 
 to occupy the town of Larnforctense, which was situated 
 among the tribes already mentioned ; here he caused 
 large stores of provisions to be accumulated, in order 
 that if, in his advance into the inland districts, he 
 should find a scarcity of supplies, he might order them to 
 be brought from this town, which would be at no great 
 distance. 
 
 14. In the mean time Mascizel, having recruited his 
 forces by auxiliaries which he had procured from the 
 tribes on the borders, ventured on a pitched battle with 
 our army, in which his men were routed, and a great 
 portion of them slain, while he himself was with difficulty 
 saved from death by the speed of his horse. 
 
 15. Firmus, being weakened by the losses he had 
 sustained in two battles, and in great perplexity, in 
 order to leave no expedient untried, sent some priests 
 of the Christian religion with the hostages, as ambas- 
 sadors to implore peace. They were received kindly, 
 and having promised supplies of food for our soldiers, 
 as they Avere commissioned to do, they brought back a 
 propitious answer. And then, sending before him a 
 present, Firmus himself went with confidence to meet 
 the Koman general, mounted on a horse fitted for any 
 emergency. When he came near Theodosius, he was 
 awe-struck at the brilliancy of the standards, and the 
 terrible countenance of the general himself; and leapt 
 from his horse, and with neck bowed down almost to 
 the ground, he, with tears, laid all the blame on his own 
 rashness, and entreated pardon and peace. 
 
 16. He was received with a kiss, since such treatment 
 of him appeared advantageous to the republic ; and being
 
 <*!> 373.] MOVEMENTS OF THEOUOSIUS. 529 
 
 now full of joyful hope, he supplied the army with pro- 
 visions in abundance ; and having left some of his own 
 relations as hostages, he departed in order, as he promised, 
 to restore those prisoners whom he had taken at the first 
 beginning of these disturbances. And two days after- 
 wards, without any delay, he restored the town of Icosium 
 (of the founders of which we have already spoken), also the 
 military standards, the crown belonging to the priest, and 
 all the other things which he had taken, as he had been 
 commanded to do. 
 
 17. Leaving this place, our general, advancing by long 
 marches, reached Tiposa, where, with great elation, he 
 gave answers to the envoys of the Mazices, who had 
 combined with Firmus, and now in a suppliant tone im- 
 plored pardon, replying to their entreaties that he would 
 at once march against them as perfidious enemies. 
 
 18. When he had thus cowed them by the fear of 
 impending danger, and had commanded them to return to 
 their own country, he proceeded onwards to Caesarea, a 
 city formerly of great wealth and importance, of the origin 
 of which we have given a full account in our description 
 of Africa. When he reached it, and saw that nearly the 
 whole of it had been destroyed by extensive conflagra- 
 tions, and that the flint stones of the streets were covered 
 with ashes, he ordered the first and second legions to 
 be stationed there for a time, that they might clear away 
 the heaps of cinders and ashes, and keep guard there to 
 prevent a fresh attack of the barbarians from repeating this 
 devastation. 
 
 19. When accurate intelligence of these events had 
 arrived, the governors of the province and the tribune 
 Vincentius issued forth from the places of concealment in 
 which they had been lying, and came with speed and 
 confidence to the general. He saw and received them 
 with joy, and, while still at Csesarea, having accurately 
 inquired into every circumstance, he found that Firmus, 
 while assuming the disguise of an ally and a suppliant, 
 was secretly planning how, like a sudden tempest, to over- 
 whelm his army while unprepared for any such danger. 
 
 20. On this he quitted Cresarea, and went to the town of 
 Sugabarritanum, which is on the slope of Mount Transcel- 
 lensis. There he found the cavalry of the fourth cohort 
 
 2 M
 
 530 AMMIANUS MARCELLIXUS. [BK. XXIX. CH. v. 
 
 of archers, who had revolted to the rebels, and in order 
 to show himself content with lenient punishments, he 
 degraded them all to the lowest class of the service, and 
 ordered them, and a portion of the infantry of the Con- 
 stantian legion, to come to Tigaviae with their tribunes, 
 one of whom was the man who, for want of a diadem, had 
 placed a neck-chain on the head of Firmus. 
 
 21. While these events were proceeding, Gildo and 
 Maximus returned, and brought with them Bellenes, one 
 of the princes of the Mazices, and Fericius, prefect of 
 that nation, both of whom had espoused the faction of 
 the disturber of the public peace, leading them forth in 
 chains. 
 
 22. When this order had been executed, Theodosius 
 himself came forth from his camp at daybreak, and 
 on seeing those men surrounded by his army, said, 
 " What, my trusty comrades, do you think ought to be 
 done to these nefarious traitors?" And then, in com- 
 pliance with the acclamations of the whole army, who 
 demanded that their treason should be expiated by their 
 blood, he, according to the ancient fashion, handed over 
 those of them who had served in the Constantian legion to 
 the soldiers to be put to death by them. The officers of 
 the archers he sentenced to lose their hands, and the rest 
 he condemned to death, in imitation of Curio, that most 
 vigorous and severe general, who by this kind of punish- 
 ment crushed the ferocity of the Dardanians, when it was 
 reviving like the Lernasan hydra. 
 
 23. But malignant deb-actors, though they praise the 
 ancient deed, vituperate this one as terrible and inhuman, 
 affirming that the Dardanians 1 were implacable enemies, 
 and therefore justly suffered the punishment inflicted 
 on them ; but that those soldiers, who belonged to our 
 own standards, ought to have been corrected with more 
 lenity, for falling into one single error. But we will 
 remind these cavillers, of what perhaps they know already, 
 namely, that this cohort was not only an enemy by its own 
 conduct, but also by the example which it set to others. 
 
 24. He also commanded Bellenes and Fericius, who 
 have been mentioned above, and whom Gildo brought 
 with him, to be put to death; and likewise Curandius, 
 
 1 The Dardanians were a TLracian tribe.
 
 A ' D - 373 -] DEFEAT OF THE MAZ1CES. 531 
 
 a tribune of the archers, because he had always been back- 
 ward in engaging the enemy himself, and had never been 
 willing to encourage his men to fight. And he did this 
 in recollection of the principle laid down by Cicero, that 
 " salutary vigour is better than an empty appearance of 
 clemency." 
 
 25. Leaving Sugabarri, he came to a town called 
 Gallonatis, surrounded by a strong wall, and a secure 
 place of refuge for the Moors, which, as such, he destroyed 
 with his battering-rams. And having slain all the in- 
 habitants, and levelled the walls, he advanced along the 
 foot of Mount Ancorarius to the fortress of Tingetanum, 
 where the Mazices were all collected in one solid body. 
 He at once attacked them, and they encountered him with 
 arrows and missiles of all kinds as thick as hail. 
 
 26. The battle proceeded for some time vigorously on 
 both sides, till at last the Mazices, though a hardy and 
 warlike race, being unable to withstand the fury of our 
 men and the shock of their arms, after sustaining heavy 
 loss, fled in every direction in disgraceful panic ; and 
 as they fled they were put to the sword in great numbers, 
 with the exception only of those who, contriving to make 
 their escape, afterwards, by their humble supplications, 
 obtained the pardon which the times permitted to be 
 granted to them. 
 
 27. Their leader Suggena, who succeeded Romanus, was 
 sent into Mauritania Sitifensis to establish other garrisons 
 necessary to prevent that province from being overrun ; 
 and he himself, elated by his recent achievements, marched 
 against the nation of the Musones, who, from a conscious- 
 ness of the ravages and murders of which they had been 
 guilty, had joined the party of Firmus, hoping that he 
 would soon obtain the chief authority. 
 
 28. Having advanced some distance, he found, near the 
 town of Addense, that a number of tribes, who, though 
 differing from each other in manners and language, were 
 all animated with one feeling, in fomenting the outbreaks 
 of terrible wars, being urged on and encouraged by the 
 hope of great rewards from a sister of Firmus, named 
 Cyria; who being very rich, and full of feminine reso- 
 lution, was resolved to make a great effort to help her 
 brother.
 
 532 AMMIAXUS MARCELLIXU3. [UK. XXIX. CH. v. 
 
 29. Therefore Theodosius, fearing to become involved 
 in a war to which his forces were unequal, and that if he 
 with his small force (for he had but three thousand five 
 hundred men) should engage with an immense multitude, 
 he should lose his whole army, at first hesitating between 
 the shame of retreating and his wish to fight, gradually 
 fell back a little ; but presently was compelled by the 
 overpowering mass of the barbarians to retire altogether. 
 
 30. The barbarians were exceedingly elated at this event, 
 and pursued him with great obstinacy. . . . Being 
 compelled by necessity to fight, he would have lost all his 
 army and his own life, had not these tumultuous tribes, 
 the moment they saw a troop of the Mazican auxiliaries, 
 with a few Eoman soldiers in their front, fancied that a 
 numerous division was advancing to charge them, and 
 in consequence taking to flight, opened to our men a way 
 of escape which was previously shut against them. 
 
 31. Theodositis now drew off his army in safety; and 
 when he had reached a town called Mazucanum, he found 
 there a number of deserters, some of whom he burnt alive, 
 and others he mutilated after the fashion of the archers 
 whose hands had been cut off. He then proceeded towards 
 Tipata, which he reached in the course of February. 
 
 32. There he stayed some time deliberating, like that 
 old delayer, Fabius, on the circumstances around him, 
 desiring to subdue the enemy, who was not only warlike, 
 but so active as usually to keep out of bowshot, rather 
 by manoeuvres and skill than by hazardous engagements. 
 
 33. Still he from time to time sent out envoys, skilled 
 in the arts of persuasion, to the surrounding tribes, the 
 Basurae, the Cautauriani, the Anastomates, the Cafaves, the 
 Davares, and other people in their neighbourhood, tiying 
 to bring them over to our alliance, either by presents, 
 threats, or by promises of pardon for past violence. 
 
 . . . seeking by delays and intrigues to crush an enemy 
 who offered so stout a resistance to his attacks, just as 
 Pompey in times past had subdued Mithridates. 
 
 34. On this account Firmus, avoiding immediate destruc- 
 tion, although he was strengthened by a large body of 
 troops, abandoned the army which he had collected by a 
 lavish expenditure of money, and as the darkness of night 
 afforded a chance of concealment, he fled to the Caprariau
 
 A.D.373.] FLIGHT OF FIRMCS. 533 
 
 mountains, which were at a great distance, and from their 
 precipitous character inaccessible. 
 
 35. On his clandestine departure, his army also dis- 
 persed, being broken up into small detachments without 
 any leader, and thus afforded our men an opportunity of 
 attacking their camp. That was soon plundered, and 
 all who resisted were put to the sword, or else taken 
 prisoners ; and then, having devastated the greater portion 
 of the country, our wise general appointed prefects of tried 
 loyalty as governors of the different tribes through which 
 he passed. 
 
 36. The traitor was thrown into consternation by the 
 unexpected boldness of his pursuit, and 'with the escort 
 of only a few servants, hoping to secure his safety by the 
 rapidity of his movements, in order to have nothing to 
 impede his flight, threw away all the valuable baggage 
 which he had taken with him. His wife, exhausted with 
 continual toil 
 
 37. Theodosius . . . showing mercy to none of them, 
 having refreshed his soldiers by a supply of better food, 
 and gratified them by a distribution of pay, defeated 
 the Capracienses and Abanni, who were the next tribes 
 to them, in some unimportant skirmishes, a.nd then 
 
 advanced with great speed to the town of 
 
 and having received certain intelligence that the bar- 
 barians had already occupied the hills, and were spread 
 over the precipitous and broken ground to a great height, 
 so that they were quite inaccessible to any but natives 
 who were intimately acquainted with the whole country, 
 he retired, giving the enemy an opportunity by a truce, 
 short as it was, to receive an important reinforcement 
 from the Ethiopians in the neighbourhood. 
 
 38. Then having assembled all their united forces, they 
 rushed on to battle with threatening shouts, and an utter 
 disregard of their individual safety, compelling him to 
 retreat, full of consternation at the apparently countless 
 numbers of their army. But soon the courage of his men 
 revived, and he returned, bringing with him vast supplies, 
 and with his troops in a dense column, and brandishing 
 their shields with formidable gestures, he again engaged 
 the enemy in close combat. 
 
 39. The barbarians rattled their arms in a savago
 
 534 AMMIANUS MARCELLINUS. fEu. XXIX. CH. v. 
 
 manner, and our battalions, with equal rage, pushed on, 
 they also rattling their shields against their knees. Still 
 the general, like a cautious and prudent warrior, aware of 
 the scantiness of his numbers, advanced boldly with his 
 army in battle array, till he came to a point, at which he 
 turned off, though still preserving an undaunted front, 
 towards the city of Contensis, where Firmus had placed 
 the prisoners whom he had taken from us, as in a remote 
 and safe fortress. He recovered them all, and inflicted 
 severe punishment, according to his custom, on the traitors 
 among the prisoners, and also on the guards of Firmus. 
 
 40. While he was thus successful, through the protec- 
 tion of the Supreme Deity, he received correct intelligence 
 from one of his scouts that Firmus had fled to the tribe of 
 the Isaflenses. He at once entered their territory to re- 
 quire that he should be given up, with his brother Ma- 
 zuca, and the rest of his relations : and on being refused, 
 he declared war against the nation. 
 
 41. And after a fierce battle, in which the barbarians 
 displayed extraordinary courage and ferocity, he threw his 
 army into a solid circle ; and then the Isaflenses were so com- 
 pletely overpowered by the weight of our battalions pressing 
 on them that numbers were slain ; and Firmus himself, 
 gallantly as he behaved, after exposing himself to im- 
 minent danger by the rashness of his courage, put spurs 
 to his horse, and fled ; his horse being accustomed to make 
 his way with great speed over the most rocky and preci- 
 pitous paths. But his brother Mazuca was taken prisoner, 
 mortally wounded. 
 
 42. It was intended to send him to Csesarea, where he 
 had left behind him many records of his atrocious cruelties ; 
 but his wounds reopened, and he died. So his head was 
 cut off, and (his body being left behind) was conveyed to that 
 city, where it was received with great joy by all who saw it. 
 
 43. After this our noble general inflicted most severe 
 punishment, as justice required, on the whole nation of the 
 Isaflenses, which had resisted till it was thus subdued in 
 war. And he burnt alive one of the most influential of 
 the citizens, named Evasius, and his son Florus, and several 
 others, who were convicted on undeniable evidence of 
 having aided the great disturber of tranquillity by their 
 secret counsels.
 
 A.D. 373.] IGMAZEH KING OF THE ISAFLENSES. 565 
 
 44. From thence Theodosius proceeded into the interior, 
 and with great resolution attacked the tribe of the 
 Jnbileni, to which he heard that Nubel, the father of 
 Firmus, belonged ; but presently he halted, being checked 
 by the height of the mountains, and their winding denies. 
 And though he had once attacked the enemy, and opened 
 himself a further road by slaying a great number of them, 
 still, fearing the high precipices as places pre-eminently 
 adapted for ambuscades, he withdrew, and led back his 
 army in safety to a fortress called Audiense, where the 
 Jesalenses, a warlike tribe, came over to him, voluntarily 
 promising to furnish him with reinforcements and pro- 
 visions. 
 
 45. Our noble general, exulting in this and similarly 
 glorious achievements, now made the greatest efforts to 
 overtake the original disturber of tranquillity himself, and 
 therefore having halted for some time near a fortress 
 named Medianum, he planned various schemes through 
 which he hoped to procure that Firmus should be given up 
 to him. 
 
 46. And while he was directing anxious thoughts and 
 deep sagacity to this object, he heard that he had again 
 gone back to the Isaflenses ; on which, as before, without 
 any delay, he marched against them with all possible 
 speed. Their king, whose name was Tgmazen, a man of 
 great reputation in that country, and celebrated also 
 for his riches, advanced with boldness to meet him, and 
 addressed him thus, " To what country do you belong, and 
 with what object have you come hither? Answer me." 
 Theodosius, with firm mind and stern looks, replied, " I 
 am a lieutenant of Valentinian, the master of the whole 
 world, sent hither to destroy a murderous robber; and 
 unless you at once surrender him, as the invincible emperor 
 has commanded, you also, and the nation of which you 
 are king, will be entirely destroyed." Igmazen, on receiv- 
 ing this answer, heaped a number of insulting epithets on 
 our general, and then retired full of rage and indignation. 
 
 47. And the next morning at daybreak the two armies, 
 breathing terrible threats against each other, advanced to 
 engage in battle : nearly twenty thousand barbarians con- 
 stituted the front of their army, with very large reserves 
 posted behind, out of sight, with the intention that they 
 should steal forward gradually, and hem in our battalions
 
 5;6 A3LMIAXUS MARCELLINUS. fBK. XXIX. On. v. 
 
 with tlieir vast and unexpected numbers. These were 
 also supported by a great number of auxiliaries of tho 
 Jesalenian tribes, whom we have mentioned as having 
 promised reinforcements and supplies to ourselves. 
 
 48. On the other side, the lioman army, though scanty 
 in numbers, nevertheless being full of natural courage, and 
 elated by their past victories, formed into dense columns, 
 and joining their shields firmly together, in the fashion of 
 a testudo, planted their feet firmly in steady resistance; 
 and from sunrise to the close of day the battle was pro- 
 tracted. A little before evening Firmus was seen mounted 
 on a tall horse, expanding his scarlet cloak in order to 
 attract the notice of his soldiers, whom he was excit- 
 ing with a loud voice at once to deliver up Theodosius, 
 calling him a ferocious and cruel man an inventor of 
 merciless punishments as the only means of delivering 
 themselves from the miseries which he was causing them. 
 
 49. This unexpected address only provoked some of 
 our men to fight with more vigour than ever, but there 
 were others whom it seduced to desert our ranks. There- 
 fore when the stillness of night arrived, and the country 
 became enveloped in thick darkness, Theodosius returned to 
 the fortress of Duodiense, and, recognizing those soldiers 
 who had been persuaded by fear and Firmus's speech to 
 quit the fight, he put them all to death by different modes 
 of execution ; of some he cut off the right hands, others he 
 burnt alive. 
 
 50. And conducting himself with ceaseless care and 
 vigilance, he routed a division of the barbarians who, 
 though afraid to show themselves by day, ventured, after 
 the moon had set, to make an attempt upon his camp ; some 
 of those who advanced further than their comrades he took 
 prisoners. Departing from this place, he made a forced 
 march through by-roads to attack the Jesalensiaiis, who 
 had shown themselves disloyal and unfaithful. He could 
 not obtain any supplies from their country, but he ravaged 
 it, and reduced it to complete desolation. Then he passed 
 through the towns of Mauritania and Cassarensis, and re- 
 turned to Sitifis, where he put to the torture Castor and 
 Martinianus, who had been the accomplices of Eomanus 
 in his rapine and other crimes, and afterwards burnt 
 them. 
 
 51. After this the war with the Isaflenses was renewed ;
 
 A-I>. 373.-] FIRM US COMMITS SUICIDE. 537 
 
 and in the first conflict, after the barbarians had been 
 routed with heavy loss, their king Igmazen, who had 
 hitherto been accustomed to be victorious, agitated by 
 fears of the present calamity, and thinking that all his 
 alliances would be destroyed, and that he should have no 
 lispe left in life if he continued to resist, with all the 
 cunning and secrecy that he could, fled by himself from 
 the battle : and reaching Theodosius, besought him in a 
 suppliant manner to desire Masilla, the chief magistrate of 
 the Mazices, to come to him. 
 
 52. When that noble had been sent to him as he re- 
 quested, he employed him as his agent to advise the general, 
 as a man by nature constant and resolute in his plans, that 
 the way to accomplish his purpose woiild be to press 
 his countrymen with great vigour, and, by incessant fight- 
 ing, strike terror into them ; as, though they were keen 
 partisans of Firmus, they were nevertheless wearied out 
 by repeated disasters. 
 
 53. Theodosius adopted this advice, and, by battle after 
 battle, so completely broke the spirits of the Isaflenses, 
 that they fell away like sheep, and Firmus again secretly 
 escaped, and hiding himself for a long time in out-of-the- 
 way places and retreats, till at last, while deliberating on a 
 further flight, he was seized by Jgmazen, and put in con- 
 finement. 
 
 54. And since he had learnt from Masilla the plans 
 which had been agitated in secret, he at last came to 
 reflect that in so extreme a necessity there was but one 
 remedy remaining, and he determined to trample under 
 foot the love of life by a voluntary death; and having 
 designedly filled himself with wine till he became stupe- 
 fied, when, in the silence of the night, his keepeis were 
 sunk in profound slumber, he, fully awake from dread 
 of the misfortune impending over him, left his bed with 
 noiseless steps, and crawling on his hands and feet, con- 
 veyed himself to a distance, and then, having found a 
 rope which chance provided for the end of his life, he 
 fastened it to a nail which was fixed in the wall, and 
 hanging himself, escaped the protracted sufferings of 
 torture. 
 
 55. Igmazen was vexed at this, lamenting that he was 
 thus robbed of his glory, because it had not been granted
 
 538 AMMIANUS MARCELLINUS. [BK. XXIX. CH. vi. 
 
 to him to conduct this rebel alive to the Eoman camp ; and 
 so, having received a pledge of the state for his own safety, 
 through the intervention of Masilla, he placed the body of 
 the dead man on a camel, and when he arrived at the camp 
 of the Roman army, which was pitched near the fortress 
 of Subicarense, he transferred it to a pack-horse, and offered 
 it to Theodosius, who received it with exultation. 
 
 56. And Theodosius having assembled a crowd of sol- 
 diers and citizens, and having asked them whether they 
 recognized the face of the corpse, learnt by their answers 
 that there was no question at all that it was the man ; 
 after this he stayed there a short time, and then returned, 
 to Sitifis in great triumph, where he was received with joy- 
 ful acclamations of the people of every age and rank. 
 
 VI. 
 
 1. WHILE Theodosius was thus exerting himself, and toil- 
 ing in Mauritania and Africa, the nation of the Quadi was 
 roused to make a sudden movement. It was a nation 
 now not very formidable, but one which had formerly 
 enjoyed vast renown for its warlike genius and power, 
 as its achievements prove, some of which were distin- 
 guished for the rapidity, as well as for the greatness, of 
 their success ; instances are : Aquileia, which was besieged 
 by them and the Marcomanni ; Opitergium, which was 
 destroyed by them, and many other bloody successes which 
 were gained in that rapid campaign when the Julian 
 Alps were passed, and that illustrious emperor Marcus, of 
 whom we have already spoken, was hardly able to offer 
 them any resistance. And indeed they had, for barbarians, 
 just ground of complaint. 
 
 2. For Valentinian, who from the beginning of his 
 reign had been full of a resolution to fortify his frontier, 
 which was a glorious decision, but one carried too far in 
 this case, ordered a fortress capable of containing a strong 
 garrison to be constructed on the south side of the river 
 Danube, in the very territories of the Quadi. as if they 
 were subject to the Eoman authority. The natives, being 
 veiy indignant at this, and anxious for their own rights 
 and safety, at first contented themselves with trying to 
 avert the evil by an embassy and expostulations.
 
 A.D. 373.] WAR WITH THE QUADI. 539 
 
 3. But Maximin, always eager for any wickedness, and 
 unable to bridle his natural arrogance, which was now 
 increased by the pride which he felt in his rank as 
 prefect, reproached Equitius, who at that time was the 
 commander of the forces in Illyricum, as careless and 
 inactive, because the work, which it was ordered should 
 be carried on with all speed, was not yet finished. And he 
 added, as a man guided only by zeal for the common 
 good, that if the rank of Duke of Valeria were only con- 
 ferred on his own little son, Marcellianus, the fortification 
 would be soon completed without any more pretexts for 
 delay. Both his wishes were presently granted. 
 
 4. Marcellianus received the promotion thus suggested, 
 and set out to take possession of his government; and 
 when he reached it, being full of untimely arrogance, as 
 might be expected from the son of such a father, without 
 attempting to conciliate those whom false dreams of gain 
 had caused to quit their native land, he applied himself 
 to the work which had been recently begun, and had only 
 been suspended to afford an opportunity for the inhabitants 
 to present petitions against it. 
 
 5. Lastly, when their king Gabinius reqxiested, in a most 
 moderate tone, that no innovations might be made, he 
 as if intending to assent to his petition, with feigned 
 courtesy invited him and some other persons to a banquet : 
 and then as he was departing after the entertainment, 
 unsuspicious of treachery, he caused him, in infamous viola- 
 tion of the sacred rights of hospitality, to be murdered. 
 
 6. The report of so atrocious an act was speedily 
 spread abroad, and roused the indignation of the Quadi 
 and other surrounding tribes, who, bewailing the death 
 of the king, collected together and sent forth predatory 
 bands, which crossed the Danube ; and when no hostilities 
 were looked for, attacked the people who were occupied 
 in the fields about the harvest ; and having slain the 
 greater portion of them, carried off all the survivors to 
 their own country with a great booty of different kinds of 
 cattle. 
 
 7. And at that time an inexpiable atrocity was very near 
 being committed, which would have been reckoned among 
 the most disgraceful disasters which ever happened to 
 the Roman state, for the daughter of Constantius had a
 
 540 AMMIAXCTS MAUCELLINUS. [BK. XXIX. CH. vi. 
 
 narrow escape of being taken prisoner as she was at 
 dinner in a hotel called the Pistrensian, when on her 
 way to be married to Gratian : and she was only saved 
 by the promptitude of Messala the governor of the province, 
 who, aided by the favour of the propitious Deity, placed 
 her in a carriage belonging to hinx as governor, and con- 
 ducted her back with all possible speed to Sirmiura, a dis- 
 tance of about twenty-six miles. 
 
 8. By this fortunate chance the royal virgin was deli- 
 vered from the peril of miserable slavery ; and if she had 
 been taken and her captors had refused to ransom her, it 
 would have been the cause of terrible disasters to the 
 republic. After this the Quadi in conjunction with the 
 Sarmatians, extended their ravages further (since both 
 these tiibes were addicted beyond measure to plunder and 
 robbery), carrying off, men, women, and cattle, and exult- 
 ing in the ashes of burnt villas, and in the misery of the 
 murdered inhabitants, whom they fell upon unexpectedly 
 and slaughtered without mercy. 
 
 9. All the neighbouring districts were filled with appre- 
 hension of similar evils, and Probus, the prefect of the 
 preetorium, who was at that time at Sirniium, a man wholly 
 unexperienced in war, being panic-struck with the cala- 
 mitous appearance of these new occurrences, and scarcely 
 able to raise his eyes for fear, was for a long time waver- 
 ing in doubt what to do. At first he prepared some 
 swift horses and resolved to fly the next night; but 
 afterwards, taking advice from some one who gave him 
 safer counsel, he stayed where he was, but without doing 
 anything. 
 
 10. For he had been assured that all those who were 
 within the walls of the city would immediately follow him, 
 with the intention of concealing themselves in suitable 
 hiding-places ; and if that had been done, the city, left 
 without defenders, would have fallen into the hands of the 
 enemy. 
 
 11. Presently, after his terror had been a little mode- 
 rated, he applied himself with some activity to do what was 
 most pressing ; he cleared out the fosses which were choked 
 up with ruins ; he repaired the greater portion of the walls 
 which, through the security engendered by a long peace, 
 had been neglected, and had fallen into decay, and raised
 
 A.D. 373.] VICTORY OF THE SARMATIAXS. 541 
 
 them again to the height of lofty towers, devoting him- 
 self zealously to the work of building. In this way 
 the work was speedily completed, because he found that 
 the sums which some time before had been collected for 
 the erection of a theatre were sufficient for the purpose 
 heuwas now pressing forward. And to this prudent mea- 
 sure he added another of like precaution, in summoning 
 a cohort of archer cavalry from the nearest station, 
 that it might be at hand to resist a siege should any take 
 place. 
 
 12. By these barriers, as they may be called, the bar- 
 barians were forced to abandon their design of besieo-in" 1 
 the city, since they were not skilful in contests of this kind, 
 and were also hampered by the burden of their booty: 
 accordingly they turned aside to pursue Equitius. And 
 when, from the information given them by their prisoners, 
 they learnt that he had retired to the most remote part of 
 Valeria, they hastened thither by forced marches, gnashing 
 their teeth, and determined on his death, because they 
 believed that it was through his means their innocent king 
 had been circumvented. 
 
 13. And as they were hastening onwards with impetuous 
 and vengeful speed, they were met by two legions, the 
 Pannonian and the Moasian, both of approved valour, 
 who, if they had acted in harmony, must unquestionably 
 have come off victorious. But while they were hastening 
 onward to attack the barbarians separately, a quarrel arose 
 between them on the subject of their honour and dignity, 
 which impeded all their operations. 
 
 14. And when intelligence of this dissension reached 
 the Sarmatians, who are a most sagacious people, they, 
 without waiting for any regular signal of battle, attacked 
 the Moesians first ; and while the soldiers, being surprised 
 and in disorder, were slowly making ready their arms, 
 many of them were killed; on which the barbarians 
 with increased confidence -attacked the Pannonians, and 
 broke their line also ; and when the line of battle was once 
 disordered, they redoubled their efforts, and would have 
 destroyed almost all of them, if some had not saved them- 
 selves from the danger of death by a precipitate flight. 
 
 15. Amid these calamitous inflictions of adverse fortune, 
 Theodosius the younger, Duke of Mcesia, then in the fin- 1
 
 5i2 AM3IIAXUS MARCELLINUS. [BK. XXIX. CH. vi. 
 
 bloom of youth, but afterwards a prince of the highest 
 reputation, in many encounters defeated and vanquished 
 the Free Sarmatians (so called to distinguish them from 
 their rebellious slaves), who had invaded our frontier 
 on the other side, till he exhausted them by his repeated 
 victories ; and with such vigour did he crush the assembled 
 crowds combined to resist his arms, that he glutted the 
 very birds and beasts with the blood of the vast numbers 
 justly slain. 
 
 16. Those who remained haA T ing lost all their pride and 
 spirit, fearing lest a general of such evident promptitude 
 and coiirage should rout or destroy these invading bat- 
 talions on the very edge of his frontier, or lay ambus- 
 cades for them in the recesses of the woods, made 
 from time to time many vain attempts to escape, and 
 at last, discarding all confidence in battle, they begged 
 indulgence and pardon for their past hostility. And 
 being thoroughly subdued, they did nothing for some 
 time contrary to the treaty of peace, being more especially 
 terrified because a strong force of Gallic soldiers had come 
 to the defence of lllyricum. 
 
 17. While these events were agitating the empire, and 
 while Claudius was prefect of the Eternal City, the Tiber, 
 which intersects its walls, and which, after receiving the 
 waters of many drains and copious streams, falls into 
 the Tyrrhenian Sea, overflowed its banks, in consequence 
 of an abundance of rain, and extending to a size beyond 
 that of a river, overwhelmed almost everything with its 
 flood. 
 
 18. All those parts of the city which lie in the plain 
 were under water, and nothing reared its head above but 
 the hills and other spots of rising ground, which seemed 
 like islands, out of the reach of present danger. And, as 
 the vastness of the inundation permitted of no departure 
 in any direction to save the multitude from dying of famine, 
 great quantities of provisions were brought in barges and 
 boats. But when the bad weather abated, and the river 
 which had burst its bounds returned to its accustomed 
 channel, the citizens discarded all fear, and apprehended no 
 inconvenience for the future. 
 
 19. Claudius, as a prefect, conducted himself very quietly, 
 nor was any sedition in his time provoked by any real
 
 A.D.3Y4.] PARA, KING OF ARMENIA. 543 
 
 grievance. He also repaired many ancient buildings ; and 
 among his improvements he built a large colonnade con- 
 tiguous to the bath of Agrippa, and gave it the name of 
 The Colonnade of Success, because a temple bearing that 
 title is close to it. 
 
 BOOK XXX. 
 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 I. Para, king of Armenia, being summoned by Valens to Tarsus, and 
 being detained there under pretence of doing him honour, escapes 
 with three hundred of his countrymen ; and having baffled the 
 sentinels on the roads, he regains his kingdom on horseback ; but 
 not long afterwards he is slain by Duke Trajan at an entertain- 
 ment. II. The embassies of the Emperor Valens and Sapor, king 
 of Persia, who are at variance about the kingdoms of Armenia and 
 Hiberia. III. Valentinian, after having ravaged several districts 
 of the Allemanni, has a conference with their king Macrianus, and 
 makes peace with him. IV. Modestus, the prefect of the praeto- 
 rium, diverts Valens from his purpose of sitting as a judge A 
 statement of the condition of the bar, of counsel learned in the 
 law, and the different classes of advocates. V. Valentinian, 
 intending to wage war against the Sarmatiaus and the Quadi, who 
 had been devastating Panuonia, marches into Illyricum, and 
 having crossed the Danube, he ravages the territories of the 
 Quadi, burns their villages, and slaughters the inhabitants, without 
 regard to age. VI. Valentinian, while giving answer, in a great 
 passion, to the ambassadors of the Quadi, who are trying to excuse 
 their countrymen, bursts a blood-vessel, and dies. VII. Who his 
 father was, and what was his conduct as emperor. VIII. His 
 cruelty, avarice, envy, and cowardice. IX. His virtues. X. Valen- 
 tinian the younger, the son of Valentinian, is saluted as emperor in 
 the camp at Bregetio. 
 
 I. 
 A.D. 374. 
 
 1. WHILE all these difficulties and disturbances had been 
 caused by the perfidy of the Duke Marcelliauus, in trea- 
 cherously murdering the king of the Quadi, a terrible 
 crime was committed in the East, where Para, king of 
 Armenia was also murdered by secret treachery ; the
 
 544 AMMIAMJS JTAnCELLIXUS. [EK. XXX. Ca. i. 
 
 original cause of which wicked action we have ascertained 
 to be this : 
 
 2. Some men of perverse temperament, who delighted 
 in public misfortune, had concocted a number of accusa- 
 tions against this prince for acts which they imputed 1o 
 him even when scarcely grown up, and had exaggerated 
 them to Valens. Among these men was the Duke Terentius, 
 a man who always walked about with a downcast melan- 
 choly look, and throughout his life was an unwearied 
 sower of discord. 
 
 3. He, having formed a combination with a few people 
 of Para's nation, whom a consciousness of their own 
 crimes had filled with fear, was continually harping in his 
 letters to the court on the deaths of Cylax and Arta- 
 bannes ; adding also that this same young king was full of 
 haughtiness in all his conduct, and that he behaved with 
 excessive cruelty to his subjects. 
 
 4. In consequence of these letters, Para, as if it were 
 intended that he should become a partaker in a treaty of 
 which existing circumstances required ratification, was 
 invited to court with all the ceremony to which he was 
 entitled as a king, and then was detained at Tarsus in 
 Cilicia, with a show of honour, without being able to 
 procure permission to approach the emperor's camp, or to 
 learn why his arrival had been so eagerly pressed ; since 
 on this point all around him preserved a rigid silence. 
 At last, however, by means of private information, he 
 learnt that Terentius was endeavouring by letter to per- 
 suade the Roman sovereign to send without delay another 
 king to Armenia ; lest, out of hatred to Para, and a know- 
 ledge of what they had to expect if he returned among 
 them, his nation, which at present was friendly to us. 
 should revolt to the Persians, who had long been eager to 
 reduce them under their power either by violence, fear, 
 or flattery. 
 
 5.- Para, reflecting on this warning, foreboded grievous 
 mischief for himself; and being a man of forethought 
 and contrivance, as he could not perceive any means of 
 safety, except by a speedy departure, by the advice of 
 his most trusty friends he collected a body of 300 persons 
 who had accompanied him from his own country, and 
 with horses selected for especial speed, acting as men
 
 AJ>. 374.] ESCAPE OF PARA. 545 
 
 are wont to do under the pressure of great terror and per- 
 plexity, that is to say, with more boldness than prudence ; 
 late one afternoon he started boldly forth at the head of 
 his escort, formed in one solid body. 
 
 6. And when the governor of the province, having 
 received information from the officer who kept the gate, 
 came with prompt energy and found him in the suburb, 
 he earnestly entreated him to remain ; but finding that he 
 could not prevail upon him, he quitted him, for fear of 
 his own life. 
 
 7. And not long afterwards Para, with his escort, turned 
 back upon the legion which was pursuing him and on 
 the point of overtaking him, and pouring arrows upon 
 them as thick as sparks of fire, though designedly missing 
 them, he put them to flight, filling them, tribune and all, 
 with complete consternation, so that they returned to the 
 city with greater speed than they left it. 
 
 8. After this, Para being released from all fear, con- 
 tinued his laborious and rapid journey for two days 
 and two nights, till he reached the Euphrates ; where, for 
 want of boats, he was unable to pass the river, which at 
 that place is full of strong currents and too deep to be 
 forded. His men, not being skilful swimmers, were afraid 
 to trust themselves to the stream, and he himself showed 
 more hesitation than any of them ; indeed he would have 
 halted there altogether, if while every one was sug- 
 gesting one plan or another, he had not at last hit upon 
 the following expedient, which seemed the safest in this 
 emergency. 
 
 9. They took a number of little beds which they found in 
 the neighbouring houses, and supported them each on two 
 bladders, of which there were plenty at hand in the vine- 
 yards. And then he and his nobles placed themselves 
 each on a bed, leading their horses after them, and so 
 floated down and across the stream ; by which con- 
 trivance, after extreme danger, they at last reached the 
 opposite bank. 
 
 10. All the rest swam their horses, and though they 
 were terribly tossed about and often almost sunk by the 
 eddying stream, still, though much exhausted by their 
 wetting, they also reached the opposite bank ; when having 
 rested for a short time and refreshed themselves, they 
 
 2N
 
 546 AMMlANUS MARCELLINUS. [BK. XXX. CH. I. 
 
 proceeded on their way, travelling further than on the 
 previous days. 
 
 11. When this transaction "became known, the emperor 
 being greatly moved at the king's flight, fearing he would 
 break off his alliance, sent Daniel and Barzimeres to bring 
 him back; the one being a count, the other the tribune 
 of the Scutarii, and he placed under their command a 
 thousand archers prepared for a rapid march by the light- 
 ness of their equipment. 
 
 12. These officers, trusting to their acquaintance with 
 the country, and feeling sure that Para, as a stranger who 
 was not accustomed to it, would take a roundabout way, 
 sought to cut him off by marking a short cut through 
 some valleys ; and having divided their forces, they block- 
 aded the two nearest roads, which were three miles from 
 one another, in order that whichever Para took he might 
 be caught before he expected it. But he escaped their 
 manoeuvre in this way : 
 
 13. A traveller who happened to be hastening towards the 
 western bank of the river, saw that the two roads were filled 
 with armed soldiers, and accordingly quitted this road in 
 order to avoid them, and made his way by an almost in- 
 visible path, which lay between them, overgrown with 
 bushes and brambles, and fell in with the Armenians, who 
 were by this time greatly fatigued. He was brought be- 
 fore the king, and, being admitted by him to a private 
 conference, related to him secretly what he had seen, 
 and was detained in safety. 
 
 14. And presently, without anything being done to 
 give an idea that they were alarmed, a horseman was 
 sent secretly to the road on the right side to prepare a 
 resting-place and some food. And when he had been 
 gone a little time, another was sent to the left with 
 directions to move with great rapidity, and do the same 
 thing ; neither horseman being aware that the other had 
 been sent in a different direction. 
 
 15. And after this arrangement had been thus cleverly 
 made, the king himself, with his escort, retraced his steps 
 through the jungle by which the traveller had come, 
 taking him for his guide, and passing through this over- 
 grown path, which was almost too narrow for a loaded 
 horse, he left the Roman soldiers behind him and so
 
 A.D. 374.] DANIEL AND BARZIMERES. 547 
 
 escaped. Meanwhile our troops, who had made prisoners 
 of the soldiers who had been thus sent out to impose 
 upon them, waited a long time, while watching for the 
 king, and stretching out their hands, as one may say, to 
 seize the game which they expected would rush into them. 
 And while they were thus waiting for the arrival of 
 Para, he reached his kingdom in safety, where he was 
 received with great joy by his countrymen, and still 
 remained unshaken in his fidelity to us, burying in silence 
 the injuries which he had received. 
 
 16. After this, Daniel and Barzimeres, having been thus 
 balked of their prey, returned to Tarsus, and were loaded 
 with bitter reproaches as inactive and blundering officers. 
 But like venomous serpents whose first spring has failed, 
 they only whetted their deadly fangs, in order at the 
 first opportunity to inflict all the injury in their power on 
 the king who had thus escaped them. 
 
 17. And, with a view to palliate the effect of their own 
 mistake, or rather of the defeat their hopes, which the 
 deeper sagacity of the king had contrived, they began 
 to fill the emperor's ears, which were at all times most 
 ready to receive all kinds of reports with false accusa- 
 tions against Para; pretending that he was skilled in 
 Circean incantations, so as to be able to transform people, 
 or to afflict them with sickness in a marvellous manner, 
 Adding, moreover, that it was by means of arts of this 
 kind that he had rendered himself invisible, and that if 
 allowed to continue changing his shape, he would cause 
 them great trouble, if permitted to live to boast of having 
 deceived them. 
 
 18. In this manner the hatred which Valens had con- 
 ceived against him was increased to an incredible degree ; 
 and plan after plan was laid to take his life, either by 
 force or stratagem ; and orders to that effect were 
 transmitted by secret letters to Trajan, who at that time 
 was in Armenia, in chief command of the forces in that 
 kingdom. 
 
 19. Trajan, accordingly, began to surround Para with 
 treacherous blandishments at one time showing him some 
 letters of Valens, which appeared to indicate that he was 
 favourably disposed towards the king at another, par- 
 taking cheerfully of his entertainments, he at last, with
 
 548 1MMIANUS MARCELUNUS. [Bs. XXX Cn. 1. 
 
 great apparent respect (but in pursuance of a deliberate 
 plot), invited him to supper. Para, fearing no hostility, 
 came, and was placed in the seat of honour at the feast. 
 
 20. Exquisite delicacies were set before him, and the 
 splendid palace resounded with the music of lyres and 
 lutes. Presently, when the wine had circulated freely, 
 the master of the feast quitted it for a moment, under 
 pretence of some natural want, and immediately a ferocious 
 barbarian of the troop they call Suprae ' was sent in, bran- 
 dishing a drawn sword, and with a terribly ferocious 
 countenance, to murder the youth, against whose escape 
 ample precautions had now been taken. 
 
 21. As soon as he saw him, the king, who as it happened 
 was on the further side of the couch, jumped up and 
 drew his dagger to defend his life by every means in his 
 power, but was stabbed in the breast, and fell like a 
 miserable victim, being shamefully cut to pieces with 
 repeated blows. 
 
 22. By this foul contrivance was his credulity shame- 
 fully deceived at a feast which is respected even on the 
 coast of the Euxine Sea, under the eye of the Deity of 
 Hospitality ; and the blood of a stranger and a guest was 
 sprinkled on the splendid tablecloths, and, by its foaming 
 gore, filled the guests with loathing, who at once dispersed 
 in great horror. If the dead can feel sorrow or indignation, 
 then let that illustrious Fabricius Luscinus groan at the 
 evidence of this deed, knowing with what greatness of 
 mind he himself repelled Demochares (or, as some call 
 him, Nicias), the king's servant, who in a secret con- 
 ference offered to poison Pyrrhus, at that time desolating 
 Italy with cruel wars, and wrote to the king, bidding him 
 beware of his immediate attendants : such great reverence 
 in the first ages of antiquity was there for the rights of 
 hospitality even when claimed by an enemy. 
 
 23. But this modern, strange, and shameful act was 
 excused by the precedent afforded by the death of Ser- 
 torius ; though the emperor's flatterers were perhaps 
 
 1 No one has succeeded in explaining this word. Some editors wish 
 to read Surse, explaining that as "men picked out for their great 
 strength," by a reference to Juvenal, xvi. 14 Grandes magna adsub- 
 sellia Surac. Wagner proposes to read Scurrse, a name sometimes given 
 to the guards in this age.
 
 A.D. 3U.] PROPOSALS OF SAPOR. 549 
 
 ignorant that, as Demosthenes the everlasting glory of 
 Greece affirms, an unlawful and wicked action cannot be 
 defended by its resemblance to another crime, or by the 
 fact, that that crime met with impunity. 
 
 II. 
 
 1. THESE are the transactions which especially attracted 
 notice in Armenia ; but Sapor, after the last defeat which 
 his troops had experienced, having heard of the death of 
 Para, whom he had been earnestly labouring to win to his 
 own alliance, was terribly grieved ; and, as the activity 
 of our army increased his apprehensions, he began to 
 dread still greater disasters to himself. 
 
 2. He therefore sent Arsaces as his ambassador to the 
 emperor, to advise him utterly to destroy Armenia as a 
 perpetual cause of trouble ; or, if that plan should be 
 decided against, asking that an end might be put to the 
 division of Hiberia into two provinces, that the Koman 
 garrison might be withdrawn, and that Aspacuras, whom 
 he himself had made the sovereign of the nation, might be 
 permitted to reign with undivided authority. 
 
 3. To this proposal, Valens replied, that he could not 
 change the resolutions which had been agreed to by both 
 of them ; and, indeed, that he should maintain them with 
 zealous care. Towards the end of the winter, letters were 
 received from the king of a tenor very contrary to this 
 noble determination of Valens, full of vain and arrogant 
 boasting. For in them Sapor affirmed that it was im- 
 possible for the seeds of discord to be radically extirpated, 
 unless those who had been witnesses of the peace which 
 had been made with Julian were all collected, some of 
 whom he knew to be already dead. 
 
 4. After this, the matter becoming a source of greater 
 anxiety, the emperor, who was more skilful in choosing 
 between different plans than in devising them himself, 
 thinking that it would be beneficial to the state in general, 
 ordered Victor, the commander of the cavalry, and Ur- 
 bicius, the Duke of Mesopotamia, to march with all speed 
 to Persia, bearing a positive and plain answer to the 
 proposals of Sapor : namely, that he, who boasted of
 
 550 AMMIANTTS MARCELLINUS. [liu. XXX. CH. n. 
 
 being a just man, and one contented with his own, was 
 acting wickedly in coveting Armenia, after a promise had 
 been made to its inhabitants, that they should be allowed 
 to live according to their own laws. And unless the 
 soldiers who had been left as auxiliaries to Sauromaces 
 returned without hindrance at the beginning of the 
 ensuing year, as had been agreed, he would compel Sapor 
 by force to perform what he might at present do with a 
 good grace. 
 
 5. And this embassy would in all respects have been a 
 just and honourable one, if the ambassadors had not, 
 contrary to their instructions, accepted some small districts 
 in this same Armenia which were offered them. When 
 the ambassadors returned, the Surena (the magistrate who 
 enjoys an authority second only to that of the king) came 
 with them, offering the said districts to the emperor which 
 our ambassadors had ventured to take. 
 
 6. He was received with liberality and magnificence ; 
 but dismissed without obtaining what he requested. And 
 then great preparations were made for war, in order that, 
 as soon as the severity of the winter was over, the em- 
 peror might invade Persia with three armies ; and with 
 this object he began with all speed to bargain for the 
 services of some Scythian auxiliaries. 
 
 7. Sapor not having succeeded in obtaining what his 
 vain hopes had led him to reckon on, and being exasperated 
 in an extraordinary degree, because he had learnt that 
 our emperor was preparing for an expedition, nevertheless 
 stifled his wrath, and gave the Surena a commission to 
 endeavour to recover by force of arms (if any one should 
 resist him) the territories which Count Victor andUrbicius 
 had accepted, and to press hostilities with the utmost 
 rigour against those soldiers who had been destined to aid 
 Sauromaces. 
 
 8. His orders were at once carried out. Nor was it 
 found possible to prevent or resist their execution, be- 
 cause a new cause of alarm suddenly came on the republic ; 
 as the entire nation of the Goths suddenly burst into 
 Thrace. The calamities which we experienced from 
 that event shall be related succinctly in their proper 
 places. 
 
 9. These were the occurrences which took place in the
 
 A.D. 374.] KEMIGIUS COMMITS SUICIDE. 551 
 
 East. And while they were proceeding, as has been 
 related, the unfailing arm of justice avenged the losses 
 we had sustained in Africa, and the slaughter of the 
 ^ambassadors of Tripoli, whose shades were still wandering 
 about unavenged. For Justice, though a late, is yet a 
 scrupulous and unerring discriminator between right and 
 wrong. 
 
 10. Eemigius, whom we have already spoken of as 
 favouring Count Eomanus, who had laid waste these pro- 
 vinces after Leo had succeeded him as master of the 
 offices, retired from office and from public life, and de- 
 voted himself to rural pursuits in his own native district 
 near Mayence. 
 
 11. And while he was living there in security, Maximin, 
 the prefect of the prsetorium, despising him because of his 
 return to a tranquil life, as he was accustomed to attack 
 everything like a terrible pestilence, set to work to do him 
 injury by every means in his power. And, in order to 
 hunt out all his secrets, he seized Ca3sarius who had 
 formerly been a servant of his, and afterwards had become 
 a secretary of the emperor, and put him to the question, 
 torturing him with great severity to learn from him what 
 Eemigius had done, and how much he had received to 
 induce him to countenance the wicked actions of Eomanus. 
 
 12. But when Eemigius heard this in his retreat, to 
 which, as has been said, he had retired ; being oppressed 
 bv the consciousness of his acts, or perhaps letting the 
 dread of false accusation overpower his reason, he hanged 
 himself. 
 
 III. 
 
 1. THE next year Gratian took Equitius as his colleague 
 in the consulship ; and Valentinian, after desolating some 
 cantons of the Allemanni, was building a fortress near 
 Basle, which the natives of the country call Eobur, when a 
 report was brought to him from the prefect Probus with an 
 account of the disasters which had taken place in Illyricum. 
 2. lie read them with a very careful examination, as 
 became a prudent general ; and then being filled with 
 anxious thoughts, he sent his secretary, Paternianus, to that 
 country, to inquire minutely into the whole details of the
 
 552 AMMLAJfUS MARCELLINUS. [BK. XXX. CM. m- 
 
 affair. And, as he soon received from him a true account 
 of all that had taken place, he prepared to repair thither 
 himself with all speed, in order to overwhelm with the 
 first crash of his arms (such was his idea) the barbarians 
 who had dared to pollute our frontier. 
 
 3. But, because, as it was now the end of autumn, there 
 were many serious difficulties in the way, all the nobles in 
 the palace pressed him earnestly to allow the time between 
 that and the beginning of spring to be spent in embassies 
 and conferences. Reminding him, in the first place, that the 
 roads were all impassable through frost that it was im- 
 possible to find herbage to feed the cattle, or anything else 
 that would be useful. In the next place, they dwelt on 
 the ferocity of the chieftains who lay nearest to Gaul, and 
 especially of Macrianus whom they greatly dreaded, as it 
 was quite certain that he was no friend to us, and was 
 inclined to attack even the fortified cities. 
 
 4. By recapitulating these arguments, and adding others 
 of great weight, they brought the emperor to adopt a 
 wiser plan ; and immediately (as was best for the com- 
 monwealth) King Macrianus was invited in courteous terms 
 to come to Mayence ; and the event proved that he also 
 was well inclined to make a treaty. When he arrived, 
 however, it was marvellous how proud and arrogant he 
 was, as if he were to be the supreme arbiter of the peace. 
 And on a day appointed for a conference he came, carrying 
 himself very loftily, to the very brink of the Rhine, and 
 escorted by a number of his countrymen, who made a 
 great clang with their shields. 
 
 5. On the other hand, the emperor, having embarked in 
 a boat, such as is used on that river, and likewise es- 
 corted by a strong force, came with great confidence up 
 to the eastern bank, being conspicuous through the 
 brilliancy of his glittering standards ; and when the 
 frantic gestures and murmurs of the barbarians had been 
 quieted, a long discussion took place on both sides, and 
 at last a firm friendship was agreed on, and ratified with 
 an oath. 
 
 6. When this was over, the king, who had been the 
 cause of all these troubles, retired, quite pacified, and 
 destined to prove an ally to us for the future ; indeed, he 
 afterwards, to the very end of his life, gave proof of
 
 A.D. 3H.] MODESTUS PREFECT OF THE PILETOR1UM. 553 
 
 his constancy and resolution to preserve his agreement 
 with us, by many noble and gallant actions. 
 
 7. But subsequently he died in the country of the 
 franks, which he had invaded and ravaged in a most, 
 destructive manner, till at last he was cut off by the 
 manoeuvres of Mellobaudes, the warlike king of that na- 
 tion, and slain. After the treaty had thus been solemnly 
 ratified, Yalentinian retired into winter quarters, at 
 Troves. 
 
 IV. 
 
 1. THESE were the events which took place in Gaul and 
 the northern countries. But in the east, while all our 
 foreign affairs were quiet, great domestic evils were in- 
 creasing in consequence of the conduct of the friends and 
 relations of Valens, who had more regard to expediency 
 than honesty ; for they laboured with the utmost dili- 
 gence to bring about the recall from his post a judge 
 of rigid probity, who was fond of deciding lawsuits 
 equitably, out of a fear lest, as in the times of Julian, when 
 Innocence was allowed a fair opportunity of defending 
 itself, the pride of the powerful nobles, which was ac- 
 customed to roam at large with unrestrained licence, might 
 again be broken down. 
 
 2. With these and similar objects a great number of 
 persons conspired together, being led by Modestus, the pre- 
 fect of the praetorium, who was a complete slave to the 
 wishes of the emperor's eunuchs, and who, under a spe- 
 cious countenance, concealed a rough disposition which 
 had never been polished by any study of ancient virtue or 
 literature, and who was continually asserting that to look 
 into the minute details of private actions was beneath the 
 dignity of the emperor. He thinking, as he said, that the 
 examination of such matters had been imposed on the 
 nobles to lower their dignity, abstained from all such 
 matters himself, and opened the doors to plunder ; which 
 doors are now daily more and more opened by the de- 
 pravity of the judges and advocates, who are all of the 
 same mind, and who sell the interests of the poor to the 
 military commanders, or the persons of influence within
 
 554 AMMIANUS MARCELL1SUS. [BK. XXX. Or. rv. 
 
 the palace, by which conduct they themselves have gained 
 riches and high rank. 
 
 3. This profession of forensic oratory the wisdom of 
 Plato defines to be 7roAirtid/e p-opiov tTcwXov, " the shadow of 
 a fraction of the art of government," or a fourth part of 
 the art of flattery. But Epicurus calls it mra-ex""** 
 reckoning it among' the wicked arts. Tisias, who has 
 Gorgias of Leontinum on his side, calls the orator an artist 
 of persuasion. 
 
 4. And while such has been the opinion formed of this 
 art by the ancients, the craft of some of the Eastern people 
 has put it forward so as to make it an object of hatred 
 to good men, on which account an orator it is sometimes 
 restricted to a limited time for speaking. 1 Therefore, 
 after saying a few words about its unworthy character, 
 as I found by experience while in those countries, I will 
 return to my original subject. 
 
 5. The tribunals, in former times, when good taste 
 prevailed, were greatly adorned by our advocates, when 
 orators of spirited eloquence laborious and accomplished 
 scholars shone pre-eminent in genius, honesty, fluency, 
 and every kind of embellishment of language. As De- 
 mosthenes, who, as we learn from the Athenian records, 
 whenever he was going to speak, drew together a vast 
 concourse of people from the whole of Greece, who assem- 
 bled for the sake of hearing him ; and Callistratus, who, 
 when summing up his noble pleading on the subject of 
 Oropus in Euboea, produced such an impression that that 
 same Demosthenes quitted the academy, at the time when 
 Plato was at its head, to become his follower. And 
 Hyperides, and ^Eschines, and Andocides, and Dinarchus, 
 and Antiphon the Rhamnusian, who is the first man 
 spoken of in ancient history as having received a fee for 
 pleading a cause. 
 
 6. And similarly among the Eomans, the Eutilii, and 
 Galbae, and Scauri, men of eminent reputation for purity 
 of life and manners, and for frugality; and in the suc- 
 ceeding generations, many men of censoriaii and consular 
 rank, and even many who had celebrated triumphs, such 
 
 1 As at Athens, where the orators were only allowed to speak as 
 long as an hour-glass, filled with water, was running down.
 
 A.D. 374.] ROMAN LAWYERS CHARACTERIZED. 555 
 
 as the Crassi, the Antonii, the Philippi, the Sceevolte, 
 and numbers of others, after having commanded armies 
 with glory, gained victories, and raised trophies, became 
 ^.eminent also for their civil services to the State, and won 
 fresh laurels by their noble contests at the bar, thus 
 reaping the highest honour and glory. 
 
 7. And after them Cicero, the most excellent of them 
 all, who repeatedly saved many who were in distress 
 from the scorching flames of judgment by the stream of 
 his imperious eloquence, used to affirm " that if men 
 could not be defended without their advocate incurring 
 blame, they certainly could not be carelessly defended 
 without his being guilty of crime." 
 
 8. But now throughout all the regions of the East one 
 may see the most violent and rapacious classes of men 
 hovering about the courts of law, and besieging the 
 houses of the rich like Spartan or Cretan hounds, cun- 
 ningly pursuing different traces, in order to create the 
 occasion of a lawsuit. 
 
 9. Of these the chief is that tribe of men who, sowing 
 every variety of strife and contest in thousands of actions, 
 wear out the doorposts of widows and the thresholds 
 of orphans, and create bitter hatred among friends, rela- 
 tions, or connections, who have any disagreement, if they 
 can only find the least pretext for a quarrel. And in 
 these men, the progress of ago does not cool their vices 
 as it does those of others, but only hardens and strengthens 
 them. And amid all their plunder they are insatiable 
 and yet poor, whetting the edge of their genius in order 
 by their crafty orations to catch the ear of the judges, 
 though the very title of those magistrates is derived from 
 the name of Justice. 
 
 10. In the pertinacity of these men rashness assumes the 
 disguise of freedom headlong audacity seeks to be taken 
 for constancy, and an empty fluency of language usurps 
 the name of eloquence by which perverse arts, as Cicero 
 tells us, it is a shame for the holy gravity of a judge to 
 be deceived. For he says, " And as nothing in a republic 
 ought to be so incorruptible as a suffrage or a sentence, 
 I do not understand why the man who corrupts such 
 things with money is to be esteemed worthy of punish- 
 ment, while he who perverts them by eloquence receives
 
 556 AMM1ANUS MARCELLINUS. [BK. XXX. CH. rv. 
 
 commendation. In fact, the latter appears to me to do 
 the most harm, it being worse to corrupt a judge by a 
 speech than by a bribe, inasmuch as no one can corrupt 
 a wise man with a bribe, though it is possible that he 
 may with eloquence. 
 
 11. There is a second class of those men who, professing 
 the science of the law, especially the interpretation of 
 conflicting and obsolete statutes, as if they had a bridle 
 placed in their mouths, keep a resolute silence, in which 
 they rather resemble their shadows than themselves. 
 These, like those men who cast nativities or interpret the 
 oracles of the sibyl, compose their countenances to a sort 
 of gravity, and then make money of their supine drowsi- 
 ness. 
 
 12. And that they may appear to have a more profound 
 knowledge of the laws, they speak of Trebatius, 1 and 
 Cascellius, and Alfenus, and of the laws of the Aurunci 
 and Sicani, which have long become obsolete, and have 
 been buried ages ago with the mother of Evander. And 
 if you should pretend to have deliberately murdered your 
 mother, they will promise you that there are many 
 cases recorded in abstruse works which will secure your 
 acquittal, if you are rich enough to pay for it. 
 
 13. There is a third class of these men, who, to arrive 
 at distinction in a turbulent profession, sharpen their 
 mercenary mouths to mystify the truth, and by prostitut- 
 ing their countenances and their vile barking, work their 
 way with the public. These men, whenever the judge is 
 embarrassed and perplexed, entangle the matter before 
 him with further difficulties, and take pains to prevent 
 any arrangement, carefully involving every suit in knotty 
 subtleties. When these courts, however, go on rightly, 
 they are temples of equity ; but when they are perverted 
 they are hidden and treacherous pitfalls, and if any person 
 falls into them, he will not escape till after many years 
 have elapsed, and till he himself has been sucked dry to 
 his very marrow. 
 
 14. There is a fourth and last class, impudent, saucy, 
 and ignorant, consisting of those men who, having left 
 
 1 All these men are spoken of by Horace as distinguished lawyers 
 in his time.
 
 A.l>. 374.] ROMAX LAWYERS CHARACTERIZED. 557 
 
 school too early, run about the corners of cities, giving 
 more time to farces than to the study of actions and 
 defences, wearing out the doors of the rich, and hunting 
 for the luxuries of banquets and rich food. 
 
 15. And when they have given themselves up to 
 gains, and to the task of hunting for money by every 
 means, they incite men, on any small pretence what- 
 ever, to go to law ; and if they are permitted to defend 
 a cause, which but seldom happens, it is not till they are 
 before the judge, while the pleadings are being recited, 
 that they begin to inquire into the cause of the client, 
 or even into his name ; and then they so overflow with 
 a heap of unarranged phrases and circumlocutions, that 
 from the noise and jabber of the vile medley you would 
 fancy you were listening to Thersites. 
 
 16. But when it happens that they have no single 
 allegation they can establish, they then resort to an 
 unbridled licence of abuse ; for which conduct they are 
 continually brought to trial themselves, and convicted. 
 when they have poured ceaseless abuse upon people of 
 honour ; and some of these men are so ignorant that they 
 do not appear ever to have read any books. 
 
 17. And if in a company of learned men the name of 
 any ancient author is ever mentioned, they fancy it to be 
 some foreign name of a fish or other eatable. And if any 
 stranger asks (we will say) for Marcianus, as one with 
 whom he is as yet unacquainted, they all at once pretend 
 that their name is Marcianus. 
 
 18. Nor do they pay the slightest attention to what is 
 right ; but as if they had been sold to and become the 
 property of Avarice, they know nothing but a boundless 
 licence in asking. And if they catch any one in their toils, 
 they entangle him in a thousand meshes, pretending sick- 
 ness by way of protracting the consultations. And to pro- 
 dxice an useless recital of some well-known law, they 
 prepare seven costly methods of introducing it, thus weav- 
 ing infinite complications and delays. 
 
 19. And when at last days and months and years have 
 been passed in these proceedings, and the parties to the 
 suit are exhausted, and the whole matter in dispute is 
 worn out with age, then these men, as if they were the 
 very heads of their profession, often introduce sham
 
 558 AMMIANUS MARCELLKsCS. [BK. XXX. CH. iv. 
 
 advocates along with, themselves. And when they have 
 arrived within the bar, and the fortune or safety of some 
 one is at stake, and they ought to labour to ward off the 
 sword of the executioner from some innocent man, or 
 calamity and ruin, then, with wrinkled brows, and arms 
 thrown about with actor-like gestures, so that they want 
 nothing but the flute of Gracchus at their back, 1 then 
 they keep silence for some time on both sides ; and at 
 last, after a scene of premeditated collusion, some plau- 
 sible preamble is pronounced by that one of them who 
 is most confident in his power of speaking, and who 
 promises an oration which shall rival the beauties of the 
 oration for Cluentius 2 or for Ctesiphon. 3 And then, when 
 all are eager for him to make an end, he concludes his pre- 
 amble with a statement that the chief advocates have as 
 yet only had three years since the commencement of the 
 suit to prepare themselves to conduct it ; and so obtains 
 an adjournment, as if they had to wrestle with the ancient 
 Antams, while still they resolutely demand the pay due 
 for their arduous labours. 
 
 20. And yet, in spite of all these things, advocates are 
 not without some inconveniences, which are hard to be 
 endured by one who would live uprightly. For being 
 allured by small gains, they quarrel bitterly among 
 themselves, and offend numbers by the insane ferocity of 
 their evil speaking, which they pour forth when they are 
 unable to maintain the weakness of the case intrusted 
 to them by any sound reasoning. 
 
 21. And sometimes the judges prefer persons who have 
 been instructed in the quibbles of Fhilistion or ^Esop, 
 to those who come from the school of Aristides the Ju.st, 
 or of Cato men who, having bought public offices for 
 large sums of money, proceed like troublesome creditors 
 to hunt out every one's fortune, and so shake booty for 
 themselves out of the laps of others. 
 
 22. Finally, the profession of a lawyer, besides other 
 things, has in it this, which is most especially formidable 
 and serious (and this quality is almost innate in all liti- 
 
 1 See Cicero, de Oratore iii. 60. 
 
 2 The Speech of Cicero pro Ccelio Cluentio. 
 
 8 The celebrated speech of Demosthenes, more usually known as 
 that of De Corona.
 
 A.D. 375.] VALENTlNIAJf AND THE SARMATIANS. 559 
 
 gants), namely that when, through one or other out of a 
 thousand accidents, they have lost their action, they fancy 
 that everything which turned out wrong was owing to the 
 conduct of their counsel, and they usually attribute the 
 loss of every suit to him, and are angry, not with the weak- 
 ness of their case or (as they often might be) with the 
 partiality of the judge, but only with their advocate. Let 
 us now return to the affairs from which we have thus 
 digressed. 
 
 V. 
 
 A.D. 375. 
 
 1. AT the beginning of the spring Valentinian quitted 
 Treves, and proceeded by rapid marches along the usual 
 high roads. And as he approached the districts to which 
 he was hastening, he was met by ambassadors from the 
 Sarmatians, who threw themselves at his feet, and, with 
 prayers, breathing no wish but for peace, entreated him 
 to be favourable and merciful to them, assuring him that 
 he would not find any of their countrymen implicated in 
 or privy to any evil action. 
 
 2. And when they had frequently repeated this asser- 
 tion, he, after careful deliberation, made answer to them, 
 that these matters must be diligently inquired into by an 
 accurate investigation in the district where they were 
 said to have happened, and if they had happened, then 
 they must be punished. After this, when he had reached 
 Carnuntum, a city of the lllyrians, now indeed in a 
 desolate and ruinous state, but still very convenient for 
 the general of an army, he from thence sallied out when- 
 ever either chance or skill afforded him an opportunity ; 
 and by the possession of this post in their neighbourhood, 
 he checked the inroads of the barbarians. 
 
 3. And although he alarmed all people in that district, 
 since it was expected that, as a man of active and impetu- 
 ous feelings, he would speedily command the judges to be 
 condemned through whose perfidy or desertion the empire 
 had been left undefended* on the side of the Pannonians, 
 yet when he did arrive he was so lukewarm in the busi- 
 ness that he neither inquired into the death of the king 
 Gabricius, nor did he make any accurate investigation into
 
 560 AMMIANUS MARCELLINUS. [BK. XXX. CH. v. 
 
 the calamities which the republic had sustained, with a 
 view to learning through whose misconduct or negli- 
 gence these events had taken place ; so that in fact, 
 in proportion as he was severe in punishing his common 
 soldiers, 'he was remiss in correcting (even by harsh 
 words) those of higher rank. 
 
 4. The only person whom he pursued with any especial 
 hatred was Probus ; whom from the first moment that he 
 saw him he never ceased to threaten, and to whom he 
 never softened ; and the causes of this animosity against 
 him were not obscure nor trivial. When Probus first 
 obtained the rank of prefect of the prastorium, the power 
 of which he was continually labouring to extend by all 
 kinds of means (I wish I could say by all lawful means), 
 he forgot the lessons which he might have learnt from his 
 illustrious descent, and devoted himself more to flattery 
 than to modesty. 
 
 5. For reflecting on the resolution of the emperor, who 
 considered nothing but how he might amass money from 
 all quarters, without any distinction between just and 
 unjust actions ; he never attempted to lead back the mis- 
 guided prince into the path of equity, as mild and wise 
 rulers often have done ; but rather followed his lead 
 through all his winding and tortuous paths. 
 
 6. And to this conduct were owing the heavy dis- 
 tresses which afflicted the emperor's subjects; the ruin- 
 ous titles, privileges, and exemptions, which alike ate 
 up the fortunes of popr and rich ; under different pretexts 
 which were produced, each more powerful than the other, 
 as the fruit of a long experience in injuring. Lastly, 
 the burdens of all tributes and taxes were augmented in a 
 manifold degree ; and drove ;some of the highest nobles from 
 fear of the worst to emigrate from their homes ; some also 
 after being drained to the utmost by the cruelty of the 
 revenue officers, as they really had nothing more to give, 
 were thrown into prison, of which they became permanent 
 inmates. And some, becoming weary of life and light, 
 sought a release from their miseries by hanging them- . 
 selves. 
 
 7. Unvarying report made known the treacherous and 
 inhuman character of these transactions; but Valentinian, 
 as if his ears had been stopped with wax, was ignorant of
 
 A.D. 374.] IPHICLES AX ENVOY FROM EMEUS. 5G1 
 
 the report, being eager to acquire money indiscriminately, 
 even from the most trivial sources, and thinking only of 
 what was presented to him ; though he would perhaps 
 haVe spared the Pannonian provinces, if he had earlier 
 known of these melancholy sources of gain with which he 
 became acquainted when it was too late, owing to the 
 following occurrence : 
 
 8. Following the example of the inhabitants of other 
 provinces, the people of Epirus were compelled by the 
 prefect to send envoys to thank him, and a certain philo- 
 sopher named Iphicles, a man of tried courage and mag- 
 nanimity (who was very unwilling to undertake the com- 
 mission), was elected to discharge that duty. 
 
 9. And when he saw the emperor, having been recog- 
 nized by him and questioned as to the cause of his arrival, 
 he answered in Greek ; and, like a philosopher who pro- 
 fessed himself a votary of truth, when the prince inquired 
 more precisely, if those who had sent him did really 
 think well of the prefect, he replied, that they had sent 
 him against their will, and with bitter groans. 
 
 10. The emperor, stricken by this speech as by an 
 arrow, now investigated his actions like a sagacious beast, 
 inquiring of him, in his own language, about different 
 persons whom he knew : for instance, where was this man 
 or that man (mentioning some one of high reputation and 
 honour, or some very rich man, or some other person well 
 known as having filled some high office). And when he 
 learnt that this man had been hanged, that that one had 
 been banished beyond the seas, and that a third had killed 
 himself or had expired under torture, he became furiously 
 angry, while Leo, who was at that time master of the 
 offices, added fuel to his passion shameful villany ! 
 Leo, it should be borne in mind, was at this very time 
 secretly aiming at the prefecture ; and had he obtained that 
 office and authority, he would undoubtedly have governed 
 with such audacity, that the administration of Probus 
 would in comparison have been extolled as a model of 
 justice and humanity. 
 
 11. So the emperor remained at Carnuntum ; and dur- 
 ing the three summer months he occupied himself unintei'- 
 ruptedly in preparing arms and magazines, in the hope 
 
 2o
 
 562 AMMIAXUS MARCELLINTJS. [B K . XXX. CH. v 
 
 that chance might afford him a good opportunity of making 
 use of them ; intending to take a favourable season for 
 attacking the Quadi, who had lately caused an atrocious 
 disturbance ; since in their chief town, Faustinus, the 
 nephew of Juventius, the prefect of the praetoriurn, who 
 had attained the rank of military secretary, was tortured 
 and then put to death by the executioners, under the 
 very eyes of Probus ; having been accused of slaying an 
 ass in some magical operation, as his enemies asserted ; 
 but he himself said it was to use for strengthening his 
 hair, which was beginning to fall off. 
 
 1 2. Another charge was also maliciously brought against 
 him, namely, that when a person of the name of Nigrinus 
 had in jest asked him to make him a secretary, he replied 
 in ridicule of the man and his petition, " Make me emperor 
 if you wish to obtain that." And because some gave an 
 unfair interpretation to this jest, Faustinus himself, and 
 Nigrinus, and several other persons were put to death. 
 
 13. Accordingly, having sent forward Merobaudes with 
 a strong force of infantry under his command, and Sebas- 
 tian for his colleague, to ravage the districts of the bar- 
 barians with fire and sword, Yalentinian speedily moved 
 his camp to Buda ; and having with great rapidity made 
 a bridge of boats in order to guard against any sudden 
 mishap, he crossed the river in another place and entered 
 the territories of the Quadi, who from their precipitous 
 mountains were watching for his approach ; the main body 
 of their nation, in their perplexity and uncertainty of what 
 might happen, had taken refuge with their families in 
 those hills ; but were overwhelmed with consternation 
 when they unexpectedly saw the imperial standards in 
 their country. 
 
 14. Yalentinian advanced with as much rapidity as he 
 could, slaughtering every one of whatever age whom his 
 sudden inroad surprised straggling about the country, and 
 after burning all their dwellings, he returned safe without 
 having experienced the slightest loss. And then, as autumn 
 was now on the wane, he stopped awhile at Buda, .seeking 
 where best to fix his winter quarters in a region subject 
 to very rigorous frost. And he could not find any suitable 
 place except Sabaria, though that town was at the time in
 
 A.D. 374.] VALEXT1NIAN AT BREGIT10. 563 
 
 a very bad state of defence, having been ruined by fre- 
 quent sieges. 
 
 1 .">. Accordingly when he reached this place, though it 
 was one of great consequence to him, he remained there 
 but a very short time ; and having left it, he marched along 
 the bank of the river, which he strengthened with several 
 forts and castles, and manned them with adequate garrisons. 
 He then proceeded to Bregitio ; and in that town, after 
 settling down there in quiet, his Destiny, by numerous pro- 
 digies, portended to him his approaching fate. 
 
 16. For a very few days before some of those comets, 
 which ever give token of the ruins of lofty fortunes, and 
 of which we have already explained the origin, appeared 
 in the heavens. Also, a short time before, a thunderbolt 
 fell at Sirmium, accompanied with a terrific clap of 
 thunder, and set fire to a portion of the palace and senate- 
 house : and much about the same time an owl settled 
 on the top of the royal baths at Sabaria, and pouring forth 
 a funeral strain, withstood all the attempts to slay it with 
 arrows or stones, however truly aimed, and though numbers 
 of people shot at it in diligent rivalry. 
 
 17. And again, when the emperor was quitting the city 
 to return to the camp, he set out to leave it by the same 
 gate by which he had entered it, with the object of obtain- 
 ing an augury that he should speedily return to Gaul. But 
 the spot through neglect had become choked up with ruins ; 
 and when they were cleaning it out they found that the 
 door, which had originally closed the entrance, had fallen 
 down : and a great multitude of people, though labouring 
 with all their might, were unable to remove it ; so that 
 after waiting the greater part of the day there, he was 
 obliged at last to go out by another gate. 
 
 18. And on the night preceding the day on which he 
 died, he saw in a dream, such as often visits a man in his 
 sleep, his absent wife sitting by, with dishevelled hair, 
 and clad in a mourning robe ; which some people fancied 
 was Fortune, who was about in this sad apparel to take her 
 leave of him. 
 
 19. After this, when he came forth in the morning, his 
 brow was contracted, and his countenance somewhat 
 melancholy ; and when his horse was brought to him, it 
 would not let him mount, but reared up its forefeet over
 
 564 AJIMIANUS 3JARCELLIXCS. ;BK. XXX. Cn. vi. 
 
 the shoulders of the equerry who was holding it. Valenti- 
 nian, according to the usual bent of his savage temper, 
 grew immoderately furious, and ordered the equerry's hand 
 to be cut off, which had, he said, pushed him aside when 
 mounting a horse he was used to : and the innocent youth 
 would have perished under torture if Cerealis, the prin- 
 cipal master of the horse, had not delayed the barbarous 
 infliction at his own risk. 
 
 1. AFTER this event ambassadors arrived from the Quadi, 
 with humble supplications, entreating peace, and oblivion 
 of the past : and that there might be no obstacle to their 
 obtaining this, they promised to furnish a body of recruits, 
 and some other things which would be of use to the 
 Eoman state. 
 
 2. And after they had been received, and had obtained 
 permission to return with the grant of an armistice which 
 they had solicited (but in truth, our want of supplies and 
 the unfavourable season of the year prevented us from 
 harassing them any longer), they were, by the influence 
 of Equitius, who became security for their good behaviour, 
 admitted into the council-chamber. "When introduced 
 they seemed quite overcome by fear, bowing clown to the 
 ground ; and on being ordered to unfold their message, they 
 urged all the customary pretences and excuses, confirm- 
 ing them by an oath ; assuring the council that whatever 
 offence had been committed against any of our people, 
 had not been done by the consent of the nobles of the 
 nation, but only by some foreign banditti who dwelt 011 
 the borders of the river ; they added further, as a fact 
 quite sufficient to establish the truth of their allegations, 
 that the fortress which had been begun to be built both 
 unjustly and unreasonably, had inflamed the savage temper 
 of those rude men to a great pitch of ferocity. 
 
 3. By this speech the emperor w.as excited to most 
 vehement wrath ; and as he began to reply to it he grew 
 more indignant, reproaching the whole nation in bitter 
 language, as unmindful of kindness, and ungrateful. But 
 after a time he became pacified, and inclined to a milder
 
 A.I). 374.] DEATH OF VALKNT1XIAN. 565 
 
 view of the case, when suddenly, as if he had been stricken 
 from heaven, his breathing and his voice ceased, and his 
 countenance appeared blood-shot, and in a moment the 
 bfcod burst forth, and a deadly sweat broke forth over 
 his whole body ; and to save him from falling down in the 
 sight of a number of low-born persons, he was led by his 
 servants into one of the private chambers in the interior of 
 the palace. 
 
 4. When he was placed on his bed, breathing with 
 difficulty, though the vigour of his intellect was not as yet 
 at all diminished, he recognized those who stood around, 
 having been collected by the chamberlains with great 
 promptitude, to prevent any of them being suspected of 
 having murdered him. And as on account of the fever 
 which was racking his bowels it was necessary to open a 
 vein, yet no surgeon could be found, because he had dis- 
 persed them, all over different districts to cure the soldiers 
 among whom a dangerous pestilence was raging. 
 
 5. At last, however, one was procured ; but though he 
 punctured a vein over and over again, he could not pro- 
 duce a single drop of blood, while all the time his bowels 
 were burning with the intensity of his fever ; or (as some 
 fancied) because his limbs were wholly dried up, ,in con- 
 sequence of some of the passages, which we now call 
 hajmorrhoidal, were closed up and crusted over through 
 the severity of the cold. 
 
 0. The emperor, from the exceeding violence of his 
 agony, felt that the moment of his death was at hand ; 
 and attempted to say something, and to give some orders, 
 as was indicated by a sobbing, which shook his whole 
 frame, a gnashing of the teeth, and a series of violent 
 gestures with his arms, resembling those of boxers with 
 the ceestus : at last he became exhausted, and covered all 
 over with livid spots, and after a severe struggle he 
 expired, in the fifty-fifth year of his age, having feigned 
 twelve years all but a hundred days. 
 
 VII. 
 
 1. THIS is a seasonable opportunity to do as we have 
 often done before, namely, to retrace from the original
 
 566 AMMIANUS MARCELLIXUS. [BK.XXX. CH.VII. 
 
 appearance of the father of this emperor down to the time 
 of his own death, all his actions, just touching on them 
 cursorily with a brief mention, not omitting to distinguish 
 between his vices and his virtues, both of which his lofty 
 position held np to the world ; being a condition which 
 naturally reveals the inward disposition of every man. 
 
 2. The elder Gratian was born at Cibalas, a town of 
 Pannonia, of a mean family ; and from his childhood he 
 received the surname of Funarius, because, while still very- 
 young, while he was cariying about a rope (funem) for 
 sale, he resisted the attempt of five soldiers who laboured 
 with all their might to take it from him : thus rivalling 
 Milo of Crotona, from whom no amount of strength could 
 ever wrest an apple, whether he held it in his right or his 
 left hand. 
 
 3. Therefore, on account of his exceeding personal 
 strength, and his skill in wrestling after the military 
 fashion, he became well known to many persons, was pro- 
 moted to the rank of an officer of the guard, then to the 
 post of tribune : after this he was made count, and sent 
 to command the forces in Africa : but there he was suspected 
 of theft ; and having quitted that province, he was some 
 time afterwards sent to command the army in Britain, with 
 the same authority which he had enjoyed in Africa. At 
 length he received an honourable discharge from military 
 service, and returned home ; and while living there 
 in quiet, he suddenly had all his property confiscated by 
 Constantius, on the ground that, when the civil discord 
 was at its height, he was said to have received Magnentius 
 as a guest when passing through his land to carry his 
 designs into execution. 
 
 4. The merits of Gratian brought Valentinian into notice 
 from his early youth ; and, indeed, he was further aided 
 by his own eminent qualities ; so that he received the orna- 
 ments of the imperial majesty at Nicasa; when he also 
 made his brother Valens his colleague, as one bound to 
 him not only by his relationship as a brother, but also 
 by the most perfect agreement Valens, as we shall show 
 at a suitable time, being made up almost equally of vices 
 and of virtues. 
 
 5. Therefore Valentinian, after having experienced many 
 dangers and much distress as a private individual, as soon
 
 A.D. 374.] REVIEW OF VALENTINIAN'S LIFE. 567 
 
 as he began to reign went to visit the towns and cities 
 which were situated on the rivers; and repaired to Gaul, 
 which was exposed to the inroads of the Allemanni, who 
 liajd. begun to recover their courage and to reassume an 
 imposing attitude since they had heard of the death of the 
 Emperor Julian the only prince whom they had feared 
 since the time of Constans. 
 
 6. And Valentinian was deservedly dreaded by them 
 because he took care to keep up the numbers of his army 
 by strong reinforcements, and because also he fortified 
 both banks of the Khine with lofty fortresses and castles, 
 to prevent the enemy from ever passing over into our 
 territory without being perceived. 
 
 7. We may pass over many circumstances, and many 
 acts which he performed with the authority of an emperor 
 whose power was fully established, and many of the 
 reforms which he either effected himself, or caused to be 
 carried out by his vigorous lieutenants. But we must 
 record how, after he had raised his son Gratian to a 
 partnership in the imperial authority, he contrived the 
 secret murder of Vithigabius, the king of the Allemanni, 
 and the son of Vadomarius, a young man in the flower of 
 youth, who was actively stirring up the surrounding 
 nations to tumults and wars ; doing this because he found 
 it impossible to procure his death openly. How also he 
 fought a battle against the Allemanni near Solicinitim, 
 where he was nearly circumvented and slain by the 
 manoeuvres of the enemy ; but where at last he utterly 
 destroyed their whole army with the exception of a few 
 who saved themselves by the aid of the darkness which 
 assisted the rapidity of their flight. 
 
 8. Amid all these prudent actions he also turned his 
 attention to the Saxons who had lately broken out with 
 extreme ferocity, making attacks in every direction where 
 they were least expected, and had now penetrated into 
 the inland districts, from which they were returning 
 enriched by a vast booty. He destroyed them utterly by 
 a device which was indeed treacherous, but most advan- 
 tageous ; and he recovered by force all the bpoty which 
 the defeated robbers were carrying off. 
 
 9. Nor did he disregard the condition of the Britons, 
 who were unable to make head against the vast hosts of
 
 503 AJDIIANUS MARCELLIXUS. [BK. xxx. CH. vui. 
 
 their enemies, who were overrunning their country ; 
 he revived their hopes of better fortune, and re-esta- 
 blished liberty and steady tranquillity among them ; rout- 
 ing their invaders so completely that scarcely any of them 
 returned to their own country. 
 
 10. AYith similar vigour he crushed Valentiutis the 
 Pannonian exile (who was labouring to disturb the general 
 tranquillity in that province), before his enterprise could 
 become dangerous. He also delivered Africa from great 
 dangers at a time when it was thrown into confusion by 
 an unexpected disaster : when Firmus, unable to bear the 
 greediness and arrogance of the soldiers, was exciting the 
 people of Mauritania to every kind of discord and disturb- 
 ance. AYith similar resolution would he have avenged the 
 disasters sustained in Illyricum, had he not left that im- 
 portant duty uncompleted, in consequence of being thus 
 cut off by a premature death. 
 
 11. And although these various achievements, which 
 we have here recorded, were consummated by the assist- 
 ance of his admirable generals, yet it is very notorious 
 that he himself also performed many considerable exploits ; 
 being a man fertile in resources, and of long experience 
 and great skill in military affairs : and certainly it would 
 have been an admirable crown to his great actions if he had 
 been able to take King Macrianus alive, who at that time 
 was a very formidable sovereign ; nevertheless he exerted 
 great energy in attempting to do so, after he heard that 
 he had escaped from the Burgundians, whom he himself 
 had led against the Allemanni ; and the certainty of his 
 escape was to him a cause of great sorrow and indignation. 
 
 vni 
 
 1. THUS have I rapidly run over the different actions of 
 this prince. Xow, relying on the certainty that posterity, 
 inasmuch as it is free both from fear and from base flattery, 
 is usually an honest judge of all past transactions, I will 
 rapidly run over his vices, intending afterwards to relate 
 his good qualities. 
 
 2. Sometimes he put on an affectation of clemency, 
 though the bent of his natural disposition inclined him 
 more to cruelty: forgetful forsooth, that by a man who
 
 A.D. 371.] VICES OF VALENTINIAX. 569 
 
 governs a vast empire extremes of every kind are to be 
 avoided as rocks by a mariner. 
 
 3. Nor indeed was he ever found to be contented -with 
 STo'derate punishments, but was continually commanding 
 cruel tortures to be multiplied ; so that many, after under- 
 going this murderous kind of examination, were brought 
 to death's door. And he was so eager to inflict injury, 
 that he never once saved any one who had been condemned 
 to death, by a milder sentence, though even the most in- 
 human of emperors have sometimes done so. 
 
 4. And yet lie might have reflected on many examples 
 in former ages; and he might have imitated the many 
 models of humanity and of piety which he could have 
 found both among natives of the empire and among 
 those of foreign extraction (and humanity and piety are 
 defined by philosophers to be qualities nearly akin). Of 
 such instances it will suffice to enumerate these which 
 follow : Artaxerxes, that very powerful king of Persia, to 
 whom the great length of one of his limbs caused the name 
 of Longhand to be given, wishing, through the natural lenity 
 of his disposition, to reprove the varieties of punishment 
 in which his nation, always cruel, had hitherto delighted, 
 punished some criminals by taking off their turbans instead 
 of their heads : and instead of the old royal fashion of 
 cutting off people's ears for their offences, he used to cut 
 the tassels which hang from their caps. And this modera- 
 tion and lenity made him so popular and respected that 
 all the Grecian writers vie with each other in celebrating 
 his many admirable actions. 
 
 5. Again, when Prsenestinus was praetor, and was brought 
 before the court of justice, because, in the Samnite war, 
 when ordered to march with all speed to reinforce the 
 army, he had been veiy dilatory in his movements, 
 Papirius Cursor, who at that time was dictator, ordered 
 the lictor to get ready his axe ; and when the praetor, 
 having discarded all hope of being able to clear himself, 
 seemed utterly stupefied at the order, he commanded the 
 lictor to cut down a shrub close by ; and having in this 
 jocular manner reproved him, he let him go : without 
 himself incurring any disrespect by so doing, since all 
 knew him for a man who, by his own unassisted vigour, 
 had brought long and dangerous wars to a happy termina-
 
 570 AMMIANUS MAKCELLIXUS. [BK. XXX. CH. vin. 
 
 tion ; and had been the only man reckoned able to resist 
 Alexander the Great if that prince had invaded Italy. 
 
 6. Yalentinian, perhaps, was ignorant of these models ; 
 and as he never considered that the mercy of the emperor 
 i.s always the best comfort of persons in distress, he in- 
 creased all punishments by his free use of both fire and 
 sword : punishments which the merciful disposition of our 
 ancestors looked upon as the very last resource in the 
 most imminent dangers as we may learn from the beau- 
 tiful sentiment of Isocrates, who continually insists that 
 we ought rather to pardon a king who is sometimes de- 
 feated in war, than one who is ignorant of justice. 
 
 7. And it was under the influence of this saying of his 
 that I imagine Cicero uttered that admirable sentence, in 
 his defence of Oppius : " That indeed to have greatly con- 
 tributed to the safety of one other person was an honour 
 to many ; but that to have had no share in injuring others 
 had never been thought discreditable to any one." 
 
 8. A desire of increasing his riches without any regard 
 to right and wrong, and of hunting out every kind of source 
 of gain, even at the cost of other people's lives, raged in 
 this emperor to a most excessive degree, and never flagged. 
 Some, indeed, attempted to excuse it by pleading the 
 example of the Emperor Aurelian ; affirming that as he, 
 after the death of Gallienus and the lamentable dis- 
 asters which the republic suffered at that time, finding 
 his treasury totally exhausted, fell upon the rich like a 
 torrent, so Valentinian also, after the losses which he 
 sustained in his Parthian campaign, being reduced to 
 want by the greatness of his expenses, in order to procure 
 reinforcements for his army and pay for his troops, mingled 
 with his severity a desire of collecting excessive wealth. 
 Pretending not to know that there are some things which, 
 although strictly speaking lawful, still ought not to be 
 done. In this he was very unlike the celebrated The- 
 mistocles of old times, who, when strolling carelessly about 
 after he had destroyed the Persian host in the battle of 
 Salamis, and seeing a number of golden armlets and chains 
 lying on the ground, said to one of his companions who 
 was by " You may take up these things because you are 
 not Themistocles," thinking it became a magnanimous 
 general to spurn any idea of personal gain.
 
 A.D.374.] ENVY OF VALEXTIXIAN. 571 
 
 9. Many examples of similar moderation abound in the 
 Roman generals ; and without stopping to enumerate 
 them, since such acts are not indications of perfect virtue 
 (for indeed it is no great glory to abstain from carrying 
 off other persons' property), I will just mention one single 
 instance of the forbearance of people in general in this 
 respect in ancient times : When Marius and Cinna had 
 given the Roman populace leave to plunder the wealthy 
 houses of certain persons whom they had proscribed, the 
 minds of the mob, who, however uncivilized they might 
 be, were accustomed to respect the rights of men, refused 
 to touch the produce of other men's labours ; so that in 
 fact no one could be found so needy or so base as to be 
 willing to profit by the miseries of the state. 
 
 10. Besides these things the aforesaid emperor was a 
 prey in his inmost heart to a devouring envy ; and as he 
 knew that most vices put on a semblance of virtue, he used 
 to be fond of repeating, that severity is the inseparable 
 companion of lawful power. And as magistrates of the 
 highest rank are in the habit of thinking everything per- 
 mitted to them, and are always inclined to depress those 
 who oppose them, and to humiliate those who are above 
 them, so he hated all who were well dressed, or learned, 
 or opulent, or high born ; and he was always disparaging 
 the brave, that he might appear to be the only person 
 eminent for virtue. And this is a vice which, as we read, 
 was very flagrant in the Emperor Hadrian. 
 
 11. This same emperor used to be continually abusing 
 the timid, calling them sordid and base, and people who 
 deserved to be depressed below the very lowest of the low ; 
 and yet he himself often grew pale, in the most abject 
 manner, with groundless fears, and often from the bottom 
 of his soul was terrified at things which had no existence 
 at all. 
 
 12. Eemigius, the master of the ceremonies, knowing 
 this, and also that Valentinian was used to get into furious 
 passions at every trifling incident, spread a report, among 
 other things, that some of the barbarians were in motion ; 
 and the emperor, when he heard this, became at once so 
 broken-spirited through fear that he became as gentle and 
 merciful as Antoninus Pius. 
 
 13. He never intentionally appointed unjust judges
 
 072 AMMIAN'US MARCELUXUS. [BK. XXX. CH. ix. 
 
 but if he learned that those whom he had once promoted 
 were acting cruelly, he boasted that he had discovered 
 new Lycurguses and Cassiuses, those ancient pillars of 
 justice; and he used to be continually exhorting them by 
 his letters severely to chastise even the slightest errors. 
 
 14. Xor had those who were under accusations, if any 
 misfortune fell upon them, any refuge in the kindness 
 of the prince ; which ought to be, as it were, a desirable 
 haven to those tossed about in a stormy sea. For, as wise 
 men teach us, " The advantage and safety of the subject is 
 the true end of just government." 
 
 IX. 
 
 1. IT is natural for us, after discussing these topics, if we 
 would act fairly, now to come to his virtuous and laudable 
 actions ; since if he had tempered his vices fairly with them 
 he would have been a second Trajan or Marcus Aurelius. 
 Towards the people of the provinces he was very conside- 
 rate, lightening the burden of their tributes throughout, 
 the empire. He also exerted himself in a very beneficial 
 manner in building towns and strengthening the frontiers. 
 He was a strict observer of military discipline, erring only 
 in this respect, that while he punished even slight miscon- 
 duct on the part of the common soldiers, he allowed the 
 crimes of the officers of rank and of the generals to proceed 
 to greater and greater lengths, and shut his ears against 
 every complaint that was uttered against them. And this 
 partiality of his was the cause of the murmurs in Bi'itain, 
 and the disasters in Africa, and the devastation of Illy- 
 ricum. 
 
 2. He Avas, bqth at home and abroad, a strict observer of 
 modesty and chastity, keeping his conscience wholly free 
 from all taint of impurity or obscenity, and in consequence 
 he bridled the wantonness of the imperial court as with a 
 strong rein ; and he was the more easily able to do this be- 
 cause he had never shown any indulgence to his own rela- 
 tions, whom he either kept in obscurity, or (if he promoted 
 them at all) raised to a very moderate rank, with the excep- 
 tion of his brother, whom, in deference to the necessities of 
 the times, he made his partner in the imperial dignify. 
 
 3. He was very scrupulous in giving high rank to any 
 one ; nor, as long as he was emperor, did any one of the
 
 A.P. 374.] VIRTUES OF VALEXTIXIAX. 573 
 
 moneyed interest become ruler of a province, nor was any 
 government sold, unless it was at the beginning of his 
 reign, when wicked actions were sometimes committed in 
 tEe hope that the new prince would be too much occupied 
 to punish them. 
 
 4. In waging war, and in defending himself from 
 attacks, he was prudent and very skilful, like a veteran of 
 great experience in military afi'airs. He was a very wise 
 admirer of all that was good, and dissuader from all that 
 was bad ; and a very accurate observer of all the details of 
 military service. He wrote with elegance, and described 
 everything with great neatness and skill in composition. 
 He was an inventor of new arms. He had an excellent 
 memory, and a fluent, easy style of speaking, which at 
 times bordered closely upon eloquence. He was a lover 
 of elegant simplicity, and was fond, not so much of profuse 
 banquets, as of entertainments directed by good taste. 
 
 5. Lastly, he was especially remarkable during his 
 reign for his moderation in this particular, that he kept a 
 middle course between the different sects of religion ; and 
 never troubled any one, nor issued any orders in favour of 
 one kind of worship or another ; nor did he promulgate 
 any threatening edicts to bow down the necks of his 
 subjects to the form of worship to which he himself was 
 inclined ; but he left these parties just as he found them, 
 without making any alterations. 
 
 6. His body was muscular and strong : the brightness of 
 his hair the brilliancy of his complexion, with his blue 
 eyes, which always looked askance with a stern aspect the 
 beauty of his figure his lofty stature, and the admirable 
 harmony of all his features filled up the dignity and beauty 
 of an appearance which bespoke a monarch. 
 
 X. 
 
 1. AFTER the last honours had been paid to the emperor, 
 and his body had been prepared for burial, in order to be 
 sent to Constantinople to be there entombed among the 
 remains of former emperors, the campaign which was in 
 preparation was suspended, and people began to be anxious 
 as to what part would be taken by the Gallic cohorts, 
 who were not always steady in loyalty to the lawful
 
 574 AMMIANUS MARCELLINUS. [Bs. XXX. CH. x. 
 
 emperor, but looked upon themselves as the disposers of 
 power, and were regarded by others as very likely to ven- 
 ture on some new enterprise at so favourable a moment. 
 This circumstance also was likely to aid any attempt that 
 might be made at a revolution, that Gratian, who knew 
 nothing of what had taken place, was still at Treves, where 
 his father, when about to set out on his own expedition, 
 had desired him to wait. 
 
 2. While affairs were in this state of uncertainty, and 
 when every one shared the same fears, looking on them- 
 selves as all in the same boat, and sure to be partners in 
 danger, if danger should arise, at last it was decided by 
 the advice of the principal nobles to take up the bridge 
 which had been necessarily made when they meditated 
 invading the territories of the enemy, in order that, in com- 
 pliance with the commands given by Valentinian Avhile 
 alive, Merobaudes might be at once summoned to the 
 camp. 
 
 3. He, being a man of great cunning and penetration, 
 divined what had happened (perhaps indeed he had been 
 informed of it by the messenger who brought him his 
 summons), and suspecting that the Gallic troops were 
 likely to break the existing concord, he pretended that a 
 token which had been agreed upon had been sent to him 
 that he was to return with the messenger to watch the 
 banks of the Rhine ; since the fury of the barbarians was 
 again menacing hostilities, and (in compliance with a 
 secret injunction which he received at the same time) he 
 removed to a distance. Sebastian also as yet was ignorant 
 of the death of the emperor ; and he being an orderly and 
 quietly disposed man, but very popular among the soldiers, 
 required on that account to be strictly watched. 
 
 4. Accordingly when Merobaudes had returned, the chief 
 men took careful counsel as to what was to be done ; and 
 at last it was arranged that the child Valentinian, the son 
 of the deceased emperor, at that time a boy of four years 
 old, should be associated in the imperial power. He was 
 at present a hundred miles off, living with his mother, 
 Justina, in a small town called Murocincta. 
 
 5. This decision was ratified by the unanimous consent 
 of all parties ; and Cerealis, his uncle, was sent with speed 
 to Murociucta, where he placed the royal child on a litter.
 
 A.D. 374.] VALENTINIAN II. 575 
 
 and so conducted him to the camp. On the sixth day after 
 his father's death, he was declared lawful emperor, and 
 saluted as Augustus with the usual solemnities. 
 
 6. And although at the time many persons thought that 
 Gratian would be indignant that any one else had been 
 appointed emperor without his permission, yet afterwards, 
 when all fear and anxiety was removed, they lived in 
 greater security, because he, wise and kindhearted man as 
 he was, loved his young relative with exceeding affection, 
 and brought him up with great care. 
 
 BOOK XXXI. 
 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 I. Omens announcing the death of the Emperor Valens, and a disaster 
 to be inflicted by the Gauls. II. A description of the abodes and 
 customs of the Huns, the Alani, and other tribes, natives of Asiatic 
 Scythia. III. The Huns, either by arms or by treaties, unite the 
 Alani on the Don to themselves ; invade the Goths, and drive 
 them from their country. IV. The chief division of the Goths, 
 surnamed the Thuringians, having been expelled from their 
 homes, by permission of Valens are conducted by the Romans 
 into Thrace, on condition of promising obedience and a supply of 
 auxiliary troops. The Gruthungi also, who form the other divi- 
 sion of the Goths, secretly cross the Danube by a bridge of boats. 
 V. The Thuringians being in great distress from hunger and 
 the want of supplies, under the command of their generals Ala- 
 vivus and Fritigern, revolt from Valens, and defeat Lupicinus and 
 his army. VI. Why Sueridus and Colias, nobles of the Gothic 
 nation, after having been received in a friendly manner, revolted ; 
 and after slaying the people of Hadrianopolis, united themselves 
 to Fritigern, and then turned to ravage Thrace. VII. Profuturus, 
 Trajan, and Kichomeres fought a drawn battle against the Goths. 
 VIII. The Goths being hemmed in among the defiles at the- 
 bottom of the Balkan, after the Romans by returning had let them 
 escape, invaded Thrace, plundering, massacring, ravishing, and 
 burning, and slay Barzimeres, the tribune of tho Seutarii. 
 IX. Frigeridus, Gratian's general, routs Farnobius at the head 
 of a large body of Goths and Taifalse ; sparing the rest, and 
 giving them some lands around the To. X. The Lentiensiau
 
 570 AMMIANUS MARCELLIXUS. [BK. XXXI. CH. I. 
 
 Alemanni are defeated in battle by the generals of the em- 
 peror Gratiau, and their king Priamis is slain. Afterwards, having 
 yielded and furnished Gratian with a body of recruits, they are 
 allowed to return to their own country. XL Sebastian surprises 
 the Goths at Bertea as they are returning home loaded with plun- 
 der, and defeats them with great slaughter ; a few saved them- 
 selves by night. Gratian hastens to his uncle Valens, to carry 
 him aid against the Goths. XII. Valens, before the arrival of 
 Gratian resolves to fight the Goths. XIII. All the Goths unite 
 together, that is to say, the Thuringians, under their king Friti- 
 gern. The Gruthungi, under their dukes Alatheus and Salaces, 
 encounter the Romans in a pitched battle, rout their cavalry, and 
 then falling on the infantry when deprived of the support of their 
 horse, and huddled together in a dense body, they defeat them 
 with enormous loss, and put them to flight. Valens is slain, but 
 his body cannot be found. XIV. The virtues and vices of Vaiens. 
 XV. The victorious Goths besiege Hadrianopoiis, where Valens 
 had left his treasures and his insignia of imperial rank, with the 
 prefect and the members of his council ; but after trying every 
 means to take the city, without success, they at last retire. 
 XVI. The Goths, having by bribes won over the forces of the 
 Huns and of the Alani to join them, make an attack upon Con- 
 stantinople without success. The device by which Julius, the 
 commander of the forces beyond Mount Taurus, delivered the 
 eastern provinces from the Goths. 
 
 I. 
 
 A.D. 375. 
 
 1. Lsr the mean time the swift wheel of Fortune, which 
 continually alternates adversity with prosperity, was giving 
 Bellona the Furies for her allies, and arming her for war ; 
 and now transferred our disasters to the East, as many 
 presages and portents foreshowed by undoubted signs. 
 
 2. For after many true prophecies uttered by diviners and 
 augurs, dogs were seen to recoil from howling wolves, and the 
 birds of night constantly uttered querulous and mournful 
 cries ; and lurid sunrises made the mornings dark. Also, 
 at Antiooh, among the tumults and squabbles of the popu- 
 lace, it had come to be a custom for any one who fancied 
 himself ill treated to cry out in a licentious manner, " May 
 Valens be burnt alive !" And the voices of the criers were 
 constantly heard ordering wood to be carried to warm the 
 baths of Valens, which had been built under the super- 
 tendence of the emperor himself. 
 
 3. All which circumstances all but pointed out in 
 express words that the end of the emperor's life was at
 
 A.D. 375.] NEWS OF THE DEATH OF VALENS. 577 
 
 hand. Besides all these things, the ghost of the king of 
 Armenia, and the miserable shades of those who had lately 
 be.eu put to death in the affair of Theodoras, agitated 
 numbers of people with terrible alarms, appearing to .them 
 in their sleep, and shrieking out verses of horrible import. 1 
 4. ... and its death indicated an extensive and general 
 calamity arising from public losses and deaths. Last of 
 all, when the ancient walls of Chalcedon were thrown 
 down in order to build a bath at Constantinople, and the 
 stones were torn asunder, on one squared stone which was 
 hidden in the very centre of the walls these Greek verses 
 were found engraved, which gave a full revelation of what 
 was to happen : 
 
 " 'AAA 1 oirorav vv/j.(pai Spocrpfj /caret &ffrv xopeiy 
 TpTr6/j.fi/ai ffrptyoiVTai evffTee(pas /COT" ayvias 
 Kal TeT^os \ovrpoio ifoXvarovov efffffrai &\tcal 
 A); Tore p.vpia fyvXa. iro\vffirepe(av avdpt&ircav 
 'IcTTpov KaA\ip6oto iropov irepdovra avv a'XM? 
 Kal 2/ci/6iK?)y oXfffei xupriv /col MvffiSa yatav 
 Tlaioviris S'firipdvTa avv ffvv e \irifft p,a.ivop.ivri<nv 
 AVTOV Kal fiiOTo o TC'AOS Kal Sfjpis ftpe^fi." 
 
 TRANSLATION. 
 
 " But when young wives and damsels blithe, in dances that delight, 
 Shall glide along the city streets, with garlands gaily bright ; 
 And when these walls, with sad regrets, shall full to raise a bath, 
 Then shall the Huns in multitude break forthwith might andwnith. 
 By force of arms the barrier-stream of Ister they shall cross, 
 O'er Scythic ground and Mocsian lands spreading dismay and loss : 
 They shall Punnoniau horsemen brave, and Gallic soldiers slay, 
 And nought but loss of life and breath their course shall ever stay." 
 
 II. 
 
 1. THE following circumstances were the original cause 
 of all the destruction and various calamities which the 
 fury of Mars roused up, throwing everything into confu- 
 sion by his usual ruinous violence : the people called 
 Huns, slightly mentioned in the ancient records, live be- 
 yond the Sea of Azov, on the border of the Frozen Ocean, 
 and are a race savage beyond all parallel. 
 
 2. At the very moment of their birth the cheeks of their 
 infant children are deeply marked by an iron, in order 
 
 1 The text is unusually mutilated here. It has been proposed to 
 insert, " A little goat with, its throat cut was found dead in the street." 
 
 2 P
 
 578 AMMIANU3 MARCELLIXUS. [BK. XXXI. CH. n. 
 
 that the usual vigour of their hair, instead of growing at 
 the proper season, may be withered by the wrinkled scars ; 
 and accordingly they grow up without beards, and conse- 
 quently without any beauty, like ennuchs, though they all 
 have closely-knit and strong limbs, and plump necks ; 
 they are of great size, and low legged, so that you might 
 fancy them two-legged beasts, or the stout figures which 
 are hewn out in a rude manner with an axe on the posts at 
 the end of bridges. 
 
 3. They are certainly in the shape of men, however 
 uncouth, but are so hardy that they neither require fire 
 nor well-flavoured food, but live on the roots of such 
 herbs as they get in the fields, or on the half-raw flesh 
 of any animal, which they merely warm rapidly by 
 placing it between their own thighs and the backs of 
 their horses. 
 
 4. They never shelter themselves under roofed houses, 
 but avoid them as people ordinarily avoid sepulchres as 
 things not fitted for common use. Kor is there even to be 
 found among them a cabin thatched with reed ; but they 
 wander about, roaming over the mountains and the woods, 
 and accustom themselves to bear frost and hunger and 
 thirst from their very cradles. And even when abroad 
 they never enter a house unless under the compulsion of 
 some extreme necessity ; nor, indeed, do they think people 
 under roofs as safe as others. 
 
 5. They wear linen clothes, or else garments made of the 
 skins of field-mice : nor do they wear a different dress out 
 of doors from that which they wear at home ; but after a 
 tunic is once put round their necks, however it becomes 
 worn, it is never taken off" or changed till, from long decay, 
 it becomes actually so ragged as to fall to pieces. 
 
 6. They cover their heads with round caps, and their 
 shaggy legs with the skins of kids ; their shoes are not 
 made on any lasts, but are so unshapely as to hinder them 
 from walking with a free gait. And for this reason they 
 are not well suited to infantry battles, but are nearly 
 always on horseback, their horses being ill-shaped, but 
 hardy ; and sometimes they even sit upon them like 
 women if they want to do anything more conveniently. 
 There is not a person in the whole nation who cannot remain 
 on his horse day and night. On horseback they buy and
 
 A.D. 375.] DESCRIPTION OF THE HUNS, ETC. 579 
 
 sell, they take their meat and drink, and there they recline 
 on the narrow neck of their steed, and yield to sleep so 
 deep as to indulge in every variety of dream. 
 
 T. And when any deliberation is to take place on any 
 weighty matter, they all hold their common council on 
 horseback. They are not under the authority of a king, 
 but are contented with the irregular government of their 
 nobles, and under their lead they force their way through 
 all obstacles. 
 
 8. Sometimes when provoked, they fight ; and when 
 they go into battle, they form in a solid body, and utter all 
 kinds of terrific yells. They are very quick in their 
 operations, of exceeding speed, and fond of surprising 
 their enemies. AVith a view to this, they suddenly dis- 
 perse, then reunite, and again, after having inflicted vast 
 loss upon the enemy, scatter themselves over the whole 
 plain in irregular formations : always avoiding a fort or an 
 entrenchment. 
 
 9. And in one respect you may pronounce them the 
 most formidable of all warriors, for when at a distance 
 they use missiles of various kinds tipped with sharpened 
 bones instead of the usual points of javelins, and these 
 bones are admirably fastened into the shaft of the javelin 
 or arrow ; but when they are at close quarters they fight 
 with the sword, without any regard for their own safety ; 
 and often while their antagonists are warding oif their 
 blows they entangle them with twisted cords, so that, their 
 hands being fettered, they lose all power of either riding 
 or walking. 
 
 10. None of them plough, or even touch a plough-handle : 
 for they have no settled abode, but are homeless and law- 
 less, perpetually wandering with their waggons, which they 
 make their homes ; in fact they seem to be people always 
 in flight. Their wives live in these waggons, and there 
 weave their miserable garments ; and here too they sleep 
 with their husbands, and bring up their children till they 
 reach the age of puberty ; nor, if asked, can any one uf 
 them tell you where he was born, as he was conceived in 
 one place, born in another at a great distance, and brought 
 up in another still more remote. 
 
 11. In truces they are treacherous and inconstant, being 
 liable to change their minds at every breeze of every fresh
 
 580 AMMIAXTJS MARCELLIXUS. ;BK. XXXI. CH. n. 
 
 hope which presents itself, giving themselves up wholly 
 to the impulse and inclination of the moment; and, like 
 brute beasts, they are utterly ignorant of the distinction 
 between right and wrong. They express themselves with 
 great ambiguity and obscurity ; have no respect for any 
 religion or superstition whatever ; are immoderately covet- 
 ous of gold ; and are so fickle and irascible, that they 
 very often on the same day that they quarrel with their 
 companions without any provocation, again become recon- 
 ciled to them without any mediator. 
 
 12. This active and indomitable race, being excited by 
 an uurestrainable desire of plundering the possessions of 
 others, went on ravaging and slaughtering all the nations 
 in their neighbourhood till they reached the Alani, who 
 were formerly called the Massagetse ; and from what 
 country these Alani come, or what territories they inhabit 
 (since my subject has led me thus far), it is expedient now 
 to explain : after showing the confusion existing in the 
 accounts of the geographers, who .... at last have found 
 out .... of truth. 
 
 13. The Danube, which is greatly increased by other 
 rivers falling into it, passes through the territory of the 
 Sauromatas, which extends as far as the river Don, 
 the boundary between Asia and Europe. On the other 
 side of this river the Alani inhabit the enormous deserts 
 of Scythia, deriving their own name from the mountains 
 around ; and they, like the Persians, having gradually sub- 
 dued all the bordering nations by repeated victories, have 
 united them to themselves, and comprehended them under 
 their own name. Of these other tribes the Xeuri inhabit 
 the inland districts, being near the highest mountain 
 chains, which are both precipitous and covered with the 
 everlasting frost of the north. Next to them are the 
 Budini and the Geloni, a race of exceeding ferocity, who 
 flay the enemies they have slain in battle, and make of their 
 skins clothes for themselves and trappings for their hoises. 
 Next to the Geloni are the Agathyrsi, who dye both their 
 bodies and their hair of a blue colour, the lower classes 
 using spots few in number and small the nobles broad 
 spots, close and thick, and of a deeper hue. 
 
 15. Xext to these are the Melanchla^na3 and the Anthro- 
 pophagi, who roam about upon different tracts of land and
 
 A.D. 375. DESCRIPTION OF THE ALAXI. 581 
 
 live on human flesh. And these men are so avoided on 
 account of their horrid food, that all the tribes which were 
 their neighbours have removed to a distance from them. 
 An4 in this way the whole of that region to the north-east, 
 till you come to the Chinese, is uninhabited. 
 
 16. On the other side the Alani again extend to the east, 
 near the territories of the Amazons,- and are scattered 
 among many populous and wealthy nations, stretching to 
 the parts of Asia which, as I am told, extend up to the 
 Ganges, a river which passes through the country of the 
 Indians, and falls into the Southern Ocean. 
 
 17. Then the Alani, being thus divided among the two 
 quarters of the globe (the various tribes which make up 
 the whole nation it is not worth while to enumerate), 
 although widely separated, wander, 'like the Nomades, 
 Qver enormous districts. But in the progress of time all 
 these tribes came to be united under one generic appella- 
 tion, and are called Alani 
 
 18. They have no cottages, and never use the plough, 
 but live solely on meat and plenty of milk, mounted 
 on their waggons, which they cover with a curved awning 
 made of the bark of trees, and then drive them through 
 their boundless deserts. And when they come to any 
 pasture-land, they pitch their waggons in a circle, and 
 live like a herd of beasts, eating iip all the forage cany- 
 ing, as it were, their cities with them in their waggons. 
 In them the husbands sleep with their wives in them 
 their children are born and brought up ; these waggons, in 
 short, are their perpetual habitation, and wherever they 
 fix them, that place they look upon as their home. 
 
 19. They drive before them their flocks and herds to 
 their pasturage ; and, above all other cattle, they are espe- 
 cially careful of their horses. The fields in that country 
 are always green, and are interspersed with patches of fruit 
 trees, so that, wherever they go, there is no dearth either 
 of food for themselves or fodder for their cattle. And this 
 is caused by the moisture of the soil, and the number of 
 the rivers which flow through these districts. 
 
 20. All their old people, and especially all the weaker 
 sex, keep close to the waggons, and occupy themselves in 
 the lighter employments. But the young men, who from 
 their earliest childhood are trained to the use of horses,
 
 582 AMMIAXUS M.UTCELUXUS. [BK. XXXI. CH. n. 
 
 think it beneath them to walk. They are also all trained 
 by careful discipline of various sorts to become skilful 
 warriors. And this is the reason why the Persians, who 
 are originally of Scythian extraction, are very skilful in 
 war. 
 
 21. Nearly all the Alani are men of great stature and 
 beauty ; their hair is somewhat yellow, their eyes are 
 terribty fierce ; the lightness of their armour renders them 
 rapid in their movements ; and they are in every respect 
 equal to the Huns, only more civilized in their food and 
 their manner of life. They plunder and hunt as far as the 
 Sea of Azov and the Cimmerian Bosphorus, ravaging also 
 Armenia and Media. 
 
 22. And as ease is a delightful thing to men of a quiet 
 and placid disposition, so danger and war are a pleasure to 
 the Alani, and among them that man is called happy who 
 has lost his life in battle. For those who grow old, or 
 who go out of the world from accidental sicknesses, they 
 pursue with bitter reproaches as degenerate and cowardly. 
 Xor is there anything of which they boast with more pride 
 than of having killed a man : and the most glorious spoils 
 they esteem the scalps which they have torn from the 
 heads of those whom they have slain, which they put as 
 trappings and ornaments on their war-horses. 
 
 23. ISor is there any temple or shrine seen in their 
 country, nor even any cabin thatched with straw, their 
 only idea of religion being to plunge a naked sword into 
 the ground with barbaric ceremonies, and then they wor- 
 ship that with great respect, as Mars, the presiding deity 
 of the regions over which they wander. 
 
 24. They presage the future in a most remarkable man- 
 ner ; for they collect a number of straight twigs of osier, 
 then with certain secret incantations they separate them 
 from one another on particular days ; and from them they 
 learn clearly what is about to happen. 
 
 25. They have no idea of slavery, inasmuch as they 
 themselves are all born of noble families ; and those 
 whom even now they appoint to be judges are always men 
 of proved experience and skill in war. But now let us 
 return to the subject which we proposed to ourselves.
 
 A.D. 375.] WARS OF THE HUNS. 583 
 
 III. 
 
 1- THEREFORE the Huns, after having traversed the terri- 
 tories of the Alani, and especially of that tribe of them 
 who border on the Gruthtmgi, and who are called Tanaitae, 
 and having slain many of them and acquired much plun- 
 der, they made a treaty of friendship and alliance with 
 those who remained. And when they had united them 
 to themselves, with increased boldness they made a sudden 
 incursion into the extensive and fertile districts of Ermen- 
 richus, a very warlike prince, and one whom his numerous 
 gallant actions of every kind had rendered formidable to 
 all the neighbouring nations. 
 
 2. He was astonished at the violence of this sudden 
 tempest, and although, like a prince whose power was well 
 established he long attempted to hold his ground, he 
 was at last overpowered by a dread of the evils impending 
 over his country, which were exaggerated by common 
 report, till he terminated his fear of great danger by a 
 voluntary death. 
 
 3. After his death Vithimiris was made king. He for 
 some time maintained a resistance to the Alani, relying on 
 the aid of other tribes of the Huns, whom by large pro- 
 mises of pay he had won over to his party; but, after 
 having suffered many losses, he was defeated by superior 
 numbers and slain in battle. He left an infant son named 
 Viderichus, of whom Alatheus and Saphrax undertook the 
 guardianship, both generals of great experience and proved 
 courage. And when they, yielding to the difficulties of the 
 crisis, had given up all hope of being able to make an 
 effectual resistance, they retired with caution till they 
 came to the river Dniester, which lies between the Danube 
 and the Dnieper, and flows through a vast extent of 
 country. 
 
 4. When Athanaric, the chief magistrate of the Thurin- 
 gians (against whom, as I have already mentioned, Valens 
 had begun to wage war, to punish him for having sent 
 assistance to Procopius), had become informed of these 
 unexpected occurrences, he prepared to maintain his 
 ground, with a resolution to rise up in strength should he 
 be assailed as the others had been.
 
 584 AMMIAXUS 3IARCELLIXUS. [BK. XXXI. Cn. m. 
 
 5. At last lie pitched his camp at a distance in a very 
 favourable spot near the banks of the Dniester and the 
 valleys of the Gruthungi, and sent Muderic, who after- 
 wards became Duke of the Arabian frontier, with Lagari- 
 manus and others of the nobles, with orders to advance for 
 twenty miles, to reconnoitre the approach of the enemy ; 
 while in the mean time he himself, without delay, mar- 
 shalled his troops in line of battle. 
 
 6. However, things turned out in a manner very con- 
 trary to his expectations. For the Huns (being very 
 sagacious in conjectures) suspecting that there must be a 
 considerable multitude further off, contrived to pass beyond 
 those they had seen, and arranged themselves to take their 
 rest where there was nothing at hand to disturb them ; and 
 then, when the moon dispelled the darkness of night, they 
 forded the river, which was the best plan that presented 
 itself, and fearing lest the piquets at the outposts might 
 give the alarm to the distant camp, they made all possible 
 speed and advanced with the hope of surprising Athanaric 
 himself. 
 
 7. He was stupefied at the suddenness of their onset, and, 
 after losing many of his men, was compelled to flee for 
 refuge to the precipitous mountains in the neighbourhood, 
 where, being wholly bewildered with the strangeness of 
 this occurrence, and the fear of greater evils to come, he 
 began to fortify with lofty walls all the territory between 
 the banks of the river Pruth and the Danube, where it 
 passes through the lands of the Taifali, and he completed 
 this line of fortification with great diligence, thinking that 
 by this step he should secure his own personal safety. 
 
 8. While this important work was going on, the ITuns 
 kept pressing on his traces with great speed, and they 
 would have overtaken and destroyed him if they had 
 not been forced to abandon the pursuit from being impeded 
 by the great quantity of their booty. In the mean time a 
 report spread extensively through the other nations of the 
 Goths, that a race of men, hitherto unknown, had sud- 
 denly descended like a whirlwind from the lofty moun- 
 tains, as if they had risen from some secret recess of the 
 earth, and were ravaging and destroying everything which 
 came in their way. And then the greater part of the 
 population which, because of their want of necessaries,
 
 A.D. 376.] THE THUEIXGIAX GOTHS. 585 
 
 liad deserted Athanaric, resolved to flee and to seek a home 
 remote from all knowledge of the barbarians ; and after a 
 long deliberation where to fix their abode, they resolved 
 that a retreat into Thrace was the most suitable for these 
 two reasons : first of all, because it is a district most fer- 
 tile in grass ; and also because, by the great breadth of 
 the Danube, it is wholly separated from the barbarians, 
 who were already exposed to the thunderbolts of foreign 
 warfare. And the whole population of the tribe adopted 
 this resolution unanimously. 
 
 IV. 
 
 A.D. 376. 
 
 1. ACCORDINGLY, under the command of their leader 
 Alavivus, they occupied the banks of the Danube ; and 
 having sent ambassadors to Valens, they humbly entreated 
 to be received by him as his subjects, promising to live 
 quietly, and to furnish a body of auxiliary troops if any 
 necessity for such a force should arise. 
 
 2. While these events were passing in foreign countries, 
 a terrible rumour arose that the tribes of the north were 
 planning new and unprecedented attacks upon us : and 
 that over the whole region which extends from the country 
 of the Marcomanni and Quadi to Pontus, a barbarian host 
 composed of different distant nations, which had suddenly 
 been driven by force from their own country, was now, with 
 all their families, wandering about in different directions 
 on the banks of the river Danube. 
 
 3. At first this intelligence was lightly treated by our 
 people, because they were not in the habit of hearing of 
 any wars in those remote districts till they were terminated 
 either by victory or by treaty. 
 
 4. But presently, as the belief in these occurrences grew 
 stronger, being confirmed, too, by the arrival of the foreign 
 ambassadors, who, with prayers and earnest entreaties, 
 begged that the people thus driven from their homes and 
 now encamped on the other side of the river, might be 
 kindly received by us, the affair seemed a cause of joy 
 rather than of fear, according to the skilful flatterers who 
 were always extolling and exaggerating the good fortune
 
 586 AMMIANUS MARCELLIXUS. [BK. XXXI. Cn. iv. 
 
 of the emperor ; congratulating him that an embassy had 
 come from the furthest corners of the earth unexpectedly, 
 offering him a large body of recruits ; and that, by com- 
 bining the strength of his own nation with these foreign 
 forces, he would have an army absolutely invincible ; 
 observing further that, by the yearly payment for military 
 reinforcements which came in every year from the pro- 
 vinces, a vast treasure of gold might be accumulated in his 
 coffers. 
 
 5. Full of this hope he sent forth several officers to 
 bring this ferocious people and their waggons into our 
 territory. And such gre*it pains were taken to gratify 
 this nation which was destined to overthrow the empire 
 of Eome, that not one was left behind, not even of those 
 who were stricken with mortal disease. Moreover, having 
 obtained permission of the emperor to cross the Danube 
 and to cultivate some districts in Thrace, they crossed 
 the stream day and night, without ceasing, embarking 
 in troops on board ships and rafts, and canoes made 
 of the hollow trunks of trees, in which enterprise, as the 
 Danube is the most difficult of all rivers to navigate, 
 and was at that time swollen with continual rains, a great 
 many were drowned, who, because they were too nume- 
 rous for the vessels, tried to swim across, and in spite of 
 all their exertions were swept away by the stream. 
 
 6. In this way, through the turbulent zeal of violent 
 people, the ruin of the Eoman empire was brought on. This, 
 at all events, is neither obscure nor uncertain, that the 
 unhappy officers who were intrusted with the charge of 
 conducting the multitude of the barbarians across the 
 river, though they repeatedly endeavoured to calculate their 
 numbers, at last abandoned the attempt as hopeless : and 
 the man who would wish to ascertain the number might 
 as well (as the most illustrious of poets l says) attempt to 
 count the waves in the African sea, or the grains of sand 
 tossed about by the zephyr. 
 
 7. Let, however, the ancient annals be accredited which 
 record that the Persian host which was led into Greece, 
 was, while encamped on the shores of the Hellespont, 
 and making a new and artificial sea, 2 numbered in bat- 
 
 1 Virg. Georg., II. 106. 
 
 2 Ammianus here alludes to the canal cut through Mount Athos.
 
 A.D. 3T6.] THE GRUTHUXGIAN GOTHS. 587 
 
 talions at Doriscus ; a computation which has been unani- 
 mously regarded by all posterity as fabulous. 
 
 8. But after the innumerable multitudes of different 
 nations, diffused over all our provinces, and spreading 
 themselves over the vast expanse of our plains, who rilled 
 all the champaign country and all the mountain ranges, are 
 considered, the credibility of the ancient accounts is con- 
 firmed by this modern instance. And first of all Friti- 
 gernus was received with Alavivus ; and the emperor 
 assigned them a temporary provision for their immediate 
 support, and ordered lands to be assigned them to cultivate. 
 
 9. At that time the defences of our provinces were much 
 exposed, and the armies of barbarians spread over them 
 like the lava of Mount Etna. The imminence of our 
 danger manifestly called for generals already illustrious 
 for their past achievements in war : but nevertheless, as if 
 some unpropitious deity had made the selection, the men 
 who were sought out for the chief military appointments 
 were of tainted character. The chief among them were 
 Lupicinus and Maximus, the one being Count of Thrace, 
 the other a leader notoriously wicked and both men of 
 great ignorance and rashness. 
 
 10. And their treacherous covetousness was the cause of 
 all our disasters. For (to pass over other matters in 
 which the officers aforesaid, or others with their unblushing 
 connivance, displayed the greatest profligacy in their 
 injurious treatment of the foreigners dwelling in our 
 territory, against whom no crime could be alleged) this 
 one melancholy and unprecedented piece of conduct 
 (which, even if they were to choose their own judges, must 
 appear wholly unpardonable) must be mentioned. 
 
 11. When the barbarians who had been conducted across 
 the river were in great distress from want of provisions, 
 those detested generals conceived the idea of a most dis- 
 graceful traffic : and having collected hounds from all 
 quarters with the most insatiable rapacity, they exchanged 
 them for an equal number of slaves, among whom were 
 several sons of men of noble birth. 
 
 12. About this time also, Vitheric, the king of the 
 Gruthungi, with Alatheus and Saphrax, by whose influence 
 he was mainly guided, and also with Farnobius, approached 
 the bank of the Danube, and sent envoys to the emperor
 
 588 AMMIANUS MARCELLIXU3. [BK. XXXI. CH. v 
 
 to entreat that he also might be received with th- 
 kindness that Alavivus and Fritigern had experienced. 
 
 13. But when, as seemed best for the interests of the 
 state, these ambassadors had been rejected, and were in 
 great anxiety as to what they should do, Athanaric, fearing 
 tdniilar treatment, departed ; recollecting that long ago, 
 when he was discussing a treaty of alliance with Valens, 
 he had treated that emperor with contempt, in affirming that 
 he was bound by a religious obligation never to set his 
 foot on the Eoman territory ; and that by this excuse he 
 had compelled the emperor to conclude a peace in the 
 middle of the war. And he, fearing that the grudge which 
 Yalens bore him for this conduct was still lasting, with- 
 drew with all his forces to Caiicalandes, a place which, 
 from the height of its mountains and the thickness of its 
 woods, is completely inaccessible ; and from which he had 
 lately driven out the Sarmatians. 
 
 V. 
 
 1. BUT the Thuringians, though they had some time since 
 received permission to cross the river, were still wandering 
 up and down the banks, being hindered by a twofold 
 obstacle ; first, that in consequence of the mischievous 
 dissimulation of the said generals they were not supplied 
 with the necessary provisions ; and also because they were 
 designedly detained that they might the more easily be 
 plundered under the wicked semblance of traffic. 
 
 2. And when they ascertained these facts, they began to 
 grumble, and proposed to resist the evils which they appre- 
 hended from the treachery of these men by open force ; 
 and Lupicinus, who feared that they would resist, brought 
 up his troops close to them, in order to compel them to 
 be gone with all possible rapidity. 
 
 3. The Gruthungi seized this as a favourable oppor- 
 tunity, and seeing that the Eoman soldiers were occupied 
 in another quarter, and that the vessels which used to go 
 up and down, to prevent them from crossing, were now 
 stationary, crossed the river on roughly-made rafts, and 
 pitched their camp at a great distance from Fritigern. 
 
 4. But he, by his innate foresight, provided against
 
 A.D. 376.] REVOLT OP THE THURIXG1AXS. 589 
 
 everything that could happen, and marching on slowly as 
 well in obedience to the commands he had received as to 
 allow time for other powerful kings to join him, came by 
 slow marches to Marcianopolis, arriving later than he was 
 expected. And here another atrocious occurrence took 
 place, which kindled the torches of the Furies for general 
 calamity. 
 
 5. Alavivus and Fritigern were invited to a banquet; 
 while Lupicinus drew up his soldiers against the chief host 
 of the barbarians, and so kept them at a distance from the 
 walls of the town ; though they with humble perseverance 
 implored admission in order so to procure necessary pro- 
 visions, professing themselves loyal and obedient subjects. 
 At last a serious strife arose between the citizens and the 
 strangers who were thus refused admittance, which gra- 
 dually led to a regular battle. And the barbarians, being 
 excited to an unusual pitch of ferocity when they saw 
 their relations treated as enemies, began to plunder the 
 soldiers whom they had slain. 
 
 6. But when Lupicinus, of whom we have already 
 spoken, learnt by secret intelligence that this was taking- 
 place, while he was engaged in an extravagant entertain- 
 ment, surrounded by buffoons, and almost overcome by 
 wine and sleep, he, fearing the issue, put to death all the 
 guards who, partly as a compliment and partly as a guard 
 to the chiefs, were on duty before the general's tent. 
 
 7. The people who were still around the walls heard of 
 this with great indignation, and rising up by degrees into 
 a resolution to avenge their kings, who, as they fancied, 
 were being detained as prisoners, broke out with furious 
 threats. And Fritigern, being a man of great readiness of 
 resource, and fearing that perhaps he might be detained 
 with the rest as a hostage, exclaimed that there would be 
 a terrible and destructive conflict if he were not allowed 
 to go forth with his companions in order to pacify the 
 multitude, who he said had broken out in this tumult 
 from believing that their leaders had been trepanned and 
 murdered under show of courtesy. Having obtained 
 permission, they all went forth, and were received with 
 cheers and great delight ; they then mounted their horses 
 and fled, in order to kindle wars in many quarters. 
 
 8. When Fame, ever the malignant nurse of bad news,
 
 590 AMMIANUS MAKCKLLKXUS. [BK. XXXI. CH. v. 
 
 bruited this abroad, the whole nation of the Thuringians 
 became suddenly inflamed with a desire for war ; and 
 among many preparations which seemed to betoken 
 danger, the standards of war were raised according to 
 custom, and the trumpets poured forth sounds of evil 
 omen ; while the predatory bands collected in troops, 
 plundering and burning villages, and throwing every tiling 
 that came in their way into alarm by their fearful devasta- 
 tions. 
 
 9. Against these hosts, Lupicinus, having collected his 
 forces with the greatest possible rapidity, advanced with 
 more rashness than prudence, and halted in battle array 
 nine miles from the city. The barbarians, perceiving this, 
 charged our battalions before we expected them, and 
 dashing upon the shields w r ith which they covered their 
 bodies, they cut down all who fell in their way with their 
 swords and spears ; and urged on by their bloodthirsty 
 fury, they continued the slaughter, till they had taken our 
 standards, and the tribunes and the greater part of the 
 soldiers had fallen, with the exception of the unhappy 
 general, who could find nothing to do but, while all the 
 rest were fighting, to betake himself to flight, and return 
 full gallop to the city. And then the enemies, clothing 
 themselves in the arms of the IJomans whom they had 
 slain, pushed on their devastating march without hin- 
 drance. 
 
 10. And since, after recounting various other exploits, 
 we have now come to this portion of our subject, we call 
 upon our readers (if we shall ever have any) not to expect 
 a minute detail of everything that took place, or of the 
 number of the slain, which indeed it would be utterly 
 impossible to give. It will be sufficient to abstain from 
 concealing any part of the truth by a lie, and to give the 
 general outline of what took place : since a faithful honesty 
 of narration is always proper if one would hand events 
 down to the recollection of posterity. 
 
 11. Those who are ignorant of antiquity declare that 
 the republic was never so overwhelmed with the darkness 
 of adverse fortune ; but they are deceived in consequence 
 of the stupor into which they are thrown by these 
 calamities, which are still fresh in their memory. For if 
 the events of former ages, or even of those immediately
 
 A.D. 376.] THE TEUTOXES AND C1MBRI. 591 
 
 preceding our own times are considered, it will be plain 
 that such melancholy events have often happened, of \vhich 
 1 will bring to niind several instances : 
 ~"12. The Teutones and the Cimbri came suddenly from 
 the remote shores of the ocean, and overran Italy ; but, 
 after having inflicted enormous disasters on the Koiuan 
 republic, they were at last overcome by our illustrious 
 generals, and being wholly vanquished, learnt by their 
 ultimate destruction what martial valour, combined with 
 skill, can effect. 
 
 13. Again, in the reign of the Emperor Marcus Aurelius, 
 the insane fury of a number of different nations combined 
 
 together, after fearful wars would have left 
 
 but a small part of them. 
 
 14. But, soon after these calamitous losses, the state was 
 re-established in all its former strength and prosperity; 
 because the soberness of our ancestry had not yet become 
 infected with the luxury and softness of a more effeminate 
 way of life, and had not learnt to indulge in splendid 
 banquets, or the criminal acquisition of riches. But both 
 the highest classes and the lowest living in harmony, and 
 imbued with one unanimous spirit, eagerly embraced a 
 glorious death in the cause of the republic as a tranquil 
 and quiet haven. 
 
 15. The great multitudes of the Scythian nations, 
 having burst through the Bosphorus, and made their way 
 to the shores of the Sea of Azov with 2000 ships, inflicted 
 fearful losses on us by land and sea ; but also lost a great 
 portion of their own men, and so at last returned to their 
 own countiy. 
 
 16. Those great generals, the Decii, father and son, 
 fell fighting against the barbarians. The cities of Pam- 
 phylia were besieged, many islands were laid waste ; 
 Macedon was ravaged with fire and sword. An enormous 
 host for a long time blockaded Thessalonica and Cyzicus. 
 Arabia also was taken ; and so at the same time was 
 Kicopolis, which had been built by the Emperor Trajan 
 as a monument of his victoiy over the Dacians. 
 
 17. After many fearful losses had been both sustained 
 and inflicted Philippopolis was destroyed, and, unless our 
 annals speak falsely, 100,000 men were slaughtered within 
 its walls. Foreign enemies roved unrestrained over
 
 592 AMMtAXUS JIAUCIILLIXUS. [BE. XXXI. C.i. vr 
 
 Epirus, and Thessaly, aud the whole of Greece ; but after 
 that glorious general Claudius had been taken as a 
 colleague in the empire (though again lost to us by an 
 honourable death), the enemy was routed by Aurelian, an 
 untiring leader, and a severe avenger of injuries ; and 
 after that they remained quiet for a long time without 
 attempting anything, except that some bands of robbers 
 now and then ranged the districts in their own neigh- 
 bourhood, always, however, to their own injury. And 
 now I will return to the main history from Avhich I have 
 digressed. 
 
 VI. 
 
 1 . WHSX this series of occurrences had been made gene- 
 rally known by frequent messengers, Sueridus and Colias, 
 two nobles of the Goths, who had some time before been 
 friendly received with their people, and had been sent to 
 Hadrianople to pass the winter in that city, thinking their 
 < >\rij safety the most important of all objects, looked on all 
 the events which were taking place with great indiffer- 
 ence. 
 
 2. But, on a sudden, letters having arrived from the 
 emperor, in which they were ordered to cross over to the 
 province of the Hellespont, they asked, in a very modest 
 manner, to be provided with money to defray the expenses 
 of their march, as well as provisions, and to be allowed a 
 respite of two days. But the chief magistrate of the city 
 was indignant at this request, being also out of humour with 
 them on account of some injury which had been done to 
 property of his own in the suburbs, and collected a great 
 mob of the lowest of the people, with a body of armourers, 
 of whom there is a great number in that place, and led 
 them forth armed to hasten the departure of the Goths. 
 And ordering the trumpeters to sound an alarm, he menaced 
 them with destruction unless they at once departed with 
 all speed, as they had been ordered. 
 
 3. The Goths, bewildered by this unexpected calamity, 
 and alarmed at this outbreak of the citizens, which looked 
 more as if caused by a sudden impulse than by any delibe- 
 rate purpose, stood without moving. And being assailed
 
 A.D. 376.] REVOLT OF SUERIDUS AXD COLIAS. 593 
 
 beyond all endurance by reproaches and manifestations of ill 
 will, and also by occasional missiles, they at last broke out 
 into open revolt ; having slain several of those who had 
 at-first attacked them with too much petulance, and having 
 put the rest to flight, and wounded many with all kinds of 
 weapons, they stripped their corpses and armed themselves 
 with the spoils in the Roman fashion ; and then, seeing 
 Fritigern near them, they united themselves to him as 
 obedient allies, and blockaded the city. They remained 
 some time, maintaining this difficult position and making 
 promiscuous attacks, during which they lost some of their 
 number by their own audacity, without being able to 
 avenge them ; while many were slain by arrows and large 
 stones hurled from slings. 
 
 4. Then Fritigern, perceiving that his men, who were 
 unaccustomed to sieges, were struggling in vain, and sus- 
 taining heavy losses, advised his army to leave a force 
 sufficient to maintain the blockade, and to depart with the 
 rest, acknowledging their failure, and saying that " He 
 did not war with stone walls." Advising them also to lay 
 waste all the fertile regions around without any dis- 
 tinction, and to plunder those places which were not de- 
 fended by any garrisons. 
 
 5. His counsel was approved, as his troops knew that he 
 was always a very able commander in bringing their plans 
 .to success ; and then they dispersed over the whole 
 district of Thrace, advancing cautiously ; while those who 
 came of their own accord to surrender, or those whom they 
 had taken prisoners, pointed out to them the richest towns, 
 and especially those where it was said that supplies of 
 provisions could be found. And in addition to their 
 natural confidence they were greatly encouraged by this 
 circumstance, that a multitude of that nation came in 
 daily to join them who had formerly been sold as slaves 
 by the merchants, with many others whom, when at their 
 first passage of the river they were suffering from severe 
 want, they had bartered for a little bad wine or morsels of 
 bread. 
 
 6. To these were added no inconsiderable number of 
 men skilled in tracing out veins of gold, but who were 
 unable to endure the heavy burden of their taxes ; and 
 who having been received with the cheerful consent of 
 
 2Q
 
 594 AMMIAXUS MARCELLIXUS. [BK. XXXI. CH. vir. 
 
 all, they were of great use to them while traversing strange 
 districts showing them the secret stores of grain, the 
 retreats of men, and other hiding-places of divers kinds. 
 
 7. Nor while these men led them on as their guides did 
 anything remain untouched by them, except what was 
 inaccessible or wholly out of the way ; for without any 
 distinction of age or sex they went forward destroying 
 everything in one vast slaughter and conflagration : 
 tearing infants even from their mother's breast and slaying 
 them ; ravishing their mothers ; slaughtering women's 
 husbands before the eyes of those whom they thus made 
 widows ; while boys of tender and of adult age were 
 dragged over the corpses of their parents. 
 
 8. Lastly, numbers of old men, crying out that they had 
 lived long enough, having lost all their wealth, together 
 with beautiful women, had their hands bound behind their 
 back, and were driven into banishment, bewailing the 
 ashes of their native homes. 
 
 VII. 
 
 A.D. 377. 
 
 1. THIS news from Thrace was received with great 
 sorrow, and caused the Emperor Valens much anxiety. 1 
 He instantly sent Victor, the commander of the cavalry, 
 into Persia, to make such arrangements in Armenia as were 
 required by the impending danger. "While he himself pre- 
 pared at once to quit Antioch and go to Constantinople, 
 sending before him Profuturus and Trajan, both officers of 
 rank and ambition, but of no great skill in war. 
 
 2. When they arrived at the place where it seemed most 
 expedient to combat this hostile multitude in detail and 
 by ambuscades and surprises, they very injudiciously 
 adopted the ill-considered plan of opposing the legions 
 which had arrived from Armenia to barbarians who were 
 still raging like madmen. Though the legions had re- 
 peatedly proved equal to the dangers of a pitched battle 
 and regular warfare, they were not suited to encounter 
 an innumerable host which occupied all the chains of the 
 lofty hills, and also all the plains. 
 
 1 See Gibbon, vol. ii., p. 215 (Bobn's edition).
 
 A.D. 377.] TRAJAN S BATTLE WITH THE GOTHS. 595 
 
 3. Our men had never yet experienced what can be 
 effected by indomitable rage united with despair, and so 
 having driven back the enemy beyond the abrupt preci- 
 piees of the Balkan, they seized upon the rugged defiles in 
 order to hem in the barbarians on ground from which they 
 would be unable to find any exit, and where it seemed they 
 might be overcome by famine. They themselves intended 
 to await the arrival of Frigeridus, the duke, who was 
 hastening towards them with the auxiliaries fromPannonia 
 and other countries, and whom, at the request of Valens, 
 Gratian had commanded to march to the camp to aid 
 those who were menaced with total destruction. 
 
 4. After him, Kichomeres, at that time count of the 
 domestics, who also, by the command of Gratian, had moved 
 forwards from Gaul, hastened towards Thrace, 1 bring- 
 ing with him some cohorts, which were cohorts in name, 
 though the greater portion of them had already deserted 
 (if we would believe some people) by the persuasion of 
 Merobaudes, fearing lest Gaul, now divested of all the 
 troops, would be ravaged without check after the barba- 
 rians had forced the passage of the Ehine. 
 
 5. But Frigeridus was prevented from moving by the 
 gout, or at all events (as some of his malicious detractors 
 represented it), he pleaded sickness as an excuse for not 
 being present in the struggles which were expected, and so 
 Eichomeres, being unanimously called to the chief command, 
 with Profuturus and Trajan for his colleagues, advanced 
 towards the town of Salices at ,no great distance from 
 which was a countless host of barbarians, arranged in a 
 circle, with a great multitude of waggons for a rampart 
 around them, behind which, as if protected by a spacious 
 wall, they enjoyed ease and an abundance of booty. 
 
 6. Filled with hopes of success, the Eoman generals 
 resolved on some gallant enterprise should fortune afford 
 them an opportunity were carefully watching the move- 
 ments of the Goths ; having formed the design if they 
 moved their camp in any other direction, which they 
 were very much in the habit of doing to fall upon 
 their rear, making no doubt that they should slay many 
 of them, and recover a great portion of their spoil. 
 
 1 See Gibbon, vol. iii., p. 229 (Bolm).
 
 596 AMMIANUS MARCELLINUS. [BK. XXXI. CH. vfl. 
 
 7. When the barbarians learnt this, probably through, 
 the information of some deserter, from whom they obtained 
 a knowledge of our operations, they remained for some 
 time in the same place ; but at last, being influenced by 
 fear of the opposing army, and of the reinforcements which 
 might be expected to throng to them, they assembled, by a 
 preconcerted signal, the predatory bands dispersed in 
 different districts, and which, the moment they received 
 the orders of their leaders, returned like firebrands, with 
 the swiftness of birds, to their "encampment of chariots" 
 (as they call it), and thus gave their countrymen confi- 
 dence to attempt greater enterprises. 
 
 8. After this there was no cessation of hostilities between 
 the two parties except what was afforded by a few short 
 truces ; for after those men had returned to the camp 
 whom necessity had forced to quit it, the whole body which 
 was crowded within the circuit of the encampment, being 
 full of fierce discontent, excitement, and a most ferocious 
 spirit, and now reduced to the greatest extremities, 
 were eager for bloodshed : nor did their chiefs, who were 
 present with them, resist their desire ; and as the reso- 
 lution to give battle was taken when the sun was sink- 
 ing, and when the approach of night invited the sullen 
 and discontented troops to rest, they took some food quietly, 
 but remained all night sleepless. 
 
 9. On the other hand the Eomans, knowing what was 
 going on, kept themselves also awake, fearing the enemy 
 and their insane leaders as so many furious wild beasts : 
 nevertheless, with fearless minds they awaited the result, 
 which, though they acknowledged it to be doubtful in 
 respect of their inferiority in number, they still trusted 
 would be propitious because of the superior justice of their 
 cause. 
 
 10. Therefore the next day, as soon as it was light, the 
 signal for taking arms having been given by the trumpets 
 on both sides, the barbarians, after having, in accordance 
 with their usual custom, taken an oath to remain faithful 
 to their standards, attempted to gain the higher ground, in 
 order that from it they might descend down the steep like 
 wheels, overwhelming their enemy by the vigour of their 
 attack. When this was seen, our soldiers all flocked to 
 their proper regiments, and then stood firm, neither turning
 
 A.t>. 377.] DRAWN BATTLE WITH THE GOTHS. 597 
 
 aside nor in any instance even leaving their ranks to rush 
 forward. 
 
 11. Therefore when the armies on both sides, advancing 
 more cautiously, at last halted and stood immovable, the 
 warriors, with mutual sternness, surveying each other 
 with fierce looks. The Eomans in every part of their 
 line sang warlike songs, with a voice rising from a lower 
 to a higher key, which they call barritus, 1 and so encou- 
 raged themselves to gallant exertions. But the barbarians, 
 with dissonant clamour, shouted out the praises of their 
 ancestors, and amid their various discordant cries, tried 
 occasional light skirmishes. 
 
 12. And now each army began to assail the other with 
 javelins and other similar missiles ; and then with threaten- 
 ing shouts rushed on to close combat, and packing their 
 shields together like a testudo, they came foot to foot with 
 their foes. The barbarians, active, and easily rallied, 
 hurled huge bludgeons, burnt at one end, against our men, 
 and vigorously thrust their swords against the opposing 
 breasts of the Romans, till they broke our left wing ; but 
 as it recoiled, it fell back on a strong body of reserve which 
 was vigorously brought Tip on their flank, and supported 
 them just as they were on the very point of destruction. 
 
 13. Therefore, while the battle raged with vast slaughter, 
 each individual soldier rushing fiercely on the dense ranks 
 of the enemy, the arrows and javelins flew like hail ; the 
 blows of swords were equally rapid ; while the cavalry, too, 
 pressed on, cutting down all who fled with terrible and 
 mighty wounds on their backs ; as also on both sides did 
 the infantry, slaughtering and hamstringing those who had 
 fallen down, and through fear were unable to fly. 
 
 14. And when the whole place was filled Avith corpses, 
 some also lay among them still half alive, vainly cherishing 
 a hope of life, some of them having been pierced with 
 bullets hurled from slings, others with arrows barbed with 
 iron. Some again had their heads cloven in half with 
 blows of swords, so that one side of their heads hung down 
 on each shoulder in a most horrible manner. 
 
 15. Meanwhile, stubborn as the conflict was, neither 
 party was wearied, but they still fought on with equal 
 
 1 Barritus is the word used for the trumpeting of an elephant.
 
 598 AMMIANUS MARCELLIXUS. [BK. XXXI. CH. vm. 
 
 valour and equal fortune, nor did any one relax in his stern- 
 ness as long as his courage could give him strength for 
 exertion. But at last the day yielded to the evening, and 
 put an end to the deadly contest : the barbarians all with- 
 drew, in no order, each taking his own path, and our men 
 returned sorrowfully to their tents. 
 
 16. Then having paid the honours of burial to some 
 among the dead, as well as the time and place permitted, 
 the rest of the corpses were left as a banquet to the ill- 
 omened birds, which at that time were accustomed to feed 
 on carcases as is even now shown by the places which are 
 still white with bones. It is quite certain that the Bomans, 
 who were comparatively few, and contending with vastly 
 superior numbers, suffered serious losses, while at the same 
 time the barbarians did not escape without much lament- 
 able slaughter. 
 
 VIII. 
 
 1. UPON the melancholy termination of this battle, our 
 men sought a retreat in the neighbouring city of Mar- 
 cianopolis. The Goths, of their own accord, fell back 
 behind the ramparts formed by their waggons, and for 
 seven days they never once ventured to come forth or 
 show themselves. So our soldiers, seizing the oppor- 
 tunity, raised a barrier, and shut in some other vast 
 multitudes of the barbarians among the defiles of the 
 Balkan, in hope, forsooth, that this destructive host being 
 thus hemmed in between the Danube and the desert, and 
 having no road by which to escape, must perish by famine, 
 since everything which could serve to sustain life had 
 been conveyed into the fortified cities, and these cities 
 were safe from any attempt of the barbarians to besiege 
 them, since they were wholly ignorant of the use of war- 
 like engines. 
 
 2. After this Eichomeres returned to Gaul, to convey 
 reinforcements to that country, where a fresh war of 
 greater importance than ever, was anticipated. These 
 events took place in the fourth consulship of Gratian, and 
 the first of Merobaudes, towards the autumn of the year. 
 
 3. In the mean time Yalens, having heard of the miserable 
 result of these wars and devastions, gave Saturninus the
 
 A.D. 377.] INVASION OF THRACE BY THE GOTHS. 599 
 
 command of the cavalry, and sent him to cany aid to 
 Trajan and Profuturus. 
 
 4. At that time, throughout the whole countries of Scythia 
 and Moesia, everything which could be eaten had been con- 
 sumed ; and so, urged equally by their natural ferocity and 
 by hunger, the barbarians made desperate efforts to force 
 their way out of the position in which they were enclosed 
 but though they made frequent attempts, they were con- 
 stantly overwhelmed by the vigour of our men, who made 
 an effectual resistance by the aid of the rugged ground 
 which they occupied ; and at last, being reduced to the ex- 
 tremity of distress, they allured some of the Huns and 
 Alani to their alliance by the hope of extensive plunder. 
 
 5. When this was known, Saturninus (for by this time 
 he had arrived and was busy in arranging the outposts and 
 military stations in the country) gradually collected his 
 men, and was preparing to retreat, in pursuance of a suffi- 
 ciently well-devised plan, lest the multitude of barbarians 
 by some sudden movement (like a river which had burst 
 its barriers by the violence of a flood) should easily over- 
 throw his whole force, which had now been for some time 
 watching the place from which danger was suspected. 
 
 6. The moment that, by the seasonable retreat of our 
 men, the passage of these defiles was opened, the bar- 
 barians, in no regular order, but wherever each individual 
 could find a passage, rushed forth without hindrance to 
 spread confusion among us ; and raging with a desire for 
 devastation and plunder, spread themselves with impunity 
 over the whole region of Thrace, from the districts watered 
 by the Danube, to Mount Ehodope and the strait which 
 separates the ^Egean from the Black Sea, spreading ravage, 
 slaughter, bloodshed, and conflagration, and throwing 
 everything into the foulest disorder by all sorts of acts of 
 violence committed even on the freeborn. 
 
 7. Then one might see, with grief, actions equally 
 horrible to behold and to speak of: women panic-stricken, 
 beaten with cracking scourges ; some even in pregnancy, 
 whose very offspring, before they were born, had to en- 
 dure countless horrors : here were seen children twining 
 round their mothers ; there one might hear the lamentations 
 of noble youths and maidens all seized and doomed to 
 captivity.
 
 600 AMMIAXUS MAUCtXLIXUS. [BK. XXXI. CH. ix. 
 
 8. Again, grown-up virgins and chaste matrons were 
 dragged along with countenances disfigured by bitter 
 weeping, wishing to avoid the violation of their modesty 
 by any death however agonizing. Here some wealthy noble- 
 man was dragged along like a wild beast, complaining 
 of fortune as merciless and blind, who in a brief moment 
 had stripped him of his riches, of his beloved relations, and 
 his home ; had made him see his house reduced to ashes, 
 and had reduced him to expect either to be torn limb from 
 limb himself, or else to be exposed to scourging and tor- 
 ture, as the slave of a ferocious conqueror. 
 
 9. But the barbarians, like beasts who had broken loose 
 from their cages, pouring unrestrainedly over the vast 
 extent of country, marched upon a town called Dibal- 
 tum, where they found Barzinieres, a tribune of the 
 Scutarii, with his battalion, and some of the Cornuti 
 legion, and several other bodies of infantry pitching a camp, 
 like a veteran general of great experience as he was. 
 
 11. Instantly (as the only means of avoiding imme- 
 diate destruction) he ordered the trumpet to give the 
 signal for battle ; and strengthening his flanks, rushed 
 forward with his little army in perfect order. And he 
 made so gallant a struggle, that the barbarians would 
 have obtained no advantage over him, if a strong body 
 of cavalry had not come round upon him from behind, 
 while his men were panting and weary with their exer- 
 tions : so at last he fell, but not without having inflicted 
 great slaughter on the barbarians, though the vastness of 
 their numbers made their losses less observed. 
 
 rs. 
 
 1. AFTER this affair had terminated, the Goths, being 
 uncertain what next to do, went in quest of Frigeridus, 
 with the resolution to destroy him wherever they could 
 find him, as a formidable obstacle to their success ; and 
 having rested for a while to refresh themselves with 
 sleep and better food than usual, they then pursued him 
 like so many wild beasts, having learnt that by Gratian's 
 order he had returned into Thrace, and had pitched his 
 camp near Benea, intending to wait there to see how 
 affairs would turn out.
 
 A.D. 3n.] THE GOTHS DEFEATED BY FRIGEEIDUS. 601 
 
 2. They hastened accordingly, that by a rapid march 
 they might carry out their proposed plan ; but Frigeridus, 
 who knew as well how to command as to preserve 
 his* troops, either suspected their plans, or else obtained 
 accurate information respecting them from the scouts 
 whom he had sent out ; and therefore returned over the 
 mountains and through the thick forests into Illyricum ; 
 being full of joy at the success which an unexpected 
 chance threw in his way. 
 
 3. For as he was retreating, and moving on steadily 
 with his force in a solid column, he came upon Farnobius, 
 one of the chieftains of the Goths, who was roaming about 
 at random with a large predatory band, and a body of the 
 Taifali, with whom he had lately made an alliance, and 
 who (if it is worth mentioning), when our soldiers were 
 all dispersed for fear of the strange nations which were 
 threatening them, had taken advantage of their dispersion 
 to cross the river, in order to plunder the country thus 
 left without defenders. 
 
 4. When their troops thus suddenly came in sight, our 
 general with great prudence prepared to bring on a battle 
 at close quarters, and, in spite of their ferocious threats, 
 at once attacked the combined leaders of the two nations ; 
 and would have slain them all, not leaving a single one 
 of them to convey news of their disaster, if, after Farno- 
 bius, hitherto the much-dreaded cause of all these troubles, 
 had been slain, with a great number of his men, he had 
 not voluntarily spared the rest on their own earnest sup- 
 plication ; and then he distributed those to whom he had 
 thus granted their lives in the districts around the Italian 
 towns of Modena, Eeggio, and Parma, which he allotted to 
 them to cultivate. 
 
 5. It is said that this nation of the Taifali was so pro- 
 fligate, and so immersed in the foulest obscenities of life, 
 that they indulged in all kinds of unnatural lusts, exhausting 
 the vigour both of youth and manhood in the most polluted 
 defilements of debauchery. But if any adult caught a boar 
 or slew a bear single-handed, he was then exempted from 
 all compulsion of submitting to such ignominious pollution.
 
 G02 AMMIANUS MAKCELLIXUS. [BK. XXXI. CH. x. 
 
 1. IT was when autumn was passing into winter that 
 terrible whirlwinds swept over Thrace ; and as if the 
 Furies were throwing everything into confusion, awful 
 storms extended even into distant regions. 
 
 2. And now the people of the Allemanni, belonging to 
 the district of Lintz, who border on the Tyrol, having by 
 treacherous incursions violated the treaty which had been 
 made with them some time before, began to make attempts 
 upon our frontier ; and this calamity had the following 
 lamentable beginning. 
 
 3. One of this nation who was serving among the 
 guards of the emperor, returned home at the call of some 
 private business of his own ; and being a very talkative 
 person, when he was continually asked what was doing in 
 the palace, he told them that Valens, his uncle, had sent 
 for Gratian to conduct the campaign in the East, in order 
 that by their combined forces they might drive back the 
 inhabitants of the countries on our eastern frontier, who 
 had all conspired for the overthrow of the Eoman state. 
 
 4. The people of Lintz greedily swallowed this intelli- 
 gence, looking on it as if it concerned themselves also as 
 neighbours, being so rapid and active in their movements ; 
 and so they assembled, in predatory bands, and when the 
 Rhine was sufficiently frozen over to .be passable, in the 
 month of February. . . . The Celtse, with the Petulantes 
 legion, repulsed them, but not without considerable loss. 
 
 o. These Germans, though thus compelled to retreat, 
 being aware that the greater part of our army had been 
 despatched into Illyricum, where the emperor was about to 
 follow to assume the command, became more bold than ever, 
 and conceived the idea of greater enterprises. Having col- 
 lected the inhabitants of all the adjacent countries into one 
 body, and with 40,000 armed men, or 70,000, as some, who 
 seek to enhance the renown of the emperor, have boasted, 
 they with great arrogance and confidence burst into our 
 territories. 
 
 6. Gratian, when he heard of this event, was greatly 
 'alarmed, and recalling the cohorts which he had sent on 
 before into Pannonia, and collecting others whom he had
 
 A.D.377.] DEFEAT OF THE ALLEMANXI. 603 
 
 prudently retained in Gaul, he committed the affair to the 
 conduct of Nannienus, a leader of great prudence and skill, 
 joining with him as his colleague with equal power, Mello- 
 baudes, the count-commander of the domestics and king of 
 the Franks, a man of great courage and renown in war. 1 
 
 7. Nannienus took into his consideration the variable 
 chances of fortune, and therefore voted for acting slowly and 
 with caution, while Mellobaudes, hurried away by a fierce 
 desire for fighting, according to his usual custom, was eager 
 at once to march against the enemy ; and would not brook 
 delay. 
 
 8. Presently a horrid shout was raised by the enemy, 
 and the trumpeters on our side also gave the signal for 
 battle, upon which a fierce engagement began near Colmar. 
 On both sides numbers fell beneath the blows of arrows 
 and hurled javelins. 
 
 9. But while the battle was raging, the multitude of the 
 enemy appeared so countless, that our soldiers, avoiding a 
 conflict with them on the open field, dispersed as best they 
 could among the different narrow paths overgrown with 
 trees ; but they afterwards stood their ground firmly, and 
 by the boldness of their carriage and the dazzling splen- 
 dour of their arms, when seen from a distance, made the 
 barbarians fear that the emperor himself was at hand. 
 
 10. And they suddenly turned their backs, still offering 
 occasional resistance, to leave no chance for safety untried ; 
 but at last they were routed with such slaughter that of 
 their whole number not above 9,000, as was reckoned, 
 escaped, and these owed their safety to the thickness of the 
 woods. Among the many bold and gallant men who 
 perished was their king, Priarius, who had been the prin- 
 cipal cause of this ruinous war. 
 
 11. Gratian was greatly delighted and encouraged by 
 this success ; and intending now to proceed to the East, 
 he secretly crossed the Khine, and turned his march to 
 the left, being full of sanguine hopes, and resolving, if 
 fortune should only favour his enterprise, to destroy the 
 whole of this treacherous and turbulent nation. 
 
 12. And as intelligence of this design was conveyed 
 to the people of Lintz by repeated messengers, they, who 
 had already been reduced to great weakness by the almost 
 
 1 See Gibbon, vol. iii., p. 181 (Bohn).
 
 C04 AMMIAXUS 3IAHCELLIXU3. [BK. XXXI. CH. x, 
 
 entire destruction of their forces, and were now greatly 
 alarmed at the expected approach of the emperor, hesitated 
 what to do, and as neither by resistance, nor by anything 
 which they could do or devise, did they perceive any 
 possibility of obtaining ever so brief a respite, they with- 
 drew with speed to their hills, which were almost in- 
 accessible from the steepness of their precipices, and 
 reaching the most inaccessible rocks by a winding path, 
 they conveyed thither their riches and their families, and 
 prepared to defend them with all their might. 
 
 13. Having deliberated on this difficulty, our general 
 selected 500 men of proved experience in war out of each 
 legion, to station opposite to the entrances to this wall of 
 rock. And they, being further encouraged by the fact 
 that the emperor himself was continually seen actively 
 employed among the front rank, endeavoured to scale the 
 precipices, not doubting but that if they could once set foot 
 upon the rocks they should instantly catch the barbarians, 
 like so much game, without any conflict ; and so an en- 
 gagement was commenced towards the approach of noon, 
 and lasted even to the darkness of night. 
 
 14. Both sides experienced heavy losses. Our men 
 slew numbers, and fell in numbers ; and the armour of the 
 emperor's body-guard, glittering with gold and brilliant 
 colours, was crushed beneath the weight of the heaA-y mis- 
 siles hurled upon them. 
 
 15. Gratian held a long deliberation with his chief 
 officers ; and it seemed to them fruitless and mischievous 
 to contend with unreasonable obstinacy against these 
 rugged and overhanging rocks ; at last (as is usual in such 
 affairs), after various opinions had been delivered, it was 
 determined, without making any more active efforts, to 
 blockade the barbarians and reduce them by famine; 
 since against all active enterprises the character of the 
 ground which they occupied was a sufficient defence. 
 
 16. But the Germans still held out with unflinching 
 obstinacy, and being thoroughly acquainted with the 
 country, retreated to other mountains still more lofty than 
 those which they occupied at first. Thither also the 
 emperor turned with his army, with the same energy as 
 before, seeking for a path which might lead him to the 
 heights.
 
 A.D.377.] CHARACTER OF GRATIAK. 605 
 
 17. And when the barbarians saw him thus with un- 
 wearied perseverance intent upon their destruction, they 
 surrendered ; and having by humble supplication obtained 
 merey, they furnished a reinforcement of the flower of 
 their youth to be mingled with our recruits, and were 
 permitted to retire in safety to their native land. 
 
 18. It is beyond all belief how much vigour and rapidity 
 of action Gratian, by the favour of the eternal Deity, 
 displayed in gaining this seasonable and beneficial victory, 
 which broke the power of the Western tribes at a time 
 when he was preparing to hasten in another direction. 
 He was indeed a young prince of admirable disposition, 
 eloquent, moderate, warlike, and merciful, rivalling the 
 most admirable of his predecessors, even while the down 
 of youth was still upon his cheeks ; the only drawback to 
 his character being that he was sometimes drawn into 
 ridiculous actions, when, in consequence of temptations 
 held out by his minions and favourites, he imitated the 
 vain pursuits of Caesar Commodus ; but he was never blood- 
 thirsty. 
 
 19. For as that prince, because he had been accustomed 
 to slay numbers of wild beasts with his javelins in the 
 sight of the people, and prided himself beyond measure 
 on the skill with which he slew a hundred lions let loose 
 at the same time in the amphitheatre with different 
 missiles, and without ever having to repeat his shot ; so 
 Gratian, in the enclosures called preserves, slew wild 
 beasts with his arrows, neglecting much serious busi- 
 ness for this amusement, and this at a time when if 
 Marcus Antoninus had resumed the empire he would 
 have found it hard, without colleagues of equal genius to 
 his own, and without the most serious deliberation of 
 counsel, to remedy the grievous disasters of the republic. 
 
 20. Therefore having made all the arrangements which 
 the time would permit for the affairs of Gaul, and having 
 punished the traitor of the Scutarii who had betrayed to the 
 barbarians the intelligence that the emperor was about to 
 depart with all speed for Illyricum, Gratianus quitted 
 the army, and passing through the fortress known as that 
 of Arbor Felix, he proceeded by forced marches to carry 
 his assistance to those who needed it. 
 
 21. About this time, while Frigeridus was with great
 
 606 AMMIA.XUS MARCELLIXUS. [BK. XXXI. CH. xi, 
 
 wisdom devising many schemes likely to prove of advan- 
 tage to the general safety, and was preparing to fortify 
 the denies of the Succi, to prevent the enemy (who, by 
 the rapidity of their movements and their fondness for 
 sallies, were always threatening the northern provinces 
 like a torrent) from extending their inroads any further, 
 he was superseded by a count named Maurus, a man cruel, 
 ferocious, fickle, and untrustworthy. This man, as we 
 have related in our account of preceding transactions, 
 being one of Julian's body-guard to whom the defence 
 of the palace was expressly committed, while that prince 
 was doubting about accepting the imperial authority, took 
 the chain from his own neck and offered it to him for a 
 diadem. 
 
 22. Thus, in the most critical aspect of our difficulties, 
 a cautious and energetic general was removed, when, 
 even if he had previously retired into private life, he 
 ought, from the greatness of the affairs which required his 
 superintendence, to have been brought back again to the 
 camp. 
 
 XL 
 
 A.D. 378. 
 
 1. ABOUT the same time Valens quitted Antioch, and, 
 after a long journey, came to Constantinople, where he 
 stayed a few days, being made anxious by a trifling sedition 
 among the citizens. He intrusted the command of the 
 infantry, which had previously been committed to Trajan, 
 to Sebastian, who at his request had been lately sent to 
 him from Italy, being a general of well-known vigilance ; 
 and he himself w r ent to Melanthias, a country palace be- 
 longing to the emperors, where he conciliated the soldiers 
 by giving them their pay, furnishing them with pro- 
 visions, and frequently addressing them in courteous 
 speeches. 
 
 2. Having left this place, he proceeded according to the 
 stages he had marked out, and came to a station named 
 Nice, where he learnt from intelligence brought by his 
 scouts, that the barbarians, who had collected a rich booty, 
 were returning loaded with it from the districts about 
 Mount Ehodope, and were now near Hadrianople. They,
 
 A.. 378.] SEBASTIAN SURPRISES THE GOTHS, 607 
 
 hearing of the approach of the emperor with a numerous 
 force, were hastening to join their countrymen, who were 
 in strong positions around Bereea and Nicopolis ; and im- 
 mediately (as the ripeness of the opportunity thus thrown 
 in his way required) the emperor ordered Sebastian to 
 hasten on with three hundred picked soldiers of each 
 legion, to do something (as he promised) of signal advan- 
 tage to the commonweal. 
 
 3. Sebastian pushed on by forced marches, and came in 
 sight of the enemy near Hadrianople ; but as the gates 
 were barred against him, he was unable to approach 
 nearer, since the garrison feared that he had been taken 
 prisoner by the enemy, and won over by them : so that 
 something to the injury of the city might happen, like 
 what had formerly taken place in the case of Count Actus, 
 who had been cunningly taken prisoner by the soldiers 
 of Magnentius, and who thus caused the opening of the 
 passes of the Julian Alps. 
 
 4. At last, though late, they recognized Sebastian, and 
 allowed him to enter the city. He, then, as well as he 
 could, refreshed the troops under his command with food 
 and rest, and next morning secretly issued forth, and 
 towards evening, being partially concealed by the rising 
 ground and some trees, he suddenly caught sight of the 
 predatory bands of the Goths near the river Maritza, 
 where, favoured by the darkness of night, he charged 
 them while in disorder and unprepared, routing them 
 so completely that, with the exception of a few whom 
 swiftness of foot saved from death, the whole body were 
 slain, and he recovered such an enormous quantity of 
 booty, that neither the city, nor the extensive plains 
 around could contain it. 
 
 5. Fritigern was greatly alarmed ; and fearing lest this 
 general, who as we have often heard succeeded in all his 
 undertakings, should surprise and utterty destroy his 
 different detachments, which were scattered at random 
 over the country, intent only on plunder, he called in all 
 his men near the town of Cabyle, and at once made olF, 
 in order to gain the open country, where be would not be 
 liable to be straitened for want of provisions, or harassed 
 by secret ambuscades. 
 
 6. While these events were proceeding in Thrace, Gra-
 
 608 AMMIAXUS MARCELUXUS. [BK. XXXI. C. xn- 
 
 tian having sent letters to inform his uncle of the energy 
 with which he had overcome the Allemanni, and for- 
 warded his baggage by land, himself, with a picked band 
 of his quickest troops, crossed the Danube, reached Bono- 
 nia, and afterwards Sirmium, where he halted four clays. 
 He then descended the river to the Camp of Mars, 
 where he was laid up by an intermittent fever, and, being 
 suddenly assailed by the Alani, lost a few of his fol- 
 lowers. 
 
 XII. 
 
 1. AT this time Valens was disturbed by a twofold 
 anxiety, having learned that the people of Lintz had 
 been defeated, and also because Sebastian, in the letters 
 which he sent from time to time, exaggerated what had 
 taken place by his pompous language. Therefore he ad- 
 vanced from Melanthias, being eager by some glorious 
 exploit to equal his youthful nephew, by whose virtue he 
 was greatly excited. He was at the head of a nume- 
 rous force, neither unwarlike nor contemptible, and had 
 united with them many veteran bands, among whom were 
 several officers of high rank, especially Trajan, who a 
 little while before had been commander of the forces. 
 
 2. And as by means of spies and observation it was 
 ascertained that the enemy were intending to block- 
 ade the diiferent roads by which the necessary supplies 
 must come, with strong divisions, he sent a sufficient 
 force to prevent this, despatching a body of the archers 
 of the infantry and a squadron of cavalry, with all 
 speed, to occupy the narrow passes in the neighbour- 
 hood. 
 
 3. Three days afterwards, when the barbarians, who 
 were advancing slowly, because they feared an attack in 
 the unfavourable ground which they were traversing, 
 arrived within fifteen miles from the station of Nice, 
 which was the aim of their march, the emperor, with 
 wanton impetuosity, resolved on attacking them in- 
 stantly, because, those who had been sent forward to 
 reconnoitre (what led to such a mistake is unknown) 
 affirmed that their entire body did not exceed ten thou- 
 sand men.
 
 A.D. 378.] MARCH OF VALENS TO HADRIANOPLE. 609 
 
 4. Marching on with his army in battle array, he came 
 near the suburb of Hadrianople, where he pitched his 
 camp, strengthening it with a rampart, of palisades, and 
 then impatiently waited for Gratian. While here, Eicho- 
 meres, Count of the Domestici, arrived, who had been 
 sent on by that emperor with letters announcing his im- 
 mediate approach. 
 
 5. And imploring Valens to wait a little while for him 
 that he might share his danger, and not rashly face the 
 danger before him single handed, he took counsel with 
 his officers as to what was best to be done. 
 
 6. Some, following the advice of Sebastian, recommended 
 with urgency that he should at once go forth to battle ; 
 while Victor, master-general of the cavalry, a Sarmatian by 
 birth, but a man of slow and cautious temper, recom- 
 mended him to wait for his imperial colleague, and this 
 advice was supported by several other officers, who sug- 
 gested that the reinforcement of the Gallic army would be 
 likely to awe the fiery arrogance of the barbarians. 
 
 7. However, the fatal obstinacy of the emperor pre- 
 vailed, fortified by the flattery of some of the princes, 
 who advised him to hasten with all speed, so that Gratian 
 might have no share in a victory which, as they fancied, 
 was already almost gained. 
 
 8. And while all necessary preparations were being 
 made for the battle, a presbyter of the Christian religion 
 (as he called himself), having been sent by Fritigern as 
 his ambassador, came, with some colleagues of low rank, 
 to the emperor's camp ; and having been received with 
 courtesy, he presented a letter from that chieftain, openly 
 requesting that the emperor would grant to him and to 
 his followers, who were now exiles from their native 
 homes, from which they had been driven by the rapid 
 invasions of savage nations, Thrace, with all its flocks 
 and all its crops, for a habitation. And if Valens would 
 consent to this, Fritigern would agree to a perpetual 
 peace. 
 
 9. In addition to this message, the same Christian, as 
 one acquainted with his commander's secrets, and well 
 trusted, produced other secret letters from his chieftain' 
 who, being full of craft and every resource of deceit, 
 informed Valens, as one who was hereafter to be his friend 
 
 2 R
 
 610 AMMIAXUS MARCELTJNU3. [Bit. XXXI. CH. xn. 
 
 and ally, that he had no other means to appease the 
 ferocity of his countrymen, or to induce them to accept 
 conditions advantageous to the Roman state, unless from 
 time to time he showed them, an army under arms close at 
 hand, and by frightening them with the name of the em- 
 peror, recalled them from their mischievous eagerness for 
 fighting. The ambassadors retired unsuccessful, having 
 been looked on as suspicious characters by the emperor. 
 
 10. When the day broke which the annals mark as the 
 fifth of the Ides of August, the Roman standards were ad- 
 vanced with haste, the baggage having been placed close 
 to the walls of Hadrianople, under a sufficient guard of 
 soldiers of the legions ; the treasures and the chief insignia 
 of the emperor's rank were within the walls, with the 
 prefect and the principal members of the council. 
 
 11. Then, having traversed the broken ground which 
 divided the two armies, as the burning day was progressing 
 towards noon, at last, after marching eight miles, our men 
 came in sight of the waggons of the enemy, which had 
 been stated by the scouts to be all arranged in a circle. 
 According to their custom, the barbarian host raised 
 a fierce .and hideous yell, while the Roman generals 
 marshalled their line of battle. The right wing of the 
 cavalry was placed in front ; the chief portion of the 
 infantiy was kept in reserve. 
 
 12. But the left wing of the cavalry, of which a consider- 
 able number were still straggling on the road, were ad- 
 vancing with speed, though with great difficulty ; and while 
 this wing was deploying, not as yet meeting with any 
 obstacle, the barbarians being alarmed at the terrible 
 clang of their arms and the threatening crash of their 
 shields (since a large portion of their own army was still 
 at a distance, under Alatheus and Saphrax, and, though 
 sent for, had not yet arrived), again sent ambassadors to 
 ask for peace. 
 
 13. The emperor was offended at the lowness of their 
 rank, and replied, that if they wished to make a lasting 
 treaty, they must send him nobles of sufficient dignity. 
 They designedly delayed, in order by the fallacious truce 
 which subsisted during the negotiation to give time for 
 their cavalry to return, whom they looked upon as close at 
 hand ; and for our soldiers, already suffering from the sum-
 
 AJ>. 378.] BATTLE OF HADEIANOPLE. (511 
 
 mer heat, to be come parched and exhausted by the confla- 
 gration of the vast plain ; as the enemy had, with this 
 object, set fire to the crops by means of burning faggots 
 and fuel. To this evil another was added, that both men 
 and cattle were suffering from extreme hunger. 
 
 14. In the meantime Fritigern, being skilful in divining 
 the future, and fearing a doubtful struggle, of his own head 
 sent one of his men as a herald, requesting that some 
 nobles and picked men should at once be sent to him as 
 hostages for his safety, when he himself would fearlessly 
 bring us both military aid and supplies. 
 
 15. The proposition of this formidable chief was received 
 with praise and approbation, and the tribune Equitius, a 
 relation of Valens, who was at that time high steward of 
 the palace, was appointed, with general consent, to go Avith 
 all speed to the barbarians as a hostage. But he refused, 
 because he had once been taken prisoner by the enemy, 
 arid had escaped from Dibaltum, so that he feared their 
 vengeful anger ; upon this Kichomeres voluntarily offered 
 himself, and willingly undertook to go, thinking it a bold 
 action, and one becoming a brave man ; and so he set out, 
 bearing vouchers of his rank and high birth. 
 
 16. And as he was on his way towards the enemy's 
 camp, the accompanying archers and Scutarii, who on that 
 occasion were under the command of Bacurius, a native of 
 Iberia, and of Cassio, yielded, while on their march, to an 
 indiscreet impetuosity, and on approaching the enemy, 
 first attacked them rashly, and then by a cowardly flight 
 disgraced the beginning of the campaign. 
 
 17. This ill-timed attack frustrated the willing services 
 of Richomeres> as he was not permitted to proceed ; in the 
 mean time the cavalry of the Goths had returned with 
 Alatheus and Saphrax, and with them a battalion of Alani ; 
 these descending from the mountains like a thunderbolt, 
 spread confusion and slaughter among all whom in their 
 rapid charge they came across.
 
 612 AMM1ANUS MARCELLIXUS. [B K . XXXI. CH. xm. 
 
 XIII. 
 
 1. AND while arms and missiles of all kinds were meet- 
 ing in fierce conflict, and Bellona, blowing her mournful 
 trumpet, was raging more fiercely than usual, to inflict 
 disaster on the Eomans, our men began to retreat; but 
 presently, roused by the reproaches of their officers, they 
 made a fresh stand, and the battle increased like a confla- 
 gration, terrifying our soldiers, numbers of whom were 
 pierced by strokes from the javelins hurled at them, and 
 from arrows. 
 
 2. Then the two lines of battle dashed against each 
 other, like the beaks (or rams) of ships, and thrusting with 
 all their might, were tossed to and fro, like the waves of 
 the sea. Our left wing had advanced actually up to the 
 waggons, with the intent to push on still further if they 
 were properly supported ; but they were deserted by the 
 rest of the cavalry, and so pressed upon by the superior 
 numbers of the enemy, that they were overwhelmed and 
 beaten down, like the ruin of a vast rampart. Presently 
 our infantry also was left unsupported, while the different 
 companies became so huddled together that a soldier could 
 hardly draw his sword, or withdraw his hand after he had 
 once stretched it out. And by this time such clouds of 
 dust arose that it was scarcely possible to see the sky, 
 which resounded with horrible cries ; and in consequence, 
 the darts, which were bearing death on every side, reached 
 their mark, and fell with deadly effect, because no one 
 could see them beforehand so as to guard against them. 
 
 3. But when the barbarians, rushing on with their enor- 
 mous host, beat down our horses and men, and left no spot 
 to which our ranks could fall back to deploy, while they 
 were so closely packed that it was impossible to escape 
 by forcing a way through them, our men at last began to 
 de.spi.se death, and again took to their swords and slew all 
 they encountered, while with mutual blows of battle-axes, 
 helmets and breastplates were dashed in pieces. 
 
 4. Then you might see the barbarian towering in bis 
 fierceness, hissing or shouting, fall with his legs pierced 
 through, or his right hand cut off, sword and all, or his side 
 transfixed, and still, in the last gasp of life, casting round
 
 A.D.378.] BATTLE OF HADIUAXOPLE. 613 
 
 him defiant glances. The plain was covered with car- 
 cases, strewing the mutual ruin of the combatants ; while 
 the groans of the dying, or of men fearfully wounded, were 
 intense, and caused great dismay all around. 
 
 5. Amidst all this great tumult and confusion our 
 infantry were exhausted by toil and danger, till at last 
 they had neither strength left to fight, nor spirits to plan 
 anything ; their spears were broken by the frequent col- 
 lisions, so that they were forced to content themselves 
 with their drawn swords, which they thrust into the dense 
 battalions of the enemy, disregarding their own safety, and 
 seeing that every possibility of escape was cut off from 
 them. 
 
 6. The ground, covered with streams of blood, made 
 their feet slip, so that all that they endeavoured to do was 
 to sell their lives as dearly as possible; and with such 
 vehemence did they resist their enemies who pressed on 
 them, that some were even killed by their own weapons. 
 At last one black pool of blood disfigured everj-thing, and 
 wherever the eye turned, it could see nothing but piled-up 
 heaps of dead, and lifeless corpses trampled on without 
 mercy. 
 
 7. The sun being now high in the heavens, having 
 traversed the sign of Leo, and reached the abode of the 
 heavenly Virgo, scorched the Romans, who were emaci- 
 ated by hunger, worn out with toil, and scarcely able to 
 support even the weight of their armour. At last our 
 columns were entirely beaten back by the overpowering- 
 weight of the barbarians, and so they took to disorderly 
 flight, which is the only resource in extremity, each man 
 trying to save himself as well as he could. 
 
 8. While they were all flying and scattering themselves 
 over roads with which they were unacquainted, the em- 
 peror, bewildered with terrible fear, made his way over 
 heaps of dead, and fled to the battalions of the Lancearii 
 and the Mattiarii, who, till the superior numbers of the 
 enemy became wholly irresistible, stood firm and im- 
 movable. As soon as he saw him, Trajan exclaimed that 
 all hope was lost, unless the emperor, thus deserted by his 
 guards, could be protected by the aid of his foreign allies. 
 
 9. \Vhen this exclamation was heard, a count named 
 Victor hastened to bring up with all speed tho Batavians,
 
 614 AMMIANUS MAUCELLINUS. [BK, XXXI. CH. xm. 
 
 Avho were placed in the reserve, and who ought to have 
 been near at hand, to the emperor's assistance ; but as none 
 of them could be found, he too retreated, and in a similar 
 manner Kichomeres and Saturninus saved themselves from 
 danger. 
 
 10. So now, with rage flashing in their eyes, the bar- 
 barians pursued our men, who were in a state of torpor, 
 the warmth of their veins having deserted them. Many 
 were slain without knowing who smote them ; some were 
 overwhelmed by the mere weight of the crowd which 
 pressed upon them ; and some were slain by wounds in- 
 flicted by their own comrades. The barbarians spared 
 neither those who yielded nor those who resisted. 
 
 11. Besides these, many half slain lay blocking up the 
 roads, unable to endure the torture of their wounds ; and 
 heaps of dead horses were piled up and filled the plain 
 with their carcases. At last a dark moonless night put an 
 end to the irremediable disaster which cost the Koman 
 state so dear. 
 
 12. Just when it first became dark, the emperor being 
 among a crowd of common soldiers, as it was believed 
 for no one said either that he had seen him, or been near 
 him was mortally wounded with an arrow, and, very 
 shortly after, died, though his body was never found. For 
 as some of the enemy loitered for a long time about the 
 field in order to plunder the dead, none of the defeated 
 army or of the inhabitants ventured to go to them. 
 
 13. A similar fate befell the Caesar Decius, when fight- 
 ing vigorously against the barbarians ; for he was thrown 
 by his horse falling, which he had been unable to hold, and 
 was plunged into a swamp, out of which he could never 
 emerge, nor could his body be found. 
 
 14. Others report that Valens did not die immediately, 
 but that he was borne by a small body of picked soldiers 
 and eunuchs to a cabin in the neighbourhood, which was 
 strongly built, with two stories ; and that while these 
 unskilful hands were tending his wounds, the cottage was 
 surrounded by the enemy, though they did not know who 
 was in it ; still, however, he was saved from the disgrace 
 of being made a prisoner. 
 
 15. For when his pursuers, while vainly attempting to 
 force the barred doors, were assailed with arrows from
 
 A.D. 378.] BATTLE OF HADKIANOPLE. 615 
 
 the roof, they, not to lose by so inconvenient a delay the 
 opportunity of collecting plunder, gathered some faggots 
 and stubble, and setting fire to them, burnt down the build- 
 ing, with those who were in it. 
 
 16. But one of the soldiers dropped from the windows, 
 and, being taken prisoner by the barbarians, revealed to 
 them what had taken place, which caused them great con- 
 cern, because they looked upon themselves as defrauded of 
 great glory in not having taken the ruler of the Roman 
 state alive. This same young man afterwards secretly 
 returned to our people, and gave this account of the affair. 
 
 17. When Spain had been recovered after a similar dis- 
 aster, we are told that one of the Scipios was lost in a fire, 
 the tower in which he had taken refuge having been burnt. 
 At all events it is certain that neither Scipio nor Valens 
 enjoyed that last honour of the dead a regular funeral. 
 
 18. Many illustrious men fell in this disastrous defeat, 
 and among them one of the most remarkable was Trajan, 
 and another was Sebastian ; there perished also thirty-five 
 tribunes who had no particular command, many captains 
 of battalions, and Valerianus and Equitius, one of whom 
 was master of the horse and the other high steward. 
 Potentius, too, tribune of the promoted officers, fell in 
 the flower of his age, a man respected by all persons of 
 virtue, and recommended by the merits of his father, 
 Ursicinus, who had formerly been commander of the forces, 
 as well as by his own. Scarcely one-third of the whole 
 army escaped. 
 
 19. Nor, except the battle of Cannge, is so destructive a 
 slaughter recorded in our annals ; though, even in the times 
 of their prosperity, the Romans have more than once had 
 to deplore the uncertainty of war, and have for a time suc- 
 cumbed to evil Fortune ; while the well-known dirges of 
 the Greeks have bewailed many disastrous battles.
 
 616 AMJIIASUS MARCELLINUS. [Bit. XXXI. OH. xrv. 
 
 XIV. 
 
 1. SUCH was the death of Valens, when he was about 
 fifty years old, and had reigned rather less than fourteen 
 years. We will now describe his virtues, which were 
 known to many, and his vices. 
 
 2. He was a faithful and steady friend a severe chastiser 
 of ambition a rigid upholder of both military and civil 
 discipline always careful that no one should assume im- 
 portance on account of any relationship to himself; slow 
 both in conferring office, and in taking it away ; a very 
 just ruler of the provinces, all of which he protected from 
 injury, as if each had been his own house ; devoting sin- 
 gular care to the lessening the burdens of the state, and 
 never permitting any increase of taxation. He was very 
 moderate in the exaction of debts due to the state, but 
 a vehement and implacable foe to all thieves, and to every, 
 one convicted of peculations ; nor in affairs of this kind 
 was the East, by its own confession, ever better treated 
 under any other emperor. 
 
 3. Besides all this, he was liberal with due regard to 
 moderation, of which quality there are many examples, 
 one of which it will be sufficient to mention here : As in 
 palaces there are always some persons covetous of the 
 possessions of others, if any one petitioned for lapsed pro- 
 perty, or anything else which it was usual to apply for, he 
 made a proper distinction between just and unjust claims, 
 and when he gave it to the petitioner, while reserving full 
 liberty to any one to raise objections, he often associated 
 the successful candidate with three or four partners, in 
 order that those covetous suitors might conduct themselves 
 with more moderation, when they saw the profits for 
 which they were so eager diminished by this device. 
 
 4. Of the edifices, which in the different cities and 
 towns he either repaired or built from their foundations, I 
 will say nothing (to avoid prolixity), allowing those things 
 to speak for themselves. These qualities, in my opinion, 
 deserve the imitation of all good men. Now let us enume- 
 rate his vices. 
 
 5. He was an immoderate coveter of great wealth ; im- 
 patient of labour, he affected an extreme severity, and was
 
 l>. 3T8.] VICES OF VALEXS. 617 
 
 too much inclined to cruelty ; his behaviour was rude and 
 rough ; and he was little imbued with skill either in war 
 or in the liberal ails. He willingly sought profit and 
 advantage in the miseries of others, and was more than 
 ever intolerable in straining ordinary offences into sedition 
 or treason ; he cruelly encompassed the death or ruin of 
 wealthy nobles. 
 
 6. This also was unendurable, that while he wished to 
 have it appear that all actions and suits were decided ac- 
 cording to the law, and while the investigation of such 
 affairs was delegated to judges especially selected as the 
 most proper to decide them, he still would not allow any 
 decision to be given which was contrary to his own pleasure. 
 He was also insulting, passionate, and always willing to 
 listen to all informers, without the least distinction as to 
 whether the charges which they advanced were true or 
 false. And this vice is one very much to be dreaded, even 
 in private affairs of every-day occurrence. 
 
 7. He was dilatory and sluggish; of a swarthy com- 
 plexion ; had a cast in one eye, a blemish, however, which 
 was not visible at a distance ; his limbs were well set ; his 
 figure was neither tall nor short ; he was knock-kneed, and 
 rather pot-bellied. 
 
 8. This is enough to say about Valens : and the recol- 
 lection of his contemporaries will fully testify that this 
 account is a true one. But we must not omit to mention 
 that when he had learnt that the oracle of the tripod, which 
 we have related to have been moved by Patricius and 
 Hilanus, contained those three prophetic lines, the last of 
 which is, 
 
 " 'Ev ireSioim Mi/xavros a.\a\KOfj.fvoiffit> &prja." 
 " Repelling raurd'rous war in Mimas' plain ;" 
 
 he, being void of accomplishments and illiterate, despised 
 them at first ; but as his calamities increased, he became 
 filled with abject fear, and, from a recollection of this same 
 prophecy, began to dread the very name of Asia, where he 
 had been informed by learned men that both Homer and 
 Cicero had spoken of the Mountain of Mimas over the town 
 of Erythrae. 
 
 9. Lastly, after his death, and the departure of the 
 enemy, it is said that a monument was found near the spot 
 where he is believed to have died, with a stone fixed into
 
 618 AMMIAXUS MARCKLLIXUS. [Bi:. XXXI.Cn. XT 
 
 it inscribed with Greek characters, indicating that some 
 ancient noble of the name of Mimas was buried there. 
 
 XV. 
 
 1. AFTER this disastrous battle, when night had veiled 
 the earth in darkness, those who survived fled, some to the 
 right, some to the left, or wherever fear guided them, each 
 man seeking refuge among his relations, as no one could 
 think of anything but himself, while all fancied the lances 
 cf the enemy sticking in their backs. And far oif were heard 
 the miserable wailings of those who were left behind the 
 sobs of the dying, and the agonizing groans of the wounded. 
 
 2. But when daylight returned, the conquerors, like 
 wild beasts rendered still more savage by the blood they 
 had tasted, and allured by the temptations of groundless 
 hope, marched in a dense column upon Hadrianople, 
 resolved to run any risk in order to take it, having been 
 informed by traitors and deserters that the principal officers 
 of State, the insignia of the imperial authority, and the 
 treasures of Valens had all been placed there for safety, 
 as in an impregnable fortress. 
 
 3. And to prevent the ardour of the soldiers from being 
 cooled by delay, the whole city was blockaded by the 
 fourth hour ; and the siege from that time was carried on 
 with great vigour, the besiegers, from their innate ferocity, 
 pressing in to complete its destruction, while, on the other 
 hand, the garrison was stimulated to great exertions by 
 their natural courage. 
 
 4. And while the vast number of soldiers and grooms, 
 who were prohibited from entering the city with their 
 beasts, kept close to the walls and to the houses which 
 joined them, and fought gallantly, considering the disad- 
 vantages under which they laboured from the lowness of 
 the ground which they occupied, and baffled the rage of 
 their assailants till the ninth hour of the day, on a sudden 
 three hundred of our infantry, of those who were nearest 
 the battlements, formed themselves into a solid body, and 
 deserted to the barbarians, who seized upon them with 
 avidity, and (it is not known on what account) at once 
 slaughtered them all. And from that time forth it was
 
 A.D. 378.} SIEGE OF HADRIANOPLE. 619 
 
 remarked that no one, even in the extremity of despair, 
 adopted any similar conduct. 
 
 5. Now while all these misfortunes were at their height, 
 suddenly there came a violent thunderstorm, and rain 
 pouring down from the black clouds dispersed the bands 
 of soldiers who were raging around ; and they returned 
 to their camp, which was measured out in a circle by their 
 waggons ; and being more elated and haughty than ever, 
 
 they sent threatening letters to our men and an 
 
 ambassador on condition of safety to him. 
 
 6. But as the messenger did not dare to enter the city, 
 the letters were at last brought in by a certain Christian ; 
 and when they had been read and considered with all 
 proper attention, the rest of the day and the whole of the 
 night was devoted to preparing for defence. For inside 
 the city the gates were blocked up with huge stones ; the 
 weak parts of the walls were strengthened, and engines to 
 hurl javelins or stones were fixed on all convenient places, 
 and a sufficient supply of water was also provided ; for the 
 day before some of the combatants had been distressed 
 almost to death by thirst. 
 
 7. On the other hand the Goths, considering the diffi- 
 culty and uncertainty of all warlike transactions, and be- 
 coming anxious at seeing their bravest warriors wounded 
 and slain, and their strength gradually diminished, devised 
 and adopted a crafty counsel, which, however, was revealed 
 to us by Justice herself. 
 
 8. They seduced some picked soldiers of our army, who 
 had revolted to them the day before, to pretend to escape 
 back to their former comrades, and thus gain admittance 
 within the walls ; and after they had effected their entrance, 
 they were secretly to set fire to some part of the city, so 
 that the conflagration might serve as a secret signal, and 
 while the garrison and citizens were occupied in extin- 
 guishing it, the walls might be left undefended, and so be 
 easily stormed. 
 
 9. The traitors did as they were commanded ; and when 
 they came near the ditch they stretched out their hands, 
 and with entreaties requested to be admitted into the city 
 as Komans. When they were admitted, however (since no 
 suspicion existed to hinder their admission), and were 
 questioned as to the plans of the enemy, they varied in
 
 620 AMMIANUS rUAKCELLIXUS. [I3n. XXXI. Cu. xv 
 
 their tale : and in consequence they were put to the tor- 
 ture, and having formally confessed what they had under- 
 taken to do, they were all beheaded. 
 
 10. Accordingly, every resource of war having been 
 prepared, the barbarians, at the third watch discarding all 
 fear from past failures, rushed in enormous numbers 
 against the blocked-up entrances of the city, their officers 
 urging them with great obstinacy. But the provincials 
 and imperial guards, Avith the rest of the garrison, rose 
 with fearless courage to repel them, and their missiles of 
 every kind, even when shot at random among so vast a 
 crowd, could not fall harmless. Our men perceived that 
 the barbarians were using the same weapons which we our- 
 selves had shot at them : and accordingly an order was 
 given that the strings which fastened the iron points to the 
 javelins and arrows should be cut before they were hurled 
 or shot ; so that while flying they should preserve their 
 efficacy, but when they pierced a body or fell on the ground 
 they should come asunder. 
 
 12. While aifairs were in this critical state an unex- 
 pected accident had a considerable influence on the result. 
 A scorpion, a military engine which in ordinary language 
 is also known as the wild-ass, being stationed opposite 
 the dense array of the enemy, hurled forth a huge stone, 
 which, although it fell harmless on the ground, yet by the 
 mere sight of it terrified them so greatly, that in alarm 
 at the strange spectacle they all fell back and endeavoured 
 to retreat. 
 
 13. But their officers ordering the trumpets to sound 
 a charge, the battle was renewed ; and the Eornans, as 
 before, got the advantage, not a single javelin or bullet 
 hurled by a slinger failing of its effect. For the troops of 
 the generals who led the vanguard, and who were inflamed 
 by the desire of possessing themselves of the treasures 
 which Valens had so wickedly acquired, were followed 
 closely by othei's who were vain of exposing themselves to 
 as much danger as those of greater renown. And some 
 were wounded almost to death : others were struck down, 
 crushed by huge weights, or pierced through their breasts 
 with javelins; some who carried ladders and attempted 
 to scale the walls on different sides were buried under 
 their own burthens, being beaten down by stones which
 
 A.D.378.] SIEGE OF HADRIAXOPLE. 621 
 
 were hurled upon them, and by fragments of pillars and 
 cylinders. 
 
 JUt. And yet, horrible as the sight of this bloodshed was, 
 so great was their ardour that no one relaxed in his gallant 
 exertions till the evening, being encouraged by seeing 
 many of the garrison also fall by various wounds. So, 
 without rest or relaxation, both the besiegers and the 
 besieged fought with Tinwearied courage. 
 
 15. And now no kind of order was observed by the 
 enemy, but they fought in detached bands and in skir- 
 mishes (which is the sign of the extremity of despair) ; 
 and at last, when evening came on, they all returned to 
 their tents, sorrowfully, each man accusing his neighbour 
 of inconsiderate rashness, because they had not taken the 
 advice of Fritigern, and avoided the labours and dangers 
 of a siege. 
 
 XVI. 
 
 1. AFTER the battle, the soldiers devoted the whole night 
 (which, as it was summer, was not long) to tending the 
 wounded with all the remedies known to their nations, 
 and when daylight returned they began to discuss various 
 plans, doubting what to do. And after many plans had 
 been proposed and objected to, they at last decided to 
 occupy Perinthus, and then, every place where they could 
 hear that any treasures were stored up, the deserters and 
 fugitives having given them all the information they re- 
 quired, so that they learnt what was in every house, to say 
 nothing of what was in every city. Adopting this reso- 
 lution unanimously, which they thought the best, they 
 advanced by slow marches, ravaging and burning every- 
 thing as they passed. 
 
 2. But those who had been besieged in Hadrianople, 
 after the barbarians had departed, as soon as scouts of 
 approved fidelity had reported that the whole place was 
 free from enemies, issued forth at midnight, and avoiding 
 the public causeways, took out-of-way roads through the 
 woods, and withdrew, some to Philippopolis, and from 
 thence to Serdica, others to Macedonia; with all the wealth 
 which they had saved undiminished, and pressing on with 
 the greatest exertion and celerity, as if they were likely to
 
 622 AJIMIANU3 MARCELL1XUS. [Bit. XXXI CH. xvi 
 
 fiad Yalens in those regions, since they were wholly igno- 
 rant that he had perished in battle, or else certainly (as 
 is rather believed) burnt to death in the cottage. 
 
 3. Meanwhile the Goths, combining with the Huns and 
 Alani, both brave and warlike tribes, and inured to toil 
 and hardship, whom Fritigern had with great ability won 
 over to his side by the temptation of great rewards fixed 
 their camp near Perinthus ; but recollecting their previous 
 losses, they did not venture to come close to the city, or 
 make any attempt to take it ; they, however, devastated 
 and entirely stripped the fertile territory surrounding it, 
 slaying or making prisoners of the inhabitants. 
 
 4. From hence they marched with speed to Constan- 
 tinople in battle array, from fear of ambuscades ; being 
 eager to make themselves masters of its ample riches, and 
 resolved to try every means to take that illustrious city. 
 But while giving way to extravagant pride, and beating 
 almost against the barriers of the gates, they were repulsed 
 in this instance by the Deity. 
 
 5. A body of Saracens (a nation of whose origin and 
 manners we have already given a full account in several 
 places), being more suited for sallies and skirmishes than 
 for pitched battles, had been lately introduced into the 
 city ; and, as soon as they saw the barbarian host, they 
 sallied out boldly from the city to attack it. There was 
 a stubborn fight for some time ; and at last both armies 
 parted on equal terms. 
 
 6. But a strange and unprecedented incident gave the 
 final advantage to the eastern warriors ; for one of them 
 with long hair, naked with the exception of a covering 
 round his waist shouting a hoarse and melancholy cry, 
 drew his dagger and plunged into the middle of the Gothic 
 host, and after he had slain an. enemy, put his lips to his 
 throat, and sucked his blood. The barbarians were ter- 
 rified at this marvellous prodigy, and from that time forth, 
 when they proceeded on any enterprise, displayed none of 
 their former and usual ferocity, but advanced with hesi- 
 tating steps. 
 
 7. As time went on their ardour damped, and they began 
 to take into consideration the vast circuit of the walls 
 (which was the greater on account of the large space 
 occupied by mansions with gardens within it), the in-
 
 A.D. 373.] RETREAT OF THE GOTHS FROM CONSTANTINOPLE. 623 
 
 accessible beauties of the city, and the immensity of its 
 population ; also the vicinity of the strait which divides 
 the Black Sea from the ^Egean. Then after destroying 
 fEe works which they had constructed, having sustained 
 greater losses than they had inflicted, they raised the siege, 
 and roamed at random over the northern provinces, which 
 they traversed without restraint as far as the Julian Alps, 
 which the ancients used to call the Venetian Alps. 
 
 8. At this time the energy and promptitude of Julius, 
 the commander of the forces on the other side of Mount 
 Taurus, was particularly distinguished ; for when he learnt 
 what had happened in Thrace, he sent secret letters to 
 all the governors of the different cities and foi'ts, who were 
 all Eomans (which at this time is not very common), request- 
 ing them, on one and the same day, as at a concerted signal, 
 to put to death all the Goths who had previously been 
 admitted into the places under their charge ; first luring 
 them into the suburbs, in expectation of receiving the pay 
 which had been promised to them. This wise plan was 
 carried out without any disturbance or any delay ; and 
 thus the Eastern provinces were delivered from great 
 dangers. 
 
 9. Thus have I, a Greek by birth, and formerly a soldier, 
 related all the events from the accession of Nerva to the 
 death of Valens, to the best of my abilities ; professing 
 above all things to tell the truth, which, as I believe, I 
 have never knowingly perverted, either by silence or by 
 falsehood. Let better men in the flower of their age, and 
 of eminent accomplishments, relate the subsequent events. 
 But if it should please them to undertake the task, I warn 
 them to sharpen their tongues to a loftier style.
 
 INDEX. 
 
 A. 
 
 ABANNI, a people of Africa, 533 
 Abarne, a town in Mesopotamia, noted 
 
 for its hot springs, 182 
 Abdera, the birthplace of Protagoras 
 
 and Democritus, 286 
 Abdigidus, a tribune, 173 
 Abienus, a senator, 477, 478 
 Abii, a people of Persia, 339 
 Ablabius, prefect of the praetorinm, 
 
 236 
 
 Abora, or Chaboras, a river in Meso- 
 potamia, 111 
 Abydos, 287 
 
 Abydum, a town in Thebais, 208 
 Acha?i, a Caspian tribe, 290 
 Achaiacala, a fort on an island in the 
 
 Euphrates, 350 
 Acheron, the river, 289 
 Acherusian cave, the, 289 
 Acilius Glabrio, the first Roman to 
 
 whom a statue was erected, 16 
 Acimincum, a town in Hungary, 
 
 205 . 
 
 Acone, a port on the Euxine Sea, 289 
 Acontiae, a species of serpent in Egypt, 
 
 311 
 Acontisma, a narrow defile between 
 
 Thrace and Macedonia, 443 
 Acropatena, a province of Media, 335 
 /.daces, a Persian Satrap, killed, 374 
 Addense, 531 
 
 Adelphius, prefect of Rome, 92 
 Adiabas, a river in Assyria, 334 
 Adiabene, a province of Assyria, 176, 
 
 320, 333 
 Adonis, 186 
 Adrastea, the goddess of retribution, 
 
 called also Nemesis, 42, 281 
 Adrastus, king of the Argives, 41 
 jJCdesius, keeper of the records, 56, 58 
 ..Egean Sea, 286 
 
 .Elian, Count, 182, 183; crucified by 
 
 the Persians, 200 
 JEnus, a city of Thrace, 286, 444 
 Africanus, Governor of the second Pan- 
 
 nonia, 50, 95 
 
 Agabana, a fortress in Persia, 463 
 Agathocles, king of Sicily, 44 
 Agathyrsi, a tribe near the Palus 
 
 Maeotis, 291 
 Agazaca, a city of the Paropanisataj, 
 
 342 
 
 Agenaricus, king of the Allemanni, 113 
 Agilimundus, a chieftain of the Quadi, 
 
 151 
 
 Agilo, an equerry, 34, 266 ; pro- 
 moted to the prefecture by Julian, 
 
 279 ; recalled to military sen-ice by 
 
 Procopius, 422 ; intercedes for his 
 
 father-in-law Araxius, 432 
 Aginatius put to death by Maximin, 
 
 474 
 
 Aiadalthes, a tribune, 181 
 Alani, a Scythian tribe, 291, 328, 5SO, 
 
 581, 599, 611 
 Alatheus, 583, 587, 611 
 Alavivus, a general of the Goths, 585, 
 
 587 
 Albani, allies of the Persians, 176,187, 
 
 332 
 
 Albinus of Etruria, 56 
 Alexander the Great, 41, 46, 89 
 Alexander of Heliopolis, 319 
 Alexandria, a village near Rome, 131 
 in Egypt, 300 ; described, 313 ; 
 
 its temples and library, 314 ; its 
 
 schools, 315 
 
 a city in Arachosia, 343 
 
 in Ariana, 342 
 
 in Carmania, 339 
 
 an island in Persia, 338 
 
 a town in Sogdiana, 340 
 
 Alfenus, a distinguished lawyer, 556 
 
 2s
 
 626 
 
 INDEX. 
 
 Alicodia, a city in Bactria, 340 
 Aligildus, a count, 271, 277 
 Aliso, a tribune, 427 
 Alitrophagi, a Scythian tribe, 341 
 Allemanni, or Germans these names 
 are used promiscuously oy Ammi- 
 anus defeated at the battle of Stras- 
 burg, 118, 247 ; lay waste Gaul and 
 Rhsetia, 413, 414 ; defeated by 
 Jovinus, 438, 567 ; make incursions 
 into the Roman territory, 602 ; are 
 defeated, 604 
 
 Allobroges, a nation of Gaul, 81 
 Alpheus, a river rising in Arcadia, 53 
 Alps, the Cottian, 75 ; the Julian, 259 ; 
 the Grecian, 76 ; the Penine, 76 ; 
 Hannibal's passage of the, 77 
 Alypius of Antioch, 317, 514 
 
 a Roman noble, 471 
 
 Amantius, a soothsayer, 472 
 Amanus, a mountain range in Cilicia, 
 
 27 
 
 Amardus, a river in Media, 337 
 Amastris, a city in Paphlagonia, 289 
 Amazons, one of the Caspian tribes, 
 291 ; defeated by the Athenians, 
 289 
 
 Amiceuses, a Sarmatian tribe, 154 
 Amida, a city of Mesopotamia, 174; 
 besieged by Sapor, 185 ; betrayed by 
 a deserter, 192; courage of the gar- 
 rison, 195 ; a sortie of the Gallic 
 troops, from, 195, 236 
 Amiens (Arabians), a city in Belgium, 
 
 79, 453 
 
 Aminias, a Persian general, 369 
 Aniisus, a city in Pontus, 28S 
 Ammiauus, his noble birtn, 199 
 placed under Ursicinus, governor of 
 Nisibis, by the Emperor Constantius, 
 30 ; returns to Italy, 37 ; his in- 
 dustry, 45 ; sent into Gaul, 60 ; 
 sent back to the East, 103 ; visits 
 Thebes, 130; recalled, 171 ; escapes 
 from Nisibis, 173 ; sent to Jovini- 
 anus, satrap of Corduena, 175 ; 
 narrow escape of, 181 ; arrives at 
 Antioch, 200 ; accompanies Julian 
 in his expedition against the Persians, 
 326 ; returns with Jovian, 402 ; his 
 advice to future historians, 623 
 Ampelius, prefect of Otricoli, 472 
 
 Amphiaraus, an ancient seer, 4 
 Amphilochius, a Paphlagonian, 252 
 Amphisbama, a serpent, 311 
 Amphitheatre at Rome, 102, 411 
 Amphitris, a Spartan, the charioteer of 
 
 Castor and Pollux, 290 
 Amudis, a fort in Mesopotamia, 173 
 Amycus, king of the Bebrycii, 288 
 Anaphe, an island in the yEgean Sea, 
 
 139 
 Aiiatha, a fortress in Mesopotamia, 
 
 347 
 Anatolis, prefect of Illyricum, 204; 
 
 master of the offices, 234 ; his death, 
 
 253 
 
 Anatolius, an officer of the palace, 504 
 Anaxagoras the philosopher, 287 ; pre- 
 dicted the fall of stones and earth-. 
 
 quakes, 315 
 Anaximander, a Milesian philosopher, 
 
 139 
 
 Anazarbus, a city of Cilicia, 27 
 Anchialos, a city of Thrace, 293, 444 
 Ancorarius, a mountain of Mauritania, 
 
 531 
 
 Ancyra, a city of Galatia, 296, 403, 426 
 Andernach (Antumacum), 161 
 Andocides, a Grecian orator, 554 
 Andriscus of Adramyttium, 44, 421 
 Andronicus, a poet, 209 
 Anepsia, wife of Victorinus, 475, 473 
 Aiiicii, the, a noble family at Rome, 98 
 Anniba, a mountain in Scythia, 341 
 Anthemusia, a province of Mesopo- 
 tamia, 10 
 
 Anthropophagi, a Scythian tribe, 580 
 Antibes (Antipolis), a town in Gaul, 79 
 Antinoopolis, a city in Egypt, 312 
 Antioch in Syria, 28 ; visited by the 
 
 Emperor Julian, 297 ; by Jovian, 
 
 401 
 
 Antiochia, in Persia, 339 
 Antiphon, a Greek orator, 554 
 Autoninopolis, a town in Mesopotamia, 
 
 built by Constantius, 182 
 Antoninus, a wealthy merchant, aftei 
 
 wards one of the protectores, 168 ; 
 
 his treachery, 169 
 Antonius, a tribune, 415 
 Anzaba, a river in Mesopotamia, 175 
 Apamia, a city in Assyria, 334, 338 
 a city in Thrace, 287
 
 IXDEX. 
 
 627 
 
 Apamia, a city in Syria, 28 
 Apis, the sacred Egyptian bull, 306 
 Apodemius, the secretary for the pro- 
 visoes, 41, 46; sentenced to be 
 
 burnt alive, 280 
 Apollinarii, father and son, the former 
 
 governor of Phoenicia, the latter 
 
 steward of the palace, 26 
 Apollo, the Cimaean, 334; of Daphne, 
 
 303 ; the Palatine, 320 ; the Smin- 
 
 thian, 286 
 Apollonia, a city of Thrace, 293 
 
 in Assyria, 334 
 
 Apollonius of Tyana, 270 
 
 Apronianus, prefect of Rome, 317; 
 
 suppresses the magicians, 411 
 Aprunculus Gallus, an orator and sooth- 
 sayer, afterwards governor of Nar- 
 
 bonne, 277 
 Aquileia, the capital of Venetia, 261 ; 
 
 besieged by Julian, 261 ; surrenders, 
 
 264 
 
 Aquitani, a nation of Gaul, 78 
 Arabia reduced to a Roman province 
 
 by the Emperor Trajan, 29 ; Arabia 
 
 Felix, 338 
 Arabis, a river in the country of the 
 
 Drangeani, 342 
 
 Aracha, a town in Susiana, 335, 337 
 Arachosia, a Persian province, 342 
 Arachotoscrene, a marsh in Arachosia, 
 
 343 
 
 Aradius, count of the east, 317 
 Araharius, a Sarmatian chief, 149 
 Arar, a river in Gaul (the Saone), 80 
 Arator, duke, 481 
 Aratus the poet, 299, 386 
 Araxates, a river in Sogdiana, 340 
 Araxius, prefect of the prsetorium, 422 
 Arbaca, a city in Arachosia, 343 
 Arbela, a city in Adiabene, 334 
 Arbetio, 36, 47, 92; made consul, 71, 
 
 213 
 
 Arboreus, high chamberlain, 49 
 Arbor Felix, fortress of, 605 
 Arcadius, a river of the Euxine, 289 
 Archelaus, a general of King Mithri- 
 
 dates, 116 
 
 Archimedes the mathematician, 407 
 Ardea, a town in Persia, 338 
 Areans, a sect, 485 
 Areopagus, 518 
 
 Arethusa, a town in Thrace, the burial- 
 place of Euripides, 443 
 
 Argaeus, a mountain in Cappadocia, 233 
 
 Argonauts, the, 27 
 
 Ariana, a province of Persia, 342 
 
 Arias, a river in Arcana, 342 
 
 Ariaspe, a town in the province of 
 Drangiana, 342 
 
 Arimaspi, a fierce one-eyed nation 
 bordering on Persia, 332 
 
 Arimphcei, a nation bordering on the 
 Euxine, 292 
 
 Arinchi, a savage tribe near the Euxine, 
 291 
 
 Arintheus, a tribune, 54 ; commands 
 the left wing of the army under 
 Julian, 347 ; ambassador to the 
 Persians, 393, 446 
 
 Aristaenetus, prefect of Bithynia, lost 
 his life in an earthquake, 138 
 
 Aristarchus the grammarian, 314 
 
 Aristides, 558 
 
 Aristobulus consul with Diocletian, 
 317 
 
 Aries (Arelate), a town on the Rhone, 
 79 
 
 Armenia conquered by Galerius, 134; 
 its restoration to the Persians de- 
 manded by Sapor, 135 ; abandoned 
 by Jovian in the treaty of Dura, 
 394, 549 
 
 Armonius, a mountain in Asia Minor, 
 289 
 
 Arsaces, the first king of the Parthians, 
 330 
 
 king of Armenia, an ally of Con- 
 
 stantius, 235; of Julian, 318 ; taken 
 prisoner by the Persians, 394; put 
 to death, 463 
 
 Arsacia, a city of Media, C37 
 
 Arsiana, a city of Susiana, 335 
 
 Arsinoe, a city of Cyrene, anciently 
 called Tauchira, and now Tochira, 31 2 
 
 Artabaunes, a Persian satrap, 463 
 
 Artabius, a river in Gedrosia, a district 
 of Persia, 343 
 
 Artacana, a city of Parthia, 338 
 
 Artemis, a river in Bactria, 340 
 
 Artemisia, queen of Caria, 487 
 
 Artemius, deputy-governor of Rome, 
 146 
 
 duke of Egypt, 30C
 
 628 
 
 INDEX. 
 
 Artogerassa, a city of Armenia, 464 
 Arzanena, a province of Mesopotamia, 
 
 393 
 
 Ascalon, a city of Palestine, 29 
 Ascanimia, a mountain in Scythia, 340 
 Asclepiades the philosopher, 304 
 Asclepiadotus, count, 65 
 Asia Minor, description of, 289 
 Asmira, a mountain in Serica, 341 
 Asp, the largest species of serpent in 
 
 Egypt, 311 
 
 Aspabota, a city of Scythia, 341 
 Aspacara, a tribe of the Seres, 341 
 Aspacuras, a Persian satrap, 466 
 Asparata, a city of the Betse, 341 
 Assanite Saracens, 350 
 Assyria, the wife of Barbatio, 165 
 a province of Persia, in the time 
 
 of Ammianus called Adiabene, 333 
 Astacia, a city of Bactria, 340 
 Astracus, a city in Bithynia, also called 
 
 Nicomedia, 287 
 
 Atacotti harass the Britons, 413 
 Athagora?, a Scythian tribe, 341 
 Athanaric, a Gothic chief, 447, 583 
 Athanasius, bishop of Alexandria, his 
 
 character, 67 
 
 Athos, a mountain in Macedonia, 286 
 Athribis, a city of Egypt, 313 
 Athyras, a port in the Propontis, 287 
 Ati, a people near the cataracts of the 
 
 Nile, 308 
 
 Atlas, a mountain in Africa, 50 
 Attuarii, a tribe of Franks, 235 
 Auch (Ausci), a town in Aquitania, 79 
 Augury, modes of, 245 
 Augusta (Londinium), the capital of 
 
 Roman Britain, 483 
 Augustamnica, a province of Egypt, 312 
 Augustus, Emperor, his correction of 
 
 the calendar, 408 
 
 Aulion, a cave near the Euxine, 290 
 Aurelian, the Emperor, 570 
 Aureolus, a conspirator against Con- 
 
 stantius, 274 
 
 Austoriani, a people of Mauritania, 413 
 Autun (Augustodunum), the chief town 
 
 of the JEdm, 79 
 Auxerre (Autosidorum), a city in Gaul, 
 
 85 
 Avouches (Aventicum), the capital of 
 
 the Helvetii, 79 
 
 Avemus, a lake in Campania, 489 
 
 Avitianus, deputy-governor of Africa, 
 451 
 
 Axius, a river of Macedonia, 258 
 
 Azmorna, a city of Hyrcania, 339 
 
 Azov, sea of (Palus Maeotis). 288, 577, 
 582 
 
 B. 
 
 BABYLON, 334 
 
 Bacchus, 290 
 
 Bacchylides, the lyric poet, 383 
 
 Bactra, a river in Bactria, 340 
 
 Bactrians, 339 
 
 Bretica, a consular province of Spain; 
 473 
 
 Bagrada, a river in Persia, 337 
 
 Bainobaudes, a tribune of the Scutarii, 
 39, 105 ; (2) a tribune of the Cornuti, 
 106 ; killed in the battle of Stras- 
 burg, 121 
 
 Balista, a military engine for discharg- 
 ing stones, described, 322 
 
 Bappo, a tribune, commander of the 
 Promoti, 54 
 
 Baraba, a town in Arabia Felix, 338 
 
 Barbatio, count of the domestics, 40; 
 promoted to the command of the 
 infantry, 104, 136; a swarm of 
 bees on his house regarded as a bad 
 omen, 165; an arrogant and trea- 
 cherous man, 166 ; beheaded, 166 
 
 Barbitani, mountains in Persia lying 
 towards India, 343 
 
 Barchalbas, a tribune, 430 
 
 Bards, the poets of Gaul, 74 
 
 Barzala, a fort in Mesopotamia, 179 
 
 Barzimeres, tribune of the Scutarii, 546 
 
 Basilica of Sicininus in Rome, probably 
 the church of Santa Maria Masgiore, 
 441 
 
 Basilina, mother of the Emperor Julian, 
 383 
 
 Basilisk, a kind of Egyptian serpent, 
 311 
 
 Bassianus, a Roman of noble family, 515 
 
 Bassus, prefect of Rome, 146 
 
 Batne, a town near the Euphrates, 
 where an annual fair was held, 10 
 
 Battus, a Spartan, the founder of 
 Cyrene, 312 
 
 Bantis, a river in Serica, 341 
 
 Bazas (Vasata;), a town in Gaul, 79
 
 INDEX. 
 
 629 
 
 Bebase, a town in Mesopotamia, 178 
 
 Bebrycia, a district in Bithynia, 288 
 
 Belga?, the most warlike people of Gaul, 
 78 
 
 BeTTas, a river of Mesopotamia which 
 falls into the Euphrates, 321 
 
 Bellovaedius, a tribune given as a host- 
 age to the Persians, 394 
 
 Berenice, also called Hesperides, a town 
 in Libya, 312 
 
 Bero?a, a city of Thrace, 444 
 
 Berytus, a city of Phoenicia (the modern 
 Beirut), 28 
 
 Besa, the name of an Egyptian deity, 208 
 
 Besancon, a city of the Sequani, 79, 253 
 
 Besbicus, an island in the Propoiitis, 287 
 
 Bessi, a Thracian tribe, 444 
 
 Betas, a people in Serica, 341 
 
 Bezabde, a town on the Tigris formerly 
 called Phomice, 225, 266 ; captured 
 by Sapor, 227 ; unsuccessfully be- 
 sieged by Constantius, 237-239 
 
 Bineses, a Persian satrap, 394 
 
 Bingen (Bingium), a town in Germany, 
 161 
 
 Bisula, a river (the Weichsel), 292 
 
 Bitaxa, a town of the Ariani, 342 
 
 Bitheridus, a German noble, 525 
 
 Bithynia, 288 
 
 Bizes, a river of the Euxine, 288 
 
 Bleinmya?, a people near the cataracts 
 of the Nile, 11 
 
 Boa?, an island on the coast of Dalmatia, 
 279 
 
 Bonitus, a Frank, the father of Silvanus, 
 63 
 
 Bonmunster (Bononia), a town in Pan- 
 nonia, 257 
 
 Bonn (Bonna), a town in Germany, 161 
 
 Borion, a promontory in Egypt, 307 
 
 Bosporus, the Thracian (the Straits of 
 Constantinople), 288 
 
 the Cimmerian (Straits of Yene- 
 
 Kali), 70 
 
 Bostra, a city of Arabia, 29 
 
 Boulogne (Bononia), a town in Gaul, 
 212 
 
 Bourdeaux (Burdegala), a city in Aqui- 
 tania, 79 
 
 Brahmans, 336, 470 
 
 Branchidre, an oracle in the Milesian 
 territory, 511 
 
 Briancon (Virgantia), 76 
 
 Brigantia (the lake of Constance), 52 
 
 Brisoana, a Persian river, 337 
 
 Britain, com exported to Rome, 161 ; 
 pearls found in the British sea, 345 ; 
 suffers from the incursions of the 
 Picts and Scots, 212,453; invaded 
 by the Saxons, 413 ; distress of, 453 ; 
 Theodosius goes to assist, 483 
 
 Bruchion, a quarter in Alexandria, 
 inhabited by opulent persons, 314 
 
 Brumat (Brocomagus), a city of Ger- 
 many, 86 
 
 Bucenobantes, a tribe of the Allemanni 
 524 
 
 Buffaloes in Egypt, 309 
 
 Bura, a town destroyed by an earth- 
 quake, 140 
 
 Burgundians, 495 ; their kings called 
 Hendinos, 495; their chief priest 
 called the Sinistus, 496 
 
 Busan, a fort in Mesopotamia, 183 
 
 Byzantium (Constantinople), 287 
 
 Byzares, a people near the Euxine, 
 290 
 
 C. 
 
 CABILLONUM (Chalons sur Marne), 98, 
 
 43& 
 
 Cabyle, a town in Thrace, 607 
 Cadusii, a tribe on the Caspian Sea, 
 
 332 
 
 Cacranius, a philosopher, 520 
 Gsesarea, formerly Mazaca, a town in 
 
 Cappadocia, 233 
 
 a town in Mauritania, 534 
 
 a town in Palestine, 29 
 
 Caesariensis, a province of Mauritania, 
 
 526 
 
 Ca-sarius, prefect of Constantinople, 
 422 
 
 secretary of the Emperor, 551 
 
 Ca;sins, treasurer of the commander of 
 
 the cavalry, 200 
 Cafaves, a people of Africa, 532 
 Calatis, a town in European Scythia, 
 
 444 
 
 Calicadnus, a river in Isauria, 9 
 Callichorus, a river near the Euxine 
 
 Sea, 290 
 
 Callimachus, an ancient Grecian gene- 
 ral, 369
 
 630 
 
 INDEX. 
 
 CalHpolis, a city at the head of the 
 
 Hellespont, 287 
 
 C'allisthenes, a pupil of Aristotle, 1 66 
 Callistratus, an ancient orator, 554 
 Caraaritae, a tribe near the Euxine Sea 
 
 290 
 Carnbyses, king of Persia, 1 29 
 
 a river in Media, 337 
 
 Camels first seen by the Romans at 
 
 the siege of Cyzicus, 340 
 Camenius, a Roman senator, 473 
 Camp of Hercules (Castra Herculis), a 
 
 town in Germany, 161 
 Camp of Mars, a town in Dacia, 608 
 Camp of the Moors, a town or fortress 
 
 in Mesopotamia, 173, 393 
 Canini, a people on the borders of 
 
 Rhsetia, 52 
 
 Canopus, a city of Egypt, 314 
 Cantichus, a gulf in Armenia, 332 
 Capellatum, a district on the borders of 
 
 the Burgundians, 164 
 Capersana, a town in Syria, 179 ; called 
 
 also Capessana, 255 
 Caphareus, a promontory of Eubcea, 
 
 286 
 Carambis a promontory in Paphlagonia 
 
 (now CapeKerempe), 289 
 Carcinites, a river and bay on the 
 
 Euxine Sea, 292 
 
 Carmania, a province of Persia, 338 
 Carnuntum, a city of Illyria, 559 
 Carpi, a people on the Danube, 446, 468 
 Carrae, a town of Mesopotamia, 177, 
 
 237, 320 
 
 Cascellius, a Roman lawyer, 556 
 Caspian, tribes of the, 291 
 Cassianus, Duke of Mesopotamia, 98, 
 
 176, 201, 396 
 
 Cassium, a town in Egypt, 312 
 Ca*sius, a mountain in Syria, 28 ; 
 
 Julian sacrifices to Jupiter upon it, 
 
 305 
 Castalia, a fountain in Phocis, at the 
 
 base of Mount Parnassus, 303 
 Castricius, Count of Isauria, 8 
 Catadupi, the cataracts of the Nile, or 
 
 the people who live near them, 307 
 Cata!auni (Chalons sur Marne), 436 
 Cato, the censor, 16, 81, 88 
 Catulus, the sedile, 20 
 Caucalandes, a town in Sarmatia, 588 
 
 Cella, a tribune of the Scut?.rii, 105 
 Celse, a town in Phoenicia, 23 
 Cephalonesus, a town on the Borys- 
 
 thenes, 293 
 
 Ceras, a cape on the Propontis, 287 
 Cerasus, a town in Pontus, 289 
 Cercetae, a tribe near the Euxine Sea, 
 
 291 
 Cercius, the charioteer of Castor and 
 
 Pollux, 290 
 Cercusium, a fortress in Mesopotamia, 
 
 324 
 Cerealis, uncle of Gallus, 43 ; (2) a 
 
 master of the horse, 482, 564 
 Cethegus, a senator, beheaded, 471 
 Chjerecla, a town in Libya, 313 
 Chalcedon, a town in Bithyuia, 287; 
 
 inscription found on a stone in the 
 
 walls of, 577 
 
 Chalcenterus, an author, 314 
 Chaldoea, 335 
 
 Chalites, a gulf in Armenia, 332 
 Chalybes, a tribe near the Caspian Sea, 
 
 290 
 
 Chamavi, a German tribe, 141 
 Charar, a town in Parthia, 338 
 Charca, a town on the Tigris, 183 
 Chardi, a Scythian tribe, 341 
 Charietto, count of Germany, 144, 
 
 436 
 
 Charinda, a river in Media, 337 
 Charte and Chartra, towns in Bactria, 
 
 340 
 
 Chasmatiaa, a kind of earthquake, 139 
 Chauriana, a town in Scythia, 341 
 Chiliocomus, a district of Media, 21 
 Chilo, a Roman deputy, 469 
 Chionita:, a tribe bordering on Persia, 
 
 99, 134, 176 
 Chnodom'arius, a king of the Allemanni, 
 
 107, 112, 120; taken prisoner and 
 
 sent to Rome, 121; his death, 121 
 Choaspa, a town in Arachosia, 343 
 Choaspes, a river in Media, 337 
 Choatres, a river in Parthia, 338 
 Chronius, a river of the Euxine Sea, 
 
 292 
 Chrysopolis, a city on the Propontis, 
 
 287 
 
 Cibalse, a town in Pannonia, 566 
 Cicero, 5, 49, 61, 81, 84, 210, 245, 
 
 274, 284, 310, 406, 433, 443, 457,
 
 INDEX. 
 
 631 
 
 462, 476, 491, 531, 555, 570, 
 
 617 
 
 Cilicia, description of, 27 
 Ciminia, a district in Italy, 140 
 Cimon, son of Miltiades, 145 
 Cineas, the ambassador of Pyrrhus, 100 
 Circesium, a town of Mesopotamia, 
 
 described, 325 
 
 Cius, a town on the Propontis, 287 
 Civilis, prefect of Britain, 455 
 Claritas, a Roman matron, 474 
 Claros, in Lydia, seat of a temple and 
 
 oracle of Apollo, 210 
 Claudiopolis, a city in Isauria, 27 
 Claudius, prefect of Koine, 439, 542 
 Oleander, a prefect under the Emperor 
 
 Commodus, 418 
 
 Clematius, a citizen of Alexandria, 2 
 Cleopatra, 313 
 Coclie, a town in Persia, 363 
 Coela, a town near the Hellespont, 
 
 287 
 
 Co;ni Gallicani, a station in Bithynia, 38 
 Colchi, a tribe of Egyptian origin, 290 
 Colias, a- Gothic noble, revolts, 592 
 Cologne (Colonia Agrippina), 86 
 Comedus, a mountain in the country 
 
 of the Sacse, 340 
 Comets, their nature, 401 
 Commagena, a province of Syria, 334 
 Commodus, the Roman Emperor, 507, 
 
 605 
 
 Como (Comum), a town in Italy, 48 
 Constans, son of Constantine, 2, 94 
 Constantia, daughter of Constantius, 
 
 423, 539 
 Constantianus, a tribune, 322, 482, 
 
 522 
 Constantina, daughter of Constantine 
 
 the Great, 2, 37, 244, 245 
 
 i a town in Mesopotamia, 178 
 
 Constantine the Great, 60, 81, 93, 97, 
 
 131,419 
 Constantinople, 287 ; threatened siege 
 
 of, by the Goths, 622 
 Constantius the Eirperor, his cruelty, 
 
 13 ; summons Callus to Italy, 23 ; 
 
 makes war on the Allemanni, 32 ; 
 
 his speech, 34-36 ; retires to Milan, 
 
 36 ; his jealousy, 37 ; his severe 
 
 treatment of Callus's friend, 51 ; 
 
 invests Julian with the title of 
 
 Cfesar, 70 ; his weakness, 99 ; his 
 triumphal procession to Rome, 100 ; 
 his arrogance, 101 ; erects an obelisk, 
 130 ; reply to Sapor, 135 ; receives 
 the title of Sarmaticus, 156 ; marches 
 against the Limigantes, 204 ; jealousy 
 of Julian, 216 ; besieges Bezabde, 
 237 ; marries Faustina after the 
 death of Eusebia, 253 ; crosses 
 the Euphrates, 255 ; his speech to 
 his army, 267; unfavourable dreams 
 and omens, 269; his death, 271 ; 
 virtues and vices, 272 ; buried at 
 Constantinople, 276 
 Contensis, a town in Africa, 534 
 Coptos, a town in the Thebais, 312; 
 
 story of his wife, 291 
 Corax, a river flowing into the Euxine, 
 
 291 
 Corduena, a province belonging to the 
 
 Persians, 175, 321, 393 
 Cornelius Gallus, procurator of Egypt, 
 
 129 
 
 Cornelius, a senator, 474 
 Coronus, a mountain in Media, 335 
 Costoboci, a Scythian tribe, 293 
 Cottius, a king on the Alps, 75 
 Craugasius, a noble of Nisibis, 200 ; 
 
 story of his wife, 201 
 Crescens, deputy-governor of Africa, 
 
 501 
 
 Cretio, count of Africa, 254 
 Crispus, son of Constantine the Great, 
 
 41 
 
 Crisssean Gulf in Western Locris, 140 
 Criu-Metopon, a promontory of Thrace, 
 
 289 
 
 Crocodiles in Egypt, 309 
 Crcesus, 64 
 Ctesiphon, the winter residence of the 
 
 Parthian kings, 334 
 Curandius, a tribune of the archers, 
 
 530 
 
 Curio, a Roman general, 530 
 Cybele, festival in honour of, 321 
 Cyclades, 286 
 
 Cydnus, a river in Cilicia, 27 
 Cylaces, a Persian eunuch, 463 
 Cynoegirus, a Greci.ui general, 369 
 Cynossema, a promontory in Curia, now 
 
 Cape Volpo, 287 
 Cyprus, 29
 
 INDEX. 
 
 Cyrene, a city in Libya, 312 
 
 Cyreschata, a town in Sogdiana, 340 
 
 Cyria, a Mauritania!! princess, 531 
 
 Cyrinus, 280 
 
 Cyropolis, a town in Media, 337 
 
 Cyrus, 90, 331 
 
 Cyzicus, 287 ; besieged and taken by 
 Procopius, 426 ; taken by the Scy- 
 thians, 591 
 
 D. 
 
 DACIA, 423 
 
 Dadastana, a town on the borders of 
 Bithynia, 403 
 
 Dagalaiphus, captain of the domestics, 
 255, 347, 359, 388, 407 ; sent by 
 Valentinian to oppose the Allemanui, 
 415 ; made consul, 428 
 
 DahoB, a Scythian tribe, 290 
 
 Damascus, 28 
 
 Damasus, bishop of Rome, 441 
 
 Dames, 95 
 
 Dandace, a town in the Tauric Cher- 
 sonese, 292 
 
 Daniel, a Roman count, 546 
 
 Danube, description of the, 293 
 
 Daphne, a suburb of Antioch, 210 ; (2) 
 a town in Moesia, 445 
 
 Dardanus, a town in the Hellespont, 
 287 
 
 Darius, 331, 428 
 
 Damis, a town in Libya, 312 
 
 Datianus, a Roman consul, 133 
 
 Davana, a town in Mesopotamia, 321 
 
 Davares, a people of Africa, 532 
 
 Decem Pagi (Dieuse), 86 
 
 Decentius, a tribune, 216 
 
 Decius (the Casar), 614 
 
 Delos, 139, 303 
 
 Delphidius, an orator, 160 
 
 Delta in Egypt, 309 
 
 Demetrius Chytras, a philosopher of 
 Alexandria, 209 
 
 Democritus, 46, 88, 286 
 
 Demosthenes, 549, 554 
 
 Diabas, a river of Assyria, 334 
 
 Dibaltum, a city of Thrace, 600 
 
 Dicalidones, a tribe of Picts, 453 
 
 Didiiis, a Roman general, 443 
 
 DidyniHS, surnamed Chalcenteros, 314 
 
 Dieuse (Decem Pagi), 86 
 
 Dinarchus, a Grecian orator, 554 
 
 Dindyma, a mountain of Mysia, 287 
 
 Dinocrates, an architect, 313 
 
 Diocles, treasurer of Illyricum, 451 
 
 Diocletian, 59, 317 
 
 Diodorus, a count, 301 
 
 Diogenes, governor of Bithynia, 514 
 
 Diogmita?, a kind of light-armed troops, 
 
 456 
 
 Dionysiopolis, 444 
 Dionysius, king of Sicily. 44, 64, 97 
 Dioscurias, a city on the Euxine, 290 
 Dipsades, a species of Egyptian serpent, 
 
 311 
 
 Di scenes, a tribune, 202 
 Dius, aMauritanian chief, 527 
 Divitenses, a German tribe, 424,436 
 Domitian, the emperor, 168 
 Domitianus, prefect of the East, 23, 49 
 Domitius Corbulo, 48 
 Dorians, 73 
 
 Doriscus, a town in Thrace, 176 
 Doros, a surgeon of the Scutari, 9 2 
 Dovostorus, a city of Thrace, 444 
 Dracontius, master of the mint, 301 
 Drangiana, a province of Persia. 
 Drepanum, a town in Bithynia, 425 
 Drepsa, a town in Sogdiana, 340 
 Druentia (the Durance), a river in Gaul, 
 
 77 
 
 Druids, 73, 74 
 
 Drusus, a Roman general, 443 
 Drypetina, daughter of King Jlithri- 
 
 dates, 95 
 
 Dulcitius, a Roman general, 455 
 Duodiense, a fort in Mauritania, 536 
 Dura, a town beyond the Tigris, in 
 
 Mesopotamia, 326, 347, 391 
 Dymas, a river in Sogdiana, 340 
 Dynamius, 55 
 
 E. 
 
 EARTHQUAKES in Africa, 137 ; their 
 
 supposed causes, 138 
 Ecbatana, an Assyrian town, 334 
 Eclipses, causes of, 214 
 Edessa, 236, 255 
 
 Elephantine, a city of Ethiopia, 307 
 Elephants, 376 
 Eleusis, 139 
 Eleutheropolis, a town in Palestine, 
 
 29 
 Elusa (Elause), a town in Gaul, 79
 
 INDEX. 
 
 633 
 
 Emissa, a town of Syria, 28 
 
 Emodon, a mountain in Scythia, 341 
 
 Emona, 477 
 
 Engines, warlike, 323 
 
 EpicTtrus, 554 
 
 Epigonins, a philosopher, 25, 31 
 
 Epimenides, 486 
 
 Epiphania, a town in Cilicia, 300 
 
 Equitius, tribune of the Scularii, 406 ; 
 made general and count, 414, 539; 
 his son Equitius a tribune, 611 
 
 Eratosthenes, 287 
 
 Erectheus, 84 
 
 Ermenrichus, king of the Ostrogoths, 
 583 
 
 Erythrae, a city in Ionia, 617 
 
 Esaias, a Roman noble, 477 
 
 Essedones and Essedou, a people and 
 town of the Seres, 341 
 
 Eubulus, a citizen of Antioch, 22 
 
 Eucrcrius, proprefect of Asia, 506 
 
 Euctemon, an ancient astronomer, 407 
 
 Eumenius, 477 
 
 Eumolpias (Philippopolis), 278 
 
 Eupatoria, a city of the Tauri, 292 
 
 Euphrasius, master of the offices, 
 422 
 
 Euphrates, 199, 335 
 
 Euphronius, governor of Mesopotamia, 
 176 
 
 Eupraxias, master of the records, 4-50 
 
 Euripides, his tomb at Arethusa, 443 
 
 Europos, a city of Persia, 337 
 
 Eusebia, wife of the Emperor Constan- 
 tius, 48 ; her plots against Helena, 
 103, 253 
 
 Eusebius, an orator, surnamed Pittacns, 
 23, 31 ; (ii.) High Chamberlain, 33, 
 36, 167, 281; (iii.) surnamed Mat- 
 tyoeopa, 55 ; (iv.) brother of Euse- 
 bia and Hypatius, 160, 253, 516; 
 (v.) Bishop of Nicomedia, 295 
 
 Euseni, an eastern people, near Persia, 
 29 
 
 Eustathius, a philosopher, 136 
 
 Eutherius, prefect of the bedchamber, 
 93, 232 
 
 Eutropius, proconsul of Asia, 512 
 
 Evagrius, one of the emperor's house- 
 hold, 280 
 
 Exsii{K?rius, one of the Victorian Legion, 
 361 
 
 F. 
 
 FABIUS MAXIMUS, 81 
 
 Fabricius Luscinus, 548 
 
 Fara, an island on the coast of Persia, 
 338 
 
 Farnobius, 587, 601 
 
 Faustina, the second wife of the Em- 
 peror Constantius, 253, 271, 423 
 
 Faustinus, a military secretary, 562 
 
 Felix, master of the offices, 233, 317 
 
 Fericius, a Mauritanian chief, 530 
 
 Ferratus, a mountain in Mauritania, 
 527 
 
 Festus, governor of Syria, 519; his 
 cruelties, 528 
 
 Fidustius, accused of magic, 505 
 
 Firmus, a Mauritanian chief, 525 ; his 
 flight, 533 ; commits sucide, 537 
 
 Flavian, a Roman citizen, 502 
 
 Florentius, (i.) prefect of the Pretorian 
 Guard, 110, 128, 216, 232, 253, 
 270; (ii.) the son of Nigridianus, 58, 
 213,279; (iii.) the prefect of Gaul 
 under Valentinian, 452 ; (iv.) a tri- 
 bune, 430; (v.) Duke of Germany, 
 525 
 
 Fortunatianus, a count, 504 
 
 Forum of Trajan, 102 
 
 Fragiledus, a Sarmatian chief, 148 
 
 Franks, 58, 141, 235 
 
 Fraomarius, king of the Bucenobantes, 
 a German tribe, 524 
 
 Frigeridus, a Roman general, 595, 600 
 
 Fritigernus, general of the Goths, 587, 
 593, 607, 609 
 
 Froutinus, 472 
 
 Fullofaudes, military duke in Britain, 
 453 
 
 Fulvius, a Roman general, 81 
 
 G. 
 
 GABISICS, king of the Quadi, 539, 559 
 
 Galactopha^i, a Scythian tribe, 341 
 
 Galatae, the" Gauls, 73 
 
 Galerius, 38 
 
 Galla, the mother of Callus, 43 
 
 Gallienus, 4 
 
 Gallonatis, a fort in Mauritania, 531 
 
 Gallus, nephew of Constantine the 
 Great, 1 ; his atrocities, 2 ; puts the 
 principal pei son at Antioch to death,
 
 634 
 
 IXDEX. 
 
 21 ; summoned by the emperor, 37 ; 
 leaves Antioch and arrives at Con- 
 stantinople, 39 ; is sent to Istria, 41 ; 
 put to death, 42 ; his personal ap- 
 pearance and character, 43 
 Gallus, a river in Bithynia, 426 
 Garamantes, an African tribe, 307 
 Garumna (the Garonne), 78 
 Gaudentius, 51, 95, 143, 254, 300 
 Gaugamela, a city in Adiabene, 334 
 Gaul, description of, 73 ; its provinces, 
 79 ; its inhabitants, 80 ; produce, 
 81 
 
 Gaza (now Ghuzzeh), a city of Pales- 
 tine, 29 
 
 Gazaca, a town in Media, 337 
 Geapolis, a town in Arabia, 338 
 Gedrosia, a province of Persia, 343 
 Gelani, a people of the East, near Persia, 
 
 134 
 
 Geloni, a tribe near the Caspian, 291 
 Genonia, a town in Parthia, 338 
 Genua (Genoa), chief town of the 
 
 Ligures, 77 
 George, bishop of Alexandria, 300, 
 
 301 
 
 Gerasa, a town in Arabia, 29 
 Gerasus (the Pruth), 584 
 Germanianus, 255 
 Germanicopolis, in Bithynia, 456 
 Germanicus, 306 
 Germany, 78 
 
 Gerontius, tortured by Constantius, 12 
 Gildo, a Maurttanian chief, 526 
 Glabrio, Acilius, 17 
 Gomoarius, or Gumoharius, 233, 255, 
 
 269, 422, 429 
 Gordian, the elder, 421 ; (ii.) the 
 
 younger, 326 
 
 Gorgias of Leontinum, 554 
 Gorgonius, Csesar's chamberlain, 48 
 Goths, 442, 445, 585; invade Thrace, 
 599 ; defeated by Frigeridus, 601 ; 
 massacre of the, 623 
 Gratian, the elder, 566 ; (ii.) son of 
 Valentiuian, 448 ; takes Equitius as 
 his colleague, 551, 602, 605 ; sur- 
 prised by Sebastian, 607 
 Grumbates, king of the Chronitae, 176, 
 
 185 
 
 Gruthvtngi, a tribe of Ostrogoths, 446, 
 583 
 
 Gundomadus, king of the Allemanni, 
 32,111 
 
 Gynaeeon, a town in the Persian pro- 
 vince of Gedrosia, 343 
 
 Gyndes, a Persian river, 337 
 
 H. 
 
 HADRIAN, 386, 571 
 Hadrianople, battle of, 610-615; siege 
 
 of by the Goths, 619; raised, 620 
 Hadrianopolis, 39, 444, 607 
 Hannibal, 77 ; buried at Libyssa, 295 
 Harax, a river in Susiana, 335 
 Hariobaudes, a tribune, 161, 162 
 Hariobaudus, a king of the Allernanni, 
 
 164 
 Harmozon, a promontory in Carmania, 
 
 332 
 Harpalus, one of Cyrus's lieutenants, 
 
 74 
 
 Hasdrubal, a Carthaginian general, 77 
 Hatra, an ancient town in Mesopotamia, 
 
 395 
 Hebrus (Maritza), a river in Thrace, 
 
 172 
 
 Hecatseus, an ancient geographer, 287 
 Hecatompylos, a town in Parthia, 3-'i8 
 Helen, wife of Julian, 71 ; her death 
 
 and burial, 244 
 Helenopolis (Frankfort-on-the-Maine), 
 
 425 
 Helice, a town in Achaia, destroyed by 
 
 an earthquake, 140 
 Heliodorus, a seer, 504 ; his atrocities, 
 
 515; death of, 517 
 Heliogabalus, 421 
 Heliopolis, a town of Syria, 131 
 Helipolis, a military engine used in 
 
 sieges, 324 
 
 Helpidius, prefect of the East, 253 
 Hendinos, a title given to the Burguu- 
 
 dian kings, 495 
 
 Heniochi, a tribe near the Euxine, 290 
 Heraclea, a city of Thrace, called also 
 
 Perinthus, 278 
 Heraclitus, the philosopher of Ephesus, 
 
 274 
 
 Herculanus, officer of the guard, 33 
 Hercules, 73 
 Hermapion, 132 
 Hermes Trismegistus, 270 
 Hermogenes, master of the horse, 33 ,
 
 
 INDEX. 
 
 635 
 
 (ii.) of Pontus, prefect of the prse- 
 
 torium, 208, 253; (iii.) a Roman 
 
 general in Germany, 481 
 Hermonapa, an island in the Palus 
 
 Mseotis, 291 
 
 Hermopolis, a city in the Thebais, 312 
 Herod, 29 
 Herodianus, 314 
 Herodotus, 311 
 Hesiod, 16 
 
 Hesperius, proconsul of Africa, 502 
 Hesychia, a Roman matron, 477 
 Hiaspis, a district on the Tigris, 169 
 Hiberia, a country in Asia, near Col- 
 chis, 463 ; is divided between the 
 
 Persians and Romans, 466, 549 
 Hibita, a station in Mesopotamia, 399 
 Hiera, an island on the coast of Sicily, 
 
 one of the jEgates, 139 
 Hierapolis, a city in Commagena, 28, 
 
 267, 319 ; (ii.) a city in Phrygia, 
 
 333 
 Hierocles, son of Alypius, governor of 
 
 Britain, 514 
 
 Hieroglyphics of the Egyptians, 130 
 Hilarinus, a charioteer, 411 
 Hilarius, 505 
 
 Hileia, a town in Mesopotamia, 170 
 Hipparchus, the philosopher, 407 
 Hippias of Elis, 90 
 Hippoccphalus, a suburb of Antioch, 
 
 270 
 
 Hippopotamus of Egypt, 310 
 Histros, a city of Thrace, 293 
 Homer, 20, 71, 170, 191, 270, 341, 
 
 442, 453, 479, 617 
 Honoratus, Count of the East, 3, 21 
 Hoi-mLsdas, a Persian prince, 102 ; (ii.) 
 
 a general of the emperor Julian, 347 ; 
 
 (iii.) son of the preceding, 427 
 Horre, a town in Mesopotamia, 183 
 Hortarius, king of the Allemanni, 107, 
 
 144,161; (ii.) a German noble, 525 
 Hucumbra, 374 
 Huns, 577-582 
 
 Hyilriacus, a river in Carmania, 339 
 Hydras, the, 310 
 Hymetius, proconsul of Africa, 471 ; 
 
 banished to Boae, a town in Dalmatia, 
 
 742 
 Hypanis (the Bog), a river of Sarma- 
 
 tia, 291 
 
 Hypatius, a consul, brother of Eusebius, 
 160, 253, 516 
 
 Hyperechius, 426 
 
 Hyperides, a Grecian orator, 554 
 
 Hyrcania, a northern province of Per- 
 sia, 339 
 
 Hystaspes, father of Darius, 336 
 
 I. 
 
 IAXAMAT;E, a Scythian tribe, 291 
 laxarta; and laxartes, a people and 
 
 river of Scythia, 341 
 lazuyares, a people on the Palus Ma^otis, 
 
 291 
 Ibis, the sacred bird of the Egyptians, 
 
 311 
 
 Ichneumon, an Egyptian reptile, 310 
 Iconium, a town in Pisidia, 5 
 Icosium, a town in Mauritania, 529 
 Idmon, an augur, 290 
 Igilgitatum, part of the coast of Mauri- 
 tania, so called from the town Jgil- 
 
 gili (lijeli), 526 
 
 Igmazen, king of Mauritania, 535 
 Ilus, son of Troas, 296 
 Imbros, an island off the coast of 
 
 Thrace, 286 
 
 Immo, a Roman count, 261 
 Ingenuus, a rebel, 274 
 Innocentius, 121 
 Iphicles, a philosopher, envoy from 
 
 Epirus, 561 
 Iris, a river flowing into the Eusine, 
 
 289 
 
 Isaflenses, a people of Africa, 534 
 Isaura, a large town at the foot of 
 
 Mount Taurus, 144 
 Isauria, a province of Asia Minor, 143 
 Isaurians, rebellion of the, 5 ; they 
 
 besiege Seleucia, 8; compelled by 
 
 Nebridius to disperse, 10 
 Isocrates, 570 
 Izala, a mountain in Mesopotamia, 173 
 
 .7. 
 
 JACOBUS, treasurer of the commander 
 
 of the cavalry, 200 
 Januarius, a relation of the Emperor 
 
 Julian, 406 
 Jasonium, a mountain in Media, 339
 
 636 
 
 INDEX. 
 
 Jerusalem, the temple of, 317 
 Jews, 283 
 
 Jovian, chief officer of the guard, 276 ; 
 son of Varronianus, 388 ; elected 
 emperor after Julian, 388 ; his 
 treaty with Sapor, 393 ; advances to 
 Hatra, 395 ; his severity, 399 ; vi- 
 sits Tarsus, 402 ; dies suddenly at 
 Didastana, 403 ; his character, 405 ; 
 his body brought to Constantinople, 
 406 
 
 Jovianus, a secretary, 361, 398, 417 
 Jovinianus, a Persian satrap, 175 
 Jovinus, master of the horse, 256, 261, 
 279, 396 ; commander of the forces 
 in Gaul, 414 ; his vigour, 436 ; 
 defeats the Germans, 458 ; his execu- 
 tion, 501 
 
 Jovius, a quaestor, 256, 294 
 Juba, king of Mauritania, 308 
 Jubileni, an African tribe, 535 
 Julian, son of Constantius and Basilina, 
 383; born at Constantinople, 295; 
 educated by Eusebius, bishop of 
 Nicomedia, 295 ; protected by Queen 
 Eusebia, 48 ; is invested with the 
 title of Caesar, 69 ; married to Helena, 
 71; made consul, 83; marches 
 against the Allemanni, 85 ; tempe- 
 rate habits, 89 ; his moderation, 91 ; 
 plots against, 93 ; second consulship, 
 104; his first campaign, 105; his 
 prudence, 107 ; his speech to his 
 soldiers, 109 ; the Allemanni sue 
 for peace, 126; fixes his winter 
 residence at Paris, 128 ; attacks the 
 Chimavi, 141 ; military sedition, 
 142; he crosses the Rhine, 163; 
 Constantius grows jealous of him, 
 216; saluted as emperor, 219; his 
 dream, 223; his letters to Constan- 
 tius, 229; elected emperor by the 
 army, 234 ; crosses the Rhine, and 
 attacks the Attuarii, 235 ; death of 
 his wife Helena, 244 ; pretended 
 adherence to Christianity, 246 ; 
 defeats the Allemanni, 249 ; speech 
 to his soldiers, 250 ; enters Sermium, 
 257 ; his letter to the senate, 259 ; 
 besieges Aquileia, 261 ; his march 
 through France, 267 ; hears of the 
 death of Constantius, and enters Con- 
 
 stantinople, 278 ; his severities, 279 ; 
 reforms the imperial palace, 281 ; 
 openly professes paganism, 283 ; sets 
 out for Antioch, 295 ; visits the 
 ancient temple of Cybele at Pessinus, 
 and offers sacrifices, 296 ; winters at 
 Antioch, 298 ; forbids the masters of 
 rhetoric to instruct Christians, 299 ; 
 prepares for an expedition against the 
 Persians, 302 ; orders the church at 
 Antioch to be closed, 304 ; writes 
 his ' Misopogon,' 305 ; marches into 
 Mesopotamia, and arrives at Carrhce, 
 320; addresses his army, 328; 
 invades Assyria, 347 ; captures and 
 burns Pirisabora, 353 ; addresses 
 the army, 354 ; his continence, 368 ; 
 his sacrifice to Mars, 369; storms 
 Megalomaleha, 357-362; burns all 
 his ships except twelve, 370 ; his self- 
 denial, 377 ; alarmed by prodigies, 
 377 ; wounded in fighting with the 
 Persians, 379 ; his dying speech, 
 381; death, 383; his character, 
 383-386 ; his personal appearance, 
 387 
 
 Julian, uncle of the emperor, 317 
 Juliers (Juliacum Francorum), 127 
 Julius, a count commanding the army 
 
 in Thrace, 422, 623 
 Justina, wife of Valentinian, 575 ; sister 
 
 of Cerealis, 482 
 Juvenal, 488 
 
 Juventius Siscianus, the quaestor, 413 ; 
 made prefect of the city, 441 
 
 (Triaesinse), a town in Ger- 
 many, 161 
 
 L. 
 
 LACOTENE, a town in Armenia, 236 
 Lccti, a German tribe, 231 
 Lagarimanus, a general of the Goths 
 
 584 
 
 Laipso, a tribune, 121 
 Lamfoctense, a town in Mauntama, 
 
 528 
 Lampadius, prefect of the praitorian 
 
 guard, 55 ; made prefect of the city, 
 
 440
 
 
 INDEX. 
 
 637 
 
 Laropsaeus, a city of Mysia, 287 
 Laniogaisus, a Frank and tribune, 59 
 Laodicea, a town of Syria, 28 
 Laranda, a town in Isauria, 8 
 Latiuus, count of the domestics, 34 
 Laudias, a fort in Mesopotamia, 179 
 Laumellum, a town in Italy, 72 
 Lauricius, sent as governor to Isauria, 
 
 211 
 
 Lawyers, Roman, described, 555 
 Lazica, a province of Scythia, 465 
 Leap-year explained, 407 
 Lemannus (the Lake Leman), 79 
 Lemnos, an island off the coast of 
 
 Thrace, 286 
 
 Lentia (Lintz), 52, 602 
 Lentienses, incursions of the, 53 
 Leo, a Paimonian, 407, 470, 551, 
 
 561 
 
 Leonas, quaestor of Constantius, 233 
 Leontius, prefect of Rome, 65 
 Leptis, a town in Africa, distress of, 
 
 497 ; implores the emperor's aid, 499 
 Lesbos, an island on the jEgean Sea, 
 
 286 
 Leuce, an island in the Black Sea, 
 
 292 
 Liberius, bishop of Rome, banished by 
 
 Constantius for refusing to concur 
 
 in the deposition of Athanasius, 67 
 Libino, a count, sent by Julian against 
 
 the Allemanni and slain, 247 
 Libya, 312 
 
 Libyssa, a town in Bithynia, 295 
 Limigantes, slaves of the Sarmatians, 
 
 lol, 203 ; their treachery, 151, 203, 
 
 205 ; defeated, 207 
 Lions in Mesopotamia, 177 
 Londinium (London), 212, 454, 483 
 Lome, a fort in Mesopotamia, 201 
 Lotophagi, mentioned by Homer, 20 
 Lucillianus, count of the domestics, and 
 
 father-in-law of Jovian, 39, 159, 
 
 175, 257, 322, 396, 402 
 Lucullus, a Roman general who defeated 
 
 the Thracians, 444 
 Lugdunum (Lyons), 79 
 Lupicinus, master of the horse, 163 ; 
 
 sent against the Picts, 212, 233 ; (ii.) 
 
 count of Thrace, 587, 589 ; (iii.) one 
 
 of the Gentiles, 460 
 Luscinus, 361, 548 
 
 Luscus, governor of Antioch, burnt to 
 
 death, 25 
 
 Lusius, an officer under Trajan, 526 
 Lutetia (Paris), the capital of the Pa- 
 
 risii, 78 
 
 Luto, count, 65 
 
 Lycaonia, part of Asia Minor, 7 
 Lycurgus, the Spartan lawgiver, 88, 
 
 296, 572 
 Lyons (Lugdunum), 79 
 
 gulf of (Adgradus), 80 
 
 Lysimachia, 287 
 
 M. 
 
 MACELLTJM, in Cappadocia, 48 
 
 Macepracta, a town in Assyria, 351 
 
 Maces, a promontory in the Persian 
 Gulf, 332 
 
 Machameus, a Roman general, killed, 
 374 
 
 Macrianus, a king of the Allemanni, 
 164, 494, 523, 552 
 
 Macrones, a people near the Euxine, 
 290 
 
 Masotus Palus (the Sea of Azov), 291 
 
 Magamalcha, a city in Persia, 357 
 
 Magi, 336 
 
 Maharbal, 170 
 
 Malarious, commander of the Gentiles, 
 56, 57 ; appointed by Jovian com- 
 mander of the forces in Gaul, 396 
 
 Malechus Podosaces, 350 
 
 Mallobaudes, or Mellobaudes, 41, 59, 
 553, 603 
 
 Mamersides, 353, 363 
 
 Mamertinus, 255, 259, 279 ; made 
 prefect of Italy, with Africa and 
 Illyricum, 414 ; accused of pecula- 
 tion, 451 
 
 Mancinus, C. Hostilius, a Roman 
 consul, 44 
 
 Manlius Priscus, a lieutenant of 
 Pompey, 95 
 
 Maraccus, a river near the Caspian Sea, 
 291 
 
 Maranx, a district in Persia, 375 
 
 Maras, a Christian deacon, put to the 
 torture, 32 
 
 Maratocupreni, a people in Syria, who 
 lived by plunder, 48 
 
 Marcellianus, duke of Valeria, 539
 
 638 
 
 INDEX. 
 
 M arcellus, 86 ; master of the horse, 
 88; cashfered, 92, 95; (ii.) a 
 kinsman of Procopius, kills Serenia- 
 nus, 431 ; seizes Chalcedon, 431 ; 
 taken and put to death, 432 
 
 Marcianopolis, a city of Thrace, 444, 
 589 
 
 Marcianus, 265 ; (ii.) a rhetorician, 
 557 
 
 Marcius, an ancient seer, 4 
 
 Marcomanni, 538 
 
 Marcus Aurelius, 274, 538, 591 
 
 Mareades, 325 
 
 Margiani, a Persian tribe, 339 
 
 Mariandena, a district in Bithynia, 288 
 
 Marius Maximus, 488 
 
 Marinus, a tribune, 51 
 
 Maronea, a town in Thrace, 286 
 
 Marseilles (Massilia), 79 
 
 Marses, a river in Assyria, 335 
 
 Martinus, a deputy-governor of Britain, 
 13 ; commits suicide, 14 
 
 Masaucio, 416 
 
 Mascizel, a Mauritanian chief, 527 
 
 Masilla, 537 
 
 Massagetae, 292, 328, 580 
 
 Massilia (Marseilles), 74, 79 
 
 Massissenses, a people of Mauritania, 
 527 
 
 Matrona, an Alpine mountain (Mont 
 Genevre), 76 ; (ii.) the Marne, a 
 river in Gaul, 78 
 
 Maride, a fort in Mesopotamia, 201 
 
 Maudio, count, 65 
 
 Mauritania, 526 
 
 Maurus, a Roman count, 220 
 
 Maxentius, a Pannonian, 452 
 
 Maxera, a river in Hyrcania, 339 
 
 Maximianopolis, a city in Thrace, 444 
 
 Maxiininus, the Roman emperor, 4 
 
 prefect of Rome, 468 ; his ferocity, 
 
 469, 470, 473-476 
 
 Maximus, prefect of Rome, 265 
 
 a celebrated philosopher, be- 
 headed at Ephesus, 513 
 
 Mayence (Moguntiacum), stormed by 
 Rando, a chief of the Allemanni, 457 
 
 Mazaca, a city in Cappadocia, 233 
 
 Mazices, a people in Mauritania, 529 
 
 Mazuca, a Mauritanian chief, 534 
 
 Mederichus, a king of the Allemanni, 
 113 
 
 Medianum, a fortress in Mauritania, 
 
 535 
 
 Media, 335 
 
 Mediolanum (Evreux), 79 
 Meiacarire, a small town in Mesopo- 
 tamia, noted for its cool springs, 
 
 174 
 Melanchlami, a tribe near the Palus 
 
 Ma;otis, 291 
 Melantheas, a country palace of the 
 
 Roman emperors, 606 
 Melas, a river in Pamphylia, 7 
 a bay (Gulf of Saros) on the 
 
 coast of Thrace, 286 
 Melitina, a town in Lesser Armenia, 
 
 200, 236 
 
 Memoridus, tribune, 396 
 Memorius, prefect of Cilicia, 319 
 Memphis, a town of Egypt, 313 
 Menander, a poet, 270 
 Menapila, a town in Bactria, 340 
 Menophilus, the eunuch of king Mithri- 
 
 dates, 95 
 
 Mephra, a town in Arabia, 338 
 Mercurius, a notary, nicknamed the 
 
 Count of Dreams, 50 
 Merenes, a Persian general, 375 
 Merihanes, king of Hiberis, 253 
 Merobaudes, 574, 598 
 Meroe, a town in Ethiopia, 307, 312 
 Mesene, a town in Assyria, 334 
 Meseus, a river in Persia, 335 
 Mesopotamia, 134 
 Messalla, prefect of Pannonia, 540 
 Meton, an ancient astronomer, 407 
 Metrodorus, 387 
 Metz (Mediomatricum), 79, 99 
 Midas, king of Phrygia, 296 
 Milan, 49 
 
 Milesians, Athenian colonists, 288 
 Miletus, 468 
 Mimas, mount, 617 
 Minervius, consular governor, 473 
 Misopogon, the, 305 
 Mithridates, 94 
 Mnevis, 306 
 
 Modestus, count of the East, 208 ; pre- 
 fect of the prsetorium, 506, 553 
 Moesia, one of the Danubian provinces, 
 
 146 ; (ii.) a town in Parthia, 338 
 Moguntiacus (Mayence), 78 
 Monaecus (Monaco), 76
 
 INDEX. 
 
 639 
 
 Montius, a quaestor, 24, 31 ; his violent 
 
 death, 25, 40, 49 
 
 Mopsucrense, a town in Cilicia, 271 
 Mopsnestia, 27 
 Mopsus, a celebrated seer, 27 
 Mosa (the Meuse), 127 
 Mossynseci, a tribe near the Euxine 
 
 Sea, 290 
 
 Mothone, a town of Laconia, 434 
 Moxoene, a province beyond the Tigris, 
 
 321,393 
 
 Muuderic, a Thuringian noble, 584 
 Murci, persons exempt from military 
 
 service, 81 
 Murocincta, 575 
 Mursa, battle of, 63 
 Musones, a people in Mauritania, 531 
 Musonianus, prefect of the East, 81, 
 
 98, 136 
 Musonius, a rhetorician, afterwards 
 
 deputy governor of Asia Minor, 456 
 Mygdonia, part of Bithynia, 288 
 Mygdus, a town in Phrygia, 424 
 
 N. 
 
 NABATH^EI, a people of Arabia, 29 
 Nabdates, 362 ; burnt alive, 364 
 Nacolia, a town in Phrygia, 430 
 Naessus, or Nasus, a town in Illyricum, 
 
 259, 414 
 
 Nagara, a town in Arabia, 338 
 Naharmalcha, a canal joining the Eu- 
 phrates to the Tigris, 366 
 Nannenus, or Nannienus, Count of 
 Britain, 493 ; defeats the Allemanui, 
 603 
 
 Napaji, a tribe of the Caspian, 291 
 Naphtha, 333, 337 
 
 Narbona (Narbonne), capital of the fol- 
 lowing, 79 
 
 Narbonne, a province of Gaul, 78 
 Narses, king of the Persians, 327 ; (ii.) 
 
 a Persian nobleman, 134, 368 
 Nascon, a town in Arabia, 338 
 Natiso, a river near Aquilea, 262 
 Natuspardo, chief of the domestic!, 461 
 Naulibus, 342 
 Nauplius, 286 
 
 Nazavicium, mountain of Scythia, 341 
 Neapolis (formerly Shechem, now Na- 
 
 blous), a town in Palestine, 29 ; (ii.) 
 
 a town in Africa, 313 
 Nebridius, count of the East, 10 ; 
 
 made quaestor by Julian, 233; refuses 
 
 to take the oath of allegiance, and 
 
 retires from public life, 251 ; made 
 
 prefect of the prsetorium, 422 
 Nectaridus, prefect of Britain, 453 
 Nemesis, or Adrastea, 42 
 Nemetae (Spiers) a city in Germany, 
 
 78 
 
 Neo-Csesarea, a city hi Pontus, 465 
 Neotherius, 416 
 Nepotianus, 467 
 
 Nestica, tribune of the Scutarii, 144 
 Neuri, a tribe of the Massigetas, 580 
 Nevitta, master of the horse, 256, 258, 
 
 259, 265, 284, 347, 359 
 Nicsea in Bithynia, 295 
 
 in Gaul (Nice), 79 
 
 Nice, a town in Thrace, 606 
 
 Nicer (the Neckar), 480 
 
 Nicomedia, 137, 287, 295, 304 
 
 Nicopolis, 444, 591 
 
 Nigrinus, 260 ; burnt alive, 264 
 
 Nile, 307 ; its islands, 309 
 
 Nileus, son of Codrus, 288, 468 
 
 Nineveh, 176 (Ninus), 28, 334 
 
 Ninus, or Nineveh, 28 
 
 Niphates, 332 
 
 Nisaa, 339 
 
 Nisibis, a town in Mesopotamia, 30, 
 
 172, 178, 393; its importance, 397 
 Nobles, Roman, vices of the, 487-491 
 Nohodares, a Persian noble, 10, 174 j 
 
 killed, 380 
 
 Novesium. (Nuys), 161 
 Novidunum (Nivors), 446 
 Nubel, a Mauritanian chief, 525 
 Numerius, prefect of Gaul, 160 
 Nymphseum, a temple in Rome sacred 
 
 to the nymphs, 66 
 Nymphams, a river in Mesopotamia, 
 
 183 
 
 0. 
 
 OBELISK, Egyptian, inscription upon 
 
 an, 132 
 
 Obroatis, a town in Persia, 338 
 Ochus, a river in Bactria, 340 
 Ocricoli (Ocriculum), 100, 472
 
 640 
 
 INDEX. 
 
 Octavianus, proconsul of Africa, 317 
 Odissos, 293, 444 
 
 Odryssseans, a people of Thrace, 443 
 (Ea, a Roman colony in the province of 
 
 Tripoli, 498 
 
 (Echardes, a people of Scythia, 341 
 Olybrius, prefect of the city, 469 
 Olympias, daughter of Ablabius, 236 
 Ona, a river in Persia, 333 
 Ophiusa, a name of the Island of 
 
 Rhodes, 139 
 
 Opitergium, a town in Pannonia, 538 
 Opurocarra, a mountain in Serica, 341 
 Orchomanes, a river in Bactria, 340 
 Orfitus, prefect of Rome, 14, 100, 439, 
 
 451 
 
 Oroates, a river in Persia, 335 
 Orontes, a river in Syria, 28 
 
 a mountain in Media, 335 
 
 Oropus, a town in Euboea, 554 
 Ortogordomaris, a river rising in Bac- 
 tria, 342 
 Ortopaua, a city of the Paropanisatse, 
 
 342 
 Osdroene, or Osdruena, a province of 
 
 Mesopotamia, 10, 28, 319, 347 
 Ostracine, a town in Egypt, 312 
 Oxian Marsh in Sogdiana, 340 
 Oxus, a river in Hyrcania, 339 
 Oxyrynchus, a town in Egypt, 313 
 Ozoga*dana, a city in Assyria, 350 
 
 P. 
 
 PACORUS, king of Persia, 334 
 Palea, town in Pamphylia, 8 
 Palestine, 29 
 Palladius, master of the offices, 279 ; 
 
 (ii.) a tribune and secretary, 498- 
 
 502 
 
 Palm-tree, 356 
 Pannonia, 103, 146 
 Pantheon of Rome, 102 
 Pantricapseum, 291 
 Paphius, a senator, 474 
 Paphos, its temple of Venus, 29 
 Papirius Cursor, 569 
 Para, son of Arsaces, king of Armenia, 
 
 465, 543-549 
 
 Parstonium, a town in Libya, 313 
 Paraxmalcha, a town on the Euphrates, 
 
 350 
 
 Parion, a town on th Hellespont, 
 287 
 
 Parnasius, prefect of Egypt, 209 
 
 Paropauisatffi, a tribe of Persians, 342 
 
 Parthenius, a river in Bithynia, 289 
 
 Parthia, 338 
 
 Parthiscus, a river in Sarmatia, 152 
 
 Pasiphilus, a philosopher, 512 
 
 Patares, straits between the Palus 
 Maotis and the Euxine, 291 
 
 Paternianus, 551 
 
 Patigran, a town in Media, 337 
 
 Patraj, a town in Achaia, 209 
 
 Patricius, 505, 510 
 
 Patruinus, a Roman noble, 67 
 
 Paulus, surnamed "The Chain," 13, 
 14 ; his character, 207 ; despatched 
 as a judge with Mo<lestus to the 
 East, 208 ; his cruelties, 209, 210, 
 280 
 
 Pelagia, a name given to the Island of 
 Rhodes, 139 
 
 Pelusium, a city in Egypt, 312 
 
 Pentadius, a notary, 41 ; made master 
 of the offices, 232, 279 
 
 Pentapolis, a province of North Africa, 
 312 
 
 Peregrinus, a philosopher, 513 
 
 Pergamius, accused of magical prac- 
 tices, 505 
 
 Persepolis, a town of Persia, 338 
 
 Persia, described, 331-337; its rivers, 
 337 
 
 Persians, also called Parthians, 216 ; 
 their sovereigns called brothers of 
 the sun and moon, 330 ; description 
 cf their country, 331-337 ; delibe- 
 rate on public affairs at their ban- 
 quets, 171 
 
 Pescennius Niger, 428 
 
 Pessinus, a town in Phrygia, 429 ; its 
 temple of Cybele, 296 
 
 Petobio (Pettau), a town in Noricum, 
 40 
 
 Petronius, his influence over Valens, 
 418 
 
 Petrus Valvomeres, 66 
 
 Peuce, an island in the Euxine Sea, 293 
 
 Phseacians, 170, 453 
 
 Phalangius, governor of Bretica, 473 
 
 Phauagorus, an island in the Palus 
 Maotis, 291
 
 INDEX. 
 
 641 
 
 Pharos, an island and lighthouse near 
 Alexandria, 313 
 
 Phasig, a river and city in Colchis, 
 290 
 
 Philadelphia, a town in Arabia, 29 
 
 Philagrius, 248 
 
 Philippopolis, a town in Thrace, for- 
 merly Eumolpias, now Philippopoli, 
 258, 278, 431, 444; destroyed by 
 the barbarians, 591 
 
 Philistion, 558 
 
 Philororaus, a charioteer, 66 
 
 Philoxeuus, a poet, 64 
 
 Philyres, a tribe near the Euxine, 290 
 
 Phineus, a soothsayer, 288 
 
 Phocaeans, 74 
 
 Phocus, 312 
 
 Phoenicia, 28 
 
 a town on the Tigris, called also 
 
 Bezabde, 225 
 
 Phronemius, 422 ; exiled to the Cher- 
 sonesus, 432 
 
 Phrygia, 380 
 
 Phrynichus, an Athenian dramatist, 
 468 
 
 Phyllis, a riyer flowing into the 
 Euxine, 288 
 
 Picenses, a Sarmatian tribe, 155 
 
 Pictavi (Poictiers), 79 
 
 Picts and Scots, 212, 453; harass the 
 Britons, 413 
 
 Pigranes, a Persian general, 368 
 
 Piri, a mountain in Germany, 481 
 
 Pirisabora, a town in Persia, 351 ; cap- 
 tured and burnt by Julian, 353 
 
 Pistoja, a town of Tuscany, ominous 
 occurrence at, 439 
 
 Pityus, an island in the Euxine, 289 
 
 Plato, 90, 315, 383, 554 
 
 Plautian, 418, 507 
 
 Plotinus. 270, 314 
 
 Podosaces, chief of the Assanite Sara- 
 cens, 350 
 
 Pola, a town in Istria, 41 
 
 Polemonion, a town of Pontius, 289 
 
 Pollentianus, a tribune, 518 
 
 Polybius, the historian, 353 
 
 Pompey, 146 
 
 Portospana, a town in Carmania, 339 
 
 Posthumus, 274 
 
 Potentius, a tribune, 615 
 
 Praetextatus, 285, 457, 473 
 
 Priarius, king of the Allemanni, killed, 
 603 
 
 Priscus, a philosopher, 383 
 
 Probus, 461 ; his cowardice, 540, 551, 
 560 
 
 Proconesus, an island in the Propontis, 
 287 
 
 Procopius, 159; message from, 175, 
 320, 401 ; attempts a revolution in 
 the East, 415; his former career, 
 417 ; saluted as emperor, 421 ; his 
 successes, 424, 425 ; his death, 431 
 
 Profuturus, 594, 599 
 
 Prophthasia, capital of Drangiana, 342 
 
 Prosper, count, 37, 82, 136 
 
 Protagoras, 286 
 
 Provertuides, 453 
 
 Ptolemais, 312 
 
 Ptolemy the geographer, 287 
 
 Pylse, a town on the borders of Cilicia 
 and Cappadocia, 297 
 
 Pyramids of Egypt, 311 
 
 Pythagoras, 315 
 
 Q. 
 
 QUADI, neighbours of the Sarmatians, 
 103, 146, 148; ravage Pannonia, 
 413, 538 
 
 Quadriburgium, 161 
 
 Quintianus, a senator, 507 
 
 Quintilii, two Roman brothers, 490 
 
 R. 
 
 RABANNJE, a Scythian tribe, 341 
 
 Rainbows, causes of, 241 
 
 Ramestes, an Egyptian king, 132 
 
 Rando, a chief of the Allemanni, 457 
 
 Rauracum, a town on the Rhine-(Basle), 
 34, 79, 255 
 
 Regulus, 17 
 
 Rehimena, a province beyond the 
 Tigris, 393 
 
 Reman, a Roman fortress in Mesopo- 
 tamia, 183 
 
 Remi (Rheims), 79, 86 
 
 Remigius, 64, 455,497,525; commils 
 suicide, 551 
 
 Remora, a tribune given as a hostage to 
 the Persians, 394 
 
 Resaina, battle of, 328 
 
 Rha (the Volga), 291 
 
 2 T
 
 642 
 
 INDEX. 
 
 Rhebas, a river flowing into the 
 
 Euxine, 288 
 
 Rhine, its course described, 52 
 Rhinocolura, a city of Egypt, 312 
 Rhone, its course described, 79, 80 
 Rhodes, 159 
 Rhodope, 258, 287, 443 
 Rhombites, a river of the Sauromatee, 
 
 291 
 
 Richborough (Rutupise), 212, 254 
 Richorneres, count of the domestics, 
 
 595, 598 
 
 Rigomagum (Rheinmagen), 87 
 Robur, a Roman fortress near Basle, 
 
 551 
 
 Roemnus, a river in Persia, 341 
 Rogomanis, a river in Persia, 337 
 Ronianus, count, 455, 497, 525 
 Rome, its state of morals described, 15 ; 
 
 its buildings, 101, 102 ; danger of 
 
 a famine at, 203 
 Romulus, a senator, 264 
 Rothomagi (Rouen), 79 
 Roxolani, a Sarmatian race, 291 
 Rufina, put to death for adultery, 
 
 477 
 Rufinus, commander of the praetorian 
 
 guard, 51, 96 
 prefect of the praatorium, 451, 
 
 461 ; his character, 451, 461 
 
 Aradius, 317 
 
 Rumitalca, a tribune, 425 
 Rumo, a Sarmatian chief, 148 
 Ruricius, 455, 498, 501 
 Rusticianus, a priest, 498 
 Rusticus Julianus, 447 
 Rutupias (Riehborough), 212, 454 
 
 S. 
 SABAIARIUS, or beer-drinker ; a name 
 
 given by the inhabitants of Chal- 
 
 cedon to the emperor Valens, 425 
 Sabaria, a town in Pannonia, 563 
 Sabastius, 204 
 Sabinianus, 169, 171, 189 
 Sacx, the, 340 
 
 Saccumum, a town in Italy, 140 
 Saga, a town in Scythia, 341 
 Saganis and Sagareus, rivers in Car- 
 
 mania, 339 
 Salamis, celebrated for its temple of 
 
 Jupiter, 29 
 
 Salia, his sudden death, 509 
 
 Salices, a town in Thrace, 595 
 
 Salii, a tribe of Franks, 141 
 
 Saliso (Spiers), 86 
 
 Sallust, the historian, 81 
 
 Sallustius (i.), prefect of Gaul, 255; 
 
 consul with Julian, 317 ; opposes 
 
 the Persian war, 325 ; (ii.) prefect. 
 
 of the East, 381 ; refuses the imperial 
 
 dignity after Julian's death, 388; 
 
 ambassador to the Persians, 393 ; 
 
 succeeded in the prefecture by Ne- 
 
 bridius, 422 
 
 Salmaces, a Mauri tanian chief, 528 
 Samosata, a town of Syria, 28, 168, 
 
 236 
 
 Sanctio (Seckingen), 247 
 Sangarius, a river flowing into the 
 
 Euxine, 288 
 Santones (Saintes), 79 
 Sapaudia (Savoy), 80 , 
 Saphrax, a general of the Goths, 583, 
 
 610 
 
 Sapires, a tribe near the Euxine, 290 
 Sapor, king of Persia, 98 ; letter to 
 
 Constantius, 134; his designs, 167; 
 
 wounded at Amida, 185; invades 
 t Mesopotamia, and lays siege to Sin- 
 
 gara, 223 ; captures it, 224 ; takes 
 
 TJezabde, 228; makes peace with the 
 
 Romans, 393 ; his treachery, 463 ; 
 
 renews the war, 463 ; invades Ar- 
 menia, 485 ; his aggression, 503 ; 
 
 his proposals to Valentinian, 549 
 Saracens, 11, 307, 322, 332, 350, 391, 
 
 622 
 
 Saramanna, a town of Hyrcania, 339 
 Sargetse, a nation near the Euxine, 
 
 292 
 Sarmatians, 103, 146, 154 ; ravage 
 
 Pannonia, 413, 540 
 Saturninus (i.), superintendent of the 
 
 palace, 280 ; (ii.) a general against 
 
 the Goths, 598 
 Saulieu (Sedelaucum), 85 
 Sauromaces, 468 
 Sauromatse, 291, 580 
 Saxons, 413, 454 ; make incursions 
 
 into the Roman territory, 493, 567 
 Scsevolse, the, 555 
 Scipio, P. C., 17, 77 
 Sciron, a pirate, 6
 
 INDEX. 
 
 643 
 
 Scordisci, formerly inhabitants of 
 
 Thrace, 442 
 Scorpion, a military engine, 197 ; its 
 
 structure, 322 
 
 Scot* and Picts, 212, 413, 453 
 Scudilo, commander of the Scutarii, 
 
 34,42 
 Scytalse, a species of Egyptian serpent, 
 
 311 
 
 Scythia, described, 341 
 Scythians, 229, 550 
 Scythopolis (Bethshean), in Palestine, 
 
 208 
 Sebastian, duke of Egypt, 321, 396, 
 
 458; surprises the Goths, 607, 615 
 Seckingen (Sanctio), 247 
 Secundinus, 347 
 
 Sedratyra, a town in Gerosia, 343 
 Segestani, a warlike tribe, 187 
 Seine (Sequana), 78 
 Sele, a Persian town, 335 
 Seleucia (Selefkieh), a city in Syria, 28 ; 
 
 (ii.) a town in Persia, also called 
 
 Coche, 363 
 Seleucus Nicator, 28 
 Selymbria, a Megarian colony, 286 
 Semiramis, 19 
 Sens (Senones), 79 
 Sera, capital of Serica, 341 
 Serapion, king of the Allemanni, 107 
 Serapis, his temple at Alexandria, 314; 
 
 also at Turgana, 338 
 Serdica, a town in Bulgaria, 95 
 Serenianus, duke of Phoenicia, 22, 41, 
 
 414; defends Cyzieus, 427; his 
 
 death, 431 
 Sergius, 381, 461 
 Serica, a country bordering on Scythia, 
 
 341 
 
 Servilius, the conqueror of Cilicia, 27 
 Severus (i.), the Emperor, 395, 507 ; 
 
 (ii.) master of the horse, 103; at 
 
 the battle of Strasburg, 113, 141, 
 
 143 ; master of the infantry under 
 
 Valentinian, 447, 493 
 Sextius Calvinus, 81 
 Sicani, ancient occupants of Sicily, S56 
 Sicinius Dentatus, 381, 461 
 Sidon, a city of Phoenicia, 28 
 Silvanus, 55 ; attempt* to assume the 
 
 imperial dignity, 59 ; is killed in a 
 
 Christian church, 63 
 
 Simonides (i.), the lyric poet, 16, 90 ; 
 
 (ii.) a philosopher, 512; burnt alive, 
 
 513 
 
 Simplicius, 209 ; cruelty of, 477 
 Sindi, a tribe near the Euxine, 293 
 Singara, a town in Mesopotamia, 170 ; 
 
 besieged and taken by Sapor, 223, 
 
 224 ; given up to the Persians, 393 
 Sinope, in Paphlagonia, 289 
 Sintula, tribune of the stable, 217, 221 
 Sirmium, 257 
 
 Sisara, a fort in Mesopotamia, 173 
 Sitifis, a town in Mauritania, 501, 526 
 Sizyges, a Scythian tribe, 341 
 Socrates, 488 
 
 Socunda, a town in Hyrcania, 339 
 Sogdiana, a province of Persia, 340 
 Sole, a town of Hyrcania, 339 
 Solicinium, 459 
 Solon, 64, 88, 315 
 
 Sophanes, a general under Xerxes, 369 
 Sophocles, 383 
 Sophronius, prefect df Constantinople, 
 
 421 
 Sopianse, a town in Valeria, a province 
 
 of Pannonia, 468 
 Sosingetes, a lake in Assyria, 333 
 Sotera, a town in Persia, 342 
 Sparti, a Persian regiment, 200 
 Spectatus, a Roman tribune, 136 
 Sphinx, 309 
 Sporades, islands in the 
 
 286 
 Stagira, the birthplace of Aristotle, 
 
 443 
 
 Stesichorus, a Greek lyric poet, 488 
 Sthenelus, his monument, 290 
 Strasburg, battle of, 113-118 
 Subicarense, a fortress in Mauritania 
 
 538 
 Succi, a narrow pass in Mount Hemus, 
 
 258, 265, 267", 443 
 Sueridus, a Gothic chief, revolts, 592 
 Sugarbaritanum, a town in Mauritania, 
 
 529 
 
 Suggena, a Mauritanian general, 531 
 Sumere, a fort on the Tigris, 390 
 Sunon, a lake in Bithynia, 426 
 Suomarius, king of the Allemanni, 107 ; 
 
 his submission, 143 
 Suprse, a barbarian troop, 548 
 Surena, the 'title of the Persian com-
 
 644 
 
 INDEX. 
 
 mander-in-chief, 354, 358 ; ambas- 
 sador from Sapor, 393 
 
 Susa (Shusban), a city of Persia, 335 
 
 Syagrius, 481 
 
 Syene, a town of Egypt, 312 
 
 Sylla, 88, 116 
 
 Symmachus, a senator, 265 ; prefect 
 of Rome, his character, 439 
 
 Symplegades, islands in the Bosporus, 
 288 
 
 Synhorium, a fortress in Armenia, 95 
 
 Syria, 28 
 
 T. 
 
 TABIANA, an island in the Persian 
 
 gulf, 338 
 
 Tages, a soothsayer, 143, 245 
 Taifali, a Gothic tribe, 155 
 Talicus, a Persian river, 341 
 Tamsapor, a Persian general, 98, 134, 
 
 169, 201 
 
 Tanais (the Don), 291 
 Tanaitse, a tribe of the Alani, 583 
 Taphra, a town in Arabia, 338 
 Tapurian mountains in Persia, 340 
 Tarquitius, a soothsayer, 378 
 Tarratius Bassus, 473 
 Tarsus, a town in Cilicia, 27 ; Julian 
 
 buried at, 404 
 
 Tauri, a tribe near the Euxine, 291 
 Taurini (Turin), 72 
 Tauriscus, a conqueror of Spain, 73 
 Taurus, a quaestor, 39 ; prefect in Italy, 
 
 253 
 Tenedos, an island in the uEgean sea, 
 
 286 
 Teredon, a city at the mouth of the 
 
 Euphrates, 332 
 Terence, 439 
 
 Terentius, a Roman general, 465, 544 
 Tertullus, prefect of Home, 203, 259 
 Teuchira, a town in Cyrenaica, 312 
 Teutomeres, chief of the Protectores, 51 
 Teutones, incursions of the, 591 
 Thalassius (i.), prefect of the East, 4, 
 
 23; (ii.) an officer in one of the 
 
 law courts at Rome, 298 
 Thasos, now Thaso, 286 
 Thebes, a city in Egypt, 129, 312 
 Themiscyra forest, inhabited by Ama- 
 zons, 289 
 Themistocles, 571 
 
 Theodorus, 505, 506, 511 
 Theodosius (i.), 453 ; assists the Tri- 
 tons, 483 ; his success, 485, 526, 
 
 527, 538 ; (ii.) the younger, 541 
 Theodotus, 305 
 Theognis, a poet, 508 
 Theolaiphus, count, 271 
 Theophanes, a river of the Sauromata?, 
 
 291 
 
 Theophilus, governor of Syria, 22, 82 
 Theopompus, 296 
 Thermodon, a river of Pontus, 289 
 Thiadamas, 302 
 Thilsaphata, a town in Mesopotamia, 
 
 397 
 
 Thilutha, a fort on the Euphrates, 349 
 Thmuis, a town in Egypt, 3 13 
 Thrace, 442 ; description of the country 
 
 and the people, 287, 443, 444 
 Thucydides, 191, 343 
 Thule, 171 
 Thuringians, 583 ; revolt, 588 ; defeat 
 
 an army under Lupicinus, 590 
 Thynia, a district of Bithynia, 288 
 Tibareni, a people of Pontus, 290 
 Tiber, 542 
 Tibris, 289 
 
 Ticinum (now Pavia), 72 
 Tigaviee, a town of Mauritania, 530 
 Tigris, 333 
 
 Timagenes, a Greek writer, 73 
 Tingetanum, a fort in Mauritania, 
 
 531 
 
 Ties, a town of the Euxine, 289 
 Tipata, a town in Mauritania, 532 
 Tiphys, the pilot of the Argonauts, 
 
 290 
 
 Tiposa, a town in Mauritania, 529 
 Tisias, an ancient Greek orator, 554 
 Tochari, a Bactrian tribe, 340 
 Tolosa (Toulouse), 79 
 Tomi, a city of Thrace, 293 
 Tomyris, a queen of Scythia, 331 
 Totordanes, a river of the Sauromatae, 
 
 291 . 
 Toxandria, a town built bv the Franks, 
 
 141 
 
 Tragoriice, a town of Persia, 338 
 Trajan (i.), the Emppior, 29, 102, 
 
 395, 440 ; (ii.) count of Armenia, 
 
 503, 547 ; his battle with the Goths, 
 
 595, 608, 615
 
 INDEX. 
 
 645 
 
 Transcellensis, a mountain in Mauri- 
 tania, 529 
 
 Trapezus, a Sinopean colony in Pontus, 
 289 
 
 Trebatius, a lawyer, 556 
 
 Treves (Treviri), 79 
 
 Tribocci, a tribe on the Upper Rhine, 
 120 
 
 Tricapae (Troyes), 79 
 
 Tricesimse (Kellen), 161 
 
 Tricorii, a people of the Alps, 77 
 
 Tripoli, 496, 551 
 
 Troglodyte, a tribe near the Red Sea, 
 293 
 
 Tubusuptum, a town in Mauritania, 527 
 
 Tungri (Tongres), 78, 141 
 
 Turgana, an Arabian island, 338 
 
 Tyana, a town in Cappadocia, 333, 402 
 
 Tyndenses, a people of Mauritania, 527 
 
 Tyras (the Dneister), 293 
 
 Tyre, 28 
 
 Tyros, a town on the Euxine, 293 
 
 U. 
 
 ULTRA, the son of Aspacuras, 466 
 
 Ur, a fort in Persia, 396 
 
 Urbicius, duke of Mesopotamia, 549 
 
 Urius, king of the Allemanni, 107, 164 
 
 Ursacius,413, 415 
 
 Ursicinus, king of the Allemanni, 107, 
 
 164 
 master of the horse in the East, 
 
 30, 36 ; recalled, 37 ; danger of, 47 ; 
 
 goes to Cologne, 61, 86, 180, 189, 
 
 190 ; charges against, 213 
 Ursinus, contest with Damarus for the 
 
 bishopric of Rome, 441 
 Ursulus, 96, 280 
 Usafer, a Sarmatian noble, 149 
 Uscudaina, a town in Thrace, 39, 444 
 
 V. 
 
 VADOMARIUS, king of the Allemanni, 
 32, 2*7, 248, 425, 503 
 
 Vagabanta, a town of Mesopotamia, 
 504 
 
 Valens of Thessalonica, 274 
 
 Valens chosen emperor of the East by 
 his brother Valentinian, 413 ; his 
 alarm at the successes of Procopius, 
 424; sends Vadomarius to besiege 
 Nicjea, and proceeds himself to Ni- 
 
 comedia, 425 ; his cruelty, 433 ; 
 marches against the Goths, 445 ; at- 
 tacks the Gruthungi, 446 ; returns 
 to Constantinople, 447 ; his suspi- 
 cious character, 507 ; reply to Sapor, 
 549 ; omens of his death, 576 ; re- 
 ceives an embassy from the Goths, 
 585 ; sends Victor into Persia, 594 ; 
 leaves Antioch for Constantinople, 
 606 ; marches to Hadrianople, 609 ; 
 his death, 614; his vices, 616 
 Valentia (Valence), 32, 79 
 
 * a province of Britain, 485 
 
 Valentine, a Pannonian, 484, 568 
 Valentinian, chosen emperor, 406 ; his 
 conduct, 407 ; saluted as Augustus, 
 409 ; his speech, 409 ; creates his 
 brother Valens tribune and master 
 of the horse, 412 ; arrives at Con- 
 stantinople, 412 ; takes as his col- 
 league in the imperial dignity his 
 brother Valens, 413; his cruelty, 
 433 ; invests his son Gratian with 
 the imperial dignity, 448 ; sends 
 Theodosius to Britain, 453 ; marches 
 against the Allemanni and gains a 
 victory, 458 ; defeats the Goths at 
 Solicinum, and returns to Treves, 
 461 ; fortifies the banks of the Rhine, 
 480 ; makes overtures of peace to 
 the Burgundiaus, 495 ; his cruelties, 
 521 ; makes peace with Macrianus, 
 552 ; marches against the Quadi, 
 562 ; his dream, 563 ; his death, 
 564 ; review of his reign, 567 ; his 
 character, 569-573 
 Valentinian II. chosen emperor, 575 
 Valentinus, a tribune, 166 
 Valeria, a province of Pannonia, so 
 named after the daughter of Diocle- 
 tian, 204, 468 
 
 Valerian, officer of the domestics, 461 
 Valerianus, master of the horse, 615 
 Valerius Publicola, 17 
 Vangiones ("Worms), 78 
 Vardanes, the founder of Ctesiphon, 334 
 Varronianus, the father of Jovian, 388 
 
 the son of Jovian, 403 
 
 Vasate (Bazas), 79 
 Vatrachites, a river of Persia, 337 
 Vecturiones, a nation of the Picts, 453 
 Velia, a town in Lucania, 74
 
 646 
 
 INDEX. 
 
 Ventidius, lieutenant of Antony, 328 
 
 Venustus, 317, 473 
 
 Verissimus, count, 92 
 
 Verrinianus, 60, 181 
 
 Verta, allies of the Persians at the siege 
 
 of Amida, 187, 193 
 Vestralpus, a king of the Allemanni, 
 
 107, 164 
 Veteranio, 46 
 
 Vetranio, captain of the Zianni, 377 
 Victobali, a Gothic tribe, 150 
 Victor Aurelius, the historian, 259 
 Victor, a Sarmatian, 347, 356, 366, 
 
 445, 609 
 a tribune given as a hostage to 
 
 the -Persians, 394 
 Victorinus, 473 
 
 Viderichus, son of Vithimiris, 583 
 Viduarius, king of the Quadi, 151 
 Vienna (Vienne), 79 
 Vincentius, tribune of the Scutarii, 300 
 Virgantia (Brianon), 76 
 Virgil, 72,' 202, 586 
 Virta, a town in Mesopotamia, 228 
 
 Vitalianus, count, 403 
 
 Vithicabius, king of the Allemanni, 458 
 
 Vithimiris, king of the Eastern Goths, 
 
 583 
 
 Vitrodurus, son of Viduarius, 151 
 Vocontii, a people of Gaul, 67 
 
 Z. 
 
 ZABDICENI, a people of Mesopotamia, 
 
 225, 393 
 
 Zagrus, montes, 335 
 Zaita, a fortress in Mesopotamia, 193 
 Zamma, son of a Mauritauiaii chief, f>-'5 
 Zariaspes, a river in Bactria, 340 
 Zeno, a celebrated Stoic, 31 
 Zeugma, a town on the Euphrates, 179 
 Zianni, an Armenian tribe, 377 
 Ziata, a fortress in Mesopotamia, 19.'! 
 Zinafer, a Sarmatian chief, 148 
 Zizais, son of a king of the Sannatians, 
 
 148 
 
 Zombis, a town in Media, 337 
 Zopyrus, 169 
 Zoroaster, 336 
 
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