[Footnote61:Acerrimanocturnaconcertationepugnatumest，nostrorumcopiisngentistrageconfossis。Ammian。xviii。5。SeelikewiseEutropius，x。10，andS。Rufus，c。27。]
[Footnote*:ThePersianhistorians，orromancers，donotmentionthebattleofSingara，butmakethecaptiveShahpourescape，defeat，andtakeprisoner，theRomanemperor。TheRomancaptiveswereforcedtorepairalltheravagestheyhadcommitted，eventoreplantingthesmallesttrees。Malcolm。i。82。—M。]
[Footnote62:Libanius，Orat。iii。p。133，withJulian。Orat。i。
p。24，andSpanneism\'sCommentary，p。179。]
WhateveradvantagesmightattendthearmsofSaporinthefield，thoughninerepeatedvictoriesdiffusedamongthenationsthefameofhisvalorandconduct，hecouldnothopetosucceedintheexecutionofhisdesigns，whilethefortifiedtownsofMesopotamia，and，aboveall，thestrongandancientcityofNisibis，remainedinthepossessionoftheRomans。Inthespaceoftwelveyears，Nisibis，which，sincethetimeofLucullus，hadbeendeservedlyesteemedthebulwarkoftheEast，sustainedthreememorablesiegesagainstthepowerofSapor；andthedisappointedmonarch，afterurginghisattacksabovesixty，eighty，andahundreddays，wasthricerepulsedwithlossandignominy。^63
Thislargeandpopulouscitywassituateabouttwodays\'journeyfromtheTigris，inthemidstofapleasantandfertileplainatthefootofMountMasius。Atrebleenclosureofbrickwallswasdefendedbyadeepditch；^64andtheintrepidresistanceofCountLucilianus，andhisgarrison，wassecondedbythedesperatecourageofthepeople。ThecitizensofNisibiswereanimatedbytheexhortationsoftheirbishop，^65inuredtoarmsbythepresenceofdanger，andconvincedoftheintentionsofSaportoplantaPersiancolonyintheirroom，andtoleadthemawayintodistantandbarbarouscaptivity。Theeventofthetwoformersiegeselatedtheirconfidence，andexasperatedthehaughtyspiritoftheGreatKing，whoadvancedathirdtimetowardsNisibis，attheheadoftheunitedforcesofPersiaandIndia。
Theordinarymachines，inventedtobatterorunderminethewalls，wererenderedineffectualbythesuperiorskilloftheRomans；
andmanydayshadvainlyelapsed，whenSaporembracedaresolutionworthyofaneasternmonarch，whobelievedthattheelementsthemselvesweresubjecttohispower。AtthestatedseasonofthemeltingofthesnowsinArmenia，theRiverMygdonius，whichdividestheplainandthecityofNisibis，forms，liketheNile，^66aninundationovertheadjacentcountry。BythelaborofthePersians，thecourseoftheriverwasstoppedbelowthetown，andthewaterswereconfinedoneverysidebysolidmoundsofearth。Onthisartificiallake，afleetofarmedvesselsfilledwithsoldiers，andwithengineswhichdischargedstonesoffivehundredpoundsweight，advancedinorderofbattle，andengaged，almostuponalevel，thetroopswhichdefendedtheramparts。Theirresistibleforceofthewaterswasalternatelyfataltothecontendingparties，tillatlengthaportionofthewalls，unabletosustaintheaccumulatedpressure，gavewayatonce，andexposedanamplebreachofonehundredandfiftyfeet。ThePersianswereinstantlydriventotheassault，andthefateofNisibisdependedontheeventoftheday。Theheavy—armedcavalry，wholedthevanofadeepcolumn，wereembarrassedinthemud，andgreatnumbersweredrownedintheunseenholeswhichhadbeenfilledbytherushingwaters。
Theelephants，madefuriousbytheirwounds，increasedthedisorder，andtrampleddownthousandsofthePersianarchers。
TheGreatKing，who，fromanexaltedthrone，beheldthemisfortunesofhisarms，sounded，withreluctantindignation，thesignaloftheretreat，andsuspendedforsomehourstheprosecutionoftheattack。Butthevigilantcitizensimprovedtheopportunityofthenight；andthereturnofdaydiscoveredanewwallofsixfeetinheight，risingeverymomenttofilluptheintervalofthebreach。Notwithstandingthedisappointmentofhishopes，andthelossofmorethantwentythousandmen，SaporstillpressedthereductionofNisibis，withanobstinatefirmness，whichcouldhaveyieldedonlytothenecessityofdefendingtheeasternprovincesofPersiaagainstaformidableinvasionoftheMassagetae。^67Alarmedbythisintelligence，hehastilyrelinquishedthesiege，andmarchedwithrapiddiligencefromthebanksoftheTigristothoseoftheOxus。ThedangeranddifficultiesoftheScythianwarengagedhimsoonafterwardstoconclude，oratleasttoobserve，atrucewiththeRomanemperor，whichwasequallygratefultobothprinces；asConstantiushimself，afterthedeathofhistwobrothers，wasinvolved，bytherevolutionsoftheWest，inacivilcontest，whichrequiredandseemedtoexceedthemostvigorousexertionofhisundividedstrength。
[Footnote63:SeeJulian。Orat。i。p。27，Orat。ii。p。62，&c。，withtheCommentaryofSpanheim，p。188—202，whoillustratesthecircumstances，andascertainsthetimeofthethreesiegesofNisibis。TheirdatesarelikewiseexaminedbyTillemont，Hist。
desEmpereurs，tom。iv。p。668，671，674。SomethingisaddedfromZosimus，l。iii。p。151，andtheAlexandrineChronicle，p。
290。]
[Footnote64:Sallust。Fragment。lxxxiv。edit。Brosses，andPlutarchinLucull。tom。iii。p。184。Nisibisisnowreducedtoonehundredandfiftyhouses:themarshylandsproducerice，andthefertilemeadows，asfarasMosulandtheTigris，arecoveredwiththeruinsoftownsandallages。SeeNiebuhr，Voyages，tom。
ii。p。300—309。]
[Footnote65:ThemiracleswhichTheodoretl。ii。c。30
ascribestoSt。James，BishopofEdessa，wereatleastperformedinaworthycause，thedefenceofhiscouutry。HeappearedonthewallsunderthefigureoftheRomanemperor，andsentanarmyofgnatstostingthetrunksoftheelephants，andtodiscomfitthehostofthenewSennacherib。]
[Footnote66:Julian。Orat。i。p。27。ThoughNiebuhrtom。ii。
p。307allowsaveryconsiderableswelltotheMygdonius，overwhichhesawabridgeoftwelvearches:itisdifficult，however，tounderstandthisparallelofatriflingrivuletwithamightyriver。Therearemanycircumstancesobscure，andalmostunintelligible，inthedescriptionofthesestupendouswater—works。]
[Footnote*:MacdonaldKinnierobservesonthesefloatingbatteries，\"Astheelevationofplaceisconsiderablyabovethelevelofthecountryinitsimmediatevicinity，andtheMygdoniusisaveryinsignificantstream，itisdifficulttoimaginehowthisworkcouldhavebeenaccomplished，evenwiththewonderfulresourceswhichthekingmusthavehadathisdisposal\"
GeographicalMemoir。p。262。—M。]
[Footnote67:WeareobligedtoZonarastom。ii。l。xiii。p。11
forthisinvasionoftheMassagetae，whichisperfectlyconsistentwiththegeneralseriesofeventstowhichwearedarklyledbythebrokenhistoryofAmmianus。]
Afterthepartitionoftheempire，threeyearshadscarcelyelapsedbeforethesonsofConstantineseemedimpatienttoconvincemankindthattheywereincapableofcontentingthemselveswiththedominionswhichtheywereunqualifiedtogovern。Theeldestofthoseprincessooncomplained，thathewasdefraudedofhisjustproportionofthespoilsoftheirmurderedkinsmen；andthoughhemightyieldtothesuperiorguiltandmeritofConstantius，heexactedfromConstansthecessionoftheAfricanprovinces，asanequivalentfortherichcountriesofMacedoniaandGreece，whichhisbrotherhadacquiredbythedeathofDalmatius。Thewantofsincerity，whichConstantineexperiencedinatediousandfruitlessnegotiation，exasperatedthefiercenessofhistemper；andheeagerlylistenedtothosefavorites，whosuggestedtohimthathishonor，aswellashisinterest，wasconcernedintheprosecutionofthequarrel。Attheheadofatumultuaryband，suitedforrapineratherthanforconquest，hesuddenlybrokeontothedominionsofConstans，bythewayoftheJulianAlps，andthecountryroundAquileiafeltthefirsteffectsofhisresentment。ThemeasuresofConstans，whothenresidedinDacia，weredirectedwithmoreprudenceandability。Onthenewsofhisbrother\'sinvasion，hedetachedaselectanddisciplinedbodyofhisIllyriantroops，proposingtofollowtheminperson，withtheremainderofhisforces。Buttheconductofhislieutenantssoonterminatedtheunnaturalcontest。
Bytheartfulappearancesofflight，Constantinewasbetrayedintoanambuscade，whichhadbeenconcealedinawood，wheretherashyouth，withafewattendants，wassurprised，surrounded，andslain。Hisbody，afterithadbeenfoundintheobscurestreamoftheAlsa，obtainedthehonorsofanImperialsepulchre；buthisprovincestransferredtheirallegiancetotheconqueror，who，refusingtoadmithiselderbrotherConstantiustoanyshareinthesenewacquisitions，maintainedtheundisputedpossessionofmorethantwothirdsoftheRomanempire。^68
[Footnote68:Thecausesandtheeventsofthiscivilwararerelatedwithmuchperplexityandcontradiction。IhavechieflyfollowedZonarasandtheyoungerVictor。ThemonodyadCalcemEutrop。edit。Havercamp。pronouncedonthedeathofConstantine，mighthavebeenveryinstructive；butprudenceandfalsetasteengagedtheoratortoinvolvehimselfinvaguedeclamation。]
ChapterXVIII:CharacterOfConstantineAndHisSons。
PartIV。
ThefateofConstanshimselfwasdelayedabouttenyearslonger，andtherevengeofhisbrother\'sdeathwasreservedforthemoreignoblehandofadomestictraitor。ThepernicioustendencyofthesystemintroducedbyConstantinewasdisplayedinthefeebleadministrationofhissons；who，bytheirvicesandweakness，soonlosttheesteemandaffectionsoftheirpeople。
TheprideassumedbyConstans，fromtheunmeritedsuccessofhisarms，wasrenderedmorecontemptiblebyhiswantofabilitiesandapplication。HisfondpartialitytowardssomeGermancaptives，distinguishedonlybythecharmsofyouth，wasanobjectofscandaltothepeople；^69andMagnentius，anambitioussoldier，whowashimselfofBarbarianextraction，wasencouragedbythepublicdiscontenttoassertthehonoroftheRomanname。^70ThechosenbandsofJoviansandHerculians，whoacknowledgedMagnentiusastheirleader，maintainedthemostrespectableandimportantstationintheImperialcamp。ThefriendshipofMarcellinus，countofthesacredlargesses，suppliedwithaliberalhandthemeansofseduction。Thesoldierswereconvincedbythemostspeciousarguments，thattherepublicsummonedthemtobreakthebondsofhereditaryservitude；and，bythechoiceofanactiveandvigilantprince，torewardthesamevirtueswhichhadraisedtheancestorsofthedegenerateConstansfromaprivateconditiontothethroneoftheworld。Assoonastheconspiracywasripeforexecution，Marcellinus，underthepretenceofcelebratinghisson\'sbirthday，gaveasplendidentertainmenttotheillustriousandhonorablepersonsofthecourtofGaul，whichthenresidedinthecityofAutun。Theintemperanceofthefeastwasartfullyprotractedtillaverylatehourofthenight；andtheunsuspectingguestsweretemptedtoindulgethemselvesinadangerousandguiltyfreedomofconversation。Onasuddenthedoorswerethrownopen，andMagnentius，whohadretiredforafewmoments，returnedintotheapartment，investedwiththediademandpurple。TheconspiratorsinstantlysalutedhimwiththetitlesofAugustusandEmperor。
Thesurprise，theterror，theintoxication，theambitioushopes，andthemutualignoranceoftherestoftheassembly，promptedthemtojointheirvoicestothegeneralacclamation。Theguardshastenedtotaketheoathoffidelity；thegatesofthetownwereshut；andbeforethedawnofday，MagnentiusbecamemasterofthetroopsandtreasureofthepalaceandcityofAutun。ByhissecrecyanddiligenceheentertainedsomehopesofsurprisingthepersonofConstans，whowaspursuingintheadjacentforesthisfavoriteamusementofhunting，orperhapssomepleasuresofamoreprivateandcriminalnature。Therapidprogressoffameallowedhim，however，aninstantforflight，thoughthedesertionofhissoldiersandsubjectsdeprivedhimofthepowerofresistance。BeforehecouldreachaseaportinSpain，whereheintendedtoembark，hewasovertakennearHelena，^71atthefootofthePyrenees，byapartyoflightcavalry，whosechief，regardlessofthesanctityofatemple，executedhiscommissionbythemurderofthesonofConstantine。^72
[Footnote69:Quarumgentiumobsidespretioquaesitospuerosvenustiorequodcultiushabueratlibidinehujusmodiarsisseprocertohabet。HadnotthedepravedtasteofConstansbeenpubliclyavowed，theelderVictor，whoheldaconsiderableofficeinhisbrother\'sreign，wouldnothaveasserteditinsuchpositiveterms。]
[Footnote70:Julian。Orat。i。andii。Zosim。l。ii。p。134。
VictorinEpitome。ThereisreasontobelievethatMagnentiuswasborninoneofthoseBarbariancolonieswhichConstantiusChlorushadestablishedinGaul，seethisHistory，vol。i。p。
414。HisbehaviormayremindusofthepatriotearlofLeicester，thefamousSimondeMontfort，whocouldpersuadethegoodpeopleofEngland，thathe，aFrenchmanbybirthhadtakenarmstodeliverthemfromforeignfavorites。]
[Footnote71:ThisancientcityhadonceflourishedunderthenameofIlliberisPomponiusMela，ii。5。ThemunificenceofConstantinegaveitnewsplendor，andhismother\'sname。HelenaitisstillcalledElnebecametheseatofabishop，wholongafterwardstransferredhisresidencetoPerpignan，thecapitalofmodernRousillon。SeeD\'Anville。Noticedel\'AncienneGaule，p。
380。Longuerue，DescriptiondelaFrance，p。223，andtheMarcaHispanica，l。i。c。2。]
[Footnote72:Zosimus，l。ii。p。119，120。Zonaras，tom。ii。l。
xiii。p。13，andtheAbbreviators。]
AssoonasthedeathofConstanshaddecidedthiseasybutimportantrevolution，theexampleofthecourtofAutunwasimitatedbytheprovincesoftheWest。TheauthorityofMagnentiuswasacknowledgedthroughthewholeextentofthetwogreatpraefecturesofGaulandItaly；andtheusurperprepared，byeveryactofoppression，tocollectatreasure，whichmightdischargetheobligationofanimmensedonative，andsupplytheexpensesofacivilwar。ThemartialcountriesofIllyricum，fromtheDanubetotheextremityofGreece，hadlongobeyedthegovernmentofVetranio，anagedgeneral，belovedforthesimplicityofhismanners，andwhohadacquiredsomereputationbyhisexperienceandservicesinwar。^73Attachedbyhabit，byduty，andbygratitude，tothehouseofConstantine，heimmediatelygavethestrongestassurancestotheonlysurvivingsonofhislatemaster，thathewouldexpose，withunshakenfidelity，hispersonandhistroops，toinflictajustrevengeonthetraitorsofGaul。ButthelegionsofVetraniowereseduced，ratherthanprovoked，bytheexampleofrebellion；theirleadersoonbetrayedawantoffirmness，orawantofsincerity；andhisambitionderivedaspeciouspretencefromtheapprobationoftheprincessConstantina。Thatcruelandaspiringwoman，whohadobtainedfromthegreatConstantine，herfather，therankofAugusta，placedthediademwithherownhandsontheheadoftheIllyriangeneral；andseemedtoexpectfromhisvictorytheaccomplishmentofthoseunboundedhopes，ofwhichshehadbeendisappointedbythedeathofherhusbandHannibalianus。PerhapsitwaswithouttheconsentofConstantina，thatthenewemperorformedanecessary，thoughdishonorable，alliancewiththeusurperoftheWest，whosepurplewassorecentlystainedwithherbrother\'sblood。^74
[Footnote73:Eutropiusx。10describesVetraniowithmoretemper，andprobablywithmoretruth，thaneitherofthetwoVictors。VetraniowasbornofobscureparentsinthewildestpartsofMaesia；andsomuchhadhiseducationbeenneglected，that，afterhiselevation，hestudiedthealphabet。]
[Footnote74:Thedoubtful，fluctuatingconductofVetranioisdescribedbyJulianinhisfirstoration，andaccuratelyexplainedbySpanheim，whodiscussesthesituationandbehaviorofConstantina。]
Theintelligenceoftheseimportantevents，whichsodeeplyaffectedthehonorandsafetyoftheImperialhouse，recalledthearmsofConstantiusfromtheingloriousprosecutionofthePersianwar。HerecommendedthecareoftheEasttohislieutenants，andafterwardstohiscousinGallus，whomheraisedfromaprisontoathrone；andmarchedtowardsEurope，withamindagitatedbytheconflictofhopeandfear，ofgriefandindignation。OnhisarrivalatHeracleainThrace，theemperorgaveaudiencetotheambassadorsofMagnentiusandVetranio。ThefirstauthoroftheconspiracyMarcellinus，whoinsomemeasurehadbestowedthepurpleonhisnewmaster，boldlyacceptedthisdangerouscommission；andhisthreecolleagueswereselectedfromtheillustriouspersonagesofthestateandarmy。Thesedeputieswereinstructedtosoothetheresentment，andtoalarmthefears，ofConstantius。Theywereempoweredtoofferhimthefriendshipandallianceofthewesternprinces，tocementtheirunionbyadoublemarriage；ofConstantiuswiththedaughterofMagnentius，andofMagnentiushimselfwiththeambitiousConstantina；andtoacknowledgeinthetreatythepreeminenceofrank，whichmightjustlybeclaimedbytheemperoroftheEast。Shouldprideandmistakenpietyurgehimtorefusetheseequitableconditions，theambassadorswereorderedtoexpatiateontheinevitableruinwhichmustattendhisrashness，ifheventuredtoprovokethesovereignsoftheWesttoexerttheirsuperiorstrength；andtoemployagainsthimthatvalor，thoseabilities，andthoselegions，towhichthehouseofConstantinehadbeenindebtedforsomanytriumphs。Suchpropositionsandsuchargumentsappearedtodeservethemostseriousattention；theanswerofConstantiuswasdeferredtillthenextday；andashehadreflectedontheimportanceofjustifyingacivilwarintheopinionofthepeople，hethusaddressedhiscouncil，wholistenedwithrealoraffectedcredulity:\"Lastnight，\"saidhe，\"afterIretiredtorest，theshadeofthegreatConstantine，embracingthecorpseofmymurderedbrother，rosebeforemyeyes；hiswell—knownvoiceawakenedmetorevenge，forbademetodespairoftherepublic，andassuredmeofthesuccessandimmortalglorywhichwouldcrownthejusticeofmyarms。\"Theauthorityofsuchavision，orratheroftheprincewhoallegedit，silencedeverydoubt，andexcludedallnegotiation。Theignominioustermsofpeacewererejectedwithdisdain。OneoftheambassadorsofthetyrantwasdismissedwiththehaughtyanswerofConstantius；hiscolleagues，asunworthyoftheprivilegesofthelawofnations，wereputinirons；andthecontendingpowerspreparedtowageanimplacablewar。^75
[Footnote75:SeePeterthePatrician，intheExcerptaLegationemp。27。]