Assoonasthefirsttransportsofvictoryhadsubsided，Saporwasatleisuretoreflect，thattochastiseadisobedientcity，hehadlosttheflowerofhistroops，andthemostfavorableseasonforconquest。^59ThirtythousandofhisveteranshadfallenunderthewallsofAmida，duringthecontinuanceofasiege，whichlastedseventy—threedays；andthedisappointedmonarchreturnedtohiscapitalwithaffectedtriumphandsecretmortification。Itismorethanprobable，thattheinconstancyofhisBarbarianallieswastemptedtorelinquishawarinwhichtheyhadencounteredsuchunexpecteddifficulties；andthattheagedkingoftheChionites，satiatedwithrevenge，turnedawaywithhorrorfromasceneofactionwherehehadbeendeprivedofthehopeofhisfamilyandnation。ThestrengthaswellasthespiritofthearmywithwhichSaportookthefieldintheensuingspringwasnolongerequaltotheunboundedviewsofhisambition。InsteadofaspiringtotheconquestoftheEast，hewasobligedtocontenthimselfwiththereductionoftwofortifiedcitiesofMesopotamia，SingaraandBezabde；^60theonesituateinthemidstofasandydesert，theotherinasmallpeninsula，surroundedalmostoneverysidebythedeepandrapidstreamoftheTigris。FiveRomanlegions，ofthediminutivesizetowhichtheyhadbeenreducedintheageofConstantine，weremadeprisoners，andsentintoremotecaptivityontheextremeconfinesofPersia。AfterdismantlingthewallsofSingara，theconquerorabandonedthatsolitaryandsequesteredplace；buthecarefullyrestoredthefortificationsofBezabde，andfixedinthatimportantpostagarrisonorcolonyofveterans；amplysuppliedwitheverymeansofdefence，andanimatedbyhighsentimentsofhonorandfidelity。Towardsthecloseofthecampaign，thearmsofSaporincurredsomedisgracebyanunsuccessfulenterpriseagainstVirtha，orTecrit，astrong，or，asitwasuniversallyesteemedtilltheageofTamerlane，animpregnablefortressoftheindependentArabs。^61
[Footnote59:Ammianushasmarkedthechronologyofthisyearbythreesigns，whichdonotperfectlycoincidewitheachother，orwiththeseriesofthehistory。1ThecornwasripewhenSaporinvadedMesopotamia；\"Cumjamstipulaflaveateturgerent；\"acircumstance，which，inthelatitudeofAleppo，wouldnaturallyreferustothemonthofAprilorMay。SeeHarmer\'sObservationsonScripturevol。i。p。41。Shaw\'sTravels，p。335，edit4to。
2。TheprogressofSaporwascheckedbytheoverflowingoftheEuphrates，whichgenerallyhappensinJulyandAugust。Plin。
Hist。Nat。v。21。ViaggidiPietrodellaValle，tom。i。p。696。
3。WhenSaporhadtakenAmida，afterasiegeofseventy—threedays，theautumnwasfaradvanced。\"Autumnopraecipitihaedorumqueimprobosidereexorto。\"Toreconciletheseapparentcontradictions，wemustallowforsomedelayinthePersianking，someinaccuracyinthehistorian，andsomedisorderintheseasons。]
[Footnote60:TheaccountofthesesiegesisgivenbyAmmianus，xx。6，7。]
[Footnote*:TheChristianbishopofBezabdewenttothecampofthekingofPersia，topersuadehimtocheckthewasteofhumanbloodAmm。Marexx。7。—M。]
[Footnote61:FortheidentityofVirthaandTecrit，seeD\'Anville，Geographie。ForthesiegeofthatcastlebyTimurBecorTamerlane，seeCherefeddin，l。iii。c。33。ThePersianbiographerexaggeratesthemeritanddifficultyofthisexploit，whichdeliveredthecaravansofBagdadfromaformidablegangofrobbers。]
[Footnote*:St。Martindoubtswhetheritlaysomuchtothesouth。\"ThewordGirthameansinSyriacacastleorfortress，andmightbeappliedtomanyplaces。\"]
ThedefenceoftheEastagainstthearmsofSaporrequiredandwouldhaveexercised，theabilitiesofthemostconsummategeneral；anditseemedfortunateforthestate，thatitwastheactualprovinceofthebraveUrsicinus，whoalonedeservedtheconfidenceofthesoldiersandpeople。Inthehourofdanger，^62
Ursicinuswasremovedfromhisstationbytheintriguesoftheeunuchs；andthemilitarycommandoftheEastwasbestowed，bythesameinfluence，onSabinian，awealthyandsubtleveteran，whohadattainedtheinfirmities，withoutacquiringtheexperience，ofage。Byasecondorder，whichissuedfromthesamejealousandinconstantcouncils，UrsicinuswasagaindespatchedtothefrontierofMesopotamia，andcondemnedtosustainthelaborsofawar，thehonorsofwhichhadbeentransferredtohisunworthyrival。SabinianfixedhisindolentstationunderthewallsofEdessa；andwhileheamusedhimselfwiththeidleparadeofmilitaryexercise，andmovedtothesoundofflutesinthePyrrhicdance，thepublicdefencewasabandonedtotheboldnessanddiligenceoftheformergeneraloftheEast。ButwheneverUrsicinusrecommendedanyvigorousplanofoperations；whenheproposed，attheheadofalightandactivearmy，towheelroundthefootofthemountains，tointercepttheconvoysoftheenemy，toharassthewideextentofthePersianlines，andtorelievethedistressofAmida；thetimidandenviouscommanderalleged，thathewasrestrainedbyhispositiveordersfromendangeringthesafetyofthetroops。Amidawasatlengthtaken；itsbravestdefenders，whohadescapedtheswordoftheBarbarians，diedintheRomancampbythehandoftheexecutioner:andUrsicinushimself，aftersupportingthedisgraceofapartialinquiry，waspunishedforthemisconductofSabinianbythelossofhismilitaryrank。ButConstantiussoonexperiencedthetruthofthepredictionwhichhonestindignationhadextortedfromhisinjuredlieutenant，thataslongassuchmaximsofgovernmentweresufferedtoprevail，theemperorhimselfwouldfinditisnoeasytasktodefendhiseasterndominionsfromtheinvasionofaforeignenemy。WhenhehadsubduedorpacifiedtheBarbariansoftheDanube，ConstantiusproceededbyslowmarchesintotheEast；
andafterhehadweptoverthesmokingruinsofAmida，heformed，withapowerfularmy，thesiegeofBecabde。Thewallswereshakenbythereiteratedeffortsofthemostenormousofthebattering—rams；thetownwasreducedtothelastextremity；butitwasstilldefendedbythepatientandintrepidvalorofthegarrison，tilltheapproachoftherainyseasonobligedtheemperortoraisethesiege，andingloviouslytoretreatintohiswinterquartersatAntioch。^63TheprideofConstantius，andtheingenuityofhiscourtiers，wereatalosstodiscoveranymaterialsforpanegyricintheeventsofthePersianwar；whilethegloryofhiscousinJulian，towhosemilitarycommandhehadintrustedtheprovincesofGaul，wasproclaimedtotheworldinthesimpleandconcisenarrativeofhisexploits。
[Footnote62:Ammianusxviii。5，6，xix。3，xx。2representsthemeritanddisgraceofUrsicinuswiththatfaithfulattentionwhichasoldierowedtohisgeneral。Somepartialitymaybesuspected，yetthewholeaccountisconsistentandprobable。]
[Footnote63:Ammian。xx。11。Omissovanoincepto，hiematurusAntiochiaereditinSyriamaerumnosam，perpessusetulcerumsedetatrocia，diuquedeflenda。ItisthusthatJamesGronoviushasrestoredanobscurepassage；andhethinksthatthiscorrectionalonewouldhavedeservedaneweditionofhisauthor:whosesensemaynowbedarklyperceived。IexpectedsomeadditionallightfromtherecentlaborsofthelearnedErnestus。Lipsiae，1773。
Note:ThelateeditorWagnerhasnothingbettertosuggest，andlementawithGibbon，thesilenceofErnesti。—M。]
Intheblindfuryofcivildiscord，ConstantiushadabandonedtotheBarbariansofGermanythecountriesofGaul，whichstillacknowledgedtheauthorityofhisrival。AnumerousswarmofFranksandAlemanniwereinvitedtocrosstheRhinebypresentsandpromises，bythehopesofspoil，andbyaperpetualgrantofalltheterritorieswhichtheyshouldbeabletosubdue。
^64Buttheemperor，whoforatemporaryservicehadthusimprudentlyprovokedtherapaciousspiritoftheBarbarians，soondiscoveredandlamentedthedifficultyofdismissingtheseformidableallies，aftertheyhadtastedtherichnessoftheRomansoil。Regardlessofthenicedistinctionofloyaltyandrebellion，theseundisciplinedrobberstreatedastheirnaturalenemiesallthesubjectsoftheempire，whopossessedanypropertywhichtheyweredesirousofacquiringForty—fiveflourishingcities，Tongres，Cologne，Treves，Worms，Spires，Strasburgh，&c。，besidesafargreaternumberoftownsandvillages，werepillaged，andforthemostpartreducedtoashes。
TheBarbariansofGermany，stillfaithfultothemaximsoftheirancestors，abhorredtheconfinementofwalls，towhichtheyappliedtheodiousnamesofprisonsandsepulchres；andfixingtheirindependenthabitationsonthebanksofrivers，theRhine，theMoselle，andtheMeuse，theysecuredthemselvesagainstthedangerofasurprise，byarudeandhastyfortificationoflargetrees，whichwerefelledandthrownacrosstheroads。TheAlemanniwereestablishedinthemoderncountriesofAlsaceandLorraine；theFranksoccupiedtheislandoftheBatavians，togetherwithanextensivedistrictofBrabant，whichwasthenknownbytheappellationofToxandria，^65andmaydeservetobeconsideredastheoriginalseatoftheirGallicmonarchy。^66
Fromthesources，tothemouth，oftheRhine，theconquestsoftheGermansextendedabovefortymilestothewestofthatriver，overacountrypeopledbycoloniesoftheirownnameandnation:
andthesceneoftheirdevastationswasthreetimesmoreextensivethanthatoftheirconquests。AtastillgreaterdistancetheopentownsofGaulweredeserted，andtheinhabitantsofthefortifiedcities，whotrustedtotheirstrengthandvigilance，wereobligedtocontentthemselveswithsuchsuppliesofcornastheycouldraiseonthevacantlandwithintheenclosureoftheirwalls。Thediminishedlegions，destituteofpayandprovisions，ofarmsanddiscipline，trembledattheapproach，andevenatthename，oftheBarbarians。
[Footnote64:TheravagesoftheGermans，andthedistressofGaul，maybecollectedfromJulianhimself。Orat。adS。P。Q。
Athen。p。277。Ammian。xv。ll。Libanius，Orat。x。Zosimus，l。
iii。p。140。Sozomen，l。iii。c。l。Mamertin。Grat。Art。c。
iv。]
[Footnote65:Ammianus，xvi。8。ThisnameseemstobederivedfromtheToxandriofPliny，andveryfrequentlyoccursinthehistoriesofthemiddleage。Toxandriawasacountryofwoodsandmorasses，whichextendedfromtheneighborhoodofTongrestotheconfluxoftheVahalandtheRhine。SeeValesius，Notit。
Galliar。p。558。]
[Footnote66:TheparadoxofP。Daniel，thattheFranksneverobtainedanypermanentsettlementonthissideoftheRhinebeforethetimeofClovis，isrefutedwithmuchlearningandgoodsensebyM。Biet，whohasprovedbyachainofevidence，theiruninterruptedpossessionofToxandria，onehundredandthirtyyearsbeforetheaccessionofClovis。TheDissertationofM。
BietwascrownedbytheAcademyofSoissons，intheyear1736，andseemstohavebeenjustlypreferredtothediscourseofhismorecelebratedcompetitor，theAbbeleBoeuf，anantiquarian，whosenamewashappilyexpressiveofhistalents。]
ChapterXIX:ConstantiusSoleEmperor。
PartIV。
Underthesemelancholycircumstances，anunexperiencedyouthwasappointedtosaveandtogoverntheprovincesofGaul，orrather，asheexpressedithimself，toexhibitthevainimageofImperialgreatness。TheretiredscholasticeducationofJulian，inwhichhehadbeenmoreconversantwithbooksthanwitharms，withthedeadthanwiththeliving，lefthiminprofoundignoranceofthepracticalartsofwarandgovernment；andwhenheawkwardlyrepeatedsomemilitaryexercisewhichitwasnecessaryforhimtolearn，heexclaimedwithasigh，\"OPlato，Plato，whatataskforaphilosopher!\"Yeteventhisspeculativephilosophy，whichmenofbusinessaretooapttodespise，hadfilledthemindofJulianwiththenoblestpreceptsandthemostshiningexamples；hadanimatedhimwiththeloveofvirtue，thedesireoffame，andthecontemptofdeath。Thehabitsoftemperancerecommendedintheschools，arestillmoreessentialintheseveredisciplineofacamp。Thesimplewantsofnatureregulatedthemeasureofhisfoodandsleep。Rejectingwithdisdainthedelicaciesprovidedforhistable，hesatisfiedhisappetitewiththecoarseandcommonfarewhichwasallottedtothemeanestsoldiers。DuringtherigorofaGallicwinter，heneversufferedafireinhisbed—chamber；andafterashortandinterruptedslumber，hefrequentlyroseinthemiddleofthenightfromacarpetspreadonthefloor，todespatchanyurgentbusiness，tovisithisrounds，ortostealafewmomentsfortheprosecutionofhisfavoritestudies。^67Thepreceptsofeloquence，whichhehadhithertopractisedonfanciedtopicsofdeclamation，weremoreusefullyappliedtoexciteortoassuagethepassionsofanarmedmultitude:andalthoughJulian，fromhisearlyhabitsofconversationandliterature，wasmorefamiliarlyacquaintedwiththebeautiesoftheGreeklanguage，hehadattainedacompetentknowledgeoftheLatintongue。^68SinceJulianwasnotoriginallydesignedforthecharacterofalegislator，orajudge，itisprobablethattheciviljurisprudenceoftheRomanshadnotengagedanyconsiderableshareofhisattention:buthederivedfromhisphilosophicstudiesaninflexibleregardforjustice，temperedbyadispositiontoclemency；theknowledgeofthegeneralprinciplesofequityandevidence，andthefacultyofpatientlyinvestigatingthemostintricateandtediousquestionswhichcouldbeproposedforhisdiscussion。Themeasuresofpolicy，andtheoperationsofwar，mustsubmittothevariousaccidentsofcircumstanceandcharacter，andtheunpractisedstudentwilloftenbeperplexedintheapplicationofthemostperfecttheory。
Butintheacquisitionofthisimportantscience，Julianwasassistedbytheactivevigorofhisowngenius，aswellasbythewisdomandexperienceofSallust，andofficerofrank，whosoonconceivedasincereattachmentforaprincesoworthyofhisfriendship；andwhoseincorruptibleintegritywasadornedbythetalentofinsinuatingtheharshesttruthswithoutwoundingthedelicacyofaroyalear。^69
[Footnote67:TheprivatelifeofJulianinGaul，andtheseveredisciplinewhichheembraced，aredisplayedbyAmmianus，xvi。
5，whoprofessestopraise，andbyJulianhimself，whoaffectstoridicule，Misopogon，p。340，aconduct，which，inaprinceofthehouseofConstantine，mightjustlyexcitethesurpriseofmankind。]
[Footnote68:AderatLatinequoquedisserentisufficienssermo。
Ammianusxvi。5。ButJulian，educatedintheschoolsofGreece，alwaysconsideredthelanguageoftheRomansasaforeignandpopulardialectwhichhemightuseonnecessaryoccasions。]
[Footnote69:Weareignorantoftheactualofficeofthisexcellentminister，whomJulianafterwardscreatedpraefectofGaul。Sallustwasspeedlyrecalledbythejealousyoftheemperor；andwemaystillreadasensiblebutpedanticdiscourse，p。240—252，inwhichJuliandeploresthelossofsovaluableafriend，towhomheacknowledgeshimselfindebtedforhisreputation。SeeLaBleterie，PrefacealaViedelovien，p。20。]
ImmediatelyafterJulianhadreceivedthepurpleatMilan，hewassentintoGaulwithafeebleretinueofthreehundredandsixtysoldiers。AtVienna，wherehepassedapainfulandanxiouswinterinthehandsofthoseministerstowhomConstantiushadintrustedthedirectionofhisconduct，theCaesarwasinformedofthesiegeanddeliveranceofAutun。Thatlargeandancientcity，protectedonlybyaruinedwallandpusillanimousgarrison，wassavedbythegenerousresolutionofafewveterans，whoresumedtheirarmsforthedefenceoftheircountry。InhismarchfromAutun，throughtheheartoftheGallicprovinces，Julianembracedwithardortheearliestopportunityofsignalizinghiscourage。Attheheadofasmallbodyofarchersandheavycavalry，hepreferredtheshorterbutthemoredangerousoftworoads；andsometimeseluding，andsometimesresisting，theattacksoftheBarbarians，whoweremastersofthefield，hearrivedwithhonorandsafetyatthecampnearRheims，wheretheRomantroopshadbeenorderedtoassemble。Theaspectoftheiryoungprincerevivedthedroopingspiritsofthesoldiers，andtheymarchedfromRheimsinsearchoftheenemy，withaconfidencewhichhadalmostprovedfataltothem。TheAlemanni，familiarizedtotheknowledgeofthecountry，secretlycollectedtheirscatteredforces，andseizingtheopportunityofadarkandrainyday，pouredwithunexpectedfuryontherear—guardoftheRomans。Beforetheinevitabledisordercouldberemedied，twolegionsweredestroyed；andJulianwastaughtbyexperiencethatcautionandvigilancearethemostimportantlessonsoftheartofwar。Inasecondandmoresuccessfulaction，herecoveredandestablishedhismilitaryfame；butastheagilityoftheBarbarianssavedthemfromthepursuit，hisvictorywasneitherbloodynordecisive。Headvanced，however，tothebanksoftheRhine，surveyedtheruinsofCologne，convincedhimselfofthedifficultiesofthewar，andretreatedontheapproachofwinter，discontentedwiththecourt，withhisarmy，andwithhisownsuccess。^70Thepoweroftheenemywasyetunbroken；andtheCaesarhadnosoonerseparatedhistroops，andfixedhisownquartersatSens，inthecentreofGaul，thanhewassurroundedandbesieged，byanumeroushostofGermans。
Reduced，inthisextremity，totheresourcesofhisownmind，hedisplayedaprudentintrepidity，whichcompensatedforallthedeficienciesoftheplaceandgarrison；andtheBarbarians，attheendofthirtydays，wereobligedtoretirewithdisappointedrage。
[Footnote*:AliisperArbor—quibusdamperSedelaucumetCoramindeberefirrantibus。Amm。Marc。xvi。2。IdonotknowwhatplacecanbemeantbythemutilatednameArbor。SedelanusisSaulieu，asmalltownofthedepartmentoftheCoted\'Or，sixleaguesfromAutun。CoraanswerstothevillageofCure，ontheriverofthesamename，betweenAutunandNevera4；Martin，ii。
162。—M。
Note:AtBrocomages，Brumat，nearStrasburgh。St。Martin，ii。184。—M。]
[Footnote70:Ammianusxvi。2，3appearsmuchbettersatisfiedwiththesuccessofhisfirstcampaignthanJulianhimself；whoveryfairlyownsthathedidnothingofconsequence，andthathefledbeforetheenemy。]
TheconsciousprideofJulian，whowasindebtedonlytohisswordforthissignaldeliverance，wasimbitteredbythereflection，thathewasabandoned，betrayed，andperhapsdevotedtodestruction，bythosewhowereboundtoassisthim，byeverytieofhonorandfidelity。Marcellus，master—generalofthecavalryinGaul，interpretingtoostrictlythejealousordersofthecourt，beheldwithsupineindifferencethedistressofJulian，andhadrestrainedthetroopsunderhiscommandfrommarchingtothereliefofSens。IftheCaesarhaddissembledinsilencesodangerousaninsult，hispersonandauthoritywouldhavebeenexposedtothecontemptoftheworld；andifanactionsocriminalhadbeensufferedtopasswithimpunity，theemperorwouldhaveconfirmedthesuspicions，whichreceivedaveryspeciouscolorfromhispastconducttowardstheprincesoftheFlavianfamily。Marcelluswasrecalled，andgentlydismissedfromhisoffice。^71InhisroomSeveruswasappointedgeneralofthecavalry；anexperiencedsoldier，ofapprovedcourageandfidelity，whocouldadvisewithrespect，andexecutewithzeal；