Julianwasnotinsensibleoftheadvantagesoffreedom。^70
Fromhisstudieshehadimbibedthespiritofancientsagesandheroes；hislifeandfortuneshaddependedonthecapriceofatyrant；andwhenheascendedthethrone，hispridewassometimesmortifiedbythereflection，thattheslaveswhowouldnotdaretocensurehisdefectswerenotworthytoapplaudhisvirtues。
^71HesincerelyabhorredthesystemofOrientaldespotism，whichDiocletian，Constantine，andthepatienthabitsoffourscoreyears，hadestablishedintheempire。Amotiveofsuperstitionpreventedtheexecutionofthedesign，whichJulianhadfrequentlymeditated，ofrelievinghisheadfromtheweightofacostlydiadem；^72butheabsolutelyrefusedthetitleofDominus，orLord，^73awordwhichwasgrownsofamiliartotheearsoftheRomans，thattheynolongerremembereditsservileandhumiliatingorigin。Theoffice，orratherthename，ofconsul，wascherishedbyaprincewhocontemplatedwithreverencetheruinsoftherepublic；andthesamebehaviorwhichhadbeenassumedbytheprudenceofAugustuswasadoptedbyJulianfromchoiceandinclination。OnthecalendsofJanuary，atbreakofday，thenewconsuls，MamertinusandNevitta，hastenedtothepalacetosalutetheemperor。Assoonashewasinformedoftheirapproach，heleapedfromhisthrone，eagerlyadvancedtomeetthem，andcompelledtheblushingmagistratestoreceivethedemonstrationsofhisaffectedhumility。Fromthepalacetheyproceededtothesenate。Theemperor，onfoot，marchedbeforetheirlitters；andthegazingmultitudeadmiredtheimageofancienttimes，orsecretlyblamedaconduct，which，intheireyes，degradedthemajestyofthepurple。^74ButthebehaviorofJulianwasuniformlysupported。DuringthegamesoftheCircus，hehad，imprudentlyordesignedly，performedthemanumissionofaslaveinthepresenceoftheconsul。Themomenthewasremindedthathehadtrespassedonthejurisdictionofanothermagistrate，hecondemnedhimselftopayafineoftenpoundsofgold；andembracedthispublicoccasionofdeclaringtotheworld，thathewassubject，liketherestofhisfellow—citizens，tothelaws，^75andeventotheforms，oftherepublic。Thespiritofhisadministration，andhisregardfortheplaceofhisnativity，inducedJuliantoconferonthesenateofConstantinoplethesamehonors，privileges，andauthority，whichwerestillenjoyedbythesenateofancientRome。^76Alegalfictionwasintroduced，andgraduallyestablished，thatonehalfofthenationalcouncilhadmigratedintotheEast；andthedespoticsuccessorsofJulian，acceptingthetitleofSenators，acknowledgedthemselvesthemembersofarespectablebody，whichwaspermittedtorepresentthemajestyoftheRomanname。FromConstantinople，theattentionofthemonarchwasextendedtothemunicipalsenatesoftheprovinces。Heabolished，byrepeatededicts，theunjustandperniciousexemptionswhichhadwithdrawnsomanyidlecitizensfromtheservicesoftheircountry；andbyimposinganequaldistributionofpublicduties，herestoredthestrength，thesplendor，or，accordingtotheglowingexpressionofLibanius，^77thesouloftheexpiringcitiesofhisempire。ThevenerableageofGreeceexcitedthemosttendercompassioninthemindofJulian，whichkindledintorapturewhenherecollectedthegods，theheroes，andthemensuperiortoheroesandtogods，whohavebequeathedtothelatestposteritythemonumentsoftheirgenius，ortheexampleoftheirvirtues。Herelievedthedistress，andrestoredthebeauty，ofthecitiesofEpirusandPeloponnesus。^78Athensacknowledgedhimforherbenefactor；
Argos，forherdeliverer。TheprideofCorinth，againrisingfromherruinswiththehonorsofaRomancolony，exactedatributefromtheadjacentrepublics，forthepurposeofdefrayingthegamesoftheIsthmus，whichwerecelebratedintheamphitheatrewiththehuntingofbearsandpanthers。FromthistributethecitiesofElis，ofDelphi，andofArgos，whichhadinheritedfromtheirremoteancestorsthesacredofficeofperpetuatingtheOlympic，thePythian，andtheNemeangames，claimedajustexemption。TheimmunityofElisandDelphiwasrespectedbytheCorinthians；butthepovertyofArgostemptedtheinsolenceofoppression；andthefeeblecomplaintsofitsdeputiesweresilencedbythedecreeofaprovincialmagistrate，whoseemstohaveconsultedonlytheinterestofthecapitalinwhichheresided。Sevenyearsafterthissentence，Julian^79
allowedthecausetobereferredtoasuperiortribunal；andhiseloquencewasinterposed，mostprobablywithsuccess，inthedefenceofacity，whichhadbeentheroyalseatofAgamemnon，^80andhadgiventoMacedoniaaraceofkingsandconquerors。
^81
[Footnote70:Accordingtosome，saysAristotle，asheisquotedbyJulianadThemist。p。261，theformofabsolutegovernmentiscontrarytonature。Boththeprinceandthephilosopherchoose，howevertoinvolvethiseternaltruthinartfulandlaboredobscurity。]
[Footnote71:ThatsentimentisexpressedalmostinthewordsofJulianhimself。Ammian。xxii。10。]
[Footnote72:Libanius，Orat。Parent。c。95，p。320，whomentionsthewishanddesignofJulian，insinuates，inmysteriouslanguagethattheemperorwasrestrainedbysomeparticularrevelation。]
[Footnote73:JulianinMisopogon，p。343。Asheneverabolished，byanypubliclaw，theproudappellationsofDespot，orDominus，theyarestillextantonhismedals，Ducange，Fam。
Byzantin。p。38，39；andtheprivatedispleasurewhichheaffectedtoexpress，onlygaveadifferenttonetotheservilityofthecourt。TheAbbedelaBleterieHist。deJovien，tom。ii。
p。99—102hascuriouslytracedtheoriginandprogressofthewordDominusundertheImperialgovernment。]
[Footnote74:Ammian。xxii。7。TheconsulMamertinusinPanegyr。Vet。xi。28，29，30celebratestheauspiciousday，likeanelegantslave，astonishedandintoxicatedbythecondescensionofhismaster。]
[Footnote75:Personalsatirewascondemnedbythelawsofthetwelvetables:
Simalecondideritinquemquiscarmina，jusestJudiciumque—
Horat。Sat。ii。1。82。
JulianinMisopogon，p。337ownshimselfsubjecttothelaw；
andtheAbbedelaBleterieHist。deJovien，tom。ii。p。92haseagerlyembracedadeclarationsoagreeabletohisownsystem，and，indeed，tothetruespiritoftheImperialconstitution。]
[Footnote76:Zosimus，l。iii。p。158。]
[Footnote77:SeeLibanius，Orat。Parent。c。71，p。296，
Ammianus，xxii。9，andtheTheodosianCodel。xii。tit。i。
leg。50—55。withGodefroy\'sCommentary，tom。iv。p。390—402。
YetthewholesubjectoftheCuria，notwithstandingveryamplematerials，stillremainsthemostobscureinthelegalhistoryoftheempire。]
[Footnote78:Quaepauloantearidaetsitianhelantiavisebantur，eanuncperlui，mundari，madere；Fora，Deambulacra，Gymnasia，laetisetgaudentibuspopulisfrequentari；diesfestos，etcelebrariveteres，etnovosinhonoremprincipisconsecrari，Mamertin。xi。9。HeparticularlyrestoredthecityofNicopolisandtheActiacgames，whichhadbeeninstitutedbyAugustus。]
[Footnote79:Julian。Epist。xxxv。p。407—411。Thisepistle，whichillustratesthedecliningageofGreece，isomittedbytheAbbedelaBleterie，andstrangelydisfiguredbytheLatintranslator，who，byrenderingtributum，andpopulus，directlycontradictsthesenseoftheoriginal。]
[Footnote80:HereignedinMycenaeatthedistanceoffiftystadia，orsixmilesfromArgos:butthesecities，whichalternatelyflourished，areconfoundedbytheGreekpoets。
Strabo，l。viii。p。579，edit。Amstel。1707。]
[Footnote81:Marsham，Canon。Chron。p。421。ThispedigreefromTemenusandHerculesmaybesuspicious；yetitwasallowed，afterastrictinquiry，bythejudgesoftheOlympicgames，Herodot。
l。v。c。22，atatimewhentheMacedoniankingswereobscureandunpopularinGreece。WhentheAchaeanleaguedeclaredagainstPhilip，itwasthoughtdecentthatthedeputiesofArgosshouldretire，T。Liv。xxxii。22。]
Thelaboriousadministrationofmilitaryandcivilaffairs，whichweremultipliedinproportiontotheextentoftheempire，exercisedtheabilitiesofJulian；buthefrequentlyassumedthetwocharactersofOrator^82andofJudge，^83whicharealmostunknowntothemodernsovereignsofEurope。Theartsofpersuasion，sodiligentlycultivatedbythefirstCaesars，wereneglectedbythemilitaryignoranceandAsiaticprideoftheirsuccessors；andiftheycondescendedtoharanguethesoldiers，whomtheyfeared，theytreatedwithsilentdisdainthesenators，whomtheydespised。Theassembliesofthesenate，whichConstantiushadavoided，wereconsideredbyJulianastheplacewherehecouldexhibit，withthemostpropriety，themaximsofarepublican，andthetalentsofarhetorician。Healternatelypractised，asinaschoolofdeclamation，theseveralmodesofpraise，ofcensure，ofexhortation；andhisfriendLibaniushasremarked，thatthestudyofHomertaughthimtoimitatethesimple，concisestyleofMenelaus，thecopiousnessofNestor，whosewordsdescendedliketheflakesofawinter\'ssnow，orthepatheticandforcibleeloquenceofUlysses。Thefunctionsofajudge，whicharesometimesincompatiblewiththoseofaprince，wereexercisedbyJulian，notonlyasaduty，butasanamusement；andalthoughhemighthavetrustedtheintegrityanddiscernmentofhisPraetorianpraefects，heoftenplacedhimselfbytheirsideontheseatofjudgment。Theacutepenetrationofhismindwasagreeablyoccupiedindetectinganddefeatingthechicaneryoftheadvocates，wholaboredtodisguisethetruthsoffacts，andtopervertthesenseofthelaws。Hesometimesforgotthegravityofhisstation，askedindiscreetorunseasonablequestions，andbetrayed，bytheloudnessofhisvoice，andtheagitationofhisbody，theearnestvehemencewithwhichhemaintainedhisopinionagainstthejudges，theadvocates，andtheirclients。Buthisknowledgeofhisowntemperpromptedhimtoencourage，andeventosolicit，thereproofofhisfriendsandministers；andwhenevertheyventuredtoopposetheirregularsalliesofhispassions，thespectatorscouldobservetheshame，aswellasthegratitude，oftheirmonarch。ThedecreesofJulianwerealmostalwaysfoundedontheprinciplesofjustice；
andhehadthefirmnesstoresistthetwomostdangeroustemptations，whichassaultthetribunalofasovereign，underthespeciousformsofcompassionandequity。Hedecidedthemeritsofthecausewithoutweighingthecircumstancesoftheparties；
andthepoor，whomhewishedtorelieve，werecondemnedtosatisfythejustdemandsofawealthyandnobleadversary。Hecarefullydistinguishedthejudgefromthelegislator；^84andthoughhemeditatedanecessaryreformationoftheRomanjurisprudence，hepronouncedsentenceaccordingtothestrictandliteralinterpretationofthoselaws，whichthemagistrateswereboundtoexecute，andthesubjectstoobey。
[Footnote82:HiseloquenceiscelebratedbyLibanius，Orat。
Parent。c。75，76，p。300，301，whodistinctlymentionstheoratorsofHomer。Socratesl。iii。c。1hasrashlyassertedthatJulianwastheonlyprince，sinceJuliusCaesar，whoharanguedthesenate。AllthepredecessorsofNero，Tacit。
Annal。xiii。3，andmanyofhissuccessors，possessedthefacultyofspeakinginpublic；anditmightbeprovedbyvariousexamples，thattheyfrequentlyexerciseditinthesenate。]
[Footnote83:Ammianusxxi。10hasimpartiallystatedthemeritsanddefectsofhisjudicialproceedings。LibaniusOrat。
Parent。c。90，91，p。315，&c。hasseenonlythefairside，andhispicture，ifitflatterstheperson，expressesatleasttheduties，ofthejudge。GregoryNazianzen，Orat。iv。p。120，whosuppressesthevirtues，andexaggerateseventhevenialfaultsoftheApostate，triumphantlyasks，whethersuchajudgewasfittobeseatedbetweenMinosandRhadamanthus，intheElysianFields。]
[Footnote84:OfthelawswhichJulianenactedinareignofsixteenmonths，fifty—fourhavebeenadmittedintothecodesofTheodosiusandJustinian。Gothofred。Chron。Legum，p。64—67。
TheAbbedelaBleterietom。ii。p。329—336haschosenoneoftheselawstogiveanideaofJulian\'sLatinstyle，whichisforcibleandelaborate，butlesspurethanhisGreek。]
Thegeneralityofprinces，iftheywerestrippedoftheirpurple，andcastnakedintotheworld，wouldimmediatelysinktothelowestrankofsociety，withoutahopeofemergingfromtheirobscurity。ButthepersonalmeritofJulianwas，insomemeasure，independentofhisfortune。Whateverhadbeenhischoiceoflife，bytheforceofintrepidcourage，livelywit，andintenseapplication，hewouldhaveobtained，oratleasthewouldhavedeserved，thehighesthonorsofhisprofession；andJulianmighthaveraisedhimselftotherankofminister，orgeneral，ofthestateinwhichhewasbornaprivatecitizen。Ifthejealouscapriceofpowerhaddisappointedhisexpectations，ifhehadprudentlydeclinedthepathsofgreatness，theemploymentofthesametalentsinstudioussolitudewouldhaveplacedbeyondthereachofkingshispresenthappinessandhisimmortalfame。Whenweinspect，withminute，orperhapsmalevolentattention，theportraitofJulian，somethingseemswantingtothegraceandperfectionofthewholefigure。HisgeniuswaslesspowerfulandsublimethanthatofCaesar；nordidhepossesstheconsummateprudenceofAugustus。ThevirtuesofTrajanappearmoresteadyandnatural，andthephilosophyofMarcusismoresimpleandconsistent。YetJuliansustainedadversitywithfirmness，andprosperitywithmoderation。AfteranintervalofonehundredandtwentyyearsfromthedeathofAlexanderSeverus，theRomansbeheldanemperorwhomadenodistinctionbetweenhisdutiesandhispleasures；wholaboredtorelievethedistress，andtorevivethespirit，ofhissubjects；andwhoendeavoredalwaystoconnectauthoritywithmerit，andhappinesswithvirtue。Evenfaction，andreligiousfaction，wasconstrainedtoacknowledgethesuperiorityofhisgenius，inpeaceaswellasinwar，andtoconfess，withasigh，thattheapostateJulianwasaloverofhiscountry，andthathedeservedtheempireoftheworld。^85
[Footnote85:……Ductorfortissimusarmis；
Conditoretlegumceleberrimus；oremanuqueConsultorpatriae；sednonconsultorhabendaeReligionis；amanstercentummilliaDivum。
PertidusilleDeo，sednonetperfidusorbi。
Prudent。Apotheosis，450，&c。
TheconsciousnessofageneroussentimentseemstohaveraisedtheChristianpostabovehisusualmediocrity。]
ChapterXXIII:ReignOfJulian。
PartI。
TheReligionOfJulian。—UniversalToleration。—HeAttemptsToRestoreAndReformThePaganWorship—ToRebuildTheTempleOfJerusalem—HisArtfulPersecutionOfTheChristians。—
MutualZealAndInjustice。
ThecharacterofApostatehasinjuredthereputationofJulian；andtheenthusiasmwhichcloudedhisvirtueshasexaggeratedtherealandapparentmagnitudeofhisfaults。Ourpartialignorancemayrepresenthimasaphilosophicmonarch，whostudiedtoprotect，withanequalhand，thereligiousfactionsoftheempire；andtoallaythetheologicalfeverwhichhadinflamedthemindsofthepeople，fromtheedictsofDiocletiantotheexileofAthanasius。AmoreaccurateviewofthecharacterandconductofJulianwillremovethisfavorableprepossessionforaprincewhodidnotescapethegeneralcontagionofthetimes。Weenjoythesingularadvantageofcomparingthepictureswhichhavebeendelineatedbyhisfondestadmirersandhisimplacableenemies。TheactionsofJulianarefaithfullyrelatedbyajudiciousandcandidhistorian，theimpartialspectatorofhislifeanddeath。Theunanimousevidenceofhiscontemporariesisconfirmedbythepublicandprivatedeclarationsoftheemperorhimself；andhisvariouswritingsexpresstheuniformtenorofhisreligioussentiments，whichpolicywouldhavepromptedhimtodissembleratherthantoaffect。AdevoutandsincereattachmentforthegodsofAthensandRomeconstitutedtherulingpassionofJulian；^1thepowersofanenlightenedunderstandingwerebetrayedandcorruptedbytheinfluenceofsuperstitiousprejudice；andthephantomswhichexistedonlyinthemindoftheemperorhadarealandperniciouseffectonthegovernmentoftheempire。ThevehementzealoftheChristians，whodespisedtheworship，andoverturnedthealtarsofthosefabulousdeities，engagedtheirvotaryinastateofirreconcilablehostilitywithaverynumerouspartyofhissubjects；andhewassometimestemptedbythedesireofvictory，ortheshameofarepulse，toviolatethelawsofprudence，andevenofjustice。Thetriumphoftheparty，whichhedesertedandopposed，hasfixedastainofinfamyonthenameofJulian；andtheunsuccessfulapostatehasbeenoverwhelmedwithatorrentofpiousinvectives，ofwhichthesignalwasgivenbythesonoroustrumpet^2ofGregoryNazianzen。
^3Theinterestingnatureoftheeventswhichwerecrowdedintotheshortreignofthisactiveemperor，deserveajustandcircumstantialnarrative。Hismotives，hiscounsels，andhisactions，asfarastheyareconnectedwiththehistoryofreligion，willbethesubjectofthepresentchapter。
[Footnote1:IshalltranscribesomeofhisownexpressionsfromashortreligiousdiscoursewhichtheImperialpontiffcomposedtocensuretheboldimpietyofaCynic。Orat。vii。p。212。ThevarietyandcopiousnessoftheGreektongueseeminadequatetothefervorofhisdevotion。]
[Footnote2:Theorator，withsomeeloquence，muchenthusiasm，andmorevanity，addresseshisdiscoursetoheavenandearth，tomenandangels，tothelivingandthedead；andaboveall，tothegreatConstantius，anoddPaganexpression。Heconcludeswithaboldassurance，thathehaserectedamonumentnotlessdurable，andmuchmoreportable，thanthecolumnsofHercules。SeeGreg。
Nazianzen，Orat。iii。p。50，iv。p。134。]
[Footnote3:Seethislonginvective，whichhasbeeninjudiciouslydividedintotwoorationsinGregory\'sworks，tom。
i。p。49—134，Paris，1630。ItwaspublishedbyGregoryandhisfriendBasil，iv。p。133，aboutsixmonthsafterthedeathofJulian，whenhisremainshadbeencarriedtoTarsus，iv。p。
120；butwhileJovianwasstillonthethrone，iii。p。54，iv。
p。117IhavederivedmuchassistancefromaFrenchversionandremarks，printedatLyons，1735。]