第143章
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  HeobtainedtheprivilegeofasolemninitiationintothemysteriesofEleusis,which,amidstthegeneraldecayoftheGrecianworship,stillretainedsomevestigesoftheirprimaevalsanctity;andsuchwasthezealofJulian,thatheafterwardsinvitedtheEleusinianpontifftothecourtofGaul,forthesolepurposeofconsummating,bymysticritesandsacrifices,thegreatworkofhissanctification。Astheseceremonieswereperformedinthedepthofcaverns,andinthesilenceofthenight,andastheinviolablesecretofthemysterieswaspreservedbythediscretionoftheinitiated,Ishallnotpresumetodescribethehorridsounds,andfieryapparitions,whichwerepresentedtothesenses,ortheimagination,ofthecredulousaspirant,^24tillthevisionsofcomfortandknowledgebrokeuponhiminablazeofcelestiallight。^25InthecavernsofEphesusandEleusis,themindofJulianwaspenetratedwithsincere,deep,andunalterableenthusiasm;thoughhemightsometimesexhibitthevicissitudesofpiousfraudandhypocrisy,whichmaybeobserved,oratleastsuspected,inthecharactersofthemostconscientiousfanatics。Fromthatmomentheconsecratedhislifetotheserviceofthegods;andwhiletheoccupationsofwar,ofgovernment,andofstudy,seemedtoclaimthewholemeasureofhistime,astatedportionofthehoursofthenightwasinvariablyreservedfortheexerciseofprivatedevotion。Thetemperancewhichadornedtheseveremannersofthesoldierandthephilosopherwasconnectedwithsomestrictandfrivolousrulesofreligiousabstinence;anditwasinhonorofPanorMercury,ofHecateorIsis,thatJulian,onparticulardays,deniedhimselftheuseofsomeparticularfood,whichmighthavebeenoffensivetohistutelardeities。Bythesevoluntaryfasts,hepreparedhissensesandhisunderstandingforthefrequentandfamiliarvisitswithwhichhewashonoredbythecelestialpowers。NotwithstandingthemodestsilenceofJulianhimself,wemaylearnfromhisfaithfulfriend,theoratorLibanius,thathelivedinaperpetualintercoursewiththegodsandgoddesses;thattheydescendeduponearthtoenjoytheconversationoftheirfavoritehero;thattheygentlyinterruptedhisslumbersbytouchinghishandorhishair;thattheywarnedhimofeveryimpendingdanger,andconductedhim,bytheirinfalliblewisdom,ineveryactionofhislife;andthathehadacquiredsuchanintimateknowledgeofhisheavenlyguests,asreadilytodistinguishthevoiceofJupiterfromthatofMinerva,andtheformofApollofromthefigureofHercules。^26Thesesleepingorwakingvisions,theordinaryeffectsofabstinenceandfanaticism,wouldalmostdegradetheemperortothelevelofanEgyptianmonk。ButtheuselesslivesofAntonyorPachomiuswereconsumedinthesevainoccupations。Juliancouldbreakfromthedreamofsuperstitiontoarmhimselfforbattle;andaftervanquishinginthefieldtheenemiesofRome,hecalmlyretiredintohistent,todictatethewiseandsalutarylawsofanempire,ortoindulgehisgeniusintheelegantpursuitsofliteratureandphilosophy。

  [Footnote23:Thedexterousmanagementofthesesophists,whoplayedtheircredulouspupilintoeachother\'shands,isfairlytoldbyEunapiusp。69—79withunsuspectingsimplicity。TheAbbedelaBleterieunderstands,andneatlydescribes,thewholecomedy,ViedeJulian,p。61—67。]

  [Footnote24:WhenJulian,inamomentarypanic,madethesignofthecrossthedaemonsinstantlydisappeared,Greg。Naz。Orat。

  iii。p。71。Gregorysupposesthattheywerefrightened,butthepriestsdeclaredthattheywereindignant。Thereader,accordingtothemeasureofhisfaith,willdeterminethisprofoundquestion。]

  [Footnote25:AdarkanddistantviewoftheterrorsandjoysofinitiationisshownbyDionChrysostom,Themistius,Proclus,andStobaeus。ThelearnedauthoroftheDivineLegationhasexhibitedtheirwords,vol。i。p。239,247,248,280,edit。

  1765,whichhedexterouslyorforciblyappliestohisownhypothesis。]

  [Footnote26:Julian\'smodestyconfinedhimtoobscureandoccasionalhints:butLibaniusexpiateswithpleasureonthefactsandvisionsofthereligioushero。Legat。adJulian。p。

  157,andOrat。Parental。c。lxxxiii。p。309,310。]

  TheimportantsecretoftheapostasyofJulianwasintrustedtothefidelityoftheinitiated,withwhomhewasunitedbythesacredtiesoffriendshipandreligion。^27Thepleasingrumorwascautiouslycirculatedamongtheadherentsoftheancientworship;andhisfuturegreatnessbecametheobjectofthehopes,theprayers,andthepredictionsofthePagans,ineveryprovinceoftheempire。Fromthezealandvirtuesoftheirroyalproselyte,theyfondlyexpectedthecureofeveryevil,andtherestorationofeveryblessing;andinsteadofdisapprovingoftheardoroftheirpiouswishes,Julianingenuouslyconfessed,thathewasambitioustoattainasituationinwhichhemightbeusefultohiscountryandtohisreligion。ButthisreligionwasviewedwithahostileeyebythesuccessorofConstantine,whosecapriciouspassionsaltercatelysavedandthreatenedthelifeofJulian。Theartsofmagicanddivinationwerestrictlyprohibitedunderadespoticgovernment,whichcondescendedtofearthem;andifthePaganswerereluctantlyindulgedintheexerciseoftheirsuperstition,therankofJulianwouldhaveexceptedhimfromthegeneraltoleration。Theapostatesoonbecamethepresumptiveheirofthemonarchy,andhisdeathcouldalonehaveappeasedthejustapprehensionsoftheChristians。^28Buttheyoungprince,whoaspiredtothegloryofaheroratherthanofamartyr,consultedhissafetybydissemblinghisreligion;andtheeasytemperofpolytheismpermittedhimtojoininthepublicworshipofasectwhichheinwardlydespised。Libaniushasconsideredthehypocrisyofhisfriendasasubject,notofcensure,butofpraise。\"Asthestatuesofthegods,\"saysthatorator,\"whichhavebeendefiledwithfilth,areagainplacedinamagnificenttemple,sothebeautyoftruthwasseatedinthemindofJulian,afterithadbeenpurifiedfromtheerrorsandfolliesofhiseducation。Hissentimentswerechanged;butasitwouldhavebeendangeroustohaveavowedhissentiments,hisconductstillcontinuedthesame。VerydifferentfromtheassinAesop,whodisguisedhimselfwithalion\'shide,ourlionwasobligedtoconcealhimselfundertheskinofanass;and,whileheembracedthedictatesofreason,toobeythelawsofprudenceandnecessity。\"^29ThedissimulationofJulianlastedabouttenyears,fromhissecretinitiationatEphesustothebeginningofthecivilwar;whenhedeclaredhimselfatoncetheimplacableenemyofChristandofConstantius。Thisstateofconstraintmightcontributetostrengthenhisdevotion;andassoonashehadsatisfiedtheobligationofassisting,onsolemnfestivals,attheassembliesoftheChristians,Julianreturned,withtheimpatienceofalover,toburnhisfreeandvoluntaryincenseonthedomesticchapelsofJupiterandMercury。Butaseveryactofdissimulationmustbepainfultoaningenuousspirit,theprofessionofChristianityincreasedtheaversionofJulianforareligionwhichoppressedthefreedomofhismind,andcompelledhimtoholdaconductrepugnanttothenoblestattributesofhumannature,sincerityandcourage。

  [Footnote27:Libanius,Orat。Parent。c。x。p。233,234。Gallushadsomereasontosuspectthesecretapostasyofhisbrother;

  andinaletter,whichmaybereceivedasgenuine,heexhortsJuliantoadheretothereligionoftheirancestors;anargumentwhich,asitshouldseem,wasnotyetperfectlyripe。SeeJulian,Op。p。454,andHist。deJovientomii。p。141。]

  [Footnote28:Gregory,iii。p。50,withinhumanzeal,censuresConstantiusforparingtheinfantapostate。HisFrenchtranslatorp。265cautiouslyobserves,thatsuchexpressionsmustnotbeprisesalalettre。]

  [Footnote29:Libanius,Orat。Parental。cix。p。233。]

  ChapterXXIII:ReignOfJulian。

  PartII。

  TheinclinationofJulianmightpreferthegodsofHomer,andoftheScipios,tothenewfaith,whichhisunclehadestablishedintheRomanempire;andinwhichhehimselfhadbeensanctifiedbythesacramentofbaptism。But,asaphilosopher,itwasincumbentonhimtojustifyhisdissentfromChristianity,whichwassupportedbythenumberofitsconverts,bythechainofprophecy,thesplendoroformiracles,andtheweightofevidence。Theelaboratework,^30whichhecomposedamidstthepreparationsofthePersianwar,containedthesubstanceofthoseargumentswhichhehadlongrevolvedinhismind。Somefragmentshavebeentranscribedandpreserved,byhisadversary,thevehementCyrilofAlexandria;^31andtheyexhibitaverysingularmixtureofwitandlearning,ofsophistryandfanaticism。Theeleganceofthestyleandtherankoftheauthor,recommendedhiswritingstothepublicattention;^32andintheimpiouslistoftheenemiesofChristianity,thecelebratednameofPorphyrywaseffacedbythesuperiormeritorreputationofJulian。Themindsofthefaithfulwereeitherseduced,orscandalized,oralarmed;andthepagans,whosometimespresumedtoengageintheunequaldispute,derived,fromthepopularworkoftheirImperialmissionary,aninexhaustiblesupplyoffallaciousobjections。Butintheassiduousprosecutionofthesetheologicalstudies,theemperoroftheRomansimbibedtheilliberalprejudicesandpassionsofapolemicdivine。Hecontractedanirrevocableobligationtomaintainandpropagatehisreligiousopinions;andwhilsthesecretlyapplaudedthestrengthanddexteritywithwhichhewieldedtheweaponsofcontroversy,hewastemptedtodistrustthesincerity,ortodespisetheunderstandings,ofhisantagonists,whocouldobstinatelyresisttheforceofreasonandeloquence。

  [Footnote30:FabriciusBiblioth。Graec。l。v。c。viii,p。

  88—90andLardnerHeathenTestimonies,vol。iv。p。44—47haveaccuratelycompiledallthatcannowbediscoveredofJulian\'sworkagainsttheChristians。]

  [Footnote31:AboutseventyyearsafterthedeathofJulian,heexecutedataskwhichhadbeenfeeblyattemptedbyPhilipofSide,aprolixandcontemptiblewriter。EventheworkofCyrilhasnotentirelysatisfiedthemostfavorablejudges;andtheAbbedelaBleteriePrefaceal\'Hist。deJovien,p。30,32

  wishesthatsometheologienphilosopheastrangecentaurwouldundertaketherefutationofJulian。]

  [Footnote32:Libanius,Orat。Parental。c。lxxxvii。p。313,whohasbeensuspectedofassistinghisfriend,prefersthisdivinevindicationOrat。ixinnecemJulian。p。255,edit。Morel。tothewritingsofPorphyry。Hisjudgmentmaybearraigned,Socrates,l。iii。c。23,butLibaniuscannotbeaccusedofflatterytoadeadprince。]

  TheChristians,whobeheldwithhorrorandindignationtheapostasyofJulian,hadmuchmoretofearfromhispowerthanfromhisarguments。Thepagans,whowereconsciousofhisferventzeal,expected,perhapswithimpatience,thattheflamesofpersecutionshouldbeimmediatelykindledagainsttheenemiesofthegods;andthattheingeniousmaliceofJulianwouldinventsomecruelrefinementsofdeathandtorturewhichhadbeenunknowntotherudeandinexperiencedfuryofhispredecessors。

  Butthehopes,aswellasthefears,ofthereligiousfactionswereapparentlydisappointed,bytheprudenthumanityofaprince,^33whowascarefulofhisownfame,ofthepublicpeace,andoftherightsofmankind。Instructedbyhistoryandreflection,Julianwaspersuaded,thatifthediseasesofthebodymaysometimesbecuredbysalutaryviolence,neithersteelnorfirecaneradicatetheerroneousopinionsofthemind。Thereluctantvictimmaybedraggedtothefootofthealtar;buttheheartstillabhorsanddisclaimsthesacrilegiousactofthehand。Religiousobstinacyishardenedandexasperatedbyoppression;and,assoonasthepersecutionsubsides,thosewhohaveyieldedarerestoredaspenitents,andthosewhohaveresistedarehonoredassaintsandmartyrs。IfJulianadoptedtheunsuccessfulcrueltyofDiocletianandhiscolleagues,hewassensiblethatheshouldstainhismemorywiththenameofatyrant,andaddnewgloriestotheCatholicchurch,whichhadderivedstrengthandincreasefromtheseverityofthepaganmagistrates。Actuatedbythesemotives,andapprehensiveofdisturbingthereposeofanunsettledreign,Juliansurprisedtheworldbyanedict,whichwasnotunworthyofastatesman,oraphilosopher。HeextendedtoalltheinhabitantsoftheRomanworldthebenefitsofafreeandequaltoleration;andtheonlyhardshipwhichheinflictedontheChristians,wastodeprivethemofthepoweroftormentingtheirfellow—subjects,whomtheystigmatizedwiththeodioustitlesofidolatersandheretics。

  Thepagansreceivedagraciouspermission,orratheranexpressorder,toopenAlltheirtemples;^34andtheywereatoncedeliveredfromtheoppressivelaws,andarbitraryvexations,whichtheyhadsustainedunderthereignofConstantine,andofhissons。Atthesametimethebishopsandclergy,whohadbeenbanishedbytheArianmonarch,wererecalledfromexile,andrestoredtotheirrespectivechurches;theDonatists,theNovatians,theMacedonians,theEunomians,andthosewho,withamoreprosperousfortune,adheredtothedoctrineoftheCouncilofNice。Julian,whounderstoodandderidedtheirtheologicaldisputes,invitedtothepalacetheleadersofthehostilesects,thathemightenjoytheagreeablespectacleoftheirfuriousencounters。Theclamorofcontroversysometimesprovokedtheemperortoexclaim,\"Hearme!theFrankshaveheardme,andtheAlemanni;\"buthesoondiscoveredthathewasnowengagedwithmoreobstinateandimplacableenemies;andthoughheexertedthepowersoforatorytopersuadethemtoliveinconcord,oratleastinpeace,hewasperfectlysatisfied,beforehedismissedthemfromhispresence,thathehadnothingtodreadfromtheunionoftheChristians。TheimpartialAmmianushasascribedthisaffectedclemencytothedesireoffomentingtheintestinedivisionsofthechurch,andtheinsidiousdesignofunderminingthefoundationsofChristianity,wasinseparablyconnectedwiththezealwhichJulianprofessed,torestoretheancientreligionoftheempire。^35

  [Footnote33:LibaniusOrat。Parent。c。lviii。p。283,284haseloquentlyexplainedthetoleratingprinciplesandconductofhisImperialfriend。InaveryremarkableepistletothepeopleofBostra,JulianhimselfEpist。lii。professeshismoderation,andbetrayshiszeal,whichisacknowledgedbyAmmianus,andexposedbyGregoryOrat。iii。p。72]

  [Footnote34:InGreecethetemplesofMinervawereopenedbyhisexpresscommand,beforethedeathofConstantius,Liban。Orat。

  Parent。c。55,p。280;andJuliandeclareshimselfaPaganinhispublicmanifestototheAthenians。ThisunquestionableevidencemaycorrectthehastyassertionofAmmianus,whoseemstosupposeConstantinopletobetheplacewherehediscoveredhisattachmenttothegods]

  [Footnote35:Ammianus,xxii。5。Sozomen,l。v。c。5。Bestiamoritur,tranquillitasredit……omnesepiscopiquidepropriissedibusfuerantexterminatiperindulgentiamnoviprincipisadacclesiasredeunt。Jerom。adversusLuciferianos,tom。ii。p。

  143。OptatusaccusestheDonatistsforowingtheirsafetytoanapostate,l。ii。c。16,p。36,37,edit。Dupin。]

  Assoonasheascendedthethrone,heassumed,accordingtothecustomofhispredecessors,thecharacterofsupremepontiff;

  notonlyasthemosthonorabletitleofImperialgreatness,butasasacredandimportantoffice;thedutiesofwhichhewasresolvedtoexecutewithpiousdiligence。Asthebusinessofthestatepreventedtheemperorfromjoiningeverydayinthepublicdevotionofhissubjects,hededicatedadomesticchapeltohistutelardeitytheSun;hisgardenswerefilledwithstatuesandaltarsofthegods;andeachapartmentofthepalacedisplacedtheappearanceofamagnificenttemple。Everymorninghesalutedtheparentoflightwithasacrifice;thebloodofanothervictimwasshedatthemomentwhentheSunsunkbelowthehorizon;andtheMoon,theStars,andtheGeniiofthenightreceivedtheirrespectiveandseasonablehonorsfromtheindefatigabledevotionofJulian。Onsolemnfestivals,heregularlyvisitedthetempleofthegodorgoddesstowhomthedaywaspeculiarlyconsecrated,andendeavoredtoexcitethereligionofthemagistratesandpeoplebytheexampleofhisownzeal。Insteadofmaintainingtheloftystateofamonarch,distinguishedbythesplendorofhispurple,andencompassedbythegoldenshieldsofhisguards,Juliansolicited,withrespectfuleagerness,themeanestofficeswhichcontributedtotheworshipofthegods。Amidstthesacredbutlicentiouscrowdofpriests,ofinferiorministers,andoffemaledancers,whowerededicatedtotheserviceofthetemple,itwasthebusinessoftheemperortobringthewood,toblowthefire,tohandletheknife,toslaughterthevictim,and,thrustinghisbloodyhandsintothebowelsoftheexpiringanimal,todrawforththeheartorliver,andtoread,withtheconsummateskillofanharuspex,imaginarysignsoffutureevents。ThewisestofthePaganscensuredthisextravagantsuperstition,whichaffectedtodespisetherestraintsofprudenceanddecency。Underthereignofaprince,whopractisedtherigidmaximsofeconomy,theexpenseofreligiousworshipconsumedaverylargeportionoftherevenueaconstantsupplyofthescarcestandmostbeautifulbirdswastransportedfromdistantclimates,tobleedonthealtarsofthegods;ahundredoxenwerefrequentlysacrificedbyJulianononeandthesameday;anditsoonbecameapopularjest,thatifheshouldreturnwithconquestfromthePersianwar,thebreedofhornedcattlemustinfalliblybeextinguished。Yetthisexpensemayappearinconsiderable,whenitiscomparedwiththesplendidpresentswhichwereofferedeitherbythehand,orbyorder,oftheemperor,toallthecelebratedplacesofdevotionintheRomanworld;andwiththesumsallottedtorepairanddecoratetheancienttemples,whichhadsufferedthesilentdecayoftime,ortherecentinjuriesofChristianrapine。Encouragedbytheexample,theexhortations,theliberality,oftheirpioussovereign,thecitiesandfamiliesresumedthepracticeoftheirneglectedceremonies。\"Everypartoftheworld,\"exclaimsLibanius,withdevouttransport,\"displayedthetriumphofreligion;andthegratefulprospectofflamingaltars,bleedingvictims,thesmokeofincense,andasolemntrainofpriestsandprophets,withoutfearandwithoutdanger。Thesoundofprayerandofmusicwasheardonthetopsofthehighestmountains;andthesameoxaffordedasacrificeforthegods,andasupperfortheirjoyousvotaries。\"^36

  [Footnote36:TherestorationofthePaganworshipisdescribedbyJulian,Misopogon,p。346,Libanius,Orat。Parent。c。60,p。286,287,andOrat。Consular。adJulian。p。245,246,edit。

  Morel。,Ammianus,xxii。12,andGregoryNazianzen,Orat。iv。

  p。121。Thesewritersagreeintheessential,andevenminute,facts;butthedifferentlightsinwhichtheyviewtheextremedevotionofJulian,areexpressiveofthegradationsofself—applause,passionateadmiration,mildreproof,andpartialinvective。]

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