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。

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