PartI。
ResidenceOfJulianAtAntioch。—HisSuccessfulExpeditionAgainstThePersians。—PassageOfTheTigris—TheRetreatAndDeathOfJulian。—ElectionOfJovian。—HeSavesTheRomanArmyByADisgracefulTreaty。
ThephilosophicalfablewhichJuliancomposedunderthenameoftheCaesars，^1isoneofthemostagreeableandinstructiveproductionsofancientwit。^2DuringthefreedomandequalityofthedaysoftheSaturnalia，RomuluspreparedafeastforthedeitiesofOlympus，whohadadoptedhimasaworthyassociate，andfortheRomanprinces，whohadreignedoverhismartialpeople，andthevanquishednationsoftheearth。Theimmortalswereplacedinjustorderontheirthronesofstate，andthetableoftheCaesarswasspreadbelowtheMoonintheupperregionoftheair。Thetyrants，whowouldhavedisgracedthesocietyofgodsandmen，werethrownheadlong，bytheinexorableNemesis，intotheTartareanabyss。TherestoftheCaesarssuccessivelyadvancedtotheirseats；andastheypassed，thevices，thedefects，theblemishesoftheirrespectivecharacters，weremaliciouslynoticedbyoldSilenus，alaughingmoralist，whodisguisedthewisdomofaphilosopherunderthemaskofaBacchanal。^3Assoonasthefeastwasended，thevoiceofMercuryproclaimedthewillofJupiter，thatacelestialcrownshouldbetherewardofsuperiormerit。JuliusCaesar，Augustus，Trajan，andMarcusAntoninus，wereselectedasthemostillustriouscandidates；theeffeminateConstantine^4wasnotexcludedfromthishonorablecompetition，andthegreatAlexanderwasinvitedtodisputetheprizeofglorywiththeRomanheroes。
Eachofthecandidateswasallowedtodisplaythemeritofhisownexploits；but，inthejudgmentofthegods，themodestsilenceofMarcuspleadedmorepowerfullythantheelaborateorationsofhishaughtyrivals。Whenthejudgesofthisawfulcontestproceededtoexaminetheheart，andtoscrutinizethespringsofaction，thesuperiorityoftheImperialStoicappearedstillmoredecisiveandconspicuous。^5AlexanderandCaesar，Augustus，Trajan，andConstantine，acknowledged，withablush，thatfame，orpower，orpleasurehadbeentheimportantobjectoftheirlabors:butthegodsthemselvesbeheld，withreverenceandlove，avirtuousmortal，whohadpractisedonthethronethelessonsofphilosophy；andwho，inastateofhumanimperfection，hadaspiredtoimitatethemoralattributesoftheDeity。ThevalueofthisagreeablecompositiontheCaesarsofJulianisenhancedbytherankoftheauthor。Aprince，whodelineates，withfreedom，thevicesandvirtuesofhispredecessors，subscribes，ineveryline，thecensureorapprobationofhisownconduct。
[Footnote1:Seethisfableorsatire，p。306—336oftheLeipsigeditionofJulian\'sworks。TheFrenchversionofthelearnedEzekielSpanheimParis，1683iscoarse，languid，andcorrect；
andhisnotes，proofs，illustrations，&c。，arepiledoneachothertilltheyformamassof557close—printedquartopages。
TheAbbe\'delaBleterieViedeJovien，tom。i。p。241—393hasmorehappilyexpressedthespirit，aswellasthesense，oftheoriginal，whichheillustrateswithsomeconciseandcuriousnotes。]
[Footnote2:Spanheiminhisprefacehasmostlearnedlydiscussedtheetymology，origin，resemblance，anddisagreementoftheGreeksatyrs，adramaticpiece，whichwasactedafterthetragedy；andtheLatinsatires，fromSatura，amiscellaneouscomposition，eitherinproseorverse。ButtheCaesarsofJulianareofsuchanoriginalcast，thatthecriticisperplexedtowhichclassheshouldascribethem。
Note:SeealsoCasaubondeSatira，withRambach\'sobservations。—M。]
[Footnote3:ThismixedcharacterofSilenusisfinelypaintedinthesixtheclogueofVirgil。]
[Footnote4:EveryimpartialreadermustperceiveandcondemnthepartialityofJulianagainsthisuncleConstantine，andtheChristianreligion。Onthisoccasion，theinterpretersarecompelled，byamostsacredinterest，torenouncetheirallegiance，andtodesertthecauseoftheirauthor。]
[Footnote5:JulianwassecretlyinclinedtopreferaGreektoaRoman。Butwhenheseriouslycomparedaherowithaphilosopher，hewassensiblethatmankindhadmuchgreaterobligationstoSocratesthantoAlexander，Orat。adThemistium，p。264。]
Inthecoolmomentsofreflection，JulianpreferredtheusefulandbenevolentvirtuesofAntoninus；buthisambitiousspiritwasinflamedbythegloryofAlexander；andhesolicited，withequalardor，theesteemofthewise，andtheapplauseofthemultitude。Intheseasonoflifewhenthepowersofthemindandbodyenjoythemostactivevigor，theemperorwhowasinstructedbytheexperience，andanimatedbythesuccess，oftheGermanwar，resolvedtosignalizehisreignbysomemoresplendidandmemorableachievement。TheambassadorsoftheEast，fromthecontinentofIndia，andtheIsleofCeylon，^6hadrespectfullysalutedtheRomanpurple。^7ThenationsoftheWestesteemedanddreadedthepersonalvirtuesofJulian，bothinpeaceandwar。
HedespisedthetrophiesofaGothicvictory，andwassatisfiedthattherapaciousBarbariansoftheDanubewouldberestrainedfromanyfutureviolationofthefaithoftreatiesbytheterrorofhisname，andtheadditionalfortificationswithwhichhestrengthenedtheThracianandIllyrianfrontiers。ThesuccessorofCyrusandArtaxerxeswastheonlyrivalwhomhedeemedworthyofhisarms；andheresolved，bythefinalconquestofPersia，tochastisethenaughtynationwhichhadsolongresistedandinsultedthemajestyofRome。^9AssoonasthePersianmonarchwasinformedthatthethroneofConstantiuswasfiledbyaprinceofaverydifferentcharacter，hecondescendedtomakesomeartful，orperhapssincere，overturestowardsanegotiationofpeace。ButtheprideofSaporwasastonishedbythefirmnessofJulian；whosternlydeclared，thathewouldneverconsenttoholdapeacefulconferenceamongtheflamesandruinsofthecitiesofMesopotamia；andwhoadded，withasmileofcontempt，thatitwasneedlesstotreatbyambassadors，ashehimselfhaddeterminedtovisitspeedilythecourtofPersia。Theimpatienceoftheemperorurgedthediligenceofthemilitarypreparations。Thegeneralswerenamed；andJulian，marchingfromConstantinoplethroughtheprovincesofAsiaMinor，arrivedatAntiochabouteightmonthsafterthedeathofhispredecessor。HisardentdesiretomarchintotheheartofPersia，wascheckedbytheindispensabledutyofregulatingthestateoftheempire；byhiszealtorevivetheworshipofthegods；andbytheadviceofhiswisestfriends；whorepresentedthenecessityofallowingthesalutaryintervalofwinterquarters，torestoretheexhaustedstrengthofthelegionsofGaul，andthedisciplineandspiritoftheEasterntroops。Julianwaspersuadedtofix，tilltheensuingspring，hisresidenceatAntioch，amongapeoplemaliciouslydisposedtoderidethehaste，andtocensurethedelays，oftheirsovereign。^10
[Footnote6:IndenationibusIndiciscertatimcumaonisoptimatesmittentibus……abusqueDivisetSerendivis。Ammian。xx。7。
Thisisland，towhichthenamesofTaprobana，Serendib，andCeylon，havebeensuccessivelyapplied，manifestshowimperfectlytheseasandlandstotheeastofCapeComorinwereknowntotheRomans。1。UnderthereignofClaudius，afreedman，whofarmedthecustomsoftheRedSea，wasaccidentallydrivenbythewindsuponthisstrangeandundiscoveredcoast:heconversedsixmonthswiththenatives；andthekingofCeylon，whoheard，forthefirsttime，ofthepowerandjusticeofRome，waspersuadedtosendanembassytotheemperor。Plin。Hist。Nat。vi。24。2。
ThegeographersandevenPtolemyhavemagnified，abovefifteentimes，therealsizeofthisnewworld，whichtheyextendedasfarastheequator，andtheneighborhoodofChina。
Note:ThenameofDivagensorDivorumregio，accordingtotheprobableconjectureofM。Letronne，TroisMem。Acad。p。
127，wasappliedbytheancientstothewholeeasterncoastoftheIndianPeninsula，fromCeylontotheCanges。ThenamemaybetracedinDevipatnam，Devidan，Devicotta，Divinelly，thepointofDivy。
M。Letronne，p。121，considersthefreedmanwithhisembassyfromCeylontohavebeenanimpostor。—M。]
[Footnote7:TheseembassieshadbeensenttoConstantius。
Ammianus，whounwarilydeviatesintogrossflattery，musthaveforgottenthelengthoftheway，andtheshortdurationofthereignofJulian。]
[Footnote8:Gothossaepefallacesetperfidos；hostesquaereresemelioresaiebat:illisenimsufficeremercatorsGalatasperquosubiquesineconditionisdiscriminevenumdantur。Ammian。
xxii。7。Withinlessthanfifteenyears，theseGothicslavesthreatenedandsubduedtheirmasters。]
[Footnote9:AlexanderremindshisrivalCaesar，whodepreciatedthefameandmeritofanAsiaticvictory，thatCrassusandAntonyhadfeltthePersianarrows；andthattheRomans，inawarofthreehundredyears，hadnotyetsubduedthesingleprovinceofMesopotamiaorAssyria，Caesares，p。324。]
[Footnote10:ThedesignofthePersianwarisdeclaredbyAmmianus，xxii。7，12，Libanius，Orat。Parent。c。79，80，p。
305，306，Zosimus，l。iii。p。158，andSocrates，l。iii。c。
19。]
IfJulianhadflatteredhimself，thathispersonalconnectionwiththecapitaloftheEastwouldbeproductiveofmutualsatisfactiontotheprinceandpeople，hemadeaveryfalseestimateofhisowncharacter，andofthemannersofAntioch。^11Thewarmthoftheclimatedisposedthenativestothemostintemperateenjoymentoftranquillityandopulence；andthelivelylicentiousnessoftheGreekswasblendedwiththehereditarysoftnessoftheSyrians。Fashionwastheonlylaw，pleasuretheonlypursuit，andthesplendorofdressandfurniturewastheonlydistinctionofthecitizensofAntioch。
Theartsofluxurywerehonored；theseriousandmanlyvirtueswerethesubjectofridicule；andthecontemptforfemalemodestyandreverentageannouncedtheuniversalcorruptionofthecapitaloftheEast。Theloveofspectacleswasthetaste，orratherpassion，oftheSyrians；themostskilfulartistswereprocuredfromtheadjacentcities；^12aconsiderableshareoftherevenuewasdevotedtothepublicamusements；andthemagnificenceofthegamesofthetheatreandcircuswasconsideredasthehappinessandasthegloryofAntioch。Therusticmannersofaprincewhodisdainedsuchglory，andwasinsensibleofsuchhappiness，soondisgustedthedelicacyofhissubjects；andtheeffeminateOrientalscouldneitherimitate，noradmire，theseveresimplicitywhichJulianalwaysmaintained，andsometimesaffected。Thedaysoffestivity，consecrated，byancientcustom，tothehonorofthegods，weretheonlyoccasionsinwhichJulianrelaxedhisphilosophicseverity；andthosefestivalsweretheonlydaysinwhichtheSyriansofAntiochcouldrejecttheallurementsofpleasure。ThemajorityofthepeoplesupportedthegloryoftheChristianname，whichhadbeenfirstinventedbytheirancestors:^13theycontendedthemselveswithdisobeyingthemoralprecepts，buttheywerescrupulouslyattachedtothespeculativedoctrinesoftheirreligion。ThechurchofAntiochwasdistractedbyheresyandschism；buttheAriansandtheAthanasians，thefollowersofMeletiusandthoseofPaulinus，^14wereactuatedbythesamepioushatredoftheircommonadversary。
[Footnote11:TheSatireofJulian，andtheHomiliesofSt。
Chrysostom，exhibitthesamepictureofAntioch。TheminiaturewhichtheAbbedelaBleteriehascopiedfromthence，ViedeJulian，p。332，iselegantandcorrect。]
[Footnote12:Laodiceafurnishedcharioteers；TyreandBerytus，comedians；Caesarea，pantomimes；Heliopolis，singers；Gaza，gladiators，Ascalon，wrestlers；andCastabala，rope—dancers。SeetheExpositiototiusMundi，p。6，inthethirdtomeofHudson\'sMinorGeographers。]
[Footnote13:ThepeopleofAntiochingenuouslyprofessedtheirattachmenttotheChi，Christ，andtheKappa，Constantius。
JulianinMisopogon，p。357。]
[Footnote14:TheschismofAntioch，whichlastedeighty—fiveyears，A。D。330—415，wasinflamed，whileJulianresidedinthatcity，bytheindiscreetordinationofPaulinus。SeeTillemont，Mem。Eccles。tom。iii。p。803ofthequartoedition，Paris，1701，&c，whichhenceforwardIshallquote。]
Thestrongestprejudicewasentertainedagainstthecharacterofanapostate，theenemyandsuccessorofaprincewhohadengagedtheaffectionsofaverynumeroussect；andtheremovalofSt。BabylasexcitedanimplacableoppositiontothepersonofJulian。Hissubjectscomplained，withsuperstitiousindignation，thatfaminehadpursuedtheemperor\'sstepsfromConstantinopletoAntioch；andthediscontentofahungrypeoplewasexasperatedbytheinjudiciousattempttorelievetheirdistress。TheinclemencyoftheseasonhadaffectedtheharvestsofSyria；andthepriceofbread，^15inthemarketsofAntioch，hadnaturallyriseninproportiontothescarcityofcorn。Butthefairandreasonableproportionwassoonviolatedbytherapaciousartsofmonopoly。Inthisunequalcontest，inwhichtheproduceofthelandisclaimedbyonepartyashisexclusiveproperty，isusedbyanotherasalucrativeobjectoftrade，andisrequiredbyathirdforthedailyandnecessarysupportoflife，alltheprofitsoftheintermediateagentsareaccumulatedontheheadofthedefencelesscustomers。Thehardshipsoftheirsituationwereexaggeratedandincreasedbytheirownimpatienceandanxiety；andtheapprehensionofascarcitygraduallyproducedtheappearancesofafamine。WhentheluxuriouscitizensofAntiochcomplainedofthehighpriceofpoultryandfish，Julianpubliclydeclared，thatafrugalcityoughttobesatisfiedwitharegularsupplyofwine，oil，andbread；butheacknowledged，thatitwasthedutyofasovereigntoprovideforthesubsistenceofhispeople。Withthissalutaryview，theemperorventuredonaverydangerousanddoubtfulstep，offixing，bylegalauthority，thevalueofcorn。Heenacted，that，inatimeofscarcity，itshouldbesoldatapricewhichhadseldombeenknowninthemostplentifulyears；andthathisownexamplemightstrengthenhislaws，hesentintothemarketfourhundredandtwenty—twothousandmodii，ormeasures，whichweredrawnbyhisorderfromthegranariesofHierapolis，ofChalcis，andevenofEgypt。Theconsequencesmighthavebeenforeseen，andweresoonfelt。TheImperialwheatwaspurchasedbytherichmerchants；theproprietorsofland，orofcorn，withheldfromthecitytheaccustomedsupply；andthesmallquantitiesthatappearedinthemarketweresecretlysoldatanadvancedandillegalprice。Julianstillcontinuedtoapplaudhisownpolicy，treatedthecomplaintsofthepeopleasavainandungratefulmurmur，andconvincedAntiochthathehadinheritedtheobstinacy，thoughnotthecruelty，ofhisbrotherGallus。^16Theremonstrancesofthemunicipalsenateservedonlytoexasperatehisinflexiblemind。Hewaspersuaded，perhapswithtruth，thatthesenatorsofAntiochwhopossessedlands，orwereconcernedintrade，hadthemselvescontributedtothecalamitiesoftheircountry；andheimputedthedisrespectfulboldnesswhichtheyassumed，tothesense，notofpublicduty，butofprivateinterest。Thewholebody，consistingoftwohundredofthemostnobleandwealthycitizens，weresent，underaguard，fromthepalacetotheprison；andthoughtheywerepermitted，beforethecloseofevening，toreturntotheirrespectivehouses，^17theemperorhimselfcouldnotobtaintheforgivenesswhichhehadsoeasilygranted。Thesamegrievanceswerestillthesubjectofthesamecomplaints，whichwereindustriouslycirculatedbythewitandlevityoftheSyrianGreeks。DuringthelicentiousdaysoftheSaturnalia，thestreetsofthecityresoundedwithinsolentsongs，whichderidedthelaws，thereligion，thepersonalconduct，andeventhebeard，oftheemperor；thespiritofAntiochwasmanifestedbytheconnivanceofthemagistrates，andtheapplauseofthemultitude。^18ThediscipleofSocrateswastoodeeplyaffectedbythesepopularinsults；butthemonarch，endowedwithaquicksensibility，andpossessedofabsolutepower，refusedhispassionsthegratificationofrevenge。Atyrantmighthaveproscribed，withoutdistinction，thelivesandfortunesofthecitizensofAntioch；andtheunwarlikeSyriansmusthavepatientlysubmittedtothelust，therapaciousnessandthecruelty，ofthefaithfullegionsofGaul。
AmildersentencemighthavedeprivedthecapitaloftheEastofitshonorsandprivileges；andthecourtiers，perhapsthesubjects，ofJulian，wouldhaveapplaudedanactofjustice，whichassertedthedignityofthesuprememagistrateoftherepublic。^19Butinsteadofabusing，orexerting，theauthorityofthestate，torevengehispersonalinjuries，Juliancontentedhimselfwithaninoffensivemodeofretaliation，whichitwouldbeinthepoweroffewprincestoemploy。Hehadbeeninsultedbysatiresandlibels；inhisturn，hecomposed，underthetitleoftheEnemyoftheBeard，anironicalconfessionofhisownfaults，andaseveresatireonthelicentiousandeffeminatemannersofAntioch。ThisImperialreplywaspubliclyexposedbeforethegatesofthepalace；andtheMisopogon^20stillremainsasingularmonumentoftheresentment，thewit，thehumanity，andtheindiscretionofJulian。Thoughheaffectedtolaugh，hecouldnotforgive。^21Hiscontemptwasexpressed，andhisrevengemightbegratified，bythenominationofagovernor^22worthyonlyofsuchsubjects；andtheemperor，foreverrenouncingtheungratefulcity，proclaimedhisresolutiontopasstheensuingwinteratTarsusinCilicia。^23
[Footnote15:Julianstatesthreedifferentproportions，offive，ten，orfifteenmediiofwheatforonepieceofgold，accordingtothedegreesofplentyandscarcity，inMisopogon，p。369。