PartIII。
ThefieldsofAssyriaweredevotedbyJuliantothecalamitiesofwar；andthephilosopherretaliatedonaguiltlesspeopletheactsofrapineandcrueltywhichhadbeencommittedbytheirhaughtymasterintheRomanprovinces。ThetremblingAssyrianssummonedtheriverstotheirassistance；andcompleted，withtheirownhands，theruinoftheircountry。Theroadswererenderedimpracticable；afloodofwaterswaspouredintothecamp；and，duringseveraldays，thetroopsofJulianwereobligedtocontendwiththemostdiscouraginghardships。Buteveryobstaclewassurmountedbytheperseveranceofthelegionaries，whowereinuredtotoilaswellastodanger，andwhofeltthemselvesanimatedbythespiritoftheirleader。Thedamagewasgraduallyrepaired；thewaterswererestoredtotheirproperchannels；wholegrovesofpalm—treeswerecutdown，andplacedalongthebrokenpartsoftheroad；andthearmypassedoverthebroadanddeepercanals，onbridgesoffloatingrafts，whichweresupportedbythehelpofbladders。TwocitiesofAssyriapresumedtoresistthearmsofaRomanemperor:andtheybothpaidtheseverepenaltyoftheirrashness。AtthedistanceoffiftymilesfromtheroyalresidenceofCtesiphon，Perisabor，
orAnbar，heldthesecondrankintheprovince；acity，large，populous，andwellfortified，surroundedwithadoublewall，almostencompassedbyabranchoftheEuphrates，anddefendedbythevalorofanumerousgarrison。TheexhortationsofHormisdaswererepulsedwithcontempt；andtheearsofthePersianprincewerewoundedbyajustreproach，that，unmindfulofhisroyalbirth，heconductedanarmyofstrangersagainsthiskingandcountry。TheAssyriansmaintainedtheirloyaltybyaskilful，aswellasvigorous，defence；tilltheluckystrokeofabattering—ram，havingopenedalargebreach，byshatteringoneoftheanglesofthewall，theyhastilyretiredintothefortificationsoftheinteriorcitadel。ThesoldiersofJulianrushedimpetuouslyintothetown，andafterthefullgratificationofeverymilitaryappetite，Perisaborwasreducedtoashes；andtheengineswhichassaultedthecitadelwereplantedontheruinsofthesmokinghouses。Thecontestwascontinuedbyanincessantandmutualdischargeofmissileweapons；andthesuperioritywhichtheRomansmightderivefromthemechanicalpowersoftheirbalistaeandcatapultaewascounterbalancedbytheadvantageofthegroundonthesideofthebesieged。ButassoonasanHelepolishadbeenconstructed，whichcouldengageonequaltermswiththeloftiestramparts，thetremendousaspectofamovingturret，thatwouldleavenohopeofresistanceormercy，terrifiedthedefendersofthecitadelintoanhumblesubmission；andtheplacewassurrenderedonlytwodaysafterJulianfirstappearedunderthewallsofPerisabor。Twothousandfivehundredpersons，ofbothsexes，thefeebleremnantofaflourishingpeople，werepermittedtoretire；theplentifulmagazinesofcorn，ofarms，andofsplendidfurniture，werepartlydistributedamongthetroops，andpartlyreservedforthepublicservice；theuselessstoresweredestroyedbyfireorthrownintothestreamoftheEuphrates；andthefateofAmidawasrevengedbythetotalruinofPerisabor。
[Footnote*:LibaniussaysthatitwasagreatcityofAssyria，calledafterthenameofthereigningking。TheoratorofAntiochisnotmistaken。ThePersiansandSyrianscalleditFyrouzSchapourorFyrouzSchahbour；inPersian，thevictoryofSchahpour。ItowedthatnametoSaportheFirst。ItwasbeforecalledAnbarSt。Martin，iii。85。—M。]
Thecityorratherfortress，ofMaogamalcha，whichwasdefendedbysixteenlargetowers，adeepditch，andtwostrongandsolidwallsofbrickandbitumen，appearstohavebeenconstructedatthedistanceofelevenmiles，asthesafeguardofthecapitalofPersia。Theemperor，apprehensiveofleavingsuchanimportantfortressinhisrear，immediatelyformedthesiegeofMaogamalcha；andtheRomanarmywasdistributed，forthatpurpose，intothreedivisions。Victor，attheheadofthecavalry，andofadetachmentofheavy—armedfoot，wasorderedtoclearthecountry，asfarasthebanksoftheTigris，andthesuburbsofCtesiphon。TheconductoftheattackwasassumedbyJulianhimself，whoseemedtoplacehiswholedependenceinthemilitaryengineswhichheerectedagainstthewalls；whilehesecretlycontrivedamoreefficaciousmethodofintroducinghistroopsintotheheartofthecityUnderthedirectionofNevittaandDagalaiphus，thetrencheswereopenedataconsiderabledistance，andgraduallyprolongedasfarastheedgeoftheditch。Theditchwasspeedilyfilledwithearth；and，bytheincessantlaborofthetroops，aminewascarriedunderthefoundationsofthewalls，andsustained，atsufficientintervals，bypropsoftimber。Threechosencohorts，advancinginasinglefile，silentlyexploredthedarkanddangerouspassage；tilltheirintrepidleaderwhisperedbacktheintelligence，thathewasreadytoissuefromhisconfinementintothestreetsofthehostilecity。Juliancheckedtheirardor，thathemightinsuretheirsuccess；andimmediatelydivertedtheattentionofthegarrison，bythetumultandclamorofageneralassault。ThePersians，who，fromtheirwalls，contemptuouslybeheldtheprogressofanimpotentattack，celebratedwithsongsoftriumphthegloryofSapor；andventuredtoassuretheemperor，thathemightascendthestarrymansionofOrmusd，beforehecouldhopetotaketheimpregnablecityofMaogamalcha。Thecitywasalreadytaken。Historyhasrecordedthenameofaprivatesoldierthefirstwhoascendedfromthemineintoadesertedtower。Thepassagewaswidenedbyhiscompanions，whopressedforwardswithimpatientvalor。Fifteenhundredenemieswerealreadyinthemidstofthecity。Theastonishedgarrisonabandonedthewalls，andtheironlyhopeofsafety；thegateswereinstantlyburstopen；andtherevengeofthesoldier，unlessitweresuspendedbylustoravarice，wassatiatedbyanundistinguishingmassacre。Thegovernor，whohadyieldedonapromiseofmercy，wasburntalive，afewdaysafterwards，onachargeofhavingutteredsomedisrespectfulwordsagainstthehonorofPrinceHormisdas。Thefortificationswererazedtotheground；andnotavestigewasleft，thatthecityofMaogamalchahadeverexisted。TheneighborhoodofthecapitalofPersiawasadornedwiththreestatelypalaces，laboriouslyenrichedwitheveryproductionthatcouldgratifytheluxuryandprideofanEasternmonarch。ThepleasantsituationofthegardensalongthebanksoftheTigris，wasimproved，accordingtothePersiantaste，bythesymmetryofflowers，fountains，andshadywalks:andspaciousparkswereenclosedforthereceptionofthebears，lions，andwildboars，whichweremaintainedataconsiderableexpenseforthepleasureoftheroyalchase。Theparkwallswerebrokendown，thesavagegamewasabandonedtothedartsofthesoldiers，andthepalacesofSaporwerereducedtoashes，bythecommandoftheRomanemperor。Julian，onthisoccasion，showedhimselfignorant，orcareless，ofthelawsofcivility，whichtheprudenceandrefinementofpolishedageshaveestablishedbetweenhostileprinces。Yetthesewantonravagesneednotexciteinourbreastsanyvehementemotionsofpityorresentment。Asimple，nakedstatue，finishedbythehandofaGrecianartist，isofmoregenuinevaluethanalltheserudeandcostlymonumentsofBarbariclabor；and，ifwearemoredeeplyaffectedbytheruinofapalacethanbytheconflagrationofacottage，ourhumanitymusthaveformedaveryerroneousestimateofthemiseriesofhumanlife。^57
[Footnote*:Andasguiltyofadoubletreachery，havingfirstengagedtosurrenderthecity，andafterwardsvaliantlydefendedit。Gibbon，perhaps，shouldhavenoticedthischarge，thoughhemayhaverejecteditasimprobableCompareZosimus。iii。23。—
M。]
[Footnote57:TheoperationsoftheAssyrianwararecircumstantiallyrelatedbyAmmianus，xxiv。2，3，4，5，
Libanius，Orat。Parent。c。112—123，p。335—347，Zosimus，l。
iii。p。168—180，andGregoryNazianzen，Orativ。p。113，144。
ThemilitarycriticismsofthesaintaredevoutlycopiedbyTillemont，hisfaithfulslave。]
JulianwasanobjectofhatredandterrortothePersianandthepaintersofthatnationrepresentedtheinvaderoftheircountryundertheemblemofafuriouslion，whovomitedfromhismouthaconsumingfire。^58Tohisfriendsandsoldiersthephilosophicheroappearedinamoreamiablelight；andhisvirtueswerenevermoreconspicuouslydisplayed，thaninthelastandmostactiveperiodofhislife。Hepractised，withouteffort，andalmostwithoutmerit，thehabitualqualitiesoftemperanceandsobriety。Accordingtothedictatesofthatartificialwisdom，whichassumesanabsolutedominionoverthemindandbody，hesternlyrefusedhimselftheindulgenceofthemostnaturalappetites。^59InthewarmclimateofAssyria，whichsolicitedaluxuriouspeopletothegratificationofeverysensualdesire，^60ayouthfulconquerorpreservedhischastitypureandinviolate；norwasJulianevertempted，evenbyamotiveofcuriosity，tovisithisfemalecaptivesofexquisitebeauty，^61who，insteadofresistinghispower，wouldhavedisputedwitheachotherthehonorofhisembraces。Withthesamefirmnessthatheresistedtheallurementsoflove，hesustainedthehardshipsofwar。WhentheRomansmarchedthroughtheflatandfloodedcountry，theirsovereign，onfoot，attheheadofhislegions，sharedtheirfatiguesandanimatedtheirdiligence。Ineveryusefullabor，thehandofJulianwaspromptandstrenuous；
andtheImperialpurplewaswetanddirtyasthecoarsegarmentofthemeanestsoldier。Thetwosiegesallowedhimsomeremarkableopportunitiesofsignalizinghispersonalvalor，which，intheimprovedstateofthemilitaryart，canseldombeexertedbyaprudentgeneral。TheemperorstoodbeforethecitadelbeforethecitadelofPerisabor，insensibleofhisextremedanger，andencouragedhistroopstoburstopenthegatesofiron，tillhewasalmostoverwhelmedunderacloudofmissileweaponsandhugestones，thatweredirectedagainsthisperson。
AsheexaminedtheexteriorfortificationsofMaogamalcha，twoPersians，devotingthemselvesfortheircountry，suddenlyrusheduponhimwithdrawncimeters:theemperordexterouslyreceivedtheirblowsonhisupliftedshield；and，withasteadyandwell—aimedthrust，laidoneofhisadversariesdeadathisfeet。
Theesteemofaprincewhopossessesthevirtueswhichheapproves，isthenoblestrecompenseofadeservingsubject；andtheauthoritywhichJulianderivedfromhispersonalmerit，enabledhimtoreviveandenforcetherigorofancientdiscipline。Hepunishedwithdeathorignominythemisbehaviorofthreetroopsofhorse，who，inaskirmishwiththeSurenas，hadlosttheirhonorandoneoftheirstandards:andhedistinguishedwithobsidional^62crownsthevaloroftheforemostsoldiers，whohadascendedintothecityofMaogamalcha。
AfterthesiegeofPerisabor，thefirmnessoftheemperorwasexercisedbytheinsolentavariceofthearmy，wholoudlycomplained，thattheirserviceswererewardedbyatriflingdonativeofonehundredpiecesofsilver。HisjustindignationwasexpressedinthegraveandmanlylanguageofaRoman。
\"Richesaretheobjectofyourdesires；thoserichesareinthehandsofthePersians；andthespoilsofthisfruitfulcountryareproposedastheprizeofyourvaloranddiscipline。Believeme，\"addedJulian，\"theRomanrepublic，whichformerlypossessedsuchimmensetreasures，isnowreducedtowantandwretchednessonceourprinceshavebeenpersuaded，byweakandinterestedministers，topurchasewithgoldthetranquillityoftheBarbarians。Therevenueisexhausted；thecitiesareruined；theprovincesaredispeopled。Formyself，theonlyinheritancethatIhavereceivedfrommyroyalancestorsisasoulincapableoffear；andaslongasIamconvincedthateveryrealadvantageisseatedinthemind，Ishallnotblushtoacknowledgeanhonorablepoverty，which，inthedaysofancientvirtue，wasconsideredasthegloryofFabricius。Thatglory，andthatvirtue，maybeyourown，ifyouwilllistentothevoiceofHeavenandofyourleader。Butifyouwillrashlypersist，ifyouaredeterminedtorenewtheshamefulandmischievousexamplesofoldseditions，proceed。Asitbecomesanemperorwhohasfilledthefirstrankamongmen，Iampreparedtodie，standing；andtodespiseaprecariouslife，which，everyhour，maydependonanaccidentalfever。IfIhavebeenfoundunworthyofthecommand，therearenowamongyou，Ispeakitwithprideandpleasure，therearemanychiefswhosemeritandexperienceareequaltotheconductofthemostimportantwar。Suchhasbeenthetemperofmyreign，thatIcanretire，withoutregret，andwithoutapprehension，totheobscurityofaprivatestation\"^63ThemodestresolutionofJulianwasansweredbytheunanimousapplauseandcheerfulobedienceoftheRomans，whodeclaredtheirconfidenceofvictory，whiletheyfoughtunderthebannersoftheirheroicprince。Theircouragewaskindledbyhisfrequentandfamiliarasseverations，forsuchwishesweretheoathsofJulian，\"SomayIreducethePersiansundertheyoke!\"\"ThusmayIrestorethestrengthandsplendoroftherepublic!\"Theloveoffamewastheardentpassionofhissoul:butitwasnotbeforehetrampledontheruinsofMaogamalcha，thatheallowedhimselftosay，\"WehavenowprovidedsomematerialsforthesophistofAntioch。\"^64
[Footnote58:LibaniusdeulciscendaJulianinece，c。13，p。
162。]
[Footnote59:ThefamousexamplesofCyrus，Alexander，andScipio，wereactsofjustice。Julian\'schastitywasvoluntary，and，inhisopinion，meritorious。]
[Footnote60:Sallustap。Vet。Scholiast。Juvenal。Satir。i。
104observes，thatnihilcorruptiusmoribus。ThematronsandvirginsofBabylonfreelymingledwiththemeninlicentiousbanquets；andastheyfelttheintoxicationofwineandlove，theygradually，andalmostcompletely，threwasidetheencumbranceofdress；adultimumimacorporumvelamentaprojiciunt。Q。Curtius，v。1。]
[Footnote61:Exvirginibusautemquaespeciosaesuntcaptae，etinPerside，ubifaeminarumpulchritudoexcellit，neccontrectarealiquamvotuitnecvidere。Ammian。xxiv。4。ThenativeraceofPersiansissmallandugly；butithasbeenimprovedbytheperpetualmixtureofCircassianblood，Herodot。l。iii。c。97。
Buffon，Hist。Naturelle，tom。iii。p。420。]
[Footnote62:Obsidionalibuscoronisdonati。Ammian。xxiv。4。
EitherJulianorhishistorianwereunskillfulantiquaries。Heshouldhavegivenmuralcrowns。Theobsidionalweretherewardofageneralwhohaddeliveredabesiegedcity，AulusGellius，Noct。Attic。v。6。]
[Footnote63:Igivethisspeechasoriginalandgenuine。
Ammianusmighthear，couldtranscribe，andwasincapableofinventing，it。Ihaveusedsomeslightfreedoms，andconcludewiththemostforcibicsentence。]
[Footnote64:Ammian。xxiv。3。Libanius，Orat。Parent。c。122，p。346。]
ThesuccessfulvalorofJulianhadtriumphedoveralltheobstaclesthatopposedhismarchtothegatesofCtesiphon。Butthereduction，oreventhesiege，ofthecapitalofPersia，wasstillatadistance:norcanthemilitaryconductoftheemperorbeclearlyapprehended，withoutaknowledgeofthecountrywhichwasthetheatreofhisboldandskilfuloperations。^65TwentymilestothesouthofBagdad，andontheeasternbankoftheTigris，thecuriosityoftravellershasobservedsomeruinsofthepalacesofCtesiphon，which，inthetimeofJulian，wasagreatandpopulouscity。ThenameandgloryoftheadjacentSeleuciawereforeverextinguished；andtheonlyremainingquarterofthatGreekcolonyhadresumed，withtheAssyrianlanguageandmanners，theprimitiveappellationofCoche。CochewassituateonthewesternsideoftheTigris；butitwasnaturallyconsideredasasuburbofCtesiphon，withwhichwemaysupposeittohavebeenconnectedbyapermanentbridgeofboats。
TheunitedpartscontributetoformthecommonepithetofAlModain，thecities，whichtheOrientalshavebestowedonthewinterresidenceoftheSassinadees；andthewholecircumferenceofthePersiancapitalwasstronglyfortifiedbythewatersoftheriver，byloftywalls，andbyimpracticablemorasses。NeartheruinsofSeleucia，thecampofJulianwasfixed，andsecured，byaditchandrampart，againstthesalliesofthenumerousandenterprisinggarrisonofCoche。Inthisfruitfulandpleasantcountry，theRomanswereplentifullysuppliedwithwaterandforage:andseveralforts，whichmighthaveembarrassedthemotionsofthearmy，submitted，aftersomeresistance，totheeffortsoftheirvalor。ThefleetpassedfromtheEuphratesintoanartificialderivationofthatriver，whichpoursacopiousandnavigablestreamintotheTigris，atasmalldistancebelowthegreatcity。Iftheyhadfollowedthisroyalcanal，whichborethenameofNahar—Malcha，^66theintermediatesituationofCochewouldhaveseparatedthefleetandarmyofJulian；andtherashattemptofsteeringagainstthecurrentoftheTigris，andforcingtheirwaythroughthemidstofahostilecapital，musthavebeenattendedwiththetotaldestructionoftheRomannavy。
Theprudenceoftheemperorforesawthedanger，andprovidedtheremedy。AshehadminutelystudiedtheoperationsofTrajaninthesamecountry，hesoonrecollectedthathiswarlikepredecessorhadduganewandnavigablecanal，which，leavingCocheontherighthand，conveyedthewatersoftheNahar—MalchaintotheriverTigris，atsomedistanceabovethecities。Fromtheinformationofthepeasants，Julianascertainedthevestigesofthisancientwork，whichwerealmostobliteratedbydesignoraccident。Bytheindefatigablelaborofthesoldiers，abroadanddeepchannelwasspeedilypreparedforthereceptionoftheEuphrates。AstrongdikewasconstructedtointerrupttheordinarycurrentoftheNahar—Malcha:afloodofwatersrushedimpetuouslyintotheirnewbed；andtheRomanfleet，steeringtheirtriumphantcourseintotheTigris，deridedthevainandineffectualbarrierswhichthePersiansofCtesiphonhaderectedtoopposetheirpassage。
[Footnote65:M。d\'Anville，Mem。del\'AcademiedesInscriptions，tom。xxxviiip。246—259hasascertainedthetruepositionanddistanceofBabylon，Seleucia，Ctesiphon，Bagdad，&c。TheRomantraveller，PietrodellaValle，tom。i。lett。xvii。p。650—780，
seemstobethemostintelligentspectatorofthatfamousprovince。Heisagentlemanandascholar，butintolerablyvainandprolix。]
[Footnote66:TheRoyalCanalNahar—Malchamightbesuccessivelyrestored，altered，divided，&c。，Cellarius，Geograph。Antiq。tom。ii。p。453；andthesechangesmayservetoexplaintheseemingcontradictionsofantiquity。InthetimeofJulian，itmusthavefallenintotheEuphratesbelowCtesiphon。]
AsitbecamenecessarytotransporttheRomanarmyovertheTigris，anotherlaborpresenteditself，oflesstoil，butofmoredanger，thantheprecedingexpedition。Thestreamwasbroadandrapid；theascentsteepanddifficult；andtheintrenchmentswhichhadbeenformedontheridgeoftheoppositebank，werelinedwithanumerousarmyofheavycuirrasiers，dexterousarchers，andhugeelephants；whoaccordingtotheextravaganthyperboleofLibaniuscouldtramplewiththesameeaseafieldofcorn，oralegionofRomans。^67Inthepresenceofsuchanenemy，theconstructionofabridgewasimpracticable；andtheintrepidprince，whoinstantlyseizedtheonlypossibleexpedient，concealedhisdesign，tillthemomentofexecution，fromtheknowledgeoftheBarbarians，ofhisowntroops，andevenofhisgeneralsthemselves。Underthespeciouspretenceofexaminingthestateofthemagazines，fourscorevesselsweregraduallyunladen；andaselectdetachment，apparentlydestinedforsomesecretexpedition，wasorderedtostandtotheirarmsonthefirstsignal。Juliandisguisedthesilentanxietyofhisownmindwithsmilesofconfidenceandjoy；andamusedthehostilenationswiththespectacleofmilitarygames，whichheinsultinglycelebratedunderthewallsofCoche。Thedaywasconsecratedtopleasure；but，assoonasthehourofsupperwaspassed，theemperorsummonedthegeneralstohistent，andacquaintedthemthathehadfixedthatnightforthepassageoftheTigris。Theystoodinsilentandrespectfulastonishment；