but，whenthevenerableSallustassumedtheprivilegeofhisageandexperience，therestofthechiefssupportedwithfreedomtheweightofhisprudentremonstrances。^68Juliancontentedhimselfwithobserving，thatconquestandsafetydependedontheattempt；
thatinsteadofdiminishing，thenumberoftheirenemieswouldbeincreased，bysuccessivereenforcements；andthatalongerdelaywouldneithercontractthebreadthofthestream，norleveltheheightofthebank。Thesignalwasinstantlygiven，andobeyed；
themostimpatientofthelegionariesleapedintofivevesselsthatlaynearesttothebank；andastheypliedtheiroarswithintrepiddiligence，theywerelost，afterafewmoments，inthedarknessofthenight。Aflamearoseontheoppositeside；andJulian，whotooclearlyunderstoodthathisforemostvessels，inattemptingtoland，hadbeenfiredbytheenemy，dexterouslyconvertedtheirextremedangerintoapresageofvictory。\"Ourfellow—soldiers，\"heeagerlyexclaimed，\"arealreadymastersofthebank；see—theymaketheappointedsignal；letushastentoemulateandassisttheircourage。\"Theunitedandrapidmotionofagreatfleetbroketheviolenceofthecurrent，andtheyreachedtheeasternshoreoftheTigriswithsufficientspeedtoextinguishtheflames，andrescuetheiradventurouscompanions。
Thedifficultiesofasteepandloftyascentwereincreasedbytheweightofarmor，andthedarknessofthenight。Ashowerofstones，darts，andfire，wasincessantlydischargedontheheadsoftheassailants；who，afteranarduousstruggle，climbedthebankandstoodvictoriousupontherampart。Assoonastheypossessedamoreequalfield，Julian，who，withhislightinfantry，hadledtheattack，^69dartedthroughtheranksaskilfulandexperiencedeye:hisbravestsoldiers，accordingtothepreceptsofHomer，^70weredistributedinthefrontandrear:andallthetrumpetsoftheImperialarmysoundedtobattle。TheRomans，aftersendingupamilitaryshout，advancedinmeasuredstepstotheanimatingnotesofmartialmusic；
launchedtheirformidablejavelins；andrushedforwardswithdrawnswords，todeprivetheBarbarians，byacloseronset，oftheadvantageoftheirmissileweapons。Thewholeengagementlastedabovetwelvehours；tillthegradualretreatofthePersianswaschangedintoadisorderlyflight，ofwhichtheshamefulexamplewasgivenbytheprincipalleader，andtheSurenashimself。TheywerepursuedtothegatesofCtesiphon；
andtheconquerorsmighthaveenteredthedismayedcity，^71iftheirgeneral，Victor，whowasdangerouslywoundedwithanarrow，hadnotconjuredthemtodesistfromarashattempt，whichmustbefatal，ifitwerenotsuccessful。Ontheirside，theRomansacknowledgedthelossofonlyseventy—fivemen；whiletheyaffirmed，thattheBarbarianshadleftonthefieldofbattletwothousandfivehundred，orevensixthousand，oftheirbravestsoldiers。ThespoilwassuchasmightbeexpectedfromtherichesandluxuryofanOrientalcamp；largequantitiesofsilverandgold，splendidarmsandtrappings，andbedsandtablesofmassysilver。Thevictoriousemperordistributed，astherewardsofvalor，somehonorablegifts，civic，andmural，andnavalcrowns；
whichhe，andperhapshealone，esteemedmorepreciousthanthewealthofAsia。Asolemnsacrificewasofferedtothegodofwar，buttheappearancesofthevictimsthreatenedthemostinauspiciousevents；andJuliansoondiscovered，bylessambiguoussigns，thathehadnowreachedthetermofhisprosperity。^72
[Footnote67:Rienn\'estbeauquelevrai；amaximwhichshouldbeinscribedonthedeskofeveryrhetorician。]
[Footnote*:Thisisamistake；eachvesselaccordingtoZosimustwo，accordingtoAmmianusfivehadeightymen。Amm。xxiv。6，withWagner\'snote。Gibbonmusthavereadoctogenasforoctogenis。Thefivevesselsselectedforthisservicewereremarkablylargeandstrongprovisiontransports。ThestrengthofthefleetremainedwithJuliantocarryoverthearmy—M。]
[Footnote68:Libaniusalludestothemostpowerfulofthegenerals。IhaveventuredtonameSallust。Ammianussays，ofalltheleaders，quodacrimetuterritacrimetuterritiducesconcordiprecatuprecautfieriprohiberetentarent。
Note:ItisevidentthatGibbonhasmistakenthesenseofLibanius；hiswordscanonlyapplytoacommanderofadetachment，nottosoeminentapersonasthePraefectoftheEast。St。Martin，iii。313。—M。]
[Footnote69:HincImperator……saysAmmianusipsecumlevisarmaturaeauxiliisperprimapostremaquediscurrens，&c。
YetZosimus，hisfriend，doesnotallowhimtopasstherivertilltwodaysafterthebattle。]
[Footnote70:SecundumHomericamdispositionem。AsimilardispositionisascribedtothewiseNestor，inthefourthbookoftheIliad；andHomerwasneverabsentfromthemindofJulian。]
[Footnote71:Persasterroresubitomiscuerunt，versisqueagminibustotiusgentis，apertasCtesiphontisportasvictormilesintrasset，nimajorpraedarumoccasiofuisset，quamcuravictoriae，SextusRufusdeProvinciisc。28。TheiravaricemightdisposethemtoheartheadviceofVictor。]
[Footnote*:ThesuburbsofCtesiphon，accordingtoanewfragmentofEunapius，weresofullofprovisions，thatthesoldierswereindangerofsufferingfromexcess。Mai，p。260。
EunapiusinNiebuhr。Nov。Byz。Coll。68。JulianexhibitedwarlikedancesandgamesinhiscamptorecreatethesoldiersIbid。—M。]
[Footnote72:Thelaborofthecanal，thepassageoftheTigris，andthevictory，aredescribedbyAmmianus，xxiv。5，6，
Libanius，Orat。Parent。c。124—128，p。347—353，Greg。
Nazianzen，Orat。iv。p。115，Zosimus，l。iii。p。181—183，andSextusRufus，deProvinciis，c。28。]
Ontheseconddayafterthebattle，thedomesticguards，theJoviansandHerculians，andtheremainingtroops，whichcomposedneartwothirdsofthewholearmy，weresecurelywaftedovertheTigris。^73WhilethePersiansbeheldfromthewallsofCtesiphonthedesolationoftheadjacentcountry，JuliancastmanyananxiouslooktowardstheNorth，infullexpectation，thatashehimselfhadvictoriouslypenetratedtothecapitalofSapor，themarchandjunctionofhislieutenants，SebastianandProcopius，wouldbeexecutedwiththesamecourageanddiligence。HisexpectationsweredisappointedbythetreacheryoftheArmenianking，whopermitted，andmostprobablydirected，thedesertionofhisauxiliarytroopsfromthecampoftheRomans；^74andbythedissensionsofthetwogenerals，whowereincapableofformingorexecutinganyplanforthepublicservice。Whentheemperorhadrelinquishedthehopeofthisimportantreenforcement，hecondescendedtoholdacouncilofwar，andapproved，afterafulldebate，thesentimentofthosegenerals，whodissuadedthesiegeofCtesiphon，asafruitlessandperniciousundertaking。Itisnoteasyforustoconceive，bywhatartsoffortificationacitythricebesiegedandtakenbythepredecessorsofJuliancouldberenderedimpregnableagainstanarmyofsixtythousandRomans，commandedbyabraveandexperiencedgeneral，andabundantlysuppliedwithships，provisions，batteringengines，andmilitarystores。Butwemayrestassured，fromtheloveofglory，andcontemptofdanger，whichformedthecharacterofJulian，thathewasnotdiscouragedbyanytrivialorimaginaryobstacles。^75AttheverytimewhenhedeclinedthesiegeofCtesiphon，herejected，withobstinacyanddisdain，themostflatteringoffersofanegotiationofpeace。Sapor，whohadbeensolongaccustomedtothetardyostentationofConstantius，wassurprisedbytheintrepiddiligenceofhissuccessor。AsfarastheconfinesofIndiaandScythia，thesatrapsofthedistantprovinceswereorderedtoassembletheirtroops，andtomarch，withoutdelay，totheassistanceoftheirmonarch。Buttheirpreparationsweredilatory，theirmotionsslow；andbeforeSaporcouldleadanarmyintothefield，hereceivedthemelancholyintelligenceofthedevastationofAssyria，theruinofhispalaces，andtheslaughterofhisbravesttroops，whodefendedthepassageoftheTigris。Theprideofroyaltywashumbledinthedust；hetookhisrepastsontheground；andthedisorderofhishairexpressedthegriefandanxietyofhismind。Perhapshewouldnothaverefusedtopurchase，withonehalfofhiskingdom，thesafetyoftheremainder；andhewouldhavegladlysubscribedhimself，inatreatyofpeace，thefaithfulanddependentallyoftheRomanconqueror。Underthepretenceofprivatebusiness，aministerofrankandconfidencewassecretlydespatchedtoembracethekneesofHormisdas，andtorequest，inthelanguageofasuppliant，thathemightbeintroducedintothepresenceoftheemperor。TheSassanianprince，whetherhelistenedtothevoiceofprideorhumanity，whetherheconsultedthesentimentsofhisbirth，orthedutiesofhissituation，wasequallyinclinedtopromoteasalutarymeasure，whichwouldterminatethecalamitiesofPersia，andsecurethetriumphofRome。Hewasastonishedbytheinflexiblefirmnessofahero，whoremembered，mostunfortunatelyforhimselfandforhiscountry，thatAlexanderhaduniformlyrejectedthepropositionsofDarius。ButasJulianwassensible，thatthehopeofasafeandhonorablepeacemightcooltheardorofhistroops，heearnestlyrequestedthatHormisdaswouldprivatelydismisstheministerofSapor，andconcealthisdangeroustemptationfromtheknowledgeofthecamp。
^76
[Footnote73:Thefleetandarmywereformedinthreedivisions，ofwhichthefirstonlyhadpassedduringthenight。]
[Footnote74:MosesofChoreneHist。Armen。l。iii。c。15，p。
246suppliesuswithanationaltradition，andaspuriousletter。Ihaveborrowedonlytheleadingcircumstance，whichisconsistentwithtruth，probability，andLibanius，Orat。Parent。
c。131，p。355。]
[Footnote75:Civitasinexpugnabilis，facinusaudaxetimportunum。Ammianus，xxiv。7。Hisfellow—soldier，Eutropius，turnsasidefromthedifficulty，Assyriamquepopulatus，castraapudCtesiphontemstativaaliquandiuhabuit:remeansbuevictor，&c。x。16。Zosimusisartfulorignorant，andSocratesinaccurate。]
[Footnote76:Libanius，Orat。Parent。c。130，p。354，c。139，p。
361。Socrates，l。iii。c。21。TheecclesiasticalhistorianimputestherefusalofpeacetotheadviceofMaximus。Suchadvicewasunworthyofaphilosopher；butthephilosopherwaslikewiseamagician，whoflatteredthehopesandpassionsofhismaster。]
ChapterXXIV:TheRetreatAndDeathOfJulian。
PartIV。
Thehonor，aswellasinterest，ofJulian，forbadehimtoconsumehistimeundertheimpregnablewallsofCtesiphonandasoftenashedefiedtheBarbarians，whodefendedthecity，tomeethimontheopenplain，theyprudentlyreplied，thatifhedesiredtoexercisehisvalor，hemightseekthearmyoftheGreatKing。
Hefelttheinsult，andheacceptedtheadvice。InsteadofconfininghisservilemarchtothebanksoftheEuphratesandTigris，heresolvedtoimitatetheadventurousspiritofAlexander，andboldlytoadvanceintotheinlandprovinces，tillheforcedhisrivaltocontendwithhim，perhapsintheplainsofArbela，fortheempireofAsia。ThemagnanimityofJulianwasapplaudedandbetrayed，bytheartsofanoblePersian，who，inthecauseofhiscountry，hadgenerouslysubmittedtoactapartfullofdanger，offalsehood，andofshame。^77Withatrainoffaithfulfollowers，hedesertedtotheImperialcamp；exposed，inaspecioustale，theinjurieswhichhehadsustained；exaggeratedthecrueltyofSapor，thediscontentofthepeople，andtheweaknessofthemonarchy；andconfidentlyofferedhimselfasthehostageandguideoftheRomanmarch。Themostrationalgroundsofsuspicionwereurged，withouteffect，bythewisdomandexperienceofHormisdas；andthecredulousJulian，receivingthetraitorintohisbosom，waspersuadedtoissueahastyorder，which，intheopinionofmankind，appearedtoarraignhisprudence，andtoendangerhissafety。Hedestroyed，inasinglehour，thewholenavy，whichhadbeentransportedabovefivehundredmiles，atsogreatanexpenseoftoil，oftreasure，andofblood。Twelve，or，atthemost，twenty—twosmallvesselsweresaved，toaccompany，oncarriages，themarchofthearmy，andtoformoccasionalbridgesforthepassageoftherivers。Asupplyoftwentydays\'provisionswasreservedfortheuseofthesoldiers；andtherestofthemagazines，withafleetofelevenhundredvessels，whichrodeatanchorintheTigris，wereabandonedtotheflames，bytheabsolutecommandoftheemperor。
TheChristianbishops，GregoryandAugustin，insultthemadnessoftheApostate，whoexecuted，withhisownhands，thesentenceofdivinejustice。Theirauthority，oflessweight，perhaps，inamilitaryquestion，isconfirmedbythecooljudgmentofanexperiencedsoldier，whowashimselfspectatoroftheconflagration，andwhocouldnotdisapprovethereluctantmurmursofthetroops。^78Yettherearenotwantingsomespecious，andperhapssolid，reasons，whichmightjustifytheresolutionofJulian。ThenavigationoftheEuphratesneverascendedaboveBabylon，northatoftheTigrisaboveOpis。^79Thedistanceofthelast—mentionedcityfromtheRomancampwasnotveryconsiderable:andJulianmustsoonhaverenouncedthevainandimpracticableattemptofforcingupwardsagreatfleetagainstthestreamofarapidriver，^80whichinseveralplaceswasembarrassedbynaturalorartificialcataracts。^81Thepowerofsailsandoarswasinsufficient；itbecamenecessarytotowtheshipsagainstthecurrentoftheriver；thestrengthoftwentythousandsoldierswasexhaustedinthistediousandservilelabor，andiftheRomanscontinuedtomarchalongthebanksoftheTigris，theycouldonlyexpecttoreturnhomewithoutachievinganyenterpriseworthyofthegeniusorfortuneoftheirleader。If，onthecontrary，itwasadvisabletoadvanceintotheinlandcountry，thedestructionofthefleetandmagazineswastheonlymeasurewhichcouldsavethatvaluableprizefromthehandsofthenumerousandactivetroopswhichmightsuddenlybepouredfromthegatesofCtesiphon。HadthearmsofJulianbeenvictorious，weshouldnowadmiretheconduct，aswellasthecourage，ofahero，who，bydeprivinghissoldiersofthehopesofaretreat，leftthemonlythealternativeofdeathorconquest。^82
[Footnote77:TheartsofthisnewZopyrusGreg。Nazianzen，Orat。iv。p。115，116mayderivesomecreditfromthetestimonyoftwoabbreviators，SextusRufusandVictor，andthecasualhintsofLibaniusOrat。Parent。c。134，p。357andAmmianus，xxiv。7。ThecourseofgenuinehistoryisinterruptedbyamostunseasonablechasminthetextofAmmianus。]
[Footnote78:SeeAmmianus，xxiv。7，Libanius，Orat。
Parentalis，c。132，133，p。356，357，Zosimus，l。iii。p。183，
Zonaras，tom。ii。l。xiii。p。26Gregory，Orat。iv。p。116，
andAugustin，deCivitateDei，l。iv。c。29，l。v。c。21。OftheseLibaniusaloneattemptsafaintapologyforhishero；who，accordingtoAmmianus，pronouncedhisowncondemnationbyatardyandineffectualattempttoextinguishtheflames。]
[Footnote79:ConsultHerodotus，l。i。c。194，Strabo，l。xvi。
p。1074，andTavernier，parti。l。ii。p。152。]
[Footnote80:AceleritateTigrisincipitvocari，itaappellantMedisagittam。Plin。Hist。Natur。vi。31。]
[Footnote81:Oneofthesedikes，whichproducesanartificialcascadeorcataract，isdescribedbyTavernierparti。l。ii。p。
226andThevenot，partii。l。i。p。193。ThePersians，orAssyrians，laboredtointerruptthenavigationoftheriver，Strabo，l。xv。p。1075。D\'Anville，l\'EuphrateetleTigre，p。
98，99。]
[Footnote82:RecollectthesuccessfulandapplaudedrashnessofAgathoclesandCortez，whoburnttheirshipsonthecoastofAfricaandMexico。]
Thecumbersometrainofartilleryandwagons，whichretardstheoperationsofamodernarmy，wereinagreatmeasureunknowninthecampsoftheRomans。^83Yet，ineveryage，thesubsistenceofsixtythousandmenmusthavebeenoneofthemostimportantcaresofaprudentgeneral；andthatsubsistencecouldonlybedrawnfromhisownorfromtheenemy\'scountry。HaditbeenpossibleforJuliantomaintainabridgeofcommunicationontheTigris，andtopreservetheconqueredplacesofAssyria，adesolatedprovincecouldnotaffordanylargeorregularsupplies，inaseasonoftheyearwhenthelandswerecoveredbytheinundationoftheEuphrates，^84andtheunwholesomeairwasdarkenedwithswarmsofinnumerableinsects。^85Theappearanceofthehostilecountrywasfarmoreinviting。TheextensiveregionthatliesbetweentheRiverTigrisandthemountainsofMedia，wasfilledwithvillagesandtowns；andthefertilesoil，forthemostpart，wasinaveryimprovedstateofcultivation。
Julianmightexpect，thataconqueror，whopossessedthetwoforcibleinstrumentsofpersuasion，steelandgold，wouldeasilyprocureaplentifulsubsistencefromthefearsoravariceofthenatives。But，ontheapproachoftheRomans，therichandsmilingprospectwasinstantlyblasted。Wherevertheymoved，theinhabitantsdesertedtheopenvillages，andtookshelterinthefortifiedtowns；thecattlewasdrivenaway；thegrassandripecornwereconsumedwithfire；and，assoonastheflameshadsubsidedwhichinterruptedthemarchofJulian，hebeheldthemelancholyfaceofasmokingandnakeddesert。Thisdesperatebuteffectualmethodofdefencecanonlybeexecutedbytheenthusiasmofapeoplewhoprefertheirindependencetotheirproperty；orbytherigorofanarbitrarygovernment，whichconsultsthepublicsafetywithoutsubmittingtotheirinclinationsthelibertyofchoice。OnthepresentoccasionthezealandobedienceofthePersianssecondedthecommandsofSapor；andtheemperorwassoonreducedtothescantystockofprovisions，whichcontinuallywastedinhishands。Beforetheywereentirelyconsumed，hemightstillhavereachedthewealthyandunwarlikecitiesofEcbatanaorSusa，bytheeffortofarapidandwell—directedmarch；^86buthewasdeprivedofthislastresourcebyhisignoranceoftheroads，andbytheperfidyofhisguides。TheRomanswanderedseveraldaysinthecountrytotheeastwardofBagdad；thePersiandeserter，whohadartfullyledthemintothespare，escapedfromtheirresentment；andhisfollowers，assoonastheywereputtothetorture，confessedthesecretoftheconspiracy。ThevisionaryconquestsofHyrcaniaandIndia，whichhadsolongamused，nowtormented，themindofJulian。Consciousthathisownimprudencewasthecauseofthepublicdistress，heanxiouslybalancedthehopesofsafetyorsuccess，withoutobtainingasatisfactoryanswer，eitherfromgodsormen。Atlength，astheonlypracticablemeasure，heembracedtheresolutionofdirectinghisstepstowardsthebanksoftheTigris，withthedesignofsavingthearmybyahastymarchtotheconfinesofCorduene；afertileandfriendlyprovince，whichacknowledgedthesovereigntyofRome。Thedespondingtroopsobeyedthesignaloftheretreat，onlyseventydaysaftertheyhadpassedtheChaboras，withthesanguineexpectationofsubvertingthethroneofPersia。^87
[Footnote83:SeethejudiciousreflectionsoftheauthoroftheEssaisurlaTactique，tom。ii。p。287—353，andthelearnedremarksofM。GuichardtNouveauxMemoiresMilitaires，tom。i。p。