351—382，onthebaggageandsubsistenceoftheRomanarmies。]
[Footnote84:TheTigrisrisestothesouth，theEuphratestothenorth，oftheArmenianmountains。TheformeroverflowsinMarch，thelatterinJuly。ThesecircumstancesarewellexplainedintheGeographicalDissertationofFoster，insertedinSpelman\'sExpeditionofCyras，vol。ii。p。26。]
[Footnote85:Ammianusxxiv。8describes，ashehadfelt，theinconveniencyoftheflood，theheat，andtheinsects。ThelandsofAssyria，oppressedbytheTurks，andravagedbytheCurdsorArabs，yieldanincreaseoften，fifteen，andtwentyfold，fortheseedwhichiscastintothegroundbythewretchedandunskillfulhusbandmen。VoyagedeNiebuhr，tom。ii。p。279，285。]
[Footnote86:IsidoreofCharaxMansion。Parthic。p。5，6，inHudson，Geograph。Minor。tom。ii。reckons129schaenifromSeleucia，andThevenot，parti。l。i。ii。p。209—245，128hoursofmarchfromBagdadtoEcbatana，orHamadan。Thesemeasurescannotexceedanordinaryparasang，orthreeRomanmiles。]
[Footnote87:ThemarchofJulianfromCtesiphoniscircumstantially，butnotclearly，describedbyAmmianus，xxiv。
7，8，Libanius，Orat。Parent。c。134，p。357，andZosimus，l。
iii。p。183。Thetwolastseemignorantthattheirconquerorwasretreating；andLibaniusabsurdlyconfineshimtothebanksoftheTigris。]
AslongastheRomansseemedtoadvanceintothecountry，theirmarchwasobservedandinsultedfromadistance，byseveralbodiesofPersiancavalry；who，showingthemselvessometimesinloose，andsometimesincloseorder，faintlyskirmishedwiththeadvancedguards。Thesedetachmentswere，however，supportedbyamuchgreaterforce；andtheheadsofthecolumnswerenosoonerpointedtowardstheTigristhanacloudofdustaroseontheplain。TheRomans，whonowaspiredonlytothepermissionofasafeandspeedyretreat，endeavoredtopersuadethemselves，thatthisformidableappearancewasoccasionedbyatroopofwildasses，orperhapsbytheapproachofsomefriendlyArabs。Theyhalted，pitchedtheirtents，fortifiedtheircamp，passedthewholenightincontinualalarms；anddiscoveredatthedawnofday，thattheyweresurroundedbyanarmyofPersians。Thisarmy，whichmightbeconsideredonlyasthevanoftheBarbarians，wassoonfollowedbythemainbodyofcuirassiers，archers，andelephants，commandedbyMeranes，ageneralofrankandreputation。Hewasaccompaniedbytwooftheking\'ssons，andmanyoftheprincipalsatraps；andfameandexpectationexaggeratedthestrengthoftheremainingpowers，whichslowlyadvancedundertheconductofSaporhimself。AstheRomanscontinuedtheirmarch，theirlongarray，whichwasforcedtobendordivide，accordingtothevarietiesoftheground，affordedfrequentandfavorableopportunitiestotheirvigilantenemies。
ThePersiansrepeatedlychargedwithfury；theywererepeatedlyrepulsedwithfirmness；andtheactionatMaronga，whichalmostdeservedthenameofabattle，wasmarkedbyaconsiderablelossofsatrapsandelephants，perhapsofequalvalueintheeyesoftheirmonarch。ThesesplendidadvantageswerenotobtainedwithoutanadequateslaughteronthesideoftheRomans:severalofficersofdistinctionwereeitherkilledorwounded；andtheemperorhimself，who，onalloccasionsofdanger，inspiredandguidedthevalorofhistroops，wasobligedtoexposehisperson，andexerthisabilities。Theweightofoffensiveanddefensivearms，whichstillconstitutedthestrengthandsafetyoftheRomans，disabledthemfrommakinganylongoreffectualpursuit；
andasthehorsemenoftheEastweretrainedtodarttheirjavelins，andshoottheirarrows，atfullspeed，andineverypossibledirection，^88thecavalryofPersiawasnevermoreformidablethaninthemomentofarapidanddisorderlyflight。
ButthemostcertainandirreparablelossoftheRomanswasthatoftime。Thehardyveterans，accustomedtothecoldclimateofGaulandGermany，faintedunderthesultryheatofanAssyriansummer；theirvigorwasexhaustedbytheincessantrepetitionofmarchandcombat；andtheprogressofthearmywassuspendedbytheprecautionsofaslowanddangerousretreat，inthepresenceofanactiveenemy。Everyday，everyhour，asthesupplydiminished，thevalueandpriceofsubsistenceincreasedintheRomancamp。^89Julian，whoalwayscontentedhimselfwithsuchfoodasahungrysoldierwouldhavedisdained，distributed，fortheuseofthetroops，theprovisionsoftheImperialhousehold，andwhatevercouldbespared，fromthesumpter—horses，ofthetribunesandgenerals。Butthisfeeblereliefservedonlytoaggravatethesenseofthepublicdistress；andtheRomansbegantoentertainthemostgloomyapprehensionsthat，beforetheycouldreachthefrontiersoftheempire，theyshouldallperish，eitherbyfamine，orbytheswordoftheBarbarians。^90
[Footnote88:Chardin，themostjudiciousofmoderntravellers，describestom。ii。p。57，58，&c。，edit。in4to。theeducationanddexterityofthePersianhorsemen。BrissoniusdeRegnoPersico，p。650651，&c。，hascollectedthetestimoniesofantiquity。]
[Footnote89:InMarkAntony\'sretreat，anatticchoenixsoldforfiftydrachmae，or，inotherwords，apoundofflourfortwelveorfourteenshillingsbarleybreadwassoldforitsweightinsilver。ItisimpossibletoperusetheinterestingnarrativeofPlutarch，tom。v。p。102—116，withoutperceivingthatMarkAntonyandJulianwerepursuedbythesameenemies，andinvolvedinthesamedistress。]
[Footnote90:Ammian。xxiv。8，xxv。1。Zosimus，l。iii。p。184，185，186。Libanius，Orat。Parent。c。134，135，p。357，358，359。
ThesophistofAntiochappearsignorantthatthetroopswerehungry。]
WhileJulianstruggledwiththealmostinsuperabledifficultiesofhissituation，thesilenthoursofthenightwerestilldevotedtostudyandcontemplation。Wheneverheclosedhiseyesinshortandinterruptedslumbers，hismindwasagitatedwithpainfulanxiety；norcanitbethoughtsurprising，thattheGeniusoftheempireshouldoncemoreappearbeforehim，coveringwithafuneralveilhishead，andhishornofabundance，andslowlyretiringfromtheImperialtent。Themonarchstartedfromhiscouch，andsteppingforthtorefreshhisweariedspiritswiththecoolnessofthemidnightair，hebeheldafierymeteor，whichshotathwartthesky，andsuddenlyvanished。Julianwasconvincedthathehadseenthemenacingcountenanceofthegodofwar；^91
thecouncilwhichhesummoned，ofTuscanHaruspices，^92
unanimouslypronouncedthatheshouldabstainfromaction；butonthisoccasion，necessityandreasonweremoreprevalentthansuperstition；andthetrumpetssoundedatthebreakofday。Thearmymarchedthroughahillycountry；andthehillshadbeensecretlyoccupiedbythePersians。Julianledthevanwiththeskillandattentionofaconsummategeneral；hewasalarmedbytheintelligencethathisrearwassuddenlyattacked。Theheatoftheweatherhadtemptedhimtolayasidehiscuirass；buthesnatchedashieldfromoneofhisattendants，andhastened，withasufficientreenforcement，tothereliefoftherear—guard。A
similardangerrecalledtheintrepidprincetothedefenceofthefront；and，ashegallopedthroughthecolumns，thecentreoftheleftwasattacked，andalmostoverpoweredbythefuriouschargeofthePersiancavalryandelephants。Thishugebodywassoondefeated，bythewell—timedevolutionofthelightinfantry，whoaimedtheirweapons，withdexterityandeffect，againstthebacksofthehorsemen，andthelegsoftheelephants。TheBarbariansfled；andJulian，whowasforemostineverydanger，animatedthepursuitwithhisvoiceandgestures。Histremblingguards，scatteredandoppressedbythedisorderlythrongoffriendsandenemies，remindedtheirfearlesssovereignthathewaswithoutarmor；andconjuredhimtodeclinethefalloftheimpendingruin。Astheyexclaimed，^93acloudofdartsandarrowswasdischargedfromtheflyingsquadrons；andajavelin，afterrazingtheskinofhisarm，transpiercedtheribs，andfixedintheinferiorpartoftheliver。Julianattemptedtodrawthedeadlyweaponfromhisside；buthisfingerswerecutbythesharpnessofthesteel，andhefellsenselessfromhishorse。Hisguardsflewtohisrelief；andthewoundedemperorwasgentlyraisedfromtheground，andconveyedoutofthetumultofthebattleintoanadjacenttent。Thereportofthemelancholyeventpassedfromranktorank；butthegriefoftheRomansinspiredthemwithinvinciblevalor，andthedesireofrevenge。Thebloodyandobstinateconflictwasmaintainedbythetwoarmies，tilltheywereseparatedbythetotaldarknessofthenight。ThePersiansderivedsomehonorfromtheadvantagewhichtheyobtainedagainsttheleftwing，whereAnatolius，masteroftheoffices，wasslain，andthepraefectSallustverynarrowlyescaped。ButtheeventofthedaywasadversetotheBarbarians。Theyabandonedthefield；
theirtwogenerals，MeranesandNohordates，^94fiftynoblesorsatraps，andamultitudeoftheirbravestsoldiers；andthesuccessoftheRomans，ifJulianhadsurvived，mighthavebeenimprovedintoadecisiveandusefulvictory。
[Footnote91:Ammian。xxv。2。Julianhadsworninapassion，nunquamseMartisacrafacturum，xxiv。6。Suchwhimsicalquarrelswerenotuncommonbetweenthegodsandtheirinsolentvotaries；andeventheprudentAugustus，afterhisfleethadbeentwiceshipwrecked，excludedNeptunefromthehonorsofpublicprocessions。SeeHume\'sPhilosophicalReflections。Essays，vol。
ii。p。418。]
[Footnote92:Theystillretainedthemonopolyofthevainbutlucrativescience，whichhadbeeninventedinHetruria；andprofessedtoderivetheirknowledgeofsignsandomensfromtheancientbooksofTarquitius，aTuscansage。]
[Footnote93:ClambanthincindecandidatiseethenoteofValesiusquosterror，utfugientiummolemtanquamruinammalecompositiculminisdeclinaret。Ammian。xxv3。]
[Footnote94:SaporhimselfdeclaredtotheRomans，thatitwashispracticetocomfortthefamiliesofhisdeceasedsatraps，bysendingthem，asapresent，theheadsoftheguardsandofficerswhohadnotfallenbytheirmaster\'sside。Libanius，deneceJulian。ulcis。c。xiii。p。163。]
ThefirstwordsthatJulianuttered，afterhisrecoveryfromthefaintingfitintowhichhehadbeenthrownbylossofblood，wereexpressiveofhismartialspirit。Hecalledforhishorseandarms，andwasimpatienttorushintothebattle。Hisremainingstrengthwasexhaustedbythepainfuleffort；andthesurgeons，whoexaminedhiswound，discoveredthesymptomsofapproachingdeath。Heemployedtheawfulmomentswiththefirmtemperofaheroandasage；thephilosopherswhohadaccompaniedhiminthisfatalexpedition，comparedthetentofJulianwiththeprisonofSocrates；andthespectators，whomduty，orfriendship，orcuriosity，hadassembledroundhiscouch，listenedwithrespectfulgrieftothefuneralorationoftheirdyingemperor。^95\"Friendsandfellow—soldiers，theseasonableperiodofmydepartureisnowarrived，andIdischarge，withthecheerfulnessofareadydebtor，thedemandsofnature。Ihavelearnedfromphilosophy，howmuchthesoulismoreexcellentthanthebody；andthattheseparationofthenoblersubstanceshouldbethesubjectofjoy，ratherthanofaffliction。Ihavelearnedfromreligion，thatanearlydeathhasoftenbeentherewardofpiety；^96andIaccept，asafavorofthegods，themortalstrokethatsecuresmefromthedangerofdisgracingacharacter，whichhashithertobeensupportedbyvirtueandfortitude。Idiewithoutremorse，asIhavelivedwithoutguilt。Iampleasedtoreflectontheinnocenceofmyprivatelife；andIcanaffirmwithconfidence，thatthesupremeauthority，thatemanationoftheDivinePower，hasbeenpreservedinmyhandspureandimmaculate。Detestingthecorruptanddestructivemaximsofdespotism，Ihaveconsideredthehappinessofthepeopleastheendofgovernment。Submittingmyactionstothelawsofprudence，ofjustice，andofmoderation，IhavetrustedtheeventtothecareofProvidence。Peacewastheobjectofmycounsels，aslongaspeacewasconsistentwiththepublicwelfare；butwhentheimperiousvoiceofmycountrysummonedmetoarms，Iexposedmypersontothedangersofwar，withtheclearforeknowledgewhichIhadacquiredfromtheartofdivinationthatIwasdestinedtofallbythesword。InowoffermytributeofgratitudetotheEternalBeing，whohasnotsufferedmetoperishbythecrueltyofatyrant，bythesecretdaggerofconspiracy，orbytheslowtorturesoflingeringdisease。Hehasgivenme，inthemidstofanhonorablecareer，asplendidandgloriousdeparturefromthisworld；andIholditequallyabsurd，equallybase，tosolicit，ortodecline，thestrokeoffate。ThismuchI
haveattemptedtosay；butmystrengthfailsme，andIfeeltheapproachofdeath。Ishallcautiouslyrefrainfromanywordthatmaytendtoinfluenceyoursuffragesintheelectionofanemperor。Mychoicemightbeimprudentorinjudicious；andifitshouldnotberatifiedbytheconsentofthearmy，itmightbefataltothepersonwhomIshouldrecommend。Ishallonly，asagoodcitizen，expressmyhopes，thattheRomansmaybeblessedwiththegovernmentofavirtuoussovereign。\"Afterthisdiscourse，whichJulianpronouncedinafirmandgentletoneofvoice，hedistributed，byamilitarytestament，^97theremainsofhisprivatefortune；andmakingsomeinquirywhyAnatoliuswasnotpresent，heunderstood，fromtheanswerofSallust，thatAnatoliuswaskilled；andbewailed，withamiableinconsistency，thelossofhisfriend。Atthesametimehereprovedtheimmoderategriefofthespectators；andconjuredthemnottodisgrace，byunmanlytears，thefateofaprince，whoinafewmomentswouldbeunitedwithheaven，andwiththestars。^98Thespectatorsweresilent；andJulianenteredintoametaphysicalargumentwiththephilosophersPriscusandMaximus，onthenatureofthesoul。Theeffortswhichhemade，ofmindaswellasbody，mostprobablyhastenedhisdeath。Hiswoundbegantobleedwithfreshviolence；hisrespirationwasembarrassedbytheswellingoftheveins；hecalledforadraughtofcoldwater，and，assoonashehaddrankit，expiredwithoutpain，aboutthehourofmidnight。Suchwastheendofthatextraordinaryman，inthethirty—secondyearofhisage，afterareignofoneyearandabouteightmonths，fromthedeathofConstantius。Inhislastmomentshedisplayed，perhapswithsomeostentation，theloveofvirtueandoffame，whichhadbeentherulingpassionsofhislife。^99
[Footnote95:ThecharacterandsituationofJulianmightcountenancethesuspicionthathehadpreviouslycomposedtheelaborateoration，whichAmmianusheard，andhastranscribed。
TheversionoftheAbbedelaBleterieisfaithfulandelegant。
IhavefollowedhiminexpressingthePlatonicideaofemanations，whichisdarklyinsinuatedintheoriginal。]
[Footnote96:Herodotusl。i。c。31，hasdisplayedthatdoctrineinanagreeabletale。YettheJupiter，inthe16thbookoftheIliad，wholamentswithtearsofbloodthedeathofSarpedonhisson，hadaveryimperfectnotionofhappinessorglorybeyondthegrave。]
[Footnote97:Thesoldierswhomadetheirverbalornuncupatorytestaments，uponactualservice，inprocinctu，wereexemptedfromtheformalitiesoftheRomanlaw。SeeHeineccius，Antiquit。Jur。Roman。tom。i。p。504，andMontesquieu，EspritdesLoix，l。xxvii。]
[Footnote98:Thisunionofthehumansoulwiththedivineaetherealsubstanceoftheuniverse，istheancientdoctrineofPythagorasandPlato:butitseemstoexcludeanypersonalorconsciousimmortality。SeeWarburton\'slearnedandrationalobservations。DivineLegation，volii。p。199—216。]
[Footnote99:ThewholerelationofthedeathofJulianisgivenbyAmmianus，xxv。3，anintelligentspectator。Libanius，whoturnswithhorrorfromthescene，hassuppliedsomecircumstances，Orat。Parental。c136—140，p。359—362。ThecalumniesofGregory，andthelegendsofmorerecentsaints，maynowbesilentlydespised。
Note:AveryremarkablefragmentofEunapiusdescribes，notwithoutspirit，thestrugglebetweentheterrorofthearmyonaccountoftheirperiloussituation，andtheirgriefforthedeathofJulian。\"Eventhevulgarfeltthattheywouldsoonprovideageneral，butsuchageneralasJuliantheywouldneverfind，eventhoughagodintheformofman—Julian，who，withamindequaltothedivinity，triumphedovertheevilpropensitiesofhumannature，—**whoheldcommercewithimmaterialbeingswhileyetinthematerialbody—whocondescendedtorulebecausearulerwasnecessarytothewelfareofmankind。\"Mai，Nov。Coll。
ii。261。EunapiusinNiebuhr，69。]
ThetriumphofChristianity，andthecalamitiesoftheempire，may，insomemeasure，beascribedtoJulianhimself，whohadneglectedtosecurethefutureexecutionofhisdesigns，bythetimelyandjudiciousnominationofanassociateandsuccessor。ButtheroyalraceofConstantiusChloruswasreducedtohisownperson；andifheentertainedanyseriousthoughtsofinvestingwiththepurplethemostworthyamongtheRomans，hewasdivertedfromhisresolutionbythedifficultyofthechoice，thejealousyofpower，thefearofingratitude，andthenaturalpresumptionofhealth，ofyouth，andofprosperity。Hisunexpecteddeathlefttheempirewithoutamaster，andwithoutanheir，inastateofperplexityanddanger，which，inthespaceoffourscoreyears，hadneverbeenexperienced，sincetheelectionofDiocletian。Inagovernmentwhichhadalmostforgottenthedistinctionofpureandnobleblood，thesuperiorityofbirthwasoflittlemoment；theclaimsofofficialrankwereaccidentalandprecarious；andthecandidates，whomightaspiretoascendthevacantthronecouldbesupportedonlybytheconsciousnessofpersonalmerit，orbythehopesofpopularfavor。Butthesituationofafamishedarmy，encompassedonallsidesbyahostofBarbarians，shortenedthemomentsofgriefanddeliberation。
Inthissceneofterroranddistress，thebodyofthedeceasedprince，accordingtohisowndirections，wasdecentlyembalmed；
and，atthedawnofday，thegeneralsconvenedamilitarysenate，atwhichthecommandersofthelegions，andtheofficersbothofcavalryandinfantry，wereinvitedtoassist。Threeorfourhoursofthenighthadnotpassedawaywithoutsomesecretcabals；andwhentheelectionofanemperorwasproposed，thespiritoffactionbegantoagitatetheassembly。VictorandArinthaeuscollectedtheremainsofthecourtofConstantius；thefriendsofJulianattachedthemselvestotheGallicchiefs，DagalaiphusandNevitta；andthemostfatalconsequencesmightbeapprehendedfromthediscordoftwofactions，sooppositeintheircharacterandinterest，intheirmaximsofgovernment，andperhapsintheirreligiousprinciples。ThesuperiorvirtuesofSallustcouldalonereconciletheirdivisions，andunitetheirsuffrages；andthevenerablepraefectwouldimmediatelyhavebeendeclaredthesuccessorofJulian，ifhehimself，withsincereandmodestfirmness，hadnotallegedhisageandinfirmities，sounequaltotheweightofthediadem。Thegenerals，whoweresurprisedandperplexedbyhisrefusal，showedsomedispositiontoadoptthesalutaryadviceofaninferiorofficer，^100thattheyshouldactastheywouldhaveactedintheabsenceoftheemperor；thattheyshouldexerttheirabilitiestoextricatethearmyfromthepresentdistress；and，iftheywerefortunateenoughtoreachtheconfinesofMesopotamia，theyshouldproceedwithunitedanddeliberatecounselsintheelectionofalawfulsovereign。Whiletheydebated，afewvoicessalutedJovian，whowasnomorethanfirst^101ofthedomestics，withthenamesofEmperorandAugustus。Thetumultuaryacclamationwasinstantlyrepeatedbytheguardswhosurroundedthetent，andpassed，inafewminutes，totheextremitiesoftheline。Thenewprince，astonishedwithhisownfortunewashastilyinvestedwiththeImperialornaments，andreceivedanoathoffidelityfromthegenerals，whosefavorandprotectionhesolatelysolicited。ThestrongestrecommendationofJovianwasthemeritofhisfather，CountVarronian，whoenjoyed，inhonorableretirement，thefruitofhislongservices。Intheobscurefreedomofaprivatestation，thesonindulgedhistasteforwineandwomen；yethesupported，withcredit，thecharacterofaChristian^102andasoldier。Withoutbeingconspicuousforanyoftheambitiousqualificationswhichexcitetheadmirationandenvyofmankind，thecomelypersonofJovian，hischeerfultemper，andfamiliarwit，hadgainedtheaffectionofhisfellow—soldiers；andthegeneralsofbothpartiesacquiescedinapopularelection，whichhadnotbeenconductedbytheartsoftheirenemies。Theprideofthisunexpectedelevationwasmoderatedbythejustapprehension，thatthesamedaymightterminatethelifeandreignofthenewemperor。Thepressingvoiceofnecessitywasobeyedwithoutdelay；andthefirstordersissuedbyJovian，afewhoursafterhispredecessorhadexpired，weretoprosecuteamarch，whichcouldaloneextricatetheRomansfromtheiractualdistress。^103