[Footnote100:Honoratioraliquismiles；perhapsAmmianushimself。Themodestandjudicioushistoriandescribesthesceneoftheelection，atwhichhewasundoubtedlypresent，xxv。5。]
[Footnote101:Theprimusorprimiceriusenjoyedthedignityofasenator，andthoughonlyatribune，herankedwiththemilitarydukes。Cod。Theodosian。l。vi。tit。xxiv。TheseprivilegesareperhapsmorerecentthanthetimeofJovian。]
[Footnote*:ThesoldierssupposedthattheacclamationsproclaimedthenameofJulian，restored，astheyfondlythought，tohealth，notthatofJovian。loc。—M。]
[Footnote102:Theecclesiasticalhistorians，Socrates，l。iii。
c。22，Sozomen，l。vi。c。3，andTheodoret，l。iv。c。1，
ascribetoJovianthemeritofaconfessorundertheprecedingreign；andpiouslysupposethatherefusedthepurple，tillthewholearmyunanimouslyexclaimedthattheywereChristians。
Ammianus，calmlypursuinghisnarrative，overthrowsthelegendbyasinglesentence。HostiisproJovianoextisqueinspectis，pronuntiatumest，&c。，xxv。6。]
[Footnote103:Ammianusxxv。10hasdrawnfromthelifeanimpartialportraitofJovian；towhichtheyoungerVictorhasaddedsomeremarkablestrokes。TheAbbedelaBleterieHistoiredeJovien，tom。i。p。1—238hascomposedanelaboratehistoryofhisshortreign；aworkremarkablydistinguishedbyeleganceofstyle，criticaldisquisition，andreligiousprejudice。]
ChapterXXIV:TheRetreatAndDeathOfJulian。
PartV。
Theesteemofanenemyismostsincerelyexpressedbyhisfears；andthedegreeoffearmaybeaccuratelymeasuredbythejoywithwhichhecelebrateshisdeliverance。ThewelcomenewsofthedeathofJulian，whichadeserterrevealedtothecampofSapor，inspiredthedespondingmonarchwithasuddenconfidenceofvictory。Heimmediatelydetachedtheroyalcavalry，perhapsthetenthousandImmortals，^104tosecondandsupportthepursuit；anddischargedthewholeweightofhisunitedforcesontherear—guardoftheRomans。Therear—guardwasthrownintodisorder；therenownedlegions，whichderivedtheirtitlesfromDiocletian，andhiswarlikecolleague，werebrokeandtrampleddownbytheelephants；andthreetribuneslosttheirlivesinattemptingtostoptheflightoftheirsoldiers。ThebattlewasatlengthrestoredbytheperseveringvaloroftheRomans；thePersianswererepulsedwithagreatslaughterofmenandelephants；andthearmy，aftermarchingandfightingalongsummer\'sday，arrived，intheevening，atSamara，onthebanksoftheTigris，aboutonehundredmilesaboveCtesiphon。^105Ontheensuingday，theBarbarians，insteadofharassingthemarch，attackedthecamp，ofJovian；whichhadbeenseatedinadeepandsequesteredvalley。Fromthehills，thearchersofPersiainsultedandannoyedtheweariedlegionaries；andabodyofcavalry，whichhadpenetratedwithdesperatecouragethroughthePraetoriangate，wascutinpieces，afteradoubtfulconflict，neartheImperialtent。Inthesucceedingnight，thecampofCarchewasprotectedbytheloftydikesoftheriver；andtheRomanarmy，thoughincessantlyexposedtothevexatiouspursuitoftheSaracens，pitchedtheirtentsnearthecityofDura，^106
fourdaysafterthedeathofJulian。TheTigriswasstillontheirleft；theirhopesandprovisionswerealmostconsumed；andtheimpatientsoldiers，whohadfondlypersuadedthemselvesthatthefrontiersoftheempirewerenotfardistant，requestedtheirnewsovereign，thattheymightbepermittedtohazardthepassageoftheriver。Withtheassistanceofhiswisestofficers，Jovianendeavoredtochecktheirrashness；byrepresenting，thatiftheypossessedsufficientskillandvigortostemthetorrentofadeepandrapidstream，theywouldonlydeliverthemselvesnakedanddefencelesstotheBarbarians，whohadoccupiedtheoppositebanks，Yieldingatlengthtotheirclamorousimportunities，heconsented，withreluctance，thatfivehundredGaulsandGermans，accustomedfromtheirinfancytothewatersoftheRhineandDanube，shouldattempttheboldadventure，whichmightserveeitherasanencouragement，orasawarning，fortherestofthearmy。Inthesilenceofthenight，theyswamtheTigris，surprisedanunguardedpostoftheenemy，anddisplayedatthedawnofdaythesignaloftheirresolutionandfortune。Thesuccessofthistrialdisposedtheemperortolistentothepromisesofhisarchitects，whoproposetoconstructafloatingbridgeoftheinflatedskinsofsheep，oxen，andgoats，coveredwithafloorofearthandfascines。^107Twoimportantdayswerespentintheineffectuallabor；andtheRomans，whoalreadyenduredthemiseriesoffamine，castalookofdespairontheTigris，andupontheBarbarians；whosenumbersandobstinacyincreasedwiththedistressoftheImperialarmy。^108
[Footnote104:Regiusequitatus。Itappears，fromIrocopius，thattheImmortals，sofamousunderCyrusandhissuccessors，wererevived，ifwemayusethatimproperword，bytheSassanides。BrissondeRegnoPersico，p。268，&c。]
[Footnote105:Theobscurevillagesoftheinlandcountryareirrecoverablylost；norcanwenamethefieldofbattlewhereJulianfell:butM。D\'AnvillehasdemonstratedtheprecisesituationofSumere，Carche，andDura，alongthebanksoftheTigris，GeographieAncienne，tom。ii。p。248L\'EuphrateetleTigre，p。95，97。Intheninthcentury，Sumere，orSamara，became，withaslightchangeofname，theroyalresidenceofthekhalifsofthehouseofAbbas。
Note:Sormanray，calledbytheArabsSamira，whereD\'AnvilleplacedSamara，istoomuchtothesouth；andisamoderntownbuiltbyCaliphMorasen。Serra—man—raimeans，inArabic，itrejoiceseveryonewhoseesit。St。Martin，iii。133。—M。]
[Footnote106:DurawasafortifiedplaceinthewarsofAntiochusagainsttherebelsofMediaandPersia，Polybius，l。
v。c。48，52，p。548，552edit。Casaubon，in8vo。]
[Footnote107:Asimilarexpedientwasproposedtotheleadersofthetenthousand，andwiselyrejected。Xenophon，Anabasis，l。
iii。p。255，256，257。Itappears，fromourmoderntravellers，thatraftsfloatingonbladdersperformthetradeandnavigationoftheTigris。]
[Footnote108:ThefirstmilitaryactsofthereignofJovianarerelatedbyAmmianus，xxv。6，Libanius，Orat。Parent。c。146，p。364，andZosimus，l。iii。p。189，190，191。ThoughwemaydistrustthefairnessofLibanius，theoculartestimonyofEutropiusunoaPersisatquealteroproeliovictus，x。17mustinclineustosuspectthatAmmianushadbeentoojealousofthehonoroftheRomanarms。]
Inthishopelesscondition，thefaintingspiritsoftheRomanswererevivedbythesoundofpeace。ThetransientpresumptionofSaporhadvanished:heobserved，withseriousconcern，that，intherepetitionofdoubtfulcombats，hehadlosthismostfaithfulandintrepidnobles，hisbravesttroops，andthegreatestpartofhistrainofelephants:andtheexperiencedmonarchfearedtoprovoketheresistanceofdespair，thevicissitudesoffortune，andtheunexhaustedpowersoftheRomanempire；whichmightsoonadvancetoelieve，ortorevenge，thesuccessorofJulian。TheSurenashimself，accompaniedbyanothersatrap，appearedinthecampofJovian；^109anddeclared，thattheclemencyofhissovereignwasnotaversetosignifytheconditionsonwhichhewouldconsenttospareandtodismisstheCaesarwiththerelicsofhiscaptivearmy。^!ThehopesofsafetysubduedthefirmnessoftheRomans；theemperorwascompelled，bytheadviceofhiscouncil，andthecriesofhissoldiers，toembracetheofferofpeace；^!!andthepraefectSallustwasimmediatelysent，withthegeneralArinthaeus，tounderstandthepleasureoftheGreatKing。ThecraftyPersiandelayed，undervariouspretenses，theconclusionoftheagreement；starteddifficulties，requiredexplanations，suggestedexpedients，recededfromhisconcessions，increasedhisdemands，andwastedfourdaysintheartsofnegotiation，tillhehadconsumedthestockofprovisionswhichyetremainedinthecampoftheRomans。HadJovianbeencapableofexecutingaboldandprudentmeasure，hewouldhavecontinuedhismarch，withunremittingdiligence；theprogressofthetreatywouldhavesuspendedtheattacksoftheBarbarians；and，beforetheexpirationofthefourthday，hemighthavesafelyreachedthefruitfulprovinceofCorduene，atthedistanceonlyofonehundredmiles。^110Theirresoluteemperor，insteadofbreakingthroughthetoilsoftheenemy，expectedhisfatewithpatientresignation；andacceptedthehumiliatingconditionsofpeace，whichitwasnolongerinhispowertorefuse。ThefiveprovincesbeyondtheTigris，whichhadbeencededbythegrandfatherofSapor，wererestoredtothePersianmonarchy。Heacquired，byasinglearticle，theimpregnablecityofNisibis；
whichhadsustained，inthreesuccessivesieges，theeffortofhisarms。Singara，andthecastleoftheMoors，oneofthestrongestplacesofMesopotamia，werelikewisedismemberedfromtheempire。Itwasconsideredasanindulgence，thattheinhabitantsofthosefortresseswerepermittedtoretirewiththeireffects；buttheconquerorrigorouslyinsisted，thattheRomansshouldforeverabandonthekingandkingdomofArmenia。
^!!!Apeace，orratheralongtruce，ofthirtyyears，wasstipulatedbetweenthehostilenations；thefaithofthetreatywasratifiedbysolemnoathsandreligiousceremonies；andhostagesofdistinguishedrankwerereciprocallydeliveredtosecuretheperformanceoftheconditions。^111
[Footnote109:SextusRufusdeProvinciis，c。29embracesapoorsubterfugeofnationalvanity。TantareverentianominisRomanifuit，utaPersisprimusdepacesermohaberetur。]
[Footnote*:HeiscalledJuniusbyJohnMalala；thesame，M。St。
Martinconjectures，withasatrapofGordyenenamedJovianus，orJovinianus；mentionedinAmmianusMarcellinus，xviii。6。—M。]
[Footnote!:ThePersianhistorianscouchthemessageofShah—pourintheseOrientalterms:\"Ihavereassembledmynumerousarmy。Iamresolvedtorevengemysubjects，whohavebeenplundered，madecaptives，andslain。ItisforthisthatI
havebaredmyarm，andgirdedmyloins。Ifyouconsenttopaythepriceofthebloodwhichhasbeenshed，todeliverupthebootywhichhasbeenplundered，andtorestorethecityofNisibis，whichisinIrak，andbelongstoourempire，thoughnowinyourpossession，Iwillsheathetheswordofwar；butshouldyourefusetheseterms，thehoofsofmyhorse，whicharehardassteel，shalleffacethenameoftheRomansfromtheearth；andmygloriouscimeter，thatdestroyslikefire，shallexterminatethepeopleofyourempire。\"TheseauthoritiesdonotmentionthedeathofJulian。Malcolm\'sPersia，i。87。—M。]
[Footnote!!:ThePaschalchronicle，not，asM。St。Martinsays，supportedbyJohnMalala，placesthemissionofthisambassadorbeforethedeathofJulian。ThekingofPersiawastheninPersarmenia，ignorantofthedeathofJulian；heonlyarrivedatthearmysubsequenttothatevent。St。Martinadoptsthisview，andfindsorextortssupportforit，fromLibaniusandAmmianus，iii。158。—M。]
[Footnote110:ItispresumptuoustocontroverttheopinionofAmmianus，asoldierandaspectator。YetitisdifficulttounderstandhowthemountainsofCorduenecouldextendovertheplainsofAssyria，aslowastheconfluxoftheTigrisandthegreatZab；orhowanarmyofsixtythousandmencouldmarchonehundredmilesinfourdays。
Note:Yetthisappearstobethecaseinmodernmaps:themarchisthedifficulty。—M。]
[Footnote!!!:Saporavailedhimself，afewyearsafter，ofthedissolutionofthealliancebetweentheRomansandtheArmenians。
SeeSt。M。iii。163。—M。]
[Footnote111:ThetreatyofDuraisrecordedwithgrieforindignationbyAmmianus，xxv。7，Libanius，Orat。Parent。c。
142，p。364，Zosimus，l。iii。p。190，191，GregoryNazianzen，Orat。iv。p。117，118，whoimputesthedistresstoJulian，thedeliverancetoJovian，andEutropius，x。17。Thelast—mentionedwriter，whowaspresentinmilitarystation，stylesthispeacenecessariumquidemsedignoblem。]
ThesophistofAntioch，whosawwithindignationthesceptreofhisherointhefeeblehandofaChristiansuccessor，professestoadmirethemoderationofSapor，incontentinghimselfwithsosmallaportionoftheRomanempire。IfhehadstretchedasfarastheEuphratestheclaimsofhisambition，hemighthavebeensecure，saysLibanius，ofnotmeetingwitharefusal。Ifhehadfixed，astheboundaryofPersia，theOrontes，theCydnus，theSangarius，oreventheThracianBosphorus，flattererswouldnothavebeenwantinginthecourtofJoviantoconvincethetimidmonarch，thathisremainingprovinceswouldstillaffordthemostamplegratificationsofpowerandluxury。^112Withoutadoptinginitsfullforcethismaliciousinsinuation，wemustacknowledge，thattheconclusionofsoignominiousatreatywasfacilitatedbytheprivateambitionofJovian。Theobscuredomestic，exaltedtothethronebyfortune，ratherthanbymerit，wasimpatienttoescapefromthehandsofthePersians，thathemightpreventthedesignsofProcopius，whocommandedthearmyofMesopotamia，andestablishhisdoubtfulreignoverthelegionsandprovinceswhichwerestillignorantofthehastyandtumultuouschoiceofthecampbeyondtheTigris。^113Intheneighborhoodofthesameriver，atnoveryconsiderabledistancefromthefatalstationofDura，^114thetenthousandGreeks，withoutgenerals，orguides，orprovisions，wereabandoned，abovetwelvehundredmilesfromtheirnativecountry，totheresentmentofavictoriousmonarch。Thedifferenceoftheirconductandsuccessdependedmuchmoreontheircharacterthanontheirsituation。Insteadoftamelyresigningthemselvestothesecretdeliberationsandprivateviewsofasingleperson，theunitedcouncilsoftheGreekswereinspiredbythegenerousenthusiasmofapopularassembly；wherethemindofeachcitizenisfilledwiththeloveofglory，theprideoffreedom，andthecontemptofdeath。ConsciousoftheirsuperiorityovertheBarbariansinarmsanddiscipline，theydisdainedtoyield，theyrefusedtocapitulate:everyobstaclewassurmountedbytheirpatience，courage，andmilitaryskill；
andthememorableretreatofthetenthousandexposedandinsultedtheweaknessofthePersianmonarchy。^115
[Footnote112:Libanius，Orat。Parent。c。143，p。364，365。]
[Footnote113:Conditionibus……dispendiosisRomanaereipublicaeimpositis……quibuscupidiorregniquamgloriaeJovianus，imperiorudis，adquievit。SextusRufusdeProvinciis，c。29。LaBleteriehasexpressed，inalong，directoration，thesespeciousconsiderationsofpublicandprivateinterest，Hist。deJovien，tom。i。p。39，&c。]
[Footnote114:ThegeneralsweremurderedonthebauksoftheZabatus，Anabasis，l。ii。p。156，l。iii。p。226，orgreatZab，ariverofAssyria，400feetbroad，whichfallsintotheTigrisfourteenhoursbelowMosul。TheerroroftheGreeksbestowedonthegreaterandlesserZabthenamesoftheWalf，Lycus，andtheGoat，Capros。TheycreatedtheseanimalstoattendtheTigeroftheEast。]
[Footnote115:TheCyropoediaisvagueandlanguid；theAnabasiscircumstanceandanimated。Suchistheeternaldifferencebetweenfictionandtruth。]
Asthepriceofhisdisgracefulconcessions，theemperormightperhapshavestipulated，thatthecampofthehungryRomansshouldbeplentifullysupplied；^116andthattheyshouldbepermittedtopasstheTigrisonthebridgewhichwasconstructedbythehandsofthePersians。But，ifJovianpresumedtosolicitthoseequitableterms，theyweresternlyrefusedbythehaughtytyrantoftheEast，whoseclemencyhadpardonedtheinvadersofhiscountry。TheSaracenssometimesinterceptedthestragglersofthemarch；butthegeneralsandtroopsofSaporrespectedthecessationofarms；andJovianwassufferedtoexplorethemostconvenientplaceforthepassageoftheriver。Thesmallvessels，whichhadbeensavedfromtheconflagrationofthefleet，performedthemostessentialservice。Theyfirstconveyedtheemperorandhisfavorites；andafterwardstransported，inmanysuccessivevoyages，agreatpartofthearmy。But，aseverymanwasanxiousforhispersonalsafety，andapprehensiveofbeingleftonthehostileshore，thesoldiers，whoweretooimpatienttowaittheslowreturnsoftheboats，boldlyventuredthemselvesonlighthurdles，orinflatedskins；and，drawingafterthemtheirhorses，attempted，withvarioussuccess，toswimacrosstheriver。Manyofthesedaringadventurerswereswallowedbythewaves；manyothers，whowerecarriedalongbytheviolenceofthestream，fellaneasypreytotheavariceorcrueltyofthewildArabs:andthelosswhichthearmysustainedinthepassageoftheTigris，wasnotinferiortothecarnageofadayofbattle。AssoonastheRomanswerelandedonthewesternbank，theyweredeliveredfromthehostilepursuitoftheBarbarians；but，inalaboriousmarchoftwohundredmilesovertheplainsofMesopotamia，theyenduredthelastextremitiesofthirstandhunger。Theywereobligedtotraversethesandydesert，which，intheextentofseventymiles，didnotaffordasinglebladeofsweetgrass，norasinglespringoffreshwater；
andtherestoftheinhospitablewastewasuntrodbythefootstepseitheroffriendsorenemies。Wheneverasmallmeasureofflourcouldbediscoveredinthecamp，twentypoundsweightweregreedilypurchasedwithtenpiecesofgold:^117thebeastsofburdenwereslaughteredanddevoured；andthedesertwasstrewedwiththearmsandbaggageoftheRomansoldiers，whosetatteredgarmentsandmeagrecountenancesdisplayedtheirpastsufferingsandactualmisery。AsmallconvoyofprovisionsadvancedtomeetthearmyasfarasthecastleofUr；andthesupplywasthemoregrateful，sinceitdeclaredthefidelityofSebastianandProcopius。AtThilsaphata，^118theemperormostgraciouslyreceivedthegeneralsofMesopotamia；andtheremainsofaonceflourishingarmyatlengthreposedthemselvesunderthewallsofNisibis。ThemessengersofJovianhadalreadyproclaimed，inthelanguageofflattery，hiselection，histreaty，andhisreturn；andthenewprincehadtakenthemosteffectualmeasurestosecuretheallegianceofthearmiesandprovincesofEurope，byplacingthemilitarycommandinthehandsofthoseofficers，who，frommotivesofinterest，orinclination，wouldfirmlysupportthecauseoftheirbenefactor。^119
[Footnote116:AccordingtoRufinus，animmediatesupplyofprovisionswasstipulatedbythetreaty，andTheodoretaffirms，thattheobligationwasfaithfullydischargedbythePersians。
Suchafactisprobablebutundoubtedlyfalse。SeeTillemont，Hist。desEmpereurs，tom。iv。p。702。]
[Footnote117:WemayrecollectsomelinesofLucan，Pharsal。
iv。95，whodescribesasimilardistressofCaesar\'sarmyinSpain:—
Saevafamesaderat—
Mileseget:totocensunonprodigusemitExiguamCererem。Prohlucripallidatabes!
Nondeestprolatojejunusvenditorauro。
SeeGuichardtNouveauxMemoiresMilitaires，tom。i。p。370—382。
HisanalysisofthetwocampaignsinSpainandAfricaisthenoblestmonumentthathaseverbeenraisedtothefameofCaesar。]