[Footnote118:M。d'AnvilleseehisMaps，andl'EuphrateetleTigre，p。92，93tracestheirmarch，andassignsthetruepositionofHatra，Ur，andThilsaphata，whichAmmianushasmentioned。HedoesnotcomplainoftheSamiel，thedeadlyhotwind，whichThevenotVoyages，partii。l。i。p。192somuchdreaded。]
[Footnote*:Hatra，nowKadhr。Ur，KasrorSkervidgi。
Thilsaphataisunknown—M。]
[Footnote119:TheretreatofJovianisdescribedbyAmmianus，xxv。9，Libanius，Orat。Parent。c。143，p。365，andZosimus，l。iii。p。194。]
ThefriendsofJulianhadconfidentlyannouncedthesuccessofhisexpedition。TheyentertainedafondpersuasionthatthetemplesofthegodswouldbeenrichedwiththespoilsoftheEast；thatPersiawouldbereducedtothehumblestateofatributaryprovince，governedbythelawsandmagistratesofRome；
thattheBarbarianswouldadoptthedress，andmanners，andlanguageoftheirconquerors；andthattheyouthofEcbatanaandSusawouldstudytheartofrhetoricunderGrecianmasters。^120
TheprogressofthearmsofJulianinterruptedhiscommunicationwiththeempire；and，fromthemomentthathepassedtheTigris，hisaffectionatesubjectswereignorantofthefateandfortunesoftheirprince。Theircontemplationoffanciedtriumphswasdisturbedbythemelancholyrumorofhisdeath；andtheypersistedtodoubt，aftertheycouldnolongerdeny，thetruthofthatfatalevent。^121ThemessengersofJovianpromulgatedthespecioustaleofaprudentandnecessarypeace；thevoiceoffame，louderandmoresincere，revealedthedisgraceoftheemperor，andtheconditionsoftheignominioustreaty。Themindsofthepeoplewerefilledwithastonishmentandgrief，withindignationandterror，whentheywereinformed，thattheunworthysuccessorofJulianrelinquishedthefiveprovinceswhichhadbeenacquiredbythevictoryofGalerius；andthatheshamefullysurrenderedtotheBarbarianstheimportantcityofNisibis，thefirmestbulwarkoftheprovincesoftheEast。^122
Thedeepanddangerousquestion，howfarthepublicfaithshouldbeobserved，whenitbecomesincompatiblewiththepublicsafety，wasfreelyagitatedinpopularconversation；andsomehopeswereentertainedthattheemperorwouldredeemhispusillanimousbehaviorbyasplendidactofpatrioticperfidy。TheinflexiblespiritoftheRomansenatehadalwaysdisclaimedtheunequalconditionswhichwereextortedfromthedistressoftheircaptivearmies；and，ifitwerenecessarytosatisfythenationalhonor，bydeliveringtheguiltygeneralintothehandsoftheBarbarians，thegreatestpartofthesubjectsofJovianwouldhavecheerfullyacquiescedintheprecedentofancienttimes。
^123
[Footnote120:Libanius，Orat。Parent。c。145，p。366。Suchwerethenaturalhopesandwishesofarhetorician。]
[Footnote121:ThepeopleofCarrhae，acitydevotedtoPaganism，buriedtheinauspiciousmessengerunderapileofstones，Zosimus，l。iii。p。196。Libanius，whenhereceivedthefatalintelligence，casthiseyeonhissword；butherecollectedthatPlatohadcondemnedsuicide，andthathemustlivetocomposethePanegyricofJulian，LibaniusdeVitasua，tom。ii。p。45，46。]
[Footnote122:AmmianusandEutropiusmaybeadmittedasfairandcrediblewitnessesofthepubliclanguageandopinions。ThepeopleofAntiochreviledanignominiouspeace，whichexposedthemtothePersians，onanakedanddefencelessfrontier，Excerpt。Valesiana，p。845，exJohanneAntiocheno。]
[Footnote123:TheAbbedelaBleterie，Hist。deJovien，tom。i。
p。212—227。thoughaseverecasuist，haspronouncedthatJovianwasnotboundtoexecutehispromise；sincehecouldnotdismembertheempire，noralienate，withouttheirconsent，theallegianceofhispeople。Ihaveneverfoundmuchdelightorinstructioninsuchpoliticalmetaphysics。]
Buttheemperor，whatevermightbethelimitsofhisconstitutionalauthority，wastheabsolutemasterofthelawsandarmsofthestate；andthesamemotiveswhichhadforcedhimtosubscribe，nowpressedhimtoexecute，thetreatyofpeace。Hewasimpatienttosecureanempireattheexpenseofafewprovinces；andtherespectablenamesofreligionandhonorconcealedthepersonalfearsandambitionofJovian。
Notwithstandingthedutifulsolicitationsoftheinhabitants，decency，aswellasprudence，forbadetheemperortolodgeinthepalaceofNisibis；butthenextmorningafterhisarrival。
Bineses，theambassadorofPersia，enteredtheplace，displayedfromthecitadelthestandardoftheGreatKing，andproclaimed，inhisname，thecruelalternativeofexileorservitude。TheprincipalcitizensofNisibis，who，tillthatfatalmoment，hadconfidedintheprotectionoftheirsovereign，threwthemselvesathisfeet。Theyconjuredhimnottoabandon，or，atleast，nottodeliver，afaithfulcolonytotherageofaBarbariantyrant，exasperatedbythethreesuccessivedefeatswhichhehadexperiencedunderthewallsofNisibis。Theystillpossessedarmsandcouragetorepeltheinvadersoftheircountry:theyrequestedonlythepermissionofusingthemintheirowndefence；
and，assoonastheyhadassertedtheirindependence，theyshouldimplorethefavorofbeingagainadmittedintotheranksofhissubjects。Theirarguments，theireloquence，theirtears，wereineffectual。Jovianalleged，withsomeconfusion，thesanctityofoaths；and，asthereluctancewithwhichheacceptedthepresentofacrownofgold，convincedthecitizensoftheirhopelesscondition，theadvocateSylvanuswasprovokedtoexclaim，"Oemperor!mayyouthusbecrownedbyallthecitiesofyourdominions!"Jovian，whoinafewweekshadassumedthehabitsofaprince，^124wasdispleasedwithfreedom，andoffendedwithtruth:andashereasonablysupposed，thatthediscontentofthepeoplemightinclinethemtosubmittothePersiangovernment，hepublishedanedict，underpainofdeath，thattheyshouldleavethecitywithinthetermofthreedays。
Ammianushasdelineatedinlivelycolorsthesceneofuniversaldespair，whichheseemstohaveviewedwithaneyeofcompassion。
^125Themartialyouthdeserted，withindignantgrief，thewallswhichtheyhadsogloriouslydefended:thedisconsolatemournerdroppedalasttearoverthetombofasonorhusband，whichmustsoonbeprofanedbytherudehandofaBarbarianmaster；andtheagedcitizenkissedthethreshold，andclungtothedoors，ofthehousewherehehadpassedthecheerfulandcarelesshoursofinfancy。Thehighwayswerecrowdedwithatremblingmultitude:
thedistinctionsofrank，andsex，andage，werelostinthegeneralcalamity。Everyonestrovetobearawaysomefragmentfromthewreckofhisfortunes；andastheycouldnotcommandtheimmediateserviceofanadequatenumberofhorsesorwagons，theywereobligedtoleavebehindthemthegreatestpartoftheirvaluableeffects。ThesavageinsensibilityofJovianappearstohaveaggravatedthehardshipsoftheseunhappyfugitives。Theywereseated，however，inanew—builtquarterofAmida；andthatrisingcity，withthereenforcementofaveryconsiderablecolony，soonrecovereditsformersplendor，andbecamethecapitalofMesopotamia。^126SimilarordersweredespatchedbytheemperorfortheevacuationofSingaraandthecastleoftheMoors；andfortherestitutionofthefiveprovincesbeyondtheTigris。Saporenjoyedthegloryandthefruitsofhisvictory；
andthisignominiouspeacehasjustlybeenconsideredasamemorableaerainthedeclineandfalloftheRomanempire。ThepredecessorsofJovianhadsometimesrelinquishedthedominionofdistantandunprofitableprovinces；but，sincethefoundationofthecity，thegeniusofRome，thegodTerminus，whoguardedtheboundariesoftherepublic，hadneverretiredbeforetheswordofavictoriousenemy。^127
[Footnote124:AtNisibisheperformedaroyalact。Abraveofficer，hisnamesake，whohadbeenthoughtworthyofthepurple，wasdraggedfromsupper，thrownintoawell，andstonedtodeathwithoutanyformoftrialorevidenceofguilt。Anomian。xxv。
8。]
[Footnote125:Seexxv。9，andZosimus，l。iii。p。194，195。]
[Footnote126:Chron。Paschal。p。300。TheecclesiasticalNotitiemaybeconsulted。]
[Footnote127:Zosimus，l。iii。p。192，193。SextusRufusdeProvinciis，c。29。AugustindeCivitat。Dei，l。iv。c。29。Thisgeneralpositionmustbeappliedandinterpretedwithsomecaution。]
AfterJovianhadperformedthoseengagementswhichthevoiceofhispeoplemighthavetemptedhimtoviolate，hehastenedawayfromthesceneofhisdisgrace，andproceededwithhiswholecourttoenjoytheluxuryofAntioch。^128Withoutconsultingthedictatesofreligiouszeal，hewasprompted，byhumanityandgratitude，tobestowthelasthonorsontheremainsofhisdeceasedsovereign:^129andProcopius，whosincerelybewailedthelossofhiskinsman，wasremovedfromthecommandofthearmy，underthedecentpretenceofconductingthefuneral。ThecorpseofJulianwastransportedfromNisibistoTarsus，inaslowmarchoffifteendays；and，asitpassedthroughthecitiesoftheEast，wassalutedbythehostilefactions，withmournfullamentationsandclamorousinsults。ThePagansalreadyplacedtheirbelovedherointherankofthosegodswhoseworshiphehadrestored；whiletheinvectivesoftheChristianspursuedthesouloftheApostatetohell，andhisbodytothegrave。^130Onepartylamentedtheapproachingruinoftheiraltars；theothercelebratedthemarvellousdeliveranceoftheirchurch。TheChristiansapplauded，inloftyandambiguousstrains，thestrokeofdivinevengeance，whichhadbeensolongsuspendedovertheguiltyheadofJulian。Theyacknowledge，thatthedeathofthetyrant，attheinstantheexpiredbeyondtheTigris，wasrevealedtothesaintsofEgypt，Syria，andCappadocia；^131andinsteadofsufferinghimtofallbythePersiandarts，theirindiscretionascribedtheheroicdeedtotheobscurehandofsomemortalorimmortalchampionofthefaith。^132Suchimprudentdeclarationswereeagerlyadoptedbythemalice，orcredulity，oftheiradversaries；^133whodarklyinsinuated，orconfidentlyasserted，thatthegovernorsofthechurchhadinstigatedanddirectedthefanaticismofadomesticassassin。^134AbovesixteenyearsafterthedeathofJulian，thechargewassolemnlyandvehementlyurged，inapublicoration，addressedbyLibaniustotheemperorTheodosius。Hissuspicionsareunsupportedbyfactorargument；
andwecanonlyesteemthegenerouszealofthesophistofAntiochforthecoldandneglectedashesofhisfriend。^135
[Footnote128:Ammianus，xxv。9。Zosimus，l。iii。p。196。Hemightbeedax，vinoVeneriqueindulgens。ButIagreewithLaBleterietom。i。p。148—154inrejectingthefoolishreportofaBacchanalianriotap。SuidamcelebratedatAntioch，bytheemperor，hiswife，andatroopofconcubines。]
[Footnote129:TheAbbedelaBleterietom。i。p。156—209
handsomelyexposesthebrutalbigotryofBaronius，whowouldhavethrownJuliantothedogs，necespititiaquidemsepulturadignus。]
[Footnote130:Comparethesophistandthesaint，Libanius，Monod。tom。ii。p。251，andOrat。Parent。c。145，p。367，c。156，p。377，withGregoryNazianzen，Orat。iv。p。125—132。TheChristianoratorfaintlymutterssomeexhortationstomodestyandforgiveness；butheiswellsatisfied，thattherealsufferingsofJulianwillfarexceedthefabuloustormentsofIxionorTantalus。]
[Footnote131:TillemontHist。desEmpereurs，tom。iv。p。549
hascollectedthesevisions。Somesaintorangelwasobservedtobeabsentinthenight，onasecretexpedition，&c。]
[Footnote132:Sozomenl。vi。2applaudstheGreekdoctrineoftyrannicide；butthewholepassage，whichaJesuitmighthavetranslated，isprudentlysuppressedbythepresidentCousin。]
[Footnote133:ImmediatelyafterthedeathofJulian，anuncertainrumorwasscattered，telocecidisseRomano。Itwascarried，bysomedeserterstothePersiancamp；andtheRomanswerereproachedastheassassinsoftheemperorbySaporandhissubjects，Ammian。xxv。6。LibaniusdeulciscendaJulianinece，c。xiii。p。162，163。Itwasurged，asadecisiveproof，thatnoPersianhadappearedtoclaimthepromisedreward，Liban。Orat。
Parent。c。141，p。363。Buttheflyinghorseman，whodartedthefataljavelin，mightbeignorantofitseffect；orhemightbeslaininthesameaction。Ammianusneitherfeelsnorinspiresasuspicion。]
[Footnote134:ThisdarkandambiguousexpressionmaypointtoAthanasius，thefirst，withoutarival，oftheChristianclergy，Libaniusdeulcis。Jul。nece，c。5，p。149。LaBleterie，Hist。
deJovien，tom。i。p。179。]
[Footnote135:TheoratorFabricius，Bibliot。Graec。tom。vii。
p。145—179scatterssuspicions，demandsaninquiry，andinsinuates，thatproofsmightstillbeobtained。HeascribesthesuccessoftheHunstothecriminalneglectofrevengingJulian'sdeath。]
Itwasanancientcustominthefunerals，aswellasinthetriumphs，oftheRomans，thatthevoiceofpraiseshouldbecorrectedbythatofsatireandridicule；andthat，inthemidstofthesplendidpageants，whichdisplayedthegloryofthelivingorofthedead，theirimperfectionsshouldnotbeconcealedfromtheeyesoftheworld。^136ThiscustomwaspractisedinthefuneralofJulian。Thecomedians，whoresentedhiscontemptandaversionforthetheatre，exhibited，withtheapplauseofaChristianaudience，thelivelyandexaggeratedrepresentationofthefaultsandfolliesofthedeceasedemperor。Hisvariouscharacterandsingularmannersaffordedanamplescopeforpleasantryandridicule。^137Intheexerciseofhisuncommontalents，heoftendescendedbelowthemajestyofhisrank。
AlexanderwastransformedintoDiogenes；thephilosopherwasdegradedintoapriest。Thepurityofhisvirtuewassulliedbyexcessivevanity；hissuperstitiondisturbedthepeace，andendangeredthesafety，ofamightyempire；andhisirregularsallieswerethelessentitledtoindulgence，astheyappearedtobethelaboriouseffortsofart，orevenofaffectation。TheremainsofJulianwereinterredatTarsusinCilicia；buthisstatelytomb，whicharoseinthatcity，onthebanksofthecoldandlimpidCydnus，^138wasdispleasingtothefaithfulfriends，wholovedandreveredthememoryofthatextraordinaryman。Thephilosopherexpressedaveryreasonablewish，thatthediscipleofPlatomighthavereposedamidstthegrovesoftheacademy；
^139whilethesoldierexclaimed，inbolderaccents，thattheashesofJulianshouldhavebeenmingledwiththoseofCaesar，inthefieldofMars，andamongtheancientmonumentsofRomanvirtue。^140Thehistoryofprincesdoesnotveryfrequentlyrenewtheexamplesofasimilarcompetition。
[Footnote136:AtthefuneralofVespasian，thecomedianwhopersonatedthatfrugalemperor，anxiouslyinquiredhowmuchitcost。Fourscorethousandpounds，centies。Givemethetenthpartofthesum，andthrowmybodyintotheTiber。Sueton，inVespasian，c。19，withthenotesofCasaubonandGronovius。]
[Footnote137:GregoryOrat。iv。p。119，120comparesthissupposedignominyandridiculetothefuneralhonorsofConstantius，whosebodywaschantedoverMountTaurusbyachoirofangels。]
[Footnote138:QuintusCurtius，l。iii。c。4。Theluxuriancyofhisdescriptionshasbeenoftencensured。Yetitwasalmostthedutyofthehistoriantodescribeariver，whosewatershadnearlyprovedfataltoAlexander。]
[Footnote139:Libanius，Orat。Parent。c。156，p。377。YetheacknowledgeswithgratitudetheliberalityofthetworoyalbrothersindecoratingthetombofJulian，deulcis。Jul。nece，c。7，p。152。]
[Footnote140:Cujussupremaetcineres，siquituncjusteconsuleret，nonCydnusvideredeberet，quamvisgratissimusamnisetliquidus:sedadperpetuandamgloriamrectefactorumpraeterlambereTiberis，intersecansurbemaeternam，divorumqueveterummonumentapraestringensAmmian。xxv。10。]
ChapterXXV:ReignsOfJovianAndValentinian，DivisionOfTheEmpire。
PartI。
TheGovernmentAndDeathOfJovian。—ElectionOfValentinian，WhoAssociatesHisBrotherValens，AndMakesTheFinalDivisionOfTheEasternAndWesternEmpires。—RevoltOfProcopius。—CivilAndEcclesiasticalAdministration。—Germany。
—Britain。—Africa。—TheEast。—TheDanube。—DeathOfValentinian。—HisTwoSons，GratianAndValentinianII。，SucceedToTheWesternEmpire。
ThedeathofJulianhadleftthepublicaffairsoftheempireinaverydoubtfulanddangeroussituation。TheRomanarmywassavedbyaninglorious，perhapsanecessarytreaty；^1
andthefirstmomentsofpeacewereconsecratedbythepiousJoviantorestorethedomestictranquilityofthechurchandstate。Theindiscretionofhispredecessor，insteadofreconciling，hadartfullyfomentedthereligiouswar:andthebalancewhichheaffectedtopreservebetweenthehostilefactions，servedonlytoperpetuatethecontest，bythevicissitudesofhopeandfear，bytherivalclaimsofancientpossessionandactualfavor。TheChristianshadforgottenthespiritofthegospel；andthePaganshadimbibedthespiritofthechurch。Inprivatefamilies，thesentimentsofnaturewereextinguishedbytheblindfuryofzealandrevenge:themajestyofthelawswasviolatedorabused；thecitiesoftheEastwerestainedwithblood；andthemostimplacableenemiesoftheRomanswereinthebosomoftheircountry。JovianwaseducatedintheprofessionofChristianity；andashemarchedfromNisibistoAntioch，thebanneroftheCross，theLabarumofConstantine，whichwasagaindisplayedattheheadofthelegions，announcedtothepeoplethefaithoftheirnewemperor。Assoonasheascendedthethrone，hetransmittedacircularepistletoallthegovernorsofprovinces；inwhichheconfessedthedivinetruth，andsecuredthelegalestablishment，oftheChristianreligion。