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。