TheinsidiousedictsofJulianwereabolished；theecclesiasticalimmunitieswererestoredandenlarged；andJoviancondescendedtolament，thatthedistressofthetimesobligedhimtodiminishthemeasureofcharitabledistributions。^2TheChristianswereunanimousintheloudandsincereapplausewhichtheybestowedonthepioussuccessorofJulian。Buttheywerestillignorantwhatcreed，orwhatsynod，hewouldchooseforthestandardoforthodoxy；andthepeaceofthechurchimmediatelyrevivedthoseeagerdisputeswhichhadbeensuspendedduringtheseasonofpersecution。Theepiscopalleadersofthecontendingsects，convinced，fromexperience，howmuchtheirfatewoulddependontheearliestimpressionsthatweremadeonthemindofanuntutoredsoldier，hastenedtothecourtofEdessa，orAntioch。
ThehighwaysoftheEastwerecrowdedwithHomoousian，andArian，andSemi—Arian，andEunomianbishops，whostruggledtooutstripeachotherintheholyrace:theapartmentsofthepalaceresoundedwiththeirclamors；andtheearsoftheprincewereassaulted，andperhapsastonished，bythesingularmixtureofmetaphysicalargumentandpassionateinvective。^3ThemoderationofJovian，whorecommendedconcordandcharity，andreferredthedisputantstothesentenceofafuturecouncil，wasinterpretedasasymptomofindifference:buthisattachmenttotheNicenecreedwasatlengthdiscoveredanddeclared，bythereverencewhichheexpressedforthecelestial^4virtuesofthegreatAthanasius。Theintrepidveteranofthefaith，attheageofseventy，hadissuedfromhisretreatonthefirstintelligenceofthetyrant'sdeath。Theacclamationsofthepeopleseatedhimoncemoreonthearchiepiscopalthrone；andhewiselyaccepted，oranticipated，theinvitationofJovian。ThevenerablefigureofAthanasius，hiscalmcourage，andinsinuatingeloquence，sustainedthereputationwhichhehadalreadyacquiredinthecourtsoffoursuccessiveprinces。^5Assoonashehadgainedtheconfidence，andsecuredthefaith，oftheChristianemperor，hereturnedintriumphtohisdiocese，andcontinued，withmaturecounselsandundiminishedvigor，todirect，tenyearslonger，^6
theecclesiasticalgovernmentofAlexandria，Egypt，andtheCatholicchurch。BeforehisdeparturefromAntioch，heassuredJovianthathisorthodoxdevotionwouldberewardedwithalongandpeacefulreign。Athanasius，hadreasontohope，thatheshouldbeallowedeitherthemeritofasuccessfulprediction，ortheexcuseofagratefulthoughineffectualprayer。^7
[Footnote1:ThemedalsofJovianadornhimwithvictories，laurelcrowns，andprostratecaptives。Ducange，Famil。Byzantin。
p。52。Flatteryisafoolishsuicide；shedestroysherselfwithherownhands。]
[Footnote2:Jovianrestoredtothechurchaforcibleandcomprehensiveexpression，Philostorgius，l。viii。c。5，withGodefroy'sDissertations，p。329。Sozomen，l。vi。c。3。ThenewlawwhichcondemnedtherapeormarriageofnunsCod。Theod。l。
ix。tit。xxv。leg。2isexaggeratedbySozomen；whosupposes，thatanamorousglance，theadulteryoftheheart，waspunishedwithdeathbytheevangeliclegislator。]
[Footnote3:CompareSocrates，l。iii。c。25，andPhilostorgius，l。viii。c。6，withGodefroy'sDissertations，p。330。]
[Footnote4:Thewordcelestialfaintlyexpressestheimpiousandextravagantflatteryoftheemperortothearchbishop。SeetheoriginalepistleinAthanasius，tom。ii。p。33。GregoryNazianzenOrat。xxi。p。392celebratesthefriendshipofJovianandAthanasius。Theprimate'sjourneywasadvisedbytheEgyptianmonks，Tillemont，Mem。Eccles。tom。viii。p。221。]
[Footnote5:Athanasius，atthecourtofAntioch，isagreeablyrepresentedbyLaBleterie，Hist。deJovien，tom。i。p。
121—148；hetranslatesthesingularandoriginalconferencesoftheemperor，theprimateofEgypt，andtheAriandeputies。TheAbbeisnotsatisfiedwiththecoarsepleasantryofJovian；buthispartialityforAthanasiusassumes，inhiseyes，thecharacterofjustice。]
[Footnote6:Thetrueareaofhisdeathisperplexedwithsomedifficulties，Tillemont，Mem。Eccles。tom。viii。p。719—723。
ButthedateA。D。373，May2whichseemsthemostconsistentwithhistoryandreason，isratifiedbyhisauthenticlife，MaffeiOsservazioniLetterarie，tom。iii。p。81。]
[Footnote7:SeetheobservationsofValesiusandJortinRemarksonEcclesiasticalHistory，vol。iv。p。38ontheoriginalletterofAthanasius；whichispreservedbyTheodoret，l。iv。c。3。InsomeMss。thisindiscreetpromiseisomitted；perhapsbytheCatholics，jealousofthepropheticfameoftheirleader。]
Theslightestforce，whenitisappliedtoassistandguidethenaturaldescentofitsobject，operateswithirresistibleweight；andJovianhadthegoodfortunetoembracethereligiousopinionswhichweresupportedbythespiritofthetimes，andthezealandnumbersofthemostpowerfulsect。^8Underhisreign，Christianityobtainedaneasyandlastingvictory；andassoonasthesmileofroyalpatronagewaswithdrawn，thegeniusofPaganism，whichhadbeenfondlyraisedandcherishedbytheartsofJulian，sunkirrecoverablyinthe。Inmanycities，thetempleswereshutordeserted:thephilosopherswhohadabusedtheirtransientfavor，thoughtitprudenttoshavetheirbeards，anddisguisetheirprofession；andtheChristiansrejoiced，thattheywerenowinaconditiontoforgive，ortorevenge，theinjurieswhichtheyhadsufferedundertheprecedingreign。^9
TheconsternationofthePaganworldwasdispelledbyawiseandgraciousedictoftoleration；inwhichJovianexplicitlydeclared，thatalthoughheshouldseverelypunishthesacrilegiousritesofmagic，hissubjectsmightexercise，withfreedomandsafety，theceremoniesoftheancientworship。ThememoryofthislawhasbeenpreservedbytheoratorThemistius，whowasdeputedbythesenateofConstantinopletoexpresstheirroyaldevotionforthenewemperor。ThemistiusexpatiatesontheclemencyoftheDivineNature，thefacilityofhumanerror，therightsofconscience，andtheindependenceofthemind；and，withsomeeloquence，inculcatestheprinciplesofphilosophicaltoleration；whoseaidSuperstitionherself，inthehourofherdistress，isnotashamedtoimplore。Hejustlyobserves，thatintherecentchanges，bothreligionshadbeenalternatelydisgracedbytheseemingacquisitionofworthlessproselytes，ofthosevotariesofthereigningpurple，whocouldpass，withoutareason，andwithoutablush，fromthechurchtothetemple，andfromthealtarsofJupitertothesacredtableoftheChristians。
^10
[Footnote8:AthanasiusapudTheodoret，l。iv。c。3magnifiesthenumberoftheorthodox，whocomposedthewholeworld。Thisassertionwasverifiedinthespaceofthirtyandfortyyears。]
[Footnote9:Socrates，l。iii。c。24。GregoryNazianzenOrat。
iv。p。131andLibaniusOrat。Parentalis，c。148，p。369
expressesthelivingsentimentsoftheirrespectivefactions。]
[Footnote10:Themistius，Orat。v。p。63—71，edit。Harduin，Paris，1684。TheAbbedelaBleteriejudiciouslyremarks，Hist。
deJovien，tom。i。p。199，thatSozomenhasforgotthegeneraltoleration；andThemistiustheestablishmentoftheCatholicreligion。Eachofthemturnedawayfromtheobjectwhichhedisliked，andwishedtosuppressthepartoftheedicttheleasthonorable，inhisopinion，totheemperor。]
Inthespaceofsevenmonths，theRomantroops，whowerenowreturnedtoAntioch，hadperformedamarchoffifteenhundredmiles；inwhichtheyhadenduredallthehardshipsofwar，offamine，andofclimate。Notwithstandingtheirservices，theirfatigues，andtheapproachofwinter，thetimidandimpatientJovianallowedonly，tothemenandhorses，arespiteofsixweeks。TheemperorcouldnotsustaintheindiscreetandmaliciousrailleryofthepeopleofAntioch。^11HewasimpatienttopossessthepalaceofConstantinople；andtopreventtheambitionofsomecompetitor，whomightoccupythevacantallegianceofEurope。Buthesoonreceivedthegratefulintelligence，thathisauthoritywasacknowledgedfromtheThracianBosphorustotheAtlanticOcean。BythefirstletterswhichhedespatchedfromthecampofMesopotamia，hehaddelegatedthemilitarycommandofGaulandIllyricumtoMalarich，abraveandfaithfulofficerofthenationoftheFranks；andtohisfather—in—law，CountLucillian，whohadformerlydistinguishedhiscourageandconductinthedefenceofNisibis。Malarichhaddeclinedanofficetowhichhethoughthimselfunequal；andLucillianwasmassacredatRheims，inanaccidentalmutinyoftheBataviancohorts。^12ButthemoderationofJovinus，master—generalofthecavalry，whoforgavetheintentionofhisdisgrace，soonappeasedthetumult，andconfirmedtheuncertainmindsofthesoldiers。Theoathoffidelitywasadministeredandtaken，withloyalacclamations；andthedeputiesoftheWesternarmies^13salutedtheirnewsovereignashedescendedfromMountTaurustothecityofTyanainCappadocia。FromTyanahecontinuedhishastymarchtoAncyra，capitaloftheprovinceofGalatia；whereJovianassumed，withhisinfantson，thenameandensignsoftheconsulship。^14
Dadastana，^15anobscuretown，almostatanequaldistancebetweenAncyraandNice，wasmarkedforthefataltermofhisjourneyandlife。Afterindulginghimselfwithaplentiful，perhapsanintemperate，supper，heretiredtorest；andthenextmorningtheemperorJovianwasfounddeadinhisbed。Thecauseofthissuddendeathwasvariouslyunderstood。Bysomeitwasascribedtotheconsequencesofanindigestion，occasionedeitherbythequantityofthewine，orthequalityofthemushrooms，whichhehadswallowedintheevening。Accordingtoothers，hewassuffocatedinhissleepbythevaporofcharcoal，whichextractedfromthewallsoftheapartmenttheunwholesomemoistureofthefreshplaster。^16Butthewantofaregularinquiryintothedeathofaprince，whosereignandpersonweresoonforgotten，appearstohavebeentheonlycircumstancewhichcountenancedthemaliciouswhispersofpoisonanddomesticguilt。
^17ThebodyofJovianwassenttoConstantinople，tobeinterredwithhispredecessors，andthesadprocessionwasmetontheroadbyhiswifeCharito，thedaughterofCountLucillian；whostillwepttherecentdeathofherfather，andwashasteningtodryhertearsintheembracesofanImperialhusband。Herdisappointmentandgriefwereimbitteredbytheanxietyofmaternaltenderness。
SixweeksbeforethedeathofJovian，hisinfantsonhadbeenplacedinthecurulechair，adornedwiththetitleofNobilissimus，andthevainensignsoftheconsulship。
Unconsciousofhisfortune，theroyalyouth，who，fromhisgrandfather，assumedthenameofVarronian，wasremindedonlybythejealousyofthegovernment，thathewasthesonofanemperor。Sixteenyearsafterwardshewasstillalive，buthehadalreadybeendeprivedofaneye；andhisafflictedmotherexpectedeveryhour，thattheinnocentvictimwouldbetornfromherarms，toappease，withhisblood，thesuspicionsofthereigningprince。^18
[Footnote11:Johan。Antiochen。inExcerpt。Valesian。p。845。
ThelibelsofAntiochmaybeadmittedonveryslightevidence。]
[Footnote12:CompareAmmianus，xxv。10，whoomitsthenameoftheBatarians，withZosimus，l。iii。p。197，whoremovesthesceneofactionfromRheimstoSirmium。]
[Footnote13:Quoscapitascholarumordocastrensisappellat。
Ammian。xxv。10，andVales。adlocum。]
[Footnote14:Cugusvagitus，pertinaciterreluctantis，neincurulisellavehereturexmore，idquodmoxacciditprotendebat。
Augustusandhissuccessorsrespectfullysolicitedadispensationofageforthesonsornephewswhomtheyraisedtotheconsulship。ButthecurulechairofthefirstBrutushadneverbeendishonoredbyaninfant。]
[Footnote15:TheItineraryofAntoninusfixesDadastana125
RomanmilesfromNice；117fromAncyra，Wesseling，Itinerar。p。
142。ThepilgrimofBourdeaux，byomittingsomestages，reducesthewholespacefrom242to181miles。Wesseling，p。574。
Note:DadastanaissupposedtobeCastabat。—M。]
[Footnote16:SeeAmmianus，xxv。10，Eutropius，x。18。whomightlikewisebepresent，Jerom，tom。i。p。26，adHeliodorum。
Orosius，vii。31，Sozomen，l。vi。c。6，Zosimus，l。iii。p。
197，198，andZonaras，tom。ii。l。xiii。p。28，29。Wecannotexpectaperfectagreement，andweshallnotdiscussminutedifferences。]
[Footnote17:Ammianus，unmindfulofhisusualcandorandgoodsense，comparesthedeathoftheharmlessJoviantothatofthesecondAfricanus，whohadexcitedthefearsandresentmentofthepopularfaction。]
[Footnote18:Chrysostom，tom。i。p。336，344，edit。Montfaucon。
TheChristianoratorattemptstocomfortawidowbytheexamplesofillustriousmisfortunes；andobserves，thatofnineemperorsincludingtheCaesarGalluswhohadreignedinhistime，onlytwoConstantineandConstantiusdiedanaturaldeath。Suchvagueconsolationshaveneverwipedawayasingletear。]
AfterthedeathofJovian，thethroneoftheRomanworldremainedtendays，^19withoutamaster。Theministersandgeneralsstillcontinuedtomeetincouncil；toexercisetheirrespectivefunctions；tomaintainthepublicorder；andpeaceablytoconductthearmytothecityofNiceinBithynia，whichwaschosenfortheplaceoftheelection。^20Inasolemnassemblyofthecivilandmilitarypowersoftheempire，thediademwasagainunanimouslyofferedtothepraefectSallust。Heenjoyedthegloryofasecondrefusal:andwhenthevirtuesofthefatherwereallegedinfavorofhisson，thepraefect，withthefirmnessofadisinterestedpatriot，declaredtotheelectors，thatthefeebleageoftheone，andtheunexperiencedyouthoftheother，wereequallyincapableofthelaboriousdutiesofgovernment。
Severalcandidateswereproposed；and，afterweighingtheobjectionsofcharacterorsituation，theyweresuccessivelyrejected；but，assoonasthenameofValentinianwaspronounced，themeritofthatofficerunitedthesuffragesofthewholeassembly，andobtainedthesincereapprobationofSallusthimself。Valentinian^21wasthesonofCountGratian，anativeofCibalis，inPannonia，whofromanobscureconditionhadraisedhimself，bymatchlessstrengthanddexterity，tothemilitarycommandsofAfricaandBritain；fromwhichheretiredwithanamplefortuneandsuspiciousintegrity。TherankandservicesofGratiancontributed，however，tosmooththefirststepsofthepromotionofhisson；andaffordedhimanearlyopportunityofdisplayingthosesolidandusefulqualifications，whichraisedhischaracterabovetheordinarylevelofhisfellow—soldiers。
ThepersonofValentinianwastall，graceful，andmajestic。Hismanlycountenance，deeplymarkedwiththeimpressionofsenseandspirit，inspiredhisfriendswithawe，andhisenemieswithfear；
andtosecondtheeffortsofhisundauntedcourage，thesonofGratianhadinheritedtheadvantagesofastrongandhealthyconstitution。Bythehabitsofchastityandtemperance，whichrestraintheappetitesandinvigoratethefaculties，Valentinianpreservedhisownandthepublicesteem。Theavocationsofamilitarylifehaddivertedhisyouthfromtheelegantpursuitsofliterature；hewasignorantoftheGreeklanguage，andtheartsofrhetoric；butasthemindoftheoratorwasneverdisconcertedbytimidperplexity，hewasable，asoftenastheoccasionpromptedhim，todeliverhisdecidedsentimentswithboldandreadyelocution。Thelawsofmartialdisciplineweretheonlylawsthathehadstudied；andhewassoondistinguishedbythelaboriousdiligence，andinflexibleseverity，withwhichhedischargedandenforcedthedutiesofthecamp。InthetimeofJulianheprovokedthedangerofdisgrace，bythecontemptwhichhepubliclyexpressedforthereigningreligion；^22anditshouldseem，fromhissubsequentconduct，thattheindiscreetandunseasonablefreedomofValentinianwastheeffectofmilitaryspirit，ratherthanofChristianzeal。Hewaspardoned，however，andstillemployedbyaprincewhoesteemedhismerit；^23andinthevariouseventsofthePersianwar，heimprovedthereputationwhichhehadalreadyacquiredonthebanksoftheRhine。Thecelerityandsuccesswithwhichheexecutedanimportantcommission，recommendedhimtothefavorofJovian；andtothehonorablecommandofthesecondschool，orcompany，ofTargetiers，ofthedomesticguards。InthemarchfromAntioch，hehadreachedhisquartersatAncyra，whenhewasunexpectedlysummoned，withoutguiltandwithoutintrigue，toassume，intheforty—thirdyearofhisage，theabsolutegovernmentoftheRomanempire。
[Footnote19:Tendaysappearscarcelysufficientforthemarchandelection。Butitmaybeobserved，1。Thatthegeneralsmightcommandtheexpeditioususeofthepublicpostsforthemselves，theirattendants，andmessengers。2。Thatthetroops，fortheeaseofthecities，marchedinmanydivisions；andthattheheadofthecolumnmightarriveatNice，whentherearhaltedatAncyra。]
[Footnote20:Ammianus，xxvi。1。Zosimus，l。iii。p。198。
Philostorgius，l。viii。c。8，andGodefroy，Dissertat。p。334。
Philostorgius，whoappearstohaveobtainedsomecuriousandauthenticintelligence，ascribesthechoiceofValentiniantothepraefectSallust，themaster—generalArintheus，Dagalaiphuscountofthedomestics，andthepatricianDatianus，whosepressingrecommendationsfromAncyrahadaweightyinfluenceintheelection。]
[Footnote21:Ammianusxxx。7，9andtheyoungerVictorhavefurnishedtheportraitofValentinian，whichnaturallyprecedesandillustratesthehistoryofhisreign。
Note:Symmachus，inafragmentofanorationpublishedbyM。