高考英语可能考的名著《HISTORYOFROMAN-2》25素材

《HISTORYOFROMAN-2》

ChapterXXV:ReignsOfJovianAndValentinian,DivisionOfThe

Empire.

PartI.

TheGovernmentAndDeathOfJovian.-ElectionOf

Valentinian,WhoAssociatesHisBrotherValens,AndMakesThe

FinalDivisionOfTheEasternAndWesternEmpires.-RevoltOf

Procopius.-CivilAndEcclesiasticalAdministration.-Germany.

-Britain.-Africa.-TheEast.-TheDanube.-DeathOf

Valentinian.-HisTwoSons,GratianAndValentinianII.,Succeed

ToTheWesternEmpire.

ThedeathofJulianhadleftthepublicaffairsofthe

empireinaverydoubtfulanddangeroussituation.TheRoman

armywassavedbyaninglorious,perhapsanecessarytreaty;」

andthefirstmomentsofpeacewereconsecratedbythepious

Joviantorestorethedomestictranquilityofthechurchand

state.Theindiscretionofhispredecessor,insteadof

reconciling,hadartfullyfomentedthereligiouswar:andthe

balancewhichheaffectedtopreservebetweenthehostile

factions,servedonlytoperpetuatethecontest,bythe

vicissitudesofhopeandfear,bytherivalclaimsofancient

possessionandactualfavor.TheChristianshadforgottenthe

spiritofthegospel;andthePaganshadimbibedthespiritof

thechurch.Inprivatefamilies,thesentimentsofnaturewere

extinguishedbytheblindfuryofzealandrevenge:themajesty

ofthelawswasviolatedorabused;thecitiesoftheEastwere

stainedwithblood;andthemostimplacableenemiesoftheRomans

wereinthebosomoftheircountry.Jovianwaseducatedinthe

professionofChristianity;andashemarchedfromNisibisto

Antioch,thebanneroftheCross,theLabarumofConstantine,

whichwasagaindisplayedattheheadofthelegions,announced

tothepeoplethefaithoftheirnewemperor.Assoonashe

ascendedthethrone,hetransmittedacircularepistletoallthe

governorsofprovinces;inwhichheconfessedthedivinetruth,

andsecuredthelegalestablishment,oftheChristianreligion.

TheinsidiousedictsofJulianwereabolished;theecclesiastical

immunitieswererestoredandenlarged;andJoviancondescendedto

lament,thatthedistressofthetimesobligedhimtodiminish

themeasureofcharitabledistributions.2TheChristianswere

unanimousintheloudandsincereapplausewhichtheybestowedon

thepioussuccessorofJulian.Buttheyweresti11ignorantwhat

creed,orwhatsynod,hewouldchooseforthestandardof

orthodoxy;andthepeaceofthechurchimmediatelyrevivedthose

eagerdisputeswhichhadbeensuspendedduringtheseasonof

persecution.Theepiscopalleadersofthecontendingsects,

convinced,fromexperience,howmuchtheirfatewoulddependon

theearliestimpressionsthatweremadeonthemindofan

untutoredsoldier,hastenedtothecourtofEdessa,orAntioch.

ThehighwaysoftheEastwerecrowdedwithHomoousian,andArian,

andSemi-Arian,andEunomianbishops,whostruggledtooutstrip

eachotherintheholyrace:theapartmentsofthepalace

resoundedwiththeirclamors;andtheearsoftheprincewere

assaulted,andperhapsastonished,bythesingularmixtureof

metaphysicalargumentandpassionateinvective.3Themoderation

ofJovian,whorecommendedconcordandcharity,andreferredthe

disputantstothesentenceofafuturecouncil,wasinterpreted

asasymptomofindifference:buthisattachmenttotheNicene

creedwasatlengthdiscoveredanddeclared,bythereverence

whichheexpressedforthecelestial4virtuesofthegreat

Athanasius.Theintrepidveteranofthefaith,attheageof

seventy,hadissuedfromhisretreatonthefirstintelligenceof

thetyrant，sdeath.Theacclamationsofthepeopleseatedhim

oncemoreonthearchiepiscopalthrone;andhewiselyaccepted,

oranticipated,theinvitationofJovian.Thevenerablefigure

ofAthanasius,hiscalmcourage,andinsinuatingeloquence,

sustainedthereputationwhichhehadalreadyacquiredinthe

courtsoffoursuccessiveprinces.5Assoonashehadgained

theconfidence,andsecuredthefaith,oftheChristianemperor,

hereturnedintriumphtohisdiocese,andcontinued,withmature

counselsandundiminishedvigor,todirect,tenyearslonger,6

theecclesiasticalgovernmentofAlexandria,Egypt,andthe

Catholicchurch.BeforehisdeparturefromAntioch,heassured

Jovianthathisorthodoxdevotionwouldberewardedwithalong

andpeacefulreign.Athanasius,hadreasontohope,thathe

shouldbeallowedeitherthemeritofasuccessfulprediction,or

theexcuseofagratefulthoughineffectualprayer.7

[Footnote1:ThemedalsofJovianadornhimwithvictories,

laurelcrowns,andprostratecaptives.Ducange,Famil.Byzantin.

p.52.Flatteryisafoolishsuicide;shedestroysherselfwith

herownhands.]

[Footnote2:Jovianrestoredtothechurchaforcibleand

comprehensiveexpression,(Philostorgius,1.viii.c.5,with

Godefroy*sDissertations,p.329.Sozomen,1.vi.c.3.)Thenew

lawwhichcondemnedtherapeormarriageofnuns(Cod.Theod.1.

ix.tit.xxv.leg.2)isexaggeratedbySozomen;whosupposes,

thatanamorousglance,theadulteryoftheheart,waspunished

withdeathbytheevangeliclegislator.]

[Footnote3:CompareSocrates,1.iii.c.25,andPhilostorgius,

1.viii.c.6,withGodefroy*sDissertations,p.330.]

[Footnote4:Thewordcelestialfaintlyexpressestheimpiousand

extravagantflatteryoftheemperortothearchbishop.(Seethe

originalepistleinAthanasius,tom.ii.p.33.)Gregory

Nazianzen(Orat.xxi.p.392)celebratesthefriendshipofJovian

andAthanasius.Theprimate*sjourneywasadvisedbythe

Egyptianmonks,(Tillemont,Mem.Eccles,tom.viii.p.221.)]

[Footnote5:Athanasius,atthecourtofAntioch,isagreeably

representedbyLaBleterie,(Hist,deJovien,tom.i.p.

121-148;)hetranslatesthesingularandoriginalconferencesof

theemperor,theprimateofEgypt,andtheAriandeputies.The

AbbeisnotsatisfiedwiththecoarsepleasantryofJovian;but

hispartialityforAthanasiusassumes,inhiseyes,thecharacter

ofjustice.]

[Footnote6:Thetrueareaofhisdeathisperplexedwithsome

difficulties,(Tillemont,Mem.Eccles,tom.viii.p.719-723.)

Butthedate(A.D.373,May2)whichseemsthemostconsistent

withhistoryandreason,isratifiedbyhisauthenticlife,

(MaffeiOsservazioniLetterarie,tom.iii.p.81.)]

[Footnote7:SeetheobservationsofValesiusandJortin(Remarks

onEcclesiasticalHistory,vol.iv.p.38)ontheoriginalletter

ofAthanasius;whichispreservedbyTheodoret,(1.iv.c.3.)In

someMss.thisindiscreetpromiseisomitted;perhapsbythe

Catholics,jealousofthepropheticfameoftheirleader.]

Theslightestforce,whenitisappliedtoassistandguide

thenaturaldescentofitsobject,operateswithirresistible

weight;andJovianhadthegoodfortunetoembracethereligious

opinionswhichweresupportedbythespiritofthetimes,andthe

zealandnumbersofthemostpowerfulsect.8Underhisreign,

Christianityobtainedaneasyandlastingvictory;andassoonas

thesmileofroyalpatronagewaswithdrawn,thegeniusof

Paganism,whichhadbeenfondlyraisedandcherishedbythearts

ofJulian,sunkirrecoverablyinthe.Inmanycities,the

templeswereshutordeserted:thephilosopherswhohadabused

theirtransientfavor,thoughtitprudenttoshavetheirbeards,

anddisguisetheirprofession;andtheChristiansrejoiced,that

theywerenowinaconditiontoforgive,ortorevenge,the

injurieswhichtheyhadsufferedundertheprecedingreign.9

TheconsternationofthePaganworldwasdispelledbyawiseand

graciousedictoftoleration;inwhichJovianexplicitly

declared,thatalthoughheshouldseverelypunishthe

sacrilegiousritesofmagic,hissubjectsmightexercise,with

freedomandsafety,theceremoniesoftheancientworship.The

memoryofthislawhasbeenpreservedbytheoratorThemistius,

whowasdeputedbythesenateofConstantinopletoexpresstheir

royaldevotionforthenewemperor.Themistiusexpatiatesonthe

clemencyoftheDivineNature,thefacilityofhumanerror,the

rightsofconscience,andtheindependenceofthemind;and,with

someeloquence,inculcatestheprinciplesofphilosophical

toleration;whoseaidSuperstitionherself,inthehourofher

distress,isnotashamedtoimplore.Hejustlyobserves,thatin

therecentchanges,bothreligionshadbeenalternatelydisgraced

bytheseemingacquisitionofworthlessproselytes,ofthose

votariesofthereigningpurple,whocouldpass,withouta

reason,andwithoutablush,fromthechurchtothetemple,and

fromthealtarsofJupitertothesacredtableoftheChristians.

[Footnote8:Athanasius(apudTheodoret,1.iv.c.3)magnifies

thenumberoftheorthodox,whocomposedthewholeworld.This

assertionwasverifiedinthespaceofthirtyandfortyyears.]

[Footnote9:Socrates,1.iii.c.24.GregoryNazianzen(Orat.

iv.p.131)andLibanius(Orat.Parentalis,c.148,p.369)

expressesthelivingsentimentsoftheirrespectivefactions.]

[Footnote10:Themistius,Orat.v.p.63-71,edit.Harduin,

Paris,1684.TheAbbedelaBleteriejudiciouslyremarks,(Hist,

deJovien,tom.i.p.199,)thatSozomenhasforgotthegeneral

toleration;andThemistiustheestablishmentoftheCatholic

religion.Eachofthemturnedawayfromtheobjectwhichhe

disliked,andwishedtosuppressthepartoftheedicttheleast

honorable,inhisopinion,totheemperor.]

Inthespaceofsevenmonths,theRomantroops,whowerenow

returnedtoAntioch,hadperformedamarchoffifteenhundred

miles;inwhichtheyhadenduredal1thehardshipsofwar,of

famine,andofclimate.Notwithstandingtheirservices,their

fatigues,andtheapproachofwinter,thetimidandimpatient

Jovianallowedonly,tothemenandhorses,arespiteofsix

weeks.Theemperorcouldnotsustaintheindiscreetandmalicious

railleryofthepeopleofAntioch.11Hewasimpatientto

possessthepalaceofConstantinople;andtopreventtheambition

ofsomecompetitor,whomightoccupythevacantallegianceof

Europe.Buthesoonreceivedthegratefulintelligence,thathis

authoritywasacknowledgedfromtheThracianBosphorustothe

AtlanticOcean.Bythefirstletterswhichhedespatchedfrom

thecampofMesopotamia,hehaddelegatedthemilitarycommandof

GaulandIIlyricumtoMalarich,abraveandfaithfulofficerof

thenationoftheFranks;andtohisfather-in-law,Count

Lucillian,whohadformerlydistinguishedhiscourageandconduct

inthedefenceofNisibis.Malarichhaddeciinedanofficeto

whichhethoughthimselfunequal;andLucillianwasmassacredat

Rheims,inanaccidentalmutinyoftheBataviancohorts.12But

themoderationofJovinus,master-generalofthecavalry,who

forgavetheintentionofhisdisgrace,soonappeasedthetumult,

andconfirmedtheuncertainmindsofthesoldiers.Theoathof

fidelitywasadministeredandtaken,withloyalacclamations;and

thedeputiesoftheWesternarmies"13salutedtheirnew

sovereignashedescendedfromMountTaurustothecityofTyana

inCappadocia.FromTyanahecontinuedhishastymarchto

Ancyra,capitaloftheprovinceofGalatia;whereJovianassumed,

withhisinfantson,thenameandensignsoftheconsulship.*14

Dadastana,15anobscuretown,almostatanequaldistance

betweenAncyraandNice,wasmarkedforthefataltermofhis

journeyandlife.Afterindulginghimselfwithaplentiful,

perhapsanintemperate,supper,heretiredtorest;andthenext

morningtheemperorJovianwasfounddeadinhisbed.Thecause

ofthissuddendeathwasvariouslyunderstood.Bysomeitwas

ascribedtotheconsequencesofanindigestion,occasionedeither

bythequantityofthewine,orthequalityofthemushrooms,

whichhehadswallowedintheevening.Accordingtoothers,he

wassuffocatedinhissleepbythevaporofcharcoal,which

extractedfromthewallsoftheapartmenttheunwholesome

moistureofthefreshplaster.16Butthewantofaregular

inquiryintothedeathofaprince,whosereignandpersonwere

soonforgotten,appearstohavebeentheonlycircumstancewhich

countenancedthemaliciouswhispersofpoisonanddomesticguilt.

17ThebodyofJovianwassenttoConstantinople,tobeinterred

withhispredecessors,andthesadprocessionwasmetontheroad

byhiswifeCharito,thedaughterofCountLuciIlian;whostill

wepttherecentdeathofherfather,andwashasteningtodryher

tearsintheembracesofanImperialhusband.Herdisappointment

andgriefwereimbitteredbytheanxietyofmaternaltenderness.

SixweeksbeforethedeathofJovian,hisinfantsonhadbeen

placedinthecurulechair,adornedwiththetitleof

Nobilissimus,andthevainensignsoftheconsulship.

Unconsciousofhisfortune,theroyalyouth,who,fromhis

grandfather,assumedthenameofVarronian,wasremindedonlyby

thejealousyofthegovernment,thathewasthesonofan

emperor.Sixteenyearsafterwardshewasstillalive,buthehad

alreadybeendeprivedofaneye;andhisafflictedmother

expectedeveryhour,thattheinnocentvictimwou1dbetornfrom

herarms,toappease,withhisblood,thesuspicionsofthe

reigningprince.18

[Footnote11:Johan.Antiochen.inExcerpt.Valesian.p.845.

ThelibelsofAntiochmaybeadmittedonveryslightevidence.]

[Footnote12:CompareAmmianus,(xxv.10,)whoomitsthenameof

theBatarians,withZosimus,(1.iii.p.197,)whoremovesthe

sceneofactionfromRheimstoSirmium.]

[Footnote13:Quoscapitascholarumordocastrensisappellat.

Ammian.xxv.10,andVales,adlocum.]

[Footnote14:Cugusvagitus,pertinaciterreluctantis,nein

curulisellavehereturexmore,idquodmoxacciditprotendebat.

Augustusandhissuccessorsrespectfullysolicitedadispensation

ofageforthesonsornephewswhomtheyraisedtothe

consulship.ButthecurulechairofthefirstBrutushadnever

beendishonoredbyaninfant.]

[Footnote15:TheItineraryofAntoninusfixesDadastana125

RomanmilesfromNice;117fromAncyra,(Wesseling,Itinerar.p.

142.)ThepilgrimofBourdeaux,byomittingsomestages,reduces

thewholespacefrom242to181miles.Wesseling,p.574.

Note:DadastanaissupposedtobeCastabat.-M.]

[Footnote16:SeeAminianus,(xxv.10,)Eutropius,(x.18.)who

might1ikewisebepresent,Jerom,(tom.i.p.26,adHeiiodorum.)

Orosius,(vii.31,)Sozomen,(1.vi.c.6,)Zosimus,(1.iii.p.

197,198,)andZonaras,(tom.ii.1.xiii.p.28,29.)Wecannot

expectaperfectagreement,andweshallnotdiscussminute

differences.]

[Footnote17:Ammianus,unmindfulofhisusualcandorandgood

sense,comparesthedeathoftheharmlessJoviantothatofthe

secondAfricanus,whohadexcitedthefearsandresentmentofthe

popularfaction.]

[Footnote18:Chrysostom,tom.i.p.336,344,edit.Montfaucon.

TheChristianoratorattemptstocomfortawidowbytheexamples

ofillustriousmisfortunes;andobserves,thatofnineemperors

(includingtheCaesarGallus)whohadreignedinhistime,only

two(ConstantineandConstantius)diedanaturaldeath.Such

vagueconsolationshaveneverwipedawayasingletear.]

AfterthedeathofJovian,thethroneoftheRomanworld

remainedtendays,19withoutamaster.Theministersand

generalsstillcontinuedtomeetincouncil;toexercisetheir

respectivefunctions;tomaintainthepublicorder;andpeaceably

toconductthearmytothecityofNiceinBithynia,whichwas

chosenfortheplaceoftheelection.20Inasolemnassemblyof

thecivilandmilitarypowersoftheempire,thediademwasagain

unanimouslyofferedtothepraefectSallust.Heenjoyedthe

gloryofasecondrefusal:andwhenthevirtuesofthefather

wereallegedinfavorofhisson,thepraefect,withthefirmness

ofadisinterestedpatriot,declaredtotheelectors,thatthe

feebleageoftheone,andtheunexperiencedyouthoftheother,

wereequallyincapableofthelaboriousdutiesofgovernment.

Severalcandidateswereproposed;and,afterweighingthe

objectionsofcharacterorsituation,theyweresuccessively

rejected;but,assoonasthenameofValentinianwaspronounced,

themeritofthatofficerunitedthesuffragesofthewhole

assembly,andobtainedthesincereapprobationofSallust

himself.Valentinian21wasthesonofCountGratian,anative

ofCibalis,inPannonia,whofromanobscureconditionhadraised

himself,bymatchlessstrengthanddexterity,tothemi1itary

commandsofAfricaandBritain;fromwhichheretiredwithan

amplefortuneandsuspiciousintegrity.Therankandservicesof

Gratiancontributed,however,tosmooththefirststepsofthe

promotionofhisson;andaffordedhimanearlyopportunityof

displayingthosesolidandusefulqualifications,whichraised

hischaracterabovetheordinarylevelofhisfellow-soldiers.

ThepersonofValentinianwastall,graceful,andmajestic.His

manlycountenance,deeplymarkedwiththeimpressionofsenseand

spirit,inspiredhisfriendswithawe,andhisenemieswithfear;

andtosecondtheeffortsofhisundauntedcourage,thesonof

Gratianhadinheritedtheadvantagesofastrongandhealthy

constitution.Bythehabitsofchastityandtemperance,which

restraintheappetitesandinvigoratethefaculties,Valentinian

preservedhisownandthepublicesteem.Theavocationsofa

militarylifehaddivertedhisyouthfromtheelegantpursuitsof

literature;*hewasignorantoftheGreeklanguage,andthe

artsofrhetoric;butasthemindoftheoratorwasnever

disconcertedbytimidperplexity,hewasable,asoftenasthe

occasionpromptedhim,todeliverhisdecidedsentimentswith

boldandreadyelocution.Thelawsofmartialdisciplinewere

theonlylawsthathehadstudied;andhewassoondistinguished

bythelaboriousdiligence,andinflexibleseverity,withwhich

hedischargedandenforcedthedutiesofthecamp.Inthetime

ofJulianheprovokedthedangerofdisgrace,bythecontempt

whichhepubliclyexpressedforthereigningreligion;22andit

shouldseem,fromhissubsequentconduct,thattheindiscreetand

unseasonablefreedomofValentinianwastheeffectofmilitary

spirit,ratherthanofChristianzeal.Hewaspardoned,however,

andstillemployedbyaprincewhoesteemedhismerit;23andin

thevariouseventsofthePersianwar,heimprovedthereputation

whichhehadalreadyacquiredonthebanksoftheRhine.The

celerityandsuccesswithwhichheexecutedanimportant

commission,recommendedhimtothefavorofJovian;andtothe

honorablecommandofthesecondschool,orcompany,of

Targetiers,ofthedomesticguards.InthemarchfromAntioch,

hehadreachedhisquartersatAncyra,whenhewasunexpectedly

summoned,withoutguiltandwithoutintrigue,toassume,inthe

forty-thirdyearofhisage,theabsolutegovernmentoftheRoman

empire.

[Footnote19:Tendaysappearscarcelysufficientforthemarch

andelection.Butitmaybeobserved,1.Thatthegeneralsmight

commandtheexpeditioususeofthepublicpostsforthemselves,

theirattendants,andmessengers.2.Thatthetroops,forthe

easeofthecities,marchedinmanydivisions;andthatthehead

ofthecolumnmightarriveatNice,whentherearhaltedat

Ancyra.]

[Footnote20:Ammianus,xxvi.1.Zosimus,1.iii.p.198.

Philostorgius,1.viii.c.8,andGodefroy,Dissertat.p.334.

Philostorgius,whoappearstohaveobtainedsomecuriousand

authenticintelligence,ascribesthechoiceofValentiniantothe

praefectSallust,themaster-generalArintheus,Dagalaiphuscount

ofthedomestics,andthepatricianDatianus,whosepressing

recommendationsfromAncyrahadaweightyinfluenceinthe

election.]

[Footnote21:Ammianus(xxx.7,9)andtheyoungerVictorhave

furnishedtheportraitofValentinian,whichnaturallyprecedes

andillustratesthehistoryofhisreign.

Note:Symmachus,inafragmentofanorationpublishedbyM.

Mai,describesValentinianasbornamongthesnowsofIllyria,

andhabituatedtomilitarylaboramidtheheatanddustofLibya:

genitusinfrigoribus,educatusissolibusSym.Orat.Frag.edit.

Niebuhr,p.5.-M.]

[Footnote*:AccordingtoAmmianus,hewroteelegantly,andwas

ski1ledinpaintingandmodelling.Scribensdecore,venusteque

pingensetfingens.xxx.7.-M.]

[Footnote22:AtAntioch,wherehewasobligedtoattendthe

emperortothetable,hestruckapriest,whohadpresumedto

purifyhimwithlustralwater,(Sozomen,1.vi.c.6.Theodoret,

1.iii.c.15.)SuchpublicdefiancemightbecomeValentinian;

butitcouldleavenoroomfortheunworthydelationofthe

philosopherMaximus,whichsupposessomemoreprivateoffence,

(Zosimus,1.iv.p.200,201.)]

[Footnote23:Socrates,1.iv.ApreviousexiletoMelitene,or

Thebais(thefirstmightbepossible,)isinterposedbySozomen

(1.vi.c.6)andPhilostorgius,(1.vii.c.7,withGodefroy，s

Dissertations,p.293.)]

TheinvitationoftheministersandgeneralsatNicewasof

littlemoment,unlessitwereconfirmedbythevoiceofthearmy.

TheagedSallust,whohadlongobservedtheirregular

fluctuationsofpopularassemblies,proposed,underpainof

death,thatnoneofthosepersons,whoserankintheservice

mightexciteapartyintheirfavor,shouldappearinpublicon

thedayoftheinauguration.Yetsuchwastheprevalenceof

ancientsuperstition,thatawholedaywasvoluntarilyaddedto

thisdangerousinterval,becauseithappenedtobethe

intercalationoftheBissextile.24Atlength,whenthehourwas

supposedtobepropitious,Valentinianshowedhimselffroma

loftytribunal;thejudiciouschoicewasapplauded;andthenew

princewassolemnlyinvestedwiththediademandthepurple,

amidsttheacclamationofthetroops,whoweredisposedin

martialorderroundthetribunal.Butwhenhestretchedforth

hishandtoaddressthearmedmultitude,abusywhisperwas

accidentallystartedintheranks,andinsensiblyswelledintoa

loudandimperiousclamor,thatheshouldname,withoutdelay,a

colleagueintheempire.TheintrepidcalmnessofValentinian

obtainedsilence,andcommandedrespect;andhethusaddressed

theassembly:〃Afewminutessinceitwasinyourpower,

fellow-soldiers,tohaveleftmeintheobscurityofaprivate

station.Judging,fromthetestimonyofmypastlife,thatI

deservedtoreign,youhaveplacedmeonthethrone.Itisnow

mydutytoconsultthesafetyandinterestoftherepublic.The

weightoftheuniverseisundoubtedlytoogreatforthehandsof

afeeblemortal.Iamconsciousofthelimitsofmyabilities,

andtheuncertaintyofmylife;andfarfromdeclining,Iam

anxioustosolicit,theassistanceofaworthycolleague.But,

wherediscordmaybefatal,thechoiceofafaithfulfriend

requiresmatureandseriousdeliberation.Thatdeliberation

shal1bemycare.Letyourconductbedutifulandconsistent.

Retiretoyourquarters;refreshyourmindsandbodies;and

expecttheaccustomeddonativeontheaccessionofanew

emperor.25Theastonishedtroops,withamixtureofpride,of

satisfaction,andofterror,confessedthevoiceoftheirmaster.

Theirangryclamorssubsidedintosilentreverence;and

Valentinian,encompassedwiththeeaglesofthelegions,andthe

variousbannersofthecavalryandinfantry,wasconducted,in

warlikepomp,tothepalaceofNice.Ashewassensible,

however,oftheimportanceofpreventingsomerashdeclarationof

thesoldiers,heconsultedtheassemblyofthechiefs;andtheir

realsentimentswereconciselyexpressedbythegenerousfreedom

ofDagalaiphus."Mostexcellentprince,“saidthatofficer,〃if

youconsideronlyyourfamily,youhaveabrother;ifyoulove

therepublic,lookroundforthemostdeservingoftheRomans./z

26Theemperor,whosuppressedhisdispleasure,withoutaltering

hisintention,slowlyproceededfromNicetoNicomediaand

Constantinople.Inoneofthesuburbsofthatcapital,27

thirtydaysafterhisownelevation,hebestowedthetitleof

AugustusonhisbrotherValens;*andastheboldestpatriots

wereconvinced,thattheiropposition,withoutbeingserviceable

totheircountry,wouldbefataltothemselves,thedeclaration

ofhisabsolutewillwasreceivedwithsilentsubmission.Valens

wasnowinthethirty-sixthyearofhisage;buthisabilities

hadneverbeenexercisedinanyemployment,mi1itaryorcivil;

andhischaracterhadnotinspiredthewor1dwithanysanguine

expectations.Hepossessed,however,onequality,which

recommendedhimtoValentinian,andpreservedthedomesticpeace

oftheempire;devoutandgratefulattachmenttohisbenefactor,

whosesuperiorityofgenius,aswellasofauthority,Valens

humblyandcheerfullyacknowledgedineveryactionofhislife.

“28

[Footnote24:Ammianus,inalong,becauseunseasonable,

digression,(xxvi.1,andValesius,adlocum,)rashlysupposes

thatheunderstandsanastronomicalquestion,ofwhichhis

readersareignorant.Itistreatedwithmorejudgmentand

proprietybyCensorinus(deDieNatali,c.20)andMacrobius,

(Saturnal.i.c.12-16.)TheappellationofBissextile,which

markstheinauspiciousyear,(Augustin,adJanuarium,Epist.

119,)isderivedfromtherepetitionofthesixthdayofthe

calendsofMarch.]

[Footnote25:Valentinian，sfirstspeechisinAmmianus,(xxvi.

2;)conciseandsententiousinPhilostorgius,(1.viii.c.8.)]

[Footnote26:Situosamas,Imperatoroptime,habesfratrem;si

Rempublicamquaerequemvestias.Ammian.xxvi.4.Inthe

divisionoftheempire,Valentinianretainedthatsincere

counsellorforhimself,(c.6.)]

[Footnote27:Insuburbano,Ammian.xxvi.4.Thefamous

Hebdomon,orfieldofMars,wasdistantfromConstantinople

eithersevenstadia,orsevenmiles.SeeValesius,andhis

brother,adloc.,andDucange,Const.1.ii.p.140,141,172,

173.]

[Footnote*:SymmachuspraisestheliberalityofValentinianin

raisinghisbrother