Page:Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire (1827) Vol 2.djvu/370

 352 THE DECLINE AND FALL CHAP, few independent spirits who arrogantly refused to 1 '. solicit the protection of slaves. Of these slaves the most distinguished was the chamberlain Eusebius, who ruled the monarch and the palace with such absolute sway, that Constantius, according to the sarcasm of an impartial historian, possessed some credit with this haughty favourite ''. By his artful suggestions, the emperor was persuaded to subscribe the condemnation of the unfortunate Gallus, and to add a new crime to the long list of unnatural murders which pollute the honour of the house of Constantine. Education When the two nephews of Constantine, Gallus and and Julian. Julian, were saved from the fury of the soldiers, the former was about twelve, and the latter about six years of age; and, as the eldest was thought to be of a sickly constitution, they obtained with the less difficulty a precarious and dependent life, from the affected pity of Constantius, who was sensible that the execution of these helpless orphans would have been esteemed, by all mankind, an act of the most deliberate cruelty ^ Different cities of Ionia and Bithynia were assigned for the places of their exile and education ; but, as soon as their growing years excited the jealousy of the empe- ror, he judged it more prudent to secure those unhappy youths in the strong castle of Macellum, near Caesa- rea. The treatment which they experienced during a six years' confinement, was partly such as they could hope from a careful guardian, and partly such as they might dread from a suspicious tyrant ". Their prison verum absolvam brevi, ut imperatore ipso clarius ita apparitorum plerisque magis atrox nihil." '' Apud quem (si vere dici debeat) multum Constantius potuit. Ammian. 1. xviii. c. 4. ' Gregory Nazianzen (Orat. iii. p. 90.) reproaches the apostate with his ingratitude towards Mark, bishop of Arethusa, who had contributed to save his life ; and we learn, though from a less respectable authority, (Tillemont, Hist, des Empereurs, torn. iv. p. 916.) that Julian was concealed in the sanctuary of a church. ■" The most authentic account of the education and adventures of Julian, is contained in the epistle or manifesto which he himself addressed to the senate and people of Athens. Libanius (Orat. Parentalis) on the side of the pagans, and Socrates (1. iii. c. 1.) on that of the christians, have pre- served several interesting circumstances.