Page:Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire (1827) Vol 2.djvu/384

 366 THE DECLINE AND FALL CHAP, ffiitliful servants, an household was formed, such in- XIX '__ deed as became the dignity of a Caesar : but it was filled with a crowd of slaves, destitute, and perhaps incapable of any attachment for their new master, to whom, for the most part, they were either unknown or suspected. His want of experience might require the assistance of a wise council; but the minute instruc- tions which regulated the service of his table, and the distribution of his hours, were adapted to a youth still under the discipline of his preceptors, rather than to the situation of a prince intrusted with the conduct of an important war. If he aspired to deserve the esteem of his subjects, he was checked by the fear of dis- pleasing his sovereign ; and even the fruits of his mar- riage bed were blasted by the jealous artifices of Eu- sebia'' herself, who, on this occasion alone, seems to have been unmindful of the tenderness of her sex, and the generosity of her character. The memory of his father and of his brothers reminded Julian of his own danger ; and his apprehensions were increased by the Fatal end of recent and unworthy fate of Sylvanus. In the summer A. D.°355 which preceded his own elevation, that general had September, been chosen to deliver Gaul from the tyranny of the barbarians ; but Sylvanus soon discovered that he had left his most dangerous enemies in the imperial court. A dexterous informer, countenanced by several of the principal ministers, procured from him some recom- mendatory letters ; and erasing the whole of the con- tents, except the signature, filled up the vacant parch- ment with matters of high and treasonable import. By the industry and courage of his friends, the fraud was 1 If we recollect that Constantine, the father of Helena, died above eighteen years before in a mature old age, it will appear probable that the daughter, though a virgin, could not be very young at the time of her mar- riage. She was soon afterwards delivered of a son, who died immediately, quod obstetrix, corrupta mercede, mox natum praesecto plusquam conve- nerat umbdico necavit. She accompanied the emperor and empress in their journey to Rome; and the latter, quaesitum venenum bibeie per frau- dem illexit, ut quotiescunque concepisset, immaturum abjiceret partum. Ammian. 1. xvi. c. 10. Our physicians will determine whether there exists such a poison. For my own part, I am inclined to hope that the public malignity imputed the effects of accident as the guilt of Eusebia.