Page:Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire vol 2 (1897).djvu/280

 256 THE DECLINE AND FALL

three Roman legions. Above all, the Persian monarch, elated by victory, again threatened the peace of Asia, and the presence of the emperor was indispensably required both in the West and in the East. For the first time, Constantius sincerely ac- knowledged that hit single strength was unequal to such an extent of care and of dominion." Insensible to the voice of flattery, which assured him that his all-powerful virtue and celestial fortune would still continue to triumph over every obstacle, he listened with complacency to the advice of Eusebia, which gratified his indolence, without offending his suspicious pride. As she perceived that the remembrance of Gallus dwell on the emperor's mind, she artfully turned his attention to the opposite characters of the two brothers, which from their in- fancy had been compared to those of Domitian and of Titus.** She accustomed her husband to consider Julian as a youth of a mild unambitious disposition, whose allegiance and gratitude might be secured by the gift of the purple, and who was qualified to fill, with honour, a subordinate station, without as- piring to dispute the commands, or to shade the glories, of his sovereign and benefactor. After an obstinate, though secret, struggle, the opposition of the favourite eunuchs submitted to the ascendency of the empress; and it was resolved that Julian, after celebrating his nuptials with Helena, sister of Constantius, should be appointcd, with the title of Caesar, to reign over the countries beyond the Alps.**

Although the order which recalled him to court was probably accompanied by some intimation of his approaching greatness, he appeals to the people of Athens to witness his tears of un- dissembled sorrow, when he was reluctantly torn away from his beloved retirement." He trembled for his life, for his fame, and even for his virtue; and his sole confidence was derived from the persuasion that Minerva inspired all his actions, and that he was protected by an invisible guard of angels, whom for that purpose she had borrowed from the Sun and Moon.

■pcn« di'innnMnini. Amtnian. I. k, c. 8 Fa], Hf thin cipr«na, m iMrl worilj. thi' tl.ilHTinK aiaurancc* of ihe eourtleri.
 * tiuctmmbere Ml necariiailbui taau)ii«cralirii unumM^quod laiitfjima <

"I'sntuin a trmijcnilia tnonbiit Jiilixni diflnms ttnu-is, iMn VW pnsnnilibocdui Uomitianum ci Tiium. Aaim. I.n*. c. iildj. Tliii rtiriiiBinaf BBd oducaiion of the two broilwrt were to neuly the wiiie ai to »Boti ■ tItgiK (xaaiplc oFthv inosMdil&miccof chanuwn.

"Amniuinin. I. it. c. EL Z««lmu«, L US. p. IW, 138 [»'■

"•Julinn luJS- P.Qi A.Ei.»7<,9j6l«4-S]> lAanlut. OiM. t. p, seS, JiAm did not yiclJ (ill ibe godi bad slgnlfiMlbiar is4l by repnURl vhioai nod a» M* (lis plel)' then (orbuile tirni lu leuM.