his head-quarters of Sirmium and Naissus, he
distributed, to the principal cities of the empire, a labored apology
for his own conduct; published the secret despatches of Constantius, and
solicited the judgment of mankind between two competitors, the one of
whom had expelled, and the other had invited, the barbarians. Julian,
whose mind was deeply wounded by the reproach of ingratitude, aspired to
maintain, by argument as well as by arms, the superior merits of his
cause; and to excel, not only in the arts of war, but in those of
composition. His epistle to the senate and people of Athens seems to
have been dictated by an elegant enthusiasm; which prompted him to
submit his actions and his motives to the degenerate Athenians of his
own times, with the same humble deference as if he had been pleading,
in the days of Aristides, before the tribunal of the Areopagus. His
application to the senate of Rome, which was still permitted to bestow
the titles of imperial power, was agreeable to the forms of the expiring
republic. An assembly was summoned by Tertullus, prefect of the city;
the epistle of Julian was read; and, as he appeared to be master of
Italy, his claims were admitted without a dissenting voice.

His oblique censure of the innovations of Constantine, and his
passionate invective against the vices of Constantius, were heard with
less satisfaction; and the senate, as if Julian had been present,
unanimously exclaimed, "Respect, we beseech you, the author of your own
fortune"--an artful expression, which, according to the chance of war,
might be differently explained; as a manly reproof of the ingratitude of
the usurper, or as a flattering confession that a single act of such
benefit to the State ought to atone for all the failings of Constantius.

The intelligence of the march and rapid progress of Julian was speedily
transmitted to his rival, who, by the retreat of Sapor, had obtained
some respite from the Persian war. Disguising the anguish of his soul
under the semblance of contempt, Constantius professed his intention of
returning into Europe, and of giving chase to Julian; for he never spoke
of his military expedition in any other light than that of a hunting
party. In the camp of Hierapolis, in Syria, he communicated this design
to his army; slightly mentioned the guilt and rashness of the caesar, and
ventured to assure them that if the mutineers of Gaul presumed to meet
them in the field they would be unable