the fort and place themselves at his mercy.
It was, perhaps, to gall the Antiochenes with an indication of his
victorious progress that he sent his prisoners under escort into Syria,
and settled them in the territory of Chalcis, at no great distance
from the city of his aversion. Unwilling further to weaken his army by
detaching a garrison to hold his conquest, he committed Anathan to the
flames before proceeding further down the river.

About eight miles below Anathan, another island and another fortress
were held by the enemy. Thilutha is described as stronger than Anathan,
and indeed as almost impregnable. Julian felt that he could not attack
it with any hope of success, and therefore once more submitted to use
persuasion. But the garrison, feeling themselves secure, rejected his
overtures; they would wait, they said, and see which party was superior
in the approaching conflict, and would then attach themselves to
the victors. Meanwhile, if unmolested by the invader, they would not
interfere with his advance, but would maintain a neutral attitude.
Julian had to determine whether he would act in the spirit of an
Alexander, and, rejecting with disdain all compromise, compel by force
of arms an entire submission, or whether he would take lower ground,
accept the offer made to him, and be content to leave in his rear a
certain number of unconquered fortresses. He decided that prudence
required him to take the latter course, and left Thilutha unassailed.
It is not surprising that, having admitted the assumption of a neutral
position by one town, he was forced to extend the permission to others,
and so to allow the Euphrates route to remain, practically, in the hands
of the Persians.

A. five days' march from Thilutha brought the army to a point opposite
Diacira, or Hit, a town of ancient repute, and one which happened to be
well provided with stores and provisions. Though the place lay on the
right bank of the river, it was still exposed to attack, as the fleet
could convey any number of troops from one shore to the other. Being
considered untenable, it was deserted by the male inhabitants, who,
however, left some of their women behind them. We obtain an unpleasant
idea of the state of discipline which the philosophic emperor allowed
to prevail, when we find that his soldiers, "without remorse and without
punishment, massacred these defenceless persons." The historian of the
war records this act without any appearance o