sight of man
observes the different passers-by, and attacks whom it will with a
sudden spring, so this man, having been raised from being a common
soldier of the lowest class to the highest military dignities, without
having received any injury or any provocation, polluted his conscience
from an insatiable desire of doing mischief.

5. Therefore, having a few partners in his secrets for accomplices, he
had secretly arranged with the emperor when he asked his opinion, that
on the next night Ursicinus should be seized and carried away from the
sight of the soldiers, and so be put to death uncondemned, just as
formerly Domitius Corbulo, that faithful and wise defender of our
provinces, is said to have been slain in the miserable period of Nero's
cruelty.

6. And after the matter had been thus arranged, while the men destined
for the service of seizing Ursicinus were waiting for the appointed
time, the emperor's mind changed to mercy, and so this impious deed was
put off for further consideration.

7. Then the engine of calumny was directed against Julian, who had
lately been brought to court; a prince who afterwards became memorable,
but who was now attacked with a twofold accusation, as the iniquity of
his enemies thought requisite. First, that he had gone from the Park of
Macellum, which lies in Cappadocia, into Asia, from a desire of
acquiring polite learning. Secondly, that he had seen his brother as he
passed through Constantinople.

8. And when he had explained away the charges thus brought against him,
and had proved that he had not done either of these things without being
ordered, he would still have perished through the intrigues of the
abandoned court of flatterers, if he had not been saved by the favour of
the supreme Deity, with the assistance of Queen Eusebia. By her
intercession he obtained leave to be conducted to the town of Como, in
the neighbourhood of Milan; and after he had remained there a short time
he was permitted to go to Greece for the purpose of cultivating his
literary tastes, as he was very eager to do.

9. Nor were there wanting other incidents arising out of these
occurrences, which might be looked upon as events under the direction of
Providence, as some of them were rightly punished, while others failed
of their design, proving vain and ineffective. But it occasionally
happened that rich men, relying on the protection of those in office,
and clinging to them as the ivy clings to loft