tween Laumellum
and Ticinum, he proceeded straight on to the country of the Taurini,
where he received disastrous intelligence, which had recently reached
the emperor's court, but still had been intentionally kept back, lest
all the preparations made for his journey should be wasted.

19. And this intelligence was that Colonia Agrippina,[47] a city of
great renown in lower Germany, had been carried by a vigorous siege of
the barbarians, who appeared before it in great force, and had utterly
destroyed it.

20. Julian being greatly distressed at this news, looking on it as a
kind of omen of misfortunes to come, was often heard to murmur in
querulous tones, "that he had gained nothing except the fate of dying
amid greater trouble and employment than before."

21. But when he arrived at Vienne, people of every age and class went
forth to meet him on his entrance to the city, with a view to do him
honour by their reception of him as one who had been long wished for,
and was now granted to their prayers. And when he was seen in the
distance the whole population of the city and of the adjacent
neighbourhood, going before his chariot, celebrated his praises,
saluting him as Emperor, clement and prosperous, greeting with eager joy
this royal procession in honour of a lawful prince. And they placed all
their hopes of a remedy for the evils which affected the whole province
on his arrival, thinking that now, when their affairs were in a most
desperate condition, some friendly genius had come to shine upon them.

22. And a blind old woman, when in reply to her question "Who was
entering the city?" she received for answer "Julian the Caesar," cried
out that "He would restore the temples of the gods."

IX.

Sec. 1. Now then, since, as the sublime poet of Mantua has sung, "A greater
series of incident rises to my view; in a more arduous task I
engage,"--I think it a proper opportunity to describe the situation and
different countries of the Gauls, lest, among the narration of fiery
preparations and the various chances of battles, I should seem, while
speaking of matters not understood by every one, to resemble those
negligent sailors, who, when tossed about by dangerous waves and storms,
begin to repair their sails and ropes which they might have attended to
in calm weather.

2. Ancient writers, pursuing their investigations into the earliest
origin of the Gauls, left our knowledge of the truth very imperfect; but
at a late