now past
the autumnal equinox, and the snow, which had already fallen in those
regions, covered the mountains and the plains), and so, instead of
proceeding, Julian undertook a work worthy of being related.

11. He repaired with great expedition, while there was no one to hinder
him, the fortress which Trajan had constructed in the territory of the
Allemanni, and to which he had given his own name, and which had lately
been attacked with great violence and almost destroyed. And he placed
there a temporary garrison, and also some magazines, which he had
collected from the barbarians.

12. But when the Allemanni saw these preparations made for their
destruction, they assembled rapidly in great consternation at what had
already been done, and sent ambassadors to implore peace, with prayers
of extreme humility. And the Caesar, now that he had fully matured and
secured the success of all his designs, taking into consideration all
probabilities, granted them a truce for ten months. In reality he was
especially influenced by this prudent consideration, that the camp which
he had thus occupied without hindrance, in a way that could hardly have
been hoped for, required, nevertheless, to be fortified with mural
engines and other adequate equipments.

13. Trusting to this truce, three of the most ferocious of those kings
who had sent reinforcements to their countrymen when defeated at
Strasburg, came to him, though still in some degree of alarm, and took
the oaths according to the formula in use in their country, that they
would create no further disturbance, but that they would keep the truce
faithfully up to the appointed day, because that had been the decision
of our generals; and that they would not attack the fortress; and that
they would even bring supplies to it on their shoulders if the garrison
informed them that they were in want; all which they promised, because
their fear bridled their treachery.

14. In this memorable war, which deserves to be compared with those
against the Carthaginians or the Gauls, yet was accompanied with very
little loss to the republic, Julian triumphed as a fortunate and
successful leader. The very smallness of his losses might have given
some colour to the assertions of his detractors, who declared that he
had only fought bravely on all occasions, because he preferred dying
gloriously to being put to death like his brother Gallus, as a condemned
malefactor, as they had expected he would