er hopes, and
now rising up with a great noise, and beating their shields with their
spears, they with unanimous shouts showed their approbation of his
language and purpose.

9. And that no opportunity, however brief, might be afforded to disturb
so wise an arrangement, the Petulantes and Celtic legion immediately
besought him, on behalf of their commissaries, to give them the
government of any provinces he pleased, and when he refused them, they
retired without being either offended or out of humour.

10. But the very night before the day on which he was thus proclaimed
emperor, Julian had mentioned to his most intimate friends that during
his slumbers some one had appeared to him in a dream, in the form and
habit of the genius of the empire, who uttered these words in a tone of
reproach: "For some time, Julian, have I been secretly watching the door
of thy palace, wishing to increase thy dignity, and I have often retired
as one rejected; but if I am not now admitted, when the opinion of the
many is unanimous, I shall retire discouraged and sorrowful. But lay
this up in the depth of thy heart, that I will dwell with thee no
longer."

VI.

Sec. 1. While these transactions were proceeding in Gaul, to the great
anxiety of many, the fierce king of Persia (the advice of Antoninus
being now seconded by the arrival of Craugasius), burning with eagerness
to obtain Mesopotamia, while Constantius with his army was at a
distance, crossed the Tigris in due form with a vast army, and laid
siege to Singara with a thoroughly equipped force, sufficient for the
siege of a town which, in the opinion of the chief commanders of those
regions, was abundantly fortified and supplied.

2. The garrison, as soon as they saw the enemy, while still at a
distance, at once closed their gates, and with great spirit thronged to
the towers and battlements, collecting on them stones and warlike
engines. And then, having made all their preparations, they stood
prepared to repel the advancing host if they should venture to approach
the walls.

3. Therefore the king, when he arrived and found that, though they would
admit some of his nobles near enough to confer with them, he could not,
by any conciliatory language, bend the garrison to his wishes, he gave
one entire day to rest, and then, at daybreak, on a signal made by the
raising of a scarlet flag, the whole city was surrounded by men carrying
ladders, while others began to raise engines; al