and by presents of all kinds,
and who could have done great harm to the Roman interests if at such a
crisis they had gone over to the Persians.

9. At this important time, Hermogenes died, and was succeeded in his
prefecture by Helpidius, a native of Paphlagonia, a man of mean
appearance and no eloquence, but of a frank and truthful disposition,
humane and merciful. So much so that once when Constantius ordered an
innocent man to be put to the torture before him, he calmly requested to
be deprived of his office, and that such commissions might be given to
others who would discharge them in a manner more in accordance with the
emperor's sentence.

VII.

Sec. 1. Constantius was perplexed at the danger of the crisis before him,
and doubted what to do, being for some time in deep anxiety whether to
march against Julian, who was still at a distance, or to drive back the
Persians, who were already threatening to cross the Euphrates. And while
he was hesitating, and often taking counsel with his generals, he at
last decided that he would first finish, or at all events take the edge
off, the war which was nearest, so as to leave nothing formidable behind
him, and then penetrate through Illyricum and Italy, thinking to catch
Julian at the very outset of his enterprise, as he might catch a deer
with hounds. For so he used to boast, to appease the fears of those
about him.

2. But that his purpose might not appear to cool, and that he might not
seem to have neglected any side of the war, he spread formidable rumours
of his approach in every direction. And fearing that Africa, which on
all occasions seemed to invite usurpers, might be invaded during his
absence, as if he had already quitted the eastern frontier, he sent by
sea to that country his secretary Gaudentius, whom we have already
mentioned as a spy upon the actions of Julian in Gaul.

3. He had two reasons for thinking that this man would be able with
prompt obedience to do all that he desired, both because he feared the
other side, which he had offended, and also because he was anxious to
take this opportunity to gain the favour of Constantius, whom he
expected beyond a doubt to see victorious. Indeed no one at that time
had any other opinion.

4. When Gaudentius arrived in Africa, recollecting the emperor's orders,
he sent letters to Count Cretio, and to the other officers, to instruct
them what his object was; and having collected a formidable force from
all