eared there and took the intelligence of the death of Constantius to
the army, the siege might be terminated in that way.

17. In the mean while, not to abandon the siege of Aquileia, as all
other attempts had proved futile, the generals endeavoured to compel the
citizens to surrender by want of water. So they cut the aqueducts; but
as the garrison still resisted with undiminished courage, they, with
vast valour, diverted the stream of the river. But this again was done
in vain; for they reduced the allowance of water to each man; and
contented themselves with the scanty supply they could procure from
wells.

18. While these affairs were proceeding thus, Agilo arrived, as he had
been commanded; and, being protected by a strong body of heavy infantry,
came up boldly close to the walls; and in a long and veracious speech,
told the citizens of the death of Constantius, and the confirmation of
Julian's power; but was reviled and treated as a liar. Nor would any one
believe his statement of what had occurred, till on promise of safety he
was admitted by himself to the edge of the defences; where, with a
solemn oath, he repeated what he had before related.

19. When his story was heard, they all, eager to be released from their
protracted sufferings, threw open the gates and rushed out, admitting
him in the joy as a captain who brought them peace; and excusing
themselves, they gave up Nigrinus as the author of their mad resistance,
and a few others; demanding that their punishment should be taken as an
atonement for the treason and sufferings of the city.

20. Accordingly, a few days later, the affair was rigorously
investigated; Mamertinus, the prefect of the praetorium, sitting as
judge; and Nigrinus, as the cause of the war, was burnt alive. After
him, Romulus and Sabostius, men who had held high office, being
convicted of having sown discord in the empire without any regard to the
consequences, were beheaded; and all the rest escaped unpunished, as
men who had been driven to hostilities by necessity, and not by their
own inclination; this being the decision of the merciful and clement
emperor, after a full consideration of justice. These things, however,
happened some time afterwards.

21. But Julian, who was still at Nissa, was occupied in the graver
cases, being full of fears on both sides. For he was apprehensive lest
the defiles of the Julian Alps might be seized and barred against him by
some sudden onset of the