troops who had been shut up in Aquileia; by
which he might lose the provinces beyond, and the supplies which he was
daily expecting from that quarter.

22. And he also greatly feared the power of the East; hearing that the
soldiers who were scattered over Thrace had been suddenly collected
together to act against him, and were advancing towards the frontiers of
the Succi, under command of Count Marcianus. But, devising measures
suitable to this mass of pressing anxieties, he quickly assembled his
Illyrian army, long inured to war, and eager to renew its martial
labours under a warlike chief.

23. Nor even at this critical moment did he forget the interests of
individuals; but devoted some time to hearing contested causes,
especially those concerning municipal bodies, in whose favour he was too
partial, so that he raised several persons who did not deserve such
honour to public offices.

24. It was here that he found Symmachus and Maximus, two eminent
senators, who had been sent by the nobles as envoys to Constantius, and
had returned again. He promoted them with great honour; so that,
preferring them to others more deserving, he made Maximus prefect of the
eternal city, in order to gratify Rufinus Vulcatius, whose nephew he
was. Under his administration the city enjoyed great plenty, and there
was an end to the complaints of the common people, which had been so
frequent.

25. Afterwards, in order to add security to those of his affairs which
were still unsettled, and encourage the confidence of the loyal, he
raised Mamertinus, the prefect of the praetorium in Illyricum, and
Nevitta to the consulship; though he had so lately assailed the memory
of Constantine as the person who had set the example of thus promoting
low-born barbarians.

XIII.

Sec. 1. While Julian was thus carrying out new projects, and alternating
between hope and fear, Constantius at Edessa, being made anxious by the
various accounts brought him by his spies, was full of perplexity. At
one time collecting his army for battle; at another, wishing to lay
siege to Bezabde on two sides, if he could find an opportunity; taking
at the same time prudent precautions not to leave Mesopotamia
unprotected, while about to march into the districts of Armenia.

2. But while still undecided, he was detained by various causes. Sapor
also remained on the other side of the Tigris till the sacrifices should
become propitious to his moving. For if after crossin