into a splendid city, the abode of princes, wailing
lamentations and sounds of mourning should be heard in every direction.

16. And here was seen a proof of his gentle disposition, shown indeed
in a trifling, but very remarkable instance. He had long hated a man
named Thalassius, an officer in one of the law courts, as having been
concerned in plots against his brother Gallus. He prohibited him from
paying his salutations to him and presenting himself among the men of
rank; which encouraged his enemies against whom he had actions in the
courts of law, the next day, when a great crowd was collected in the
presence of the emperor, to cry out, "Thalassius, the enemy of your
clemency, has violently deprived us of our rights;" and Julian, thinking
that this was an opportunity for crushing him, replied, "I acknowledge
that I am justly offended with the man whom you mention, and so you
ought to keep silence till he has made satisfaction to me who am his
principal enemy." And he commanded the prefect who was sitting by him
not to hear their business till he himself was recognized by Thalassius,
which happened soon afterwards.

X.

Sec. 1. While wintering at Antioch, according to his wish, he yielded to
none of the allurements of pleasure in which all Syria abounds; but
under pretence of repose, he devoted himself to judicial affairs, which
are not less difficult than those of war, and in which he expended
exceeding care, showing exquisite willingness to receive information,
and carefully balancing how to assign to every one his due. And by his
just sentence the wicked were chastised with moderate punishments, and
the innocent were maintained in the undiminished possession of their
fortunes.

2. And although in the discussion of causes he was often unreasonable,
asking at unsuitable times to what religion each of the litigants
adhered, yet none of his decisions were found inconsistent with equity,
nor could he ever be accused, either from considerations of religion or
of anything else, of having deviated from the strict path of justice.

3. For that is a desirable and right judgment which proceeds from
repeated examinations of what is just and unjust. Julian feared anything
which might lead him away from such, as a sailor fears dangerous rocks;
and he was the better able to attain to correctness, because, knowing
the levity of his own impetuous disposition, he used to permit the
prefects and his chosen counsellors to che