th their customary shout that their
fortunate emperor was invincible, Julian thinking it well to put an
early end to his enterprise, after a quiet night ordered the trumpets to
sound a march; and everything being prepared which the arduous
difficulties of the war required, he at daybreak entered the Assyrian
territory in high spirits, riding in front of his ranks, and exciting
all to discharge the duties of brave men in emulation of his own
courage.

2. And as a leader of experience and skill, fearing lest his ignorance
of the country might lead to his being surprised by secret ambuscades,
he began his march in line of battle. He ordered fifteen hundred
skirmishers to precede him a short distance, who were to march slowly
looking out on each side and also in front, to prevent any sudden
attack. The infantry in the centre were under his own command, they
being the flower and chief strength of the whole army, while on the
right were some legions under Nevitta, who was ordered to march along
the banks of the Euphrates. The left wing with the cavalry he gave to
Arinthaeus and Hormisdas, with orders to lead them in close order through
the level and easy country of the plain. The rear was brought up by
Dagalaiphus and Victor, and the last of all was Secundinus, Duke of
Osdruena.

3. Then in order to alarm the enemy by the idea of his superior numbers,
should they attack him anywhere, or perceive him from a distance, he
opened his ranks so as to spread both horses and men over a larger
space, in such a way that the rear was distant from the van nearly ten
miles; a manoeuvre of great skill which Pyrrhus of Epirus is said to
have often put in practice, extending his camp, or his lines, and
sometimes on the other hand compressing them all, so as to present an
appearance of greater or lesser numbers than the reality, according to
the circumstances of the moment.

4. The baggage, the sutlers, all the camp-followers, and every kind of
equipment, he placed between the two flanks of troops as they marched,
so as not to leave them unprotected and liable to be carried off by any
sudden attack, as has often happened. The fleet, although the river was
exceedingly winding, was not allowed either to fall behind or to advance
before the army.

5. After two days' march we came near a deserted town called Dura, on
the bank of the river, where many herds of deer were found, some of
which were slain by arrows, and others knocked down with t