ders of proved
skill and courage, perfect in every kind of military knowledge."

8. By this modest speech of their emperor, thus unmoved alike by
prosperity and adversity, the soldiers were for a time appeased,
regaining confidence with an expectation of better success; and
unanimously promised to be docile and obedient, at the same time
extolling Julian's authority and magnanimity to the skies; and, as is
their wont when their feelings are genuine and cordial, they showed them
by a gentle rattling of their arms.

9. Then they returned to their tents, and refreshed themselves with
food, for which they had abundant means, and with sleep during the
night. But Julian encouraged his army not by the idea of their families,
but by the thoughts of the greatness of the enterprises in which they
were embarked: continually making vows--"So might he be able to make the
Persians pass under the yoke." "So might he restore the Roman power
which had been shaken in those regions,"--in imitation of Trajan, who
was accustomed frequently to confirm anything he had said by the
imprecations--"So may I see Dacia reduced to the condition of a
province; so may I bridge over the Danube and Euphrates,"--using many
similar forms of attestation.

10. Then after proceeding fourteen miles further we came to a certain
spot where the soil is fertilized by the abundance of water. But as the
Persians had learnt that we should advance by this road, they removed
the dams and allowed the waters to flood the country.

11. The ground being thereby, for a great distance, reduced to the state
of a marsh, the emperor gave the soldiers the next day for rest, and
advancing in front himself, constructed a number of little bridges of
bladders, and coracles[149] made of skins, and rafts of palm-tree
timber, and thus led his army across, though not without difficulty.

12. In this region many of the fields are planted with vineyards and
various kinds of fruit trees; and palm-trees grow there over a great
extent of country, reaching as far as Mesene and the ocean, forming
great groves. And wherever any one goes he sees continual stocks and
suckers of palms, from the fruit of which abundance of honey and wine is
made, and the palms themselves are said to be divided into male and
female, and it is added that the two sexes can be easily distinguished.

13. They say further that the female trees produce fruit when
impregnated by the seeds of the male trees, and even