to death, hoping thus, by the
punishment of a few, to drive the rest, if any were still concealed, out
of the city through fear of similar treatment.

2. And he is said to have acted thus energetically because having been
promoted by Julian while he was still in Syria, he had lost one eye on
his journey to take possession of his office, and he suspected that this
was owing to his having been the object of some nefarious practices;
therefore with just but unusual indignation he exerted great industry in
searching out these and similar crimes. This made him appear cruel to
some persons, because the populace were continually pouring in crowds
into the amphitheatre while he was conducting the examination of some of
the greatest criminals.

3. At last, after many punishments of this kind had been inflicted, he
condemned to death the charioteer Hilarinus, who was convicted on his
own confession of having intrusted his son, who was but a very young
boy, to a sorcerer to be taught some secret mysteries forbidden by the
laws, in order that he might avail himself of unlawful assistance
without the privity of any one. But, as the executioner held him but
loosely he suddenly escaped and fled to a Christian altar, and had to be
dragged from it, when he was immediately beheaded.

4. But soon ample precautions were taken against the recurrence of this
and similar offences, and there were none or very few who ventured
afterwards to insult the rigour of the public law by practising these
iniquities. But at a later period long impunity nourished atrocious
crimes; and licentiousness increased to such a pitch that a certain
senator followed the example of Hilarinus, and was convicted of having
almost articled by a regular contract one of his slaves to a teacher of
the black art, to be instructed in his impious mysteries, though he
escaped punishment by an enormous bribe, as common report went.

5. And, as it was said, having thus procured an acquittal, though he
ought to have been ashamed even to have such an accusation, he took no
pains to efface the stain, but as if, among a lot of infamous persons,
he were the only one absolutely innocent, he used to ride on a
handsomely caparisoned horse through the streets, and is still always
attended by a troop of slaves, as if by a new and curious fashion he
were desirous to attract particular observation, just as Duilius in
ancient times after his glorious naval victory became so arrogant as to