rvices in war,
and rising gradually to the highest rank. After the death of
Constantius, in the changes that ensued, he, being a kinsman of the
emperor, began to entertain higher aims, especially after he was
admitted to the order of counts; and it became evident that if ever he
were sufficiently powerful, he would be a disturber of the public peace.

2. When Julian invaded Persia he left him in Mesopotamia, in command of
a strong division of troops, giving him Sebastian for his colleague with
equal power; and he was enjoined (as an uncertain rumour whispered, for
no certain authority for the statement could be produced) to be guided
by the course of events, and if he should find the republic in a languid
state, and in need of further aid, to cause himself without delay to be
saluted as emperor.

3. Procopius executed his commission in a courteous and prudent manner;
and soon afterwards heard of the mortal wound and death of Julian, and
of the elevation of Jovian to the supreme authority; while at the same
time an ungrounded report had got abroad that Julian with his last
breath had declared that it was his will that the helm of the state
should be intrusted to Procopius. He therefore, fearing that in
consequence of this report he might be put to death uncondemned,
withdrew from public observation; being especially alarmed after the
execution of Jovian, the principal secretary, who, as he heard, had been
cruelly put to death with torture, because after the death of Julian he
had been named by a few soldiers as one worthy to succeed to the
sovereignty, and on that account was suspected of meditating a
revolution.

4. And because he was aware that he was sought for with great care, he
withdrew into a most remote and secret district, seeking to avoid giving
offence to any one. Then, finding that his hiding-place was still sought
out by Jovian with increased diligence, he grew weary of living like a
wild beast (since he was not only driven from high rank to a low
station, but was often in distress even for food, and deprived of all
human society); so at last, under the pressure of extreme necessity, he
returned by secret roads into the district of Chalcedon.

5. Where, since that appeared a safer retreat, he concealed himself in
the house of a trusty friend, a man of the name of Strategius, who from
being an officer about the palace had risen to be a senator; crossing
over at times to Constantinople whenever he could do