iming relationship
with Julian. He also availed himself of another seasonable incident,
namely, that it was while Faustina, the mother of the child, was present
that he had received the insignia of the imperial rites.

11. He employed also another expedient (though it required great
promptitude); he chose some persons, as stupid as they were rash, whom
he sent to Illyricum, relying on no support except their own impudence;
but also well furnished with pieces of gold stamped with the head of the
new emperor, and with other means suited to win over the multitude. But
these men were arrested by Equitius, who was the commander of the forces
in that country, and were put to death by various methods.

12. And then, fearing similar attempts by Procopius, he blocked up the
three narrowest entrances into the northern province; one through Dacia,
along the course of the different rivers; another, and that the most
frequented, through the Succi; and the third through Macedonia, which is
known as the Acontisma. And in consequence of these precautions the
usurper was deprived of all hope of becoming master of Illyricum, and
lost one great resource for carrying on the war.

13. In the mean time Valens, overwhelmed with the strange nature of this
intelligence, and being already on his return through Gallo-Graecia,
after he had heard what had happened at Constantinople, advanced with
great diffidence and alarm; and as his sudden fears deprived him of his
usual prudence, he fell into such despondency that he thought of laying
aside his imperial robes as too heavy a burden; and in truth he would
have done so if those about him had not hindered him from adopting so
dishonourable a resolution. So, being encouraged by the opinions of
braver men, he ordered two legions, known as the Jovian and the
Victorian, to advance in front to storm the rebel camp.

14. And when they approached, Procopius, who had returned from Nicaea, to
which city he had lately gone with the legion of Divitenses and a
promiscuous body of deserters, which he had collected in a few days,
hastened to Mygdus on the Sangarius.

15. And when the legions, being now prepared for battle, assembled
there, and while both sides were exchanging missiles as if wishing to
provoke an attack, Procopius advanced by himself into the middle, and
under the guidance of favourable fortune, he remarked in the opposite
ranks a man named Vitalianus (it is uncertain whether he had known him