Roman History Roman History - Book XVI. V. His virtues.
by Ammianus Marcellinus
In the first place (and
this is a most difficult task for every one), he imposed on himself a rigid
temperance, and maintained it as if he had been living under the obligation of
the sumptuary laws. These were originally brought to Rome from the edicts of
Lycurgus and the tables of laws compiled by Solon, and were for a long time
strictly observed. When they had become somewhat obsolete, they were
re-established by Sulla, who, guided by the apophthegms of Democritus, agreed
with him that it, is Fortune which spreads an ambitious table, but that Virtue
is content with a sparing one.
And likewise Cato of
Tusculum, who from his pure and temperate way of life obtained the surname of
the Censor, said with profound
wisdom on the same subject, "When there is great care about food, there is
very little care about virtue."
Lastly,
though he was continually reading the little treatise which Constantius, when
sending him as his stepson to prosecute his studies, had written for him with
his own hand, in which he made extravagant provision for the dinner-expenses of
the Caesar, Julian now forbade pheasants, or sausages, or even sow's udder to be
served up to him, contenting himself with the cheap and ordinary food of the
common soldiers.
Hereupon
arose his custom of dividing his nights into three portions, one of which he
allotted to rest, one to the affairs of the state, and one to the study of
literature; and we read that Alexander the Great had been accustomed to do the
same, though he practised the rule with less self-reliance. For Alexander,
having placed a brazen shell on the ground beneath him, used to hold a silver
ball in his hand, which he kept stretched outside his bed, so that when sleep
pervading his whole body had relaxed the rigour of his muscles, the rattling of
the ball falling might banish slumber from his eyes.
But Julian,
without any instrument, awoke whenever he pleased; and always rising when the
night was but half spent, and that not from a bed of feathers, or silken
cover-lots shining with varied brilliancy, but from a rough blanket or rug,
would secretly offer his supplications to Mercury, who, as the theological
lessons which he had received had taught him, was the swift intelligence of the
world, exciting the different emotions of the mind. And thus removed from all
external circumstances calculated to distract his attention, he gave his whole
attention to the affairs of the republic.
Then, after having
ended this arduous and important business, he turned and applied himself to the
cultivation of his intellect. And it was marvellous with what excessive ardour
he investigated and attained to the sublime knowledge of the loftiest matters,
and how, seeking as it were some food for his mind which might give it strength
to climb up to the sublimest truths, he ran through every branch of philosophy
in profound and subtle discussions.
Nevertheless,
while engaged in amassing knowledge of this kind in all its fullness and power,
he did not despise the humbler accomplishments. He was tolerably fond of poetry
and rhetoric, as is shown by the invariable and pure elegance, mingled with
dignity, of all his speeches and letters. And he likewise studied the varied
history of our own state and of foreign countries. To all these accomplishments
was added a very tolerable degree of eloquence in the Latin language.
Therefore, if it
be true, as many writers affirm, that Cyrus the king, and Simonides the lyric
poet, and Hippias of Elis, the most acute of the Sophists, excelled as they did
in memory because they had obtained that faculty through drinking a particular
medicine, we must also believe that Julian in his early manhood had drunk the
whole cask of memory, if such a thing could ever be found. And these are the
nocturnal signs of his chastity and virtue.
But as for the
manner in which he passed his days, whether in conversing with eloquence and
wit, or in making preparations for war, or in actual conflict of battle, or in
his administration of affairs of the state, correcting all defects with
magnanimity and liberality, these things shall all be set forth in their proper
place.
When he
was compelled, as being a prince, to apply himself to the study of military
discipline, having been previously confined to lessons of philosophy, and when
he was learning the art of marching in time while the pipes were playing the
Pyrrhic air, he often, calling upon the name of Plato, ironically quoted that
old proverb, "A pack-saddle is placed on an ox; this is clearly a burden
which does not belong to me."
On one
occasion, when some secretaries were introduced into the council-chamber, with
solemn ceremony, to receive some gold, one of their company did not, as is the
usual custom, open his robe to receive it, but took it in the hollow of both his
hands joined together; on which Julian said, secretaries only know how to seize
things, not how to accept them.
Having
been approached by the parents of a virgin who had been ravished, seeking for
justice, he gave sentence that the ravisher, on conviction, should be banished;
and when the parents complained of this sentence as
unequal to the crime, because the criminal had not been condemned to death, he
replied, "Let the laws blame my clemency; but it is fitting that an emperor
of a most merciful disposition should be superior to all other laws."
Once when
he was about to set forth on an expedition, he was interrupted by several people
complaining of injuries which they had received, whom he referred for a hearing
to the governors of their respective provinces. And after he had returned, he
inquired what had been done in each case, and with genuine clemency mitigated
the punishments which had been assigned to the offences.
Last of
all, without here making any mention of the victories in which he repeatedly
defeated the barbarians, and the vigilance with which he protected his army from
all harm, the benefits which he conferred on the Galli, previously exhausted by
extreme want, are most especially evident from this fact, that when he first
entered the country he found that four-and-twenty pieces of gold were exacted,
under the name of tribute, in the way of poll-tax, from each individual. But
when he quitted the country seven pieces only were required, which made up all
the payments due from them to the state. On which account they rejoiced with
festivals and dances, looking upon him as a serene sun which had shone upon them
after melancholy darkness.
Moreover we
know that up to the very end of his reign and of his life, he carefully and with
great benefit observed this rule, not to remit the arrears of tribute by edicts
which they call indulgences. For he knew that by such conduct he should be
giving something to the rich, whilst it is notorious everywhere that, the moment
that taxes are imposed, the poor are compelled to pay them all at once without
any relief.
But while he
was thus regulating and governing the country in a manner deserving the
imitation of all virtuous princes, the rage of the barbarians again broke out
more violently than ever.
And as
wild beasts, which, owing to the carelessness of the shepherds, have been wont
to plunder their flocks, even when these careless keepers are exchanged for more
watchful ones, still cling to their habit, and being furious with hunger, will,
without any regard for their own safety, again attack the flocks and herds; so also the barbarians, having consumed all
their plunder, continued, under the pressure of hunger, repeatedly to make
inroads for the sake of booty, though sometimes they died of want before they
could obtain any.