HumanitiesWeb.org - Roman History Roman History - Book XVI. (VII. The Caesar Julian is defended before the emperor by his chamberlain Eutherius against the accusations of Marcellus.) by Ammianus Marcellinus
Roman History Roman History - Book XVI. VII. The Caesar Julian is defended before the emperor by his chamberlain Eutherius against the accusations of Marcellus.
by Ammianus Marcellinus
About the same time,
Constantius having learnt, from common report, that Marcellus had omitted to
carry assistance to the Caesar when he was besieged at Sens, cashiered him, and
ordered him to retire to his own house. And he,
as if he had received a great injury, began to plot against Julian, relying upon
the disposition of the emperor to open his ears to every accusation.
Therefore, when
he departed, Eutherius, the chief chamberlain, was immediately sent after him,
that he might convict him before the emperor if he propagated any falsehoods.
But Marcellus, unaware of this, as soon as he arrived at Milan, began talking
loudly, and seeking to create alarm, like a vain chatterer half mad as he was.
And when he was admitted into the council-chamber, he began to accuse Julian of
being insolent, and of preparing for himself stronger wings in order to soar to
a greater height. For this was his expression, agitating his body violently as
he uttered it.
While he was thus
uttering his imaginary charges with great freedom, Eutherius being, at his own
request, introduced into the presence, and being commanded to say what he
wished, speaking with great respect and moderation showed the emperor that the
truth was being overlaid with falsehood. For that, while the commander of the
heavy-armed troops had, as it was believed, held back on purpose, the Caesar
having been long besieged at Sens, had by his vigilance and energy repelled the
barbarians. And he pledged his own life that the Caesar would, as long as he
lived, be faithful to the author of his greatness.
The opportunity
reminds me here to mention a few facts concerning this same Eutherius, which
perhaps will hardly be believed; because if Numa Pompilius or Socrates were to
say anything good of a eunuch, and wore to confirm what they said by an oath,
they would be accused of having departed from the truth. But roses grow up among
thorns, and among wild beasts some are of gentle disposition. And therefore I
will briefly mention a few of his most important acts which are well
ascertained.
He was born
in Armenia, of a respectable family, and having while a very little child been
taken prisoner by the enemies on the border, he was castrated and sold to some
Roman merchants, and by them conducted to the palace of Constantine, where,
while growing up to manhood, he began to display good principles and good
talents, becoming accomplished in literature to a degree quite sufficient for
his fortune, displaying extraordinary acuteness in
discovering matters of a doubtful and difficult complexion; being remarkable
also for a marvellous memory, always eager to do good, and full of wise and
honest counsel. A man, in short, who, if the Emperor Constantius had listened to
his advice, which, whether he gave it in youth or manhood, was always honourable
and upright, would have been prevented from committing any errors, or at least
any that were not pardonable.
When he became
high chamberlain he sometimes also found fault even with Julian, who, as being
tainted with Asiatic manners, was apt to be capricious. Finally, when he quitted
office for private life, and again when he was recalled to court, he was always
sober and consistent, cultivating those excellent virtues of good faith and
constancy to such a degree that he never betrayed any secret, except for the
purpose of securing another's safety; nor was he ever accused of covetous or
grasping conduct, as the other courtiers were.
From which it
arose that, when at a late period he retired to Rome, and fixed there the abode
of his old age, bearing with him the company of a good conscience, he was loved
and respected by men of all ranks, though men of that class generally, after
having amassed riches by iniquity, love to seek secret places of retirement,
just as owls or moths, and avoid the sight of the multitude whom they have
injured.
Though I have
often ransacked the accounts of antiquity, I do not find any ancient eunuch to
whom I can compare him. There were indeed among the ancients some, though very
few, faithful and economical, but still they were stained by some vice or other;
and among the chief faults which they had either by nature or habit, they were
apt to be either rapacious or else boorish, and on that account contemptible; or
else ill-natured and mischievous; or fawning too much on the powerful; or too
elated with power, and therefore arrogant. But of any one so universally
accomplished and prudent, I confess I have neither ever read nor heard, relying
for the truth of this judgment on the general testimony of the age.
But if any
careful reader of ancient histories should oppose to us Menophilus, the eunuch
of King Mithridates, I would warn him to recollect that nothing is really known of him except this single fact, that he behaved gloriously in a moment of
extreme danger.
When the king above
mentioned, having been defeated by the Romans under the command of Pompey, and
fleeing to his kingdom of Colchis, left a grown-up daughter, named Drypctina,
who at the time was dangerously ill, in the castle of Synhorium, under the care
of this Menophilus, he completely cured the maiden by a variety of remedies, and
preserved her in safety for her father; and when the fortress in which they were
enclosed began to be besieged by Manlius Priscus, the lieutenant of the general,
and when he became aware that the garrison were proposing to surrender, he,
fearing that, to the dishonour of her father, this noble damsel might be made a
prisoner and be ravished, slew her, and then fell upon his sword himself. Now I
will return to the point from which I digressed.