exible firmness of a hero, who
remembered, most unfortunately for himself and for his country, that
Alexander had uniformly rejected the propositions of Darius. But as
Julian was sensible, that the hope of a safe and honorable peace might
cool the ardor of his troops, he earnestly requested that Hormisdas
would privately dismiss the minister of Sapor, and conceal this
dangerous temptation from the knowledge of the camp. [76]

[Footnote 73: The fleet and army were formed in three divisions, of
which the first only had passed during the night.]

[Footnote 74: Moses of Chorene (Hist. Armen. l. iii. c. 15, p. 246)
supplies us with a national tradition, and a spurious letter. I have
borrowed only the leading circumstance, which is consistent with truth,
probability, and Libanius, (Orat. Parent. c. 131, p. 355.)]

[Footnote 75: Civitas inexpugnabilis, facinus audax et importunum.
Ammianus, xxiv. 7. His fellow-soldier, Eutropius, turns aside from the
difficulty, Assyriamque populatus, castra apud Ctesiphontem stativa
aliquandiu habuit: remeansbue victor, &c. x. 16. Zosimus is artful or
ignorant, and Socrates inaccurate.]

[Footnote 76: Libanius, Orat. Parent. c. 130, p. 354, c. 139, p. 361.
Socrates, l. iii. c. 21. The ecclesiastical historian imputes the
refusal of peace to the advice of Maximus. Such advice was unworthy of a
philosopher; but the philosopher was likewise a magician, who flattered
the hopes and passions of his master.]

Chapter XXIV: The Retreat And Death Of Julian.--Part IV.

The honor, as well as interest, of Julian, forbade him to consume his
time under the impregnable walls of Ctesiphon and as often as he defied
the Barbarians, who defended the city, to meet him on the open plain,
they prudently replied, that if he desired to exercise his valor,
he might seek the army of the Great King. He felt the insult, and he
accepted the advice. Instead of confining his servile march to the banks
of the Euphrates and Tigris, he resolved to imitate the adventurous
spirit of Alexander, and boldly to advance into the inland provinces,
till he forced his rival to contend with him, perhaps in the plains of
Arbela, for the empire of Asia. The magnanimity of Julian was applauded
and betrayed, by the arts of a noble Persian, who, in the cause of
his country, had generously submitted to act a part full of danger, of
falsehood, and of shame. [77] With a train of faithful followers, he
deserted to the Imperial camp;