y was obeyed without
delay; and the first orders issued by Jovian, a few hours after his
predecessor had expired, were to prosecute a march, which could alone
extricate the Romans from their actual distress. [103]

[Footnote 100: Honoratior aliquis miles; perhaps Ammianus himself. The
modest and judicious historian describes the scene of the election, at
which he was undoubtedly present, (xxv. 5.)]

[Footnote 101: The primus or primicerius enjoyed the dignity of a
senator, and though only a tribune, he ranked with the military dukes.
Cod. Theodosian. l. vi. tit. xxiv. These privileges are perhaps more
recent than the time of Jovian.]

[Footnote 101a: The soldiers supposed that the acclamations proclaimed
the name of Julian, restored, as they fondly thought, to health, not
that of Jovian. loc.--M.]

[Footnote 102: The ecclesiastical historians, Socrates, (l. iii. c. 22,)
Sozomen, (l. vi. c. 3,) and Theodoret, (l. iv. c. 1,) ascribe to Jovian
the merit of a confessor under the preceding reign; and piously suppose
that he refused the purple, till the whole army unanimously exclaimed
that they were Christians. Ammianus, calmly pursuing his narrative,
overthrows the legend by a single sentence. Hostiis pro Joviano extisque
inspectis, pronuntiatum est, &c., xxv. 6.]

[Footnote 103: Ammianus (xxv. 10) has drawn from the life an impartial
portrait of Jovian; to which the younger Victor has added some
remarkable strokes. The Abbe de la Bleterie (Histoire de Jovien, tom. i.
p. 1-238) has composed an elaborate history of his short reign; a work
remarkably distinguished by elegance of style, critical disquisition,
and religious prejudice.]

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

The esteem of an enemy is most sincerely expressed by his fears; and
the degree of fear may be accurately measured by the joy with which he
celebrates his deliverance. The welcome news of the death of Julian,
which a deserter revealed to the camp of Sapor, inspired the desponding
monarch with a sudden confidence of victory. He immediately detached the
royal cavalry, perhaps the ten thousand Immortals, [104] to second
and support the pursuit; and discharged the whole weight of his united
forces on the rear-guard of the Romans. The rear-guard was thrown
into disorder; the renowned legions, which derived their titles from
Diocletian, and his warlike colleague, were broke and trampled down by
the elephants; and three tribunes los