to the Persian camp; and the Romans were reproached as the assassins
of the emperor by Sapor and his subjects, (Ammian. xxv. 6. Libanius
de ulciscenda Juliani nece, c. xiii. p. 162, 163.) It was urged, as
a decisive proof, that no Persian had appeared to claim the promised
reward, (Liban. Orat. Parent. c. 141, p. 363.) But the flying horseman,
who darted the fatal javelin, might be ignorant of its effect; or he
might be slain in the same action. Ammianus neither feels nor inspires a
suspicion.]

[Footnote 134: This dark and ambiguous expression may point to
Athanasius, the first, without a rival, of the Christian clergy,
(Libanius de ulcis. Jul. nece, c. 5, p. 149. La Bleterie, Hist. de
Jovien, tom. i. p. 179.)]

[Footnote 135: The orator (Fabricius, Bibliot. Graec. tom. vii. p.
145-179) scatters suspicions, demands an inquiry, and insinuates, that
proofs might still be obtained. He ascribes the success of the Huns to
the criminal neglect of revenging Julian's death.]

It was an ancient custom in the funerals, as well as in the triumphs,
of the Romans, that the voice of praise should be corrected by that of
satire and ridicule; and that, in the midst of the splendid pageants,
which displayed the glory of the living or of the dead, their
imperfections should not be concealed from the eyes of the world. [136]
This custom was practised in the funeral of Julian. The comedians, who
resented his contempt and aversion for the theatre, exhibited, with
the applause of a Christian audience, the lively and exaggerated
representation of the faults and follies of the deceased emperor. His
various character and singular manners afforded an ample scope for
pleasantry and ridicule. [137] In the exercise of his uncommon talents,
he often descended below the majesty of his rank. Alexander was
transformed into Diogenes; the philosopher was degraded into a
priest. The purity of his virtue was sullied by excessive vanity; his
superstition disturbed the peace, and endangered the safety, of a mighty
empire; and his irregular sallies were the less entitled to indulgence,
as they appeared to be the laborious efforts of art, or even of
affectation. The remains of Julian were interred at Tarsus in Cilicia;
but his stately tomb, which arose in that city, on the banks of the cold
and limpid Cydnus, [138] was displeasing to the faithful friends, who
loved and revered the memory of that extraordinary man. The philosopher
expressed a very reasonab