s, which he previously enjoyed.

8. For it was said that he, being very deeply skilled in the arts of
prophecy and the interpretation of auguries and omens, had very often
predicted coming events. And to these charges were added others very
inconsistent with the laws of the religion over which he presided.

9. So Liberius, being of the same opinion with those who condemned these
practices, was ordered, by the sentence of the emperor, to expel
Athanasius from his priestly seat; but this he firmly refused to do,
reiterating the assertion that it was the extremity of wickedness to
condemn a man who had neither been brought before any court nor been
heard in his defence, in this openly resisting the commands of the
emperor.

10. For that prince, being always unfavourable to Athanasius, although
he knew that what he ordered had in fact taken effect, yet was
exceedingly desirous that it should be confirmed by that authority which
the bishops of the Eternal City enjoy, as being of higher rank. And as
he did not succeed in this, Liberius was removed by night; a measure
which was not effected without great difficulty, through the fear which
his enemies had of the people, among whom he was exceedingly popular.

VIII.

Sec. 1. These events, then, took place at Rome, as I have already
mentioned. But Constantius was agitated by frequent intelligence which
assured him that the Gauls were in a lamentable condition, since no
adequate resistance could be made to the barbarians who were now
carrying their devastations with fire and sword over the whole country.
And after deliberating a long time, in great anxiety, what force he
could employ to repel these dangers (himself remaining in Italy, as he
thought it very dangerous to remove into so remote a country), he at
last determined on a wise plan, which was this: to associate with
himself in the cares of the empire his cousin Julian, whom he had some
time before summoned to court, and who still retained the robe he had
worn in the Greek schools.

2. And when, oppressed by the heavy weight of impending calamities, he
had confessed to his dearest friends that by himself he was unequal to
the burden of such weighty and numerous difficulties--a thing which he
had never felt before--they, being trained to excessive flattery, tried
to fill him with foolish ideas, affirming that there was nothing in the
world so difficult but what his pre-eminent virtue and his good fortune,
equal to th