battles, laid secret ambuscades on our road,
and, occupying the hills on each side, continually reconnoitred our
battalions as they marched, so that our soldiers, being kept all day on
the watch, could neither find time to erect ramparts round their camp,
or to fortify themselves with palisades.

2. And while our flanks were strongly guarded, and the army proceeded
onward in as good order as the nature of the ground would allow, being
formed in squares, though not quite closed up, suddenly news was brought
to the emperor, who had gone on unarmed to reconnoitre the ground in
front, that our rear was attacked.

3. He, roused to anger by this mishap, without stopping to put on his
breastplate, snatched up his shield in a hurry, and while hastening to
support his rear, was recalled by fresh news that the van which he had
quitted was now exposed to a similar attack.

4. Without a thought of personal danger, he now hastened to strengthen
this division, and then, on another side, a troop of Persian cuirassiers
attacked his centre, and pouring down with vehemence on his left wing,
which began to give way, as our men could hardly bear up against the
foul smell and horrid cries of the elephants, they pressed us hard with
spears and clouds of arrows.

5. The emperor flew to every part of the field where the danger was
hottest; and our light-armed troops dashing out wounded the backs of the
Persians, and the hocks of the animals, which were turned the other way.

6. Julian, disregarding all care for his own safety, made signs by
waving his hands, and shouted out that the enemy were fleeing in
consternation; and cheering on his men to the pursuit, threw himself
eagerly into the conflict. His guards called out to him from all sides
to beware of the mass of fugitives who were scattered in consternation,
as he would beware of the fall of an ill-built roof, when suddenly a
cavalry spear, grazing the skin of his arm, pierced his side, and fixed
itself in the bottom of his liver.

7. He tried to pull it out with his right hand, and cut the sinews of
his fingers with the double-edged point of the weapon; and, falling from
his horse, he was borne with speed by the men around him to his tent;
and the physician tried to relieve him.

8. Presently, when his pain was somewhat mitigated, so that his
apprehensions were relieved, contending against death with great
energy, he asked for arms and a horse in order that, by revisiting his
tro