XIV.
§ 1. About this time Prosper and Spectatus and Eustathius, who, as has been mentioned above, had been sent as ambassadors to the Persians, found the Persian king at Ctesiphon, on his return from his campaign, and they delivered the emperor's letters and presents, and requested peace while affairs were still in their existing state. And mindful of what had been enjoined them, they never forgot the interests nor the dignity of the Roman empire, maintaining that the peace ought to be made on the condition that no alteration should be made in the state of Armenia or Mesopotamia.
2. And having remained for some time, when they saw that the king was obstinate, and resolute not to admit of peace unless the absolute dominion of those regions was assigned to him, they returned without having completed their business.
3. After which, Lucillianus, a count, and Procopius, at that time secretary, were sent to obtain the same conditions, with equal powers. Procopius being the same man who afterwards, under the pressure of violent necessity, committed himself to a revolutionary movement.
[70] +Enosichthôn+, +Seisichthôn+, +Ennosigdaios+, from +enothô+ and +seiô+, to shake, and +chthan+ and +gaia+, the earth.
[71] From +brazô+, to boil over.
[72] Strabo gives Ophiusa as one of the names of Rhodes, and Homer mentions the golden shower:--
+kai sphin Thespesion ploutou katecheue kroniôn.+--Il. +b+. vi. 70.
As also does Pindar, Ol. vii. 63.
[73] From +klinô+, to lay down.
[74] From +chasma+, a chasm, derived from +chainô+, to gape.
[75] This is a tale told by Plato in the Timæus (which is believed to have no foundation).
[76] The destruction of Helice is related in Diodorus Sic. xiv. 48; cf. Ov. Met. xv. 290.
[77] The lake Ciminus was near Centumcellæ, cf. Virg. Æn. vii. 697. The town of Saccumum is not mentioned by any other writer.
[78] From +mykaô+, to roar like a bull.
[79] Toxandria was in Belgium, on the Scheldt.
[80] The Chamavi were a tribe at the mouth of the Rhine.
[81] Tages was an Etruscan, the son, it is said, of a genius, Jovialis, and grandson of Jupiter, who rose out of the ground as a man named Tarchon was ploughing near Tarquinii, and instructed the auspices in divination. Cf. Cic. Div. ii. 23.
[82] Carthage and Numantia.
[83] The Quadi occupied a part of Hungary.
[84] The Victohali were a tribe of Goths.
[85] Szoeni, called by Ammianus Bregetio, is near Cormorn.
[86] The Theiss.
[87] The Anicenses and Picenses were Dacian tribes.
[88] The Taifali were a tribe of the Western Goths.
## BOOK XVIII.
ARGUMENT.
I. The Cæsar Julian consults the welfare of the Gauls, and provides for the general observance of justice.--II. He repairs the walls of the castles on the Rhine which he had recovered; crosses the Rhine, and having conquered those of the Alemanni who remained hostile, he compels their kings to sue for peace, and to restore their prisoners.--III. Why Barbatio, the commander of the infantry, and his wife, were beheaded by command of Constantius.--IV. Sapor, king of Persia, prepares to attack the Romans with all his power.--V. Antoninus, the protector, deserts to Sapor, with all his men; and increases his eagerness to engage in war with the Romans.--VI. Ursicinus, the commander of the legions, being summoned from the East, when he had reached Thrace was sent back to Mesopotamia, and having arrived there he hears from Marcellinus of Sapor's approach.--VII. Sapor, with the kings of the Chionitæ and Albani, invades Mesopotamia--The Romans of their own accord lay waste their lands with fire; compelled the countrymen to come into the towns, and fortify the western bank of the Euphrates with castles and garrisons.--VIII. Seven hundred Illyrian cavalry are surprised by the Persians, and put to flight--Ursicinus escapes in one direction, and Marcellinus in another.--IX. A description of Amida; and how many legions and squadrons were there in garrison.--X. Sapor receives the surrender of two Roman fortresses.