OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE,

17.1

with the offers of his rival. Sulpicianus had al- cim\

ready promised a donative of five thousand „_

drachms (above one hundred and sixty pounds)to each soldier; when Julian, eager for theprize, rose at once to the sum of six thousandtwo hundred and fifty drachms, or upwards oftwo hundred pounds sterling. The gates of thecamp were instantly thrown open to the purcha-ser; he was declared emperor, and received anoath of allegiance from the soldiers, who retain-ed humanity enough to stipulate that he shouldpardon and forget the competition of Sulpi-cianus.

It was now incumbent on the praetorians to isfulfil the conditions of the sale. They placed ledged bytheir new sovereign, whom they served and de- tlle suiatespised, in the centre of their ranks, surroundedhim on every side with their shields, and con-ducted him in close order of battle through thedeserted streets of the city. The senate wascommanded to assemble; and those who hadbeen the distinguished friends of Pertinax , orthe personal enemies of Julian, found it neces-sary to affect a more than common share of sa-tisfaction at this happy revolution.™ After Ju-lian had filled the senate-house with armedsoldiers, he expatiated on the freedom of hiselection, his own eminent virtues, and his fullassurance of the affections of the senate. Theobsequious assembly congratulated their ownand the public felicity; engaged their alle-giance, and conferred on him all the several

m Dion Cassius , at that time praetor, had been a personal enemy toJulian, Ixxii, p« 1135.