'IHE DECLINE AND FALL
182
CHAP.
V.
Advances
towards
Home.
gave an easy access into Italy ; and he remem-bered the saying of Augustus, that a Pannonian army might in ten days appear in sight of Rome . hBy a celerity proportioned to the greatness ofthe occasion, he might reasonably hope to re-venge Pertinax , punish Julian, and receive thehomage of the senate and people, as their law-ful emperor, before his competitors, separatedfrom Italy by an immense tract of sea and land,were apprised of his success, or even of his elec-tion. During the whole expedition he scarcelyallowed himself any moments for sleep or food:marching on foot, and in complete armour, atthe head of his columns, he insinuated himselfinto the confidence and affection of his troops,pressed their diligence, revived their spirits, ani-mated their hopes, and was well satisfied toshare the hardships of the meanest soldier, whilsthe kept in view the infinite superiority of hisreward.
The wretched Julian had expected, and thoughthimself prepared to dispute the empire with thegovernor of Syria ; but in the invincible and rapidapproach of the Pannonian legions, he saw hisinevitable ruin. The hasty arrival of every mes-senger increased his just apprehensions. He wassuccessively informed, that Severus had passedthe Alps; that the Italian cities, unwilling orunable to oppose his progress, had received himwith the warmest professions of joy and duty;
h Velleius Paterculus , I. ii, c. 3. We must reckon the march fromthe nearest verge of Pannoma, and extend the sight of the city as faras two hundred miles.