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The emperors of the age of Constantine nolonger deigned to consult with the senate in thechoice of a colleague; but they were anxiousthat their nomination should be ratified by theconsent of the army. On this solemn occasion,the guards, with the other troops whose stationswere in the neighbourhood of Milan, appearedunder arms; and Constantius ascended his lotty tribunal, holding by the hand his cousin Ju-lian, who entered the same day into the twenty-fifth year of his age . 1 In a studied speech,conceived and delivered with dignity, the em-peror represented the various dangers whichthreatened the prosperity of the republic, thenecessity of naming a Caesar for the administra-tion of the West, and his own intention, if it wasagreeable to their wishes, of rewarding with thehonours of the purple the promising virtues ofthe nephew of Constantine . The approbationof the soldiers was testified by a respectfulmurmur: they gazed on the manly countenanceof Julian, and observed with pleasure, that thefire which sparkled in his eyes was temperedby a modest blush, on being thus exposed, forthe first time, to the public view of mankind.As soon as the ceremony of his investiture hadbeen performed, Constantius addressed himwith the tone of authority which his superiorage and station permitted him to assume; andexhorting the new Caesar to deserve, by heroic
at being thus suddenly transported into a new world, where every ob-ject appeared strange and hostile.
1 See Ammian . Marcellin. 1. xv, e. 8. Zosimns, I. iii, p. 139 Aivreltug Victor. Victor Junior in Epitotn. Eutrop. r>, 14.
CHAP. 'XIX. \
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