232

THE DECLINE AND FALL

CHAP.

XIX.

of the law, and pronounced a second judgment. on the judges themselves. Superior to the lasttemptation of virtuous minds, an indiscreet andintemperate zeal for justice, he restrained, withcalmness and dignity, the warmth of an advo-cate who prosecuted, for extortion, the presi-dent of the Narbonnese province. “ Who will“ ever be found guilty,” exclaimed the vehe-ment Delphidius, “ if it be enough to deny?”“ And who,” replied Julian, “ will ever be in-“ nocent, if it be sufficient to affirm?” In thegeneral administration of peace and war, theinterest of the sovereign is commonly the sameas that of his people; but Constantius wouldhave thought himself deeply injured, if the vir-tues of Julian had defrauded him of any partof the tribute which he extorted from an op-pressed and exhausted country. The princewho was invested with the ensigns of royalty,might sometimes presume to correct the rapa-cious insolence of the inferior agents, to exposetheir corrupt arts, and to introduce an equaland easier mode of collection. But the ma-nagement of the finances was more safely en-trusted to Florentius, praetorian praefect ofGaul, an effeminate tyrant, incapable of pity orremorse; and the haughty minister complainedof the most decent and gentle opposition, whileJulian himself was rather inclined to censurethe weakness of his own behaviour. The Cie-sar had rejected with abhorrence a mandate forthe levy of an extraordinary tax; a new super-diction, which the prsefect had offered for his