CHAP. XIX.
faihful servants, an household was formed, such indeed as became the dignity of a Cæsar: but it was
filled with a crowd of slaves, destitute, and perhaps
incapable of any attachment for their new master, to
whom, for the most part, they were either unknown or
suspected. His want of experience might require the
assistance of a wise council; but the minute instructions which regulated the service of his table, and the
distribution of his hours, were adapted to a youth still
under the discipline of his preceptors, rather than to
the situation of a prince intrusted with the conduct of
an important war. If he aspired to deserve the esteem
of his subjects, he was checked by the fear of displeasing his sovereign; and even the fruits of his marriage bed were blasted by the jealous artifices of Eu-
sebia[1] herself, who, on this occasion alone, seems to
have been unmindful of the tenderness of her sex, and
the generosity of her character. The memory of his
father and of his brothers reminded Julian of his own
danger; and his apprehensions were increased by the
recent and unworthy fate of Sylvanus.
Fatal end of Syvanus.
A. D. 355, September.
In the summer
which preceded his own elevation, that general had
been chosen to deliver Gaul from the tyranny of the
barbarians; but Sylvanus soon discovered that he had
left his most dangerous enemies in the imperial court.
A dexterous informer, countenanced by several of the
principal ministers, procured from him some recommendatory letters ; and erasing the whole of the contents, except the signature, filled up the vacant parchment with matters of high and treasonable import. By
the industry and courage of his friends, the fraud was
- ↑ If we recollect that Constantine, the father of Helena, died above eighteen years before in a mature old age, it will appear probable that the daughter, though a virgin, could not be very young at the time of her marriage. She was soon afterwards delivered of a son, who died immediately, quod obstetrix, corrupta mercede, mox natum praesecto plusquam convenerat umbdico necavit. She accompanied the emperor and empress in their journey to Rome; and the latter, quaesitum venenum bibeie per fraudem illexit, ut quotiescunque concepisset, immaturum abjiceret partum. Ammian. 1. xvi. c. 10. Our physicians will determine whether there exists such a poison. For my own part, I am inclined to hope that the public malignity imputed the effects of accident as the guilt of Eusebia.
