The Roman historie containing such acts and occurrents as passed under Constantius, Iulianus, Iovianus, Valentinianus, and Valens, emperours. Digested into 18. bookes, the remains of 31. and written first in Latine by Ammianus Marcellinus: now translated newly into English. Wherunto is annexed the chronologie, serving in stead of a briefe supplement of those former 13. bookes, which by the iniurie of time are lost: together with compendious annotations and coniectures upon such hard places as occurre in the said historie. Done by Philemon Holland of the citie of Coventrie, Doctor in Physicke.

CHAP. V. Constantius, a cowardly prince, thinketh upon a triumph: and with a mightie long traine, which is here as largely described, in great pompe entreth Rome.

WHiles these matters were in disposing thus, according as the times requi∣red, as well in those parts as in Gaule, Constantius hauing now * 1.1 shut up the temple of Ianus, and vanquished all his enemies, was very desirous to see Rome, and to triumph without any glorious matter of name, (after Magnentius his overthrowe and death) even over Romane bloud: for nei∣ther vanquished he by himselfe any nation that made warre, nor understood of any conquered by the valour of his owne captaines, nor laid aught unto the Em∣pire, ne yet was seene in extremitie of daungers, either formost, or among the for∣most: but only forsooth, that he might shew a goodly pompe (reaching out a mighty length, his banners stiffe againe with gold-smiths worke, and a beautifull traine of his gard,) unto the people liuing now in much tranquillitie, and neither hoping nor wishing ever to see the like sight againe: as he that knew not peradven∣ture, that some of the auncient princes in time of peace verily contented them∣selues with the attendance of their serjeants and officers; but when the heat of bat∣tailes could abide no slacknesse, one * 1.2 in all hast to haue committed himselfe with a forward gale of winds to a fishers boate; another after the example of the Decij to have given away his life for the Commonwealth; another againe, in his owne per∣son among the meanest souldiers to have viewed the enemies camp as a spie; and in one word by diuers noble and valiant acts, to haue growne famous; to the end that by a renowmed memoriall they might commend their glorious acts unto posteritie. So soone then, as he had disbursed much in preparation of roiall furni∣ture and bestowed gifts upon euery man according to their deserts, in the second * 1.3 Praefectship of Orphitus, after he had passed by * 1.4 Ocriculum, lifted up on high with great honours, environed also and garded with a traine of admirable troupes, conducted he was, as it were, in battaile aray, and all mens eyes became wholy fix∣ed and bent in the beholding of this sight. Now when he approched the citie, as

he beheld with a gracious countenance the Senatours according to their places giving attendance in dutifull wise, and the reverend presence of the noble Patrici∣ans; he thought not as Cyneas that embassadour of Pyrrhus did, that a number of kings were assembled together, but the very temple & sanctuarie of the world was there in place. From whom, when hee had turned himselfe toward the common people, he wondered exceedingly, how quickly all the men in the world thus con∣flowed to Rome. And as if hee had beene to terrifie Euphrates or Rhene with a shew of armour, as the ensignes went on both sides before, himselfe was mounted alone upon a chariot of gold, glittering againe with bright precious stones of sun∣drie sorts; with whose shining there seemed to be a certaine mingled light, and ma∣nifold degrees, in an alternative course, of high powers in authoritie: whiles others againe were compassed about with the Dragons, wrought with woufe of purple thred, and those fastened to the tops of speares, all gold, and set with costly gems, gaping and blowing with wide mouth, and therefore hissing as if they were angry, and therewith leaving their winding tailes to wift in the wind. And on both sides marched a double ranke of armed men, with targuets and crested helmets, sending raies and beames from them of brandishing light, wearing upon them fine * 1.5 haber∣geons: and the men of armes here and there entermingled on bard horses, whom the Persians use to call Clibanarij, harnessed all over with good corselets, and bard about with guards of steele: so as one would have taken them for Images finely polished by the hand-worke of Praxiteles, and not for men indeed: about whom also there went thin plated hoopes, made fit and handsome for the bending of their bodies, and running all over their limmes; so that which way soever they had need to stirre and moove their joynts, the apparrell or habiliment would agree thereto, the joyning thereof was so meet, and served so well every way. He therefore be∣ing saluted with luckie acclamations by the name of Augustus, whiles the noyse of voice and trumpet together thundered out a broken sound, trembled againe, shewing himselfe just in that sort, and so unmooveable, as hee was wont to bee seene in his owne provinces. For both he bowed downe his bodie (and that was very low) as he entred in at any high gates; and also with a stiffe necke, as if both head and it had beene of one piece all armed, casting his eye directly before him, he turned his face neither on the right hand, nor the left, as if he had beene the image of a man: neither was he seene so much as to give a nod with his head, when the wheele shogged, nor to spit or wipe his lips, or blow or rub his nose, no, nor once to wag his hand: which albeit he did with an affectation, yet were these gestures and some other besides which he used in the rest of his life, no small tokens of patience and speciall gifts that he alone had, as it well might be thought. Moreover, that du∣ring all the time of his Empire he neither tooke up any man to sit with him in his carroch, nor admitted any privat person to be his companion in the honourable e∣state of Consull, as princes have been wont to do: as also many other things, which * 1.6 he (raised though he were to an high conceit and pride of himself) observed as most equall and indifferent lawes, I omit to set down, remembring well that I related the same when they occurred.

Notes

• * 1.1

  made peace with the whole world.
• * 1.2

  An••e lanter.
• * 1.3

  〈◊〉〈◊〉: When 〈◊〉〈◊〉 was now the se¦c••••d Praef••ct •••• Lo•••• Iust••ce of 〈…〉〈…〉.
• * 1.4

  〈…〉〈…〉
• * 1.5

  or shirts of maile
• * 1.6

  but alwaies those of the bloud royall