CHAP. XVII. How the Emperour, making preparations for an expedition against the Persians, arrived at An∣tioch: and being derided by the Antiochians, he [published] an Oration [against them] en∣titled * 1.1 Misop••g••n.
BUt, the Emperour, having extorted a vast treasure from the Christians, and hastning his expedition against the Persians, goes to An∣tioch in Syria. When he was come thither, be∣ing desirous to demonstrate to the Antiochians how superabundantly he affected glory, he depres∣sed the prizes of vendible commodities lower than was fitting: [for] he respected not the pre∣sent time, nor considered with himself, that the presence of a numerous Army does necessarily en∣dammage the inhabitants of a Province, and cut off plenty [of provisions] from the Cities. Wherefore, the a 1.2 petty Mer∣chants and Provision-sellers, unable to endure the loss they sustained by the Im∣perial Edict, at that time left off trading. Whereup∣on, [the Markets] were unfurnished with Provisions. The Antiochians could not tolerate this violence [used towards them;] (for they are persons naturally prone to revile:) but presently brake forth [into invectives] against the Emperour, and cried out upon him. They also derided his beard; (for he wore a very large one:) saying, it ought to be shaved, and ropes made of it. [They said] likewise, that he had the stamp of a Bull on his Coyn, [which was an Emblem] that he had turned the world upside down. For the Emperour, ex∣treamly addicted to superstition, and continually * 1.3 sacrificing Bulls upon the Altars of his Idols, had commanded, that an Altar and a Bull should be stamp't upon his Coyn. The Emperour, en∣raged at these Scoffs, threatned that he would most severely punish the City of Antioch; b 1.4 and that he would return to Tarsus in Cilicia [and reside there.] And having given order for a provision of necessaries to be made there, he prepared for his departure thence. Upon which account, Li∣banius the Sophista took an occasion of writing two Orations; the one he composed by way of address to the Emperour, in behalf of the An∣tiochians; the c 1.5 other he wrote to the Antiochians