Iulianus Aug. contionem habet ad milites.

[1] His tamen auditis, etiam illi quos antegressos rettulimus, ducente Sintula, cum eo iam securi Parisios revertuntur: edictoque ut futura luce cuncti convenirent in campo, progressus princeps ambitiosius solito, tribunal ascendit, signis aquilisque circumdatus et vexillis, saeptusque tutius¹ armatarum cohortium globis.

[2] Cumque interquievisset paulisper,² dum alte contemplatur praesentium vultus, alacres omnes visos et laetos, quasi lituis verbis (ut intellegi possit) simplicibus incendebat:

[3] Res ardua poscit et flagitat, propugnatores mei reique publicae fortes et fidi, qui mecum pro statu provinciarum vitam saepius obiecistis, quoniam Caesarem vestrum firmo iudicio ad potestatum omnium columen sustulistis, perstringere pauca summatim, ut remedia permutatae rei iusta³ colligantur et cauta.

[4] Vixdum adulescens specie tenus purpuratus (ut nostis), vestrae tutelae nutu caelesti commissus, numquam a proposito recte vivendi deiectus sum, vobiscum in omni labore perspicuus, cum dispersa gentium confidentia, post civitatum excidia, peremptaque innumera hominum milia, pauca quae semiintegra sunt relicta cladis immensitas persultaret. Et retexere superfluum puto, quotiens hieme cruda rigentique caelo, quo tempore terrae ac maria opere Martio vacant, indomitos antea, cum iactura virium suarum reppulimus Alamannos.

[5] Id sane nec praetermitti est aequum aequ⁴ nec umnec taceri, quod cum prope Argentoratum illuxisset ille beatissimus dies, vehens quodam modo Galliis perpetuam libertatem, inter confertissima tela me discurrente, vos vigore ususque diuturnitate fundati, velut incitatos torrentes, hostes abruptius inundantes, superastis ferro prostratos prostrates, vel fluminis profundo submersos, paucis relictis nostrorum, quorum exequias honestavimus, celebri potius laude quam luctu.

[6] Post quae opinor tanta et talia, nec posteritatem tacituram de vestris in rem publicam meritis, quae gentibus cunctis plene iam cognita sunt, si eum⁵ quem altiore fastigio maiestatis ornastis, virtute gravitateque, siquid adversum ingruerit, defendatis.

[7] Ut autem rerum integer ordo servetur, praemiaque virorum fortium maneant incorrupta, nec honores ambitio praeripiat clandestina, id sub reverenda consilii vestri facie statuo, ut neque civilis quisquam iudex, nec militiae rector, alio quodam praeter merita suffragante, ad potiorem veniat gradum, non sine detrimento pudoris, eo qui pro quolibet petere temptaverit discessuro.

[8] Hac fiducia spei maioris animatus inferior miles, dignitatum iam diu expers et praemiorum, hastis feriendo clipeos sonitu assurgens ingenti, uno prope modum ore dictis favebat et coeptis.

[9] Statimque ne turbandae dispositioni consultae, tempus saltem breve concederetur, pro actuariis obsecravere⁶ Petulantes et Celtae, recturi quas placuisset provincias, mitterentur; quo non impetrato, abiere nec offensi nec tristes.

[10] Nocte tamen, quae declarationis Augustae praecesserat diem, iunctioribus proximis rettulerat imperator, per quietem aliquem visum, ut formari Genius publicus solet, haec obiurgando dixisse: Olim Iuliane vestibulum aedium tuarum observo latenter, augere tuam gestiens dignitatem, et aliquotiens tamquam repudiatus abscessi⁷ : si ne nunc quidem recipior, sententia concordante multorum, ibo demissus et maestus. Id tamen retineto imo⁸ corde quod tecum non diutius habitabo.

Res Gestae. Ammianus Marcellinus. John C. Rolfe (Translator). Cambridge, MA. 1935-1940.

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Res Gestae (Ammianus Marcellinus. Ammianus Marcellinus, with an English translation, Vols. I-III. Rolfe, John C., editor. Cambridge, MA; London: Harvard University Press; W. Heinemann, 1935-1940 (printing).)

Translations (1)

History Perseus (Ammianus Marcellinus. Ammianus Marcellinus, with an English translation, Vols. I-III. Rolfe, John C., translator. Cambridge, MA; London: Harvard University Press; W. Heinemann, 1935-1940 (printing).) — 20.5 focus

[1] Yet, hearing of these events the troops also that had gone before under the lead of Sintula (as I have said),¹ now free from anxiety returned with him to Paris. Then proclamation was made that on the following day all should assemble in the plain, and the ruler appeared in greater state than common and took his place on the tribunal, surrounded by the standards, eagles, and banners, and for greater safety hedged about with bands of armed cohorts.

[2] And after a brief silence, during which from his high position he surveyed the faces of those present, on finding them all eager and joyous, using simple words in order to be understood, he stirred them as by the blare of clarions, speaking as follows:

[3] The difficulties of the situation, ye brave and faithful defenders of my person and of the state, who with me have often risked your lives for the welfare of the provinces, require and entreat, since by your firm resolve you have advanced your Caesar to the pinnacle of all human power, that I should touch briefly on a few matters, in order to devise just and wise remedies for those changed conditions.

[4] Hardly had I come to my growth, when (as you know) I assumed the purple, so far as appearance goes, and was committed by Heaven’s will to your protection. Since then I have never been thwarted in my purpose of right living, and I have been closely observed with you in all your toils, when through the widespread arrogance of foreign nations, after the destruction of cities and the loss of countless thousands of our men, incalculable disaster was overrunning the few regions that were left half ruined. It is needless, methinks, to rehearse how often in raw winter and under a cold sky, when lands and seas are exempt from the labours of Mars, we repelled the hitherto invincible Alamanni and broke their strength.

[5] But this surely it is right neither to pass by nor consign to silence, that when that happiest of days dawned near Argentoratus, which in a sense brought lasting freedom to the Gauls, while I hastened about amid showers of weapons, you, upheld by your might and by long experience, overcame the enemy, rushing on like mountain torrents, either striking them down with the steel or plunging them in the river’s depths; and that too with but few of our number left upon the field, whose funerals we honoured with plentiful praise rather than with grief.

[6] After such great and glorious exploits, posterity, I believe, will not be silent about your services to your country, which are now well known to all nations, if you defend with courage and resolution the man whom you have honoured with a higher title of majesty, in case any adverse fortune should assail him.

[7] And to the end that a sound course of conduct may be maintained, that the rewards of brave men may remain free from corruption, and that secret intrigue may not usurp honours, this I declare in the presence of your honorable assembly: that no civil official, no military officer, shall reach a higher rank through anyone supporting him beyond his merits, and that none who tries to intrigue for another shall escape without dishonour.

[8] Through confidence in this promise the soldiers of lower rank, who had long had no share in honours and rewards, were inspired with greater hope; rising to their feet and clashing their spears against their shields with mighty din, almost with one voice they acclaimed the emperor’s words and plans.

[9] And at once, lest even an instant should be allowed to interfere with so resolved a purpose, the Petulantes and Celts begged in behalf of certain commissaries² that they might be sent as governors to whatever provinces they might choose; and when the request was denied, they withdrew neither offended nor ill-humoured.

[10] But in the night before he was proclaimed Augustus, as the emperor told his nearer and more intimate friends, a vision appeared to him in his sleep, taking the form in which the guardian spirit of the state is usually portrayed, and in a tone of reproach spoke as follows: Long since, Julian, have I been secretly watching the vestibule of your house, desiring to increase your rank, and I have often gone away as though rebuffed. If I am not to be received even now, when the judgements of many men are in agreement, I shall depart downcast and forlorn. But keep this thought in the depths of your heart, that I shall no longer abide with you.

Notes on the current edition

Res Gestae

1. tutius, T 2, Val.; totius, V.

2. paulisper, Damsté; Fletcher would tr. interquievisset and paululum; paululum, V.

3. rei iusta, G; re rustra, V; re in tuta, V 3.

4. est aequum, added by G; oportet by Brakman, est by Pighius; V omits.

5. iam eum, added by Her.; plene quem, without lac., V; si plene, G.

6. obsecrauere, G; observare, V.

7. abscessi, NT 2, Eyssen.; abcesse, V.

8. imo, CG; inme, V; in meo, B; intimo, Her. Officers of the army, who received the provisions from the contractors and delivered them to the soldiers; and kept the accounts; see also xv. 5, 3, note.

Ammianus Marcellinus Res Gestae 20.5

John C. Rolfe (Translator)

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