Iulianus A. milites suos alloquitur, et in verba sua universes adigit, Constantio A. bellum illaturus.

[1] Quae dum mentibus aguntur erectis, coniectans quantas intestinae cladis excitaverat moles, nihilque tam convenire conatibus subitis, quam celeritatem sagaci praevidens mente, professa palam defectione, se tutiorem fore existimavit, incertusque de militum fide, placata ritu secretiore Bellona, classico ad contionem exercitu convocato, saxeo suggestu insistens, iamque (ut apparebat) fidentior haec clarius solito disserebat:

[2] Iam dudum tacita deliberatione vos aestimo (magni¹ commilitones) gestorum excitos amplitudine, hoc operiri consilium, ut eventus, qui sperantur, perpendi possint et praecaveri. Plus enim audire quam loqui militem decet actibus coalitum magnis et² gloriosis, nec alia spectatae aequitatis sentire rectorem, quam ea, quae laudari digne potuerunt et probari. Ut igitur quae proposui ambagibus³ abiectis absolvam, advertite oro benivole, quae sermone brevi percurram.

[3] Arbitrio dei caelestis, vobis inter ipsa iuventae rudimenta permixtus, irruptiones Alamannorum assiduas et Francorum, populandique iugem licentiam fregi, et vigore communi, Romanis agminibus quotiens libet Rhenum pervium feci, contra rumorum fremitus gentiumque validarum violentos excursus, stando immobilis, virtutis vestrae nimirum firmamento confisus.

[4] Et haec laborum, quos exhausimus, Galliae spectatrices post funera multa, iacturasque recreatae diuturnas et graves, posteritati per aetatum examina commendabunt.

[5] At nunc cum auctoritate vestri iudicii, rerumque necessitate compulsus, ad Augustum elatus sum culmen, deo vobisque fautoribus, si fortuna coeptis adfuerit, altius affecto maiora, id prae me ferens quod exercitui cuius aequitas armorumque inclaruit magnitudo, domi moderatus visus sum et tranquillus, et in crebritate bellorum, contra conspiratas gentium copias, consideratus et cautus.

[6] Ut igitur adversa praeveniamus mentium societate iunctissima, sequimini viam consilii mei salutarem (ut puto), cum integritas rerum intentioni nostrae voluntatique respondeat, et dum maioribus vacant praesidiis regiones Illyricae, impraepedito cursu tendentes, Daciarum interim fines extimos occupemus, exinde quid agi oporteat bonis successibus instruendi.

[7] Ad quae⁴ vos ex more fidentium ducum, iuramento quaeso concordiam spondete mansuram et fidem,⁵ operam mi⁶ navaturo sedulam et sollicitam,⁷ nequid agatur inconsultum et segne, et producturo, siquis exegerit, incorruptam conscientiam meam, quod nihil voluntate praeter ea, quae in commune conducunt, aggrediar aut temptabo.

[8] Illud sane obtestor et rogo: observate, ne impetu gliscentis ardoris, in privatorum damna quisquam vestrum exsiliat, id cogitans quod ita nos illustrarunt hostium innumerae strages, ut indemnitas provinciarum et salus exemplis virtutum pervulgatae.

[9] Hoc sermone imperatoris vice alicuius oraculi comprobato, mota est incitatius contio, et rerum cupida novandarum, unanimanti consensu, voces horrendas immani scutorum fragore miscebat, magnum elatumque ducem, et (ut experta est) fortunatum domitorem gentium appellans et regum.

[10] Iussique universi in eius nomen iurare, sollemniter, gladiis cervicibus suis admotis, sub exsecrationibus diris, verbis iuravere conceptis, omnes pro eo casus, quoad vitam profuderint (si necessitas adegerit)⁸ perlaturos; quae secuti rectores, omnesque principis proximi, fidem simili religione firmarunt.

[11] Solus omnium licet proposito stabili, audacter tamen praefectus repugnavit Nebridius, iuris iurandi nexu contra Constantium nequaquam se stringi⁹ posse commemorans, cuius beneficiis obligatus erat crebris et multis.

[12] Quibus auditis, cum stantes¹⁰ propius milites acriter inflammati, eum appeterent trucidandum, ad genua sua prolapsum, imperator paludamento protexit, indeque¹¹ reversus in regiam cum antegressum eum vidisset supplicemque iacentem orare, ut levandi causa timoris, ei porrigeret dexteram, Ecquid ait praecipuum amicis servabitur, si tu manum tetigeris meam? Sed tu¹² quo libet abi securus. Hocque audito, ille innoxius ad larem suum recessit in Tusciam.

[13] His Iulianus, ut poscebat negotii magnitudo, praestructis, expertus quid in rebus tumultuosis anteversio valeat et praegressus, per tesseram edicto itinere in Pannonias, castris promotis et signis, temere se fortunae commisit ambiguae.

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

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Current edition Perseus

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).) — 21.5 focus

[1] While performing these exploits with resolute courage, Julian, surmising what a mass of civil strife he had aroused, and wisely foreseeing that nothing was so favourable to a sudden enterprise as speedy action, thought that he would be safer if he openly admitted his revolt, and being uncertain of the loyalty of the troops, he first propitiated Bellona¹ with a secret rite, and then, after calling the army to an assembly with the clarion, he took his place on a tribunal of stone, and now feeling more confident (as was evident), spoke these words in a louder voice than common:

[2] Long since, noble² fellow-soldiers, I have believed in my secret thoughts that you, fired by your valiant deeds, have been waiting to learn how the events that are expected may be weighed and provided for beforehand. For it becomes the soldier reared amid great and glorious deeds to use his ears rather than his tongue, and for a leader of tried justice to have no other thoughts than those which can worthily be praised and approved. Therefore, that I may cast aside vague circumlocution and set forth what I have purposed, kindly attend, I pray you, to what I shall briefly run through.

[3] By Heaven’s will united with you from the very beginning of my youth, I checked the constant inroads of the Alamanni and the Franks and their unending lust for plunder, and by our combined courage I made it possible for the Rhine to be crossed by Roman armies as often as they wished; and in standing firm against the clamour of rumours and the forcible invasions of mighty nations I relied, I assure you, on the support of your valour.

[4] Gaul, an eye-witness of these labours that we have performed, and now restored after many losses and long and grievous calamities, will hand down these achievements of ours to posterity through countless³ ages.

[5] But now that, forced by the authority of your choice and by stress of circumstances, I have been raised to Augustan dignity, with your support and that of the deity (if fortune favours our enterprises), I am aiming higher at greater deeds, openly declaring that to an army whose justice and greatness in arms are renowned I have seemed in time of peace a mild and self-controlled leader, and in many wars against the united forces of nations, sagacious and prudent.

[6] Therefore, that we may with the closest unanimity of purpose forestall adverse events, follow my course of action, which is salutary (I think), since our intention and desire are in harmony with the welfare of the state;⁴ and while the regions of Illyricum are without greater garrisons, advancing with unobstructed course, let us meanwhile take possession of the utmost parts of Dacia, and from there learn by means of good success what ought to be done.

[7] In support of this plan⁵ do you, I pray, after the manner of those who trust their leaders,⁶ promise under oath your lasting and faithful accord; I for my part will strive diligently and anxiously that nothing be done rashly or with faint heart, and I will show, if any one require it, my conscience clean, in that I will undertake or try nothing willingly except what contributes to the common weal.

[8] This one thing I beg and implore: see to it that none of you under the impulse of growing ardour be guilty of injury to private citizens, bearing in mind that not so much the slaughter of countless foemen has made us famous as the prosperity and safety of the provinces, widely known through instances of virtuous conduct.

[9] By this speech of the emperor, no less approved than the words of some oracle, the assembly was strongly moved. Eager for revolution, with one accord they mingled fear-inspiring shouts with the violent clash of shields, calling him a great and exalted leader and (as they knew from experience) a fortunate victor over nations and kings.

[10] And when all had been bidden to take the usual oath of allegiance, aiming their swords at their throats,⁷ they swore in set terms under pain of dire execrations, that they would endure all hazards for him, to the extent of pouring out their life-blood, if necessity required; their officers and all the emperor’s closest advisers followed their example, and pledged loyalty with like ceremony.

[11] Alone among all the prefect Nebridius, with a loyalty that was firm rather than prudent, opposed him, declaring that he could by no means be bound by an oath against Constantius, to whom he was indebted for many and repeated acts of kindness.

[12] Upon hearing this the soldiers who were standing near, inflamed with anger, rushed upon him to slay him; but the emperor, at whose knees he had fallen, covered him with his general’s cloak. Then Julian returned to the palace. And when he saw that Nebridius had preceded him and was lying there as a suppliant, begging that, to relieve his fears, the emperor would offer him his hand, Julian answered: Will any special honour be reserved for my friends, if you shall touch my hand? But depart in safety whithersoever you please. On hearing this, Nebridius withdrew unharmed⁸ to his home in Tuscany.⁹

[13] After taking these precautions, as the greatness of the enterprise demanded, Julian, knowing by experience the value of anticipating and outstripping an adversary in troublous times,¹⁰ having given written¹¹ order for a march into Pannonia, advanced his camp and his standards, and unhesitatingly¹² committed himself to whatever Fortune might offer.

Notes on the current edition

Res Gestae

1. aestimo magni V; aestimo magna, Pet.; magnanimi, Erfurdt; amati, Corn.

2. magnis et, added by Novák.

3. ambagibus, added by Wagner; lac. of 6 letters conjectured by Her.

4. ad quae vos, Her.; at vos, Wagner; utque vos ducam, Pet.; utque vos ducum, Pighius; ut quos, V.

5. fidem, V, def. Pighius; fidam, Kiessling, Corn.

6. mi navaturo, Pighius; mihi n., Val.; minabanturo, V

7. sollicitam, C. F. W. M., Pighius; sollitam, V, solitam, V 2

8. necessitas adegerit, Her.; si id necessitas egerit, V

9. constringi, V ( con- del. V 1).

10. constantes, V, constanter, V 2.

11. et indeque, V, indeque, V 2.

12. tu, Her.; hinc, EBG; hi, V, hinc, V 3.

Ammianus Marcellinus Res Gestae 21.5

John C. Rolfe (Translator)

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