"See the butcher!" they cried; "Apostate! Renegade! Madman!"
When Julian came to his palace, he looked as though petrified; but,
without changing his clothes, he sat down to the table and wrote an
edict against the Christians, in which they were forbidden to study,
and to fill offices of State. That was his first step.
In the evening of the same day Julian received a letter: it was from
the Emperor Constantius in Byzantium, who did not acknowledge his
election to the imperial throne, and threatened to bring an army
against him in Gaul. This was quite unexpected, and Julian left
Lutetia in order to march against his cousin. As he went towards the
East, he felt as though he were going to his death. But the first
throw of the dice of destiny was a lucky one for him. Constantius
died on the march, and Julian was left sole Emperor. This he took
for a sign that the gods were on his side, and he proceeded on his
campaign feeling that he was supported by the higher powers. But it
was only the last jest of his gods.
It is related that before his last march against the Persians, he
wished to ascertain his destiny, and had a woman's body cut open in
order to take an augury from the entrails. But that may be untrue,
as is also the case with the conflicting reports of his death, which
happened soon after.
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