BOOK XXIII.
[Translated by C.D.YONGE]
I.
A.D. 363.
ยง 1. To pass over minute details, these were the principal events of the year. But Julian, who in his third
consulship had taken as his colleague
Sallustius, the
prefect of Gaul,
now entered on his fourth year, and by a novel arrangement took as his colleague a private individual;
an act of which no one recollected an instance since that of
Diocletian and
Aristobulus.
2. And although, foreseeing in his anxious mind the various accidents that might happen, he urged on with great diligence all the endless
preparations necessary for his expedition, yet distributing his diligence everywhere; and being eager to extend the recollection of his reign
by the greatness of his exploits, he proposed to rebuild at a vast expense the once magnificent temple of Jerusalem, which after many deadly
contests was with difficulty taken by
Vespasian
and
Titus, who succeeded his father in the conduct of the
siege. And he assigned the task to
Alypius of Antioch, who had formerly been
proprefect of Britain.
3. But though Alypius applied himself vigorously to the work, and though the governor of the province co-operated with him,
fearful balls of fire
burst forth with continual eruptions close to the foundations, burning several of the workmen and making the spot altogether inaccessible.
And thus the very elements, as if by some fate, repelling the attempt, it was laid aside.
