Suchwastheconduct，andsuchperhapswastheduty，ofthebrotherofConstanstowardstheperfidioususurperofGaul。ThesituationandcharacterofVetranioadmittedofmildermeasures；
andthepolicyoftheEasternemperorwasdirectedtodisunitehisantagonists，andtoseparatetheforcesofIllyricumfromthecauseofrebellion。ItwasaneasytasktodeceivethefranknessandsimplicityofVetranio，who，fluctuatingsometimebetweentheoppositeviewsofhonorandinterest，displayedtotheworldtheinsincerityofhistemper，andwasinsensiblyengagedinthesnaresofanartfulnegotiation。Constantiusacknowledgedhimasalegitimateandequalcolleagueintheempire，onconditionthathewouldrenouncehisdisgracefulalliancewithMagnentius，andappointaplaceofinterviewonthefrontiersoftheirrespectiveprovinces；wheretheymightpledgetheirfriendshipbymutualvowsoffidelity，andregulatebycommonconsentthefutureoperationsofthecivilwar。Inconsequenceofthisagreement，VetranioadvancedtothecityofSardica，^76attheheadoftwentythousandhorse，andofamorenumerousbodyofinfantry；apowersofarsuperiortotheforcesofConstantius，thattheIllyrianemperorappearedtocommandthelifeandfortunesofhisrival，who，dependingonthesuccessofhisprivatenegotiations，hadseducedthetroops，andunderminedthethrone，ofVetranio。
Thechiefs，whohadsecretlyembracedthepartyofConstantius，preparedinhisfavorapublicspectacle，calculatedtodiscoverandinflamethepassionsofthemultitude。^77Theunitedarmieswerecommandedtoassembleinalargeplainnearthecity。Inthecentre，accordingtotherulesofancientdiscipline，amilitarytribunal，orratherscaffold，waserected，fromwhencetheemperorswereaccustomed，onsolemnandimportantoccasions，toharanguethetroops。Thewell—orderedranksofRomansandBarbarians，withdrawnswords，orwitherectedspears，thesquadronsofcavalry，andthecohortsofinfantry，distinguishedbythevarietyoftheirarmsandensigns，formedanimmensecircleroundthetribunal；andtheattentivesilencewhichtheypreservedwassometimesinterruptedbyloudburstsofclamororofapplause。Inthepresenceofthisformidableassembly，thetwoemperorswerecalledupontoexplainthesituationofpublicaffairs:theprecedencyofrankwasyieldedtotheroyalbirthofConstantius；andthoughhewasindifferentlyskilledintheartsofrhetoric，heacquittedhimself，underthesedifficultcircumstances，withfirmness，dexterity，andeloquence。ThefirstpartofhisorationseemedtobepointedonlyagainstthetyrantofGaul；butwhilehetragicallylamentedthecruelmurderofConstans，heinsinuated，thatnone，exceptabrother，couldclaimarighttothesuccessionofhisbrother。Hedisplayed，withsomecomplacency，thegloriesofhisImperialrace；andrecalledtothememoryofthetroopsthevalor，thetriumphs，theliberalityofthegreatConstantine，towhosesonstheyhadengagedtheirallegiancebyanoathoffidelity，whichtheingratitudeofhismostfavoredservantshadtemptedthemtoviolate。Theofficers，whosurroundedthetribunal，andwereinstructedtoacttheirpartinthisextraordinaryscene，confessedtheirresistiblepowerofreasonandeloquence，bysalutingtheemperorConstantiusastheirlawfulsovereign。Thecontagionofloyaltyandrepentancewascommunicatedfromranktorank；tilltheplainofSardicaresoundedwiththeuniversalacclamationof\"Awaywiththeseupstartusurpers!LonglifeandvictorytothesonofConstantine!Underhisbannersalonewewillfightandconquer。\"Theshoutofthousands，theirmenacinggestures，thefierceclashingoftheirarms，astonishedandsubduedthecourageofVetranio，whostood，amidstthedefectionofhisfollowers，inanxiousandsilentsuspense。Insteadofembracingthelastrefugeofgenerousdespair，hetamelysubmittedtohisfate；andtakingthediademfromhishead，intheviewofbotharmiesfellprostrateatthefeetofhisconqueror。Constantiususedhisvictorywithprudenceandmoderation；andraisingfromthegroundtheagedsuppliant，whomheaffectedtostylebytheendearingnameofFather，hegavehimhishandtodescendfromthethrone。ThecityofPrusawasassignedfortheexileorretirementoftheabdicatedmonarch，wholivedsixyearsintheenjoymentofeaseandaffluence。HeoftenexpressedhisgratefulsenseofthegoodnessofConstantius，and，withaveryamiablesimplicity，advisedhisbenefactortoresignthesceptreoftheworld，andtoseekforcontentwherealoneitcouldbefoundinthepeacefulobscurityofaprivatecondition。^78
[Footnote76:Zonaras，tom。ii。l。xiii。p。16。ThepositionofSardica，nearthemoderncityofSophia，appearsbettersuitedtothisinterviewthanthesituationofeitherNaissusorSirmium，whereitisplacedbyJerom，Socrates，andSozomen。]
[Footnote77:SeethetwofirstorationsofJulian，particularlyp。31；andZosimus，l。ii。p。122。Thedistinctnarrativeofthehistorianservestoillustratethediffusebutvaguedescriptionsoftheorator。]