SCENE FIRST.
The eastern frontier of the empire. A wild mountain landscape. A deep valley separates the high foreground from the mountains behind.
The Emperor Julian, in military dress, stands on the edge of a rocky promontory, and looks into the depths. A little way from him, to the left, stand Nevita, the Persian prince Hormisdas, Jovian, and several other generals. To the right, beside a roughly-built stone altar, crouch the soothsayer, Numa, and two other Etruscan soothsayers, examining the entrails of the sacrifices for omens. Further forward sits Maximus the Mystic on a stone, surrounded by Priscus, Kytron, and other philosophers. Small detachments of light-armed men now and then pass over the height from left to right.
Julian.
[Pointing downwards.] See, see—the legions wind like a scaly serpent through the ravine.
Nevita.
Those just below us, in sheepskin doublets, are the Scythians.
Julian.
What piercing howls!
