Yetthepiercingeyeofthefounderoftherepublicmusthavediscernedtwoessentialimperfections，whichmight，perhaps，haveabatedhisrecentloveofdespostism。ThevirtuousmindofTheodosiuswasoftenrelaxedbyindolence，^82anditwassometimesinflamedbypassion。^83Inthepursuitofanimportantobject，hisactivecouragewascapableofthemostvigorousexertions；but，assoonasthedesignwasaccomplished，orthedangerwassurmounted，theherosunkintoingloriousrepose；and，forgetfulthatthetimeofaprinceisthepropertyofhispeople，resignedhimselftotheenjoymentoftheinnocent，buttrifling，pleasuresofaluxuriouscourt。ThenaturaldispositionofTheodosiuswashastyandcholeric；and，inastationwherenonecouldresist，andfewwoulddissuade，thefatalconsequenceofhisresentment，thehumanemonarchwasjustlyalarmedbytheconsciousnessofhisinfirmityandofhispower。Itwastheconstantstudyofhislifetosuppress，orregulate，theintemperatesalliesofpassionandthesuccessofhiseffortsenhancedthemeritofhisclemency。Butthepainfulvirtuewhichclaimsthemeritofvictory，isexposedtothedangerofdefeat；andthereignofawiseandmercifulprincewaspollutedbyanactofcrueltywhichwouldstaintheannalsofNeroorDomitian。Withinthespaceofthreeyears，theinconsistenthistorianofTheodosiusmustrelatethegenerouspardonofthecitizensofAntioch，andtheinhumanmassacreofthepeopleofThessalonica。
[Footnote82:Zosimus，l。iv。p。271，272。Hispartialevidenceismarkedbyanairofcandorandtruth。Heobservesthesevicissitudesofslothandactivity，notasavice，butasasingularityinthecharacterofTheodosius。]
[Footnote83:ThischolerictemperisacknowledgedandexcusedbyVictorSedhabessaysAmbrose，indecentandmanylanguage，tohissovereignnatureimpetum，quemsiquislenirevelit，citovertesadmisericordiam:siquisstimulet，inmagisexsuscitas，uteumrevocarevixpossis，tom。ii。Epist。li。p。998。
TheodosiusClaud。iniv。Hon。266，&c。exhortshissontomoderatehisanger。]
ThelivelyimpatienceoftheinhabitantsofAntiochwasneversatisfiedwiththeirownsituation，orwiththecharacterandconductoftheirsuccessivesovereigns。TheAriansubjectsofTheodosiusdeploredthelossoftheirchurches；andasthreerivalbishopsdisputedthethroneofAntioch，thesentencewhichdecidedtheirpretensionsexcitedthemurmursofthetwounsuccessfulcongregations。TheexigenciesoftheGothicwar，andtheinevitableexpensethataccompaniedtheconclusionofthepeace，hadconstrainedtheemperortoaggravatetheweightofthepublicimpositions；andtheprovincesofAsia，astheyhadnotbeeninvolvedinthedistresswerethelessinclinedtocontributetotherelief，ofEurope。Theauspiciousperiodnowapproachedofthetenthyearofhisreign；afestivalmoregratefultothesoldiers，whoreceivedaliberaldonative，thantothesubjects，whosevoluntaryofferingshadbeenlongsinceconvertedintoanextraordinaryandoppressiveburden。Theedictsoftaxationinterruptedtherepose，andpleasures，ofAntioch；andthetribunalofthemagistratewasbesiegedbyasuppliantcrowd；who，inpathetic，but，atfirst，inrespectfullanguage，solicitedtheredressoftheirgrievances。Theyweregraduallyincensedbytheprideoftheirhaughtyrulers，whotreatedtheircomplaintsasacriminalresistance；theirsatiricalwitdegeneratedintosharpandangryinvectives；and，fromthesubordinatepowersofgovernment，theinvectivesofthepeopleinsensiblyrosetoattackthesacredcharacteroftheemperorhimself。Theirfury，provokedbyafeebleopposition，dischargeditselfontheimagesoftheImperialfamily，whichwereerected，asobjectsofpublicveneration，inthemostconspicuousplacesofthecity。ThestatuesofTheodosius，ofhisfather，ofhiswifeFlaccilla，ofhistwosons，ArcadiusandHonorius，wereinsolentlythrowndownfromtheirpedestals，brokeninpieces，ordraggedwithcontemptthroughthestreets；
andtheindignitieswhichwereofferedtotherepresentationsofImperialmajesty，sufficientlydeclaredtheimpiousandtreasonablewishesofthepopulace。Thetumultwasalmostimmediatelysuppressedbythearrivalofabodyofarchers:andAntiochhadleisuretoreflectonthenatureandconsequencesofhercrime。^84Accordingtothedutyofhisoffice，thegovernoroftheprovincedespatchedafaithfulnarrativeofthewholetransaction:whilethetremblingcitizensintrustedtheconfessionoftheircrime，andtheassurancesoftheirrepentance，tothezealofFlavian，theirbishop，andtotheeloquenceofthesenatorHilarius，thefriend，andmostprobablythedisciple，ofLibanius；whosegenius，onthismelancholyoccasion，wasnotuselesstohiscountry。^85Butthetwocapitals，AntiochandConstantinople，wereseparatedbythedistanceofeighthundredmiles；and，notwithstandingthediligenceoftheImperialposts，theguiltycitywasseverelypunishedbyalonganddreadfulintervalofsuspense。EveryrumoragitatedthehopesandfearsoftheAntiochians，andtheyheardwithterror，thattheirsovereign，exasperatedbytheinsultwhichhadbeenofferedtohisownstatues，andmoreespecially，tothoseofhisbelovedwife，hadresolvedtolevelwiththegroundtheoffendingcity；andtomassacre，withoutdistinctionofageorsex，thecriminalinhabitants；^86manyofwhomwereactuallydriven，bytheirapprehensions，toseekarefugeinthemountainsofSyria，andtheadjacentdesert。Atlength，twenty—fourdaysafterthesedition，thegeneralHellebicusandCaesarius，masteroftheoffices，declaredthewilloftheemperor，andthesentenceofAntioch。Thatproudcapitalwasdegradedfromtherankofacity；andthemetropolisoftheEast，strippedofitslands，itsprivileges，anditsrevenues，wassubjected，underthehumiliatingdenominationofavillage，tothejurisdictionofLaodicea。^87Thebaths，theCircus，andthetheatreswereshut:and，thateverysourceofplentyandpleasuremightatthesametimebeintercepted，thedistributionofcornwasabolished，bythesevereinstructionsofTheodosius。Hiscommissionersthenproceededtoinquireintotheguiltofindividuals；ofthosewhohadperpetrated，andofthosewhohadnotprevented，thedestructionofthesacredstatues。
ThetribunalofHellebicusandCaesarius，encompassedwitharmedsoldiers，waserectedinthemidstoftheForum。Thenoblest，andmostwealthy，ofthecitizensofAntiochappearedbeforetheminchains；theexaminationwasassistedbytheuseoftorture，andtheirsentencewaspronouncedorsuspended，accordingtothejudgmentoftheseextraordinarymagistrates。Thehousesofthecriminalswereexposedtosale，theirwivesandchildrenweresuddenlyreduced，fromaffluenceandluxury，tothemostabjectdistress；andabloodyexecutionwasexpectedtoconcludethehorrorsoftheday，^88whichthepreacherofAntioch，theeloquentChrysostom，hasrepresentedasalivelyimageofthelastanduniversaljudgmentoftheworld。ButtheministersofTheodosiusperformed，withreluctance，thecrueltaskwhichhadbeenassignedthem；theydroppedagentletearoverthecalamitiesofthepeople；andtheylistenedwithreverencetothepressingsolicitationsofthemonksandhermits，whodescendedinswarmsfromthemountains。^89HellebicusandCaesariuswerepersuadedtosuspendtheexecutionoftheirsentence；anditwasagreedthattheformershouldremainatAntioch，whilethelatterreturned，withallpossiblespeed，toConstantinople；andpresumedoncemoretoconsultthewillofhissovereign。TheresentmentofTheodosiushadalreadysubsided；thedeputiesofthepeople，boththebishopandtheorator，hadobtainedafavorableaudience；andthereproachesoftheemperorwerethecomplaintsofinjuredfriendship，ratherthanthesternmenacesofprideandpower。AfreeandgeneralpardonwasgrantedtothecityandcitizensofAntioch；theprisondoorswerethrownopen；
thesenators，whodespairedoftheirlives，recoveredthepossessionoftheirhousesandestates；andthecapitaloftheEastwasrestoredtotheenjoymentofherancientdignityandsplendor。TheodosiuscondescendedtopraisethesenateofConstantinople，whohadgenerouslyintercededfortheirdistressedbrethren:herewardedtheeloquenceofHilariuswiththegovernmentofPalestine；anddismissedthebishopofAntiochwiththewarmestexpressionsofhisrespectandgratitude。A
thousandnewstatuesarosetotheclemencyofTheodosius；theapplauseofhissubjectswasratifiedbytheapprobationofhisownheart；andtheemperorconfessed，that，iftheexerciseofjusticeisthemostimportantduty，theindulgenceofmercyisthemostexquisitepleasure，ofasovereign。^90
[Footnote84:TheChristiansandPagansagreedinbelievingthattheseditionofAntiochwasexcitedbythedaemons。AgiganticwomansaysSozomen，l。vii。c。23paradedthestreetswithascourgeinherhand。Anoldman，saysLibanius，Orat。xii。p。
396，transformedhimselfintoayouth，thenaboy，&c。]
[Footnote85:Zosimus，inhisshortanddisingenuousaccount，l。
iv。p。258，259，iscertainlymistakeninsendingLibaniushimselftoConstantinople。HisownorationsfixhimatAntioch。]
[Footnote86:LibaniusOrat。i。p。6，edit。Venet。declares，thatundersuchareignthefearofamassacrewasgroundlessandabsurd，especiallyintheemperor'sabsence，forhispresence，accordingtotheeloquentslave，mighthavegivenasanctiontothemostbloodyacts。]
[Footnote87:Laodicea，onthesea—coast，sixty—fivemilesfromAntioch，seeNorisEpoch。Syro—Maced。Dissert。iii。p。230。
TheAntiochianswereoffended，thatthedependentcityofSeleuciashouldpresumetointercedeforthem。]
[Footnote88:AsthedaysofthetumultdependonthemovablefestivalofEaster，theycanonlybedeterminedbythepreviousdeterminationoftheyear。Theyear387hasbeenpreferred，afteralaboriousinquiry，byTillemontHist。des。Emp。tom。v。p。741
—744andMontfaucon，Chrysostom，tom。xiii。p。105—110。]
[Footnote89:Chrysostomopposestheircourage，whichwasnotattendedwithmuchrisk，tothecowardlyflightoftheCynics。]
[Footnote90:TheseditionofAntiochisrepresentedinalively，andalmostdramatic，mannerbytwoorators，whohadtheirrespectivesharesofinterestandmerit。SeeLibaniusOrat。
xiv。xv。p。389—420，edit。Morel。Orat。i。p。1—14，Venet。
1754andthetwentyorationsofSt。JohnChrysostom，deStatuis，tom。ii。p。1—225，edit。Montfaucon。IdonotpretendtomuchpersonalacquaintancewithChrysostombutTillemontHist。des。
Empereurs，tom。v。p。263—283andHermantViedeSt。
Chrysostome，tom。i。p。137—224hadreadhimwithpiouscuriosityanddiligence。]
TheseditionofThessalonicaisascribedtoamoreshamefulcause，andwasproductiveofmuchmoredreadfulconsequences。
Thatgreatcity，themetropolisofalltheIllyrianprovinces，hadbeenprotectedfromthedangersoftheGothicwarbystrongfortificationsandanumerousgarrison。Botheric，thegeneralofthosetroops，and，asitshouldseemfromhisname，aBarbarian，hadamonghisslavesabeautifulboy，whoexcitedtheimpuredesiresofoneofthecharioteersoftheCircus。TheinsolentandbrutalloverwasthrownintoprisonbytheorderofBotheric；
andhesternlyrejectedtheimportunateclamorsofthemultitude，who，onthedayofthepublicgames，lamentedtheabsenceoftheirfavorite；andconsideredtheskillofacharioteerasanobjectofmoreimportancethanhisvirtue。Theresentmentofthepeoplewasimbitteredbysomepreviousdisputes；and，asthestrengthofthegarrisonhadbeendrawnawayfortheserviceoftheItalianwar，thefeebleremnant，whosenumberswerereducedbydesertion，couldnotsavetheunhappygeneralfromtheirlicentiousfury。Botheric，andseveralofhisprincipalofficers，wereinhumanlymurdered；theirmangledbodiesweredraggedaboutthestreets；andtheemperor，whothenresidedatMilan，wassurprisedbytheintelligenceoftheaudaciousandwantoncrueltyofthepeopleofThessalonica。Thesentenceofadispassionatejudgewouldhaveinflictedaseverepunishmentontheauthorsofthecrime；andthemeritofBothericmightcontributetoexasperatethegriefandindignationofhismaster。
ThefieryandcholerictemperofTheodosiuswasimpatientofthedilatoryformsofajudicialinquiry；andhehastilyresolved，thatthebloodofhislieutenantshouldbeexpiatedbythebloodoftheguiltypeople。Yethismindstillfluctuatedbetweenthecounselsofclemencyandofrevenge；thezealofthebishopshadalmostextortedfromthereluctantemperorthepromiseofageneralpardon；hispassionwasagaininflamedbytheflatteringsuggestionsofhisministerRufinus；and，afterTheodosiushaddespatchedthemessengersofdeath，heattempted，whenitwastoolate，topreventtheexecutionofhisorders。ThepunishmentofaRomancitywasblindlycommittedtotheundistinguishingswordoftheBarbarians；andthehostilepreparationswereconcertedwiththedarkandperfidiousartificeofanillegalconspiracy。ThepeopleofThessalonicaweretreacherouslyinvited，inthenameoftheirsovereign，tothegamesoftheCircus；andsuchwastheirinsatiateavidityforthoseamusements，thateveryconsiderationoffear，orsuspicion，wasdisregardedbythenumerousspectators。Assoonastheassemblywascomplete，thesoldiers，whohadsecretlybeenpostedroundtheCircus，receivedthesignal，notoftheraces，butofageneralmassacre。Thepromiscuouscarnagecontinuedthreehours，withoutdiscriminationofstrangersornatives，ofageorsex，ofinnocenceorguilt；
themostmoderateaccountsstatethenumberoftheslainatseventhousand；anditisaffirmedbysomewritersthatmorethanfifteenthousandvictimsweresacrificedtothenamesofBotheric。Aforeignmerchant，whohadprobablynoconcerninhismurder，offeredhisownlife，andallhiswealth，tosupplytheplaceofoneofhistwosons；but，whilethefatherhesitatedwithequaltenderness，whilehewasdoubtfultochoose，andunwillingtocondemn，thesoldiersdeterminedhissuspense，byplungingtheirdaggersatthesamemomentintothebreastsofthedefencelessyouths。Theapologyoftheassassins，thattheywereobligedtoproducetheprescribednumberofheads，servesonlytoincrease，byanappearanceoforderanddesign，thehorrorsofthemassacre，whichwasexecutedbythecommandsofTheodosius。
TheguiltoftheemperorisaggravatedbyhislongandfrequentresidenceatThessalonica。Thesituationoftheunfortunatecity，theaspectofthestreetsandbuildings，thedressandfacesoftheinhabitants，werefamiliar，andevenpresent，tohisimagination；andTheodosiuspossessedaquickandlivelysenseoftheexistenceofthepeoplewhomhedestroyed。^91
[Footnote91:TheoriginalevidenceofAmbrose，tom。ii。Epist。
li。p。998。Augustin，deCivitat。Dei，v。26，andPaulinus，inVit。Ambros。c。24，isdeliveredinvagueexpressionsofhorrorandpity。ItisillustratedbythesubsequentandunequaltestimoniesofSozomen，l。vii。c。25，Theodoret，l。v。c。
17，Theophanes，Chronograph。p。62，Cedrenus，p。317，andZonaras，tom。ii。l。xiii。p。34。Zosimusalone，thepartialenemyofTheodosius，mostunaccountablypassesoverinsilencetheworstofhisactions。]
Therespectfulattachmentoftheemperorfortheorthodoxclergy，haddisposedhimtoloveandadmirethecharacterofAmbrose；whounitedalltheepiscopalvirtuesinthemosteminentdegree。ThefriendsandministersofTheodosiusimitatedtheexampleoftheirsovereign；andheobserved，withmoresurprisethandispleasure，thatallhissecretcounselswereimmediatelycommunicatedtothearchbishop；whoactedfromthelaudablepersuasion，thateverymeasureofcivilgovernmentmayhavesomeconnectionwiththegloryofGod，andtheinterestofthetruereligion。ThemonksandpopulaceofCallinicum，anobscuretownonthefrontierofPersia，excitedbytheirownfanaticism，andbythatoftheirbishop，hadtumultuouslyburntaconventicleoftheValentinians，andasynagogueoftheJews。Theseditiousprelatewascondemned，bythemagistrateoftheprovince，eithertorebuildthesynagogue，ortorepaythedamage；andthismoderatesentencewasconfirmedbytheemperor。ButitwasnotconfirmedbythearchbishopofMilan。^92Hedictatedanepistleofcensureandreproach，moresuitable，perhaps，iftheemperorhadreceivedthemarkofcircumcision，andrenouncedthefaithofhisbaptism。AmbroseconsidersthetolerationoftheJewish，asthepersecutionoftheChristian，religion；boldlydeclaresthathehimself，andeverytruebeliever，wouldeagerlydisputewiththebishopofCallinicumthemeritofthedeed，andthecrownofmartyrdom；andlaments，inthemostpatheticterms，thattheexecutionofthesentencewouldbefataltothefameandsalvationofTheodosius。Asthisprivateadmonitiondidnotproduceanimmediateeffect，thearchbishop，fromhispulpit，^93
publiclyaddressedtheemperoronhisthrone；^94norwouldheconsenttooffertheoblationofthealtar，tillhehadobtainedfromTheodosiusasolemnandpositivedeclaration，whichsecuredtheimpunityofthebishopandmonksofCallinicum。TherecantationofTheodosiuswassincere；^95and，duringthetermofhisresidenceatMilan，hisaffectionforAmbrosewascontinuallyincreasedbythehabitsofpiousandfamiliarconversation。
[Footnote*:Raeca，ontheEuphrates—M。]
[Footnote92:SeethewholetransactioninAmbrose，tom。ii。
Epist。xl。xli。p。950—956，andhisbiographerPaulinus，c。
23。BayleandBarbeyracMoralesdesPeres，c。xvii。p。325，&c。havejustlycondemnedthearchbishop。]
[Footnote93:HissermonisastrangeallegoryofJeremiah'srod，ofanalmondtree，ofthewomanwhowashedandanointedthefeetofChrist。Buttheperorationisdirectandpersonal。]
[Footnote94:Hodie，Episcope，demeproposuisti。Ambrosemodestlyconfessedit；buthesternlyreprimandedTimasius，generalofthehorseandfoot，whohadpresumedtosaythatthemonksofCallinicumdeservedpunishment。]
[Footnote95:Yet，fiveyearsafterwards，whenTheodosiuswasabsentfromhisspiritualguide，hetoleratedtheJews，andcondemnedthedestructionoftheirsynagogues。Cod。Theodos。l。
xvi。tit。viii。leg。9，withGodefroy'sCommentary，tom。vi。p。
225。]
WhenAmbrosewasinformedofthemassacreofThessalonica，hismindwasfilledwithhorrorandanguish。Heretiredintothecountrytoindulgehisgrief，andtoavoidthepresenceofTheodosius。Butasthearchbishopwassatisfiedthatatimidsilencewouldrenderhimtheaccompliceofhisguilt，herepresented，inaprivateletter，theenormityofthecrime；