whichcouldonlybeeffacedbythetearsofpenitence。TheepiscopalvigorofAmbrosewastemperedbyprudence；andhecontentedhimselfwithsignifying^96anindirectsortofexcommunication，bytheassurance，thathehadbeenwarnedinavisionnottooffertheoblationinthename，orinthepresence，ofTheodosius；andbytheadvice，thathewouldconfinehimselftotheuseofprayer，withoutpresumingtoapproachthealtarofChrist，ortoreceivetheholyeucharistwiththosehandsthatwerestillpollutedwiththebloodofaninnocentpeople。Theemperorwasdeeplyaffectedbyhisownreproaches，andbythoseofhisspiritualfather；andafterhehadbewailedthemischievousandirreparableconsequencesofhisrashfury，heproceeded，intheaccustomedmanner，toperformhisdevotionsinthegreatchurchofMilan。Hewasstoppedintheporchbythearchbishop；who，inthetoneandlanguageofanambassadorofHeaven，declaredtohissovereign，thatprivatecontritionwasnotsufficienttoatoneforapublicfault，ortoappeasethejusticeoftheoffendedDeity。Theodosiushumblyrepresented，thatifhehadcontractedtheguiltofhomicide，David，themanafterGod'sownheart，hadbeenguilty，notonlyofmurder，butofadultery。"YouhaveimitatedDavidinhiscrime，imitatethenhisrepentance，"wasthereplyoftheundauntedAmbrose。Therigorousconditionsofpeaceandpardonwereaccepted；andthepublicpenanceoftheemperorTheodosiushasbeenrecordedasoneofthemosthonorableeventsintheannalsofthechurch。
Accordingtothemildestrulesofecclesiasticaldiscipline，whichwereestablishedinthefourthcentury，thecrimeofhomicidewasexpiatedbythepenitenceoftwentyyears:^97andasitwasimpossible，intheperiodofhumanlife，topurgetheaccumulatedguiltofthemassacreofThessalonica，themurderershouldhavebeenexcludedfromtheholycommuniontillthehourofhisdeath。Butthearchbishop，consultingthemaximsofreligiouspolicy，grantedsomeindulgencetotherankofhisillustriouspenitent，whohumbledinthedusttheprideofthediadem；andthepublicedificationmightbeadmittedasaweightyreasontoabridgethedurationofhispunishment。Itwassufficient，thattheemperoroftheRomans，strippedoftheensignsofroyalty，shouldappearinamournfulandsuppliantposture；andthat，inthemidstofthechurchofMilan，heshouldhumblysolicit，withsighsandtears，thepardonofhissins。^98
Inthisspiritualcure，Ambroseemployedthevariousmethodsofmildnessandseverity。Afteradelayofabouteightmonths，Theodosiuswasrestoredtothecommunionofthefaithful；andtheedictwhichinterposesasalutaryintervalofthirtydaysbetweenthesentenceandtheexecution，maybeacceptedastheworthyfruitsofhisrepentance。^99Posterityhasapplaudedthevirtuousfirmnessofthearchbishop；andtheexampleofTheodosiusmayprovethebeneficialinfluenceofthoseprinciples，whichcouldforceamonarch，exaltedabovetheapprehensionofhumanpunishment，torespectthelaws，andministers，ofaninvisibleJudge。"Theprince，"saysMontesquieu，"whoisactuatedbythehopesandfearsofreligion，maybecomparedtoalion，docileonlytothevoice，andtractabletothehand，ofhiskeeper。"^100Themotionsoftheroyalanimalwillthereforedependontheinclination，andinterest，ofthemanwhohasacquiredsuchdangerousauthorityoverhim；andthepriest，whoholdsinhishandstheconscienceofaking，mayinflame，ormoderate，hissanguinarypassions。Thecauseofhumanity，andthatofpersecution，havebeenasserted，bythesameAmbrose，withequalenergy，andwithequalsuccess。
[Footnote96:Ambros。tom。ii。Epist。li。p。997—1001。Hisepistleisamiserablerhapsodyonanoblesubject。Ambrosecouldactbetterthanhecouldwrite。Hiscompositionsaredestituteoftaste，orgenius；withoutthespiritofTertullian，thecopiouseleganceofLactantiusthelivelywitofJerom，orthegraveenergyofAugustin。]
[Footnote97:AccordingtothedisciplineofSt。Basil，Canonlvi。，thevoluntaryhomicidewasfouryearsamourner；fiveahearer；seveninaprostratestate；andfourinastandingposture。IhavetheoriginalBeveridge，Pandect。tom。ii。p。47
—151andatranslationChardon，Hist。desSacremens，tom。iv。
p。219—277oftheCanonicalEpistlesofSt。Basil。]
[Footnote98:ThepenanceofTheodosiusisauthenticatedbyAmbrose，tom。vi。deObit。Theodos。c。34，p。1207，Augustin，deCivitat。Dei，v。26，andPaulinus，inVit。Ambros。c。24。
Socratesisignorant；Sozomenl。vii。c。25concise；andthecopiousnarrativeofTheodoretl。v。c。18mustbeusedwithprecaution。]
[Footnote99:CodexTheodos。l。ix。tit。xl。leg。13。Thedateandcircumstancesofthislawareperplexedwithdifficulties；
butIfeelmyselfinclinedtofavorthehonesteffortsofTillemontHist。desEmp。tom。v。p。721andPagi，Critica，tom。i。p。578。]
[Footnote100:Unprincequiaimelareligion，etquilacraint，estunlionquicedealamainquileflatte，oualavoixquil'appaise。EspritdesLoix，l。xxiv。c。2。]
ChapterXXVII:CivilWars，ReignOfTheodosius。
PartV。
AfterthedefeatanddeathofthetyrantofGaul，theRomanworldwasinthepossessionofTheodosius。HederivedfromthechoiceofGratianhishonorabletitletotheprovincesoftheEast:hehadacquiredtheWestbytherightofconquest；andthethreeyearswhichhespentinItalywereusefullyemployedtorestoretheauthorityofthelaws，andtocorrecttheabuseswhichhadprevailedwithimpunityundertheusurpationofMaximus，andtheminorityofValentinian。ThenameofValentinianwasregularlyinsertedinthepublicacts:butthetenderage，anddoubtfulfaith，ofthesonofJustina，appearedtorequiretheprudentcareofanorthodoxguardian；andhisspeciousambitionmighthaveexcludedtheunfortunateyouth，withoutastruggle，andalmostwithoutamurmur，fromtheadministration，andevenfromtheinheritance，oftheempire。IfTheodosiushadconsultedtherigidmaximsofinterestandpolicy，hisconductwouldhavebeenjustifiedbyhisfriends；butthegenerosityofhisbehavioronthismemorableoccasionhasextortedtheapplauseofhismostinveterateenemies。HeseatedValentinianonthethroneofMilan；and，withoutstipulatinganypresentorfutureadvantages，restoredhimtotheabsolutedominionofalltheprovinces，fromwhichhehadbeendrivenbythearmsofMaximus。Totherestitutionofhisamplepatrimony，TheodosiusaddedthefreeandgenerousgiftofthecountriesbeyondtheAlps，whichhissuccessfulvalorhadrecoveredfromtheassassinofGratian。^101Satisfiedwiththeglorywhichhehadacquired，byrevengingthedeathofhisbenefactor，anddeliveringtheWestfromtheyokeoftyranny，theemperorreturnedfromMilantoConstantinople；and，inthepeacefulpossessionoftheEast，insensiblyrelapsedintohisformerhabitsofluxuryandindolence。Theodosiusdischargedhisobligationtothebrother，heindulgedhisconjugaltendernesstothesister，ofValentinian；andposterity，whichadmiresthepureandsingulargloryofhiselevation，mustapplaudhisunrivalledgenerosityintheuseofvictory。
[Footnote101:ItistheniggardpraiseofZosimushimself，l。
iv。p。267。Augustinsays，withsomehappinessofexpression，Valentinianum……misericordissimavenerationerestituit。]
TheempressJustinadidnotlongsurviveherreturntoItaly；
and，thoughshebeheldthetriumphofTheodosius，shewasnotallowedtoinfluencethegovernmentofherson。^102TheperniciousattachmenttotheAriansect，whichValentinianhadimbibedfromherexampleandinstructions，wassoonerasedbythelessonsofamoreorthodoxeducation。HisgrowingzealforthefaithofNice，andhisfilialreverenceforthecharacterandauthorityofAmbrose，disposedtheCatholicstoentertainthemostfavorableopinionofthevirtuesoftheyoungemperoroftheWest。^103Theyapplaudedhischastityandtemperance，hiscontemptofpleasure，hisapplicationtobusiness，andhistenderaffectionforhistwosisters；whichcouldnot，however，seducehisimpartialequitytopronounceanunjustsentenceagainstthemeanestofhissubjects。Butthisamiableyouth，beforehehadaccomplishedthetwentiethyearofhisage，wasoppressedbydomestictreason；andtheempirewasagaininvolvedinthehorrorsofacivilwar。Arbogastes，^104agallantsoldierofthenationoftheFranks，heldthesecondrankintheserviceofGratian。OnthedeathofhismasterhejoinedthestandardofTheodosius；contributed，byhisvalorandmilitaryconduct，tothedestructionofthetyrant；andwasappointed，afterthevictory，master—generalofthearmiesofGaul。Hisrealmerit，andapparentfidelity，hadgainedtheconfidencebothoftheprinceandpeople；hisboundlessliberalitycorruptedtheallegianceofthetroops；and，whilsthewasuniversallyesteemedasthepillarofthestate，theboldandcraftyBarbarianwassecretlydeterminedeithertorule，ortoruin，theempireoftheWest。TheimportantcommandsofthearmyweredistributedamongtheFranks；thecreaturesofArbogasteswerepromotedtoallthehonorsandofficesofthecivilgovernment；theprogressoftheconspiracyremovedeveryfaithfulservantfromthepresenceofValentinian；andtheemperor，withoutpowerandwithoutintelligence，insensiblysunkintotheprecariousanddependentconditionofacaptive。^105Theindignationwhichheexpressed，thoughitmightariseonlyfromtherashandimpatienttemperofyouth，maybecandidlyascribedtothegenerousspiritofaprince，whofeltthathewasnotunworthytoreign。HesecretlyinvitedthearchbishopofMilantoundertaketheofficeofamediator；asthepledgeofhissincerity，andtheguardianofhissafety。HecontrivedtoapprisetheemperoroftheEastofhishelplesssituation，andhedeclared，that，unlessTheodosiuscouldspeedilymarchtohisassistance，hemustattempttoescapefromthepalace，orratherprison，ofViennainGaul，wherehehadimprudentlyfixedhisresidenceinthemidstofthehostilefaction。Butthehopesofreliefweredistant，anddoubtful:
and，aseverydayfurnishedsomenewprovocation，theemperor，withoutstrengthorcounsel，toohastilyresolvedtoriskanimmediatecontestwithhispowerfulgeneral。HereceivedArbogastesonthethrone；and，asthecountapproachedwithsomeappearanceofrespect，deliveredtohimapaper，whichdismissedhimfromallhisemployments。"Myauthority，"repliedArbogastes，withinsultingcoolness，"doesnotdependonthesmileorthefrownofamonarch；"andhecontemptuouslythrewthepaperontheground。Theindignantmonarchsnatchedattheswordofoneoftheguards，whichhestruggledtodrawfromitsscabbard；anditwasnotwithoutsomedegreeofviolencethathewaspreventedfromusingthedeadlyweaponagainsthisenemy，oragainsthimself。Afewdaysafterthisextraordinaryquarrel，inwhichhehadexposedhisresentmentandhisweakness，theunfortunateValentinianwasfoundstrangledinhisapartment；andsomepainswereemployedtodisguisethemanifestguiltofArbogastes，andtopersuadetheworld，thatthedeathoftheyoungemperorhadbeenthevoluntaryeffectofhisowndespair。
^106HisbodywasconductedwithdecentpomptothesepulchreofMilan；andthearchbishoppronouncedafuneralorationtocommemoratehisvirtuesandhismisfortunes。^107OnthisoccasionthehumanityofAmbrosetemptedhimtomakeasingularbreachinhistheologicalsystem；andtocomforttheweepingsistersofValentinian，bythefirmassurance，thattheirpiousbrother，thoughhehadnotreceivedthesacramentofbaptism，wasintroduced，withoutdifficulty，intothemansionsofeternalbliss。^108
[Footnote102:Sozomen，l。vii。c。14。Hischronologyisveryirregular。]
[Footnote103:SeeAmbrose，tom。ii。deObit。Valentinian。c。
15，&c。p。1178。c。36，&c。p。1184。Whentheyoungemperorgaveanentertainment，hefastedhimself；herefusedtoseeahandsomeactress，&c。Sinceheorderedhiswildbeaststotobekilled，itisungenerousinPhilostorl。xi。c。1toreproachhimwiththeloveofthatamusement。]
[Footnote104:Zosimusl。iv。p。275praisestheenemyofTheodosius。ButheisdetestedbySocratesl。v。c。25andOrosius，l。vii。c。35。]
[Footnote105:GregoryofToursl。ii。c。9，p。165，inthesecondvolumeoftheHistoriansofFrancehaspreservedacuriousfragmentofSulpiciusAlexander，anhistorianfarmorevaluablethanhimself。]
[Footnote106:GodefroyDissertat。ad。Philostorg。p。429—434
hasdiligentlycollectedallthecircumstancesofthedeathofValentinianII。Thevariations，andtheignorance，ofcontemporarywriters，provethatitwassecret。]
[Footnote107:DeObituValentinian。tom。ii。p。1173—1196。Heisforcedtospeakadiscreetandobscurelanguage:yetheismuchbolderthananylayman，orperhapsanyotherecclesiastic，wouldhavedaredtobe。]
[Footnote108:Seec。51，p。1188，c。75，p。1193。DomChardon，Hist。desSacramens，tom。i。p。86，whoownsthatSt。Ambrosemoststrenuouslymaintainstheindispensablenecessityofbaptism，laborstoreconcilethecontradiction。]
TheprudenceofArbogasteshadpreparedthesuccessofhisambitiousdesigns:andtheprovincials，inwhosebreasteverysentimentofpatriotismorloyaltywasextinguished，expected，withtameresignation，theunknownmaster，whomthechoiceofaFrankmightplaceontheImperialthrone。ButsomeremainsofprideandprejudicestillopposedtheelevationofArbogasteshimself；andthejudiciousBarbarianthoughtitmoreadvisabletoreignunderthenameofsomedependentRoman。HebestowedthepurpleontherhetoricianEugenius；^109whomhehadalreadyraisedfromtheplaceofhisdomesticsecretarytotherankofmasteroftheoffices。Inthecourse，bothofhisprivateandpublicservice，thecounthadalwaysapprovedtheattachmentandabilitiesofEugenius；hislearningandeloquence，supportedbythegravityofhismanners，recommendedhimtotheesteemofthepeople；andthereluctancewithwhichheseemedtoascendthethrone，mayinspireafavorableprejudiceofhisvirtueandmoderation。TheambassadorsofthenewemperorwereimmediatelydespatchedtothecourtofTheodosius，tocommunicate，withaffectedgrief，theunfortunateaccidentofthedeathofValentinian；and，withoutmentioningthenameofArbogastes，torequest，thatthemonarchoftheEastwouldembrace，ashislawfulcolleague，therespectablecitizen，whohadobtainedtheunanimoussuffrageofthearmiesandprovincesoftheWest。^110
Theodosiuswasjustlyprovoked，thattheperfidyofaBarbarian，shouldhavedestroyed，inamoment，thelabors，andthefruit，ofhisformervictory；andhewasexcitedbythetearsofhisbelovedwife，^111torevengethefateofherunhappybrother，andoncemoretoassertbyarmstheviolatedmajestyofthethrone。ButasthesecondconquestoftheWestwasataskofdifficultyanddanger，hedismissed，withsplendidpresents，andanambiguousanswer，theambassadorsofEugenius；andalmosttwoyearswereconsumedinthepreparationsofthecivilwar。Beforeheformedanydecisiveresolution，thepiousemperorwasanxioustodiscoverthewillofHeaven；andastheprogressofChristianityhadsilencedtheoraclesofDelphiandDodona，heconsultedanEgyptianmonk，whopossessed，intheopinionoftheage，thegiftofmiracles，andtheknowledgeoffuturity。
Eutropius，oneofthefavoriteeunuchsofthepalaceofConstantinople，embarkedforAlexandria，fromwhencehesaileduptheNile，asfarasthecityofLycopolis，orofWolves，intheremoteprovinceofThebais。^112Intheneighborhoodofthatcity，andonthesummitofaloftymountain，theholyJohn^113
hadconstructed，withhisownhands，anhumblecell，inwhichhehaddweltabovefiftyyears，withoutopeninghisdoor，withoutseeingthefaceofawoman，andwithouttastinganyfoodthathadbeenpreparedbyfire，oranyhumanart。Fivedaysoftheweekhespentinprayerandmeditation；butonSaturdaysandSundaysheregularlyopenedasmallwindow，andgaveaudiencetothecrowdofsuppliantswhosuccessivelyflowedfromeverypartoftheChristianworld。TheeunuchofTheodosiusapproachedthewindowwithrespectfulsteps，proposedhisquestionsconcerningtheeventofthecivilwar，andsoonreturnedwithafavorableoracle，whichanimatedthecourageoftheemperorbytheassuranceofabloody，butinfalliblevictory。^114Theaccomplishmentofthepredictionwasforwardedbyallthemeansthathumanprudencecouldsupply。Theindustryofthetwomaster—generals，StilichoandTimasius，wasdirectedtorecruitthenumbers，andtorevivethedisciplineoftheRomanlegions。
TheformidabletroopsofBarbariansmarchedundertheensignsoftheirnationalchieftains。TheIberian，theArab，andtheGoth，whogazedoneachotherwithmutualastonishment，wereenlistedintheserviceofthesameprince；andtherenownedAlaricacquired，intheschoolofTheodosius，theknowledgeoftheartofwar，whichheafterwardssofatallyexertedforthedestructionofRome。^115
[Footnote109:QuemsibiGermanusfamulamdelegeratexul，isthecontemptuousexpressionofClaudian，iv。Cons。Hon。74。
EugeniusprofessedChristianity；buthissecretattachmenttoPaganismSozomen，l。vii。c。22，Philostorg。l。xi。c。2isprobableinagrammarian，andwouldsecurethefriendshipofZosimus，l。iv。p。276，277。]
[Footnote110:Zosimusl。iv。p。278mentionsthisembassy；butheisdivertedbyanotherstoryfromrelatingtheevent。]
[Footnote111:Zosim。l。iv。p。277。Heafterwardssaysp。280
thatGalladiedinchildbed；andintimates，thattheafflictionofherhusbandwasextremebutshort。]
[Footnote112:LycopolisisthemodernSiut，orOsiot，atownofSaid，aboutthesizeofSt。Denys，whichdrivesaprofitabletradewiththekingdomofSenaar，andhasaveryconvenientfountain，"cujuspotusignavirginitatiseripiuntur。"SeeD'Anville，Descriptiondel'Egypte，p。181Abulfeda，Descript。
Egypt。p。14，andthecuriousAnnotations，p。25，92，ofhiseditorMichaelis。]
[Footnote113:TheLifeofJohnofLycopolisisdescribedbyhistwofriends，Rufinusl。ii。c。i。p。449andPalladius，Hist。
Lausiac。c。43，p。738，inRosweyde'sgreatCollectionoftheVitaePatrum。TillemontMem。Eccles。tom。x。p。718，720hassettledthechronology。]
[Footnote114:Sozomen，l。vii。c。22。ClaudianinEutrop。l。
i。312mentionstheeunuch'sjourney；buthemostcontemptuouslyderidestheEgyptiandreams，andtheoraclesoftheNile。]