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But although I am neither eager for the notice of the emperor, nor
wish to make an exhibition of my oratorical powers, yet have I felt it
my duty to record plainly the singular virtues with which the emperor is
endowed: for I am persuaded that silence concerning them, as they are
so excellent, would be injustice to those who should come after us.
In the first place then, this prince though born and nurtured to
empire, was neither stultified nor effeminated by the circumstances of
his birth and education. He evinced so much prudence, that he
appeared to those who conversed with him to have acquired wisdom from
experience. Such was his fortitude in undergoing hardships, that he
would courageously endure both heat and cold; fasting very frequently,
especially on Wednesdays and Fridays; and this he did from an earnest
endeavor to observe with accuracy all the prescribed forms of the
Christian religion. He rendered his palace little different from a
monastery: for he, together with his sisters, rose early in the
morning, and recited responsive hymns in praise of the Deity. By
this training he learnt the holy Scriptures by heart; and he would
often discourse with the bishops on scriptural subjects, as if he had
been an ordained priest of long standing. He was a more indefatigable
collector of the sacred books and of the expositions which had been
written on them, than even Ptolemy Philadelphus had formerly been.
In clemency and humanity he far surpassed all others. For the emperor
Julian although he professed to be a philosopher, could not moderate
his rage against the Antiochians who derided him, but inflicted upon
Theodore the most agonizing tortures. Theodosius on the contrary,
bidding farewell to Aristotle's syllogisms, exercised philosophy in
deeds, by getting the mastery over anger, grief, and pleasure.
Never has he revenged himself on any one by whom he has been injured;
nor has any one ever even seen him irritated. And when some of his
most intimate friends once asked him, why he never inflicted capital
punishment upon offenders, his answer was, 'Would that it were even
possible to restore to life those that have died.' To another making
a similar inquiry he replied, 'It is neither a great nor a difficult
thing for a mortal to be put to death but it is God only that can
resuscitate by repentance a person that has once died.' So habitually
indeed did he practice mercy, that if any one were guilty and sentence
of death was passed upon him, and he was conducted toward the place of
execution, he was never suffered to reach the gates of the city before
a pardon was issued, commanding his immediate return, Having once
exhibited a show of hunting wild beasts in the Amphitheatre at
Constantinople, the people cried out, 'Let one of the boldest
bestiarii encounter the enraged animal.' But he said to them, 'Do
ye not know that we are wont to view these spectacles with feelings of
humanity?' By this expression he instructed the people to be
satisfied in future with shows of a less cruel description. His piety
was such that he had a reverential regard for all who were consecrated
to the service of God; and honored in an especial manner those whom he
ascertained to be eminent for their sanctity of life. It is said that
the bishop of Chebron having died at Constantinople, the emperor
expressed a wish to have his cassock of sackcloth of hair; which,
although it was excessively filthy, he wore as a cloak, hoping that
thus he should become a partaker in some degree of the sanctity of the
deceased. In a certain year, during which the weather had been very
tempestuous, he was obliged by the eagerness of the people to exhibit
the usual sports in the Hippodrome; and when the circus was filled
with spectators, the violence of the storm increased, and there was a
heavy fall of snow. Then the emperor made it very evident how his mind
was affected towards God; for he caused the herald to make a
proclamation to the people to this effect: 'It is far better and
fitter to desist from the show, and unite in common prayer to God,
that we may be preserved unhurt from the impending storm.' Scarcely
had the herald executed his commission, when all the people, with the
greatest joy, began with one accord to offer supplication and sing
praises to God, so that the whole city became one vast congregation;
and the emperor himself in official garments, went into the midst of
the multitude and commenced the hymns. Nor was he disappointed in his
expectation, for the atmosphere began to resume its wonted serenity:
and Divine benevolence bestowed on all an abundant harvest, instead of
an expected deficiency of corn. If at any time war was raised, like
David he had recourse to God, knowing that he is the arbiter of
battles, and by prayer brought them to a prosperous issue. At this
point therefore, I shall relate, how a little after the war against
the Persians, by placing his confidence in God he vanquished the
usurper John, after Honorius had died on the 15th of August, in
the consulate of Asclepiodotus and Marian. For I judge what then
occurred worthy of mention, inasmuch as there happened to the
emperor's generals who were dispatched against the tyrant, something
analogous to what took place when the Israelites crossed the Red Sea
under the guidance of Moses. These things however, I shall set
forth very briefly, leaving to others the numerous tails which would
require a special treatise.
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