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THE admirable Eusebius mentioned above, who was entrusted with the
common resolution, when he beheld the violation of the covenant,
returned to his own see. Then certain men who were uneasy about the
written document, persuaded Constantius to dispatch a messenger to
recover it. Accordingly the emperor sent one of the officers who ride
post with relays of horses, and bring communications with great speed.
On his arrival he reported the imperial message, but, "I cannot,"
said the admirable Eusebius, "surrender the deed deposited with me
till I am directed so to do by the whole assembly who gave it me."
This reply was reported to the emperor. Boiling with rage he sent to
Eusebius again and ordered him to give it up, with the further message
that he had ordered his right hand to be cut off if he refused. But he
only wrote this to terrify the bishop, for the courier who conveyed the
dispatch bad orders not to carry out the threat. But when the divine
Eusebius opened the letter and saw tire punishment which the emperor
had threatened, lie stretched out his right hand and his left, bidding
the man cut off both. "The decree," said he, "which is a clear
proof of Arian wickedness, I will not give up."
When Constantius had been informed of this courageous resolution he
was struck with astonishment, and did not cease to admire it; for even
foes are constrained by the greatness of bold deeds to admire their
adversaries' success.
At this time Constantius learned that Julian, whom he had declared
Caesar of Europe, was aiming at sovereignty, and mustering an army
against his master. Therefore he set out from Syria, and died in
Cilicia. Nor had he the helper whom his Father had left him; for he
had not kept intact the inheritance of his Father's piety, and so
bitterly bewailed his change of faith.
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