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；
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