ThemaximsofRomanjurisprudence，iftheycouldfairlybetransferredfromprivatepropertytopublicdominion，wouldhaveadjudgedtotheemperorHonoriustheguardianshipofhisnephew，tillhehadattained，atleast，thefourteenthyearofhisage。
ButtheweaknessofHonorius，andthecalamitiesofhisreign，disqualifiedhimfromprosecutingthisnaturalclaim；andsuchwastheabsoluteseparationofthetwomonarchies，bothininterestandaffection，thatConstantinoplewouldhaveobeyed，withlessreluctance，theordersofthePersian，thanthoseoftheItalian，court。Underaprincewhoseweaknessisdisguisedbytheexternalsignsofmanhoodanddiscretion，themostworthlessfavoritesmaysecretlydisputetheempireofthepalace；anddictatetosubmissiveprovincesthecommandsofamaster，whomtheydirectanddespise。Buttheministersofachild，whoisincapableofarmingthemwiththesanctionoftheroyalname，mustacquireandexerciseanindependentauthority。Thegreatofficersofthestateandarmy，whohadbeenappointedbeforethedeathofArcadius，formedanaristocracy，whichmighthaveinspiredthemwiththeideaofafreerepublic；andthegovernmentoftheEasternempirewasfortunatelyassumedbythepraefectAnthemius，^65whoobtained，byhissuperiorabilities，alastingascendantoverthemindsofhisequals。ThesafetyoftheyoungemperorprovedthemeritandintegrityofAnthemius；
andhisprudentfirmnesssustainedtheforceandreputationofaninfantreign。Uldin，withaformidablehostofBarbarians，wasencampedintheheartofThrace；heproudlyrejectedalltermsofaccommodation；and，pointingtotherisingsun，declaredtotheRomanambassadors，thatthecourseofthatplanetshouldaloneterminatetheconquestoftheHuns。Butthedesertionofhisconfederates，whowereprivatelyconvincedofthejusticeandliberalityoftheImperialministers，obligedUldintorepasstheDanube:thetribeoftheScyrri，whichcomposedhisrear—guard，wasalmostextirpated；andmanythousandcaptivesweredispersedtocultivate，withservilelabor，thefieldsofAsia。^66Inthemidstofthepublictriumph，Constantinoplewasprotectedbyastrongenclosureofnewandmoreextensivewalls；thesamevigilantcarewasappliedtorestorethefortificationsoftheIllyriancities；andaplanwasjudiciouslyconceived，which，inthespaceofsevenyears，wouldhavesecuredthecommandoftheDanube，byestablishingonthatriveraperpetualfleetoftwohundredandfiftyarmedvessels。^67
[Footnote65:Socrates，l。vii。c。l。AnthemiuswasthegrandsonofPhilip，oneoftheministersofConstantius，andthegrandfatheroftheemperorAnthemius。AfterhisreturnfromthePersianembassy，hewasappointedconsulandPraetorianpraefectoftheEast，intheyear405andheldthepraefectureabouttenyears。SeehishonorsandpraisesinGodefroy，Cod。Theod。tom。
vi。p。350。Tillemont，Hist。desEmptom。vi。p。1。&c。]
[Footnote66:Sozomen，l。ix。c。5。HesawsomeScyrriatworknearMountOlympus，inBithynia，andcherishedthevainhopethatthosecaptiveswerethelastofthenation。]
[Footnote67:Cod。Theod。l。vii。tit。xvi。l。xv。tit。i。leg。
49。]
ButtheRomanshadsolongbeenaccustomedtotheauthorityofamonarch，thatthefirst，evenamongthefemales，oftheImperialfamily，whodisplayedanycourageorcapacity，waspermittedtoascendthevacantthroneofTheodosius。HissisterPulcheria，^68whowasonlytwoyearsolderthanhimself，received，attheageofsixteen，thetitleofAugusta；andthoughherfavormightbesometimescloudedbycapriceorintrigue，shecontinuedtogoverntheEasternempirenearfortyyears；duringthelongminorityofherbrother，andafterhisdeath，inherownname，andinthenameofMarcian，hernominalhusband。Fromamotiveeitherofprudenceorreligion，sheembracedalifeofcelibacy；andnotwithstandingsomeaspersionsonthechastityofPulcheria，^69thisresolution，whichshecommunicatedtohersistersArcadiaandMarina，wascelebratedbytheChristianworld，asthesublimeeffortofheroicpiety。Inthepresenceoftheclergyandpeople，thethreedaughtersofArcadius^70
dedicatedtheirvirginitytoGod；andtheobligationoftheirsolemnvowwasinscribedonatabletofgoldandgems；whichtheypubliclyofferedinthegreatchurchofConstantinople。Theirpalacewasconvertedintoamonastery；andallmales，excepttheguidesoftheirconscience，thesaintswhohadforgottenthedistinctionofsexes，werescrupulouslyexcludedfromtheholythreshold。Pulcheria，hertwosisters，andachosentrainoffavoritedamsels，formedareligiouscommunity:theydenouncedthevanityofdress；interrupted，byfrequentfasts，theirsimpleandfrugaldiet；allottedaportionoftheirtimetoworksofembroidery；anddevotedseveralhoursofthedayandnighttotheexercisesofprayerandpsalmody。ThepietyofaChristianvirginwasadornedbythezealandliberalityofanempress。
Ecclesiasticalhistorydescribesthesplendidchurches，whichwerebuiltattheexpenseofPulcheria，inalltheprovincesoftheEast；hercharitablefoundationsforthebenefitofstrangersandthepoor；theampledonationswhichsheassignedfortheperpetualmaintenanceofmonasticsocieties；andtheactiveseveritywithwhichshelaboredtosuppresstheoppositeheresiesofNestoriusandEutyches。SuchvirtuesweresupposedtodeservethepeculiarfavoroftheDeity:andtherelicsofmartyrs，aswellastheknowledgeoffutureevents，werecommunicatedinvisionsandrevelationstotheImperialsaint。^71YetthedevotionofPulcherianeverdivertedherindefatigableattentionfromtemporalaffairs；andshealone，amongallthedescendantsofthegreatTheodosius，appearstohaveinheritedanyshareofhismanlyspiritandabilities。Theelegantandfamiliarusewhichshehadacquired，bothoftheGreekandLatinlanguages，wasreadilyappliedtothevariousoccasionsofspeakingorwriting，onpublicbusiness:herdeliberationswerematurelyweighed；heractionswerepromptanddecisive；and，whileshemoved，withoutnoiseorostentation，thewheelofgovernment，shediscreetlyattributedtothegeniusoftheemperorthelongtranquillityofhisreign。Inthelastyearsofhispeacefullife，Europewasindeedafflictedbythearmsofwar；butthemoreextensiveprovincesofAsiastillcontinuedtoenjoyaprofoundandpermanentrepose。Theodosiustheyoungerwasneverreducedtothedisgracefulnecessityofencounteringandpunishingarebellioussubject:andsincewecannotapplaudthevigor，somepraisemaybeduetothemildnessandprosperity，oftheadministrationofPulcheria。
[Footnote68:SozomenhasfilledthreechapterswithamagnificentpanegyricofPulcheria，l。ix。c。1，2，3；andTillemontMemoiresEccles。tom。xv。p。171—184hasdedicatedaseparatearticletothehonorofSt。Pulcheria，virginandempress。
Note:TheheathenEunapiusgivesafrightfulpictureofthevenalityandajusticeofthecourtofPulcheria。Fragm。Eunap。
inMai，ii。293，inp。97。—M。]
[Footnote69:Suidas，Excerpta，p。68，inScript。Byzant。
pretends，onthecreditoftheNestorians，thatPulcheriawasexasperatedagainsttheirfounder，becausehecensuredherconnectionwiththebeautifulPaulinus，andherincestwithherbrotherTheodosius。]
[Footnote70:SeeDucange，Famil。Byzantin。p。70。Flaccilla，theeldestdaughter，eitherdiedbeforeArcadius，or，ifshelivedtilltheyear431，Marcellin。Chron。，somedefectofmindorbodymusthaveexcludedherfromthehonorsofherrank。]
[Footnote71:Shewasadmonished，byrepeateddreams，oftheplacewheretherelicsofthefortymartyrshadbeenburied。ThegroundhadsuccessivelybelongedtothehouseandgardenofawomanofConstantinople，toamonasteryofMacedonianmonks，andtoachurchofSt。Thyrsus，erectedbyCaesarius，whowasconsulA。D。397；andthememoryoftherelicswasalmostobliterated。
NotwithstandingthecharitablewishesofDr。Jortin，Remarks，tom。iv。p。234，itisnoteasytoacquitPulcheriaofsomeshareinthepiousfraud；whichmusthavebeentransactedwhenshewasmorethanfive—and—thirtyyearsofage。]
TheRomanworldwasdeeplyinterestedintheeducationofitsmaster。Aregularcourseofstudyandexercisewasjudiciouslyinstituted；ofthemilitaryexercisesofriding，andshootingwiththebow；oftheliberalstudiesofgrammar，rhetoric，andphilosophy:themostskilfulmastersoftheEastambitiouslysolicitedtheattentionoftheirroyalpupil；andseveralnobleyouthswereintroducedintothepalace，toanimatehisdiligencebytheemulationoffriendship。Pulcheriaalonedischargedtheimportanttaskofinstructingherbrotherintheartsofgovernment；butherpreceptsmaycountenancesomesuspicionsoftheextentofhercapacity，orofthepurityofherintentions。Shetaughthimtomaintainagraveandmajesticdeportment；towalk，toholdhisrobes，toseathimselfonhisthrone，inamannerworthyofagreatprince；toabstainfromlaughter；tolistenwithcondescension；toreturnsuitableanswers；toassume，byturns，aseriousoraplacidcountenance:
inaword，torepresentwithgraceanddignitytheexternalfigureofaRomanemperor。ButTheodosius^72wasneverexcitedtosupporttheweightandgloryofanillustriousname:and，insteadofaspiringtosupporthisancestors，hedegeneratedifwemaypresumetomeasurethedegreesofincapacitybelowtheweaknessofhisfatherandhisuncle。ArcadiusandHonoriushadbeenassistedbytheguardiancareofaparent，whoselessonswereenforcedbyhisauthorityandexample。Buttheunfortunateprince，whoisborninthepurple，mustremainastrangertothevoiceoftruth；andthesonofArcadiuswascondemnedtopasshisperpetualinfancyencompassedonlybyaserviletrainofwomenandeunuchs。Theampleleisurewhichheacquiredbyneglectingtheessentialdutiesofhishighoffice，wasfilledbyidleamusementsandunprofitablestudies。Huntingwastheonlyactivepursuitthatcouldtempthimbeyondthelimitsofthepalace；buthemostassiduouslylabored，sometimesbythelightofamidnightlamp，inthemechanicoccupationsofpaintingandcarving；andtheelegancewithwhichhetranscribedreligiousbooksentitledtheRomanemperortothesingularepithetofCalligraphes，orafairwriter。Separatedfromtheworldbyanimpenetrableveil，Theodosiustrustedthepersonswhomheloved；helovedthosewhowereaccustomedtoamuseandflatterhisindolence；andasheneverperusedthepapersthatwerepresentedfortheroyalsignature，theactsofinjusticethemostrepugnanttohischaracterwerefrequentlyperpetratedinhisname。Theemperorhimselfwaschaste，temperate，liberal，andmerciful；butthesequalities，whichcanonlydeservethenameofvirtueswhentheyaresupportedbycourageandregulatedbydiscretion，wereseldombeneficial，andtheysometimesprovedmischievous，tomankind。
Hismind，enervatedbyaroyaleducation，wasoppressedanddegradedbyabjectsuperstition:hefasted，hesungpsalms，heblindlyacceptedthemiraclesanddoctrineswithwhichhisfaithwascontinuallynourished。TheodosiusdevoutlyworshippedthedeadandlivingsaintsoftheCatholicchurch；andheoncerefusedtoeat，tillaninsolentmonk，whohadcastanexcommunicationonhissovereign，condescendedtohealthespiritualwoundwhichhehadinflicted。^73
[Footnote72:Thereisaremarkabledifferencebetweenthetwoecclesiasticalhistorians，whoingeneralbearsoclosearesemblance。Sozomenl。ix。c。1ascribestoPulcheriathegovernmentoftheempire，andtheeducationofherbrother，whomhescarcelycondescendstopraise。Socrates，thoughheaffectedlydisclaimsallhopesoffavororfame，composesanelaboratepanegyricontheemperor，andcautiouslysuppressesthemeritsofhissister，l。vii。c。22，42。Philostorgiusl。xii。c。7
expressestheinfluenceofPulcheriaingentleandcourtlylanguage。SuidasExcerpt。p。53givesatruecharacterofTheodosius；andIhavefollowedtheexampleofTillemonttom。
vi。p。25inborrowingsomestrokesfromthemodernGreeks。]
[Footnote73:Theodoret，l。v。c。37。ThebishopofCyrrhus，oneofthefirstmenofhisageforhislearningandpiety，applaudstheobedienceofTheodosiustothedivinelaws。]
Thestoryofafairandvirtuousmaiden，exaltedfromaprivateconditiontotheImperialthrone，mightbedeemedanincredibleromance，ifsucharomancehadnotbeenverifiedinthemarriageofTheodosius。ThecelebratedAthenais^74waseducatedbyherfatherLeontiusinthereligionandsciencesoftheGreeks；andsoadvantageouswastheopinionwhichtheAthenianphilosopherentertainedofhiscontemporaries，thathedividedhispatrimonybetweenhistwosons，bequeathingtohisdaughterasmalllegacyofonehundredpiecesofgold，inthelivelyconfidencethatherbeautyandmeritwouldbeasufficientportion。ThejealousyandavariceofherbrotherssooncompelledAthenaistoseekarefugeatConstantinople；and，withsomehopes，eitherofjusticeorfavor，tothrowherselfatthefeetofPulcheria。Thatsagaciousprincesslistenedtohereloquentcomplaint；andsecretlydestinedthedaughterofthephilosopherLeontiusforthefuturewifeoftheemperoroftheEast，whohadnowattainedthetwentiethyearofhisage。Sheeasilyexcitedthecuriosityofherbrother，byaninterestingpictureofthecharmsofAthenais；largeeyes，awell—proportionednose，afaircomplexion，goldenlocks，aslenderperson，agracefuldemeanor，anunderstandingimprovedbystudy，andavirtuetriedbydistress。Theodosius，concealedbehindacurtainintheapartmentofhissister，waspermittedtobeholdtheAthenianvirgin:themodestyouthimmediatelydeclaredhispureandhonorablelove；andtheroyalnuptialswerecelebratedamidsttheacclamationsofthecapitalandtheprovinces。Athenais，whowaseasilypersuadedtorenouncetheerrorsofPaganism，receivedatherbaptismtheChristiannameofEudocia；butthecautiousPulcheriawithheldthetitleofAugusta，tillthewifeofTheodosiushadapprovedherfruitfulnessbythebirthofadaughter，whoespoused，fifteenyearsafterwards，theemperoroftheWest。ThebrothersofEudociaobeyed，withsomeanxiety，herImperialsummons；butasshecouldeasilyforgivetheirunfortunateunkindness，sheindulgedthetenderness，orperhapsthevanity，ofasister，bypromotingthemtotherankofconsulsandpraefects。Intheluxuryofthepalace，shestillcultivatedthoseingenuousartswhichhadcontributedtohergreatness；andwiselydedicatedhertalentstothehonorofreligion，andofherhusband。EudociacomposedapoeticalparaphraseofthefirsteightbooksoftheOldTestament，andofthepropheciesofDanielandZechariah；acentooftheversesofHomer，appliedtothelifeandmiraclesofChrist，thelegendofSt。Cyprian，andapanegyriconthePersianvictoriesofTheodosius；andherwritings，whichwereapplaudedbyaservileandsuperstitiousage，havenotbeendisdainedbythecandorofimpartialcriticism。^75Thefondnessoftheemperorwasnotabatedbytimeandpossession；andEudocia，afterthemarriageofherdaughter，waspermittedtodischargehergratefulvowsbyasolemnpilgrimagetoJerusalem。HerostentatiousprogressthroughtheEastmayseeminconsistentwiththespiritofChristianhumility；
shepronounced，fromathroneofgoldandgems，aneloquentorationtothesenateofAntioch，declaredherroyalintentionofenlargingthewallsofthecity，bestowedadonativeoftwohundredpoundsofgoldtorestorethepublicbaths，andacceptedthestatues，whichweredecreedbythegratitudeofAntioch。IntheHolyLand，heralmsandpiousfoundationsexceededthemunificenceofthegreatHelena，andthoughthepublictreasuremightbeimpoverishedbythisexcessiveliberality，sheenjoyedtheconscioussatisfactionofreturningtoConstantinoplewiththechainsofSt。Peter，therightarmofSt。Stephen，andanundoubtedpictureoftheVirgin，paintedbySt。Luke。^76ButthispilgrimagewasthefataltermofthegloriesofEudocia。
Satiatedwithemptypomp，andunmindful，perhaps，ofherobligationstoPulcheria，sheambitiouslyaspiredtothegovernmentoftheEasternempire；thepalacewasdistractedbyfemalediscord；butthevictorywasatlastdecided，bythesuperiorascendantofthesisterofTheodosius。TheexecutionofPaulinus，masteroftheoffices，andthedisgraceofCyrus，PraetorianpraefectoftheEast，convincedthepublicthatthefavorofEudociawasinsufficienttoprotecthermostfaithfulfriends；andtheuncommonbeautyofPaulinusencouragedthesecretrumor，thathisguiltwasthatofasuccessfullover。^77
AssoonastheempressperceivedthattheaffectionofTheodosiuswasirretrievablylost，sherequestedthepermissionofretiringtothedistantsolitudeofJerusalem。Sheobtainedherrequest；
butthejealousyofTheodosius，orthevindictivespiritofPulcheria，pursuedherinherlastretreat；andSaturninus，countofthedomestics，wasdirectedtopunishwithdeathtwoecclesiastics，hermostfavoredservants。Eudociainstantlyrevengedthembytheassassinationofthecount；thefuriouspassionswhichsheindulgedonthissuspiciousoccasion，seemedtojustifytheseverityofTheodosius；andtheempress，ignominiouslystrippedofthehonorsofherrank，^78wasdisgraced，perhapsunjustly，intheeyesoftheworld。TheremainderofthelifeofEudocia，aboutsixteenyears，wasspentinexileanddevotion；andtheapproachofage，thedeathofTheodosius，themisfortunesofheronlydaughter，whowasledacaptivefromRometoCarthage，andthesocietyoftheHolyMonksofPalestine，insensiblyconfirmedthereligioustemperofhermind。Afterafullexperienceofthevicissitudesofhumanlife，thedaughterofthephilosopherLeontiusexpired，atJerusalem，inthesixty—seventhyearofherage；protesting，withherdyingbreath，thatshehadnevertransgressedtheboundsofinnocenceandfriendship。^79
[Footnote74:Socratesl。vii。c。21mentionshername，Athenais，thedaughterofLeontius，anAtheniansophist，herbaptism，marriage，andpoeticalgenius。ThemostancientaccountofherhistoryisinJohnMalalapartii。p。20，21，edit。
Venet。1743andinthePaschalChronicle，p。311，312。ThoseauthorshadprobablyseenoriginalpicturesoftheempressEudocia。ThemodernGreeks，Zonaras，Cedrenus，&c。，havedisplayedthelove，ratherthanthetalentoffiction。FromNicephorus，indeed，Ihaveventuredtoassumeherage。Thewriterofaromancewouldnothaveimagined，thatAthenaiswasneartwentyeightyearsoldwhensheinflamedtheheartofayoungemperor。]
[Footnote75:Socrates，l。vii。c。21，Photius，p。413—420。
TheHomericcentoisstillextant，andhasbeenrepeatedlyprinted:buttheclaimofEudociatothatinsipidperformanceisdisputedbythecritics。SeeFabricius，Biblioth。Graec。tom。
i。p。357。TheIonia，amiscellaneousdictionaryofhistoryandfable，wascompiledbyanotherempressofthenameofEudocia，wholivedintheeleventhcentury:andtheworkisstillextantinmanuscript。]
[Footnote76:BaroniusAnnal。Eccles。A。D。438，439iscopiousandflorid，butheisaccusedofplacingtheliesofdifferentagesonthesamelevelofauthenticity。]
[Footnote77:InthisshortviewofthedisgraceofEudocia，I
haveimitatedthecautionofEvagriusl。i。c。21andCountMarcellinus，inChronA。D。440and444。Thetwoauthenticdatesassignedbythelatter，overturnagreatpartoftheGreekfictions；andthecelebratedstoryoftheapple，&c。，isfitonlyfortheArabianNights，wheresomethingnotveryunlikeitmaybefound。]
[Footnote78:Priscus，inExcerpt。Legat。p。69，acontemporary，andacourtier，drylymentionsherPaganandChristiannames，withoutaddinganytitleofhonororrespect。]
[Footnote79:ForthetwopilgrimagesofEudocia，andherlongresidenceatJerusalem，herdevotion，alms，&c。，seeSocratesl。
vii。c。47andEvagrius，l。i。c。21，22。ThePaschalChroniclemaysometimesdeserveregard；andinthedomestichistoryofAntioch，JohnMalalabecomesawriterofgoodauthority。TheAbbeGuenee，inamemoironthefertilityofPalestine，ofwhichIhaveonlyseenanextract，calculatesthegiftsofEudociaat20，488poundsofgold，above800，000poundssterling。]
ThegentlemindofTheodosiuswasneverinflamedbytheambitionofconquest，ormilitaryrenown；andtheslightalarmofaPersianwarscarcelyinterruptedthetranquillityoftheEast。
Themotivesofthiswarwerejustandhonorable。InthelastyearofthereignofJezdegerd，thesupposedguardianofTheodosius，abishop，whoaspiredtothecrownofmartyrdom，destroyedoneofthefire—templesofSusa。^80Hiszealandobstinacywererevengedonhisbrethren:theMagiexcitedacruelpersecution；andtheintolerantzealofJezdegerdwasimitatedbyhissonVaranes，orBahram，whosoonafterwardsascendedthethrone。SomeChristianfugitives，whoescapedtotheRomanfrontier，weresternlydemanded，andgenerouslyrefused；andtherefusal，aggravatedbycommercialdisputes，soonkindledawarbetweentherivalmonarchies。ThemountainsofArmenia，andtheplainsofMesopotamia，werefilledwithhostilearmies；buttheoperationsoftwosuccessivecampaignswerenotproductiveofanydecisiveormemorableevents。Someengagementswerefought，sometownswerebesieged，withvariousanddoubtfulsuccess:andiftheRomansfailedintheirattempttorecoverthelong—lostpossessionofNisibis，thePersianswererepulsedfromthewallsofaMesopotamiancity，bythevalorofamartialbishop，whopointedhisthunderingengineinthenameofSt。ThomastheApostle。YetthesplendidvictorieswhichtheincrediblespeedofthemessengerPalladiusrepeatedlyannouncedtothepalaceofConstantinople，werecelebratedwithfestivalsandpanegyrics。