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| Virtues of the Emperor Theodosius the Younger.
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Chapter XXII.—Virtues
of the Emperor Theodosius the Younger.
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;961
| 961On the observance of these two days of the week as
fast days in the early Church see Bingham, Christ. Antiq. XXI.
3.
|
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 Philadelphus962
| 962φιλάδελφος
= ‘lover of his brothers,’ but applied to him by the
rhetorical figure of antiphrasis because he killed his brothers. This
Ptolemy Philadelphus reigned in Egypt from 285 to 247 b.c. and is famous for having the Old Testament translated
from Hebrew into Greek, according to the common tradition, by seventy
learned men, whence the translation has been known as the
Septuagint.
|
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.963
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 bestiarii964
| 964Persons who fought with wild beasts in the games of
the circus. They were of two classes: (1) professionals, those who
fought for pay, and (2) criminals, allowed to use arms in defending
themselves against the wild beasts to which they had been condemned. It
is one of the first class that is here meant.
|
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 Chebron965
| 965An altogether unknown and doubtful diocese.
|
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.966
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 details
which would require a special treatise.
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