them but for what related to the Church in general XXXII Altho' he had hindred the search after An. 381 the Authors and Accomplices of this Conspiracy against him Theodosius knowing the malice of these Hereticks resolved to curb them with new Ordinances He made an Edict which forbid all his Subjects to give any Retreat to the Hereticks in order to the celebration of their Mysteries nor to suffer them to hold their Assemblies in publick Leg. 6. de hâ—ret Cod. Theod. lest their permission to exercise their false Religion should cause them to persist obstinately therein He annulled all Edicts of a contrary nature which might have been obtained by surprize He ordained that thro' his whole Empire according to the Faith of the holy Council of Nice there should be acknowledged one indivisible substance in the Trinity that they should abhor the Photinians Arrians Eunomians and such like Monsters whose Names ought not even to be known that they should abandon all the Churches and put them immediately into the hands of the Catholick Bishops and that if they made the least difficulty of obeying they should be expelled the Cities and treated as Rebels This Edict was published at Constantinople upon the 10th day of January and Theodor. l. l. 5. c. 22 Sapor had Orders to go and see it performed in the Provinces XXXIII Theodosius laboured thus to tame the Pride of the Enemies of Religion when by an unlookt for Revolution he saw at his Feet one of the most formidable Enemies of the Empire Athanaric King of the Ostrogoths sent to obtain his protection and a retreat into his Dominions He was a Prince of a fierce temper brought up in Arms from his Infancy who had been often chafed out of his Territories and had immediately subdued others He had joined himself with Procopius in order to devest Valens of his Crown He sustained against him a terrible War for three years and obliged him to purchase a Peace When they came to conclude and sign the Treaty he refused to pass the Danube saying That he had made an Oath never to set foot upon the Roman Ground till Ammian l. 27. he had conquered it Notwithstanding all that was represented to him concerning the Grandeur and Majesty of the Empire he would have no interview unlefs the Emperor treated him as an Equal and came as far as he upon a Bridge of Boats which was to be made upon the River for that purpose Valens whom other pressing Affairs called another way underwent this hard condition but he lost no occasion after that to be revenged upon Athanaric assisting those who were at War with him and refusing him all manner of Relief The inundation of the Huns being come this King who was one of the first oppressed yet would not have recourse to the Emperor in this extremity with the rest whether he persisted in his design to have no Correspondence with the Emperor or that he assured himself of being refused He betook himself to the quarters of the Sarmats and Taifals where he fixed himself with a Party of his Subjects by force of Arms. He remained there peaceably without being willing to enter into the Wars of his Nation because he was not as yet well setled in the Countrey and could not agree with King Fritigern who commanded the Visigoths and the confederate Barbarians XXXIV He had learnt with joy the death of Valens and the Reputation of Theodosius had begun to render him less incensed against the Romans when of a sudden he fell into a misfortune which he could not recover After the defeat of Valens the Barbarians who were no longer to be retained under any fear lived without order and without discipline As it was a difficult matter to rule under the same Laws this heap of so many different People Fritigern on one side assembled a part of his Goths Alatheus and Safrax on the other rallied their Grotungues and uniting their Affections and Interests after having made a prodigious Booty they detached themselves from the multitude and marched towards the West Vitalian who had been sent to command in Illyrium had not the courage to fight them They posted themselves between the Rhine and the Danube and after having forced all that opposed their passage they advanced towards the Rhine and made Incursions as far as Gaul Zoz ibid. Gratian was disturbed at it and to remove from him such dangerous Enemies he offered to them some Lands in Pannonia and the Vpper Mysia if they would retire there They took it some time into consideration and judging that from thence they might make a greater Progress upon one or t other Empire they accepted the Condition They passed the Danube with a design to establish themselves in Pannonia then to enter into Epirus and to make themselves Masters of Greece In this thought they collected vast Provisions and to leave behind them no Prince that might afford them any suspition they fell upon Athanaric because he refused to join them and caused a jealousy upon the account of their ancient enmities They won part of his Subjects terrified the rest and chased the King himself out of his Dominions XXXV This Prince reduced to this extremity had recourse to Theodosius whose generosity was not unknown to him He sent to him immediately one of his Captains to desire his Protection and to tell him That altho' he had not deserved this Favor he had been informed that to be unhappy sufficed to obtain a favourable reception from him that it would not be less honourable for him to have assisted the Goths upon occasion than to have conquered them that it concerned those who were Masters of the World not to suffer the Prerogatives of Royalty to be infringed that those who had chased him from his Dominions had other designs than that of oppressing such a King as he that he had rejected the counsels of those stirring spirits to whom he was become odious by this only consideration that he might be an Obstacle to their Pretensions and so he was become unfortunate because time had made him wise that indeed thro' Pride or Prevention he had been formerly averse to the Empire but that he could not be so when he saw it governed by an Emperâ—r as just as he is powerful that he had entertained the boldness of pretending to be equal to others but would think it glorious to live as his Subject in any corner of his Territories if he would be pleased to receive him XXXVI Theodosius favourably received the Request of Athanaric and as well to satisfy himself as to attract other Princes by the good entertainment he should make to this he sent him word That he sympathized with his Misfortune that he accounted as a great happiness the opportunity he had to protect him that the Empire as long as he was Master of it should be always open to such Kings as he who desired to live in his friendship that whilst he
the Huns Syrians and Carpodacks mixed together had made an irruption on this side and had cast so great a terror in all the Neigbouring Provinces that all the People of the Country had abandoned their harvests and were retired in disorder to remote Cities The Emperor encouraged them by his presence and after having made a review of his Army marched directly to the Enemies and gave battle a few days after Historians report no other circumstances than that he gained a celebrated Victory and defeated this Army of Barbarians whereof the greatest part were killed and the rest obliged to retire into their own Country from whence they durst not appear any more After this defeat the Troops thought themselves invincible under Theodosius and the People being perswaded that they could not hereafter disturb them with security resumed the care and management Zoz ibid. of their Land Then the past losses were repaired and the Empire enjoyed the fruits of the just and glorious Government of Theodosius LXV It was about this time that the King of Persia resolved to send a solemn Embassy to him Oros Hist in order to desire his Friendship and to conclude a firm alliance with him These two Nations almost always armed one against the other either for the regulation of borders or upon ancient pretentions and unexpected differences which often arise between States that are equally powerful and Neighbouring and had for a long time entertained a War which was interrupted but by some intervals of Peace and but some truces of a few years Constantius had often attempted to pass the Tygris or Euphrates and to extend his Frontiers on that side but he had rarely succeeded and if he had carried from time to time some advantages by his Generals he was always beaten when personal there But the Ammian l. 25. misfortune fell only upon the Emperor and his Troops and whether it was that the Persians had a mind to defend their Cities alone or else knew not how to reap the advantage of their Victory they did not gain an inch of ground upon the Empire Julian continued the war but having been killed in battle and the Army which he had engaged in the Enemies Country sinding it self upon the point of being destroyed either by Arms or Famine the Officers assembled to elect a Captain that might be able to disengage them from the extremity they were in and cast their eyes upon Jovian whom they chose Emperor by the consent of the whole Army This Prince who found himself obliged to repair the fault which his Predecessors had committed sought all opportunities of fighting and even carried some advantages over the Enemies in some encounters But Sapâ—r King of Persia who knew that the Romans were reduced to eat their Horses did not care to come to handy blows with them but had a mind to let them be consumed by Famine Notwithstanding altho' he saw them in this necessity and might have suffered not one to escape he feared the dispair of so many brave men and considered that what he should acquire by treaty would be more permanent and secure than what he should obtain by force of Arms. He sent first then to make to them proposals of Peace as a kind of a favour This moderation which he shewed did not cease to be very severe for besides that he kept them four days negotiating at a time when they Ammian lib. 25. endured an extream hunger he imposed upon them ignominious conditions which the extremity they were in forced them to accept of The terms were these That the Emperor should yeild to the Persians five Provinces upon the Tygris with divers Castles That he should restore to them the Cities of Nisibis and Singara and particularly that he should engage himself to furnish Arsaces King of Armenia with no assistance against the Persians notwithstanding he was one of the most faithful Allies of the Empire Jovian was constrained to sign these Articles and altho' he was urged when out of danger to infringe this agreement which necessity alone had obliged him to make and that the inhabitants of Nisihis had offered him to defend themselves and to stop as they had done several times the whole power of the King of Persia he would not consent to any proposal of Rupture nor violate the Faith which the misfortune of the time had compelled him to give Hostages were sent on both sides and a Peace concluded between the two Crowns for Thirty years This Treaty was since a subject of division The Persians swelled with this happy success thought they might undertake all things and â—he Ammian l. 27. Romans sought but for an occasion to counter vail the losses they had undergone As Armenia lay between the two Empires it might afford a considerable balance to affairs So it was disputed on both sides who should become Master thereof Sapor after he had kept himself sometime in Peace resolved to possess himself of this Kingdom He solicited the Nobility to submit to him he forced the People by continual incursions into the Heart of their Country and having drawn by his Caresses and Testimonies of Friendship the King Arsaces to an interview he seized upon him and put him to death in the Citadel of Agaban Para Son of Arsaces fearing the same entertainment went to throw himself by the counsel of the Queen his Mother into the Arms of the Romans Valens the Successour of Jovian received him and sent him to Neocesarea where he had the usage and education of a King Sometime after he commanded Terentius one of his Lieutenants to carry this Prince back into Armenia and to put him in possession of his Dominions which required his presence Altho the Emperor had been very cautious and had commanded Terentius to lead no Troops and not to assist at the Coronation of the King Sapor notwithstanding complained that Armenia was relieved and that they were wanting in one of the chief Articles of the last Treaty He entred with an Army into this Kingdom and being unable to seize upon the Person of the King who had saved himself in the Mountains where he remained concealed for five months he ravaged the Country and after a very tedious Seige took the Fort of Artogerass where the Queen Mother was enclosed with the Treasures of the late King Valens who saw the inevitable loss of Armenia if a speedy remedy did not interfere sent orders to Count Arintheus to march towards that side with the Army which he commanded and to Ammian l 27. relieve the Armenians if they still persisted to attack them Sapor who knew how to be humble end haughty according to the time stopt as soon as he heard of the approach of the Imperial Army He applied himself to gain the mind of King Para by promising to him an inviolable Alliance and Protection and engaged him by the encouragement of some Courtiers whom he had won to rid himself of two Ministers who had
rendred very solemn LXVI Ruffin who absolutely governed the Empire in the absence of Theodosius had called those Prelates to Constantinople for an Ecclesiastical Ceremony This Minister a long time disguised his Vanity and his Ambition under the appearances of an affected Modesty and whether it was to give the Emperor who loved him a good opâ—nion of himself or to make the Courtiers less suspicious who envied his Fortune he became every day more powerful without seeming to have more Pride He softly lookt after the means to enrich himself and altho' he was naturally disposed to Figure and Noise his Avarice retained his Pride But when he saw himself assured of the favor of his Master and loaded with the Riches he had received of him or which he had himself unjustly got he abandoned himself to his own nature and became insolent when he thought he might continue so without danger He made himself a great number of Creatures marched with a Retinue that was unbecoming a private Man and built Houses of more splendor than the Emperor's Palaces LXVII One of his chief cares had been to build near one of the Suburbs of Calcedon call'd Sozom. l. 8. c. 17. The Suburb of Oak a House of Pleasure so vast that one would have taken it for a City and so rich in precious Ornaments and Furniture that it was scarce credible that a private Man could be able to supply those exceeding charges On one side arose a great Church in honour of the Apostles St. Peter and St. Paul on the other appeared in perspective upon a neighbouring Eminence a Monastery which was to serve for a supply to the want of the Clergy of this Church As soon as these Buildings were compleated Ruffin resolved to be baptized and to celebrate at the same time with all imaginable Pomp the Consecration of this new Church The Emperors had rendred this kind of Ceremony very formal in calling to it a great number of Bishops and afterwards converting these Assemblies Euseb l. 4. de viâ—a Conâ—t c. 4â— Socrat. of Decency and Piety into certain Councils and Canonical Assemblies Constantine the Great had taken that method for the Dedication of the Temple of the holy Sepulchre at Jerusalem and his Son Constantius had followed his Example in the Consecration which he made of the golden Temple at Antioch Ruffin proposed to himself these great examples and mixing with a little Religion a great deal of Theod. l. 〈◊〉 c. 3â— ostentation and stateliness he called the Bishops from all parts of the East especially those who held the chief Sees He likewise entreated by repeated Letters the most famous Solitaries of Socrat. l. 2. c 5. Pallad in Laus c. 4. Egypt to leave their Solitude in order to come and assist at this illustrious Ceremony The rank which he held in the Empire whereof he had the chief direction under the Prince Arcadius induced a great number of Bishops to depart upon the first advice they received who brought along with them the most holy Persons of their Provinces The Assembly was very numerous There was therein three Patriarchs Nectarius of Constantinople Theophilus of Alexandria and Flavian of Antioch Gregory Bishop of Nissa Amphilochus of Iconium Paul of Heraclea Dioscorus of Helenopolis and several other famous Prelates were of the first that arrived there The Principal of the Nobility and Clergy wirh an infinite number of People resorted thither some to honour this Festival others to court this Favourite many to satisfy their curiosity This ceremony was performed in the month of September The Church was hung with admirable Tapestry thè Altar shined with Gold and precious Stones The Consecration was done with all the Order and Magnificence imaginable After the Offices were over they proceeded with the same Pomp to the Baptism of Ruffin The Patriarch Nectarius administred it to him and the famous Evagrius of Pontus who had been perswaded to come from Egypt with the Solitary Ammonius Pallad ib. received from the Font this regenerated man who diâ— not long preserve his innocence Thus concluded that Solemnity which had been one of the holiest and most magnificent of the Eastern Church if it had not been attended with a profane luxury and if this Minister by his actions and his injustice had not been of a humor to regain upon the People those excessive Sums which he seemed to have employed for God in this occasion LXVII The Bishops repassed the Sea along with him and reassembled at Constantinople the 28th day of September to decide the difference between Agapius and Gabadius concerning the Pretensions which both had to the Bishoprick of Bostres It was in this Synod that it was decreed that a Bishop Zonar Theod. Balsam was not to be deposed by one alone nor by two of his Brethren but that for a deposition in formis there required a general Assembly of all the Bishops of the Province Theophilus of Alexandria had opened this advice and he was the first that infringed this Rule in deposing by his own Authority Dioscorus Bishop of Helenopolis These Prelates who were then at Constantinople took part in the publick Joy and after having celebrated in presence of Arcadius and all his Court the sacred mysteries in a Thanksgiving for the Victory which the Emperor had obtained upon the Tyrants they retired into their respective Diocesses to acquaint their People with the wondrous works of God and the Protection which he had given the Empire LXIX In the mean time Theodosius by the counsels of St. Ambrose applied himself to abolish the superstitions of Paganism prohibiting under very severe penalties the exercise of all profane Religions and declaring that if he had conquered by Ambr. in fun Theod. the assistance of God he had likewise only conquered for his glory He nominated Consuls the two Sons of Anycus Probus formerly Praefectus Praetorio under the Great Valentinian and so illustrious not only in the Roman Empire but also in foreign Kingdoms that two of the wisest and Paulin. in vit Ambr. Claud. de consul Olib Prob. most powerful Lords of Persia came into Italy to see as two miracles of the World at Milan St. Ambrose famous amongst the Bishops and at Roma Anicus Probus illustrious amongst the Roman Senators This man had brought up his Sons in the purity of the Faith and all the exercises of Christian Piety and Theodosius who in the choice of Magistrates had regard to the merit of Persons and to the honour of Religion passed over the ordinary Rules and put the whole Consulship into this vertuous Family LXX After having settled the most pressing affairs whether he found himself in a decaying State or had made serious reflections upon the Ambr. in fun Theod. Prophecy of the holy Abbot John instead of his triumphs he disposed himself for death Howsoever just the war had been which he had undertaken against the Enemies of God and the State nevertheless as
been very faithful and serviceable to him In the mean time he sent Ambasâ—adors to the Court of Constantinople to represent there that the Emperor had no manner of right to assist the King of Armenia and that if he continued to joyn with him and to relieve him with his Armies it was an Infraction which the King of Persia would be obliged to revenge Valens made no great esteem of this Embassy and his Answer was nothing more than this That he did not concern himself with the Controversies of the Persians and Armenians that it was lawful for Soveraigns to send Armies upon their Dominions according as they judged it convenient for the good of their Affairs that he made no League in prejudice of the Treaties but that he had more right to protect the King of Armenia than Sapor had to oppress him and that if the one was against the Faith of a Treaty the other was contrary to Justice and all the Rights of Nations Upon which he sent back the Ambassadors Sapor took this answer for an open Rupture levied Troops and made great Preparations of War for the Spring The Emperor on his side sent against him Count Trajan and Vadcmaire King of the Germans with orders to observe the Persians and to commit no act of Hostility against them till the utmost extremity Ammian l. 29. These two Generals marched with the Legions towards the frontier taking always advantageous Posts for the Insantry which made all the strength of their Army There they kept themselves close and even gave way on purpose when they saw the enemy approach lest they should be accused of being the first in the infringement of the Treaty But at length the Persians being come on to force them in the consideration that they fled through cowardize and not prudence there was a necessity of coming to a close engagement The fight was severe and Sapor was constrained to retire to Ctesiphonte after he had lost the Battel and demanded a Truce himself which was immediately accorded to him In the mean time those who had an eye upon the affairs of Armenia wrote to the Emperour that it was convenient to send thither another King that all was in disorder that Para misused his Subjects and that he would oblige them by his pride to throw themselves into the arms of the King of Persia which would be of great consequence in relation to the Empire Valens having sent to desire his company under pretence of conferring with him upon the present affairs left him at Tarsus in Cilicia without saying any thing to him and gave him a good number of Officers in appearance to serve him but in reality to guard him This young Prince being come to a sense of his imprisonment and under a suspicion for his life fled away one morning with so much haste â—har for all he was pursued by the shortest ways he gain'd his own Dominions without falling into the snares which were laid for him in several places He was received of his people with much â—â—y and dissembling all the subjects he had to complain of the Emperour he continued in that fidelity he had sworn to the Empire But those who commanded in Armenia and the adjacent Provinces fearing lest he should give up his Kingdom to the Persians wrote against him to the Court and accused him of holding private intelligence with the Enemy of having put to death two of his Ministers that were affectionate to his service and the Interests of the Empire and above all of medling with enchantments and Magick Several testified that he had a secret to transform Men or to consume them by incurable languors Those who pursued him to excuse their ill success affirmed that he had bewitched their eyes Valens who was credulous and mistrustful and apprehended nothing so much as to perish by Inchantments gave secret Orders that they should either by force or artifice deliver him from so dangerous a man which was put in execution not long after at a Feast where this young Prince was inhumanely murdered Sapor being amazed at the loss of the last Battel and still more at the death of the King of Armenia with whom he was in hopes to have concerted infallible measures against the Romans had recourse to negotiation He sent Arsaces one of Ammian l. 30. the chief Lords of his Court to propose to the Emperour a friendly composition and with their joint consent to ruine Armenia which was without a King and had been the single cause of their divisions and their wars Valens rejected the proposition and replied That he kept up to the ancient Treaties and would innovate nothing After several shifts and turnings they came to menaces and a little time after they prepared on both sides for War Valens levied forces in the Country of the Scythians and resolved to enter into Persia with three Bodies of an Army at the beginning of the Spring Sapor sollicited his Allies for assistance and assembled a great Army He even prevented the Romans and threw himself upon some neighbouring Provinces which they had newly won The revolt of the Goths happening about that time it was convenient to suffer all things from the Persians and to make Peace with them upon conditions little honourable but necessary LXVI Sapor enjoyed the advantages which he had reaped from the juncture of affairs and as he had been brought up in War from his youth he was always meditating upon new attempts and his ambition in an advanced age was not diminished But when he came to know that Theodosius was Emperor and had heard of his great qualities and the mighty actions he had performed he dispatched a famous Embassy to him and whether he was touched at the reputation of this Prince or was afraid of losing under him what he had gained under his Predecessors he instructed his Ambassadors to tell him from him That he congratulated his promotion to the Empire That after having been at War with four Emperours whom he could boast of vanquishing in several encounters he was extremely glad to find one with whom he might live in a perfect intelligence That he would do him a favour in granting him his friendship and in permitting him peaceably An. 382 to pass the remainder of his days in his alliance He offered even to terminate the ancient contests of the two Nations and to regulate their pretensions upon Armenia and Iberia by a reasonable composition LXVII Theodosius who knew how necessary a Peace was for the Empire and how expensive and incommodious Wars are to the People even when they are glorious to the Kings that have undertaken them understood these overtures of Peace with joy and answered to the Ambassadors That he thanked their King for the offers he made to him and that he might assure himself of his friendship That since he had been called to the Empire â—e had not only laboured to put an end to the Wars which he had found but
could restore him to his Kingdom he pray'd him to repair to Constantinople and to take no other Court for his Retreat that he should be honoured there as much aâ— he could be in his own and that he would endeavor by all manner of delightful Treatments to comfort him and make him forget that he was out of â—his own Dominions He sent to receive him upon the Frontier with Orders to all Governors in his way to give him the same Respect upon such occasions that they were accustomed to give Emperors Athanaric surprized at all these Civilities was persuaded to go to Court with most part of the Officers who had attended him in his disgrace The Honours which he received in every place seemed but little agreeable to his present Fortune but he did not cease to be sensibly touched thereat Zoâ— l. 4. Theodosius prepared for him a magnificent entrance into Constantinople and altho' he was but just recovered of an Indisposition which had almost reduced him to extremity he went himself a good distance from the City to meet him and received him with an extraordinary goodness and generosity He lodged him in his own Palace and ordered his Domesticks to serve him with so much Order Jornanl and Grandeur that the King cryed out several times in a profound Admiration That the Emperor was a God upon Earth and that no mortal Man if he had but a grain of Reason left durst set upon him XXXVII He was not less amazed when â—e went to view the most considerable places of Constantinople where Theodosius himself conducted him in the midst of all his Court This City by its Grandeur by its Situation and by its Riches deserved to be the Imperial Seat Constantine had built it about 70 years before and had fixed himself there whether it was in order to retain more conveniently from thence the barbarous Nations who disturbed the Peace of the East or to leave behind him an eternal Monument of his greatness or else to give Rome a Jealousy with which City he was not very well pleased as well by reason of the Liberty the Senate preserved there as upon the account of the Idolatry which reigned there still therefore he call'd it New Rome As it is an usual thing to mix something of Mystery in the original of Cities and States to render them the more illustrious it was believed that this Emperor had undertaken so great a design by a secret order from Heaven They published that as he laid the foundations of a City near the ancient Ilium an Eagle carried away the Workmens line and let Zonar Niceph l. 3. c. 4. it fall near Byzantium to mark out the place hâ— was to pitch upon and that since measuring the Circuit â—e intended for the Walls he had been visibly conducted by an Angel together with many other such like Prodigies Be it as it will Constantine having finished this City which he loved as his own work spared nothing for its ornament and grandeur He built therein a Capital a Cirque an Amphitheater Squares Piazza's and other publick Edifices in imitation of those at Rome He took from the noblest Cities of the East what was most valuable and curious for the embelishment of this He ordered the Remains of the entire works of the Kings of Egypt to be brought thither above all the Obelisk of Thebes which was not conveyed without abundance of difficulty He composed a Senate after that of Rome He drew from all parts of the World Men excellent in Sciences and Arts for whom he had erected Colledges and particular Houses in divers quarters and assigned them considerable Pensions He appointed Funds for the subsistence of the Citizens and the maintenance of the Buildings He founded Churches and Academies and perfected the design he had to make a City equal and even superior to the ancient Rome The other Emperors had not been less careful towards the beautifying of Constantinople Constantius besides the famous Temple of St. Sophia in which he had enclosed the Basilick of Peace and set up likewise terms which expressed his Name and Porches enriched with Pillars and Figures of Marble Vatens from the Ruines of Calcedon had made Baths and an Aqueduct where all the Springs of the Mountains round about being collected after having composed a kind of a River dispersed themselves thro' the City or into private Houses or into publick Ponds or Fountains which furnished water in abundance for all parts The Civil Magistrates to please the Emperors had applied themselves to keep the Citizens in order and the publick Structures in their beauty and the verâ— People being thus maintain'd in their Priviledges and enrich'd by Commerce did not a little contribute by reason of its neatness and their frequent rejoicings towards the giving an Air of grandeur and politeness to this Imperial City Athanaric admired all these things He could not sufficiently behold the Port filled with Vessels from all the Nations of the World and that affluence of People retained by the conveniency of the abode or drawn thither by the relation the Provinces have to the Court The Captains of the Goths who followed him and were only accustomed to the course stateliness of their Barbarian Court conceived a great Idea of the Empire and especially of the Emperor who made them observe all that was curious with an extreme Themist Orat. 6. Civility and exposed to them his very designs of augmenting and adorning the City which he performed some years after with a magnificence which surpassed that of his Predecessors XXXVIII Athanaric began to lose the remembrance of his misfortunes and there was reason to hope that he might embrace the Christian Religion which he had heretofore cruelly persecuted But as in an advanced Age his Passions were yet lively the grief which his misfortune had occasioned him having already weakned him the joy of seeing himself so honourably treated seized upon him and made such an impression upon his vitals that he fell sick and dyed 15 days after his arrival at Constantinople The Emperor who had rendred him all the offices of a good Friend was much afflicted at his death because he loved him and was in hopes to have made use of him one day to reduce the whole Nation to a firm and constant alliance with the Empire He caused him Ammian l. 27. Zoz l. 4. to be magnificently inâ—erred according to the ancient Ceremonies of the Pagans and erected upon his Grave so rich and stately a Monument that the Barbarians and Romans were equally astonished at it XXXIX This goodness of Theodosius had a greater influence than he could expect upon the minds of the Goths For besides that Athanaric before he died called about his Bed all the Captains that had attended him and had recommended to them the obligations they were under to preserve an inviolable Fidelity to the Emperor during the whole course of their Lives and to publish in their own Countrey