Opening the text

The historians' history of the world in twenty-five volumes, volume 07 : $b the history of the later Roman Empire

History

The historians' history of the world in twenty-five volumes, volume 07 : $b the history of the later Roman Empire

World history

The bold satirist, who has indulged his discontent by the partial and
passionate censure of the Christian emperors, violates the dignity rather
than the truth of history by comparing the son of Theodosius to one of
those harmless and simple animals who scarcely feel that they are the
property of their shepherd. Two passions, however, fear and conjugal
affection, awakened the languid soul of Arcadius; he was terrified by the
threats of a victorious barbarian; and he yielded to the tender eloquence
of his wife, Eudoxia, who, with a flood of artificial tears, presenting
her infant children to their father, implored his justice for some real
or imaginary insult which she imputed to the audacious eunuch. The
emperor’s hand was directed to sign the condemnation of Eutropius; the
magic spell, which during four years had bound the prince and the people,
was instantly dissolved; and the acclamations that so lately hailed the
merit and fortune of the favourite, were converted into the clamours
of the soldiers and people, who reproached his crimes and pressed his
immediate execution.

In this hour of distress and despair his only refuge was in the sanctuary
of the church, whose privileges he had wisely or profanely attempted
to circumscribe; and the most eloquent of the saints, John Chrysostom,
enjoyed the triumph of protecting a prostrate minister, whose choice
had raised him to the ecclesiastical throne of Constantinople. The
archbishop, ascending the pulpit of the cathedral, that he might be
distinctly seen and heard by an innumerable crowd of either sex and
of every age, pronounced a seasonable and pathetic discourse on the
forgiveness of injuries and the instability of human greatness. The
agonies of the pale and affrighted wretch who lay grovelling under the
table of the altar, exhibited a solemn and instructive spectacle; and
the orator, who was afterwards accused of insulting the misfortunes of
Eutropius, laboured to excite the contempt that he might assuage the fury
of the people. The powers of humanity, of superstition, and of eloquence
prevailed. The empress Eudoxia was restrained, by her own prejudices or
by those of her subjects, from violating the sanctuary of the church; and
Eutropius was tempted to capitulate, by the milder arts of persuasion and
by an oath that his life should be spared.

Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.

Opening the text

History

The historians' history of the world in twenty-five volumes, volume 07 : $b the history of the later Roman Empire

World history

The bold satirist, who has indulged his discontent by the partial and
passionate censure of the Christian emperors, violates the dignity rather
than the truth of history by comparing the son of Theodosius to one of
those harmless and simple animals who scarcely feel that they are the
property of their shepherd. Two passions, however, fear and conjugal
affection, awakened the languid soul of Arcadius; he was terrified by the
threats of a victorious barbarian; and he yielded to the tender eloquence
of his wife, Eudoxia, who, with a flood of artificial tears, presenting
her infant children to their father, implored his justice for some real
or imaginary insult which she imputed to the audacious eunuch. The
emperor’s hand was directed to sign the condemnation of Eutropius; the
magic spell, which during four years had bound the prince and the people,
was instantly dissolved; and the acclamations that so lately hailed the
merit and fortune of the favourite, were converted into the clamours
of the soldiers and people, who reproached his crimes and pressed his
immediate execution.

In this hour of distress and despair his only refuge was in the sanctuary
of the church, whose privileges he had wisely or profanely attempted
to circumscribe; and the most eloquent of the saints, John Chrysostom,
enjoyed the triumph of protecting a prostrate minister, whose choice
had raised him to the ecclesiastical throne of Constantinople. The
archbishop, ascending the pulpit of the cathedral, that he might be
distinctly seen and heard by an innumerable crowd of either sex and
of every age, pronounced a seasonable and pathetic discourse on the
forgiveness of injuries and the instability of human greatness. The
agonies of the pale and affrighted wretch who lay grovelling under the
table of the altar, exhibited a solemn and instructive spectacle; and
the orator, who was afterwards accused of insulting the misfortunes of
Eutropius, laboured to excite the contempt that he might assuage the fury
of the people. The powers of humanity, of superstition, and of eloquence
prevailed. The empress Eudoxia was restrained, by her own prejudices or
by those of her subjects, from violating the sanctuary of the church; and
Eutropius was tempted to capitulate, by the milder arts of persuasion and
by an oath that his life should be spared.

Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.

The historians' history of the world in twenty-five volumes, volume 07 : $b the history of the later Roman Empire

The historians' history of the world in twenty-five volumes, volume 07 : $b the history of the later Roman Empire

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