to their Rank, that the Emperor in seeing them might know who they were, and treat them accordingly, they repaired to Court; and being immediately admitted to the Prince’s Presence, they conjured him, with Tears in their Eyes, to take Pity of that great City, of that numerous Flock, bereft of its Pastor, and, in his Absence, devoured by ravenous Wolves. This was not at all a courtly Language: however, _Constantius_, without betraying the least Emotion, said, _I thought you had a Pastor. Is not_ Felix _as capable of discharging the Pastoral Office as any other?_ Felix, replied they, _is detested, and avoided by all_. [Sidenote: _The Emperor promises to recall him._] At these Words the Emperor first looked grave; but, immediately changing his Gravity into a Smile, _If so_, said he, with great Complaisance, _you must have_ Liberius _again: I shall, without Delay, dispatch the proper Orders for his Return_. An Edict was accordingly issued the very next Day, recalling _Liberius_ to govern the Church jointly with _Felix_; for _Constantius_ thought it inconsistent with his Honour, and the Imperial Dignity, to drive _Felix_ from the See, on which he himself had placed him. [Sidenote: _The Edict recalling him to govern jointly with_ Felix, _raillied by the_ Roman _People._] When this Edict was read, in the Presence of the Emperor, to the People assembled in the _Circus_, they applauded it at first, by way of Raillery, saying, That since the Spectators, at the public Sports, were divided into Two Parties, it was just and reasonable there should be Two Bishops to head them. The Multitude, not satisfied with thus pleasantly expressing their Dissatisfaction, cried out, immediately after, with one Voice, _There is but One God, One Christ, One Bishop_[755]. And yet the Emperor was rather delighted than displeased with the Humour of the People, and the Liberty they took; for to what happened on this Occasion _Ammianus Marcellinus_ probably alludes, where he writes, that _Constantius_, in exhibiting public Sports at _Rome_, was pleased with the Liberty they took to railly him, knowing it did not proceed from Pride or Ill-nature[756]. _Theodoret_ tells us, that to Acclamations so worthy of the _Roman_ Piety the Emperor granted the Return of _Liberius_[757]; and with him agree _Sulpitius Severus_[758], and _Ruffinus_[759]. But _Sozomen_[760], and all the Writers of those Times, assure us, that his Return did not happen this, but the following Year 358. when he bought it dear, by signing the Condemnation of _Athanasius_, and the Symbol or Creed, composed by the _Semi-Arians_ at _Sirmium_, now _Sirmish_ in _Sclavonia_. _Constantius_, at the Request of the _Roman_ Ladies and People, promised to recall him, as I have related; but it was on Condition, says _Sozomen_[761], that he should agree with the Bishops of the Court, that is, with the _Semi-Arians_. The Firmness which _Liberius_ had hitherto shewn, left no room to doubt