278 THE DECLINE AND FALL minister might perceive the symptoms of his apprgaching disgrace. The generous boldness of Lampadius had been applauded ; and the senate, so patiently resigned to a long servitude, rejected with disdain the offer of invidious and imaginary freedom. The troops, who still assumed the name and prerogativt's of the Roman legions, were exasperated by the partial affection of Stilicho for the Barbarians ; and the people imputed to the mischievous j)()licy of the minister the public misfortunes, which were the natural consequence of their own degeneracy. Yet Stilicho might have continued to brave the clamours of the people, and even of the soldiers, if he could have maintained his dominion over the feeble mind of his pupil. But the respectful attachment of Honorius was converted into fear, suspicion, and hatred. The crafty Olympius,^'"^ who con- cealed his vices under the mask of Christian piety, had secretly undermined the benefactor by whose favour he was promoted to the honourable offices of the Imperial palace. Olympius re- vealed to the unsuspecting emperor, who had attained the twenty-fifth year of his age, that he was without weight, or authority, in his own government ; and artfully alarmed his timid and indolent disposition by a lively picture of the designs of Stilicho, who already meditated the death of his sovereign, with the ambitious hope of placing the diadem on the head of his son PLucherius. The emperor was instigated, by his new favourite, to assume the tone of independent dignity ; and the minister was astonished to find that secret resolutions were formed in the court and council, which were repugnant to liis interest or to his intentions. Instead of residing in the palace at Rome, Honorius declared that it was his pleasure to return to the secui'e fortress of Ravenna. On the first intelligence of the death of his brother Arcadius, he prepared to visit Constanti- nople, and to regulate, with the authority of a guardian, the provinces of the infant Theodosius.^*^" The representation of the difficulty and expense of such a distant expedition cheeked this 106 He came from the coast of the Eu.xine, and exercised a splendid office, Aa^tffpa? 6e (TTpaTeta; cc toi? paeriAeiois ofiou/jei'os. His actions justify his character, which Zosimus (1. v. p. 340 [c. 32]) exposes with visible satisfaction. Augustin re- vered the piety of Olympius, whom he styles a true son of the church {Baronius, Annal. Eccles. A.D. 408, No. 19, iSic. Tillemont,M(5m. Eccl6s. torn. xiii. p. 467, 468). But these praises, which the African saint so unworthily bestows, might proceed as well from ignorance as from adulation. 1"" Zosimus, 1. V. p. 338, 339 [c. 31]. Sozomen, 1. ix. c. 4 Stilicho offered to imdertake the journey to Constantinople, that he might divert Honorius from the vain attempt. The Eastern empire would pot have obeyed, and could not have been conquered.
