the younger 386 THE DECLINE AND FALL encountering and punishing a rebellious subject ; and, since we cannot applaud the vigour, some praise may be due to the mild- ness and prosperity, of the administration of Pulcheria. Educationand The Rouian world was deeply interested in the education of Theodosins its master. A regular course of study and exercise was judiciously instituted ; of the military exercises of riding and shooting with the bow ; of the liberal studies of grammar, rhetoric, and philosophy ; the most skilful masters of the East ambitiously solicited the attention of their royal pupil ; and several noble youths Avere introduced into the palace, to animate his diligence by the emulation of friendship. Pulcheria alone discharged the impoi-tant task of instructing her brother in the arts of govern- ment ; but her precepts may countenance some suspicion of the extent of her capacity or of the purity of her intentions. She taught him to maintain a grave and majestic deportment ; to walk, to hold his robes, to seat himself on his throne, in a manner worthy of a great prince ; to abstain from laughter ; to listen with condescension ; to return suitable answers ; to assume, by turns, a serious or a placid countenance ; in a word, to represent with grace and dignity the external figure of a Roman emperor. But Theodosius "- was never excited to support the weight and glory of an illustrious name ; and, instead of aspiring to imitate his ancestors, he degenerated (if we may presume to measure the degrees of incapacity) below the weakness of his father and his uncle. Arcadius and Honorius had been assisted by the guardian care of a parent whose lessons were enforced by his authority and example. But the unfortunate prince who is born in the purple must remain a stranger to the voice of truth ; and the son of Arcadius was condemned to pass his perpetual infancy, encompassed only by a servile train of women and eunuchs. The ample leisure, which he acquired by neglecting the essential duties of his high office, was filled by idle amusements and un- profitable studies. Hunting was the only active pursuit that could tempt him beyond the limits of the palace ; but he most assiduously laboured, sometimes by the light of a midnight lamp, - There is a remarkable difference between the two ecclesiastical historians, who in general bear so close a resemblance. Sozomen (1. ix. c. i) ascribes to Pulcheria the government of the empire and the education of her brother ; whom he scarcely condescends to praise. Socrates, though he affectedly disclaims all hopes of favour or fame, composes an elaborate paneg'ric on the emperor, and cautiously suppresses the merits of his sister (1. vii. c. 22, 42). Philostorgius (1. xii. c. 7) expresses the influence of Pulcheria m gentle and courtly language, TaT /Soo-iAtKas (TTjfieiuJO-et? UTTTjpeTOU/nei'r) Kai. Si.(vSvt'OV(ra, Suidas (Excerpt. p. 53) gives a true character of Theodosius ; and I have followed the example of Tillemont (torn. vi. p. 25) in borrowing some strokes from the modern Greeks.
