390 THE DECLINE AND FALL ignominiously stript of the honours of her rank,"^ was disgraced, perhaps unjustly, in the eyes of the world. The remainder of the life of Eudocia, about sixteen years, Avas spent in exile and devotion ; and the approach of age, the death of Theodosius, the misfortunes of her only daughter, who was led a captive from Rome to Carthage, and the society of the Holy Monks of Palestine, insensibly confirmed the religious temper of her mind. After a full experience of the vicissitudes of human life, the daughter of the philosopher Leontius expired at Jerusalem, in the sixty-seventh year of her age ; protesting, with her dying breath, that she had never transgressed the bounds of innocence and friendship."'-' The Persian The seutle mind of Theodosius was never inflamed bv the war. A.D. 422 , ^ r- -i- i .1 i- i i *i ambition oi conquest or military renown ; and the sliglit alarm of a Persian war scarcely inten-upted the tranquillity of the East. The motives of this war were just and honourable. In the last year of the reign of Jezdegerd, the supposed guardian of Theodosius, a bishop, who aspired to the crown of martyr- dom, destroyed one of the fire temples of Susa.^*^ His zeal and obstinacy were revenged on his brethren ; the Magi excited a cruel persecution ; and the intolerant zeal of Jezdegerd was imitated by his son "araranes, or Bahram, who soon afterwards ascended the throne. Some Christian fugitives, who escaped to the Roman frontier, were sternh^ demanded and generously refused ; and the refusal, aggravated by commercial disputes, soon kindled a war between the rival monarchies. The moun- tains of Armenia and the plains of Mesopotamia were filled with hostile amiies ; but the operations of two successive cam- paigns were not productive of any decisive or memorable events. Some engagements were fought, some towns were besieged, with various and doubtful success ; and, if the Romans failed "8 Priscus (in Excerpt. Legal, p. 69 [MuUer, F. H. G. iv. p. 94]), a con- temporary, and a courtier, dryly mentions her Pagan and Christian names, with- out adding any title of honour or respect. S For the two pilgrimages of Endocia, and her long residence at Jerusalem, her devotion, alms, &c. , see Socrates (1. vii. c. 47), and Evagrius (1. i. c. 20, 21, 22). The Paschal Chronicle may sometimes deserve regard ; and, in the domestic history of Antioch, John Malala becomes a writer of good authority. The Abb6 Guen6e, in a Memoir on the fertility of Palestine, of which 1 have only seen an o.xtract, calculates the gifts of Eud'ocia at 20,488 pounds of gold, above 800,000 pounds sterling. soTheodoret, 1. v. c. 39. Tillemont, M6m. Eccles. torn. xii. p. 356-364. Assemanni, Bibliot. Oriental, torn. iii. p. 396, torn. iv. p. 61. Theodoret blames the rashness of Abdas, but extols the constancy of his martyrdom. Yet I do not clearly understand the casuistry which prohibits our repairing the damage which we have unlawfully committed.
