this extremity, Justina and her son might accuse their own imprudence,
and the perfidious arts of Maximus; but they wanted time, and force,
and resolution, to stand against the Gauls and Germans, either in the
field, or within the walls of a large and disaffected city. Flight was
their only hope, Aquileia their only refuge; and as Maximus now
displayed his genuine character, the brother of Gratian might expect
the same fate from the hands of the same assassin. Maximus entered
Milan in triumph; and if the wise archbishop refused a dangerous and
criminal connection with the usurper, he might indirectly contribute
to the success of his arms, by inculcating, from the pulpit, the duty
of resignation, rather than that of resistance. The unfortunate
Justina reached Aquileia in safety; but she distrusted the strength of
the fortifications: she dreaded the event of a siege; and she resolved
to implore the protection of the great Theodosius, whose power and
virtue were celebrated in all the countries of the West. A vessel was
secretly provided to transport the Imperial family; they embarked with
precipitation in one of the obscure harbors of Venetia, or Istria;
traversed the whole extent of the Adriatic and Ionian Seas; turned the
extreme promontory of Peloponnesus; and, after a long, but successful
navigation, reposed themselves in the port of Thessalonica. All the
subjects of Valentinian deserted the cause of a prince, who, by his
abdication, had absolved them from the duty of allegiance; and if the
little city of Æmona, on the verge of Italy, had not presumed to stop
the career of his inglorious victory, Maximus would have obtained,
without a struggle, the sole possession of the Western empire.

Instead of inviting his royal guests to take the palace of
Constantinople, Theodosius had some unknown reasons to fix their
residence at Thessalonica; but these reasons did not proceed from
contempt or indifference, as he speedily made a visit to that city,