equal tenderness, while he was doubtful to choose, and unwilling to
condemn, the soldiers determined his suspense, by plunging their
daggers at the same moment into the breasts of the defenceless youths.
The apology of the assassins, that they were obliged to produce the
prescribed number of heads, serves only to increase, by an appearance
of order and design, the horrors of the massacre, which was executed
by the commands of Theodosius. The guilt of the emperor is aggravated
by his long and frequent residence at Thessalonica. The situation of
the unfortunate city, the aspect of the streets and buildings, the
dress and faces of the inhabitants, were familiar, and even present,
to his imagination; and Theodosius possessed a quick and lively sense
of the existence of the people whom he destroyed.

The respectful attachment of the emperor for the orthodox clergy, had
disposed him to love and admire the character of Ambrose; who united
all the episcopal virtues in the most eminent degree. The friends and
ministers of Theodosius imitated the example of their sovereign; and
he observed, with more surprise than displeasure, that all his secret
counsels were immediately communicated to the archbishop; who acted
from the laudable persuasion, that every measure of civil government
may have some connection with the glory of God, and the interest of
the true religion. The monks and populace of Callinicum, * an obscure
town on the frontier of Persia, excited by their own fanaticism, and
by that of their bishop, had tumultuously burnt a conventicle of the
Valentinians, and a synagogue of the Jews. The seditious prelate was
condemned, by the magistrate of the province, either to rebuild the
synagogue, or to repay the damage; and this moderate sentence was
confirmed by the emperor. But it was not confirmed by the archbishop
of Milan. He dictated an epistle of censure and reproach, more
suitable, perhaps, if the emperor had received the mark of