might have excluded the unfortunate youth, without a struggle, and
almost without a murmur, from the administration, and even from the
inheritance, of the empire. If Theodosius had consulted the rigid
maxims of interest and policy, his conduct would have been justified
by his friends; but the generosity of his behavior on this memorable
occasion has extorted the applause of his most inveterate enemies. He
seated Valentinian on the throne of Milan; and, without stipulating
any present or future advantages, restored him to the absolute
dominion of all the provinces, from which he had been driven by the
arms of Maximus. To the restitution of his ample patrimony, Theodosius
added the free and generous gift of the countries beyond the Alps,
which his successful valor had recovered from the assassin of Gratian.
Satisfied with the glory which he had acquired, by revenging the death
of his benefactor, and delivering the West from the yoke of tyranny,
the emperor returned from Milan to Constantinople; and, in the
peaceful possession of the East, insensibly relapsed into his former
habits of luxury and indolence. Theodosius discharged his obligation
to the brother, he indulged his conjugal tenderness to the sister, of
Valentinian; and posterity, which admires the pure and singular glory
of his elevation, must applaud his unrivalled generosity in the use of
victory.

The empress Justina did not long survive her return to Italy; and,
though she beheld the triumph of Theodosius, she was not allowed to
influence the government of her son. The pernicious attachment to the
Arian sect, which Valentinian had imbibed from her example and
instructions, was soon erased by the lessons of a more orthodox
education. His growing zeal for the faith of Nice, and his filial
reverence for the character and authority of Ambrose, disposed the
Catholics to entertain the most favorable opinion of the virtues of