Page:A new and general biographical dictionary; containing an historical and critical account of the lives and writings of the most eminent persons in every nation v1.djvu/230

 J94 AMBROSE. na and his fifter Galla, to ThefTalonica in Jllyricum, in or- der to defire Theodofius's affiftance, who defeated Maximus, and reftored Valentinian to the empire. While Theodofius continued in Italy, after the defeat of Maximus, an infurre&ion happened at Theflalonica, upon the following occafion : there was a charioteer, who had a violent affection for the butler of Buthericus, the emperor's lieutenant in Illyricum ; and having folicited him to the gra- tification of his defires, he was thrown into prifon. Soon after there being to be a race, the people demanded that the charioteer fhould be at liberty, becaufe he was a necefTary perfon upon that occafion. This being refufed, they raifed a lib.v.cap.iy.fedition, wherein they killed Buthericus himfelf, ftoned feve- ral of the magiftrates, and dragged them along the ftreets. Theodofius being informed of this, commanded a certain number of the inhabitants to be put to death promifcuoufly j by which means the city was filled with the blood of many innocent perfons, and amongft the reft feveral ftrangers who were but juft come to the city : no regard was had to any diftinclion of perfons, no form of trial was obferved, but they were cut down like corn in the harveft, as Theodoret exprefles if, to the number of feven thoufand [A], At this time an anembly of bifnops was held at Milan, who all exprefied an abhorrence of fuch cruelty in the emperor : Ambrofe wrote a letter to him, in which he reprefer.ted ,-he enormity of his crime, and exhorted him to make fatisfa&ion by a fincere fub- mifllon and repentance. Theodofius, upon his arrival at Milan, was going to perform his devotions in the great church, when Ambrofe met him at the door, and denied him entrance in thefe terms: 4i You do not, I believe, confider, " O emperor ! the guilt of the maflacre which you have com- " over, yet your rcafon has not fuggefted to you the full " constitution of human nature, which is very weak and ob- [*] SoJomen tells a remarkable both, becaufe they wanted to fill up ifr-rv which happened in this maflacre. their number. The father flood in a A merchant came and oftered him'elfto dreadful fufpence, locking forretimes at death, to fave his two fons who were one, and fometimes at the other, with fe'zerl, and promifed a!) the gold that he all the agony that can be imagined, and had in reward for the favour. The fol- incapable of determiningwhich to chufe, diers, being touched with pity, gave him till they were both put fo death before le.ive to chule one of his fons ; for they his eyes. Hilt, Ecclef. lib. vii. cap. declared that they could not difmifs thrm 25, " noxious
 * ' routed ; and tho'ugh the violence of your paflion be now
 * ' extent of yo-.ir crime. Peihaps your imperial dignity may
 * ' prevent you from perceiving it, and caft a cloud over your
 * ' underftanding ; however, you ought to rcfk'6t upon the