392

CHAP.

XXI.

THE DECLINE AND PALL

lifeless corpse was exposed to their wanton in-sults.® The fate of Llermogenes instructed Phi-lip, the praetorian prefect, to act with more pre-caution on a similar occasion. Tn the mostgentle and honourable terms, he required theattendance of Paul in the baths of Zeuxippus,which had a private communication with thepalace and the sea. A vessel which lay readyat the garden stairs, immediately hoisted sail;and, while the people were still ignorant of themeditated sacrilege, their bishop was alreadyembarked on his voyage to Thessalonica . Theysoon beheld, with surprise and indignation, thegates of the palace thrown open, and the usur-per Macedonius sealed by the side of the pre-fect on a lofty chariot, which was surroundedby troops of guards with drawn swords. Themilitary procession advanced towards the ca-thedral ; the arians and the catholics eagerlyrushed to occupy that important post; andthree thousand one hundred and fifty personslost their lives in the confusion of the tumult.Macedonius, who was supported by a regularforce, obtained a decisive victory ; but his reignwas disturbed by clamour and sedition ; andthe causes which appeared the least connectedwith the subject of dispute, were Sufficient tonourish and to kindle the flame of civil discord.As the chapel in which the body of the greatConstantine had been deposited was in a rui-nous condition, the bishop transported those

* Annniantis (xiv, 10), refers to his own account of this tiagic event.But we no longer possess [hat part of his hist