ThecharacterofTheodosiusimposedonhisministerthetaskofhypocrisy，whichdisguised，andsometimesrestrained，theabuseofpower；andRufinuswasapprehensiveofdisturbingtheindolentslumberofaprincestillcapableofexertingtheabilitiesandthevirtue，whichhadraisedhimtothethrone。^10
Buttheabsence，and，soonafterwards，thedeath，oftheemperor，confirmedtheabsoluteauthorityofRufinusoverthepersonanddominionsofArcadius；afeebleyouth，whomtheimperiouspraefectconsideredashispupil，ratherthanhissovereign。
Regardlessofthepublicopinion，heindulgedhispassionswithoutremorse，andwithoutresistance；andhismalignantandrapaciousspiritrejectedeverypassionthatmighthavecontributedtohisownglory，orthehappinessofthepeople。
Hisavarice，^11whichseemstohaveprevailed，inhiscorruptmind，overeveryothersentiment，attractedthewealthoftheEast，bythevariousartsofpartialandgeneralextortion；
oppressivetaxes，scandalousbribery，immoderatefines，unjustconfiscations，forcedorfictitioustestaments，bywhichthetyrantdespoiledoftheirlawfulinheritancethechildrenofstrangers，orenemies；andthepublicsaleofjustice，aswellasoffavor，whichheinstitutedinthepalaceofConstantinople。