PartII。
TheimpartialitywhichStilichoaffected，asthecommonguardianoftheroyalbrothers，engagedhimtoregulatetheequaldivisionofthearms，thejewels，andthemagnificentwardrobeandfurnitureofthedeceasedemperor。^28Butthemostimportantobjectoftheinheritanceconsistedofthenumerouslegions，cohorts，andsquadrons，ofRomans，orBarbarians，whomtheeventofthecivilwarhadunitedunderthestandardofTheodosius。
ThevariousmultitudesofEuropeandAsia，exasperatedbyrecentanimosities，wereoverawedbytheauthorityofasingleman；andtherigiddisciplineofStilichoprotectedthelandsofthecitizensfromtherapineofthelicentioussoldier。^29Anxious，however，andimpatient，torelieveItalyfromthepresenceofthisformidablehost，whichcouldbeusefulonlyonthefrontiersoftheempire，helistenedtothejustrequisitionoftheministerofArcadius，declaredhisintentionofreconductinginpersonthetroopsoftheEast，anddexterouslyemployedtherumorofaGothictumulttoconcealhisprivatedesignsofambitionandrevenge。^30TheguiltysoulofRufinuswasalarmedbytheapproachofawarriorandarival，whoseenmityhedeserved；hecomputed，withincreasingterror，thenarrowspaceofhislifeandgreatness；and，asthelasthopeofsafety，heinterposedtheauthorityoftheemperorArcadius。Stilicho，whoappearstohavedirectedhismarchalongthesea—coastoftheAdriatic，wasnotfardistantfromthecityofThessalonica，whenhereceivedaperemptorymessage，torecallthetroopsoftheEast，andtodeclare，thathisnearerapproachwouldbeconsidered，bytheByzantinecourt，asanactofhostility。ThepromptandunexpectedobedienceofthegeneraloftheWest，convincedthevulgarofhisloyaltyandmoderation；and，ashehadalreadyengagedtheaffectionoftheEasterntroops，herecommendedtotheirzealtheexecutionofhisbloodydesign，whichmightbeaccomplishedinhisabsence，withlessdanger，perhaps，andwithlessreproach。StilicholeftthecommandofthetroopsoftheEasttoGainas，theGoth，onwhosefidelityhefirmlyrelied，withanassurance，atleast，thatthehardyBarbarianswouldneverbedivertedfromhispurposebyanyconsiderationoffearorremorse。ThesoldierswereeasilypersuadedtopunishtheenemyofStilichoandofRome；andsuchwasthegeneralhatredwhichRufinushadexcited，thatthefatalsecret，communicatedtothousands，wasfaithfullypreservedduringthelongmarchfromThessalonicatothegatesofConstantinople。Assoonastheyhadresolvedhisdeath，theycondescendedtoflatterhispride；theambitiouspraefectwasseducedtobelieve，thatthosepowerfulauxiliariesmightbetemptedtoplacethediademonhishead；andthetreasureswhichhedistributed，withatardyandreluctanthand，wereacceptedbytheindignantmultitudeasaninsult，ratherthanasagift。Atthedistanceofamilefromthecapital，inthefieldofMars，beforethepalaceofHebdomon，thetroopshalted:andtheemperor，aswellashisminister，advanced，accordingtoancientcustom，respectfullytosalutethepowerwhichsupportedtheirthrone。AsRufinuspassedalongtheranks，anddisguised，withstudiedcourtesy，hisinnatehaughtiness，thewingsinsensiblywheeledfromtherightandleft，andenclosedthedevotedvictimwithinthecircleoftheirarms。Beforehecouldreflectonthedangerofhissituation，Gainasgavethesignalofdeath；adaringandforwardsoldierplungedhisswordintothebreastoftheguiltypraefect，andRufinusfell，groaned，andexpired，atthefeetoftheaffrightedemperor。Iftheagoniesofamomentcouldexpiatethecrimesofawholelife，oriftheoutragesinflictedonabreathlesscorpsecouldbetheobjectofpity，ourhumanitymightperhapsbeaffectedbythehorridcircumstanceswhichaccompaniedthemurderofRufinus。Hismangledbodywasabandonedtothebrutalfuryofthepopulaceofeithersex，whohastenedincrowds，fromeveryquarterofthecity，totrampleontheremainsofthehaughtyminister，atwhosefrowntheyhadsolatelytrembled。Hisrighthandwascutoff，andcarriedthroughthestreetsofConstantinople，incruelmockery，toextortcontributionsfortheavaricioustyrant，whoseheadwaspubliclyexposed，bornealoftonthepointofalonglance。^31AccordingtothesavagemaximsoftheGreekrepublics，hisinnocentfamilywouldhavesharedthepunishmentofhiscrimes。ThewifeanddaughterofRufinuswereindebtedfortheirsafetytotheinfluenceofreligion。Hersanctuaryprotectedthemfromtheragingmadnessofthepeople；
andtheywerepermittedtospendtheremainderoftheirlivesintheexerciseofChristiandevotions，inthepeacefulretirementofJerusalem。^32
[Footnote28:I。Cons。Stilich。ii。88—94。Notonlytherobesanddiademsofthedeceasedemperor，buteventhehelmets，sword—hilts，belts，rasses，&c。，wereenrichedwithpearls，emeralds，anddiamonds。]