hich we shall all be summoned to give in an account of
all our actions. Reflect on your having it now in your power, without
pain or labor, to efface your sins, and to find mercy at that terrible
tribunal. You are about to pronounce your own sentence. Other
ambassadors bring gold, silver, and other like presents, but as for me,
I offer nothing but the law of God, and entreat you to imitate his
example on the cross." He concluded his harangue by assuring the emperor
that if he refused to pardon the city, he would never more return to it,
nor look upon that city as his country, which a prince of his humane
disposition could not prevail upon himself to pardon.

This discourse had its desired effect on the emperor, who with much
difficulty suppressed his tears while the bishop spoke, whom he answered
in these few words: "If Jesus Christ, the Lord of all things, vouchsafed
to pardon and pray for those very men that crucified him, ought I to
hesitate to pardon them who have offended me? I, who am but a mortal man
like them, and a servant of the same Master." The patriarch, overjoyed
at his success, prostrated himself at the emperor's feet, wishing him a
reward for such an action suitable to its merit. And whereas the prelate
made an offer of passing the feast of Easter with the emperor at
Constantinople, he, to {240} testify how sincerely he was reconciled to
the city of Antioch, urged his immediate return, saying: "Go, Father,
delay not a moment the consolation your people will receive at your
return, by communicating to them the assurances of the pardon I grant
them; I know they must be in great affliction." The bishop set out
accordingly; but, to delay as little as possible the joy of the
citizens, he dispatched a courier before him with the emperor's letter
of pardon, which produced a comfortable change in the face of affairs.
The bishop himself arrived time enough before Easter to keep that
solemnity with his people. The joy and triumph of that city could not be
greater; it is elegantly described by St. Chrysostom, extolling above
all things the humility and modesty of Flavian, who attributed the whole
change of Theodosius's mind, and all the glory of the action, to God
alone. The discourse which Flavian addressed to the emperor, except the
introduction, had been composed by St. Chrysostom, who recited it to the
people to comfort them, and ceased not strongly to exhort them to
penance, and the fervent exercise of good wor