See Rosweyde's Vitae Patrum, p.947.Sozomen (l.viii.c.

17) mentions the church and monastery; and Tillemont (Mem.Eccles.tom.

ix.
p.

593) records this synod, in which St.Gregory of Nyssa performed a conspicuous part.] The character of Theodosius imposed on his minister the task of hypocrisy, which disguised, and sometimes restrained, the abuse of power; and Rufinus was apprehensive of disturbing the indolent slumber of a prince still capable of exerting the abilities and the virtue, which had raised him to the throne.

[10] But the absence, and, soon afterwards, the death, of the emperor, confirmed the absolute authority of Rufinus over the person and dominions of Arcadius; a feeble youth, whom the imperious praefect considered as his pupil, rather than his sovereign.