No sooner had Rufinus perpetrated this inhuman act, the sole object of his expedition, than he returned, amidst the deep and silent curses of a trembling people, from Antioch to Constantinople; and his diligence was accelerated by the hope of accomplishing, without delay, the nuptials of his daughter with the emperor of the East.

[12] [Footnote 10: Montesquieu (Esprit des Loix, l.xii.c.

12) praises one of the laws of Theodosius addressed to the praefect Rufinus, (l.

ix.
tit.iv.leg.

unic.,) to discourage the prosecution of treasonable, or sacrilegious, words.