The emperor on foot led the bishops and monks to the cell of Athanasius; and, after a proper resistance, the saint, from whom this message had been sent, consented to absolve the prince, and govern the church of Constantinople.

Untamed by disgrace, and hardened by solitude, the shepherd was again odious to the flock, and his enemies contrived a singular, and as it proved, a successful, mode of revenge.

In the night, they stole away the footstool or foot-cloth of his throne, which they secretly replaced with the decoration of a satirical picture.

The emperor was painted with a bridle in his mouth, and Athanasius leading the tractable beast to the feet of Christ.

The authors of the libel were detected and punished; but as their lives had been spared, the Christian priest in sullen indignation retired to his cell; and the eyes of Andronicus, which had been opened for a moment, were again closed by his successor.
[Footnote 1: Andronicus himself will justify our freedom in the invective, (Nicephorus Gregoras, l.i.c.