He believed deserving actions to be so only if they were associated with consistency. If you think it was blindness, do not deny me what belongs to me, because being the same as I was then, you are obliged to maintain the same opinion as you once had of me. But if you claim that I am a grievous error in judgment, and you have not found in me the merit you thought you would find, I will not dispute that, strip me of everything you have given me, but do not take away the innocence I have received from heaven. When I arrived at your court, my reputation was untarnished. Few people were talking about me, but all spoke well of me. Today, everyone speaks of me as they wish, without me knowing what they're saying. But I don't care, because I want to justify myself to you. Know that those who do good because they are good, and not to look better, care little about the injustice the world does to their reputation. They find satisfaction in themselves, without seeking it in others. Thus, the wise can sometimes be innocent and very happy, while the capricious who judge only by appearances deem them guilty and unhappy. But Theodosius, given the affection you had for me and the one I have for you, I want to justify myself in front of your eyes.

My father often told me, "My daughter, remember not to seek the esteem of others, but to obtain your own. Be judge and party, seek to satisfy yourself, examine your feelings, delve deep into your heart to know if wisdom reigns in it. But do not worship yourself, lean towards rigor rather than indulgence towards yourself. And when after careful research of your intentions, you have reached the point where you are satisfied with your judgment, ignore the glory of the world, make fun of defamation and be happier to have your own esteem than if you had that of the greatest princes of the earth." Therefore, according to this reasoning, I cannot be serene as long as the best part of me does not believe me innocent. Allow me therefore to revisit the circumstances of my accusation so that this part of my heart residing in you, once you are convinced of my innocence, can allow me to go off with tranquility into the solitude I seek. When I came to Constantinople to seek refuge from my siblings who refused me Christianity, the wise Pulcheria did not deny my request. She listened to me and allowed me to lose my case advantageously while granting me goods that she should not have conceded. At that time, I would have been content with a poor cabin and three feet of land to shield me from necessity. But today, it is the honor of the Athenian, but also that of Eudoxia, your wife. Therefore, you are obliged to listen to me and render me justice. I think what provokes all your anger and my entire sorrow, is that I gave something that you had given to me. And afterward, to hide an action you did not appreciate, I applied a lie. That's the only crime I have committed. I was so afraid of disappointing you that I ended up disappointing you.