Predictions are heard only after events have occurred; this is not a divine gift. God has<hr>
never created anything useless in the world, yet judicial astrology is so uncertain that it<hr>
pushes me further to believe in its fallibility. Who, then, has benefited from the prophecies made<hr>
to them? Or, better yet, who has heard them? Chance, guiding the vision of these astronomers, allowing them to achieve without thought what they could not achieve with all their knowledge, is undoubtedly what sometimes produces these miraculous meetings between predictions and events that establish the reputation of this science. But most often, it takes more intelligence for those who correlate the events to the predictions than to the greatest masters of this art. When Leontius said to Eudoxia, before dying, that she would be richer than her brothers, it was more a compliment that this kind man was making about her beauty and wisdom than an assurance of empire. Indeed, if he had foreseen that the crown she wears today would be on her head, he would have been unwise to bother dividing three or four feet of land among his sons, as it was utterly probable that if she became empress, she would not leave her brothers in poverty and hence their paternal inheritance would be useless. No, Flavian, it was I alone who made Eudoxia the Empress of the East.<hr> 
Nevertheless, I forgive her for her lack of gratitude, and I wholeheartedly wish for her to finally utilize the talent that Heaven has granted her. She is undoubtedly endowed with great qualities, and if she only sought to reign over herself, she would be the marvel of her century. She would harvest more palm in the court than glory in governance of affairs, and she would find more happiness therein. Regarding myself, my father, being of a different nature, I willingly conform to the order given to me to join those virgins whose only worry is to lift their hearts to God. I believe that Theodosius and the empress could use my help, yet knowing their character, it is better for me to withdraw into solitude and leave them the freedom to act on their fancy. May God wish that renown teach me nothing to their detriment. I would be glad if their conduct showed that my relationship with Theodosius was not harmful and that my choice in favor of Eudoxia was not bad. However, Flavian, ensure that the emperor knows that I, without complaint, renounce the share of domination he has given me; that I accepted it purely for his relief and glory, and that I will willingly return it as soon as he wishes to retrieve it. But let him remember that upon my departure his empire is at peace, that all his subjects love him, that all his neighbors fear him, that abundance reigns in all his cities, that ethics manifest in all families, that evil is almost non-existent, that his court, except for Chrysaphius, is free of flatterers, that the people are humble, that the great are without pride and that piety reigns in all temples of his empire. Let him remember, Flavian, my decency passed from my heart to his and from there to the hearts of all his subjects, so that my memory is not painful and that, if by chance he recalls me, his thought will not be an act of sadness but an act of joy.<hr>
                                                            99<hr>