151. Athanasius (tom. i. p. 703, 813, 814 [tom. i. p. 275,
ed. Bened.]) affirms, in the most positive terms, that Paul
was murdered; and appeals, not only to common fame, but even
to the unsuspicious testimony of Philagrius, one of the
Arian persecutors. Yet he acknowledges that the heretics
attributed to disease the death of the bishop of
Constantinople. Athanasius is servilely copied by Socrates
(1. ii. c. 26); but Sozomen, who discovers a more liberal
temper, presumes (1. iv. c. 2) to insinuate a prudent doubt.