[Footnote2:ThevirtuesofConstantinearecollectedforthemostpartfromEutropiusandtheyoungerVictor，twosincerepagans，whowroteaftertheextinctionofhisfamily。EvenZosimus，andtheEmperorJulian，acknowledgehispersonalcourageandmilitaryachievements。]
HadConstantinefallenonthebanksoftheTyber，orevenintheplainsofHadrianople，suchisthecharacterwhich，withafewexceptions，hemighthavetransmittedtoposterity。ButtheconclusionofhisreignaccordingtothemoderateandindeedtendersentenceofawriterofthesameagedegradedhimfromtherankwhichhehadacquiredamongthemostdeservingoftheRomanprinces。^3InthelifeofAugustus，webeholdthetyrantoftherepublic，converted，almostbyimperceptibledegrees，intothefatherofhiscountry，andofhumankind。InthatofConstantine，wemaycontemplateahero，whohadsolonginspiredhissubjectswithlove，andhisenemieswithterror，degeneratingintoacruelanddissolutemonarch，corruptedbyhisfortune，orraisedbyconquestabovethenecessityofdissimulation。Thegeneralpeacewhichhemaintainedduringthelastfourteenyearsofhisreign，wasaperiodofapparentsplendorratherthanofrealprosperity；andtheoldageofConstantinewasdisgracedbytheoppositeyetreconcilablevicesofrapaciousnessandprodigality。TheaccumulatedtreasuresfoundinthepalacesofMaxentiusandLicinius，werelavishlyconsumed；thevariousinnovationsintroducedbytheconqueror，wereattendedwithanincreasingexpense；thecostofhisbuildings，hiscourt，andhisfestivals，requiredanimmediateandplentifulsupply；andtheoppressionofthepeoplewastheonlyfundwhichcouldsupportthemagnificenceofthesovereign。^4Hisunworthyfavorites，enrichedbytheboundlessliberalityoftheirmaster，usurpedwithimpunitytheprivilegeofrapineandcorruption。^5Asecretbutuniversaldecaywasfeltineverypartofthepublicadministration，andtheemperorhimself，thoughhestillretainedtheobedience，graduallylosttheesteem，ofhissubjects。Thedressandmanners，which，towardsthedeclineoflife，hechosetoaffect，servedonlytodegradehimintheeyesofmankind。
TheAsiaticpomp，whichhadbeenadoptedbytheprideofDiocletian，assumedanairofsoftnessandeffeminacyinthepersonofConstantine。Heisrepresentedwithfalsehairofvariouscolors，laboriouslyarrangedbytheskilfulartiststothetimes；adiademofanewandmoreexpensivefashion；aprofusionofgemsandpearls，ofcollarsandbracelets，andavariegatedflowingrobeofsilk，mostcuriouslyembroideredwithflowersofgold。Insuchapparel，scarcelytobeexcusedbytheyouthandfollyofElagabalus，weareatalosstodiscoverthewisdomofanagedmonarch，andthesimplicityofaRomanveteran。
^6Amindthusrelaxedbyprosperityandindulgence，wasincapableofrisingtothatmagnanimitywhichdisdainssuspicion，anddarestoforgive。ThedeathsofMaximianandLiciniusmayperhapsbejustifiedbythemaximsofpolicy，astheyaretaughtintheschoolsoftyrants；butanimpartialnarrativeoftheexecutions，orrathermurders，whichsulliedthedecliningageofConstantine，willsuggesttoourmostcandidthoughtstheideaofaprincewhocouldsacrificewithoutreluctancethelawsofjustice，andthefeelingsofnature，tothedictateseitherofhispassionsorofhisinterest。
[Footnote3:SeeEutropius，x。6。InprimoImperiitemporeoptimisprincipibus，ultimomediiscomparandus。FromtheancientGreekversionofPoeanius，edit。Havercamp。p。697，IaminclinedtosuspectthatEutropiushadoriginallywrittenvixmediis；andthattheoffensivemonosyllablewasdroppedbythewilfulinadvertencyoftranscribers。AureliusVictorexpressesthegeneralopinionbyavulgarandindeedobscureproverb。
Trachaladecemannispraestantissimds；duodecimsequentibuslatro；decemnovissimispupillusobimmouicasprofusiones。]
[Footnote4:Julian，Orat。i。p。8，inaflatteringdiscoursepronouncedbeforethesonofConstantine；andCaesares，p。336。
Zosimus，p。114，115。ThestatelybuildingsofConstantinople，&c。，maybequotedasalastingandunexceptionableproofoftheprofusenessoftheirfounder。]
[Footnote5:TheimpartialAmmianusdeservesallourconfidence。
ProximorumfaucesaperuitprimusomniumConstantinus。L。xvi。c。
8。Eusebiushimselfconfessestheabuse，Vit。Constantin。l。iv。
c。29，54；andsomeoftheImperiallawsfeeblypointouttheremedy。Seeabove，p。146ofthisvolume。]
[Footnote6:Julian，intheCaesars，attemptstoridiculehisuncle。Hissuspicioustestimonyisconfirmed，however，bythelearnedSpanheim，withtheauthorityofmedals，seeCommentaire，p。156，299，397，459。EusebiusOrat。c。5alleges，thatConstantinedressedforthepublic，notforhimself。Werethisadmitted，thevainestcoxcombcouldneverwantanexcuse。]
ThesamefortunewhichsoinvariablyfollowedthestandardofConstantine，seemedtosecurethehopesandcomfortsofhisdomesticlife。Thoseamonghispredecessorswhohadenjoyedthelongestandmostprosperousreigns，AugustusTrajan，andDiocletian，hadbeendisappointedofposterity；andthefrequentrevolutionshadneverallowedsufficienttimeforanyImperialfamilytogrowupandmultiplyundertheshadeofthepurple。
ButtheroyaltyoftheFlavianline，whichhadbeenfirstennobledbytheGothicClaudius，descendedthroughseveralgenerations；andConstantinehimselfderivedfromhisroyalfatherthehereditaryhonorswhichhetransmittedtohischildren。Theemperorhadbeentwicemarried。Minervina，theobscurebutlawfulobjectofhisyouthfulattachment，^7hadlefthimonlyoneson，whowascalledCrispus。ByFausta，thedaughterofMaximian，hehadthreedaughters，andthreesonsknownbythekindrednamesofConstantine，Constantius，andConstans。TheunambitiousbrothersofthegreatConstantine，JuliusConstantius，Dalmatius，andHannibalianus，^8werepermittedtoenjoythemosthonorablerank，andthemostaffluentfortune，thatcouldbeconsistentwithaprivatestation。Theyoungestofthethreelivedwithoutaname，anddiedwithoutposterity。Histwoelderbrothersobtainedinmarriagethedaughtersofwealthysenators，andpropagatednewbranchesoftheImperialrace。GallusandJulianafterwardsbecamethemostillustriousofthechildrenofJuliusConstantius，thePatrician。
ThetwosonsofDalmatius，whohadbeendecoratedwiththevaintitleofCensor，werenamedDalmatiusandHannibalianus。ThetwosistersofthegreatConstantine，AnastasiaandEutropia，werebestowedonOptatusandNepotianus，twosenatorsofnoblebirthandofconsulardignity。Histhirdsister，Constantia，wasdistinguishedbyherpreeminenceofgreatnessandofmisery。SheremainedthewidowofthevanquishedLicinius；anditwasbyherentreaties，thataninnocentboy，theoffspringoftheirmarriage，preserved，forsometime，hislife，thetitleofCaesar，andaprecarioushopeofthesuccession。Besidesthefemales，andthealliesoftheFlavianhouse，tenortwelvemales，towhomthelanguageofmoderncourtswouldapplythetitleofprincesoftheblood，seemed，accordingtotheorderoftheirbirth，tobedestinedeithertoinheritortosupportthethroneofConstantine。Butinlessthanthirtyyears，thisnumerousandincreasingfamilywasreducedtothepersonsofConstantiusandJulian，whoalonehadsurvivedaseriesofcrimesandcalamities，suchasthetragicpoetshavedeploredinthedevotedlinesofPelopsandofCadmus。[Footnote7:ZosimusandZonarasagreeinrepresentingMinervinaastheconcubineofConstantine；butDucangehasverygallantlyrescuedhercharacter，byproducingadecisivepassagefromoneofthepanegyrics:\"Abipsofinepueritiaetematrimoniilegibusdedisti。\"]
[Footnote8:DucangeFamiliaeByzantinae，p。44bestowsonhim，afterZosimus，thenameofConstantine；anamesomewhatunlikely，asitwasalreadyoccupiedbytheelderbrother。ThatofHannibalianusismentionedinthePaschalChronicle，andisapprovedbyTillemont。Hist。desEmpereurs，tom。iv。p。527。]
Crispus，theeldestsonofConstantine，andthepresumptiveheiroftheempire，isrepresentedbyimpartialhistoriansasanamiableandaccomplishedyouth。Thecareofhiseducation，oratleastofhisstudies，wasintrustedtoLactantius，themosteloquentoftheChristians；apreceptoradmirablyqualifiedtoformthetaste，andtheexcitethevirtues，ofhisillustriousdisciple。^9Attheageofseventeen，CrispuswasinvestedwiththetitleofCaesar，andtheadministrationoftheGallicprovinces，wheretheinroadsoftheGermansgavehimanearlyoccasionofsignalizinghismilitaryprowess。Inthecivilwarwhichbrokeoutsoonafterwards，thefatherandsondividedtheirpowers；andthishistoryhasalreadycelebratedthevaloraswellasconductdisplayedbythelatter，inforcingthestraitsoftheHellespont，soobstinatelydefendedbythesuperiorfleetofLacinius。Thisnavalvictorycontributedtodeterminetheeventofthewar；andthenamesofConstantineandofCrispuswereunitedinthejoyfulacclamationsoftheireasternsubjects；wholoudlyproclaimed，thattheworldhadbeensubdued，andwasnowgoverned，byanemperorendowedwitheveryvirtue；andbyhisillustriousson，aprincebelovedofHeaven，andthelivelyimageofhisfather\'sperfections。Thepublicfavor，whichseldomaccompaniesoldage，diffuseditslustreovertheyouthofCrispus。Hedeservedtheesteem，andheengagedtheaffections，ofthecourt，thearmy，andthepeople。Theexperiencedmeritofareigningmonarchisacknowledgedbyhissubjectswithreluctance，andfrequentlydeniedwithpartialanddiscontentedmurmurs；while，fromtheopeningvirtuesofhissuccessor，theyfondlyconceivethemostunboundedhopesofprivateaswellaspublicfelicity。^10
[Footnote9:Jerom。inChron。ThepovertyofLactantiusmaybeappliedeithertothepraiseofthedisinterestedphilosopher，ortotheshameoftheunfeelingpatron。SeeTillemont，Mem。
Ecclesiast。tom。vi。part1。p。345。Dupin，BibliothequeEcclesiast。tom。i。p。205。Lardner\'sCredibilityoftheGospelHistory，partii。vol。vii。p。66。]
[Footnote10:Euseb。Hist。Ecclesiast。l。x。c。9。Eutropiusx。6styleshim\"egregiumvirum；\"andJulianOrat。i。veryplainlyalludestotheexploitsofCrispusinthecivilwar。SeeSpanheim，Comment。p。92。]
ThisdangerouspopularitysoonexcitedtheattentionofConstantine，who，bothasafatherandasaking，wasimpatientofanequal。Insteadofattemptingtosecuretheallegianceofhissonbythegeneroustiesofconfidenceandgratitude，heresolvedtopreventthemischiefswhichmightbeapprehendedfromdissatisfiedambition。Crispussoonhadreasontocomplain，thatwhilehisinfantbrotherConstantiuswassent，withthetitleofCaesar，toreignoverhispeculiardepartmentoftheGallicprovinces，^11he，aprinceofmatureyears，whohadperformedsuchrecentandsignalservices，insteadofbeingraisedtothesuperiorrankofAugustus，wasconfinedalmostaprisonertohisfather\'scourt；andexposed，withoutpowerordefence，toeverycalumnywhichthemaliceofhisenemiescouldsuggest。Undersuchpainfulcircumstances，theroyalyouthmightnotalwaysbeabletocomposehisbehavior，orsuppresshisdiscontent；andwemaybeassured，thathewasencompassedbyatrainofindiscreetorperfidiousfollowers，whoassiduouslystudiedtoinflame，andwhowereperhapsinstructedtobetray，theunguardedwarmthofhisresentment。AnedictofConstantine，publishedaboutthistime，manifestlyindicateshisrealoraffectedsuspicions，thatasecretconspiracyhadbeenformedagainsthispersonandgovernment。Byalltheallurementsofhonorsandrewards，heinvitesinformersofeverydegreetoaccusewithoutexceptionhismagistratesorministers，hisfriendsorhismostintimatefavorites，protesting，withasolemnasseveration，thathehimselfwilllistentothecharge，thathehimselfwillrevengehisinjuries；andconcludingwithaprayer，whichdiscoverssomeapprehensionofdanger，thattheprovidenceoftheSupremeBeingmaystillcontinuetoprotectthesafetyoftheemperorandoftheempire。^12
[Footnote11:CompareIdatiusandthePaschalChronicle，withAmmianus，l，xiv。c。5。TheyearinwhichConstantiuswascreatedCaesarseemstobemoreaccuratelyfixedbythetwochronologists；butthehistorianwholivedinhiscourtcouldnotbeignorantofthedayoftheanniversary。FortheappointmentofthenewCaesartotheprovincesofGaul，seeJulian，Orat。i。
p。12，Godefroy，Chronol。Legum，p。26。andBlondel，dePrimautedel\'Eglise，p。1183。]
[Footnote12:Cod。Theod。l。ix。tit。iv。Godefroysuspectedthesecretmotivesofthislaw。Comment。tom。iii。p。9。]
Theinformers，whocompliedwithsoliberalaninvitation，weresufficientlyversedintheartsofcourtstoselectthefriendsandadherentsofCrispusastheguiltypersons；noristhereanyreasontodistrusttheveracityoftheemperor，whohadpromisedanamplemeasureofrevengeandpunishment。ThepolicyofConstantinemaintained，however，thesameappearancesofregardandconfidencetowardsason，whomhebegantoconsiderashismostirreconcilableenemy。MedalswerestruckwiththecustomaryvowsforthelongandauspiciousreignoftheyoungCaesar；^13andasthepeople，whowerenotadmittedintothesecretsofthepalace，stilllovedhisvirtues，andrespectedhisdignity，apoetwhosolicitshisrecallfromexile，adoreswithequaldevotionthemajestyofthefatherandthatoftheson。^14
ThetimewasnowarrivedforcelebratingtheaugustceremonyofthetwentiethyearofthereignofConstantine；andtheemperor，forthatpurpose，removedhiscourtfromNicomediatoRome，wherethemostsplendidpreparationshadbeenmadeforhisreception。
Everyeye，andeverytongue，affectedtoexpresstheirsenseofthegeneralhappiness，andtheveilofceremonyanddissimulationwasdrawnforawhileoverthedarkestdesignsofrevengeandmurder。^15Inthemidstofthefestival，theunfortunateCrispuswasapprehendedbyorderoftheemperor，wholaidasidethetendernessofafather，withoutassumingtheequityofajudge。
Theexaminationwasshortandprivate；^16andasitwasthoughtdecenttoconcealthefateoftheyoungprincefromtheeyesoftheRomanpeople，hewassentunderastrongguardtoPola，inIstria，where，soonafterwards，hewasputtodeath，eitherbythehandoftheexecutioner，orbythemoregentleoperationsofpoison。^17TheCaesarLicinius，ayouthofamiablemanners，wasinvolvedintheruinofCrispus:^18andthesternjealousyofConstantinewasunmovedbytheprayersandtearsofhisfavoritesister，pleadingforthelifeofason，whoserankwashisonlycrime，andwhoselossshedidnotlongsurvive。Thestoryoftheseunhappyprinces，thenatureandevidenceoftheirguilt，theformsoftheirtrial，andthecircumstancesoftheirdeath，wereburiedinmysteriousobscurity；andthecourtlybishop，whohascelebratedinanelaborateworkthevirtuesandpietyofhishero，observesaprudentsilenceonthesubjectofthesetragicevents。^19Suchhaughtycontemptfortheopinionofmankind，whilstitimprintsanindeliblestainonthememoryofConstantine，mustremindusoftheverydifferentbehaviorofoneofthegreatestmonarchsofthepresentage。TheCzarPeter，inthefullpossessionofdespoticpower，submittedtothejudgmentofRussia，ofEurope，andofposterity，thereasonswhichhadcompelledhimtosubscribethecondemnationofacriminal，oratleastofadegenerateson。^20
[Footnote13:Ducange，Fam。Byzant。p。28。Tillemont，tom。iv。
p。610。]
[Footnote14:HisnamewasPorphyriusOptatianus。Thedateofhispanegyric，written，accordingtothetasteoftheage，invileacrostics，issettledbyScaligeradEuseb。p。250，Tillemont，tom。iv。p。607，andFabricius，Biblioth。Latin，l。
iv。c。1。]
[Footnote15:Zosim。l。ii。p。103。Godefroy，Chronol。Legum，p。
28。]
[Footnote16:TheelderVictor，whowroteunderthenextreign，speakswithbecomingcaution。\"Natugrandiorincertumquacausa，patrisjudiciooccidisset。\"Ifweconsultthesucceedingwriters，Eutropius，theyoungerVictor，Orosius，Jerom，Zosimus，Philostorgius，andGregoryofTours，theirknowledgewillappeargraduallytoincrease，astheirmeansofinformationmusthavediminished—acircumstancewhichfrequentlyoccursinhistoricaldisquisition。]
[Footnote17:Ammianusl。xiv。c。11usesthegeneralexpressionofperemptumCodinusp。34beheadstheyoungprince；
butSidoniusApollinarisEpistol。v。8，forthesakeperhapsofanantithesistoFausta\'swarmbath，choosestoadministeradraughtofcoldpoison。]
[Footnote18:Sororisfilium，commodaeindolisjuvenem。
Eutropius，x。6MayInotbepermittedtoconjecturethatCrispushadmarriedHelenathedaughteroftheemperorLicinius，andthatonthehappydeliveryoftheprincess，intheyear322，ageneralpardonwasgrantedbyConstantine?SeeDucange，Fam。Byzant。p。
47，andthelawl。ix。tit。xxxvii。oftheTheodosiancode，whichhassomuchembarrassedtheinterpreters。Godefroy，tom。
iii。p。267
Note:Thisconjectureisverydoubtful。TheobscurityofthelawquotedfromtheTheodosiancodescarcelyallowsanyinference，andthereisextantbutonemedawhichcanbeattributedtoaHelena，wifeofCrispus。]
[Footnote19:SeethelifeofConstantine，particularlyl。ii。c。
19，20。TwohundredandfiftyyearsafterwardsEvagriusl。iii。
c。41deducedfromthesilenceofEusebiusavainargumentagainsttherealityofthefact。]
[Footnote20:HistoiredePierreleGrand，parVoltaire，partii。
c。10。]
TheinnocenceofCrispuswassouniversallyacknowledged，thatthemodernGreeks，whoadorethememoryoftheirfounder，arereducedtopalliatetheguiltofaparricide，whichthecommonfeelingsofhumannatureforbadethemtojustify。Theypretend，thatassoonastheafflictedfatherdiscoveredthefalsehoodoftheaccusationbywhichhiscredulityhadbeensofatallymisled，hepublishedtotheworldhisrepentanceandremorse；thathemournedfortydays，duringwhichheabstainedfromtheuseofthebath，andalltheordinarycomfortsoflife；
andthat，forthelastinginstructionofposterity，heerectedagoldenstatueofCrispus，withthismemorableinscription:Tomyson，whomIunjustlycondemned。^21Atalesomoralandsointerestingwoulddeservetobesupportedbylessexceptionableauthority；butifweconsultthemoreancientandauthenticwriters，theywillinformus，thattherepentanceofConstantinewasmanifestedonlyinactsofbloodandrevenge；andthatheatonedforthemurderofaninnocentson，bytheexecution，perhaps，ofaguiltywife。TheyascribethemisfortunesofCrispustotheartsofhisstep—motherFausta，whoseimplacablehatred，orwhosedisappointedlove，renewedinthepalaceofConstantinetheancienttragedyofHippolitusandofPhaedra。^22