LikethedaughterofMinos，thedaughterofMaximianaccusedherson—in—lawofanincestuousattemptonthechastityofhisfather\'swife；andeasilyobtained，fromthejealousyoftheemperor，asentenceofdeathagainstayoungprince，whomsheconsideredwithreasonasthemostformidablerivalofherownchildren。ButHelena，theagedmotherofConstantine，lamentedandrevengedtheuntimelyfateofhergrandsonCrispus；norwasitlongbeforearealorpretendeddiscoverywasmade，thatFaustaherselfentertainedacriminalconnectionwithaslavebelongingtotheImperialstables。^23Hercondemnationandpunishmentweretheinstantconsequencesofthecharge；andtheadulteresswassuffocatedbythesteamofabath，which，forthatpurpose，hadbeenheatedtoanextraordinarydegree。^24Bysomeitwillperhapsbethought，thattheremembranceofaconjugalunionoftwentyyears，andthehonoroftheircommonoffspring，thedestinedheirsofthethrone，mighthavesoftenedtheobdurateheartofConstantine，andpersuadedhimtosufferhiswife，howeverguiltyshemightappear，toexpiateheroffencesinasolitaryprison。Butitseemsasuperfluouslabortoweighthepropriety，unlesswecouldascertainthetruth，ofthissingularevent，whichisattendedwithsomecircumstancesofdoubtandperplexity。Thosewhohaveattacked，andthosewhohavedefended，thecharacterofConstantine，havealikedisregardedtwoveryremarkablepassagesoftwoorationspronouncedunderthesucceedingreign。Theformercelebratesthevirtues，thebeauty，andthefortuneoftheempressFausta，thedaughter，wife，sister，andmotherofsomanyprinces。^25Thelatterasserts，inexplicitterms，thatthemotheroftheyoungerConstantine，whowasslainthreeyearsafterhisfather\'sdeath，survivedtoweepoverthefateofherson。^26NotwithstandingthepositivetestimonyofseveralwritersofthePaganaswellasoftheChristianreligion，theremaystillremainsomereasontobelieve，oratleasttosuspect，thatFaustaescapedtheblindandsuspiciouscrueltyofherhusband。Thedeathsofasonandanephew，withtheexecutionofagreatnumberofrespectable，andperhapsinnocentfriends，^27whowereinvolvedintheirfall，maybesufficient，however，tojustifythediscontentoftheRomanpeople，andtoexplainthesatiricalversesaffixedtothepalacegate，comparingthesplendidandbloodyreignsofConstantineandNero。^28
[Footnote21:InordertoprovethatthestatuewaserectedbyConstantine，andafterwardsconcealedbythemaliceoftheArians，Codinusveryreadilycreatesp。34twowitnesses，Hippolitus，andtheyoungerHerodotus，towhoseimaginaryhistoriesheappealswithunblushingconfidence。]
[Footnote22:Zosimusl。ii。p。103maybeconsideredasouroriginal。Theingenuityofthemoderns，assistedbyafewhintsfromtheancients，hasillustratedandimprovedhisobscureandimperfectnarrative。]
[Footnote23:Philostorgius，l。ii。c。4。Zosimusl。ii。p。104，116imputestoConstantinethedeathoftwowives，oftheinnocentFausta，andofanadulteress，whowasthemotherofhisthreesuccessors。AccordingtoJerom，threeorfouryearselapsedbetweenthedeathofCrispusandthatofFausta。TheelderVictorisprudentlysilent。]
[Footnote24:IfFaustawasputtodeath，itisreasonabletobelievethattheprivateapartmentsofthepalacewerethesceneofherexecution。TheoratorChrysostomindulgeshisfancybyexposingthenakeddesertmountaintobedevouredbywildbeasts。]
[Footnote25:Julian。Orat。i。HeseemstocallherthemotherofCrispus。Shemightassumethattitlebyadoption。Atleast，shewasnotconsideredashismortalenemy。JuliancomparesthefortuneofFaustawiththatofParysatis，thePersianqueen。A
RomanwouldhavemorenaturallyrecollectedthesecondAgrippina:
Etmoi，quisurletroneaisuivimesancetres:
Moi，fille，femme，soeur，etmeredevosmaitres。]
[Footnote26:Monod。inConstantin。Jun。c。4，adCalcemEutrop。
edit。Havercamp。Theoratorstylesherthemostdivineandpiousofqueens[Footnote*:MansoLebenConstantins，p。65treatsthisinferenceo:Gibbon，andtheauthoritiestowhichheappeals，withtoomuchcontempt，consideringthegeneralscantinessofproofonthiscuriousquestion。—M。]
[Footnote27:Interfecitnumerososamicos。Eutrop。xx。6。]
[Footnote28:Saturniaureasaeculaquisrequirat?
Sunthaecgemmea，sedNeroniana。
Sidon。Apollinar。v。8。
Itissomewhatsingularthatthesesatiricallinesshouldbeattributed，nottoanobscurelibeller，oradisappointedpatriot，buttoAblavius，primeministerandfavoriteoftheemperor。WemaynowperceivethattheimprecationsoftheRomanpeopleweredictatedbyhumanity，aswellasbysuperstition。
Zosim。l。ii。p。105。]
ChapterXVIII:CharacterOfConstantineAndHisSons。
PartII。
BythedeathofCrispus，theinheritanceoftheempireseemedtodevolveonthethreesonsofFausta，whohavebeenalreadymentionedunderthenamesofConstantine，ofConstantius，andofConstans。TheseyoungprincesweresuccessivelyinvestedwiththetitleofCaesar；andthedatesoftheirpromotionmaybereferredtothetenth，thetwentieth，andthethirtiethyearsofthereignoftheirfather。^29Thisconduct，thoughittendedtomultiplythefuturemastersoftheRomanworld，mightbeexcusedbythepartialityofpaternalaffection；butitisnotsoeasytounderstandthemotivesoftheemperor，whenheendangeredthesafetybothofhisfamilyandofhispeople，bytheunnecessaryelevationofhistwonephews，DalmatiusandHannibalianus。Theformerwasraised，bythetitleofCaesar，toanequalitywithhiscousins。Infavorofthelatter，ConstantineinventedthenewandsingularappellationofNobilissimus；^30towhichheannexedtheflatteringdistinctionofarobeofpurpleandgold。
ButofthewholeseriesofRomanprincesinanyageoftheempire，HannibalianusalonewasdistinguishedbythetitleofKing；anamewhichthesubjectsofTiberiuswouldhavedetested，astheprofaneandcruelinsultofcapricioustyranny。Theuseofsuchatitle，evenasitappearsunderthereignofConstantine，isastrangeandunconnectedfact，whichcanscarcelybeadmittedonthejointauthorityofImperialmedalsandcontemporarywriters。^31
[Footnote29:Euseb。Orat。inConstantin。c。3。Thesedatesaresufficientlycorrecttojustifytheorator。]
[Footnote30:Zosim。l。ii。p。117。UnderthepredecessorsofConstantine，Nobilissimuswasavagueepithet，ratherthanalegalanddeterminedtitle。]
[Footnote31:Adstruuntnummiveteresacsingulares。SpanheimdeUsuNumismat。Dissertat。xii。vol。ii。p。357。AmmianusspeaksofthisRomankingl。xiv。c。l，andValesiusadloc。TheValesianfragmentstyleshimKingofkings；andthePaschalChronicleacquirestheweightofLatinevidence。]
[Footnote*:Hannibalianusisalwaysdesignatedintheseauthorsbythetitleofking。Therestillexistmedalsstrucktohishonor，onwhichthesametitleisfound，Fl。HannibalianoRegi。
SeeEckhel，Doct。Num。t。viii。204。Armeniamnationesquecircumsociashabebat，saysAur。Victor，p。225。ThewritermeanstheLesserArmenia。Thoughitisnotpossibletoquestionafactsupportedbysuchrespectableauthorities，Gibbonconsidersitinexplicableandincredible。Itisastrangeabuseoftheprivilegeofdoubting，torefuseallbeliefinafactofsuchlittleimportanceinitself，andattestedthusformallybycontemporaryauthorsandpublicmonuments。St。MartinnotetoLeBeaui。341。—M。]
Thewholeempirewasdeeplyinterestedintheeducationofthesefiveyouths，theacknowledgedsuccessorsofConstantine。
Theexerciseofthebodypreparedthemforthefatiguesofwarandthedutiesofactivelife。ThosewhooccasionallymentiontheeducationortalentsofConstantius，allowthatheexcelledinthegymnasticartsofleapingandrunningthathewasadexterousarcher，askilfulhorseman，andamasterofallthedifferentweaponsusedintheserviceeitherofthecavalryoroftheinfantry。^32Thesameassiduouscultivationwasbestowed，thoughnotperhapswithequalsuccess，toimprovethemindsofthesonsandnephewsofConstantine。^33ThemostcelebratedprofessorsoftheChristianfaith，oftheGrecianphilosophy，andoftheRomanjurisprudence，wereinvitedbytheliberalityoftheemperor，whoreservedforhimselftheimportanttaskofinstructingtheroyalyouthsinthescienceofgovernment，andtheknowledgeofmankind。ButthegeniusofConstantinehimselfhadbeenformedbyadversityandexperience。Inthefreeintercourseofprivatelife，andamidstthedangersofthecourtofGalerius，hehadlearnedtocommandhisownpassions，toencounterthoseofhisequals，andtodependforhispresentsafetyandfuturegreatnessontheprudenceandfirmnessofhispersonalconduct。Hisdestinedsuccessorshadthemisfortuneofbeingbornandeducatedintheimperialpurple。Incessantlysurroundedwithatrainofflatterers，theypassedtheiryouthintheenjoymentofluxury，andtheexpectationofathrone；norwouldthedignityoftheirrankpermitthemtodescendfromthatelevatedstationfromwhencethevariouscharactersofhumannatureappeartowearasmoothanduniformaspect。TheindulgenceofConstantineadmittedthem，ataverytenderage，tosharetheadministrationoftheempire；andtheystudiedtheartofreigning，attheexpenseofthepeopleintrustedtotheircare。TheyoungerConstantinewasappointedtoholdhiscourtinGaul；andhisbrotherConstantiusexchangedthatdepartment，theancientpatrimonyoftheirfather，forthemoreopulent，butlessmartial，countriesoftheEast。Italy，theWesternIllyricum，andAfrica，wereaccustomedtorevereConstans，thethirdofhissons，astherepresentativeofthegreatConstantine。HefixedDalmatiusontheGothicfrontier，towhichheannexedthegovernmentofThrace，Macedonia，andGreece。ThecityofCaesareawaschosenfortheresidenceofHannibalianus；andtheprovincesofPontus，Cappadocia，andtheLesserArmenia，weredestinedtoformtheextentofhisnewkingdom。Foreachoftheseprincesasuitableestablishmentwasprovided。Ajustproportionofguards，oflegions，andofauxiliaries，wasallottedfortheirrespectivedignityanddefence。Theministersandgenerals，whowereplacedabouttheirpersons，weresuchasConstantinecouldtrusttoassist，andeventocontrol，theseyouthfulsovereignsintheexerciseoftheirdelegatedpower。Astheyadvancedinyearsandexperience，thelimitsoftheirauthoritywereinsensiblyenlarged:buttheemperoralwaysreservedforhimselfthetitleofAugustus；andwhileheshowedtheCaesarstothearmiesandprovinces，hemaintainedeverypartoftheempireinequalobediencetoitssupremehead。^34Thetranquillityofthelastfourteenyearsofhisreignwasscarcelyinterruptedbythecontemptibleinsurrectionofacamel—driverintheIslandofCyprus，^35orbytheactivepartwhichthepolicyofConstantineengagedhimtoassumeinthewarsoftheGothsandSarmatians。
[Footnote32:HisdexterityinmartialexercisesiscelebratedbyJulian，Orat。i。p。11，Orat。ii。p。53，andallowedbyAmmianus，l。xxi。c。16。]
[Footnote33:Euseb。inVit。Constantin。l。iv。c。51。Julian，Orat。i。p。11—16，withSpanheim\'selaborateCommentary。
Libanius，Orat。iii。p。109。Constantiusstudiedwithlaudablediligence；butthedulnessofhisfancypreventedhimfromsucceedingintheartofpoetry，orevenofrhetoric。]
[Footnote34:Eusebius，l。iv。c。51，52，withadesignofexaltingtheauthorityandgloryofConstantine，affirms，thathedividedtheRomanempireasaprivatecitizenmighthavedividedhispatrimony。HisdistributionoftheprovincesmaybecollectedfromEutropius，thetwoVictorsandtheValesianfragment。]
[Footnote35:Calocerus，theobscureleaderofthisrebellion，orrathertumult，wasapprehendedandburntaliveinthemarket—placeofTarsus，bythevigilanceofDalmatius。SeetheelderVictor，theChronicleofJerom，andthedoubtfultraditionsofTheophanesandCedrenus。]
Amongthedifferentbranchesofthehumanrace，theSarmatiansformaveryremarkableshade；astheyseemtounitethemannersoftheAsiaticbarbarianswiththefigureandcomplexionoftheancientinhabitantsofEurope。Accordingtothevariousaccidentsofpeaceandwar，ofallianceorconquest，theSarmatiansweresometimesconfinedtothebanksoftheTanais；andtheysometimesspreadthemselvesovertheimmenseplainswhichliebetweentheVistulaandtheVolga。^36Thecareoftheirnumerousflocksandherds，thepursuitofgame，andtheexercisesofwar，orratherofrapine，directedthevagrantmotionsoftheSarmatians。Themovablecampsorcities，theordinaryresidenceoftheirwivesandchildren，consistedonlyoflargewagonsdrawnbyoxen，andcoveredintheformoftents。
Themilitarystrengthofthenationwascomposedofcavalry；andthecustomoftheirwarriors，toleadintheirhandoneortwosparehorses，enabledthemtoadvanceandtoretreatwitharapiddiligence，whichsurprisedthesecurity，andeludedthepursuit，ofadistantenemy。^37Theirpovertyofironpromptedtheirrudeindustrytoinventasortofcuirass，whichwascapableofresistingaswordorjavelin，thoughitwasformedonlyofhorses\'hoofs，cutintothinandpolishedslices，carefullylaidovereachotherinthemannerofscalesorfeathers，andstronglyseweduponanundergarmentofcoarselinen。^38TheoffensivearmsoftheSarmatianswereshortdaggers，longlances，andaweightybowvowwithaquiverofarrows。Theywerereducedtothenecessityofemployingfish—bonesforthepointsoftheirweapons；butthecustomofdippingtheminavenomousliquor，thatpoisonedthewoundswhichtheyinflicted，isalonesufficienttoprovethemostsavagemanners，sinceapeopleimpressedwithasenseofhumanitywouldhaveabhorredsocruelapractice，andanationskilledintheartsofwarwouldhavedisdainedsoimpotentaresource。^39WhenevertheseBarbariansissuedfromtheirdesertsinquestofprey，theirshaggybeards，uncombedlocks，thefurswithwhichtheywerecoveredfromheadtofoot，andtheirfiercecountenances，whichseemedtoexpresstheinnatecrueltyoftheirminds，inspiredthemorecivilizedprovincialsofRomewithhorroranddismay。
[Footnote36:CellariushascollectedtheopinionsoftheancientsconcerningtheEuropeanandAsiaticSarmatia；andM。
D\'Anvillehasappliedthemtomoderngeographywiththeskillandaccuracywhichalwaysdistinguishthatexcellentwriter。]
[Footnote37:Ammian。l。xvii。c。12。TheSarmatianhorseswerecastratedtopreventthemischievousaccidentswhichmighthappenfromthenoisyandungovernablepassionsofthemales。]
[Footnote38:Pausanius，l。i。p。50，。edit。Kuhn。ThatinquisitivetravellerhadcarefullyexaminedaSarmatiancuirass，whichwaspreservedinthetempleofAesculapiusatAthens。]
[Footnote39:Aspicisetmittisubaduncotoxicaferro，Ettelumcausasmortishabereduas。
Ovid，exPonto，l。iv。ep。7，ver。7。
SeeintheRecherchessurlesAmericains，tom。ii。p。236—
271，averycuriousdissertationonpoisoneddarts。Thevenomwascommonlyextractedfromthevegetablereign:butthatemployedbytheScythiansappearstohavebeendrawnfromtheviper，andamixtureofhumanblood。Theuseofpoisonedarms，whichhasbeenspreadoverbothworlds，neverpreservedasavagetribefromthearmsofadisciplinedenemy。]
ThetenderOvid，afterayouthspentintheenjoymentoffameandluxury，wascondemnedtoahopelessexileonthefrozenbanksoftheDanube，wherehewasexposed，almostwithoutdefence，tothefuryofthesemonstersofthedesert，withwhosesternspiritshefearedthathisgentleshademighthereafterbeconfounded。Inhispathetic，butsometimesunmanlylamentations，^40hedescribesinthemostlivelycolorsthedressandmanners，thearmsandinroads，oftheGetaeandSarmatians，whowereassociatedforthepurposesofdestruction；andfromtheaccountsofhistorythereissomereasontobelievethattheseSarmatiansweretheJazygae，oneofthemostnumerousandwarliketribesofthenation。Theallurementsofplentyengagedthemtoseekapermanentestablishmentonthefrontiersoftheempire。SoonafterthereignofAugustus，theyobligedtheDacians，whosubsistedbyfishingonthebanksoftheRiverTeyssorTibiscus，toretireintothehillycountry，andtoabandontothevictoriousSarmatiansthefertileplainsoftheUpperHungary，whichareboundedbythecourseoftheDanubeandthesemicircularenclosureoftheCarpathianMountains。^41Inthisadvantageousposition，theywatchedorsuspendedthemomentofattack，astheywereprovokedbyinjuriesorappeasedbypresents；theygraduallyacquiredtheskillofusingmoredangerousweapons，andalthoughtheSarmatiansdidnotillustratetheirnamebyanymemorableexploits，theyoccasionallyassistedtheireasternandwesternneighbors，theGothsandtheGermans，withaformidablebodyofcavalry。Theylivedundertheirregulararistocracyoftheirchieftains:^42butaftertheyhadreceivedintotheirbosomthefugitiveVandals，whoyieldedtothepressureoftheGothicpower，theyseemtohavechosenakingfromthatnation，andfromtheillustriousraceoftheAstingi，whohadformerlydweltonthehoresofthenorthernocean。^43
[Footnote40:TheninebooksofPoeticalEpistleswhichOvidcomposedduringthesevenfirstyearsofhismelancholyexile，possess，besidethemeritofelegance，adoublevalue。Theyexhibitapictureofthehumanmindunderverysingularcircumstances；andtheycontainmanycuriousobservations，whichnoRomanexceptOvid，couldhaveanopportunityofmaking。EverycircumstancewhichtendstoillustratethehistoryoftheBarbarians，hasbeendrawntogetherbytheveryaccurateCountdeBuat。Hist。AnciennedesPeuplesdel\'Europe，tom。iv。c。xvi。p。
286—317]
[Footnote41:TheSarmatianJazygaeweresettledonthebanksofPathissusorTibiscus，whenPliny，intheyear79，publishedhisNaturalHistory。Seel。iv。c。25。InthetimeofStraboandOvid，sixtyorseventyyearsbefore，theyappeartohaveinhabitedbeyondtheGetae，alongthecoastoftheEuxine。]
[Footnote42:PrincipesSarmaturumJazygumpenesquoscivitatisregimenplebemquoqueetvimequitum，quasolavalent，offerebant。Tacit。Hist。iii。p。5。ThisofferwasmadeinthecivilwarbetweenVitellinoandVespasian。]