A。D。321，No。17censureshisprofaneconductwithtruthandasperity。]

　　WhateversymptomsofChristianpietymighttranspireinthediscoursesoractionsofConstantine，heperseveredtillhewasnearfortyyearsofageinthepracticeoftheestablishedreligion；^10andthesameconductwhichinthecourtofNicomediamightbeimputedtohisfear，couldbeascribedonlytotheinclinationorpolicyofthesovereignofGaul。Hisliberalityrestoredandenrichedthetemplesofthegods；themedalswhichissuedfromhisImperialmintareimpressedwiththefiguresandattributesofJupiterandApollo，ofMarsandHercules；andhisfilialpietyincreasedthecouncilofOlympusbythesolemnapotheosisofhisfatherConstantius。^11ButthedevotionofConstantinewasmorepeculiarlydirectedtothegeniusoftheSun，theApolloofGreekandRomanmythology；andhewaspleasedtoberepresentedwiththesymbolsoftheGodofLightandPoetry。Theunerringshaftsofthatdeity，thebrightnessofhiseyes，hislaurelwreath，immortalbeauty，andelegantaccomplishments，seemtopointhimoutasthepatronofayounghero。ThealtarsofApollowerecrownedwiththevotiveofferingsofConstantine；andthecredulousmultitudeweretaughttobelieve，thattheemperorwaspermittedtobeholdwithmortaleyesthevisiblemajestyoftheirtutelardeity；andthat，eitherwalkingorinavision，hewasblessedwiththeauspiciousomensofalongandvictoriousreign。TheSunwasuniversallycelebratedastheinvincibleguideandprotectorofConstantine；

　　andthePagansmightreasonablyexpectthattheinsultedgodwouldpursuewithunrelentingvengeancetheimpietyofhisungratefulfavorite。^12

　　[Footnote10:Theodoret。l。i。c。18seemstoinsinuatethatHelenagavehersonaChristianeducation；butwemaybeassured，fromthesuperiorauthorityofEusebius，inVit。Constant。l。

　　iii。c。47，thatsheherselfwasindebtedtoConstantinefortheknowledgeofChristianity。]

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