[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。