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。]