PartIV。
　　TheplainofMardiainThracewasthetheatreofasecondbattlenolessobstinateandbloodythantheformer。Thetroopsonbothsidesdisplayedthesamevaloranddiscipline；andthevictorywasoncemoredecidedbythesuperiorabilitiesofConstantine，whodirectedabodyoffivethousandmentogainanadvantageousheight，fromwhence，duringtheheatoftheaction，theyattackedtherearoftheenemy，andmadeaveryconsiderableslaughter。ThetroopsofLicinius，however，presentingadoublefront，stillmaintainedtheirground，tilltheapproachofnightputanendtothecombat，andsecuredtheirretreattowardsthemountainsofMacedonia。^90Thelossoftwobattles，andofhisbravestveterans，reducedthefiercespiritofLiciniustosueforpeace。HisambassadorMistrianuswasadmittedtotheaudienceofConstantine:heexpatiatedonthecommontopicsofmoderationandhumanity，whicharesofamiliartotheeloquenceofthevanquished；representedinthemostinsinuatinglanguage，thattheeventofthewarwasstilldoubtful，whilstitsinevitablecalamitieswerealikepernicioustoboththecontendingparties；anddeclaredthathewasauthorizedtoproposealastingandhonorablepeaceinthenameofthetwoemperorshismasters。ConstantinereceivedthementionofValenswithindignationandcontempt。"Itwasnotforsuchapurpose，"
　　hesternlyreplied，"thatwehaveadvancedfromtheshoresofthewesternoceaninanuninterruptedcourseofcombatsandvictories，that，afterrejectinganungratefulkinsman，weshouldacceptforourcolleagueacontemptibleslave。TheabdicationofValensisthefirstarticleofthetreaty。"^91Itwasnecessarytoacceptthishumiliatingcondition；andtheunhappyValens，afterareignofafewdays，wasdeprivedofthepurpleandofhislife。Assoonasthisobstaclewasremoved，thetranquillityoftheRomanworldwaseasilyrestored。ThesuccessivedefeatsofLiciniushadruinedhisforces，buttheyhaddisplayedhiscourageandabilities。Hissituationwasalmostdesperate，buttheeffortsofdespairaresometimesformidable，andthegoodsenseofConstantinepreferredagreatandcertainadvantagetoathirdtrialofthechanceofarms。Heconsentedtoleavehisrival，or，asheagainstyledLicinius，hisfriendandbrother，inthepossessionofThrace，AsiaMinor，Syria，andEgypt；buttheprovincesofPannonia，Dalmatia，Dacia，Macedonia，andGreece，wereyieldedtotheWesternempire，andthedominionsofConstantinenowextendedfromtheconfinesofCaledoniatotheextremityofPeloponnesus。Itwasstipulatedbythesametreaty，thatthreeroyalyouths，thesonsofemperors，shouldbecalledtothehopesofthesuccession。CrispusandtheyoungConstantineweresoonafterwardsdeclaredCaesarsintheWest，whiletheyoungerLiciniuswasinvestedwiththesamedignityintheEast。Inthisdoubleproportionofhonors，theconquerorassertedthesuperiorityofhisarmsandpower。^92
　　[Footnote90:Zosimus，l。ii。p。92，93。Anonym。Valesian。p。
　　713。TheEpitomesfurnishsomecircumstances；buttheyfrequentlyconfoundthetwowarsbetweenLiciniusandConstantine。]
　　[Footnote91:PetrusPatriciusinExcerpt。Legat。p。27。Ifitshouldbethoughtthatsignifiesmoreproperlyason—in—law，wemightconjecturethatConstantine，assumingthenameaswellasthedutiesofafather，hadadoptedhisyoungerbrothersandsisters，thechildrenofTheodora。Butinthebestauthorssometimessignifiesahusband，sometimesafather—in—law，andsometimesakinsmaningeneral。SeeSpanheim，Observat。adJulian。Orat。i。p。72。]
　　[Footnote92:Zosimus，l。ii。p。93。Anonym。Valesian。p。713。
　　Eutropius，x。v。AureliusVictor，Euseb。inChron。Sozomen，l。
　　i。c。2。FourofthesewritersaffirmthatthepromotionoftheCaesarswasanarticleofthetreaty。Itis，however，certain，thattheyoungerConstantineandLiciniuswerenotyetborn；anditishighlyprobablethatthepromotionwasmadethe1stofMarch，A。D。317。ThetreatyhadprobablystipulatedthatthetwoCaesarsmightbecreatedbythewestern，andoneonlybytheeasternemperor；buteachofthemreservedtohimselfthechoiceofthepersons。]
　　ThereconciliationofConstantineandLicinius，thoughitwasimbitteredbyresentmentandjealousy，bytheremembranceofrecentinjuries，andbytheapprehensionoffuturedangers，maintained，however，aboveeightyears，thetranquilityoftheRomanworld。AsaveryregularseriesoftheImperiallawscommencesaboutthisperiod，itwouldnotbedifficulttotranscribethecivilregulationswhichemployedtheleisureofConstantine。Butthemostimportantofhisinstitutionsareintimatelyconnectedwiththenewsystemofpolicyandreligion，whichwasnotperfectlyestablishedtillthelastandpeacefulyearsofhisreign。Therearemanyofhislaws，which，asfarastheyconcerntherightsandpropertyofindividuals，andthepracticeofthebar，aremoreproperlyreferredtotheprivatethantothepublicjurisprudenceoftheempire；andhepublishedmanyedictsofsolocalandtemporaryanature，thattheywouldilldeservethenoticeofageneralhistory。Twolaws，however，maybeselectedfromthecrowd；theoneforitsimportance，theotherforitssingularity；theformerforitsremarkablebenevolence，thelatterforitsexcessiveseverity。1。Thehorridpractice，sofamiliartotheancients，ofexposingormurderingtheirnew—borninfants，wasbecomeeverydaymorefrequentintheprovinces，andespeciallyinItaly。Itwastheeffectofdistress；andthedistresswasprincipallyoccasionedbytheintolerantburdenoftaxes，andbythevexatiousaswellascruelprosecutionsoftheofficersoftherevenueagainsttheirinsolventdebtors。Thelessopulentorlessindustriouspartofmankind，insteadofrejoicinginanincreaseoffamily，deemeditanactofpaternaltendernesstoreleasetheirchildrenfromtheimpendingmiseriesofalifewhichtheythemselveswereunabletosupport。ThehumanityofConstantine；moved，perhaps，bysomerecentandextraordinaryinstancesofdespair，engagedhimtoaddressanedicttoallthecitiesofItaly，andafterwardsofAfrica，directingimmediateandsufficientrelieftobegiventothoseparentswhoshouldproducebeforethemagistratesthechildrenwhomtheirownpovertywouldnotallowthemtoeducate。Butthepromisewastooliberal，andtheprovisiontoovague，toeffectanygeneralorpermanentbenefit。
　　^93Thelaw，thoughitmaymeritsomepraise，servedrathertodisplaythantoalleviatethepublicdistress。Itstillremainsanauthenticmonumenttocontradictandconfoundthosevenalorators，whoweretoowellsatisfiedwiththeirownsituationtodiscovereitherviceormiseryunderthegovernmentofageneroussovereign。^942。ThelawsofConstantineagainstrapesweredictatedwithverylittleindulgenceforthemostamiableweaknessesofhumannature；sincethedescriptionofthatcrimewasappliednotonlytothebrutalviolencewhichcompelled，buteventothegentleseductionwhichmightpersuade，anunmarriedwoman，undertheageoftwenty—five，toleavethehouseofherparents。"Thesuccessfulravisherwaspunishedwithdeath；andasifsimpledeathwasinadequatetotheenormityofhisguilt，hewaseitherburntalive，ortorninpiecesbywildbeastsintheamphitheatre。Thevirgin'sdeclaration，thatshehadbeencarriedawaywithherownconsent，insteadofsavingherlover，exposedhertosharehisfate。Thedutyofapublicprosecutionwasintrustedtotheparentsoftheguiltyorunfortunatemaid；
　　andifthesentimentsofnatureprevailedonthemtodissembletheinjury，andtorepairbyasubsequentmarriagethehonoroftheirfamily，theywerethemselvespunishedbyexileandconfiscation。Theslaves，whethermaleorfemale，whowereconvictedofhavingbeenaccessorytorapeorseduction，wereburntalive，orputtodeathbytheingenioustortureofpouringdowntheirthroatsaquantityofmeltedlead。Asthecrimewasofapublickind，theaccusationwaspermittedeventostrangers。
　　Thecommencementoftheactionwasnotlimitedtoanytermofyears，andtheconsequencesofthesentencewereextendedtotheinnocentoffspringofsuchanirregularunion。"^95Butwhenevertheoffenceinspireslesshorrorthanthepunishment，therigorofpenallawisobligedtogivewaytothecommonfeelingsofmankind。Themostodiouspartsofthisedictweresoftenedorrepealedinthesubsequentreigns；^96andevenConstantinehimselfveryfrequentlyalleviated，bypartialactsofmercy，thesterntemperofhisgeneralinstitutions。Such，indeed，wasthesingularhumorofthatemperor，whoshowedhimselfasindulgent，andevenremiss，intheexecutionofhislaws，ashewassevere，andevencruel，intheenactingofthem。Itisscarcelypossibletoobserveamoredecisivesymptomofweakness，eitherinthecharacteroftheprince，orintheconstitutionofthegovernment。^97
　　[Footnote*:Thisexplanationappearstomelittleprobable。
　　Godefroyhasmadeamuchmorehappyconjecture，supportedbyallthehistoricalcircumstanceswhichrelatetothisedict。Itwaspublishedthe12thofMay，A。D。315。atNaissusinPannonia，thebirthplaceofConstantine。The8thofOctober，inthatyear，ConstantinegainedthevictoryofCibalisoverLicinius。Hewasyetuncertainastothefateofthewar:theChristians，nodoubt，whomhefavored，hadprophesiedhisvictory。Lactantius，thenpreceptorofCrispus，hadjustwrittenhisworkuponChristianity，hisDivineInstitutes；hehaddedicatedittoConstantine。Inthisbookhehadinveighedwithgreatforceagainstinfanticide，andtheexposureofinfants，l。vi。c。20。
　　IsitnotprobablethatConstantinehadreadthiswork，thathehadconversedonthesubjectwithLactantius，thathewasmoved，amongotherthings，bythepassagetowhichIhavereferred，andinthefirsttransportofhisenthusiasm，hepublishedtheedictinquestion?Thewholeoftheedictbearsthecharacterofprecipitation，ofexcitement，entrainement，ratherthanofdeliberatereflection—theextentofthepromises，theindefinitenessofthemeans，oftheconditions，andofthetimeduringwhichtheparentsmighthavearighttothesuccorofthestate。IstherenotreasontobelievethatthehumanityofConstantinewasexcitedbytheinfluenceofLactantius，bythatoftheprinciplesofChristianity，andoftheChristiansthemselves，alreadyinhighesteemwiththeemperor，ratherthanbysome"extraordinaryinstancesofdespair"?***SeeHegewisch，EssaiHist。surlesFinancesRomainesTheedictforAfricawasnotpublishedtill322:ofthatwemaysayintruththatitsoriginwasinthemiseryofthetimes。
　　AfricahadsufferedmuchfromthecrueltyofMaxentius。
　　Constantinesaysexpressly，thathehadlearnedthatparents，underthepressureofdistress，weretheresellingtheirchildren。Thisdecreeismoredistinct，morematurelydeliberatedthantheformer；thesuccorwhichwastobegiventotheparents，andthesourcefromwhichitwastobederived，aredetermined。CodeTheod。l。xi。tit。27，c2。Ifthedirectutilityoftheselawsmaynothavebeenveryextensive，theyhadatleastthegreatandhappyeffectofestablishingadecisiveoppositionbetweentheprinciplesofthegovernmentandthosewhich，atthistime，hadprevailedamongthesubjectsoftheempire。—G。]
　　[Footnote93:CodexTheodosian。l。xi。tit。27，tom。iv。p。188，withGodefroy'sobservations。Seelikewisel。v。tit。7，8。]
　　[Footnote94:Omniaforisplacita，domiprospera，annonaeubertate，fructuumcopia，&c。Panegyr。Vet。x。38。ThisorationofNazariuswaspronouncedonthedayoftheQuinquennaliaoftheCaesars，the1stofMarch，A。D。321。]
　　[Footnote95:SeetheedictofConstantine，addressedtotheRomanpeople，intheTheodosianCode，l。ix。tit。24，tom。iii。
　　p。189。]
　　[Footnote96:Hissonveryfairlyassignsthetruereasonoftherepeal:"Nasubspecieatrociorisjudiciialiquainulciscendocriminedilationaeceretur。"Cod。Theod。tom。iii。p。193]
　　[Footnote97:EusebiusinVitaConstant。l。iii。c。1choosestoaffirm，thatinthereignofthishero，theswordofjusticehungidleinthehandsofthemagistrates。Eusebiushimself，l。
　　iv。c。29，54，andtheTheodosianCode，willinformusthatthisexcessivelenitywasnotowingtothewanteitherofatrociouscriminalsorofpenallaws。]
　　Theciviladministrationwassometimesinterruptedbythemilitarydefenceoftheempire。Crispus，ayouthofthemostamiablecharacter，whohadreceivedwiththetitleofCaesarthecommandoftheRhine，distinguishedhisconduct，aswellasvalor，inseveralvictoriesovertheFranksandAlemanni，andtaughtthebarbariansofthatfrontiertodreadtheeldestsonofConstantine，andthegrandsonofConstantius。^98TheemperorhimselfhadassumedthemoredifficultandimportantprovinceoftheDanube。TheGoths，whointhetimeofClaudiusandAurelianhadfelttheweightoftheRomanarms，respectedthepoweroftheempire，eveninthemidstofitsintestinedivisions。Butthestrengthofthatwarlikenationwasnowrestoredbyapeaceofnearfiftyyears；anewgenerationhadarisen，whonolongerrememberedthemisfortunesofancientdays；theSarmatiansoftheLakeMaeotisfollowedtheGothicstandardeitherassubjectsorasallies，andtheirunitedforcewaspoureduponthecountriesofIllyricum。Campona，Margus，andBenonia，^!appeartohavebeenthescenesofseveralmemorablesiegesandbattles；^99andthoughConstantineencounteredaveryobstinateresistance，heprevailedatlengthinthecontest，andtheGothswerecompelledtopurchasedanignominiousretreat，byrestoringthebootyandprisonerswhichtheyhadtaken。Norwasthisadvantagesufficienttosatisfytheindignationoftheemperor。HeresolvedtochastiseaswellastorepulsetheinsolentbarbarianswhohaddaredtoinvadetheterritoriesofRome。AttheheadofhislegionshepassedtheDanubeafterrepairingthebridgewhichhadbeenconstructedbyTrajan，penetratedintothestrongestrecessesofDacia，^100andwhenhehadinflictedasevererevenge，condescendedtogivepeacetothesuppliantGoths，onconditionthat，asoftenastheywererequired，theyshouldsupplyhisarmieswithabodyoffortythousandsoldiers。
　　^101ExploitslikethesewerenodoubthonorabletoConstantine，andbeneficialtothestate；butitmaysurelybequestioned，whethertheycanjustifytheexaggeratedassertionofEusebius，thatAllScythia，asfarastheextremityoftheNorth，dividedasitwasintosomanynamesandnationsofthemostvariousandsavagemanners，hadbeenaddedbyhisvictoriousarmstotheRomanempire。^102
　　[Footnote98:NazariusinPanegyr。Vet。x。ThevictoryofCrispusovertheAlemanniisexpressedonsomemedals。
　　Note:Othermedalsareextant，thelegendsofwhichcommemoratethesuccessofConstantineovertheSarmatiansandotherbarbarousnations，SarmatiaDevicta。VictoriaGothica。
　　DebellatoriGentiumBarbarorum。ExuperatorOmniumGentium。St。
　　Martin，noteonLeBeau，i。148。—M。]
　　[Footnote!:Campona，OldBudainHungary；Margus，Benonia，Widdin，inMaesia—GandM。]
　　[Footnote99:SeeZosimus，l。ii。p。93，94；thoughthenarrativeofthathistorianisneitherclearnorconsistent。ThePanegyricofOptatianusc。23mentionstheallianceoftheSarmatianswiththeCarpiandGetae，andpointsouttheseveralfieldsofbattle。ItissupposedthattheSarmatiangames，celebratedinthemonthofNovember，derivedtheiroriginfromthesuccessofthiswar。]
　　[Footnote100:IntheCaesarsofJulian，p。329。CommentairedeSpanheim，p。252。Constantineboasts，thathehadrecoveredtheprovinceDaciawhichTrajanhadsubdued。ButitisinsinuatedbySilenus，thattheconquestsofConstantinewerelikethegardensofAdonis，whichfadeandwitheralmostthemomenttheyappear。]
　　[Footnote101:JornandesdeRebusGeticis，c。21。Iknownotwhetherwemayentirelydependonhisauthority。Suchanalliancehasaveryrecentair，andscarcelyissuitedtothemaximsofthebeginningofthefourthcentury。]
　　[Footnote102:EusebiusinVit。Constantin。l。i。c。8。Thispassage，however，istakenfromageneraldeclamationonthegreatnessofConstantine，andnotfromanyparticularaccountoftheGothicwar。]
　　Inthisexaltedstateofglory，itwasimpossiblethatConstantineshouldanylongerendureapartnerintheempire。
　　Confidinginthesuperiorityofhisgeniusandmilitarypower，hedetermined，withoutanypreviousinjury，toexertthemforthedestructionofLicinius，whoseadvancedageandunpopularvicesseemedtoofferaveryeasyconquest。^103Buttheoldemperor，awakenedbytheapproachingdanger，deceivedtheexpectationsofhisfriends，aswellasofhisenemies。CallingforththatspiritandthoseabilitiesbywhichhehaddeservedthefriendshipofGaleriusandtheImperialpurple，hepreparedhimselfforthecontest，collectedtheforcesoftheEast，andsoonfilledtheplainsofHadrianoplewithhistroops，andtheStraitsoftheHellespontwithhisfleet。Thearmyconsistedofonehundredandfiftythousandfoot，andfifteenthousandhorse；
　　andasthecavalrywasdrawn，forthemostpart，fromPhrygiaandCappadocia，wemayconceiveamorefavorableopinionofthebeautyofthehorses，thanofthecourageanddexterityoftheirriders。Thefleetwascomposedofthreehundredandfiftygalleysofthreeranksofoars。AhundredandthirtyofthesewerefurnishedbyEgyptandtheadjacentcoastofAfrica。A
　　hundredandtensailedfromtheportsofPhoeniciaandtheIsleofCyprus；andthemaritimecountriesofBithynia，Ionia，andCaria，werelikewiseobligedtoprovideahundredandtengalleys。ThetroopsofConstantinewereorderedtoarendezvousatThessalonica；theyamountedtoaboveahundredandtwentythousandhorseandfoot。^104Theiremperorwassatisfiedwiththeirmartialappearance，andhisarmycontainedmoresoldiers，thoughfewermen，thanthatofhiseasterncompetitor。ThelegionsofConstantinewereleviedinthewarlikeprovincesofEurope；actionhadconfirmedtheirdiscipline，victoryhadelevatedtheirhopes，andtherewereamongthemagreatnumberofveterans，who，afterseventeengloriouscampaignsunderthesameleader，preparedthemselvestodeserveanhonorabledismissionbyalasteffortoftheirvalor。^105ButthenavalpreparationsofConstantinewereineveryrespectmuchinferiortothoseofLicinius。ThemaritimecitiesofGreecesenttheirrespectivequotasofmenandshipstothecelebratedharborofPiraeus，andtheirunitedforcesconsistedofnomorethantwohundredsmallvessels—averyfeeblearmament，ifitiscomparedwiththoseformidablefleetswhichwereequippedandmaintainedbytherepublicofAthensduringthePeloponnesianwar。^106SinceItalywasnolongertheseatofgovernment，thenavalestablishmentsofMisenumandRavennahadbeengraduallyneglected；andastheshippingandmarinersoftheempireweresupportedbycommerceratherthanbywar，itwasnaturalthattheyshouldthemostaboundintheindustriousprovincesofEgyptandAsia。Itisonlysurprisingthattheeasternemperor，whopossessedsogreatasuperiorityatsea，shouldhaveneglectedtheopportunityofcarryinganoffensivewarintothecentreofhisrival'sdominions。