Page:Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire (1827) Vol 2.djvu/255

 OF THE ROMAN RMPIRi:. 2.37 which for many ages attracted the commerce of the an- cilAP. cient world". ^^^'' The prospect of beauty, of safety, and of wealth, Foundation united in a single spot, was sufficient to justify the " ^' choice of Constantine. But as some decent mixture of prodigy and fable has in every age been supposed to reflect a becoming majesty on the origin of great cities'*, the emperor was desirous of ascribing his re- solution, not so much to the uncertain counsels of hu- man policy, as to the infallible and eternal decrees of divine wisdom. In one of his laws he has been careful to instruct posterity, that, in obedience to the com- mands of God, he laid the everlasting foundations of Constantinople'^: and though he has not condescended to relate in what manner the celestial inspiration was communicated to his mind, the defect of his modest silence has been liberally supplied by the ingenuity of succeeding writers, who describe the nocturnal vision which appeared to the fancy of Constantine, as he slept within the walls of Byzantium. The tutelar genius of the city, a venerable matron sinking under the weight of years and infirmities, was suddenly transformed into a blooming maid, whom his own hands adorned with all the symbols of imperial greatness *•. The monarch awoke, interpreted the auspicious omen, and obeyed without hesitation the will of heaven. The day which gave birth to a city or colony, was celebrated by the Romans with such ceremonies as had been ordained by a generous superstition^; and though Constantine might » See the eloquent description of Busbequius, epistol. i. p. 64. Est in Europa ; habet in conspectu Asiam, iEgyptum, Africamque a dextra : quae tametsi contiguae non sunt, maris tamen navigandique commoditale veluti jnnguntur. A sinistra vero Pontus est Euxinus, etc. '' Datur haec venia antiquitati, ut miscendo humana divinis, primordia urbium augustiora facial. T. Liv. in procem. « He says in one of his laws, pro commoditate urbis quam aeterno nomine, jubente Deo, donavimus. Cod.Theodos. 1. xiii. tit. v. leg. 7. ^ The Greeks, Theophmes, Cedrenus, and the author of the Alexandrian Chronicle, confine themselves to vague and general expressions. For a more particular account of the vision, we are obliged to have recourse to such Latin writers as William of Malrasbury. See Ducange, C. P. 1. i. p. 24,25. « See Plutarch in Romul. torn. i. p. 49. edit. Bryan. Among other cere- monies, a large hole, which had been dug for that purpose, was filled up