Page:Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire (1827) Vol 2.djvu/263

 OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE. 245 the lands of Italy, long since converted into gardens, CHAP were at once deprived of cultivation and inhabitants ''. '__ In the course of this history, such exaggerations will be reduced to their just value: yet, since the growth of Constantinople cannot be ascribed to the general in- crease of mankind and of industry, it must be admitted, that this artificial colony was raised at the expense of the ancient cities of the empire. Many opulent sena- tors of Rome, and of the eastern provinces, were pro- bably invited by Constantine to adopt for their country the fortunate spot which he had chosen for his own residence. The invitations of a master are scarcely to be distinguished from commands ; and the liberality of the emperor obtained a ready and cheerful obedience. He bestowed on his favourites the palaces which he had built in the several quarters of the city, assigned them lands and pensions for the support of their dig- nity', and alienated the demesnes of Pontus and Asia, to grant hereditary estates by the easy tenure of main- taining a house in the capital ''. But these encourage- ments and obligations soon became superfluous, and were gradually abolished. Wherever the seat of go- vernment is fixed, a considerable part of the public revenue will be expended by the prince himself, by his ministers, by the officers of justice, and by the do- mestics of the palace. The most wealthy of the pro- vincials will be attracted by the powerful motives of in- terest and duty, of amusement and curiosity. A third and more numerous class of inhabitants will insensibly '• Montesquieu, Grandeur et Decadence des Remains, c. 17. ' Themist. Oral. iii. p. 48. edit. Hardouin ; Sozomen, 1. ii. c. 3 ; Zosim. 1. ii. p. 107; Anonym. Valesian. p. 715. If we could credit Codinus, (p. 10.) Constantine built houses for the senators on tlje exact model of their Roman palaces, and gratified them, as well as himself, with the plea- sure of an agreeable surprise; but the whole story is full of fictions and in- consistencies. ^ The law by which the younger Theodosius, in the year 438, abolished this tenure, may be found among the Novellaj of that emperor at the end of the Theodosian Code, lom. vi. nov. 12. JM. de Tillemont (Hist, des Em- pereurs, torn. iv.p. 3"i.) has evidently mistaken the nature of these estates. With a grant from the imperial demesnes, the same condition was accepted as a favour, which would justly have been deemed a hardship if it had been imposed upon private property.