The History of Rome from the First Punic War to the Death of Constantine (Volume 4-5) (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos, missing text or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1844. Not illustrated. Excerpt: ... his head must have been a strange compound indeed, and must have been something like the amulet which I described to you some time ago. The man who had on his coins the inscription Sol invictus, who worshipped pagan divinities, consulted the haruspices, indulged in a number of pagan superstitions, and, on the other hand, built churches, shut up pagan temples, and interfered with the council of Nicaea, must have been a repulsive phaenomenon, and was certainly not a Christian. He did not allow himself to be baptized till the last moments of his life, and those who praise him for this do not know what they are doing. He was a superstitious man, and mixed up his Christian religion with all kinds of absurd superstitions and opinions. When therefore certain oriental writers call him jo-airifirroXor, they do not know what they are saying, and to speak of him as a saint is a profanation of the word. There are many features in his character in which Constantine resembled Hadrian, but he did not possess Hadrian's learning, for Constantine had received a very poor education, and was deficient in literary culture in every respect. The resemblance between those two emperors becomes more apparent in the irritability of their later years, which led them to cruel measures and cruel actions. Every one knows the miserable death of Constautine's son Crispus, who was sent into exile to Pola, and then put to death. If however people will make a tragedy of this event, I must confess that I do not see how it can be proved that Crispus was innocent. When 1 read of so many insurrections of sons against their fathers, 1 do not see why Crispus, who was Caesar and demanded the title of Augustus, which his father refused him, should not have thought: " Well, if I do not make anything of mys...