him as a great politician of decided genius, but destitute of moral principle and religious interest. So also Dr. Baur. * The haruspiccs, or interpreters of sacrifices, who foretold future events from the entrails of victims. § 2. CONSTANTINE THE GEEAT. 15 heathen goddess of Fortune ; ' and down to the end of his life he retained the title and the dignity of a Pontifex Ifaximus, or high-priest of the heathen hierarchy.^ His coins bore on the one side the letters of the name of Christ, on the other the figure of the Sun-god, and the inscription " Sol invictus." Of course these inconsistencies may be referred also to policy and accom- modation to the toleration edict of 313, Nor is it difficult to adduce parallels of persons who, in passing from Judaism tc Christianity, or from Romanism to Protestantism, have so wavered between their old and their new position that they might be claimed by both. With his every victory over his pagan rivals, Galerius, Maxentius, and Licinius, his personal leaning to Christianity and his confidence in the magic power of the sign of the cross increased ; yet he did not formally re- nounce heathenism, and did not receive baptism until, in 337, he was laid upon the bed of death. He had an imposing and winning person, and was com- pared by flatterers with Apollo. He was tall, broad-shouldered, handsome, and of a remarkably vigorous and healthy consti- tution, but given to excessive vanity in his dress and out- ward demeanor, always wearing an oriental diadem, a hel- met studded with jewels, and a purple mantle of silk richly embroidered with pearls and flowers worked in gold." His mind was not highly cultivated, but naturally clear, strong, and shrewd, and seldom thrown off its guard. He is said to have combined a cynical contempt of mankind with an inordinate love of praise. He possessed a good knowledge of human nature and administrative energy and tact. His moral character was not without noble traits, among which a chastity rare for the time,* and a liberality and benefi- ' According to Eusebius (Vit. Const. 1. iii. c. 48) he dedicated Constantinople to " the God of the martyrs," but, according to Zosimus (Hist. ii. c. 31), to two female deities, probably Mary and Fortuna. Subsequently the city stood under the special protection of the Virgin Mary. ^ His successors also did the same, down to Gratian, 375, who renounced the title, then become quite empty. ^ Euseb. Laud. Const, c. 5. * All Christian accounts speak of his continence, but Julian insinuates the contra- ry, and charges him with the old Roman vice of voracious gluttony (Caes. 329, 335). 16 THIRD PERIOD. A,D. 311-590. cenco bordering on wastefulness were prominent. Many of liis laws and regulations breathed the spirit of Christian justice and humanity, promoted the elevation of the female sex, im- proved the condition of slaves and of unfortunates, and gave free play to the efficiency of