19.  Con’stantine having thus attached his soldiers to his interest, who were mostly of the Christian persuasion, lost no time in entering Italy, with ninety thousand foot and eight thousand horse, and soon advanced almost to the very gates of Rome.  Maxen’tius advanced from the city with an army of a hundred and seventy thousand foot, and eighteen thousand horse. 20.  The engagement was fierce and bloody, till the cavalry of the latter being routed, victory declared upon the side of his opponent, and he himself was drowned in his flight by the breaking down of a bridge, as he attempted to cross the Tiber.

21.  In consequence of this victory, Con’stantine entered the city, but disclaimed all the praises which the senate and people were ready to offer; and ascribed his successes to a superior power.  He even caused the cross, which he was said to have seen in the heavens, to be placed at the right hand of all his statues, with this inscription:  “That under the influence of that Victorious Cross, Con’stantine had delivered the city from the yoke of tyrannical power, and had restored the senate, and people of Rome to their ancient authority.”  He afterwards ordained that no criminal should, for the future, suffer death upon the cross, which had formerly been the most usual way of punishing slaves convicted of capital offences. 22.  Edicts were soon after issued, declaring that the Christians should be eased of all their grievances, and received into places of trust and authority.

23.  Things continued in this state for some time.  Con’tantine contributing every thing in his power to the interest of religion, and the revival of learning, which had long been upon the decline, and was almost wholly extinct in his dominions. 24.  But, in the midst of these assiduities, the peace of the empire was again disturbed by the preparations of Maxim’ian, who governed in the east; and who, desirous of a full participation of power, marched against Licin’ius with a very numerous army. 25.  In consequence of this step, after many conflicts, a general engagement ensued, in which Maxim’ian suffered a total defeat; many of his troops were cut to pieces, and those that survived submitted to the conqueror.  Having, however, escaped the general carnage, he put himself at the head of another army, resolving to try the fortune of the field; but his death prevented the design. 26.  As he died by a very extraordinary kind of madness, the Christians, of whom he was the declared enemy, did not fail to ascribe his end to a judgment from heaven.  But this was the age in which false opinions and false miracles made up the bulk of every history.

Questions for Examination.

1.  Who succeeded Probus?

2.  Mention the actions of Carus, and the manner of his death.

3.  How were his sons affected by this catastrophe?

4.  What was the consequence?

5.  How was this atrocious act discovered?