THE DECLINE AND FALL

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chap, of force and courage.* The same symbol sanetified the arms of the soldiers of Constantine;the cross glittered on their helmets, was en-graved on their shields, was interwoven intotheir banners; and the consecrated emblemswhich adorned the person of the emperor him-self were distinguished only by richer materialsand more exquisite workmanship . 11 But theprincipal standard which displayed the triumpht of the cross was styled the Labarum ,* an ob-

scure, though celebrated name, which has beenvainly derived from almost all the languages ofthe world. It is described* as a long pike in-tersected by a transversal beam. The silkenveil which hung down from the beam, was cu-

‘ Eusebius, in Vit. Constantin. I. i, c. 10. This statue, or at leastthe cross and inscription, may be ascribed with more probability to thesecond, or even the third, visit of Constantine to Rome. Immediatelyafter the defeat of Maxentius, the minds of the senate and people werescarcely ripe for this public monument.

k Agnoscas regina libens mra signa necesse est;

In quibus effigies crucis ant gemmata refulgetAut longis solido ex auro prsefertur in hastis.

Hoc signo invictus, transmissis Alpibtis UllorServitium solvit miserabile Constantines

Christus purpurcum gemmanti texttis in auroSignabat Labarum, clypeormn insignia ChristusScripserat; ardebat snmmis crux addita cristis.

Prudent, in Symmachum, 1. ii, 161-186.

• The derivation and meaning of the word Labarum, or Laborum,which is employed by Gregory Nazianzen, Ambrose, Prudentius, &c.still remain totally unknown, in spite of the efforts of the critics, whohave ineffectually tortured the Latin, Greek, Spanish, Celtic, Teutonic,Illyric, Armenian, &c. in search of an etymology. See Ducange, inGloss. Med. et inffin. Latinitat. sub voce Labarum, and Godefroy, adCod. Theodos. tom. ii, p. 113.

* Euseb. in Vit. Constantin. I. i, c. 30, 31. Baronins (Anna!. Eccles.A D. 312, No. 26) has engraved a representation of the Labarum.