OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE.

405

n

cretion. The pretences of rapine and oppressionwere insensibly multiplied;* every indulgencewas shewn to the illegal behaviour of the Chris-tians; every doubt was explained to the disad-vantage of paganism ; and the demolition of thetemples was celebrated as one of the auspiciousevents of the reign of Constans and Constan-tins. 1 ' The name of Constantins is prefixed toa concise law, which might have superseded thenecessity of any future prohibitions. “ It is our“ pleasure, that in all places, and in all cities,“ thetemples be immediately shut, and carefully“ guarded, that none may have the power of“ offending. It is likewise our pleasure, that all“ our subjects should abstain from sacrifices. If“ any one should be guilty of such an act, let“ him feel the sword of vengeance, and after" his execution, let his property be confiscated“ to the public use. We denounce the same“ penalties against the governors of the pro-“ vinces, if they neglect to punish the crimi-“ nals.” 1 But there is the strongest reason to

* Ammianus (xxii, 4) speaks of some court eunuchs who were spoilt*tempioruin past/. Libanius says (Orat. pro Tempi, p, 23), that theemperor often gave away a temple, like a dog, or a horse, or a slave,or a gold cup; bnt the devout philosopher takes care to observe, thatthese sacrilegious favourites very seldom prospered.

h See Gotlu/Ved. Cod. Theodos. tom. \i, p. 262. Liban. Oral. Pa-rental. c. x, in Fabric . Kibl. Graec. tom. vii, p. 235.

1 Placuit omnibus locis atque urbibus universis clandi protinus tern-pla, et accessu vetitis omnibus licentiam delinquendi perditis abnegari.Voliimus ctiam runctos a sacrifices abstinerc. Quod siquis aliquid fortetnijusmodi perpetraverit, gladio sternatur; facilitates etiam peremptifisco decernimtis vindicarij et similiter adfiigi rectores proviuciarumsi facinora vindicare neglexerint. Cod Theodos. 1. xvi, tit. x, leg. 4.Chronology has discovered some contradiction in the date of thisextravagant law* the only one, perhaps, by which the negligence of

magistrates

CHAP.

XXI.