按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
Finally…when Lacinius was gone； Constantine became the sole ruler of the Empire and we saw all of its provinces united once more。 He became obviously more concerned with the disunity of the Christians and we heard word in Rome of huge Christian councils in the East。 The first took place at Antioch where I had lived with Pandora and which was still a great city； perhaps in many respects more lively and interesting at this point than Rome。
The Arian heresy was the cause of Constantine's discontent。 And the whole thing had to do with something extremely small in the Scriptures which seemed to Constantine to be hardly worth the dispute。 Nevertheless certain Bishops were exmunicated from the growing Church； and another more important council was held in Nicaea only two months later； where Constantine presided again。
There the Nicene Creed was adopted； which is recited by Christians even in the present time。 The Bishops who signed this Creed effectively again condemned and exmunicated the theorist and Christian writer Arius as a heretic and doomed his writings to be burnt。 He himself was to be shut out of his native Alexandria。 The Judgment was absolute。
But it is worth noting； and I did； that Arius continued his struggle for recognition； even though the council had cast him out。
The other great affair of this council； and a matter which is still rather confusing in Christianity； was the question of the true date of Easter； or the anniversary of the resurrection of Christ。 A determination was made as to how this date would be calculated； and it was based upon a Western system。 And then the council came to an end。
Now the Bishops who had e to the council were asked to stay and help the Emperor celebrate his twenty years on the throne； and of course they did so； for how could they refuse？
But as soon as word reached Rome of these elaborate festivities； there was much jealousy and discontent。 Rome felt ignored in all these goings…on。 And so there was considerable relief and happiness when in January of 326； the Emperor headed for our city once again。
Before his arrival； however； terrible deeds became attached to Constantine's name。 For reasons nobody could discover； he stopped along the way to put to death both his son Crispus and his stepson； Licinianus； and his own wife； the Empress Fausta。 Historians can speculate forever as to why all this happened。 The truth is； nobody knows why Constantine mitted these acts。 There may have been a plot against him。 Perhaps there was not。
Let me say here that it cast a cloud over his arrival among the Romans； and that when he did e； it was no great consolation to the old ruling class； because he dressed very much in the extravagant Eastern style； with silk and damask； and would not be part of the important procession to the Temple of Jupiter； as the people had expected him to do。
Of course the Christians adored him。 Rich and poor they flocked to see him in his Eastern robes and jewels。 They were overwhelmed with his generosity as he laid the ground for more churches。
And though he had spent almost no time in Rome； he had over the years allowed for the pletion of secular buildings begun by Maxentius； and he built a large public bath under his own name。
Then came appalling rumors。 Constantine had plans for an entirely new city。 Constantine found Rome old and decayed and lacking as a capital。 Constantine meant to make a new city for the Empire； he meant to make it in the East； and it would honor his name！
Imagine it； if you can。
Of course the Emperors of the last century had moved all over the provinces of the Empire。 They had fought each other； breaking into pairs and tetrarchies； and meeting here and murdering one another there。
But to give up Rome as the capital？ To create another great city to be the center of the Empire？
It was unthinkable to me。
I brooded in hatred。 I knew despair。
All of my nightly guests shared my misery。 The elderly soldiers were broken by the news and one of the old philosophers wept bitterly。 Another city to be the capital of the Roman Empire？ The younger men were furious； but they could not hide their bitter curiosity； or their grudging guesses as to where this new city might be。
I could not dare weep as I wanted to for my tears would have been full of blood。
I asked the musicians to play old songs； songs I had to teach them for they had never heard them； and there came a strange moment when we sang together…my mortal guests and me…a slow mournful song about Rome's tarnished glory which we would not forget。
The air was cool on that evening。 I went out into the garden and looked down over the side of the hill。 I could see lights here and there in the darkness。 I could hear laughter and conversation from other houses。
〃This is Rome！〃 I whispered。
How could Constantine abandon the city which had been the capital of the Empire for a thousand years of struggle； triumph； defeat； glory？ Couldn't someone reason with him？ This simply could not e to pass。
But the more I roamed the city； the more I listened to talk both far and wide； the more I roamed outside the walls and into the towns thereabout； I came to see what had motivated the Emperor。
Constantine wanted to begin his Christian Empire in a place of incredible advantage； and could not retreat to the Italian peninsula when so much of the culture of his people lay to the East。 Also he had to defend his Eastern borders。 The Persian Empire of the East was always a threat。 And Rome was not a fit place for a man in supreme power to reside。
Thus Constantine had chosen the distant Greek city of Byzantium to be the site of Constantinople； his new home。
And I should see my home； my sacred city； bee now a castoff of a man whom I； as a Roman； could not accept。
There were rumors of the incredible if not miraculous speed with which Constantinople had been mapped out； and with which building was being done。
At once many Romans followed Constantine to the burgeoning new city。 At his invitation perhaps； or simply on their own impulse
Senators decamped with their families and their wealth to live in this new and shining place； a subject on everyone's lips。
Soon I heard that Senators from all the cities of the Empire were being drawn to Constantinople； and indeed； as baths and meeting halls and circuses were erected in the new capital； beautiful statues were being looted from cities throughout Greece and Asia to adorn the new architectural works。
Rome； my Rome； what will bee of you； I thought。 Of course my evening feasts were not really deeply affected。 Those who came to dine with Marius were poor teachers and historians who had no means of moving to Constantinople； or curious and reckless young men who had not made the clever choice as yet。
I had plenty of mortal pany as always； and indeed； I had inherited a few very quick…witted Greek philosophers who had been left behind by families who had gone to Constantinople where they would no doubt find more brilliant men to tutor their sons。 But this； the pany in my house was a small matter。 In truth； as the years passed； my so