The history of the church from our Lords incarnation, to the twelth year of the Emperour Maricius Tiberius, or the Year of Christ 594 / as it was written in Greek, by Eusebius Pamphilius ..., Socrates Scholasticus, and Evagrius Scholasticus ... ; made English from that edition of these historians, which Valesius published at Paris in the years 1659, 1668, and 1673 ; also, The life of Constantine in four books, written by Eusibius Pamphilus, with Constantine's Oration to the convention of the saints, and Eusebius's Speech in praise of Constantine, spoken at his tricennalia ; Valesius's annotations on these authors, are done into English, and set at their proper places in the margin, as likewise a translation of his account of their lives and writings ; with two index's, the one, of the principal matters that occur in the text, the other, of those contained in the notes.

CHAP. I. Concerning Zeno's Empire, and concerning his Life.

BUT Zeno, after the death of his own * 1.1 Son, was invested with the sole Ad∣ministration of the Empire; suppo∣sing as it were that he could not be possest of the Dominion of the whole world, unless with [an uncontroulable] Li∣berty he might prosecute all manner of plea∣sures which occurred: at his first entrance he yielded himself so wholly up to the attempts and allurements of Lusts, a 1.2 that no filthy or flagi∣tious Fact could put a re∣straint upon him: but in such a manner he * 1.3 wal∣lowed in the commission thereof, that he thought it vile and mean to commit these things in darkness and obscurity: but [to perpetrate them] openly and in the sight of all [was in his judgment] Royall and be∣coming only an Emperour. But, his Senti∣ments [in this matter] were ill and * 1.4 abso∣lutely servile. b 1.5 For an Emperour is not taken notice of for this, because he Rules over others, but on this account, in regard in the first place he governeth and moderateth himself, permitting nothing that is extravagant or ill c 1.6 to creep into himself: But continues d 1.7 so impregnable against intemperance, that [he may seem to be] a living Image of Virtues, instructing his Subjects to an imitation [of Himself.] But he who has prostituted himself to Pleasures, by de∣grees is imprudently made the vilest of Servants, and becomes a Captive not redeemable, * 1.8 fre∣quently changing his Masters, like the unuse∣fullest sort of Slaves. For innumerable plea∣sures are made his Mistresses, which can never have an end of their Train and Coherence, and of their succeeding one another: the pleasure which is at hand never stopping, but becomes the Incentive and Preface of another; till such time as any person, e 1.9 really and truly made an Emperour [over himself,] can expell that tur∣bulent and tumultuous Government of pleasures, reigning in future, and not opprest with Ty∣ranny: otherwise, continuing a Slave to his last breath, he must possess the infernall pit.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Viz. Leo the Second; See book 2. chap. 17.
• a 1.2

  In the most excellent Flo∣rentine M. S. at this place some Learned Scholiast had set these words; 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Oh, the likeness to what it is now▪ Vales.
• * 1.3

  Or, was conversant.
• * 1.4

  Or, like those of slaves.
• b 1.5

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 In the Kings, Tellerian, and Flo∣rentine M. SS. and in Stephens's Edit. the adverb 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 is wanting, which Learned men had put in by conjecture, unhappily enough. But, I doubt not but it should be written, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, &c. and have rendred it ac∣cordingly. Vales.
• c 1.6

  Instead of [〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, entrance,] in my judgment it ought to be made 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 to creep into: and this reading is confirmed by Nicephorus, book 16. chap. 1. Vales.
• d 1.7

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉; I assent to the Learned, who have long since ménded it thus, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, &c. But continues so im∣pregnable, &c. although the Manuscript Copies vary not here. But Nicephorus, when he perceived this place to be corrupted, interpolated it after this manner: 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, &c; whence he continues so impregnable, &c. Vales.
• * 1.8

  Or, chan∣ging his frequent slaveries.
• e 1.9

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, any person thus made an Emperour: doubtless it should be 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, really and truly made, &c; and so the rea∣ding is in Nicephorus. Vales.