ds adorned with all the symbols of imperial greatness.
The monarch awoke, interpreted the auspicious omen, and
obeyed without hesitation the will of Heaven. The day which
gave birth to a city or a colony was celebrated by the
Romans with such ceremonies as had been ordained by a
generous superstition: and though Constantine might omit
some rites which savoured too strongly of their pagan
origin, yet he was anxious to leave a deep impression of
hope and respect on the minds of the spectators. On foot,
with a lance in his hand, the emperor himself led the solemn
procession: and directed the line which was traced as the
boundary of the destined capital: till the growing
circumference was observed with astonishment by the
assistants, who at length ventured to observe that he had
already exceeded the most ample measure of a great city. 'I
shall still advance,' replied Constantine, 'till HE, the
invisible Guide who marches before me, thinks proper to
stop.'"

Gibbon proceeds to describe the extent, limits, and edifices of
Constantinople. Unfortunately the limits of our space prevent us from
giving more than a portion of his brilliant picture.

"In the actual state of the city the palace and gardens of
the Seraglio occupy the eastern promontory, the first of the
seven hills, and cover about one hundred and fifty acres of
our own measure. The seat of Turkish jealousy and despotism
is erected on the foundations of a Grecian republic: but it
may be supposed that the Byzantines were tempted by the
conveniency of the harbour to extend their habitations on
that side beyond the modern limits of the Seraglio. The new
walls of Constantine stretched from the port to the
Propontis across the enlarged breadth of the triangle, at
the distance of fifteen stadia from the ancient
fortifications: and with the city of Byzantium they inclosed
five of the seven hills, which to the eyes of those who
approach Constantinople appear to rise above each other in
beautiful order. About a century after the death of the
founder the new buildings, extending on one side up the
harbour, and on the other the Propontis, already covered the
narrow ridge of the sixth and the broad summit of the
seventh hill. The necessity of protecting those suburbs from
the incessant inroads