CHAPTER XXXIII

APOLOGY FOR CONSTANTINE

IT ought not to excite astonishment that Constantine was so far deceived as to send so many great men into exile; for he believed the assertions of bishops, who skilfully concealed their malice under the appearance of illustrious qualities. Those who are acquainted with the Sacred Scriptures know that the holy David, although he was a prophet, was deceived; and that too not by a priest, but by one who was a menial, a bondsman, and a profligate: for Ziba, I say, deluded the king by falsehoods against Mephibosheth, and thus obtained his land. It is not to condemn the prophet that I thus speak; I only propose to defend the emperor, to show the weakness of human nature, and to teach that implicit belief should not be given to those who advance accusations, even though they may appear to deserve it; but that the other party ought also to be heard, and that attention ought to be given to the statements of the accused. However, the emperor was translated from his earthly dominions to a better kingdom.