“And now only Maxentius stands in my way ”
“Our way, darling. Remember, I started planning all this when I saw you fight Crocus at Nicomedia.”
“Our way then,” he added, smiling. “But what shall I do with Maxentius?”
“Banish him to Africa or somewhere else when you take control of Italy. My brother isn’t fit to rule; he’s proved that by the mess of things he has made in Rome. Stop worrying about him and come to bed. I’ll decide what to do when the time comes.” Constantine was too pleased at having Fausta in a good mood to argue about the role she had played in his success. Besides, he would have been the first to admit that there was much truth in what she had said. But had he taken the trouble to think about it, he might have wondered whether, having so easily disposed of her own brother, she might just as easily one day dispose of his son should Crispus ever stand in the way of her ruthless ambition.
Eumenius and Crispus
Riding with Eumenius and Crispus as far as the villa of Empress Theodora the next morning, Constantine welcomed the chance for a final chat with the plump scholar who had left his tasks as a teacher years before to serve first father and then son well. Eume
nius had delivered an oration at the funeral of Constantius and another on the marriage of Constantine and Fausta, recounting in the usual flowery terms of the panegyrists the accomplishments of both father and son. And his wise counsel had been invaluable to a young ruler thrust suddenly into a position of grave responsibility.
“We have come a long way together, old friend,” Constantine said as they rode along, with Crispus galloping ahead through the countryside, impatient to reach Autun and begin his military training. “I shall miss you very much.”
“And I you, Augustus,” Eumenius said. “But a scholar should not absent himself too long from the halls of learning, else he may lose his ability to think, when no end is in view.”
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