Constantinople, painted by Warwick Goble, described by Alexander Van Millingen — John Stuart Mill — John Shaqi
Constantinople, painted by Warwick Goble, described by Alexander Van Millingen
John Stuart Mill · en
Nevertheless, Constantius carried forward the improvement of New Rome to
such an extent that Themistius, a contemporary, speaking of the
Emperor’s services in the matter, declares that the city was indebted to
Constantine the Great only for its name, and owed its actual
construction to Constantius. During this reign the fortifications of the
city were completed, the Church of the Holy Apostles underwent repair,
and the Church of S. Sophia, usually ascribed to the founder of the
city, was built, the date of its dedication being the 15th of February
360, two years before Constantius died. Constantius, moreover, placed
the city, like Rome, under a Prefect--_Præfectus Urbis_--and, what is
worthy of note, endowed the new capital with a library, thus placing in
its hand the lamp of learning which was to shine so far in the world’s
history. If we may judge by the terms in which Themistius refers to the
foundation of this library, the value of books was fully appreciated in
those days. “Thus,” he exclaims, “the Emperor has recalled and raised
from the dead the souls of wise men and of heroes for the welfare of the
city for the souls of wise men are in their wisdom, mind, and
intelligence, while their monuments are the books and writings in which
their remains are found.” The author of the _Areopagitica_ said no more
when he declared, “A good book is the precious life-blood of a master
spirit embalmed and treasured up to a life beyond life.”
[Illustration: “A KAFEDJI”
Turkish coffee is to be obtained everywhere; a “kafedji” has here set up
his little stall at the corner of a street.]